By Megan Erbacher
The Message editor
Dr. Davide Bolchini, professor and executive associate dean at Indiana University Indianapolis, advised Evansville Catholic high school students to keep their curiosity fully open.
“Keep the curiosity of what’s happening around you fully open because the world is changing very fast, very rapidly, and curiosity is a tool that is given to us to embrace reality. … and to then understand what we can contribute to reality,” Bolchini said. “Complete openness, regardless of what people tell you or people want you to believe, complete openness is the way we can have a chance to understand what’s going on in front of us.”
Being open, Bolchini explained, is an indication of how we study, how we deal with challenges and difficulties, and how we can be surprised by things we don’t know.
Bolchini delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Tomorrow’s Work Force luncheon Sept. 12 at Bally’s Riverfront Event Center in Evansville. Evansville Catholic high schools sponsored the program, which recognizes the 2024 Leadership Award honorees — 15 each from Reitz Memorial and Mater Dei — selected based on their essay, academics and community service.
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel congratulated students for their hard work and accomplishments before he offered the invocation prior to lunch. Bishop Siegel thanked business and civic leaders for supporting Evansville Catholic high schools.
Father Alex Zenthoefer, Diocesan vicar general and rector of St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, served as moderator for the discussion with Bolchini, who spoke on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the workforce.
Bolchini, a native of Milan, Italy, serves as executive associate dean at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering at Indiana University Indianapolis, where he is a professor of Human-Computer Interaction. He joined the school in 2008 and is the founding chair of the Department of Human-Centered Computing.
The Tomorrow’s Work Force program awards a $1,000 college scholarship to one student from each high school. Reitz Memorial Principal Aaron Schmitt and Mater Dei Principal Darin Knight announced the scholarship recipients. They are Reitz Memorial’s Carson Parks and Mater Dei’s Ella Utley.
Parks holds a 4.0 grade-point average at Reitz Memorial, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and TEENPOWER. She plans to pursue physical therapy or chiropractic as a career.
“My experiences at Memorial have left a lasting impression on my life,” Parks wrote in her essay. “I have developed a deep relationship with God that I continue to grow, aiming to keep him at the center of my life. I have also gained a strong work ethic and leadership skills that will stick with me throughout college and in future careers and endeavors. I am confident that the lessons I have learned through my experiences at Memorial will be greatly beneficial throughout my entire life.”
Utley maintains a 4.0 grade-point average at Mater Dei, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Speech and Dance Marathon, while also offering weekly tutoring. She is interested in studying forensic psychology or crime scene investigation.
“Education is an extremely important part of a child’s development,” Utley wrote in her essay. “It molds them into a capable adult. Fortunately, I was blessed with parents who sent me to Mater Dei, a school where I am guaranteed to receive top tier education while also growing in my faith. Throughout my time at Mater Dei, I have grown significantly.”
The 2024 Leadership Award recipients are:
Reitz Memorial — Hannah Broeker, Myla Browning, Reegan Buck, Lauren Conaughty, Katelynn Echert, Emmi Feldhaus, Ty Hall, Nicholas Hirsch, Emma Holsey, Allison Holsey, Caroline Ivie, Jacob Lively, Carson Newton, Carson Parks and Amanda Vollmer.
Mater Dei — Bailey Collins, Grace Folz, Ella Hamilton, Ella Johnson, Hannah Kares, Ava Knight, Lisa Muensterman, Olivia Niemeier, Jack Richey, Hannah Sammet, Jack Shumate, Nicole Townsend, Ella Utley, Addison Willett and Caden Willis.
Since Tomorrow’s Work Force started in 2001, sponsors have gifted nearly $2 million to support Evansville Catholic high schools.