Each year, the TEC Conference asks local TEC communities to submit nominations for the annual Spirit of TEC Award. This award honors individuals’ dedication and service to TEC on the local or regional level; those who receive it truly exemplify the spirit of TEC and live out the Paschal Mystery in their own lives.
We are pleased to present the 2020 Spirit of TEC Award winners below! Each awardee has a short write-up from their local community on why they deserve this honor. Congratulations to everyone!
Sam Schmitz, Anchor of Hope TEC (Diocese of Green Bay, WI)
Anchor of Hope TEC would like to award Sam Schmitz with the Spirit of TEC Award for 2020. Sam is one of those people who is truly being a disciple of Christ. Sam is a man of integrity and shares his passion for the TEC community. Sam does this by showing others the great gifts that God has given him and by not being afraid to show his love for family and God to those he meets, both by his words and actions. Sam's first TEC was #274. Since then, he has worked every TEC weekend up to the latest, #279. He has helped on weekends by working both teams, with a compassion for making TECites feel the peace of Jesus. We are honored to have Sam as part of our community and look forward to him continuing to bring others to Christ.
Isabelle Carroll, Anchor of Hope TEC (Diocese of Green Bay, WI)
The Anchor of Hope TEC community is pleased to present the 2020 Spirit of TEC Award to Isabelle “The Incredible Izz” Carroll. Since joining the TEC community on TEC #258, she has worked a number of TECs in various positions, bringing her energy and love for the Lord to the TECites and fellow team members. TEC has offered her the opportunity to grow in her faith as she assists others on their journey.
Isabelle sings with the choir and as a cantor at her home parish in Oshkosh and recently joined the selection committee for TEC. She continues to look for ways to serve the Lord through service towards others. Her love for Jesus is visible in everything she does. Thank you, Isabelle for your caring heart and your continued service to the TEC community.
John & Pat Sondgeroth, Peterstown TEC (Diocese of Peoria, IL)
John and Pat Sondgeroth have been members of the Peterstown TEC community for over 30 years. Their journey began with Pat participating on two weekends as an adult team member before their children, Andy and Katie, could attend TEC. Through their encouragement and faith example, both of their children became active members of the TEC community as teens.
John and Pat remained involved with TEC as members of Sts. Peter & Paul parish and for the past 20 years donated beef from their farm for the weekend meals. Recently, their daughter Katie passed away unexpectedly; almost instinctively they decided to donate many of her furniture pieces to Peterstown TEC.
Over the past 30 years John and Pat have consistently demonstrated their selflessness by offering Wheat and giving to the TEC program without recognition or desire for reward. For this reason, we nominate them to be the recipients of this year’s Spirt of TEC award.
Jolene Sasser, Belleville TEC (Diocese of Belleville, IL)
Jolene made her first TEC retreat in May 2001, and although it did not make much of an impact on her, she agreed to work a TEC retreat a couple months later. In the middle of planning that retreat, the 9/11 attack happened. That TEC was very special to all involved, becoming a retreat of healing only weeks after the trauma, and left a deep and lasting impact on Jolene. She continued to return to work TECs, losing count of how many TECs, Quests, and Harvests she has been a part of, never going more than two years without a retreat. Jolene served as secretary on the Belleville TEC Board for several terms, attended conferences, and attended a Renew the Vision retreat for TEC to revive the community. She continues to serve on TEC teams, cook for the retreats, serve on committees, and proudly promote the program that she would want her children to be a part of. Congratulations to Jolene on receiving the 2020 Spirit of TEC Award!
Karen Wobbe, Belleville TEC (Diocese of Belleville, IL)
Karen’s love for TEC started in January 1998 after attending Red Bud #2 (also known as TEC #128). Since then, she has served on over a dozen TEC teams in various capacities, including as Director. For the past several years, she has served as the treasurer on the Belleville TEC Board and has taken an active part in reformatting the manual and organizing the new TEC trailer. Some of Karen’s most precious memories from TEC are the weekends she spent with her husband and kids as each experienced TEC for the first time. Congratulations to Karen on receiving the 2020 Spirit of TEC Award!
Mary Poletti-Lappe, Belleville TEC (Diocese of Belleville, IL)
Mary Poletti-Lappe made her first TEC in January 2001 in Red Bud. At that time, she wanted to be a writer and/or a youth minister when she grew up. Almost 20 years later, she is proud to be doing both. She has served in a variety of capacities on numerous Belleville TEC, Quest, and Harvest weekends (favorite role: lay spiritual director), and she enjoys using her writing gifts to help TEC however she can, including on the Belleville Diocesan TEC Board. Mary lives in St. Louis, where she is a member of St. John the Baptist parish and works in nonprofit marketing. She is married to Jimmy Lappe, and they have one daughter, Grace.
Mary loves helping lead teens and young adults through the same spiritual turning point she experienced, sharing with them what she has found in Jesus and the Church, and then watching them become the adults God made them to be. TEC has given her some of her dearest friendships and a unique, personal, lively lens through which she sees and lives her Catholic faith. It has been a true gift in her life, one she is proud to pay forward.
Scottie Cabes, TEC New Orleans (Archdiocese of New Orleans, LA)
Scottie has been extremely generous with his time and talents to strengthen the TEC Community. He currently serves on our Leadership Council as the Spiritual Formation Liaison. Scottie’s leadership and charisma, like the Holy Spirit, invites, excites and challenges those he comes in contact with, bringing them to a closer relationship with Christ.
Scottie is a committed community member who is always willing to help others, whether by lending a hand or by openly and lovingly listening to others. He is a great example of someone who lives out the Paschal Mystery. Scottie’s joyful excitement for his faith and his deep love of Christ are an amazing example for our younger community members. In all that he does, Scottie strives to put Christ first.
Lisa Thomas, TEC New Orleans (Archdiocese of New Orleans, LA)
The New Orleans TEC community is proud to recognize Lisa Thomas with the Spirit of TEC award. Lisa’s dedication to the TEC program is one of selfless service. She is always ready to respond to the needs of the community. Lisa has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for many years by arranging priests to help with Reconciliation and Hoot Masses. She is a member of the Retreat Team Ministry and has served in many leadership roles on numerous TEC weekends.
Lisa has brought her encounter with Christ out into the community by sharing her love of Christ and using her artistic gifts at an Archdiocesan summer camp, Camp Abbey. Her devotion to our Blessed Mother is reflected in her everyday life. Like Mother Mary, Lisa sees herself as a Servant of the Lord and strives to quietly and lovingly bring others to Jesus.
Emily Kite, Great River TEC (Diocese of Springfield, IL)
The Great River TEC community would like to recognize Emily Kite with a 2020 Spirit of TEC Award because she has the true heart of a servant. Emily’s first TEC was #291, and she has been on six more since then, as well as several Quests. She loves the strong friendships that are made on TEC, as well as the bonds made within the community. She believes strangers can turn into lifelong friends during those 3 short days. Emily wants youth who attend TEC to be able to get a true glimpse of Jesus and the power of his limitless love for each of them. She has seen how life-changing it can be to experience Christ through TEC. Emily helps bring others to this life-changing experience. She invites others to TEC and regularly attends TEC events, as well as other events, to strengthen her faith, such as the National Catholic Youth Conference. Emily isn’t just committed to serving within the TEC community— she recently graduated from Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She will soon be working as a nurse, serving and caring for others, and truly exemplifying the Spirit of TEC.
Sam Doellman, Great River TEC (Diocese of Springfield, IL)
The Great River TEC community would like to recognize Sam Doellman with a 2020 Spirit of TEC Award because of his enthusiasm and eagerness to share his faith. Sam has been on eight Quests and eight TECs, his first being #297. He went on that first weekend because of his family’s involvement, but he also wanted a deeper relationship with Christ. There are many things that Sam loves about TEC, but a main one is the communities that are made, whether it be the entire program, each individual weekend, or the tables or Wheat Teams within a weekend. Sam believes the bonds made on a TEC are not easily broken. When youth go on a TEC weekend, Sam wants them to be able to be comfortable and openly share about themselves. Seeing the transformation that takes place in youth from Saturday morning to Monday evening is truly watching God at work. Sam’s involvement also includes serving on the Great River TEC Board. Sam lives his faith and is not afraid to show it and share it with others, portraying the Spirit of TEC.
Logan Maher, Great River TEC (Diocese of Springfield, IL)
The Great River TEC community would like to recognize Logan Maher with a 2020 Spirit of TEC Award because of his example to love and trust in the Lord. Logan attended his first TEC, #307, because he saw the impact TEC had made on his brother, and he wanted to know more about it. He has been on three TECs and one Quest. Logan believes that the people met on a TEC weekend don’t just become friends, they become family. When a youth goes on a TEC, he wants them to find God and grow closer to Him, just like he did. Logan says TEC changed his life for the better, and he wants others to experience that also. In June of 2018, Logan suffered a broken neck in a diving accident. A friend had this to say about Logan: “He has a good spirit and strong faith that will get him through anything life throws at him.” Logan’s involvement in the TEC program has been a blessing to those who know him, and his perseverance is a trait admired by many. His faith and trust in God Truly make him worthy of the Spirit of TEC Award.
Brittany Cermak, Northcoast Spirit TEC (Diocese of Cleveland, OH)
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. This is how all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
Brittany Cermak loves through the joy of her spirit that makes people feel welcome and that they belong. It is not just around TEC that she interacts with love and joy, but throughout her daily life. Brittany has truly shown what it means to go forth in every aspect of her life. Everyday she generously shares her love, faith, and enthusiasm with others. She has been very active in the TEC community, working many TECs, serving in leadership positions for multiple weekends, and volunteering to work the TEC booth at the FEST and also volunteers with her parish’s youth group. Outside the traditional Church walls, this young woman has devoted so much of her time to help people become the best version of themselves through her business. If one word was used to describe her and your interaction with her, it would be JOY! She has an incredible way of making everyone feel welcome, whether it's at their first TEC meeting, a TECite being unsure about the start of the weekend, or someone wearied by health problems and needing to hear, “You can do this! You are not alone.” If you have spent any time in the TEC community, then chances are you have probably heard this person walk up to you and say ,“Hello, Friend!” She really makes it a point to know everyone on a personal level and works everyday to build the kingdom of God by spreading the Joy she has for Him. For these reasons, she truly embodies the spirit of TEC, and it is an honor for NCS TECto present the 2020 Spirit of TEC award to Brittany Cermak.
Kevin Kess, Northcoast Spirit TEC (Diocese of Cleveland, OH)
“There is one ONLY THING to do here below: to love Jesus, to win souls for Him so that He may be loved. Let us seize with jealous care every least opportunity of self sacrifice. Let us refuse Him nothing - He does so want our love!” - St Thérèse of Lisieux
A strong, yet humble, husband, father, friend, and mentor, Kevin Kess lives his life with a servant’s heart, sharing this cloistered nun’s love for Jesus and passion to bring souls to know God as he lives out his own vocation! His wife shared, “He never really loved public speaking, but felt he could provide the most help to others by showing and praying for them. I know he has definitely done that for me and our family in our marriage.” Whenever there is a job that needs to be done, Kevin is willing to lend a hand along with his creative energy and ideas - from serving on weekends to the TEC board, the TEC community has been blessed with his talents. Kevin takes the time to meet people where they are and invites them to know the Lord. His commitment literally inspires others. Although he would never ask for this award, and probably he cannot believe that he is even the recipient, he, nonetheless, is totally deserving. Yes, it is in giving, which he excels at, that we receive and yet, we also have to receive... therefore Northcoast Spirit TEC is honored to present the 2020 Spirit of TEC Award to Kevin Kess.
Patrick Hyland, Northcoast Spirit TEC (Diocese of Cleveland, OH)
“Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will and being just what God wants us to be.” - St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Patrick Hyland truly seeks holiness through his every action and encounter, both in the TEC community and outside it. Boldly embracing his faith, he strives to bring others closer to Christ through his way of life. His involvement in Northcoast Spirit TEC, working retreat weekends and serving as a teen representative on the TEC board, is one way he is committed to serving the Church and sharing his faith with his peers and the community. In his everyday life, he lives the Spirit of TEC through exemplifying the joy of the Gospel and rooting his life in sincere prayer. At St. Ignatius, Patrick was one of the co-presidents of the Ignatians for Life club and could be found every Wednesday saying the rosary for the end of abortion. He accepts God’s grace and uses his gifts to bring the Paschal Mystery to life and share his love for Christ with the world. Always seeking truth and choosing to do what’s right, even when it is not easy, his holiness is an inspiration to so many people, in the TEC community and beyond, to seek holiness and an authentic relationship with Christ themselves. For these reasons and so many countless others, the TEC community is honored to present the 2020 Spirit of TEC award to Patrick Hyland!
