Thomas Gallagher
January 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Thomas is in his senior year at Faustina Academy. Active in the Faustina Athletic program, he has lettered in three sports, football, basketball and track. In football Thomas is a starter on the Offensive and Defensive Line and was named All State Honor and Division First Offensive Tight-end/Linemen his first year in the 2008 season. In the 2008-09 Season he played as a guard for Faustina’s basketball team. During track, Thomas helped the Falcons go to state where he ranked in the discus and 4x400m events. Thomas’ Math skills shine at the top of his class, and was awarded the Excellence in Mathematics award in 2008. Science is also a great interest to Thomas, placing 1st in his class in the Science Fair in 2009. Thomas also took an active part in the drama program at Faustina. In the production “Cheaper by the Dozen” he showed versatility in being able to learn some German for the part.
Currently Thomas has not made a commitment as to where he plans to attend college. He has applied to the University of North Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State University, and Texas Tech. He is looking to major in Mathematics. He would also like to continue on playing football and also would like to perform in Theater Arts. Thomas loves to sing and has studied roles such as Don Quixote from Man of La Mancha, Curley from Oklahoma , and Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls.
Thomas is an Eagle Scout with 5 Palms. He is currently still active with his Boy Scout Troop as an Assistant Scoutmaster and is helping others on their way to Eagle. An avid outdoorsman, Thomas has backpacked in New Mexico at Philmont twice, hiking almost 200 miles. He is a certified scuba diver and has gone to Sea Base in Florida three times. He is looking to complete the Boy Scout Triple Crown by going to Northern Tier. Thomas is also a master in the craft of pioneering, and is currently a merit badge instructor for Boy Scouts. He is looking to accomplish his certification in rifle, shotgun and archery. He has completed his full cycle from scout to scouter.
In his spare time, Thomas is an excellent woodworker. His Eagle project was designing and building a display cabinet, bingo cart, and video cabinet for the Dallas Veterans Hospital Transitional Care Unit. He also does many special projects around the house ranging from plumbing, remodeling, flooring, deck building to electronics.
Thomas has an older sister and two younger brothers. His sister Mary is attending North Texas Community College, John, who is a junior at Faustina, and Michael, who is in 8th grade at Briarhill Middle School.
Jeff Caten
November 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Jeff is one of four seniors at Faustina academy. He plays on Faustina’s football team, basketball team and track team. Last year, he placed second in the 110 hurdles at state. He has been playing football for 2 years, basketball for four years and track for three years. He would like go on to play football at a college level.
Right now, Jeff has not made an official decision as to where he would like to attend college. He has applied to Tarleton State University, Angelo State University, St. Anselm, Benedictine University and many others. Also, he’s still undecided about what he will major in, but his interests include in business, economics and history.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports, mountain biking, watching movies, sport shooting and almost anything that is outdoors.
Jeff has 3 siblings: Theresa, James and Joe. Theresa is married and has recently had a boy named Henry. James is living in Washington state and working for a public relations company Joe is a sophomore attending The University of Dallas.
Brigitte Graf
January 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Brigitte is one of the five seniors at Faustina Academy. As well as being this year’s student body president, she is also a dedicated tennis player. She placed third for Faustina at last year’s state competition. Brigitte has been playing tennis for four years and hopes to continue to play possibly in college.
Right now, Brigitte has not made an official decision as to where she is going to attend college. She has applied to SMU, Texas A&M, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Bradley University. So far she has been accepted to Franciscan University and is waiting to hear back from the others.
Brigitte is undecided about what it is she will major in. Right now her interests are in literature, writing, business, and economics.
In her spare time, as well as being an avid reader of such authors as Jane Austen and the great William Shakespeare, Brigitte enjoys singing and running. She has joined the Faustina track team for this year and hopes to help her fellow Falcons take state!
Brigitte has three siblings, Shannon, Jochen, and Monique. Shannon serves as a medic in the US Army and has recently returned from a ten month stay in Iraq. Jochen is beginning this semester at Bradley University with a scholarship to play on the men’s soccer team. Monique is a sophomore at Faustina and is Brigitte’s training partner for tennis.
Shannon Grygier
December 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Underneath Shannon’s quiet demeanor is a very determined and intellectual mind. She is an outstanding writer and is most at home in the company of philosophers and artists like herself. Her favorite activity is drama and since her 7th grade debut as Ariel in the Tempest at Faustina, she has had a leading role in every play produced at the school. When people see her on stage, they always ask “Is that really Shannon who is usually so quiet and reserved?” She comes alive in drama performances and can memorize her lines in the blink of an eye.
Shannon is also a very talented artist who has done oil painting and drawing for years. Last year she sold several original works at an art exhibit in Las Colinas. Shannon has decided on a small, Catholic liberal arts school for college and has applied to the University of Dallas, Benedictine College and Ave Maria. She has already been accepted to Benedictine. In college, she hopes to pursue the arts, drama and/or English .
Lest you think she is all art and intellect, Shannon was part of the Faustina girl’s volleyball team this year where she was known for setting the ball. She has done many volunteer activities over the years including working at the White Rose, Missionaries of Charity and Lost Paws Rescue. She has also headed several “rose selling” fundraisers for the school for Valentine’s Day and May Crowning. She also organized a clothing drive at the school in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, Shannon won the Faustina Academy Student of the Year award; was elected Prom Queen in 2007; was the first May Queen for the school in 2004 and has won drama awards in nearly every year since 7th grade. She also won the first place prize in the 2006 Science Fair for her project on genetics.
In July, Shannon began her part time job at the Catholic Pro Life Committee of the Dallas Diocese, the model pro life diocesan group for the entire country. There she primarily serves in a data input capacity, but also does other clerical activities for the CPLC. Shannon has a younger sister, Joanna (Jojo), who also attends Faustina Academy in the 9th grade.
Cecelia Pearson
November 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Cecelia is the fourth in a family of seven children, and has only attended Faustina Academy for two years. She has been actively involved in the student life at Faustina Academy, shown by her participation in Student Council during both of her years at Faustina Academy. She is the Captain of the cheer leading squad, as well as, the 2008 Discus District Champ in Track & Field.
Earlier in the summer, Cecelia visited Medjugorje, Bosnia for a work camp. In addition, she volunteers at the local hospital to gain experience in her prospective field of study: nursing. Cecelia plans to pursue a career in nursing and has been accepted to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
Kathleen Davis
October 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This is Kathleen’ s 5th year at Faustina Academy. For the last five years, Kathleen has excelled in her academics, working hard to achieve the honor roll – this last year doing so while working part-time. Behind the serious and stern face of Kathleen Davis is a caring and compassionate girl who has traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to do missionary work for the Mustard Seed Communities, as well as, helping with the Missionaries of Charity here in Dallas. Kathleen has also been fortunate enough to travel to Washington, DC to take part in the “March for Life” twice. This year, Kathleen took part in Faustina Academy’ s first high school volleyball team where she was a key player because of her intimidating height and mastered spike.
Kathleen will be the third Davis to graduate from Faustina Academy, following her two older brothers, Michael and Christopher. She also has one younger brother Joseph and one younger sister Elizabeth who also attend Faustina Academy.
After graduation Kathleen plans to pursue a degree in nursing. Her college of choice has yet to be determined.
Michael Weigel
August 30, 2008 | 1 Comment
This year, the first Senior Spotlight will shine on Michael Weigel.
Underneath Michael’s calm and quiet demeanor is the speed and quickness that helps power Faustina’s new high school sports teams. This year, Michael is the Captain of the first Faustina Falcon’s football team and a starting running back. In the first two games of this season he has rushed for 526 yards on 27 carries scoring 8 touchdowns. He is also a dangerous return man racking up 268 return yards on 7 returns for an average of 38.2 yards per return. He also plays defense recording 7 tackles and 2 sacks.
Michael has been using his speed not only on the gridiron, but also on the track. In 2007, in the first year of Falcon track, he was the TCAF state champion in the 1600m and the state runner up in the 100m. He was also the district champion in the 1600m and the district runner up in the long jump. He anchored the district runner up 4x100m relay team. He is a letterman not only in track, but in basketball, where he plays guard for the Falcons.
Michael’s athletic participation is not limited to Faustina. He is a member of Premier Track Club in Dallas competing in the 400m, the 800m and the 4x400m. He also uses his speed on the rugby pitch as a winger for the University of Dallas Rugby Club.
While enjoying his athletic accomplishments, Michael also pursues those things at the heart of Faustina Academy: leadership, academic excellence and commitment to his Faith. Michael was an Honor Roll student in the Fall of 2007 and was his class representative to the Student Council his sophomore year. He won the Best in History Award his sophomore and junior years. Since 2003, he has been an altar server at Mater Dei Latin Mass Community and he was the confirmation sponsor for his younger sister Sofia.
Michael’s hobbies outside of team sports are paint ball and snow boarding. He has four brothers and five sisters. His two older brothers are alums of Faustina, both now attending the University of Dallas. His younger siblings all attend Faustina. His favorite food is crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches. He plans on attending the University of Dallas next year, where he hopes to run track and continue playing rugby (and of course study!).
Jochen Graf
October 1, 2007 | 1 Comment
Jochen is a very busy individual, “using his head” both in and out of class. When not using his head to achieve excellence in the classroom at Faustina, he has been literally using his head for the last 2 years as part of the Andromeda Soccer Club #90 Boys Team, where he has been instrumental in their numerous victories. These victories include back-to-back titles at The North Texas State Cup and The Classic League First Division, 2 trips to regionals, and 1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! His achievements on and off the field have allowed him a spot on the SMU Soccer Team where he will be attending this Fall.
While at SMU, Jochen plans to pursue a degree in Business Management and, of course, victory on the field.
Jochen has 3 sisters, 2 younger ones which currently attend Faustina, and 1 in the Army. His favorite foods are his mom’s chili and his girlfriend’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Congratulations to Jochen for all his achievements! We are truly proud of him, and that is why he has been chosen for this month’s Senior Spotlight!