Alumni Spotlight: Rod Lovan, Class of '96

How are you engaged with Subiaco today?

I currently serve on the Alumni Board of Directors. I also have three young sons who will eventually be attending Subiaco, so we do our best to attend and volunteer at events at Subiaco when we can be of service. 

What do you do for a living? Why did you choose this career path?

My wife and I run Stirling Soap Company and Stirling Roastery. I spent 12 years on active duty in the Army prior to running Stirling full-time. The soap was intended to be a hobby and side gig, as I was completing my graduate studies in radiation health physics at the time with the intention of going to work in the nuclear industry. However, I realized that after my time in the military that I would rather take the risk of starting and growing my own business from scratch rather than work for and take orders from someone else ever again. 

How has Subiaco Academy contributed to your career choices? To your life choices? To your faith?

I grew up local to Subiaco, and growing up in rural Arkansas lends its own set of challenges in terms of lack of resources and lack of exposure to new ideas and people. Subiaco was key in opening my eyes to the broader world around me, as I got to grow together and learn with students from different parts of the country and the world. Subiaco was both far more expensive and far more difficult than what I would have dealt with attending a different local school. It was worth it, and in terms of life choices it helped show me that the harder road will often lead to the better long-term outcome. Having daily Christian doctrine as a part of our studies at Subiaco (as well as weekly mass) increased my faith greatly, due to the extra time being taught why we believe and practice certain tenets of our faith. I say this as a Christian who is not a practicing Catholic.

What does "faith, scholarship, brotherhood, and character" mean to you?

Christ should be our first consideration in everything we do in life, and Subiaco helps build this foundation in young men. Subiaco helped instill in me the belief that learning is a life-long journey that is worth taking, and that character matters. Success in life means little if you lack character. In terms of brotherhood, there are few things that come close to Subiaco (the Army being one). I've received so much support for my business from my Subiaco brothers, and 30 years post graduation we still keep in contact and spend time together. It's hard to put into words. It's just different and something you have to experience to fully appreciate.

What would you like future students and families to know when choosing Subiaco?

It's worth it. It's worth the perceived sacrifice of leaving your current school system and possibly leaving some friends behind. It's worth the work. It's worth the expense. It's worth it as a Christian, even if you are not a Catholic, to have your son brought up in a school system that places faith in Christ at the forefront of their student experience. What you gain in return far outpaces anything given up. 

 
Finally, what advice do you have for them on their Subi journey? 

Enjoy it. Live in the moment. Work hard but take the time to have as much fun as you can with your schoolmates. It will be over so much faster than you realize. It won't be perfect, but in the end you will have a leg up on most and will be left with a lifetime of good memories and a brotherhood that will always be there for you.