Lois Van Boening steps down as director of Aquinas Academy summer enrichment program

Although it was a week away from my family, I immediately fell in love with the program and with the family of campers, counselors and teachers.”

Lois Van Boening, long-time director of Aquinas Academy for the Diocese of Jefferson City

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“One Thing I know, everybody’s got a seed to sow.”

Lois Van Boening taught that song each summer for the past 22 years to students of the diocese’s Aquinas Academy.

Again and again, she’s seen those seeds take root and point to an impressive harvest.

“I am humbled to see the work God has accomplished through me in my role as a Catholic educator and as the director of this meaningful endeavor,” said Mrs. Van Boening, a Bowling Green native who stepped down this summer after a decade at the helm of the diocese’s Aquinas Academy.

“I truly believe what I have told so many young people over the years: God has given each of us many gifts and talents,” she stated.

Sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Schools Office, held on the campus of the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico and staffed by teachers and young counselors, Aquinas Academy is a summer enrichment program for Catholic school students.

Participants who have completed the sixth or seventh grade qualify for the program based on high test scores and principal recommendations.

The weeklong academy provides academic opportunities and plenty of space for the students to explore their gifts and talents.

“Aquinas Academy was established to provide a special experience for students in the diocese,” said Mrs. Van Boening. “I’m not aware of another diocese that has this specific type of program.”

She believes these opportunities are especially important for a rural diocese such as this one, where most of the Catholic schools are miles away from each other and have relatively small enrollments.

The camp-life format is slightly similar to the Missouri Scholars Academy at the University of Missouri in that students take a major class and a minor class consisting of material above and beyond what they learn in their own schools.

But, the major benefit of the week is not the material students learn.

“It is the experience of being with other students who are of similar academic ability,” said Mrs. Van Boening.

It’s often the first time that these very bright students feel they fit in.

During the closing ceremony of the week, students are asked to share something they learned during the week about their own gifts and talents.

“Many say they learned that they are good at making friends with others,” Mrs. Van Boening noted.

The students form lasting relationships while learning, working and playing together.

“The week passes very quickly but creates an experience that is life-changing for them,” she said.

Growing as a family

Mrs. Van Boening’s relationship with Aquinas Academy has been an important part of her experience as a Catholic school educator.

She joined the faculty at St. Clement School in St. Clement in 1988, and taught math and music there until 2006.

“During that time, I had the privilege of working for my mother, who was principal for 35 years,” she said.

All four of Mrs. Van Boening’s sons attended school at St. Clement, and all four attended Aquinas Academy — first as “campers” and then as counselors.

The Academy, founded 38 years ago, was originally held on the campus of the former St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Hannibal and moved to the Missouri Military Academy in 2002.

That’s when Mrs. Van Boening began as an instructor for the Academy.

“Although it was a week away from my family, I immediately fell in love with the program and with the family of campers, counselors and teachers,” she said.

Mrs. Van Boening and her family moved in 2006 to St. Charles, in the St. Louis archdiocese, where she became assistant principal of St. Clement of Rome School in Des Peres.

She continued teaching physics and music at Aquinas Academy until 2014, when she took on additional duties as director.

Richard Bahner, longtime math teacher and soccer coach from Sacred Heart School in Sedalia, had been the Aquinas Academy director for many years before that.

“Knowing that he was nearing retirement, he asked me to take the reins as director,” Mrs. Van Boening recalled.

She wasn’t sure about accepting, mainly because of her concern for finding teachers and counselors.

“I needn’t have worried,” she said. “Most teachers and counselors who become part of the Aquinas Academy team remain for many years.”

In good faith

In addition to dedicated educators who share their love of learning and their excellent teaching skills, a group of young people help make Aquinas Academy possible by spending the week as counselors.

“They go above and beyond to make the week memorable for the young people attending,” said Mrs. Van Boening.

Aquinas counselors are on-call at all times during the week — assisting teachers, planning and leading recreational activities, comforting students who are homesick, sharing part of their personal stories at an opening prayer service, and leading night prayer at bedtime.

Many of the traditions and routines of the week have remained the same, “but through the years, there has been an opportunity for an increased emphasis on our Catholic faith,” said Mrs. Van Boening.

That increased emphasis was made possible through the time and talents of Father Paul Clark, who’s now the diocesan vocation director, director of seminarians and chaplain of Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.

Mrs. Van Boening said it was a privilege to watch Fr. Clark’s growth through the lens of Aquinas Academy — first as a camper, then a counselor, followed by his willingness to become a member of the teaching staff.

He did this with the blessing of the diocese while in formation as a seminarian and then as a priest.

“His presence has allowed us to begin every day at the Academy with Mass, centering our daily activities around our faith,” said Mrs. Van Boening.

Fr. Clark also teaches chemistry, which is always one of the most popular choices for Aquinas scholars.

Upon becoming diocesan vocation director and director of seminarians, Fr. Clark asked about the possibility of seminarians serving at Aquinas in some way.

Mrs. Van Boening offered them available positions on staff.

“This opportunity has enriched the experience of the week for students, counselors and teachers as we worked, played and shared meals together,” she stated.

Freedom to explore

Mrs. Van Boening has always appreciated the importance of keeping traditions at Aquinas Academy but also being open to making changes when needed.

She also understood that creating a positive atmosphere allows everyone to thrive.

“In my role as director, I tried to remain grounded in the love of Christ as I started and ended each day with a sense of joy,” she said.

She never found that to be difficult, due to the efforts of the many fine teachers and counselors who have been part of the Aquinas family.

Over the years, she experienced many challenges during Aquinas Academy weeks, but even more blessings.

“Although being director requires many hours of behind-the-scenes work, spending a week of the year with a group of such fine students is well worth the effort,” she said.

She’s learned through the years that the real value of the week is not the actual information learned in class.

“Rather, it’s the freedom and encouragement for students to be able to explore their gifts and talents without fear of being judged by others who do not understand their sheer love of learning,” she stated.

An atmosphere is intentionally created that allows students to feel that they are special and loved by God.

“As director, I emphasized daily that God has given each of them many gifts and talents,” said Mrs. Van Boening. “Using those gifts allows them to grow.”

Her message to all who complete the program is consistent: “We hope that as your life goes on, you continue to discern and see what God has given you, and how you can use those gifts to give back to him and other people.”

She’s confident that Aquinas Academy will continue to flourish through the legacies of tradition and of educators who believe in its mission.

She said being an Aquinas Academy teacher and then a combination teacher-director of the program has been a significant part of her career as a Catholic educator.

“I’m honored to have been part of a program that has made a difference in the lives of so many young people,” she said.