Ziegler Family Scholarship

Pius X played a role in the education of several members of the Ziegler family. The school was a major focus of the family for many years. Guy Ziegler was a combat veteran in the WWII as a pilot in the Air Force. After a 22 year military career he obtained a degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. During his sons attendance at Pius he was on the booster club, attended most of his sons’ events and even physically helped in the construction of the football stadium in the 1960s. For the remainder of his life he was a financial advisor in Phoenix, AZ.

Rosemary Ziegler served in WWII as well but with a company that built military aircraft stateside. Three of her four sons attended Pius X and at times she was there so often she felt she attended as well. Her youngest son Steve attended school in Phoenix after their move to Arizona in 1968. Transporting her sons to events, helping out with school projects and, along with her husband Guy, there were few parents who were more involved in the school. Rosemary still lives in Phoenix and, at 93 years young, is still active with her own alterations business.

Mick (‘64) was a standout athlete, lettered in four sports and set a school record for the total number of varsity letters. His athletic career continued as a starting receiver for the Cornhuskers under Bob Devaney and assistant Tom Osborne. He went on to military service as a pilot and then into the commercial airlines industry with a 29 year career with American Airlines as a Captain. Mick is retired but stays active remodeling homes and lives with his wife Cyndie outside Fort Worth, Texas. Mick was in the first group of inductees into the Pius Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dave (’67) lettered in three sports at Pius and played a role in starting and being on the first tennis team. He also was involved in student government, band, and was Lt. Governor of Boys State and presided over the Unicameral for a day. He studied for the priesthood through college before receiving a masters degree from Arizona State and Ph.D from the University of Oregon. His forty-five year career as a psychologist has resulted in being an international expert on trauma and brain development and in publishing nine books. Dave and Joyce continue their service work in the mountains of Oregon.

Joyce Thompson Ziegler (’67) came from Sacred Heart parish to attend Pius where she met Dave. She went on to receive her bachelors degree in social work at UNL. Joyce married Dave in 1972 in Arizona where she worked at a research medical clinic for many years. They moved to Oregon and founded Jasper Mountain, a home for abused children in 1982. She continues to live on the grounds and work with the children every day as the supervisor of support services. Joyce and Dave received the Pius Outstanding Alumni Award in 2009 and the 2010 Human Rights Award in the State of Oregon.

John (’68) played football at Pius and had many friends in his three years at the School. John left Pius and received his bachelors degree from Northern Arizona University. After being in the Peace Corp he went into the business world with a number of companies. Today he lives in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife Teena and he works in information technology for a division of Maricopa County government.

Excerpts from student thank you letters

“I would like to thank you for your generous donation to the help of my education. Since I was young, my education has been one of the most important parts of my life. I am overjoyed for your donation because it helps me continue that dream without putting pressure on my family. I love my family and I am so thankful that they have sent me to a Catholic school with all the great education it offers…I have 5 siblings and this donation lessens the burden on tuition and gives the money to my siblings to have for their education.

Pius has been an amazing experience! I love the teachers and the staff. I have made so many friends as a freshman and I am now a sophomore. I attribute this to the atmosphere this school offers. The Catholic center to our everyday life at Pius gives me friends that think the same way, teachers that understand struggles and care for us students, and a very positive atmosphere of respect between students too. To leave this school would mean leaving everything I love: my education, friends and my teachers. I thank you again for the money to support my education here, allowing me to stay.

Lastly, Pius does a wonderful job with extra-curriculars. I enjoy art and music and Pius offers options for those. I enjoy percussion and I am on the Pius drumline and marching band. I also love running and I participate in track, cross country, and this year I am proud to restart my soccer career.

Thank you again for your donation as a scholarship to my education. Thank you for your personal help to me staying at this school that I love! God bless you and your family…”

“I would like to start this letter off by telling you how much I appreciate this financial opportunity you have given me. My family is very broken up right now, and we aren’t the most financially stable, so this money will help pay for my education to be at Pius X High School. My family has had many losses this year, including my grandma…and my cousin…what you have done for me really has made my year a lot better.

I live with my grandpa, my mom, and my little brother and sister, and my dog. My grandpa has taught me all about the Catholic faith and was the one who got me to go to Pius. I’m still working on finding Christ, but I know many people are doing that at my age. One thing the Church has taught me over the years is to be thankful for what you have, whether it is a lot, or if it is just a couple of things. I am definitely fortunate in what I have and I am even more thankful for this scholarship.”