Tomorrow's Work Force
Lin Dunn provided attendees at the 2014 Tomorrow’s Work Force Luncheon a very condensed version of what she called chapter one of her life, which spanned 44 years.
“These are the key things I want to leave with you today … and some of you already know them, or you wouldn’t be up here receiving these awards. You already know what I’m talking about,” said Dunn, recently retired from coaching after a college and professional career that included the 2012 WNBA championship with the Indiana Fever.
“Be the very best you can be,” she offered. “It’s going to be hard work. How do you spell success? It’s w-o-r-k. Work hard, work smart, work together. And maybe the most important thing I learned … expect to fail. Every one of you is going to fall short in something you’re doing. That is part of life.
“Success is never final,” Dunn added, “and failure is never fatal.
“Overcome your handicaps. Everybody has something they can use as an excuse for not doing and being what they want to be. Don’t let a problem become an excuse.
“Know what real success is,” she continued. “You need to know what your definition of success is because that’s what you’re striving for.
“Real success is health and happiness, family and friends, and peace and love. Don’t ever lose sight of that.”
Thirty seniors from Mater Dei and Reitz Memorial High Schools were honored at the luncheon – 15 from each school. Two of them – Mater Dei senior Mikhail Parkinson and Reitz Memorial senior Bailey Weinzapfel – earned the 2014 Tomorrow’s Work Force Leadership Scholarships. In addition to Parkinson and Weinzapfel, the complete list of honorees included:
Mater Dei – Mallory Anson, Emily Bradley, Katelyn Bueltel, Trevor Dale, Meredith Daunhauer, Megan Farny, Ellason Freeman, Jacklyn Gries, Evan McDonald, Kyle David Rexing, Monica Scofield, Tara Seibert, Kayla Shane and Eva Traylor.
Reitz Memorial – Megan Claspell, Virginia Deig, Isaac Hoffman, Drayton Hurley, Emily Kropfl, Morgan Lamberton, David Luebbe, Kelly Nixon, Miranda Pepe, John Rock, Mary Jane Shafer, Alexander Taylor, Jordan Tucker and Joseph Vettiankal.
Seven honorees from each school also were selected for the annual job-shadowing program, which provides an opportunity for them to spend an entire day with a business and/or professional in their field of choice. The group includes:
Mater Dei – Bueltel, Daunhauer, Farny, Gries, McDonald, Parkinson and Seibert.
Memorial – Deig, Hoffman, Kropfl, Luebbe, Pepe, Rock and Weinzapfel.
“As a parish priest, I have the joy of seeing young people develop as unique individuals,” said Father Ed Schnur, pastor of St. Wendel Parish in St. Wendel and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Poseyville. “It is my prayer for you, students, that you continue to grow in your faith and to experience the presence of God in your lives – and that you become outstanding men and women in our communities. “I find peace in the knowledge that among all of the challenges in today’s world, these future graduates will become tomorrow’s work force.”
Bishop Charles C. Thompson welcomed attendees to the event and gave the invocation. Father Schnur recognized Father Zach Etienne, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish and St. Theresa Parish, both in Evansville.
“Father Zach was scheduled to help with the presentations today,” he said, “but some parish responsibilities prevent him from being with us. He sends his regards and offers his prayers for all of you.”
Dunn called the honorees “a very impressive group” before discussing the concept of perseverance as she recalled coaching stops with college and professional teams – after beginning her athletic career as a high schooler in Alabama – during a time when equality was an unknown quantity to much of the world. “I couldn’t play basketball,” she said. “But we had badminton … so I played badminton. I could write a book about badminton!”
Dunn, whose presentation was sprinkled with humor, had a serious metaphoric message. “If you don’t remember anything else,” she told the students, “please remember the three most important bones.
First is the wishbone; you have to have a dream. Next is the funny bone; laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects. And finally there’s the backbone; if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
