ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: “4 Days for THE 400” Alumni Campaign chairpersons Mr. Tom Hussey ’75 and Mr. Sean Spellman ’12 share their BC experiences

Calling all Benedictine Military School alumni! It is that time of year again where BC needs support from all of our alumni. We are launching the “4 Days for THE 400” Alumni Campaign in support of the Benedictine Fund on Monday, May 4, and it will run through Thursday, May 7 – ONLY 4 DAYS!

We are excited to announce that Mr. Tom Hussey ’75 and Mr. Sean Spellman ’12 graciously agreed to chair this year’s campaign. They know the importance of the Benedictine Fund and the role it plays in BC’s present and future success. We hope your loyalty will shine through and you will support our Cadets.

A BC education is special, unique, and needed now more than ever so please prayerfully consider a gift so BC can reach our goal of $1 million. You will never regret supporting our future leaders.

 

“I really don’t have a ‘best memory’ in the sense of an event. What I best remember is the spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie that the Benedictine experience fostered. I don’t want to imply that we didn’t have cliques or that I didn’t hang around some people more than others. But the bulk of us all liked each other whether they were outwardly cool or nerdy. I really think our bonds are comparable to only what you see at a place like a military academy or The Citadel.”

“In my view you ironically learn a lot more in life from your bad decisions than your good ones. So I learned a lot from not only the consequences of my bad decisions, but the bad decisions of my classmates and that the consequences were generally very uniform and appropriate (though they didn’t feel like it at the time!) The other thing I distinctly remember was from the football field. I was a very mediocre football player – I wouldn’t make the team today. I tell people I made up for my lack of size with my lack of speed. But I had technique and quickness, so combined with a lot of resilience and effort I was able to contribute. Coach (Jim) Walsh obviously thought I was fast since I was so small so I made the kickoff team as a sophomore. I appreciated the opportunity to contribute and gave it my all even though it was only ‘special teams.’”

“I’m asking all alumni to donate to the Benedictine Fund. There are many reasons we should, but there are two I will highlight. The cost of a Benedictine education is significantly greater than tuition. Without our support (and other vital programs) many Cadets would not be able to afford to attend. Secondly, I feel we should embrace the value of ‘paying it forward’ to the Cadets of the future. Most of us have enjoyed lives that have been favorably shaped by our four years at the school. Let’s help provide that same opportunity we have been given by those before us.”

WHAT SETS BC APART FROM THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN SAVANNAH?

“There are many great schools in Savannah, but Benedictine is unique. The shared experience produces a sense of brotherhood not available in other places. No matter your financial, social, or religious background, we all have equal opportunity to succeed.”

 

“I have so many great memories of BC and it’s incredibly difficult to pick just one. Ring Day, Commissioning, and competing on the fields or the court are still very important to me. I think my favorite memory at BC was marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. I found it humbling to participate in a tradition so important to the school, the city, and the Irish Catholic community, so publicly. I was part of the third generation and was the 18^th member of my family to march in the parade with the Cadets. BC’s important place in both celebrating the history of our city and shaping its future is apparent on that march as future generations of Cadets and decades of graduates look on. Walking in those parades felt like a moment of celebration about what BC stands for and it is a feeling that I will never forget.”

“BC had a profound impact on shaping who I am today in so many ways. Through college and my career in banking, things that I learned at BC like how to be a great teammate and taking accountability have helped me. Those principles are doubly important as a husband and a father. Anyone who has been through the halls at my alma mater has heard this a million times, but BC’s mission is to prepare students not just to succeed in the classroom but in all aspects of life. I know that I am not the same person that I am today without the commitment that my teachers, coaches, and cadre at BC made in me during my time there.”

“Giving to BC through the Benedictine Fund is such a meaningful way to help the school and one way that I am proud to help each year. We have so many good opportunities to donate to the school for specific campaigns, sports teams, etc., but this fund is a real driver to ensure that the school can operate and grow. As I mentioned above, BC had a profoundly positive impact on who I am today, and I know that donations to the fund allow future alumni to continue to echo that sentiment.”