  The
picture of Kevin Cherilla '91 unfurling the JCU pennant atop Mount Kilimanjaro at approximately
10:30 am 3 weeks ago (Jun 15) is really not that unusual. Summitting
the African continent's highest peak was only the latest in a series
of expeditions in which he has taken the Blue-and-Gold to unprecedented
heights -- literally. But this time his team of climbers included
another Carroll graduate, Kristen Johnson '01, and their association
can best be described as "accidental."
"Jenny (spouse Jennifer Kinder '91) and I were driving in the Phoenix
area when I discovered my parallel parking skills were a little rusty,"
explained Kevin, who's considerably more adept at judging vertical
distances. "I backed into the car behind us, damaging the bumper.
We left a note including our apology and phone number.
"Several hours later I received a call from a 216 area code phone.
It was Kristen. Not only was she a JCU grad but she also went to Kenston
High School where I first taught and coached after JCU. Kristen was
in middle school during the two years I was at Kenston. Even more
ironic was that I discovered she was an avid hiker and always had
an ambition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, where I was already planning
to lead an expedition this year. So I invited Kristen and her fiancé
to join my team."
At the very time Kristen Johnson was receiving her JCU diploma in
May 2001 Kevin Cherilla was playing a key role as base camp manager
for one of the most extraordinary Mount Everest expeditions in history
-- when Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind mountaineer to summit
the world's tallest peak. Click on the images & captions below for reports on
that and other adventures. |
