The Prep Pulse

In 2019, I traveled with twelve students and three adults to Vail, Colorado for our Adventure Retreat. That week, we hiked every day through pines and aspens up the rocky trails of the mountains, and we laughed with each other around a campfire each night. Stories were shared, encouragement freely given. There’s something so natural about how community grows when a group steps outside their comfort zone. 

Our retreat culminated as we celebrated Mass together on a mountain, overlooking the wilderness — God’s cathedral — breathing that crisp air. Sharing this sacred moment made it clear: this wasn’t just camping and hiking … this was pilgrimage.

In his 2025 Lenten message, Pope Francis invites all of us to be pilgrims: to “journey together in hope.” This phrase speaks to an urgent need in our world and in our lives. Lent isn’t just a season of sacrifice; it’s an invitation to movement — toward God, toward one another and toward a more healed world.

To journey means to be open: to growth, to astonishment, to grace. Like a trek through the mountains, a journey with God often involves unexpected terrain or surprising gifts. But in those moments of uncertainty, challenge or awe, we may find that our hearts are more teachable, more tender and more open to transformation.

To journey together reminds us that faith is not a solo expedition. We are called out of comfort and into community, to break through the walls of chosen isolation. Real relationships — whether around a campfire or in a classroom — require vulnerability and patience. The call to togetherness calls us out of our navel-gazing and toward encounter. It reveals God in the faces and stories of others.

And to journey in hope is perhaps the most radical call of all. Hope is not naive optimism; it is the deep belief that new life is always possible. In a culture that often prefers fear to trust, outrage to empathy and cynicism to belief, hope is a countercultural stance. It dares to love the unlovable, heal broken systems and work for peace where conflict persists. It is Easter’s promise breaking into Lent.

This Holy Week, let us resist the temptation to retreat into comfort, and instead become people of pilgrimage — seeking, risking and trusting that God is not finished with us yet. May we accept the invitation to journey, to accompany one another and to choose hope … not only for ourselves, but for a world aching for healing, hungry for justice and ready — if we are! — for renewal.

Emily Taber
Creighton Prep

If you haven't already signed up to join us aboard our ship, the Creighton Prep, as we sail into Heider Center Bay on Saturday, April 26, now is the time! We need you there, ready to bid and/or raise-the-paddle in support of our deserving students.

Click HERE to make your reservation to attend via a corporate table, an individual ticket purchase or a family table:

• Corporate table of 10 guests - $2,500 ($1,750 tax-deductible)
• Corporate table of 8 guests - $2,000 ($1,400 tax-deductible)
• Individual ticket - $175 ($100 tax-deductible)
• Young alumni ticket (class of 2004 and later) - $100 ($25 tax-deductible)
• Individual / Family table of 10 guests - $1,750 ($1,000 tax-deductible)

Other Ways To Help BASH 2025 Succeed

1. Purchase raffle tickets.
2. Raise the paddle to donate.

BASH 2025 Executive Committee

• Amber and Brian Fahey '94
• Brady and Ryan Gibson '93
• Abbie Raikes Gouttierre and Adam Gouttierre '89
• Kara and Tom Kelley '94
• Beth and Ed McGill '85
• Lisa and Mike Meridith
• Elen and Justin Shanahan '97

Thank you! With your help from now through Saturday, April 26, we can make BASH 2025 a great one for our students!

Amy Knight
Director of Events
Creighton Preparatory School
7400 Western Avenue
Omaha, NE  68114-1878
(402) 548-3858 direct line
(402) 670-4774 cell
AKnight@CreightonPrep.org
CreightonPrep.org/BASH

Creighton Prep officially opened its new athletic track and field facility on a bright, sunny Sunday, April 6 with a crowd of Prep community members in attendance. Highlights of the event included:

• Prep students Zach Schaffart, Ignatius Vogel and Nathan Wilch singing the National Anthem.
• A blessing of the facility by Creighton Prep Athletic Hall of Fame Cross Country Coach Fr. Bob Tillman, SJ.
• Remarks by Athletic Director Dr. Dan Schnizel, Creighton Prep President Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ and Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development K.C. Belitz.
• A ceremonial first run/baton pass by Creighton Prep Athletic Hall of Fame Track Coach Lynn Groff, Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Dan Tietjen and Prep Track and Field team members Jackson Wurgler and Silas Bush. Silas ran the final leg through a ribbon held by teammates Kris Baker and Vincent Sall.

To help honor the legacy of Prep Track and Field, the school also handed out glass containers filled with small cinder rocks from the old track. A photo of former Prep Track and Field team members in attendance was also taken (and is attached to this post).

In a special video (see below), past and present members of the Prep Track and Field family shared what the sport — and the program — has meant to them. Their stories are a powerful reminder that while facilities change, the heart of Prep Track and Field has always been its people.

This new track marks an exciting new chapter — but it’s also a tribute to all those who came before.

The next generation of Creighton Prep athletics starts now. 

Congratulations to Math Faculty Member and Head Wrestling Coach Andrew Fisher '08 on being nominated for the 2025 Male Coach of the Year Award. This honor is part of the Omaha Sports Commission Awards Show (“the OSCAS”), and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, May 29.

In February with Andrew's coaching, the varsity wrestling team won the Class A state championship for the first time in school history.

Click the links below to get more details on some of the outstanding recent student achievements that include:

World Language Students Recognized for Achievements in Spanish

Speech Team Trio Qualifies for Prestigious National Tournament

Five Named NSCA All-Americans

Soccer Team Wins Metro Conference Title

Ethics Bowl Team Finishes in the Top Eight Nationally

Planning the summer schedules for your family? Consider Creighton Prep summer programs for your son or daughter in pre-K through 8th grade. The programs take place daily at Prep and with morning and afternoon sessions, you can select multiple programs for them to attend.

See the lineup now at GoCreightonPrep.com or click on the links just below to learn more about the academic programs, enrichment camps, sports camps and Nike sports camps accepting registrations now.

Academics

• 6th-7th Grade Summer Climb
• 8th Grade Summer Climb
• 9th Grade Creighton Prep's Primer Program

Enrichment Camps

• Art Camp
• Esports Camp
• Friday Fun Days
• Music Camp
• Ping Pong Camp
• Robotics Camp

Sports Camps

• Prep Boys Basketball Camp
• Prep Football Camp
• Prep Soccer Camp
• Prep Speed & Agility Camp
• Prep Wrestling Camp

Nike Sports Camps

• Nike Baseball Camp
• Nike Boys Basketball Camp
• Nike Girls Basketball Camp
• Nike Boys Football Camp
• Nike Boys Lacrosse Camp
• Nike Soccer Camp
• Nike Track and Field Camp
• Nike Wrestling Camp

Greater Houston area Prep community, this is a reminder that you are invited to a reception this Wednesday, April 16 to cheer on Creighton Prep Robotics Team 20077 "The Indubitables," who will be in town to compete for a FIRST Robotics world championship!

CLICK HERE to see Creighton Prep President Fr. Matt Spotts, SJ blessing the team and their robot as they prepare for their trip to Houston.

Event Details

• Wednesday, April 16
• 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• The Grove - 1611 Lamar Street in downtown Houston
• Beverages and dinner
• Meet coaches Rich Mansfield and Abby McCaslin, members of Team 20077 "The Indubitables" and one of their robots.
• Business casual attire

Thank you if you have already registered for this event! if you haven't yet done so, Please register at CreightonPrep.org/Houston. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Mike Beacom '85 at mbeacom@creightonprep.org or (402) 548-3851.

See you there!

Save the dates of April 21 to 26 on your calendar now for BASH Week 2025! 

We’ll start off on Monday, April 21 with the online auction, where you can browse, bid and buy from a selection of great items all the way to Saturday evening, April 26.

That’s when we'll gather as a Prep community in the Heider Center for beverages, a sumptuous dinner, a raise-the-paddle-to-donate event and the live auction, all to raise money for financial assistance for Prep students. Click here to register to attend.

Between now and then, help contribute to the success of BASH 2025 by:

1. Purchasing raffle tickets.
2. Raising the paddle to donate.

Thank you!

Father Matthew Spotts, SJ, president of Creighton Prep, cordially invites you to a spring reception in Kansas City for Prep alumni and friends.

Please join us for an evening of fellowship with the Prep family and learn about the exciting things happening at our school.

Hosted at the home of Dr. Belinda Vail and Dr. Rich Bene '78

• Thursday, May 15
• 4722 Somerset Drive Prairie Village, KS 66207
• 5:30-8:00 p.m.
• Business casual attire
• Hosted drinks and hors d'oeuvres

Please register by Wednesday, May 7 using the form at CreightonPrep.org/KC.

If you have any questions about the event or need additional information, please email Brandis Adams or call (402) 548-3804.

Calling all Creighton Prep alumni in the classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020! Have you registered for your reunion yet?

Reunion weekend for classes celebrating 5-45 years (1980-2020) will be June 6-7, 2025. If you are in one of these "0's & 5's" classes, save the dates now and register by clicking here.

The Class of 1975 will celebrate their Jubilarian reunion the weekend of May 16-18, 2025.

"Legacy" classes celebrating 55-70 years (Classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, & 1970) will host their reunions in the fall on dedicated dates noted on those class pages below.

To check in on the schedule for your class reunion, visit CreightonPrep.org/Reunions. 

Questions? Please contact Mike Beacom '85, Director of Alumni Relations at 402-548-3851 or at mbeacom@creightonprep.org. AMDG.

The Creighton Prep Student Car Club cordially invites alumni, current parents, graduate parents and friends of Prep with an automobile they'd like to show or just an interest in seeing great cars to join us on Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Prep's west parking for the 5th Annual Creighton Prep Car Show.

Those who'd like to show their cars can register for $25 per car using the form on this page, with all proceeds going to the AMDG Fund.

Spectators are welcome to attend the show free of charge. Also available during show hours will be The Pancake Man, school tours, kid-zones inside the school building and more.

We look forward to seeing you at the Creighton Prep Car Show. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Mike Beacom ’85 at (402) 548-3851 or mbeacom@creightonprep.org.

To follow us on social media, visit the sites listed just below:

• Facebook
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• PrepConnects (for alumni)

To get the latest information on athletic and student events, download the Go Prep app, which is available on Google Play and on the App Store.

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