By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Four high school seniors were recognized as the 2025 Father Endress scholarship recipients during ceremonies at both Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial High Schools in Evansville.
Mater Dei’s Johnny Aydt and Lisa Muensterman and Reitz Memorial’s Nicholas Hirsch and Carson Parks were named as this year’s Father Endress Scholarship recipients during March 20 ceremonies at their respective schools.
Both Aydt and Muensterman plan to use the scholarship to attend Marian University in Indianapolis. Aydt announced during the March 20 ceremony that he is committing to Marian and will play soccer for the Knights.
“For the last couple months, I haven’t known if I was going to be able to afford Marian University because tuition’s expensive,” Aydt said. “And I just didn’t have the scholarship money that I wanted to have to go there. So I was waiting back on this scholarship to hear if I was going to be able to go and I’m quite shocked to find this out.”
The son of Claire Gammon and Zach Leiter, Aydt attends St. Philip Parish in Posey County. During his time at Mater Dei, Aydt has participated in the student council as police officer of Mater Dei-ville, participated in varsity soccer, football and track and volunteered at St. Philip parish events, at Seton Harvest with Farmer Joe and at the Walk for Autism. He was a soccer team captain. He plans to major in business at Marian University.
“If you are looking for someone that lives out his passion, you found it,” Mater Dei Director of Guidance Shea Reneer said. “He’s great. He has an energy that we’re all just so attracted to and that inspires others and he inspires us.”
Muensterman also plans to attend Marian University. She plans to major in nursing at Marian.
“I was between Marian University or USI,” Muensterman said. “And it was really just the tuition and cost. And as long as it’s OK with my family, I think I’m going to commit to Marian.”
The daughter of Bob and Pam Muensterman, Lisa Muensterman attends St. Wendel Parish in St. Wendel. She has participated in student council as clerk affiliate, marching band, winter guard, National Honors Society, Students for Life and volunteered at Sister Joanna’s Table, Ozanam Shelter and St. Wendel parish events.
“She’s stable, she’s strong,” Reneer said. “Her friends look to her for guidance and her faith is one of the things that draws so many people to her. So she actually embodies what this whole process is.”
Reneer added the process brought out the best in Mater Dei students and helped them explore their faith.
Reitz Memorial’s Nicholas Hirsch plans to attend the University of Evansville, where he will run for the cross country team. A write-up from the school says Hirsch’s motivation, self-drive and dependable characteristics helped him earn a position in the National Honor Society. Additionally, his proactive and dependable attitude is one of many key attributes to his success both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Definitely biggest thanks to my parents, siblings, family. They’re my biggest cheerleaders,” Hirsch said. “Helping me out through school and running and just motivating me to be the best person I can be. Definitely to my parish, my Boy Scout troop has helped me a lot, shaped me into the person who I am today.”
The write-up says Hirsch dedicated himself to service to the community. This includes volunteering on the Teen Advisory Council in the community and working as a lifeguard and server at a local restaurant.
Parks plans to attend Indiana University Indianapolis, where she committed to compete on the track and field team. She has demonstrated exceptional dedication not only to athletics but also to leadership and service through her involvement in numerous extracurricular activities, according to information submitted by the school. She is an active member of the National Honor Society, Teenpower and student council. She also serves as a Tiger ambassador, contributes to the Student Athletic Advisory Council and participates in the B.E.S.T.I.E.S program.
The write-up says she is deeply committed to serving her community. She volunteers as a Eucharistic minister at her parish and gives her time to the Challenger Basketball League, supporting individuals with disabilities.
“Being able to receive just a faith-based scholarship is just a really big honor,” Parks said. “And if I didn’t go to this school, there’s no way I would be as active and involved and connected to my faith as I am. I just want to thank everybody that played a part in that.”
The scholarship was established in 2021 in honor of the late Father James Endress. It benefits Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial graduates who are planning post-secondary education at any accredited technical or vocational school, college or university in the United States. The scholarship allocates up to $10,000 per year for each participant, renewable for up to four years.
Thom Endress stressed that Father James Endress believed in Catholicism and believed in education.
“This is a perfect way for him to promote his legacy,” Thom Endress said. “One thing people ask is he said to us before he passed away was have people pay forward whatever we use the charitable fund for … But what does paying it forward mean? In this world, crazy world we live in, get an education, live your faith, share the love. We can’t get too much of that in this world.”