By Zachary Baehr,
Pius X High School Communications Director
In early August, hundreds of alumni of Pius X High School in Lincoln attended class reunions at their school and around the city.
Behind the scenes, new school administrators have had their own personal reunions, joining the administration after serving in different roles in the past.
Jeremy Ekeler graduated from Pius X in 1997, then returned to teach English and coach at his alma mater, and now is back serving as its chief administrative officer.
His love for building relationships with people is evident to those who listen to the school’s weekly podcast, We Are Pius (piusx.net/podcast). Using the podcast to give voice to Pius X, Ekeler interviews people who are part of the Pius X community. In a recent episode, he conducted 17 short interviews with students, staff, and a parent about their hopes for the upcoming school year, which started Aug. 19.
“I think Catholic education is an intersection between the tangible and the eternal,” Ekeler said. “So our job is to form young people who can bear the light of Christ in a culture that can be very dark. But as we bear that light in this world, the intersection occurs when we make choices that ultimately lead to eternity with Christ.”
One of the new leaders bearing that light of Christ is Jennifer Tran, the school’s new principal. A former English teacher at Pius X, Tran has served in Catholic education as assistant and head principal at various schools in Lincoln, most recently at Blessed Sacrament.
During a staff retreat day in August, Tran shared a ‘grace’ story: she has a desire to have the courage to talk with families of school-aged children, and then encourage them to consider Catholic education.
When speaking with one such family, she learned they were trying to decide whether their daughter should attend a high school near their house or Pius X. In the moment, God gave Tran the courage to introduce herself, not yet aware that the student’s mom had just asked God for a sign to help them make their decision. A short time later, Tran and the family met again—this time as the daughter was picking up her class schedule for Pius X!
Tran said having conversations with high school students is an area she feels called to, making her a natural fit for Pius X.
“My original love is having those relationships, the conversations, the faith-based everything with the older students because we can have a deeper conversation,” Tran said. “So making those connections and making those differences in their lives, even just a word or phrase, can make a bigger impression because they realize the weight of what you’re saying.”
This student and nearly 1,100 others will encounter the counseling office at Pius X with the new director of counseling, Jess Psota. Psota formerly taught English and has served as a school counselor for a few years.
She also met her future husband, Ryan (business teacher and head girls basketball coach), when she started working at Pius X, adding to the family atmosphere. She desires to work with students on more than just academics and finding the exact right college or major.
“I think the most important thing is to be open to finding and understanding God’s purpose for you,” she said. “Everything else will work itself out. You need to understand your academics are important. That transcript starts day one. But at the end of the day, you are going to be the happiest and feel the most peace when you are living out God’s purpose for you.”
Trevor Johnson, the new activities director, used the same locker rooms as every other PE student and Pius X athlete while starring on the basketball court for the Thunderbolts before graduating in 2010. The school’s current fundraising campaign – Forward in Faith and Excellence – aims to renovate those locker rooms, add to its athletic facilities, expand its chapel, and construct a new theater and music classrooms.
After playing basketball in college, Johnson had to work his way through the coaching ranks to become a head basketball coach at the Division III level, while also overseeing facilities and strength and performance programs. In April, he rejoined the Thunderbolts line-up, now overseeing all the sports and activities programs and facilities.
“I think there are countless ways that faith can be tied into the performing arts and athletics,” Johnson said. “I think one of the big things is that faith can really be used to ground our identity. I think it’s very easy for kids to tie their value and their worth to ‘What role did I get in the play?’ or ‘How many points did I score?’ That’s what society teaches kids. You flip on ESPN, and the only thing they talk about is how many points someone scored. Our value is not earned. It’s given. I think that’s really important.”
The return of some familiar faces comes with the continuing commitment to “Restore All Things in Christ,” the motto for Pius X. The relationships built at Pius X have lasted for generations, with second and third-generation graduates being part of the school’s legacy.
All are welcome home, Ekeler said.
“Maybe you’re even out there and you’ve kind of fallen away from the Church, or from Pius. I’m here to tell you it’s home and it’s community, and we love you,” Ekeler said. “And I believe community is not created; it’s revealed when you’re committed to Christ – He’ll do that work. So this community is committed to Christ. That’s the best part about being a Bolt.”
