St. Thomas More High School is proud to announce that Mr. Kevin Hermening will address our school community on February 16, 2017, at 1:55pm. Hermening was the youngest of the 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days during the Iran Hostage Crisis, which was depicted in the Academy Award-winning film Argo. Members of the community are cordially invited to attend this presentation.

In his presentation, “Liberty and Leadership,” Hermening will provide a personal glimpse into a difficult time in our nation’s history, sharing his experiences in captivity, his views on Iran’s present leadership, and the challenges the US faces in its dealings with Iran and the Middle East.

“Mr. Hermening embodies what it means to be a leader,” St. Thomas More Principal Nicholas Kelly said. “He has endured things in his life that most people cannot fathom. His resilience and commitment to his community and country are truly remarkable.”

A native of Oak Creek, Hermening served 13 years in the US Marine Corps. He is the recipient of the US State Department’s Award for Valor, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the nation’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded by the Department of Defense. He now owns Hermening Financial Group, a financial services firm with four offices across Wisconsin, and remains an active volunteer in the community.

“Not only does Mr. Hermening teach about a pivotal event in our nation’s history,” Kelly continued, “but his powerful message teaches us about honor, dignity, and respect. Mr. Hermening’s presentation coincides with St. Thomas More’s mission to transform our students into responsible, mature young adults that are servant leaders in our communities.”

Hermening’s presentation is sponsored by St. Thomas More’s Center for Servant Leadership and Civic Engagement. Established in 2016 in partnership with the EveryDayGood Foundation, the Center for Servant Leadership integrates into the everyday academic curriculum, stressing societal values, such as humility, wisdom, honor, reflection, and community. The Center utilizes guest speakers, case studies of successful leaders, mentoring of grade school students, local and international service opportunities, and group discussions to force students out of their comfort zone and transform them into community-driven servant leaders.

About St. Thomas More High School

Located in Milwaukee’s historic Bay View neighborhood, St. Thomas More High School educates over 500 students in grades nine through 12. Emphasizing academic excellence and innovative project-based learning, St. Thomas More strives to nurture the whole student: spiritually, ethically, intellectually, emotionally, and physically, while encouraging students of all backgrounds to pursue their intellectual, professional, and spiritual interests.

For more information about St. Thomas More High School, please visit www.tmore.org.