Alum's Gift Recognizes St. X Experience

Matt Howland '86 is married to Jennifer and has four sons who are Bombers—Forest '15, Max '17, Henry '18 and Jake '21. Matt was president of his class while a student at St. X and is currently president of Howland Logistics. Very early in Matt's career, he established a life insurance policy with St. Xavier as owner and beneficiary so that he can impact members of the Long Blue Line for generations to come.

Why did you choose to make a planned gift to St. Xavier? Why did you choose to utilize life insurance, in particular?
I chose to make a planned gift because my St. Xavier experience was so meaningful to me. Truth be told, it was also in hopes that the nightmares that I had that I hadn't actually graduated would go away, a sort of penance, if you will. I always knew I wanted to give to St. Xavier what I could afford, but early in my career that was not going to amount to much. Therefore, I chose a life insurance policy because it would pay out far more than any money I had saved.

What would you say to a fellow alum who is thinking about making a planned gift to St. Xavier?
Don't wait! It is amazing how time flies and how quickly we got to the point where the insurance premium I was paying started being funded by the policy itself. I have enjoyed being a part of getting named endowments started for two great men: my father and my classmate, Steve Shoop. These efforts get people together for a common cause: helping those students who could use some assistance through the remembrance of special men and women. But why wait for the passing of a loved one when you can make a difference right now with a relatively small monthly premium?

What was the impact that St. Xavier has had for your life?
Next to my family, St. Xavier has been the biggest impact on my life. My Mom "made" my brothers and me go to St. Xavier, and it is by far the best thing she could have ever done for me. I will never be able to thank her enough. I have been blessed to be around smart people, but none more intelligent than those I met at St. Xavier. I have been fortunate to be in competitive environments, but I was always prepared with what I experienced in my four years at St. Xavier. The people I met at St. Xavier are many of my best friends today. Nobody can make me laugh and cry the way they can. The bond is unbreakable and forever.

Were there any individual teachers or administrators at St. Xavier who made a particular impact or impression on you?
Many faculty members have had a lifelong impact on me, but I don't think a day goes by that I don't think of "Hardball spoken here" Tom Meyer. His ability to "connect" with every student was a gift from God. Any student you speak to felt no one understood them more than TM. That kind of connection is what every teenage young man strives for. While I cringed when I was called to his office by Brother Martin, I also would go there on my own when seeking advice.

Why have your sons attended St. Xavier?
Like many parents, Jen and I want the best for our sons. There is no better education in the world than a Jesuit education. St. Xavier does it better than any and has done a fantastic job in enabling each of my sons to have their "own experience" at St. Xavier. The St. Xavier environment encouraged our sons to strive for the Magis, and each son has discovered their unique gifts from God through their own experiences at St. Xavier.

What is the St. Xavier Advantage to you?
Teaching young men how to live as a "Man for Others." It all starts with the faculty and administration. They clearly lead by example, one more giving than the next. Any time I am with my classmates, the dominating topic of our time at St. Xavier isn't team wins or losses, GPAs, SAT scores or college acceptances. The conversation always goes to a story involving a faculty member; TM, Wilkes, P.J. Klems, Mr. Holler, Fr. Brad, Mr. Hendrick, Ms. Conlon, Fr. Chuck, Mr. Sandquist, Ms. Mascari, Fr. Paul, Murph, Mr. Marchal, Coach Bal, Mr. Koral, Coach Rasso, Coach Berning, Chops, Fr. Bill, and of course Ms. Rita and all the caring lunch ladies.

Now, when I listen to my sons talk about their time at St. Xavier, the same is true with them and their friends. They speak of Coach Telles, Mr. Eby, Mr. Rieselman, Mr. Villing, Mr. Dehring, Ms. Pateras, Coach Specht, Ms. Schuermann, Coach T, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Clapp, Ms. Benson, Mr. Schreiner, Coach Nardini, Ms. Collins, Mr. Beluan, Ms. Yauss, Coach Mac, Mr. Weisbrod, Ms. Doyle, Coach Banker, Mr. Bleh, Ms. Amanda and all the lunch ladies. Of course, I missed many caring faculty members, but that gives you a reason to tell a story about them to your classmates and sons. The list of faculty members that are living and teaching a life of "Men and Women for Others" goes on as long as the "Blue line" itself. It MUST, because, without them, there would never be a "Long Blue Line" (and this coming from a barely "C" student, imagine what the smart guys would say about the faculty). God Bless, Go Bombers!

Like Matt Howland, you, too, can recognize the impact St. X had on your life by making a future gift to support our students. Contact one of our Major and Planned Gifts Officers to learn about your giving options.