EXTRAORDINARY LIVES,
Br inging Ho pe
Volume 23 No. 2
MUSTANG MESSENGER The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Magazine Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ISSUE TITLE: "EXTRAORDINARY LIVES, BRINGING HOPE"
CONTACT US!
BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL
6800 Marlboro Pike | Forestville, MD 20747 (p) 301.735.8401 | (f ) 301.735.0934 | www.bmhs.org PRESIDENT/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark '85 PRINCIPAL Dr. Nigel A. Traylor
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ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mrs. Dian A. Carter
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We sincerely apologize for any errors or omissions contained herein. This publication is also available online at www.bmhs.org/publications. Unless otherwise noted, photos are either taken by families, staff or courtesy of Lifetouch, Inc.
© BMHS All Rights Reserved
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President's Pen
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Class of 2017 Roll Call
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Around Campus Introducing Dr. Nigel A. Traylor & the New School Administration Director of Institutional Advancement: Clare McGrath-Merkle LR '74
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Academic Excellence Straight from the Students
12-14
Faith & Service 50 Years of Service: Sr. Chris Treichel LR '64
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E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence Talent in the Arts From Stories to the Screen: Molly Gillis '08
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Athletic Pride Returning to the Field: BMHS/LRHS Alumni Coaches
22-23
Faith. Family. Future! Campaign
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Mustang on the Ice: Lauren Huckaby '18
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Athletic Signing Day & Military Appreciation Game
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Clare McGrath-Merkle LR '74
ASST. DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Sandy Mammano
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Melissa Antonio Huar LR '91
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28 26-27
Mustang Moments
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Caritas 2017
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Mustang Cup/Sip & Swing 2017
30-33
Unleashing Imagination: Tiffany Norwood LR '85 College Signing Day
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Alumni News
38-39
Upcoming Events & Reunion Information
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BMHS & LRHS Alumni Celebrate 50 Years!
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Ways to Support
42-43
In Loving Memory
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jasmine Johnson '10
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
Robert Nolte
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Santana Questa
DATABASE MANAGER/GIFT PROCESSOR
Dionna Gunter
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"The best way to show God our gratitude and love, St. Gregory tells us, is to express them by deeds, by the practice of good works..." - Blessed Father Basil Moreau
Dear Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Family and Friends, Gratitude. That is the word of the season. This is most fitting to describe how I feel as our school year comes to a close and a new one begins. I am grateful for the parents who sacrifice so much and entrust us with their children. I am grateful to the faculty, staff, coaches and volunteers who give all of their hearts, minds and souls with a strong commitment to educate and to form our students to help them develop the competence, confidence and courage to be Christian leaders in society. I am grateful for the leadership of our school, particularly Dr. Robert Van der Waag, who will be stepping down from his role as principal and returning to the BMHS classroom this fall. I am also grateful for the support of our benefactors, the Board of Directors, and the hundreds of people who give of their time, talent and treasure to advance the mission of Bishop McNamara High School each year. Most importantly, I am grateful for the students that we are privileged to serve. Their drive, passion, idealism and hopeful outlook on the future is refreshing and keeps each of us committed to this special work. As you read about this graduating class and their remarkable accomplishments, you will see exactly what I am talking about. I am also grateful for the rich traditions of Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools. This year we were honored to have the members of the La Reine and McNamara class of 1967 join us for our commencement exercises as they celebrated their 50th reunion. Gratitude and pride filled my heart as I watched this group walk down the aisle at the National Shrine. The 2016-2017 school year marked my 20th year at Bishop McNamara. It has been a remarkable journey. I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to continue to steward this meaningful mission. Bishop McNamara is a special place that transforms each of us individually and thereby transforms the world. I can attest to my own transformation more than 30 years ago when I was a student here and I am grateful that this community continues to transform me every day. As we now look to the 2017-2018 school year I am excited by what is to come. Change is in the air at McNamara. Not the kind of change that comes about in times of crisis. Rather, these positive developments are all a part of our evolution. We have new leadership under the direction of Dr. Nigel Traylor, we are introducing new courses, have modified the school schedule, and have witnessed numerous physical changes to the campus. In fact, this summer marks the completion of Phase 1A of our Campus Master Plan. By summer’s end we will have completed the Andy Mona ‘82 Student Center, put new state-of-the-art playing surfaces on Tyoka Jackson Field as well as the gymnasium of the Fine Arts and Athletics Center, completed the renovations to Mammano Field, continued the modernization of our classrooms, improved energy efficiency and sustainability efforts; and there is still more to come! Planning for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center is underway with an anticipated 2020 completion date. For all of this, I am deeply grateful. Thank you all once again for your love, trust, prayers and support. God’s continued blessings to you.
Ave Crux Spes Unica!
With gratitude, in Holy Cross,
Marco J. Clark '85, Ed.D. President/CEO @mustangprez 4
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211 Students ~ $20+ Million in Scholarships & Financial Aid 26,000+ Christian Service Hours ~ 99% College Acceptance Rate 9 Full Academic Scholarships ~ 20 Athletic Scholarships Bishop McNamara High School
CLASS OF
2017 ROLL CALL
Kairey Abdirizak Abdillahi Christopher O. Adewunmi Jasmine Valdaye Adgerson Kendall Christopher Amos Krysta Michelle Anderson Lauren Kennedy Anderson Aniya De'Nae Arrington Isaiah N. Ashton Kelsey Tanika Ashton Alejandra Reneé Ayala Hector David Ayala Nkenge Ada BaNikongo Jabari Kamal Barnes Anthony Saguros Bautista Imani Bey Jaylin Anganit Bolden Summer Alexis Bonner Wesley Edward Bowers Grayson Lee Hyland Bowling Conor Edward Brennan Amina Bright Dareon Cooper Briscoe Eva Ricki Brooks Madison Veronica Brown Justin Collins Burns Genevieve Manon Bushee D'Kiya Allyson Bynum Evan Benjamin Byrd Ian Richard Byrd Jasmine Dorothy Simone Cameron Maceo Stephen Campbell Maiya Elysia Caraway Allston David Case Alyssa Rae Case Alexandria Guillen Castro Joshua Franklin Chambers Michael Sebastine Chase, Jr. Talor Alexandra Claiborne Cole Matthew Clark
Everett Raymond Clay Benjamin Harold Clinkscale Michael Anthony Colaciello Kaila Breann Colley Joshua M. Comfort Raina Alexis Cooper Taylor Anetra Cox Madysson Denise Curtis Zesco Davyon Curtis Bethany Ann Marie Cuyler Jadin Christopher Davis Jairus Anthony Davis Justin Tyler Davis Rodenard Warren Davis, III Winston Thomas Davis Shadae Lalannie Debraux Jada Ashley Elaine Desormeaux Ryan Thomas Dillman Mary Elizabeth Dixon Micah Anthony Dixon Braedon Joseph Domino Xavier Martel Doxie Joshua Harrison Eddy Adaeze Arella Ezekwerre Virginia Nnenna Ezenwaka Erin Qadea Farley Jabari Tyrek Ferrell Madeline M. Ford Kayla Marie Foster Indiya R. Fowler Kyara Richan Frames Kristen Elizabeth Franklin Celena Gabrielle Padilla Gallardo Jaia Australia Gillette Jordan Jenai Gloster Naomi Sophia Graham Jalyn Nicole Grays Jessica April Gutierrez Alexander M. Hammett Elijah Timothy Hanible Xavier Nathaniel Hare Melayna Zhané Harley Dustin Wayne Harris Leonard Wilford Harris Jania Lillian Harrod Zoe Janai Hayes Dana Ashley Hentz Clarence Mason Hill Kevin Lionel Hinton, III Jordan Louis Holder Jaylen Jealise Holland Dejah Nichelle Howard Kaylah Marie Hughes Alanna Isabel Imes Tiffany Anyé Isom Jahlani Nasaan Jackson Jamilla Diamond Jackson Kevin Roderrick Jackson, Jr.
Tera Alexis Jackson Jasmine Valentine Jefferson Jessica Diandrea Jenkins Mykel Hope Jenkins Callia Elizabeth Johnson Daria Sinclaire Johnson Davona Christina Johnson Juanya Zackrus Johnson Justin Edward Johnson Ashtyn Marie Jones Christopher Ellis Jones Kaelan Loren Jones Charles Brandon Christian Kelly Madison Lambert Shelby Safiya Lee Anya Che'rie Leonard Jeremy Keith Little Kevin Lo Derek Anthony Lucas, Jr. Ian Learie Lynch Taylor Dombrielle Marshall Cydney Alexis Martin Martin Trent McCarley, II Morgane Elizabeth McDonald Eric Allen McDowell Alora Danann McManus Taneya Marie Minor Lena Marie Morant Anissa Cheyenne Mose Jamir Dion Moultrie Helina Mulugeta Mark Cornell Murphy Kyle P. Musselman Bradley Jordan Myrthil Brandon Joshua Myrthil Adonis Jordan Napoleon Alison Amber Newman Ryan Darnell Newsome Kerri Tran Ngo Taylor Imani Nolan Kaila Leejoyce Nowlin Gabrielle Lauryn Oglesby Jakari Nichelle Partlow Christopher Ross Patterson Victoria Ann Patterson Jalyn Demea Peoples Natalia Marcela Perez Drew Evelyn Perry Kamryn Antonia Perry Tamia Elizabeth Phelps-Frisby Damoni Iyanna Pollard Kayla Alexis Preston Darius A. Randall Malachi Randall Briona Redmond Ashton Demetrius O'dell Reid Marissa Renee Reynolds Ashley Catherine Rivette
Gabrielle Devona Rose Edward Lee Ross Christian K. Scott Nathan Paul Scott Lauryn Inell Shaw Keith Bernard Sherald, Jr. Khelli Jaylen Sinkfield-Scarbor Britney Kelai Sistare Adia Janeé Smith Alex Lerone Smith Ayanna Lynnette Smith Marley Aesop Robeson Smith Ryan Garrett Smith Sierra Faith Smith Carlos Manuel Souffrain Gabrielle Elyse Spurlock Paige Abigail Stephenson Mya Marie Stone Jaylen Terrell Strong Albert Frank Summers Brittany Kiara Sutton Keith Thornton Sykes Temesghen EmmanuelHabtegaber Tesfay Drew Nigel Thomas Jacob Aaron Thomas Lauren Nicole Thomas Caterra Miko Thompson Ellion Morales Trotman Norris Tazewell Tyler, IV Norrelle Leandra Urbina Alexus Vaughan Jacob Delonte Venson William Charles Vickers Leah Christine Vines Sydney Christina Walker Ana Lea Walton Nicholas Reeves Washington Briana Marie Wheeler Jorden Ivy White Bryana Janee' Williams Charity Jeneé Williams Chelsea MiKayla Williams Jade Williams Xavier David Williams Neil Fitzgibbon Wilmoth Corrinne Antonia Wilson Jasmine Lynette Wilson Taylor Shae Wilson Lexie Patricia Wingfield Jamari Marcelle Winston-Peay Jared Bernard Woodruff Joy Denae Wright Angela Louise Wroblewski Charles E. Young, Jr. Jingyi Zheng Zoe Alena Wheeler Ziebell
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AROUND CAMPUS Announcing the New Bishop McNamara High School Principal…
Dr. Nigel Traylor
Dr. Nigel Traylor first arrived at Bishop McNamara High School after talking to a colleague who was a BMHS faculty member at the time; she encouraged him to apply for an administrative role that had opened at the School. At first Dr. Traylor said he had no intention of applying because at that time he was an out-ofstate candidate. But after receiving continued encouragement and insistence from his colleague, Dr. Traylor submitted his application and, as we know, officially became a member of the BMHS family. The process that followed, Dr. Traylor believes, was divinely orchestrated.
“They wanted me to start July 1st, and I was living in Georgia at the time so that wasn’t going to work. They told me the latest they could go was August 1st, which I thought was going to be a stretch, but I agreed,” Dr. Traylor described his moving process. “Everything from getting my house rented out to finding an apartment here and getting my things moved – it was all so seamless! It all just fell into place, like it was meant to happen.”
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As Dr. Traylor settled into his role at Bishop McNamara, he fell in love with the School and its potential for further greatness.
Fast-forward to the 20162017 academic school year. President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark ‘85 announced that Dr. Robert Van der Waag would not be returning the next academic year as the BMHS Principal, but would instead be returning to the classroom as a teacher. Several people approached Dr. Traylor and asked if he would want to take on the role. “At first I wasn’t interested,” he said. “I was very hesitant about it because I know it’s a huge role and a huge responsibility. But the more I thought about it, the more it excited me.”
Dr. Traylor said that as he thought back on his time here and on the wonderful things the School had accomplished, and could accomplish in the future, the idea of being principal didn’t seem so far-fetched. After spending a great deal of time in reflection and prayer, and after consulting friends, family and professional mentors, Dr. Traylor expressed to Dr. Clark his interest in taking on the role. A survey was sent out to Bishop McNamara faculty and staff, asking what qualities they wanted in the next principal. The survey did not list potential candidate names, but included the space for suggested nominations. When the data came back, an overwhelming number of participants stated that Dr. Traylor specifically would make an excellent candidate.
“I hope to have regular meetings with students, like an open forum to ensure that their voice is also a part of some of the improvements and decision-making process in the School,” he said. “This is their school too, it’s important that their voice is heard.” There is no doubt that with Dr. Traylor’s leadership and commitment to the continued excellence of Bishop McNamara High School he will help us advance into our next 50 years and climb to all-new heights.
Introducing The New Administrative Team:
Thus Dr. Nigel Traylor was appointed as the new Bishop McNamara High School Principal. But as with any new undertaking, Dr. Traylor had reservations and concerns: Messing up, doing something wrong, the unknowns of the job, etc. “I recognize that my time will be much more limited as the principal of the School. Visibility is so important, it’s one of the biggest goals I have for myself as principal,” Dr. Traylor said. “So I will be going to a lot more events in the coming years, more so than I have in the past.” Change never comes easily, but with change comes new and exciting possibilities. “There are a lot of new things happening in terms of personnel and programs that are going to be instituted,” said Dr. Traylor. “Bishop McNamara is an outstanding school, and it is my hope that we will not make drastic changes, but merely look at ways to enhance the great things that we’re already doing.” Dr. Traylor went on to say that he has several short- and longterm goals, including drafting formal philosophies of academics and discipline, to help Bishop McNamara High School stay on the cutting edge of Catholic education. Ultimately his goal is for our School to set a standard, not just at the local level, but also at the national level. Dr. Traylor also expressed his desire to enhance cultural competency, and to have students more involved in School decisions.
Mrs. Dian Carter, Assistant Principal
Mr. Charles Shryock, IV, Academic Dean
Mr. Brian Brower, Dean of Students – Grades 9 & 10
Ms. Deanna Johnson, Dean of Students – Grades 11 & 12
Bishop McNamara High School has been blessed with the incredible leadership of Mr. Reginald Brady, Ms. LaSandra Hayes and Dr. Robert Van der Waag. As we begin the next academic year with a new administrative team, we are especially grateful that these extraordinary people will continue to educate hearts and minds here at Bishop McNamara, with Reginald teaching and beginning a new mentorship program, LaSandra moving on to the role of student counselor, and Robert returning to the classroom to teach. Thank you all for your support and dedication to our mission and our students. All photos are courtesy of a little bit of whimsy photography.
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Welcolming our new Director of Institutional Advancement
Clare McGrath Merkle LR '74
Bishop McNamara High School is excited to announce the appointment of our new Director of Institutional Advancement: Clare McGrath-Merkle, OCDS, MTS LR '74. Clare brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the development field. She has held several director positions at various nonprofit organizations. She has served in a fundraising capacity at such schools as St. Mary's College of Maryland, The Catholic University of America and Notre Dame of Maryland University. In 2014, Clare worked as Development Director for Partners in Care, Inc., a nonprofit organization in service to older adults, where she managed the conceptualization of leadership councils. "Bishop McNamara is a homecoming for me as a La Reine graduate," Clare said. "There is nothing in the world like the feeling of kinship with one's fellow high school graduates." "It's a providential opportunity for us, having a La Reine graduate come home to continue that legacy at McNamara," said BMHS President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85. "Clare is a dedicated and faithful leader, we couldn't be more excited to have her join our Advancement Department." Clare expressed that her memories of La Reine High School were incredibly influential for her. Fondly, she recalled the lessons of the faculty and their impact on her faith. "Every year I become more aware of the debt of gratitude I owe [the La Reine faculty] for their intellectual and spiritual formation – a formation that I have passed on to my own daughter," Clare said. "Serving the leadership, teachers, alumni and especially current and future students of McNamara is such a special opportunity and grace for me." Clare went on to say that she wants to pay forward the La Reine legacy for the next generation of Bishop McNamara students by providing new opportunities for alumni and community members to engage with the School. She already has several goals and a vision for the future of Bishop McNamara and our Advancement Department. "Clare has advanced the mission of all the institutions for whom she has worked," said Dr. Clark. "We are fortunate to have her with us at this unique time in our School's history." "My main goal is to bring together great people and great ideas – and then watch what Providence will provide!" Clare said.
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
STRAIGHT STUDENTS: from the
Words of Wisdom when High School Gets Tough
The high school years can indeed be challenging! SAT scores. Cramming for final exams. Applying to colleges. Balancing extracurricular activities with homework and class projects – the list is endless! Students often find themselves face-to-face with stressful situations that leave them discouraged, and it becomes very easy to slip into a defeated state of mind. But there are several ways to avoid falling into this trap. Just as students find themselves stressed out, many find ways to work through or around stress in order to overcome their particular obstacles. Bishop McNamara High School provides assistance in any way it can with resources and programs, such as our Project PRIDE and St. Joseph Program, to facilitate problem-solving and help students maintain a positive outlook during difficult times.
Established in 1999, our Project PRIDE program is designed to help 20-25 incoming freshmen who present one or more potential signs for school failure. The overall objective of the program is to ensure that these students fulfill the hard work expected of them without detracting from the foundations of self-esteem and success that are laid during the high school years to enable confidence and future achievements. Overseen by the program director, Freshmen Class Counselor Ms. LaSandra Hayes, Project PRIDE maintains a standard of excellence for its students by providing them with the support they need and individualized goal-setting to help them succeed alongside their peers. Rather than make exceptions, Project PRIDE encourages and instills the drive and determination in its students to overcome the obstacles that have stood in the way of their success.
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In July and August, the summer prior to the start of the academic year, Project PRIDE hosts required courses in math, English and reading for the incoming freshmen enrolled in the program. Ellik Trotman ‘19, a student in Project PRIDE, said that this initial summer school introduction proved integral to his academic success and helped him to assimilate into Bishop McNamara High School. “Ms. Hayes has been a great help,” said Ellik. “She checks in with me on my grades and always keeps me focused. It’s really helped me a lot with my academics.” Our St. Joseph Program, by comparison, is designed to provide a positive educational and social experience for students with documented learning differences. The program maintains the School’s expectation of academic excellence from its students by providing those enrolled with individualized support, resources and learning plans to achieve success and empower them to take responsibility, think on their own and become life-long learners. Established in 2010, the St. Joseph Program serves approximately 46 students total, and continues to expand each year thanks to the support and generosity of our donors. There are a variety of methods and styles that help students learn in school. Many students are visual learners – they retain information and learn best by working hands-on, seeing things in action, or seeing data reflected in graphs and charts. Tyra Thompson ‘19, a student enrolled in the St. Joseph Program, reflected on how she used to struggle in school because most of her classmates were visual learners, and she wanted to learn the same way. But visual learning was not the style for her, and she struggled academically as a result.
Tyra said that she realized repetition was the key for her in remembering lessons from class. She started writing things down over and over again, preferring written notes to electronic notes taken on her iPad. This helped her develop more effective study habits, and has allowed her to perform better in classes and on tests. Tyra is also a dedicated BMHS track runner, so these new study habits have also helped her develop better time management skills which have helped her manage her academic and athletic schedules. These are classroom-based struggles that many students encounter during their academic years. Other students, however, have more personal struggles that can affect their studies. Kyle Musselman ‘17 was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that occurs when the left side of the heart does not form correctly, thus resulting in serious, sometimes fatal, issues with blood flow. Kyle was diagnosed when he was just 12 hours old!
Despite having this condition, and undergoing at least three open heart surgeries before the age of three along with several other surgeries, which he referred to as “minor,” Kyle said he has never felt inhibited by his diagnosis. “Honestly, for me it’s never been something bad – I always thought it was something cool!” he said. “It’s something that makes me unique and sets me apart from the crowd. I’m honestly proud of it, for the most part.” The difficulties these students have encountered are factors that do not deter or discourage them. Many students face similar issues – the trick is to do as Tyra, Ellik and Kyle have done: Find a way to work through or around them.
“I realized I’m more of an audio learner,” Tyra said. “So if you say something to me over and over again, it’s most likely to stick. If I’m asking a question over and over again, I’m really just trying to understand the concept.”
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Although Kyle admits he sometimes struggles with sports, he pushes himself academically. Kyle graduated from Bishop McNamara High School in May with a multitude of honor societies listed next to his name. But even this, Kyle admits, became an obsession at one time – getting good grades and running himself ragged to maintain a high GPA. “I remember one time, it was the very beginning of my junior year and there was this AP U.S. history class. I was debating on taking it,” Kyle recalled. “I went around school asking people if I should take it, and a lot of them said ‘You should try it, see how it goes.’
But I kept asking around. Finally I went to Mr. Shryock and asked him. He said it sounded like I had already made my decision, and I realized he was right: I really didn’t want to take the class, I was just looking for someone to tell me that decision was okay.” In essence, Kyle was saying: Do what makes you happy. Kyle emphasized that, although grades are important, they shouldn’t impact someone’s health or happiness. If getting good grades makes you happy, you should do it – but do not make it the point of obsession just because you think it’s important, according to Kyle. Accepting your learning pace and style and making them work for you is a key factor in academic success and happiness. Tyra said that she’s never felt alienated for her learning differences. Trying out different study techniques and working with faculty members of the St. Joseph Program has helped her put together her own study plan and note-taking tactics that work best for her. Not only has Tyra’s plan worked for her, but she has also helped several fellow students in the St. Joseph Program. Tyra has received an acknowledgement award for her academic dedication and positivity. “If you have a learning difference, you’re not different from anyone else – just the way you learn is different,” she said. “Take your time, ask questions, don’t try to do everything alone. If someone got an ‘A’ on a test and you got a ‘B’, that’s okay!” Ellik has outlined a very particular and strict study pattern for himself to help him complete his homework and projects on time, study for tests, and still engage in extra-curricular activities and trips. He advised students to get homework done as soon as you get it, so that it doesn’t pile up and become overwhelming. Then, if you don’t understand the material, you can go over it again with a teacher or tutor until you understand it. For bigger projects, he commits his weekends to completing the necessary work, and strives to have the project completed at least two days in advance, in case something doesn’t go according to plan.
Ellik has a goal of becoming an engineer – he said that it’s always been an interest of his, and that his main goal in life is to build or invent something that everyone can use to benefit themselves. Tyra said that she would like to study criminal justice and become a lawyer after she graduates from Bishop McNamara. Kyle will be attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the fall. His ultimate goal is to pursue a career in marine biology, but because St. Mary’s College does not currently offer such a major, he said he will be studying general biology and try to minor in environmental sciences. After working last summer at the National Aquarium, Kyle said that he has become much more aware of the environment and the need to preserve it. He added that he would like to pursue a career path that he could use to help keep the ocean clean and healthy. During the school year, Kyle attended the High School Principals Association (HSPA) Student Academic Symposium at the Catholic University of America. He gave his presentation on sharks and how they are being poached just for their fins, only to be thrown back into the water to bleed to death or be eaten by other predators. “A lot of people, when you say ‘shark’ they think of Jaws and that’s the image I’m trying to get away from,” Kyle explained the intention behind his project. “I was trying to bring awareness to what’s going on and that sharks aren’t these horrible creatures, they’re these living things that keep our oceans balanced.” So while these three students may experience difficulties at times – as does any other student in high school – Tyra, Kyle and Ellik do not let these difficulties weigh them down or get in the way of their academic success. They are bound and determined to do well in school and move on to promising careers to help others in the world.
Ellik says that he honestly enjoys the academics at Bishop McNamara. While his pattern may be strict, it has allowed him to have fun with his friends without worrying about his homework getting done. It also means that he gets to enjoy more field trips with his Project PRIDE classmates. “Sometimes we do service trips or activities after school, one time we went to a D.C. shelter for lost dogs and cats,” Ellik gave examples of some of the Project PRIDE activities. “We also went to the African American History Museum – I didn’t think it was going to be fun, but I really liked it!” Project PRIDE utilizes field trips and guest lectures to help students understand cultures and the professional world to prepare them for life after graduation. At Bishop McNamara, we want all of our students to graduate as servant-leaders dedicated to making the world a better place and serving those in need.
“Whatever you put your mind to, you can always do it,” Ellik said. “Just tell yourself you can do it, and you’ll be able to do it. Some students will say ‘school is not for me’ and that’s just not true! School is for everyone, I think anyone can learn.”
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f&s
FAITH AND SERVICE
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50 Faith
Years of
Many people struggle with identifying exactly what they want to do when they grow up. Sister Chris Treichel LR ‘64 knew from at least the age of nine that she wanted to join the convent. “It was always in my heart,” she said. “I can remember being in fourth grade and telling my teacher that I was going to be a nun.” Sister Chris said that she wanted to join the convent immediately after she completed the eighth grade. At the time, there was an equivalent scholastic option that would have allowed her to enter the convent and complete her high school education simultaneously. But Sister Chris’s mother insisted that she attend high school first rather than join the convent right away, so her parents enrolled her at La Reine High School.
“My dad had studied to be a priest, so he had some friends who were Franciscan priests and they would come over to our house and they’d talk about Bonaventure,” Sister Chris explained where she first heard about the university. Sister Chris applied and was accepted to St. Bonaventure University. In her freshmen class Sister Chris was one of only 90 women. She said that, at that time, the ratio in her class was 4:1 of men to women. She added that in two of her freshman year classes, a science and an English class, she was the only woman! “I found it challenging because I had gone to an all-girls high school,” Sister Chris admitted. “Had I gone to a co-educational school, it probably would have been an easier transition – but overall it was fine, I enjoyed it!” When her freshman year concluded, Sister Chris considered what her next move ought to be: Should she continue on to her next year as a sophomore at St. Bonaventure, or should she pursue her true passion and enter the convent? Ultimately she chose to fulfill the dream she’d had since she was a little girl: Sister Chris joined the convent that year. But that didn’t mean her education came to a halt. Sister Chris studied under the Franciscan Sisters and completed her Bachelor’s degree in education from St. Bonaventure University.
“I’m grateful that my parents sent me to Catholic school,” said Sister Chris. “I’m so grateful for my years at La Reine because it helped lay the foundation for me and my faith, and the direction I wanted to live my life.” Sister Chris said that there weren’t very many laypeople teaching at La Reine at that time, and seeing the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters every day for four years as her teachers helped solidify her choice to become a nun. A member of the first graduating class of La Reine, Sister Chris said that when she first entered the school, it was still being built. By her sophomore year, construction was completed. This helped boost the pride that she and her classmates had in their school, because they were there from the very first day. Sister Chris said that there were approximately 109 students in her class, and that everyone was very close. After completing her high school education in 1964, Sister Chris decided to continue on to college education. When her father insisted that she attend a Catholic college or university, she decided that there could only be one choice. St. Bonaventure University.
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Afterwards she taught grade school in New Jersey and the Bronx for 10 years, during which time she spent her summers pursuing a graduate degree in education from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland. Then, after those 10 years of teaching, Sister Chris went to St. John’s University in Minnesota and obtained a Master’s degree in liturgical studies. It was then that her career shifted to include more of her “real gift.” Sister Chris focused her career on parish work; over the course of 35 years she worked in pastoral ministry. As Pastoral Associate she helped prepare couples for marriage and baptisms, visited the sick in the hospital on behalf of the Church, and provided general support for the pastor. “For the last 14 years, I was Pastoral Leader of Sacred Heart in Auburn [N.Y.],” Sister Chris said. “I had the total responsibility of the parish. We had a priest that came in who said mass and celebrated the sacraments, but I had the other major responsibilities: Finances, ensuring staffing and education, etc. I loved it.” Recently, Sister Chris celebrated her retirement from her position as Pastoral Leader of Sacred Heart. According to Sister Chris, the typical term for Pastoral Leader is 12 years, but she served for an additional two years to provide necessary support to the church for a total of 14 years. “I turned 70 and I thought that they needed someone younger, with new ideas,” she said. “It was hard to leave, but I needed to do something different.”
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Sister Chris left Auburn, N.Y. and returned to the St. Bonaventure area to serve the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She currently lives and works at the Motherhouse as a Spiritual Life Coordinator. “I’m responsible for the spiritual and liturgical life of the Sisters, to enhance and enrich their lives in that matter,” Sister Chris described her new position. “I’m also the General Treasurer of my community, so I oversee the finances of our congregation.” Sister Chris explained that her role requires her to be involved with special celebrations and holidays, such as Holy Week, and also to plan the funeral liturgy when a Sister passes away. So even after 50 years as a Franciscan Sister and 70 years of life, she is still going strong and continues to be an active supporter of the Catholic faith. In a tumultuous time for Catholicism and faith in general, Sister Chris has remained steadfast, and credits La Reine High School for its influence on her in that regard. "[La Reine High School] provided the foundation for my life because it allowed me to learn about and celebrate my faith,” Sister Chris said. “Keep yourself open to the widest of possibilities. There’s so much good in our world, take it all in and be open to what can be. Faith is so important; it’s so important to have God in our lives. He sees us through the good times and through the hard times.”
E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence Last year, Bishop McNamara High School celebrated the inception of the E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence. The Endowed Chair pays homage to Mr. E. Matthew Goyette and his incredible contributions to the School and its students in his more than 35 years of service. This honor is awarded to a BMHS faculty member who exhibits Mr. Goyette’s patience, courage, joyfulness, conviction, knowledge and humility. This year we are proud to announce that the recipient of the E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence is social studies teacher Michael Pozniak! Mr. Pozniak’s selection was made after a thorough process. An online nomination form was open for five weeks, and we received more than 37 responses from employees and students. A group of four finalists was identified after responses were counted and then analyzed according to the award criteria. Upon confirming their interest in the position, all finalists were interviewed by early career teachers, who used the criteria to write additional comments on the finalists. Finalists were also invited to share artifacts of their teaching, such as lesson plans or student work. Finally, a selection committee reviewed all unedited recommendations, artifacts, and interview notes. The meeting began with a review of the criteria and brief training to minimize the effects of cognitive bias in the
decision. After the selection committee – which included several former Caritas winners, the inaugural Goyette Endowed Chair recipient Kate Heneghan, Matt Goyette and other BMHS community members – deliberated over the finalists, the final decision was unanimous. The nominations for Michael Pozniak gave evidence of his impact on this community, on both colleagues and former students. One person wrote about how Mr. Pozniak inspires his students "to want to change the world," through his commitment to fostering global thinking. He does this with "diverse lesson plans that engage his students to think more broadly, to articulate their visions and opinions more precisely, and often to work both together collaboratively and on their own with genuine creativity." As a colleague, Mr. Pozniak is known for his positive, respectful, and encouraging disposition, whether sharing stories from the classroom or his time in Catholic Relief Services, or supporting colleagues in their professional learning. The announcement of Mr. Pozniak being named the recipient of the Goyette Endowed Chair was made at our 2017 Caritas Award Ceremony. As part of this position, Mr. Pozniak will receive a cash stipend, augmented funds for professional development, and a reduced assignment of duties for the 2017-2018 school year. Congratulations Mr. Pozniak, and thank you for your dedication to Bishop McNamara High School and to our incredible students!
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From Stories to the SCREEN MOLLY GILLIS FROM STORIES TO THE SCREEN
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Molly Gillis '08
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A camera is a gift to shed light on different parts of the human experience.”
The director yells “cut” and Steve Buscemi walks through the set dressed in a three-piece pinstripe suit and fedora hat. The set is Boardwalk Empire – a period crime drama series and HBO original. As the actors receive feedback and prepare for the next scene, Molly Gillis ‘08 steps onto the set to look over the décor and make sure everything is in order. Setting accuracy is a vital element of storytelling – to maintain the historical integrity of the show, the set decorations must match the Prohibition era, which is the time period in which Boardwalk Empire was set. Set Decoration Coordinator for Boardwalk Empire was Molly’s first job in film, but her love of entertainment and show business had begun well before that. “My interest in film comes from my love of storytelling,” Molly said. “I was obsessed with movies and television when I was young – it was something my family really bonded over.” Boardwalk Empire may have celebrated its final season in 2014, but Molly’s career in film continues to flourish. She works with freelance clients and meets with other filmmakers on collaboration projects. Molly said that her work requires quite a bit of visual research, and that watching television or a movie every day has become part of her daily routine. Currently, Molly is working on a visual presentation for a commercial she wants to direct, and is in the process of casting for another project on which she’s been hired to assist. She does all of this – and is currently pursuing her education at New York University! Molly has completed her Bachelor’s degree in drama from NYU, and said that she spent a great deal of her undergraduate life in rehearsals and performing in plays. But upon graduating, she said performing lost its luster for her, and she became interested in following another path in the field of drama. “I felt disappointed by the roles that were available for many women. I wanted to tell my own stories and picked up a camera to experiment with my friends,” she said. “But then I discovered how much filmmaking allows you to use your voice and so specifically frame your point of view.” So Molly switched gears and is currently studying for her Master’s degree in film directing at NYU. According to Molly, being a full-time filmmaker is her dream. This summer, she will be working on freelance projects, shooting a short film in August and assisting on a feature film. Additionally, she will be preparing to direct another short film in the fall.
Because of the wonderful experience and support that she had with her teachers here at Bishop McNamara, Molly said that she would love to be a teacher as well. Upon attending Bishop McNamara High School, Molly was immediately drawn to the performing arts and theatre curriculum.
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TALENT IN THE ARTS
“Being in the plays at McNamara changed everything for me!” Molly said. “I had no idea it was something I could turn into a career until I was given the opportunity and motivated by my theater directors. [Bishop McNamara] was a place where the arts were respected and taken seriously as a craft.” Molly recalled that her very first experience with Bishop McNamara High School was during her shadow visit, when she followed a current student around campus as a prospective student. She was in the audience during the talent show, and said she was intimidated being around the entire student body as they gathered in the gym – she came from a small Catholic school, with only 23 students in her class. A young woman came on stage and began singing Lauryn Hill’s Killing Me Softly – Molly said the performance was incredible, but in the middle of the song, the microphone went out. As the performer struggled with the microphone, the audience began to sing, continuing where she left off. “It’s one of the most powerful things I’ve ever witnessed,” Molly said. “Her microphone came back on a minute later, but the School sang with her until the end of the song, and then erupted with applause.” Molly went on to explain that the encouraging and accepting atmosphere at Bishop McNamara, along with the support she received from friends, faculty and staff at the School was what made her high school experience extraordinary. She felt empowered by her peers and inspired by her teachers that she could do anything she wanted if she put her “real heart” into everything she decided to undertake. It’s an experience she hopes everyone shares. Molly had several words of advice for current Bishop McNamara students, especially those interested in pursuing a fine arts career: “Make movies! Audition for plays! Record yourself singing! Put yourself out there. A career in the arts is a really wonderful thing to pursue – don’t let people tell you it’s not practical. If it fulfills you, then go for it. And keep a journal – it’s such a crucial part of storytelling. Just write everything down! You will want it later.” Molly is but one of many Bishop McNamara and La Reine alumni involved with the film and entertainment industry. Karen Gist LR ‘89 was recently recognized for being named executive producer and showrunner for 20th Century Fox TV’s music drama series Star. Karen was also co-executive producer for Grey’s Anatomy.
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MICHAEL SMITH '74
ANGELINA DIEHLMANN LR '85
RETURNING TO THE FIELD BMHS & LRHS Alumni Come Back as Mustang Coaches
KEITA MALLOY '89 18
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DANIELLE WARD '07
ALLISON BAHNEMAN '11
There is no doubt that Bishop McNamara student-athletes are devoted to their school during their time here. But what happens after graduation? Many players receive scholarships to colleges and universities, and they graduate to a new school with a new mascot and new colors. But at their core, they are always Mustangs. How are we so certain about this? Because many of them come back – and some come back to stay. Bishop McNamara High School boasts a devoted group of faculty and staff in our Athletics Department. Several members of the athletics staff are alumni from Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools. The entire department is led by Director of Athletics, Anthony Johnson ‘88, who said that he himself came back to Bishop McNamara as he was waiting to get through the process of joining the Peace Corps. “I had come back to coach, and in the process and time that it had taken my application [to the Peace Corps] to go through, I had been hired full-time here,” he said. “So for me in coming back, it was sort of an accident, but I just fell in love with coaching and teaching, and back in love with the School.”
ap
Keita said that he had been back to McNamara a few times to recruit studentathletes for colleges and universities. Thus, when the opportunity arrived for him to apply ATHLETIC PRIDE for BMHS football coach position, Keita was already familiar and comfortable with the program. During his time as a student-athlete at McNamara, Keita played football, basketball and baseball in a variety of positions. So when he was considering becoming the new head coach, Keita said he received several encouraging e-mails, phone calls and text messages from his former teammates, which helped solidify his decision to apply for and accept the job. Several alumni, such as Rod Chapman ‘87 and Kevin Clark ‘09, serve on Keita’s coaching staff – but of course Bishop McNamara High School has a variety of other athletic programs which have drawn alumni back to campus. Danielle Ward ‘07 and Allison Bahneman ‘11 both came back to Bishop McNamara originally to serve as faculty members. The opportunity to coach for both of them came after they had started teaching. Danielle became a teaching assistant for the classical dance program, while Allison taught Spanish.
Among the faculty and staff that comprise the BMHS Athletics Department, varsity football coach Keita Malloy ‘89 is one of the most recent additions. Keita was a three-year letter winner as a wide receiver and defensive back at The University of Delaware, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/police science. Afterwards he planned on going to law school, but ended up playing professional arena football for two years between 1994 and 1996 for such teams as the Massachusetts Marauders, the Albany Firebirds and the Texas Terror. His career interests then shifted from law and criminal justice to teaching, coaching and education.
“The dance team had a change in leadership, so I was asked if I was interested in becoming the new coach,” Danielle said. “It was just the right time, the right place and the right opportunity for me.”
“I took my first job in 2000 at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, and it just kind of transitioned from there,” he said. Keita has coached football at the high school and collegiate levels, including places such as the University of West Georgia, Fordham University, Old Dominion University, Hampton University and more for the past 24 years.
When she was a student at Bishop McNamara, Danielle was a varsity cheerleader for two years, and was actually on the dance team herself during her junior and senior years. She said at that time the dance team was a club, not an official athletic program sponsored by the School. So not only was she familiar with the School and its expectations for student-athletes, but she also had first-hand experience as a member of the team that she was asked to coach.
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Allison said that her offer to coach came after she had been hired as a full-time teacher at McNamara. She explained that Mike Smith ‘74 reached out to her, asking if she was interested in coaching girls’ lacrosse. From there, BMHS Theology Department Chair Adam Greer, who had previously coached the girls’ varsity lacrosse team, helped put Allison in touch with the current head coach, Chris Peterson. Allison became head coach for the girls’ junior varsity lacrosse team at McNamara. During her time as a student, Allison played junior varsity soccer during her freshman and sophomore years. She received a great deal of encouragement from then-Coach Greer to join the lacrosse team. “I had never played lacrosse before, so I was a little apprehensive,” Allison admitted. But she found that she enjoyed it a lot, and decided to play lacrosse throughout her sophomore, junior and senior years. Not only do alumni from Bishop McNamara High School come back to teach and coach for the Mustangs, but alumnae from our previous sister school, La Reine High School, also come back for the same purpose. Angelina Diehlmann LR ‘85 began her teaching career in 1989, then started coaching the Bishop McNamara High School varsity softball team in 2010 – she had played first base for the La Reine Royals during her high school years. Angelina is joined by her niece Victoria Mammano ‘09, who currently serves as an assistant coach for the junior varsity softball team.
Mike Smith ‘74, who has coached for a variety of McNamara teams including football, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse and more, said that he has always emphasized the importance of academics – not just in high school, but beyond in college as well. Many players, he said, are discouraged by grades not meeting their expectations, and become set in a negative state of mind that makes them think that the academic side of college isn’t for them. Mike said that, in these instances, he outlines examples of academic schedules that these student-athletes could take on that work around their training and athletic schedule. He also said that he tries to impress upon the players the importance of buckling down – so that they can complete their degree and show potential employers just how dedicated and organized they can be with a busy and demanding schedule. “I try to get these students to push through challenges, and those that do are not only successful athletically, but they’re also successful academically,” Mike said. “We get a lot of students who come back that are highly successful. They’re young in their endeavors and as athletes they’re constantly moving forward because they have that dedication, that background they’ve always had.”
Angelina said that she saw how talented the softball players were, and wanted to help the team win more games and bring home more championships. She wanted to help the players with their “mental game.” “They had good players, they had a solid pitcher, a great catcher, a great shortstop, everything – and I remember thinking ‘these girls should be winning!’” she said. “The varsity coach was stepping down at the time, so I asked [Anthony] Johnson if I could take over the program, and he agreed.” The unique experience all of our alumni coaches have helps to influence their coaching style. They have walked in the shoes – or cleats – of their players, so they can relate to them on a different level and understand first-hand where their students are coming from, and what kind of pressures they endure. Bishop McNamara students tend to juggle several extra-curricular activities at one time, in addition to classes and homework – so the coaches all said that they make it a point to emphasize the importance of time management in their lessons. While athletics are important, they understand that academics always come first.
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Goal-setting is, of course, a vital aspect of success for any student
– any person in general. But in particular for student-athletes, goal-setting helps hold them accountable and keeps them on track between both their academic and athletic schedules. “I want them to do well in school, first of all,” said Allison. “This year we had them set their own personal goals. We handed out little sheets of paper at the beginning of the season and had them write out goals for themselves. Then we handed those sheets back halfway through the season so they could track their progress.” Danielle said that she expects a lot from her student-athletes, and that she wants them to excel in their talent as dancers. That will earn them more respect and recognition – not just locally, but nationally as well. She said that she wants to bring her student-athletes to the collegiate level to compete, learn and always improve.
“The same thing you would expect from a football player in terms of being on time, conditioning, training, things of that nature,” Danielle explained her goals and expectations for the team. “It’s more about being a well-rounded athlete, not just a dancer.” Angelina and Keita both said that their goals for their students don’t necessarily focus solely on the sport they coach. Keita said that he wants his players to be good people, and for them to focus on doing good and being humble. He also said that he emphasizes to his players the importance of their legacy, and how others will remember them for their actions – so he poses the question to them: What do you want people to remember about you? For Angelina, she says that she stresses to her players the importance of having goals, but also to have a plan to obtain those goals. She said she tells them: “A goal without a plan is called a wish.” Angelina also said that she tells her student-athletes to face every challenge head-on. She laughingly pointed out that she often explains a challenge as a brick wall metaphor, and her players question her often as to why she always wants to “attack the wall” rather than go around it.
Anthony said that for the players, it’s more important to them that they have good people in front of them as coaches, teachers and mentors. Bishop McNamara High School has been fortunate in this regard to have alumni and non-alumni coaches alike who are devoted to the student-athletes, their sport, and the School as a whole. Either way, Anthony said that the support and dedication that the alumni coaches have for their alma mater is something that resonates with him. For the alumni themselves, Bishop McNamara is home and family – they’re happy to return and give back to the students in this way and teach them the values of athletics. “Being part of a team forces you to grow in different ways,” said Allison. “It’s not about you all the time. You’re looking out for your teammates.” “People ask: ‘What’s the difference between one coach and another?’ all the time,” said Keita. “The difference is which coach can push the right buttons with his players, it’s no different from teaching.” Bishop McNamara High School is grateful to have so many alumni, beyond those mentioned here, who have returned to the School to help with our athletics program. Thank you all for your talent, dedication and support – Go Mustangs!
“Another thing I tell the girls,” she added, “is that they have to play for their colors, play for their school. Players don’t often remember their travel teams, but they remember when they played for their colors and brought a championship to their school.” If nothing else, these alumni coaches maintain and inspire a sense of school pride that they developed during their time at Bishop McNamara and La Reine. Some might suggest that this pride, combined with their familiarity of having walked in their players’ shoes, gives alumni coaches an edge over non-alumni coaches. But Anthony Johnson said the difference isn’t as dramatic as one might think. “[Alumni coaches] do have a comfort level from the beginning that allows them to dive right in without needing to involve acclimation time that non-alumni coaches might have,” he said. “But I haven’t distinguished any drive or motivation distinguishable by being or not being an alumnus or alumna.”
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The Andy Mona '82 Student Center Groundbreaking Report:
On January 26, Bishop McNamara High School celebrated the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Andy Mona ‘82 Student Center. Many BMHS alumni, family, friends and community members were in attendance, including Jerome Couplin ‘09, Jeff Kinney ‘89, PG County District 6 Council Chair Derrick Leon Davis, Vincent “Cap” Mona, Andy Mona II and the Mona family. Construction of the Student Center has been moving smoothly since the groundbreaking. Warner Construction has been working seven days per week to complete this ambitious endeavor, which will become a new hallmark of the Bishop McNamara campus. Currently we are working with designers discussing furniture options, and we are even working to design a memorial wall for Andy Mona ‘82 for whom the Student Center is named.
A dedication is planned for September 14, 2017 to commemorate the completion of the Andy Mona ‘82 Student Center. Bishop McNamara High School will proudly host His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, who will oversee the dedication and perform a blessing on the building. Completion of the Mona Center is one of four exciting projects that will be completed this summer! We have also revitalized Tyoka Jackson Football Field, put new flooring in the Fine Arts Gym and work is being completed on the Mammano Softball Field – all part of the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign.
“I applaud the efforts you are making to keep the spirit of La Reine enhanced and alive by identifying a center with the very name LA REINE. What a tribute to our Lady, who was the guide of the many educators at that very special institution! That Legacy continues in the very successful and impressive works of the many women who walked the halls of La Reine. I pray that, through the work undertaken at BMHS, the Legacy may be continued.”
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– Sr. Mary Kateri Peake, OSF Former Principal, La Reine High School
FAITH. FAMILY. A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL
“I think it’s important for people that have the means to invest in Bishop McNamara do so because the people that come out of McNamara will go on and make the world a better place.” ~ Jeff Kinney '89 Author, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
“As we continue to build support and raise funds for our Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, we can celebrate the milestones that we have achieved along the way. We can't thank our donors enough for the belief you have poured into Bishop McNamara. Your continued faith and support are part of what inspires us to strive for a higher standard of excellence in the education we provide for our students. Thanks to you, we are able to serve more students each year and provide them with our unique Holy Cross education and add to our McNamara family.” ~ Dr. Marco Clark '85 Bishop McNamara High School President/CEO
"The Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign is a game-changer for McNamara because the funds we raise will directly support projects to improve and beautify our campus. These projects will allow us to provide a state-of-the-art experience for our students and faculty while fostering and strengthening one of our greatest attributes...our sense of community." ~ Chris DeCesaris '91 Chair – Bishop McNamara High School Board of Directors
Dear Friends, It really is amazing that we have come so far so fast - and we are deeply grateful for all the support that has brought us to this exciting point in our Campaign. We write to you today to ask that you prayerfully consider a gift on behalf of the Bishop McNamara and La Reine families. Just as our parents and grandparents gave us a hopeful future when we were young, let us do no less for those who follow us as students. Whether through a one-time gift, pledge, or by participating in our legacy brick program, you can bless our efforts moving forward. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With your help, the legacy lives on! Sincerely, Mrs. Heather Gossart and Dr. G. Scott Drew BMHS Faith. Family. Future! Campaign Co-Chairs THE MUSTANG MESSENGER
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Since joining the Pride, Lauren said that she has learned a lot and has improved a great deal. During the 2016-17 season, Lauren was cross-checked from behind by an opponent player and suffered a concussion. This made her unable to play for about three months, but she was still able to go to practice and home games to cheer for her teammates while she recovered. Despite her injury, Lauren still greatly enjoys the game.
MUSTANG
ON THE ICE
While on campus, Lauren Huckaby ‘18 is a student-athlete who plays golf for the Mustangs. But after school, Lauren hurries off campus for another kind of practice: Ice hockey. Lauren plays right wing, an offense position for the Washington Pride. She has been playing hockey for a few teams over the past seven years. “I started playing hockey after playing all types of sports like soccer, softball, kung fu and even flag football,” Lauren said. “I never thought of hockey until one day my dad asked if I wanted to try it.” Lauren started playing with the Bowie Hockey Club, then transitioned to the Navy Youth Club before she came to Washington Pride. When she first started, she was the only female on her team. Lauren said that the experience challenged her because of the increased contact and speed during play.
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“The whole thing is great. Having the drive to want to be better is probably my favorite part,” she said. “[The concussion] was kind of frustrating, but I always believe that everything happens for a reason. So I’m just trying to work my butt off so that I can be ready for next season.” Lauren’s goal is to go on to college and study physical therapy to ultimately pursue a career in sports medicine, or something similar. While she would love to do physical therapy for hockey players, she said she would also enjoy being a physical therapist for football players. She’s working very hard at her sport in the hopes of getting an athletic scholarship to college, but emphasized that academics are her first priority. “I don’t want to go to an average school that doesn’t have the best academics just so I can play hockey,” Lauren said. “I want to go someplace that has good academics that can help me go further in life.” Balancing her athletic and academic schedules has proven to be a challenge, but one that she meets whole-heartedly. Lauren said that during the main season she will often turn off her phone and even goes so far as to delete Twitter so that she can maintain her focus. She finishes her schoolwork first, then focuses on hockey practice and skills needed for the game. Often she writes down inspirational quotes to keep herself grounded and faithful. “Don’t let people tell you that what you’re doing is stupid. If you enjoy what you do, do it and take their negative words and change it into a positive action,” Lauren said. “That will get hard at times, but that’s when God comes into play with your life and what you do. Remember God has us through everything and he will help us out with anything – but we have to put in the work to see a change. He does his part, you do yours.”
ATHLETIC SIGNING DAY 2017 The following student-athletes were honored during Athletic Signing Day: Imani Bey ‘17 – Virginia Military Institute (Football) Wesley Bowers ‘17 – Georgetown University (Football) Justin Burns ‘17 – Stony Brook University (Football) Maceo Campbell '17 – Longwood University (Baseball) Raina Cooper ‘17 – University of Alabama at Birmingham (Softball) Micah Dixon ‘17 – Mount St. Mary’s University (Swimming) Wesley Bowers '17 with previous principal Dr. Robert Van der Waag and Justin Burns '17
On February 1, 2017 Bishop McNamara High School celebrated Athletic Signing Day. A grand total of 16 student-athletes were honored during the festivities as they announced their commitments to their respective colleges and universities. Since Athletic Signing Day, other student-athletes have committed to their chosen colleges, universities and military academies. Bishop McNamara High School would like to congratulate our student-athletes and all of our students on their choices for continuing education – Go Mustangs!
Braedon Domino ‘17 – Air Force Academy (Football) Kyara Frames ‘17 – University at Albany, SUNY (Girls’ Basketball) Elijah Hanible ‘17 – Delaware State University (Baseball) Anissa Mose ‘17 – University of Maryland, College Park (Girls’ Soccer) Jamir Moultrie ‘17 – La Salle University (Boys’ Basketball) Mark Murphy ‘17 – Bowie State University (Football) Keith Sherald, Jr. ‘17 – Kent State University (Football) Nicholas Washington ‘17 – Harford Community College (Baseball) Xavier Williams ‘17 – Kent State University (Football) Taylor Wilson ‘17 – University of Maryland, College Park (Softball)
BISH OP M c N AM A R A H I G H S C H O O L ' S T HIRD A NNUA L:
MILITARY APPRECIATION baseball game
On Saturday, April 29, Bishop McNamara High School hosted its annual Military Appreciation Game. Several Bishop McNamara and La Reine alumni, along with members of our faculty and staff, attended the game and showed support of our nation’s military and veterans. The Mustangs took on the Bishop O’Connell Knights and ended up winning the game with a 2-0 score! Maceo Campbell ‘17 maintained steady pitching prowess during the game – he has committed to play baseball for Longwood University in the fall. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Lieutenant Eric Rohan ‘03, USN. Eric is a Naval Aviator and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree from Georgetown University. All proceeds from the game went in support of The Fisher House on Joint Base Andrews, which provides support for military families.
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MUSTANG MOMENTS On January 24, President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85 held our annual State of the School Address. Dr. Clark provided details on the changes that will be completed this year as part of the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, as well as additional changes the School can expect. On December 27, BMHS Baseball Head Coach and St. Joseph Program Teacher Mr. Anthony Sosnoskie and his wife welcomed their son, Anthony Sosnoskie III to the world. Anthony III weighs six lbs. six oz. and is 18.5 inches long.
Bishop McNamara High School was honored to host Deputy County Attorney for Government Operations in Prince George’s County Ms. Tara Jackson on February 28 for a lecture on social media and its legal impact. Ms. Jackson is the wife of BMHS alumnus Paul Jackson II '94, who is also a member of our BMHS Board of Directors.
On February 16, in celebration of Black History Month, our Black Cultural Alliance organized an assembly for Bishop McNamara High School with the assistance of BMHS teachers Armani Mason-Callaway '09 and De'ven Rucker. Ms. LaSandra Hayes, Freshman Class Counselor and Director of Project PRIDE, was inducted on February 12 into Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education) at Loyola University Maryland. Membership in this prestigious society is awarded to only the top 20 percent of professionals in the field of education. On February 1, our theology teacher Mr. Martin Hipkins and his wife celebrated the birth of their son: Owen Edward Hipkins. Weighing in at 9 lbs 10 oz, baby boy is healthy and happy. On March 1, we celebrated our Ash Wednesday and Life Day events, beginning with a prayer service where several students delivered the readings and special messages to students, faculty and staff. After the main service, Cecelia Suarez, a guest speaker from Catholic Relief Services, gave a brief speech about the work that she and CRS are doing for communities in need in countries such as Mexico. Theology teacher Justin McClain '00 also delivered a speech about the importance of respecting life and the efforts of the Pro-Life/Pure Love Committee. His speech was followed by a presentation from Jannique Stewart, a volunteer from Life Training Institute.
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On February 23 and 24, Mr. Michael Pozniak's global studies students held an Asia Symposium in the St. Joseph Library, during which they gave presentations and demonstrations of various aspects of Asian cultures that they had studied in class. On April 10, Bishop McNamara High School arranged a surprise celebration for Justin McClain '00 - the Archdiocese of Washington named him one of 10 recipients of the 2017 Golden Apple Award. The Awards are issued annually in just five dioceses nationwide, and in the Archdiocese of Washington alone there are thousands of teachers eligible.
On April 11, Bishop McNamara High School hosted American University Professor of Public Communication Gemma Puglisi LR '74 for a special lecture to our journalism, broadcast journalism and yearbook students! Gemma brought two students from the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Kabira and Channing. Noah Whitaker '18 was accepted into the Urban Journalism Workshop. Journalists from major news organizations such as The Washington Post, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and more lead the workshops, which were spread over the course of eight Saturdays. Our own Theatre Director and Fine Arts Department Chair Mary Mitchell-Donahue received an Exemplary Teacher Award from University of Maryland Baltimore County. She was nominated by recent graduate Kara Gavin '16, currently a humanities scholar at UMBC. On March 10, a small delegation from BMHS participated in the Washington, D.C. Native American March in solidarity with Standing Rock reservation to promote the rights of indigenous peoples. In early March, Megan Rivera '19 went to Harrisonburg, Va. to participate in the USA Archery National Tournaments. Megan won 1st place Sectional in her Junior Olympic Archery Development ( JOAD) National Indoor Championship Division. In the National Indoor Championships, Cadet division, Megan shot 1157/1200, which put her in 4th place nationwide and again 1st place sectional. Megan also earned her Olympian Gold Pin Award.
On April 24, Taylor Grimes '18 was featured in an article by The Washington Post for her participation in our Mustangs Invitational. During the invitational, Taylor did a leap of 18 ft. 9.75 in., and she took gold in the triple jump (37-8). Kyle Musselman '17 was awarded a Rotary Young American Scholarship. Additionally, the Kiwanis Club of Prince George's County recently honored and recognized Erin Farley '17 and Grayson Bowling '17 for their commitment as citizens and leaders with the annual Kiwanis Good Citizenship Award. The Bishop McNamara African Dance and Music Program, Sankofa, performed live at the Warner Theatre! This was an incredible opportunity for our Sankofa students to showcase their extraordinary talents as they performed Harriet and the Underground. Bishop McNamara students in our Science and Ecology Club were given the opportunity to visit NASA. Tatyana Jackson '18 wrote a detailed reflection from the visit, featured in the June edition of our Mustang Minute e-newsletter. The BMHS Circuit 7 Championship Mock Trial team was the overall Mock Trial winner! Circuit 7 features competitors from Prince George's, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties. The superlative awards were also presented and Bishop McNamara captured 3 of the 6 Most Outstanding awards designations: Ayanna McCarley '20 as Most Outstanding Prosecution Witness, Khelli Sinkfield-Scarbor '17 as Most Outstanding Defense Witness, and Kennedy Harmon '19 as Most Outstanding Overall Attorney.
A group of students got an exclusive opportunity to tour both the NBC4 News Station and The Washington Post. Monique Hayes, wife of Ashton McCullers '90, provided a tour for students and faculty/staff members Charles Shryock IV and Katie White at NBC4 – while Staff Writer DeNeen Brown provided a tour for the group at The Washington Post.
On May 31, Mrs. Charmayne Sugars-Clark LR '85 took her U.S. Civil Rights and Human Rights class to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The students were immersed in the value and magnitude of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. David Korendyke '18 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 1572 at St. Mary's of Piscataway. David's project was to mark the boundaries of the 73 acres of woodland purchased by The Broad Creek Conservancy and to post "No Trespassing" signs to prevent interference by squatters, hunters, and others.
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Our Caritas event was an incredible success! We were happy to have some familiar faces back on campus to celebrate their commitment to faith, service and to Bishop McNamara High School. It was our honor to establish a few new awards for our parent volunteers who give their tireless dedication and talent to our School.
Holy Cross Award
The Kinney Family Foundation (Represented by Scott Kinney ‘85)
Distinguished Alumni Jason Reynolds ‘00 (Represented by Darrell Holloman ‘00)
Distinguished Young Alumni Dr. Vincent Lubetski ‘08
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Distinguished Staff Service
Fine Arts Volunteer of the Year
Distinguished Faculty Service
St. Andre Award
Athletics Volunteer of the Year
Presidential Award
Janice Conlon Cuellar LR ‘69 Geoffrey Molchan
Maria Cribbs
Joe Hawkins ‘67
Elaine and Jeff McDowell
L’oreal Edmondson ‘98
Parents' Club Volunteer of the Year
Business Partner of the Year
Jackie Oglesby
The Law Offices of Shipley & Horne and The Sharper Cut
Mustang Cup Sip & Swing There was not a cloud in the sky for this year’s Mustang Cup and Sip & Swing! We are so grateful to everyone who attended to show their support for Bishop McNamara High School and our athletic programs. We held several contests throughout the course of the day, and we would like to express our sincerest congratulations to our winners: Longest Drive (Men) John Wiseman Longest Drive (Women) Michelle Cabotaje ‘18 Closest to the Pin (Men) John “Zeek” Teletchea ‘92 Closest to the Pin (Women) Felicita Rich ‘13 1st Place Winning Team: Steve Morusiewicz Stefan Morusiewicz Paul Dougherty Dan Craig 2nd Place Team: Pua Ponasala Michelle Cabotaje ‘18 David Harmon III ‘20 Joseph Boone ‘18 3rd Place Team: Jim Estepp ‘84 Jeff Estepp Jimmy Amthor Frank Perez Thank you to all of our donors and attendees for joining us – we hope to see you next year!
Save the Date – June 18, 2017! THE MUSTANG MESSENGER
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Unleashing IMAGINATION
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A lmost every American knows the paradigm of the childhood
lemonade stand.
Tiffany Norwood LR ‘85 has lived that paradigm and the American dream of entrepreneurship since her youth. “Both of my grandparents on my mother’s side were entrepreneurs,” Tiffany said. “But they also both passed away before I was born, so I didn’t really witness that entrepreneurship. My mom feels like I had some sort of gene in me or something because I gravitated towards the idea of having my own company and did little startups even in elementary school, including the proverbial lemonade stand.” Many people are intimidated by the idea of entrepreneurship because of the perceived risk that comes with starting your own company. But Tiffany is a firm believer in dreams and imagination, and using them to revolutionize the world. Tiffany is the Founder & CEO of Tribetan, a company that focuses on the science of turning imagination into reality using a framework and methodology centered around faith and our inherent connection with other people. This may seem like an obscure goal to some, but from word-of-mouth marketing alone, interest in Tribetan and its framework has exploded globally! Tiffany has taught thousands of entrepreneurs around the world, with venues ranging from the Vatican, the Italian Parliament, the Creative Business Cup in Copenhagen, NYU, the Mexican Embassy and many others. From world leaders to royalty to high school students the reception has been strong, reaching thousands live and more than one million via broadcast. Tiffany said that the demand was more than she and her team ever expected – which is great news for a startup! She also emphasized that she took the first step in faith, having no idea it would lead to something this big. This has become a recurring theme in her journey. Prior to Tribetan, Tiffany was a pioneer in the satellite radio industry. She has always been a music lover, and even had her own band in high school. Tiffany expressed that she wanted to enhance the power of storytelling; she wanted to create the first global digital communications platform. So not only would people from all over the world be able to listen, but literally everyone would be able to provide their own narrative, not just a limited number of people with a limited message. She raised nearly one billion dollars in her twenties for the WorldSpace startup to make this dream come true. WorldSpace went on to launch three satellites covering the world with digital radio. XM-Radio is the WorldSpace satellite and radio channels launched in the Americas, which is still going strong today! So, the question becomes: What is the secret to Tiffany’s success? It’s a surprisingly simple universal formula that anyone can use.
1. Look at your dream/vision Everyone has a dream or a vision they want to put into action. The trick is mobilizing it and being motivated enough to make it happen. “I would encourage you to have it be something that you really care about, not just something to make money,” Tiffany said. “The combination of you being really passionate and interested in it, as well as providing some sort of service to others is like a secret equation to success.” More importantly, Tiffany stressed to always remember one thing: Your dream matters.
2. Tell your story So many people think that their dream or vision is boring or uninteresting to anyone other than themselves. The second step in Tiffany’s formula is breaking out of that mindset and telling your story or idea to anyone who will listen. “For me, whether it’s been a smaller startup or a larger start up like satellite radio, I always relied on the help, support, funding and resources of others,” Tiffany said. “These are people that I call my ‘believers.’ But you can’t find those believers unless you can tell the story of your dream, and tell it with faith.” Even when people tell you ‘no,’ Tiffany said, get their feedback on how to make your idea better. But focus on the storytelling and have faith – serendipity will do the rest. “Don’t hunt for your believers,” she added. “Storytell so that they naturally come to you.”
3. Assemble your tribe of believers Finding believers is a vital step to ensuring your success as an entrepreneur, but becoming a tight-knit group and forming a ‘tribe’ with your believers is equally important. They may not be the biggest players in your industry, but they may be the better players to have on your team to provide you much-needed support. “With the satellite radio company, for example, there was a large American company that had very popular technology at the time that we needed,” Tiffany said. “Then there was also a smaller institute in Germany that had similar, smaller technology.”
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Ultimately, she explained, the German company proved to be a stronger believer in their startup’s dream than the American company, so they partnered with the German institute. They were working with mp3 and mp4 technology, which was still in development at that time; it exploded in popularity as a result from both the investment their startup made in their technology and the launch of digital radio.
4. Collaborate and co-dream with your believers There is an inherent fear expressed by many people who come up with an idea for a business that if they share that idea with anyone else, that person will steal it and use it to become successful. Of course there’s some risk of that when collaborating with others, but it’s not as likely an outcome as you might think. “Your real risk, actually, is not someone stealing your idea and going out and making it big and being super successful with it and selling it for millions of dollars,” Tiffany said. “The probability of them getting to that point is like, one percent. More than 80 percent of people with ideas never go anywhere with it or get it to market. Your greatest risk is that you don’t get it done!” This risk is heightened when people refuse to collaborate with others who could be able to help them. So Tiffany recommends in her fourth step that you emphasize collaboration over confidentiality so that you can be one of the few who get an idea to market and realize success from it.
6. Cycles of practice But even with something so basic, people are still intimidated by the idea of starting their own business. This is absolutely normal. People who are successful in business often talk about the hard work and the process they went through…but they omit the hiccups and setbacks they may have encountered along the way, focusing solely on the “wins.” This is what gives credence to the idea that successful businesspeople have some sort of ‘secret’ that only a few people possess. “The straight line only exists in the past,” Tiffany said. “Many founders look back at the story of their milestone moments like raising capital or their first big customer as if it was a straight line. But that straight line never exists. Chaos is normal in the first few years, not the exception. Reflecting that reality, the framework is based on cycles of practice. With every misstep being used to refine, and every success used to reinforce your determination.” That is the basic framework Tiffany uses. Tiffany has made it her goal to help people understand that, rather than needing to think “outside the box,” there is no box at all. “The goal is that the skill of manifesting imagination and dreams into reality becomes as well-known as reading, writing and math,” she said. “I think there’s so much untapped imagination. I want the Tribetan outcome to be that imagination is unleashed into the world in speed, quality and quantity that we haven’t seen before.”
5. Maintain faith Entrepreneurs inevitably face the obstacles of defeat: Non-believers and naysayers. Tiffany insisted: “Pursuing your dreams is hard and full of suffering; but not living your calling is also very hard. Suffer for your dreams.” Suffering is a totally normal, and expected, part of the process of becoming an entrepreneur, Tiffany says. It’s not fun, and it hurts – it’s probably the hardest part of the formula. It comes also with battling fear, anxiety and panic – which are also typical adversaries in the entrepreneur game. “The first 3-5 years can be super scary,” Tiffany said. “So to have a collection of outside tools to help you deal with those obstacles; tools that you use on a daily basis and in times of crisis, is vital. My tools and habits cover body, mind and soul. I train like an athlete. Yoga, meditation, morning routines and nutrition keep me gameready and able to maintain faith.“
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Ajani Young '18, Etzer Laurore '18 , Dashon Ridley '18 and Ayanna McCarley '20, recipients of the Washington Builders Entrepreneurial Internship. (pictured here with previous BMHS Principal Dr. Van der Waag)
Tiffany has come back to the Bishop McNamara High School campus twice this academic year as a guest speaker for students. Each time she has ceaselessly encouraged them to pursue their dreams and that literally anything is possible when you have faith. The second time she brought one of her partners, Gallup’s Strengths Lab with her. This resulted in four BMHS students being awarded full scholarships to the Builders Summer Entrepreneurship Program in Washington, D.C.
For herself, La Reine High School played a major role in Tiffany’s attitude towards entrepreneurship. Interestingly enough, Tiffany had attended public school and had no interest in attending private school – until she saw La Reine for herself. After that, there was no other school for her. “It was such a supportive community!” Tiffany exclaimed. “It was very unusual in the 1980s for me to want the things that I wanted and have the views that I had for my career path. So to have my weird, crazy ideas and be in a community that was so supportive was incredible.” As a college-preparatory school, of course La Reine prepared its students for everything they would need in order to be successful in college. Tiffany said that, although the Bernardine Sisters were tough, they respected the students and expected them to be contributing members of society. That respect and high expectations, coming from her school and her parents, are what helped Tiffany set such high standards and goals for herself, both personally and professionally.
Tiffany was also attracted to the various arts programs at the school. She won an art award during an annual competition, played multiple instruments and was assistant conductor of the high school band. She said that although she is an engineer and technologist by trade, she has always been an artist at heart.So often business is driven by ego and the need to get rich; but the faith and servant-leader attitude reinforced in her by her teachers at La Reine anchored in Tiffany the moral sense of purpose, patience, kindness and community that she believes all entrepreneurs should possess. Above all, Tiffany said that she could not stress enough the importance of faith, even in the business world. “You can have faith and be scared,” she said. “You can always say that you’re scared – but have faith, no matter your belief system. There is no better way to put your faith in action than to pursue your dreams, and for me that was being an entrepreneur. I pray for that joy for everyone.”
You can learn more about the Tribetan framework at www.tribetan.com or Tiffany’s journey on Instagram @TiffanyNorwood.
COLLEGE SIGNING DAY
Bishop McNamara High School celebrated our College Signing Day Ceremony to honor our senior class in their pursuit of college education. It was an event full of joy and emotion as we recognized all the accomplishments of our wonderful students. Congratulations to the BMHS Class of 2017! We couldn't be more proud of you!
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La Reine & McNamara
ALUMNINEWS
These pages represent news shared with the Advancement Office from January 1, 2017 - June 14, 2017. '68 Stephen Holland '68, Ph.D. retired in August 2016 after serving 30 years as a professor at the University of Florida in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management. Stephen taught and performed research in ecotourism, park management, beach- and water-based recreation. He also mentored about 120 Master's and doctoral students. Ray Lombardo '68 is a musician who played in the United States Army Blues and the United States Army Band, Pershing's Own, during his time at McNamara. After graduation, Ray played music full-time until 1989 when he took up a full-time job as a respiratory therapist. Then, in 1997, he went into sales as a respiratory therapist interacting with doctors and case managers to help patients in need of DME (durable medical equipment). '74 Colonel Michael M. Walker, USMC (Ret) '74, released a new book entitled: The 1929 Sino-Soviet War: The War Nobody Knew, through the University Press of Kansas. This book gives the first clear and complete account of a little-known but profoundly consequential clash of great powers between the World Wars. '75 Beverly Oliver LR '75 released her new cookbook entitled: Sojourn to Healthy Eating: Tasty Alkaline & Vegetarian Recipes. It features more than 170 recipes for longtime vegetarians, vegans and newcomers to the world of meatless dining. It even has recipes for smoothies, cheesecakes, ice cream and sorbets. '82 Currently a middle school science teacher at The Harbour School at Annapolis, Md., Christine Thom Letchworth LR '82 graduated on May 20, 2017 from Notre Dame of Maryland University with a Masters of Leadership in teaching. At The Harbour School, Christine has the privilege of teaching children with autism and children with learning disabilities.
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'82 Congratulations to James Reilly '82 on his promotion to Assistant Fire Chief with Prince George's County Fire Department! '84 Mary L. (Mackie) Anderson LR '84 is a member of Phi Theta Kappa (International Honor Society for Jr. Colleges) and graduated from Western Governors University with an MBA, summa cum laude, in Jan. 2016 and also in March 2017 with a Master of Science degree in management and leadership, also with summa cum laude honors. Mary is about to transfer to continue with Ph. D. studies in organizational leadership with a focus in project management. '88 The Hofmann Sausage Co. in Baltimore, Md. has recently been named the official hot dog and dough-wrapped "Handwich" of the University of Maryland and Verizon Center – all thanks to the leadership of previous Hofmann CEO Reginald Bailey '88. Talks are currently underway with the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens about selling Hofmann products at their respective stadiums.
January 20 was an eventful day for Cpl. Angelo Piazza '88 - the Prince George's County Police Officer responded to a car crash where vehicles collided head-on and resulted in a fire. While one of the drivers was able to successfully evacuate his vehicle, the other driver was trapped. Angelo pulled the other driver from the burning vehicle and got them to safety with the help of concerned citizens who also came to the scene of the crash to offer assistance.
'89 In celebration of 10 years of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, on April 27 our own Jeff Kinney '89 rang the Nasdaq bell! Additionally, on May 19, Jeff ’s new movie: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, opened in theaters.
On Saturday April 22, 2017, at least nine Bishop McNamara alumni were present for the marriage ceremony of Massimo Tenaglia '89 and his bride Angela. The ceremony was held at the Westin Annapolis.
'91 Each year in the United States, more than 14,000 gastronomy tubes are placed in children. Cleaning and accessing these feeding tubes can be difficult - especially when the child is sleeping. Cecelia Auth LR '91 has developed a method for easier access to a child's feeding tube. Her product, Tubesies, features a pocket in the clothing that fits over the feeding tube and can be moved with relative ease by families and caregivers. Cecelia has been working as a pediatric nurse for more than 17 years, thus she's had extensive experience working with children who have required these feeding tubes.
'98 On November 17, 2016, Kim Floyd '98 and Eric Hatcher '98 welcomed the newest addition to their family. Little Kaylee Michelle was born at 6 lbs. 9.5 ounces and is a healthy bundle of joy. Nova Payton '98 was featured in The Washington Post for her portrayal of the character Caroline in Caroline, or Change. The article praises Nova for her stellar talent, and expresses how she brought true life to her character.
'04 Ben Lorenz '04 was selected by What's Up? Magazine as a "2017 What's Up? Teacher" through his work as a science teacher at St. Vincent Pallotti High School. Ben has been teaching for seven years. Currently he teaches 9th–12th grade students in the following subjects: AP physics, honors physics, electrical engineering, applied physical science, physics for future presidents, and foundations of faith.
Recently, Myeshia Townsend '04 obtained her Master's degree in construction management and interior design. Additionally, on December 17, she and Derrick Hanna celebrated their marriage with family and friends! '06 We recently heard from Anastasia Carraway '06, who took many dance classes during her time at McNamara. Currently, Anastasia is teaching dance in the local area at Grace Brethren Church and choreographs all drama performances at their high school. Congratulations to our own Ryan Middleton '06 for being named to Prince George's County Social Innovation Fund's Forty Under 40 list! This list celebrates young leaders in PG County who blaze trails locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Congratulations to Marjorie Ricasa Pleta '98 on the birth of her daughter, Malia Cara Ricasa Pleta! She was born at 12:10 p.m. on January 17, 2017 and is happy and healthy. '99 On April 18, Alkia (Carter) Morris '99 and her husband Richard welcomed a new addition to the family: McKenna Joy Renee Morris! McKenna is healthy and happy at 8 lbs. 7.8 oz. and 20.25 inches long. Michelle Tamoria '99 received a very special gift just before Christmas – on December 19, she gave birth to 6 lbs. 11 oz. Maximus "Max" Ravello Tamoria.
On September 30, 2016 Chavall Church '04 celebrated her marriage to Desmond Solomon! Chavall and Desmond met at Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Maryland in 2002, representing different schools, Bishop McNamara and Suitland respectively. After reconnecting in 2013, the couple celebrated their marriage this past year.
'00 Justin McClain '00 and his wife Bernadette welcomed Dominique Marie McClain to the world on Sunday, March 26, at 4:13 p.m. Born at 19.25 inches long, 8 lbs. and 4 oz., Dominique was greeted by siblings John-Paul (5), Mary Christine (3), and Thérèse Elizabeth (1) and named in honor of Saint Dominic.
'07 & '08 In November 2016, Brianna Pippens '08 held a launch party for her extended play (EP) album entitled: Up in the Clouds. The EP has seven songs and was produced by Sill E. Star. Brianna is accompanied on most of the songs on the album by her friend and BMHS alumnus, Eric Champaloux '07. '09 On May 12, 2017, Allison Baumgartner '09 graduated with cum laude honors from Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree combined with a Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies from their School of Allied Health Professionals. She is working as a community pharmacist for Walgreens in Richmond, Va. Allison is the daughter of current BMHS staff member, MaryBeth Baumgartner.
The VA Maryland Health Care System recently celebrated their Social Work Month - during which they honored Brandan Pippens '04 for his commitment in the Community Resource and Referral Center for the past two years.
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On March 14, Robert Brett '09 and his fiancé Katie Thaden welcomed their baby boy Henry Francis Brett to the world. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and is 20 inches long. They went home as a happy family of three by the next morning. '10 Miguel Boluda '10 is currently enrolled in the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program at Howard University, which is a collaborative effort between the university and the U.S. Department of State. The program seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in the U.S. Foreign Service. As one of 30 Rangel Fellows, Miguel will receive substantial funding to pursue a graduate-level degree as well as placement in two internships – the first in an office within the U.S. Congress before his first year of graduate school, and the second at a U.S. embassy abroad prior to his second year. For his graduate studies, Miguel has chosen to pursue a Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Upon graduation, Miguel will matriculate into the Foreign Service to serve out a fiveyear commitment as a Public Diplomacy Officer.
'11 Robert Alston '11 earned his B.A. in business administration from University of Maryland University College. Jamal Bailey '11 earned both a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance and an MBA from Hampton University. Recently, the University of Toledo announced that 10 of their student-athletes were named to the 2016 All-MAC football team. Among the 10 honorees was our own Jordan Martin '11! To qualify for the All-MAC honors, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and participated in at least 50 percent of the contests scheduled for their particular sport. Carmela Rourke '11 has officially finished her T6 Training and will be moving on to her next classes in the United States Air Force Academy. Halfway to pilot!
Alana Talavera '12 earned a B.S. in business management with a concentration in human resources from Salisbury University. '13 On April 1 Meghan Clark '13 announced her engagement to now-fiancé John Maigatter! She also celebrated her graduation from St. Edward's University. '12 Lindsey Bethel '12 earned her B.A. in broadcast journalism with a minor in sports administration from Howard University. Shane Kelly '12 has earned a B.S. in environmental science and technology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Maya Lewis '10 graduated with high honors in May 2014 from St. John's University. This past December 2016, Maya earned her graduate degree from City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Journalism. Between 2010 and 2014, Maya received a variety of honors for her dedication, including Dean's Gold Key Convocation Honorable Mention Award, Big East All-Academic Team for track and field four years in a row, and membership into such honor societies as Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Kappa Delta, Phi Eta Sigma and Chi Alpha Sigma. Maya was also offered a Ph.D. program scholarship to Rutgers.
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In December, Jelani Scott '12, editor for Hampton Script at Hampton University, was included on a panel of 12 college sports editors gathered by Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch to discuss the topic of athletics and society.
We are proud to announce that previous BMHS faculty member Dallas Magee '12 has accepted a conditional position with the New York City Police Department as a Criminalist in the Controlled Substance Unit! Megan Maloney '12 has earned a B.S. in marine sciences from Coastal Carolina University. Megan is now pursuing graduate school for biology at the University of West Florida, concentrating on the behavior of the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopeia. John Page '12 earned his B.A. in history from Marymount University.
Raquel Lawyer '13 completed two internships in the last year: One with the United States Parole Commission and the other with the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security. In 2015, Raquel completed a summer internship with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Raquel is in her senior year at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in criminal justice, with a minor in Spanish. On February 3, Kendall Pace '13 was recognized for the second time as the recipient of the Jack Armstrong Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award! Kendall, a senior political science and business management major, has been the recipient of this prestigious award as a sophomore and now as a senior. Additionally, Kendall sent an economic analysis to CNBC, who produced an article entitled: Why top high school athletes should go Ivy.
Felicita Rich '13 graduated on May 15, 2017 from Wake Forest University in Salem, N.C. with magna cum laude honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minors in politics, Italian and international affairs. She was also chosen to present a paper she wrote entitled: Resolving the Dissonance: Miriam Makeba's Fight Against Apartheid on April 1 at the 2017 Carolinas Regional Conference of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society. Bishop McNamara High School would like to congratulate Angela Schneidmill '13 on the completion of her Bachelor of Science degree in communications from St. John's University in December. Receiving credit for an AP course and CLEP-ing out of Spanish enabled Angela to complete her course work a semester early.
We were so proud to hear that Matthew Williams II '14 has graduated from the College of Southern Maryland with two Associates Degrees! One of his degrees is an Associate of Arts of General Studies, while the other is an Associate of Arts and Sciences. Matthew will be continuing his education at Towson University, where he will be pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in religious studies, along with the BFA Program in acting. '15 St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas recently published an article about a few standout students currently enrolled at the university. Rachel Leader '15 was among those featured in the article, which gave details about Rachel's background and interests, how she chose her major, what Holy Cross means to her and more!
On May 12, Jasmine Spears '13 graduated from Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C. with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Last summer, Jasmine completed an internship at U.S. Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Md. and spent her entire spring 2017 semester at Pearl Therapeutics. She has been accepted to Georgetown University and will be pursuing her Master of Science degree in biotechnology in the fall.
Andrew Maduakor '15 is currently a STEM major at the University of Maryland, and is hoping to broaden his horizons while expanding his understanding of Japan and Japanese culture. Recently he has been accepted into the Institute of International Study for Student's Tokyo Summer Program.
'14 Gabrielle Enguilado '14 was chosen as the 2017 Miss Philippines Cherry Blossom Princess! Gabrielle was chosen based on her commitment to both education and her community. She represented the Philippines during the Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 25 to April 8 in the nation's capital.
Breana Ross '15 has been hard at work with her organization, Written in my Soul. The program is designed to teach children and teens how to use poetry as an outlet and a form of self-expression. They specifically target youth in low socioeconomic areas. Breana first piloted the program this past fall semester at an elementary school in a poor area after receiving a Social Innovation Grant from the University of Miami. This past spring semester, Written in My Soul became an official student organization at the University of Miami!
'16 In early March Leah Fowlkes '16 and three other Boston University track and field athletes finished first in the 4x400m indoor relay at the ECAC Championships in the final event of the championship meet. The foursome finished with a schoolrecord time of 3:37.62, nearly five seconds faster than the second-place school! They broke their own school record of 3:39.66, which had been set on Feb. 19 at the Patriot League Championships. The top eight finishers in each event at the meet were designated as All-IC4A/All-ECAC Performers. Leah was among those to finish in the top eight! She advanced to the finals in the 400m dash and finished fourth with a time of 55.36. Lauren Roach '16 has continued her commitment to education while attending Louisiana State University. Lauren made the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester and was also selected to be a member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society! Additionally, Lauren was selected to be a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, which is the nation's only interdisciplinary honors organization for first-year and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing.
CALLING ALL BISHOP McNAMARA & LA REINE ALUMNI: Celebrating a graduation? Getting married? Having a baby? Doing something new and exciting with your career? Traveling to exciting places? We want to know! Share your news with us send your announcements to our Advancement Department at advancement@bmhs.org
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BMHS/LRHS ALUMNI NIGHT at THE BALLPARK
nationals vs. dodgers Join the Bishop McNamara & La Reine High School Alumni Association for a night at Nationals Park to watch the Washington Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's sure to be a night of fun!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 7:05 p.m. TICKETS: $25.00 For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.bmhs.org/nationals This event is brought to you by the Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Association. For more information, please contact Bob Nolte, Director of Alumni Relations in the Advancement Office at robert.nolte@bmhs.org
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EVENT & REUNION
INFORMATION LET BISHOP McNAMARA HELP PLAN YOUR CLASS REUNION! Bishop McNamara High School is reaching out to the following Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School classes to help organize their upcoming reunions:
Bishop McNamara & La Reine 77, '82 and '87 Bishop McNamara High School '92, '97 and '02 If you or any of your classmates have questions, need help, or are interested in forming a reunion committee, please contact Bob Nolte, Director of Alumni Relations, at robert.nolte@bmhs.org.
JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS! Mark your calendars for these upcoming fall events!
HALL OF FAME FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 HOMECOMING & ALUMNI BBQ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017
BMHS and LRHS Class of 1972 Reunion: September 16, 2017; 1:00 p.m.
Nationals Park 1500 S. Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 Contact Cathy Berger at cshieldsb@aol.com for more information
LRHS Class of 1967 Reunion Weekend: October 6th - October 8th
• October 6th: Meet and Greet at Issac's Restaurant and Pub, Holiday Inn Conference Center & Marina - Solomons, MD
• October 7th: Tour of LaReine High School, 12:00 p.m. Dinner & Music at The Lighthouse Restaurant, 6:00 p.m.
• October 8th: Mass at Our Lady of the Sea Parish, 10:45 a.m. Contact Mary Stokely with any questions at mcstokely@yahoo.com
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Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Class of 1967 Celebrates 50 Years! Bishop McNamara High School is incredibly grateful to the graduating class of 1967 from Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools for joining us during our 51st Annual Commencement Ceremony. Thank you all for your support of our School and our extraordinary students as we celebrated their graduation and your own 50th anniversary. We welcome the Bishop McNamara and La Reine graduating class of 1968 to join us for our next commencement ceremony in celebration of our students and your 50th anniversary! Please contact our Advancement Department for details.
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WAYS TO SUPPORT
Supporting the Vision of Blessed Fr. Moreau and the Mission of Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop McNamara High School relies on the generosity of our school community. Tuition alone does not fully fund the needs of the School. It is only through the thoughtfulness of caring individuals that Bishop McNamara has been able to flourish and meet the needs of our students.
Spes Unica Annual Fund
Gifts of cash are available for immediate use by the School for academic programs, student resources and faculty support.
Cross & Anchor Endowment
This newly-established endowment allows for current and future students to have access to the best teachers and resources for their education. Establishing of perpetual scholarships, department chairs, naming of buildings and fields, and general donor-restricted gifts encompass the possibilities of the endowment.
Scholarship Fund Giving
You may make a donation to individual scholarship funds, which have been set up as memorial or honorary scholarships, or scholarships endowed by certain organizations.
Matching Gifts
Many businesses and corporations match personal gifts to educational institutions made by employees, retirees and family members.
Gifts of Securities & Stocks
Gifts of securities and stocks can help you save on capital gains tax and offer a charitable income tax deduction.
Memorial & Honorary Gifts
Your memorial gift to Bishop McNamara can help to perpetuate the values that guided a loved one’s life. Gifts may honor a person during his or her lifetime or commemorate a significant event.
Real Estate
Real estate can offer great potential for a charitable gift. Bishop McNamara High School will consider accepting a gift of a home, vacation property, condominium, undeveloped land, or other real estate.
Personal Property
Gifts of assets such as cars, jewelry and boats are also welcomed.
Planned Giving
Gifts made through wills, trusts and/or through IRA charitable donations.
Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.
United Way of the National Capital Area: #8895 CFC: #62489 Maryland Charity Campaign: #6137 For more information, please contact Clare McGrath-Merkle LR '74 at 301.735.8401 ext. 134 or clare.merkle@bmhs.org THE MUSTANG MESSENGER
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in loving memory... The information included on these pages reflects news shared with the Advancement Office from January 1, 2017 - June 14, 2017.
Merle Anderson, mother of BMHS Board of Directors member LaShanta Harris '93, passed away February 22, 2017. Beatrice Blackwell, grandmother of Blake C. Lovelace '07, passed away October 8, 2016. Lynn Brinkley, wife of Thomas Brinkley '68, passed away on April 24, 2017. Carrington Carter II, brother of Brandon Carter '13, passed away on December 30, 2016. Ryan Clore, son of Alex Clore '09, passed away at the age of five on June 6, 2017. Dolores Pauline DeMichele, mother of Joseph DeMichele '79 and aunt of Brian Colabucci '74 and Kevin Colabucci '76, passed away February 26, 2017. Ruth M. Gist, mother of Stacey Gist '87, passed away February 23, 2017. Thelma Hahnefeld, mother of long-time BMHS teacher and administrator Marilyn Wockley, passed away February 16, 2017. William Hart '77 passed away January 3, 2017. Mildred Hines, grandmother of staff member Craig Glover-Hines '09, passed away March 8, 2017. Barbara Hopkins, mother of Renee Hopkins LR '83, previous BMHS Board Member Charles Hopkins '85 and Demitry Hopkins LR '86, passed away January 29, 2017. Agnes Horrigan, sister of previous staff member Rita Palmer and aunt of James Palmer '78, Mary Palmer Chin LR '80, Edward Palmer '83 and Doug Palmer '87, passed away April 19, 2017. Msgr. Richard Hughes, a stalwart in the ADW community and friend to BMHS, passed away March 6, 2017.
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Dusanka Kolega and Bruno Kolega, parents of Neda Kolega Beal LR '72, Anna Kolega Colopy LR '76 and Kathy Kolega Parker LR '79, passed away on Nov. 4, 2016 and January 23, 2017 respectively. Angela Logan-Thomas, mother of Chrishauna Thomas '03, Charles "Chris" Thomas, Jr. '04, Angela "Alicia" Thomas '10, James Thomas '14 and incoming BMHS freshman Aliyah Thomas '21, passed away on April 30, 2017. Adrienne McBurrows Alexander LR '89 passed away June 2, 2017. Kathryn M. McCully, sister of Marianne Morahan (McCully) LR '64 and Charles McCully '74 passed away October 29, 2016. Margaret Monahan, sister of faculty member Jim Monahan, passed away March 20, 2017. Dennis Riggs, husband of Joyce Conlon Riggs LR '80 and brother-in-law of BMHS staff members Janice Conlon Cuellar LR '69 and Hector Cuellar, and uncle of Katherine Cuellar Miller '05 and Sarah Cuellar '09 passed away January 12, 2017. Eugenia "Mia" Sackett , mother of Peter Sackett '02, passed away December 1, 2016. Robert F. Salm, father of Dan Salm '77 and Robert P. Salm '84 passed away November 9, 2016. Trudi Sanders, mother of Joshua Sanders '10, passed away on January 31, 2017. Robert Scanlan, grandfather of Krista Scanlan '09 and Ryan Scanlan '11, passed away on April 10, 2017. Marjorie Spilman, mother of Tom Spilman '79 and mother-in-law of Alison Fragnito Spilman LR '79, passed away March 8, 2017.
Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.
Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
James Treichel '74, brother of Sr. Chris Treichel, OSF LR '64, Rosemary Treichel LR '67, Jane Treichel Perham LR '70, BMHS Counselor Clare Treichel LR '72, Mary Treichel Flynn LR '83 and Martha Treichel LR '84, brother-in-law of previous BMHS faculty member Don Perham, and uncle of Mike Perham '94, Regina Perham '96, Tim Flynn '05, Aileena Flynn '08, Aidan Flynn '13 and Moira Flynn '16 passed away April 6, 2017. Many of his extended family members were also BMHS/LRHS alumni and community members.
Walter Webb, Sr., previous faculty member and father of Walter Webb, Jr. '88 and Joseph Webb '96, passed away April 4, 2017.
Elliott Truesdale, grandfather of John-Elias Baldwin '14, passed away February 10, 2017. Cathryn Tsu '15, sister of Stephen Tsu '04, Michael Tsu '07 and Kristyn Tsu '12, passed away on January 18, 2017. Michael Viverette '71 passed away October 4, 2013 - we just recently received the notification. David Watkins, grandfather of Garrett Watkins '20, passed away May 19, 2017. Phillip T. Webb, respected social studies teacher at La Reine High School in the 1980s and 1990s passed away on December 27, 2016 in the Philippines. James Hampton Wilson, Sr., grandfather of Taylor Wilson '17 and incoming freshman Joshua Wilson '21, passed away on April 19, 2017. Thomas Wyatt, father of Tyler A. Wyatt '15, passed away February 13, 2017.
Nancy DeCesaris Clark Maimone LR ‘64, beloved mother of President CEO Dr. Marco Clark ‘85 and Gilmer Clark, Jr. ‘86, grandmother of Kevin Clark ‘09, Casey Clark Lyle ‘11 and Meghan Clark ‘13, passed away on January 9, 2017. Nancy was a member of the DeCesaris family, who have been stalwart in the Bishop McNamara community for generations; as such, she has ties to countless Bishop McNamara and La Reine alumni. She had a tremendous and loving impact on those around her – she will be missed, and she will always be loved.
Our Memorial Garden, named in honor of student Terrell Edelen '14, is complete and will give our community the opportunity to honor deceased loved ones, family, friends and/or teachers. For more information on how to purchase bricks or benches in the Memorial Garden, please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@bmhs.org. Alumni, family, friends and community members are more than welcome to stop by and take time to reminisce, or even just for quiet reflection in this tranquil space. Additionally, memorial Mass Cards can be purchased from the Advancement Office. THE MUSTANG MESSENGER
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BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747-3270 301.735.8401 www.bmhs.org Address Service Requested
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Forestville, MD Permit No. 2048
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.
B​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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