Ave Maria University Magazine, Volume 13 Issue 1

25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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08 25 YEARS OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY

From an institute in Michigan to a university town in Florida, Ave Maria has been a true labor of love from our founder, Tom Monaghan. In this article, Joseph Pearce takes us through the founding of Ave Maria University.

12 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENT FACULTY

Faculty are the heart of any university and Ave Maria is no exception. In this profile, senior student Analiese features members of our incredible faculty, some of who have been with the University since the very beginning.

22 25 YEARS OF AMU ALUMNI

For over 25 years, AMU alumni have taken their education out into the world as the next generation of young, Catholic leaders. Journey through the years as we honor our graduating classes, starting with the class of 2002.

34 BUILDING OUR LADY’S TEAM

From entering the NAIA in 2008 to announcing our 25th varsity program last fall, the building of Our Lady’s team has been a long but fruitful journey. This timeline explores historic moments of AMU athletics.

SPRING 2023

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1

PRESIDENT

Mark Middendorf

MANAGING EDITORS

Susan Gallagher

Shelby Mayer

Dennis McCarthy

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Balbina O’Brien

CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Guernsey

Chris Hermann ('25)

Analiese Hratko ('23)

Fr. Joseph Lugalambi

Fr. Rick Martignetti

Shelby Mayer ('20)

Dennis McCarthy

Roger Nutt

Joseph Patterson

Joseph Pearce

Michael Schwartz

PHOTOGRAPHY

Shelby Mayer

Ave Maria University publishes this magazine for its alumni, parents, and friends. Any address changes should be sent to the Office of Advancement,

Letter

PRESIDENT MARK J. MIDDENDORF

Dear Friends,

It is truly a joy to be celebrating with my colleagues the 25th anniversary of Ave Maria University. It’s been such a beautiful journey, or perhaps we should say a pilgrimage in faith.

Although I’ve had the honor and privilege of being AMU’s President for only a little over a year, my association with this incredible university goes back many years. As one of the original Founders Club members, I made my first donation before the shovel was put into the dirt here. At that time, before the first groundbreaking, there was nothing but a tomato field where now we have our beautiful campus. Way back then, even as I wrote my first check to support the vision Tom Monaghan had for a new, authentic and faithful Catholic university, I had in mind the hope or the possibility that perhaps my own children might someday come here. That particular desire came true, or perhaps I should say that the prayer was answered, because three of my children have either graduated or will graduate from AMU.

One of the things I loved about the vision of the school was its Marian culture. As our very name proclaims from the housetops, this is Our Lady’s University. It is hers! Her spirit pervades everything about AMU’s culture. It’s what I call “Ave joy.”

Ever since the earliest days, I have shared Tom Monaghan’s hopes and vision for a good, true and beautiful Catholic university, dedicated to Our Lady. It is truly a joy beyond words to bring this vision to fruition as Ave Maria University’s fourth President. In this labor of love, I am building on the work done by AMU’s first three Presidents — Nick Healy, Jim Towey and Chris Ice — and on the foundations laid by those current and past board of trustee members, other benefactors, and clergy. It is my great fortune to inherit such a legacy of faithfulness to our mission.

My deepest desire, as it has been Tom Monaghan’s since those early days, is to send students into the world to spread the word of the Gospel and to form future saints. As Tom has often said, “We want to teach what the Church needs the most,” and, as another board member, Denzil Samuels, says, “All through the humble grace of Mary we are forming tomorrow’s Catholic leaders today.” As Our Lord tells us, the one who receives the seed that fell on good soil is the one who hears the Word and understands it. He produces a crop yielding 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. Ave Maria University is truly the good soil yielding the good harvest.

At root, our mission is inspired by St. John Paul II, who was himself inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Magna Carta for Catholic colleges and universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which he issued on the Solemnity of the Assumption in 1990. In this groundbreaking and foundational document, he said that, without any doubt, Catholic

universities are essential for the growth of the Church and the restoration of Christian society. What is at stake, he said, is the very meaning of the human person. He concluded with the following crucial and powerful words: “A Catholic University is without any doubt one of the best instruments that the Church offers to our age which is searching for certainty and wisdom.” In the difficult times in which we live, we need to ponder these prophetic words of the Holy Father and act upon them.

It is a sobering thought that only 15 of the 221 Catholic universities and colleges in the United States adhere to the principles St. John Paul laid out and defined in 1990. Of these 15 faithful institutions, only eight are universities and only two of these have a doctoral program in theology. We are one of those two universities left in the country to hold this distinction. This is so important because we are teaching those who will be the future teachers at the seminaries. This is why we are working closely with the bishops and religious orders and other Catholic institutions to ensure there will be good and faithful scholars to teach future generations of good and faithful priests.

These men and women who we are teaching and training are destined to make a big difference. Properly formed intellectually with the love of truth and the love of God, these men and women can move mountains. Through God’s grace and our Blessed Mother’s intercessory help, they can be a fountainhead of renewal for the Church, a beacon of light in the darkness.

Mother Teresa once said, “I can go places you can’t go, and you can go places I can’t go, but together we can do something beautiful for God.” Here at Ave Maria University, I really believe we are doing something beautiful for God.

I hope you will continue supporting the University through our Annunciation Circle so our good soil can nourish more and more young people, enabling them to carry the seeds of the Gospel to future generations. With your support and God’s grace, all under our Blessed Mother’s mantle of protection, we can fulfill the mission God is calling us to: forming the future saints who are and will be fountainheads of renewal for our Church, our society, and our country.

God bless you, President

FAITH IN ACTION: PROVIDING HURRICANE IAN RELIEF TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Led by President Mark Middendorf, 60-70 students, faculty, and staff volunteered to help those affected by Hurricane Ian in Naples, Florida. Just days after the storm, the group cleaned the streets and houses of Southwest Florida residents, including the house of Founder Tom Monaghan. AMU’s involvement was covered by local press NBC 6.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/faith-in-action

FACULTY MEET POPE FRANCIS AT THOMISTIC CONGRESS IN ROME

Five faculty members from the department of theology at AMU were invited to speak at the 11th International Thomistic Congress in Rome September 19-26, 2022. To present at the Congress, one must either be invited by the Academy or submit a proposal approved by a review board.

AMU was the most well-represented institution in North America at the Congress. Faculty members in attendance privately met with Pope Francis in the Vatican during their trip.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/pope-francis

LAUNCHING THE CATHOLIC THEOLOGY SHOW

AMU launched its first faculty-led podcast, “The Catholic Theology Show,” in October 2022. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Matthew L. Lamb chair of Catholic theology at AMU. Each week, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with colleagues, friends, and other members of the University community to discuss Catholic theology. Themes covered in the show range from religious liberty and higher education to the natural sciences and philosophies of St. Thomas Aquinas. This podcast is made possible by our generous Annunciation Circle supporters.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/cts

INTRODUCING A NEW WRITING MINOR AT AMU

AMU introduced a writing minor to the undergraduate curriculum, bringing the count to 35 minors. The purpose of this new program is to elevate the clarity and power of students’ written communication, forming them in the arts of composition, rhetoric, language, poetics, and narration. Writing minors can apply skills learned in the classroom to online publications of their own, as they build a professional portfolio leading to graduation.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/written-eloquence

NEW CONCENTRATIONS ADDED TO ONLINE MBA

Students can now earn their online MBA in just 1216 months at a competitive price. The graduate MBA program offers four areas of concentration: management, accounting, communications, and international business. The communications and international business concentrations offer students additional ways to prepare for positions in management, marketing, finance, or multiple leadership opportunities in the business world.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/online-mba

COMPUTER SCIENCE BECOMES A MAJOR

AMU introduced a computer science major to the undergraduate curriculum, bringing the count to 34 majors. The program aims to establish an understanding of fundamental principles underlying computing, while developing strong problem-solving, analytical, and computational-thinking skills. In union with the teachings of the Catholic Church, the computer science program views forms of computation and mathematics as a part of God’s Creation.

OPENING OF JUDY FYKE PRACTICE GOLF COMPLEX

AMU recently welcomed the Judy Fyke Practice Golf Complex: a golf training center and putting green. This new facility offers Gyrene golfers an on-campus home to work on their game and is also available to students, staff and faculty. The golf facility was generously donated by AMU benefactor Jim Cunningham in memory of Judy, who passed away in January 2015.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/amenities-2023

STUDENTS EXCEL IN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

In the past year alone, AMU students have been co-authors on 10 scientific journal publications in chemistry and physics. Biochemistry students — Christiane Carlos ('24) and Ayuni De Lucia ('24) — were among a select group participating in the Abbott Laboratories summer internship program. Christiane worked on diagnostic assays as part of Abbott Lab’s virus hunter team, while Ayuni worked with the virus discovery team on HpGv-2 and hepatitis C. Abbott Labs has decided to continue and expand the program with AMU students next year based on the excellent level of involvement shown by Christiane and Ayuni.

12 TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP DINNER

AMU’s 12th Annual Scholarship Dinner celebrated students and alumni as “A Well-Founded Hope for Our Changing Times.” During cocktail hour, students presented their research projects in nursing, economics, biochemistry, psychology and history to attendees, as music majors played in a string ensemble. Highlights from the night included keynotes from Fr. Nate Pacer ('14) and Mary Gay ('23), speaking about their experiences at AMU. The night also featured vocal performances by students and alumni.

The event raised over $230,000 for student scholarships and financial assistance. AMU is grateful to Naples-based global medical device manufacturer, Arthrex, for hosting the event for the second year in a row.

POLITICS STUDENTS CONTINUE TO EXCEL

At Ave Maria University, faith and excellence reinforce one another for the purpose of forming students who are spiritually and intellectually robust. In the words of our provost, Dr. Roger Nutt, “The wonderful thing about AMU is our students are able to learn without ever being forced to compromise their faith.”

AMU’s politics department has a well-deserved reputation for offering one of the University’s most remarkable majors. The courses — Introduction to Political Thought, Constitutional Law, and International Relations — are challenging. Moreover, all politics seniors are required to complete a comprehensive examination

paired with their senior thesis. Evidence suggests politics students and alumni reap great benefits from the wellrounded education they receive in this major.

The department’s success is measured in part by how well its seniors perform on the Major Field Test (MFT) in Political Science. The MFT in Political Science is a standardized test — taken by poli-sci students at over a hundred universities across America — produced by the Educational Testing Service. This year’s cohort of nine seniors majoring in politics achieved outstanding MFT results. The cohort’s mean placed the class of 2023 in the 96th percentile overall on this standardized test.

A breakdown of their collective performance reveals they received a competitive education in every subfield within political science. Politics majors in the class of 2023 ranked as follows:

Political Thought - 99th percentile

International Relations - 98th percentile

American Government - 93rd percentile

Comparative Politics - 88th percentile

The politics department at Ave not only prepares its students to understand and interpret the debates relevant to today’s political climate, but it also provides its students with the knowledge necessary to contextualize these discussions within the larger realm of political and philosophical discourse.

Given the intellectual camaraderie among the politics students and the passion and brilliance among the faculty, it’s no surprise the class of 2023 exceeded expectations and aced the Major Field Test.

This year’s test results improved upon the results of the previous year by 6%. Last year, majors in the class of 2022 placed in the 90th percentile. The class of 2023 placed in the 96th!

The 2022 politics graduates are of exceptional character, each member contributing his or her unique genius to the atmosphere. ... the faculty’s high expectations and diverse skillsets, coupled with intentional development of their students, guarantees a customized education rivaling that of any other institution.

Similar test results were achieved by politics students in the classes of 2016, 2019, and 2020. The class of 2016 distinguished itself for achieving some of the highest scores ever on the MFT for the politics department. Major Field Test results depend both on the quality of the education received by students and the distribution of excellent test-takers within a given cohort. The impressive results achieved by AMU students majoring in politics over the years is a testament to the caliber of students attracted to this major. It is also a testament to the quality of the education they receive at Ave Maria.

The quality of both the students and the faculty in the politics department is phenomenal.

The department features longstanding and beloved faculty, including Dr. Seana Sugrue and Dr. John Colman, as well as newly welcomed addition Dr. Lidiya Zubytska. The department is currently chaired by Dr. James Patterson. Dr. Roger Nutt commended the politics faculty and their colleagues across the University, saying, “The consistently high performance on the Major Field Test among AMU politics students proves what we know to be true: a faithful Catholic university is, de facto, a truly outstanding university.”

25 YEARS OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY A Celebration

It would be no exaggeration to say that Ave Maria University (AMU) changed my life. If it had not been founded in 1998, I would have not moved to the United States from my native England three years later. It was in September 2001, four days before the terrorist attacks of 9/11, that I crossed the Atlantic to take up a position on the faculty of what was then known as Ave Maria College. As writer-in-residence and associate professor, I taught literature from 2001 until 2012, during a period in which Ave Maria College metamorphosed into Ave Maria

The story begins in the mind and heart of Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s Pizza, who had become alarmed at the way in which Catholic education had been undermined by a toxic combination of secular

University and moved its campus from Michigan to Florida. It is, therefore, a true honor to be invited to write these commemorative words in celebration of 25 years of AMU’s role in the restoration of authentic Catholic education.

ambition and modernist theology. Having seen so many nominally Catholic schools “dropping the ball,” he decided to bring his own ball into play. In the fall of 1997, he founded the Ave Maria Institute in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a Catholic undergraduate liberal arts institution, which marked the embryonic beginnings of AMU.

It would be an inauspicious start. The school was not able to call itself a college under Michigan state law because it was not yet fully accredited and there were only ten students and three professors. Yet this smallest of acorns or mustard seeds was destined to grow under Tom’s patronage until it would become the pioneering and thriving university we see today.

It was not plain sailing, however. The initial problem was to find a home for the new institute. An abandoned elementary school was purchased in Ypsilanti, which bordered the campus of Eastern Michigan University. This would serve as Ave Maria’s campus until the move to

Florida in 2003. Initially, growth was modest. By 2001, when I joined the faculty, there were around 70 students and 17 faculty members. At this time, differences were emerging among members of the faculty and administration with respect to the future of the college. Some wanted it to remain a small, integrated liberal arts institution, similar to existing schools such as Christendom College in Virginia, offering only a handful of majors, none of which would be in the physical or social sciences. Others, including Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria College’s first President, Nick Healy, envisioned the college as the kernel of what would become a fully fledged university. It was the latter view that ultimately triumphed.

New disciplines, such as biology, physics and economics, were added to the curriculum in 2002 beginning the transition of the college into a university. It was also in 2002 that the indomitable Jesuit Fr. Joseph Fessio, best known as the founder of Ignatius Press, was hired to become AMU’s chancellor. In the previous year, he had been fired from his position at the University of San Francisco (USF) when his robust and uncompromising orthodoxy became too much for the university’s modernist ascendancy to tolerate. At the same time, the St. Ignatius Institute that Fr. Fessio had founded at USF was unceremoniously shut down.

In offering Fr. Fessio a job shortly after his being fired by a heterodox institution, Tom Monaghan was following what was becoming a noble tradition. He had already offered five law professors a position at the Ave Maria School of Law after they had been dismissed by a local Catholic university for their pro-life stance. In addition, he welcomed the Institute for Pastoral Theology, a master’s program that

was grafted onto Ave Maria University to accommodate four faculty members who had resigned their positions at another Catholic university in protest at what they considered theological backsliding at that institution. In this way, Ave Maria University was becoming a haven for orthodox academics.

In the spring of 2002, Ave Maria had its first graduation. The first graduating class consisted of only seven pioneering students, four young men (three of whom went on to seminary) and three young women. They would be the first of thousands. In the following year, there were around 180 students, an exponential increase on the 70 students of the previous year. The Michigan campus was bursting at the seams, and the need to move to a new campus was becoming an urgent priority. Since its

inception, Tom Monaghan had planned for the campus to ultimatly be built at Domino’s Farms in Ann Arbor. However, difficulties arose when Ave Maria could not obtain the needed re-zoning for this to happen. At this point, with Tom Monaghan’s encouragment, the board of trustees made the major decision that the campus should be moved from Michigan to a new location in Naples, Florida. In the following year, the new interim campus of Ave Maria University was opened on the edge of Naples, which would be home to AMU until its move to its present location at the beginning of the fall semester in 2007.

Providentially, as the University was looking for a campus location in the Naples area, a large real estate/ development company offered to give the University the

land it needed for its campus, completely free of charge, if the University agreed to build on its land and the opportunity to be a 50% partner in the development of the newly envisioned town. AMU’s board accepted this offer as a gift from heaven. Construction began on the new site in 2004, marking the beginning of the town of Ave Maria. The new campus opened at the beginning of the fall semester in 2007. After almost a decade of numerous challenges, AMU had finally found a permanent home.

In March 2008, the oratory, now known as the parish church of Ave Maria, was consecrated, setting in place the spiritual heart of both the University and the town that was growing up around it. In 2010, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

granted the University full accreditation.

In February 2011, Tom Monaghan relinquished the reins at AMU to Jim Towey, who took over as both President and CEO. Towey would be at the helm for nine years. He was succeeded by Chris Ice and then, briefly, by Roger Nutt, who served as the interim President until Mark Middendorf became AMU’s new President at the beginning of last year (2022).

President Middendorf now presides over an inspiring Catholic University that currently has 1,231 students and offers 34 undergraduate majors and 35 undergraduate minors, in addition to three master’s and one Ph.D.

program. The University is situated in Ave Maria, one of the fastest growing communities in the country.

In the quarter of a century since its foundation, AMU has seen many changes but one thing, the most important thing, remains unchanged. Ave Maria University stands as a faithful servant of Christ and of the teaching Magisterium of the Catholic Church. It is a beacon of light and life. May we all pray the light grows ever brighter as AMU enters the next 25 years of faithful service to Jesus Christ and the Church He founded.

25 YEARS OF EXCELLENT FACULTY The Heartbeat of Ave Maria University

Prior to arriving on campus as a prospective student, my knowledge of Ave Maria University was limited to the Newman Guide. AMU was a blank slate for me; I didn’t hold impressions from alumni, nor did I have siblings who attended or knew anything about its history. My weekend at an Ave Experience introduced me to the authentic Catholic culture and joy on campus, but there was still a sense of mystery. So, like many of our students, I took a leap of faith and trusted AMU was where God was calling me to be.

I came to realize AMU was built on love: the love of God, the love of education, and the love of community. True love comes from the heart, and the heartbeat of AMU is our distinguished and dedicated faculty. They have been instrumental in AMU’s journey to what it is today, and some have been a part of the mission since the very beginning.

in heaven while helping to bring a glimpse of heaven on earth — the training grounds for saints and those aspiring for holiness,” as Dittus put it. Unbeknownst to him, over a thousand miles away in Ypsilanti, Michigan, another man had a similar dream. In 2001, Dittus and his family experienced Tom Monaghan’s vision to create a truly Catholic university: Ave Maria College.

Dr. Michael Dauphinais (Matthew L. Lamb chair of Catholic theology) was hired as a professor of theology at Ave Maria College in 2001. He was promoted to dean of faculty not long after in 2002 and moved to AMU’s Southwest Florida campus with his family in 2004. Dauphinais noted the faculty and students who have been with the University since 2001 were considered pioneers during the early years. At its inception, Ave Maria College offered only five majors: classics, theology, philosophy, literature, and history.

Now with 34 majors and 35 minors, that “pioneer” spirit and emphasis on Catholic intellectual tradition is alive, well, and nurtured by exemplary faculty.

In 1997, Dr. Richard Dittus, a systems consultant living in Roswell, Georgia, began journaling his dreams of creating something bigger than himself. He imagined himself becoming involved in a project to rejuvenate Catholic higher education and dreamed of “building treasures

There was a strong spirit of doing something new and worthwhile — of stepping out in faith to help lay the foundation for a school that would remain faithful to its founding mission, and would make authentic Catholic education and intellectual life available for the next generation of students and scholars.

— Michael Dauphinais on the early years of AMU

According to Dauphinais, his 20 years with the University “witnessed a strong consistency in the Catholic identity of the faculty, the shape of the curriculum and its witness to the unity of truth, and the desire to let Catholic principles inform life outside the classroom.”

Martinez’s research interests in global economic interactions — particularly the effect of institutions on financial sectors and living standards across countries — facilitated the introduction of the global affairs and international business major in 2012. AMU’s atmosphere of faith working in concert with learning attracted Martinez.

Economics, theology, mathematics, philosophy, chemistry, literature, psychology, history — all speak to each other about the same Creation as they acknowledge the same Creator. Each discipline needs other disciplines for correction, context, humility, and support — Ave Maria gets this right.

In 2003, Ave Maria College relocated from Michigan to Southwest Florida and became a university. Ave Maria University had many firsts. Martinez, Dauphinais, and Dittus were there to experience all of them, from the first Mass — attended by 700 people on the Feast of the Annunciation with the Vatican Choir — to a Rosary procession on the site of the future Ave Maria Catholic Church.

Dr. Gabriel Martinez (chair of economics) had his eye on Ave Maria in 2002 while collecting thoughts on St. John Henry Newman’s “Idea of a University.” Martinez found AMU matched these criteria for a Catholic university and joined as an associate professor shortly after his introduction.

My Catholic faith is key to me, and my vocation as an economist is a consequence of my faith. At Ave Maria, I found a place where my faith and my studies worked together.

— Gabriel Martinez on joining Ave Maria’s faculty

Dr. Daniel Davy (dean of faculty) was a member of one of the first graduating classes from AMU. Davy experienced the atmosphere of AMU during one of Dr. Maria Fedoryka’s classes in 2004 and was captivated by her understanding of the human person. He proceeded to enroll in and attend the Vineyards Campus in Naples, Florida. Davy was attracted to both the professors’ love for their disciplines and the daily communal life at AMU. Davy told of a lively campus and recalled times when half the student body would play soccer on the quad.

By 2006, Davy, along with Dr. Mary Blanchard (chair of history), were the only two graduates majoring in history. From student to faculty and now administrator, Davy has witnessed the maturing of AMU through its mission to the Catholic Church.

When Dr. Seana Sugrue (Ambassador Michael Novak chair of politics) first visited the interim Florida campus in 2004, she was drawn to AMU by the wholesomeness of its students and Dr. Dittus’s care for them. “Wholesomeness has become an increasingly rare quality in higher education over the last 20 years. But it still exists here,” said Sugrue. She describes the students as joyful, sincere, and grateful, with a lightness of spirit and innocence.

Being a professor is a great way to spend a life dedicated to learning, wondering, sharing knowledge with others, and giving thanks — we shall never exhaust God’s troves of truth. That never gets old.

Fr. Robert Garrity also joined AMU in 2004 with a desire to “help young people understand and live by the Catholic intellectual tradition,” which amounts to using “faith and reason to solve life’s problems so as to live in joy and peace and help others do the same.” It is quite apparent the faculty and founders chose to fulfill their dream for AMU to prosper.

Professors remain thoroughly committed to providing an excellent education to our students, preparing them to engage in the world while grounding them in their faith.

Dr. Travis Curtright (chair of humanities and director of Shakespeare in Performance) credits his involvement in 2004 to Dauphinais, who engendered confidence in AMU’s mission. Dauphinais now shares his insights on the University’s first faculty podcast, “The Catholic Theology Show.”

You can see how deeply he understands not only the University’s mission but also the breadth of Ave Maria’s educative vision, including the humanities. His leadership gave me confidence AMU would succeed.

— Travis Curtright on Dauphinais’s leadership at AMU

In 2012, Curtright was receptive to his students’ intellectual pursuits of taking Shakespeare’s language from the page to the stage, leading to the Shakespeare in Performance program. What began in a classroom proliferated into the Donahue Family Black Box Theater in 2019.

Today’s successes harken back to 2012, when Michael Timmis, chairman of the board of trustees at the time, and his wife, Laura, recognized how different our shows were from other university productions. Consequently, Shakespeare in Performance became a minor and conservatory within the University, with a focus on creative adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays for students who train year in and out.

— Travis Curtright

I love the opportunity to participate in the liberal arts conversation on campus. It has been great to be able to consult with colleagues regarding the best translation or edition of classical texts in theology, philosophy, history, and literature.

While visiting Ave Maria in Michigan in 2003 with his son, Dr. Keith Houde (professor of psychology) inquired about a psychology major. By 2010, visiting Ave Maria University in Florida with another son, he learned the University was in the process of hiring for the psychology department. Houde was eager to join the department after reading the academic proposal provided by Dr. Dauphinais. It expressed how a Catholic university is well-suited to pursue the study of psychology because of its integrated view of the whole human person. He knew at this moment that he wanted to devote his future life’s work to this mission. Introduced in 2011, the psychology major is now the second-largest major at AMU.

Drs. Michael (associate professor of history) and Janice Chik Breidenbach (associate professor of philosophy) were encouraged by the current faculty to join the University in 2014. They were moved by the mission and impressed by the dedication to educating, enlightening, and inspiring the whole person.

In my second year, I co-taught a course on American Catholic history with the late Michael Novak, a distinguished Catholic intellectual. I walked across the street to his home, sat around his dinner table with our students, and debated topics in American Catholic history. The integration of teaching, scholarship, and community was exceptional.

The students’ desire to develop their character and grow in the richness of the Catholic faith inspires Michael and Janice Breidenbach to excel as professors, mentors, and scholars. The Breidenbachs saw the opportunity to serve the students and the Magisterium of the Church. “One of the ways we hope to do this is through teaching, which really concerns the whole person in all of his or her dimensions,” Janice said. “We want to convey the fundamental integration of faith and reason, whether our topic is metaphysics or American history.”

Dr. John Jasso (chair of communications and literature) observed the lack of contemporary communications and rhetorical studies in Catholic higher education. AMU defied this trend and began a communications program in 2017, which Jasso joined in 2018.

Having worked in a large state research institution, I’ve seen both sides of the academic coin. The sense of community and mission I’ve experienced at AMU is truly unique.

— John Jasso on joining Ave Maria University

Since his arrival, Jasso has assisted in folding rhetoric and poetics into the new department of communications and literature.

It is out of that pairing, with the help of many faculty, projects like the writing minor and student magazine came to fruition. I’ve been very happy to be a part of that journey and contribute to those endeavors.

Last spring, the communications department saw its first class of graduates who started the program as freshmen. The communications major prepares students to utilize rhetoric and media through the lens of the Catholic faith, a unique opportunity in higher education for Catholic creatives.

Fr. Fessio leads a Eucharistic procession to the future site of Ave Maria University on the Feast of the Annunciation

March 25, 2005

Ave Maria University courageously pursues new programs while preserving its commitment to the excellence of the mind, heart, and soul. In the fall of 2022, AMU added the computer science program under Dr. Saverio Perugini (professor of mathematics and computer science), who comes to us with 18 years of experience teaching at the University of Dayton. Perugini left a tenured position at his last institution to teach at Ave Maria, inspired by the University’s mission. He is grateful for the hand of God in guiding him to take this position and for the University’s efforts to initiate this program.

In one academic year, we have already grown computer science from a minor to a major — we are now starting to build some momentum. We are designing innovative and creative courses (e.g., machine learning [and] blockchain) and recruiting bright and eager students into the program. It is fun shaping this program and seeing it grow.

Perugini is one of eight new full-time faculty, faculty who inspire and encourage him.

We all believe in and pursue academic excellence in our teaching and research. I feel blessed to be part of the AMU faculty and to have the opportunity to play a role in shaping the future of this institution by sharing the gifts God has given me.

For the faculty, serving AMU’s mission brings joy to their hearts. Perugini leads a Rosary with his students on the academic lawn every Friday at 3:00 p.m. Curtright starts his classes and rehearsals with prayer, encouraging sanctity in his students’ intellectual and artistic work.

The best measure of AMU’s success comes from the alumni who remain close with their alma mater and professors. Sugrue attributes this deep bond to shared experiences in learning and faith. For a professor, it is gratifying to see the impact so many alumni are having in family life, the Church, and every professionial sphere in society. As Martinez describes it, “They keep the thrill of the hunt for an explanation alive.” Martinez expressed he feels proud every time he hears about alumni completing graduate degrees, business startups, jobs, promotions, weddings, and growing families.

Fr. Garrity observes a string of consistencies that align with Ave Maria’s success: “God’s grace, the sacraments; the fine parents who send their outstanding children to AMU; the excellent students themselves; our great faculty, staff, benefactors, and neighbors; and yes, the consistent warm weather!”

I pray Our Lord and Our Lady continue to bless Ave Maria University forever! Our Lady of Victory, pray for us! Amen!

— Fr. Robert Garrity

My first visit lit a spark within me for Ave Maria University, but the Ave Experience weekend for prospective students confirmed Fr. Garrity’s observations. I made fast and solid friendships during that weekend on campus. The true character of the University emerged in the structured activities, lectures, social events, and even the downtime with other prospective students. Bonding with students across graduating classes created a community of believers that exceeded my expectations.

As full-time students, we practice dialectic argumentation that sharpens the mind and enables deeper friendships. The respect students receive in class from our professors fosters meaningful engagement between students outside the classroom. Lasting friendships and profound learning emerge from sharing our intellectual observations in an atmosphere of trust.

Fr. Garrity, Perugini, Jasso, the Breidenbachs, Houde, Curtright, Sugrue, Martinez, Dauphinais, Davy, and Dittus are among those who have seen the fruition of what began on a dinner tablecloth — materialized as a community of believers committed to serving the mission of AMU through love. This love is spread through the unique set of God-given gifts each faculty member possesses. They are the heartbeat of Ave Maria University!

Ave Maria University is built on a community of believers, and faith is the very air we breathe here. I thank God every day for my professors and their influence on me, my friends, our alumni, and the next generation of Ave Maria scholars.

25 YEARS OF AMU ALUMNI

A Family Under Our Mother

If you ask a member of our University community what their favorite thing about AMU is, you will get a variety of answers. You might hear about our excellent professors, accessibility to the sacraments, fun events, or lifelong friendships grounded in the Catholic faith. But no matter what you hear, they all boil down to one thing: the people. It’s the people that make Ave Maria University so special, and it’s our alumni who show the best of what Ave Maria offers. Whether graduates from the Institute, College, University — Michigan campus, Naples campus, or Ave Maria town — AMU alumni share something in common: an ardent dedication to the Catholic Church and a powerful witness of Our Lady’s intercession. Journey through the years with us as we celebrate 25 years of incredible Ave Maria graduates.

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET FR. SHAWN CONOBOY

Fr. Shawn Conoboy is a priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, currently serving Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Aurora, Ohio. He is the only parish priest for about 1500 families. After coming to Ave Maria for his undergraduate studies, Father received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Duquesne University.

Fr. Shawn was the very first graduate of AMU and was also the first ordained alumnus in our school’s history. One of the things that underscored my time at AMU was understanding St. Thomas Aquinas as the model for growing in holiness through academic pursuits. Continue to pursue holiness, because everything else falls from there. That’s how the mission is lived out.

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET JACOB BLANCHARD

Jacob Blanchard is both an alumnus and a faculty member of AMU! He is currently an instructor of biology at the University, which he majored in during his undergraduate studies. Before coming to AMU to teach, Jacob lived abroad with his wife, Mary, as she worked on her doctorate. Mary ('06) is also an alumna and faculty member at AMU!

Jacob attended Ave Maria College in the fall of 2002, Ave Maria University in the fall of 2004, and returned to his alma mater as a faculty member in the fall of 2014. I was initially attracted to Ave Maria as a student because it was an affordable Catholic education. Inspired by my undergraduate experience, I was happy to join the faculty after benefitting from the enthusiasm and mentorship of my Ave Maria professors.

2009-2010

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET ANDREW AND VERONICA MULLALLY

Andrew and Veronica Mullally are a husband-wife duo who started Credo Family Medicine in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 2016. Andrew ('09), M.D., and Veronica ('10), MBA (specializing in healthcare management), met at AMU during their undergraduate studies and got married shortly after Veronica’s graduation in 2010.

Andrew and Veronica’s family has grown quite a bit since graduating; they now have eight kids! Andrew is the oldest of nine, and six of his siblings have chosen Ave for college.

Looking back, I cannot express enough the benefit of a supportive, positive, and Catholic peer group on a college student. It was very formative for me and I wouldn’t want anything else.

— Andrew Mullally ('09), Biology

[Andrew and I] both value the education we received at Ave, mainly in our moral theology and philosophy training. ... Our formation at Ave gave us the tools to tackle many topics, especially medical ethics. ... My most fond memory of Ave was seeing Fr. Garrity riding his bike, saying hi and “God bless you!” to everyone he met.

— Veronica Mullally ('10), Mathematics

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO

Marcellino D’Ambrosio is the director of marketing and community success for SENT Ventures in Flower Mound, Texas. He is also the co-founder and creative director for Sherwood Fellows. Marcellino majored in literature and rhetoric at AMU and was drawn to the University because it was so young and full of opportunity.

What I learned at AMU was how to dig incessantly for the truth. ... AMU is a school that trains the laity in pioneering and blazing new trails for the Church. That’s what I saw when I was there. I really believe in what Ave Maria University is and who she can be.

— Marcellino D’Ambrosio ('11), Literature and Rhetoric

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET JULIA SADUSKY

Dr. Julia Sadusky is a clinical psychologist in Colorado and the owner of Lux Counseling and Consulting, her private practice. Julia specializes in sexual identity, gender identity, and eating disorders and has written two books surrounding these themes. She also teaches a sexuality class in a master’s in counseling program at Denver Seminary.

Ave gave me an excellent formation. ... It encouraged me and my classmates to see ourselves as effective witnesses through our career paths. From a psychological perspective, having a solid path has been grounding for me in a field with so many stakeholders, many of whom are not Catholic. I don’t think I would be able to do this work in the same way if I hadn’t gone to Ave.

— Julia Sadusky ('13), Psychology

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET CHRIS FAHEY

Chris Fahey is a financial advisor at Edward Jones and is on the board of trustees for Ave Maria University. As a member of the class of 2014 (December), Chris was one of the captains on the inaugural Gyrene football team and played wide receiver throughout his college career. As a founding member of the team, Chris caught the University’s first receiving touchdown.

Chris is the first alumnus to serve on AMU’s board of trustees and majored in economics with a minor in literature during his undergraduate studies. He married AMU alumna Regina Fahey ('16) shortly after graduation, and the two live in Naples, Florida, with their two children.

I grew up as a cradle Catholic, with incredible examples of faith throughout my family, specifically my parents and grandparents. Even with their influence, had I not gone to Ave, I don’t know how I would’ve graduated and kept my Catholic faith. I am so thankful for the formation and experiences I received at AMU.

At Ave Maria I am inspired to grow academically while strengthening my Catholic faith. My professors guide me to encounter joy in the Truth and

Perez, Communications | Class of 2023

As a graduate of the class of 2006, it’s been amazing to both teach and learn at AMU. Over the years, two things have remained consistent:

faculty and eager students.

Support Ave Maria University’s faculty and staff with your $10 monthly donation.

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET ALEXIS STYPA

Alexis Stypa is an architectural designer at Harrison Design in Santa Barbara, California. One of her most recent projects was a St. Joseph mosaic that was placed on the side of our St. Joseph dorm building. The project was in conjunction with the class of 2021’s senior gift and honors St. Joseph the Worker.

Alexis majored in humanities during her undergraduate studies, with a minor in mathematics.

When thinking about beauty in design, I think of the core classes in philosophy I took at Ave. They were extremely useful in laying out a foundation. ... I was able to take so many different classes and learn from so many great professors. I cherish the friendships I made at Ave.

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET JOHN AND MARY THRUN

Mary and John Thrun live locally in Fort Myers, Florida, with their two kids, Sammy and Ellie. John ('17) is a corporate manager at Gartner, and Mary ('18) has been a stay-at-home mom for over three years now. This summer will be their five-year wedding anniversary!

While at Ave, John majored in psychology, played on the ultimate frisbee team, and served as an RA. Following graduation, John enlisted in the Coast Guard and served for two years as a petty officer third-class machinery technician. Mary majored in history with a minor in politics. She was a part of the Mother Teresa Project, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and going on mission trips to Mexico City and Calcutta.

AMU was instrumental to my faith journey. It is only now I can truly look back and know Ave was where I was meant to be. The proximity of the sacraments was especially motivating for me and something I didn’t appreciate enough at the time.

I was drawn to the joy I felt on campus when I visited during high school. You could really feel how happy and kind people were.

A NEW INITIATIVE FOR THE AMU COMMUNITY ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Alumni Board of Directors (ABD) is a committee aimed at intentionally connecting Ave Maria alumni with the University administration. Originally formed in 2014 as an initiative of the Department of Career Services, under the leadership of Zach Crockett ('13), the ABD evolved from the Alumni Leadership Council, which was founded in 2019 under the management of Paula Schute Belocura ('16). The ABD had its first in-person meeting during alumni weekend, March 2023.

I and many of the board members have a fundamental belief that, when people know what’s going on at Ave, they love Ave. Our hope is to partner strategically with the University to make sure we communicate the great things AMU and our alumni are doing.

— Stephen Akers ('19), Alumni Board of Directors President

CLASS SPOTLIGHT MEET JESSIAH ROJAS

Jessiah Rojas is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. During his undergraduate studies at AMU, Jessiah majored in theology and was an assistant coach for the football team. He converted to the Catholic faith during his freshman year and entered the Church on Easter of 2017. He applied to the seminary during his senior year and entered in the fall of 2020. After graduation, Jessiah spent a year serving at Howard University as a campus minister and finished his (pre-theology) philosophical studies at the Catholic University of America. He also spent this summer studying in Rome with a summer seminarian program. Once a year, Jessiah comes back to campus to speak with the football team about the faith and his experience at AMU.

Stay close to the sacraments and continue to stay close to Him. Going to AMU, becoming Catholic, or entering the seminary, none of these things were the path of least resistance. Almost all were the path of most resistance, but in there, and in that chaos swimming upstream, there’s an underlying peace that He is with me.

— Jessiah Rojas ('20), Theology

Last week of classes

THE NEXT GENERATION MEET THE CLASS OF 2023

FELIPE AMORIM

Felipe is a double major in mathematics and physics from Curitiba, Brazil. He has played for the Gyrene tennis team his entire college career, earning multiple distinctions such as Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Team Coaches’ Award recipient, and 2x Sun Conference All-Academic Team. He is also a very gifted physicist! He published a paper on particle physics with Dr. Daniel Sadasivan, assistant professor of physics at AMU, in February of 2022 and did research over the summer under world-renowned computer scientist Dr. Stephen Wolfram.

After graduation, Felipe plans on getting his master’s in computer science and beginning work in the tech industry.

My favorite part about going to college at AMU has been the strong friendships I’ve been able to make. I’ve met my best friends here, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the education I’ve received, all while playing the sport I love.

NAYELI RIOS

Nayeli is a biology major (B.S.) from Los Angeles, California. She was a research assistant over the summer for Dr. Stephen Cronin, associate professor of biology at AMU, observing the biological properties of thiazolium ionic liquids, specifically their ability to damage DNA. She gained experience testing different concentrations of ionic liquids on genetically modified salmonella to observe cell growth and plans on assisting research again this summer, pending graduate school plans.

After graduation, Nayeli plans on attending dental school for orthodontics.

I really enjoyed the connections I made with my professors at AMU. The small class sizes allowed for close-knit environments where we could get intentional guidance from the faculty, which allowed me to develop mentor relationships with several of them. The faculty at AMU were definitely the highlight of my college experience!

JACK DECHEINE

Jack is a history major from River Falls, Wisconsin. He transferred to AMU during his sophomore year and is a member of Fishers of Men household. After converting to the faith, Jack went in search of authentic Catholic community and found Ave.

After graduation, Jack plans on working for the dental company VOCO, selling dental equipment around the Midwest.

My favorite thing about AMU was finding and immersing myself in a Catholic community. As a convert, I didn’t have any faith-based community back home, so coming to Ave was a huge blessing for me and my relationship with Christ.

For over 25 years, our alumni have continued to take their education out into the world, sharing their love of the Catholic Church through their chosen field and God-given talents. The world waits in eager anticipation for the next 25 years of Ave Maria graduates!

BUILDING OUR LADY’S TEAM A History of Athletics at AMU

Since the spring of 2008, Ave Maria students have been using their athletic gifts to serve Our Lady’s University and give glory to God. We’ve come a long way since our NAIA application 15 years ago. Here’s a look into the journey of building 25 varsity athletic teams for Ave Maria University.

APRIL 2008

AMU Enters the NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announces Ave Maria University’s application to join was approved by the Council of Presidents at their 67th annual National Convention, held April 11-15, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky.

AUGUST 2008

Women’s Volleyball is AMU’s Inaugural Team

The first AMU varsity intercollegiate athletic contests take place. The volleyball program opens at home on August 26, 2008, versus Southeastern University. On August 30, the program has its first win over Warner Southern (now Warner University), 3-1. The volleyball team calls Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School (now Donahue Academy) their home court.

SEPTEMBER 2008

Men’s and Women’s Soccer Take the Field

The men’s and women’s soccer teams take the field for the first time, hosting Warner Southern at Ave Maria North Park. Both programs go on to earn their first wins in program history over the College of the Bahamas (COB).

OCTOBER 2008

Men’s Basketball and Men’s Golf Enter the Arena

Men’s basketball tips off for the first time in Orlando, Florida, to take on Florida Christian College. At the first game, they record the program’s first win by a score of 91-75. The men’s golf team also competes for the first time.

NOVEMBER 2008

Women’s Basketball Takes the Court

Women’s basketball tips off for the first time, traveling to Babson Park, Florida, to take on Webber International University. They record the program’s first win versus Johnson & Wales, 61-57. The AMU basketball teams, like volleyball, call Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School (now Donahue Academy) their home court.

OCTOBER 2009

Tom Golisano Donates the Fieldhouse

Tom Golisano announces a $4 million donation to fund the University’s first indoor athletic facility.

JANUARY 2010 Baseball and Softball Start Their Seasons

Baseball and softball play their first-ever games, with baseball facing off against Warner University (Florida) and softball against Calumet College of St. Joseph (Indiana).

FEBRUARY 2010

Golisano Fieldhouse Breaks Ground

Tom Golisano participates in the official groundbreaking for the Golisano Fieldhouse.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Cross Country Enters the Race, Men’s Soccer Comes Home

The cross-country teams travel to Daytona Beach for their first-ever competition in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic. The same month, men’s soccer — competing in their fifth season — finally play on campus at home, defeating Clearwater Christian 2-1.

NOVEMBER 2010

Golisano Fieldhouse Opens

The Tom Golisano Fieldhouse officially opens with the men’s basketball season opener. The Gyrenes put on an impressive offensive show, dominating Trinity College 105-85.

JANUARY 2011 Track and Field Takes Off

The first track and field athletes compete for AMU at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational. Track and field would be discontinued after the 2010-2011 season and restarted as a varsity sport 12 years later.

FEBRUARY 2011

Tennis Takes the Court

The tennis teams play their first-ever varsity matches, traveling to Webber International.

MARCH 2011

Women’s Basketball Excels, Women’s Track Produces All-American

The women’s basketball team wins three straight games in Union Town, Pennsylvania, claiming the USCAA national championship and capping a 25-8 season. Marya Haegler becomes Ave Maria’s first NAIA All-American in the Indoor Track and Field Women’s 5000m race. She finishes fourth with a time of 17:14.15.

SEPTEMBER 2011

Gyrene Football Debuts

Ave Maria football travels to Alabama to play its firstever game. The team didn’t have any games on campus during their first season.

MARCH 2012

Women’s Basketball Goes for Gold

Ave Maria wins their first Sun Conference championship in any sport. Women’s basketball claims both the league’s regular season and tournament championships, earning an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.

AUGUST 2012 Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 300 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

FEBRUARY 2013 Basketball Continues to Succeed

The basketball teams wrap up very successful regular seasons. The men’s team finishes 23-9 and posts its first winning season in conference play, ranking No. 14 in the NAIA. The women’s program repeats as Sun Conference regular season champions, going 12-2 in league play.

MAY 2013 Baseball Competes Nationally

The Ave Maria baseball program finishes its best season with 38 wins, enough to earn an at-large berth into the NAIA tournament. The Gyrenes also earn a win in the national tournament with a victory over nationally ranked Martin Methodist.

OCTOBER 2013 Football Plays at Home

Ave Maria football hosts a home game on campus for the first time. The Gyrenes win with a 45-41 come-from-behind thriller versus the Florida Institute of Technology.

NOVEMBER 2013

Gyrene Football Triumphs

The Gyrene football team defeats Newport News Apprentice School (Virginia) to finish the season with an 8-2 record, the best record of all NAIA independent football teams.

MARCH 2014 Women’s Basketball Three-Peats

The Ave Maria women’s basketball program wins the conference title for the third year in a row, this time returning to the NAIA tournament as Sun Conference tournament champions. The Gyrenes beat Johnson & Wales and Southeastern before a thrilling 70-69 win over Webber in the final.

FEBRUARY 2015 Lacrosse Enters the Scene

Women’s lacrosse has its first game ever at Florida Tech.

AUGUST 2015 Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 400 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

FEBRUARY 2016 Football Enters 20-Team Conference

The Mid-South Conference and Sun Conference announce they will merge their football conferences to create a 20-team conference, the largest one in the country.

MAY 2017

Softball and Lacrosse Celebrate Record Seasons

Softball defeats the University of South Carolina Beaufort, 3-2, to cap its most successful season ever with 32 wins. Women’s lacrosse also finishes its best season 7-7, 3-2.

NOVEMBER 2018 Football Claims Sun Division Championship

The Gyrene football team beats Warner University at home, 31-21, to secure the Mid-South Conference Sun Division championship. The season also witnesses the first-ever night football game on campus, resulting in a thrilling 23-20 victory over the defending Sun Conference champions, Southeastern. AMU beats three nationally ranked teams this season.

FEBRUARY 2019

AMU Welcomes Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball begins competition at a trimatch in Miami Gardens, Florida.

MARCH 2019

Men’s Basketball Wins Sun Conference

Men’s basketball defeats Coastal Georgia in the Sun Conference tournament to become conference tournament champions. The win caps an eightgame winning streak to solidify the most successful season in program history, finishing 23-9 with a 13-5 conference record. The season is the first of four consecutive 20-win seasons.

AUGUST 2020

AMU Perseveres During COVID-19

At the height of the COVID pandemic, Ave Maria pursues fall competitions in football, cross country, soccer, and volleyball. AMU is the only college in Southwest Florida competing at the time.

MAY 2021

Five Sports Finish Top of Conference

AMU records its bestever Commissioner’s Cup finish with a thirdplace finish behind Southeastern and Keiser. The Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually to schools based on how their teams finished in sports sponsored by the Sun Conference. Five sports finish in the top two of the conference: men’s and women’s cross country, indoor volleyball, men’s basketball, and beach volleyball.

AUGUST 2021

Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with 500 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

SEPTEMBER 2021

AMU Introduces Hall of Fame

Ave Maria announces its inaugural Hall of Fame Class, recognizing softball player Kingsley Avery ('16), basketball player Emily Huber ('13), and football player Jeff Lindenmoyer ('15).

OCTOBER 2021

Gyrene Swim Launches

The Gyrene swim teams compete for the first time in a dual match in Miami Gardens versus St. Thomas.

NOVEMBER 2021

Indoor Volleyball Wins Sun Conference

After finishing the season as the second-place team in the Sun Conference, the indoor volleyball team dominates the Sun Conference tournament, defeating Florida Memorial 3-0 and Coastal Georgia 3-0 to win the tournament championship. The win advances them to the NAIA national tournament in Nebraska.

DECEMBER 2021

Sun Conference Reclaims Football

The Sun Conference announces it will again sponsor football, independent of the MidSouth Conference. This allows the football team to set its own 2022 schedule, which includes two Michigan teams and one Maryland team.

FEBRUARY 2022 Competitive Dance Celebrates Inaugural Season

The AMU competitive dance team travels to New Orleans for its first-ever competition as a part of the Battle in the Big Easy.

MAY 2022

Gyrene Tennis Makes History

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams qualify for the NAIA Tournament for the first time in school history. The men’s team becomes the second team in AMU history to win a national tournament game.

AUGUST 2022

Student-Athletes Rise to 600, Second Hall of Fame Class Announced

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 600 students participating in intercollegiate sports. The athletic department announces the second Hall of Fame class: lacrosse player Abby Castro ('17), basketball player Kiel Lewis ('13), and baseball player Alex Sanchez ('13).

SEPTEMBER 2022

AMU Creates John Paul II Distinguished Alumni Award

AMU announces the first-ever recipients of the John Paul II Distinguished Alumni Award: soccer player Christine Mastandrea ('12) and baseball player Brian Trymbiski ('11).

OCTOBER 2022

Ultimate Frisbee and Rugby Elevated to Varsity

The recently elevated men’s ultimate frisbee team plays its first match as a varsity team, beating Florida Gulf Coast University’s club team at home. Ave Maria announces the men’s rugby club team will be elevated to varsity status, effective for the 2023-2024 academic year.

DECEMBER 2022

Track and Field Starts Fresh

The reinstated track and field team competes officially for the first time, running in the Keiser University Winter Open to kick off the indoor season.

JUDI’S GYM Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies

Long before Tom Monaghan founded Ave Maria University, he had a vision for a unique Catholic institution of higher learning dedicated to our Blessed Mother. In prayerful pursuit, Tom attracted many like-minded Catholics who shared his ideals and were willing to commit their time and treasure to help establish such an institution. Teaching future leaders seeking an authentic Catholic liberal arts education was the goal.

Among the early enthusiasts for this mission were George and Judi Schwartz, close friends of Tom and Marge Monaghan since the 1980s; they raised their families together in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Schwartz family’s generosity was instrumental in launching AMU, and their love of the Catholic Church has been manifested through their generous philanthropy and selfless service to Our Lady’s University in numerous ways. Through the years, the Schwartz and Monaghan families shared

various religious, social, and business interests. One was the creation of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds in 2001, which has grown to be the largest family of Catholic mutual funds in the country. These funds are managed by George’s registered investment advisory firm, Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, with a branch office in Ave Maria, Florida. Staffed with two dozen colleagues, including CFAs, MBAs, and CPAs, the firm manages six different Catholic mutual funds, which invest only in companies that do not violate moral principles of the Catholic Church.

One of the fruits of the long-time friendship between George and Judi and Tom and Marge is the recently completed Judi’s Gym, donated to AMU by the Schwartz family in honor of Judi, who passed away in early 2020. The complex consists of three full-size, outdoor basketball courts which are covered.

Judi, George’s wife of 52 years, was an accomplished basketball player and coach in her youth. She inspired their five children to experience the benefits of athletics — especially basketball. Tom Monaghan, Chancellor of AMU, has advocated for exercise and athletics from the start, believing a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Thus, it is fitting that Judi’s Gym will allow students to recreate in this beautiful facility near the dorms.

At the dedication ceremony for Judi’s Gym on December 2, 2022, George said, “As an outspoken and passionate advocate for the unborn, Tom has had a gigantic, positive influence on my life and Judi’s, especially spiritually.” In addition, George reported that in planning the facility, Tom asked him what the project should be named. George said, “How about The Judi Schwartz Memorial Women’s Basketball Pavilion?” Tom replied, “Too many words to put on a sign. Let’s go with Judi’s Gym,” which prevailed. Also at the dedication, athletic director Joe Patterson expressed enthusiastic gratefulness for the gift to AMU. He said he was looking forward to various varsity teams utilizing the basketball courts, in addition to intramural leagues.

Philanthropy has always been important to the Schwartz family. Fueled by the success of their investment counseling firm, they have made AMU a major beneficiary. The staff of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., manager of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, includes all five of George and Judi’s children — Annie, Mike, Tim, Bob, and Katie. George is chairman and CEO of this 24-person enterprise.

President Tim Schwartz said, “Our parents gave us the gift of faith through the example they set!” Michael Schwartz, executive vice president, who has served on the AMU board of trustees, directs the firm’s Florida office. Senior Vice President Bob Schwartz said, “Not only do we practice faith as we raise our own families, but we rely on our faith to conduct our practice. The two go hand in hand.” Bob continued, “We pioneered morally responsible investing with the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. Our portfolio managers screen out companies that support abortion, Planned Parenthood, embryonic stem cell research and pornography. These pro-life, profamily mutual funds have created a movement of investors motivated by religious commitment to exert pressure on the business community for the sake of positive moral change.”

The excellent investment performance of the funds, plus this moral philosophy, has attracted over 100,000 shareholders from across the country who have invested over three billion in the funds. When surveyed, over 90% say their anti-abortion beliefs are a key reason for choosing Ave Maria Mutual Funds. In addition to serving individual investors, clients include hundreds of Catholic institutions, dozens of dioceses, endowments, and foundations. When George started the Ave Maria Mutual Funds (at the suggestion of Tom Monaghan), one of the first priorities was to create an advisory board with nationally recognized Catholic leaders. The Catholic Advisory Board, on which Tom Monaghan serves, provides guidance regarding the funds in accordance with core values of the Church and meets regularly to review the religious standards and criteria of the funds.

Additionally, the firm stewards clients through a series of newsletters called Faith Matters, written by prominent Catholics. The newsletters provide a forum to discuss pivotal issues facing Catholics today and keep the faith front and center in the firm’s interactions with investors.

George is often asked if moral screens make it difficult to achieve favorable investment returns. “No,” he said. “Following a moral imperative does not mean we are sacrificing good results.” In his 2019 book, “In God We Trust — Morally Responsible Investing,” George reveals his capitalist orthodoxy. He elaborates on the sad fact that in recent years there has been a rising tide of

sympathy for socialism among leftist politicians and young people. The book explores the timeless divide between capitalism and socialism within the context of economic and moral ramifications for society in general and long-term investors specifically. Readers with historical perspective will appreciate the logic of what he says should be obvious, i.e., that socialism has never worked anywhere on earth. Or aptly put by President Ronald Reagan, “Socialism can only work in two places, heaven where they don’t need it, and hell where they already have it.” The book is about participating in the capital markets, while avoiding morally objectionable businesses. As a lover of the free enterprise system and a portfolio manager, George chronicles how “Morally Responsible Investing” is helping long-term investors put their money to work in accordance with their moral beliefs.

As investor enthusiasm for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds has spread, many happy shareholders have become AMU donors. Praise God!

We encourage our children to attend Ave Maria University because it is one of the few

authentically Catholic universities in the United States.

A UNIQUE VOCATION

AMU’s New M.Ed. in Catholic Educational Leadership

The graduate programs at Ave Maria continue to expand! Ave Maria’s newest graduate program, Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Catholic Educational Leadership, is slated to open in summer 2023 pending approval by the University’s accrediting body, SACSCOC.

AMU’s M.Ed. has long been a dream of its founder, Tom Monaghan. He has always understood faithful Catholic schools are dependent on talented and faithful Catholic leaders. The University is in a position of strength to fulfill this dream and meet the need of a growing number of faithful Catholic educational organizations, religious orders, and networked superintendents who are all looking for something more than can be produced by most schools of education.

The educational landscape has now fully enshrined radical ideologies into national accreditation standards most schools of education — even most Catholic universities — must support and demonstrate in practice. AMU will not be beholden to the ubiquitous National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) standards. These standards require candidates to “understand and demonstrate the capacity to promote” radical secular agendas and demonstrate them in internships. The current confused state in most schools of education has made it clear Catholic schools cannot afford to farm out the formation of their school leaders and hope for the best.

Ave Maria is stepping up and stepping into the gap to train bold and faithful Catholic leaders who can re-form and expand Catholic education, in the face of both daunting challenges and unprecedented grace-filled opportunities.

AMU’s program recognizes Catholic schools need wise and skilled leaders who embrace the Church’s desire for her schools to be evangelical educational communities, seeking the salvation of students and maximizing the wellbeing of the world around them according to God’s plan.

The program will include specific training to these ends. It is designed to be small, personal, powerful, faithful, and targeted with standards built on a Catholic worldview and using a Catholic lexicon to promote, evaluate, and inspire Catholic schools and their long histories of community, care, and joy.

AMU’s hybrid program draws on the best of in-person networking, community building, and online convenience. 40% of the 30-credit degree is covered in two, two-week summer in-person intensive residencies with other classes available during the academic year asynchronously (i.e., ondemand when the student is ready).

Most M.Ed.s in school administration are now completely asynchronous, which does not allow colleagues to meet and learn in person. However, for Catholic education, community and interpersonal relationships are fundamental. Summer residencies allow colleagues to develop an authentic Catholic educational community, learn better from each other’s insights throughout the year, and form real relationships and networks that will benefit them beyond graduate school.

AMU’s M.Ed. is not just about forming leaders, but in and of itself, leads. Leaders do not follow in lockstep, dwell in fear, or put up with a flawed status quo — they lead! Leadership rejects the notion of copying or following anything anemic and flawed, and especially anything harmful to children. Leadership is fearless of bullies and mobs, and it rejects tired patterns enforced by entrenched ideologically driven pedagogues.

AMU’s program does not copy the standard secular fare

of other educational programs, but infuses a Catholic worldview throughout, including specific coursework to meet the needs of Catholic schools and leaders. As might be expected, the program includes a robust course in the history and mission of Catholic education, and additionally a course in Catholic spirituality for leaders to address the reality that Catholic schools are ecclesial in nature, and their leadership is a “munus” or type of office within the Church. Candidates examine the joys, sorrows, stresses, and excitement of Catholic school leadership and how these can be situated and integrated into a fully Catholic life. Candidates also take a course dedicated to Catholic culture, community, and catechetics that considers the central nature that community and culture play in fulfilling a Catholic school’s mission and Catholic identity. Candidates learn how to assess and enhance the Catholic spirituality of the school community, promoting frequent and faithful liturgy and a rich sacramental life. They also perfect the ability to lead prayer and retreats, evangelizing and catechizing both students and parents.

Job prospects for graduates are bright as multiple diocesan superintendents have already expressed a desire to hire program graduates, with some even offering their own scholarships to the AMU program. Two growing and faithful religious teaching orders have also indicated their desire to use this program in the formation of their future sisters.

The program intends to launch this summer, pending approval by SACSCOC. This program is currently seeking prospective candidates and benefactors.

For more information on the program, visit avemaria. edu/m-ed. You may contact the program director, Dr. Dan Guernsey, by email or phone 239-304-7010.

FROM UGANDA TO AVE MARIA Meet Fr. Joseph Lugalambi

Fr. Joseph Lugalambi has been a light to AMU’s campus ever since he arrived in 2017. Quickly becoming a fan favorite among students, Fr. Joseph exercises care for our community daily, hearing confessions, giving spiritual direction, and even celebrating many of our alumni’s weddings and baptisms!

Now, as we reflect on our years as a University, Fr. Joseph shares his story of coming to Ave Maria and how he found a deeper joy in his religious vocation through choosing Our Lady’s University.

COMING TO AVE MARIA

In the fall of 2017, I began my doctoral studies in theology at Ave Maria. Only two weeks ordained I was afraid of beginning my priestly life in an anti-Catholic community. Growing up in Uganda, the United States I knew was mostly from Hollywood movies. Ave Maria University was nothing I could have ever imagined — Deo gratias! I chose AMU because of the recommendation of my late bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa, who served on the Pontifical Committee for Life with Dr. Michael Waldstein, a theology professor at Ave Maria at the time. My seminary professors also knew about AMU’s faithfulness to Christ, the Church, and Truth. Thanks to the admissions committee and our benefactors, I was able to begin my journey at Ave Maria University.

MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY’S DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Ave Maria has become my second home. I found the graduate theology faculty to be special because of their commitment to the saving truths of Jesus Christ taught in Ex Corde Ecclesiae. Within graduate theology, I developed good friendships with a common goal: seeking to understand the mysteries of our faith. All my doctoral seminars were directed towards growth in wisdom personified in Jesus Christ. The saving truths learned in the classrooms climax the hymn of praise sung during the Mass, which is celebrated seven times a day in Ave Maria.

TEACHING THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

I have taught Theology of the Body at AMU since the spring of 2019. With my students, we read the Wednesday audiences of Pope St. John Paul II delivered 1979-1984. In these audiences, John Paul lays out God’s plan for human love. With my students, we seek to understand and appreciate the God-given dignity of the human body, God’s plan for marriage, and how we can respond to God’s call of love. I also use the material from Theology of the Body to prepare our engaged couples for marriage. As a result of this, the Catholic bishops in Uganda asked me to prepare a curriculum of chastity education for all Ugandan primary and secondary schools based on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Teaching this class has been an amazing opportunity for me to grow with the students at AMU while preparing this good work for the ecclesia in Uganda.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

In addition to my doctoral work, I work for AMU’s Campus Ministry as a spiritual director. It is such a privilege to minister to young people who are on fire with the faith! Like many other priests, my spiritual sons and daughters challenge me every day to be more faithful to

my priestly vocation. These men and women intentionally seek the Lord through frequent reception of the sacraments (Penance and the Eucharist), spiritual direction, retreats, household life, and other forms of Catholic culture on campus. AMU students understand priests are Christ’s instruments of sanctification, and encourage us in our priestly work. I have heard brother priests in schools and other institutions say they miss parish life, but for me, Ave Maria University is my parish. With three Masses and two (busy) hours of confession daily, it feels as if I’m in a real parish at AMU. For the past three years, I have prepared 36 couples for marriage, and I have officiated at 13 AMU weddings!

MISSION TRIPS TO UGANDA

Since the summer of 2018, I have led mission trips to my home country of Uganda. Before COVID-19, the AMU missionaries and I would stay and work with the Missionaries of Charity in Kampala, Uganda. Since the partial closure of the MC’s convent due to the pandemic, I take the missionaries to Our Lady of the Rosary Orphanage and Primary School located in my home village of NabutongwaMasaka. I founded Our Lady of the Rosary Orphanage and Primary School in 2019 with the support of friends from Ave Maria, which now has 548 children. The AMU missionaries pray and play with the orphaned children, teach classes, serve meals, etc. We also make house visitations for the elderly and sick. We pray with them and minister the sacraments of Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Communion. During these visitations, students experience authentic home life in Uganda and many of them often say they will never complain about the few luxuries they sometimes lack in the U.S.

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

I am so grateful to Ave Maria University for giving me the opportunity to pursue my doctoral education and exercise my priesthood at AMU. I am confident the solid theological education and friendships I have acquired from Ave Maria will help me be a faithful, intentional, and joyful servant of Jesus Christ, and contribute to the well-being of the body of Christ in my home country of Uganda.

2017

Paul Husak FAITH, FAMILY, AND LEAN MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCING AMU’S FIRST CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Paul Husak has been following the University since its start in Michigan, but he never expected the Lord would lead him to work at the University in Florida one day. 12 kids and 25 years later, Paul and his wife, Cassandra, are settling into their new life in Ave Maria, as their fourth oldest enters her junior year at AMU.

Q. How did you hear about Ave Maria during her earlier years in Michigan?

My wife and I heard about Ave Maria from our priestfriend, Fr. John Hardon. He told us about the wonderful mission Tom Monaghan had started, and we were fast supporters. We were always fans of Mr. Monaghan’s work with the law school and hoped one of our kids would attend the University one day.

Q. And that led to your daughter attending AMU for her undergraduate studies?

Yes. Our daughter Sophia visited several years later in 2021 and was instantly sold on coming to AMU. When we were moving her into the dorms that summer, Cassandra and I spent some time driving around campus and going into Naples with our youngest, Max. It planted a seed in us that maybe we’d want to live here one day.

Q. How soon after that did you hear about a position at the University?

About a year later, I was sent the AMU Summer Magazine, which featured Mark Middendorf’s story. I recognized we had some similarities in our business backgrounds and felt inspired to reach out to him. I introduced myself in an email as a parent of an AMU student, brought up our shared work history and Catholic background, and essentially asked him to put me on a short list if any positions opened up in a few years – I was in no rush to leave my current position at GE. With a prayer, I hit send, and everything moved pretty quickly after that.

Q. What was the result of that email?

A week later, AMU’s Chief of Staff Julie Musselman reached out for my resume and set up a phone call between myself and Mark. We talked about our faith almost the entire time! After the call, Mark reached out to one of his colleagues for a recommendation and brought me down for an interview a few months later. I left Florida with an offer. It was definitely a lot faster than we were expecting.

Q. What was the discernment process like for you and your wife?

I discussed the offer with my wife when I got back, and we felt it was clearly God’s will. We both were open to how the Lord was moving in our lives and were praying for trust

in His plan. At the same time, my wife and I started reading “The Ventures of Faith” sermon by St. John Henry Newman to help with our discernment. I’m on my third read and I’m still learning from it! Cassandra could see God’s hand in the offer right away though, so we started planning our move.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your position?

Yes. When President Middendorf reached out to me, he brought up a desire to have continuous improvement across all University departments. My job as chief operations officer (COO) is to implement Lean management tactics to help the University achieve higher levels of efficiency.

Q. What exactly is Lean management?

Lean management is based on two main pillars: respect for employees and continuous improvement. With Lean, every process is executed efficiently and processes are optimized for value to the customer – in our case the University students, staff, faculty, and greater community. Everything can always be improved, and Lean management assists by eliminating waste, improving our processes, and delivering greater value.

Q. Has Lean management made its way into AMU’s departments yet?

Yes. We’ve seen incredible results from our Facilities team. After one session of training videos and little direction, the team completely transformed an area of the plant previously cluttered and not running efficiently. In just a week they ran their own 5s project. They also created an organized space for repairs with specific sections for electric,

plumbing, appliances, HVAC, boilers, painting, and cleaning. Their efficiency and work ethic really blew me away!

Q. Sounds like things are already taking off! What are your hopes for future improvement?

Our plan is to have the other departments take a walkthrough of the facility and implement ways of encouraging Lean management across campus. A lot of companies take one-dimensional approaches to eliminating waste through things like budget cuts or layoffs, but these don’t improve the value they’re offering. Our goal as a university is to implement multi-dimensional, positive approaches that allow our teams to communicate better, be more agile, and work adaptably.

Q. What does it mean for you to serve the University as both a staff member and a parent?

There’s a Japanese diagram on vocation, linked to Lean management tactics. It shows the intersection between what you love, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. For me, AMU is the perfect summation of those four themes, and that intersection is my vocation. To be able to serve a community my family and I have been following for over 20 years, while implementing tactics I believe in, is an enormous blessing. My wife and I could never have imagined the Lord would lead us to this place in our lives, but 25 years and 12 kids later, we are very excited to be serving the Ave Maria community.

Paul Husak can be reached at paul.husak@avemaria.edu.

Margaret Wenzel A LIFE DEDICATED TO SERVICE

INTRODUCING OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT

From domestic mergers to global nonprofit initiatives, Margaret Wenzel has dedicated her life to serving marginalized communities through empowerment and fundraising. Although the path may have not always been clear, her continuous “yes” to God’s will has led her to some amazing places. Now, as senior vice president of Advancement at Ave Maria University, Margaret continues to give her fiat to serving the community of Ave Maria.

Q. What got you interested in fundraising and advancement?

Initially, I wanted to be a travel writer and biographer. I got my undergraduate in English nonfiction creative writing from Loyola University New Orleans. In college, however, I was deeply influenced by the “Nicomachean Ethics” and Aristotle – the idea that a good life is a moral life. I began thinking of ways I could serve those around me and found the best way would be through using the gifts God has given me to help others. I thought, “I’m good with numbers, good with people, I like helping people, I should be a fundraiser!”

Q. Where did this deep love of service come from? My dad was in the Marine Corps. His dedication to our country and love of serving others greatly informed my personal values. Paired with our family’s Catholic faith, I grew up always looking to help those around me.

Q. Was there a specific moment you knew the Lord was calling you to a life of service?

Yes. I had a defining moment at 27 while working in South Texas. I was on a humanitarian trip, working with young women who had gone through deep trauma and bringing them into local church shelters. I was still in banking at the time, and as I got to know these women, I realized this type of work was the full expression of my humanity. So, with a prayer in the desert, I left my banking job and began working in nonprofit fundraising.

I promised God that as long as he would continue placing people in my path, I would dedicate my life to serving them to the best of my ability. It was my fiat before I knew what a fiat really was.

Q. And where did your fiat take you?

All over the world. I’ve worked in Texas, Illinois, Washington, D.C., New York. I’ve also worked with global nonprofit initiatives on capital campaigns, strategic communication challenges, and complex gift agreements. I started moving up in the field of advancement position by position – empowering communities to solve their problems and grow efficiently. I am deeply interested in this work, and it’s taken me all over the world to work with brilliant, interesting people.

Q. Sounds like you’ve been blessed with some amazing opportunities. When did AMU come into the picture?

My position at Ave Maria was very out of the blue. At the time, I was working on my own business, raising money for urban agriculture in D.C. and New York. In the summer of 2022, a position at AMU came to me, and to be honest, I wasn’t looking for it. I was comfortable in my current position, and my instincts were telling me to just dismiss it. But after praying about it, I felt compelled that maybe God was asking me to say “yes” to the opportunity. My heart and gut were telling me to go for it, but my head couldn’t understand why. I thought to myself, “This is so random, and I don’t fully understand it. This must be God’s will.” So I said yes.

Q. Why is advancement important to AMU?

Advancement is at the heart of everything we do at the University! Many people don’t know this, but as a nonprofit, Ave Maria subsidizes every student who attends our university by $12,000. These funds are covered by our generous donors. Also, funding is key to maintaining a high standard of faculty and staff excellence, as well as special projects such as our recent STEM program, new athletic facilities, and all our recent improvements and campus beautification. Advancement helps to fund all these projects, and we continue to be blessed by the generosity of our major and small donor pools.

Q. What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to bring my energy, creativity, and organizational skills to the University. Founded in fidelity to Christ and His Church – and in response to the call of Vatican II for greater lay witness in contemporary society – Ave Maria University exists to further teaching, research, and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

I am honored to work with the world-class AMU faculty, staff, donors, and partners to create opportunities and synergies that advance the University’s mission to sponsor a liberal arts education dedicated to the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith, while developing professional and pre-professional programs in response to local and societal needs.

Q. We can’t let you leave here without mentioning your artwork. Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’ve always loved to paint, ever since I was a child. The creative arts were a large part of my upbringing, and I’ve been able to serve a lot of art programs through my career in fundraising. Art encourages creative expression, critical thinking, and independent thought. It’s a joy for me to express my creativity in writing and painting, and I hope to get involved with the liberal arts foundation at AMU to help foster outlets for creativity.

To learn more about advancement at Ave Maria contact Margaret Wenzel at margaret.wenzel@avemaria.edu.

AMU ATHLETICS 2022-2023

Gyrenes Continue to Grow with Exciting University Firsts

The 2022-2023 academic year has been an exciting one for AMU Athletics, each season bringing new enthusiasm to campus. In the fall, the football team narrowly lost in the Sun Conference championship to Keiser, 27-21. Keiser went on to compete in the NAIA national championship, the first Sun Conference football team to go that far. The Ave football program feels it has good momentum going forward, especially as only three of the 22 starters will be lost to graduation.

The cross country team, under the direction of American record-holder and new head coach Alan Webb, finished third in the conference in both men’s and women’s. Four Gyrene runners also qualified for the NAIA national championships in Tallahassee: Theresa Long ('23), Felicity Foxhoven ('26), Lillian Burke ('25), and Joseph Perreault ('24).

The women’s basketball team was the highlight of the winter sports season. After an encouraging 2021-2022 season, in which all five starters were freshmen, the team came back strong this year, advancing to the Sun Conference semifinals and amassing an 18-12 record. In their inaugural season, the indoor track and field team sent Theresa Long ('23) to the NAIA national championships in the 800-meter race. AMU also won the Sun Conference championships in three events: Long in the women’s 800-meter race, Adam Paga ('24) in the men’s 800-meter race, and Joseph Perreault ('24), Emmanuel

Consbruck ('26), Samuel Paga ('26) and Adam Paga in the men’s 4000-meter distance medley relay.

The men’s basketball team showed great promise as newcomers made up the majority of minutes played this season.

More recently, the spring season has seen some remarkable performances. The lacrosse team, under alumna and first-year head coach Katy Sherman ('19), upset the No. 1 NAIA team in the country 14-12, Benedictine College, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

It was an awesome game. The team communicated and worked together as one.

The baseball team, which started the year with a 13-game win streak at home, is now nationally ranked for the first time since 2013, and the beach volleyball team is nationally ranked in the top ten.

However, the most dominant performance this year has been by the newest varsity team, ultimate frisbee. The team currently stands at 14-1, with wins over club teams from the University of Miami, University of Central Florida, Ohio State, and Penn State.

This team gives one hundred percent effort in everything it does and has embraced every challenge it’s been thrown. As we look to finish out this season in the same manner we started it, we will continue to put in hard work and give the glory to God.

In addition to Coach Sherman and Coach Middendorf, there are several other new coaches in the athletic department for the 2022-2023 academic year. The aforementioned Coach Webb — in addition to the cross country teams — took over the leadership of both Gyrene swim and Gyrene track. Recent graduate Trenton O’Neil ('22) was named marching band director, immediately creating tremendous energy within the marching band and helping animate the football and basketball games. Clara Garcia became the new head coach for competitive dance and was met with immediate success as the second-year program finished second in the NAIA regionals.

Michael Kernicki — who served as a golf pro at elite courses such as Canterbury in Ohio, Indian Creek in Florida, and Bloomfield Hills in Michigan — took over as head golf coach for both men’s and women’s golf. Gyrene golfers responded well with both teams setting new program records. Golfer Gabriel DeCasas ('24) notched three top-ten individual finishes on the men’s side.

We’re building a foundation for success. I’m confident — with these players and those who will be coming to Ave in the future — we will achieve our goals.

Recent graduate Nick Hofmeister ('23) is serving as the interim tennis coach, overseeing the men’s and women’s squads. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 15 nationally for the NAIA.

Juliaclaire Plezbert has come on to serve as our head softball coach and immediately had a strong start. In their first 20 games, the team achieved a winning record with one of their victories coming from a no-hitter by pitcher Kaedyn Sutton ('26). Also notable, Cesar Markovic — a soccer coach with more than 150 NCAA Division I soccer wins to his credit — has been hired to direct the men’s team this coming fall as head coach.

The University welcomed two new athletic facilities at the beginning of the spring semester. Judi’s Gym — a covered space holding three full basketball courts — opened adjacent to the dorms. The Judy Fyke Practice Golf Complex opened on the north end of campus, just beyond the baseball field. Progress continues to be made on the 40,000-square-foot Golisano Fieldhouse and the 4,000-square-foot locker room facility next door.

This coming fall, Ave Maria will welcome its 25th varsity team as men’s rugby is elevated to varsity status. Tim Dockery, vice president of Advancement at AMU, will be the inaugural varsity head coach.

This spring holds a record number of student-athletes, and with the addition of the marching band, it’s estimated the University will have more than 700 students involved in athletics this fall.

A SPIRIT OF SERVICE

AMU Student Government Association

The AMU Student Government Association (SGA) has been working hard during the 2022-2023 academic year to enhance campus life and support the needs of the student body. In the spirit of service, SGA strives to improve the Ave experience through numerous projects and conversations with students. The council is comprised of four executive board members, as well as nine class representatives, all bringing their individual talents to serve the University.

This year, SGA is led by President Thomas Walter ('23), Vice President Christopher Hermann ('25), Treasurer Adam Paga ('24), and Secretary Caterina Morales ('24).

SGA serves the student body in two key ways. First, council members serve as advocates for student feedback. In speaking with students, council members gain insight into what students love about campus life and explore possible improvements and suggestions, communicating with University administration to execute these ideas.

This past semester — upon hearing the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students about landscaping around campus — SGA and Campus Beautification teamed up to plant flowers near the Student Union building, cleaning up the underbrush along the canal walkway. Students are not only welcome to share their concerns but are also wellinformed about University plans for the future to improve their college experience.

by an SGA member and dry-erase markers to replenish their ever-dwindling supply. The council has completed several other projects similar to these this academic year.

SGA never experiences a shortage of new ideas. One of the newest requests has been to transform the basketball courts just north of the student union into pickleball courts. With the welcomed addition of Judi’s Gym near the dorms, SGA is now able to transform these courts into a new form of recreation for the University community. After speaking with the administration, pickleball equipment was ordered and materials should arrive in the coming weeks.

The second role of SGA is the execution of projects aimed at enhancing student life on campus. Throughout the year, council members have submitted their campus projects in the form of “bills” which are voted on and put into action after obtaining a simple majority. These projects focus on meeting the needs of students and utilizing student feedback. One of the Student Government’s most successful projects has been the addition of “Adirondack” chairs and tables throughout campus to improve outdoor seating options for students looking to enjoy Southwest Florida’s beautiful weather. These durable chairs, built by SGA members, have been placed under the trees outside the academic building and library, as well as in the student park near the dorms and under the pavilion alongside the canal. This project, spearheaded by Senior Representative Erik Minter, has been a roaring success. When asked about the project, Minter said, “It created ‘hangout spots’ that hadn’t been available before. Right when we put them out, people were thrilled and requested more!”

The council has also completed a faculty appreciation project proposed by Sophomore Representative Bridget Bogan. Each AMU professor was given a hand-written note

Another project in the works is the construction of a gaga ball pit: an octagonal ring where a game similar to dodgeball, called “Gaga,” is played. A bill for the gaga ball pit has passed the council and has been approved by the administration. These two projects — drawing inspiration from the addition of Judi’s Gym in December — add more opportunities for students to stay active on campus and strengthen friendships through recreational athletics.

The AMU Student Government Association constantly strives to improve the already vibrant student experience by serving the University through student-focused projects and ongoing communication with faculty and staff. A spirit of service is at the heart of SGA, and each member holds a unique perspective in supporting the University’s mission. The council is always looking for suggestions on how to improve campus life and would love to hear from you!

Please contact avemariastudentgovernment@gmail.com for any questions you may have.

It is a tremendous blessing to work alongside a team of dedicated, caring individuals to serve the student body for the glory of Christ.

— Thomas Walter ('23), SGA President 2022-2023

AMU FAITH HOUSEHOLDS

Christ-Centered Friendship

Household life at Ave Maria University is a vital part of campus culture. Other universities have sororities and fraternities. At AMU, we have holy households!

Households are created when a single-gender group of five or more students come together, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, and create a covenant for how they plan to live out their years at AMU. These written covenants include the group’s commitment to weekly prayer, adherence to growing in selected virtues, and efforts to emulate their household’s patrons.

Rosa Mystica has helped me form a sisterhood of women who are committed to a life of prayer, emptying ourselves to be filled with Christ.

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Since 2005 with our first female group, Rosa Mystica, households have shaped our students into holy disciples of the Lord. Students grow in faith through community prayer, events, sports, and volunteer work. A new household has been created almost every year since Ave Maria’s inception, now numbering 17 households:

Women

The bonds formed among these young men and women are often as tight as you’d find in the holiest Catholic families. Students find lifelong friends in their household brothers and sisters. We’re excited to watch as authentic Catholic culture continues to be nurtured through these faith communities!

1998

Having a strong community of guys striving for holiness has been extremely valuable to my spiritual life and relationship with Christ.