Lion Legacy

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  • Dave DeGroot - 26 Years of Service

    For more than 25 years at Bellarmine, Dave DeGroot has inspired Lions to approach science with curiosity, courage and purpose. A beloved teacher of Chemistry and Biology, and Director of the Marine Chemistry Program, Dave has created learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom, from experiential research and SCUBA fieldwork in Puget Sound to transformative scientific expeditions in Hawaii. Named Bellarmine's E. Kelley Teacher of the Year in 2022, he has helped students discover not only a love of science, but also confidence in their ability to make meaningful contributions to the world. 

    “I hope students remember my classroom as a place where learning was hands-on, a little fun, a little silly at times, full of curiosity… a place where it was safe to struggle, to grow, and to be proud of the work and effort they put into it. If they carry forward the sense that someone believed in them and walked beside them, then that is the legacy that matters most to me,” Dave said.

    What first drew Dave to Jesuit education was its commitment to forming the whole person in service to others. Throughout his career, he has lived that mission by meeting students where they are academically, emotionally and spiritually. Through the Marine Chemistry program, he has encouraged students to embrace the unknown, ask meaningful questions and persevere through the challenges of authentic scientific research. More than teaching scientific concepts, he has helped young people develop resilience, inquiry, reflection and a sense of responsibility for our common home. 

    Bellarmine has also been deeply intertwined with Dave's own family journey. Alongside his wife, Jody B’83, who serves as the Vice Principal for Formation and Professional Development, he spent years living out a shared mission. Watching their children, as well as nieces and nephews, grow and thrive through the Bellarmine experience reinforced his belief in the power of Jesuit education. For Dave, Bellarmine has never been simply a workplace; it has been a community that helped shape both his family and his vocation. “My relationships have been the heart of everything at Bellarmine,” he reflects. For him, the connections he has built with students and colleagues have been the core of his experience and the source of his deepest gratitude.

    You are invited to honor his extraordinary legacy through a gift to Bellarmine's Marine Chemistry Program, the program closest to his heart. Your support will help future Lions pursue research and scholarship, field experiences and opportunities for discovery that embody the spirit of stewardship and service that Dave has championed throughout his career.

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  • Ginny White - Honoring 31 Years of Service

    For 31 years, Ginny White has shared her love of French language and culture with generations of Lions, and inspired students to explore new countries. Since joining the faculty in 1995, she has taught all levels of French (and one year of Russian) while also coordinating the school’s French language immersion trips. 

    Ginny’s passion for French began when she was 14, and deepened when she traveled to France two years later with her classmates, an experience that inspired a lifelong appreciation for language, travel and cultural connection. During her time at Bellarmine, she especially loved watching students grow in confidence and conscience through their own immersion experiences abroad. “Students learn so much about themselves and where they come from, as well as about another culture through our trips. They often realize we have so many things in common, especially our core values,” White shared.

    Beyond the classroom, White found deep meaning and inspiration in Bellarmine’s Jesuit mission of service and care for others. “I’m so grateful to Jennifer O’Loughlin for asking me if I would like to be part of Encounter Crew. There is so much vulnerability and joy on display during Encounter,” Ginny said. Her work on Encounter and Pilgrimage allowed her to see students grow in their faith and relationships with others.

    She expresses deep gratitude to her colleagues and the Bellarmine community for their shared mission and for making her career so meaningful and rewarding. She has a special love for her World Language colleagues. “Whether we would put it this way or not, all of us know that part of our mission is promoting a more peaceful and just world.”

    Ginny also cherished sharing her Bellarmine experience with her two daughters, who are both Bellarmine graduates. As she prepares for retirement, Ginny says she will miss the students most, their energy, humor, and the relationships built over years together in the French program. She hopes students remember not only what they learned in class, but also the friendships they formed along the way. “You are the most amazing group of people, faculty, staff, and students,” she said. “I will miss you.”

    If you would like to honor Ginny’s Lion Legacy, click here to make a gift to support student scholarships for international language immersion trips.

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  • Cindy Davis - Honoring 42 Years of Service

    For more than 40 years, Cindy Davis has been a steadfast presence at Bellarmine, shaping the lives of generations of Lions through her leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to the school's Catholic, Jesuit mission. Since joining Bellarmine in 1984, Cindy has served in numerous roles, including teacher, department chair, Dean of Students, Director of Student Activities, interim President and Principal, always placing students at the center of her work. Her leadership has been defined not by her title, but by her daily presence and ability to make every student feel valued and supported.

    Throughout her career, Cindy has embodied Bellarmine's mission of forming young men and women for and with others. Whether greeting students in the hallways, attending games performances or competitions, or working alongside student leaders, she has fostered a culture of belonging where students are encouraged to become their best selves. One of her greatest joys has been witnessing students arrive as freshmen, filled with possibility, and watching them walk across the stage at graduation as thoughtful, compassionate leaders prepared to make a difference in the world.

    A passionate advocate for access and opportunity, Cindy has worked tirelessly to ensure that a Bellarmine education is available to students from all backgrounds. She has championed tuition assistance, believing deeply that every student who desires a Catholic, Jesuit education should have the opportunity to experience it.  “Bellarmine’s mission is about accessibility,” Cindy shared. “It’s about knowing who we are and being a school that is welcoming to all.”

    We invite our community to honor her extraordinary contributions through a gift to Bellarmine's Lion Fund for Tuition Assistance. Through your support, future generations of students will continue to experience the sense of belonging, opportunity and transformational education that Cindy has worked so passionately to provide throughout her remarkable career.
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