Enter...

It must be good... he's smiling!

... moms. That's right. It's Mom's Weekend at Steds. The most favorite weekend of all weekends at Steds, Mom's Weekend, is finally here. After months of planning, steps forward as well as steps backwards, everything is in place and ready to welcome and fete Steds moms. Arriving just in for the weekend, special designed gifts for moms arrived thanks to a special pick up by the Mom's Weekend Commissioner, Jake Buckendorf. Going the extra mile, literally and figuratively, Buckendorf personally oversaw the delivery of the couture gifts that will be given at the conclusion of the weekend. What is it? On asking what the gift is, Buckendorf declared, "A gentleman doesn't tell everything... after all it would wreck the surprise!"

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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The games still...

Love for the game...

... continue on, really. Hall Olympics continues on. After clinching gold in Mario Cart racing , the X were making their move for more gold, pinning their hopes and energies in the penultimate game, the three on three basketball tourney. With the weather taking a terrible turn in just in time for the tourney, it was a perfect time to hold this Olympic game. Competitors not only had to contend with the skills of the competition but also the weather. But the less than favorable conditions didn't stop nor slow down the Gentlemen ballers. Playing in the Steds parking, teams various class teams came and went, but one team could not be stopped. In the end, a freshmen team with John Challenger, John Cook, and Ian Robinett, took three points and the glory of the court back for their freshmen class. On winning the game, Challenger said, "The whole tournament was a ton of fun. Our team played selflessly, and beating the sophomores in the championship was a great way to end.”

Good luck to all our Olympians!

Olympic Standings (points earned)

Seniors             9

Juniors             5

        Sophomores     5          

Freshmen            7

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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... brings smiles all around (look at their hands to tell).

The games still...

Mario Cart: No room for error...

... continue. Hall Olympics continues on. After clinching gold in the spelling bee, the sophomores were thrown a life line and were looking for a way to continue their winning streak in the next game, Mario Kart racing. A video game that is a staple of all collegians, Mario Kart racing may not be Formula One racing but it would nevertheless test the mental fortitude, drive, and hand eye coordination of its competitors. With several TVs set up in the Flounge, the drivers took to the track with all their hopes and dreams as well as all their fears, fears of crashing out. Indeed, there were epic crashes, but there was also a fair share of skillful driving, so skillful that even Max Verstappen would shed have a tear and taken a back seat to these drivers. But as always, there can be one winner, and the third game of the Steds Hall Olympics, Drew McClimon drove off with the win for the seniors. On receiving the checkered flag and three points for his class, McClimon said, "Winning the Mario Kart tournament and contributing to the seniors’ championship was a truly humbling experience. I was honored to race against the fine representatives from the other classes, but experience matters, and in my 4 years, I’ve played enough Mario Kart to last a lifetime."

Good luck to all our Olympians!

Olympic Standings (points earned)

Seniors 7

Juniors 3

Sophomores 5

Freshmen  4

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

TO LEARN more about Radiating Hope, click HERE.

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... but there were some error made...

... making for winners and losers (Tommy)...

...but everyone is still a friend!

The games...

Hertiage's spelling: Brings smiles and shock to others

... continue! Hall Olympics continues on. After clinching gold in the hot wings eating competition, the seniors were looking to extend their lead with the spelling bee competition. Suffice it to say, every class was looking for their best speller, but would it be enough? Oh, you might have a good speller, but would the luck of the draw favor be in your favor too? Would your speller get an easy word, a word that he knew, or well, just the opposite? Slowly, simple mistakes and a good helping of difficult words eliminated would be champions so that in the end there was only one, sophomore and resident Hoosier, Stephen Heritage. What was his word? One that he knew how to spell correctly! On winning gold for the sophomores, a jubilant Hertiage shared, "Though the words were tough and the competition tougher, I'm glad to have made it through the gauntlet for the sophomore class and help us get back into contention."

Good luck to all our Olympians!

Olympic Standings (points earned)

Seniors 4

Juniors 2

Sophomores 3

Freshmen  3

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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First...

... contact is more often than not a tense moment. Clearly, he was a bit skittish at first. What could this possibly be? You see, this was the first time Mr. Carson encountered a Grubhub Starship. Spending the day with Fr. Ralph, Mr. Carson, a King Charles spaniel of four years, was out for an afternoon stroll when by St. Liam's he encountered this mobile oddity.    Quickly getting out of its way, Carson watched with great curiosity as to what this flashing contraption was. But suddenly, as the Starship passed by, Mr. Carson found his courage and went after the delivery robot. Perhaps he smelled the food within or maybe he was defending his turf, but whatever it was, Mr. Carson isn't telling. On encountering a Grubhub Starship, Mr. Carson non-verbaled, "Oh, see where this is all going. Delivering food one day and then taking me for a walk the next. That's barking mad!

Watch this video, click HERE.

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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Your Sunday picture...

Good night!

... from Notre Dame. With the Spring Equinox having past, the days are slowly and steadily growing longer. And with the cloud cover breaking every now and then, the sunsets at Notre Dame are becoming picturesque. Here's one of those picturesque sunsets. Taken in the front of Corby Hall, the Fr. William Corby, CSC, statue is illuminated by the setting sun. Enjoy, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be.

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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Saturday squirrel.

A feast of sugar and oatbran

Some times you just have to be smart. Yes, some times you have to smart and see how you can make lemonade out of the lemons that life serves up. And that's what Fr. Ralph did for a change. Spilling his dry cereal, Cracklin' Oat Bran, on the floor of Corby Hall refectory, Fr. Ralph did not simply collect the fallen cereal and then promptly throw it away nor he did blow on it, eating it later. No, he did not. Instead, he gave it to our furry friends! Taking a walk around God Quad after lunch with Fr. Terry, Fr. Ralph gave a hand full of this delicious Quaker cereal to any squirrel who would partake... and partake they did. On noshing on some dry cereal, this squirrel non-verbaled, "Hey, it's better than no cereal at all! Where else am I going to get all this sugar?!"

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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Watch where...

Open for business...

... you walk! Recently, walking on God Quad by La Fortune, a unique sight was seen. A hatch was open on a heavily traveled sidewalk, and of course, when a hatch is open, one must look in. What was seen? Well, a  ladder that went down into dark tunnel. Where does it go? Who knows. What was seen the infamous ND tunnel system that runs underneath campus carrying the internet, steam, water, and electricity to all buildings. When asked by Fr. Ralph what was happening down in there, a ND contractor said, "Routine maintenance." Of course, routine maintenance.

To listen to the nation's fast growing baroque hour music, with Layton Haag, click HERE on Fridays from 4-6pm EST.

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

TO LEARN more about Radiating Hope, click HERE.

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... but stay out!

Spring Break...

No stopping this Rage: Stevens (center back row, hat backwards)

... may now be a memory in the rear view mirror called life, but what did they do? Yes, did our Stedsmen do over break? Well, today we have a Spring Break story from a Stedsman, Colin Stevens. Taking his leave from King and Hall, this freshman traveled south with Papal Rage, the ND Ultimate Frisbee team, to the National Ultimate Frisbee Tournament in South Carolina. Papal Rage was among twelve teams vying for the championship, and their championship dreams got off to a great start with a win against FSU. And the advancing didn't stop as Papal Rage played in the championship game against ISU. On the championship game, Stevens said, "Yea, it was definitely a very exciting win. After winning the previous two games by only one point, we were a little apprehensive going into the Finals. But through the support and cheering of the other teams at the tournament, Papal Rage played one of the best games this season. The energy the entire game was electric. Playing six games in the day and a half before the Finals, we were all running on pure adrenaline.  It was an awesome moment, one I will remember for a long time."

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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The games...

Hot Wing Competition: Not for the faint of heart....

... have begun! While the Olympics in Paris are over a year away, Hall Olympics got underway this past Monday. In the past, these games were intra-hall competitions, with the various floors of St. Ed's battling it out for bragging rights. But at the request of President Tompkins, to increase the flare and pageantry as well as to try faster, higher and farther, the games now pit the various class levels against each other. Suffice it to say, there is much riding on these games.  After the pageantry of opening ceremonies had concluded, it was down to business in the Flounge with the hot wing eating competition.  

The class competitors assembled in the Flounge, with Nick Haggestad representing the seniors, Dan McGuire the juniors, Jack Szatkowski the sophomores, and John Challenger the freshmen. The bell was rung and the eating of hot wing commenced. The eating was ravenous, and maybe it was the pace or perhaps the spiciness of the wings, that caused Szatkowski to withdraw mid-feeding. With Szatkowski being attended to by EMTs, the remaining competitors knew that they all would medal, but who would take the gold? In the end, it was Haggestad who took the gold for the seniors followed by McGuire and Challenger, who took second and third respectively.

On his win, Haggestad shared, “Through the burning of my tongue and discomfort from eating so many wings, I could not help but smile through the pain because I knew that I came through for this Hall and this great senior class.”

And on his dropping out, Szatkowski was gracious and stated, “Taking part in the St. Edwards Hall Olympics felt like just as a distinguished honor as the World Olympics we watch every 2 years. Although my event did not go as I wanted it to, I knew my sophomore class took pride in me and I fought the good fight.”

Good luck to all our Olympians!

Olympic Standings (points earned)

Seniors 3

Juniors 2

Sophomores 0

Freshmen 1

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

TO LEARN more about Radiating Hope, click HERE.

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... remember to come up for air and some water...

... or take a breather like Szatkowski.

A Gentleman looking...

Out for a stroll: Sansone '21

... for some fresh air. That's what some might think Patrick Sansone '21 is all about as he prepares to climb a mountain, but there's a whole lot more fueling Sansone's mountain adventure. While featured recently in In the Red Room on the Road: Chicago, Sansone still had a few minutes to share additional thoughts and details about this trek into the wild. Here's what Sansone had to say when I was able to chat with him one on one.

St. Ed: What have you been doing since you left Steds?

Sansone: Since I graduated almost two years ago I moved to Durham, North Carolina. I study medical physics at Duke, and I will be graduating in May of this year with my master's! “Medical Physics” is a niche field in healthcare that applies principles of physics to diagnose and treat diseases, most notably cancer. I hope to become a resident 'medical physicist' working in radiation oncology helping treat those diagnosed with cancer starting this summer.

St Ed: Now, I heard you are climbing a mountain. What’s that all about? Looking for some fresh air?

Sansone: Yes! Between when I graduate and hopefully start my first job, I will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro at the end of May. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the world's tallest free standing mountain. I won't be going alone though, I am going with a group called Radiating Hope, a fantastic non-profit increasing global access to lifesaving cancer treatment equipment. Cancer rates in Sub-Saharan Africa are skyrocketing, creating a new and urgent need for more radiation therapy machines. However, these machines are expensive in their purchase and maintenance, so I am fundraising to help close this disparity in access to cancer equipment.

St. Ed:  Kilimanjaro? Watch out for the snow! If you aren’t afraid of the climb, then you must be afraid of the wild animals, right?

Sansone: I'm definitely afraid of both, that's for sure! I'll take my chances with the snow though if i had to pick. However, I am highly motivated to get to the top. This effort is significant to me because I am raising money for the same radiation producing machines that I hope to use in my own career as a medical physicist. It is really empowering to know that my efforts may help not only those in Tanzania needing cancer treatment, but will enable a medical physicist just like myself to do our work from halfway across the world. 

St. Ed: Wow, this walkabout just got more serious. With some much at stake, how are you preparing?

Sansone: Unfortunately the altitude in North Carolina isn't up to snuff with what I am going to be facing in Tanzania, so I am doing what I can. Mainly, I've been running A LOT more. Luckily, Kilimanjaro is not a technically dangerous climb, so no using ropes to climb up cliff faces to get to the top! 

St. Ed: Okay, I am going to ask the question that’s on everyone’s mind, are you going to carry a Steds flag to the top of Kilimanjaro?

Sansone: I guess it’s official, I’ll carry up a Steds flag to the top!! With that said, I’ll make one final plug to humbly ask for Steds’ support in this fundraising effort. Small donations add up quickly! A suggested amount is $19, one dollar for every thousand feet Kilimanjaro is tall, but no gift is too small!! 100% of all donations go directly to funding cancer equipment in Tanzania, so you can be sure your money goes a long way towards helping out!

St. Ed: Thanks for your time... and good luck! Don't forget. to send a postcard.

TO DONATE and radiate hope, click HERE. Remember to select "Patrick Sansone" under the fundraiser tab.

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In the Red Room...

The Windy City...

... on the road in Chicago! They said it couldn't be done, but with guest co-host, Chris Scott, the longest and most redacted episode of In the Red Room has come to be! A barn burner of an episode, Fr. Ralph, Bobby Weltner, Chris Scott interviewed a number of Stedsmen living in Chicago, hearing their stories of child births to throughs about appropriate wedding gifts and everything in-between. On achieving the impossible, Fr. Ralph said, "They call Chicago the Windy City. After this marathon podcast taping, I think we know where all the wind is coming from!"

Still, Chris Scott shared, "It was so wonderful to converse in the illustrious, beautiful city of Chicago. Our conversation, our time together, was even better than the weather. The Founder certainly smiled upon us, just like the sun did on those brilliant days."

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... where Bobby met Dennis Rodman...

... celebrating St. Patrick's Day with lights...

... with the Willis Tower watching over everything.

Your Sunday picture...

... from Notre Dame. Earlier this week, a heavy snow fell, coating campus in a beautiful white blanket. With more snow predicted, more beautiful campus scenes are on the way. In the meantime, enjoy these scenes and your Sunday wherever you may be!

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Saturday's Squirrel.

Having a sip

Our furry friends are always looking for a handout from passing students. They're not choosey, whatever you can spare, the squirrels will gladly take. Recently, after a long day of panhandling, this squirrel made a quick dash to this black tube protruding from the ground. What was he doing? Getting a drink from the campus sprinkler system of course. On getting a drink, the squirrel non-verbaled, "It's not that bad, really."

To listen to this week's installment of In the Red Room on:

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