We are so grateful to our Forever Zephyr Community! Each one of you has made St. Mary Catholic Schools what it is today and we would like to share the amazing successes of our current and past students with you. We are so blessed to see amazing growth within enrollment, dedicated staff and faculty, course offerings, athletics, and fine arts. Read on to learn how we continue to grow these programs and remain the best option for Catholic education in the area!

With the addition of Jack, our new Alumni Coordinator, we are looking forward to being able to connect and build a stronger alumni network! We can not do it with out your help!

Take a moment to update your contact info so we can:

• Keep you informed

• Share alumni news and updates

• Invite you to reunions and events

Update your information - Here

Know an alum who doesn’t get our emails? Share the link with them!

For the most current news, join & follow the SMCS Alumni group on Facebook!

Hello! My name is Jack McCurdy and I am so excited to be joining the SMCS team as the High School Programs & Alumni Relations Coordinator! Not only is this an amazing opportunity to work in our high school with students every day to bring exciting programs and enrichment to our school, but it is an absolute privilege to connect with you, our alumni community, and keep you connected to the St. Mary Catholic family.

This is truly a full-circle moment for me. My family moved to the Fox Valley nearly 20 years ago, and I have been connected to this great community since starting Pre-K at St. Margaret Mary's! In what felt like the blink of an eye, I was suddenly moving to Rock Island, Illinois, where I attended Augustana College and graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor's in Business Management and Psychology. One of the most formative experiences to date was my job on campus as an Activities Coordinator and eventually Director of Student Life Programming, where I worked with school administration to bring events, concerts, speakers, fundraisers, and more across my campus.

It is an amazing time to be part of St. Mary Catholic Schools. Since becoming a staff member in January, it was clear from week one that the energy in this building and with these students is palpable. Not only is the future bright from a student perspective, we are so blessed to have such a generous community. I look forward to working with and meeting more of you as the year progresses. Whether you're interested in scheduling a class reunion, looking to learn more about upcoming events, or just want to hear more about what we're up to these days, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Have a great rest of your summer!

Jack McCurdy
jmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org

Greater Zephyrs Open - Monday, July 14

St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival - Saturday, August 16

First Day of School - Tuesday, August 26

Homecoming Parade & Game - Friday, September 26

Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon - Saturday, September 27

For complete listing of all SMCS sporting events, check out the Big East Calendar

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 induction of several outstanding alumni into the St. Mary Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame! These exceptional individuals have left a lasting legacy through their dedication, sportsmanship, and accomplishments—both on and off the field. This fall, we proudly celebrate their achievements and honor the impact they’ve made on our athletic tradition.

Join us for a special moment of recognition during our Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 26, where the newest Hall of Fame inductees will be publicly introduced and celebrated by our school community. Let’s show them the same support and school spirit they once brought to the game!

The SMCS Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1983 to celebrate the rich tradition of St. Mary Catholic High School. Members are mostly alumni of SMCHS, but also include former coaches and honorary alumni. After more than 40 years, the SMCS Athletic Hall of Fame continues to honor the accomplishments of our Zephyrs! Click here to view past recipients.

If you would like to nominate a person for next year, who meets the qualifications for Hall of Fame recognition, please download the Alumni Awards Nomination Form below and send to Jack McCurdy, Alumni Coordinator, jmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org.

Other Awards:

Distinguished Service Award

Achievement Award

Outstanding Catholic Christian Service Award

The Greater Zephyr Open is our biggest fundraiser in support of SMCS Athletics, and we still have hole sponsorships available! Gather a few classmates and show your class pride by sponsoring a hole together. Sponsor a Hole! Can’t commit to a sponsorship? You can still join in the fun by purchasing a raffle ticket—no need to be present to win, and every dollar goes directly to supporting our student-athletes. Purchase raffle tickets here!

St. Mary Catholic Schools alumnus Tim Miller, (Class of 1975) has always embraced the values of hard work, education, and community, principles that guided him from his days in Neenah to a rewarding career as an organic farmer in Texas.

Tim's journey took a unique path, combining his academic foundation in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with his passion for sustainable farming. After earning his degree, he found his calling as an arborist and organic grower, which eventually led him to work in community gardening projects. His expertise and dedication was honored when he was awarded the prestigious Blue Legacy Award for Water Conservation, a recognition of his innovative water-saving techniques and commitment to sustainable practices. “It’s been a humbling experience to be recognized for something I’m so passionate about,” he said, reflecting on his award. “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword to me; it’s a way of life.”

Over the years, Tim has built a career on embracing nature’s cycles, from using native wildflowers and weeds to protect crops to developing new methods for conserving rainwater. There farm Millberg Farm is partial last names of Miller and his wife Ann Berghammer and has become a testament to the power of organic farming practices. “We are living in a time when the knowledge we hold in farming is more important than ever,” he said. “It’s about balance, balancing the land, the crops, and the ecosystem.”

His approach to farming was influenced by his time at SMCS, where hands-on learning played a pivotal role in shaping his career. “From my art class projects, where we applied math to create designs, to my experiences in nature, I learned how to think creatively and practically,” he shared. Looking back on his time at SMCS, he credits his education for helping him navigate the challenges of farming. “Reading and continuous learning have always been key,” he added. “Education doesn’t stop after graduation, and I’ve applied that mindset to everything I do.” He also strives to share the things he has learned with others through offering free workshops and classes to help farmers and gardeners to learn more about these effective methods.

Although his life has been full of successes, Tim has faced significant challenges as well, including the loss of a child and navigating zoning and development issues that threatened his farm. But through it all, he’s remained committed to his work and the people he serves. “Farming is tough, but it’s also a deeply rewarding life,” he said.

Today, he is looking toward the future, with plans to continue expanding his farm’s sustainability efforts and move back to Wisconsin. “I’ve had a wonderful life here in Texas, but I’m ready to return home,” he shared. “If anyone knows of any land or farms available in the area, I’d love to connect.” Let us help Tim find a place to continue his work in the Fox Valley and bring his knowledge to our community!

Tim leaves this advice for current Zephyrs: “Take chances, and follow your passion. Farming, especially organic farming, is hard work, but it’s a life that can change the world. Wisconsin needs more certified organic farms, and there’s always room for innovation.” The SMCS community continues to be proud of the accomplishments of alumni like Tim Miller, whose commitment to sustainability, education, and hard work exemplifies The Zephyr Way.

Zephyrfest 2025 was a night to remember. We are so proud to have the support of our community, coming together to raise funds for our amazing schools. As many of you know, Catholic education cannot run on tuition fees alone. We must continually support these efforts in order to give our students the resources to succeed.

This year, we are proud to share our biggest success to date! We were able to commemorate 40 years of giving with a silent auction, live auction, and a dedicated time to give to our Annual Fund. Thank you to Mary Fulton and Patty Voss, the first co-chairs to lead the inaugural Zephyrfest, whose leadership has given way to a tradition of generosity that continues to support our mission today.

We would be remiss if we did not thank all of the volunteers and alumni who came together to make this night a success for our students, including a special thank you to Dave Sewall (SMCS Class of 1955) and his band of musicians.

Our students have a message for you, please see the video below to see how SMCS prepares them to be the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. If you were unable to join or donate, your contributions to our Annual Fund are always welcome here!

As the world continues to be driven by technology, the need to provide strong STEM education for our students has never been clearer. At SMCS, we recognize that STEM skills will be essential for all of their future endeavors. That is why we are committed to staying ahead of the curve by equipping our students to stand out, lead, and innovate in the years to come.

This year marks a turning point as we start construction on our final Innovation Lab, which will allow each campus to have their own dedicated STEM learning space. With your help we can make the next big step in education for SMCS students! If you are interested in learning more about the future of STEM or want to be part of this exciting movement, please reach out to kmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org or donate here.

Mia, one of our High School VEX competitors, shares her incredible experiences: "This year was my first year competing in the high school VEX V5 competition and it truly was an unforgettable experience for me. I met so many other bright, young minds throughout the tournament. It was such a wonderful learning experience and it even helped strengthen my passion and knowledge in the problem solving and STEAM field. I got to see glimpses of different ways that other’s minds work, and it was so refreshing to see those new perspectives of thinking. I am forever grateful that I got to compete alongside with the future generation of problem solvers and leaders of our world. I hope to further continue this journey next year, so that I may use the talents I have gained to make the world a better place and to teach the generations that will come after me to do the same. Overall, this opportunity has been so inspiring to me, and I can’t wait to see what will come of it in the future."

For more of the exciting things happening at St. Mary Catholic Schools... be sure to like, follow, and share our current Zephyrs on Facebook and Instagram!

Alumni know firsthand the difference that St. Mary Catholic Schools makes with family and community. So many of you already support our schools through volunteering, sharing good news about SMCS on social media, and being our best ambassadors in your circle of friends and family!

For those who are able to support SMCS financially, now is a great time to do so! Current matching gifts and end-of-year options make an enormous difference. We invite you to tell others about the Zephyr Way, and to be part of the good work of St. Mary Catholic Schools.

• The Annual Fund supports the yearly operation expenses for our schools, most importantly our teachers.
• We also welcome gifts to Athletics, Fine Arts, STEM, or any area of Zephyr life that you are passionate about!
• Tuition Assistance is essential for making sure that education at SMCS is accessible and affordable for every student now and into the future. Today is the last day to have your donation matched, all gifts designated for Tuition Assistance will be matched by a generous donor up to $40,000! *

Our Advancement Team is ready to help make your giving as simple, flexible and advantageous as possible, with options like Qualified Charitable Distributions, IRA, Stock Transfers, and more. Planned Gifts and the Endowment Campaign are ways to ensure the longevity of St. Mary Catholic Schools for generations to come. To learn more, please contact Kathleen McCurdy, Director of Advancement, at kmccmurdy@smcatholicschools.org or 920-850-7691.

*Matching applies only to Tuition Assistance donations at this time.

Send us your news! Did you earn a degree? Get married? Welcome a baby? Bid farewell to a loved one? Start a new job or business? Look here for a round-up of what's happening in your Forever Zephyrs family! Click here to share your story!

In Memoriam:

Gary Donald Ertl (SMCS 1968)

Patricia (Pack) Rusch (SMCS 1962)

Patricia (Gollner) Pechotta (SMCS 1948)

Catherine (Kraus) Clark (SMCS 1962)

If you are planning a reunion please let us know, you can fill out this form or email jmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org

Class of 1965 - is scheduled for September 11 at 3:00 pm at the Stone Toad in Menasha.

Class of 1975 - is planning to celebrate 50 Years at an Alumni Reunion on August 10, 2025 at the Appleton Yacht Club. Contact people are Gina - gina.marie.kennedy@gmail.com and Cindy -cynthialbestor@yahoo.com

Class of 1985 - 40 years! (Reunion cancelled)

Class of 1995 - 30 Years!

Class of 2000 - 25 Years!

Class of 2005 - 20 Years!

Class of 2015 - 10 Years!

St. Mary Catholic High School grew from humble elementary school beginnings on 2nd Street in Menasha. Initially some classes were offered beyond 8th Grade, mostly to help train young people for roles in a business setting. Soon after, though, SMC evolved into a full-fledged secondary school to serve the growing Catholic community of St. Mary Parish and beyond. There were 14 graduates in the Class of 1929. The students published their first yearbook, The Renard, in 1930.

We have so many people to thank for the legacy of St. Mary Catholic Schools. We look forward to honoring their memory as we embark upon the next century of growing in faith and service. If you are interested in helping with planning, or have resources or memorabilia to share, please contact Jack McCurdy - jmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org

We are thrilled to share our newly updated Zephyr Spirit Shop! Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift, adding to your own collection, or gearing up to cheer on your favorite team, we’ve got something for everyone! Now is the perfect time to show off your Zephyr pride. Click here for our Zephyr Spirit Shop!