Author Archives: Amy Park

[Note: Originally published on the Prospect Ridge Academy blog on July 3, 2023.] The sleek blue 2023 Corvette Z06 eased around the Daytona 500 track in February, pacing the racers as they approached the green flag. Hunter Drake, PRA class of 2018, watched with pride that he hadn’t felt before. In his first year as a creativeContinueContinue reading “Dream Job at GM Spurs Creativity for PRA Alum”

[Note: Originally published on the Prospect Ridge Academy blog, March 13, 2023} Curious black eyes peer out from the large aquatic tank in the classroom of Melanie Lostroh, the 5th grade reading teacher at Prospect Ridge Academy. Opal and Onyx, Lostroh’s pet axolotls, seem to smile at the classroom activity, inviting connection with the students.  “Axolotls areContinueContinue reading “Axolotls Create Unique Learning Opportunities in 5th Grade Classroom”

[Note: Originally published on Jan. 21, 2022, in the Colorado Catholic Herald.] COLORADO SPRINGS—When Michelle (Polliard) Quaney last walked the halls of Corpus Christi Catholic School as a student in 1976, the United States was celebrating its bicentennial and “Silly Love Songs” by Wings filled the airways. Yet when she returned to the Colorado SpringsContinueContinue reading “Corpus Christi School Marks 100th Anniversary”

[Note: Originally published on the St. Mary’s High School blog on April 19, 2021] For St. Mary’s High School boys basketball coach Jim Masterson, basketball is more than a game—it’s a way to teach faith. The motto of the team is “win or lose, give glory to God.” That idea was tested this year as the teamContinueContinue reading “Faith Drives Pirate Boys Basketball”

[Note: Originally published on the St. Mary’s High School blog on July 30, 2020.]  Nothing that Dani (Cichon) Stone ‘11 had experienced in her nursing career could have prepared her for what she saw working in the COVID-19 intensive care unit in Chicago this spring. Not even working in the COVID-19 ICU at Saint Thomas Midtown HospitalContinueContinue reading “2020 Changes Plans for Dani Stone ’11”

[Note: Originally published on the St. Mary’s High School blog on June 5, 2020]  Working full time at a homeless center in Boulder, Colorado, was not how Hannah McReavy envisioned spending the last months of her sophomore year at college. In February, McReavy, who graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 2018, was at Providence College inContinueContinue reading “Hannah McReavy ’18 Serves Homeless during COVID Pandemic”

[Note: Originally published on the St. Mary’s High School blog on April 6, 2020]  In the last month, life has changed for Americans. Our current situation of social distancing and stay-at-home orders has, at the very least, disrupted plans and, at the worst, has completely changed lives. Life for those who attend St. Mary’s High School has,ContinueContinue reading “The Impact of St. Mary’s”

[Note: Originally published in the Colorado Catholic Herald on March 20, 2018] COLORADO SPRINGS—Karolyn Grimes’ most famous line from her days in Hollywood — “Look, Daddy! Teacher says, ‘Everytime a bell rings an angel gets his wings’”— concludes the harrowing story of George Bailey in the Frank Capra classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” OnContinueContinue reading “It’s a Wonderful Life for Gala Guest Karolyn Grimes”

Nick Nickelson, standing right, checks out the Faith 7 space capsule with astronaut Gordon Cooper inside. May 16, 2013, marks the 50th anniversary of the history last flight in the Mercury space program. [Note: Originally published in May 2013 for the St. Mary’s High School blog and the Colorado Catholic Herald. ] Every 7-year-old dreams of what heContinueContinue reading “The Frogman of Mercury 7”