Posted
December 08, 2025
Candid Moments, Lasting Impact
What does St. Edward really feel like day to day? This photo essay pairs candid images with reflections from students and faculty, capturing the moments that shape life on campus.
When I ask Mr. Urbas if he can dunk, he always gives the same answer: 'Yeah—I can dunk. I can dunk my doughnut in my coffee.' It cracks me up every time.
I’ve looked up to him since the first day I met him. He lives thirty seconds from my house, and when I shadowed here in eighth grade, he realized that and said, “Don’t you worry. I’ll get you to school every day.” And he did. Every morning for four years.
That’s how our relationship started—just long drives, talking about football, school, life. He jokes around, he keeps me in check with my grades, and he’s always there when I need something. If Coach Urbas asks, I don’t even think twice. I just say yes.
Honestly, he’s one of the reasons I’m at St. Ed’s at all. He didn’t have to look out for me like that, but he did. After I graduate, I’m going to miss him more than anyone.
Brandon White ’26
Out here, every lesson overlaps with another. We’ll talk about how monocropping negatively affects soil, and then break down the economic pressures that make farmers do it anyway. We’ll talk about bees and suddenly we’re deep into food insecurity—how a drop in pollinators raises prices and how that hits families who are already stretched thin. One conversation slips into the next—biology into sociology into home economics—because that’s how the real world works.
Eco-literacy, to me, is giving kids another lens for their lives. It’s asking them to think about natural resources when they choose a car, or to notice the story behind what’s on their lunch tray. Some lessons matter immediately; others settle in and come back years later when they’re making decisions as adults.
Our new outdoor classroom is a symbol of that way of learning, and a symbol of how deeply we value our community. Everything grown out here ends up on the tables of our Lakewood neighbors who need it most. It’s service and education living in the same space.
Lisa Hardin
Spanish Teacher and Campus Farm Coordinator
When I first came to St. Ed’s, I really didn’t see myself as an advanced student. I took one honors class freshman year and figured that was enough—that was my lane. But something happens here. You sit in classrooms with guys who push themselves, with teachers who expect you to reach a little higher every day, and you start seeing yourself differently. It wasn’t overnight, but slowly I realized I was capable of more than I’d ever given myself credit for.
I added more honors classes sophomore year. Then I pushed into AP and IB. It’s not just about the challenge—it’s about the mindset. You start wanting to be better in every way: as a student, as a thinker, as a person. St. Ed’s has this way of nudging you past whatever limits you thought you had, and suddenly you’re doing things you never imagined you’d do.
Looking back, I barely recognize the kid who showed up freshman year. This place teaches you to rise—academically, personally, spiritually—and once you start rising, you don’t want to stop.
Bradley Eaton ’25
2025 Man of the Year
Currently attends Princeton University
My dad teaches here, but it wasn’t until I became a student at St. Ed’s that I understood how much the teachers pour into us. You can feel it in certain classrooms—like Ms. Ryan’s. From the first week, she created this space where we could be ourselves, try things, fail at things, laugh, and keep going. The energy in her room is positive, and it feels like everyone has the chance to grow, not just as artists, but as people.
I never thought about art school before. It wasn’t even on my radar. But talking with Ms. Ryan this year—feeling how much she believes in me, seeing the way she pushes me to explore my creativity—it’s become this big idea in my life. Something I’m actually considering. It’s kind of amazing how one class, one teacher, can make your whole world feel bigger.
Luke Urban ’26
I’m in the stroke seat, so I set the pace for the whole boat. Eight guys depend on me to stay steady, stay sharp, stay calm. Rowing isn’t an individual sport at all—you become one unit. When everything lines up, it feels like the whole boat is breathing together.
People always think the hardest part is waking up for 5:30 a.m. practice, but honestly, I love it. There’s something about being on the water that early, when it’s quiet and the sun’s barely up, that makes you feel like you’re part of something nobody else gets to see. You work hard before most people are even awake, and by the afternoon, you already feel accomplished. And yeah—by eight or nine at night, you’re ready to crash, but in a good way.
The best part is the connection. Same guys, same boat, every day, all moving to the same beat. You learn pretty quickly that the boat only moves if everyone works together.
Liam McConnell ’27
My dad used to tell the story of how my grandpa originally planned to send him and his brothers to a different Catholic high school. But that changed the year he worked construction here on campus. He met the Brothers of Holy Cross and was so impressed that he came home, and said, “All my boys are going to St. Ed’s!”
What I love is that the reason behind his decision still holds true today. This place is built on the kind of everyday goodness you don’t always notice until you stop to look. It shows up in the small, quiet moments—when a student drops his books and three or four kids rush in to help before an adult can even move, when someone opens up on a retreat in a way he hasn’t before, or when the football team pauses to pray before a game. To us, these moments feel ordinary. To anyone walking in from the outside, they’re extraordinary.
Matt Wallenhorst ’05
Vice President of Faith, Mission, & Culture
For me, the House System is all about connection. Our school days can be hectic and busy. Time in our Houses is the thing that anchors us. Every morning, you sit with the same twenty guys and the same adults, and it becomes this quiet space where people really see each other. Not graded. Not rushed. Just… real.
That consistency builds trust. Students feel safer opening up because the relationships aren’t tied to performance. And that’s when you start to see small shifts—like the moments when someone who never joins anything suddenly steps in because he finally feels like he belongs. Maybe it’s trivia, or improv, or art.
But for the first time, he’s part of something. And honestly, the cross-grade relationships are one of the best parts. We’re only in year one, so there are kinks to work out. But the core pieces—the check-ins, the accountability, the sense of belonging—they’re already making a difference. You can feel it when the whole school is together. You can feel the joy.
Maggie Kern
Math Teacher and Dean of House Geiger
Labre changed the way I see people who are homeless. Over time, you start to recognize faces. Some people are regulars, some you only see once, and some come back when the seasons change. Most of them are really friendly. They want to talk, because a lot of the time they don’t get to talk to anyone. And they give us advice—real advice. The number one thing they tell us is, “Don’t get into drugs. Don’t go down that path.”
They’re not less than, or people who deserve to be ignored. They’re just people who made mistakes. They need help, they need care, they need someone to talk to. They’re human.
Every time I go out with Labre, I’m reminded how much it matters to show up for someone who’s been overlooked.
Josh Ridenour ’27
My internship is at the Green & Gold Shop at school. I love it! The new store is very, very, very nice. I sticker the clothes, I squish down the boxes, and I talk to people a lot. I am very friendly to customers. I have made a lot of new friends in the store. I am going to learn how to use the cash register before I graduate.
I know I will. I can do it. I am a big help to Ms. Kinnaird with carrying all the boxes.
I love having a job. I want to always have one.
Johnny Mural ’27
St. Andre Scholar
I got my first real job last summer—I was hired to photograph the school’s summer camps. I’ve always loved taking pictures, but getting paid to do it changed everything. I started my own photography Insta account, adrian.flicks, and suddenly I was on the sidelines of games behind a camera like a pro.
My work is getting a lot of attention, but honestly, that’s not even the best part. The best part is the campers from last summer. All those kids recognize me now. They yell my name, they stop to say hi when they see me around.
I remember being their age, looking up to the older guys and thinking they were the coolest people in the world. And now I’m one of them. It makes me so proud.
Adrian McGowan ’28
The new field has changed the way we move. You can feel it—our players look sharper and more confident out there. But what I love most is how many people use it. Youth teams are out there, summer camps, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, rugby, marching band. If you walk by on almost any day of the year, someone’s out there putting in the work.
And right beside it, the train keeps everything honest. You’re in the middle of coaching, offering a correction, and suddenly you hear that rumble coming down the tracks. You just pause, wait for it to pass, and pick up where you left off. It’s funny, but it’s also one of those things every kid who’s ever played here remembers.
Tom Lombardo
Math Teacher and Head Football Coach
I moved here from Venezuela when I was six. I didn’t speak a word of English. I learned most of it from movies—bad words included—which didn’t exactly impress my teachers. Eventually, I got to St. Ed’s and I truly believe it was where I was meant to land all along.
The bike retreat surprised me. Ninety-one miles, no phone, no music—just me and my thoughts, and God. I don’t think I’ve ever been alone in my own head for that long. It was hard, but it was good. It was peaceful. And the sleep afterwards? It was honestly some of the best sleep I’ve ever had. No screen, no notifications—just a tent, a sleeping bag, and total exhaustion in the best way.
Santiago Pereira ’27
The pool has always been the place where I make friends. I’ve been on club teams since I was five, and every meet feels like a reunion—me and the guys all know each other, no matter what school we’re from.
Swimming is repetitive in the best way. Your body just moves—pull, kick, breathe—and your mind is free to wander. Sometimes I’m thinking about my form, sometimes about school, and sometimes I’m in a full-on philosophical conversation with my friends about God, forgiveness, and everything else teenagers try to figure out.
That’s what I love about it. The water gives you space to think, and the people give you someone to think with.
Sam Gibson ’26
One of my sons is already at St. Edward, the other is still in middle school but comes to campus every day for practice, so I spend a lot of time behind the wheel. But honestly? These drives have become some of my favorite parts of the day. It's the only place where they open up without realizing it—talking about school, their friends, their goals, the little things that made them laugh. I get to hear who they're becoming.
What makes it even better is that we're driving to St. Ed's. This place has given my older son so much already, and now my younger one gets to feel connected to it, too. I'm grateful I get to share that with them—not just dropping them off, but being part of the rhythm of their lives here. Years from now, I know I'm going to look back on these rides and realize they were something special. Just me and my boys in the car, heading to toward a place that means the world to us.
KC McKenna ’00
President
The photos and reflections above are only a small glimpse of the countless lives strengthened, shaped, and supported through the generosity of the St. Edward community. Review the 2024-2025 Report on Giving and see the names of the many individuals who ensure the mission of St. Edward High School continues.