By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Reitz Memorial High School graduate Sarah Pepper believes text messaging and FaceTime “has changed everything.”
A 1998 graduate of Reitz Memorial High School, Pepper was one of five alumni of either Reitz Memorial or Mater Dei, both in Evansville, to serve as guest speakers in a panel discussion at the 2026 Tomorrow’s Work Force luncheon Oct. 29 at the Bally’s Riverfront Event Center in Evansville.
Pepper is the Director of Marketing at Tri-State Orthopaedics. She also is a midday host on HOT 96 and operates her own marketing and media company. She said not one of her career mentors lives within Evansville. Despite this, she speaks to all of them throughout the week because she has questions or just wants to check in.
“At this point, it’s not just a mentor-mentee relationship. We’re genuinely friends,” Pepper said. “So I think maintaining that relationship is not about just reaching out when you need something. Maintaining that relationship is checking in on them.”
She added they have to not make it transactional.
“If you’re reaching out to me all the time and it’s just for a career opportunity, I’m not your mentor, I’m your paycheck,” Pepper said. “So you have to make sure to decipher between the two of those.”
A 2004 graduate of Mater Dei High School, Zach Zirkelbach is the Interim President of Ascension St. Vincent. Zirkelbach encouraged the students in attendance to be curious, bold and approach role models and ask for their feedback.
“I think nine times out of 10, you’re going to get the response that you want,” Zirkelbach said. “People want to share just naturally how they’ve gotten to the place that they are. You’re not bothering them. To this point, I’ve never been bothered and always happy to share how to go about things.”
In response to a question on how their faith or sense of responsibility as a leader shapes them and the way they invest in the whole person, Kyle Fields said one of the best responsibilities we have is as a parent or being a leader of an organization. The 2002 Reitz Memorial graduate and CEO and co-founder of Bridge Alternatives said we can impact people, influence them and see them succeed, which he said he is not sure if it gets much better than that.
When it comes to faith, Fields said, he does not lead “by hitting people over the head with it,” but leads by example.
“Yes, they’ll see me with a rosary on my desk or something that stands out,” Fields said. “But I think it’s more just leading by example. We all have an obligation to help each other. And when you surround yourself with great people and you elevate each other, good things can happen.”
The panel discussion focused on what was a good networking plan.
Other guest speakers during the panel discussion were Chase Griese, a 2025 graduate of Mater Dei and current sophomore at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and Craig Niemeier, a 2010 graduate of Mater Dei and current Managing Director at Bridge Alternatives. The panel discussion was moderated by Jackie Monroe.
Prior to the panel discussion, one student from both Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial were awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The Tomorrow’s Work Force program, which has raised nearly $2 million to support the Evansville Catholic high schools since 2001, awards the scholarship to one student from both Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial. This year’s recipients of the $1,000 scholarship are Trenton Mulherin of Mater Dei High School and Avery Teague of Reitz Memorial High School.
Mater Dei Principal Darin Knight said Mulherin maintains a 4.05 grade-point average, is a member of the National Honor Society, served as homeroom representative and plays on the golf team. Mulherin plans to pursue a career in the health care field after college, as an orthopedic surgeon or an anesthesiologist.
“In his application, Trenton explained that taking risks, staying dedicated and working hard will eventually lead to good things,” Knight said. “He’s learned those lessons firsthand, and he credits Mater Dei with establishing the foundation that will take him to the next level after high school.”
Reitz Memorial Principal Aaron Schmitt said Teague maintains a 3.7 grade-point average, is a member of the National Honor Society and Youth Resources and volunteers at Big Brothers Big Sisters. She plans to pursue a career in communications or journalism after high school.
“In her application, she credits Reitz Memorial with giving her the confidence and skills to challenge herself inside and outside of the classroom,” Schmitt said. “She also finds that giving back to her community adds value not only to the lives of those she has the opportunity to help, but to her own life as well.”
The 2026 Leadership Award Recipients are:
Mater Dei – Harper Atherton, Maggie Back, Lauren Black, Ben Deeg, Laney Fehrenbacher, Leah Heldman, Alayna Hill, Dominic McKenzie, Molly Melton, Lexa Meredith, Trenton Mulherin, Ella Raben, Adam Rudolph, Caleb Schaefer, Nash Stratman, Natalie Weber and Ava Whicker.
Reitz Memorial – Brynna Alpers, Emery Borders, Quinn Brown, Cate Elpers, Reagan Engbers, Makayla Ford, Maggie Goedde, Audra Hague, Lucas Hirsch, Braden Keck, Maysa Lawrence, Allison Musgrove, Madeline Nagle, Hope Naumovitz, Jaydon Probst, Avery Teague and Reese Voliva.