BISHOP CARROLL’S FIRST CLASS OF THE NEW MILENNIA HITS TWENTY YEARS
The old saying rings true that, “Time flies when you are having fun.” Life is measured in milestones, whether an age, a graduation, or a job. Bishop Carroll alums looks fondly upon their time on Husky Hill and credit much of their life success to their time spent in these halls. The Class of 2001 is hitting their twenty-year anniversary this year. Speaking with my fellow classmates about their successes in life and how BC has helped them along the way brought back some great memories for me. I am always proud of all Bishop Carroll graduates, especially those in my graduating class. Here are some of the responses they provided.
Nicole (Shrift) Neal spent 19 years in Catholic education, starting at Holy Name, then BC, then as an undergrad at Saint Francis, and finally to Georgetown for her masters. She has been a DoD civilian for 15+ years and is currently the Director of Staff for the Air Force District of Washington at Joint Base Andrews. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters. She says, “Bishop Carroll taught me the importance of staying true to your morals, hard work, discipline, and that it’s not only about what you do in the classroom, but what you do in the community. In everything you do, you constantly represent yourself, your family, and your community.”
Joshua Link attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh to pursue a career in Industrial and Product Design. He has worked for the Paul Rizzo Associates as a Construction Technician/Project Manager during commercial installations, and Surety Bond Claim Construction work. In 2006, he began a full-time paid firefighter/EMT position with the City of Altoona. He has been with them ever since and is a captain on Engine 311. In 2011, he started his own woodworking and woodcarving business, which has grown in recent years. He is married and has three children. “BC taught me a lot about how to be a successful and contributing member of society, along with how to be a leader,” said Josh. “I have been fortunate to see all the benefits to a Catholic Education and been able to reap the rewards of that education. We currently send our three children to Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Altoona and have plans to send them to Bishop Guilfoyle for high school.”
Father Jeremy Mohler is currently a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He attended California University of Pennsylvania after BCCHS, earning a degree in communication. He joined the seminary in Pittsburgh in 2009 and was ordained a priest in 2015. His current assignment is as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Pittsburgh. Father Jeremy believes that BC gave him a solid education because the teachers were so dedicated. As an encouragement to everyone, he would like to paraphrase a verse from the Gospel of John (10:10) – If you put Jesus at the center of your life, you cannot go wrong. He came to give us life and life to the full.
Greg Neugebauer is the current District Attorney for Cambria County. He resides in Ebensburg with his wife and two sons. After attending law school, Greg worked at Neugebauer and Swope with his father. He said that, “BC taught me to work hard, to be respectful, to give back to my community, to serve others, and to have faith in God to guide the way. Those lessons have served me well throughout every life circumstance and change.
Brad Capon attended the College of the Holy Cross and then Duquesne University School of Law before settling in Connecticut. He served as a law clerk for two years and spent nine in private practice. He has been working in state government since 2019, currently as a Deputy Director of the Connecticut Judicial Branch. He works primarily in labor relations, representing management in contract negotiations, grievance/interest arbitrations, and in front of administrative agencies. He currently resides in Connecticut with his wife and daughter. He speaks fondly of his time at BC, remarking that, “Bishop Carroll gave me a great foundation for college, law school, and my career, by giving me the critical thinking and writing background that I would need to be successful. Looking back, the English and History classes at Bishop Carroll were extremely helpful, particularly preparing me for my freshman year of college. I give a lot of credit to the teachers I had, especially Mrs. Vrabel, Ms. Parrish, Mrs. Wolfe, and Ms. Biller, for everything they taught me.”
Adrienne (Sadosky) Baldoni lives in San Diego with her husband, two daughters, and two stepsons. She attended the University of Pittsburgh after graduating from BC and then the Duquesne University School of Law. She also earned a Masters of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College with a focus on domestic terrorism. She has served on active duty in the Navy since 2009. She is currently working as an Active-Duty Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General Corps, Criminal Law Attorney, and a Prosecution Advisor. She previously served as a Victim’s Legal Counsel, Deputy Command Judge Advocate on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, and a Legal Assistance and Defense Attorney. She remarked that, “Bishop Carroll established my core values and inspired my work to serve Americans through the legal profession.”
Katie (Killen) Bradley resides in Asheville, NC with her husband and daughter. She attained a BA at Saint Vincent College and an MA at American University. She is currently the Morning Anchor on WLOS-TV. She speaks highly of her education at Bishop Carroll, saying “I treasure my time at Bishop Carroll and believe strongly that my time there set the foundation for a happy and successful future.”
John Paul Houser is the Funeral Director and Manager at Askew-Houser Inc., and President of the Ebensburg Main Street Partnership. He lives in Loretto with his wife Vanessa, a 2003 BC graduate, and their two children. Of his time on Husky Hill, John says, “My Bishop Carroll education has instilled a value in community service that has helped guide my professional career and motivated me to be an engaged corporate citizen.”
Jonathan Nagy has spent his entire 16-year career in education at Bishop Carroll, loving every minute of it. He has served in various positions, teaching social studies classes, advising many clubs and activities, was the co-founder of the Aquinas International Program, has been the Director of Admissions, and currently serves as the Dean of Students. He is also the Music Director at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto. He lives in Loretto with his loyal dog, Leia. Jonathan says, “Bishop Carroll is HOME. It always has been and always will be home. I am privileged to now spend 20 years of my life at this wonderful school and I hope that I am able to provide the same high-quality education to my students that I received many years ago.
Aaron Ferrance lives in Elysburg, PA with his wife, two children, and two dogs. He is the Department Manager at Dollar Tree Distribution as well as a Major in the PA Army National Guard. He is very appreciative of his time at Bishop Carroll and hopes to get together with everyone for a reunion when the time is right.
Jude Butch lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children. He received a BA in History from SIippery Rock University, his MA in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University, and is currently working towards his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. He is currently employed as the Senior Associate Director of Student Engagement at the University of Buffalo, providing leadership, oversight, and support to several areas of the university, including fraternity and sorority life, leadership education and development, community and civic engagement, student governance, student organizations, and large-scale, university-wide programming. Jude remarks that, “My four years at Bishop Carroll provided me a solid foundation, both academically and socially, which prepared me to succeed in college and beyond. Now, in my career as a university educator and administrator, I draw upon the lessons that I learned while at BCCHS to empower students to be positive, socially-just leaders.”
Janelle (Biller) Yon currently lives in Delaware with her husband and three kids. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. When asked about her time at BC, she used a favorite quote, saying, “Life doesn’t come with a road map, but friends help you enjoy the adventure.”
Janelle is absolutely correct! Friends have helped and continue to help with enjoying the journey! We look forward to getting together as a class soon to reminisce. Other Class of 2001 graduates are welcome to send their updates to me at [email protected]. All other BCCHS alumni are welcome to send their updates to Mrs. McCann at [email protected].