Nick's Piano: End of an Era

Heading to college this coming weekend, Nick finished his final lessons with Kevin and Mrs. Rutter last week. He's going to miss the last recital of his young career as it's the same day as the first day of Summer Session at Indiana Tech.  Here are links to the last few years of his best pieces, where it's clear the progress he's made over time.

Spring 2025: Maple Leaf Rag

Summer 2024: Poirot 

Spring 2023: In the Mood

Spring 2022: Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Summer 2021: War Thunder

Summer 2019: Top Gun Theme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's good to see that piano we bought when we moved into our first home twenty-five years ago served its purpose!

 

SFS Graduation May 2025

Memorial Day weekend was graduation weekend for the seniors at SFS. The theme was 'Bread' (not really) and the usual events with a morning mass at Gesu and afternoon commencement at the Toledo Museum Peristyle.  The entire production is a reminder of how well St. Francis has handled these boys for the past four years.  Despite regular frustrations (like the trebuchet assignment in the last two weeks of classes) it's clear they've prepared this group of young men for their future. The numbers:
116 different universities being attended across the graduation class of 124
Nick is 1 of 48 recognized with Honors based on GPA (just shy of a 3.7, posting a 4.2 for his Senior Year)
And he is 1 of 15 that received a high award, as voted on by the faculty, for him it's Artistry (a reflection of the artwork that was the centerpiece of their wine-and-cheese fundraising event earlier this year)

There's five kids in his graduating class who are sons of SFS grads from my class in 1990. And during the commencement we sat alongside one of my grad school colleagues who also had a son graduating this year. (And she has another in two years, who attended my presentation on Marketing at SFS Career Night and apparently now he's set on that field, so my pitch must have been pretty good!)

As usual, the event ended and Nick was quickly fifty yards down the sidewalk headed for the car. He's done with high school, and onto the next adventure.

Brandi planned a small gathering in the evening, we hosted about ten people for a kitchen-full of food and small talk. Moose and Ba traveled up from Alabama for the weekend, and his friend Aiden came down from Ypsi. I entertained from the garage, my happy place. And Brandi made me a cheese ball.

SFS Graduation Class Photos

Nick is front and center, which is why I couldn't find him in the photo.  Professional photographer shots from the day.