TMP-M

Thomas More Prep-Marian is pleased to announce this year’s Point of Light Award recipients. The Point of Light Award is given annually at homecoming to people who have contributed to the traditions of excellence of Thomas More Prep-Marian through their service, stewardship, and example. We honor these Points of Light and strive to follow their example.

As is tradition, this year’s awardees will be honored at halftime of the homecoming football game. For a complete list of homecoming events, visit tmp-m.org/homecoming2015.

Juleen Stecklein
faithful faculty and friend

Juleen Stecklein is being honored as a Point of Light for her sincere dedication to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian. Juleen received a Master Degree of Arts in English at Fort Hays State University. As a native of Ellis County, Juleen Stecklein has taught 43 years in the county, the last 36 years spent at TMP-M. As she often said, “Teaching at TMP was a labor of love.” Her classes ranged from English to German, with the final years being devoted specifically to Senior English and Advanced Placement English. Juleen also taught a college composition class concurrent with Senior English. She is married to George Stecklein, and they have 3 sons, Douglas ’86, Steven ’93 and Michael ’99; all are graduates of TMP-Marian and the University of Kansas. Douglas, a pharmacist, and his wife Stephanie are the owners of U-Save Pharmacy in Hays; they have 3 children, Christopher ’17 and Joshua, ’19, both of whom attend TMP, and Haley, who attends Holy Family. Steven lives in Prairie Village, KS. He has four children, twins Katie and Sophie, Lilly, and Vivian who attend St. Ann’s Catholic School. Michael, also a pharmacist, works at U-Save Pharmacy. He and his wife Carrie ’95 (Rohr) have three children: Julianne, Allison & George. Since retirement in 2013, she volunteers at the Hays Public Library and the TMP-M Alumni Office, aids with activities as a member of the St. Nicholas Ladies Guild, and enjoys her grandchildren. The students of Thomas More Prep-Marian were truly blessed to have Juleen as their educator. God bless you for your love, devotion and commitment to Christian education.

Jim Dinkel
faithful faculty and friend

Jim Dinkel is being honored as a Point of Light for his deep commitment to the education of students at Thomas More Prep-Marian. Jim is married to Shirley ’67 (Gnad) Dinkel and between them they have 76 years of teaching at TMP-Marian and St. Joseph’s-Holy Family Elementary. Jim graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1973 with a Master of Arts in mathematics and has taught algebra, geometry, chemistry, earth science & space science for 43 years at TMP-Marian. He teases, “I tell jokes periodically in chemistry, but usually don’t get any reaction.” As head baseball coach for 27 years, he took his teams to state championship titles in 1974 (5-4-3A) and 1981 (4-3-2-1A). He was also assistant coach in football, basketball and wrestling. They have four children. James ’89 (Sprint manager in Lenexa, KS) and wife Michelle have three children; their daughter Deborah ’90 Sisbarro (State Department in Washington, D.C.) has two children, their son Michael ’97 (environmental specialist for Anadarko Oil in Brighton, CO) and his wife Roxy have two children and their youngest son Christopher ’03 graduated with a law degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Many alumni remember his “don’t touch the chrome” lecture at the beginning of each school year. It is with sincere appreciation that we thank Jim for his devotion and deep commitment to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian.

Linda Braun
dedicated alumna and faithful faculty

Linda Braun is being honored as a Point of Light for her deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. Linda (Leiker) Braun is a 1963 graduate of Marian High School and graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1967 with a major in English and minors in Latin and journalism. In her 46 years as a teacher at Marian High and Thomas More Prep-Marian, Linda taught English, journalism and Latin. In addition, she sponsored classes, clubs and STUCO. While she was teaching journalism, her students won three consecutive state championships. Students in her Latin classes, ranging from Latin I-IV, garnered many National Latin exam honors. Linda was married to Don Braun in 1966, and they celebrated 41 years of marriage before Don’s death in 2007. They have two children, Don ’88 Braun Jr., a physician in Burlington, KS and Christina ’94 (Braun) Garrison, a therapist at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, KS. After her retirement in 2013, Linda moved to Wichita to be closer to her children. In her retirement, she continues to volunteer her time delivering groceries to a cloistered convent, praying weekly at the Adoration Chapel at the Church of the Magdalen and watching her grandsons’ various activities. We thank Linda for her devotion and deep commitment to educating the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian.

Glenn & Becky Diehl
faithful friends and dedicated alumnus

Glenn and Becky Diehl are being honored as Points of Light for their deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. Glenn is a 1976 graduate of Thomas More Prep and a 1980 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in geology. Becky Diehl is a 1981 graduate of Fairbury High School, Fairbury, NE and a 1985 graduate of FHSU with a degree in accounting. Glenn and Becky have two children, Magen ‘07 (Diehl) Kroetsch and Ryan ‘08 Diehl. They are the owners/operators of Diehl Oil, Inc. Glenn began working as a consultant in the oilfields in 1979 and has been drilling oil wells since 1982. They began Diehl Oil Inc. in 1990. Becky works as the company bookkeeper. Glenn is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Kansas Geological Society and Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. Past activities include Deputy Grand Knight for the St. Nicholas Knights of Columbus, along with seats on the St. Nicholas of Myra Parish and Finance Councils. He has also served on the Advisory Council and Strategic Planning Committee at Holy Family Elementary. Glenn was an Ellis County Commissioner and served on the boards of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, Northwest Kansas Community Corrections, Northwest Kansas Juvenile Services Boards and the Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations. Glenn and Becky Diehl have shared their abundant gifts of time, talent and treasure with the Catholic community of Hays, and we honor them for their generosity, kindness and continued support.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
genuine spiritual leader

The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Capuchin, Doctor of Divinity (D.D.), and Archbishop of Philadelphia is being honored as a Point of Light for his deep commitment to his Catholic faith. He is a 1962 graduate of St. Francis Seminary in Victoria, KS and joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, St. Augustine Province, in 1965. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from St. Fidelis College Seminary in Herman, PA in 1967, Archbishop Chaput completed studies in psychology at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1969. He earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Capuchin College in Washington, D.C. in 1970 and was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970. After receiving a Master of Arts in theology from the University of San Francisco, CA in 1971, he then served as an instructor in theology and as spiritual director at St. Fidelis (1971-1974) and executive secretary and director of communications for the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh (1974-1977). Moving to Thornton, CO, he became pastor of Holy Cross Parish and vicar provincial for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. In 1980 he became secretary and treasurer for the Capuchin province and chief executive and provincial minister in 1983. Archbishop Chaput was ordained Bishop of Rapid City, SD in 1988, and Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Denver in 1997. As a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe, Archbishop Chaput was the first Native American archbishop. He was appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Chaput’s writings are insightful and encourage spiritual growth within the Catholic faith and laity. We honor Archbishop Charles Chaput for his religious leadership and courage.