The Paw

This week's Alumni Spotlight highlights John Stepec (Class of 2013), who is in Building Management at Cross Country Mortgage. 

Why do you support Lake Catholic?

I support Lake Catholic because it has shaped me into the person I am today. I always loved Lake Catholic's core values because I believe that those values can help make a better future - not just for you, but for the people in your life as well! The commitment to excellence was one of the core values that stuck out to me the most during my time at Lake! I realized quickly that if you wanted to play and succeed at the highest level you had to commit to putting in the work. I was lucky enough to learn and share the field with some great leaders during my time at Lake Catholic. Guys like Marty Gibbons, Jimmy King, and Mark Baniewicz to name a few. They raised the level of competition in everything they did between workouts, practice, and even film sessions. I truly believe that having the commitment to be excellent at anything you do will help you achieve the goals you have set out for yourself. For that, I will always be grateful to Lake Catholic.   

What specific areas or missions are you drawn to at Lake Catholic?

With Lake Catholic's rich history of success in sports, I always find myself checking the local newspaper or social media accounts to see how the teams are doing. I also enjoy coming back to play in the alumni basketball tournament held every year at Lake! 

What do you wish others knew about Lake Catholic?

I wish the students would know that every faculty and staff member at Lake wants you to succeed at the highest level! If you want to play multiple sports, try out for the school musical or just join any other club. The faculty and staff are there to help guide and support you in any endeavor you decide to pursue! 

What is your favorite memory of Lake Catholic?

I had so many great memories during my time at Lake Catholic whether it was on the football field, eating lunch with my friends, or playing homerun derby on the weekends in the summer. If I had to choose just one memory, it would have to be when we started Kick-It for Cancer in my junior year! I loved that we were supporting the cause to fight cancer and doing it in such a fun way! Our team (Globo Gym) won back-to-back years in the Kick-It for Cancer kickball tournament.  

What are you currently up to? What's new and exciting that you have going on now?

I currently still live locally in Northeast Ohio. When I'm not working you can find me training for marathons or any other physically challenging races. I'm also in the middle of planning a hiking trip for this upcoming summer to Glacier National Park with some college buddies that I'm excited about. The most exciting news by far is my sister Katie (class of 2009) just had her first baby girl, which officially makes me an uncle!  

If you're interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone, please reach out to our Director of Alumni Relations Bill Weaver.

This week's Alumni Spotlight highlights Katie Morgan (Class of 2024), who is a freshman at Ohio State.

What are you currently up to? What's new and exciting that you have going on now?

I’m majoring in Health Sciences on the pre-med track. I joined a Catholic faith group through “buckeyecatholic” 

How did Lake Catholic prepare you for life after high school?

Lake Catholic prepared me for college coursework along with building friendships and meeting new people, but most importantly it taught me how much my faith means to me.

What specific areas or missions are you drawn to at Lake Catholic?

I was involved in spiritual life, athletics, and student government.

What do you wish others knew about Lake Catholic?

That the school is like a family.

What is your favorite memory of Lake Catholic?

My favorite memory at Lake Catholic is the Friday night lights.

Any words of wisdom for current and future Cougars?

Enjoy every minute of your time at Lake Catholic.

This week's Alumni Spotlight highlights Andrew Brown (Class of 2005), who is an attorney at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

Why do you support Lake Catholic?

I support Lake Catholic because it was instrumental in shaping my identity. The school's values of commitment to excellence, personal integrity, and dedication to service were instilled in me during my years at LCHS, and they guide me to this day. Lake Catholic's focus on striving for excellence planted a seed that inspires me to continually challenge myself in all aspects of life. Prioritizing integrity taught me the importance of examining my morals and standing by what I believe is right, even when it's not the easiest or most popular thing to do. And Lake Catholic's emphasis on service continues to inspire me to give back and consider how best to live in service to others, both professionally and personally.

What specific areas or missions are you drawn to at Lake Catholic?

I have a special affinity for Lake Catholic's performing arts department, where I spent many hours in the marching and concert bands, show choir, and theatrical productions. These opportunities on the stage taught me confidence, creativity, humility, leadership skills, teamwork, and the profound importance of practice and dedication to the achievement of excellence.

What do you wish others knew about Lake Catholic?

I would encourage current and prospective students to be open to all of the opportunities and challenges that Lake Catholic offers -- academics, athletics, arts, spiritual life, leadership training, service, and community. It is never too early or too late to get involved and explore your interests.

What is your favorite memory of Lake Catholic?

I have many great memories from my four years at Lake, and it would be hard to pick just one favorite. To name some standouts: studying with great instructors, performing in the music and theater departments, giving at blood drives, cheering on championship sports teams, going to dances and pep rallies, being on retreats, attending career day, competing in the annual world language Olympics, presenting at regional science and history fairs, appearing on the school's mock trial team, serving as an LC Ambassador, tutoring at Bellflower Elementary, and making lifelong connections all along the way.

One evening during my career at Lake, I found myself calling home from the bank of pay phones outside the offices off the main hall to get a ride after the day's classes, extracurriculars, sporting events, and social activities had let out. I realized I had been at school since before 7 am, it was way past dinnertime, and I had another full day ahead of me. I remember feeling like I was brimming with happiness. Lake offered me numerous avenues to engage, and I am grateful for each of those long days full of challenge and opportunity.

By the way, they still have the pay phones, right?

What are you currently up to? What's new and exciting that you have going on now?

I am living in New York with my wife and our daughter. I recently graduated from the City University of New York School of Law, and I was admitted to the New York State bar in March 2024. 

After fifteen years of serving in various analyst and management roles for the Episcopal Church's national employee health benefit fund, I am starting a second career as a litigator in the general liability practice of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

If you're interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone, please reach out to our Director of Alumni Relations Bill Weaver.

This week's Alumni Spotlight highlights Thom Zahler (Class of 1989), who is a self-employed cartoonist.

Why do you support Lake Catholic?

I love Lake Catholic's strong religious and moral foundation which everything else builds off of.

What specific areas or missions are you drawn to at Lake Catholic?

I always did art and art-related things, cartoons for the newspaper, drawing the musical and drama posters, and doing illustrations for the yearbook as well as four years of Mrs. Kane's art class.

What do you wish others knew about Lake Catholic?

How Mike Burkhardt wrote his name on the ceiling of the stage.

What is your favorite memory of Lake Catholic?

Working stage crew on "The Pajama Game" musical is probably a highlight for me. So many great times and great friends.

What are you currently up to? What's new and exciting that you have going on now?

I have several comics coming out or in progress. I have a kids' comic about cats that see ghosts called "The Ghost Whiskerers" coming out from Storm King (John Carpenter's comics line) and I am drawing the "Angry Birds" comic.

If you're interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone, please reach out to our Director of Alumni Relations Bill Weaver.

This week's Alumni Spotlight highlights Patrick Ebner (Class of 2001), who is a self-employed Estate Planning, Probate & Family Law lawyer.

Why do you support Lake Catholic?

Lake Catholic did a great job of preparing me academically, but more importantly, spiritually. I was lucky enough to go to Catholic schools from kindergarten through college, and I have my own children enrolled in a Catholic school as well. I believe you can get an education anywhere, but what separates Lake Catholic is the religious focus, and the family atmosphere.

What specific areas or missions are you drawn to at Lake Catholic?

Sports teams. The football team has been phenomenal with our All Saints flag football team. We practice next door to them, and they even invited all of our players to come do drills with them. Their kindness created a lot of young Cougar fans!

What do you wish others knew about Lake Catholic?

How much Lake Catholic has to offer, and that it is affordable. A lot of my clients say they could never afford a Catholic school, and then I tell them about all the opportunities available. 

What is your favorite memory of Lake Catholic?

Strangely enough, my favorite memory of Lake Catholic was after I graduated. Watching my little sister's basketball team make it to States two years in a row was something I will never forget.

What are you currently up to? What's new and exciting that you have going on now?

I own and operate my own law firm with an office in Downtown Willoughby. I have four children, ages 10, 8, 5, and 2. My only/favorite hobby is coaching my kids in their CYO football and basketball teams. 

If you're interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone, please reach out to our Director of Alumni Relations Bill Weaver.