Mustang Messenger Fall 2017 by Bishop McNamara High School

MUSTANG MESSENGER

Volume 24 No. 1

The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Magazine

Living the Greater Good

“Every student who leaves here should know in their heart: you can make a difference ... Catholic school education is an opportunity to appreciate more deeply the possibility of a much, much better world.” - His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

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ISSUE TITLE: Living the Greater Good

Table of Contents 4

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President's Pen

Around Campus Homecoming and Hall of Fame 2017 The Andy Mona '82 Student Center, The Garden Project and Bio-Retention Pond E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair Recipients: Where Have They Been? Mustang Moments Academic Excellence Passion for Truth: Students in Journalism STEM Initiatives at Bishop McNamara Faith & Service Universality of Faith: Patrick Agustin '04 The Anchor Project at BMHS Athletic Pride The Track to Success: Taylor Grimes '18 The Doctor is In: Dr. Jessica Nash 1,000 Points and Counting: Aliyah Matharu '19 and Jakia Brown-Turner '19 Talent in the Arts Stations of the Cross BMHS Sankofa Company

The Mustang Messenger is published two times a year by Bishop McNamara High School's Office of Communications. We sincerely apologize in advance for any errors or omissions contained herein. Notices of misinformation or error may be sent to the Advancement Office at advancement@bmhs.org. Unless otherwise noted, photos are either taken by families, staff or courtesy of LifeTouch, Inc. Available online: www.bmhs.org/publications. ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Sandy Mammano Director of Development

Melissa Antonio Huar LR '91 Director of Events and Programs

Roderick Chapman '87 Assistant to Advancement and Athletics Dionna Gunter Database Manager/Gifts Processor Jasmine Johnson '10 Graphic Designer

Clare McGrath Merkle LR '74 Director of Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations Robert Nolte Alumni Association Liason

The Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign The La Reine Science and Innovation Center Classrooms of the Future

Santana Questa Communications Specialist

Alumni News Upcoming Events/Reunion Information The Vision of Potential & Prime: Craig Glover Hines '09

Publication Corrections: Annual Report 2016-2017

Why I Give: Jasey Briley '77

Ways to Support

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Bishop McNamara High School 6800 Marlboro Pike | Forestville, MD 20747-3270 (p) 301.735.8401 | (f ) 301.735.0934

In Loving Memory Walter Webb, Rick Middleton, E. Matthew Goyette and Bishop Curlin

Ullysses Tucker Annual Fund Manager

• Faith. Family. Future! Campaign Giving: Herman Gloster '96 • In Loving Memory Giving: Mr. Robert D. and Mrs. Anita Jackson in honor of Kathy Link. Robin and Eugene O'Neil in honor of Mr. Kevin O'Neil '03. • Donor Societies: Moreau Society ($10,000+): The Sharper Cut, Inc. – Bill Banford '97 and Justin Banford '01 Notre Dame Society ($1,000+): Thennie Freeman • Workplace Giving: Thomas Hicks '74 • Project PRIDE Scholarships: John Gossart Scholarship

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“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller

Dear Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Family and Friends, Recently, I was reading a book by Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus: Ten Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy. One of the great suggestions that Gordon makes is to pick a word each year and reflect on it daily, make it aspirational, and use it as a guide and reminder for your daily actions. I mulled over several words in my mind, but I kept coming back to the word “hope.” John Maxwell said: “Where there’s no hope in the future, there’s no power in the present.” Desmond Tutu stated: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” And Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” As a Catholic and Holy Cross school, we accept daily the challenge to be, as Fr. Basil Moreau stated, men and women with hope to bring. If there is one overarching goal we have for our graduates, it is that they will be the light and salt of the world and will bring hope that is so desperately needed — in their hearts, homes, families, communities, churches, and on a local, national and even global level. Since 1964, the Brothers of Holy Cross and the many lay collaborators on our faculty and staff throughout the years have been bringing hope not only to our graduates and their families, but also to the local community, in Prince George’s County, and around the world. There is so much more to be excited about as we look at an even more hopeful future for our beloved alma mater. With an expanding campus, new and exciting programs in 21st-century education, energized and encouraging faculty, staff and administrators who are committed to informing and forming our students, and the growing support and prayers from our alumni from McNamara and alumnae from La Reine, as well as the local business, governmental and non-profit support, the future for Bishop McNamara has never looked better! In closing, in his book Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church, author Chris Lowney opens the book with the blunt assertion that our Church is at a time of crisis, citing declining numbers of priests and religious followers, as well as declining attendance at weekly Mass. His message certainly jolted me as I’m sure it did many of his readers. He goes on to say, however, that we can’t just sit back and expect it to change. We need to be the ones who transform the world, just as Jesus commanded us to do. Lowney says: “It’s time to wake up and fascinate, that is, to fascinate the world once again by the power of love” (p. 162). Transformation requires courage, faith, love and hope. It also requires that we all accept the mantle of leadership and lead the way. I can assure you that Bishop McNamara High School will continue to lead the way by intentionally setting the way of Jesus as a model for all of us. After all, we are men and women with hope to bring!

Ave Crux Spes Unica!

With gratitude, in Holy Cross,

Introducing the Newest Board Members at Bishop McNamara High School: Robert Summers '86

Marco J. Clark '85, Ed.D. President/CEO @mustangprez 4

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Fr. Kevin Regan Brian Larkin '99 Hon. DaNeeka Varner Cotton LR '84 John "Dan" Connelly '77

Bishop McNamara High School

HOMECOMING &

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY Homecoming Weekend: October 21-22, 2017 We were happy to see so many familiar faces during our Homecoming and Hall of Fame celebration this year! In addition to our new inductees, we were honored to have special guest Coach Frank Neitzey join us for the weekend. We shared a wonderful evening on October 20th in our Andy Mona ’82 Student Center honoring this year’s inductees: James Johnson '98 Kamisha Kellam '05 Iman McFarland '05 Elbert Ouzts '88 Jay Somerville '74 1973 WMAC Cross Country Team 1967 Championship Golf Team Then on Saturday, October 21st, we hosted our Homecoming Football Game and Alumni BBQ. Several alumni groups planned their reunions to coincide with Homecoming Weekend and shared in the festivities with us. Congratulations to our latest Hall of Fame inductees and thank you to everyone who came to Bishop McNamara High School to celebrate our Hall of Fame and Homecoming Weekend festivities! Mark your calendars and be sure to join us for next year’s Homecoming: September 29th, 2018. BMHS is now accepting nominations for Hall of Fame inductees year-round. Visit www.bmhs.org for details! THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

FAITH. FAMILY.

A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL

The Andy Mona '82 Student Center

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Photography by Bee Two Sweet Photography.

The Bio-Retention Pond The Mona Center also features a bio-retention pond to help students learn about the environment and nature. Inspired by the hands-on schoolwork brought on by the bio-retention pond, Lauren Hawkins '19 decided to use her Girl Scout project as a way to help the environment and BMHS. She said that she noticed a lack of pollinators, in this case bees, and wanted to do something about it. After careful planning and an outpouring of donor support, Bishop McNamara High School is proud to announce that the first phase of our Faith. Family. Future! Campaign is officially completed! On September 14th we held the formal Dedication Ceremony for our new Andy Mona '82 Student Center. The Center features a completely remodeled kitchen and dining space with booth seating where students gather socially, discuss schoolwork and projects, and share reflections with one another. It also features a new patio with expert landscaping designed and installed by The Sharper Cut, Inc., which is owned by Bill Banford '97 and Justin Banford '01, who have been among the School’s most loyal supporters. The Sharper Cut has done some incredible work for BMHS, such as the Terrell Edelen '14 Memorial Garden, which has helped us earn Beautification Awards from Prince George’s County for improving the landscape of our local area and providing reflective, peaceful spaces for congregation. On the day of the Dedication, Bishop McNamara High School had an early start as students, faculty and staff filled the Andy Mona '82 Student Center to welcome Molette Green from NBC4 Washington. Molette did a live story on the Dedication Ceremony that we held later in the morning, and shared information about the new Student Center live on air. His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl arrived on campus shortly before our 8:30 a.m. Dedication Mass. After conducting Mass, His Eminence performed a special blessing over the Stations of the Cross donated by local and alumni artists, and assisted President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85 in performing the ribbon cutting to kickoff the official Dedication Ceremony. Cardinal Wuerl blessed the Student Center, and gave a speech full of kind words and encouragement for the coming school year and the future of Bishop McNamara. Other guest speakers for the event included BMHS Principal Dr. Nigel Traylor, Mr. Vincent "Cap" Mona, father of Andy Mona '82 for whom the Center is named, Andy Mona II, son of Andy Mona '82, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., and previous BMHS President Heather Gossart. Bishop McNamara High School would like to thank everyone in attendance of this wonderful event, and to everyone who donated their time, talent and treasure to help bring the first phase of our Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign to a successful finish. This would not have been possible without you!

“Bees are very important, and so are native plants, so to find something that put them together seemed like a good idea,” Lauren said. “I plan to take the area across from the Memorial Garden and use it to plant native plants and have small bird paths and nesting areas.” Lauren calls her project a “pollinator’s playground.” She specified that using plants native to this area, such as milkweed, for her project was integral for the environment’s well-being. Bees have an immense impact on the environment and the food we eat; to lose them would have disastrous repercussions. “Lauren’s pollinator project will increase student awareness of the role of pollinators and the importance of native plants,” said BMHS Science Teacher Jan Steeger. “Because we have a campus in an urban area, we need to promote natural areas as best we can.” Jan said that the project will help students learn more about the plants and insects that make up the native environment, and plans to use it for future lessons upon completion. When Lauren graduates next year, she hopes that her project will continue to be cared for by the science and ecology club at BMHS, so that generations of students who come long after her will still learn about the importance of pollinators. The Andy Mona '82 Student Center hasn’t even been open a year, and already we have held several events in it, and have seen a dramatic increase in the pride students have for the School along with their increased interest in hands-on activities and lessons. We look forward to seeing how the Student Center continues to influence the Bishop McNamara way of life. Dedicated to Andy Mona '82, who passed away after battling cancer, the Student Center has a particular wall that depicts Andy’s life story and the impact that the Mona family has made on Bishop McNamara High School. Both the Mona Family and BMHS thank everyone who donated to the Andy Mona '82 Student Center and everyone who has supported this incredible endeavor.

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WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN?

The E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair Recipients Share Their Stories The E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence was established in 2015, thanks to a donation from an anonymous contributor who sought to honor Mr. E. Matthew Goyette for his years of service to Bishop McNamara High School. The Endowed Chair recognizes a BMHS faculty member who embodies Matt Goyetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renowned patience, courage, joyfulness, conviction, knowledge and humility â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as these are the hallmarks of a BMHS teacher. Since its inception, two recipients have been named: Art Teacher Kate Heneghan, and most recently Global Studies Teacher Michael Pozniak. The Endowed Chair provides funds for the recipient to pursue professional development opportunities in their particular fields. So, where have our first two recipients been?

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“It was amazing! I had such a good time,” Kate said after she explained the weeks-long process involved in making paper; from the chemistry and breaking down the wood pulp to the shaping and curing and drying of the finished product. “Everyone in the room was excited to be there; we had conservationalists, librarians, fiber-artists – it was beautiful.” Kate said she also took the opportunity to explore the local museums and art exhibits in Washington, D.C. – taking advantage of the afternoon programs for teachers and the general public. But Kate also was able to travel abroad to Amsterdam as part of her professional development.

Art Across the Atlantic: Kate Heneghan As the first recipient of the Endowed Chair, Kate Heneghan has traveled to several places, as local as Winchester, Va. to as far as Amsterdam! Her very first trip to explore the arts was Santa Fe, N.M., which had a special significance to her and to Mr. Goyette. “Matt Goyette had travelled [to Santa Fe] in previous years, so I have all these cards and letters from him in Santa Fe and from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum,” Kate said. “So there was this connection to Matt, and I thought it was especially great that the first thing I did was something that he and I had talked about for such a long time.” Kate spent a week in Santa Fe, visiting a variety of museums, art centers and galleries; including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which she said she had been wanting to see for 20 years. She described the city of Santa Fe as small, but cosmopolitan. Because of its southwestern location, Kate said that she had expected to see a lot of Native American and Mexican art in Santa Fe, and was surprised to see a significant amount of contemporary art. She was inspired by many pieces she saw there, in particular a piece entitled Mindwalk: On the Loose by Melinda Hall, which featured a pair of shoes with a stream of consciousness flowing out of it, expressing the thoughts and ideas of the artist. Upon returning to BMHS, Kate used the inspiration she drew from Mindwalk: On the Loose in her still life unit for her drawing classes, having her students write out a stream of consciousness for themselves, then using the observational drawing skills that she was teaching in her class to depict a pair of shoes. This lesson allowed students to explore their deepest thoughts and express them in an artistic way that was unique to them. Another activity that Kate explored through funding from the Goyette Endowed Chair was inspired by a student who expressed interest in making paper. Kate travelled to Winchester, Va. to take a paper-making class from Cat Tail Run Hand Bookbinding, to determine whether or not paper-making was something feasible for a future art class at Bishop McNamara High School.

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is known for its elaborate canal systems and artistic districts. The city features such notable artistic locations as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rembrandt House in addition to its many museums and art galleries. Kate said that one museum in particular was running an exhibit on designs focused on solving problems that resulted from the refugee crisis in Syria. Kate stayed in the Castrum Peregrini: House of Art, Culture, Freedom and Friendship, which is located up the street from the Anne Frank House and has a similar history. During World War II, artist Gisele van Waterschoot van der Gracht had an apartment in the building. When the Nazis occupied Amsterdam, Gisele, along with a school headmaster, hid several teenage German-Jewish students in her apartment for two years. In particular, Kate said that one boy was hidden in a gutted upright piano and remained there all day long. “So during the day, the boys hid. But during the night, Gisele and this headmaster would close the curtains so that the boys could get out and continue their education in the apartment,” Kate said. “Specifically they taught the boys art and poetry and literature. Gisele believed that art and poetry had the power to transform lives and bring people together in sanctuary.” Kate was so inspired by this story and what she saw in the Amsterdam museums and galleries, that she started a sanctuary unit in her classes this past fall. Students created works of art where they interpreted the idea of sanctuary, depicting it amidst outside threats – the point was for each student to explore the idea and make it personal to themselves.

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Michael Pozniak Journeys to Cuba As the second recipient of the Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence, Michael Pozniak also did some professional development traveling to expand his classroom offerings. But rather than fly across the Atlantic to the chilly canal city of Amsterdam, Michael went south to a country that maintains a great degree of mystery to the rest of the world: The Republic of Cuba. Michael is renowned by his students and peers for his travels across the world. He has been to places like Haiti, Afghanistan, India and Africa in order to help those in need and raise awareness for the injustices he witnessed in those countries. Cuba, he said, has always been at the top of his list of places to see.

As he walked around the historic central plaza, he happened across a closed school. A woman happened to be there who served as the principal/headmistress, and she allowed him inside the school to look around. Throughout the school, Michael found murals of Fidel Castro and historic Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. This trip to Cuba had an immense impact on Michael. He said that he is eager to go back and wishes he could have spent more time there. Michael was excited about the prospect of using these experiences to enrich his Latin America unit in the spring. While he wasn’t sure exactly what the unit will entail, he was enthusiastic nonetheless to share his experiences and stories with his students.

“I wanted to strengthen my unit on Latin America,” he said. “What better place to visit than Cuba, a place that not many Americans have seen?” Michael spent a great deal of effort researching how to go about exploring Cuba. He said he didn’t want to join a typical tourist group because he wanted to see the real Cuba; he wanted more cultural education. He settled on a group called Cuba Explorer, and selected their Western Cuba Culture Tour, which featured visits to Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad. As Cuba is still a communist country by nature, Michael got the opportunity to explore state-owned companies and farming collectives still in operation. During his trip to Cuba, Michael spent a week exploring different plantations, museums and cities. His group also attended several cultural ceremonies and activities, including a cannon firing ceremony, and a dance show at the famous Buena Vista Social Club. “Cuba is not a dreary, communist place,” Michael insisted. “The people were extremely friendly, welcoming, they were very pro-American. They asked a lot of questions and were very eager to talk about Cuban-American relations. That kind of openness to Americans and bridging what has been a divide between the two countries was a breath of fresh air.” Based on his experiences from travelling in China, where people were reluctant to speak against the government, Michael was surprised by how open and honest the Cuban people were when he sat down and talked with them. They expressed what they were dissatisfied with, such as how long it would take for them to get medicine; but at the same time the people he spoke with were very proud of their country and openly shared what made them happy about being Cuban. This honesty may have resulted from the passing of former Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro, in 2016 – but still, Michael said that talking to people and learning more about their lives in Cuba was his favorite part of the trip. Michael described a stop in Trinidad, when the group members were allowed to free-roam and explore the area for themselves.

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“What I usually like to do with my units is bring in real people. I like to talk about the people that I met,” Michael said. “When I travel oftentimes I’ll write down quotes that people said to me and take pictures so that I can share those experiences in their own words with my students and show them that this is a real person, and this is what their life is like. It becomes more human that way.” While they had drastically different experiences and teach two completely different subjects, Kate and Michael have nonetheless shown their enthusiasm to broaden their horizons and skills for the sake of the students they teach. This was something that Matt Goyette himself lived by; he was known for his travels to Cambridge each summer, where he took classes and engaged in activities that oftentimes may not have had anything to do with the classes he intended to teach. But these activities kept him rejuvenated and curious. Kate said: “It just kind of refreshes you. It reminds you of the stuff that makes you want to teach in the first place. It’s funny – I’d finish one activity and [Matt Goyette] would be checking out airline prices to places like Iceland and Provence, I think he was just as excited about these experiences as I was!” “Matt was a very dear friend,” said Michael. “I am so honored to be a recipient of an award in his name.” In November 2017, Matt Goyette passed away. He will always be remembered as a beloved teacher, peer and friend. Through the continuation of the E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence, his legacy lives on and inspires an entirely new generation of BMHS faculty. We look forward to naming our third Endowed Chair recipient this spring.

MUSTANG MOMENTS Hampton University hosted a High School Leadership Summit over the summer, designed to help rising high school juniors and seniors find the "leader within." Our own Jonathan Brown '18 attended the summit. In July, the Bishop McNamara High School JV and Varsity Cheerleaders traveled to McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. for a cheer camp sponsored by the National Cheerleaders Association. The cheerleaders learned a tremendous number of cheers, dances and stunts in the short window of time they were at the camp. During the event, the BMHS cheerleaders captured several awards and accolades for their hard work.

The Bishop McNamara High School Foundations of Engineering students have been busy building electrical circuits in class. Along with their teacher, Mrs. Angelina Diehlmann LR '85, students created electrical circuits on a flat surface using copper tape in a design and surface mounted LEDs.

During Giving Tuesday, we had 804 donors participate, including our own students! In total, we raised approximately $5,705 - we CRUSHED our total from last year!

The National Association of College Admission Counseling recently did a Q&A with our own Mrs. Jennifer Auchmoody! In the article, Jennifer explored a variety of topics, including how she came to Bishop McNamara High School, her particular fields of focus, advice for other counselors and so much more! In January 2017, Andrea Marrero-Massa '18 decided to help her community in a very active way. She joined the Charles County Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. Spending a minimum of nine hours per week, learning to become a firefighter was no easy feat considering she also worked 100 service hours for the Holy Cross Service program during her junior year. This summer, as part of the comprehensive training and education requirements for emergency services and to complete the Firefighter 1 course, Andrea spent three weeks, six days per week at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in La Plata, Md. Andrea passed the course and is on her way to continue providing an important service to her community.

The Elsie & Marvin Dekelboum Concert Hall at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The Bishop McNamara High School Wind Ensemble was invited to perform a concert with the University of Maryland, College Park Wind Ensemble. This was an exclusive opportunity for the Bishop McNamara Wind Ensemble, as the University of Maryland has only extended such an invitation to a high school on one other occasion. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the event was cancelled with the hopes of being rescheduled in the future. Keep an eye on our website and social media for details.

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ACADEMIC

EXCELLENCE

r tTRUTH t uh PASSION FOR

Students in Journalism

very morning and every evening, millions of people turn on their televisions or tune their radios to their favorite news broadcast stations. We rely on these media outlets to tell us what has happened in our local communities and even the world as a whole. In this day and age, the media has been scrutinized for being biased when reporting the news, as opposed to reporting objectively. Certain media outlets have even been accused of reporting news stories that are completely untrue, giving rise to the term “fake news.” Under the direction of faculty member Dr. Katie White, Bishop McNamara High School offers journalism courses to allow students the opportunity to explore the field. Journalism covers a variety of jobs, from print to broadcast, from public relations to sports communication, and so many more. Thus, it’s only natural that students learn about the many different careers they could pursue in journalism while simultaneously learning the basics. It is not a curriculum offered at many other schools in the area. Many students who enroll had never taken a journalism course before, and were curious to learn more about the subject. “McNamara has been a really great environment for selfexploration, because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try journalism at first,” said Zane Mosby '20. “McNamara helped cultivate my passion for truth, and once I tried out the journalism program, met Dr. White and started working on articles, I was set on it.” Dr. White is always looking for new ways to help her journalism students learn more about the field, especially with hands-on activities. She has brought in guest speakers from colleges and news outlets to talk to students about their experiences and career responsibilities. Dr. White also helps students find journalism lectures and workshops in the local area. Noah Whitaker '18 worked with Dr. White last year to enroll in an urban journalism workshop, which trained students in the basics of newspaper, broadcast and multimedia journalism. Lectures were hosted by journalists from major news organizations such as The Washington Post, the Associated Press, National Public Radio and more. The workshop was spread out over the course of eight Saturdays. “The speakers really taught me a lot that I didn’t know; to be persistent in journalism because it’s such a hard industry, and how to hook your reader and secure your spot,” said Noah. “I enjoy journalism because it’s a news outlet for people and I get to share my story, or other people’s stories.”

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For Noah, who expressed interest in being a sports analyst, it all started at the barber shop, where he would talk sports with the patrons and staff. He said that it felt good to be able to contribute to the conversation. Taking the journalism course with Dr. White helped solidify for him that he wanted to combine his interest in writing and reporting with his passion for sports into a career for his future.

“I’m not sure if people actually read my articles, but just having them written and out there, that’s what matters to me,” Lindsey said. “I like having my voice heard, and I think journalism is a great way to do that.” While many students currently enrolled in the journalism classes are focused on print writing, some are more interested in the multimedia avenues and opportunities offered in the field. Zane Mosby said that he was interested in learning more about documentary-style journalism.

Monique Hayes, wife of Ashton McCullers '90, provided a tour of the NBC4 News Station for journalism students and faculty/staff members Charles Shryock IV and Dr. Katie White.

As Noah began taking a more active interest in journalism at BMHS, he was taking a web design course at the same time with Jordan Brown '19, whose own interest in the subject was sparked after reading articles Noah wrote for the School newspaper, The Stampede. Jordan said when she started really reading the School publication, and realizing that students could contribute and take a more active role in reporting the campus news, she wanted to be a part of it. Jordan took up a journalism course as well, and has written articles about our Dedication Ceremony for the Andy Mona '82 Student Center, spirit week, and other School-related topics. She said that she hopes to combine her interest and talent in photography with her writing to pursue a career in photojournalism. However, not all students who take the course know precisely what sort of careers they want to pursue. Some of them, like Lindsey Bayes '21, do not want to pursue a career in journalism at all, but are still enrolled in the courses anyway. “I really like to write, so I just thought that [journalism] would be a really good class to take,” she said. “I get to express my feelings and thoughts through my writing.” Lindsey, previously a public school student, said that her writing teacher in middle school had criticized her for asking questions, and did not encourage Lindsey’s writing. But one of the most important aspects of journalism, one that can’t really be taught, is the inherent nature to question things and examine where the facts come from, along with their validity. Lindsey said that she wants to write more stories encouraging people not to judge others, and to question societal standards – not in a petulant way, but in a progressive way. She also said that she felt truly welcomed by the faculty here at Bishop McNamara High School. The encouragement she felt from her teachers, coaches and fellow students was part of what made BMHS so different from any other school.

Currently, Zane is the co-editor of The Stampede. He said that even though he enjoys writing and loved working on print articles as part of his journalism class and his work as co-editor, he does not want a job that focuses so heavily on the written aspect of journalism. “I think documentary journalism is more exciting, you can hold people’s attention longer,” Zane said. “It’s easier to captivate people if they’re watching something.” But no matter what particular journalistic outlet these students were interested in pursuing, they all agreed that reporting the truth and being objective is one of the most important aspects of journalism. Jordan said that her class has begun focusing on “fake news” accusations, and how to determine if a source is credible and if a story is true or not. Gathering facts quickly and accurately, as well as reporting them objectively without personal bias, are key characteristics of a good journalist. Being able to check one’s personal triggers and determine what stories they can report objectively, and which stories hit too close to home, is an important check for a journalist to have in their minds. “There’s a lot of misinformation now, and it’s easy for people to be confused,” said Zane. “You hear the term ‘fake news’ all the time. With the misinformation and personal bias you see so often in articles nowadays, that’s not what the core of journalism is about. It’s about making a cohesive story and reporting the facts of the situation. That’s why we need good journalists now more than ever.” Under the guidance of Dr. White and the rest of the faculty and staff at Bishop McNamara High School, we have several students interested in learning more about journalism and the various careers associated with it. These students have the passion and dedication to report the unbiased, absolute truth. No doubt we have some incredible future reporters and writers within our walls right now, who will go on to join the alumni who are already paving the way on the journalistic career path.

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Photo courtesy of Michelle Cabotaje '18.

S.T.E.M. PROGRAMS 14

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at Bishop McNamara High School

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – otherwise known in the world of academia as STEM. Since its founding, Bishop McNamara High School has been renowned for providing a rigorous, relevant curriculum, and is quickly distinguishing itself as a leader in STEM education and extra-curricular activities. Among the changes made this year, BMHS launched a new Foundations of Engineering class, which has proven to be immensely popular with the students.

The program was a complete success – Gerald said that many of the girls who attended the camp were disappointed to learn that it only ran for two days. Many of the eighth grade girls who attended later shadowed BMHS freshmen students, interested in enrolling at the School.

“So often we ask ‘how do we get kids excited about math and science?’ when the answer is simple,” said Math and Foundations of Engineering Teacher Angelina Diehlmann LR '85. “You get kids excited by giving them a taste of the engineering world.” Angelina said that many engineering courses and curricula set up by schools are too selective about which students are permitted to enroll. This leaves students discouraged, and oftentimes they completely write off the possibility of pursuing interests in engineering. Angelina insisted that the new engineering class at BMHS should have no pre-requisites and allow any interested student to attend. It has been immensely popular and successful; the students have loved the class thus far. “Next year we’re bringing in another new course called Robotics,” she said. “We weren’t sold on the idea until we found out there’s a lot of student interest in the topic. The year after next, we’ll see where the demand is and decide if we go for electrical circuits or something more along the lines of construction.” As time has progressed and we have learned more about how differently students learn between one another, the classroom dynamic is changing. Lessons are more student-centered, and teachers have moved from a “sage on the stage” role to more of a “guide on the side.” To keep students interested and involved, lessons have taken a more hands-on, project-based learning approach. As students work together to accomplish assigned tasks, they achieve a greater understanding for the material and are given the confidence to work with new materials, projects and subjects. This method of involving students in the curriculum conversation has led to some exciting opportunities provided by the School.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Rudney Novaes of NovaesPhotography.

Gerald currently teaches AP Chemistry, where he and his students are working on a soap-making project to minimize the contraction of tropical diseases such as malaria and zika. Through partnership with the youth-empowerment organization Real World Scholars, Gerald and his students will sell this soap through local businesses and using the money to make more of the soap to send free of charge to impoverished countries.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation In the next phase of the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, BMHS will construct the new La Reine Science and Innovation Center. This building will provide new space and opportunities for students to explore the career paths of science and engineering, while paying homage to our beloved sister school, La Reine High School. We will see new classroom features such as moving walls and furniture to make spaces adaptable for various projects, interactive projectors for student presentations, along with other innovations to help students learn about the professional uses of technology. “It’s going to change the whole face of McNamara,” Gerald said. “With this new building, it’s going to expand the capacity of what our teachers can do here.”

Not only did BMHS launch this new engineering course, but over this past summer the School offered a two-day STEM camp for rising eighth and ninth grade girls. BMHS Science Teacher Gerald Smith served as the instructor for the camp, which he helped develop with Dallas Magee '12, who was the BMHS Moreau Fellow at the time.

Being a graduate of La Reine High School, Angelina was excited about the prospect of a new building dedicated to her alma mater fulfilling Bishop McNamara’s need for a space solely devoted to STEM education. She said: “It should skyrocket our STEM offerings to a whole other world. I think the new building is going to give us what we need to pursue more innovative projects.”

“Our goal was to see how many girls that we actually had interested in STEM and what we could do at McNamara to develop their interests,” said Gerald. “We introduced them to different career paths, we had scientists come in; doctors such as Triesta Fowler Lee LR '91 and people within the STEM field to let them know that there are women in STEM, just like them.”

Both Angelina and Gerald agreed that the La Reine Science and Innovation Center will be a turning point for STEM education and innovation at Bishop McNamara. The new building will allow students more opportunities to learn, grow, and as Gerald said, “think like scientists on a day-to-day basis.” To learn more about the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, visit www.bmhs.org/campaign.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

FAITH & SERVICE

Universality of

Faith

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

fter graduating from University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in finance and international business, Patrick Agustin '04 spent four years working at Fannie Mae. Then, shortly afterwards, he moved to Los Angeles to work at Sony Pictures – what he described as his “dream job.” But at the age of 28, after attending the ordination of a friend, Patrick felt a distinctly different calling. “There was this strong tug from God in my heart to really think that the priesthood could be for me,” Patrick said. “The more and more I prayed about this and reflected on my life, everything started to make a little more sense.” Patrick said that there were several people who saw the potential for priesthood in him during his childhood. Being raised in a traditional Filipino-Catholic family, Patrick said that he went to Catholic school for most of his life and was heavily involved in church, often altar serving during Mass. Despite the predictions that he would become a priest, Patrick said that he didn’t see that life for himself back then – he had wanted to marry and have a family. “I think deep down I knew, but after my friend’s ordination in 2013, that’s when the Lord really broke through my pride and my stubbornness,” Patrick said. “He called me in a really profound way to consider giving the seminary a chance. He surpassed any expectation I possibly had.”

The Cardinal considers each seminarian individually; where their strengths may lie, which of the three choices would be best for that particular individual, as well as what would be best for the Archdiocese of Washington. For Patrick, Cardinal Wuerl chose the North American College in Rome. “[Cardinal Wuerl] really takes it to prayer and consideration when he makes his choice,” Patrick said. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity.” Thus far, Patrick has spent almost two years in Rome, studying theology and completing the tasks necessary for his ordination. The North American College is a five-minute walk from St. Peter’s Square. According to Patrick, he and his fellow seminarians have the opportunity to see Pope Francis every Sunday as he prays out of his window to the faithful who gather in the square. Some of the seminarians from the North American College even had the opportunity to serve Christmas Eve Mass for Pope Francis. Patrick was unable to serve during this Mass; however, while he was still at CUA, Patrick said that Pope Francis visited the St. John Paul II Seminary during his visit to the United States for the canonization of Junípero Serra. But Patrick said just being in Rome and being so close to Pope Francis is an incredibly exciting opportunity for him. One for which he feels blessed and very grateful. Being from the D.C. area, the center of the free world, and going to Rome, the center of the universal church, is a humbling and eye-opening experience for him. Patrick explained that seminarians at North American College are given the opportunity to travel; and, being in Europe, crosscountry travel is relatively easy and inexpensive. This also provides him the unique opportunity to attend Mass in different countries and experience new cultures. “You get to see the Catholic faith alive in other parts of the world,” he said. “For Christmas I went to London and Dublin for the first time. Being able to attend Mass in those cities, or in other parts of Europe, you really see the universal church in action.”

After giving in to the call he heard from God, Patrick left Los Angeles to return home to the Washington, D.C. area and entered St. John Paul II Seminary. The program for the Catholic priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington requires about six years of study, the first two of which Patrick spent studying philosophy at The Catholic University of America. His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, who has visited Bishop McNamara High School on multiple occasions, chooses where each seminarian goes upon completion of his philosophy studies. According to Patrick, there are three main places Cardinal Wuerl can choose to send seminarians: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., Theological College at CUA, or to the North American College in Rome.

Patrick said that Mass and practice of the Catholic faith in other countries weren’t as different from the way they are practiced in the United States as he expected. The underlying questions about life’s purpose and seeking happiness still exist across cultures. He went on to say: “Even if you don’t understand the language, you know what’s going on and that Jesus is there on the altar.” When asked what a typical day looked like for him, Patrick couldn’t help but laugh and admit that there was no really ‘typical’ day in the life of a seminarian. When he isn’t in class, Patrick spends a great deal of time in prayer and reflection; which he said has been integral in his understanding of the Lord. Outside of class and prayer time, Patrick is part of a rock band with a few fellow seminarians, for which he sings vocals.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Patrick expressed that, above all, through his studies and through prayer, his relationship with God has deepened a great deal. “Being able to know God in a more systematic way by studying theology has opened more doors for me to know Him in an even deeper way, a different way,” Patrick said. “Prayer can sometimes seem like we’re talking in the dark and hoping that someone is listening. God is absolutely listening, but there’s an aspect to prayer where we need to listen and really discern what God is saying.” Patrick will continue to study in Rome until his ordination in 2020 to the Catholic priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington. After his ordination he will study for one additional year before officially completing his studies. Bishop McNamara High School has continued to influence Patrick since his graduation. The importance of community was something that truly stuck with him; along with the importance of living out faith within that community as we are “called to lead each other to holiness.” Additionally, the ideals of faith and service were also incredibly important to him. Patrick encouraged students to pray every day, even if it is only for five minutes. He made the analogy that when we try to figure out our paths on our own without bringing God into it, that it’s like forcing puzzle pieces together that don’t fit – jamming them in an attempt to make them fit. But ultimately, we know this won’t work. “If you ask God, if you ask the ‘Master Puzzle Maker’ – the One who created you, knows you – and allow Him to put the pieces together and show you the bigger picture, there will be a lot more peace and a lot more joy in finding your path.”

“ 18

It has carried me through even to this day. Faith and service absolutely go hand in hand. You can’t live out your faith without service, and service is born out of faith. I can’t imagine them being exclusive of one another.”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

In our Holy Cross emblem, the anchor represents “hope,” and that we are anchored in Christ.

THE ANCHOR PROJECT

This is why the anchor was chosen for our latest program, tasked with further developing the well-being of our students – the Anchor Project. New to the School this year, the Anchor Project uses researchbased practices informed by Positive Psychology to help students improve their well-being. Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that allow communities and individuals to thrive. The Anchor Project features cohorts of approximately 12-15 students where they share experiences to help each other think with Christ and thrive at Bishop McNamara High School. The group setting allows students to share personal experiences with one another and offer advice on how to approach the areas in which they could improve. This approach also helps students better understand and incorporate our four pillars of Holy Cross into their daily actions by being family, showing respect, educating their hearts and minds, and bringing hope to those around them. Freshman students also meet one-on-one with their Anchor Project faculty/staff advisor to talk about how they are doing, what they are learning about themselves and what personal goals they have developed. At Bishop McNamara High School, we want to meet our students where they are and help them grow into their best selves. The Anchor Project is the newest of many ways we seek to accomplish this goal. The Anchor Project lays the foundation for success at Bishop McNamara and beyond, while simultaneously providing them with a peer-based support system to help them thrive.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

ATHLETIC PRIDE

THE TRACK TO

SUCCESS featuring Taylor Grimes '18 20

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The awards have stacked up for her since day one – starting with five awards earned her freshman year, and moving into double digits during her junior year, when she earned a grand total of 12 awards despite a hamstring injury. But the awards aren’t the most important thing to her. Taylor Grimes '18 has spent all four of her high school years at Bishop McNamara. During those four years, she has proven herself a driven member of the indoor/outdoor track teams. While she has been recognized by Bishop McNamara High School and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference on several occasions, Taylor has never been one to rest on her laurels. “When I’m running, my thought is that I won the award, and that’s great, but I have a goal that I want to set,” Taylor said. “I am always trying to improve.” Taylor has been running since she was eight years old; a sport that she picked up because her mother, Patricia Grimes, used to run. Patricia said: “Taylor has worked so hard and has been committed to her goals on and off the track. There was a time when she couldn’t beat me in a race – and she tried – now I think she will win!” Taylor is also the daughter of Roland “Bubba” Grimes '82, who played football during his time at Bishop McNamara High School. Roland was an exceptional athlete, earning several awards and honorable mentions, including an athletic scholarship to play college football at Syracuse University. On December 19th, 1998 he was inducted into the Bishop McNamara High School Hall of Fame. Track was Taylor’s third sport, and it became the only sport for her at Bishop McNamara. While many athletes find themselves facing nervous jitters prior to an athletic meet or game, Taylor said that she doesn’t really get nervous anymore. “I think there’s always some level of anxiety when you step onto the track or the runway,” she said. “But I think, at this point, I’m in my senior year and I already know that I’m going to college, so the edge is off. Now I’m in track and I’m running because I love to do it and because I want to set records.” Taylor currently boasts a GPA of 4.2; after graduation, Taylor will be moving on to Georgia Tech where she will continue running track while studying material science and engineering. She said that after talking with peers and mentors, she is interested in pursuing a career in forensic engineering – which involves investigation when materials, products and/or components fail to function properly and result in damage or injury.

This year, Bishop McNamara High School launched a new Foundations of Engineering class, which Taylor is taking. She said that the class is a good starting point for anyone interested in engineering to help narrow down what particular branch of engineering they might be interested in, or what other applications they can use for it. For her prowess in indoor/outdoor track, Taylor has been the recipient of several MVP and Coach’s awards since her freshman year. In 2015 she was the only sophomore to be named to the 2015 Indoor Washington Post All-Met 4x200 meter relay, alongside three BMHS seniors. During her junior year, Taylor was again recognized by the WCAC for the 2016 Indoor 1st Team AllConference for the 60m Hurdles, the 55m Hurdles and for the Triple Jump. She was also the only athlete on the team to qualify for all three individual events for the 2017 Indoor New Balance Nationals Qualifier – the Triple Jump, the Long Jump and the 60m Hurdles. The list goes on! Taylor also set new records for Bishop McNamara High School during her junior year in both the 100m Hurdles and Long Jump. Additionally, she was ranked number one in the state of Maryland for the 2017 Girls Outdoor Track Long Jump, and second in the state for the 2017 Girls Outdoor Track 100m Hurdles. But for Taylor, the most important thing to her is making sure that she does just as well with her grades as her athletics. “I’ve encountered a lot of athletes in their junior or senior years, and while they might be incredible athletes, they don’t have the grades to go to the colleges they want,” Taylor said. Taylor’s advice to underclassmen student-athletes was to stay focused on their academics and make sure that they find some balance between their sport and their studies. It can prove difficult for some; but again, Taylor stressed that colleges are most interested in a potential enrollee for their academic accomplishments – athletic awards come second. “Do what you have to do in the classroom so that you have a steady foundation of success for colleges to see. At the end of the day, that’s why they will want to take you.”

If forensic engineering does not work out for her, Taylor has an alternative route she can take with her engineering interest. “I can use materials engineering to work for companies like Under Armour or Adidas – if forensic engineering didn’t work for me in the long run, I would want to be tied to sports in some way,” Taylor said.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

After approximately four and a half years, BMHS faculty/staff member Jessica Nash has earned her Doctorate of athletic training degree from the University of Idaho! She is the first member of her family to get a Master’s degree, as well as a doctorate. Niece of alumnus Stephen Garrison '74, Dr. Nash has served the Bishop McNamara athletics program since 2006, starting out as an athletic trainer and sports medicine instructor. During her employment interview, then-Principal Dr. Marco Clark '85 asked her where she planned to be in five years; as she reflected on that day, Dr. Nash said that, at that time, she had no idea that she would still be here and have completed her DAT degree. As a well-respected faculty member, Dr. Nash still felt there was something missing from her role; she wanted to do more for the Bishop McNamara community. Currently Dr. Nash serves as Assistant Athletics Director for Bishop McNamara High School, in addition to athletic training. “It is a different mindset,” she said. “Not just for the Athletics Department, but for the entire community. I’m not just tending to injuries, but I’m working on community health and well-being as a whole.” Dr. Nash went on to say how important it is to her that her students, particularly her female students, see a woman in the field of professional sports medicine. “It’s important for me that they see a woman succeed in the field. In general, sports is a very male-driven profession. I needed to learn to speak up and knock down my own section of the glass ceiling.” According to Dr. Nash, there are very few female athletic trainers in all professional sports nationwide. Working on a DAT degree while still maintaining a full-time career was certainly not an easy task. Dr. Nash possesses a unique dedication, drive and enthusiasm, which she brings to work each day in support of her students and Bishop McNamara community. “My philosophy is treat patients by finding out what’s going on with them,” she said. “Treating the whole person instead of what you see on the surface. Ask questions, find out what’s going on.” We have no doubt that this ambitious and questioning nature will serve Dr. Nash well as she continues to educate hearts and minds at Bishop McNamara. Congratulations Dr. Nash!

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

1,000 POINTS

and COUNTING!

Aliyah Matharu '19 and Jakia Brown-Turner '19 have a lot of things in common. They are both juniors at Bishop McNamara High School, they both play on the varsity basketball team, they’ve both been playing the sport since fourth grade…and they both made it into the 1,000-point club this season! Aliyah made her 1,000-point breaking shot during the January 9th game against Elizabeth Seton High School, while Jakia made hers during the December 29th game against Lake Taylor High School. This is an incredible accomplishment for any studentathlete, but the fact that they set this record for themselves during their junior year of high school is even more amazing. “It was the first good thing I did all on my own without anybody’s help,” Aliyah said. “It felt good because it came from my own hard work.” “I would have never thought that I would get that far, that I would get that many points,” said Jakia. “Since I’ve hit that mark, it just makes me want to score even more points!” Both girls will play next season for Bishop McNamara High School – and thus will add even more points to their already stellar records.

Aliyah Matharu ’19

Jakia Brown-Turner ’19

Photography by Erica R. Simpson, Assistant Girls' Basketball Coach

Because they have both been playing basketball since the fourth grade, Jakia and Aliyah have had time and put a great deal of effort into honing their skills. But they both agreed that playing at Bishop McNamara is a completely different experience than playing for any other school. “It’s a much faster pace, it keeps you on your toes,” said Aliyah. “You’ve got to come out ready to play every game, because if you don’t, it might end up being a bad game for you.” Aliyah and Jakia said that they both plan to continue playing basketball at the collegiate level. With more than 1,000 career points under their belts already, they will no doubt have their pick of colleges when they begin applying next year. Preparation for a game is key for Aliyah and Jakia. Both said that they work out and practice extra hard the night before a game, and listen to music in order to get focused the day of the game. Aliyah said that she does not really feel any anxiety before a game, but Jakia felt differently, saying that she usually feels nervous during the first couple minutes of a game, but calms down once it gets going. Because both Jakia and Aliyah are prime examples of what dedication and committed effort can accomplish, many studentathletes, and students in general, wonder how they have accomplished this impressive goal. Both girls emphasized the importance of hard work in all aspects of life, not just basketball. “Work hard and get through anything,” said Jakia. “There’s going to be ups and downs, but it’s all about how you get up again. When you’re down, it’s how you prepare to get better, how you bounce back.” Aliyah said it was important to block out any negative messages when taking on a task or setting a goal. “If you’re not as strong as somebody, or you’re not as tall, you can’t let that get to you,” she said. “It’s not about what you can’t do, it’s about what you can do. Hard work never goes unnoticed, if you’re working hard, everything is going to turn out all right.”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

TALENT IN THE ARTS

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Prior to the completion of our Andy Mona '82 Student Center, Bishop McNamara High School reached out to our community members – alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends – asking them to participate in a new art project to help modernize our hallways. As a Holy Cross school, we wanted to update our Stations of the Cross and give community members the chance to leave their mark on the School. Participants were invited to choose any medium to create their works of art depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross. Some chose photographs while others used paint or mosaic tile. Each artist had their own reasons for choosing their particular station, and many even chose to do more than one. Siobhan Monaghan Bixel LR '81 chose to do stations one, four and six in paint. Station one, Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die, conveys Jesus’ acceptance of the wrongful sentence levied against him and the condemnation delivered by Pontius Pilate. Jesus does not struggle or protest when the sentence is announced. This image of acceptance and surrender has been powerful for her. “The image of Jesus dressed as a ‘Clown King’ with a crown of thorns, silent, alone, rejected and broken; Jesus accepted his sentence, centurions ready and armed to carry out Pilate’s decree – it’s an image that has been burned in my mind for more than 30 years,” Siobhan said.

The First Station Siobhan Monaghan Bixel LR ’81

The Second Station Armani Mason-Callaway '09 and Craig Glover Hines '09

Station two, along with station 14, was completed as part of a team effort by Armani Mason-Callaway '09 and Craig Glover Hines '09, BMHS alumni and current faculty/staff members. In Station two, Jesus Accepts his Cross, Jesus is given the cross which will ultimately serve as the instrument of his death. The cross is incredibly heavy, and after being handled so forcefully by the Roman soldiers and angry mob, Jesus is already severely injured – which does not make the task of carrying His cross any easier. For Armani and Craig, in depicting the second station, it was important to show that even throughout the suffering that Jesus endured, His faith remained constant. “Christ taught us how to understand by showing us what to stand under,” they said. “The weight of His fate did not break His faith, and His commitment to the cross is what constantly carries us across.” Station three, Jesus Falls for the First Time, was completed by artist and St. Ambrose Catholic Church parishioner Darrell Matics. The inspiration for the piece, Darrell said, came from the Via Cruzes, live re-enactments of Christ’s Passion on Good Friday. This event is particularly popular in Latino culture, according to Darrell. Most of the tiles used to complete the piece were handmade in Mexico and Central America, further strengthening the link Darrell wanted to make to Latino culture.

The Third Station Darrell Matics

The Fourth Station Siobhan Monaghan Bixel LR ’81

The Fifth Station Peter Sanneman

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

“In this station, Jesus stumbled and falls, burdened by His cross, which is weighed down by the sins of the world, our sins,” Darrell said. “Still, He looks out on us with forgiveness and compassion.”

The Sixth Station Siobhan Monaghan Bixel LR ’81

The Seventh Station Terry Quinn

The Eighth Station Johnny Shryock

The Ninth Station Johnny Shryock

The next station, completed by Siobhan, was station four: Jesus Meets his Mother, Mary. This piece was particularly emotional for Siobhan. Through this first stage of His suffering, Mary serves as a source of strength for Jesus as He continues onward. While no parent wants to see their child in pain, it was a necessary task for Mary in order to help Jesus accomplish His great task. Station five, Simon Helps Carry the Cross, was completed by BMHS Director of Campus Ministry, Peter Sanneman. As a teacher, Peter felt it was important to use these stations as an opportunity for learning and reflection on how the actions taken by Simon in this station could impact how we teach our students – thus he incorporated his own faithful message in his piece. “The world is too tough to journey through without helping one another, and God rejoices when we help someone,” he said. “Simon helped a stranger, like our students in our service program; he was forced to do so, yet he emerged transformed from accompanying Jesus through His darkest hour. If we put our own concerns aside to accompany others, we will also emerge transformed.” Station six, Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus, is the final station completed by Siobhan. Veronica steps forward through the crowd and uses her veil to wipe Christ’s face to clean away His blood and the spit from the angry onlookers. When He continues on, Veronica finds the image of His face on her veil. For her final station, Siobhan thought it was vitally important to send the message of kindness. “Veronica’s veil is a station that leads me to believe that any act of kindness will leave an impression of Jesus in our hearts,” she said.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The seventh station, Jesus Falls for the Second Time, is rather different from the others. It is a photograph taken by professional photographer Terry Quinn, printed in metal with a cross shape edged out and made to stand out over the man featured in the photograph. The man is Buddy Harrison, who spends a great deal of time and effort helping the homeless in Washington, D.C. – a volunteer service he has been doing for several years. In this photo, he is delivering clothes and goods donated by others who believe in the work he is doing. Weakness begins to settle in for Jesus in the seventh station, but even so, He gets up again and continues on his journey. Terry’s purpose in depicting Buddy and his work for the piece was to express that in helping others, we bring them strength, hope and even happiness they may have otherwise gone without, and allow them to continue their journey. Terry owns his own gallery in Solomons, Md. where he sells his art and photographs, Solomons Gallery. Stations eight and nine were completed by former BMHS faculty member Johnny Shryock, professional photographer and brother of BMHS Academic Dean Charles Shryock IV. To begin with, station eight features a cosmic scene in the silhouette of a woman – which coincides with the station’s title, Jesus Meets the Three Women of Jerusalem. The use of the cosmic scene speaks to the words Jesus gives to the women; that they be mindful of the deeds they perform in the present as they prepare for the future. While Station eight brings with it some degree of hope for the future, Station nine, Jesus Falls for the Third Time, brings with it a slightly darker air. Johnny’s photo depicts a hooded figure burying its face in its hands, and beginning to crumble to pieces. It is the final time that Jesus falls before His crucifixion. There is definite pain and the feeling of desperation in the piece – what Jesus must have felt after falling under the weight of His cross for a third time. Station 10, Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes, is a powerful image completed by BMHS Art Teacher and the first recipient of the Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence, Kate Heneghan. “I chose to focus on the vulnerability Jesus willingly embraced in order to show us how to live,” she said. “I wanted the figure to be any one of us, sharing in that moment when all defenses are stripped away. In the moment before we rise to become our best selves.” For Station 11, Brother Robert Weinmann, C.S.C. completed a beautiful painting depicting the station, Jesus is Nailed to the Cross. Not only is the painting beautiful and incredibly moving to look upon, but it is made all the more real by the actual nails hammered into the wood at Christ’s hands and feet. Brother Weinmann attested that his paintings are a “copy or interpretation of the original work of the ultimate artist and creator: God Our Father.”

The 10th Station Kate Heneghan

The 11th Station Br. Robert Weinmann, C.S.C.

The 12th Station Matt Nuñez '11

Considering the haunting beauty of Station 11, it only makes sense that Station 12 is just as compelling. Completed by alumnus and professional photographer Matt Nunez '11, Station 12, Jesus Dies on the Cross, is a photo of a crucifix from the Brothers’ House at St. Edward’s University. The crucifix is lit by the light of a candle, and the figure of Christ is cast in shadow to truly depict the solemn nature of this particular station. “In the evenings, I would pass by the room, lit only by a single candle, and see the striking silhouette of this beautiful piece of art,” he said. “I was reminded of the magnitude of our Lord’s sacrifice and the ultimate humility which it represents.” Station 13 is arguably one of the more vibrant pieces in the collection. This was the purposeful intent of BMHS staff member Shanice Kirby when she completed it. Station 13, Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross, is known as a station of mourning and loss, and the undeniable lesson that the will of God is inescapable. But we must remember that ultimately God’s plans always act in our best interest, even if we do not yet see it. Shanice’s unique use of bright color and contrast for such a solemn piece helps us to remember that lesson. The color choices create a unique harmony that reminds us that, although we mourn the loss of Jesus,

The 13th Station Shanice Kirby

The 14th Station Armani Mason-Callaway '09 and Craig Glover Hines '09

His sacrifice was ultimately for us, and in the end we will be with Him again. The final station, as stated previously, was completed by Armani Mason-Callaway '09 and Craig Glover Hines '09, Jesus is Placed in the Tomb. Craig and Armani used not only visual elements to depict the tomb in which Jesus was placed, but they also used words written over the piece to portray Jesus, even in death as the King of Glory. The use of bright colors and the light feeling of the piece reassures the viewer that Christ will come again, and made the ultimate sacrifice out of love for us. “The stone in your life is always temporary,” they said. “But the love and light of Christ is eternal.” To have all these artists from our community, from our BMHS Family, utilize their artistic talents to depict these stations is truly remarkable. Their love and dedication to their crafts shines through in each and every piece. These Stations are on display in the hallway across from the Andy Mona '82 Student Center, for students, visitors, faculty and staff to see and reflect upon each and every day. They serve as a reminder of our Catholic legacy, and of Christ’s love for all of us.

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL SANKOFA COMPANY After completing the production season at Bishop McNamara High School, the Sankofa company was given the opportunity on July 8 to perform live at the Washington, D.C. Warner Theatre for their production of Harriet and the Underground. The event was a complete success - slated for only one show, interest in the production skyrocketed, and another performance that same day was added. Not only did the Sankofa company perform at the Warner Theatre, but they were also invited to perform at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in early March. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the event was cancelled with the hopes of being rescheduled in the future. Keep an eye on our website and social media for details. This year, Sankofa will be performing Violet, an adaptation of The Color Purple, at Bishop McNamara High School. The performances will begin in late April. Be sure to visit our website and social media pages for regular updates and ticket sales!

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The La Reine Science and Innovation Center Inspiring Hearts and Minds to Innovate, Thrive and Transform!

Currently, all Bishop McNamara science classes and science/ computer labs are operating at maximum capacity. To meet the aspirations of tech-thirsty students and encourage our culture of innovation, the goal of both deepening and broadening curricular offerings and making them more available to underserved and underrepresented students, and the urgent need to provide equipment and resources required for this effort, the La Reine Science and Innovation Center will double the number of science and computer labs. As the next phase of our Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, our La Reine Science and Innovation Center will serve as the centerpiece for our culture of innovation. This planned state-ofthe-art facility will allow us to expand beyond traditional science offerings, build on highly-successful programs already in existence, and create new spaces for exploration, creativity and discovery.

Innovation lies at the crossroads of fields, disciplines and cultures. At Bishop McNamara, we are developing tomorrow’s innovators today by committing to provide them with cutting-edge spaces and facilities that foster collaborative learning and a hands-on approach to the study of science and technology. The impact of the La Reine Science and Innovation Center on the lives of our future student scholars will be extraordinary! To learn more about the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, please visit us online at www.bmhs.org/campaign.

The technologies learned in this newly-expanded curriculum will be applied to a multitude of potential career paths related to science, technology and engineering. This will help us further prepare our students for the future by providing them with inquiry-based projects and curriculum to foster their own creative solutions and real-world problem solving skills. As we set our vision to meet the demands of today's society and the desires of our school community, our dream and their aspirations are only limited by time and space. With the advent of the Center, our highly-successful Cisco certification program, as well as other popular computer science and information technology courses, will be expanded to feature new courses in evolving technologies such as coding and cybersecurity. These courses will be provided in an adaptive, cutting-edge learning environment. The La Reine Science and Innovation Center will enable students and faculty to experiment and create in open work areas and “makerspaces.” Flexible classrooms will promote teamwork and active learning. Welcoming common areas will extend the collaborative environment to the broader community of learners. The result will be a facility that offers unprecedented opportunities for students to explore, create, imagine and discover. It is our hope to complete construction by September 2020 of this 20,000 - 25,000 sq. ft. facility.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The La Reine Science and Innovation Center Charrette:

Bishop McNamara High School has partnered with Grimm + Parker Architects to develop the concept plans and renderings for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center. In order to foster community involvement and support for this integral aspect of the Campaign, The School hosted an evening charrette for community members to attend and voice their suggestions and concerns regarding this new Center. The charrette was well-attended, and we received some excellent feedback on what amenities and features the Center should have. We want the Center to feature state-of-the-art technology, but ensure that said technology is adaptable and able to change quickly and efficiently. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their thoughts with us!

Looking ahead:

Classrooms of the

The classroom of the future will focus on the student, and will feature furniture and desk arrangements to encourage peer-to-peer engagement and problem solving.

An integral part of our $15 million Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign is to upgrade the existing classrooms in our main building to be next generation classrooms of the future. What is the classroom of the future? What does it look like? What does it mean to provide next generation learning spaces? The truth is, education is changing rapidly. Technology and expanded knowledge of the learning process have already resulted in a metamorphosis of the classroom and of teaching methods in general. And there will be even more changes in the future!

In the classroom of the future, forget about neat rows of chairs and desks from which students focus intently on the teacher delivering a lecture and demonstrating concepts on the whiteboard. Seating arrangements in the future will be flexible so that they are appropriate for the task that students are working on, and there will also be more focus on students’ comfort. Here are just a few things that will become more commonplace in the classroom of the future: • Standing desks for students who have difficulty maintaining focus while sitting

With a focus on innovative teaching and learning methods including hands-on, inquiry-based and project-based learning, Bishop McNamara has already stepped into this future. Here are some of the changes that have already become commonplace in the classrooms at Bishop McNamara:

• Accommodations for students who need more movement

• Online posting of grades and assignments

• Moving walls will make spaces more adaptable, and students will be given more autonomy on how and where to sit

• Group projects completed through collaborative software • Assignments completed online and uploaded through classroom portals • Students using cloud storage instead of flash drives or paper to store their work • Teachers, parents, students and administrators communicating via social media platforms designed specifically for education • Development of our CITE Lab to give students a devoted space to work with hands-on projects and materials At a speech delivered to the National Association of Independent Schools in 2012, Microsoft founder Bill Gates stated: “Not much has changed in education in the past 150 years, but it will in the next 10.” Apple founder Steve Jobs emphasized that innovation is the intersection of the liberal arts and humanities with science, technology, engineering and math. Just as this is the DNA of companies like Apple and Microsoft, so too is it the DNA here at Bishop McNamara.

• Private workstations will be available for individual tasks while collaborative workspaces will be available for group projects • Interactive projectors and other technology will replace interactive whiteboards

The classroom of the past was primarily teacher-centered. As we have seen from student interaction and our classroom/teaching style development, the classroom of the future will focus on the student. Studies have shown that each child learns differently, and re-arranging the workspaces in the classroom encourages students to learn through group discussions with their peers and share reflections based on shorter lectures provided by the teacher. Through this method of teaching, students feel empowered to contribute during class. Research indicates that this emphasis on applied learning is more effective and promotes success in education. The Board of Directors has placed a high value on the enhancement of classroom facilities and will dedicate at least $600,000 in campaign revenue towards this urgent priority. Classrooms may be named for gifts of $50,000 – payable over a period of years, if necessary.

For more information about our 50th Anniversary Campaign, please visit www.bmhs.org/campaign. THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

La Reine & McNamara

ALUMNINEWS

These pages represent news shared with the Advancement Office from June 15, 2017 - January 17, 2018. '68 John Shea '68 celebrated his retirement last year from Georgetown Prep after 38 years of service. He is now living in North Carolina. '69 & '70 In July at the National Conference of The Compassionate Friends held in Orlando, Fla., high school sweethearts Chuck Collins '69 and Kathy Barry Collins LR '70 were presented with the organization's highest honor, the coveted Simon Stephens Award. This award was presented for their outstanding efforts in providing comfort and hope to families dealing with the loss of a child. '77 Alumnus Tim Cameron '77 has filed for re-election as Sheriff of St. Mary's County. Tim has been sheriff for three terms and has served in the Sheriff 's Office for more than 37 years. '79 Terry Davis Benelli LR '79 has recently been appointed to the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank's Community Advisory Council (CAC), which serves as a source of information on current and pending developments in the Twelfth District, emphasizing under-served and lower-income communities. '91 Bershan Shaw LR '91 recently published an article for Forbes entitled: Women: Follow The Five C's To Become Leaders In The Workplace. In the article, Bershan reflected on her career path and history, and provided advice for women in the working world by utilizing what she refers to as the Five C's: Courage, Change, Confidence, Creativity and Commitment.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Kara McGinnis Sparks LR '91 and her husband Shawn of Ocean Springs, M.S. would like to announce their adoption of Evan Lloyd Sparks! He was born on Jan. 26, 2016 and his adoption was finalized on Jan. 10, 2017, less than a year later.

'94 In 2016, Ardandia Campbell-Williams '94 graduated with a master's degree in public health from Morgan State University's School of Community Health and Policy, where she was a recognized member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the International Dean's List Society. She also earned a B.A. in communications from University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently a Senior Promotional Regulatory Affairs Associate at AstraZeneca.

'00 & '03 On July 11 John Spruill II '00 and Dinesha Rogers '03 returned to Bishop McNamara High School for a special photoshoot to officially announce their engagement. They celebrated their marriage on December 10 amongst friends and family.

'00 Not only has Jason Reynolds '00 been celebrating the release of his new book Long Way Down, but he has also been vocal and speaking out about the importance of books and reading to children. Recently, Jason has been featured by such wellknown media sources as The Washington Post, NPR and CBS News. '01 In June, Dr. Thérèse Farmer '01 participated in the Young Christian Leaders Seminar at Yad Vashem-The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, Israel. Thérèse was selected as one of 25 Christian leaders worldwide to participate in this program. Thérèse received her doctorate in religious education, with honors, from Chesapeake Bible College and Seminary. '02 Womble Carlyle Attorney Loryn Buckner '02 was honored with the Winston<40 Leadership Award, presented by the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.

Loryn is one of only 20 honorees out of more than 150 nominations. The Winston<40 Leadership Awards recognize outstanding young professionals that are actively influencing the growth, prosperity and quality of life in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

'04 After graduating from Bishop McNamara, Dennis C. Rawls, Jr. '04 attended Morehouse College and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration on management. He is currently putting those skills to work, as Dennis is an entrepreneur of his own barbershop UTP (Upscale Tonsorial Parlor) for the last four years in Bowie, Md. At the same time, he has also created his own barbecue sauce and has been marketing it to local retailers! You can find B.E. (Barbecue Everything) Sauce on the shelves of Harris Teeter and Giant.

'06 On June 11, Howard Folkes '06 celebrated his marriage to his now-wife Taesha! His brother Christian Cardwell '13 and his best friend Aaron Anderson '06 were included in Howard's wedding party. Howard is a mechanical engineer working for the Department of Defense. He is also in the Air Force Reserves studying aeronautical engineering.

Lindsey Buckner '06 is currently Principal Legal Counsel for Capital One Bank in Plano, Texas. In addition to her work with the bank, Lindsey has also been coaching youth soccer.

'09 On New Year's Eve Allison Baumgartner '09 was celebrating more than just the new year - in Ocean City, Md., she was celebrating her engagement to Phil Cerreto, whom she met in pharmacy school. They are planning a 2019 wedding. '11 After graduating from Towson University in May of 2016 with a B.S. in information technology, Johnathon DeVane '11 has been working as a network engineer at the United States Department of State. In this position, Johnathon helps to maintain the network in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Additionally, Johnathon helps to design and redesign building sites as they relate to networking needs. Johnathon has been able to do some work to directly benefit the Secretary of State. On Oct. 13, Jackie Schiff '11 celebrated her marriage to Andrew Miller. Several other members of the class of 2011 were also in attendance to celebrate the momentous occasion with them.

'08 On May 20, Liam St. Hill '08 graduated with his Master's degree in exercise science and physical education from McDaniel College. Whytnee Silva '08 was appointed to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. JJAG advises the state juvenile agency, provides active consultation to the government and private agencies, and ensures the provision of comprehensive delinquency prevention programs that meet the needs of youth through collaborative efforts. Whytnee has also started her own nonprofit, The Conglomerate, and has served as cofounder of the school without walls, Charm City Leadership Academy.

Taylor Brown '11 has been featured previously for her athletic prowess and for her dedication to her community by providing basketball camps for local youth. Recently she was recognized as one of the newest members of the Residence Walferdange basketball team from Luxembourg! Taylor has signed on to join them for the rest of the season and has already been doing very well.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

'12 After college, Thomas James '12 began work as an AmeriCorps VISTA at DC Public Schools. He also worked part-time with the tutoring company Transcend Academy. He was responsible for their test prep organization, social media posting, and website management. Outside of work, Thomas curated a highly-successful art exhibition entitled "Darkest Before the Dawn," and he also traveled out of the country for the first time, visiting family and learning about his heritage on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Thomas currently works at the Maryland Federation of Art as the Exhibitions Manager.

Barely a month after graduating college, John Rookard '13 began training and has secured a position with the United States Department of Justice.

Kendall Pace '13 has signed on with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League as an offensive lineman for the upcoming season!

Tarik Endale '12 developed an interest in travel and mental health early on, and has been working as a researcher for the Mental Health Innovation Network. Currently he is in the process of developing a Mental Health Support Program in South Africa. '13 On May 20, 2017, Wayne E. Johnson, Jr. '13 graduated from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md. Wayne graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with cum laude honors. Congratulations to Jordan Martin '13, who was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The Campbell Trophy is an incredible honor that recognizes the top football scholarathlete in the country. It is often referred to as the "Academic Heisman." Dr. Tom Burns '90 was named recipient of the Campbell Trophy in the past.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Meghan Clark '13 celebrated the birth of her son, Landon Harold Maigatter on Jan. 18, 2018 at 10:05 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 20 inches long, Landon is happy and healthy.

'16 Two of our recent graduates received honors and promotion at Vector Marketing/Cutco. Kayla Harris '16 and Frank Godfrey III '16 worked for Vector Marketing/Cutco over the summer and were responsible for more than $20,000 in career sales since they started. They each received four sales promotions with the company, and were two of the top producers in the office.

CALLING ALL ALUMNI! Do you have a big announcement? Maybe you're getting married, having a baby or graduating from college â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we want to know! Send us your news so that we can share it with your BMHS family!

'14 Thanks in part to a partnership between the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and Cisco Systems, Inc., Daevon Greene '14 secured a sales internship for this summer with Cisco! The internship will last nine weeks, providing Daevon with career experience before he graduates this December. Daevon is currently the third undergraduate from UMES to receive the internship.

Please contact us at advancement@bmhs.org and let us know what's new and exciting!

BISHOP McNAMARA & LA REINE

EVENT & REUNION INFORMATION LET BISHOP McNAMARA HELP PLAN YOUR CLASS REUNION! Calling the following Bishop McNamara High School and La Reine High School graduating classes:

JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS!

Bishop McNamara & La Reine '68, '73, '78, '83, '88

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events in the spring!

Bishop McNamara High School '93, '98, '03, '08, '13 Your reunion is this year! Plan your reunion and reconnect with your classmates - reminisce about your high school years while celebrating the years that have followed. Want some help from Bishop McNamara? Let us know! Please contact our Department of Institutional Advancement at advancement@bmhs.org with any questions or concerns. We can help make your reunion an even bigger success!

CARITAS May 31, 2018 Mustang Cup Golf Tournament + Sip & Swing June 15, 2018

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The Vision of

POTENTIAL

& PRIME

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Photo credit to Marcus J. Williams '10

“Mr. Prime, how do I reach my greatest self? What do I do? Where do I go? How do I maintain? How do I survive? How fast do I go? Mr. Prime, what if I fail? What if I get lost? What if I lose? What if my best isn’t good enough? What if pain beats me down and paralyzes me? Mr. Prime, how do I stay afloat when the currents of life try to pull me under? I’m scared, Mr. Prime. I don’t know how to do this. I’m not a kid anymore, my tests are harder, my pain is different. Success isn’t what they described it to be, it’s much different. Mr. Prime, confusion gets to me, frustration gets to me, life gets to me. What about my dreams, Mr. Prime? Do I chase them? Do I trust them? What if I die, Mr. Prime? Mr. Prime smiles and says to Potential, if you always wonder ‘what if’, you’ll never know ‘what is.’” - Ps and Qs: The Journey to Becoming Prime Quality In January 2017, Craig Glover Hines '09 was working an overnight job one evening. He took out his phone, and began to craft what would be the only characters in his book entitled: Ps and Qs: The Journey to Becoming Prime Quality. Potential, who signifies the untapped possibilities and greatness that exists in everyone. And Mr. Prime, who represents the greatest version of one’s self that exists within their potential. To Craig, the lesson he wanted to impart to his readers through his new book was not to strive for achieving perfection, but rather to strive for your prime quality. Craig said: “To me, ‘prime quality’ means when you reach a point where you realize that you never stop becoming our greatest self. You reach your greatest self when you realize you never stop becoming it.”

“I want [readers] to understand that you can definitely reach your greatest self; not just in your mind, but in your heart and your spirit and in your life with God,” Craig said. Ps and Qs follows the life and experiences of Potential as he tries to understand the teachings of Mr. Prime. As the reader follows along the path of Potential’s life, what they are actually reading is the story of Craig’s life. The book shares very personal details and stories, such as what it was like when his father was incarcerated when Craig was only two years old, the impact his grandfather had on his life – and how Craig coped with his passing.

Craig said that the inspiration to sit down and write a book came in many forms; from his grandfather who played a pivotal role throughout his life, to friends and family and peers encouraging him to write. But most of all, Craig said the ultimate inspiration to write his book came from God and his faith. “First and foremost [Ps and Qs] is faith-fueled and faith-based,” Craig said. “I wanted to stop sitting on my gift to be able to express and encourage. Hope is so powerful to me, and I know that God has blessed me with the ability to instill hope in people and really encourage others.” Faith is a key staple in Ps and Qs. Throughout the book, the characters of Potential and Mr. Prime have conversations between each other in which Potential seeks guidance from Mr. Prime. As Craig reflected on the key lessons of the book, he pointed out that Potential and Mr. Prime could not have had their conversations without the presence of God facilitating between them. But in addition to that message of faith, there’s the underlying notion of how life is a journey that helps to shape us all. Through our journey and the destinations we reach as we continue on through it, we begin to realize our potential and in so doing, understand a little more about our prime selves. According to Craig, the key to going that much further from potential to prime, is letting God show you the way.

Craig Glover Hines '09 signing copies of his book, Ps and Qs: The Journey to Becoming Prime Quality, at his official book release on Nov. 4, 2017.

Transparency was key, Craig said, in sharing the message of his book and helping people to understand it. Indeed that meant opening himself up and making himself vulnerable. However, it was important to Craig that he reach his readers, and use his experiences to relate to their own lives and to help them truly understand that, even when faced with dire circumstances and low points of suffering in life, everyone still has potential and can become prime. “Vulnerability is necessary oftentimes for people to feel as though they can relate to you, to understand that you’re not that different, or that you’re not out of reach,” he said. “The truth is where the power is.”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

As an alumnus of Bishop McNamara High School, Craig uses his memories and experiences to help relate to his students. This makes his teachings more personal and he serves as an example of somebody that went through the School, graduated and came back. Acclimating to high school brings a natural apprehension; Craig's class helps alleviate that uncertainty. Craig helps them to understand that, whatever obstacles they encounter – be it at BMHS or elsewhere – everything is meant to be a learning experience; and so long as they have faith, they can overcome any challenge. Remember the words of Mr. Prime: “If you always wonder ‘what if ’, you’ll never know ‘what is’.” Many of his colleagues and peers agree that there is no better man for the job of teaching character and faith than Craig. He is very humble by nature and constantly expresses his gratitude for the support, encouragement and enthusiasm he receives from others. Craig’s book Ps and Qs is dedicated to his grandfather, who even after his passing continues to influence Craig to this very day. Craig’s father wrote the heartfelt foreword of the book, in which he expressed his pride and love for his son. In the future, Craig said he will be writing more books, with a similar tone and faith-based message. In publishing Ps and Qs, Craig joins the multitude of Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School alumni who have gone on to become published authors, including Jeff Kinney '89, Jason Reynolds '00 and BMHS faculty member Justin McClain '00. “I joke all the time, I wish that God would give me a few more adjectives to use aside from grateful and humbled – but really, I am! Very much so!” Craig said, laughing. “I don’t take any of this lightly. I just want to do it God’s way, do it right and represent Him, my family and this school.” In true Christian and Holy Cross fashion, Craig said that his book is intended to meet readers where they are in life, regardless of age, culture or background. The goal is to reach anyone and everyone who strives to become their best self.

Craig’s book is available for purchase online through his website at www.primequality.life, and through Amazon.

This desire to reach and connect with people is also apparent in Craig’s role at Bishop McNamara High School as a teacher. Currently Craig teaches the Freshman Seminar class at the School and helps students learn how to acclimate to the BMHS life and proper study habits that they can use throughout their educational careers. But more than that, Craig focuses on character and developing the student from within. “Their behavior becomes a reflection of how strong their belief is, and they grow in confidence, they grow in respect, they grow in character. I really want them to develop those internal values because I think those shine the most,” said Craig. “When those are intact, it makes everything else that much brighter.”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Ps and Qs: The Journey to Becoming Prime Quality placed at the grave site of Craig's grandfather and inspiration for the book, Thomas Alton Glover.

Why I Give

to Bishop McNamara High School

... featuring

Col. Jasey Briley (Ret.) '77 Throughout the years, numerous military families have been transferred or moved to the Washington, D.C. area to live and work at such military stations as Joint Base Andrews, Joint Base Bolling, or Fort Meade. Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools have proudly welcomed and served these service families by providing their children with our unique Holy Cross education. These families and students quickly embraced our family atmosphere and have been tremendous assets to our community. Knowing that service families are accustomed to numerous transitions, deployments and reassignments, our school community has served as a stable and supportive force in their lives while providing an academically-rigorous, college-preparatory program. On the rare occasions that whole families are able to travel and move with their family members, they face an abundance of difficulties, such as finding an affordable home or finding a good school for their children. Sometimes they find that their child is having difficulty adjusting to a school, and are faced with the choice of finding a new school that they can afford, or returning to a more familiar community away from their family members. Col. Jasey Briley (Ret.) '77 has been a devoted alumnus and member of the Bishop McNamara community. On several occasions he has returned to campus to share with students the many lessons he has learned through his service and travel, and to encourage them to challenge themselves in academics, career paths and anything else they undertake. He has had an accomplished career in the military and attributes much of his success to the foundation developed at Bishop McNamara High School. In his talks, Jasey describes himself as an “Army brat” when he was growing up. He and his three brothers – James Briley, Jr. '71, Johnnie Briley '73 and Jay Briley '78 – have been staunch supporters of Bishop McNamara High School. Jasey said that both he and his wife had been considering options for how they could support military families.

Q: Why do you give to Bishop McNamara High School?

“

“I want to give back! I want to let the students know that there’s so much that’s out there, and that you can really take on the world. McNamara laid the foundation for me and made me what I am today. Playing basketball for McNamara definitely helped me when I joined the military; the physical training, the teamwork, self confidence, leadership – that’s all a part of basketball. I shied away from the hard courses when I was younger, and I kind of regret that. Once I got to college and in the military I changed my tune, I took on those harder courses. We need to instill in the students to take on those challenges and those hard jobs – if the person who came before you can do it, so can you!” THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

WAYS TO SUPPORT

United Way of the National Capital Area: #8895 CFC: #62489 Maryland Charity Campaign: #6137 For more information, please contact Annual Fund Manager Ullysses Tucker, Jr. at 301.735.8401 ext. 158

About The Bishop McNamara SPES UNICA Annual Fund

The SPES UNICA Annual Fund at Bishop McNamara High School is our comprehensive effort used to seek contributions each year, from new and existing donors, to support initiatives such as the Saint Joseph Resource Center, Middleton Scholars Program, Bridge of Hope and the Saint Andre Bessette tuition assistance programs. Gifts also support need- and merit-based scholarships, student activities, technology upgrades in the classrooms, athletics, the performing arts and much more. It is a chance for those closest to BMHS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether alumni, parents, friends, faculty or staff â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to enhance the academic experiences of our student scholars on campus and after graduation through their spirit of philanthropy. To learn more about additional giving opportunities, please contact our Annual Fund Manager, Ullysses Tucker, Jr. at (301) 735-8401 ext. 158 or via email at ullysses.tucker@bmhs.org. To make your contribution quickly and easily, visit us online at www.bmhs.org/give_now. Your generosity can and will make a difference!

The Phonathon Program

The Phonathon Program is another way for BMHS to stay in touch with alumni and parents during November and April of each year. It is staffed by volunteer parents and family members who reach out to update information, provide campus news updates and secure vital donations. To volunteer for this program, please contact Annual Fund Manager Ullysses Tucker, Jr. at 301.735.8401 ext. 158.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.

IN LOVING MEMORY...

Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

The information included on these pages reflects news shared with the Advancement Office from June 15, 2017 - January 17, 2018.

Merritt McAlinden, grandfather of BMHS faculty member Anthony Sosnoskie, passed away Oct. 26, 2017.

Mark Mundell '76, brother of Mary Boyce LR '64, passed away Oct. 6, 2017

Sonja Bego Debrew LR '90 passed away Sept. 18, 2017.

Pauline Nabinett, grandmother of Wayne Johnson, Jr. '13 and Justin Johnson '17, passed away Sept. 5, 2017.

Mary Crilley, mother of Mary Crilley Zamary LR '65, Frank Crilley '67, Jean Crilley Hobb LR '68, Joseph Crilley '75, Christopher Crilley '78 (deceased) and John Crilley '78, passed away Nov. 26, 2017. Jesse Ulysses Deleaver, grandfather of BMHS faculty/staff member Armani Mason-Callaway '09, Alani Mason-Callaway '10 and Arrington Mason-Callaway '12, passed away Sept. 27, 2017. Steven Depoy, husband of Pam Shuck Young LR '78, passed away Aug. 18, 2017. Timothy Eagan, Sr. '71 passed away Oct. 31, 2017. Brother Francis Ellis, C.S.C., previous long-time BMHS Business Manager, passed away Sept. 9, 2017. Brother Richard Paul Hartling, C.S.C., previous BMHS faculty member, passed away Jan. 5, 2018. Kenneth Heim '76, passed away Oct. 1, 2017. Patricia Homan, grandmother of Joseph Danko '16, passed away July 28, 2017. George Hunt, beloved previous member of our faculty/coaching staff and father of Anthony Hunt '03, Mia Hunt '05 and Veronica Hunt '10, passed away Aug. 22, 2017. Cochise Jackson '00 passed away Nov. 20, 2017. Eugene Jenkins, father of Barry Jenkins '90 and BMHS Alumni Association Board Member Brian Jenkins '96, passed away Sept. 23, 2017. Ki Johnson, son of Kimberly Wonson LR '92, passed away Oct. 10, 2017. Leslie Johnson-Watson, mother of Skylar Johnson '18 passed away Aug. 4, 2017. Judith Miller, aunt of Melissa Miller LR '85, passed away on June 17, 2017. Jason Muir, husband of Kimberly Muir '98 and brother-in-law of Angela DeMattia '96, passed away Sept. 30, 2017.

Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.

Anna Mae O'Brien, mother of BMHS faculty member Paul O'Brien, passed away Jan. 10, 2018. Brother John Gervase O'Laughlin, C.S.C., previous BMHS faculty member, passed away Jan. 2, 2018. James Proctor, father of Robin Proctor LR '83 and Lisa ProctorContreras LR '90, and father-in-law of Nelson Contreras '90, passed away on July 10, 2016. Gregory Robinson, Sr., father of Valita Robinson '12, passed away Sept. 5, 2017. Brother Joseph Ruane, C.S.C., long-time teacher and librarian for Bishop McNamara High School, passed away Sept. 23, 2017. Mary M. Schmitt, mother of Teresa Schmitt Wilson LR '68 (deceased), Marianne Schmitt Hellauer LR '73, and Suzanne Schmitt Doughty LR '80, passed away on May 29, 2017. Jean Louise Shelton, grandmother of Jason Carroll '94 and mother-in-law of Patrick Morrissette '69, passed away Nov. 29, 2017. Dr. John Milton Sine, stepfather of John Hungerford, Esq. '73 and Joan Hungerford LR '74, and grandfather of Rachael Young '05, Annemarie Shahan '05 and Liliya Kaneeva '06, passed away on July 6, 2017. Sterling Spriggs '74, father of Brandon Spriggs '08 and Christopher Spriggs '10, passed away Nov. 11, 2017. Estell Thomas, grandmother of Valita Robinson '12, passed away on July 14, 2017. Col. (Ret.) Donald J. White '71 passed away on Nov. 30, 2016.

Bricks and benches for the Memorial Garden are available to purchase and personalize in memory of your loved ones. Additionally, memorial Mass Cards can be purchased from the Advancement Office.

For more information, please contact Sandy Mammano, Director of Development at 301.735.8401 ext. 295.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

"My fondest memory of Mr. Webb was how humble he was. He never looked down on anyone, unless he was picking them up." – Michael Garnes '72

Known for his academic rigor and high standards for his students, Mr. Walter Webb, Sr. served as a math teacher at Bishop McNamara High School. He was also the head coach for the boys’ junior varsity basketball team. Walter was the first African-American faculty member at the School, and was beloved by his students and the student-athletes he coached.

IN LOVING MEMORY of:

Walter Webb, Sr.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Those who remember Walter and his teachings say that he was always very calm and patient – and eager to teach students in the classroom and on the basketball court. For those students who needed tutoring in math, Walter would come in early and stay late to work with them; whatever it took to help them succeed. Even after his students graduated, Walter could always be reached as a mentor and a source of advice to help them in times of need. He was always a man of faith, reminding his students to always put God first in their lives. Walter remains one of the prime examples of a Holy Cross teacher. We were very sad to hear on April 4, 2017, that Walter Webb passed away. He is survived by his alumni sons Walter Webb, Jr. '88 and Joseph Webb '96 – as well as by the legacy and influence he left within each and every one of his students.

IN LOVING MEMORY of:

Rick Middleton

Rick was a beloved friend and mentor in the Bishop McNamara High School community for more than 25 years. He held numerous positions including Faculty Member, Director of Personnel, Director of Student Activities, Director of Discipline, Senior Class Moderator, Social Studies Chair, Guidance Counselor and Administrator from 1986 until his 2013 retirement. Rick said that he chose to stay at BMHS for so long because “…it was evident that God had placed me where He felt I would be most useful. To put it simply and briefly, this is where, in my estimation, heaven and earth meet.” In 1994, Rick received the Faculty Caritas Award, and in 2013 he received the Holy Cross Caritas Award. President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85 remarked during the ceremony: "Rick is an inspiration and role model not to just students but to everyone he came in contact with. Rick always brought a loving, calm, poised presence to our school community." Additionally, in 1999, Rick was awarded the top award given to a teacher in the Archdiocese of Washington, the Tim Russert Award. We are sad to announce that on September 22nd, Rick Middleton passed away. In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Richard Middleton Project Pride Scholarship at Bishop McNamara High School. Additionally, the Middleton Scholars Program has been set up at BMHS to empower students who come from challenging socio-economic backgrounds. The program will provide a strong support community through advisors, mentorship and a team-building environment that encourages goal-setting and character development. Each student will be assigned a mentor who will work with them one-on-one to help them learn from the different experiences and backgrounds of others.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

IN LOVING MEMORY of:

E. Matthew Goyette

Mr. Goyette began teaching at Bishop McNamara in 1978 – he was so favored by his students that the 1982 yearbook was dedicated to him. He was one of the most influential teachers to grace the classrooms of Bishop McNamara High School. He taught his students far more than academic studies; in true Holy Cross fashion, he educated the hearts of his students and helped them flourish into kind and dedicated members of their communities. His influence was so powerful, that it inspired one anonymous alumnus to create our Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence in his name. Mr. Goyette was renowned for his patience, courage, joyfulness, conviction, knowledge and humility. It is these qualities that are the true hallmark of a Bishop McNamara High School teacher – it is these qualities that work towards the education of the minds and hearts of our students. From tackling Milton’s Paradise Lost to the follies of The Canterbury Tales, discovering the Grendel in each of us through Beowulf, being a member of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table or bringing Shakespeare to life, Mr. Goyette inspired in so many of us a love of literature, an appreciation for story, and a hope-filled future for times better than these. During his tenure here he was a moderator, coach, prefect and even served as principal for eight years. The title that he cherished the most, however, was to be called 'teacher.' On November 30th, Matt Goyette passed away. He was actively involved with the BMHS community and campus activities to that very day. A memorial service was held at the School, and several faculty and staff members shared fond memories and stories of Matt. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Goyette Scholarship Fund.

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IN LOVING MEMORY of:

Bishop Emeritus William George Curlin

Bishop Emeritus William George Curlin was ordained to the priesthood on May 25th, 1957 at age 29 by Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle. Early in his ministry, Bishop Curlin resided at St. Gabriel's parish with Bishop John M. McNamara. Bishop McNamara's influence in Bishop Curlin's life and ministry was so strong that his episcopal motto became "Sentire Cum Christo" ("To Think With Christ"), words that were spoken often by Bishop McNamara and from which our school motto came. Curlin finished his ministerial career in Charlotte, N.C., where from 1994-2002 he served as Bishop. On November 2nd, 1988, Curlin was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Washington and titular Bishop of Rossmarkaeum by Pope John Paul II. During his time in Washington, he founded several homes for the poor and homeless with terminal diseases, AIDS in particular, and began a lengthy collaboration and friendship with Mother Teresa. Bishop Curlin was also a close friend of the Mona family, and served as confessor to Andy Mona '82. On December 23rd, Bishop Curlin passed away at 90 years of age. His mark has truly been left upon this School, forever solidifying his legacy of faith and love.

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BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747-3270 301.735.8401 www.bmhs.org Address Service Requested

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OUR MISSION Bishop McNamara High School, a college preparatory school in the Holy Cross tradition, exists to educate and form young men and women in and through the Catholic faith. The School challenges its students to think with Christ, a thought animated by the Gospel, manifested in service and informed by academic excellence.

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Stay connected with Bishop McNamara! visit our website: www.bmhs.org Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2039;ishop McNamara High School is an exempt organization as described in Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code: EIN 52-0805939. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the current financial statement of Bishop McNamara High School is available by writing to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Bishop McNamara High School, 6800 Marlboro Pike, Forestville, MD 20747 or by calling 301-735-8401. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

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