Magazine
MITTY
spring 2017
ARCHBISHOP
Introducing the Sobrato Science and Student Life Center...
ARCHBISHOPMITTY Magazine
spring 2017
table of contents
ARCHBISHOPMITTY CAMPUS NEWS
Magazine
spring 2017
2 Building the Future
See inside the new John A. and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Center, which holds state-of-the-art science facilities and puts the focus on community.
10 Friendly Faces
There are some new faces on campus and they love to sing, dance, and act. Meet the three newest members of our Performing Arts Department.
12 Making the Madness
Monarch Madness occurs in a few hours but the magic is created through weeks of meticulous preparation. Get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work.
14 Three for Three
This year, three Monarch coaches were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Learn about their coaching legacies and how they balance time on the court with hours in the classroom.
16 Finding Fellowship as Adults
Since its founding, AMHS has been educating students about various aspects of the Catholic faith. Now parents can participate too through the school’s adult theology series.
17 Outreach Program Visits Local Colleges
To be successful, students need to set goals and work hard, which is why the Outreach Program takes first generation college students to visit local universities.
Leadership In Catholic Education Principal Tim Brosnan Associate Principal Kate Caputo Associate Principal Keith Mathews Assistant Principal/Dean of Students Jim Fallis Chief Financial Officer Jorge Helmer Executive Director of Advancement Mason Kimont Director of Athletics Josh Walker Chief Information Officer Eric Anderson Director of Admissions Katherine Wesmiller Director of Campus Ministry Tim Wesmiller Director of Performing Arts Doug Santana Director of Student Activities Greg Walker Director of Communications Katie Helland
ALUMNI NEWS
Director of Publications JoAnn Schilb ARCHBISHOP MITTY MAGAZINE
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Alumni Events
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Class Notes
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In Remembrance
is printed by Bluewater Printing Services, Inc. and is published three times a year for the families and friends of Archbishop Mitty High School. Questions, suggestions, or items of interest should be directed to the Archbishop Mitty Publications Office at the address below. AMHS Publications Department 5000 Mitty Avenue San Jose, California 95129-1897 Change of address or mailing inquiries are handled through the Advancement Office: (408) 252-3923.
Dear Friends, If you are in any way connected to Archbishop Mitty High School, you have no doubt heard me speak of the operating vision that drives all of what we do. That vision is to be the “best Catholic college preparatory high school imaginable.” Such a vision demands that we be daring and innovative, limited only by our ability to imagine. In addition, this vision impels us to excel in a wide number of diverse activities—from S.T.E.M. to football to the arts, etc., etc. And the explicitly “Catholic” dimension of the vision inspires us to do all of this within a culture of faith, community, and service. This issue of the Archbishop Mitty Magazine represents well a school that is living out this vision. As the cover story of the new Sobrato Center suggests, we have entered a new era of S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The “best Catholic college prep high school imaginable” today would necessarily employ methodologies that stimulate critical thinking and mandate hands-on learning. The new Sobrato Center is making it even more possible to “do science” and not just “read about science.” The Student Life area of the new facility is a most welcoming environment, revealing a visionary commitment to exercise hospitality at every turn. Without question, our faith is characterized by “welcoming all to the table.” I certainly hope that when you have occasion to walk on the Mitty campus you feel that you are greeted with warmth and kindness. For creating a culture of hospitality is one of the most important skills that we try to teach our students. At the far east end of the new Schott Family Commons is the newest addition to the AMHS campus: a life-sized statue of Jesus washing the feet of a woman. The plaque at the base of the statue has a very clear message to all who pass. It reads, “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). This call to service is without question a concrete sign of the vision being realized. Enjoy reading about all the other ways as well. God’s Blessings,
Tim Brosnan Principal
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Building the Future
SOBRATO CENTER FOCUSES ON SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY. By Katie Helland - Director of Communications
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n January, Archbishop Mitty High School opened the doors to the John A. and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Center, which provides students with state-of-the-art science facilities and a collegiate-style student union. The 17,820 square foot facility includes five new classrooms, robotics machinery, a beautiful outdoor terrace, and a spacious student lounge. The new facility, located in the center of campus, brings
several new machines to the room, including a lathe and
cutting-edge technology into the science classrooms. The
a CNC mill. Students are using this equipment to create
new science facilities have been designed especially for
mechanisms for their robot that would have been fabricat-
labs, with extra fume hoods and moveable tabletops to
ed differently, or not at all, without these new tools. The
better facilitate hands-on learning activities. In these
new space also holds 3-D printers, which allows students
rooms, students explore the scientific concepts that are
to build models before they create the actual pieces.
the building blocks for careers in medicine, engineering, agriculture, and computer science.
“This is the first time we’ve had 3-D printers here,” said Mrs. Slevin, the Science Department Chairperson. “They
“We’re located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Obviously,
give students the ability to physically touch and see an
there is a need in this valley for engineers, scientists, and
idea that started off in their minds.”
mathematicians to address and solve the world’s problems and to be contributors to the business of the valley,”
While the building is home to the school’s robotics team,
said Principal Tim Brosnan. “We also need to develop
senior science electives, and physics and chemistry
those same scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, to
classes, it doesn’t just cater to the sciences. The student
be people who embrace Gospel values.”
lounge on the first floor provides a gathering space where students can work together and relax. Its tall ceilings,
Downstairs, students on the robotics team are using
bright colors, and wall of folding glass doors that open to
the latest high-tech machinery to fabricate parts for
the outside provide an inviting space where students can
the team’s robot. The new workspace includes a mill,
get creative and exchange ideas.
drill press, bandsaw, and myriad hand tools in support of student design and fabrication for the program. The
“I think everything we do at Mitty should have a com-
increased work space has also allowed the school to add
munity-building dimension to it,” Mr. Brosnan said. “The (continued on page 6)
Elina Xie ’19: Medicine “The new building enhances my experience in science classes.
I think the first, most noticeable, difference between my chemistry classroom in the new building and the old chemistry classroom in the 300-wing is the lab tables. Instead of having separate, individual desks, the new building has shared lab tables, which facilitate group work and promote small group discussions,” Elina said. “Science at Mitty sparked my interest in the medical field, and the new building only continues to foster my passion for hands-on work. My experiences in science class have allowed me to further explore the field of science and have helped me to both expand and refine my career aspirations.”
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Alex Veroulis ’17: AP Chemistry “One thing that comes to mind about the new chemistry
classroom is all of the space that is available now for labs. For instance, we have an extra fume hood at our disposal to handle hazardous chemicals, and we can move around our tables to create extra space,” Alex said. “With respect to the specific labs we can do, we are still doing the same labs. The only difference is that these labs are much more efficient with the new classroom setup, which enables us to run more trials for each lab we have.”
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Nathan Krisman ’17: Agriculture “I’ve been interested in the environment for my entire life. Taking the Feeding the Future: Agriculture Sustainability class, I was exposed to all the negative effects of industrial farming, so it just kind of sparked a passion and made me want to take action,” said Nathan, who wants to be an organic farmer. “In the new building, there are a bunch of windows,which let in a lot of light, so we’re able to grow a lot of plants from seeds. We grow the plants to test how different soil compositions affect the germination of the seeds. We also test the differences between synthetic and organic fertilizers.”
Building the Future (continued from page 4)
first floor, which is the Student Life Center, is open. It’s
“One of the things we want to do with this building — and
inviting. It’s welcoming — all of which is what we want to
to some extent every building we create — is to make
always be at Mitty.”
sure there is something that is directly attentive to the spiritual aspect of the school,” Mr. Brosnan said.
This sense of community is further encouraged by an inspiration wall, which includes quotes that affirm that
The exterior commons have become another communi-
every student is “Made in the Image and Likeness of
ty gathering spot. The glass walls of the student lounge
God,” a central component of the school’s mission state-
open to the Schott Family Commons, a spacious court-
ment. Surrounding these words are six adjectives that
yard where students can sit at tables and look out over
describe God-like qualities: just, creative, hopeful, com-
the grass. This space has quickly become a popular place
munal, spiritual, and loving. Each of these adjectives is
on campus and will host Baccalaureate Mass this spring.
surrounded by quotes that illustrate a characteristic. The
The newest addition to campus brings students together
wall is modeled after an exhibit that Mr. Brosnan saw in
to celebrate not just academic achievements but also the
The Nobel Museum in Sweden, which honors Nobel Prize
kinship that permeates the Archbishop Mitty community.
winners. The piece of art stretches 71 feet long and 6 feet high, filling a space students see every day as they study and talk with friends.
Tiina Otala ’19: Computer Science “I absolutely love the 3-D printers. They are an
incredible way to see your ideas come to fruition right in front of you. I am able to design an object in a 3-D modeling program on a computer as an abstract notion and then observe it being physically brought into existence on a printer,” Tiina said. “There is nothing more satisfying than watching something that you put all of your heart into creating be built layer by layer into a final product.”
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Emily Genevriere ’18: Robotics “With the new building, our robotics team is able to form
a more cohesive unit, with the various departments working side by side on their own projects, easily able to collaborate in the large, open space,” said Emily. “I joined the robotics team my freshmen year, having had absolutely no prior experience with building anything as complicated as a robot, much less something designed to perform highly accurate tasks. However, over the course of these past few years, I have developed a love for engineering — so much so — that I plan to pursue mechanical engineering in college.”
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Faizon Bannister ’18: Outreach Office “Having the Outreach Office in the new building makes it feel like our community is and always will be a part of Mitty’s heart. The fact that it moved into the new building shows it is at the forefront of Mitty’s values,” Faizon said. “Before, Outreach was in the 200-wing on the bottom floor. Now, that it’s moved over here, it’s more student-orientated. The incorporation of Outreach into the new building is something that is very valuable to the members of the Outreach community as it helps create a unified and diverse campus.”
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Dedicating Space for Science On Sunday, February 26th, the Archbishop Mitty community gathered to officially dedicate the new John A. and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Center. That morning, more than 300 people gathered for Mass, which was led by Bishop Patrick McGrath. During Mass, donors were recognized and thanked for their part in making the new facility a reality, and special recognition was given to John A. and Susan Sobrato for their role in shaping the new facility at Archbishop Mitty. Following Mass, the crowd gathered outside to watch as Bishop McGrath blessed the building. After the official ceremonies, guests were able to walk through the building and ask faculty and students about how the new facilities will impact teaching and student life.
1.
2.
4.
3.
7.
6.
5. 1. Mr. John A. Sobrato and Mr. Brosnan enjoyed an open house reception in front of the new inspiration wall. 2. Bishop McGrath and Principal Tim Brosnan posed for a photo in front of the new facility. 3. A crowd of more than three hundred people gathered for the event and explored the student lounge, which has a wall of folding glass doors that open to the outside. 4. Mr. Sobrato admired the new viewing options of the Bill Barone Baseball Field from the Elfrink Terrace. 5. Junior Emily Genevriere explained how to operate one of the new tools in the STEM lab. These tools will be used by students in class and by members of the robotics team. 6. Patricia Schott, along with Steve and Mollie Schott, posed with Mr. Brosnan in the middle of the new Schott Family Commons. 7. Bishop McGrath presided over Mass before blessing the new building.
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Friendly Faces Performing Arts Department Adds New Teachers and Staff By Doug Santana - Director of Performing Arts Department
This school year has been an exciting one that added several new faces to the Performing Arts Department at Archbishop Mitty High School. In the last two years, the department has welcomed three faculty and staff members that bring a wide variety of experience from the professional world of music and theater. MS. LAUREN BEVILACQUA ’05, the new orchestra director, is an alumna of AMHS who is no stranger to the Performing Arts Department. She musically directed the school’s productions of “The Addams Family” in 2014 and Disney’s Broadway musical “Beauty and the Beast” in 2016. Ms. Bevilacqua has returned to campus to teach orchestra, wind ensemble, concert band, and guitar class this year. She also provided vocal and musical direction for “Peter and the Starcatcher” and continued this work for the production of “Les Miserables: School Edition.” “I have always felt lucky to have attended Mitty and to have been a part of the Mitty community,” said Ms. Bevilacqua. “Now, I feel immensely lucky to be a part of this community as a teacher.” Ms. Bevilacqua earned a Bachelor of Music in music therapy from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University in 2009. She became a board certified music therapist through the Certification Board for Music Therapists, Inc. in 2010. Upon returning back to the Bay Area, Ms. Bevilacqua worked as a music therapist serving mainly students on the
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autism spectrum. She has maintained a private piano studio and served as music director for several professional theater companies including Palo Alto Players, The Tabard Theatre Company, and San Jose Stage Company.
MRS. AMANDA FOLENA ’00 is an alumna of AMHS and an award-winning director and choreographer in the local professional theater community. Mrs. Folena is currently teaching Drama 1 and Drama 2: Acting. She also directed the production of “Les Miserables: School Edition” last March. “We are so fortunate to have a teacher, director, and choreographer of Amanda Folena’s caliber on our campus,” said Doug Santana, the Director of Performing Arts. “Amanda brings an infectious energy to every project she takes on and her professionalism, creative vision, and love of theater education makes her an important part of the future of our acting program.” Mrs. Folena has a Bachelor of Arts in theater from the University of Southern California and a Master of Fine Arts
in acting from Purdue University. She has received special honors, including the Jack Nicholson Award for Best Actress, the USC Dance Award for Best Choreography, and the national Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. Mrs. Folena was the former Artistic Director for Broadway By the Bay, a company that has received various accolades, including the Theatre Bay Area award for the most outstanding production of a musical for “In the Heights.” Mrs. Folena’s other credits include productions with San Jose Repertory Theatre, Opera San Jose, Diablo Theatre Company, Center REPertory Company, Ray of Light Theatre, Foothill Music Theatre, City Lights Theater Company, and Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa. Her professional acting credits include Monica Lewinsky in “Aphrodisiac,” Mama Spears in “Becoming Britney,” Georgie in “The Full Monty,” and Tamar in “First Person Shooter.”
Our final new staff member is MR. JUSTIN KARR, the school’s Performing Arts Facilities Manager and Technical Director. Mr. Karr’s responsibilities on campus include providing the
MS. LAUREN BEVILACQUA ’05
scenic design and technical direction for all three of our mainstage shows. He produces all of our concerts, recitals, and showcases. He is also in charge of the theater on the evenings of a performance, when he oversees ushers and the box office staff. A graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in theatrical performance, Mr. Karr has professional experience as an actor, technical director, stage manager, and production manager. Mr. Karr’s various backstage credits include productions with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Serra High School, Broadway by the Bay, Hillbarn Theater, Foothill Music Theater, and Santa Rosa Summer Repertory. He was also an actor in San Jose Stage Company’s production of “The Pillowman” and Foothill Music Theatre’s production of “Spring Awakening.”
MRS. AMANDA FOLENA ’00
“In just a few short months, Mr. Karr has changed the way we produce our concerts, recitals and mainstage productions for the better,” said Mr. Santana. “He is an incredible mentor for our technical theater students and an outstanding collaborator on all our creative projects.”
MR. JUSTIN KARR
Archbishop Mitty High School is truly blessed to have so many outstanding professionals share their talents with the community. This talented group joins the rest of the Performing Arts Department in making a meaningful and memorable impact both on stage and in the classroom.
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Making the Madness 12
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Making the Madness A Behind the Scenes Look at Monarch Madness By Greg Walker - Director of Student Activities
In all of its glory and splendor, Monarch Madness is a sight to behold. Whether it’s the student artwork, the elaborate costumes, or the vision of school spirit generated by each class, it’s one of the greatest nights to be a Monarch. So, how do we get there? What’s the process for putting on such a large-scale event? Let’s explore what it takes to bring this illustrious night together. During a class divisional meeting, the themes are revealed and names are drawn to determine which students will represent each class. To embrace the uniqueness of each class, the representatives for the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are randomly selected from a pool of interested students. Once teams are formed, practice begins. Students use the activity periods before school to practice, along with some weekend sessions. In total, students will participate in more than 20 hours of practice. Games, the percussive ROAR routine, and the themed dance consume most of this time. It’s truly incredible to see students from all areas of interest come together. On the surface, it’s choreography that makes them perform in unison, but the true beauty comes from seeing a class bond and become one unit.
Along with practicing, students — and their class representatives — find time during a three-week period to trace and paint an 8-by-8-foot themed mural and 75-foot banner. These centerpieces transform the City National Civic of San Jose from a local concert venue into a magical oasis that celebrates all things related to the school. It’s impressive to see students from each class painting in the hallways and celebrating each other’s talents and creativity. All of this intense, hard work leads up to a final Monarch Madness rehearsal the night before the event. Students take buses to the City National Civic, where they practice their games, dance, and ROAR. The night also includes a communal dinner and homework session. At the end of the night, everyone has seen everything, done everything, and is prepared for “the Madness.” The event is one that the school community looks forward to each year. Students and attendees embrace the feelings of competition, unity, and school spirit that the event provides. In the end, it’s not really about which class wins or loses but about bringing the school community together and enjoying the process.
Artistic Challenge Students creating murals for Monarch Madness XXVI received seven colors of paint, including red, blue, green, black, white, orange, and brown. If they wanted a hue that wasn’t in that color group, they mixed it themselves. Artists got about 10 hours to paint their masterpieces. The themes of the murals were “Space Jam” for the freshmen, “Mulan” for the sophomores, “Ghostbusters” for the juniors, and “Stranger Things” for the seniors.
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FOR THREE Three Coaches Named to AMHS Athletic Hall of Fame By Katie Helland - Director of Communications
This spring, Coaches Bret Almazan-Cezar, Sue Phillips ’86, and Thomas Miller ’83 made the cut for an elite team. In February, the three long-time coaches were inducted into the AMHS Athletic Hall of Fame. These stellar leaders are known on campus not just for their standout sports programs but for constantly demanding the best from their student-athletes.
Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar might describe himself as laid back, but he has high expectations and knows how to get students motivated. After the school day ends, this full-time math teacher uses his excellent problem solving skills to run a powerhouse women’s volleyball team that regularly ends the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. During the volleyball season, Coach Almazan-Cezar stays busy. “During the season, you have three jobs,” Almazan-Cezar said. “You have to manage your family; you have to be a teacher; and you have this other family you call a team. And somehow, you have to prioritize each and every moment.” In 16 years of coaching Monarchs, Coach Almazan-Cezar has led the school to 10 state championships and seven mythical national championships. He is no stranger to the Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Almazan-Cezar was inducted into the team category two years ago. This spring, he was inducted into the special category, the last one for which he can qualify.
Honoring A Great Friend, Husband, Photographer. This spring, Mr. Luie Lopez, our late Director of Publications, was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He was honored in the special category, which recognizes individuals who contribute to the school’s athletic program in a significant way. These contributors can be coaches, athletic directors, or — in Mr. Lopez’s case — influential photographers. Unfortunately, Mr. Lopez lost his battle with cancer in March of 2016. He is survived by his wife, Rose Lopez, an AMHS French teacher; his son, Rajan Bansal ’08; and his daughter, Maren Lopez ’20. Staff remember him as a gifted photographer with a kind spirit and big heart. 14
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Coach Sue Phillips ’86, an Archbishop Mitty alumna
Coach Thomas Miller ’83 teaches social studies and
and math teacher, was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame this year. In 25 years of coaching Monarchs, she has lead the women’s basketball teams to an impressive 20 league titles, 19 CCS titles, 12 Nor Cal Championships, and 6 CIF state titles. Phillips’ teams have produced some phenomenal professional athletes and is consistently one of the top ranked teams in the nation.
serves as the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. He has spent 29 years teaching Monarchs that they can achieve great things, if they believe in themselves.
“While I absolutely love the game and the spirit of competition, we as a staff, we take great pride in teaching life lessons through athletics,” Coach Phillips said. “Our program has a history of empowering young women and developing exceptional leaders.”
Coach Miller’s father, Don, was one of the school’s first swimming coaches during the 70s, when the campus didn’t have a swimming pool. Since then, the program has grown considerably. Under Coach Thomas Miller’s guidance, Monarch swimmers have taken home 21 league championships and 11 CCS Championships. Coach Miller is also a full-time teacher, who spends each spring coaching students through taking the AP World History exam, while simultaneously preparing his swimming and diving teams for championship competition.
Alumnae of her program include three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri (Walsh ’96) Jennings and WNBA Phoenix Mercury point guard Danielle Robinson ’07. With the most recent induction, Coach Phillips becomes the first individual to be represented in all three categories of the Athletic Hall of Fame: individual inductee, team inductee, and special category.
“Swimming is such a self-motivated sport because most of the time is spent with your head under water,” Coach Miller said. “So you have to take what the coach is saying and internalize it.”
For all three coaches, a sincere interest in student success drives them to come to work early and stay late. On the court and in the classroom, these coaches help students overcome obstacles so they can experience success. Under their guidance, students learn how to play a sport, but more importantly, they learn that hard work and persistence are part of the mindset they need to achieve any goal. SPRING 2017
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Finding Fellowship as Adults amhs hosts theology series for parents and staff By Tim Wesmiller - Director of Campus Ministry
Since its establishment, Archbishop Mitty High School has been educating students on various aspects of the Catholic faith. This year, the school expanded the learning opportunities to our adult community. Parents, alumni, faculty, and staff were invited to two evenings of a new Adult Theology Series in October and February to share fellowship with one another and to discuss topics that strongly resemble the ones discussed in religious studies classes here on campus. The evenings began with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, which were followed by conversations, providing a time to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. At the first evening, on October 20th, Mrs. Megan Walker, an AMHS religious studies teacher, addressed those gathered in the Thomas Kinkade Center for the Arts, exploring some of the roots of Catholic social teaching, the Church’s best kept secret. She interwove the history and importance of church documents with personal experiences. Mrs. Walker also incorporated some of the advocacy work her students are doing, specifically addressing the students’ support of Measure A, which was on the November ballot and authorized bonds to fund affordable housing. As a Catholic community, we are called to take action and Mrs. Walker gave those in attendance some concrete ways to do that during the November election. One of the principles of Catholic social teaching that she discussed was the life and dignity of the human person, which led to a captivating discussion of current issues facing voters, including Propositions 62 and 66, which looked at repealing or speeding up the process for the death penalty. Mrs. Walker outlined some of the extensive work students have done in investigating these propositions, ultimately, encouraging all voters to inform their conscience before they headed to the polls. The evening ended with a lively question and answer period that addressed the incredibly difficult questions many ask in the face of so many injustices in the world: “What do I do?” and “Is what I’m doing enough?” The second talk of the Adult Theology Series occurred February 9th and was equally enjoyable and informative. AMHS Religion Teacher Mrs. Christina McDougall explored the themes of the
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creation stories in the book of Genesis. Diving into historical and textual criticism of this often misinterpreted text, Mrs. McDougall pointed out that there are actually two different creation accounts written by two different groups of people almost four hundred years apart. Each group of writers had audiences who needed to hear different messages based on their own circumstances. Both accounts are products of their time and need to be read in the genre of mythical literature, which is why the Church does not view the creation accounts as disproving scientific theories of evolution. Mrs. McDougall offered those in attendance two major takeaways: First, God does not simply create and then take a step back and watch it unfold. These creation stories demonstrate that this is a God who is deeply interested in and even deeply loves human life. God’s hands are in the mud, working with us through the messiness of human living. Secondly, these stories also reveal a fundamental truth about humanity: we are designed for community. It is not good for us to be alone and we have an innate longing to be in relationship, to be known and to be named. Campus Ministry looks forward to providing more of these events next year. All are welcome to attend and more information about this, as well as additional resources for adult faith formation, can be found on the Campus Ministry website: mitty.com/campus-ministry.
Outreach Students Visit Local Colleges By Patsy Mireles - Outreach Coordinator
The Outreach Program at Archbishop Mitty High School continues to grow and now offers visits to local college and university campuses. With the addition of Dr. Miel Wilson to the AMHS Outreach staff last year, the program began taking students to visit higher education institutions. To prepare for each visit, Dr. Wilson, the coordinator of the program, contacts local Admissions Offices, Multicultural Centers, and even Archbishop Mitty High School alumni who are currently enrolled in the universities. Last year, AMHS students visited three universities: the University of California, Berkeley; Santa Clara University; and Stanford University. The successful program continues to grow. Not only is there an increase in the number of students interested in visiting colleges, but this year, students have already visited UC Berkeley, Notre Dame de Namur University, Saint Mary’s College of California, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. During the spring semester, students will visit additional universities, including the California State University, East Bay and Stanford University. “It is especially important for students of color and first generation students to have an early introduction to the college admissions process, financial aid/scholarships, and college life,” Dr. Wilson said. “It is also important for students to have role models and examples of students who share their backgrounds and experiences who have successfully transitioned to college and can provide guidance and advice that the students can relate to.”
“I really enjoyed the visits because I got a feel for the colleges I am applying to,” said Richy Diaz, a current AMHS senior. “I liked seeing first hand the school environment and atmosphere.” For some students, this is the first time they have visited higher education institutions, so it gives them a better understanding of what they are looking for in a four-year college. For others, the college visits confirm their instincts of wanting a smaller school versus a larger school setting or staying local versus leaving the Bay Area. Regardless of their initial perspectives, students leave the campuses enriched by the information they receive and the experiences they take away. “I enjoy the college visits because the application process doesn’t seem as scary anymore, and I’m inspired to work hard in high school so I can reach my goals,” said Denisse Velasco, an AMHS freshman. Next year, the program will expand to visit colleges and universities outside the Bay Area, exposing students to even more places where they could further their education.
During each visit, the students pack AMHS buses on Saturday mornings and head to universities where they spend the day speaking with current students, taking tours of the campus, and inquiring about the admissions process and student life.
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On Saturday, February 11th, our largest class of inductees ever was welcomed into Archbishop Mitty High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. With a total of 10 individuals, four teams, and four special category inductees, the evening felt like a family reunion filled with many great stories and memories of times at AMHS.
Congratulations to all of the new Athletic Hall of Fame members! INDIVIDUALS
Jakaria Stewart ’94: track & field, soccer, and volleyball Erin (Downey ’05) Biederman: volleyball Nora Soza ’06: field hockey Renisha Robinson ’07: track & field and cross country Amanda Gil ’08: volleyball Mitch Haniger ’09: baseball and football Rachel Williams ’10: volleyball Alex Balog ’10: baseball and water polo Tyler Davis ’11: baseball Michaela Matulich ’11: soccer
SPECIAL CATEGORY Coach Thomas Miller ’83: men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach Coach Sue Phillips ’86: women’s basketball coach Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar: women’s volleyball coach Luie Lopez: Former Director of Publications
TEAM CATEGORY
1994-95 women’s basketball 2000-01 women’s soccer 2005-06 men’s soccer 2008 women’s tennis
See the full list of inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame at mitty.com/athletics/hall-of-fame.
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PICTURED ON OPPOSITE PAGE 1
Members of the 1994-95 women’s basketball team gathered for a picture.
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Members of the 2000-01 women’s soccer team posed for a photo shortly after receiving their team award.
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Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar, a special category inductee, joined former players and individual inductees Amanda Gil ’08, Erin (Downey ’05) Biederman, and Rachel Williams ’10 for a photo.
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Coach Thomas Miller ’83, a special category inductee, visited with his brother, Paul Miller ’82, and mother, Mary Ann Miller.
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John and Victoria Phillips, the parents of special category inductee Sue Phillips ’86, proudly attended the evening.
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Dina Oakland, a current AMHS faculty member and former track and field coach, handed off the baton used in a record-setting 4 x 800 race to inductee Renisha Robinson ’07. This baton was used by Robinson and her teammates in the 4 x 800 relay at the Stanford Invitational in 2005, where they broke the Stanford Invitational and CCS records. Both records still stand today. Members of this year’s induction class: (Back row) Michaela Matulich ’11, Jakaria Stewart ’94, Tyler Davis ’11, and Nora Soza ’06; (Front row) Mitch Haniger ’09, Erin (Downey ’05) Biederman, Amanda Gil ’08, and Alex Balog ’10.
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Bill Hutton, former AMHS varsity baseball coach, joined individual inductees Mitch Haniger ’09, Alex Balog ’10, and Tyler Davis ’11 for a photo.
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Members of the 2005-06 men’s soccer team posed for a photo.
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Members of the 2008 women’s tennis team smiled for the camera.
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FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SPECIAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES.
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Read about Coach Thomas Miller ’83, Coach Sue Phillips ’86, Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar, and former Director of Publications Luie Lopez... Page 6.
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Class Reunions Members of the most recent four graduating classes (2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016) visited their alma mater on Wednesday, November 23th. Graduates shared their Monarch memories with each other, as well as with former teachers and coaches. Thanks to everyone who attended the event!
Charles Victor ’16, Noah Fletcher ’16, Lily Guttman ’16, and Elizabeth Ekman ’16 paused for a photo.
Paloma Calvillo ’16, Nolan Mifsud ’16, Sophia Rodriguez ’16, Emma Chew ’16, and Emma Dapkus ’16 smiled for the camera.
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A group of alumni from the Class of 2016 enjoyed snacks and pizza while catching up on college and life after graduation.
Abby Doerger ’16, Gian Pancipanci ’16, and Danielle Panconi ’16 visited with Peggy Lemak, a current AMHS faculty member.
A group of alumni showed their Monarch pride in the photo booth.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - The alumnae players took a photo with Coach Sue Phillips ’86 before the women’s basketball game. Tara MacLean ’11 dribbled down the court in the Fien Gymnasium. Some of our current players helped to round out the alumnae team this year.
We had an excellent group of alumni basketball players return to campus on Wednesday, November 23rd. Assisted by some of our current players, the alumnae put up a fight against the women’s varsity team while the alumni took on the men’s varsity team. The competition was fierce at both games, making them fun to watch for everyone in attendance. We look forward to seeing you next year!
MEN’S BASKETBALL - The alumni squad and Coach Tim Kennedy smiled for the camera before the men’s basketball game. Dalton Gary ’09, the current freshman basketball coach, flew up to the net at the alumni event. SPRING 2017
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A total of 38 alumni from the 70s to 2016 returned to campus on Saturday, November 26th, to play in the annual Alumni Men’s Soccer Game. The rain held off during the soccer match, and players, family, and friends enjoyed a barbecue potluck afterward in the Aymar Events Center.
MEN’S SOCCER - The alumni team gathered for a photo before the game on Father Jack Russi Field. Patrick Khajehtoorian ’06 took the ball down field with Paul Vaccaro ’92 close behind. John Zdankus ’11 collided with Matt Urata-Espinosa ’19 to get the ball.
On Monday, December 26th, a total of 28 alumnae joined the current women’s varsity soccer team for the annual Boxing Day Classic. The weather was spectacular, and it was a wonderful time for family, friends, and all who attended.
WOMEN’S SOCCER - Madison Salom ’12 defended the ball from current varsity player Lainie Cadieux ’19. Stephanie Probst ’13 and Marquel Love ’14 exchanged a high-five after a successful play. Alumnae and current women’s varsity players gathered for a group photo.
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We had an awesome group of alumni baseball players return to campus on Saturday, February 25th, for the annual Alumni Baseball Game. Despite rumors of rain, we got blue skies and a beautiful day for a ball game. After the seventh inning, alumni, families, and friends enjoyed a delicious barbecue lunch.
Joe Camarlinghi ’98 stepped up to bat while George Mensah ’93 and other teammates looked on. Patrick Taylor ’70 and Tom Trapani ’70 had a chance to catch up during the game.
The alumni team watched the field closely from the dugout. Rich McLaughlin ’84 was joined by his father, Tom McLaughlin, who came out to watch him play. Baseball games are a family affair for Michael Crisafulli ’88 and his son, Clay Crisafulli ’18, who is a current member of the varsity baseball team.
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CLASS NOTES - Alumni Bits and Pieces
The 1960s Patrick Kelly ’69 is semi-retired and still teaches at a local law school. He spends most of his days working as an unpaid Uber driver for 12 grandkids. He enjoys spending his free time watching them play various sports including rugby, soccer, water polo, and basketball.
1970s Aileen Casavave ’77 was honored by the Black Legend Organization with the Law and Justice Award for her service to several legal, nonprofit, and community agencies throughout the Bay Area during the Silicon Valley Black Legend Awards Ceremony on February 25th.
1980s Tiffany (Owen ’84) Zinckgraf has enjoyed staying home to raise her three children for most of their childhood. Now that the youngest prepares to leave the nest, she is devoting more time to her thriving business, TravelBook Vacations. She has been ranked among the top 30 travel agents for three years in a row. When she’s not planning and booking travel for her clients, she is traveling herself. In celebration of her daughter’s graduation, her family is looking forward to a trek on the Inca Trail when they visit Machu Picchu this June. Cheers!
Brandi Chastain ’86 was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Friday, March 24th, at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. The ceremony took place prior to the U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup qualifying match against Honduras.
1990s Kerri (Walsh ’96) Jennings, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in beach volleyball, was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on April 24th. The Hall of Fame hosted its induction ceremony in San Francisco. In addition to Kerri, inductees this year included Matt Williams of the San Francisco Giants; Carmen Policy of the San Francisco 49ers; Bill Cartwright of the Chicago Bulls; and Russell Baze, an extremely successful jockey.
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Kacey Aumack ’02 was the team captain for a team of 12 that participated in the Reebok Ragnar Napa Valley Relay last November to raise money for the organization Stupid Cancer. Collectively, the group ran 186 miles in 36 hours and raised more than $16,000 in honor of Kacey’s cousin, who has brain cancer. Her cousin was one of the members of the relay team, as well. Kacey recently started fundraising again for Stupid Cancer.
#FeelingSocial? Visit Mitty Alumni Connect MittyAlumni.com
Facebook.com/MittyAlumni Instagram @ArchbishopMittyAlumni
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Alison (Sandman ’02) James married Travis James in 2010. They are raising four beautiful daughters, Abigail, 6; Mackenzie, 4.5; Caroline, 3; and Charlotte, 1, in Atlanta, Georgia.
CLASS NOTES - Alumni Bits and Pieces
Danielle Robinson ’07, a three-time WNBA All-Star point guard, was recently traded to the Phoenix Mercury from the San Antonio Stars. Check out an interview with Danielle about the trade on wnba.com. Brian Witt ’07 works for the Golden State Warriors in the team’s marketing division. He helped coin the terms “Dub Nation” and “Splash Brothers.” Watch a feature about him on espn.com. Rajan Bansal ’08 is currently a captain in the Air Force and has recently been accepted into graduate school at George Washington University in Washington D.C. He will be studying public policy with a focus on national security and foreign policy. He will also be starting an internship with the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. Gregory Doyle ’03 married Casey McTaggart in Tahoe last April. All of his attendants were also AMHS graduates. Pictured left to right: Gregory Gonzales ’03; Chris Cardenas ’03; Brian Moffat ’03; Gregory Doyle ’03, groom; Rachel Doyle ’05, best “man”; George Michael ’03; and Tony Lechler ’03. Lee Pardini ’03 returned to San Jose in December for a one night show with his former group, the Lee Pardini Trio. He is currently touring with folk-rock band, Dawes. The group was featured on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert on March 9th. Check out the tour schedule at dawestheband.com. Caroline Caselli ’04 started her own company, Haven Connect, after working as a social worker in San Francisco for a few years. The company houses low-income people more efficiently by streamlining the application process for affordable housing. This allows low-income applicants to apply for housing online. It also allows property managers to communicate with applicants over many years. Recently, Haven Connect was awarded a $100,000 grant by The Rockefeller Foundation to scale the impact of the company. Hana Silverstein ’04 has returned to the Bay Area after working in Austin, Texas with the University of Texas on a humanities program for low-income adults. She now works in San Jose as a program coordinator for the American Institute of Mathematics, a nonprofit research center. The organization hosts 30 conferences each year in a unique format that encourages mathematicians to work collaboratively toward a common research goal. Ashwin Pushpala ’06 made the Forbes 30 under 30 list this year for his work in the healthcare industry. Ashwin is the founder of Sano, a company that combines personalized health with a Fitbit approach. The company raised $18.75 million to develop a wearable sensor that— instead of counting steps— assesses things like blood sugar, so users can see how what they eat impacts their bodies.
Casey Wollbrinck ’08 has been living in San Diego and brewing beer for the last three years. She is currently the lead brewer at a startup called Duck Foot Brewing Company. She has been with the brewery from the beginning. Casey does everything from brewing the beers to working at festivals, making small batches of experimental brews, and taking promotional photos. It is a fast-paced, fun, and ever changing job. “There is nothing better than catching up with old friends over a beer, especially one you brewed,” she told the Mitty Magazine. In the past year, she has also managed to squeeze in participating in her first Half Ironman, with two other AMHS alumni, Jen Meadows ’08 and Claire Dougherty ’08, and her first full marathon. She can’t say that she loved every second of these experiences, but she is glad that she was able to finish both endurance races. Casey loves being in San Diego. If anyone is ever in the area, she would like them to contact her and stop by the brewery for a pint. Go Monarchs!
Share your updates with us! Visit mittyalumni.com to add your own class notes and read more about your classmates!
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CLASS NOTES - Alumni Bits and Pieces
Kendra Breunling ’09 graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a bachelor’s degree in health and human sciences in 2013. Since then, she has continued pursuing her interest in physical therapy in the greater Los Angeles area. She is now a second year student at the University of Southern California, where she is working toward a doctorate in physical therapy. She will be graduating in May of 2018! Ian Davis ’09 walked the Camino de Santiago last summer, a 1,200 mile pilgrimage from the middle of France to Santiago de Conpostella on the west coast of Spain. The journey took three months. Paul Dougherty ’09 has been living in the northwestern part of Montana (with some time spent in squats and co-ops in San Francisco and Asheville, North Carolina) with his partner and rescue mutt. He graduated from Kenyon College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature and a minor in gender studies. He currently works for Kalispell Public Schools in the winter and manages a small retail-rental business in Glacier National Park in the summer. Previously, he managed a Conoco gas station, transcribed academic subtitles, and completed other assorted hustles. He is also on the organizing committee for the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. Anooshka Kumar ’09 is currently working in strategy and business planning at Salesforce. She will start at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School in the fall.
MONARCH DAY OF GIVING On Saturday, March 4th, we had our first ever Monarch Day of Giving Volunteer Day, where alumni gathered to volunteer in their local communities. This group of Monarchs and their friends joined together at the Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz where they turned soil to make way for a new crop. They also donated gloves to the garden for future endeavors. It was a beautiful day to dive into the dirt and give back to the community.
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Mimi Robinson ’09 is currently starring as Gabrielle, one of the stepsisters in the national tour of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Find out when she’s coming to a theater near you at cinderellaonbroadway.com.
2010s Shintaro Ban ’14, a junior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was named the Northern California Golf Association’s Player of the Year in 2016. He is only the 11th player to capture both the California Amateur Championship and the NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship. Read more about Shintaro and his accomplishments on ncga.org. Shawn Clifford ’15 is appearing in the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why,” which was released on March 31st.
MONA RCH LEA DER SHIP SOCIET Y and
PR I NCIPA L’S CIRCLE DI N N ER On Thursday, April 6th, the Archbishop Mitty community gathered to celebrate those who have generously shared financial gifts with the school. The night began with a gathering of the Monarch Leadership Society in the newly-opened John A. and Susan Sobrato Student Life Center. Benefactors who created scholarship endowments were able to meet the recipients of the financial aid their endowments generate. Following this reception, the Principal’s Circle Dinner was held in the Aymar Events Center to celebrate those who have contributed to financial aid, capital projects, and the school’s Parent Pledge Program. Prior to dinner, Ruth and Michael Fletcher and Niccole and Robert Allard were recognized for establishing endowments this school year. Kate and Wim Elfrink were also honored as our Benefactors of the Year for their contributions to both capital projects and the Black and Gold Gala.
Principal Tim Brosnan posed for a photo with Niccole and Robert Allard, who were recognized for establishing the Niccole and Robert Allard Family Scholarship.
Monarch Lyn Mehe’ula ’07 gave an inspiring speech about what coming to AMHS meant to her. She told the audience that her experience taught her to be a good person and continues to influence her life and career choices even now.
Guests were welcomed to dinner by the emcees for the evening, seniors Ivan Bracy Jr. and Emily Goes.
Mr. Brosnan took a photo with Ruth and Michael Fletcher, who established an endowment in their names this past year.
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In Remembrance
Through April 30, 2017. The Archbishop Mitty family requests that you join us in prayer for the following members of our community and their families. George Acevedo Great-uncle of Kayla Salaber ’18 Thomas Adams Uncle of Maya Shaw ’18 Theresa Antolin Great-aunt of Victoria Starek ’17 and Taylor Starek ’18 Elias Becachew Uncle of Yabsera Grum ’18 Andrew “Sonny” Brasile Class of ’70
Shirley Fisher Grandmother of Taylor Coates ’20 and Ashley Coates ’18
Amit Patel Uncle of Shivanni Babu ’17 and Saahil Babu ’20
Frank Godwin Grandfather of Emily Pittenger ’20
Mildred Paulsen Mother of Nadine Paulsen (AMHS faculty)
Annette Gray Great-grandmother of Alyssa Wright ’17 and Madalyn Wright ’19
Norman Paulsen Brother of Nadine Paulsen (AMHS faculty)
Alton Grueneich Class of ’69 Rosalila Gudo Grandmother of Alexandra Spatola ’17
Jean Brazelton Mother of Kevin Brazelton (AMHS faculty), grandmother of Marisa Brazelton ’14 and Philip Brazelton ’16
Theresa Hasty Aunt of Scotia Tobin ’17 and Emerald Tobin ’20
Tranh Bui Grandmother of Landon Nguyen ’18
Ramona Herrera Great-grandmother of Alyssa Perez ’19
Jean Carpeneti Great-grandmother of Alexander Carpeneti ’20
Will Houde Grandfather of Nicole Houde ’19
Sean Casey Cousin of Quinn Casey ’17 Ronald Christman Husband of Arlene Christman (former AMHS staff), father of Ron Christman Jr. ’79 and Kevin Christman ’84
Jim LaFranchise Class of ’68 Helene Lavelle Mother of Brendan Lavelle, (AMHS faculty) Tong-Liang Ma Grandfather of Edward Ma ’20
Jesus Dominguez Cortez Father of Luis Dominguez (AMHS staff)
Ruth Magyar Grandmother of Darren Scorsur ’19
Charles Coyle Father-in-law of Jorge Helmer (AMHS administration), grandfather of Adam Helmer ’08 and Andrew Helmer ’04
Bruce Marcuson Father of Monica Marcuson (AMHS staff)
Adeline Dydynski Grandmother of Kelsey Schuster ’19 Hector Escobar Uncle of Anna Amaro ’18 John Figone Father of Michael Figone ’75, David Figone ’80, and Chris Figone ’89, grandfather of Christina Figone ’08, John Figone ’08, Steven Figone ’11, and Breanna Figone ’18
Leon Mardirossian Grandfather of Amber Gilligan ’20 Art Meade Father of Stephen Meade ’10 Pauline F. Mifsud Mother of Danette Mifsud-Winslow ’83, Ron Mifsud ’84, and Paul Mifsud ’88, grandmother of Nolan Mifsud ’16, Jacob Mifsud ’18, and Kayla Mifsud ’21 Amelvia Mikhail Great-grandmother of Andrew Alkalkos ’17 Carmen Morquecho Great-aunt of Marissa Ramos ’18 and Maritza Robles ’19
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Hermilio Pena Great-uncle of Mia Rendon ’17 and Raymond Rendon ’18 Ralph Ramona Father of Bryan Ramona ’76, Steve Ramona ’79, Matt Ramona ’81, and Marianne Ramona ’82 Renee Ropp Class of ’02 Dan Smith Uncle of Vivian Smith ’20 Wayne Smith Grandfather of Kyle Whetstone ’20 Gary Sparks Grandfather of Casey McIntyre ’02 Tom Tanimura Step-grandfather of Julia Lohman ’17 Sofronio Tedronan Grandfather of Jacob Domingue ’18 Richard Toomey Father of David Toomey ’00 Christopher Trevino Uncle of David Arellanes ’17 Rose Anne van Dyk Mother-in-law of Dave Brown ’71 (AMHS faculty), mother of Adrianne (van Dyk ’73) Brown, Janet (van Dyk ’75) Kirby, Sally (van Dyk ’78) McGourty, Sueanne (van Dyk ’78) Gera, Robert van Dyk ’79, Rosemary (van Dyk ’81) Lyons, grandmother of Catherine Brown-Peevey ’00 and Jennifer (Brown ’02) Germer Peter Vanos Grandfather of Kate Conway ’19 Aziz Zarou Grandfather of Jacob Prazer ’19
FROM THE ARCHIVES
This photo survives from day s gone by at Archbishop Mitt y. Can you tell us anything abou t this picture? Do you know these peop le? If you can enlighten us, we’d love to learn the mysteries of this image.
Email us in the Alumni Dep artment at alumni@mitty.c om.
From the last issue: Based on your submissions, this photo shows a retreat that was put on by the Marianists at a beach house. The retreat was led by Brother Roland Bunda, who is now Father Bunda at St. Anthony Church in Maui, Hawaii; Brother Tom Redmond, now the director of the Cupertino Marianist Community; and Sr. Anna Huth, FMI. We’ve been told the photo includes Stephen Flagg ’76 (deceased), Bryan Ramona ’76, Doug Fine ’75, Timothy Murphy ’76, Irene (Casey ’76) Aldrete, Fred Murabito ’76, and Leon Bacon ’76. Thanks to everyone who helped us solve this mystery!
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The Archbishop Mitty Heritage Circle is comprised of alumni, parents of students and alumni, and friends who have made provision for the school by means of a planned gift. To become a member, simply advise the Advancement Office of your intention to make a gift to the school in your will or living trust. If you would like more information on making a legacy gift, please contact the Advancement Office at (408) 342-4224. In providing for the school in a will, trust, or other vehicle of planned gift, pleased be advised that our corporate title is “Roman Catholic Welfare Corporation of San Jose,” a corporation sole, for the benefit of Archbishop Mitty High School.