2021-2022 In the News

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 as they graduated on Sunday, May 29th. 

​Click here to view the program booklet from the Class of 2022 Graduation Mass and Commencement Ceremony.
On Friday, May 20, students, faculty, staff, and parents came together to celebrate the Class of 2022 Senior Mass and the end of year Awards Ceremony. 

Click here to view the program booklet from the 2022 Senior Mass and Award Ceremony.

Click here to view a summary of the awards received by OA students. ​
2022 Faculty/Staff Years of Service Awards
Thank you, Geraldine Kuntz and Kris Wampler for sharing your
​dedication to Catholic ​education at Oldenburg Academy with us for 20 years!
GERALDINE KUNTZ
As the Director of Finance, Geraldine Moster Kuntz ’81 works behind the scenes, day in and day out, paying the bills, organizing the budgets, responding to inquiries from other businesses and service providers, managing the payroll, health insurance and other benefits for faculty and staff, updating tuition accounts, helping to award scholarships and manage Choice award, etc., etc. …. All the things that are essential to the “behind the scenes” operation of a school. While most students have little opportunity to see Mrs. Kuntz, we all should be grateful that her faithful service over the past 2 decades has enabled OA to stay “in the black” financially and keep humming along day after day, year after year, bill after bill, check after check.

As a graduate of the Academy and mother of 5 OA grads, she is also passionate about giving back and living her Catholic faith. She regularly volunteers at many OA events and is found cheering in the bleachers at home games; she is infinitely patient and compassionate; she is humble, hard-working, and highly skilled; she celebrates life and readily gives thanks for all her blessings.
KRIS WAMPLER
“Music is life itself.” explains Louis Armstrong, jazz trumpeter extraordinaire. This motto applies to our next honoree – an accomplished trumpeter in her own right. After dedicating over 20 years to teaching music at several schools in Cincinnati, Kris Wampler accepted the call to head (north)west and began teaching music at Oldenburg Academy in 2002. Twenty years later there are hundreds of OA graduates who have been inspired, challenged, and have developed a deeper appreciation for the power and gift of instrumental music because of Miss Wampler. 
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Apparently, there is not an instrument Miss Wampler does not know how to play. Nor is anyone “too old” to begin to learn as she often tells her new students, some of whom are actually the parents of current OA students. Her capacity as an instrumental arranger is superb. Have an orchestra with 10 violins and no brass – no problem. She’ll make the music work. Want to add some energy and new life to the classical repertoire? Let’s get some harpsicles and steel drums! Her signature laser-lighted mirror ball, fog machine, and snow falling on the stage have become beloved parts of every Christmas concert.
​OA Academic Team: The Twisted Minds
The Twisted Minds competed in the Greater Cincinnati Academic League tournament at Cincinnati State on Saturday, February 12. They competed against 14 Cincinnati and Dayton area teams.

In the first round the team beat Ursula 64 to 46 and in the second round they bested LaSalle 53 to 43. During the third round the team fell to eventual tournament winner Madera, 103 to 40. Despite the loss, the Twisted minds ended up second in their division!

Oldenburg Academy was represented Saturday by: Josh Newman, Emerald Simmons, Amelia Austin, Eric Williamson, Carson Wolber and Kate Voegle. The team extends special thanks to Coach John Kellerman.

Following the meet the team celebrated their success with a pizza at Dewey’s and laser tag. The Twisted Minds will compete again on Saturday, February 26 at Cincinnati State. Wish them luck!

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards 

Oldenburg Academy students were big winners in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards with 5 students winning 6 awards.  Congratulations to Noah Bruce, Anna Hudepohl, Gracie Ripperger, Kayla Cleary, and Marissa Eckstein! 

Noah Bruce, Anna Hudepohl, and Gracie Ripperger each received the highest award and will continue on to the National Scholastic Competition. Their works are heading to Carnegie Hall in New York to compete against other regional winners from across the United States!

Ripley County Community Foundation Announces the 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipient for Ripley County

The Ripley County Community Foundation proudly announces Riley Schebler as Ripley County’s 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipient. Riley will receive full tuition for 4 years of undergraduate study and a $900 per year book stipend to the Indiana college or university of his choice.
Riley is the son of Ryan and Jennifer Schebler and is a senior at Oldenburg Academy. Although he currently does not know which college he will be attending in the Fall of 2021, he hopes to attend either Indiana University or the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in Business. Along with being a top student at his high school, Riley is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Varsity Tennis Team, the Varsity Basketball Team, and is a volunteer at his church.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships offered by the Ripley County Community Foundation. Candidates are evaluated on grades, extra-curricular activities, test scores, community involvement, and the quality of multiple essays. The selection committee is composed of Ripley County residents representing all areas of the county. During the evaluation process, the committee is not given names of the applicants nor the schools they attend.  During the final interviews, the student is introduced by their first name only.  This provides for as much objectivity as possible. Once the Ripley County Community Foundation scholarship committee had chosen and interviewed the finalists, the candidate’s applications were sent to the Independent Colleges of Indiana for the final selection of the recipient.
The other top Lilly Endowment finalists from Ripley County included Grace Sarringhaus, Dylan Schutte, Jacob Sheets, and Trysta Vierling. Those students will receive a Ripley County Community Foundation Scholarship in the sum of $2,000 during their freshman year, and a Grateful Family Scholarship and a Jane Deiwert Scholarship during their Sophomore year.
Grace Sarringhaus is the daughter of Elton and Shannon Sarringhaus and is a senior at Batesville High School. Grace is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Environmental Club, Key Club and serves as the president of her 4H Club.
Dylan Schutte is the son of David and Irene Schutte and is a senior at East Central High School.  Dylan is a member of the National Honor Society, the President of the Marching Band, Captain of the Academic Team, Public Relations Officer of the French Club, President of Winter Percussion, and is a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jacob Sheets is the son of Kebe and Diana Sheets and is a senior at Oldenburg Academy.  Jacob is a member of the National Honor Society, serves as the Class Officer in Student Council, a Varsity Tennis player, and volunteers to visit with local elderly citizens in and around the county.
Trysta Vierling is the daughter of Michael and Beth Vierling and is a senior at Batesville High School.  Trysta is a member of the National Honor Society, the Cross Country Team, the Track and Field Team, Key Club, and German Club.
“This is the 24th cohort for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP). 4,912 full-tuition scholars have been awarded, and over $424M in scholarship tuition has been provided through the LECSP since the program’s inception in 1998.  The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana Community Foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state,” stated Mary Dickerson, Director of Programs at Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program.
The Ripley County Community Foundation congratulates Riley Schebler and the four Ripley County Community Scholars for their hard work and achievements.

​https://rccfonline.org/2020/12/14/ripley-county-community-foundation-announces-the-2021-lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-recipient-for-ripley-county/#:~:text=The%20Ripley%20County%20Community%20Foundation,or%20university%20of%20his%20choice

2020-2021 in the News

Girls Soccer Sectional Championship

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Girls Sectional Finals.
Class 1A-Sectional 45 @ Rising Sun
Oldenburg  1     Milan  0

Feller tabbed as next Girls Head Basketball Coach

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The search for Oldenburg Academy’s next head coach for girls basketball has come to an end. Athletic Director Patrick Kolks has named Eric Feller the next head coach for the girls varsity basketball team. “We are very excited for Eric and his coaching staff to lead our girls on and off the court. What we have seen him do with our various teams here at the Academy, we are confident he will continue to build a very successful girls basketball program,” Kolks added.
Coach Feller is currently the head coach of the Academy’s football team. Over the last few years, he has been a varsity assistant under Gary “Ace” Moorman, while also leading the boys basketball c-team. Eric resides in Oldenburg with his wife Stephanie and their 2 boys. The girls will kick their season off on Friday, November 13th vs Southwestern Hanover with JV tipping at 6:00 PM.

Local volleyball team holds fundraiser for cancer patient

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Oldenburg, IN — Oldenburg Academy Volleyball team recently hosted its “Volley for Hope” game vs. Madison Shawe in hopes to raise money as a fundraiser for Mrs. Lauren Bruns, who is one of our own volleyball player’s parents who is battling cancer.
Along with accepting donations for the Bruns family, the team had a basket raffle and bake sale. The generosity and outpouring of support and prayer overwhelmed Lauren Bruns and her family. The OA volleyball team, school, and community donated $1700 to the Bruns family.

BHS and OA varsity football teams are Turning Over Hunger

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Ripley County, IN -- For the 2020 football season, Batesville High School and Oldenburg Academy football teams joined forces with the Ripley County Community Foundation to Turnover Hunger in Ripley County. The Turnover Hunger program encourages football fans to pledge a dollar amount for every turnover their favorite team forces during the season.
At the end of the season, the Community Foundation collects the pledges, and the proceeds are donated to the Weekend Backsack Programs administered in local Elementary Schools. Working together, these two teams collectively raised more than $10,000 since the program’s inception and started an Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation that will continue supporting the teams’ efforts forever. In 2019 alone, the teams’ donations helped feed more than 1,100 citizens in Ripley County.
The Weekend Backsack Program provides a backpack of food to Ripley County elementary schools for children who face food insecurity on the weekends. These backpacks are filled with kid-friendly food that is easily prepared and provides nutrition they may not receive when they are outside of school. The students are identified by teachers, and the program runs from September through May, serving the Batesville, Jac-Cen-Del, Milan, South Ripley, and Sunman-Dearborn schools. The Weekend Backsack program is privately funded, and current programs are not meeting the needs without further support.
The Turnover Hunger Fund, and all of the funds administered by the Ripley County Community Foundation, are always accepting donations. You may make a one-time donation or a pledge to the Turnover Hunger Fund on their website, or you may mail a donation to the Ripley County Community Foundation at 13 E. George St, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006.

OA opens new Feldhaus

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Oldenburg, IN --Oldenburg Academy held a ribbon-cutting on Monday evening at the new Feldhaus on campus. Welcome introductions, history of the project, thank you’s, and acknowledgments were given by OA President Diane Laake.
Board of Trustees chairperson Keith Moenter and Sr Delouise Menges spoke about the vision and legacy for OA as well as Principal Brian McFee, coach Ace Moorman, and student Annaliese Nobbe spoke about the impact the new building would have at OA. Lastly, Bill Hillenbrand from the Hillenbrand Foundation spoke about the impact on Oldenburg and the surrounding community. The ceremony ended with a ritual blessing from Fr. Carl Langenderfer, OFM from Holy Family Church. Self-guided building tours followed the ceremony to stay socially distant.

Leising and Indiana Department of Education recognize Oldenburg Academy

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Indianapolis, IN—Oldenburg Academy was a recipient of the 2019 Advanced Placement Award, having more than 27% of students take AP-level courses during the 2018-2019 school year.
Pictured from left: Assistant Principal Jonathon Maple, State Senator Jean Leising, Principal Brian McFee and Chief Academic Officer for the Indiana Department of Education Dr. Kenneth Folks

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