The Prep Pulse

This year marked my third and last year at Creighton Prep. In a few short months I’ll be shipping off to Berkeley, California to study theology and continue my journey as a Jesuit on the path to priesthood. Fortunately, such partings are not only endings but also opportunities: to know with clarity in hindsight what in the moment seemed only partial and obscure.

That was certainly the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke’s Gospel (Lk. 24:13-35), and it seems to have been the supposition of St. Paul as well when he wrote to the Corinthians: “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:11-12).

Looking back on my three years at Prep I’ve come to realize that one of the greatest gifts we offer our students is not knowledge (though there’s plenty of that) or success (though that comes, too), or even failure (no one can live without some). It’s perspective. Prep at its best paints for each young man a horizon unexpectedly wide … and then points to where he stands within it.

As a science teacher, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing students see the world - both chemical and biological - in new ways. I’ve heard students talk about the ways theology class, history class and English classes have forced them to take new perspectives on their own life or American society. I’ve seen the faces of students light up when they talk about band or soccer or zoology or any number of other clubs and activities through which they’ve discovered talents they never knew they had.

God alone knows the fullness of who we’re called to be. But if we’re in the right place and listen to the right people, sometimes we’re able to hear Jesus explain a bit of it to us while we’re still on the road. I thank God for the way the people and place of Prep have done that for me and for so many students who pass in and out of Prep’s doors.

Mr. Erin Kast, SJ
Creighton Prep

Congratulations to the baseball, golf, soccer, track & field and trapshooting teams on all their accomplishments so far this season, including the state championship yesterday by the soccer team!

Yes, after a challenging start, the Junior Jays put together a great string of victories on the pitch in mid-to-late season that resulted in a District A-5 championship and, last evening, a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Gretna in the state title game. Great job, guys!

Congratulations also to the District A-5 champion baseball team, which played in the state tournament this week and finished a fine season in the second round. Hats off to the coaches and players on a super run.

The golf team is preparing for the state tournament on May 23-24 in Norfolk after their District A-1 title earlier this week at Johnny Goodman Golf Course, where Connor Jasso-Steichen won the individual competition with a 67 and the entire Prep five finished in the top seven. Way to go!

Also competing at state this week are 18 student-athletes from the track & field team. Season highlights to date for the recent District A-2 champions include a 200 meter dash state record by Jack Gillogly and a state-leading time by the 400 meter relay team of John Pargo, Andrew Jones, CharMar Brown and Jack Gillogly. Congratulations also to Dan Tietjen on being named the Metro Conference Track & Field Coach of the Year!

Finally, congratulations to the trap team. Out of 360 teams that competed at the Cornhusker State Trapshoot in late April, the Prep Blue squad finished in third place and the Prep Bravo squad reached the top 20. Well done!

Be sure to keep up to date on athletic and student events at Prep with the Go Prep app! Download it today from the App Store or Google Play.

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Best of luck to the Prep fine arts students who are participating in the 28th Annual Omaha Catholic High School Art Show. This year’s exhibit is on display at the Hot Shops Art Center at 1301 Nicholas Street, in Omaha. The show opened Friday, May 5 and runs through Monday, May 22.

The Prep community is invited to the closing reception and Viewer’s Choice Awards, which will be held on Monday, May 22 from 5-7 p.m. The public will have a chance to vote for their favorite art piece at the closing reception.

Hot Shops Art Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The building is located on the west side of 13th Street, one block north of Charles Schwab Field. 

Congratulations to:

The Creighton Prep Science Bowl team recently competed in the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C. The team consisted of Prep students Trevor Gregg '23, Luke Menard '24, Cooper Morris '24, Andrew Rogers '24 and Peter Sullivan '23, who placed fifth in their division at the national competition. 

Just the opportunity to represent the state of Nebraska at Nationals was an honor and a major accomplishment since this was the first in-person competition for Science Bowl since 2019. 

Competition was fierce and the team learned a lot about preparing and competing at the national level. The trip was wonderful for all this year, and the team hopes to return to D.C. and place even higher in the National tournament next year!

Congratulations to the Chamber Choir on their Superior Plus at the NSAA District Music Competition on Friday, April 21. They received their third superior rating in a row! In the solo competitions, Tony Garrett, Nolan Murray and Nick Ferro earned superiors on their performances. Additionally, Josh Bell, Caden Kowal and Tyler Moffitt earned excellent ratings on their solos.  

Bravo also to the Creighton Prep Concert Band, which performed at the event on Thursday, April 20 and achieved a Superior (I) rating for their outstanding collaborative efforts.

“Bike with Mike,” an event to raise awareness and resources for mental health in the Omaha community, will take place on Saturday morning June 10. Mike Kutilek, a Creighton Prep alumnus in the Class of 2009, developed mental illness in his late 20's and passed away in May of 2020, and the Kutilek family has organized this event in Mike’s honor.  

The event is a bike ride/walk on the Wabash Trace from Lewis Central Jr. High in Council Bluffs to Mineola, Iowa (the famous “Taco Ride”). The ride/walk will begin around 10 a.m., and about 10 miles down the trail in Mineola, we will stop for tacos and a brief program around noon at Tobey Jack’s restaurant before returning.  

Participants can also simply drive directly to Mineola for the lunch and program. The cost to register is just $40 for adults and $25 for children 12 & under (plus taxes and fees) and includes T-shirt, swag bag, lunch and the trail fee.  All proceeds for this event will directly support the integrated outpatient clinic and mental health services provided by Community Alliance of Omaha. 

Online registration, as well as opportunities to sponsor/donate, can be found on the website: https://www.bikewithmikeday.com/.

The Creighton Prep Student Car Club cordially invites alumni, current parents, past parents and friends of Prep with an automobile they'd like to show to enter the 3rd Annual Creighton Prep Car Show on Saturday, June 17. Register today! Proceeds from the $25 entry fee will go to the AMDG Fund.

On Saturday, June 17, steer your automotive pride and joy to the west parking lot at Prep beginning at 8 a.m. for check-in and parking prior to the show start at 9 a.m. We will have music, snacks, a vote for best in show, and of course, plenty of car conversation! The show will conclude at 12 p.m.

Whether you have an American muscle car, a sleek foreign import or the latest model hybrid, we hope to see you there.

The Creighton Prep Volunteer Corps is a program that offers a Creighton Prep alumnus or an alumnus of another Jesuit high school/university who recently graduated from college the opportunity to give a year of his life in service as a full-time volunteer at the school. 

Volunteers serve in collaboration with other men and women who share a commitment to Jesuit education. Benefits include free housing, health insurance, a small stipend, valuable work experience and more.

To learn more, please complete and submit the form here.

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