Building Tomorrow Together

When Jean and Jim Nickman first walked through the doors of Totino-Grace for an open house years ago, they were simply parents looking for the right high school for their daughter, Beth.

What they found was so much more: a community that would shape their family for over a decade and inspire a commitment that continues long after their youngest child graduated in 2021.

Finding Home at TG

The decision to choose Totino-Grace came naturally for the Nickmans. “Most of her classmates who were attending Catholic high school had chosen TG,” Jean recalls. Their children attended St. Odilia School, and while they explored other options, “TG ultimately felt right.” Practical considerations like proximity to St. Odilia for their younger children played a role, but once they saw how well Beth thrived at TG, the choice for their sons, Kyle and Noah, became obvious.

“We never considered another high school,” Jean says.

What made Totino-Grace special was its ability to nurture each child’s unique talents. Beth flourished as an E’gal dancer and lacrosse player. Kyle discovered his passion for musical theater and show choir, performing everywhere from the TG stage to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where his Company of Singers group placed second nationally in 2016. Noah found his place in both football and show choir, embodying the school’s remarkable integration of athletics and the arts.

“I loved the crossover of the arts with sports,” Jean reflects. “Watching the football players sing the national anthem with the choir before games was truly special. I hope it continues at TG.”

Memories That Last

Ask Jean about her favorite TG memories, and the list seems endless: Beth competing at the Minnesota state dance team tournament all four years, being selected for the high kick all-tournament team her senior year, and serving as team captain; Kyle bringing down the house as Lurch in The Addams Family his senior year; and the pride of watching all three children develop not just as students and performers, but as confident young adults who built lasting friendships and meaningful relationships with teachers and coaches.

Kyle still reflects on his time at TG with deep gratitude. “One of my favorite memories from high school is sitting alone in the famous circle at the otherwise empty Grand Ole Opry, reflecting on how fortunate I was to be in that historic music hall, not just as a visitor, but as a performer and competitor,” he recalls. “Not many schools give students opportunities like that.”

Beth, now a mother of two, remembers teachers like Ms. Wiemiller, Mr. Shimek, and Mrs. Neumann, who “shaped our young minds into caring and selfless people.” She treasures memories from Friday night lights, dancing at halftime, to competing at the Xcel and Target Center during state tournaments. “Something I think is so special,” Beth notes, “is that even once you become an alum, the teachers are still friendly and familiar with their students during homecoming or any other occasion to come back and visit.”

For Noah, the lessons went beyond the classroom and playing field. “I learned how to get back up no matter how many times I had been knocked down,” he shares. “I learned how to lean on the people around me and how to work together to achieve our collective goal.” He credits teachers like Mr. Anderson, Mr. Rod, Mr. Litecky, Mrs. Hand, and many others who “showed what it means to be a good person, a leader, and a good Christian.”

A Partnership in Faith

For Jean and Jim, choosing a Catholic education was about more than academics. It was about partnering with a school that shared their values. “Giving our children a faith-based education was really important to us,” Jean explains. “We felt like TG was a partner in that mission.”

That partnership extended beyond the classroom. As a show choir parent, Jean chaired Spectacular, the program’s largest fundraiser, for several years. “Getting involved and volunteering was a great way to meet other parents,” she recalls. “I have many close friendships that continue long after our children have left TG. My monthly girls’ night with other TG moms is important!”

The school’s commitment to its students became especially evident during Noah’s senior year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While his show choir season was canceled and the football season shortened, “we really appreciated that TG still had students in school for most of the year, and they could be with their friends and teachers,” Jean says. “I believe that was not only really important for their academic success but also for their mental health.”

Beth (Nickman) Leeper ‘10

The Nickman children have carried their TG foundation into impressive futures. Beth earned a neuroscience degree from the University of St. Thomas and a nursing degree from the College of St. Scholastica. After working as a neonatal intensive care nurse at St. Paul Children’s Hospital, she now focuses on being a full-time mom to daughters Emma and Grace.

Kyle Nickman ‘16

Kyle combined his love of precision with service, earning a mechanical engineering degree from Montana State University. He was commissioned into active duty in the U.S. Air Force and now serves as an instructor pilot and captain stationed in Enid, Oklahoma, even performing flyovers at NFL and college football games. For Kyle, the lessons of TG extend far beyond the stage. “My time at Totino-Grace was foundational not just to my development as a student, but to who I am as a person,” he says. “TG instilled in me discipline, accountability, and a commitment to serving something bigger than myself, principles that continue to guide my life and shape the way I teach my student pilots every day.” He credits teachers like Mr. Voss, Mr. Welle, Mr. Trovato, Mrs. Neumann, Mr. Rod, Mr. Litecky, Mr. Rehfuss, and many others who “worked tirelessly to make each day meaningful and challenge me to be my best.”

Noah Nickman ‘21

Noah graduated in 2021 and is completing his computer science degree at North Dakota State University this May. He spent a transformative semester abroad in Milan, Italy, in 2025, traveling and making friends from around the world.

A Commitment to Give Back

Jean and Jim’s connection to Totino-Grace didn’t end with Noah’s graduation. Jean has served on the TG Board of Directors for six years and will wrap up her term this June. The couple attends the annual Gala, Jean attends Christmas Mass each year, and the boys have returned to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” with other alumni.

Serving on the board has given Jean valuable perspective. “Being on the Board has given me insight into what a big job it is for the administration to run the school,” she notes. “I know how much TG depends on parents and donors for financial security and special improvement projects like the current capital campaign.”

Their commitment to giving back extends beyond Totino-Grace. As a pediatric dentist, Jim has served in many leadership roles in dentistry, often providing care to those who cannot afford it. Jean has volunteered extensively at St. Odilia. “We have both tried to model for our kids the importance of giving back to the communities we care about,” she says.

To other families, Jean offers this perspective: “The need for financial aid to attend TG grows every year, and our facility is in constant need of repairs and updating. We don’t have the resources public schools do, and the generosity of donors and our fundraising activities is critical to keeping TG the special place it is.”

Looking to the Future

When asked about her hopes for Totino-Grace’s future, Jean’s answer is from the heart: “I hope that TG remains a safe, faith-filled, and special place for each student who walks through the doors for many years to come. And hopefully one day, I will be back watching our grandchildren perform on a stage or compete on a field at TG.”

What makes Totino-Grace special? “We are lucky to have many strong Catholic school options in our area, but I only know the TG community, and it is special because of the students and staff,” Jean reflects. “I wish I could have attended a high school like TG, but I feel the next best thing is experiencing it through my children.”

For the Nickman family, Totino-Grace isn’t just a school. It’s a community that shaped three young lives, created lasting friendships, and inspired a legacy of service and faith that continues to this day.

“Something I think is so special is that even once you become an alum, the teachers are still friendly and familiar with their students during homecoming or any other occasion to come back and visit.” - Beth (Nickman) Leeper ‘10