Assumption welcomes four new faculty members this year, including Spanish teachers Ms. Alyssa Theisen and Mrs. Mayra Amaya. New Science and Math teacher Mrs. Keri Walter is instructing courses in Physical Science, Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1, along with a Math Lab.
Father Jake Greiner, Pastor at Our Lady of Victory, has joined the Religion Department, where he is teaching Senior Religion.
For the fourth time this decade, and seventh time overall, Assumption won the Des Moines Register’s All-Sports Award. The Knights are champions of the Small School Division (up to 349 students in grades 10-12) for the 2016-17 academic year after earning points for State Tournament championships in Girls’ Track & Field, Girls’ Soccer, Softball and Baseball, as well as State Tournament appearances by the Volleyball, Girls’ Cross Country, Wrestling, Girls’ Basketball, and Boys’ Soccer teams.
Assumption has won the Register’s All-Sports Award in the Small School Division five times (2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017), and the Medium School Division twice (2003, 2014). Congratulations to all of our coaches, athletes, and supporters!
Please find the link below for the AHS Academic Calendar for 2017-2018.
Assumption Art students, both current and former, were hired by the nonprofit Quad-City Metro Arts Summer Youth Program to create a nursery rhyme-themed mural in Davenport’s Fejervary Park.
Under guidance from Davenport-based artist Sarah Robb, senior Marissa Shell, along with graduates Carolyn Pham ’16 and Tammy Truong ’17, helped paint an 85-foot mural that contains several panels adorned with scenes from nursery rhymes including “Hey Diddle Diddle” “Hickory Dickory Dock” and “Jack and Jill.” Students also painted large Adirondack chairs that will be placed at sites such as Vander Veer Botanical Park.
“This is my first job and it’s something I love to do,” Shell said. “And it’s one of the first times I get to see somewhat of what it might be like to do art in the future.” Read more
The Assumption Girls’ Soccer Team won its second consecutive Iowa Class 1A State Tournament title, marking the program’s sixth state title in the last seven years. A convincing 3-0 championship game win over Center Point-Urbana on June 10 at the James W. Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, marked the eighth time the Lady Knights have claimed the Iowa Class 1A state trophy.
Making their 11th straight appearance at the State Tournament, the Knights downed Nevada 2-0 in the semifinals, after setting a new state tournament record with 9 goals in their 9-0 win over Iowa City Regina in the quarterfinals. Assumption set a new all-class goal total record with 14 scores in the tournament’s three games.
Sophomores Carly King and Anna Vonderhaar, were named to the Class 1A All-Tournament Team, as were juniors Bridget Poster and Molly Gervase (captain). Following the tournament, Gervase and junior Annie Argo were voted 2017 Iowa Class 1A First Team All-State by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. The Lady Knights finished the year 19-2 (7-2 MAC) overall under second-year head coach Elizabeth Maus ’03.
Brett Ebert – Class 0f 2008
In a series of interviews with notable alumni about their experiences at Assumption, we recently caught up with 2008 graduate Brett Ebert, Aerospace Engineer for Boeing in St. Louis.
What are you doing now?
I’m an aerospace engineer for Boeing. More specifically, I’m in Phantom Works, an organization that acts as a military prototyping and advanced development group within Boeing Defense. I live in St. Louis with my wife, Michaela (Byrne) Ebert, who is also an Assumption graduate.
How did you land your current job at Boeing?
After high school, I knew I wanted to go into engineering, so I headed to Iowa State. Because Iowa State is a major engineering school in the Midwest, many companies come to campus to recruit. When the career fair rolled around a few years into my schooling, I made sure to talk to Boeing, hoping to get an interview. I ended up getting a summer internship working in their defense organization, and I was hooked. Working on the cutting edge of military aerospace was a dream come true. I went back to Boeing during the rest of my summer breaks and started full time work after I graduated.
What made you want to go into Aerospace Engineering?
Growing up, I was fascinated by aircraft and always kept the idea of working on them for a career in the back of my mind. I liked watching documentaries about military aircraft and spacecraft, and I’d always be drawing planes. Once at college, I started in Mechanical Engineering since it provides a broader engineering base and allows you to work in a wide range of fields, including the aerospace industry. When I started with Boeing and got the chance to work on military aircraft, it wasn’t long before I realized I was where I was supposed to be. I still remember the first time I got to go in one of the hangers as an intern. I walked into this huge building, and its one big open room, with what had to be more than 20 fighter jets all sitting in it, ready for final testing and delivery to the military. Seeing these machines up close was breathtaking. I knew I was staying at Boeing, so I decided to round out my education with an Aerospace Engineering graduate degree.
What is a typical day like for an aerospace engineer?
It can vary quite a bit, depending on your role. Right now, I’m involved in a modeling and simulation group, so I spend my day developing analytical models and virtual simulations and using those models to provide data to aid decision making. In other roles, I’ve designed parts, performed testing, and helped with feasibility studies and trade studies. There are a wide variety roles and career paths within the industry, and you could find yourself spending your days anywhere from a fabrication shop to an office, or from being out in the field doing testing to on the road meeting with customers. Aerospace engineers can work on any number of projects, from things like fighter jets to jumbo jets, from helicopters to spacecraft. The products aren’t just limited to planes either, the things we work on can go under the ocean, float on the ocean, drive on land, fly in the sky, and orbit the earth in space. There’s a whole lot out there, and there’s always something new going on.
What do you enjoy most about your career as an aerospace engineer?
The best part of my career is getting to be on the cutting edge of new technology (in other words, just getting to work with really cool stuff). It’s fulfilling and humbling to see the magnitude and importance of the projects we work on. Our products help to connect the world together, keep us safe, and explore the universe. It’s a great thing to be a part of.
What are some of the things you learned at Assumption?
From an academic perspective, I really think my time at Assumption prepared me well for success in college and beyond by providing a solid base on which to grow. While I learned specific things like math and science, writing and history, I think one of the most important things was having learned how to learn. Assumption taught me how to take something I didn’t know and to look at it critically, breaking it into pieces to understand it as a whole. This ability pick up new ideas and concepts has proven to be one of the most important things I took away from my time at Assumption.
How do you feel your time at Assumption has helped you in your career thus far?
One thing that stands out in my mind is that Assumption taught me to be detail oriented. In the aerospace industry, small mistakes can have big consequences, and paying attention to the details is crucial. While at Assumption, I remember some of the teachers being tough about small things like spelling or grammar errors in my writing (thanks Mrs. Luton and Mrs. Tompkins!), or making a point to ensure we used proper notation and showed our work (thanks Mrs. Murphy!). Looking back, I now realize how big a deal those habits are and how important that attention to detail is in my career.
Additionally, being a student at Assumption taught me how to be well-rounded and taught me the importance of being an overall good person. Both inside and outside the classroom, I learned how to be part of a community, how to treat others with respect, how to work as a team, and many other skills that, while hard to quantify, play a vital role in success later in life. These experiences and lessons helped to shape who I am today.
What are a few of your favorite memories from your time at Assumption?
The things that I look back most fondly on are my memories from my extracurricular activities. I really enjoyed my time and involvement in sports and band, and looking back, those are some of my most vivid memories. Things like drumline rehearsals, band trips, cross country meets, tennis matches, and the friends I made (including my future wife) through those activities are the things I think of when I look back at my time at Assumption.
Looking back on your time at Assumption, what are some of the experiences that helped prepare you for what you’re doing now?
While I didn’t realize it at the time, my involvement in sports and band helped prepare me to be mindful in my work. In these activities, you spend your time as part of a team working towards a common goal, and you learn to work with all kinds of personalities. Looking at it now, this skill is important in my career, because I work with a variety of people and we all need to work together to succeed.
Who were some of the biggest influences during your time at Assumption?
Both the math and science departments were big influences during my time at Assumption, and a big thanks to Mrs. Murphy (when she used to teach math!), Mrs. Wallace, and Mrs. Martin for getting me a solid technical base to push me to where I am today. One other big influence whose teaching still helps me to this day is Mrs. Luton. Her insistence on having her students learn the fundamentals of writing and how to convey their thoughts in a concise manner continually affects how I approach getting my ideas across to others.
What suggestions or advice do you have for students who may want to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering?
It seems like the common advice is to make sure you brush up on your math and science. While this is true and these subjects form an integral part of the education, that’s not the whole picture of how to be truly successful. I feel like one of the lesser known keys to success is to get involved and expand your skills. Get involved in community organizations, join clubs, find a hobby, learn shop skills, and develop your leadership abilities. These are all ways to not only differentiate yourself from the crowd, but to also make yourself a better and more well-rounded person. A big part of this industry deals with working in teams, so developing yourself as a person who can connect with and lead others is critical.
Do you have any last words of encouragement for the Class of 2017?
Every now and then, stop, take a deep breath and appreciate what has led you to be where you are today, and enjoy it. It feels like just yesterday I was walking into Assumption for my first day of freshman year; things have gone by so quickly. It’s important to enjoy where you are in life.
Thanks, Brett. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule for the interview. Congratulations on all the great work you’re doing!
Father Thom Hennen discussed his personal story of becoming a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Davenport with the Assumption student body. He also spoke about vocations in the church and how one becomes a member of the clergy. small sex doll
To watch the video on YouTube click here.
“It’s making learning real.” This is how science teacher Wendy Martin describes AHS’s new STEM BEST partnership with VictoryVR, a Quad-City tech company. From a phlebotomist to a veterinarian and an industrial engineer to a science teacher, Virtual Reality (or VR) is changing the way students learn about STEM careers.
The program, “VR STEM Career Exploration,” uses phone-based virtual reality software to bring STEM careers from throughout the U.S. directly to students, giving them the opportunity to virtually “step into” the worlds of 20 different STEM careers (and growing). Each vignette physically places students in laboratories, green houses, observatories and more as these STEM employees explain the day-to-day duties of their job, their educational pathways and their passion for what they do.
It’s important to keep in mind that everyone has different preferences and what works for one person may not work for another. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a rose toy (buying a vibrator):
Overall, the most important thing is to choose a toy that meets your needs and preferences. It may take some trial and error to find the perfect toy for you, but it’s worth it to take the time to find something that you enjoy and that brings pleasure to your life.
The Iowa STEM Council provided a STEM BEST cost-matched award of $25,000 to Assumption last October based on its proposal to collaborate with a local business and develop a tool that would benefit students not only in Iowa but also across the nation. Come fall, Assumption will begin using the tool in all of its classrooms as well as for career guidance conversations between students and counselors.
The program is available to anyone, anywhere, with a smartphone and access to Google Cardboard or other affordable, VR headset gear. The free app is available now in the Google Play Store and a version for the iPhone will be available in the Apple Store soon.
Come see these smiling orphan faces NEXT WEEKEND as the Knight Players present Annie! Showtimes are March 11 and 12 at 7:00 p.m. and March 13 at 2:00 p.m. Reserved seating can be purchased atwww.showtix4u.com and general admission seating will be available at the door!
Price(s):
Adult – $10.00
Student/Senior – $8.00
It began in the summer of 1979, and has continued the last weekend of June every summer since. For Class of 1980 graduates Tom Thompson, Tim Lawler, Brendan Kelly, Bill McAfoos, Bob Hingtgin, George Gerwe, Matt Nagle, and Drew Bracken, there’s nothing quite like their annual canoe trip on the Iowa River.
This past summer marked the group’s 36th trip on the Upper Iowa River, which started as canoeing all day Saturday, camping on the banks of the river, and continuing the canoe trip Sunday morning.
“Brendan Kelly came up with the idea,” says Tim Lawler. “He used to go camping and canoeing there as a child. We were looking for a cheap weekend getaway, which has now turned into 36 years.”
For Lawler, his best memories are of conversations around the camp fire, where stories range from Prom and college, to careers, marriage, and children.
Recently the group has added a Friday golf outing to their festivities, while cutting back the canoeing portion of their weekend to a half day on Saturday.
“We’re getting too old to canoe that long,” said Lawler. “We depart Sunday morning, because we are all headed in separate directions. We still cook all our meals around the fire, catch up and laugh.”
While each classmate now has his own family and career and the friends are spread across the country from California to Michigan, it remains an important tradition to block out the last weekend in June for the trip, “to reconvene, and pick up where they left off.”
“While we all went to separate colleges and moved to different states, we never lost touch. A lot of us were in each other’s wedding. All of us have children that are older than we were when we started this annual trip,” said Lawler. “Though the conversations have changed over the years, the one thing that remains constant with this group is our love for Assumption.”
“For this group there truly is no place like Assumption,” Lawler said. We couldn’t have said it any better.
