President’s Update: October 10, 2025
October 10, 2025
Dear Friends,
Scecina students and community members continue to accomplish great things in service to Scecina and our wider community!
Senior Bradley Hilbers: The 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program recently awarded the prestigious distinction of Commended Student to senior Bradley Hilbers. Bradley, an alumnus of St. Michael Catholic School in Greenfield, earned this exemplary nationwide distinction based on his 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
I appreciate Bradley’s work ethic, diligence, and character. He is an excellent school leader. He credits much of his success to his teachers at St. Michael and at Scecina. Bradley encourages himself and his classmates to “stay consistent, maintain discipline, and get things done in a timely manner.”
Senior student Eric Montgomery: The Indianapolis Colts have selected Eric Montgomery to represent the Colts and the State of Indiana in the National Football League (NFL) Latino Youth Honors Program. This recognition celebrates outstanding young leaders in athletics, academics, and community involvement statewide. If Eric advances in this nationwide honor program, he would participate in special NFL events and recognitions during Super Bowl Week.
I applaud Eric’s energy, enthusiasm, and all-around approach to school involvement. A member of St. Philip Neri Parish and a Little Flower Catholic School alumnus, Eric is grateful for this opportunity and for growing up in a family of two cultures, where he has learned to value cultural similarities and differences. His commitment and advice are to “help make Scecina a better place for everyone, do your best, and be the change the world needs.”
Sacred Music Concert: I recently enjoyed a wonderful treat of an evening while listening to our choral students’ Sacred Music Concert. Their voices and spirit filled Little Flower Catholic Church, where the concert was held. At the end of the show, retired Little Flower pastor Father Bob Gilday said, “This was the best high school music concert I have ever attended!” I couldn’t agree more; Father Bob has been to more than a few high school music events in his life!
Father Tom Service Award: Please join us for the annual Father Tom Day Mass on Friday, October 24, at 10:10 a.m., when we will pay tribute to the life and legacy of our school namesake, Father Thomas Scecina. Future Scecina students from the East Deanery will join us, and we will present the Father Tom Service Award to two very deserving individuals who have made Scecina an important part of their lives and who often, in Father Tom’s words, “Give that Little Extra.”
Our honorees this year will be Mr. George Newhart, Scecina Class of 1960 and highly impactful Scecina Board of Directors Chairman and member, and Mrs. Beth Murphy, Scecina Director of Development and past parent of a Scecina student. I will share more after the Mass about George’s and Beth’s many contributions to Scecina. Please RSVP and join us!
Giving Day: Scecina’s annual Giving Day will be on Thursday, October 23, the day before the Father Tom Day Mass. Please consider how you can participate in this Scecina community-wide event that raises spirit and support so that our students can continue to develop and share their God-given gifts right here at Scecina Memorial High School.
Thank you very much for helping Scecina shine brightly. We need your prayers and participation so that current and future students like Bradley Hilbers, Eric Montgomery, and our Sacred Music performers will keep impacting our neighborhood and our world in very positive and lasting ways!
Gratefully,
Joe Therber
