As part of the final faculty and staff meeting for the 2018-2019 school year, an awards ceremony was held on Friday, May 24.
Last The family of the late Jim Michals joined the faculty and staff of Saint Ignatius to receive the first-ever Carfagna Family A.M.D.G. Award on his behalf. Michals passed away on Thursday, February 7, after a battle with cancer.
The Carfagna Family A.M.D.G. Award will be presented annually to the Saint Ignatius coach, administrator, or teacher who has done the most to advance the ideal of Faith on the Field and in the Fieldhouses by helping our students achieve
cura personalis and growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ. This individual will have made extraordinary faith-filled contributions to Saint Ignatius High School varsity and/or intramural sports programs.
For many years Michals devoted himself to overseeing open gym time during ninth period and building up the after-school intramurals program. He and Arthur often served as the “watchmen” of Murphy Field House while they rode the stationery bikes on the indoor track. The motto of “Everybody Plays” that benefactor Jerry Murphy ’36 instilled when the field house was built was a priority for Jim, who wanted students not playing a varsity sport to have opportunities to compete.
“Boy, he fought for [Murphy Gym] to be open every day,” Arthur said. “He wanted it for the kids after school until 5 o’clock, and then teams could come in after.”
Running intramurals meant that, for many years, Michals stayed after school until at least 5 p.m. to run the games—including high-profile intramural tournaments—and to protect students’ valuable open gym time. For his outstanding work with extracurricular activities, Michals received the Fr. O’Reilly Award in 2003.
The Carfagna Family A.M.D.G. Award is named in honor of Rita & Peter A. Carfagna ’71 and their family for their leadership in athletic philanthropy and promotion of Ignatian spiritual development.