Voices Ringing
Carroll High School Blog
Meet Lori (Marshall) Hallmark '99
My name is Lori Hallmark, and I am an assurance partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). My current role there primarily includes serving as an audit partner in our Private Company Services team in the Cincinnati office. In addition to my day to day role as an audit partner, I am also a part of the national team that helps determine the audit methodology, tools, and technology used by more than 2,000 team members nationally in our Private Company Services practice.
Climbing the ladder at PwC
I joined PwC after graduating from the University of Dayton (UD). Since joining PwC, I’ve been very fortunate to be able to serve in a number of different roles within the Firm. I started my time as a tax associate but quickly learned that completing tax returns was not for me! I watched the audit staff spend their time with clients every day, learning about how businesses work and getting to know people within the organization. I quickly knew that I wasn’t meant to be hanging out in the office every day and that working directly with clients to help them meet their business objectives was something that would really resonate with me. As I spent more time in the audit practice, I came to really enjoy working particularly with private company clients and understanding how the auditing standards could be applied differently in our audit work. This led to a number of different roles from consulting with teams on the application of auditing standards all the way to spending 18 months in our Tampa, Fla., office with a global team helping to rewrite the manual that PwC uses to conduct its audits.
Foundational Catholic education
Fortunately, my time at both UD and Carroll High School really prepared me to take on challenging assignments and provided me with the basis I needed to be successful. While I didn’t take any business classes in my time at Carroll, I did take plenty of challenging courses that taught me what it meant to be a life long learner. These courses taught me not just about text book learning, but how to apply that learning in the real world. Whether it was Science Fair or Youth in Government, being able to work in teams in an experiential way provided me with a strong basis for how I operate in the business world today. More important than anything I learned in specific course work though are the lessons I learned about the kind of person I wanted to be. Carroll provided me with one of my first significant opportunities to experience the joy of providing service to others. Through Action Appalachia, I worked with my classmates collecting donations of clothing to take to those who needed it. As we loaded the semi and prepared for the trip, I looked forward to spending time with my friends on what I expected to be a fun trip. I didn’t realize that the truly rewarding part of this would be seeing the real value of making a difference in someone else’s life.
Continuing a Carroll legacy
All of these lessons have been instrumental to me as an individual, but I saw Carroll from an entirely new light as the parent of a student. I thought that I knew how important Carroll had been in influencing my development in a positive way – enough that it was extremely important to me as a parent for my daughter to experience the same benefits. Experiencing the impact of the school and community from a parent’s perspective was truly amazing. Because my daughter Emma Mihlbachler '18 was involved in completely different aspects of the Carroll community as part of the music program, I was able to see a whole new side of what Carroll has to offer. I was also able to experience again the value of providing service to others as the food mom for the band. These years were absolutely some of the best I have spent, perhaps even better than when I was there as a student! Seeing the absolutely tireless effort that the parents, administration, band directors, and other members of the Carroll community put into the students from a parent's perspective really confirmed everything that I had experienced as a student and more. Now watching her as a successful college student in the nursing program at Case Western Reserve University, I am even more amazed at what a Carroll High School education provides its students.
Welcome to Charity Family Room 202
As the first quarter wraps up, Carroll is onto the next quarter and new events. The fall sports are ready for tournament time, winter sport tryouts are just around the corner, and the Marching Patriots are preparing for their regional and national championship competitions coming up in November. Looking a little deeper into the House System, Family Rooms are busy with a number of activities. This week I talked with Trent Fox '20, captain of Family Room 202. Let’s take a look at how they are spending their time throughout the week.
Second Quarter House Event: Lip Sync
With a competition coming up in the next few months and the kick off of the second quarter, these students are busy. When I asked Trent what he would be doing with his Family Room this week, he gave me a run down. “On Monday, I showed my room our theme song for the Lip Sync competition," Fox said. "Then, I asked if anyone in my room would like to play major roles”. With this discussion, ideas for our dance began to light up in students' heads. “On Thursday, the entire Charity House will head to the gym to begin organizing our plans for the Lip Sync. There are a number of roles and groups that students will pick to be in or be a part of!”
Academic Time
Although Tuesdays are dedicated solely to academics, students’ studies and classwork is often discussed throughout the week. With the end of quarter one approaching, these students focused on their studies and completing assignments for their courses.
Food Fight!
On Friday, Trent’s Family Room is playing Food March Madness. Trent described the game by saying, “In this game, rather than there being teams competing, food will be competing. Whichever food ends up in the Champion spot, I will bring in later next week.”
The importance of family is greatly emphasized throughout Carroll. “I see Family Room as a time where you can get closer to other people in all grade levels. You build a relationship with people you probably would not have talked to otherwise,” Fox said. Every student feels a sense of comfort with the bonds built in their Family Rooms. That is the goal of the House System and magic of Family Room!
Student of the Week: Mark Beckwith '22
Mark Beckwith '22 with Mrs. Nicole Wilmer and Mrs. Martha Saurine
Mark Beckwith '22, Trinity House
What activities do you participate in?
Baking Club, Balloon Club, Spanish Club, French Club, and Gaming Club
What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?
The opportunity to be here every day.
What should school “do” for you?
School should prepare me for college and life as an adult.
What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?
The more effort you put into something, the more you receive from your hard work.
What’s your biggest dream in life?
To become an astronomer.
How do you like spending your free time?
Go out with friends, play video games, and draw.
"Mark is always smiling, always saying hello to everyone in the halls, and has a high five for anyone. Many teachers have no idea who he is, just that he is kind to everyone all the time. He came in freshman year very shy but has blossomed into an extremely well-liked kid. The most important part, he brightens everyone's day, whether he knows you or not." - Mrs. Nicole Wilmer
"Although I have never had Mark for class, I know him from his friendliness in the hallways, always offering a beautiful smile and a greeting. His openness, kindness, and friendliness is shown not just to faculty and staff but to his fellow students. Mark is a great example of what it means to be a Carroll Patriot!" - Mrs. Martha Saurine
Student of the Week: Brandon Roland '20
Brandon Roland '20 with Mr. Cody Byrd
Brandon Roland '20, St. Mary's House
What activities do you participate in?
Football
What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?
My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is learning new things and taking on new challenges.
What should school “do” for you?
School should make you a responsible person.
What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?
A lesson I learned is that there are no shortcuts to getting what you want.
What’s your biggest dream in life?
To screenwriter and direct my own movie.
How do you like spending your free time?
I like to watch football highlights, write poems, do graffiti art (but not vandalize others' property), and exercise.
"Brandon is the epitome of kindness, sincerity, and respect. I have personally witnessed his regard for his peers, and I’ve never seen him have a bad day in three years. Brandon can make anyone smile. I heard a tale that Brandon voluntarily stayed back to clean the football locker room when all the others left. Brandon works hard at everything he does. He loves and respects people, and it shows. We have too little of that today. He is an amazing young man." - Mrs. Liz Terry
Welcome to Baltimore 315
The beginning of a new year means the introduction of freshmen to the House System, and to their Family Room. The beginning of the school year is the most important because it will shape how the freshmen view the House System and Carroll as a whole. Ryan Ballou ‘21 answered some questions about the first week, which featured four extended Family Room periods.
When asked what his favorite activity in Family Room this week was, Ryan said “My favorite thing was probably playing two truths and a lie just to get to know everyone, and get to know more about their personal lives.”
Small activities such as two truths and a lie are very helpful in Family Room during the early part of the school year, in order for all of the classes to get to know each other, and truly become the ‘Family Room’ that we strive for. When looking at getting to know each other, the most important group to take into account is the freshmen. Bringing them into the fold and allowing them to express themselves and participate is a great way to be inclusive. Ryan also had insights on this. “We’re planning on incorporating the freshmen and having different Family Room rules, we’re doing a lot of birthday activities and different games to get them accustomed to Carroll.”
Family Room is a tool to broaden our horizons, and to expand our group of friends.
But Family Room isn’t only for the freshmen. The entire point of a Family Room is to incorporate students from all grade levels and allow them to help each other and become a family of sorts. When a student is placed into a Family Room, they stay there for their entire high school career, so the people in that room should be a family to them, and they should allow the new students that come in after them to participate in this same family feeling that they were able to experience.
Family room allows everyone to be included. It is a true family, and after four years, it should impact the student for the better. The entire focus of Family Room is based on inclusion, but everyone likes something different about it. Here’s what Ryan says is his favorite part: “My favorite thing about family room is just getting to interact with people from different grades, people I don’t see normally in my classes.”
And that really is the whole point. Family Room is a tool to broaden our horizons, and to expand our group of friends. Family room truly is the definition of family.
Welcome to Charity Family Room 203
At the beginning of the new year, we try to focus on acclimating the freshmen to their new school and making them feel as welcome as possible. But, Family Room is for all grades. We hone in on helping each other out with various subjects, issues and becoming a small family. I asked Sean McKitrick '23 about his favorite part of in Family Room so far.
“My favorite thing was playing the games and activities," McKitrick said. "They were fun, and I got the opportunity to learn more about my fellow classmates.”
For this second week of school, my Family Room has been preparing for the first House Event of the year: a cheer competition. On Monday, the captains taught the students our Charity House cheers in Family Rooms. On Tuesday, the entire House met in the Auxiliary Gym and practiced as a whole. I assigned specific tasks like making signs, finding noise makers, gathering head gear, and painting to each Family Room to accomplish by Friday. Thursday, my Family Room brought together our ideas about how we want to decorate our poster signs. On Friday, a couple of students went outside to begin spray painting while the other students stayed inside to practice cheers.
I would say we are feeling pretty confident about our cheers! Next week, we plan on wrapping up our signs and final touches to our cheers. Before we know it, all the Houses will be taking the field for the competition.
Student of the Week: Zack Davis '22
Zack Davis '22 with Mrs. Mary Ollier
Zack Davis '22, Trinity House
What activities do you participate in?
Volleyball
What’s your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?
The preparation I am receiving for college.
What Should school “do” for you?
School should help prepare me for college.
What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?
I’ve learned how to make friends by moving through different schools.
What’s your biggest dream in life?
To have a well-paying job in a career I love.
How do you like spending your free time?
I like spending time with my friends.
"Zack Davis is in my Scholarship Algebra II/Trigonometry class. He took the time to help two new exchange students last week who both landed in that same class and sit behind him. Zack worked with both boys in class on a couple different occasions to be sure they understood how to log into their textbook and the other websites we use for our class. And besides that, he is a really nice and kind person." - Mrs. Mary Ollier
Welcome to Gonzaga Family Room 315
As the day of the cheer competition drew nearer, Gonzaga Family Room 312 was busily preparing for the first house event of the school year. Members of our family room joined the rest of the house to practice the cheer on Tuesday, and we sounded really good. On Thursday, Donna Lawhorn ‘21, Casey Walsh ‘22 and other members of Family Room 312 finished painting the signs for our cheer which spelled out “G-O-N-Z-A-G-A”. The buzz around the competition continued to grow on Friday, and when we met in our family room that afternoon, we put on face paint, glitter, and hair ribbons, provided by our dean and family room teacher Ms. O’Malley, to show our Gonzaga spirit.
We got out to the field for the competition with the rest of our house. We were the first house to perform and were super hyped. I encouraged all of our Family Room to cheer as loud and enthusiastically as they could because everyone participating was going to make our cheer one hundred times better. Family Room 312 took my words to heart and rocked it along with the rest of Gonzaga.
After performing, I talked to members of our family room Chris Ruetschle ‘23 and Izzy Ramby ‘21. Chris told me that getting loud and involved for the cheer made the competition much more enjoyable, especially since everyone was cheering together and no one felt singled out or embarrassed. Izzy said that our cheer sounded very strong and organized and definitely in the running for first place.
Gonzaga claimed fifth place for the cheer competition. Although we hoped for a higher finish in the standings, I can attest that our family room had fun with this competition. Everyone got involved, and we got to know each other better through working together and practicing with each other. Family Room 312 also agreed that the cheer competition was a great way to set the tone for the football game that night.