On Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 the St. Paul’s High School community honoured long-time teacher, administrator, mentor and Man for Others, Mr. Larry Franz, with the Ignatian Challenge Award at the 21st annual Tribute Dinner.
In front of a crowd of nearly 900 of his friends, family, colleagues, students and alumni, Mr. Franz humbly accepted the highest honour bestowed by St. Paul’s High School. The Ignatian Challenge Award is presented annually to men and women who embrace the ideals of St. Ignatius Loyola, and reflect the character and qualities inherent in a Jesuit education at St. Paul’s High School.
“While previous recipients have generally supported St. Paul’s, as it were, from the outside, by their generous contributions of time, talent, and treasure, Larry has worked on the inside, as teacher, administrator, and spiritual leader,” explained Fr. Len Altilia, S.J., President of St. Paul’s High School. “His influence over students extends far beyond their academic formation, for which he has been duly honoured, to their human and spiritual formation, through the 54 Kairos retreats that he led, through his commitment to the El Salvador Project, the dynamism of his faith, and the humility and good humour with which he served.”
Stacy Dainard ’88, who introduced Mr. Franz, recalled meeting Mr. Franz for the first time, as a student, in 1984. As a blissfully unaware grade 9 student, however, he didn’t know what was occurring “behind the scenes” at the time. The fact was that Mr. Franz, who had just been appointed the first lay principal of St. Paul’s, took on this position of leadership “at a time of significant change and significant risk for the school.” Dainard, a faculty member since 1993, treated the crowd to the myth of Mr. Franz: “Award winning teacher, the Energizer Bunny, family man and man of genuine service.” He concluded with a quote from Fr. Brian Gorgan, who was reflecting upon the life and leadership of the former Superior General of the Jesuits Fr. Pedro Arrupe “If we can see far ahead, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants”. Mr. Franz is without question a “giant” of St. Paul’s and has solidified the foundation that so many stand on today.
In accepting the award, Mr. Franz acknowledged the people with whom he wished to share the award: his wife Lorraine, his parents, his mentor Nick Laping ’61 and finally his colleagues. Mr. Franz spoke with pride about the programs and educational experience offered by St. Paul’s High School. “When I think of St. Paul’s now I see tremendous programs like Kairos and the Freshman Retreat. I see a huge cross section of athletics involving hundreds of students, debating, drama and so many more. I see religion programs many of which go beyond elementary catechism to worldviews. I see community outreach programs like Christian Service and mission trips to El Salvador. I see the effective use of technology. I see rigorous academic programs now including Advance Placement classes for the gifted and remedial programs for those who need a little time or help. While so much has changed over the years. St. Paul’s was always good, it is now even better. The students it influences now are so much more aware of themselves and the world around. And with the effective leadership the school has and the remarkable staff even greater things remain to happen.”
He concluded with the real reason for the annual Tribute Dinner – the students, more specifically the Bursary Program. “St. Paul’s has never been just a school for the well-off but has always been there for regular families who could never afford tuition. Those families and those students have always been welcome and the school has found ways to accommodate them. So many good students have been given a chance by that program. And isn’t that what St. Paul’s is and always has been about – reaching out into the community?”
Returning this year was the Ignatian Challenge Award Tribute Dinner Raffle that included seven amazing prizes graciously donated my members of the St. Paul’s community. This year’s raffle, along with a friendly challenge put out by guest in the audience, raised a record $100,000 for the St. Paul’s High School Bursary Program.
The St. Paul’s High School community is extremely grateful for the support of our 21st annual Ignatian Challenge Award Tribute Dinner and would like to thank everyone for making this year’s dinner possible.
In particular, thanks to this year’s sponsors for their generosity and dedication to the mission and vision of St. Paul’s High School:
PLATINUM ($10,500)
Guertin Equipment
The Kleysen Family
Paul's Hauling
Piston Ring & J Tennant Family
Bob Puchniak '65 and Family
GOLD ($5,500)
Freeman Audio
P.L. Campeau Financial Services
Wildwood Transport
RBC Dominion Securities
DeLuca Fine Wines
SILVER ($3,500)
Birchwood Automotive Group
Broadway Florists
Coughlin Insurance Brokers
James Richardson & Sons, Limited & Affiliated Companies
Mr. Kevin and Mrs. Els Kavanaugh
KPMG
MacDon Industries
Mr. Carmine Militano ’72
MNP LLP
Neptune Properties Inc.
SWOB Group Benefits
Winnipeg Building and Decorating
Winnipeg Free Press
BRONZE ($2,500)
Aikins Law
BDR Services
Bockstael Construction
Booth Dennehy LLP / Independent Fish Co.
CIBC Wood Gundy
Cropo Funeral Services
The Dufresne Group
Duha Colour Services
E.J. Coutu & Co. Funeral Directors
Foodfare
FWS Group of Companies
G.J. Vis Enterprises
Gillis Quarries
Harvard Developments Inc.
Jesuits of Winnipeg
Mr. Paul ’81 and Mrs. Anne Mahon & Family
Monarch Industries
National Bank Financial Wealth Management
The William Parrish Family
Qualico
RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
RBC Dominion Securities
RBC Royal Bank
Royal Canadian Securities
St. John Brebeuf Community
St. Paul's High School Parent Guild
Static Electric
Tower Engineering / LM Architecture
Twerdun Wealth Management
Waterford Global
Winkler Meats
Raffle Sponsors
Exchange Income Corporation
Churchill Nature Tours
RBC Royal Bank
BCV Asset Management
Guertin Equipment
Elkhorn Resort
RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
Tracey Kucheravy
Please click here for a photo gallery of the 21st Annual Ignatian Challenge Award Tribute Dinner.