Althoff Catholic High School
2024 Awards in Excellence Awardees
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The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of an Althoff Catholic High School or Associate alumnus whose exceptional achievements in their faith, profession, and community have had a profound and lasting impact.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Awardee - Dennis Cerneka '65
After attending Cathedral High School for three years, Dennis graduated from Althoff as part of the first class in May 1965. He then attended SEMO and received a BS degree in 1969. Later, Dennis received a Masters degree in teaching from SIUE in 1983. He married his loving wife, Jean, in 1969 and has five wonderful children. Dennis served his country in the US Army from 1970 To 1971. Following his time in the Army, he taught for 44 years at De Smet High School as a PE teacher and Athletic director. In addition to teaching, Dennis coached football, baseball, and basketball. He was also a founding member of the Metro Catholic Conference. In 2019, Dennis was elected to the De Smet Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the St. Mary Pastoral Council in Belleville.
The Rising Star Award recognizes the accomplishments of a recent graduate (within the past 15 years) of Althoff Catholic High School.
2024 Rising Star Awardee - Cara Anthony '05
Cara Anthony is a mom, an award-winning journalist, and a 2005 graduate of Althoff Catholic High School. A native of East St. Louis, Ill., she is a Midwest Correspondent for KFF Health News. Her work has been published by The New York Times, TIME, and NPR. She won a 2021 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion reporting. Her reporting on gun violence earned two Salute to Excellence Awards from The National Association of Black Journalists. Cara co-moderated the USA Today Network events during the 2016 election, and her six-part Belleville News-Democrat series titled “Then I Knew” about racism in America was nominated in 2018 for a Mid-America Emmy. She’s also a 2019 Online News Association Women’s Leadership Accelerator alum. She is a graduate of Tennessee State University.
The Crusader Spirit & Excellence Award recognizes a friend of Althoff Catholic High School who has enriched the Crusader mission through volunteerism and continuously shows outstanding enthusiasm, loyalty, and pride of ACHS.
2024 Crusader Spirit Awardee - Beth (Ferrara) Regensberger '89
Beth Regensberger is an Althoff Catholic super fan. A proud member of the Class of 1989, Beth landed her dream job, helping students, in 2023 when she became the administrative assistant in the Althoff front office. Prior, Beth volunteered as an officer of the Parents and Friends Club for several years, where she enjoyed helping with everything from After Prom and the Back to School BBQ to clean-up days and the Senior Parent Breakfast. She also led the transformation of the Althoff bookstore into the Cru Cave, providing a place for students to hang out. Beth is a sponsor for the BASIC Youth Board and the faculty sponsor for Crusader Cru.
A parishioner of St. Henry for 47 years, Beth Devout in her faith. She has served as lector and eucharistic minister and taught in the PSR program for 27 years.
Since 2002, Beth has been a Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was also a nail tech at Nail Pros before working at Althoff.
Beth loves her family dinners on Sunday, watching her nephews play baseball, rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals, and lounging on the beach. She lives in Swansea, with her husband, Curt ('79), and their son, Jay (’21).
2024 Crusader Spirit Awardee - Gary Calhoun '63 (Cathedral)
Gary was born, raised, and still resides in Belleville. Graduating from Cathedral Catholic Grade School in 1959 and Cathedral Catholic High School in 1963, this is where his love of Catholic education began. Catholic education has played a large part in forming the person he is today and his passion for serving others.
Family is truly the most important thing in his life. Gary and his wife, Judy, have been married for 55 years and have three children: Eric, Bridgett, and Jill. All of whom attended Cathedral Catholic Grade School and Althoff Catholic High School. Gary and Judy have always been firm believers in the importance of giving their children the gift of a Catholic education, a gift now passed on to their grandchildren. Their seven grandchildren have benefited from Catholic education at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Holy Trinity, and Althoff.
As academics are not the only important aspect of a Catholic education, Gary believes you must also be involved in your Catholic community. Being an example to your children by giving your time and skills is a vital aspect of serving the Catholic community. Gary has served in various capacities as a coach, volunteer, and substitute teacher and has served on school and parish boards. Gary believes in teaching our young Catholics about the importance of being a part of a team. He has taken this role seriously as an example and mentor to young men and women in their relationship with Christ.
There are many reasons why Catholic education is important to Gary. Catholic education is a disciplined education providing a top-notch education and allowing one to grow in their faith. The ability to discuss God and his works openly in an educational setting is truly a unique aspect of our Catholic schools. Gary believes being able to have these discussions forms a complete individual by not only fulfilling one’s mind but also the soul.
The Salute to Catholic Education Award recognizes Catholic educators who have dedicated their lives to educating young people in the Catholic tradition to lead successful, faith-filled lives.
2024 Salute to Catholic Education Awardee - Jane Cygan '60 (St. Teresa Academy)
Jane Cygan has dedicated her life to bringing Catholic Education to the forefront for her family and thousands of students in the diocese of Belleville over her 38-year career. Jane is a proud mother of 5 Althoff alumni and can still be found in the stands and audiences of many Althoff sporting events and theatrical productions. She started her professional journey in Catholic Education by teaching at St. Philip School in East St. Louis for two years before staying home to raise her children. Jane then taught 3rd grade at Holy Rosary in Fairmont City for ten years before finishing her career in Catholic Education with 26 memorable years teaching Kindergarten at St. Clare in O'Fallon.
Jane's strong belief in Catholic Education and love of teaching made each day in the classroom a blessing, not a job. This belief was rooted in Jane from her parents and Catholic education at St. Elizabeth (East St. Louis), St. Philip (East St. Louis), and St. Teresa Academy (East St. Louis). She built on her foundation in Catholic education by earning her Bachelor's degree at Notre Dame College in St. Louis, MO, and her time on staff the first year Camp Ondessonk opened its gates.
