Students Meet New Archbishop

Hope for the Future is a program of the Archdiocese of San Antonio that provides tuition assistance to deserving families to make possible a Catholic education for their children. A recent Hope for the Future event was a holiday reception at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Stoddard to welcome Archbishop Gustavo Garza-Siller to our San Antonio Catholic school community. Although they do not directly benefit from the program, several Atonement Academy upper scholars were on hand to assist with the reception and have the opportunity to meet our new archbishop.  Pictured here with Archbishop Gustavo are Juan Carlos Hinojosa, Maria Andrea Garza, Annamarie Schumacher, and Anne Kennedy.

Middle Students Return from Washington-Baltimore Pilgrimage

A pioneering group of seventh- and eighth-grade students have returned from the academy's first-ever pilgrimage trip to Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington and Alexandria. The students traveled for six days with Father Phillips, Deacon Orr, Mr. Johnston, and selected parents and siblings.

In the image on the right, students are seen on the grounds of America's first cathedral, the Basilica of the Assumption. Envisioned by America's first Bishop, John Carroll, the basilca was designed in a magnificent mix of classical and Federal styles by the leading architect of the era, Benjamin Latrobe. (Sharp-eyed architectural critics will also note the Eastern-style onion atop the spire.) The basilica served as the Premiere See's cathedral until the 1950s, when a new cathedral for the Baltimore Archdiocese was constructed north of town on Charles Street. Today the church is best known as The Baltimore Basilica.

The pilgrims visited a mix of historic sites of secular and Church significance. Sites included Fort McHenry, the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, numerous memorials, selected museums of the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington House (home of Robert E. Lee), Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) and Mount Vernon (home of George Washington). Father Phillips offered Mass for the pilgrims at important Church sites including the National Shrine Basilica of the Immculate Conception, Old St. Mary's Church in Old Town Alexandria (the oldest Catholic church in Virginia), St. Patrick's Church (the oldest Catholic church in D.C.), and the Franciscan Monastery in Northeast Washington.

The academy now contemplates making this trip a biennial event for seventh and eighth graders, coinciding with Fall Break in November of even-numbered years. In November of odd-numbered years, the tradition of an 11th and 12th-grade trip to Rome will continue.

Four Academy Freshmen are Voelcker Scholars

Four Academy freshmen, Alejandro Oliveros, Kayla Darvin, Zachary Lindsey, and Cecille Sorio were selected to participate in the Voelcker Biomedical Science Academy, a prestigious, three-year opportunity to engage in university-level biomedical research at the UT-Health Science Center campus. The program provides a unique opportunity for local high school students to experience and learn about the world of biomedical research in a manner that is usually reserved for graduate level students. Dr. Irene Chapa, director of the outreach program said, ”This year's applicants were incredibly strong academically. The average overall GPA of applicants was a 97 and there were over 60 applicants this year.” Pictured in the photo (L-R): Cecille Sorio, Zachary Lindsey, Kayla Darvin, Alejandro Oliveros, and Bishop Oscar Cantu.  Bishop Cantu was the guest celebrant for the Academy's daily Mass and posed with the students on the day the school received notification of the awards.

Crusader Campbell Honored with Citizenship Award

Not very often are students awarded a “Straight Arrow” award. In fact, the last time anyone won this award was six years ago. Recently things changed when the Atonement Academy community recognized Mary Bethany Campbell (‘13) with the Straight Arrow award.  Straight Arrow awards can be presented at the discretion of the administration for progress that may not have resulted in an honor roll grade but which warrants recognition by the school community.  The “progress” can be academic in nature, or it can be in the realm of initiative and leadership.  In Miss Campbell’s case, she saw a need to develop school spirit.  She carefully devised a plan, visited with several administrators, and used her own funds to create a costume for what would become her alter ego:  The Crusader, a school mascot. Our headmaster, Mr. Ralph Johnston surprised Miss Campbell with the award at the end of the quarterly academic awards ceremony.  Her award reads: “Mary B. Campbell is commended for her  initiative, leadership and citizenship in creating the Crusader mascot and promoting school spirit at athletic contests, establishing a significant and durable tradition for the Academy.” Pictured here is Mary Campbell with a future Crusader, Gregory Doman, whom she has inspired to suit up and generate spirit at Crusader games.