Mater Dei High School - Hi Lights Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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;X I DRYIN ' OFF: Class sponsor Mr. John Stratman rests after the storm hit at Weslake during the junior class party. A tornado supposedly touched down just a mile away. (Photo by Alan Burdette) PUTTING A ' DAMP ' ER ON THINGS: Margarita and Louisa Silva take cover at the girls track sectionals. The meet was held at Central track, despite the rain. (Photo by Alan Burdette) EN LIGHTNING I! ' The weather in Evansville proved to be as unpredictable as ever. Thunder- storms over the Memorial Day weekend thwarted many outdoor activities. Here, a bo lt of lightning illuminates the downtown area, particularly the newly erected Citizens Bank building. (Photo by . Geoff Coates) AFTERMATH: The severe thunderstorm which ripped through the area towards the end of school took its toll on Mater Dei. Left, a power line is damaged. Right, a huge tree by the side hit uprooted. (Photos by Bethe Ledbetter)

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CO D -Q co CD c CD O c D CO D 126 § h— D c CO D O c o o c O The weeks preceeding the junior- senior prom were lovely. You couldn ' t have asked for more beautiful weather. The sun had shone almost every day; most of the girls had acquired golden tans before the anticipated event. But then, on prom night, it rained. Hair, which had taken hours to fix, was drenched. Many couples did not go on the riverboat ride after prom for fear of the storm. All in all, the rainy weather put a damper on post-prom activities. Th is is only one example of how unpre- dictable the weather was, and how it greatly influenced MD ' s students lives. Spring break was another antici- pated event because it gave students a chance to lay out all week so they could be as dark or darker as their friends who were fortunate enough to vacation in Florida. But nooooooo! It rained and snowed the whole time. Evansville was declared a national disaster area following a severe thun- derstorm and probable tornado on June 8 which left various parts of the city without power and caused extensive damage. Nearly all of the trees in Garvin Park and Willard library were uprooted. A house on Lombard Avenue was split in two by a huge tree. Room 207 at Mater Dei was struck by lightning. At Weslake, the juniors were having their class party ... in the guard room and restrooms! A tornado supposedly had touched down about a mile from the lake, causing them to take cover. We weren ' t sure what was going to happen, said Alan Burdette. We didn ' t know if it was just one storm or a tornado. Mary Schenk added, We felt so help- less because we were scrunched in there (in the bathrooms) in a corner. Someone next to me about cut the cir- culation off my arm! School in the area was cancelled the day following the storm, and all other MD class parties were called off. In times of tragedy such as this, peo- ple grew closer to one another. They helped each other clear away the broken limbs and uprooted trees from their yards. Total strangers talked to one another in the long grocery lines and asked such questions as, Where were you when the storm hit? It ' s too bad it takes something as destructive as a se- vere thunderstorm to pull people together. — Mary Ellert LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN?: Trackster Chris Pugh and statistician Brandy Hicks wait in the drizzle between events at the City track meet. The rain wasn ' t the only reason for the sad faces as MD ' s perfor- mance in the meet was disappointing. (Photo courtesy of the Evansville Courier and Press)

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Following announcements Good Morning this is Septem- ber 7, 1981 ... This unfamiliar male voice came over the inter- com on the first day of school. It may have startled some and others may have taken no notice of him. Now for the first time in 20 years, Mater Dei had a new prin- cipal, Mr. Joseph Delehunt, who succeeded Sister Mary Carmel Spayd. The Uniontown, Pennsylvania, native not only brought with him his early morning greetings but also different attitudes and ideas. In the beginning of the 81-82 school year I felt apprehensive. Mater Dei had its own tradition, its own history, I was unfamiliar with them and I was determined to get to know them. Delehunt kept Mater Dei ' s tradi- tions, but a few things were changed and added. In October of 1981 during a volleyball game with Castle, a few Mater Dei stu- dents became rowdy, shouted vulgarities, and displayed very poor sportsmanship. Delehunt, along with the stu- dent council, laid down the law. They drew up a set of rules and penalties. The athletic situation, stated Delehunt, was a sooner or later thing. It was bound to happen. We dealt with it very well. This was a crisis where things worked out and the students learned a lesson. Dress code also became a part of Delehunt ' s updating process. In February, 1982, he allowed the girls to wear pullover sweaters. On April 1, 1982, Delehunt instituted more laws and changed part of the dress code. It will go into effect in September of the 82-83 school year. Delehunt commented about this, Mater Dei ' s dress code was and is very good. It just needed a few changes to bring it closer to the present. It gives the students a chance to look good and be able to do so inexpen- sively. Delehunt remarked on how he had received a positive attitude from students and faculty alike. It is difficult job being head administrator because you get no instant feedback as a teacher does. When I do receive feed- back, it is positive. He also said how he enjoyed working with teenagers. They are all exciting to be around. They keep me young, and they are a constant reminder of my high school days. When the academic year came to a close, Delehunt ended the year as he had begun it! Good morning, this is June 9, 1982. Since today is the last day of the year, we will be on a special schedule ... — Kim Preske KEEPING OFF THE STREET; Mr. Joseph De- lehunt, from Union Town Pennsylvania, is more than just Mater Dei ' s new princi- pal. He enjoys bicycling, hiking, and camping in his spare time. But after being involved in the National Catholic Education Association, Indiana Sec- ondary School Administration, the Na- tional Association of Second School Principals, the Evansville Area High School Athletic Council, and the South- ern Indiana Athletic Council Steering Committee, there doesn ' t seem to be much time left to spare, (Photo by Geoff Coates)