Gulf Pine Catholic

16 Gulf Pine Catholic • June 1, 2018 Spotlight on Schools Our Lady Academy (OLA) eighth grade student Aly Theobald was selected to attend the United States Naval Academy (USNA) Summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program this summer in Annapolis, MD. The Summer STEM accepts 640 students for their three sessions from roughly 6,300 applications each year. Aly, an honor student, earned top awards in the Robotics and Intelligence Categories at the Regional and State Science and Engineering Competitions. She is a member of the OLA swim team, track and field team and plays the French horn for the St. Stanislaus band. “I am so excited to have been afforded this opportu- nity to participate in USNA STEM Program. I can’t wait to experience hands-on training in a world class facility and learn more about Robotics. I plan on join- ing the OLA Robotics Team next year and hope I can contribute some new and advanced technology to the group,” said Aly. The Summer Stem Program, an overnight academic program, is designed for rising students in excellent academic standing who have a keen interest in math and science. The program gives students the opportu- nity to experience real-life applications of math and science principles through hands-on practical learning. The academy’s current students, called midshipmen, help run the Summer Stem Program and acts as men- tors to students. The STEM Program attendees engage in project- based modules and hands-on design activities. The program introduces the latest technological advances with topics such as: Energy and Light, Infrastructure, Transportation and Cybersecurity, Simulation and Modeling, Flight and Fluids, Biometrics and Robotics, and Automation. The program is open to all students entering the ninth-eleventh grade for the following school year. Selection is based on student accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. For more information about the Summer STEM Program and the application pro- cess, visit http://www.usna.edu/admissions/programs/ stem or call (410) 293-1858. This year will be Marie Bartels’ last year teaching at Our Lady Academy (OLA). She has taught over 5,125 students in her 44 years of teaching Spanish. OLA was blessed to have her for the last 22 years. Bartels not only taught Spanish I, II, III, and Spanish Honors at OLA, but she educated and celebrated with her students many Mexican and Spanish traditions such as the ‘Day of the Dead’ (a Mexican celebration that honors the departed souls) and ‘Cinco De Mayo’ (an annual celebration to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire). Bartels is fluent in three languages: German, Spanish, and English. Her classroom is adorned with piñatas suspended from the ceilings and on her last day at OLA, her students plan to strike at each piñata and feast on the inside delicacies. She was questioned by her current honor students if she had planned on pursuing a career in teaching when she was in college. She immediately responded, ‘NO!’ “I did not have any desire to teach much less teach Spanish. My college advisor made me take Spanish, insisting that one day I would thank her for it. I never did get a chance to thank her for steering me to this wonderful and rewarding profession. I often say, ‘God laughs’ and he must have been in stitches when I decided to teach,” said Bartels. She easily recalls the many memorable years that she has spent in the classroom at OLA. So many of her students remain in contact with her. She said, “When I see my past students succeed and continue to speak the Spanish language, it makes me proud that I had some linguistic influence on these students and that they truly share the love of the Spanish language with me. When I retire, I plan on taking cooking classes, spending time with my grandchildren, volunteering, trying my hand at tai chi, and best of all, I plan to lead my way back to my second home, OLA, to substitute teach from time to time.” Bartels The State of Mississippi House of Representatives commended Our Lady Academy (OLA) senior Emma Funk for her outstanding athletic excellence and her exemplary char- acter on and off the court by adopt- ing House Resolution No. 4. Resolution No. 4 entitled resolution commending and congratulating Emma Funk for being named MaxPreps’s volleyball small school Player of the Year was signed by House of Representatives Speaker Philip Gunn and David Baria of District 122 on January 16. Stated in the Resolution, “It is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding young Mississippi athletes, especially those such as Emma Funk, who has exceeded all expec- tations of greatness and brought honor to Our Lady Academy, the City of Bay St. Louis and to this great Magnolia State.” Emma has received a myriad of volleyball acco- lades throughout her six years at OLA. In her 2017/2018 academic year she was named MAC All-Star Team, MaxPreps Preseason All American Team, Wendy’s High School Heisman winner, Sun Herald Player of the Week, Clarion Ledger Player of the Week, Sea Coast Echo Player of the Week. Emma’s other volleyball awards include three-time All-South Mississippi Player of the Year, three-time Clarion Ledger All State Honoree and three-time All-State Tournament selec- tion. In 2016 she was named Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year, Clarion Player of the Year, and two- time Prep Volleyball All-American and Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star. An honor roll student, with a 4.0 GPA and a 32 on the ACT, Emma is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mississippi Math and Science Tournament Team, Quiz Bowl Team, AP Scholar, Furman Scholar and Wofford Scholar. When Emma is not on the court or studying, she volunteers her services at the Dunbar Nursing Home, St. ClareVacation Bible School, Northshore Community Foundation, Hancock County Humane Society, Mississippi Cleanup, Yugoministries Mission Trip and OLA Junior Volleyball Camp. Emma will continue her volleyball and academic career at Trinity University of San Antonio, Texas. Emma Funk is the daughter of Sherry and Mike Funk. Funk Theobald Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis Pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Diocese of Biloxi by visiting www.invisiblemonastery.com