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Since the Sampons’ retirement at the end of the 2015-16
School Year, the CMH Art program has been taken over
by Andrea Skyberg and Connor Balistreri. Go to
www.catholicmemorial.net/page/student-life/the-arts/art.

MIKE & KATHY SAMPON EXCELLENCE IN ART FUND

Jon ’81 & Julie Smart ’81 Balicki

Mike Sampon began his career teaching art at It takes $25,000 to establish a formal endowment at CMH. Once the endowment is
Catholic Memorial in 1973. Four years later, in established, that will ensure that the Mike and Kathy Sampon Art Excellence Award
1977, he founded the Crusaders Fencing Team is paid to at least one student each year for perpetuity. As the fund grows, so will the
and met new art teacher Kathleen Hanlon (who amount that is distributed each year.
also would work for 15 years in CMH’s Development
Office). Every CMH grad since the late Seventies “I hear time and time again the stories of the impact that Mike and Kathy had on
probably knows what happened next: The couple someone, or their children. Once we raise the money to establish this endowment, I
fell in love, got married and by the time they anticipate that within the next five years, this award will be given to 2-3 students each
retired at the end of the 2015-16 academic year, year. I’m grateful that Jon and Julie have stepped forward to make the first donation
they were known simply as “Mr. and Mrs.” As the to put this fundraising effort into motion,” says Jessica Mulligan.
end of the 2015-16 academic year approached, “It’s really not about me and Jon,” Julie says. “It’s about the Sampons and the effect
two of their former students, whose four children they had on helping students tap into artistic talents they didn’t even know they had.
also benefited from learning from the Sampons, I don’t think we really realized the true impact of that until our own children took the
knew they needed to do something to keep Mike Sampons’ classes.”
and Kathy’s legacy alive.
The annual award serves as a fitting tribute to two teachers who spent a combined 82
“Mr. and Mrs. were about more than just teaching years making Catholic Memorial a better place — and their students better people.
art. They created a positive atmosphere in the
classroom, which they used to influence students “Art is a critical component of the education experience,” Jon says. “Without Mr. and
to work hard, and they built a strong rapport with Mrs., there would be no art program at Catholic Memorial, and we don’t want them
students that encouraged creative expression,” to be forgotten.”
says Julie Smart who married Jon Balicki; both
from the Class of ‘81. For information about how to contribute to the Mike and Kathy Sampon Excellence
in Art Fund, please visit:
“Not everything is black and white, and they HTTPS://CMHSWI.EJOINME.ORG/SAMPONFUND
helped kids understand the value of thinking
outside of the box, bringing a fresh perspective to
something and sharing ideas in a positive
environment,” says Jon Balicki, a longtime
business executive who recognizes the value of
creative expression in his own work. “We want to
keep that legacy alive.”

Through collaboration with CMH Development
Director, Jessica Mulligan, and the Sampons, Jon
and Julie determined that they wanted to help
establish an endowed fund that will distribute
proceeds each year to be given in the form of a
merit-based art scholarship. This scholarship will
support the tuition of a current art student
selected by the art faculty.

Kathy Hanlon-Sampon and Mike Sampon at the
8 Innovation Wing Ribbon Cutting in February 2016.