November 3, 2025 • 37 mins
A small choice can define a lifetime: Jim Kopp and John Oades, two friends from the Class of ’67 sit down with us to share how Rockhurst formed their faith, sharpened their character, and gave them a brotherhood that still shows up—at service sites, retreats, tailgates, and alumni events. They talk about arriving as kids, becoming men for others, and why they now guide freshmen through Days for Others with the same joy their mentors once showed them.
We dig into access and inclusion with fresh honesty. Transportation remains a real barrier for some families, and simple solutions—carpools, neighbor networks,—can unlock a student’s path. From there, the conversation widens: participation matters, because small gifts and volunteer hours help secure corporate and foundation matches. We unpack how alumni presence transforms culture in the building. When students see seasoned grads grabbing shovels and leading by example, service becomes normal, not performative.
Career opportunity comes to life through Rock Connect, the Jesuit alumni network, and a growing speaker series that turns goodwill into internships, mentorship, and practical skills. First‑generation college students get tailored guidance on networking, internships, and campus engagement, with alumni stepping in as guides who translate experience into clear next steps. We also float a powerful idea: retired alums running hands‑on seminars that teach the real-world lessons you rarely get from a textbook.
At the heart of it all is a simple claim: academics open doors, but community keeps them open. Faith animates the bonds, and the bonds make the school more than a place—it’s a network you can lean on in any city, at any age. If you’ve drifted, start small. Read the alumni newsletter, show up for spaghetti dinner, say hello at a game, or lend an hour at a service site. Then decide how you want to give: time, talent, or treasure. If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a classmate, and leave a review—then tell us how you’ll reconnect this year.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:28):
Welcome to Rock Talk, the official podcast of
Rockhurst High School in KansasCity, Missouri, where we explore
the voices, values, and vibrantlife of our Jesuit college prep
community.
Hosted by the Admissions andMarketing Team, each episode
features conversations withstudents, faculty, alumni, and
special guests as we sharestories of academic excellence,
faith, formation, brotherhood,and service.
(00:51):
Whether you're a prospectivefamily, a proud alumnus, or
simply curious about what makesRock Rush unique, this is your
inside look at Life at the Rock.
SPEAKER_05 (01:00):
And we're back, folks.
This is Steve Redman, Directorof Admissions and Marketing.
We've got Beth Van Dyken here,the other director of Admissions
and Marketing.
And we got two special guestswith us today, which we're
excited to talk about.
We got Jim Cop and John Odes ofthe Great Class.
Did I say that right, gentlemen?
You did the Great Class of 1967.
(01:23):
Fellas, we appreciate you beinghere.
And why don't you introduceyourself to the community and
the listeners and tell us alittle bit about what's going on
right now in your life?
SPEAKER_00 (01:34):
Well, my name is Jim Cop.
I graduated, as Steve said, in67, and it's it's been a
whirlwind since then andenjoyable.
I joined Rockers my secondsemester, my junior year, coming
from St.
John's Seminary, which a lot ofthe young listeners would not
(01:55):
understand what St.
John's Seminary, because itdoesn't exist anymore.
It was a high school seminary,which we refer to as a minor
seminary.
SPEAKER_05 (02:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (02:03):
And that's where my beginnings of high school life
started, and it was justincreased so much more when I
came to Rockers.
Uh we took it out of, let's say,more of the religious
environment into the lifeenvironment by coming to Rockers
and learning more and more aboutgiving for others, doing for
(02:27):
others, and had some greatteachers and confidants.
Father Martins, who is I don'tknow where he is today, but he
was one of my religion teachers,or people would know as theology
today, was was phenomenal.
And my life evolved so muchwhile I was at Rockers for a
year and a half, I decided to goback into seminary and I must
(02:52):
have been crazy because Idecided after two years to come
back out.
SPEAKER_02 (02:56):
Discerning, always discerning, right?
SPEAKER_00 (02:58):
Yeah, exactly.
And the basis that I got fromRockers continue to grow
throughout my professional life,my married life.
So today my partner in doing alot of things, John Oates, we
work with Rockers boys, freshmanyear, young men, and day for
(03:23):
others, which we have theprivilege of using their
talents, their strength ingiving to others in the
community one day a quarter,which is just phenomenal.
So my life started at a veryyoung age, seventy-seven years
ago.
(03:44):
Still young.
And yes, and I'm s as Beth said,I'm still discerning Yeah, there
you go.
And there's so many things thatkeep popping up from that.
And I'm retired and it Rockersjust gave me the basis to
continue giving back to thecommunity.
And by letting us share with theyoung men, the freshmen, it
(04:07):
encouraged me as I see themhappily work within the
community.
And so that's where I'm at todayis trying to find more ways to
be involved in the community.
And Rockers is, you know, theyalways have their phone line
open, you know.
So if you need to do something,call.
(04:27):
But anyway, it's great.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (04:28):
What about you, John?
Well, I'm John Oates, and Jimjust went through the entire
agenda.
So thank you, Jim.
I I think he said it very verywell.
Obviously, I came to Rockstar myfreshman year from visitation
grade school, you know, Catholicgrade school to to the Catholic
high school and on to RockhurstUniversity or college at the
(04:50):
time.
And you know, as I look back atuh starting here, we we you
know, well, it was a no-brainer.
We were gonna go to Rockhurst.
That was what m folks wanted usto do.
That's what I think I wanted todo at the time.
Except that, you know, back whenwe were all thinking about
Rockhurst, high school was at52nd and Troost, we lived at
(05:12):
52nd in Maine.
Okay.
So that's a you know, cakewalk.
Yeah.
It would have been a walk.
And then they had to go m moveit out here.
And that almost almost scratchedit for us.
But you know, we worked it out.
And I'm I'm just I I can't sayhow glad I am that that's what
happened.
Because Rockhurst was just itwas all that's all we thought
(05:32):
about, you know, really.
I was involved in some sportsprimarily sports until I hurt my
body too much and got out of it.
But you know, it was just such agood uh experience that and
that's why I think Jim and I getinvolved so much these days.
I'm the chair of the volunteeralumni volunteer group, which is
(05:57):
another challenge in and ofitself, getting people to come
out and and do these activitiesthat we but the activities are
so much fun.
I mean they really are fun.
Jim mentioned days for othersfor the freshmen.
And and you know, the freshmanretreat and the uh the uh alumni
tailgate party, you know.
They're all really, really fun.
And I just I put a little plugin for volunteers.
(06:20):
I urge you to come out and andand try it.
You'll like it.
SPEAKER_03 (06:23):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (06:23):
So we hear.
What are we here?
And uh on that note, you know,as as we were talking before we
got on air, you know, this fourepisodes is about giving and
whether that's time, talent, ortreasure.
And, you know, you guys havegiven a lot.
And, you know, I heard MeredithForest told me, you guys have
been rolling tough for a longtime, you know, in in that
(06:47):
capacity too, giving together,you know, just just living life
together.
SPEAKER_00 (06:52):
We we do, we and we enjoyed it.
And I think I would tag on whatJohnny said that we always
thought about going to rockers.
You know, that was the thething.
But you know, since going thereand now where we are in our
life, we understand what itmeans to go to rockers.
You know, we don't just thinkabout going to rockers, we think
about being part of Rockerscommunity and being, you know,
(07:16):
uh to us more well-roundedindividuals because we came
here.
Right.
And we understand what Rockersis.
You know, it's not say I'm we'rethinking about going to Rockers,
we understand what it means.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:28):
Which is why the giving part is so easy to accept
and to participate in, andwhether it's financial or uh
time, as you you've alreadysaid, but i it it's just a norm.
It's just normal for at leastwell, Jim and I and a lot of the
a lot of the guys, uh, the classof 67 is fairly involved.
Yeah.
We got a good group of of guysthat get together every month,
(07:52):
either for lunch or for happyhour.
And and it it I I couldn't dowithout that.
And I think it leads us into thegiving of the financial part.
Uh I don't think I could sleepwell at night if if I wasn't you
know participating in that.
SPEAKER_05 (08:08):
Yeah.
I I got a uh question for youguys as a young alumni and and
uh also a gentleman that came toRockhurst, because I'm I'm
impressed to say this, you know,because like how what what's the
key for you guys as friends tostay connected the way you have
for so long?
(08:28):
Oh boy.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
Can we can we go off air?
Do we have to be honest?
You know, like Johnny said, westarted in grade school and that
was we graduated in 63 fromgrade school.
I mean it's been going out eversince and uh And we still like
each other.
Yeah.
I mean it it's and I have to saythat as we discern and evolved
(08:57):
what what we learn and what wedid together is what glues us
together, you know, and that'sour faith, our religion and and
our community.
You know, we have the faith, butit's the community that supports
it.
And I mean when when Johnnysays, you know, we do things,
(09:18):
you know, outside together, wedo a lot of things outside
together that we've been friendswith from 63.
I mean we have a little groupthat we get known told about a
project that could be done if ifyou guys had the time.
The class jumps in and they doit, you know.
And it's and I I really say it'sthe class of 63 from visitation.
(09:43):
Okay.
Not to be, you know, bias oranything, but yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (09:47):
We literally grew up together, if you can imagine
that, and we're you're stilltalking to each other.
unknown (09:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:52):
I think that's one of the powerful things that I've
observed as a non-alum is thatbond.
I mean, I I went to St.
Teresa's and to St.
Elizabeth and have those samekind of bonds with my classmates
there.
But my dad, for example, goes tolunch once a week with his
Rockers classmates, and a lot ofthose are his St.
Francis classmates.
And he too would agree that themove out south was a little bit
(10:14):
rough for for a lot of families.
And what's interesting, evenabout that, is one of the things
that that Steve and I encounterin the mission's office today is
still that transportation, sogetting to rockers is sometimes
the biggest hurdle for families.
So you would think it might befinancial, you think it might be
maybe different beliefs orphilosophies.
It's not that.
It's it's sometimes as simple ashow do we get here?
(10:37):
And so, you know, having peoplelike you that come and and share
your stories reminds us thatthis has been something that has
been a continuing thread andsomething that we can still help
families with.
And a lot of times it's buildingthat carpal right out the those
neighborhood kids that thenbecome lifelong friends because
they drive to school every dayfrom wherever in the city
(11:00):
they're coming from.
SPEAKER_00 (11:00):
So Yeah, absolutely.
I I think that when we talkabout the strength of rockers
alum to each other, a little uhincident happened one time.
I was on a plane coming backfrom a business trip, and you
know, as you said on a plane,you you hope that you know maybe
I can talk to the guy next tome, you know.
Or the girl.
(11:22):
The guy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
He doesn't want to get in trouble.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
And and we're talking and we exchanged, and he
worked for Postanelli and wasnot a rockers alum or anything.
We're talking, and he says, youknow, one thing I gotta say
about you, damn rockers alum.
You are tighter than myfraternity in college.
I said, Well, you know, you'reright.
Wherever you go, if you're in anew city and you find a rockers
(11:49):
alum, all of a sudden you havefriends and community there.
You're not alone.
And that's to me, that's strongabout what this school, not the
building, but the people in itbuild between each other.
SPEAKER_05 (12:04):
And and that's what we we always talk about, trying
to get these young men tounderstand that sooner.
Like that's you know, andhonestly, that was a thing that
you know, I left Rockhurst andyou know, it was a great time.
It was very form formative forme and all of the stuff.
And but I never like stayedconnected.
(12:26):
And life accelerated prettyquick when I got out.
But it was like, oh man, theolder I got, the more I
appreciated what I got from thisplace, and the more I was
seeking to, you know, in littleways, I would come back and
speak here, I would shoot avideo.
And now that I'm here, I'm like,guys, let's just move through
all of the foolishness and theawkwardness and all of this, and
(12:48):
just trust me.
Just press into the brotherhoodnow because you can't even
fathom how deep this is outsideof you.
Right, right.
You just need to trust the thefolks and and you guys too, you
know.
And and I'm curious, I guess, atleast to a question of with with
your involvement, you said withthe freshmen and and the stuff
(13:09):
that you do here, you know, whenwe're talking to those other
alumni, how have you seen yourpresence, your wisdom, your
perspective impact our our guysin the building?
The students?
Yeah, the students.
SPEAKER_04 (13:24):
That's a great question, and I'm not sure we
can really answer it, because ifwe come in and do these events,
then we leave.
You know, we come back and doanother event, then we leave.
Gotcha.
I can only hope that it has aneffect on them because we don't
even get an evaluation, so tospeak, okay, when we're done.
But I I I have to think we'rewe're making a uh an impression
(13:46):
on them.
Had a couple of guys, I guess,come back to us through other
channels saying, that was agreat deal.
I'm I'm I'm glad these guys arehere and that kind of stuff.
But yeah, I just gotta hope thatwe do have the impact that we
think we do.
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
I will say I got to do service with you guys for
freshman day for others at St.
Trees a couple weeks ago at St.
Trece the Little Flower.
And I drove, you know, the van,and that's where you get all the
good conversations, in caseyou're wondering, is driving the
van.
But you know, they did talkabout how cool it was that you
guys are still such goodfriends.
I mean, that was something thatthey definitely took away from
(14:20):
that day was I think that'sreally cool that they still hang
out together, is how they putit.
They still hang out together.
So they like that.
And I think too watching youjoyfully give back to the
community and and seeing kind ofyou putting your all in makes
them buy in more.
And I and I see that anytime wehave our alumni at those service
(14:41):
sites, because I mostly go tothe police athletic league.
And every so often we'll get analum that comes there, but a lot
of times our alums go to thebigger sites like Kansas Cubic
Works and things like that.
So when I see an alum come andthey kind of set the tone for I,
you know, they're in there witha shovel, they're in there with
getting their hands dirty.
(15:02):
It kind of for some of the boysthat maybe aren't used to a life
of service, they will get usedto it.
SPEAKER_00 (15:08):
Uh I always say they have a hard time spelling
L-A-B-O-R.
SPEAKER_02 (15:13):
That is correct.
And some don't know how to use apush broom, but you know, we
learn very important skills inthat beyond the importance of
giving back.
But no, I think seeing you guysand having you lead by example
definitely has an impact.
So you are making a mark,whether you get a formal
evaluation or not.
I'll give you one and it's an Aplus.
SPEAKER_00 (15:32):
So Yeah, well, thank you.
And I think we do get anevaluation because we keep
getting a call to come back anddo that.
That's true.
So that is true.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:41):
I I don't think we really need to have too much of
a of uh feedback.
SPEAKER_03 (15:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:46):
Because it's it's as I've said already, it's fun
stuff.
SPEAKER_03 (15:49):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:49):
And I I know the kids are getting stuff out of
it, the freshmen are supposed tobe called kids.
Uh but we just don't hear itmaybe.
But uh I know we I know we do.
SPEAKER_02 (15:58):
Yeah.
And I know you guys have helpedwith a couple of the missions
events, and we always appreciatehaving alumni like at Night at
the Rock, handing out postersand and things like that.
Because I think again, when bothprospective families and
prospective students see youguys as kind of still engaged,
still excited to share aboutyour experience at Rockers.
(16:19):
We had Spencer Hardwick uh speakthis year, who's an alum at
Night at the Rock, and it wasgreat because I think what it
shows parents is this is whatyour son can be.
You know, I think every parentwants their kid to be someone
who comes and gives back, whocan make eye contact and shake a
hand, you know, things likethat.
And they see that when our alumscome out to events.
(16:40):
So I know this office inparticular appreciates your
contributions for sure.
SPEAKER_05 (16:44):
And John, I want to ask you a question.
And and and you're the presidentof the alumni, or is that what
remind I'm forgive me.
I'm the uh volunteer chair.
Volunteer chair.
What are some events coming upfor alumni?
Do we have any coming up?
SPEAKER_04 (17:00):
There's the alumni spaghetti dinner.
Okay.
Father Percelli, alumni, allalumni spaghetti dinner.
I gotta think about that now.
SPEAKER_02 (17:08):
Yeah.
Now our Rock Day of Giving iscoming up, which is a big alumni
event, trying to get as manyalumni involved at at whatever
level they can be involved,which I think is great.
SPEAKER_04 (17:19):
We've come in to make those calls, Jim and I
both.
I don't know if we're going todo it this year.
I don't we haven't beenattempted yet.
SPEAKER_02 (17:25):
There you go.
SPEAKER_04 (17:26):
Um but I that's yeah, that's right around the
corner as well.
And then we'll we'll have ourown special alumni or not
alumni, but class Christmasdinner.
SPEAKER_01 (17:37):
Oh, that's great.
SPEAKER_04 (17:38):
And then there's the alumni Christmas thing also.
So I forgot about that.
So I didn't write it down, so II can't remember.
SPEAKER_02 (17:44):
Yeah, and we I know, and is that the Christmas thing?
Is that the where they do thepizza party and the the young
alums come back that are recentgrads?
Is it that one or is there two?
There's probably more than one.
SPEAKER_03 (17:54):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:55):
That office is busy, busy.
So Meredith's doing a great job.
But yeah, what one of myfavorite things to go to is that
uh they do a pizza party andthey invite like the last two
years, I think, of students whohave graduated.
And so for someone who's beenhere for seven years, I like to
go back and and see what theboys are up to and you know
where they've landed and howthey've landed.
(18:16):
And overall, great reportsalways coming out of that that
night.
And I think they really enjoyedthe chance to be back together,
which shows you something.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
What's that Jesuit program or um like uh J Fan or
something or yeah, J Fan?
J Fan.
SPEAKER_02 (18:32):
Yeah.
So there is, and that's throughthe Jesuit schools network, but
it's pretty much like aJesuit-wide alumni network,
which is great.
So that's a way that recent andgrads from any year can get
involved.
But the other one I like, and uhright now we've talked about it
a couple of times in thispodcast, but it's it's getting
revamped, but it's called AlumniService Corps.
(18:52):
And what it is is it's a chancefor alums that are interested,
maybe in the field of teaching,to donate one year of their time
to come and teach at Rockhurst.
And then they get put up in ourASC residence, which is right
above our auction office, andget to live on campus and
participate in everything.
And they really do participatein everything.
(19:13):
They work pretty hard that year.
And as a lifelong educator, Ithink it's really an important
program.
And I understand in in today'seconomic environment, it's a
little bit harder to donate ayear of service when you've got,
you know, college loans andthings like that.
But my hope is that we can wecan get that started up again
because not only do I think it'sa great program, but I've gotten
(19:33):
to meet some really great peoplethrough that who have come to
work at Rockers and continueteaching, which I think is great
because we need more greatteachers.
SPEAKER_00 (19:42):
So maybe a little supplement to that is you could
look at it, how can I use alumniwho are retired, not maybe teach
on a formal basis, but maybe toparticipate in some seminars
with the kids.
Yeah.
Instead of letting that talentsit out there and work just on
(20:04):
the younger kids for theteaching give back.
Maybe we could be a more formalthing of getting the alumni
together and and doing thingslike that.
SPEAKER_02 (20:13):
That would be great.
Yeah, I know.
Um Meredith and Tiffany Rennie,our uh librarian, have started
an alumni speaker series and uh,which has been pretty
successful.
They've had people in from alldifferent walks of life uh to
come and talk about theirexperiences in the professional
world.
But I think expanding that, Iagree, would be great into more
of a not just a talk, but maybea little bit more of a seminar s
(20:38):
situation, which they've learnedsomething from it.
So maybe you want to go intosales.
Well, we're gonna do a wholeseminar on what I've learned in
my, you know, 40 year salescareer as opposed to what you're
gonna hear in a collegeclassroom, which is a little bit
different.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (20:53):
Always just curious too.
Like, so you're retired, you'reboth retired.
What field did we retire from?
SPEAKER_00 (21:00):
Well, I was retired on how long do you have?
I I was I've had an aninteresting career.
I started out at the policedepartment.
Okay.
And then I went into uhcorporate security with uh
Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma.
And then the last company thatwell then I was in Houston, how
(21:21):
did a friend of mine get hisnetwork security system set up.
Okay.
And then the last before Iretired completely twenty-seven
years, I was with a company outof Montreal where we produced
yeast and bacteria for the food,health, and any industry that
would use yeast and probioticsthroughout the world.
SPEAKER_04 (21:45):
Wow.
Very cool.
And I was almost that exciting.
I was in sales and marketingroles for uh billing materials
manufacturers, siding and OSB,if you know what that is, uh
trim and decking and all thatkind of stuff.
And worked the two-step marketsfor a long time, had a region
that some guys reported to meand and then got into the
(22:07):
national count side, you know,the Lowe's Menards Depot and the
real tough people to deal with.
So quite an education, and Iretired in 2018.
Okay.
Now you guys get to do whateveryou want to.
Yeah, and we're busier thanwe've ever been working.
It's just unbelievable.
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
I remember my dad said he was busier than anything
when he retired.
I said, How could you be busy?
You retired.
Well, now I know.
SPEAKER_04 (22:35):
Yeah, right, right.
And I'll put a plug in realquickly for you as what's coming
up.
The the uh spaghetti dinner iscoming up.
I don't know when this gets outon the air, but it'll be out
next week.
SPEAKER_02 (22:45):
Next week.
Yeah, next Monday.
SPEAKER_04 (22:46):
Well, come on out then, November 6th.
Yeah, yeah uh you know, there'snot a lot of signups, but then a
lot of people always come up.
You know, they just show up.
SPEAKER_02 (22:56):
Yeah, pretty open door policy for the most part in
this building.
SPEAKER_04 (22:59):
But yeah, I urge you guys to come out and uh banter
with your other alumni groupsand other friends and people you
haven't seen for a while.
It it's really a great event.
Cool.
I'll put it on my calendar.
Yeah.
Oh, you don't already have iton?
He wanted a formal invite fromfrom John.
Your formal invite is gonna behopeful.
unknown (23:21):
Love it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:21):
I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (23:22):
So what part of this this series is also around
giving.
And so one of the the questionswe're asking kind of people as
they come in, is there anyparticular area here at Rockers
that you feel particularlypassionate about, people giving
to?
You know, and that can beanything from scholarships to
facilities to programs, youknow, any anything like that
(23:44):
that you feel passionate about?
SPEAKER_04 (23:45):
I think it's just giving to the eerie fund in
general, because I, you know,I've I ask myself that all the
time.
What do you really want tocontribute to?
I just want to contribute to theschool, let them put it where
they need it most.
So that's what I always youknow, just direct it that way.
SPEAKER_02 (24:00):
You're everybody's favorite kind of donor.
SPEAKER_00 (24:03):
Good.
SPEAKER_02 (24:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:04):
Well, and and I think there's also talents and
besides treasures to give.
And I go back to when myyoungest son came here and he
would talk to some of thecousins that were coming.
And his thought to them was getinvolved in everything from day
(24:24):
one.
Then you'll know what rockers isreally about.
And I think that's what I lookat also and given as people with
friends, alumni, donors, dowhatever you want to do in the
way of giving, but give somehowtime, talent, treasure.
SPEAKER_01 (24:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:42):
You know, and and even if you're a a young alumni
that are you know, you justgraduate, give five bucks, you
know, if you can't do anythingjust to get into the the mood
and habit of doing it.
But I wouldn't restrict anybodywho wants to give something to
the community here to beinvolved in it.
SPEAKER_03 (25:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (25:02):
Absolutely.
Great.
Money is always definitely, youknow.
I always say, you know, onceyou're born a Catholic, you're
gonna be given money.
There's no way to justify it oranything.
Just give it the right to checkand go, you know, but be there
for other things.
And whatever helps you feel goodabout it, it helps the the
(25:22):
school too.
SPEAKER_02 (25:24):
One one thing that I um, you know, I've talked with
Dr.
Marty about is that coming Icame from a fundraising
background.
So my first several jobs wereworking on the advancement side
at the university level.
And one thing I learned, I wasworking at the time and planned
and major gifts.
And so a lot of our givingcentered around getting
(25:46):
different foundation matches andcorporate matches.
And a lot of that has to do withparticipation rates.
So whether it's people that areactively engaged in your
community, giving back time,that's one thing that they look
at.
They look at just people givingoverall.
So even if it's you're giving adollar, that's one participation
point in the favor of theuniversity or school.
(26:07):
And so I think that's a reallygood point that it really at the
end of the day doesn't matterhow much or what you give, but
the fact that you're activelyparticipating in the community
and giving back to the communityis is going to help not just run
the day-to-day things that yousee.
I mean, you guys come in andhelp tremendously in that area,
but also just helping us toreally promote rockers to
(26:28):
agencies that can really helpsupport some of our student
initiatives.
I mean, alumni have connected usto many important things, like
the Black Community Fund, whichwe get scholarships for our
students from that.
The Hispanic Heritage Fund wasalso an alum that kind of
introduced us into thatcommunity.
And so any chance we can get, Ithink, to engage better with our
(26:49):
alums is is awesome.
SPEAKER_05 (26:50):
Yeah, and I and I think, you know, for the
listeners more than anything,because we in this room have a
stronger sense of it, but it'sstarting with strengthening your
relationship with the school.
You know, that's that's what theconnection is really about.
It's it's okay, yeah, it's we'llget some people are given money,
some people are given time, somepeople are coming to do
(27:11):
seminars, but like strengthenthe relationship with the school
enough to where you can figureout, oh, this is how I can give
or what I want to give.
And that means just show up,just show up to the dinner.
Right.
Show up to a game.
Again, we got to relatively hey,come up and say hi to somebody
and just start laying thatfoundation.
(27:31):
If you are again like me at atime, like you're just little
life maybe swept you up and youyou know you got disconnected,
get reconnected.
It's it's actually a lot easierthan you would imagine because
as we had with you know ourguests last week, there's always
something.
SPEAKER_03 (27:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (27:50):
You know, this, you know, the again, I want to this
dispel this idea that you know,we don't need help or we don't
want help, or we just got thiswhole thing.
That's the the polar opposite ofwhat the reality is, you know,
and it's the same expectation wehave in these walls.
What gifts and talents do youhave to enhance our community?
(28:12):
And so, you know, I encourageall the alumni, I reach out, you
know, somebody will answer thephone.
SPEAKER_00 (28:20):
Well, I think too what Dave and the president they
do by traveling around theUnited States.
I think that's a cool programwhere you you set up visits at
different cities to helpreconnect if you haven't been
connected for a while, and againto spread the news of Rockers
(28:43):
and the Jesuits.
And I think it's a greatprogram.
SPEAKER_02 (28:46):
Yeah, and it's it's really, I think, and I've been
really encouraging our youngalums that are still in college
to attend those in those cities.
So, like when they come to DC orwhen they come to Dallas to go
to those, because like we said,part of the perk of the
community is the alumni network.
And if you're a young kid andyou're looking for an internship
(29:07):
opportunity or even just advice,I'm debating between going into
marketing or business.
This is what I want to do.
Which path do you think might bebetter?
I mean, those are greatopportunities for our students
to do that.
So I I'm in agreement with youand in being meeting them where
they're at, not expecting themalways to come back here, which
is great.
SPEAKER_04 (29:25):
That's where the Rock Connect uh I I think will
make a big difference.
SPEAKER_02 (29:29):
Can you talk about that a little bit, John, for the
the folks at home that don'treally know what Rock Connect's
all about?
SPEAKER_04 (29:34):
Well, it's a networking, basically a
networking program where wewe're trying to pull people in
to connect them with people inthe industries that they want to
be in.
You know, particularly the newergraduates probably are gonna be
more advantageous to them.
And then some of the alums haveoffered their time and efforts
(29:56):
to talk to them.
You know, if you're in sales andmarketing or security or
computers and stuff like that.
So anyway, it's it's a it's anetworking program that the guys
doing that on the alumni boardare just working their butts
off.
Uh it's really, really cool dealthat they're and again it's
(30:17):
getting people reconnected,right?
Reconnected to the school and inyour career, obviously.
SPEAKER_02 (30:22):
I got to take part in a uh program that the Hurtada
Scholars is doing now with theirgraduate.
Because now we have a good groupof graduates out in college and
some that have recentlygraduated called the Companyaris
Program, which is kind of goingto be an offshoot of Rock
Connect in a way, butspecifically looking at our
students that are firstgeneration college students.
So their mom or dad didn't go tocollege, and they've never
(30:46):
really known or understood howto go to the next step.
So how do I network?
How do I go out and look forinternships?
How do I engage on my collegecampus?
Things like that that we takefor granted.
I mean, both my parents went tocollege.
So I had I had the wisdom thatthey could share with me.
(31:06):
I had an older brother incollege that shared a lot of
advice.
So we had a bunch of alums comein and meet with those guys last
summer and kind of do exactlythat.
What was nice is they had eachboy get up and introduce
themselves and say what they'remajoring in and kind of what
they're interested in.
And then the alums kind of foundthem and said, hey, you know,
I'm I work in this industry.
(31:27):
It's it's similar to what you'redoing.
Let me tell you a little bitabout it.
And it was a great, greatexperience.
So, like you said, I mean, I Ithink that we advertise these
opportunities out, but if youaren't sure and you want to get
connected, Meredith Suarez inour alumni office is is your
contact, or reach out to John.
He's he's our volunteercoordinator.
(31:48):
I'm sure he won't turn you away.
SPEAKER_04 (31:50):
I know everything.
And you know, even the thenewsletter that Meredith puts
out is a great reference piece.
Uh I mean, my guy goes on forpage after page after page of
activities, and Meredith justdoes a fantastic job with that.
All of you do on getting thatout.
And if people just look throughthat a little bit, they'll find
all kinds of opportunities.
(32:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (32:11):
I think it's really great too to kind of see if
you're not sure what's going onat Rockhurst, what's changed,
what's evolving, it it's a greatway to kind of get caught up.
SPEAKER_04 (32:22):
No, I get caught up.
Pardon me, I get caught up on itevery now and then as well.
And I'm supposed to know what'sgoing on.
SPEAKER_02 (32:27):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Sure.
SPEAKER_05 (32:29):
Well, gang, here's the uh the question of all
questions we always ask.
Uh-oh.
I'll give a few bucks.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (32:38):
That's a good question, though.
But we'll take that.
SPEAKER_05 (32:41):
Okay.
Um, you know, and and and I'mvery interested.
I love I love asking folks thisquestion.
If you could tell a prospectivefamily the number one reason
they should send their son toRockhurst, what would it be, in
your opinion?
SPEAKER_04 (32:55):
Education and community.
Education's just top-notch.
I mean, all the data shows that,so that's a no-brainer.
But just to get a community ofof of uh friends that will
hopefully be with you forever.
SPEAKER_03 (33:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (33:11):
Uh I I and if I'm gonna talk to a student, I'll
say urge them to get involved.
Jim already said earlier, getinvolved in everything.
And then drop the things thatyou just can't handle anymore
and add to something else.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (33:23):
Okay.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (33:25):
Yeah, I I would tag along with what Johnny said.
You know, definitely communitysupport.
I mean it's gonna be with youthe rest of your life if you
accept it and get involved.
I mean it education you can geta good education in this area in
a lot of the different schools.
(33:45):
Blue Valley, Shine Mission,Olatha.
But you can't get the community.
And that community carries withyou on and on in your life.
So that's what I would tell aprospective student and their
family, and also that I sent twoof my kids here.
(34:06):
So I do believe in rockers.
Show off.
Well, how many did you send?
Zero.
Oh.
SPEAKER_04 (34:13):
But we moved away.
Yeah, we moved away.
You were a long time.
That was not.
And I also think that thereligious part is I don't know
if we talk about that enough toto get that base into our system
is just, I think, a huge benefitbenefit to going to Rockers.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (34:31):
One of my favorite moments from Night at the Rock
this year is uh one of ourseniors, Isaac, talked about
what it meant to be religiousand the kind of construct of the
grad at grad, but specificallyfor him and his time at Rockers.
He's a transfer.
He was a junior transfer aswell.
And he talked about how it movemoving to Rockers has deeply
(34:54):
enriched his spiritual life.
And he talked about going, hegot invited to go on a
discernment retreat, the Jesuitsdown in Dallas, and kind of
talked all through hisexperience.
And then about two days later, Igot an email from a mom that was
in the audience and she said,Hey, do you think that that kid
would be willing to come andtalk to our confirmation class
(35:16):
because he just did such a greatjob of talking about why faith
is so important to him?
So I I agree with you.
I think the faith foundation isis super important and maybe
something that we don't tote asmuch as we should because it's
happening.
You you guys have seen thatthrough the retreat program,
through the days of service,through your own experience, but
maybe that is something we needto be shouting from the rooftops
(35:37):
more often.
SPEAKER_00 (35:38):
I agree.
I don't think we do it enough.
Yeah.
And and I I think we I'mstarting to see it in in my
neighborhood because there's afamily that are not Catholic.
You can't say a bad thing aboutRockers to them.
They have a son here now whojust thinks and the mother and
the father think this is one ofthe best things that has
(36:00):
happened in their lives.
Yeah.
So I go along with Johnny.
Yeah, I I think the faith andthe religion that's here, you
know, started by Father Martins,Father Steiner, you know, it's
some of the great priests fromthe past.
You know, it's here.
It lurks in the hallway.
(36:21):
You know, whether you want it ornot, it's gonna catch you.
SPEAKER_01 (36:23):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (36:24):
It's you know, and it's gonna be up to you to
discern what you want to do withit.
But it's here, and maybe weneed, like Johnny says, to
promote that a little bitstronger.
Yeah, agree.
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (36:36):
Cool, cool, cool.
Well, gentlemen, we appreciateyou being here.
This is always a the the joy ofmy week being able to get on
this podcast and talk todifferent folks.
And I again I I just want to saythank you and young men to other
young men.
Oh, I like that.
Uh I appreciate you know, giveme a bad Johnny you guys' uh
(36:59):
commitment to you know thebrotherhood.
And I mean, genuinely from 63 tonow, still rolling.
That's inspiring and andconvicting in a way, you know,
for me to look at my circle andwhere I can tighten up with with
some of my guys.
So I appreciate you.
We appreciate you.
Community, this is uh the rocktalk, another episode that we're
(37:22):
closing out, and uh we'll talksoon.
Welcome to Rock Talk, the official podcast of
Rockhurst High School in KansasCity, Missouri, where we explore
the voices, values, and vibrantlife of our Jesuit college prep
community.
Hosted by the Admissions andMarketing Team, each episode
features conversations withstudents, faculty, alumni, and
special guests as we sharestories of academic excellence,
faith, formation, brotherhood,and service.
(00:51):
Whether you're a prospectivefamily, a proud alumnus, or
simply curious about what makesRock Rush unique, this is your
inside look at Life at the Rock.
SPEAKER_05 (01:00):
And we're back, folks.
This is Steve Redman, Directorof Admissions and Marketing.
We've got Beth Van Dyken here,the other director of Admissions
and Marketing.
And we got two special guestswith us today, which we're
excited to talk about.
We got Jim Cop and John Odes ofthe Great Class.
Did I say that right, gentlemen?
You did the Great Class of 1967.
(01:23):
Fellas, we appreciate you beinghere.
And why don't you introduceyourself to the community and
the listeners and tell us alittle bit about what's going on
right now in your life?
SPEAKER_00 (01:34):
Well, my name is Jim Cop.
I graduated, as Steve said, in67, and it's it's been a
whirlwind since then andenjoyable.
I joined Rockers my secondsemester, my junior year, coming
from St.
John's Seminary, which a lot ofthe young listeners would not
(01:55):
understand what St.
John's Seminary, because itdoesn't exist anymore.
It was a high school seminary,which we refer to as a minor
seminary.
SPEAKER_05 (02:02):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (02:03):
And that's where my beginnings of high school life
started, and it was justincreased so much more when I
came to Rockers.
Uh we took it out of, let's say,more of the religious
environment into the lifeenvironment by coming to Rockers
and learning more and more aboutgiving for others, doing for
(02:27):
others, and had some greatteachers and confidants.
Father Martins, who is I don'tknow where he is today, but he
was one of my religion teachers,or people would know as theology
today, was was phenomenal.
And my life evolved so muchwhile I was at Rockers for a
year and a half, I decided to goback into seminary and I must
(02:52):
have been crazy because Idecided after two years to come
back out.
SPEAKER_02 (02:56):
Discerning, always discerning, right?
SPEAKER_00 (02:58):
Yeah, exactly.
And the basis that I got fromRockers continue to grow
throughout my professional life,my married life.
So today my partner in doing alot of things, John Oates, we
work with Rockers boys, freshmanyear, young men, and day for
(03:23):
others, which we have theprivilege of using their
talents, their strength ingiving to others in the
community one day a quarter,which is just phenomenal.
So my life started at a veryyoung age, seventy-seven years
ago.
(03:44):
Still young.
And yes, and I'm s as Beth said,I'm still discerning Yeah, there
you go.
And there's so many things thatkeep popping up from that.
And I'm retired and it Rockersjust gave me the basis to
continue giving back to thecommunity.
And by letting us share with theyoung men, the freshmen, it
(04:07):
encouraged me as I see themhappily work within the
community.
And so that's where I'm at todayis trying to find more ways to
be involved in the community.
And Rockers is, you know, theyalways have their phone line
open, you know.
So if you need to do something,call.
(04:27):
But anyway, it's great.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (04:28):
What about you, John?
Well, I'm John Oates, and Jimjust went through the entire
agenda.
So thank you, Jim.
I I think he said it very verywell.
Obviously, I came to Rockstar myfreshman year from visitation
grade school, you know, Catholicgrade school to to the Catholic
high school and on to RockhurstUniversity or college at the
(04:50):
time.
And you know, as I look back atuh starting here, we we you
know, well, it was a no-brainer.
We were gonna go to Rockhurst.
That was what m folks wanted usto do.
That's what I think I wanted todo at the time.
Except that, you know, back whenwe were all thinking about
Rockhurst, high school was at52nd and Troost, we lived at
(05:12):
52nd in Maine.
Okay.
So that's a you know, cakewalk.
Yeah.
It would have been a walk.
And then they had to go m moveit out here.
And that almost almost scratchedit for us.
But you know, we worked it out.
And I'm I'm just I I can't sayhow glad I am that that's what
happened.
Because Rockhurst was just itwas all that's all we thought
(05:32):
about, you know, really.
I was involved in some sportsprimarily sports until I hurt my
body too much and got out of it.
But you know, it was just such agood uh experience that and
that's why I think Jim and I getinvolved so much these days.
I'm the chair of the volunteeralumni volunteer group, which is
(05:57):
another challenge in and ofitself, getting people to come
out and and do these activitiesthat we but the activities are
so much fun.
I mean they really are fun.
Jim mentioned days for othersfor the freshmen.
And and you know, the freshmanretreat and the uh the uh alumni
tailgate party, you know.
They're all really, really fun.
And I just I put a little plugin for volunteers.
(06:20):
I urge you to come out and andand try it.
You'll like it.
SPEAKER_03 (06:23):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (06:23):
So we hear.
What are we here?
And uh on that note, you know,as as we were talking before we
got on air, you know, this fourepisodes is about giving and
whether that's time, talent, ortreasure.
And, you know, you guys havegiven a lot.
And, you know, I heard MeredithForest told me, you guys have
been rolling tough for a longtime, you know, in in that
(06:47):
capacity too, giving together,you know, just just living life
together.
SPEAKER_00 (06:52):
We we do, we and we enjoyed it.
And I think I would tag on whatJohnny said that we always
thought about going to rockers.
You know, that was the thething.
But you know, since going thereand now where we are in our
life, we understand what itmeans to go to rockers.
You know, we don't just thinkabout going to rockers, we think
about being part of Rockerscommunity and being, you know,
(07:16):
uh to us more well-roundedindividuals because we came
here.
Right.
And we understand what Rockersis.
You know, it's not say I'm we'rethinking about going to Rockers,
we understand what it means.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (07:28):
Which is why the giving part is so easy to accept
and to participate in, andwhether it's financial or uh
time, as you you've alreadysaid, but i it it's just a norm.
It's just normal for at leastwell, Jim and I and a lot of the
a lot of the guys, uh, the classof 67 is fairly involved.
Yeah.
We got a good group of of guysthat get together every month,
(07:52):
either for lunch or for happyhour.
And and it it I I couldn't dowithout that.
And I think it leads us into thegiving of the financial part.
Uh I don't think I could sleepwell at night if if I wasn't you
know participating in that.
SPEAKER_05 (08:08):
Yeah.
I I got a uh question for youguys as a young alumni and and
uh also a gentleman that came toRockhurst, because I'm I'm
impressed to say this, you know,because like how what what's the
key for you guys as friends tostay connected the way you have
for so long?
(08:28):
Oh boy.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
Can we can we go off air?
Do we have to be honest?
You know, like Johnny said, westarted in grade school and that
was we graduated in 63 fromgrade school.
I mean it's been going out eversince and uh And we still like
each other.
Yeah.
I mean it it's and I have to saythat as we discern and evolved
(08:57):
what what we learn and what wedid together is what glues us
together, you know, and that'sour faith, our religion and and
our community.
You know, we have the faith, butit's the community that supports
it.
And I mean when when Johnnysays, you know, we do things,
(09:18):
you know, outside together, wedo a lot of things outside
together that we've been friendswith from 63.
I mean we have a little groupthat we get known told about a
project that could be done if ifyou guys had the time.
The class jumps in and they doit, you know.
And it's and I I really say it'sthe class of 63 from visitation.
(09:43):
Okay.
Not to be, you know, bias oranything, but yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (09:47):
We literally grew up together, if you can imagine
that, and we're you're stilltalking to each other.
unknown (09:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:52):
I think that's one of the powerful things that I've
observed as a non-alum is thatbond.
I mean, I I went to St.
Teresa's and to St.
Elizabeth and have those samekind of bonds with my classmates
there.
But my dad, for example, goes tolunch once a week with his
Rockers classmates, and a lot ofthose are his St.
Francis classmates.
And he too would agree that themove out south was a little bit
(10:14):
rough for for a lot of families.
And what's interesting, evenabout that, is one of the things
that that Steve and I encounterin the mission's office today is
still that transportation, sogetting to rockers is sometimes
the biggest hurdle for families.
So you would think it might befinancial, you think it might be
maybe different beliefs orphilosophies.
It's not that.
It's it's sometimes as simple ashow do we get here?
(10:37):
And so, you know, having peoplelike you that come and and share
your stories reminds us thatthis has been something that has
been a continuing thread andsomething that we can still help
families with.
And a lot of times it's buildingthat carpal right out the those
neighborhood kids that thenbecome lifelong friends because
they drive to school every dayfrom wherever in the city
(11:00):
they're coming from.
SPEAKER_00 (11:00):
So Yeah, absolutely.
I I think that when we talkabout the strength of rockers
alum to each other, a little uhincident happened one time.
I was on a plane coming backfrom a business trip, and you
know, as you said on a plane,you you hope that you know maybe
I can talk to the guy next tome, you know.
Or the girl.
(11:22):
The guy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
He doesn't want to get in trouble.
SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
And and we're talking and we exchanged, and he
worked for Postanelli and wasnot a rockers alum or anything.
We're talking, and he says, youknow, one thing I gotta say
about you, damn rockers alum.
You are tighter than myfraternity in college.
I said, Well, you know, you'reright.
Wherever you go, if you're in anew city and you find a rockers
(11:49):
alum, all of a sudden you havefriends and community there.
You're not alone.
And that's to me, that's strongabout what this school, not the
building, but the people in itbuild between each other.
SPEAKER_05 (12:04):
And and that's what we we always talk about, trying
to get these young men tounderstand that sooner.
Like that's you know, andhonestly, that was a thing that
you know, I left Rockhurst andyou know, it was a great time.
It was very form formative forme and all of the stuff.
And but I never like stayedconnected.
(12:26):
And life accelerated prettyquick when I got out.
But it was like, oh man, theolder I got, the more I
appreciated what I got from thisplace, and the more I was
seeking to, you know, in littleways, I would come back and
speak here, I would shoot avideo.
And now that I'm here, I'm like,guys, let's just move through
all of the foolishness and theawkwardness and all of this, and
(12:48):
just trust me.
Just press into the brotherhoodnow because you can't even
fathom how deep this is outsideof you.
Right, right.
You just need to trust the thefolks and and you guys too, you
know.
And and I'm curious, I guess, atleast to a question of with with
your involvement, you said withthe freshmen and and the stuff
(13:09):
that you do here, you know, whenwe're talking to those other
alumni, how have you seen yourpresence, your wisdom, your
perspective impact our our guysin the building?
The students?
Yeah, the students.
SPEAKER_04 (13:24):
That's a great question, and I'm not sure we
can really answer it, because ifwe come in and do these events,
then we leave.
You know, we come back and doanother event, then we leave.
Gotcha.
I can only hope that it has aneffect on them because we don't
even get an evaluation, so tospeak, okay, when we're done.
But I I I have to think we'rewe're making a uh an impression
(13:46):
on them.
Had a couple of guys, I guess,come back to us through other
channels saying, that was agreat deal.
I'm I'm I'm glad these guys arehere and that kind of stuff.
But yeah, I just gotta hope thatwe do have the impact that we
think we do.
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
I will say I got to do service with you guys for
freshman day for others at St.
Trees a couple weeks ago at St.
Trece the Little Flower.
And I drove, you know, the van,and that's where you get all the
good conversations, in caseyou're wondering, is driving the
van.
But you know, they did talkabout how cool it was that you
guys are still such goodfriends.
I mean, that was something thatthey definitely took away from
(14:20):
that day was I think that'sreally cool that they still hang
out together, is how they putit.
They still hang out together.
So they like that.
And I think too watching youjoyfully give back to the
community and and seeing kind ofyou putting your all in makes
them buy in more.
And I and I see that anytime wehave our alumni at those service
(14:41):
sites, because I mostly go tothe police athletic league.
And every so often we'll get analum that comes there, but a lot
of times our alums go to thebigger sites like Kansas Cubic
Works and things like that.
So when I see an alum come andthey kind of set the tone for I,
you know, they're in there witha shovel, they're in there with
getting their hands dirty.
(15:02):
It kind of for some of the boysthat maybe aren't used to a life
of service, they will get usedto it.
SPEAKER_00 (15:08):
Uh I always say they have a hard time spelling
L-A-B-O-R.
SPEAKER_02 (15:13):
That is correct.
And some don't know how to use apush broom, but you know, we
learn very important skills inthat beyond the importance of
giving back.
But no, I think seeing you guysand having you lead by example
definitely has an impact.
So you are making a mark,whether you get a formal
evaluation or not.
I'll give you one and it's an Aplus.
SPEAKER_00 (15:32):
So Yeah, well, thank you.
And I think we do get anevaluation because we keep
getting a call to come back anddo that.
That's true.
So that is true.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:41):
I I don't think we really need to have too much of
a of uh feedback.
SPEAKER_03 (15:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:46):
Because it's it's as I've said already, it's fun
stuff.
SPEAKER_03 (15:49):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (15:49):
And I I know the kids are getting stuff out of
it, the freshmen are supposed tobe called kids.
Uh but we just don't hear itmaybe.
But uh I know we I know we do.
SPEAKER_02 (15:58):
Yeah.
And I know you guys have helpedwith a couple of the missions
events, and we always appreciatehaving alumni like at Night at
the Rock, handing out postersand and things like that.
Because I think again, when bothprospective families and
prospective students see youguys as kind of still engaged,
still excited to share aboutyour experience at Rockers.
(16:19):
We had Spencer Hardwick uh speakthis year, who's an alum at
Night at the Rock, and it wasgreat because I think what it
shows parents is this is whatyour son can be.
You know, I think every parentwants their kid to be someone
who comes and gives back, whocan make eye contact and shake a
hand, you know, things likethat.
And they see that when our alumscome out to events.
(16:40):
So I know this office inparticular appreciates your
contributions for sure.
SPEAKER_05 (16:44):
And John, I want to ask you a question.
And and and you're the presidentof the alumni, or is that what
remind I'm forgive me.
I'm the uh volunteer chair.
Volunteer chair.
What are some events coming upfor alumni?
Do we have any coming up?
SPEAKER_04 (17:00):
There's the alumni spaghetti dinner.
Okay.
Father Percelli, alumni, allalumni spaghetti dinner.
I gotta think about that now.
SPEAKER_02 (17:08):
Yeah.
Now our Rock Day of Giving iscoming up, which is a big alumni
event, trying to get as manyalumni involved at at whatever
level they can be involved,which I think is great.
SPEAKER_04 (17:19):
We've come in to make those calls, Jim and I
both.
I don't know if we're going todo it this year.
I don't we haven't beenattempted yet.
SPEAKER_02 (17:25):
There you go.
SPEAKER_04 (17:26):
Um but I that's yeah, that's right around the
corner as well.
And then we'll we'll have ourown special alumni or not
alumni, but class Christmasdinner.
SPEAKER_01 (17:37):
Oh, that's great.
SPEAKER_04 (17:38):
And then there's the alumni Christmas thing also.
So I forgot about that.
So I didn't write it down, so II can't remember.
SPEAKER_02 (17:44):
Yeah, and we I know, and is that the Christmas thing?
Is that the where they do thepizza party and the the young
alums come back that are recentgrads?
Is it that one or is there two?
There's probably more than one.
SPEAKER_03 (17:54):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:55):
That office is busy, busy.
So Meredith's doing a great job.
But yeah, what one of myfavorite things to go to is that
uh they do a pizza party andthey invite like the last two
years, I think, of students whohave graduated.
And so for someone who's beenhere for seven years, I like to
go back and and see what theboys are up to and you know
where they've landed and howthey've landed.
(18:16):
And overall, great reportsalways coming out of that that
night.
And I think they really enjoyedthe chance to be back together,
which shows you something.
SPEAKER_00 (18:23):
What's that Jesuit program or um like uh J Fan or
something or yeah, J Fan?
J Fan.
SPEAKER_02 (18:32):
Yeah.
So there is, and that's throughthe Jesuit schools network, but
it's pretty much like aJesuit-wide alumni network,
which is great.
So that's a way that recent andgrads from any year can get
involved.
But the other one I like, and uhright now we've talked about it
a couple of times in thispodcast, but it's it's getting
revamped, but it's called AlumniService Corps.
(18:52):
And what it is is it's a chancefor alums that are interested,
maybe in the field of teaching,to donate one year of their time
to come and teach at Rockhurst.
And then they get put up in ourASC residence, which is right
above our auction office, andget to live on campus and
participate in everything.
And they really do participatein everything.
(19:13):
They work pretty hard that year.
And as a lifelong educator, Ithink it's really an important
program.
And I understand in in today'seconomic environment, it's a
little bit harder to donate ayear of service when you've got,
you know, college loans andthings like that.
But my hope is that we can wecan get that started up again
because not only do I think it'sa great program, but I've gotten
(19:33):
to meet some really great peoplethrough that who have come to
work at Rockers and continueteaching, which I think is great
because we need more greatteachers.
SPEAKER_00 (19:42):
So maybe a little supplement to that is you could
look at it, how can I use alumniwho are retired, not maybe teach
on a formal basis, but maybe toparticipate in some seminars
with the kids.
Yeah.
Instead of letting that talentsit out there and work just on
(20:04):
the younger kids for theteaching give back.
Maybe we could be a more formalthing of getting the alumni
together and and doing thingslike that.
SPEAKER_02 (20:13):
That would be great.
Yeah, I know.
Um Meredith and Tiffany Rennie,our uh librarian, have started
an alumni speaker series and uh,which has been pretty
successful.
They've had people in from alldifferent walks of life uh to
come and talk about theirexperiences in the professional
world.
But I think expanding that, Iagree, would be great into more
of a not just a talk, but maybea little bit more of a seminar s
(20:38):
situation, which they've learnedsomething from it.
So maybe you want to go intosales.
Well, we're gonna do a wholeseminar on what I've learned in
my, you know, 40 year salescareer as opposed to what you're
gonna hear in a collegeclassroom, which is a little bit
different.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (20:53):
Always just curious too.
Like, so you're retired, you'reboth retired.
What field did we retire from?
SPEAKER_00 (21:00):
Well, I was retired on how long do you have?
I I was I've had an aninteresting career.
I started out at the policedepartment.
Okay.
And then I went into uhcorporate security with uh
Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma.
And then the last company thatwell then I was in Houston, how
(21:21):
did a friend of mine get hisnetwork security system set up.
Okay.
And then the last before Iretired completely twenty-seven
years, I was with a company outof Montreal where we produced
yeast and bacteria for the food,health, and any industry that
would use yeast and probioticsthroughout the world.
SPEAKER_04 (21:45):
Wow.
Very cool.
And I was almost that exciting.
I was in sales and marketingroles for uh billing materials
manufacturers, siding and OSB,if you know what that is, uh
trim and decking and all thatkind of stuff.
And worked the two-step marketsfor a long time, had a region
that some guys reported to meand and then got into the
(22:07):
national count side, you know,the Lowe's Menards Depot and the
real tough people to deal with.
So quite an education, and Iretired in 2018.
Okay.
Now you guys get to do whateveryou want to.
Yeah, and we're busier thanwe've ever been working.
It's just unbelievable.
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
I remember my dad said he was busier than anything
when he retired.
I said, How could you be busy?
You retired.
Well, now I know.
SPEAKER_04 (22:35):
Yeah, right, right.
And I'll put a plug in realquickly for you as what's coming
up.
The the uh spaghetti dinner iscoming up.
I don't know when this gets outon the air, but it'll be out
next week.
SPEAKER_02 (22:45):
Next week.
Yeah, next Monday.
SPEAKER_04 (22:46):
Well, come on out then, November 6th.
Yeah, yeah uh you know, there'snot a lot of signups, but then a
lot of people always come up.
You know, they just show up.
SPEAKER_02 (22:56):
Yeah, pretty open door policy for the most part in
this building.
SPEAKER_04 (22:59):
But yeah, I urge you guys to come out and uh banter
with your other alumni groupsand other friends and people you
haven't seen for a while.
It it's really a great event.
Cool.
I'll put it on my calendar.
Yeah.
Oh, you don't already have iton?
He wanted a formal invite fromfrom John.
Your formal invite is gonna behopeful.
unknown (23:21):
Love it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:21):
I love it.
SPEAKER_02 (23:22):
So what part of this this series is also around
giving.
And so one of the the questionswe're asking kind of people as
they come in, is there anyparticular area here at Rockers
that you feel particularlypassionate about, people giving
to?
You know, and that can beanything from scholarships to
facilities to programs, youknow, any anything like that
(23:44):
that you feel passionate about?
SPEAKER_04 (23:45):
I think it's just giving to the eerie fund in
general, because I, you know,I've I ask myself that all the
time.
What do you really want tocontribute to?
I just want to contribute to theschool, let them put it where
they need it most.
So that's what I always youknow, just direct it that way.
SPEAKER_02 (24:00):
You're everybody's favorite kind of donor.
SPEAKER_00 (24:03):
Good.
SPEAKER_02 (24:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:04):
Well, and and I think there's also talents and
besides treasures to give.
And I go back to when myyoungest son came here and he
would talk to some of thecousins that were coming.
And his thought to them was getinvolved in everything from day
(24:24):
one.
Then you'll know what rockers isreally about.
And I think that's what I lookat also and given as people with
friends, alumni, donors, dowhatever you want to do in the
way of giving, but give somehowtime, talent, treasure.
SPEAKER_01 (24:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:42):
You know, and and even if you're a a young alumni
that are you know, you justgraduate, give five bucks, you
know, if you can't do anythingjust to get into the the mood
and habit of doing it.
But I wouldn't restrict anybodywho wants to give something to
the community here to beinvolved in it.
SPEAKER_03 (25:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (25:02):
Absolutely.
Great.
Money is always definitely, youknow.
I always say, you know, onceyou're born a Catholic, you're
gonna be given money.
There's no way to justify it oranything.
Just give it the right to checkand go, you know, but be there
for other things.
And whatever helps you feel goodabout it, it helps the the
(25:22):
school too.
SPEAKER_02 (25:24):
One one thing that I um, you know, I've talked with
Dr.
Marty about is that coming Icame from a fundraising
background.
So my first several jobs wereworking on the advancement side
at the university level.
And one thing I learned, I wasworking at the time and planned
and major gifts.
And so a lot of our givingcentered around getting
(25:46):
different foundation matches andcorporate matches.
And a lot of that has to do withparticipation rates.
So whether it's people that areactively engaged in your
community, giving back time,that's one thing that they look
at.
They look at just people givingoverall.
So even if it's you're giving adollar, that's one participation
point in the favor of theuniversity or school.
(26:07):
And so I think that's a reallygood point that it really at the
end of the day doesn't matterhow much or what you give, but
the fact that you're activelyparticipating in the community
and giving back to the communityis is going to help not just run
the day-to-day things that yousee.
I mean, you guys come in andhelp tremendously in that area,
but also just helping us toreally promote rockers to
(26:28):
agencies that can really helpsupport some of our student
initiatives.
I mean, alumni have connected usto many important things, like
the Black Community Fund, whichwe get scholarships for our
students from that.
The Hispanic Heritage Fund wasalso an alum that kind of
introduced us into thatcommunity.
And so any chance we can get, Ithink, to engage better with our
(26:49):
alums is is awesome.
SPEAKER_05 (26:50):
Yeah, and I and I think, you know, for the
listeners more than anything,because we in this room have a
stronger sense of it, but it'sstarting with strengthening your
relationship with the school.
You know, that's that's what theconnection is really about.
It's it's okay, yeah, it's we'llget some people are given money,
some people are given time, somepeople are coming to do
(27:11):
seminars, but like strengthenthe relationship with the school
enough to where you can figureout, oh, this is how I can give
or what I want to give.
And that means just show up,just show up to the dinner.
Right.
Show up to a game.
Again, we got to relatively hey,come up and say hi to somebody
and just start laying thatfoundation.
(27:31):
If you are again like me at atime, like you're just little
life maybe swept you up and youyou know you got disconnected,
get reconnected.
It's it's actually a lot easierthan you would imagine because
as we had with you know ourguests last week, there's always
something.
SPEAKER_03 (27:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (27:50):
You know, this, you know, the again, I want to this
dispel this idea that you know,we don't need help or we don't
want help, or we just got thiswhole thing.
That's the the polar opposite ofwhat the reality is, you know,
and it's the same expectation wehave in these walls.
What gifts and talents do youhave to enhance our community?
(28:12):
And so, you know, I encourageall the alumni, I reach out, you
know, somebody will answer thephone.
SPEAKER_00 (28:20):
Well, I think too what Dave and the president they
do by traveling around theUnited States.
I think that's a cool programwhere you you set up visits at
different cities to helpreconnect if you haven't been
connected for a while, and againto spread the news of Rockers
(28:43):
and the Jesuits.
And I think it's a greatprogram.
SPEAKER_02 (28:46):
Yeah, and it's it's really, I think, and I've been
really encouraging our youngalums that are still in college
to attend those in those cities.
So, like when they come to DC orwhen they come to Dallas to go
to those, because like we said,part of the perk of the
community is the alumni network.
And if you're a young kid andyou're looking for an internship
(29:07):
opportunity or even just advice,I'm debating between going into
marketing or business.
This is what I want to do.
Which path do you think might bebetter?
I mean, those are greatopportunities for our students
to do that.
So I I'm in agreement with youand in being meeting them where
they're at, not expecting themalways to come back here, which
is great.
SPEAKER_04 (29:25):
That's where the Rock Connect uh I I think will
make a big difference.
SPEAKER_02 (29:29):
Can you talk about that a little bit, John, for the
the folks at home that don'treally know what Rock Connect's
all about?
SPEAKER_04 (29:34):
Well, it's a networking, basically a
networking program where wewe're trying to pull people in
to connect them with people inthe industries that they want to
be in.
You know, particularly the newergraduates probably are gonna be
more advantageous to them.
And then some of the alums haveoffered their time and efforts
(29:56):
to talk to them.
You know, if you're in sales andmarketing or security or
computers and stuff like that.
So anyway, it's it's a it's anetworking program that the guys
doing that on the alumni boardare just working their butts
off.
Uh it's really, really cool dealthat they're and again it's
(30:17):
getting people reconnected,right?
Reconnected to the school and inyour career, obviously.
SPEAKER_02 (30:22):
I got to take part in a uh program that the Hurtada
Scholars is doing now with theirgraduate.
Because now we have a good groupof graduates out in college and
some that have recentlygraduated called the Companyaris
Program, which is kind of goingto be an offshoot of Rock
Connect in a way, butspecifically looking at our
students that are firstgeneration college students.
So their mom or dad didn't go tocollege, and they've never
(30:46):
really known or understood howto go to the next step.
So how do I network?
How do I go out and look forinternships?
How do I engage on my collegecampus?
Things like that that we takefor granted.
I mean, both my parents went tocollege.
So I had I had the wisdom thatthey could share with me.
(31:06):
I had an older brother incollege that shared a lot of
advice.
So we had a bunch of alums comein and meet with those guys last
summer and kind of do exactlythat.
What was nice is they had eachboy get up and introduce
themselves and say what they'remajoring in and kind of what
they're interested in.
And then the alums kind of foundthem and said, hey, you know,
I'm I work in this industry.
(31:27):
It's it's similar to what you'redoing.
Let me tell you a little bitabout it.
And it was a great, greatexperience.
So, like you said, I mean, I Ithink that we advertise these
opportunities out, but if youaren't sure and you want to get
connected, Meredith Suarez inour alumni office is is your
contact, or reach out to John.
He's he's our volunteercoordinator.
(31:48):
I'm sure he won't turn you away.
SPEAKER_04 (31:50):
I know everything.
And you know, even the thenewsletter that Meredith puts
out is a great reference piece.
Uh I mean, my guy goes on forpage after page after page of
activities, and Meredith justdoes a fantastic job with that.
All of you do on getting thatout.
And if people just look throughthat a little bit, they'll find
all kinds of opportunities.
(32:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (32:11):
I think it's really great too to kind of see if
you're not sure what's going onat Rockhurst, what's changed,
what's evolving, it it's a greatway to kind of get caught up.
SPEAKER_04 (32:22):
No, I get caught up.
Pardon me, I get caught up on itevery now and then as well.
And I'm supposed to know what'sgoing on.
SPEAKER_02 (32:27):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Sure.
SPEAKER_05 (32:29):
Well, gang, here's the uh the question of all
questions we always ask.
Uh-oh.
I'll give a few bucks.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (32:38):
That's a good question, though.
But we'll take that.
SPEAKER_05 (32:41):
Okay.
Um, you know, and and and I'mvery interested.
I love I love asking folks thisquestion.
If you could tell a prospectivefamily the number one reason
they should send their son toRockhurst, what would it be, in
your opinion?
SPEAKER_04 (32:55):
Education and community.
Education's just top-notch.
I mean, all the data shows that,so that's a no-brainer.
But just to get a community ofof of uh friends that will
hopefully be with you forever.
SPEAKER_03 (33:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (33:11):
Uh I I and if I'm gonna talk to a student, I'll
say urge them to get involved.
Jim already said earlier, getinvolved in everything.
And then drop the things thatyou just can't handle anymore
and add to something else.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (33:23):
Okay.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (33:25):
Yeah, I I would tag along with what Johnny said.
You know, definitely communitysupport.
I mean it's gonna be with youthe rest of your life if you
accept it and get involved.
I mean it education you can geta good education in this area in
a lot of the different schools.
(33:45):
Blue Valley, Shine Mission,Olatha.
But you can't get the community.
And that community carries withyou on and on in your life.
So that's what I would tell aprospective student and their
family, and also that I sent twoof my kids here.
(34:06):
So I do believe in rockers.
Show off.
Well, how many did you send?
Zero.
Oh.
SPEAKER_04 (34:13):
But we moved away.
Yeah, we moved away.
You were a long time.
That was not.
And I also think that thereligious part is I don't know
if we talk about that enough toto get that base into our system
is just, I think, a huge benefitbenefit to going to Rockers.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (34:31):
One of my favorite moments from Night at the Rock
this year is uh one of ourseniors, Isaac, talked about
what it meant to be religiousand the kind of construct of the
grad at grad, but specificallyfor him and his time at Rockers.
He's a transfer.
He was a junior transfer aswell.
And he talked about how it movemoving to Rockers has deeply
(34:54):
enriched his spiritual life.
And he talked about going, hegot invited to go on a
discernment retreat, the Jesuitsdown in Dallas, and kind of
talked all through hisexperience.
And then about two days later, Igot an email from a mom that was
in the audience and she said,Hey, do you think that that kid
would be willing to come andtalk to our confirmation class
(35:16):
because he just did such a greatjob of talking about why faith
is so important to him?
So I I agree with you.
I think the faith foundation isis super important and maybe
something that we don't tote asmuch as we should because it's
happening.
You you guys have seen thatthrough the retreat program,
through the days of service,through your own experience, but
maybe that is something we needto be shouting from the rooftops
(35:37):
more often.
SPEAKER_00 (35:38):
I agree.
I don't think we do it enough.
Yeah.
And and I I think we I'mstarting to see it in in my
neighborhood because there's afamily that are not Catholic.
You can't say a bad thing aboutRockers to them.
They have a son here now whojust thinks and the mother and
the father think this is one ofthe best things that has
(36:00):
happened in their lives.
Yeah.
So I go along with Johnny.
Yeah, I I think the faith andthe religion that's here, you
know, started by Father Martins,Father Steiner, you know, it's
some of the great priests fromthe past.
You know, it's here.
It lurks in the hallway.
(36:21):
You know, whether you want it ornot, it's gonna catch you.
SPEAKER_01 (36:23):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (36:24):
It's you know, and it's gonna be up to you to
discern what you want to do withit.
But it's here, and maybe weneed, like Johnny says, to
promote that a little bitstronger.
Yeah, agree.
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (36:36):
Cool, cool, cool.
Well, gentlemen, we appreciateyou being here.
This is always a the the joy ofmy week being able to get on
this podcast and talk todifferent folks.
And I again I I just want to saythank you and young men to other
young men.
Oh, I like that.
Uh I appreciate you know, giveme a bad Johnny you guys' uh
(36:59):
commitment to you know thebrotherhood.
And I mean, genuinely from 63 tonow, still rolling.
That's inspiring and andconvicting in a way, you know,
for me to look at my circle andwhere I can tighten up with with
some of my guys.
So I appreciate you.
We appreciate you.
Community, this is uh the rocktalk, another episode that we're
(37:22):
closing out, and uh we'll talksoon.
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