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<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Grateful Alumnus Steps Up in support of Kerry Blues Football</h1>
As the new season starts for the storied Kerry Blues Jr. and Sr. football teams, St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) alumnus Adrian Rocca ’00 has stepped forward with a major donation to the programme.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-1.webp" style="padding-bottom:10px;" alt="Adrian Rocca, SMCS and Kerry Blues football alumnus" width="600" height="600" class="float-left size-full wp-image-10594" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-1.webp 600w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-1-300x300.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-1-150x150.webp 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
“I’ve always wanted to give back to SMCS, including the Kerry Blues football programme,” says Rocca, a former Kerry Blue who played from 1995 to 2000.
The major gift will be used for non-budgetary items and will directly impact the players and their experience participating in the programme for years to come.
“I hope the donation illustrates how meaningful the programme is to all the alumni who have worn the double blue jersey,” says Rocca. “I want to help rejuvenate the very proud programme and bring back its success.”
SMCS debuted its first high school football team in 1927. The team’s name, Kerry Blues came later in 1953 when the St. Michael’s Quarterback Club sponsored a contest with the purpose of re-naming the high school football team. The name had to incorporate the ideas of ‘Irish’, ‘fight’, and ‘blue’. A city-wide contest resulted in the winning nickname ‘Kerry Blues’, after the Kerry Blue Terrier, the national dog of Ireland known for its blue coat and tremendous courage.
“Looking back at the critical steps in my upbringing, St. Michael’s and the Kerry Blues played major roles,” says Rocca.
“The friendships are what had the biggest impact on me. The guys I played with are still my closest friends today,” he says adding that another fond memory was winning the 1998 Metro Bowl at the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre). “It was such a strong, skilled team. Three players went on to play in the CFL, one to the NFL, and 20 went on to play on their university teams.”
The 1998 victory was the school’s second time winning the annual Metro Bowl Championship. In total, the SMCS football programme has taken home the championship title seven times.
<figure id="attachment_10600" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10600" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-2.webp" alt="SMCS alumnus, Adrian Rocca and high school football team" width="1200" height="792" class="size-full wp-image-10600" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-2.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-2-300x198.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-adrian-rocca-donation-2-768x507.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10600" class="wp-caption-text">Adrian Rocca (second from the right) with his friends at SMCS.</figcaption></figure>
“Football is a special sport in that it allows student-athletes of differing sizes, skill sets, and positional responsibilities to work together towards a common goal,” says Alex Frescura ’92, SMCS Director of Athletics. “Most Kerry Blues alumni can think back to lessons learned on the field and the direct translation to their professional lives. This gift will help the school continue this strong tradition for current and future student-athletes.”
In the 2021-22 academic year, after a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Jr. Kerry Blues had an undefeated season that finished with a CISAA championship title. The 2022 season began on August 29 with the Jr. and Sr. teams attending their annual training camp at SMCS.
<figure id="attachment_10598" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10598" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-donation-jr-kerry-blues.webp" alt="SMCS Jr. Kerry Blues football team winning 2022 CISAA" width="1200" height="900" class="size-full wp-image-10598" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-donation-jr-kerry-blues.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-donation-jr-kerry-blues-300x225.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-football-donation-jr-kerry-blues-768x576.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10598" class="wp-caption-text">The Jr. Kerry Blues high school football team after their 2021-22 CISAA championship victory.</figcaption></figure>
“We would like to thank Adrian for this gift to the football programme, and we owe him a special debt of gratitude. The benefit of this donation has already been felt on the football field and in the lives of our current student-athletes,” says Daniel Lumsden ’96, Community Engagement and Learning Lead and football coach at SMCS. “This shows the strong alumni support that we have here at the school. Together, and with their support, we continue to create positive experiences and opportunities for current and future student-athletes.”
Rocca adds, “It’s important to look back at the support you received in the past and recognize it as well as acknowledge the experiences that helped shape you into the man and person you are today. Then pay it forward to the next generation so that they also have the opportunity for similar experiences.”
Related links:
<a href="/smcs-give" aria-label="Advancement">Advancement</a>
<a href="/programmes/athletics" aria-label="Athletics">Athletics</a>
</div>

SMCS alumnus, Adrian Rocca playing high school football

Grateful Alumnus Steps Up in support of Kerry Blues Football

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Alumni: Journey to Priesthood</h1>
They heard the call to priesthood and for this pair of St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) alumni, they are working towards answering it.
For Jude Thusiar ’13, his call was first heard when he was in Grade 5 during a school visit from Ronald McDonald, the mascot of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain.
“My teacher for some unknown reason selected me to go up and talk to Ronald McDonald,” says Thusiar. “Ronald fed me the answers he wanted me to say while he was asking the questions. I don&#8217;t remember most of the questions he asked me to answer, nor the answers that were fed, except for the last one. The last question he asked me was, ‘What do you want to be when you are older?’ The answer he fed me, predictably, was ‘firefighter’. I remember distinctly thinking, ‘No that&#8217;s not it’. I said into the microphone, ‘I want to be a priest.’”
<figure id="attachment_10514" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10514" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-1.webp" alt="SMCS alumnus, Jude Thusiar working towards joining the priesthood" width="1200" height="795" class="size-full wp-image-10514" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-1.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-1-300x199.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-1-768x509.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10514" class="wp-caption-text">Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Kingston Photo courtesy of: St. Augustine&#8217;s Seminary</figcaption></figure>
Haig Chahinian ’13 grew up in an Armenian Catholic family and served as an altar boy since the age of two. As he entered adulthood, he began to realize he was growing deeper into his faith, but could not determine what role it was to have in his life.
“While going to university full time and working full time at Apple, in 2016 I decided to leave the company to launch my management consultancy,” says Chahinian. “By 2018, the company was really growing in both staff and clientele, but I still felt that something was missing in my life. In July of 2018, I was asked by the Bishop of our Armenian Catholic Eparchy in the United States and Canada, His Excellency Bishop Mikael Mouradian, to represent Canada in the first-ever Global Armenian Catholic Youth Retreat. It was there I had made my final decision to leave everything behind, and within a matter of weeks I moved to Rome to begin my journey as a seminarian in the Pontifical Armenian College.”
<figure id="attachment_10513" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10513" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-2.webp" alt="SMCS alumnus, Haig Chahinian working towards joining the priesthood" width="1200" height="797" class="size-full wp-image-10513" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-2.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-2-300x199.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-2-768x510.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10513" class="wp-caption-text">Haig Chahinian delivers a reading during the Divine Liturgy in St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica in Rome.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Path to the Seminary</h2>After graduating from SMCS, both Chahinian and Thusiar completed university degrees prior to starting their careers and their enrolment in a seminary.
Thusiar graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in mechanical engineering.
“I discovered the Newman House Catholic Chaplaincy at Queen&#8217;s and CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach),” says Thusiar. “Through the chaplain, the missionaries, and the community there, I flourished in my faith. I had four great years at university and accomplished my dream — I became an engineer. In the year following, I worked as an engineer, while following through on discerning properly my call to the priesthood.”
At a ‘Come and See’ at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, Thusiar was able to see and experience the life of seminarians, including living with, praying, and playing sports with them over a weekend.
<figure id="attachment_10517" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10517" style="width: 1000px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-2.webp" alt="SMCS alumnus, Jude Thusiar working towards joining the priesthood" width="1000" height="667" class="size-full wp-image-10517" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-2.webp 1000w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-2-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-jude-thusiar-2-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10517" class="wp-caption-text">Jude Thusiar serving as assistant master of ceremonies for the Mass of the Installation of Archbishop Michael Mulhall to the Archdiocese of Kingston in May 2019.</figcaption></figure>
“I was attracted by the lives of the seminarians and what they were learning — philosophy and theology,” he says. “After talking over my experience with my spiritual director, I went ahead and applied to the seminary.”
Currently, Thusiar is in year five of a seven-year programme at St. Augustine’s Seminary.
On the other side of the world, Chahinian resides at the Pontificial Armenian College in Rome while he studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He originally attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto for international relations and earned a double minor in French language and history. He graduated in 2018.
“Outside of classes, I volunteer as a journalist for Telepace Armenia, which is the primary media outlet of the Armenian Catholic Church,” he says. “I also a volunteer as a translator for the Canonization Cause of the late Cardinal Gregory Peter XV Aghajanian, who was a key figure in the Second Vatican Council as a Cardinal, as well as the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church.”
This fall, Chahinian will be entering the final year of his programme which included three years of philosophy followed by three years of theology.
<h2>SMCS Influences</h2>Chahinian credits SMCS for teaching him values in life that he carries with him each day.
“Looking back, I believe it was a grace from God to have been so involved in everything from Varsity Hockey, to Student Government, to the Daily Blue, to starting the Club Franco-Spañol, jazz, leadership, and so much more, not even considering the knowledge from inside the classroom,” he says. “That being said, the education and my time at SMCS reinforced the values that my family taught me while seeing the world through the perspective of Christ.”
For Thusiar, it was the support the school provided in helping him pursue his faith outside the comfort of his home.
“The story that most encapsulates this is in Grade 12,” says Thusiar. “My chemistry teacher at the time, Mr. Tessaro, took a break from the usual class that day to make the point that up until now we have been fed the faith and living a faith that has been given to us. An essential part of becoming mature in the faith is making that decision for yourself and putting Christ at the centre of your life. It was that lesson that months later spurred me to go find the Catholic Chaplaincy on campus.”
<figure id="attachment_10512" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10512" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-1.webp" alt="SMCS alumnus, Haig Chahinian working towards joining the priesthood" width="1200" height="797" class="size-full wp-image-10512" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-1.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-1-300x199.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-alumni-priesthood-haig-chahinian-1-768x510.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10512" class="wp-caption-text">Haig Chahinian serving during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Beatitude Raphael Bedros XXI Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, in the Armenian Pontifical College in Rome.</figcaption></figure>
Following the completion of their studies, the pair of SMCS alumni will enter the priesthood, answering the call they heard many years ago.
“Upon graduating and beginning my diaconate, it would be a dream-come-true to serve in our St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church in Toronto, while (God willing!) teaching at SMCS in preparation for my priestly ordination!” says Chahinian who will serve as a priest in the Armenian Catholic Church.
“While St. Mike’s first introduced me to the idea of pursuing excellence, my faith deeply instilled it in me. The pursuit of excellence and holiness,” says Thusiar, who will become a diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of Kingston. “My faith helped me to make friends. It was the central part of my friendships and my community. Faith has always been there, informing my decisions and helping me to live my life.”
The alumni humbly ask for your prayers as they continue in their journey to the priesthood.
Related links:
<a href="/alumni" aria-label="Alumni">Alumni</a>
<a href="/why-smcs/faith-formation" aria-label="Faith Formation">Faith Formation</a>
</div>

SMCS alumnus, Jude Thusiar working towards joining the priesthood

Alumni: Journey to Priesthood

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Bouncing Towards a World Cup</h1>
It was a busy start to his summer vacation beginning with an international athletic competition on the other side of the world and returning home with an incredible accomplishment and much to look forward to.
From June 23 to 26, 2022, Botond Remias, who recently completed his Grade 11 year at St. Michael’s College School (SMCS), travelled to Coimbra, Portugal to represent Canada in trampoline at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Trampoline World Cup.
<figure id="attachment_10346" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10346" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b.webp" alt="Botond Remias, SMCS student at the Trampline World Cup" width="1200" height="800" class="size-full wp-image-10346" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10346" class="wp-caption-text">Botond Remias, Grade 12 student at SMCS, recently represented Canada at the Trampoline World Cup 2022 in Portugal.</figcaption></figure>
“My goal is to someday compete in the Olympics and share my love for this sport with younger athletes,” says Remias, who placed sixth in the international competition that included 35 other competitors in his age group. He was also the youngest athlete in the boys 17+ age group to compete!
“What I enjoy most about trampoline is the positive community and sportsmanship,” he says. “I am able to grow and flourish in my environment leading to my success. Everyone cheers each other on instead of ‘competing’.”
Remias’ event at the Trampoline World Cup 2022 was the Double Mini Trampoline, a discipline within the sport where the gymnast performs acrobatic skills on a smaller-sized trampoline that features both a flat and angled section.
Since returning from the world competition, Remias has been named to Canada’s National Development Team and plans to attend the World Age Groups competition in the fall of 2022.
“The most challenging aspect is dealing with mental blocks, since completing so many flips and twists can sometimes be confusing,” says Remias, who has been training in the sport for the past five years. “Mental training is definitely just as essential as physical training in the gym.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-1.webp" alt="&lt;img src=&quot;https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Botond Remias, SMCS student at the Trampline World Cup&quot; width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;800&quot; class=&quot;alignnone size-full wp-image-10346&quot; /&gt;" width="450" height="600" class="float-left size-full wp-image-10343" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-world-cup-2.webp" alt="&lt;img src=&quot;https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-botond-remias-trampoline-3b.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Botond Remias, SMCS student at the Trampline World Cup&quot; width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;800&quot; class=&quot;alignnone size-full wp-image-10346&quot; /&gt;" width="450" height="600" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10342" /> 
Remias trains four hours a day, three to four times per week at AIM Gymnastics in Pickering.
“I have been fortunate to teach Botond for two years, where his drive and diligence in both his academics and sport have shone brightly, as he balances his strong academic grades with athletic excellence,” says Alessandra Lombardi, Remias’ World Religions teacher at SMCS. “With the constant hurdles of pandemic learning and training, Botond has maintained and excelled in his academics and athletics with perseverance, dedication, and motivation.”
“St. Michael&#8217;s has supported my athletic journey by providing the necessary education and support to maintain a healthy mental and physical state,” says Remias. “My teachers and peers emphasize how important a school-training balance is as well, which is crucial to success.”
Along with his goal to one day compete in the Olympics, he is also interested in pursuing a career in life sciences.
“I am extremely proud of Botond, and cannot wait to watch him flip, twist, and leap to the gold medal!” Lombardi says. “Your St. Mike’s family will be cheering you on! Best of luck Botond! We cannot wait to see where this journey will take you!”
Related links:
<a href="/programmes/athletics" aria-label="Athletics">Athletics</a>
<a href="/news-events" aria-label="News and Events">News and Events</a>

</div>

Botond Remias, SMCS student at the Trampline World Cup

Bouncing Towards a World Cup

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Connor Emeny ’14: From Student-Athlete to Ironman</h1>
1,356 km across six continents: 22.8 km swimming, 1,080 km biking, 253.2 km running, and one world record.
<figure id="attachment_10280" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10280" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption float-left"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-4.webp" alt="Connor Emeny, SMCS Alumnus" width="400" height="600" class="size-full wp-image-10280" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-4.webp 400w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-4-200x300.webp 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10280" class="wp-caption-text">Connor Emeny &#8217;14 is the youngest person to complete an Ironman on six continents.</figcaption></figure>
After graduating from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) alumnus Connor Emeny ’14, found himself at Uber headquarters helping launch Uber Eats across Canada. Now Emeny is the youngest person to successfully finish an Ironman triathlon on six continents.
“My goal was to complete an Ironman on all six continents and become the youngest person in the world to do so,” explains Emeny. “But on a deeper level, the title didn’t carry much weight for me, it was the people I would get to meet, cultures I would be able to experience, and stories I would be able to relive that drove me.”

While at SMCS, Emeny participated in several aspects of the school’s co-curricular programme. He competed in hockey, cross country, track, rugby, volleyball, and badminton, as well as the Ping Pong Club, Student Prefects, Head Leadership Committee, and Destination Imagination Club.
“I taught Connor in Grade 11 chemistry and helped coach him in cross country. Connor was dedicated to academic excellence. He was always a positive influence in the classroom, as well as a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the many varsity sports teams he competed in while at St. Mike’s,” shares Gail O’Grady, SMCS Guidance Counsellor who retired this summer. “Connor’s personal qualities are just as impressive as his intellectual and athletic accomplishments. I remember him as a kindhearted young man, unfailingly helpful, sincere, funny, and a genuine role model for the younger students at SMCS. He hasn’t changed a bit! Connor certainly exemplifies the qualities that St. Michael’s College School espouses in our school motto, ‘Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge’. I am confident he will continue to make a positive difference in his local community and around the globe. Can’t wait to see what his next challenge is!”
<figure id="attachment_10279" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10279" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-3.webp" alt="Connor Emeny, SMCS Alumnus, youngest person to complete Ironman on six continents" width="1200" height="802" class="size-full wp-image-10279" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-3.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-3-300x201.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-3-768x513.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10279" class="wp-caption-text">While at SMCS, Emeny participated in hockey, cross country, track and field, rugby, and many other co-curricular programmes.</figcaption></figure>
Emeny first found his passion for triathlons after trying out for the Queen’s Triathlon Team. He raced with a fellow team member, Ben Rudson, who was training to compete in an upcoming Ironman World Championship.
“I thought, if he could do it, so could I,” shares Emeny. “I texted Ben ‘by 2020, I’d do my first Ironman’ — and that’s what I did.”
The pandemic gave Emeny time to think about what was important to him and two things came to mind: building his life resume, not his paper resume and living an intentional life. The result of these two lessons was the idea to go all in with his dream, no matter the obstacles he would face.
“With the pandemic, wars, and significant increases in mental health challenges, I believe the world needs more dreamers and doers now than ever,” says Emeny. “I am chasing a dream to discover what I am capable of and share the lessons of community, hope, and inspiration along the way.”
<figure id="attachment_10278" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10278" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-2.webp" alt="Connor Emeny competing in an Ironman triathlon in Brasil" width="1200" height="1025" class="size-full wp-image-10278" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-2.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-2-300x256.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-2-768x656.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10278" class="wp-caption-text">Connor Emeny at an Ironman triathlon in Brasil.</figcaption></figure>
Emeny left his corporate job and worked part-time at three different companies over 18 months to allow the flexibility and time required to train and race. In addition, Emeny began to secure sponsorship and help offset the costs of each race. Some of his sponsorship included: 2XU, Nuun Hydration, Uber Eats, Tality Wellness, and MOSEA (a startup created by Aidan Tighe ’15, Luke de Haas ’15, and Colin Lee ’15).
Emeny considers himself lucky to have met John Wragg and Elizabeth Model, the current world record holders for most Ironmans completed — 272 (male) and 102 (female). They became his trusted advisors, with a plethora of knowledge and experience he could learn from.
During the last two years of training, Emeny faced many challenges. &#8220;Five of the six scheduled races were either cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. This made training extremely challenging and day-to-day life a big question mark.”
At times, he was stuck in different parts of the world from 14 days up to a month due to countrywide lockdowns.
<figure id="attachment_10277" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10277" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-1.webp" alt="Connor Emeny cycling during an Ironman triathlon" width="1200" height="1200" class="size-full wp-image-10277" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-1.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-1-300x300.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-1-150x150.webp 150w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/smcs-connor-emeny-ironman-1-768x768.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10277" class="wp-caption-text">Emeny found his passion for triathlons after joining the Queen’s University Triathlon Team.</figcaption></figure>
“Ironman Philippines was the toughest for me. I was originally scheduled for Ironman Taiwan but due to country lockdowns, the race was cancelled for the year. I was told that a race slot had opened in Ironman Philippines nine days prior to race day. I got on a plane shortly after, arriving 72 hours before race day only to realize my bike was sent to another country and would not make it to me in time,” explains Emeny, of his biggest challenge. “After a long journey and tough news, I decided to call every bike shop in the city to find a solution. I got to the start of the race with a bike I&#8217;ve never ridden before. That coupled with 40-degree hot and humid weather, made for a very challenging day. I lost 10 pounds in the race due to heat exhaustion, but gave it everything I had and crossed the line with my biggest lesson learned to date: your mind will give out before your body does. If you learn to build mental toughness, you can achieve anything you want in life.”
Emeny learned that dreams are meant to be achieved and only remain a dream until they are acted upon.
What’s next for Emeny?
“Six Ironmans on six continents was a massive feat. It showed me anything is possible. This goal was just the beginning for me,” says Emeny. “I have my eyes set on the coldest and final continent – Antarctica! More details to come soon.”

Related links:
<a href="/alumni" aria-label="Alumni">Alumni</a>
<a href="/programmes/athletics" aria-label="Athletics">Athletics</a>


</div>

Connor Emeny, SMCS alumnus and youngest person to complete Ironman on six continents.

Connor Emeny ’14: From Student-Athlete to Ironman

<div class="page-inner">

<h1>Sending off the Class of 2022</h1>
The newest graduates of St. Michael&rsquo;s College School (SMCS) ended their last year of high school with a much-anticipated graduation ceremony and traditional walk through the Students&rsquo; Entrance Arch.
&ldquo;The graduates of 2022 came to recognize the value of human connection perhaps better than any graduating class in recent memory,&rdquo; says John Connelly, Director of Student Affairs. &ldquo;Emerging from a world isolated and on pause for almost two years, the Class of 2022 embraced the challenges and triumphs of the Grade 12 year.&rdquo;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-3-copy.webp" alt="SMCS Class of 2022 walking through the arch" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10267" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-3-copy.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-3-copy-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-3-copy-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> 
This inspiring class of almost 200 graduates received more than 1,000 university offers this year and will be spread out across the continent studying at 21 Canadian and 11 American universities.
The top four university programmes selected by the Class of 2022 include:
<ul>
 <li>Business (management and commerce) – 33%</li>
 <li>Arts (humanities and social sciences) – 28%</li>
 <li>Applied sciences (engineering and computer science) – 25%</li>
 <li>Life sciences (health, kinesiology, and medical) – 9%</li>
</ul>
More than 10 per cent of the Class of 2022 will also be pursuing double-degree university programmes.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-1.webp" alt="SMCS Class of 2022 at graduation" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10268" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-1.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-class-of-2022-grad-1-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> 
<h2>Class of 2022: By the numbers</h2>

<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
<table class="table" style="width:600px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>University acceptance</td>
<td>100%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ontario Scholars (Honour Roll) – Graduating with an average of 80% or higher</td>
<td>93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Basilian Book Award – Graduating with an average of 90% or higher</td>
<td>39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>St. Thomas More Society Award – Graduates who have made the Honour Roll every year during their time at SMCS</td>
<td>62%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scholarships and grants awarded to the Class of 2022</td>
<td>$505,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
&ldquo;Many students embarked on inquiry projects in their Grade 12 courses that will inform their post-secondary studies,&rdquo; adds Connelly. &ldquo;As a group, they committed their time and energy to charitable outreach, improving the lives of those around them: supporting refugees through the Red Cross; building a sustainable future by promoting and supporting the planting of trees; feeding families in need in the community by contributing to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through Holy Rosary parish.&rdquo;
Find out what our graduates are thankful for and how they felt after officially graduating from St. Michael&rsquo;s College School in the video below:
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MUF9qRPUmUE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Related links:
<a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/programmes/academics" aria-label="Academics">Academics</a>
<a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/news-events/special-events" aria-label="Special Events">Special Events</a>
</div>

Sending  off the Class of 2022

<div class="page-inner">
<h1>Formula for Success: Mathematics Students Score High</h1>

This was no simple equation. 
A group of 29 St. Michael&#8217;s College School (SMCS) math students has set a high bar.
The students wrote the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB test in May. The results were released in July. 
SMCS students handily surpassed the average results recorded by fellow students across Ontario and around the world within their cohort and category.
<a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-1.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-1.webp" alt="SMCS students writing on board | AP Calculus exam" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10219" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-1.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-1-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a> 
On scores of three (passing grade) or higher, SMCS students bettered the Ontario average by 3.9 per cent and eclipsed the global average by 16.7 per cent.
&quot;I am very proud of our students,&quot; says John Vella &rsquo;85, Department Head of Mathematics. &quot;They performed to a high standard even though they knew their score had no bearing on their university acceptance.&quot;
The results were released by the College Board, a 122-year-old institution, &quot;created to expand access to higher education,&quot; by connecting &quot;students to college success and opportunity,&quot; according to their website.
<figure id="attachment_10220" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10220" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-2.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-2.webp" alt="John Vella, Department Head of Mathematics at SMCS" width="1200" height="800" class="size-full wp-image-10220" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-2.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-2-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-2-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10220" class="wp-caption-text">John Vella ’85 is the Department Head of Mathematics at St. Michael’s College School.</figcaption></figure>
Vella along with fellow math teacher Michael Ross ’86 taught the 29 Grade 12 students, leading up to the AP Calculus AB exam in early May.
&quot;I am very happy to see our AP results, but I can&#8217;t say I was surprised,&quot; says Ross, who has been teaching math for 30 years. &quot;We have great students here, who have gone through four or six years of a rigorous and challenging academic programme.&nbsp;Their talents and hard work have paid off!&quot;
Among 1,034 students in Ontario, and on scores of three or higher, SMCS students averaged 72.4 per cent versus 68.5 per cent for all Ontario students.
<a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-3.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-3.webp" alt="SMCS students working on math | AP Calculus" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10221" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-3.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-3-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-3-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a> 
On a global scale, more than 268,000 students wrote the exam, with a mean average of 55.7 per cent on scores of three and higher.
&quot;For the most part, SMCS students don&#8217;t take AP Calculus because they want to bypass a first-year post-secondary math course,&quot; says Vella, who has taught math at SMCS for 27 years. &quot;They take AP because&nbsp;they want to supplement their university application, or&nbsp;they want &#8216;to get ahead in math&#8217; to gain the knowledge to be &#8216;ahead of the curve&#8217; in their post-secondary pre-medicine or engineering programme.&quot;
<figure id="attachment_10223" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10223" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-5.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-5.webp" alt="Michael Ross, math teacher at SMCS" width="1200" height="800" class="size-full wp-image-10223" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-5.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-5-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-5-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10223" class="wp-caption-text">Michael Ross &rsquo;86 has been teaching mathematics at St. Michael&rsquo;s College School for 30 years.</figcaption></figure>
Ross, who teaches both Grade 11 and 12 math adds, &quot;We have very smart and capable students that have been well-taught.&nbsp;The Math Department, as all departments at the school, has instilled discipline and challenged these young men, preparing them for academic success and this has been shown in their AP results. As a teacher, whether it be in my AP classes or in any other, it is my job to challenge my students and let them discover all of what they are capable.&nbsp;It is why I went into teaching and why I am grateful to be back at St. Mike&#8217;s where my teachers instilled the love of learning in me and pushed me to be my best.&nbsp;Hopefully, I am continuing the tradition and doing the same for my students.&quot;  
The Department Head of Mathematics since 2019, Vella leads a 10-member team. 
He attributes this recent success in large part to, &quot;the support we received from SMCS as teachers and students during the pandemic. SMCS provided us with the technologies, hardware, and software to teach and learn successfully in both remote and hybrid environments.&quot;
Further proof that this accomplishment was no small feat.
<a href="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-4.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-4.webp" alt="SMCS student working on math problems" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10222" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-4.webp 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-4-300x200.webp 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/smcs-ap-calculus-math-story-4-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a> 
&quot;It takes a love of learning and a lot of discipline to&nbsp;choose&nbsp;to take a much harder math programme in Grade 12,&quot; adds Vella. &quot;AP Calculus students cover the substantial AP curriculum in addition to the required MCV4U and MHF4U Ontario curriculum. I&#8217;m lucky to have the opportunity to teach the best and the brightest at SMCS. I owe it to them to make the course fun, interesting, and worthwhile. As I near the end of my teaching career, having the privilege to work with these boys is &#8216;like a shot of adrenaline&#8217;!&quot;
Related links:
<a href="/programmes/academics" aria-label="Academics">Academics</a>
<a href="/news-events"aria-label="News &#038; Events">News &#038; Events</a>
</div>