The part of the story that Coach Smith leaves out is that my academic and social pursuits at my public middle school were equally unpromising. Often a subpar student, I ended eighth grade with multiple Cs (or worse) on my report card. During most semesters, I had no involvement in any extra-curricular activities. Worse still, I had yet to find many peers at school who shared my interests or challenged me to improve myself. Guerin Catholic represented more than an athletic opportunity for me; it represented an opportunity to meet my academic potential, to discover interests other than sports, to form more meaningful relationships, and to start over. I found all of the above at Guerin Catholic. With guidance from invested teachers and through the International Baccalaureate program, I earned an academic scholarship at Wittenberg University and later graduated summa cum laude from college and law school. I participated in (among many other activities) GoldenVoice and the musicals – unique experiences that helped launch my confidence in order to pursue a career in law. I met lifelong friends, including my beautiful wife Katie (Regan) Gardner ’10. But perhaps most importantly, I found a renewed sense of self and faith at Guerin Catholic. I am who I am today largely because of Guerin Catholic. As the chair of the new Guerin Catholic Alumni Council and the alumni representative on the School Governing Board, my goal is to ensure that Guerin Catholic can continue to serve that role for its students. What separates Guerin Catholic from other schools in the area (private and public) is the opportunities it provides to its students, the close-knit nature of the community, and the school’s commitment to its mission. Although the Alumni Council is still in its relative infancy, the most important of our many objectives is to preserve Guerin Catholic’s unique identity as the school continues to grow and develop. To all who have helped make Guerin Catholic the place it is and was, thank you. To any alumni who are interested in helping the Alumni Council in some capacity moving forward, please contact me at samuelbgardner@gmail.com. Alumni Spotlight
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