By Mary Owen
Each Regis Green and Gold Gala Auction has its own flavor and auction coordinator Gay Frank remembers something special about each one.
“Celebrating 50 years of Regis at this year’s auction will be one for the memory books,” Frank said.
“A Night on the Red Carpet” will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Regis High School student center and gymnasium. Cost is $60 per person, with a goal to net $200,000 after expenses, Frank said.
“Some of the items this year will be a New York Giants autographed jersey; a Bouquet of the Month for one year; Dessert of the Month for one year; wine and wine tours; and salmon and halibut fishing trips,” she said. “Proceeds will be used to increase technology and subsidize the operating budget to keep tuition affordable so no student is turned away.”
The auctioneer will be Brian Grindy.
The popular car drawing will also be held, Step and Repeat on the red carpet, Heads and Tails, and recognition of past event chairs.
“Our celebration of the Regis 50th anniversary kicked off on Sept. 13 with homecoming,” said Janine Moothart, director of marketing and development at Regis. “We had a barbecue and pre-game festivities, which included Regis alum Jon Heuberger landing a helicopter on the football field to deliver the official game ball and the 50th year commemorative coin for the coin toss. Regis cheerleaders lead the alum in the fight song to recognize 50 years of Regis grads!”
Regis students celebrated Homecoming with the traditional crowning of royalty and homecoming dance, she added.
Future events include Celebration of the Feast of Christ the King on Dec. 4 and an all-class school reunion on Aug. 9, 2014 to “round out this golden year,” Moothart said.
“We anticipate our Regis Ram golf tournament, an open house, and recognition of our founding fathers and many others who contributed to the school, followed by a Mass and barbecue and all-class reunion party,” she said.
The only rural Catholic secondary school in Oregon, Regis High School was started when a group of laymen, the Catholic Educational Corporation, got together in 1957. The group purchased two parcels of property in Stayton, totaling 31 acres.
In 1960, a professional fundraising firm was engaged to conduct a survey of the area to determine if opening a high school was feasible. The project was endorsed by the vicariate parishes of Immaculate Conception in Stayton, St. Boniface in Sublimity, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Jordan and their mission parishes. Work began in 1962, and Regis opened its doors in the fall of 1963.
Local graduates include George Smith, president of NORPAC Foods; Gene Ditter, mayor of Sublimity; Chris Lorenz and Jim Burns with Power Chevrolet; and Dennis and Tyler Lulay with Raymond James Financial.
“Our current volleyball coach, Judi Boni, is a 1977 Regis grad who moved away and has just returned home from Nevada,” Moothart said. “Local farm families – Etzels, Heubergers, Keudells – all have family connections. Don Heuberger and Rich Tabor are long-time teachers at Regis – and also Regis alum. Our principal, Joni Gilles, is not a Regis grad, but two of her children attended Regis.
“Major General Julie Bentz graduated in 1982, and Father Mark Bentz in 2004,” she added. “He was ordained the day before Regis’ 2013 graduation, and gave the invocation. There are many successful Regis alumni.”
Jim Burns, a service advisor at Power Chevrolet, calls Regis “a really good school.”
“It really prepares you well for the world, but also gives you that God background that helps you through life, helps with your morals and your thinking,” Burns said. “I sent my daughter there also. What a huge difference it made in her life.”
Burns also admires how alumni support Regis beyond graduation.
“Friendships go way beyond school,” he said. “Once you’ve graduated, you still stay connected.”
Tyler Lulay agreed, saying, “There is a strong sense of community at Regis that I think makes it unique. It feels like family. The teachers and staff really are there to help students thrive.”
He also believes in the values Regis instills in students.
“First and foremost, faith is central to everything that happens at Regis,” Lulay said. “You are encouraged to express your faith and to grow in your faith. Beyond that, you are taught that having goals, dreams and ambitions is a good thing, and if you work hard, you can achieve your goals. It is a great environment to prepare young adults for life beyond school.”
Moothart called the expectations for the future of Regis “inspiring.”
“The school enrollment is on the upswing and the quality of education and extra-curricular opportunities continue to bring families to Regis,” she said. “Drama and fine arts are programs that are giving our students opportunities to explore their creative and performing talents.”
For information, call Regis High School at 503-769-2159.
