Saint Bernard School Announces 2018 Gala Honorees

Saint Bernard School has announced the honorees for its 2018 Saints Gala, to be held Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 6 p.m. at the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun.

The Clairvaux Medal will be presented to: Fred Smith ’64, of New London; Sean Kaylor ’86, who resides in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and the Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation, which has been a prominent financial supporter of Saint Bernard School.

Tickets, which must be purchased by April 7, are $100 and include a buffet dinner. Visit www.saintbernardschool.org/gala for more information or to purchase tickets online. Checks can also be mailed or dropped off at the school. Checks should be made out to Saint Bernard School, and note “Saints Gala” in the memo field.

Following is a look at the honorees:

· Smith is celebrating 50 years of teaching English at Saint Bernard. He is also a 1964 St. Bernard High School graduate. Over the years, he has served on many committees including chair of the English Department and president of the Saint Bernard Education Association. Smith was inducted into the St. Bernard High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 for his former work as a girls’ basketball and softball coach at the school. He was recognized as The Day’s Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 1983 and The Bulletin’s Softball Coach of the Year in 2001.

· Kaylor, a 1986 SBHS graduate, is currently the Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He has served on the SBS Board of Directors since 2015 and initiated the partnership between SBS and Marist College. Because of his leadership, SBS has received countless hours of technical support from Marist, a new school website managed by college personnel, donated computers, and the ability to create online Marist courses in which SBS high school students can enroll. Additionally, Kaylor initiated the Saint Bernard Golf Outing which has raised over $20,000 for Saints Athletics and Tuition Assistance. He regularly communicates professional development opportunities to SBS staff and works closely with the School Counseling Office to create a pathway for students who wish to attend Marist.

· The Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation has continued to be a major financial donor to Saint Bernard School. The relationship began in March 1965, when Mr. Sullivan contributed $100,000 to the St. Bernard Boys’ High School to construct the chapel in memory of his late wife, Pauline. In 1972, the Ray H. and Pauline Sullivan Foundation was established by Mr. Sullivan who set up a $3 million trust for the Norwich Diocese for educational, religious and charitable work. Today, the trust holds close to $16 million. To date, the foundation has distributed over $3 million to Saint Bernard School for scholarships and operational expenses. They have also provided an additional $250,000 in college scholarships to Saint Bernard School students.

About Saint Bernard School

Saint Bernard School is a diocesan Catholic co-educational school and a member of the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools (XBSS) network. The school is open to students of all faiths in grades 6-12. Learn more at www.saintbernardschool.org