The Catholic Education Foundation: Bringing high-quality, faith-based education to all children, regardless of their financial situation.

Already registered? Click here for night-of information and special instructions for sponsors and table hosts!

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Gaudeamus

10.24.20

a benefit gala

Saturday, October 29, 2022
Overland Park Convention Center
6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211
6:00 pm - Cocktail Reception  | 7:15 pm - Dinner & Program  | 8:45 pm - Live Band & Dancing
Cocktail Attire

Proceeds from the Gaudeamus gala benefit the Catholic Education Foundation’s traditional, tuition-assistance scholarships for students most in need.

The Catholic Education Foundation: Bringing high-quality, faith-based education to all children, regardless of their financial situation.

Already registered? Click here for night-of information and special instructions for sponsors and table hosts!

Kyle and Nicole Hill and Jake and Ashley Rieke

Meet our Gaudeamus Chairs

The 2022 Gaudeamus gala chairs are Kyle and Nicole Hill and Jake and Ashley Rieke.

Jake Rieke and Nicole Davila Hill are grandchildren of Tom and Mickey Zarda, one of CEF's founding families.

Jake Rieke, COO of Ernie Rieke Equipment, is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and serves as the Grand Knight of St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus council. Ashley, an event coordinator, is a graduate of Bishop Miege High School and has served as co-chair for the school auction at St. Joseph Catholic School in Shawnee, where their three children attend elementary school.

Kyle and Nicole Hill are both graduates of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. They have two young sons and are accomplished entrepreneurs. Together, they run Hill Homes KC, a remodel and home design company, and Kyle is the founder and CEO of Tywoo Technologies.

Both couples are members of the St. Joseph parish in Shawnee and share a passion for Catholic education.

The 2022 Gaudeamus committee includes: Stephen and Joan Charbonneau, Andy and Stephanie Eilert, Brad and Katie Inman, Shannon Lillis, Darren and Janet Lovick, Mary Parrigon, Colin and Micala Quinn, Tom and Katy Rottinghaus, Chris and Megan Schumm, John and Rose Shaw, Jolynn Taratino, and Jeff and Amy Zeller

Together, they will help us recognize our founding leaders and celebrate 25 years of Catholic Education Foundation’s impact at this year’s Gaudeamus.

The Catholic Education Foundation: Bringing high-quality, faith-based education to all children, regardless of their financial situation.

Already registered? Click here for night-of information and special instructions for sponsors and table hosts!

This year's Gaudeamus gala promises to be a “who’s who” of the Catholic community, as leaders in education, business, parishes and civic groups gather to celebrate our founders and 25 years of support for Catholic education. The evening will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, entertainment by two children's choirs, the Bishop Ward Legacy Ensemble and the Mater Dei Catholic School drum line, and an after-event featuring local Kansas City band, Wonderfuzz!

Gaudeamus Evening Schedule

Overland Park Convention Center
6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211
Cocktail attire

6:00pm  |  Cocktail Reception

7:15pm  |  Dinner & Program

8:45pm  |  Live Band & Dancing

The Catholic Education Foundation: Bringing high-quality, faith-based education to all children, regardless of their financial situation.

Already registered? Click here for night-of information and special instructions for sponsors and table hosts!

Parking: The convention center is not offering valet parking at this time. Please park in the north parking lot off 110th Street at the convention center.

Note: Uber and Lyft drop off on 110th Street.

Registration: Registration will be on the lower level of the convention center - as you enter from the north parking lot.

New! The Overland Park Convention Center has gone cashless. This will only affect drink purchases at the bar in the room during the program. Drinks during the reception are complimentary.

Ranked the #2 charitable event in Kansas City, our Gaudeamus benefit gala is a beloved community tradition, filled with excitement and inspiration.
Enter through these north-facing doors on the garden level. Once inside, registration will be to your right. The parking lot is directly across from this entrance.

Celebrating the vision of our founders

CEF Lifetime Achievement Award

To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are recognizing our founders - Blake Mulvany, Tom Zarda, Rich Henry, Archbishop James P. Keleher, Sr. Vickie Perkins, and Leonard & Ellen McKinzie.

Their lifelong passion for Catholic education and vision of changing the status quo has fueled CEF's mission and helped thousands of students and families in need.


Tom Zarda, Archbishop Keleher and Mickey Zarda
Blake Mulvany, Rich Henry and Tom Zarda
Leonard and Ellen McKinzie
Bill Dunn, Sr., Leonard McKinzie and Charles Berkel

Gaudeamus funds scholarships

2022 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence Award

This year's School of Excellence Award recipient is St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Marysville, Kansas.

Serving families with students in preschool through sixth grade, St. Gregory has shown a strong increase in enrollment over the past two years and has a tremendous commitment to faith, community and academics.


17

Influential
Speakers

29

Lectures About
Social Media

03

Full Day Of
Activities