In the spring of 1974, Cindy Seppala (née Kwiatkowski) turned her tassel as a West Catholic graduate. On May 21, 2024, she was delighted to see her own niece graduate as a Falcon exactly 50 years later. Senior Natalie Kwiatkowski said when it came time to decide between public high school or attending West Catholic, her aunt’s love of the school helped sway her. “My Aunt Cindy was a helpful influence on my decision because she loved her time at West Catholic so much, and I have always admired her.”
As Cindy reflected on the last 50 years, she spoke of her gratitude for the formation she received from West Catholic. Her studies prepared her to pursue nursing and have a meaningful 45-year career at Butterworth Hospital. Beyond her intellectual growth during high school, she is most grateful for her faith formation. “My religion is very dear to me,” she stated. Her world religions course with Mr. Ross Hoffman is particularly memorable. Cindy said she found herself drawing on her knowledge from that coursework as she cared for patients from varied faith backgrounds.
Cindy, who still keeps up with some of her high school friends, fondly remembers having fun with classmates at Friday night football games when they were held at Houseman Field. “I think I went to all of them!” she said proudly. Sports have played a special role in Natalie’s high school life too. Her favorite part of being a Falcon has been playing varsity soccer all four years. “Soccer is so much fun, and it has greatly helped me grow as a leader,” she remarked.
While Cindy may have influenced Natalie to become a Falcon, she laughed: “I couldn’t quite convince her to go into nursing next year!” Natalie plans to spread her wings at Butler University and is considering a degree in accounting. “West Catholic has definitely prepared me for life after graduation,” she said. “I got a great education and gained a lot of skills. I’m excited for what’s to come!”
Cindy looks forward to seeing many classmates at their milestone 50-year class reunion!
Class of 1974 Reunion:
Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 6 p.m. Mass, 7-11 p.m.
West Catholic High School MAK
After Mass, enjoy appetizers by Distinctive Catering. Bring your own beverages. Check for updates on Facebook: GR West Catholic Class of 1974 Reunion. For more information, please contact Gina (Kuhn) Armstrong at gina@fellowshipmuskegon.org or Mary (Jo Masters) Czarnecki at czarnemj@att.net.
