Kim DesLauriers, principal of Immaculate Conception School, had two main goals this year during the 442 mile RAGBRAI XXXVII bike ride across the state of Iowa.
He wanted to raise money for his school’s Jim Feeney Scholarship Fund; and not to have to walk his bike across any stretches of the ride.
He achieved both goals. Thanks to the donations he received from supporters and well-wishers, he raised $32,000 for ICS students whose families are having financial trouble this year. And he managed to stay pedaling on his bicycle even over the steepest of western Iowa’s hills.
RAGBRAI stands for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. The cross-state ride began in 1973 by two of the Register newspaper’s reporters. It is not a race, but a seven-day ride across the state from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River. Riders all begin in the same town each morning, then ride to the destination town to spend the night.
The RAGBRAI has bragging rights as the longest, largest, and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world.
“There were 18,000 bikes in this,” DesLauriers said. “It was just unbelievable. It was like an enormous moving party. It was an incredible thing.”
DesLauriers had an inauspicious time training for the RAGBRAI, though. He practiced by riding all over town, on the I & M Canal trail, over the river bridge, through Hatcher’s Woods for its hills, and even at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
One day toward the end of June, though, something got caught between his wheel and the fork, bringing his bike to a complete stop and throwing him over the handlebars. He gashed his face pretty badly around his mouth and nose and had to have stitches, putting him out of commission for several days. But he healed up enough to make the long-anticipated trip to Iowa for the ride. DesLauriers said he was a little overwhelmed the first day when the magnitude of the ride dawned upon him.
“You have to think to yourself, what have I gotten into?” he said. “But once you get on your bike, with 18,000 other riders around you, you can’t turn and go the other way. Once you get started, you have to say well, I’m into it.”
The first leg of the trip was in western Iowa, which DesLauriers said was very hilly.
“You’re not used to the hills,” he said. “The first time I went downhill, I thought, ‘Man, oh man,’”
DesLauriers was coasting or even braking down the first hill, and then he saw that other more experienced riders were actually pedaling down the steep hills. He realized why when he started going uphill. You had to really get up speed to get up those hills, he said, and you did that on the downhill slopes.
As he took the hills one by one, he realized he wasn’t too bad
DesLauriers was going to camp in a tent at night, but his wife, Trudy, ended up going. She found motels in nearby towns. She would pick him up and take him to the motels at the end of each day, then back to the towns to start the next day.
On the ride, he would stop every 10 miles or so to stretch and to get something to drink. Farmers, boy scout troops, church groups and others would have stands set up that sold everything from water, lemonade, coffee and Gatorade to corn, chicken sandwiches, pancakes, pie, ice cream and smoothies.
DesLauriers said he ate mostly bananas and a lot of water and Gatorade. He like it when he found a Casey’s where he could get a slice of pizza and a doughnut.
“I always found a place for a donut,” he said.
It was a long week, but a very interesting one, he said. Riding every day got to be a little repetitive, but DesLauriers said he found the people fascinating. There were people from all over, he said. It was a whole study in human nature.
There were those who rode on a team for a cause, such as the LiveStrong Team and the Army Team. There was a man riding in tandem with his teenage handicapped son in front. There were cancer support groups and one man who rode with two large speakers on the back of his bike that played polka music the whole way. One woman strapped on a boom box that played Johnny Cash songs.
One team wore white clothes with big black spots. They were Team Cow. A man rode a recumbent bicycle that was shaped like a banana, and he wore a banana costume. DesLauriers’ wife saw another man riding a 1941 one-speed Schwinn.
“I don’t know how he made it up those hills,” he said.
DesLauriers enjoyed meeting the townspeople. He met one 94-year-old man, Maurice Stamps, in one tiny Iowa town who was sitting watching the stream of bikes go by. Stamps was a World War II hero and had written three books about his experiences overseas. He used to be a school principal, like DesLauriers, and football coach.
“It was just a real adventure,” he said.
DesLauriers wants to thank all those who donated to the cause.
“Jim Feeney loved the school, an he loved everything about Morris,” DesLauriers said. “That people were so generous to this is an honor to Jim. I hope other people will be willing to do it with me next year. We need to move into something that will involve more people and continue the great spirit of Jim Feeney and of the school”

The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2009 of Immaculate Conception School was held during a 7 P.M. Liturgy on Friday, May 22nd. The graduates processed into the church to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” played by Mrs. Kim Struck. Father Richard Smith was the celebrant at the Mass. Deacon Bob Stansberry assisted him.
Danny Friend presented the first reading, and Gabby Bonic read the second reading. The intercessions were read by Maggie Roth, Jason Matteson, and Colin Finnegan. Emily Burich and Brandon Durkin carried and covered the altar with the cloth the class made for their First Communion Mass when they were in second grade. Gift bearers at the presentation were Reese Sobol, Brenna Feeney, Jake Capko, Drew Aldrich and Annie Wilson. Principal, Mr. Kim DesLauriers, presented the graduates to those present and Father Smith awarded them their diplomas. Mrs. Pat Kolotka, president of the ICS School Board, assisted him. Mr. Paul Crisman, representative of American Legion Post #294, presented the American Legion Awards to Craig Claire and Madison Rodgers.
Mr. DesLauriers presented American Citizenship Awards to Jake Capko, Jackie DesLauriers, Danny Friend, Kendall Korte, Alex Magers, Mike Roed, Maggie Roth, Reese Sobol, and Annie Wilson. Kade Bashor, Jake Capko, Craig Claire, Tim Gile, Kendall Korte, Alex Magers, Rachel Neuhalfen, Sean Phillips, Madison Rodgers, and Maggie Roth received the President’s Education Award for having maintained at least a 3.5 GPA and scoring in the 85th percentile on standardized tests their seventh and eighth grade years.
Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics certificates were presented to those with the highest math average in each of the two math groups. Kate Keegan received it for the pre-algebra group and Rachel Neuhalfen for the algebra group. Certificates were presented to Steve Bielecki and Brogan Connor for having perfect attendance their eighth grade year, to Jason Matteson for being present every day in eighth grade and only missing four days of
Mr. DesLauriers recognized the members of the class who had been on the honor roll. These students were Drew Aldrich, Kade Bashor, Steve Bielecki, Ryan Borgstrom, Jake Capko, Craig Claire, Brogan Connor, Jake Crowther, Jackie DesLauriers, Brandon Durkin, Brenna Feeney, Danny Friend, Madeline Funk, Tim Gile, Brian Henry, Kate Keegan, Kendall Korte, Grace Kumor, Alex Magers, Jason Matteson, Carly Mickelson, Rachel Neuhalfen, Christian Niewinski, Talia Persico, Sean Phillips, Madison Rodgers, Mike Roed, Maggie Roth, Reese Sobol, Mason Soper, Logan Steffes, Nick Verchimak and Annie Wilson.
In his remarks, Mr. DesLauriers recognized the twenty families of the class of 2009 who will no longer have a child attending Immaculate Conception school. He also reminded those in attendance that this is the largest class to graduate from ICS.
Mass servers were Molli Aldrich and Kate Friend. Ushers were Ian Bashor, Jana Capko, Justin Crowther, Bridget Gile, Chris Gualandi, Sarah Roth, and Griffin Sobol. They are brothers and sisters of members of the graduating class. Cantors for the Mass were Erica Gualandi, Grace Kumor, Claudia Morera, Carly Mickelson, Madison Rodgers, and Maggie Roth.
Member of the ICS Class of 2009 are Drew Aldrich, Kade Bashor, Steven Bielecki, Gabrielle Bonic, Ryan Borgstrom, Emily Burich, Jake Capko, Craig Claire, Brogan Connor, Jacob Crowther, Jacqueline Ellis DesLauriers, Brandon Durkin, Brenna Feeney, Colin Finnegan, Daniel Friend, Madeline Marie Funk, Timothy Gile, Erica Nicole Gualandi, Brian Allan Henry, Katharine Keegan, Kendall Korte, Grace Kumor, Philip Kumor, Alexander Magers, Jason Matteson, Carly Mickelson, Anthonee Monson, Claudia Lucia Morera, Rachel Neuhalfen, Christian Niewinski, Benjamin Ortiz, Talia Persico, Sean Phillips, Madison Rodgers, Michael Roed, Maggie Marie Roth, Sheldon Reese Sobol II, Mason Soper, Logan James Steffes, Nicholas John Verchimak, Andrea Wilson.

Many of our alumni members received their Catholic education at I.C.S. when there was either no tuition or the tuition fees were minimal. Immaculate Conception School continues to thrive despite the downturn in the economy and today’s high costs. This year, a parish family with one child attending I.C.S. on a full time basis is paying $3,109. A family of four pays $5668. Several of our families are currently unable to pay all or part of their tuition and fees. Immaculate Conception School exists to provide the highest possible quality Catholic education to all its students. Catholic education at I.C.S. should never be available only to the wealthy.
In order to fill budget gaps, I.C.S. continues to rely on the generosity of its current and former families, its alumni, and its many other friends. The Annual School Appeal begins on January 30 and 31. Your generous response to this appeal is very important to the school’s continued success. If you are currently a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, you will find a School Collection envelope in your envelope packet. Your donation may be sent to the school or placed in the weekly offering collection.
If you do not have an envelope for your donation, you may wish to use the enclosed envelope. If you wish to make your donation in honor or memory of a loved one, please indicate that by using the bottom of this appeal. The Annual Appeal is a wonderful opportunity for our many alumni members to help current I.C.S. families. May God bless you for your consideration of this appeal.