Fargo’s Catholic high school alumni gather for annual get-together in Arizona

It has been a tradition since the 1990s. The Arizona Alumni and Friends gathering takes place each year (with the exception of 2021 due to COVID-19) in the Phoenix area. The event gives alumni from Fargo’s Shanley High School, who spend their winters in the Arizona sun, an opportunity to get-together and renew old friendships while showing their support for their alma mater.

Classes ranging from 1954 to 1972 were represented at the event that brings attending alumni up-to-date information on Shanley happenings, plans for the future, and opportunities to financially support the school.

“We have so many alumni and friends that winter or live year-round in Arizona,” said John Klocke, Shanley’s Advancement Director. “We want to keep them connected and informed about the projects they support. They are helping us do important work for our students and teachers and deserve the regular updates.”

The gathering featured events spaced out over three days, beginning with a morning Mass at All Saints Church in Mesa, Ariz. celebrated by Bishop Folda, followed by a short breakfast reception to let alumni meet with each other and with the Shanley leadership team. One of the more popular events is a dinner sponsored by the Shanley leadership team, where Bishop Folda and JPII Schools President Mike Hagstrom have the opportunity to meet attendees and share Shanley’s future goals and personally thank attendees for their continued support.

“We try to keep them informed with updates from their alma mater,” said Hagstrom. “With their generous support, we can make Catholic education more affordable through scholarships and other programs. As it happens, there is quite a community down here in Arizona this time of year, so it’s a great opportunity to connect. I’m especially grateful to Bishop Folda for taking the time to come down here and connect with our alums. He loves Catholic schools and Catholic education, and this is one way he shows this support.”

At a luncheon on Feb. 25, I had a chance to talk with a few long-time attendees of the Arizona Alumni and Friends gathering: Shanley graduates Art Schmitz (class of 1960) and John Gross (class of 1961). Both had high praise for their alma mater and for Catholic education in general.

“I come to hear what’s going on at Shanley, and to meet friends I went to school with and graduated with,” said John Gross. “It’s kind of like a mini reunion. Shanley gave me a great Catholic education, got me into college and well trained for life. It’s important to us to support Catholic education, not only in Fargo but in areas where our grandchildren live, so Shanley is one of those good Catholic organizations we support.”

“I grew up in a very low-income, single-parent family,” said Art Schmitz. “Since I was in grade school I wanted to go to Shanley because one of my sports idols, Roger Maris, went there. When I got to Shanley I played sports and was coached by Sid Cichy and his coaching staff, and they made a great impression on me and my life. They made me work and that paid off big dividends. That’s why I continue to support Shanley, so students today can get that superior Catholic education that I had the opportunity to receive, and I want to see them go on to college, become mature adults, and contribute to society. Shanley does a great job with that.”

For the Shanley leadership team, the gathering is the perfect opportunity to let alums in attendance know just where their support is going, how it’s helping today’s students, and will continue to help those youngsters who will be Shanley Deacons in the years to come.

“Our alums are proud of their school,” said Mike Hagstrom. “They want others to know about the great things Catholic education does for young people, so coming down here gives me an opportunity to thank them for supporting JPII schools and Shanley in particular.”

For more information on Shanley High School and the other Catholic schools around the diocese, go to www.fargodiocese.org/catholicschools.