A special breed of student-athlete: Catholic school students earn spot in role model program

By John Shaughnessy

They put themselves on the line every game, trying to give their best for their team, their high school and the community they represent.

Even more importantly, they display leadership, teamwork, sacrifice, loyalty and commitment—qualities that last far longer than the memories of a final score.

The beauty is that nearly every Catholic high school is well-represented by this special breed of student-athlete every season.

In keeping with that tradition, three individuals from Catholic high schools in the archdiocese have been chosen as part of the Role Model Program of the Indiana High School Athletic Association for the 2007-08 school year: Ellen Alerding of

Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, Ivie Obeime of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis and Katie Zupancic of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.

Each of their high schools nominated them for the honor, which focuses on qualities that include outstanding character, community involvement, athletic ability and academic excellence. The program also requires that they not use alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

“They’re really excellent role models for the youth of Indiana to follow,” says Chris Kaufman, communications director for the IHSAA. “All of these role models live healthy and positive lives. And through this program, they’re encouraging others to do the same.”

Here is a glimpse of these three student-athletes and their thoughts about being a role model for their peers and younger children.

Ellen Alerding

When Ellen Alerding came to Bishop Chatard High School as a freshman, she immediately looked to the older girls on the volleyball and basketball teams—wanting to learn how they played the game and how they lived their lives.

They apparently set a tremendous example, considering the kind of student-athlete that Ellen has become.

She’s an excellent student who has no time for alcohol, tobacco and drugs. She’s part of the archdiocese’s A Promise to Keep program, visiting grade schools to tell

students the virtues of chastity. She is also a member of Bishop Chatard’s retreat team, trying to help younger students grow in their faith. And she is an athlete who plays with heart, a leader who is aware of the example that she’s setting for the younger student-athletes in her school’s volleyball and

basketball programs.

“I remember when I was in that position,” says Ellen, 17, the daughter of Joe and Amé Alerding. “I loved it when people who were older than me helped me out and lead me in the right direction. Now, I hope to be the person that others can follow.”

Her image as a role model is captured on an IHSAA poster that shows her in her volleyball uniform, a poster that proclaims, “My game is my life. My life is tobacco-free.” The poster gets prominent display in the halls and classrooms at Bishop Chatard, the archdiocesan high school for the Indianapolis North Deanery.

Ellen also hopes to extend the school’s tradition of older student-athletes looking out for, and setting the example for, their younger teammates.

“The posters are up in a lot of Catholic grade schools,” says Ellen, a member of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis. “I’m really proud I have the chance to show younger people and people my same age that this is what I believe.”

Ivie Obeime

Ask Ivie Obeime about being a role model and her thoughts soon turn to her mother—a woman who grew up in Nigeria, became a doctor, moved to the United States and established a medical foundation that has delivered a lifeline of medical supplies to help families touched by the AIDS pandemic in that African country.

“She’s done so much,” says Ivie, the daughter of two doctors, Mercy and Christopher Obeime. “She’s worked very hard. I see how much hard work does, even if it’s not for yourself, even if it’s for people you don’t know.”

Ivie has incorporated that approach of leading by example in her roles on the

volleyball and basketball teams at Brebeuf, a private school.

“I feel like people can look up to me,” says Ivie, 17, a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis. “I can instill that kind of confidence in my teammates and let them know they can do it also.”

The Brebeuf senior has the same approach off the court.

“I don’t abuse or use anything that has to do with tobacco or alcohol. It’s a choice I made. It’s a personal goal for myself. Tobacco and alcohol can only present negative things about yourself.”

She also leads by example by volunteering at a home for elderly people. She sits with them, listens to them and plays bingo with them.

Interestingly, she is friends with Ellen Alerding, a friendship that began when they played on the same basketball team during their grade school years.

“She’s made the same choices I have,” Ivie says. “I feel everyone who has made those choices in high school is a step ahead of everyone who hasn’t.”

Katie Zupancic

Katie Zupancic knows the difficult choices that high school students face every day.

The Cathedral High School soccer player also has her own way of dealing with those choices and the pressure to make the wrong ones.

“I want to make choices that will make my family proud, my brothers proud and my friends proud,” says Katie, 18, the daughter of Tom and Carrie Zupancic. “I also want to stay true to what I believe in, even though sometimes it’s hard. I know that if I do that, I’ll be proud of myself and happy at the end of the day.”

She tries to share that approach to life as one of the seniors on the soccer team and one of the leaders of her school. She served as the president of her class during her sophomore and junior years. She continues as a class officer in her senior year at Cathedral, a private school.

“I try to be a role model for my younger brothers and students,” says Katie, a member of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg. “I try to make other people feel included. I know how it makes me feel to be involved and work hard. And I like sharing that feeling with other people—especially when you can help somebody achieve something they didn’t think they could do before.”

She’s seen the difference that approach has made with this year’s soccer team.

“We’re like a big family. We tried this year to make everyone feel welcome and have mutual respect so everyone could enjoy each other’s company. Ultimately, that’s why you play sports—to achieve things you never thought you could do and make friends you’ll always remember.” †