The following quotes were taken from the Class of 2011 Senior Reflections Book:
Timothy Benage
Chaminade has been a fantastic experience for me. It's pretty cool that I got to be a part of a school with such amazing family spirit. It has been a lot of fun and the relationships I have built have been and will continue to be special. Whenever you hear about a Chaminade graduate there is always something positive to be said about that person; never have I heard anything negative. Just want to thank all of the mentors, teachers and coaches that have supported me during my years here.
Luke Bumgarner
Chaminade has taught me to be more independent as a person and stronger with my faith. My favorite memory was the weekend in Columbia when we won state in basketball two years ago. Mr. Corte has influenced me the most in my time at Chaminade. He has taught me so much about life and death and things that go beyond what we do in our everyday lives. He has taught me to think deeper, always question things and never be afraid to search for the truth.
Kyle Buschkoetter
Chaminade has been a second home to me. Not only has it been the place where I've spent most of my time, but it's also been the place where I find my second family. I'll never forget the day at Trout Lodge when our whole class started to imitate Mr. Rone in the lunchroom and finally erupted in laughter and clapping. He just stood there with a smile on his face, knowing it was all in good fun. There have been multiple instances like that, when our class showed family-like camaraderie: belting out familiar songs on Kairos, leading the huge Red Army at the basketball games, and even getting through Mrs. Kerr's class. Our support of each other as well as that of our teachers and parents has helped our class as a whole to "Esto Vir." We came to Chaminade as little boys, and we leave as young men.
Mackenzie Callanan
Throughout my many years as a Chaminade student, the person who has had the most influence on me is Mr. Mike Massa. While having completed all four of his classes by the end of my junior year, not only did I learn to look forward to his everyday wit and bitter sarcasm, but in addition, I learned a lot about myself. Throughout the countless hours I had him as a teacher, Mr. Massa helped me realize my aspirations of becoming a lawyer in my professional life, as well as help shape my decision to dual major in economics and business for my undergraduate degree. That aside, I feel Mr. Massa's greatest influence was instilling his work ethic in me. At the beginning of every semester, he outlines, and forgive me, I'm paraphrasing as my memory isn't what it should be, something along the lines of "Put at least as much effort into this class as I do". Though I never had Mr. Massa as an athletic coach, like many other Chaminade students have, simply through my experience of him in the classroom, I believe Mr. Massa gives nothing less than 100% to his students regardless of the setting. I hope to one day be able to emulate such dedicate and selfless work ethic.
Tanner Catt
My favorite memory from my Chaminade career was two years ago when I was a sophomore going to the boys Class 5 State Tournament for basketball. To me, this was the first time where I truly understood the concept of "family spirit." This is because although the game was an hour and half away from where most of the students lived, we had more people in attendance than the other teams. I believe that this truly represented Chaminade's mantra of family spirit just because of the support and love shown by the students to the team. The next day, I even remember hearing an interview with Coach Lee on the radio and the comment he made about not even realizing we had that many students at Chaminade. After we won, the stadium was electric and I'll never forget the feeling of being there with basically the entire school, and seeing many of my classmates who were at the time referred to as the super sophomores on the court celebrating with the team.
David D'Alessandro
My time at Chaminade has been my most formative thus far. Because of Chaminade, I have become ambitious and hard-working, yet generous and patient as well. Without Chaminade I would not be the man I am today. My fondest memories include all of the tomfoolery my friends and I were up to in the hallways during lunch, the time I spent after school talking poetry to Mr. Desnoyer and philosophy with Mr. Keithley, and the time I was in the dark room during photo club. I would say that Mr. Keithley and Mr. Desnoyer have influenced me the most of the teachers. Because of them, I am a better thinker and writer.
Connor Dervin
During my years at Chaminade, I have grown from a young boy into the person I am today. Much of this transformation is thanks to my Chaminade experience. The teachers and faculty have taught me many things, in relation to academics and also how to properly live the motto of Esto Vir. Thanks to my teachers, I am completely prepared for whatever the future has in store for me, and I feel that I will have an advantage over those who I will encounter due to what I’ve learned at Chaminade. Also, Chaminade has allowed me to create friendships that will last a lifetime, and that alone says so much about the family-like atmosphere that is provided at this school. Overall, Chaminade has been an amazing institution, and it is somewhere that I would recommend to any young man looking for a unique and memorable experience.
Jonathan Duncan
I believe that Chaminade has truly shaped me into a man to go about the world and do the right things and to recognize the wrong ones and change them. Also Chaminade has brought me close to men in my class and I will forever have a close bond with them. All in all, Chaminade gave me friends, a great education and the building blocks to become a great person in general.
Tevin Evans
My time here at Chaminade overall has been a great experience. It seems like Chaminade for me showed me some of the life lessons that I will go through as I leave here and go to college. As a student I learned that you have to keep your grades up and it will help you a long way. My favorite memory is getting my first dunk in the Chaminade gym. The person who has influenced me the most has been Mr. Smith. He kept me in a never give up attitude even when times were tough with my eligibility as a Chaminade student. He is also the person I am most grateful for here at Chaminade.
Timothy Fanara
Chaminade has had a huge impact on my life. I have grown close to people at the school and developed good relationships with many of my classmates, coaches, and teachers. Chaminade has felt like a home away from home and has had a huge impact on my life. My favorite memories are playing sports and developing the relationships with teammates and coaches. It was fun to represent the school with my athletic talents and to compete with my friends.
Joshua Forrest
Being here at Chaminade has opened me up to new things on how to express myself. Ever since I came I was bent on becoming a football star, but when my father pulled me out, I found other ways to show that I was a model student; like joining the diversity club, participating in Focus St. Louis, writing for the newspaper and leading Kairos. I am grateful for the experiences and friends that I have made here at this school. My favorite memory was leading Kairos. I was so scared that no one would care or take the trip seriously but instead they were probably even better than my own group. I enjoyed talking to my fellow seniors and it was the best decision I made here at Chaminade. The person who experienced me the most was Dietrich Smith. Mr. Smith taught me the importance about being an upstanding African-American and what a privilege is to be here at this school. I’m grateful for his help and his continual support.
Christopher Gordinier
Chaminade has enlightened me to a certain point where I can’t express the words. The way I see things, and respond to things has changed. My general faith has shown itself to me. I’ve made new friends, and all in all I’ve created a new way of living in accordance with Christ and Esto Vir. My favorite memory is going to Trout Lodge, as well as playing volleyball for the first time. The people who have influenced my experience the most are Mr. Schmitt, Dr. Wright, Mrs. Spaulding, Mrs. Armstrong, and Mr. Anthony. I am grateful to the entire Chaminade Family, my Parents, and the Lord Jesus.
Ryan Hall
I enrolled at Chaminade on a whim, but now I cannot imagine going anywhere else. When I look back on my experiences at Chaminade I will remember them fondly. I cannot thank the teachers and faculty enough for the time they invested in me. I will always remember the afternoons spent working on the newspaper after school with Mr. Desnoyer and reading Plato with Mr. Corte. Even though I am leaving Chaminade, my experiences and memories will always stay with me.
Thomas Halliday
I have really enjoyed my time at Chaminade. The four years that I have been here have gone by so fast. I’ve enjoyed all the classes, sports, and friends I have been associated with. I have so many memories that it is hard to pick just one that stuck out the most. When I talk to friends that attend public school, I hear from them how much they hate it and can’t wait to leave. It makes me realize how much I truly have enjoyed Chaminade and how blessed I am to be able to go to a school like Chaminade.
Kyle Hutson
Through my years Chaminade has had a great impact on my life and has changed me in numerous ways. Being a Chaminade student has been a once in a lifetime experience. I believe that I have been given many opportunities that some high school students do not get. My favorite memory at Chaminade was being in Columbia and watching the Basketball team win the state tournament. This is my most favorite memory of my teenage years, it was so much fun and awesome to watch the team come back in the first game. At Chaminade I am grateful for all my teachers that have helped me become the person I am now. They are all wonderful people and have done a wonderful job with all the students in our class.
Patrick Kesterson
I have learned that Chaminade doesn't make men. The faculty does. It will always fall on the teachers to shape us into the people who we will be. Teachers share with the students their life experiences, opening themselves up for us to learn from them. They show us the drive and passion that they have for their field, how they got there, sometimes inspiring us to channel our own passion into what we want to do in our lives.
Nathan Kohlenhoefer
Chaminade has made many different positive impacts on me. It has helped me grow faithfully because of the religion classes that we are required to take, it has made me make new friends that I would never thought of becoming friends with before I came here, and it has given me a work ethic that I will carry out with me for the rest of my life. My favorite memory at Chaminade has to be playing hockey with my best friends and being a captain with them our senior year. Mr. Sartori has influenced me the most because of all the talks that we have had about many different situations.
John Lauber
My time at Chaminade has been filled with great mentors and teachers with great opportunities to learn. My favorite memory or stream of memories would have to be the Australian Exchange during my junior year of high school. It was so beneficial to see a different part of the world and a different culture. Another favorite memory is working with Mr. Koehrer and my classmates Nick Thiess and Pat Kesterson during Rocket Club. Lastly, my time with the water polo team, which has been a struggle all the way, was beneficial and helped me to stay in shape and learn to develop patience and communication skills with superiors. Father Ralph Siefert was without a doubt the best influence I have ever had on my life in the Chaminade community. Without Father Ralph's support I do not know where I would be in my schooling career today. I am grateful to all of my senior teachers, Mr. Armon, Mr. Corte, to Mr. Koehrer, Dr. Wilson, Fr. Ralph, and of course to my ever-dedicated parents who were supportive all along the way.
Curtis Lovings
I loved my time at Chaminade because I met new people. I met people from all over the world by staying in the dorms. I have loved being with my classmates during the week and at times on the weekend. I love how the Chaminade young men are all a family plus the teachers. Everyone loves one another and tries to keep everyone happy. I am grateful for many teachers here showing me how to do things and showing me how to be a man. Mr. Sartori has been the best person at Chaminade for me because has been a dad more than a counselor. He shows me love and cares for me. He helps me when I need it and comes down hard when he needs to. Overall his presence at CCP has me a better person. I will miss Chaminade a lot from all the high school games to the hardest test days, from laughing at the lunch table to going on retreats. This school has done great things for me and one day I will return the favor.
Ian Miller
Chaminade has not only transformed me into a well-rounded academic student, but has provided me with numerous lifelong friends and great memories. There is not a particular memory that I keep as my favorite, but there have been many times, both inside and outside of school, that I will never forget. Almost every teacher that I have had at Chaminade has been an enjoyment and a role model for me and I could not have asked for a better teaching staff anywhere.
Conner Plufka
I have been shaped and formed into a man over my 7 years here. I have matured from the overall expectations on the field and in the classroom. Every aspect of my life from service, work ethic, and relationships has been changed by Chaminade. My favorite memories are from the football team, the past two seasons exciting games and seeing the love that the school showed for the team. There are a few teachers that have affected my time here in many ways showing guidance for me: Tim Sartori, Mr. Francis and his architecture class, Coach Lee and his life lessons, and Dean Schmitt and Dean Chiburis helping Vince and I all year. I wish to thank my parents for helping me along the way and my grandfather.
Daniel Sly
Being a Chaminade student up to this point has been a time of growth and development, preparing me for the next step in my life. My experience at Chaminade has shaped who I am, and has helped me become a well educated man. The memories throughout my career will always stay with me, especially the memories of Sr. Ryan's classroom. Teachers and mentors such as Joe Morgan, Andrew Schmitt, Karl Koehrer, Brett Desnoyer, Mike Massa, and so many others have helped teach me, both inside and outside the classroom, some of the essential things that I will use throughout my life. I have made it through my years at Chaminade with the help of my family, friends, and faculty at Chaminade. I am grateful for every moment I have had at Chaminade and the many things I have learned.
Caleb Small
Being a Chaminade student has taught me to interact with everyone. It is possible to learn so much from all of your classmates and teachers, as long as you get to know them. My favorite Chaminade memory is every time I sit at a year-end band concert and hear the younger kids. It's a great reminder of where we all were once and it's fun to see how far they advance in such a short time. The people who have influenced my Chaminade experience the most are Brother James Eppy and Mr. Desnoyer. I am grateful to my parents, my awesome sister, and all of the Chaminade faculty that have pushed me to do my best, always.
Liam Stapleton
I definitely made the right decision by choosing Chaminade. I have had a lot of great memories. Some of the best memories of Chaminade are of senior year. I will never forget watching the basketball team dominate and the good times I had at soccer practice. My favorite moment would probably have to be when we beat the undefeated Peoria Notre Dame 3-0 in soccer on our home field. A ton of teachers, mentors, and coaches have influenced me in a positive way at Chaminade. Both in the classroom and on the soccer field, Mr. Massa pushed me and showed me that hard work pays off. Mr. Sartori instilled in me confidence in everything that I do. He also would chip me on a regular basis on the soccer field. Coach Moe trained me as a goalkeeper and was the funniest mentor in the whole school, hands down. My friends were probably the biggest reason why I loved going to school at Chaminade. Finally, I would like to thank my parents because without them I wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend Chaminade.
Kevin Stringer
The biggest impact that being at Chaminade has had on me is in my faith life. The summer after my sophomore year I was confirmed and received my first communion, and without Chaminade I would not have made that decision. Particularly my religion classes have taught me to think critically about what I truly believe in, most especially Dan Stout's Morality and Social Justice class and Michael Corte's Foundations of Theology class. I plan on carrying my strong faith with me throughout the rest of my life and using it to better my life and the lives of others to the best of my ability. Without Chaminade, I wouldn't have the tools that faith provides me.
Vincent Taormina
Chaminade has taught me how to be a leader. Through the house system, I have been able to lead my fellow students and work with them to make Chaminade a better place. My favorite memory while here is winning the House Cup for Mauclerc, the first time since I have been at Chaminade. The people that have influenced me the most are Dean Andrew Schmitt who has helped me lead in the Mauclerc House, Mr. Corte who has helped me become deeper in my faith, and Mr. Desnoyer who has helped me to become a better writer and a strong individual. I am thankful to all of my teachers who helped me reach this point.
Christopher Traeger
I have absolutely no regrets about picking Chaminade as my high school. Chaminade is my second home and the time I have spent here has helped me to become the man I am today. I have grown in my faith, character, and my ability to commit to important aspects of my life. There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me to reach where I am now. I'll start off by thanking my parents. I never could have done it without you guys. You guys are the best and I don't have to put it in writing for you to know that. I'd say that the best time of my senior year was on Kairos. I can't divulge really anything, but to all the guys in my small group, you guys are great. Bros forever. Oh yes, I can't forget Mr. Viviano (aka Vivs). I swear, every time I visited you I came out of that room laughing. I always felt so much better. Last of all, I would like to thank Mr. Sartori for giving me the courage to believe in myself. I know it sounds cliché, but I don't know what I would have done without him. Thanks to everyone else not mentioned and keep up the great work! Esto Vir!
Dynasty Wells-Union
I’d like to take the time to express how much I actually appreciate coming to Chaminade College Prep. There is no way I would be the same person I am today if it wasn’t for me spending my high school career with all the people associated with Chaminade. Chaminade has changed my way of life completely, and helped me transform from a carefree adolescent, to a respectful and virtuous young man. I cannot pinpoint a specific person here at Chaminade that has influenced me the most, because I am influenced and take a little something from everyone I cross paths with and is willing to help me on my journey. For example, my classmates here at Chaminade has proved to be loyal friends that I can always rely on during my years at Chaminade, and I would be willing to do anything for them. The teachers and administrators are more to me than their titles, they are just as much my friends as my Chaminade Brothers. I have learned from them more things than you can imagine, things you cannot get from a textbook. And it is not just the teachers and administrators that leave an impact on me, but it is all the faculty here at Chaminade, like the fine people in food service, secretaries, Campus Ministry, Counseling, Advancement office and especially the people in the Laptop Repair Center, just to name a few. I am very grateful to have God grant me the blessing of attending Chaminade, so I can meet all the people who have helped me reach the point I am at today.
Brendan Westerfield
In my opinion, one's high school years are the most influential of our lives. I was blessed enough to attend a school like Chaminade, where I was/am comfortable, and I know I can count on my classmates. It's hard to believe that four years, (for me, some maybe 7) have gone by so fast, but I will always cherish the times that we have had. I think that these years have formed who I will become for the rest of my life, and I am grateful for all of your help in my lives. Thanks for the memories, Class of 2011.
Daniel Willey
The most influential people on me, during my career at Chamy, would have to be my athletic coaches. Throughout my high school career especially these coaches have influenced me to work harder than I have in the past for something. I'm a very sports oriented person; I take athletics very seriously. Mr. Massa has especially left an impact on me from Freshman Basketball and Sophomore Soccer. He always emphasized that if you work hard it will pay off in the end. I have taken that with me for all my life.
Students from our freshman technology classes were given a camera and computer software to develop their own Chaminade recruitment video. The only rules were that it should be about two minutes in length, and the students should feature their three reasons why they chose Chaminade. Of the entries submitted, the videos below were considered to be the best. Congratulations to Jack DeCamp, Andres De Los Rios, Mike Einspanier and Alex French for their hard work.