BROTHER RICE
V OLUME 56, I SSUE 8
Chieftain
S ENIOR E DITION
Senior Letter
Fellow Seniors,
Like many assignments this semester, we relied on other
people’s work to help us complete this. (Thanks to Beauregard,
Farrar, Dybowski, Smith and the Class of 2016.) We say we
will change up the words a little bit so we don’t get caught, but
we’re even too lazy to do that.
On a more serious note, this is an open letter to the Class of
2017. The Seniors on the Chieftain wanted to end our tenure at
this wonderful newspaper with the only thing we really know
how to write: a letter. We have achieved more than we could
have imagined since we came
here in 2013. Our class boasts
a number of academic scholars
who will go to some of the top
colleges in the nation (see pp.
2-4). We had two National Merit
Scholars and many other stu-
dents who received academic
accolades. We were a part of 11
state championships (Football x1,
Hockey x2, Swimming x4, with
Lacrosse x3 and counting.) It’s
safe to say that our class has ac-
complished a few things.
One notable characteristic of
the Class of 2017 has been our
commitment to serving oth-
ers. On mission trips to Bonita
Springs, Brownsville, and Peru,
we connected to and served others. After returning from his
trip to Brownsville, Lorenzo Spagnuolo initiated a petition to
the Governor of Texas to bring better treatment to immigrants
there. Our class also helped found the Students Against De-
structive Decisions Club, guided, of course, by Br. Weilatz.
If there was one word to describe the experience of the Class
of 2017, it would be “change.” In 2013, things were a lot differ-
ent. Sodexo dominated the cafeteria, so pizza and fries could
be purchased any day of the week. Classwork was done in
notebooks; textbooks weighed down backpacks. Br. Segvich
roamed the halls, hunting down kids who dared to not wear
their IDs. The science wing was old and there were windows
in the cafeteria. The school days were a whole twelve minutes
shorter. Since then, we’ve been introduced to TruFoods, iPads,
a new science wing, and an entirely new administration.
Some of these changes were easy to adapt to. TruFoods was
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
quickly accepted, bringing Arnold Palmers and cups of cof-
fee to the students. The new science wing has been enjoyed by
students and teachers alike (especially Mr. Nauman and Mr.
Barnes). The introduction of the iPads last year, however, took
some getting used to. We still struggle to resist the urge to play
Flappy Golf or level up in Tap Baseball. In college, we may
have to rediscover how to take notes with a pen and paper.
The change that defi ned this year was in the administration.
At the beginning of the year, the Senior class welcomed a new
President, Principal, Vice Principal, and Dean of Student For-
mation. The transition had
its bumps, and the Senior
class was vital in connect-
ing the new administration
to the student body.
Our last year included
many experiences that have
brought us closer as a class.
Kairos 64, 65, and 66 were
incredible bonding op-
portunities for the Class of
2017. Events like Paint the
Roof, Field Day, and Water
Wars were memorable.
The bonds that we formed
as brothers are strong and
hopefully will last for many
years. Coming into high
school, it may have seemed
that graduation was our destination. But over the last four
years, we’ve learned that sometimes the journey is the destina-
tion. May the Class of 2017 live on forever.
And so on.
To the Underclassmen: Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy for us
as Seniors to look back at our time at Rice and think of all the
things we wish we had done. Do those things now; you still
have time. Cherish your time at Rice. Work hard, play hard.
Smile. GO ON KAIROS!!! And recognize how lucky you are to
have the Brother Rice community in your life.
And never forget, the best is yet to come.
Until We Meet Again,
P AGE 1
Jack Fitzpatrick, Nolan Geraghty,
Ryan Israel & Billy Nienstedt
Class of 2017
S E N I O R I S S U E 2017