is proud to announce that we are recognized by  as the best Catholic high school in Minnesota in the 2027 Best School Rankings.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Best Catholic High Schools in Minnesota: #1 out of 25 schools
• Best Schools for STEM in Stearns County #1
• Best Boarding High Schools in Minnesota: #2 out of 8 schools
• Best High Schools for STEM in Minnesota: #5 out of 101 schools
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 7 to 1

Much like the U.S. News college rankings, annually evaluates thousands of elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. Their system uses survey data, reviews, and information from the U.S. Department of Education to create the rankings. Saint John’s Prep consistently ranks in the top of Minnesota’s top high schools, and is consistently ranked as the top Catholic school in Minnesota. The latest rankings once again place us among the premier schools in both the state and the nation.

This ranking from is a reflection of the outstanding students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni whose commitment, energy, and support help make Saint John’s Prep an extraordinary community.

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Tom served on Prep’s Board of Directors from 2019 until his untimely passing in 2024. During his time on the board, he provided guidance for the school’s leadership as a member of the finance committee and ultimately as board chair, but his service to the Prep community extended far beyond the boardroom.

Together, Tom and Jann dedicated countless hours of service and demonstrated a generous philanthropic spirit in support of Saint John’s Prep. Head of School and friend of Tom and Jann, Jon McGee recalls that Tom contributed a great amount of wisdom to the Prep community as well. Jon says Tom’s lessons were often accompanied with the phrase “yours to use or lose” although Jon is certain Tom never meant the “lose” part.

For their longstanding dedications of time, treasure, and wisdom, Saint John’s Prep is incredibly grateful to Tom and Jann Atkins.

The Benedictine Spirit Award was presented to Jann Atkins October 11, 2026 at Saint John’s Prep’s annual appreciation dinner. Several members of the Atkins family travelled to Collegeville to celebrate this special recognition of Tom ‘68 and Jann.

Jann Atkins (center) accepts the Benedictine Spirit Award surounded by family and friends.

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On October 8, 2026, Saint John’s Prep Chaplain Edward Vebelun, OSB, led students, faculty and staff through a blessing of the Ford-McCormick Soccer Field. The Pep Band played as students circled midfield for the ceremony. The soccer captains helped Fr. Edward bless the field with holy water. Head of School Jon McGee cut the ceremonial red ribbon in the middle of the soccer field.

The Lake Sagatagan soccer field was restored as part of the Prep Forward: Our Time Is Now capital campaign. Generous support and funding came from the Ford and McCormick families, Bernie Weber ’63, Bill Sexton, as well as the Class of 1980 and many Prep athletics fans.

The soccer field improvements include a new grass field with improved leveling and drainage, a new well and irrigation system, and spectator bleachers. A new flag pole and soccer ball stop nets will be added in the spring.

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Three Saint John’s Prep students are being honored as Commended Students in the 2026-27 National Merit® Scholarship Program.

Seniors Milo Harkins, Junghun “Luis” Kwak, and Samuel “Sam” Ringwald are all Commended Students. This means they are among the top 3% of students nationwide who entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. Over 1.3 million students took the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall. About 34,000 students across the nation are being honored as Commended Scholars for their exceptional academic achievements.

Milo is the son of Jessica and Matthew Harkins of Avon, Minnesota. Luis is the son of Sangwoo Kwak and Gumsun Son of Seoul, Korea. Sam is the son of Kaia Ringwald of Saint Cloud and James Ringwald of Saint Cloud.

Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships, some are candidates for other special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

The oldest secondary school in Minnesota, is ranked as the top Catholic school in the state, in the top 25 Catholic schools in the country, and among the top 5% of all private schools in the United States. To learn more about our rankings, visit .

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In medical training, an educator’s role is far more than an administrative designation—it is a vital, transformative calling that shapes the future of patient care. This principle sits at the heart of Dr. Melissa Brunsvold’s career.

As a recognition of her leadership and contributions, Dr. Brunsvold’s induction into the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators highlights her influence in advancing surgical education and mentorship, inspiring peers and learners alike.

The Academy recognizes surgical leaders who have made lasting contributions to education, research, and mentorship. Inductees are chosen through peer nominations, detailed evaluations of their scholarly work, and recommendations from national experts.

Her career, marked by a dedication to elevating surgical instruction as a rigorous and essential profession, exemplifies how innovative educational leadership can improve both resident training and patient outcomes.

“I realized that education is something we need to take seriously and be professional about,” she explained. “It’s not just an informal task—you have to be intentional about how you teach, how you give feedback, and how you foster enthusiasm.”

Rethinking the Role of the Surgical Educator

“I believe strongly that we need to really elevate the role of surgical educators in departments,” Dr. Brunsvold shared in a recent interview. “Too often, teaching the next generation of learners, researchers, clinicians, and educators has been treated as an afterthought rather than the main thought. To have it recognized as a professional role that holds value is deeply important to me.”
Dr. Brunsvold’s focus on education began during residency.

Though she originally planned to teach math before choosing medicine, she noticed clear opportunities to improve resident training as soon as her clinical work began. As Administrative Chief Resident and a member of the House Officer Council, she focused on solving practical challenges for residents and creating better learning environments.

“I realized that education is something we need to take seriously and be professional about,” she explained. “It’s not just an informal task—you have to be intentional about how you teach, how you give feedback, and how you foster enthusiasm.”

Helping Learners Succeed in the Operating Room

When asked what keeps her motivated, Dr. Brunsvold recalls a pivotal operating room interaction with a resident struggling with a complex gallbladder procedure. Rather than simply demonstrating the physical motion, Dr. Brunsvold broke down the underlying anatomical planes conceptually.

“I remember his shoulders just dropping—that moment where he said, ‘Nobody’s explained it to me that way before, and I really understand what I’m going for now,'” she recalled. “He went on to complete the procedure smoothly. Seeing a struggling learner really understand a technique is what keeps me motivated.” 

Improving Safety, Efficiency, and Access

Beyond day-to-day teaching, Dr. Brunsvold emphasizes that strong, evidence-based surgical training leads directly to better patient safety and outcomes. As surgical techniques and technology evolve, strong education prepares surgeons to keep learning throughout their careers.

Her efforts include developing faculty training programs, promoting diversity in surgery, and supporting international surgical collaborations, all of which advance the field and expand access for underrepresented groups.

Joining the Academy alongside her own mentors is particularly meaningful for Dr. Brunsvold. “It’s a huge honor,” she said. “I look forward to working with colleagues across the country to keep building and improving surgical education.”

Saint John’s Prep congratulates Melissa on her induction into the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

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These are not necessarily my favorite songs, but most of them have a story attached. Why 22 songs? I intended to have 20, but as I narrowed the list, I reached 21 and could not bear to eliminate any of them. So, I just added a song because 22 is a cool number. My birthday is on June 22nd, graduation was on May 22nd, and a scene from my favorite movie (Casablanca) involves the number “22.” So, 22 it is.

#22: “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin

One of this past autumn’s best memories was seeing Blimp, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, perform at the Red Carpet in St. Cloud. About a dozen faculty/staff members were on hand to enjoy seeing Mr. Jeff Engholm rock out for a couple of hours. A magical evening came to a close as Mr. Engholm gave me a shout out prior to the final song because he knows “Immigrant Song” has been my phone’s ringtone for several years. This song also serves as the Minnesota Vikings kickoff song thanks to Andrew Saur of Duluth who campaigned to have the Vikings play it instead of “Welcome to the Jungle.” Seriously, we Minnesotans are more acquainted with “ice and snow” than “the jungle.” Great change, Vikings! Ten years after the Vikings adopted the song, it featured prominently in Thor: Ragnarok—still the best music I have heard in a Marvel movie. And now, it kicks off my 22 song countdown.

#21: “Dumb and Free” by Paul Spring

Paul Spring ’07 often spent time singing in the hallways and fishbowl at Prep, and I remember occasionally running with him during cross-country practices . . . back when I was in better shape. Paul is now a professional singer/songwriter/musician with loads of songs and a couple of Saturday Night Live appearances to his credit. Last spring, he and some Irish lads kicked off a tour in his hometown of St. Cloud with a sold out show at the Gnarly Bard Theatre. Paul’s wife, Sophia Heymans ’08, is a professional artist who drew art for The Triangle including a couple of covers while at Prep. This song is the title tune from Paul’s recent album which was released this past November.

#20: “Believe in Yourself” by Jeff Engholm

I mentioned Mr. Engholm’s part in a Led Zeppelin tribute band, but he also excels at solo work. This song is from his album Little ������ Things (2021), and you really need to as it features some familiar folks. Theater director Brandon Anderson and Jeff’s wife, Amy Grinsteiner, play a couple of lonely people needing to believe in themselves. A grocery store checkout guy is played by Engholm himself. Such fun!

#19: “Take Good Care of My Baby” by Bobby Vee

Bobby Vee is a legend with 38 top ten hits. At age 15, he and his band famously filled in at a Moorhead concert after Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the ������ Bopper died in a plane crash on the way to the show. This began a career that spanned for decades and should have resulted in membership to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is in several Hall of Fames, however, including The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Hall of Fame in my home state of North Dakota. The Fargo native joined greats such as Lawrence Welk (television entertainer), Roger Maris (MLB star), Peggy Lee (actress and singer), Phil Jackson (NBA player and coach), Angie Dickinson (actress), and Louise Erdrich (author) in receiving the state’s highest honor. Later, Vee became a long-time resident in my current town of St. Joseph. The last song of the day was from Mr. Engholm who toured with Bobby Vee in England and owns his old van. More importantly, Mr. Vee was the grandfather of Prep grad Saima Velline ’26. This song from 1961 was his only number one hit.

#18: “Where You Lead” by Carole King

The previous song, Bobby Vee’s “Take Good Care of My Baby,” was co-written by Carole King. Ten years later, she released her second album, Tapestry (1971), which is considered one of the greatest of all time. “Where You Lead” is also the theme song from one of my favorite television shows, Gilmore Girls. When watching the series on Netflix, my wife and I rarely use the “skip intro” option because this song is so good no matter how often we hear it.

#17: “Dreams” by Cranberries

I am following the Gilmore Girls theme with the theme of another of my favorite television shows with a similar title, Derry Girls. Although this song is mostly uplifting, it works during many emotional moments from the acclaimed series whether celebratory or sad. Give it a play if you have not heard it—you’ll probably recognize it. Sadly, the lead singer of this Irish band, Dolores O’Riordan, died tragically over eight years ago. This song is dedicated to the SJP class of 2026. May all your dreams come true.

#16: “London Calling” by The Clash

This spring, I headed to London for the tenth time. Most anyone who knows me can tell you that it is my favorite place. This song of the day was shared in class the day before Grand Tour of Nations, and at the Grand Tour of Nations in 2013, I “performed” it with the band “Shenanigans” as one of their guest vocalists in the Great Hall. The band included my former colleague, Pat Dwyer, former Prep parent Joe Melcher, and two of the three members of the current band Tomato Warning (former colleague Jason Kirsch and our own Mr. Charles Miller). I received a “thanks-for-your-willingness-to-embarrass-yourself” standing ovation from half of the audience, and when I showed to my rock star younger brother, I just received laughter from beginning to end. Still, my one public musical performance is a fond memory.

#15: “Spinning Out” by Charles Miller

I mentioned Mr. Miller and his band Tomato Warning in song #16. This year he has been putting out some wonderful solo material. This song is the first one from his Winter EP and was inspired by a certain wintry morning where he among others were spinning out on the way to Prep. Of course, the song’s meaning goes beyond a scary drive to school.

#14: “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings

Paul McCartney is my favorite member of The Beatles. I have read his two-volume book, The Lyrics, and his show at Target Field in 2014 was the first major concert I ever attended. I have told people I was holding out for either The Beatles or a member of the group at the least. I attended the concert with a band I mentioned in song #16, Tomato Warning (Mr. Jason Kirsch, Mr. Charles Miller, and Owen Miller—Mr. Miller’s son). We had a great time, and I have sometimes worn my concert shirt to Tomato Warning shows. “Live and Let Die” was the concert’s showstopper with amazing pyrotechnics. The song was also the theme of Roger Moore’s first movie playing James Bond, To Live and Let Die, which featured some stunts from Joie Chitwood, Jr. who I spoke to after seeing his Chitwood Thrill Show at a couple of fairs in North Dakota as a child. The movie is not great, but the stunts and the theme song are.

#13: “Wuthering Heights” by Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar had many hits bigger than “Wuthering Heights,” but this is the one I often rewound on my 1979 Datsun’s cassette player as I made the drive between Moorhead State University and Wolford, North Dakota. The song stands by itself, but I also chose it because it is based on one of the first novels I taught while student teaching at Fargo South High School. Benatar’s operatic voice feels to me like the voice of the 1980’s.

#12: “Hold the Line” by Toto

I mentioned that my only public singing performance was at the 2013 Grand Tour of Nations. However, I did take part in a performance at Wolford Public School during my junior year of high school. Before most people—at least in Wolford, North Dakota—had even heard of air bands (lip-synching) or karaoke, my friend Lowlen Johnson concocted a fun endeavor for a few of his classmates. We were to perform two popular hit songs in front of the entire school while only pretending to sing and play instruments. Lowlen was the lead singer wearing a silver satin jacket, and Allen Dissette was the guitarist who wore a black wig. Todd Armstrong and I couldn’t decide between drums and keyboards, so we swapped between songs. My biggest contribution was naming the band. I came up with JADE which was an acronym for our last names. We performed two songs: “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner and “Hold the Line” by Toto. Lowlen convinced the science teacher to let him have some flash powder which Allen ignited on stage by striking a match just prior to the first notes. At one point Allen’s wig flew off during his guitar solo, and our drum kit consisted of a couple of kettle drums, a snare drum, and a bass drum because the school did not have a proper drum set. It was perhaps so bad that it was good, at least in our tiny town. The girls in the front rows kindly screamed as if we were real rock stars, and our act even took up half a page in the school yearbook. Whenever I hear either of those two songs, I think of JADE, a “band” which enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame.

#11: “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon

Oddly enough, this is the second theme song from a James Bond movie (The Spy Who Loved Me). I chose it because it was the theme song of the only advising group to win the Smartest Advising competition three times. The smartest advising competition began in the 2007-2008 school year, and I was fortunate to have a truly smart group with my 2016 graduates. Half of my advisees scored 30 or above on their ACT, and two of them were key members of two Knowledge Bowl state champions. They had to win at least one Smartest Advising before I gave them a theme song . . . and then they tacked on a couple extra wins to become the smartest of the smartest advising groups, surpassing Mr. Paul Menard’s stellar 2012 graduates that won two in a row. The song turned out to have a long shelf life.

#10: “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant

Since May 2010 I have had the class t-shirt for the SJP class of 2010 hanging in my office. On the back is an indicator through a combination of words and pictures of their class song, “Electric Avenue.” I am not sure why they chose the song, but they loved it and even made a cool senior homecoming video to it. The class was the first to choose me as commencement speaker which was an incredible honor. Giving me a class t-shirt added to the memory. to see what a fun group they were.

#9: “Upper Mississippi Shakedown” by The Lamont Cranston Band

After the Dubuque Mudpuppies of the Northwoods League collegiate wood bat baseball league folded after the 1996 season, St. Cloud was awarded a new franchise to begin in the summer of 1997. St. Cloud conducted a contest to name the new franchise, and I was fortunate that owner Joel Sutherland liked my entry more than the other roughly 500. So, the St. Cloud River Bats were born, and they had 15 outstanding years including three championships and more major league players than any franchise in the Northwoods League. Currently, at least two former River Bats are still playing in MLB: Mitch Garver (former Twin, Texas World Series champ, and now with Seattle) and Mark Canha (currently with Texas). This summer the St. Cloud Rox played their 14th season. They immediately replaced the River Bats and are about to equal the River Bats with 15 seasons as a Northwoods League franchise. So why this song? The River Bats took to the field to “Upper Mississippi Shakedown” each home game, and the song played whenever they won which was often. You cannot see the River Bats any longer, but if you go to a Rox game, keep an eye out for the Kuehl family and the Henry family who both host Rox players each summer and spend a lot of time at Joe Faber Field.

#8: “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

After my three-time Smartest Advising champions graduated, my next advising group, the class of 2020, won the Smartest Advising competition as sophomores which meant they also earned a theme song. I favored “Live and Let Die” from Paul McCartney & Wings since the previous group had a James Bond song and my co-advisor was Paul Keyworth, a native Brit who was named after Paul McCartney. We took nominations from students and Will Pittelko’s suggestion of “Livin’ on a Prayer” won out. It was a great choice. While the 2016 group was more businesslike and indeed carried themselves as “Simply the Best,” the 2020 group did seem to wing it a bit more and had a laid-back attitude. They won again in 2020 which was to be the final Smartest Advising competition. I joke that my advising groups broke the system by winning five of the final seven competitions, and as of today, we are still the defending champs. However, I am most proud of how the group continued to meet on Zoom during the spring of 2020, complete with guests such as past exchange students from Austria and Brazil, Mr. Keyworth (who had moved to New York), Mr. Miller, and siblings of advisees. It helped to have some levity during the pandemic distance learning.

#7: “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” by Harry Belafonte

My mother purchased Harry Belafonte’s Calypso album when she was about 20 years old, and it remained in our family’s small record collection for the entirety of my time on our farm. Her purchase came soon after nursing training in Chicago where she ate pizza (my favorite) for the first time, attended a Bill Haley and His Comets concert, and went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. She had good taste, and Belafonte’s album went to number one on the charts and was the first long play record album to sell a million copies. If you want to see a touching moment with this song, watch when the superstars recording “We Are the World,” exhausted at 2:00am from the recording session, pay tribute to a beaming Harry Belafonte. It is joyous.

#6: by Hammerhead

Mr. Engholm and Mr. Miller have had their turns with the song of the day, but I must include my younger brother, Paul (aka Apollo Liftoff), who may have laughed at my attempt to sing “London Calling” publicly, but that is because he knows his music. He was all-state in both choir and band during his high school years, has been part of many bands over the years, and has played all over the country and world. He has been based in Fargo-Moorhead, MSP, NYC, LA, and currently San Francisco. His best-known band is Hammerhead (just ahead of Vaz), and this song features him extensively. As usual, he wrote both the music and the lyrics. I cannot understand what he is singing, but he assures me it is not inappropriate for the classroom. He told me he couldn’t come up with a word to go with “Locomotive” for several weeks until he saw a suitcase he inherited from our Grandma Adele that had a small logo, “Starline.”

Despite my lack of musical talent, I was his first band mate. When we were quite young, we created a two-person band to play for our older siblings and parents in the basement. We were called “Two Cat Day” which was a play on the rock band Three Dog Night. Our one song was “King of the Copper Penny” modeled after “Queen of the Silver Dollar” by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.

#5: “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits

Although this list of twenty-two songs is not of my favorite songs, I had to include my personal favorite. I am not sure when I landed on this as number one, but it has been for many years. Mark Knopfler’s wonderful guitar playing first drew me to the song. As a solo artist, Knopfler has written the soundtrack for several movies such as The Princess Bride and Local Hero, and I played songs of the day from those soundtracks in Film Studies. I also played his “Remembrance Day” each year on Remembrance Day for British Literature classes. Eventually, I also came to love the story of “The Sultans of Swing,” even more when I learned it was based on reality. Knopfler popped into a London pub one night to escape the rain and heard a mediocre jazz band playing to a small, disinterested audience. Still, the band took itself seriously throughout and gave an enthusiastic thank you at the end of the night. (Maybe this has echoes of my 2013 Grand Tour of Nations performance of “London Calling.”) The London pub setting, the characterization of the band and its members, and a guitar maestro—that is an appealing formula.

#4: “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra appeared many times on The Midnight Special television program which ran from 1972 – 1981. It was during one of those appearances in the mid-1970’s that I learned of this great band, one of my all-time favorites. The mix of contemporary rock and classical instruments amazed me—they were unlike any band I had heard. My brothers have told me that this is the band they associate with me, and I proudly hung an ELO poster in my bedroom for years. ELO has many great songs, but my favorite as well as fellow ELO fan Mr. McGee’s favorite is “Mr. Blue Sky.” The song has a positive message, but even if you don’t listen to the lyrics, it just sounds great.

#3: “A Whole New World” by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle

Do you ever hear couples proclaim, “That’s our song!” This is it for my wife, Linda, and me. It is the Oscar-winning song from Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin. We went to the movie a few months before I proposed, and when determining our “first dance” song for the wedding, we said “That’s our song!” At the wedding dance, the DJ played the song excerpted from the movie itself with some dialogue included instead of the polished radio hit (which plays during the end credits of the movie). Either version is terrific, and I am glad we chose it to begin our “whole new world” which has continued for 33 years.

#2: “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John

My musical idol during my middle school years was Elton John, so of course, I need to include him. I remember a music teacher at our school during that time mocking him as a bad singer. Well, that “bad” singer remained a major star for another half century. When my wife and I married, we had a cozy country house built in the woods between Avon and Richmond. We stayed there for over 25 years, and when I drove away for the final time, I chose “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” for my drive away song. I considered making it my final song on this list as I departed teaching, but hey, how could I not play it on the final YESHMO (Yellow Shirt Monday) of my career? Goodbye Yellow Shirt Monday.

#1: “The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles

Once I decided that Elton’s song would move to #2, I knew the final song would have to be from the greatest band ever, The Beatles. I considered “In My Life,” but that is more of a Lennon song, and I lean toward McCartney. I also considered their masterpiece “A Day in the Life,” but it didn’t seem right as a final song. “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight” often closes McCartney concerts including the one I attended with Tomato Warning. However, I went back to the beginning, my personal introduction to The Beatles. My father rarely bought music, so I was surprised when he bought the single 45 RPM record “The Long and Winding Road.” Eventually, although it took many years, the band became my favorite. I was fortunate to spend some time in Liverpool where I went on a magical mystery tour of sites related to the band, ending at the Cavern Club where they developed their greatness. My career has been a long and winding road, and thanks for your patience if you have read all my long and winding comments about these 22 final songs of the day.

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Jerry passed away peacefully at Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins, MN, on September 24, 2026. Burial will take place at St. John’s Abbey Cemetery in Collegeville, MN.

Jerry was born on February 14, 1934, to Charles and Marian (Bucher) Howard. On June 21, 1958, he married Juliana Hagenston in Glendive, MT. Together, they shared more than six decades of marriage, building a life rooted in faith, family, education, and community until Juliana’s passing in February 2025.

A dedicated educator and speech coach for 35 years, Jerry co-founded St. Bernard’s High School in St. Paul, MN, alongside two religious sisters in 1958. Later, as an English teacher at St. John’s Prep School in Collegeville, MN, Jerry mentored generations of students and fostered championship-caliber speakers, instilling in them confidence, kindness, and a zeal for learning.

His resourcefulness matched Jerry’s devotion to providing for his family. Jerry worked summers selling life insurance for Bankers Life to supplement his teaching income. Despite a modest teacher’s salary, he put all five of his children through college by strategically using the tuition remission benefit available through his employment. It was characteristic of Jerry: practical, determined, and always looking for a way to make things work for the people he loved.

Jerry was a proud parent, grandparent, citizen, provider, and financial steward–someone who could light up a room with his disarming warmth and infectious joy. Throughout his life, he enjoyed playing tennis and golf, cross-country skiing, canoe trips, reading, watching sports on television, and finding quiet focus in adult coloring.

Above all, Jerry was a man of quiet courage, resilience, and profound honesty. He faced significant physical adversity, including multiple hip, knee and shoulder surgeries, as well as chronic pain and dizziness, with extraordinary endurance. He celebrated major personal victories, choosing health when he quit smoking in 1982 and embracing a quarter-century of continuous sobriety beginning in 2001. He was grateful for the loving care provided by the staff at Serenity on 7th, Hilltop Healthcare Center, and St. Croix Hospice Services.

Jerry possessed an earnest self-awareness and spoke openly about his own human flaws. Yet those who knew him best recognized the true heart of the man: a good, decent, and deeply trustworthy soul. His honesty, resilience, generosity, humor, and example shaped the lives of those around him. His legacy lives on not simply in what he accomplished, but in the people he loved, taught, encouraged, and provided for.

Jerry is survived by his five children: Stephen (Wendy) of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Robert (Amy) of Bloomington, MN; Thomas (Libia) of Chicago, IL; Annie Heymans (Tim) of St. Joseph, MN; and David (Nikki) of Durham, NC; ten beloved grandchildren: Mariana, Kathryn, Sophia, Mia, Lauren, Rene, Chloe, Helena, Martin, and Matthew; and eight great-grandchildren: Emelina, Ana, Ainhoa, Caroline, Vida, Arantxa, Jacob, and Viviana. He is also fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews, former students, friends, and compassionate caregivers.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Juliana; his parents, Charles and Marian; and his siblings, Ron and Mary Pat.

Memorials to St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota are preferred in lieu of flowers.

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Questions about this publication? Contact Alumni and Community Engagement Manager Hazel Anderson-Larson ’19 at handerson001@sjprep.net.

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Read Father Edward’s full invocation and blessing below.

As we gather at the start of this new academic year, I greet each one of you—students, faculty, and staff—with warmth and gratitude. Whether this is your first time setting foot in the Abbey Church, or a place that already feels like home, know that you are part of something ancient and alive.

Saint John’s Prep is more than a school. It is a community formed by the tradition of Saint Benedict that is nearly 1,500 years old: the Benedictine way of life, rooted in prayer, learning, hospitality, and care for one another. Here, education is not only about what you know—but about who you are becoming. It’s about how you listen, how you serve, how you grow in wisdom and compassion.

We gather in this church—a place of prayer and promise—to begin again, together.

Let us now take a moment to entrust this new year to God.

Let us pray.

Loving and Faithful God,
You have brought us together from many places and with many stories,
to form one community of learning and belonging.
As we begin this school year,
we give thanks for the Benedictine values that shape our life at Saint John’s Prep:
a spirit of hospitality that welcomes all;
a love of learning that seeks truth with humility;
a commitment to listening with the ear of the heart;
and a call to serve one another with care and respect.

Bless our students with wonder and courage,
our teachers and staff with wisdom and creativity,
and all of us with a deep sense of connection to You and to one another.

May this be a year of growth in mind and heart,
a year when we support each other through challenge
and celebrate each other in joy.

Guide us in all things,
that our lives may reflect your goodness
and bear witness to the spirit of Saint Benedict in our world today.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
our Teacher and Lord.
Amen.

Let this be a year of joy, of purpose, and of transformation.
May God bless you, and may Saint Benedict walk with us as we begin.

Father Edward is the Chaplain of Saint John’s Prep.  He is originally from Lisbon, Ohio and has been a monk of Saint John’s Abbey since professing monastic vows in the year of 1995.  Father Edward spent more than twelve years at the Saint John’s Priory in Japan. Father Edward has most recently served as Pastor in the Albany and Avon, Minnesota area.  Father Edward is also the Prior of .
Saint John’s Prep was founded in 1857 by the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey. The abbey is the parent and founding institution of the prep school.

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She encourages students to make the most of the year in front of them. Her remarks challenge students to be curious, take risks, and care for one another. She reminds them that while the future matters, the moments that shape us are happening right now.

Read Dr. Glomski’s full Convocation address below.

Good morning, I would like to acknowledge that Mr. McGee isn’t able to be with us today. He very much wishes he could be here to welcome all of you on the first day of school, and he had a message he wanted me to share with you this morning.

Mr. McGee and I both share love for the first day of school. There is just something about it. New classes, new teachers, new schedules, new people, and a whole year ahead of us that hasn’t happened yet. And what I especially love is that this exact group of people has never been together before. This particular collection of students, faculty, and staff will only exist once. Over the next nine months, all of us will shape what this year becomes.

For those of you who are new to Saint John’s Prep, welcome. We are so glad you are here. I hope you very quickly begin to feel that this is your school and your community. You will leave your mark on this place, and I am pretty certain it will leave a mark on you, too. And to everyone returning, welcome back. It is really, really good to have you here!

I want to do something now that has become a tradition at Convocation. Sixth graders, would you please stand? And seniors, would you stand too and turn to face our sixth graders?

Sixth graders, welcome to your very first first day at Saint John’s Prep. I know there is a lot that is new today. New teachers, new classmates, new routines, and probably a few things you haven’t quite figured out yet. That is okay. Every single person in this room has been new before. Now, take a look at our seniors. Believe it or not, that will be you sooner than you think. Learn from them. Ask them questions. Watch how they lead. And know that you belong here just as much as they do.

Seniors, welcome to your last first day at Prep. There are going to be a lot of people asking you about what comes next this year. Where are you applying? What are you going to study? What are you going to do after graduation? Those are important questions, but don’t let all of that “next” cause you to miss this. You get one senior year. Be here for it.
And take another look at those sixth graders. You were them not very long ago. They are watching you, whether you realize it or not. Teach them. Include them. Lead them well. Okay, you can all sit down.

Beginnings are exciting, but they can also be a little uncomfortable. A new year asks something of us. It asks us to try things we haven’t tried before, meet people we don’t know yet, take some risks, make some mistakes, and maybe discover something about ourselves that we didn’t know before.

That is part of what makes the beginning of a school year so great. We don’t know yet exactly what this year will hold. There will be successes. There will absolutely be some hard days. There will be moments when you surprise yourself. You may discover something you love, find a friend you didn’t expect, take a class that changes the way you think, or do something you didn’t believe you could do.

Right now, all of that is still ahead of us.

So as we begin this year, I want to challenge all of us to be open to it. Be curious. Try something new. Be bold! Work hard. Pay attention to the people around you. Ask for help when you need it, and offer help when someone else does. Take care of this community and take care of one another. Most of all, don’t be so focused on where you are going that you miss where you are. Today is a beginning. We have a whole school year in front of us, and we get to decide together what we will do with it.

It’s the first day of school.

And right now, everything is possible.

Have a wonderful year, everyone.

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