Monthly Archives: May 2010

Most Reverend John R. Gaydos has announced that Kathleen M. Trauth, Ph.D., P.E. will serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee for Fr. Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School and also as the chair of the search committee for the first principal. Dr. Trauth has been representing the St. Thomas More Newman Center on the Executive Committee for the last several of years, and before that she served on the inter-parish committee involved in assessing interest in a Catholic high school and in initial fund raising efforts. In 2009, she was the chair of the committee charged with providing community recommendations to Bishop Gaydos as to potential names for the high school.

Professionally, Dr. Trauth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri. Her current activities include teaching water resources courses, advising undergraduate and graduate students, and conducting research. Dr. Trauth is the faculty advisor for the student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers and the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, and is involved in programs that help first semester freshman become integrated into the University. She is a licensed professional engineer in New Mexico and Missouri.

Her husband, John Gahl, is also a Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri and is currently a member of the Newman Center Parish Council. John and Kate have two daughters in Catholic education—Ginny is a sophomore at Helias Interparish High School and Martha is a 7th grader at Columbia Catholic School.

“My husband and I are both products of Catholic primary and secondary education, and I am very excited to be expanding my role in helping to make the high school a reality for families in the mid-Missouri region. “

Ray Beck Initial Project Director Upon accepting the challenging volunteer position of project director for the regional Catholic high school in Columbia, Beck said, “The way I look at it, our purpose in life involves family, faith, education, giving back to the community and a place for leisure time. The process of building of building this high school really encmpasses all of these important purposes.”

Dr. Gerald Brouder Campaign Co-Chair Because Catholic education does not labor under the weight of the doctrine of church v. state, it is free to add to its curricula and activities a moral component. Such a component provides the opportunity for students to engage in values clarification, a key to developing character.

Bo Frasier Experiencing sixteen years of Catholic education, I can speak first-hand about its value. Catholic education makes Jesus known, forms community and trains our youth for service to make society a better place.

The regional Catholic high school in Columbia, Missouri will empower students to become Christian leaders and citizens of the world, achieve spiritual, physical and academic excellence, develop personal integrity and responsibility, value the dignity and freedoms of all people and serve society following the model of Jesus Christ.

For almost a century, Columbia-area childeren have had the benefit of a Catholic education on the elementary level – spiritually, acedemically, physically and socially. Establishing this regional Catholic high schiool continues their journey to reach their God-given potential. Join me as we bring in this new century of educational opportunities and Make It A Reality.

Bishop

Most Rev. John R. Gaydos,

Diocese of Jefferson City

Executive Committee

Rev. Msgr. Gregory Higley, Vicar General

Rev. Msgr. Michael Flanagan, E.V. Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes

Rev. Steven Kuhlmann, O.P. Pastor, Sacred Heart

Rev. Thomas Saucier, O.P. Pastor, St. Thomas More Newman Center

Dr. Kate Trauth, Executive Committee Chair, St. Thomas More Newman Center

Dr. Gerald Brouder, Campaign Co-chair

Bo Fraser, Campaign Co-chair

Ray Beck, Project Director

Jon Bequette, parish representative Sacred Heart

Jay Burchfield, parish representative Our Lady of Lourdes

Donald F. Novotney, Superintendent of Schools

E. Jane Rutter, Director, Stewardship Office