Coach Bemis was best known for developing leaders and believers on the field and in the classroom. As a native to Arizona, Scot had the pleasure of learning from some of the state’s greatest football legends – including Karl Kiefer and Pat Farrell. His ability to motivate and inspire students and players was contagious making his slogan “GET AFTER IT!” – everybody’s mantra.

These qualities helped build the NDP Saints Football and Women’s Soccer programs, which earned the school multiple state championships.

Things changed drastically in September 2011, when Scot discovered a large tumor in his elbow. A few weeks and several tests later, Scot, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer. After a fierce battle, he passed away 4 months later.

Throughout the course of his illness, he was blessed by the loving care of the community and their countless acts of kindness. His family, determined to pay it forward, and bless others in the same way, established the Scot A. Bemis Fund through the Catholic Community Foundation. Its mission is to further Scot’s legacy by supporting the search for a cure for lung cancer and providing scholarships to deserving students.

Sr. Yolanda is a native of Arizona, born and raised in Winslow, AZ. She graduated from Winslow High School and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northern Arizona University. She entered the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1978. Prior to coming to Notre Dame Prep, she taught at SS. Simon & Jude School and at St. Mary’s in Flagstaff, AZ. She also lived in South Africa for 1 yr and then returned to St. Mary’s as Vice-principal and Dean of Discipline for 3 years. Sr. was on the IBVM Provincial Council for 7 years and she has traveled to Mexico, Germany, Ireland, England, Mauritius, Spain, Peru, Kenya, and Canada for international meetings of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She has been in religious life for 44 years, Campus Minister at NDP for 18 years, and in Catholic education for 36 years. Sr. Yo says, “I have loved my time here at NDP. My greatest accomplishment in life has been helping young people to come to know Jesus on a deeper level. I have had the privileged of bringing the KAIROS program to Notre Dame Prep. Anyone who goes on the Kairos retreat comes back a little different. We have had almost 1200 students go through the program. If each of those students helps another to know Jesus better and in turn those help another, I can only imagine what an impact that would have on this world. God is good”.

 Tro Panosian graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory with Summa Cum Laude Honors in May 2011.  During his time at NDP, Tro served as Student Body President, was a member of the 2011 State Championship Soccer Team, and was a recipient of the prestigious Mater Dei Award. Between his junior and senior year, Tro was also elected to the prestigious American Legion Boys Nation program, considered the most respected and selective educational program of government instruction for U.S. high school students. During the week-long summit, he passed symbolic human rights mock-legislation affirming the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide, and met President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House. Past graduates of the American Legion Boys Nation program include Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brokaw.

In 2015, Tro graduated with Summa Cum Laude Honors from Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University where he received his B.S. in Finance and minor in Spanish. Upon graduating, Tro received the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, faculty-chosen as the top business school graduate from the top 15% of the graduating class. While at ASU, Tro served as President and Co-Founder of Team Bemis, helping raise over $250,000 to support beloved NDP football Coach Scot Bemis and family during his valiant fight against cancer. At ASU, Tro was also a McCord Scholar, Furst Scholar, and recipient of the Wells Fargo Award for Leadership in Finance.

Tro began his career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan in New York City. While at J.P. Morgan, Tro worked on M&A, debt and equity transactions in the Tech, Media and Telecom industry, covering clients such as Lionsgate, Live Nation, WWE, and Dealogic, among others.

Tro later served as CFO of a regional tech-enabled solutions company. In 2021, Tro launched his own advisory practice, William & Wall, providing general business advisory, risk analysis, advanced financial modeling, and M&A brokerage services.

Tro resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, running, and sports. Tro also volunteers with his AKC-certified rescue dog, Adzi, to provide Animal Assisted Therapy to special needs children and individuals.

Sarah graduated Notre Dame Preparatory in 2008. She went on to attend Duquesne University on a full volleyball athletic scholarship. After returning from Pittsburgh and making Phoenix home, the fire service became a quick passion. Sarah was hired with the Phoenix Fire Department in 2015 which allows her to serve the community she loves everyday. She is currently a Firefighter Paramedic and describes her work as the best job in the world. Additionally, Sarah has coached youth volleyball for many years including two seasons with the NDP girl’s program in 2013 and 2014, and starting the Beach program in the spring of 2015. Led by faith, Sarah continues to put the health and wellbeing of others before herself and looks forward to what the future holds. She is married to Matt Schall, firefighter paramedic for Sun City Fire and Medical and is joyous to be a mother to their son Luke.

Rebecca Weber, class of 2013, is currently a COVID-19 ICU travel nurse and non-profit founder. While at NDP, Rebecca was part of Key Club and the National Honor Society. She was also honored with the ESLR Achievement Award and a scholarship award from Honor Health for service and excellence for volunteering over 650 hours in the hospital’s NICU. Rebecca graduated Summa Cum Laude from NDP and was recognized at graduation for having the most volunteer hours of her class. After NDP, she attended Indiana University Bloomington where she earned a BS in Community Health. She then graduated with honors from Union University with a BSN, RN.

The summer after Rebecca’s freshman year at Indiana University, she traveled to Ghana with the Global Medical Brigades for a two-week medical service trip. She immediately fell in love with the country and its people and has been back over a dozen times since. She initially started working with a local doctor and his non-profit, but in 2017, Rebecca decided to start her own non-profit in Ghana called Baby & Mom Mobile Clinics (BAM). The mission of BAM is to improve reproductive, infant, and child health through mobile health clinics in impoverished and rural communities worldwide. In the future, BAM hopes to have a mobile clinic, but while they are still raising funds, the organization has been putting on medical outreach events and donating to local hospitals. In February 2019, BAM provided free medical testing, physician consults, and treatment to 1,000 patients over 2 days in Asikuma, Ghana. During this time, nearly 230 patients were diagnosed and treated for malaria. BAM also donated a new infant isolette to Our Lady of Grace Hospital in Asikuma, Ghana, allowing the hospital to care for more premature and sick babies, increasing their chances of survival. In October 2019, the organization donated 100 safe delivery kits to women in KEEA District, Ghana. The kits included many necessities including sterile gloves and sterile blades. Unfortunately, recent projects have been put on hold due to COVID-19, but they hope to have their next project soon as the borders start to reopen. To donate or learn about their next project, go to www.bamclinics.org

In addition to her non-profit, Rebecca worked as a volunteer firefighter and EMT while getting her degree from Indiana University. She really enjoyed that work which motivated her to go to nursing school. Rebecca has been an ICU nurse since January 2019. After graduation, she worked at St. Thomas in Nashville where she received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, she felt called to become a COVID-ICU travel nurse, so she quit her job in Nashville and traveled to New York City. Since then, she has been traveling to all the virus hot spots such as Northwest Arkansas, Atlanta and back home to Arizona. Rebecca is now working on her Master’s in Public Health through The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In the future, she hopes to work in global health for an international organization such as the World Health Organization.

Brittany Williams is married to her high school sweetheart, Taylor, and together they have four wonderful children. She is also the woman behind Brylan's Feat Foundation, a nonprofit for pediatric lymphedema. She is also the co-founder of Pediatric Lymphedema Alliance, LLC. Both Brylan’s Feat Foundation and Pediatric Lymphedema Alliance are the first and only organizations of their kind in the world.

Brittany's relationship with lymphedema began when her daughter, Brylan, was diagnosed with primary lymphedema in 2014. Since that time, Brittany's goal has been to advocate and be the voice for her daughter and all children suffering from lymphedema. She strives to make a positive impact on the lymphedema community and provide assistance in receiving treatment to children in need all over the world. 

Brittany is a member of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group and has lobbied in Washington, D.C., sharing her story in support the Lymphedema Treatment Act. Through her work with Brylan’s Feat, she has helped hundreds of children around the world receive lymphedema treatment, resources, and education. Brylan’s Feat Foundation also hosts a summer camp for pediatric lymphedema patients called Camp Watchme and Pediatric Lymphedema Alliance has created the first ever pediatric lymphedema continuing education courses for clinicians.

Peter Bourjos, class of 2005, was proudly part of the first graduating class of NDP.  He played both baseball and football at NDP and after graduating was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.  After several years of success in the minor leagues Peter was called up to the Majors in August of 2010. Throughout his career he has gained considerable attention for his defensive skills, including his range, speed and ability to make difficult catches. Peter has played parts of 10 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves.  In addition to his baseball accomplishments, Peter also works closely with the Arizona based non-profit, The Singletons, which support single parent families affected by cancer. Peter married his high school sweetheart, Ashley (NDP class of 2006), and together have three children Maxton (4), Charley (3) and Addison (1).

At NDP there is no gentler soul or kinder person than Spiritan Father Phil Evanstock who has been here since the school opened in 2002. At the time of his ordination to the priesthood, the church was in need of educators and Fr. Phil showed a mastery of math and science, so he was asked to become a teacher 58 years ago. His contributions to Notre Dame Prep have been great. He moderates the math club he is the number one fan of the Saints football team. He prays the invocation before every home game. His loyalty doesn't stop with Notre Dame Prep athletics; he is an avid Arizona Cardinals fan and for more than five years, he offered vigil Masses for visiting NFL teams so Catholics in the league could go to Mass.

To Fr. Phil, Catholic education is the most complete and comprehensive curriculum for inquiring minds. It achieves a totality of thought since it combines the study of our world along with the reasons for our being. "Indeed, this combination of study, the material and spiritual, gives substance and rationality to all that we do," he said. The youngest of six children, with one older brother (also a priest) and four older sisters, Fr. Phil is a product of Catholic schooling himself. He is grateful for the education and self-discipline the nuns taught him. Father was also the recipient of the NDP Patron Saint Award in 2017. For a man who has given his life to service of God and education, it is our extreme pleasure to induct Fr. Phil into the Forever Saints Hall of Fame. We will forever be grateful for his faith-filled service to our school. 

Fr. Phil pictured with fellow Hall of Fame inductee David Gonsalves.

Erika Frantzve is a multidimensional entrepreneur with a bold and steadfast faith that has sustained her borderless heart. She has lived all over the world, from Los Angeles to China working in the entertainment industry as an agency represented model, actress, and casting director. Erika is most passionate about her global ministry work and sustainable clothing line, Proclaim Streetwear. She is known throughout her community and deep network base as an influential and positive voice as she is the host of Midweek Rise Up and a fellow for the Falkirk Center. Erika is also the founder and CEO of Everyday Heroes Like You, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2006, that assists other nonprofits globally and works in partnership with the United States Marine Corps to help sustain an orphanage in Constanta, Romania. 

Erika’s perseverant spirit has been the driving force behind her eclectic background, from being a former NCAA Women’s Basketball athlete to Miss Arizona USA 2012, she knows what it takes to set a goal and fearlessly pursue it. Erika graduated magna cum laude with a double major in political science and international relations from Arizona State University. In May 2019 she graduated from Liberty University with a Juris Master Degree in American Legal Studies. Erika is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Christian Leadership from Liberty University.

David D. Gonsalves is Notre Dame Preparatory’s founding principal, a position he held with honor until his retirement in 2013. Instrumental to the development and institution of all aspects of NDP, Principal Gonsalves helped to build a community devoted to personal, educational and spiritual growth and instilled the core values of Reverence, Respect and Responsibility throughout the NDP culture. Of his 46 years in Catholic education as a teacher, coach and administrator, Mr. Gonsalves says, “My time spent in service to Notre Dame Preparatory stands as the highlight of my career and remains among my most treasured of blessings.” Go Saints!

The 2004 Saints Boys' Golf Team paved the way for a tradition of athletic excellence a Notre Dame Prep.  Led by coach Preston Colao, the team won the school’s very first State Championship and began a legacy for the boys’ golf team that stretched for nearly a decade under Coach Colao.  The 2004 championship set the stage for state championship wins in 2007, 2008, 2009 and runner up trophies in 2005 and 2006.  Of the ten boys on the 2004 team, 5 went on to play college golf, 4 turned pro, and 3 played in at least one PGA Tour event. Members of the team included Thomas Buran, Phillip Francis, Ryan Hoskins, Austyn Karle, Kyle Kinnenberg, Chris Reid, and Austin Richardson.