OLP M a ga zi n e
OLP women
Making Waves...
Academy of Our Lady of Peace {spring 2016}
In This Issue {spring 2016}
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EPICS
Aeroponics
“Dr. J” shares how he
The AP Environmental Science class partnered with The French Gourmet to make lunchtime a little tastier! Read more about this incredible partnership.
adapts the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program developed by Purdue University to work for OLP students.
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Leadership
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Inspiration
OLP student Marlen Miranda ’16
Angela Cascarano ’69 has touched lives at OLP for more than 30 years. Read on to hear from students, co-workers and friends about the inspiration of Ms. Cascarano.
used her scholarship award from the ANNpower Foundation to create a forum for teen girls to inspire them to reach their dreams.
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Surf as a Sport
Alumnae
OLP alum and Surf Coach Christina Harmes ’05 shares the story of how surf served as the impetus to re-examine what a “sport” is.
Alumnae from all years share their news, announcements and updates in our Pilots Take Flight section.
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OurMission Statement The Academy of Our Lady of Peace is a Catholic, liberal
arts oriented, college preparatory secondary school dedicated to the education of young women. As a Catholic school, it is committed to helping its students become active participants in building Christ’s kingdom of justice, love and peace. As a school rooted in the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph, it promotes the cultivation of “gentleness, peace and joy” as we respond to the needs of the “dear neighbor” both in our midst
14 and in our human community. Through its college preparatory program, its mission is to empower its students to become knowledgeable in those skills needed to achieve success in post-secondary studies, and to make informed and valuesdriven decisions in the context of today’s world. As a result of these endeavors, and working with parents as our educational partners providing a family context of faith-in-action, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace strives to graduate responsible women educated to the needs of society.
Letter From Head of School Dear OLP Pilot Community, The new CSJ family tree painted on the entry wall of Aquinas Hall shares the rich story of our connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet that today spans over 55 countries. In the United States alone there are over 16 congregations of Sisters of St. Joseph. At OLP we are blessed to be part of that rich heritage through the congregation of the Lauren Lek with Honorary Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in the Los Angeles Province. Event Chair for L’affaire en Bloom and Board of Director emeritus Ann Navarra ’63.
As we were ending our Lenten Season, I was particularly touched by the writings of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada. They shared that “As a group of women religious, in faith, we enter into the celebration of Easter and join with others saying that we are willing partners with God in making a place, indeed a home for godliness in our finite world, a world which can seem like the furthest removed from the Divine. God’s self-gift of love in Jesus says, ‘Let them make a home for me, so that I may dwell among them’ (Exodus 25:81).” Although the numbers of our blessed CSJ Sisters might be dwindling, their legacy is only growing stronger as it continues to take root in our students, our alumnae, and our parents and alumnae parents. Their spirit guides our path at OLP and their stories serve as inspiration. In this edition you can read on page 6 about an incredible CSJ woman, Sister Constance, whose story is told by current teacher Angela Cascarano ’69 and students from the Digital Photography class. At 102 years young, Sister Constance is a bright light shining in our midst and a role model of someone whose devotion to living the gospel message is woven through all she does. In another article, we share about the tremendous success of our second annual OLP Women’s Symposium that brought together alumna Sister Theresa Harpin ’69, Executive Director of Restorative Justice, Anne Sweeney, Chief Shelley Zimmerman, Cheryl Goodman, Dr. Diane Perez, and many others! It was a day that marks the unique opportunities our young women at OLP are afforded by attending a Catholic all women’s school. You can read more about that on page 18. While events like the Women’s Symposium provide our students with an opportunity to see a glimpse into the multifaceted career world ahead of them, day-to-day activities in their courses also give depth to their content area allowing them to understand and consider possible future trajectories. You can read about how we are truly finding ways for interdisciplinary STEAM learning to take place in collaborative projects such as our Engineering and Arts courses on page 5. Other highlights of this magazine edition include our Mock Trial team that successfully took first place in San Diego County and was the only all female team at the State Competition. We also share the tremendous success of our L’Affaire en Bloom gala that again brought in a record-setting net revenue upwards of $130,000 to support our students. On behalf of the entire OLP faculty and staff, thank you for all you do to support our students, and the legacy of our founding Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Lauren Lek Head of School
On the Cover: Ashley Northrup ’18 looks onto the horizon during a recent OLP surf team practice at La Jolla Shores. Photo Courtesy of Melissa Jacobs.
OLPMagazine Academy of Our Lady Of Peace Head of School Lauren Lek Assistant Head of School Jessica Hooper Director of Communications & Marketing Emily Pippin ’06 Leadership Team Lauren Lek George Battistel Chris Boyer Jeanette Handelsman ’64 Jessica Hooper Sheelah Keeter Emily Pippin Toni Russo Kristin Wiggins Contributors Rivka Bent Angela Cascarano ’69 Johnathan Chittuluru, Ph.D. Emily Devereaux ’00 Teri Heard Krystine Kruchten ’04 Samantha League Ilene Nagem ’70 Kristin Wiggins Nicholle Wyatt Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Head of School Coreen G. Petti, Board Chair Patricia Boer ’55 Mike Coughlin Dr. Nora Faine-Sykes ’78 Michael Guerrero Susan Hause Clair Cunningham Kennedy ’81 Damian McKinney Gayle McMahon Martha McRoskey Sister Jill Marie Napier, CSJ Barbara Picco Sister Virginia Rodee ’53, RSCJ Nina R. Sciuto-Morales ’76 Peg Stehly
Class notes should be sent to Krystine Kruchten ’04 at kkruchten@aolp.org
To update your address, please contact Chris Abdenour at cabdenour@aolp.org
THE VERDICT IS IN:
Mock Trial Teamio us !
Vi cto ri
Five years ago, Higgs Fletcher & Mack attorney Jim Eischen became the first attorney coach for the Mock Trial
team at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP). In February, the OLP mock trial team coached by Eischen and two other local attorneys, Luiey Haddad and Scott Ingold won the San Diego County High School Mock Trial Championship. Representing San Diego County and the only all girls’ team, OLP competed in the State Finals held March 18-20 in Sacramento, California. The team did very well in this highly competitive final and one of the team members, Isabella Magana ’17, was awarded with an Outstanding Defense Witness Award. The coaches are so proud of the team, which includes seniors Lorea Mendiguren ’16, Emily Stowe ’16, Marina Ramirez ’16, and Giselle Valdez ’16; juniors Alexa Ripa ’17, Megan Hamori ’17, and Katie Kreiger ’17; sophomores Isabella Magana ’18, Carolina Borbon ’18, Marsha Meyers ’18, Isabella Amigable ’18, Alex Neves ’18, Anitza Velazquez ’18, Daniella Velarde ’18, and Lorena Ramirez ’18; and freshmen Molly Winger ’19, Kaseba Chibweth ’19, and Serena Tu ’19. The California Mock Trial Program is a statewide academic competition where high school students compete at the county, state and national level. This year, participation included over 500 students in San Diego County and more than 8,000 students statewide. The program is sponsored by a statewide organization and administered locally by the San Diego County Bar Association with Michelle Chavez as the director.
The team did very well in this highly competitive final and one of the team members, Isabella Magana ’17, was awarded with an Outstanding Defense Witness Award. The mock trial is a simulation of a criminal case where students portray each of the principals (pre-trial attorney, trial attorney, defendant and other witnesses, bailiff and timekeeper) in an actual courtroom with local judges generously volunteering their time to preside over the mock trial cases. The judges play a vital role in not only providing students a realistic courtroom
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experience, but also by providing students with helpful feedback after the trial. The mock trial program could not exist without the kind support of judges and attorneys who preside over and score contests. “Jim Eischen, Luiey Haddad, and Scott Ingold have been instrumental in our team’s success. Each of them brings different gifts to their coaching. They know trial law inside and out and are great at motivating and pushing the students to do their very best and beyond,” said Ilene Nagem ’70, Social Studies Teacher and Faculty Moderator for the Mock Trial Team at OLP. “Thank God for generous attorneys like them!”
at Academy of Our Lady of Peace
By Jonathan Chittuluru, Ph.D, EPICS & ENGINEERING TEACHER
Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) is a program developed by Purdue University that tasks students and teachers with using engineering to help others. In short, an EPICS project is any that applies science to help make the world a better place, and most EPICS projects target a specific stakeholder (e.g. a community member or group). Our course at OLP seeks to make our community a little better by spreading awareness about renewable engineering and developing projects and curricula that will stimulate younger students’ interest in applied science. The course consists of daily participation as well as several major efforts. Each large project is described in brief below:
Renewable Energy: In the face of mounting environmental
pressure to curb carbon emissions, governments are implementing regulations that discourage fossil fuel consumption and incentivize renewable energy usage. Renewable energy can take many forms, but perhaps the cleanest and most attractive form is solar energy harvesting. To promote awareness of renewable energy, our class will partner with the Wild Willow Farm and Education Center in Southwest San Diego. There, the students will exhibit renewable energy through solar ovens, an increasingly important technology for the developing world. Throughout this project, the students will study the chemical, physical, mathematical, and materials science concepts central to solar oven production and function. Further, the students will implement EPICS design principles to ensure that they are accurately assessing and improving their approach as they prepare for their exhibition. See a photo of the solar ovens at OLP below.
Repurposing Project: In keeping with their efforts to promote environmental sustainability, the students will reengineer an unused item and put it to new, permanent use. See a photo of senior Catherine Dang’s bed frame repurposed as a bench below.
Independent Project: Each pair of engineering students will
be appointed as the principal investigators responsible for completing a project of timely importance to the local and/or global community. The projects will encompass a diverse array of disciplines in applied science.
STEAM Day Project: Students will use their
engineering and fabrication skills to design a toy or other physical device that allows younger students to learn about concepts in STEAM.
Personal Project: This is each student’s chance to show
what she can do with the skills she has acquired over the course of the semester. Perhaps the biggest thrill of engineering is tackling a project of personal interest. This project need not satisfy any interests other than those of the principal investigator, but it should absolutely be an applied science project.
Spring 2016 | 5
102 Years Young A Conversation with Sister Constance Fitzgerald, CSJ By Angela Cascarano ’69
The first time I encountered Sister Constance
was my junior year of high school in Aquinas Hall, room 206. I was very shy and had not yet discovered the power of the written word. In walked Sr. Constance Fitzgerald, and my life was changed forever. Not only did Sr. Constance share with me and my fellow students her love for writing, but also her passion for life and social justice. She became for us a living model of the CSJ charism, and certainly inspired me to follow in her path and become a teacher. Sr. Constance readily admits that teaching high school English was special to her, but her life has been comprised of so much more. Meeting up with her recently at Carondelet Center, she shared with me her rich and vast life experiences as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. “I grew up in San Bernardino, California. We did not have television back then, so each week I would check out an armful of books from the library, sit outside on the grass near a stream, and read,” Sr. Constance said. “This is where my love for reading really began. I traveled the world through books.” Sister Constance entered the CSJ order at age 18. “I knew I had a calling, but struggled with it. I initially considered the Sisters of the Sacred Heart order, but God purposely led me to the CSJ.” Sister Constance graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College (now University), and taught grammar in high schools in Arizona and California for most of her CSJ career.
I knew I had a calling ...God purposely led me to the CSJ. At an age when most people are done working in their chosen career, Sr. Constance changed careers so to speak. She responded to a community need, and left the more formal parochial classroom setting to teach English to migrant farm workers outside of Fresno, California. Sister Constance acknowledges that this was a life-changing experience for her. Not only did the eager migrant workers learn English; they also helped her with her Spanish. “The people I met had so much love in their hearts,” said Sr. Constance. “I really wanted to speak Spanish more fluently, but felt like I had not mastered it. I cried so much when I had to leave them.”
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The CSJ community responded to her desire to master Spanish by sending her to direct a men’s shelter in Guaymas, Mexico. Sr. Constance and another sister drove from Fresno to Mexico in “a nonair conditioned car” where they cared for older homeless men who had no families by feeding them, driving them to doctor appointments and praying with them. “I practiced my Spanish by praying the rosary with them, and singing grace before meals. We communicated not only in Spanish, but the language of love,” she recalled. Sister Constance has continually reinvented herself within the CSJ community because retirement is not a word in her vocabulary. This March she will be celebrating another Jubilee: 85 years of service as a CSJ. “Because of health issues I will be moving back to Carondelet Center. I don’t see or hear as well as I used to,” Sr. Constance said with a smile, “but I can listen to books and I still communicate with many of my former students. I also have a pen-pal who is an inmate in a Texas prison, and...” Sister Constance continued talking as she took my hand and led me to lunch. She was walking faster than me, and greeting her Sisters in the hallways. Retire? I don’t think so. Sister Constance said goodbye to me with these thoughts: “Be open to each day and find satisfaction in knowing that you made a difference in the world. Big or small. Be open to the present. If you have obstacles, create a solution. Eat healthy, and read. Every day.” 102? No way! I gave her a big hug, and as I walked away she said with a twinkle in her eye, “Now don’t forget our bargain. I will pray for you and you are going to pray for me.” I responded, “You got it Sister!” knowing that I certainly got the better end of the bargain. At 102, Sister Constance is the oldest in the Province, but she continues to be a role model, mentor, and Sister. This just reflects her attitude about life. “Put yourself in the hands of God and continuously open yourself to the world every day, because you are a member of it. You are never alone.”
Poised to A leader among her peers and daughter of alumna
Maria Elena Hernandez ’90, Marlen Miranda ’16 recently made a name for herself as one of the 2015 ANNpower Fellows. The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a dynamic partnership between ANN INC., parent company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, and Vital Voices. They work together to empower young women from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to “affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.”
One of Only 50 Fellows Chosen Marlen Miranda ’16 was selected as one of 50 young women from more than 5,000 applicants to become an ANNpower Fellow. She participated in the ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum, a three-day leadership training and mentorship program in Washington, DC. over the summer. Following the forum, Marlen submitted and received approval for a proposal to implement a project that would positively affect the community.
Informing and giving young women the opportunity to learn about future career paths they can attain. End the inequality against women by empowering young women about their power, value, and strength. Empowering young women to fulfill their dreams through education. “Girls 4 Change Forum” With a grant of $2,250, Marlen created a day of mentorship for young women. Titled “Girls 4 Change Forum” Marlen invited young women to spend the day engaging in conversations with professionals from the fields of health, medicine, business, STEM, arts, humanities, and public and social services.
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Powerful women leaders joined Marlen at her forum: Stephanie Myers, co-founder of Dogin Hood AC; Paola Avila Gorostiza ’93, Vice President of International Business Affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; Danitza Villanueva ’98, co-founder and publisher of Giving Back Magazine; Alicia Avila Outcalt, MSW, LCSW, psychotherapist; Terry Laszio-Gopadze, awardwinning author; and Anel Lizcano, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at University of California, San Diego.
The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative... empowers young women to ‘affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.’ Students enjoyed 30-minute rotations that included learning activities related to the field and conversations related to career pathways within the field. Marlen succeeded in her effort to broaden the mindsets of the participants. The girls loved their day together and left better prepared to be the next generation of leaders in our world!
To learn more about the ANNpower Vital Voices program, visit annpower.vitalvoices.org Above: Marlen and her guest speakers (more information above). Below left: Marlen’s ANNpower photo. Below middle: The Girls 4 Change logo. Below right: The post Marlen created to advertise and invite girls to her Girls 4 Change event.
L’affaire en Bloom
Special Thanks To:
Honorary Chair, Ann Navarra ’63
Title Sponsor
Sapphire Sponsor Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace
community of alumnae, parents, board of directors and board emeriti, donors and volunteers celebrated together and raised much needed funds at OLP’s 31st annual gala, L’affaire en Bloom, held on campus Saturday, March 12. Through the overwhelming generosity of our sponsors and guests, we raised upwards of $130,000 to support student scholarships, educational program enhancements, technology upgrades, STEAM programs and the preservation of OLP’s historic campus. Due to weather, the champagne reception and silent auction were moved from North Terrace to a completely transformed space--the lower level of the St. Catherine’s parking structure! Always up for a challenge, current parent and owner of PEP Creative, Joanne Mera, provided her talents and team to make the garage and the Holy Family Event Center elegant, warm, inviting and fitting to this year’s theme, L’affaire en Bloom. On behalf of each OLP student, thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Gala a huge success!
We Thank Our Sponsors Board and Board Emeritus Matching Grant Patricia Boer ‘55
Elaina Patterson ‘19 and Sharde Flores ‘19
Lorie Kuo
St. Augustine High School
Elizabeth and Joseph La Costa
Caron and Jurg Rohrer
Jostens
Sandra Brue
Live Auction Sponsors
Susan Hause
Dawn and Greg Sacco
Hightower Cellars
Clair Kennedy ’81
The French Gourmet
History Foundation
LA County Museum of Natural
Gayle McMahon
Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts
La Jolla Village Acupuncture
John McMahon
Sandra Smelik Manzer and Larry Manzer
Diane Perez and Franklin Libenson
Martha McRoskey
The MODERN Honolulu
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Jill Napier, CSJ
Welk Resorts
Kathleen Olsen
Mimi’s Kitchen
Silent Auction and In-Kind Donors
Monique’s Skin Care Center Morgan Run Club and Resort
Coreen Petti
Apple Butler
Virginia Rodee, RSCJ ’53
Aunt Emma’s Pancakes
Connie and Jaime Munoz
Mary Sloper ’58
Alicia Avila
Museum of Making Music
Peg Stehly
Blue Diamond Title Sponsor McKinney Advisory Group
Bertrand’s Music
Napizza
Bird Rock Fine Wine
National Shrine of the Divine Mercy
Blind Lady Ale House
Nerium International Brand Partner — Mary Harris
Sapphire Sponsor
Ana Medina and Luis Boyance
Kim and Daryl Newton
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Bradford Portraits
O’Connor’s Church Goods
Turquoise Sponsors
Nora and Frank Brady
Mary and John O’Connor
Marguerite “Terry” ’77 and David Camarata
Buffalo Wild Wings
Ocean Beach Surf & Skate
Marathon Construction Corporation
Bully’s East
Open Water Swim Academy
St. Augustine High School
Topaz Sponsors
California Ballet
Our Lady’s Gifts
Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club
Julie and Mike Coughlin
Paul Carter & Steven Carter
Montserrat Santos and Jose Luis Perez-Rocha
Cheryl and Jaime “Jim” Hernandez
Casa Baloyan
Lauren and John Lek
Century Club of San Diego
Mary and John O’Connor
Church of the Resurrection
Zoraida and Gary Payne
Cohn Restaurant Group
Toni and Rick Russo
Comic-Con International
Peg Stehly
Coronado Fire Department
Gayle and Derek McMahon
Coronado Playhouse
VIP Soirée Underwriters
Culture Shock Dance Center
Mary ’58 and Don Sloper
Cygnet Theater
The Whitton Family
Lisa and Charles Danaher
Champagne Underwriters
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Elizabeth Pecsi Guerrero and Michael Guerrero
Emily ’00 and Alex Devereaux
Invitation Printing Neyenesch Printing
Valet Parking
Mary M. O’Connor, D.D.S., Inc. Kennedy & Souza Law Firm
Faculty/CSJ Sister Table Underwriter RAUB Enterprises, LLC
Faculty Ticket/General Underwriters Nora and Frank Brady Lisa and Robert Burner Isbell Family Martha and Joseph McRoskey Kelly Mooney and Daniel Goebel Nagy Family Mary and John O’Connor Barbara Picco Prevo Family
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Mary Devlin Disneyland Raquel Rios and Ernesto Dominguez Doozydog! Club Duke’s La Jolla Eco Chateau Wellness Spa Chef Alex Fioroni Habana Club Cafe H&M Landing Hair Drezzers on Fire Gayle Early and Charles Hamori Carol Hastanan HBO iFly Indoor Skydiving Infinity Martial Arts Insta-Print, Inc. Diana Day and Robert Ivanjack Jackie’s Jams Kona Kai Resort and Spa
Pet Me Please Point Loma Seafoods Debbie and Bill Pollakov Pretty Kitty PRP Wine International Rancho Bernardo Inn Relax and Revive Riverwalk Golf Club Robin Scherer Photography Caron and Jurg Rohrer Rosemary-Duff Florist Rowley Portraiture Antoinette and Rick Russo San Diego Bowl Game Association San Diego Firearms Training Center San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Zoo Global Sanctuate Gabrielle Sayago and Enrique Hernandez Pulido Sea World Maria Septien Sherwin-Williams Company Starbucks The Dailey Method The Fish Market The Loma Club The Venetian Top Dog Wash & Groom Unicorn Jewelry and Watch Boutique Wheel of Fortune Adrienne Wing
Clockwise From Top Left Current parents Jose Luis PerezRocha and Montserrat Santos. Board Member and Title Sponsor Damian McKinney of the McKinney Advisory Group and his wife, Lori provided the invocation. Head of School Lauren Lek, Assistant Head of School Jessica Hooper & Auctioneer (and Social Studies Department Chair) Aaron Gonzalez, who helped raise a significant amount during the Live Auction. The beautiful decorated tables. Event transformation provided by PEP Creative. Rivka Bent with Honorary Event Chair Ann Navarra ’63. A lovely performance was given by Allison Simpkins ’16, Pianist and Grace Newton ’17, Vocalist. Delicious custom champagne cocktails at the VIP Soirée. The Carondelet Circle Ambassadors selling opportunity drawing tickets to Board Member and alumna parent Gayle McMahon. Carolyn (Camarata) Gallagher ‘00 and Ben Gallagher. Current parents Jaime “Jim” and Cheryl Hernandez enjoying the flaming Crepe Suzette. Sr. Frances Michele Francese, Sr. Anne Lorraine Mahlmeister, Sr. Margaret Murray, and Sr. Helen Louise Lacey.
The New
WOMEN OF SURF “I just got chills, I’m so happy!”
This the response from Surf Coach and OLP alumna, Christina Harmes ‘05, after learning that the surf team served as the impetus for OLP to re-imagine a recognized sport, which then opened doors for lacrosse, crew, archery and equestrian jumping. For Christina, this is a dream come true for the surf team. Seeing OLP girls represent their own school is a realized passion, not only from the surf coach perspective, but also from the perspective of her high school self. Prior to 2013, OLP students surfed under the St. Augustine banner and so it was during her tenure here as a student Christina was recruited to the Saints surf team. Saints Coach, Jim Shaw, recruited Christina from her swim team, learning of her athletic skills during swim practice. She joined the team with several of her OLP sisters, and remained surfing year round her sophomore, junior and senior years. Quickly Christina excelled in the ocean sport; in fact she became the go-to rider for both shortboard and longboard competitions. Her senior year she led the way and took the top trophy for the division 5 category. Coincidentally this achievement was duplicated 10 years later by the 2014-15 Surf Team riders, a fact Christina, as coach, shares while beaming with pride. Christina explains it was hard to be a surfer back in her high school days. It was a male dominated sport, and the stereotypes of the day generalized surfers in the negative. She is also candid about the personal disappointment of having her achievements fly under the banner of another school. Even so, she expresses great appreciation for Jim Shaw, head coach still today for the Saints team, for opening up the door to OLP students for so many years. No wonder with the OLP surf team in its third year, the camaraderie between the boy and girl surfers remains very much alive. Photos courtesy of Melissa Jacobs. Above right: Grace Kotnik ’19. Far right: Lea Hazel ’18 and Tifany Nguyen ’18. Clockwise from top of pyramid: Chloe Faucher ’19, Ashley Northrup ’18, Katelyn Sovay ’18
by Rivka Bent Their support of each other is evidenced in the water and on the beach. Christina is quick to highlight the integrity of the OLP and Saints riders: “their ethics and manners stand out above the other schools,” she notes, much like a proud elder sibling. And she proceeds to expand on how the teams care about one another and the beach, unknowingly sharing by example the influence of their faith-filled education. It is with difficulty the conversation is cut off, as her enthusiasm keeps us anchored to our exchange. It is truly Christina’s realized passion to see the girls under their own tent at the beach and advancing in the ranks of competition as the OLP team. She gushes about how her involvement brings her personal joy and allows her to model the “giving back” principle, learned from the influence of the CSJ charism during her student years. She appreciates the team of coaches, both OLP and Saints, as they each are respected professionals whose example leaves no room for outdated stereotypical perspectives. And it is clear that the full team of female riders, committed to getting out and surfing year-round, are going strong all the while benefiting from the trail blazing of their OLP alumna sister, their coach.
The OLP riders' ethics and manners stand out above the other schools.” This is likely the result of a faith-filled education.
Making Waves
By Teri Heard
A Competitive Edge
We live in a time of rapid and constant
change and this has never been more true than in the world of college admissions. In one school year we have seen the advent of the Coalition Application, a fully redesigned SAT exam, and an announcement about the FAFSA pushing back their application window and transitioning to the “prior tax year” to name just the “biggies.” When taken collectively, these changes can overwhelm even the most equanimous mind. This is why it is imperative that students and their parents undertake a thoughtful and deliberate college search process. At OLP, students are guided to look for the right “college match.” When matching a college with a student’s interests and goals it is important to consider multiple factors, such as college location, academic offerings, diversity, school environment, extracurricular options, college type, cost, and access to specialty programs such as ROTC. When students look at colleges as a match to be made they are able to reduce the anxiety associated with the process. THE OLP COUNSELING DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO HELP Although students across the nation are all faced with the same challenging college landscape, the students at OLP have a distinct advantage. In a collaborative effort, the Counseling Department at OLP has created a counseling model that is both comprehensive and individualized. With respect to our college planning curriculum, our model focuses on the “whole child” and provides developmentally
appropriate guidance. This model was designed by Teri Heard, Counseling Department Chair, and Nicholle Wyatt, College Counselor--two counselors with extensive experience in college admissions. While the college admissions landscape continues to change, what remains consistent is the OLP counseling department’s ability to respond to those changes and fully support our student’s needs. Their experience working in undergraduate admissions (at the University of San Diego and the University of Puget Sound), their current positions as external admissions evaluators for three southern California universities, and their willingness to travel to colleges across the country enabled Mrs. Heard and Mrs. Wyatt have to build a college program that supports the need of every OLP student. Mrs. Heard shares that “understanding college admissions like we do helps to put this process in perspective for our girls.” One way that OLP sets itself apart is by intentionally building relationships with colleges across the country. When a good relationship exists with a college we are able to provide our students with a more personalized college search experience. It is this personalized experience that our families appreciate. As the mother of a current OLP junior shared, “I am just so grateful for all of your help and expertise. My husband and I feel so good knowing that our daughter is supported and assisted throughout every step of this process.” OUR UNIQUE COLLEGE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM One way we support our students is through our college ambassador program (the Junior Ambassadors or “JA’s” as they are known around campus). The group was formed by Nicholle Wyatt with the intent of bringing information about colleges to students while also inspiring them to begin researching possible
“best fit” colleges at an earlier stage of the process. We find that the Junior Ambassador program ignites an excitement in students who before were worried that they might not even find a college right for them. The JA’s are responsible for meeting with visiting college representatives, interviewing them about their institutions, and disseminating that information to their peers. Over its last nine years, the Junior Ambassador program has made a deep and inestimable impact on each OLP student.
Although students across the nation are all faced with the same challenging college landscape the students at OLP have a distinct advantage In March and April of each year the JA’s host the “Eating Up Colleges” lunch program. Through this activity they partner with regional college admission representatives to share information about college topics such as selective college admission requirements, selecting a college major, paying for college, and applying to visual and performing arts colleges. At the conclusion of each meeting the students are able to participate in a mini college fair centered around the topic. In this way, students are able to learn directly from the source and build their own connections with college representatives. According to Mrs. Wyatt, “teaching our students how to network and communicate with college professionals helps set an OLP student apart from the crowd.” As a result of the OLP advantage, our students are finding tremendous success in an increasingly competitive college market. COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE COUNSELING PROGRAM The Junior Ambassador program is just one of many specialized activities created to assist the OLP student in navigating the college search and application process. In total, we offer more than 35 co-curricular workshops to students in 9-12th grade. Each workshop is designed to assist with one step in the process. For example, our freshman students are taught how to use Naviance, our online college planning resource, to begin their college resume. Sophomores are provided guidance on selecting a college major and finding summer enrichment opportunities to support their goals. At the junior and senior level, workshops are geared toward the “nitty gritty” details of the process. They receive help with writing their essays, completing their applications, crafting a college resume, and so much more. At the request of our students, OLP created a summer application boot camp designed to help rising seniors complete the main components of the application. The feedback from this event has been tremendously positive. This year, the camps filled up in record time. In total, about half of our students will participate in a college application camp this summer.
OLP BY THE NUMBERS In the 2015 graduating class, 166 students were accepted to nearly 800 colleges and universities including Yale, Stanford, the University of Notre Dame, New York University, Northeastern, California Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago, Harvey Mudd College, and all nine UC and 23 CSU campuses. More than 30 percent of students indicated that they plan to pursue a major in a STEM-related field. The value of an OLP education was emphasized when we learned that our students were offered over $20.7 million in college academic and merit scholarships! The class of 2016 is showing that they, too, are having tremendous success in the application process. Although it is too early to know all of the application decisions, our seniors have received nearly 500 offers of admission including Columbia, Northeastern, Boston College, Texas A&M, and Villanova. Every year 100 percent of our students are accepted into four year universities and colleges. It brings us great joy to support the college needs of all of our students whether they are hoping to be accepted to San Diego State or the University of Pennsylvania. Our philosophy allows us to tailor the process to meet each students individual needs and goals.
Early Acceptances Excitement is building in the class of 2016 as they hear back from colleges and consider where to spend the next four years. OLP students applied all over the United States to private and public institutions. A large portion of the seniors submitted applications to highly selective private and public colleges and universities (those that accept 30 percent or less of their applicant pool). Here is just a brief example of the results so far. Giselle Valdez Accepted to nine colleges including Columbia University, Georgetown, Northeastern with a full-ride scholarship, Claremont McKenna College, and both UCLA and UC Berkeley Lorea Mendiguren Accepted to 11 colleges including the University of Notre Dame, Villanova University, UCLA, and the University of Southern California Jacqueline Melton Accepted to all 10 of her college choices including the College of the Holy Cross, Boston College, Colgate University, and Occidental College Alejandra Hernandez Accepted to 8 colleges including Claremont McKenna College, Boston College, and UC Berkeley
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campus to Table!
Lunchtime salad bar just got yummier! The French Gourmet is now offering a beautiful, fresh and organic salad bar with plants grown here on campus by the AP Environmental Science class utilizing grow towers donated by Caleb Works Inc.
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Teams of three students are assigned to the care of one of the five towers. Each team will harvest and replant 1/3 of their tower every week. They will also be responsible for checking for the proper amount of nutrients and pH levels in the water, as well as the general care of the plants. In the classroom, the class as a whole plants new seeds every week and cultivates them under grow lights. These infant plants need daily care and students in the class take turns making sure they get what they need. More information on the aeroponics towers will be available in the July OLP Magazine.
Stay tuned! more info to come in July
Weekly Responsibilities » clean tower with a cloth and copper brush » check for bugs, plant death, pull leaves, etc. » spray if necessary » add water to the barrel » test nutrients and correct if necessary (may need to turn water timer to run) » test pH and correct if necessary » harvest » check that water timer is set Planting/Harvesting Schedule Every week the class plants 42 seeds and harvests 42 plants! Steps from seed to harvest » seed, no light (propagation): 2-3 days » 1st growth move to lights: 2 weeks » move to cell plate: 1 week » move to tower » harvest after in the tower about 3 weeks Nutrients per 20 gallon = 200ml of A and 200 ml of B Meter should read between 1000 and 1200
Mark your calendars for March 31, 2017, the date of the Third Annual Women’s Symposium!
Photo courtesy of Giving Back Magazine
Women’s Symposium A Great Success
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace held the Second Annual Women’s Symposium on campus March 18, 2016. Underwritten entirely by generous sponsors, the event brought together some of the region’s most successful and innovative women leaders to share with the students their insights and pathways to success. Marlene Vollbrechthausen Perez ’18 remarked, “I really enjoyed the Women’s Symposium. It was very inspiring and opened my eyes to new possibilities.” Through dialogue and modeling, these women leaders exhorted the students to fearlessly chase their dreams. While girls’ empowerment remained the focus of the event, there was something there for everyone. Dr. Mary M. O’Connor, parent of Emily O’Connor ’16, observed “Although it was geared toward the students, each component had a message for all guests to challenge themselves in their own careers and lives. It gave my daughter and I a lot to talk about afterward and I am so happy I attended.” The Second Annual Women’s Symposium was an incredible success, and we eagerly await the forthcoming installment, the Third Annual Women’s Symposium, to be held March 31, 2017. We are thrilled to serve as an epicenter for women leaders to connect with our students—the leaders and innovators of tomorrow—to engage in a speakers series centered on reciprocal learning and encouragement.
A Huge Thank You to Our Event Sponsors: Title Sponsor:
Spotlight and Distinguished Sponsors: Janelle Bacino, D.D.S. Marathon Construction Corporation Mary M. O’Connor, D.D.S., Inc. Neyenesch Printers PEP Creative Procopio and Enrique Hernandez Pulido
Rachel Mollering, CPA RCP Brick & Block, Inc. RMA Consulting Torrey Pines Bank Unbuttoned Innovation, Inc.
Mark your calendar for March 31, 2017
the date of the Third Annual Women’s Symposium!
A Huge Thank You to Our Panelists and Speakers Anne M. Sweeney Keynote Speaker
Member of the Board of Directors at Netflix; former President of Disney-ABC Television Group; Deans Distinguished Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Education; member of the Board of Trustees at the Mayo Clinic
Cheryl K. Goodman Closing Speaker
Executive Director for Athena San Diego; Founder of Social Global Mobile; Host of StartMeUpLive
Dr. Diane Perez
Mistress of Ceremonies Internationally recognized physician, medical journalist, author, news anchor and television host
STEM Panel
Public Policy
Facilitator Liz Bui, Vice President & IP Counsel at ViaCyte, Inc.
Co-Facilitators Paola Avila Gorostiza ‘93, Vice President, International Business Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Sr. Theresa Harpin ’69, Co-Founder of Get on The Bus
Panel Members Dr. Diane Perez, host of Despierta San Diego on Univision; Sue A. Prelozni, Founder & CEO, Sustainable Surplus Exchange; Navrina Singh, Head of Qualcomm’s Global Innovation Program—Product Inventor. STEM advocate. Startup Advisor; Yuanyuan Zhou, Founder, Whova; Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Mobile Computing at UCSD (in Department of Computer Science and Engineering) ; Ashley Van Zeeland, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Cypher Genomics
Creative Industry Facilitator Brittany Mohr, Partner Lead at Pinterest Panel Members Sarah Bendrick ’04, Host of DIY Network’s I Hate My Yard and the owner of Sarita Landscape Design; Joanne Mera, Owner & President/ CEO, PEP Creative; Marlee Ehrenfeld, President & Chief Creative Officer, MJE Marketing Services; Danitza Villanueva ’98, Co-Founder, Publisher and Creative Director of Giving Back Magazine
Business & Entrepreneurship Facilitator Christina Gustin, Financial Advisor, UBS Financial Services Inc. Panel Members Katherine Stuart Faulconer, First Lady of San Diego and owner, Restaurant Events, Inc.; Gayle Tauber, Founder, Kashi Company; Francesca Castagnola, Senior Vice President/Manager, Torrey Pines Bank; Erin Chambers Smith, Chief Content Officer, San Diego Magazine
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Panel Members Thella Bowens, CEO, San Diego International Airport; Natasha Collura, Director of Corporate Partnerships and Development, City of San Diego; Daniela Reali ’95, Deputy Public Defender; Shelley Zimmerman, Chief of Police, San Diego County Police Department
Innovation in Education Facilitator Dr. Patricia Marquez, Dean, The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego Panel Members Michele Schiele ’85, Senior Associate Vice President, Stanford University; Misty Jones, Director of the San Diego Public Library/ President of California Library Association, Lisa Lane ’07, Sports Reporter for Fox5; Cris Scorza, Education Curator for Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)
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What Ms. Cascarano ’69
Means to Me Ms. Cascarano is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She made me feel more confident in my photography skills and she never stops encouraging her students. She helped me find a hobby that I am really passionate about and has influenced my life in a way that I will never forget.
Current teachers, students and colleagues sound off on how this alum teacher has been a bright light at OLP for 30 years.
I have known Angela since 1999 when I started working with her as her customer service representative though the yearbook program. I guess you could say we’ve grown together! She has the greatest love for her family, church and school and she is one of the most caring people I know. Angela, my dear friend, I want to congratulate you on all of your accomplishments throughout the years. To you my friend, thank-you for all you have done and continue to do.
kathy McCollum, Walsworth Year Book Rep
Hannah Covington ’18 In class, Mrs. Cascarano always helps us to remember all of the Photoshop and InDesign tools by telling us weird stories to associate the tool with an object or story. The most memorable story was when she was teaching us how to use the ‘eye dropper’ tool in Photoshop and told us about how a student of hers called it the ‘squirter’ tool. The whole class laughed so hard. Now we call the ‘eye dropper’ tool the squirter tool!
I have had Ms. Cascarano for two semesters of photography class. I have worked with her a lot outside of class and we have formed a great relationship. She is extremely positive in her feedback, yet she also provides students with great advice and constructive criticism for growth. She challenges us because she knows that it is necessary for us to grow in the art of photography. She is very understanding, as she was an OLP student (and the parent of an OLP student) and she knows OLP like the back of her hand. Ms. Cascarano, to me, is the essence of what OLP is. She is an example of dedication and hard work, she truly loves what she does, and she is honest and really pushes students to the next level. No matter how many things she has to do, she will always take the time to fully give you her attention, her honest opinion, and her guidance. She has made me feel like I have learned a lot, but also that there is so much more to learn. She always has great stories to share and they always contain a great lesson. I see very genuine excitement from her when one of her students accomplishes something and it is always a great feeling to make your teacher happy. Ms. Cascarano makes me feel talented and I am so thankful to have her in my life to teach me and to push me.
Faith beyer ’17
Geneva Pfeifer ’18
It is not a surprise to me that Angela is being recognized for her accomplishments. I have worked with Angela for many years and have been amazed and positively influenced by her enthusiasm, dedication, and artistic vision. Congrats, my friend, and keep being the soul who opens hearts and minds to seeing the world in new ways.
Michelle North, Walsworth yearbook
Angela is a consummate professional educator. Her interest and dedication to her students and the Yearbook are phenomenal. She truly does what it takes to achieve excellence. Her dedication to the Yearbook Staff and the OLP Yearbook has led to numerous awards over the years. Her sly grin gives away her deadpan humor, and she goes the extra mile to help students and colleagues. Angela was on the leading edge of computer technology, as she learned how to integrate sophisticated programs into the Yearbook production. She has been at OLP in various capacities: Student, Teacher, and Mom to alum Diana ’00.
Dr. Melinda Blade, Director of athletics
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10s
Pilots Take
Flight
70s
Briana Robell ’08 is a recording artist, performer and writer as well as a music teacher at Sacred Heart Parish School. Briana recently performed with students from OLP and Cathedral Catholic at the National Catholic Educational Association Conference in San Diego for NCEA 2016. It was a beautiful performance!
Sylvia Mendoza ’78 was featured during Women’s History Month as one of “50 Voices of the Future”—a thought leader in journalism by UCSD Extension, where she works as a faculty member. Read the full profile here: extension50.ucsd.edu/ nextFifty.cfm
00s Christine Russo ’04 earned her MBA in Global Business from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the University of Redlands. She now works as a Financial Planner for Prudential.
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Abby Suster ’15 plays on the club volleyball team at Santa Clara University and Clara Calleran ’15, one of her best friends from OLP, plays on the club volleyball team for Cal Poly SLO. They recently played each other (SCU won!). While Abby is enjoying her adventures in college. she says she’s misses OLP.
bianca corralino ’14 is attending San Francisco State University pursuing a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She says OLP prepared her so well that her first two years have been relatively easy. This summer, she hopes for an internship in the business side of fashion with Ashley Nell Tipton, the winner of Season 14 for Project Runway, and her cousin.
Sarah Kalb ‘07 is currently a working actress in Los Angeles, CA. After
earning Philosophy and Theology degrees at Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, she moved to Los Angeles to work in the film industry where she now works a day-job at a Catholic production company, Family Theater Productions. Sarah’s been in a variety of short films and web series and just won her first lead in an independent feature film shooting summer ‘16. Sarah started her own fair-trade, organic makeup company Roots of Beauty (www.rootsofbeauty.com) in 2015, and is looking forward to attending the Pasadena Jackalope Art and Craft Fair.
Alumnae Reconnect ADVENTURES
with Lauren Lek. Jessica Hooper, Rivka Bent & Emily Pippin
Regional Reconnects: Boston En route to NYC for the National Coalition of Girls Schools Global Forum, we stopped for an evening in Boston to connect with alumna in the vicinity. Thanks to Rachel Cotton ’10, a current graduate student studying at Harvard, we were able to gather at the Countway Library of Medicine for an intimate dinner. Though the weather had been perfect the days preceding our arrival, a snowstorm blew in that Friday, which slowed down the travel options for several alums. With our group of 15 we were able to catch up on their lives and share the current state of affairs of their beloved alma mater. Many ideas were discussed around the table for future endeavors, and enthusiasm was unanimously shared for the implementation of the new curriculum pathways now available to the current OLP students. Needless to say, it was a fun time of joy, sharing and sisterhood.
Regional Reconnects: new york city The next day and a four-hour train ride later, we arrived in New York City. It was a beautiful winter evening along Pier 15 where we partnered with Hornblower to secure a private waterfront event space. More than 25 alums (from grad years 1978-2015) joined us for an evening of cocktails and heavy appetizers. Mrs. Lek and Mrs. Hooper partnered together to share the Strategic Plan goals and ideas and bring our alums up to speed on all the incredible changes happening at OLP. But the sharing went both ways. Our lovely alums caught us up on their studies, extracurriculars and how things have changed in their lives since graduation. After the evening ended and we all reluctantly said our goodbyes, Krista Walsh and Erika Pichardo-Ley of the Class of 2015, illuminated by the city behind them, sent us on our way.
InMEMORIAM We remember our beloved alumnae & former teachers who have gone to their eternal rest.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Mary Jacobs Sandell ’50 Margaret Doran ’39 Aaren O’Connor ’08
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NONPROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID San Diego, CA Permit No. 1592
ACADEMY OF
OUR LADY OF
PEACE FOUNDED 1882
ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND
Reconnect at OLP’s First Annual ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND AUGUST 12-13, 2016
FRIDAY , AUGUST 12 Hosted Reception with Members of the Class of 2017
ASB Student Government and Council of Ten Reconnect with Mrs. Handelsman
11:00 am | Carondelet Library and North Terrace
12:00 pm | Carondelet Parlor
» Welcome Remarks by Head of School Lauren Lek » Continental Breakfast
Campus Tours by Carondelet Circle Student Ambassadors 12:00 pm | Campus
Join with the OLP community at the 3rd Annual Endless Summer Event $35 Tickets | 5:30 pm | North Terrace » Live Band, Beer and Wine Bar, and Delicious Food!
SATURDAY , AUGUST 13
Alumnae Mass 10:00 am | OLP Chapel » Special Honoring for Alumnae Who Have Passed Away
Ladies Champagne Brunch $30 Tickets | 11:00 am | North Terrace » Alumna of the Year Recognition & Class Pictures
Another Chance For Campus Tours by Carondelet Circle Students 12:30 pm | Campus Individual class-specific celebrations taking place off campus that evening
WEEKEND DETAILS All classes and alumnae are welcome to attend the festivities. Special classes celebrating reunions are: 1941–75th 1946–70th 1951–65th 1956–60th 1961–55th
1966–50th 1971–45th 1976–40th 1981–35th 1986–30th
1991–25th 1996–20th 2001–15th 2006–10th 2011–5th
Purchase tickets and find lodging information at aolp.org/alumnae-reunion-weekend
SEE YOU THERE!