Veritas Magazine Spring/Summer 2011 by Andy Marafino

V ERITAS

The Magazine of Bishop Montgomery High School

INSIDE:

• GRADUATION 2011 Spring/Summer 2011

www.bmhs-la.org

• WE SAY ‘FAREWELL’ TO MARCUS • MARY WIBBERLEY RETIRES

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/PRINCIPAL

Contents SPRING/SUMMER 2011

Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery,

hen I addressed the Class of 2011 at the end of their graduation ceremony I observed that in that moment, in a very real sense, they found themselves suspended in stillness between an end and a beginning, aware of the many memories of the last four years and at the same time drawn by their plans and dreams for the future. For me, and I know for the graduates’ parents, the moment was bittersweet. It was time to let them go. My prayer for them at the last moment of celebration was that through the ordinary living that they would do each day after leaving Bishop Montgomery, through their tasks, their encounters with others, with their words—their voices, their actions, that they would remember to offer “praise song for each day.” I asked them to have the courage to struggle, whether the struggle is theirs or a struggle to create something better for someone else—that they have the generosity to live by Jesus’ challenge to “love thy neighbor as thyself” no matter the cost. I asked them to remember to have the self-discipline to take no more than they need.

FEATURES

5 Cover Story

My prayer for them at that last moment of celebration is that through the ordinary living that they do each day after they leave Bishop Montgomery that their lives proclaim that “the mightiest word is love”—love that casts a widening pool of light, love that is inclusive—love that comes from their faith and their hope. As St. Paul says, “The greatest of these is love.” ‘My prayer for them at that last moment of celebration on that gloriously lovely spring day, was that they realize that they are, every minute of every day, no matter how ordinary the moment or the day may seem, on the brink of the gift of each new moment, that each moment matters—that their successes and their failures, their joy and their pain, their spoken desires and their prayers in silence—all of this matters. My prayer for them was that they remember that we are bound together in Christ’s love. We are not separate from each other, nor are we separate from all those with whom we share this earth—that we weaken or we strengthen each other with every choice that we make, no matter how small the choice seems. Each one matters.

Technology 24/7:

‘Farewell’ Marcus

Keeping Up With Today’s Digital Learners

Marcus Harvell, 1962-2011

I encouraged each of them to “walk into that which you cannot yet see” –and to remember those who brought them to this moment of graduation and will bring them into the future. I reminded each of them to “remember who you are”—each amazing grace, each a precious jewel, each special, each miraculous, each unrepeatable.

Graduation 2011

In the pages of Veritas that follow you will see example after example of present as well as past students who know who they are, who have remembered who they are, and who proclaim over and over again with their lives that “the mightiest word is love.” This is Bishop Montgomery. Thank you for your generous support. With Gratitude,

Rosemary Libbon President/Principal

DEPARTMENTS Feedback 4 News from BMHS 14 Athletics 20 Development 23 Class Notes 24

10 Go to www.bmhs-la.org to watch our video slideshow about Bishop Montgomery High School

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Spring/Summer 2011 • 3

FEEDBACK

COVER STORY

Have a comment? e-mail alumni@bmhs-la.org

TECHNOLOGY 24/7:

Correction I read the last issue of the magazine and noticed a slight mistake in the article regarding denim day. You mentioned that I was ASB President my senior year, but I was actually Parliamentarian; Sherilyn Herreria was the ASB President and probably deserves more credit in promoting the denim day than I do. I know it is a small thing, but I don’t want to be given credit for something I did not do, especially out of respect for [Sherilyn]. I enjoy reading the magazine; it’s nice to be updated on the life at BMHS and other alumni and the articles are well done. Jonathon Meyer ‘04

Dates to Remember

V ERITAS The Magazine of Bishop Montgomery High School

October 21: Homecoming BBQ All Welcome! 4:00 - 7:00 pm Homecoming Football BMHS vs. Bosco Tech 6:00 pm November 1: Undergraduate Awards BMHS Gymnasium 9:00 am

The Latin word Veritas is defined “truth.” In Roman mythology, Veritas was the goddess of truth, a daughter of Saturn and the mother of Virtue. Veritas is also the name given to the Roman virtue of truthfulness, which was considered one of the many virtues any good Roman should have possessed. “Veritas” is included in many university mottos as well, including Yale University’s Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth). Veritas is also the motto of Harvard University, and the Dominican Order of the Roman Catholic Church. The BMHS motto is “justice, truth, honor” and the case can be made that all pursuits, if they are valid, must first be rooted in truth. We, as a school community, certainly strive to achieve that goal. VERITAS magazine is published two times a year by the Development Office of Bishop Montgomery High School. For more information or to send comments or suggestions, please contact:

December 3: Mothers’ Club Christmas Luncheon 11:00 - 2:00 (SAC) December 9:

Student Open House 1:30 - 3:30 pm

December 10:

Family Open House 12:00 - 3:00 pm

December 14-16: February 11:

Andy Marafino Director of Marketing & Public Relations Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, California 90503 (310) 540-2021 ext. 246 amarafino@bmhs-la.org www.bmhs-la.org

Fall Semester Final Exams

Rosemary Libbon, Principal

Editors:

Andy Marafino, Director of Marketing & Public Relations Dione Dierks, Asst. Director of Marketing & Public Relations Amy Traxler, Asst. Director of Marketing & Public Relations John Hong, Publications Director

Photography:

Black & Gold Gala

For more information, go to www.bmhs-la.org or check the school calendar located in the student agenda book. 4 • Veritas

Publisher:

Ron Alpine, BMHS Yearbook, Justin Boren ‘98, Elizabeth Dippel, DRPO, Jan Fitzpatrick, GradImages, Jeff Higbie ‘97, A-lan Holt ‘07, John Hong, Jennifer Love-Pruitt, Andy Marafino, Kyle Olsen ‘10, Mary Pat Smith ‘71, Veronica Torres ‘02, Stephanie Yong ‘99

Contributors: BMHS Facebook Friends Printer: Shanahan Printing & Graphics, Inc.

Bishop Montgomery High School

KEEPING UP WITH TODAY’S DIGITAL LEARNERS iGen. Generation Z. Digital Natives. These are just a few of the monikers used to describe high school students across the country-- students who no longer rely on chalkboard lessons, handwritten essays or mimeographed notes to get the grade. Instead, these teenagers text, type, Skype, download, email, and Google their way through the day. Not only are they multitasking, technology-dependent learners who thrive in high speed, online, and self-guided environments, they are light years from the students of just a decade ago who collaborated on group projects over the phone, consulted the Encyclopedia Britannica for homework answers, and designed their yearbook pages with pencils and graph paper. This new generation of learners is hungry for technology and eager to see it as ready and accessible in their classrooms as it is in the rest of their daily lives. A term coined by educational pioneer Marc Prensky, “digital natives” have no recollection of life before the digitalization of society, learners with no knowledge of a world without cell phones, the Internet or computers. They are learners for whom technology has been integrated into their daily lives since birth, and they stand in stark contrast to those who came before them, “digital immigrants.” Digital immigrants, while having a variety of digital resources at their disposal and using them proficiently, will never become native speakers. Technology will always be their second language. So, how do educators create a harmony on school campuses between themselves, or digital immigrants, and those they teach, or digital natives? Can academia continue to foster a love of learning while incorporating keyboards, flatscreens, Wikipedia, and still produce critical thinkers, collaborative learners, and productive citizens? In the past five years at Bishop Montgomery, the answer appears to be a resounding yes. With a faculty eager to integrate technology into their classrooms and themselves willing to learn how to better teach this new generation of students, the BMHS community is quickly picking up speed on the Information Super Highway.

Jake Roehl ‘92, a BMHS alumnus and now junior and senior math teacher, notes that today’s technology is “a game-changer in terms of teaching.” Roehl was the first teacher on campus to use a Smart Board-- an interactive whiteboard that allows teachers to write in digital ink, present Web videos and sites, and save lessons with just a finger’s touch-- in his classroom. “When I first got the Smart Board in 2007, I used it often, but there were definitely times when it was turned off and I used a regular white board and dry-erase markers. Now, the board is always on.” Since receiving the Smart Board for his classroom, Jake has continually looked for ways to increase his students’ learning and make him a more efficient teacher. For students, the Smart Board makes math problems easier to conceptualize. One swipe of Roehl’s finger on the screen and a polygon stretches and angles change right before his students’ eyes. X and Y axes can meet and rotate 180 degrees -- all with Roehl’s simple touch. As a teaching tool, the board allows Roehl to move what he writes around the board, dragging a parabola from one quadrant to the next, or moving parallel lines to a clean graph for the next part of the lesson. The change for him has been revolutionary. “I used to have to try to come up with clever ways to be animated and show movement to the students with my hands. Now, it just happens.” Roehl also likes that he can save lessons from one class to the next. While some teachers would consider this a luxury, Roehl sees the practical side of not having to rewrite, redraw, and redo each lesson three or four times a day. “The Smart Board saves me time. Without having to recreate the lesson each time, I get an extra five to ten minutes each class period to better explain concepts, check student understanding, and really maximize my time with the kids.” And, judging from the reaction of his students, Roehl and his love of technology definitely synchs with his classes. This spring, Roehl tapped into a

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COVER STORY

Smart Board feature that allowed him to make videos. After writing Calculus final exam review lessons on the Smart Board and recording accompanying audio on his iPhone, Roehl synched the two and created study aid videos. By posting the videos to YouTube, he gave his students 24 hour access to his review and helped calm 2 a.m. pre-test jitters. He also saw his students’ exam scores soar. “I gave the same final exam as previous years and the same review beforehand. The only difference this year was that the review was available on YouTube videos so they could watch, pause, rewind-- whatever they needed-- until they mastered the material,” observed Roehl. “It’s great to reach out to them in a way they are so familiar with.” Roehl is also one of 20 teachers and administrators testing iPads for campus-wide use. Though all faculty members have had laptops for classroom use since 2006, during this last year, one member of each department, administrators, and all math teachers have been using the tablets for classroom management, campus communication, and curriculum enhancement. Roehl appreciates how the iPad has minimized paperwork in his classroom and helps him easily manage student attendance and grades. “Before when students wanted to know their grades, it would take a while to look them up on the computer and get back to them. Now, while walking around the classroom, I can click on a student’s name and instantly tell the grade,” explains Roehl. “While that’s a pretty cool feature, it also has its downside. Sometimes, the students aren’t too excited when it’s May and, with a few taps on the iPad, I can instantly tell them what assignments they’re missing from October or November.” Casey Dunn, Director of Admissions, loves the efficiency the iPad has afforded her in communicating with her colleagues and students. “It is so helpful that I can take some work home with me. With the iPad, I can access student data and files and take care of emails and other communication that, in the past, would have had to wait until I was back in my office.” Dunn and Roehl, like other teachers and administrators, including Principal Rosemary Libbon, are eager to see a campus-wide tablet program for one-to-one student computing in the next few years. Already cropping up on other school campuses, individual computing devices appear to be one of the next waves of technology sweeping education. Libbon sees the biggest value being a device that could store eBooks and virtually replace the cumbersome textbooks, calculators, dictionaries, and agendas the students now carry. With a capacity to store multiple textbooks in a digital format, the tablets would not only drastically reduce the backpack load for students, but would provide them daily opportunities for enhanced learning with Smart Board, Internet and network compatibility. Another advocate for a tablet program is graphic art and design teacher John Hong. Since receiving his iPad last year, Hong has found multiple 6 • Veritas

uses for the tablet. “The iPad is a fabulous multimedia tool,” he states. Like Roehl, classroom management has become easier, with attendance and grades just a fingertouch away. And, like Roehl, Hong is always researching ways for the iPad to enhance his curriculum. Its uses are so versatile, he explains, that he can use it for everything from showing “intricate details of a famous artist’s painting to [his] art class” to creating “online photo permission forms for [his] yearbook students.” Though he has only had the tablet for less than a year, Hong realizes “now that [he] has one, [he] can’t imagine life without it!” In addition to incorporating the iPad into his teaching, Hong is also “really excited” about the delivery of Mac computers for his graphic design and yearbook classes this fall. Having received his own Mac desktop this summer, Hong is eager to get his students creating and designing with Adobe design programs on their new computers: “Macs have always been the industry standard for graphic design… and it’s essential to have the most upto-date hardware and software when teaching technology-based courses.” Remaining up to date is also essential for Celeste Adams ’94, who interacts with students daily as one of Bishop’s three full-time guidance counselors. Technological upgrades on campus in recent years have significantly changed her job, especially her role in helping seniors find their best fit for college. With the acquisition of Naviance, a web-based program that assists students with identifying college and career choices, in 2008, the guidance counselors found a way to help students maximize their college planning experience while simultaneously improving the communication they have with their students. “Naviance is a great tool to help us stay connected,” explains Adams. “It’s one place that the counselors, students and parents can all communicate with each other. We can email; send out reminders to seniors about college deadlines, visits or reminders; track our students’ progress in their application process; and, be available for their questions at any time. It has really helped get things done efficiently and effectively.” By senior year, the students’ Naviance accounts are treasure troves, collections of valuable resources and information to help make the college application process as smooth as possible. In their personal accounts, students accumulate data about their desired colleges, financial aid, SAT and ACT results, letters of recommendation, school reports, and any other digitallystored information they need to complete applications for the colleges of their choice. And, since most universities no longer take paper applications, students use Naviance to file online applications, including the Common Application which is used for admission to over 300 colleges nationwide. One file, a few attachments, an email address, and a student’s college application is sent thousands of miles in a nanosecond.

Bishop Montgomery High School

As much as Naviance helps ease the students’ loads during the college admission process, it also gives guidance counselors data in mere minutes that in the past would have taken weeks, possibly months, to gather. Using self-reported information from the students—GPA’s, college choices, wait list offerings, acceptances, and declines—the counselors use Naviance tools to track academic performance, calculate admissions success, and obtain an accurate picture of the colleges into which BMHS students are matriculating after high school. Based on these profiles, they can also “provide underclassmen with realistic expectations when they begin to apply to college,” says Adams. Outside of the guidance office, the visible influence of technology increases each year-- in every classroom, and in every subject. In science, like in math, students learn from Smart Boards. They also calculate, interpret, and store data on computers at their lab stations. Videos, web-feeds and digital presentations offer scientific concepts in 3-D, providing accurate and real visual examples beyond the pages of their textbooks. In foreign language, AP French students take their exam on-line so that they can speak into a computer microphone, have their vocalized answers saved to CD, and then graded by an AP administrator for a final grade. In the computer lab and library, students, before and after school and at lunchtime, are using one of 30-plus computers to finish projects, write essays, research the Net, or access the library’s on-line card catalog.

families—and let them know what’s happening at Bishop and how they can stay involved.” For Admissions, it is reaching out to the “digital natives” that has required adjustments to the recruitment process. Gone are the days when a Bishop representative visited eighth grade classrooms or high school information nights and passed out brochures about the school. Prospective students want their information quick, condensed, and, preferably, digital. They want to know what’s happening in real-time. Enter a re-vamped school website, Facebook, and Twitter -- valuable avenues of social media that help bridge the cybergap between the BMHS campus and these students’ lives. A quick visit to www.bmhs-la.org and a world of athletics, academics, campus ministry, and school events is at their fingertips. A few more clicks and they are signed up to receive notifications of BMHS Facebook postings, e-newsletters, and Tweets about current campus events. “We realize that we have to stay current to stay relevant,” says Assistant Director of Admissions Dione Dierks. “Utilizing available technology and reaching out to our prospective students in ways that, to them, are the norm, helps them see that Bishop is a school that understands how they want to learn, how they want to communicate… how they want their information.”

Walk down any of Bishop’s three halls, into any classroom, and students may all be participating in a lesson, each with their own laptop computer. Made possible through a grant in 2008, a “laptop cart,” outfitted with 30 laptops for instructional use, can be borrowed at anytime for teachers wanting the technological assistance. With BMHS’ campus-wide Wi-Fi readily available, students can access their personal school accounts, access the Internet, or create documents within a variety of programs. An interim project before the school introduces a campus-wide tablet program may be the acquisition of an “iPad cart,” a bundle of tablets for classroom use that would allow teachers and students to maximize interaction with the Smart Boards, campus network, and existing iPads during the school day.

For the Development Office, the ways to deliver information to alumni are a bit more complicated. With past students offering a distinctively heterogeneous mix of “digital natives” and “digital immigrants,” the staff works to find a balance between technology-driven and paper communication. While the school’s website has a section devoted entirely to the Development/Alumni department, a majority of correspondence is done via e-mail, and Facebook and Twitter accounts keep alumni current, Marafino still mails 13,000 copies of Veritas magazine to alumni and current families twice each year, sends hand-signed grant proposals via U.S. post, and considers the phone on his desk his best communication tool. “It’s about making sure everyone is taken care of and informed,” says Marafino. “If it takes multiple methods to get the job done, that’s okay. I enjoy interacting with members of the BMHS community daily. How that happens isn’t as important to me as the fact that it does happen. Being in touch is what’s important.”

Maximizing interaction off campus, however, is just as important as oncampus, especially for the departments that rely on constant communication and feedback for their livelihood. Both the Admissions Department and the Development/Alumni Department have found the surge of social media to be a much-welcome opportunity for them to reach out to their respective communities. Andy Marafino, Director of Development and Marketing explains, “Technology, in recent years, has made establishing and maintaining contact with members of our community much easier. We have multiple ways to reach out to our supporters—our alumni, our

Being in touch, communicating, learning—it’s what students today still depend on and is what students decades ago were doing, regardless of the medium. Technology may make gathering information easier and faster, but students, whether “digital natives” or “digital immigrants,” still must learn, must grow as critical thinkers, and must, at times, calm the technological beasts within that can demand rapidity over quality. As Einstein once tweeted: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” ;-)

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FEATURE

“Marcus was my first friend at Bishop...I was too apprehensive to speak to anyone else and Marcus...made me feel like I belonged. His strength did not come in his size but rather his compassion... what really kept us in line was not fear of a confrontation with him...but rather we were afraid of disappointing him...” Matt Reyes ‘10

Marcus Harvell 1962 - 2011

“I’ll never forget joking around with him until softball practice started. I saw him at a football game last year and he still remembered me. I think THAT pretty much sums up Marcus!! 1300 students to remember in cycles, and he still can remember you after

“May the Lord provide his family with the strength to maintain through such a difficult time. Big Marcus was a joy to have

12 years!! Love you, Marcus!!”

There is no doubt that Marcus touched so many lives at Bishop Montgomery. Most everyone - parents, students, alumni, teachers, and coaches - knew and loved Marcus and had a special bond with him. After his death, phone calls, e-mails, tweets, and Facebook posts about Marcus came pouring in from all over the community. What better way to pay tribute to Marcus than by letting members of our BMHS community share their thoughts about him:

“It’s amazing how you showed your kindness and concern to all of us BMHS students and alumni. I will always remember the days when we had our talks about basketball and life... even those days when after I graduated and made my random visits to Bishop you still remembered who I was and always asked how my family was doing. You will forever be missed but always held in our memories.”

8 • Veritas

Khiara Ferguson ‘03

Devonte Donaldson ‘01

“All through the years...I’d visit the school from time to time and his was always the first welcoming, smiling face to holler at me...seeing how he touched each of our lives just opens my eyes to how many thousands of students he must have impacted...Such a big presence will sorely be missed; from his never-ending support for the sports’ teams to his company and

“Rest in peace my friend and protector of BMHS...”

Danny Archambault ‘85 and BMHS parent

“Marcus...was a lot more than a security guard, he was a great friend to all the kids and parents. Thank you, Marcus, for watching over my family as I am sure you are still doing my friend...”

conversation waiting for your ride home...rest in peace.”

Cynthia Fuentes ‘05

“...It is truly remarkable how this man impacted so many lives simply just because he loved his job. I remember once how he waited with my mom and I in the school parking lot for my uncle to come and bring us a new battery for our car...Marcus kept our spirits up while waiting. Thank you for staying that day, Marcus. And thank you for keeping our school safe...”

“Hey Marcus”

Alicia DeManuel ‘98

BMHS says ‘farewell’ to our friend and protector arcus Harvell, longtime security guard at Bishop Montgomery, passed away on June 22, 2011 at Little Company of Mary Hospital. Born on February 19, 1962, Marcus began working at BMHS in 1995 as an employee of a private security company. He worked in that capacity until September 2003, when he became a full-time employee of Bishop Montgomery. He is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Deborah, and his four children, Dana Harvell, Patricia Ann Harvell, Tyler Harvell, and Jordan Harvell.

around during my time as a BMHS football player. A great guy!”

Anna Garalde ‘07

Marcus walked me to my car after school nearly every day for fourteen years and Mike Murphy walked me to my office in the morning for almost that long. They were our protectors while here on earth and I know continue to watch over all of us….. Rosemary Libbon, BMHS Principal

Mike DiDomenico, BMHS parent

“I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye... I just want you to know how much you meant to everyone at BMHS. You were like the Dad of Bishop watching over us and keeping us safe, making us laugh and occasionally whipping up a mean BBQ (which was the best I've ever tasted btw). I think we can all say that having you around made Bishop seem like a huge family. No matter who we were you loved each and every one of us, and there’s no doubt that we loved you back. You didn't know this, but everyone from BMHS was praying for you. Even the incoming freshmen who didn't really know you. Some won’t get a chance to know you, but we will make sure we tell them how great of a guy you were, how you always had a smile on your face and how much joy you brought to your community. Thank you, Marcus, for changing the lives of many generations of BMHS students.” Katie Hagmaier ‘13

“...Thank you for watching my daughter after sports when I was running late to pick her up, for always saving a parking spot during parent conferences or events at BMHS. Thank you for caring

“Four years of wearing the yellow security jacket working with the wonderful Marcus. You knew your child was safe un-

and for your kindness...you will never be forgotten.”

der his watch...”

Bishop Montgomery High School

Nydia Evangelista, BMHS parent

Athena Robles, BMHS parent www.bmhs-la.org

“Marcus, Hey,” that is what we would say, “Hey Marcus” driving in or away. Always there to watch over us, Making sure we were all on the bus. He made sure it was always fun, Sometimes at the expense of one. When that one was you, It seemed that you would be laughing too. At the start of a match or at the end, He was always there to support his friends. Know that you will always be in our hearts, Especially when any school event starts. “Hey Marcus,” is what we would say, We loved you every single day. Kevin Norman, BMHS Volleyball Coach

Marcus Harvell Memorial Scholarship A scholarship in Marcus’ name has been established at Bishop Montgomery. Funds from the scholarship will go towards tuition assistance to a student (or students) who have a financial need and exhibit the same spirit as Marcus. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship fund, make checks payable to “Bishop Montgomery” and send them to: Marcus Harvell Memorial Scholarship Fund Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90503

Spring/Summer 2011 • 9

GRADUATION 2011

GRADUATION 20011

The BMHS Class of 2011 Graduates From Students to Alumni “For I fell in love with this school—the people, the multitude of activities, and the rare strength in community that I had never seen before, or expected to see, in a high school. This quality was something so strong that it became apparent within moments of setting foot on campus.” Laura Bell ‘11, Salutatorian

n May 27 in Knight Stadium, the Class of 2011 graduated from Bishop Montgomery under bright blue skies and a comfortable breeze. With Father James Anguiano presiding over the 51st commencement, 266 graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, officially becoming BMHS alumni.

In all, 100% of graduates are college-bound, headed to schools across the country. A complete list of schools to where the Class of 2011 was accepted can be found on page 11.

ABOVE: Class of 2011 Valedictorians: (front row, L to R): Laura Bell, Martin Fabbri, Areli Gutierrez, Sienna Rizzo, Daisy Franco. (back row, L to R): Blaire Frei, Constance Moorhead, Kevin Nguyen, Barry Omatsu, Ruben Varghese, Alan Natsumeda.

The College Life What is college life really like? How do BMHS alumni adjust to college? More importantly, how do BMHS alumni thrive in a college setting? In order to answer these and many other questions, eight members of the Class of 2011 agreed to report back to BMHS on their experiences in college. In future issues of Veritas, we will “check in” with these outstanding young men and women to get their insights about life in college: • Laura Bell attends UC Davis and will major in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. • Teresa Campbell attends Academy of Art University in San Francisco and will major in Motion Pictures and Television with an emphasis in acting. • Daisy Franco attends Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She intends to major in International Politics. • Tyler Harvey attends Eastern Washington University on a full basketball scholarship. He intends to major in Business Finance. • Cody Lee attends Cal Poly SLO and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. • Kevin Paredes attends Southwest Baptist University in Missouri on a football scholarship. He has plans to major in Business and minor in Psychology. • Brendon Villalobos attends Columbia University in New York City. He is an Economics-Political Science major. • Carolyn Yoon attends UCLA. She is undecided on a major.

10 • Veritas

100% of Seniors to Pursue Higher Education • 266 • 215 (81%) • 50 (19%) • 1 (> 1%) • 266 (100%) • 246 (92%)

Seniors Seniors attending 4-year institutions Seniors attending 2-year colleges Seniors attending vocational schools Seniors attending college Seniors who applied to 4-year institutions

• 236 (96%) • 91 (34%) • 32 (12%) • 50 (19%) • 50 (19%) • 42 (16%)

Applicants accepted to 4-year institutions Attending Cal State System Attending UC System Attending Private California Colleges Attending Junior Colleges/Trade Schools Attending Out of State Colleges

Members of the Class of 2011 were accepted to:

Eleven members of the class were recognized as valedictorians. Martín Fabbri ‘11 and Laura Bell ‘11 delivered the valedictory and salutatory addresses, respectively. Fabbri attends California Institute of Technology and Bell attends UC Davis. The other valedictorians were: Daisy Franco ‘11 (Georgetown), Blaire Frei ‘11 (UC Berkeley), Areli Gutierrez ‘11 (Southwestern University), Constance Moorhead ‘11 (UCSB), Alan Natsumeda ‘11 (UC Irvine), Kevin Nguyen ‘11 (Loyola Marymount), Barry Omatsu ‘11 (UCSD), Siena Rizzo ‘11 (Villanova), and Ruben Varghese ‘11 (New Jersey Institute of Technology). Another highlight of the commencement exercises was the announcement by Principal Rosemary Libbon of the Veritas Award recipients. Throughout their four years at Bishop Montgomery, Evan Calip ‘11, Nikki Garcia ‘11, Katie Laner ‘11, and Brendon Villalobos ‘11 lived the school motto of “Justice, Truth, and Honor,” and they are true examples of what it means to be a BMHS graduate.

Class of 2011 College Matriculation

Bishop Montgomery High School

*Academy of Art University *Arizona State University Azusa Pacific University Baylor University Bentley University Biola University Boise State University Boston College Boston University Bradley University *California Institute of Technology *California Lutheran University *Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo *Cal Poly, Pomona Cal State, Bakersfield Cal State, Channel Islands Cal State, Chico *Cal State, Dominguez Hills *Cal State, East Bay Cal State, Fresno *Cal State, Fullerton *Cal State, Long Beach *Cal State, Los Angeles *Cal State, Monterey Bay *Cal State, Northridge Cal State, Sacramento Cal State, San Bernardino Cal State, San Marcos Canisius College Carnegie Mellon University Chaminade University of Honolulu *Chapman University Clark Atlanta University *College of Saint Mary *Colorado Christian University Colorado School of Mines *Columbia University *Concordia University - Irvine *Cornell University DePaul University DePaul University Dillard University *Drexel University Eastern Michigan University *Eastern Washington University *El Camino College *Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. Emerson College Emory University

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Fisk University Fordham College Fordham University George Fox University *George Mason University *Georgetown University *Gonzaga University *Hampton University Hawaii Pacific University Holy Names University Hope College Howard University Humboldt State University Langston University Linfield College Long Beach City College *Los Angeles Harbor College *Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College *Marymount College Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Menlo College Mercy College Merrimack College Michigan State University Mills College *Morehouse College Morgan State University *Mount St. Mary’s College *New Jersey Inst. of Technology New Mexico State University New York University *North Carolina A&T *Northern Arizona University Northern State University Notre Dame de Namur University *Occidental College Oklahoma State University Olivet Nazarene University Oregon State University Oxford College of Emory Univ. Pacific University *Pasadena City College Pennsylvania State University

*Pepperdine University Philander Smith College *Purdue University Regis University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute *Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Louis University *Saint Mary’s College of California *San Diego State University *San Francisco State University *San Jose State University *Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University *Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College Seattle Pacific University Seattle University *Seton Hall University *Simpson University *Sonoma State University *Southern Methodist University *Southwest Baptist University *Southwestern University Spelman College *St. John’s University - Queens St. Thomas University Stanford University Syracuse University Temple University Texas Christian University *Texas Tech University The Art Institute of California The King’s College *United States Military Academy - West Point *University of Arizona *University of British Columbia *UC Berkeley *UC Davis *UC Irvine *UCLA UC Merced *UC Riverside *UC San Diego *UC Santa Barbara *UC Santa Cruz

University of Central Florida *University of Colorado University of Dayton *University of Denver University of Florida University of Hawaii at Manoa *University of Kansas *University of La Verne University of Louisiana University of Massachusetts, Amherst *University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Crookston University of Minnesota, Twin Cities *University of Missouri University of New Mexico University of Oklahoma University of Oregon *University of Portland University of Redlands *University of San Diego *University of San Francisco University of South Florida, Tampa *USC University of St. Mary University of the Pacific University of the Sciences, Philadelphia *University of Texas, Dallas University of Tulsa University of Utah University of Washington University of Waterloo University of Westminster *Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington State University *Western New Mexico University *Westmont College Whittier College Whitworth University *Willamette University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

* indicates schools attended by member (s) of the Class of 2011 Bold indicates US News & World Report Top 100 National University

www.bmhs-la.org

Spring/Summer 2011 • 11

GRADUATION 2011

GRADUATION 20011

Senior Spotlight Martín Fabbri ‘11

Michelle Glymph ‘11

Before beginning his academic career at Caltech this September, Martín Fabbri ‘11 got a preview of college life in a five-week summer program on campus. As one of 12 participants in the school’s Freshman Summer Research Institute Program, Fabbri had the opportunity to work alongside some of the Institute’s faculty and students, while receiving an intense, but informative, introduction to the research-based culture of Caltech.

After a long absence, UCLA fans will see the return of their “Golden Girl” this fall with the selection of Michelle Glymph ’11 as the school’s feature baton twirler. With the Bruin’s marching band behind her, Glymph will revive the position that has been vacant for eight years, twirling at home football, basketball and volleyball games.

With full room and board provided, Fabbri lived on campus while working with a research mentor, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduates on a mechanical/electrical engineering project. At the program’s conclusion, Fabbri gave a formal presentation and report on his research and findings. In addition to his research in the lab, he also attended weekly seminars at JPL to gain insight on the broad view of work carried on at Caltech, JPL and NASA.

Unlike other athletes and performers who count on being recruited, Glymph’s selection as Westwood’s twirler was firmly in her own hands. A non-scholarship position at most universities, including UCLA, Glymph had to first be accepted to UCLA on academic merits, then audition for the band director. Though UCLA was her first choice, she knew “it was a big reach,” since the school only accepted 8% of its 51,000 applicants this year.

Seeing this as an opportunity that could not be missed, Fabbri jumped at the chance to participate in such a unique experience. Though he was a little overwhelmed at first by the program’s invitation, Fabbri became “more excited than anything else,” and could hardly wait to begin this new chapter in learning.

Fortunately, fate was on Glymph’s side and the chemistry major was not only admitted with a full academic scholarship, but the band director “took [her] on the spot” after watching her audition. This summer, Glymph spent 10 days at UCLA band camp to prep for her new role with the Blue and Gold before classes began in September.

Justin Kim ‘11 Some might say he’s following in his brother’s footsteps, but Justin Kim ’11 doesn’t see it that way. Although his appointment to West Point with a soccer scholarship meant Justin would be joining his brother, Michael ’08, on the academy’s campus and soccer fields, Justin knew he would have to chart his own course at one of the United States’ most prestigious military institutions. With impressive soccer achievements at the high school, club and academy level, Justin is primed to step into the position of defensive midfielder for the Black Knights. After completing five weeks of basic training for the academy this summer, Justin will begin practicing and training with the soccer team to prepare for the fall season.* Though a lifelong career in the army is probably not in his future, Justin says he does not “really mind going into the military,” because the trade-off— a bachelor’s degree in engineering with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation, and four more years of playing soccer— is well worth it. All that, plus being able to have family right in the next dormitory, makes success at West Point one goal Justin will have no trouble making. *At press time, Justin is recovering from a broken elbow he sustained in a June soccer game. As a result, he was unable to complete West Point’s basic training, a requirement for incoming freshmen. Justin has deferred his appointment for one year and will report for basic training in June 2012. Until then, he will continue playing soccer for the LA Galaxy’s academy team.

12 • Veritas

Brendon Villalobos ‘11 Each spring, the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) in partnership with Herff Jones, Inc., announces the winners of its Principal's Leadership Award (PLA) national scholarship program. This prestigious award is given to graduating seniors from across the U.S. who, in addition to having outstanding academic records, demonstrate exemplary leadership skills, especially in co-curricular activities. Principal Rosemary Libbon nominated Brendon Villalobos for the PLA scholarship and, in May, Brendon learned that he had been named one of 99 finalists. For Libbon, that recognition was a tremendous achievement in itself: "Each year, I, along with principals from across the country, nominate the best of the best. For Brendon to be selected from over 3,000 nominees—and be one of only seven finalists from the state of California-- is truly remarkable." After carefully weighing admission options to some of the country’s most prestigious colleges, including Stanford and Georgetown, Brendon has decided to attend Columbia University, joking that he “would never have the chance to live in New York City that cheaply again.” Looking ahead to a career in law, he will major in political science and economics.

Bishop Montgomery High School

2010-2011 proved to be an outstanding year in athletics at BMHS. Led by a talented senior class, eight boys’ sports (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball) and six girls’ sports (basketball, cross country, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball) qualified for the CIF playoffs. League titles were won in boys’ basketball, football, boys’ golf, boys’ tennis, girls’ cross country, and girls’ tennis, and individual athletes in girls’ cross country, girls’ track, and swimming won league titles in their respective sports. In all, 16 seniors from the Class of 2011 headed off to college to continue their careers as student-athletes. Divided by sport, the studentathletes are:

Football

Boys’ Soccer

• Christian Holloway - Southern Methodist University • Kevin Paredes - Southwest Baptist University • Nolan Plummer - Willamette University (OR) (not pictured) • Pierre Wise - Western New Mexico University

• Justin Kim - United States Military Academy at West Point (not pictured)

Girls’ Tennis

Boys’ Volleyball

• Melanie Scott - Hampton University

• Jason Mallek - Santa Monica College

Girls’ Volleyball

Softball

• Carly Naramore - University of San Francisco

• Chelsea Espinosa - Simpson University • Jessika Reyes - College of Saint Mary (NE) • Maxine Vasquez - Colorado Christian University

Boys’ Basketball

Girls’ Soccer • Alison Glasco - Westmont College

• Tyler Harvey - Eastern Washington University

Girls’ Basketball • Kristen Ale - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo • Ashton Reid - Occidental College • Taylor Sansbury - Loyola Marymount University

www.bmhs-la.org

Spring/Summer 2011 • 13

NEWS FROM BMHS

BMHS To Induct First Class Into Athletic Hall of Fame

n September 16, 2011, the first BMHS Athletic Hall of Fame class will be inducted during two ceremonies held on campus. Prior to the Knights' football game against El Segundo, there will be a ceremony and reception in the gymnasium. During halftime of the game, the honorees will be recognized on the field as well. The event is open to all those in our community who would like to attend. The 2011 BMHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class:

John Joseph ‘63 played football, basketball, and baseball at BMHS and was an accomplished surfer, both as a student and still today. In football, he was named 1962 All-Camino Real League and went on to play football at El Camino College and Long Beach State. While a student at BMHS, Joseph placed 3rd at the 1962 US Surfing Championships. He has served as director of the South Bay Surf League for the last 14 years.

1976. In 1977, she won the CIF Doubles title with her twin sister, Anna Lucia, and led the Lady Knights to the 1977 CIF team title. She was a 3-time All-American at USC (1979-1981) and won the 1981 AIAW singles title (NCAA championship). As a professional, Fernandez won 5 doubles titles from 1984-1987. Kit Schwartzman ’86 is the only person in BMHS history to win a CIF title as both a player and a coach. As an athlete, she played all four years on the varsity soccer team, earning All-CIF honors as a sophomore (2nd Team), junior (1st Team) and senior (Offensive Player of the Year). She led BMHS to the 1985-86 CIF title. During her three years as the girls’ soccer coach (1991-1994), BMHS won three Mission League titles and the 1993-94 CIF Title. She was a 4-year letterwinner in soccer and softball at Brown University. She is currently the Head Women's Soccer Coach at the University of New Mexico.

Dan Graham ’67 is one of the most decorated athletes in BMHS history. In football, he was named All-Camino Real and City Player of the Year in 1965 and 1966. He was named All-CIF 2nd Team Offense in 1965 and CIF Player of the Year and All-American in 1966. In baseball, he was the 1967 South Bay Player of the Year and the CIF Player of the Year, and led the Knights to the 1967 CIF AA title. Following graduation, he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Boston Red Sox. He played both football and baseball at UCLA.

Sharon King was truly a pioneer in BMHS athletics, helping to establish many girls' sports at the school. She coached softball, girls' basketball and girls' tennis at BMHS from 1962-1977. She led the girls’ basketball team to one league title and the softball team to 10 consecutive league titles. King also moderated the drill team and served as Girls' Athletic Director. She currently serves as a volleyball referee at the high school and college level.

Steve Patterson ‘68 played football, basketball, and baseball at BMHS. In football, he was named All-Camino Real League in 1966. In 1967, he was named to the All-Camino Real League on both offense and defense. In basketball, Patterson was a member of the 1967-68 team that won the CIF title and was named 1st Team All-Camino Real League and 2nd Team All-CIF. He was also a member of the 1967 CIF Championship baseball team. Bill Bordley ’76 is arguably the greatest baseball player in BMHS history. In 1975, he led the Knights to the CIF title and was Camino Real League Co-Player of the Year, Daily Breeze Player of the Year, and CIF Player of the Year. In 1976, he was named All-Camino Real League and, once again, CIF Player of the Year and was drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers but opted to attend USC. At USC, he was a 1st Team All-American in both 1977 and 1978 and won the deciding game in the 1978 College World Series. He pitched in the Major Leagues for the San Francisco Giants. Anna Maria Fernandez ‘78 is the most decorated female tennis player in BMHS history. She was the Santa Fe League MVP and CIF Player of the Year in 1975, 1976 and 1977. She was the CIF Singles Champion in 1975 and

14 • Veritas

11th Annual Black & Gold Gala The annual Black & Gold Gala, held February 12, 2011 at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, was once again a huge success as many alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends enjoyed dinner, dancing, and shopping at the silent and live auctions. The highlight of the evening was the induction of Tom and Doris Roach, Dorothy Pittelkau, and the Miranda Family into the BMHS Hall of Fame. The event netted almost $15,000, with all the proceeds going to the Bishop Montgomery Knight Pride Annual Fund. We thank all those who supported this wonderful event.

Tom Roach, who passed away in September 2010, will forever be known as "The Voice of the Knights." He served as the football and basketball announcer from 1962-1982 while his 10 children attended BMHS. He served as president and booster club member for 25 years and helped organize many fundraising events, dinners and fiestas. George Swade is one of the winningest football coaches in school history. He served as head football coach from 1962-1968 and compiled a record of 44-23. He led the Knights to two Camino Real League titles and two CIF playoff appearances (1966 and 1968). He served as Athletic Director at BMHS from 1964-1969. He has coached for many years at the professional and collegiate level. He is also the founder of the Annual Lions' Football Game held in the South Bay. The 1967 baseball team has the distinction of being the first team in school history to win a CIF title in any sport. Coached by Marv Wood, the Knights defeated Pomona 6-2 in the CIF AA title game held at El Camino College. They finished 21-3 overall and a perfect 15-0 in the Camino Real League. For complete bios and more information about the event, go to www.bmhs-la.org

Bishop Montgomery High School

www.bmhs-la.org

Spring/Summer 2011 • 15

NEWS FROM BMHS

BMHS Alumnus Called to Unique Ministry Veteran Teacher Mary Wibberley Retires

he end of the 2010-2011 school year marked the end of an era at BMHS with the retirement of longtime teacher Mary Wibberley. One of the many things that makes BMHS so special is the number of faculty who have deep roots in the school, and Wibberley certainly falls into that category. Wibberley not only served Bishop Montgomery for the past 28 years as a teacher, but she is also the proud mother of three very successful alumni – Tom Hauck ’84, Danielle Hauck ’85, and Jennifer Hauck ’94. Wibberley is also married to a member of BMHS’ Class of 1970, Chris Wibberley. It is these deep ties to Bishop Montgomery that make Wibberley a unique part of the school’s history. During her 28 years at Bishop, Wibberley taught a variety of courses, including physical education, typing, health, and many art classes. Under her guidance, her students created some unbelievable products. One of her former students, Walter Gutierrez ‘10, designed and drew pictures of the Virgin Mary and of St. Joseph that proudly hang in the second building hallway. Her ability to touch students and help them reach their goals did not go unnoticed: “During her years here,” says Principal Rosemary Libbon, “Mary continually demonstrated her tremendous gifts, both as an artist and as a teacher. Her unique capability of bringing out the best of her students’ artistic talents and allowing them to discover their own creativity

is proof of the wonderful gift she has for working with young men and women.” In addition to being a talented art teacher, Mary also served as the girls’ tennis coach and was involved in six WASC accreditations. Some of her favorite memories of BMHS involve those times spent with her own children, her students and her colleagues. “My favorite times were holiday Masses which are always so beautiful,” explained Wibberley. “I always looked forward to our faculty Christmas party because it was a chance to get to know my colleagues outside of school.” She also lists watching her son play soccer for Carlos Cooper and football for Bill Norton as highlights, as well as watching both of her daughters compete in soccer and volleyball for the Knights. Wibberley will be retiring to the Northern California community of Grass Valley where she will not only be closer to her children, but she will be neighbors with one of her sisters. Wibberley will truly be missed, but she will always be a special part of the Bishop Montgomery community.

Congratulations to... • The Fall 2010 Students-of-the-Semester who were announced in the spring at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. Class of 2011: Areli Gutierrez, Carolyn Yoon and Kevin Nguyen. Class of 2012: Meredith Bibbo and Jesse Haro. Class of 2013: Adriana Martin and Brian Marafino. Class of 2014: Rachel Quast and James Marquez. • Katie Sitter ‘12, who received KABC Channel 7’s “Cool Kid” award in February. In 2010, she started a ministry called “Performance from the Heart,” where she performs a “one-woman show” singing, dancing and acting at Sunrise Nursing Home on a monthly basis. Her feature aired in February on the ABC News 4:00 pm telecast. • Casimir Park ‘12 and Bryant Glover ‘12, who represented BMHS at Boys’ State, and

16 / Veritas

Katie Sitter ‘12, who represented BMHS at Girls’ State. Their alternates were Eric Hambley ‘12 and Nikki Windisch ‘12.

• BMHS art teacher John Hong and his wife, Sue, on the birth of their son, Ethan, on March 16, 2011.

• Alison Abraham ‘11 and Wyatt Comon ‘13, who were selected by the Torrance Sister City Association to be youth ambassadors on an eight-member student delegation to Kashiwa, Japan in July. They spent three weeks living with a Japanese family, taking tours arranged by the Kashiwa Interantional Relations Association. In August, Abraham and Comon hosted students in Torrance, showing them around the city and notable southern California destinations.

• BMHS guidance counselor Leticia Orozco and her husband, Steve, on the birth of their son, Joshua, on March 21, 2011.

• BMHS physical education teacher Arnold Ale and his wife, Sive, on the birth of their daughter, Normalina, on March 18, 2011.

Bishop Montgomery High School

• Evan Calip ‘11, Nikki Garcia ‘11, and Sammi Toia ‘11, who were honored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as our Christian Service Award Winners at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on March 15. • Vince Toyama, father of BMHS graduates Scott ‘05 and Brett ‘08, for winning an Emmy Award for outstanding individual achievement in animation for his work on the animated series “Transformers: Prime.”

hen Rev. Mike McCullough ’64 was a student at Bishop Montgomery in the 1960’s, his life was anything but easy. He remained busy keeping his grades up, playing football, running track, and staying involved in clubs and activities, but his home life was self-described as “violent” due to his father’s addiction to alcohol. His mother stayed at home caring for him and his siblings (sister Kathy ’72 and brother Chris ’74), and the family didn’t have a car. “My dad never set foot on the [BMHS] campus to my knowledge,” remembers McCullough, “and mom’s only visit, to my recollection, was my graduation.” Through all this, McCullough had aspirations to attend the Naval Academy, but God had another plan for him that profoundly shaped who he is today. During his junior year, McCullough had what he describes as a “stark confrontation” with Fr. Leo Gabriel Neal, a religion and English teacher on campus. Fr. Leo Gabriel simply asked McCullough if he had ever thought about becoming a priest. “This shook me out of my coma with all that was going on at home,” explains McCullough. “I wanted to try the seminary because I wanted to help people.” In 1973, he was ordained with a Master of Divinity Degree from St. John’s Seminary and was ready to work. Soon after being ordained, McCullough began his career’s work as a law enforcement chaplain, first for the Culver City Police Department, and then the Oxnard PD. In 1977, he was appointed Chaplain for the Los Angeles Police Department where he has served for the past 24 years. In fact, “Father Mike” is one of only about five full-time law enforcement chaplains in the United States. In addition to being a police chaplain, Father Mike, in 1991, became the first priest ever to graduate from the Los Angeles Police Reserve Academy. In 1993, he was selected as Chaplain for the FBI’s Los Angeles Division, a role in which he served simultaneously with his duties as LAPD Chaplain for thirteen years. He has also served as a parish

priest at churches including St. Augustine in Culver City, Holy Trinity in San Pedro, and Transfiguration in Los Angeles, where he is currently assigned. McCullough has won numerous awards for his work, including LAPD Reserve Officer of the Year (1979), the St. Michael Award for Excellence in Police Chaplaincy (1997), and the prestigious Jack Webb Award for his commitment to law enforcement (2009). In his 38 years of ministry to the law enforcement community, Father Mike has buried approximately 150 police officers, including over a dozen that were suicides, and has served as a member of the LAPD Critical Incident Response Teams. He has worked at the US Air crash at LAX (1991), the 1992 LA Riots, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 2000 Alaska Air crash, Ground Zero at the World Trade Center (2001) and the 2008 Metrorail crash. Needless to say, he has seen first-hand the immense pressure that police officers are under on a daily basis.

for Peace Officers officially opened. Located in Joshua Tree, the Desert Refuge is an ecumenical refuge and retreat facility with a goal “to stem the epidemic tide of police officer suicides and to help police and their families maintain spiritual health,” explains McCullough. DRPO’s many services include counseling, classes, stress reduction, solitude, religious support, mentorship, and companionship. “At the Desert Refuge, we are able to do pro-active work, instead of being re-active. We want to deal with issues like depression before it takes over an officer’s life.” On his May 2011 visit back to BMHS after many years, Father Mike toured the campus, visited with some familiar faces, and reminisced about the impact the school and the people here had on him. “I really appreciate what BMHS did to get my life going in the right direction,” shares McCullough. “God really knew what he was doing with my life.” For more information about the Desert Refuge for Peace Officers, visit www.drpo.org or call (760) 366-8723.

Perhaps the most important part of McCullough’s ministry is keeping police officers emotionally and spiritually healthy. In 1986, he began making plans to establish a house of prayer for police officers and their ABOVE: families as a way to help deal with the presFr. Mike (center) at the DRPO Golf Tournament in June sures of the job. In 1999, the Desert Refuge with members of the BMHS team: (l to r): Kevin Cruz ‘10, Lorenzo Cruz ‘14, Al von Kanel ‘82, Martin von Kanel ‘‘80.

Bishop Assigned Full-Time Chaplain The school year began with a new addition on campus: Father Ed Benioff. Most recently from Holy Trinity Parish in San Pedro, Fr. Ed was assigned to BMHS as a full-time chaplain. In addition to his chaplain duties, Fr. Ed will teach freshman religion and will be involved in the retreat program. Fr. Ed has been a presence on campus for the past few years, visiting weekly to offer the sacrament of Reconciliation and also celebrating mass for the student body. We are delighted to welcome Fr. Ed to our school community, and look forward to the presence of a such a dynamic and inspirational spiritual leader on our campus.

www.bmhs-la.org

Spring/Summer 2011 • 17

NEWS FROM BMHS

BMHS Teams Up With Our Lady of Guadalupe to Stock Food Bank Student’s Essay Has Far-Reaching Effect

hen he was a seventh grader at Pacific Harbor Christian School in Wilmington, Vincent Miramontes ‘14 submitted an essay for the VFW Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest: “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.” It was an essay that won him many awards and certificates, and an essay that enabled him to meet many dignitaries from California. Little did he know, however, that almost three years after writing the essay, it would come to mean so much to those serving overseas and to people back here in the South Bay. Miramontes’ inspiration to write the essay came from the intense pride he has in his grandfather, Manuel, and his father, Albert, both of whom served in the United States Armed Forces. Manuel, who Miramontes never had the chance to meet, served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and fought in the Korean War. Albert served in the Marines as a sharpshooter. “I am so proud of them, along with every other man and woman serving our country, because they are willing to put others before themselves, to go risk their lives and fight for the freedom of their fellow Americans.” In November 2008, Miramontes learned that his essay placed first in the contest’s Los Angeles district. Soon thereafter, the awards and commendations came rolling in. In December, the essay placed first in California and, just a month later, Miramontes traveled to Sacramento for the VFW Conference, representing California as the essay’s winner. Between February and June 2009, Miramontes received many more awards and met many of California’s top government officials. Among the awards he received were several State of California Certificates of Recognition, the City of Wilmington and the City of Los Angeles’ 2009 Most Amazing Kid awards and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Certificate of Recognition. Additionally, his essay placed 32nd in the National VFW Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest. Among those Miramontes had a chance to meet were Congresswoman Jane Harmon, California Senator Jenny Oropeza, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. One of the meetings that had the biggest impact on Miramontes was when he was the guest speaker at the 2009 Veterans Day Celebration hosted by The Aeropsace Corporation at the Los Angeles Air Force Base. After speaking, he was presented with a certificate of recognition and a General’s Coin by Air Force Brigadier General Samuel Greaves. The coin represents one of the highest honors someone from the military can bestow upon a civilian and is presented to a civilian who exemplifies exceptional patriotism. During his freshman year at Bishop, Miramontes was asked to include his essay in care packages being sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also included a letter explaining who he was and thanking the troops. In a case of “it’s a small world,” the essay landed in the hands of Marine 1st Lt. John Davis of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Division in Afghanistan. When Davis saw where Miramontes went to school, he contacted his fiancé, Jessica Olson. Davis and Olson met while students at Yale University, but Olson is a native of Torrance and still lives just down the street from BMHS.

18 • Veritas

ABOVE:

Vincent Miramontes ‘14 (left) meets with Jessica Olson, fiance of 1st Lt. John H. Davis (shown at inset) on her visit to BMHS.

Olson soon contacted BMHS Principal Rosemary Libbon with a request: She wanted to personally deliver a letter from Davis to Miramontes. When Olson arrived to meet Miramontes, she had a surprise for him: a picture of Davis. “Meeting Jessica really helped me see that our soldiers go wherever they are needed, whenever they are needed, and that they have to leave behind their loved ones,” explained Miramontes. “I was just so touched that this great man took time to write me a letter and thank me for supporting the troops... I am so thankful to 1st Lt. Davis for his letter, and for the support, because I really do believe that the men and women of our military are some of the finest people to walk this Earth. I am also so thankful to Jessica for taking time to come meet me, because her fiancé asked her to deliver a letter to a stranger, and to explain to me what it meant to her. I pray for both of them.”

“Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored” The following are excerpts from Miramontes’ essay: “From the beginning of this great nation’s history, there have always been people that volunteer to fight for our country. Americans all over this coutnry owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans. Veterans have answered the call of the American Revolution, to the present day, when our brave men and women of the armed forces are defending freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. “ “The veterans of the armed forces of America are a very rare breed. Could you leave your family behind to go and fight knowing you may not make it back alive? Could you leave the comforts of your own home to go to a foreign country and sleep in a hole in the ground?” “If I had to decide what holiday is the most important...it would be Veteran’s Day. If not for the great sacrifices these brave men and women have made, we would not have the freedom to celebrate the rest of the holidays... if you are ever given the chance to thank a veteran, let them know how much you appreciate them and their sacrifices.”

Bishop Montgomery High School

rior to Easter break, Bishop Montgomery partnered with Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Hermosa Beach to help stock the food bank located on the BMHS campus. The food bank, established a few years ago by the Campus Ministry students in response to the turbulent effects of the economy, provides food to the families and loved ones of those in the BMHS community who are in need.

The partnership began when BMHS alumna and OLG kindergarten teacher Amy Hendry ’04 saw a story about the food bank in Veritas magazine and wanted to get her students involved in helping others. But what started as a kindergarten project soon opened up to the entire OLG campus, with each grade donating a different food item. To make the project meaningful to her students, Hendry instructed her class to find ways at home and in their neighborhoods to earn the money to purchase cereal, the item chosen by her students. During Lent, the kindergarteners did extra chores around the house and helped neighbors with odd jobs. “I told the kids that they needed to earn the money themselves,” explains Hendry. “They couldn’t have mom and

dad buy the cereal. They had to do it themselves.” When the students earned enough money to buy cereal, Hendry had them write a sentence about their experience with the project. On April 18, the kindergarteners, accompanied by Hendry and a few OLG parents, delivered 37 bags of food to BMHS. When they arrived on campus, they were greeted by BMHS Principal Rosemary Libbon, Campus Minister Dorothy Morski, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Andy Marafino, and some of the seniors from the Campus Ministry class. After a short visit, the kindergarteners took turns carrying bags of food into the food bank. They were then taken on a tour of campus, stopped in a religion classroom, and finished their visit in the chapel with a short prayer service. Before the kindergarteners left, they received a surprise from the Campus Ministry students, who gave them each an Easter treat and a BMHS pencil. “We are so thankful to everyone at OLG, especially Ms. Hendry and her kindergarteners for spearheading this project,” commented Marafino. “We are so proud of alumni like Amy, who continue to support BMHS and inspire young people to be wonderful examples of Christian service.”

BMHS Junior Starts Foundation to Honor Brother

n May 3, 2010, BMHS junior Maresja Bray’s life changed forever when her brother, Montel, lost his battle with cancer at the age of twelve. In April, Bray asked her brother how he felt about her establishing a foundation to help not only children with cancer, but their siblings as well. “The foundation was created to help children dealing with cancer, to give back, and to make my brother proud,” explains Bray. Needless to say, Montel loved the idea and Bray was off and running with her plans.

Christmas gifts or give donations so that I can get the children something,” continues Bray. “The idea is to give the children an unforgettable Christmas memory.”

The primary focus of the foundation, called Montel’s Angels: Angels Don’t Die, is to provide emotional support to sibling survivors. Bray also devotes her time, especially during the holidays, supporting children dealing with the effects of cancer. “The holidays can be a hard time for the parents financially, but I feel that the children should not have to suffer since they already have a lot on their minds,” explains Bray. “I find the families and then find a generous sponsor to either buy the children

www.bmhs-la.org

Bray established her foundation with the help of her grandmother, Christina King, who is the founder of Angel Tree Operation Stitches, a foundation that supports underprivileged children. In order to help as many people as possible, Bray relies on the help of others. “My Granny and I can only do so much for a family,” explains Bray. “During the process of my brother’s diagnosis, I received support in so many ways,” explains Bray. “My goal is to give back in any way that I can, which can only be accomplished with the help of others.” If you would like to help Bray and her foundation, contact her at montels.angels@yahoo.com.

Spring/Summer 2011 • 19

ATHLETIC NEWS

Montana Martinez ‘13 Valerie Belanger ‘14, Kimberly Dung ‘13, Kathleen Dung ‘12 and Stephanie Jaquez ‘14

Ike Ikeri ‘12 Andy Burschinger ‘12

Annie Grove ‘12

Dean Billings ‘13

Lamond Murray, Jr. ‘13

BOYS’ BASKETBALL The boys’ basketball team won its 13th league title and advanced to the CIF playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season under longtime head coach Doug Mitchell. In fact, the Knights have qualified for the playoffs every year under Mitchell. After defeating Tustin and Culver City in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Knights (20-7) lost in double overtime to eventual CIF Division 3AA champion La Canada. A relatively young squad was led by four players who were named to the All-Del Rey League first team: senior Tyler Harvey ‘11, sophomores Lamond Murray, Jr. ‘13 and Larry Taylor ‘13, and freshman Justin Bibbins ‘14. Earning second team All-Del Rey League honors was senior Kyle Reid ‘11. Harvey continued to rack up awards during the post-season. He was named to the All-CIF Division 3AA team for the second consecutive year. In addition, he was named 1st Team AllArea by the Daily Breeze.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Girls’ basketball, coached by Bryn Britton, added another outstanding season to the program’s illustrious history. The Lady Knights (23-11) advanced to the CIF finals for the second consecutive year and the 8th time in the program’s history, despite the loss of standout forward Devon Brookshire ‘12, who suffered a knee injury at the end of the regular 20 • Veritas

season. In the CIF 4AA finals, the Lady Knights ran into a huge team from Windward and were unable to overcome the size advantage in the loss. Following the CIF finals, the Lady Knights advanced to the State Southern California Regional quarter-finals. Three players were named 1st Team All-Del Rey League: Chelsey Aaron ‘11, Kristen Ale ‘11, and Brookshire ‘12. Aaron and Ale were also named to the All-CIF Division 4AA team. Two players were named to the All-Del Rey League 2nd Team: Airiona Sampson ‘12 and Taylor Sansbury ‘11.

BOYS’ SOCCER Boys’ soccer, coached by Clive Hulbert, had a very successful season despite finishing with a 9-11-2 record. The CIF Division 4 playoffs got off to an exciting start for the Knights. In the opening round against South Torrance, the Knights scored a goal in the final minutes to force overtime and then won the game 4-3 on senior Charles Parker’s ‘11 3rd goal of the game. The second round of the playoffs saw BMHS host Salesian in another hard fought overtime game. Tied at 0-0 in sudden-death, the Knights were called for a foul in the box and Salesian scored on the ensuing penalty kick to end the game. In addition to Parker, four other Knights were named 1st Team AllDel Rey League: Casey Anderson ‘11, Kevin Callinan ‘11, Justin Kim ‘11, and Kevin Paredes ‘11. Callinan was named to the All-CIF Division 4 Team for the second consecutive Bishop Montgomery High School

year. Kim was named to the All-CIF 2nd Team and Anderson was named to the AllCIF 3rd Team. Three players were 2nd Team All-Del Rey League selections: Eric Dazet ‘11, Thomas Mihara ‘11, and Ian Paiz ‘12.

GIRLS’ SOCCER Girls’ soccer battled through a tough Del Rey League schedule to finish 11-13-1 overall under the direction of co-coaches Dan and Shannon Martinez. The Lady Knights were led by sophomore mid-fielder Montana Martinez ‘13, who was a 1st Team All-Del Rey League selection. Other outstanding performances were turned in by sophomore forward Breanna Cunningham ‘13, senior defender Hannah Parsons ‘11, and freshman mid-fielder Bryce Watts ‘14, all of whom were 2nd Team All-Del Rey League selections.

SOFTBALL A young girls’ softball team, coached by Jimmy Legaspi, finished 5th in the Del Rey League. They were led by 2nd Team All-Del Rey League selections: Melissa Berouty ‘12, Lauren Dawsey ‘13, Carly Elder ‘11 and Maxine Vasquez ‘11.

BOYS’ & GIRLS’ TRACK The track team produced two league champions in 2011. Annie Grove ‘12 won the Del Rey League title in the 3200m (11:40:99) for the

the second consecutive year. Junior Nicole Sroczynski ‘12 finished 3rd with a time of 12:35.18. The finals of the league’s 1,600m race was as exciting and as close as it gets. Danielle Shanahan ‘13 (5:25.11) beat Grove (5:25.25) to the finish line to claim the Del Rey League title. All three athletes qualified for the CIF prelims. Also qualifying for CIF was the 4 x 100 relay team of Brielle Davis ‘13, Kim Mercado ‘12, Emily Meyer ‘11, and Arianne Soberano ‘12.

CO-ED SWIMMING The Knights’ swim team, coached by Amy Traxler, turned in strong performances in the pool in 2011. Junior Kathleen Dung ‘12 won the league title in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:14.04. The 200 freestyle relay team of Dung, Valerie Belanger ‘14, Kimberly Dung ‘13 and Stephanie Jaquez ‘14 placed second in league with a time of 1:52.48. The 200 medley relay team of the same four swimmers placed second at league finals with a time of 2:08.68. At the CIF Division 4 Finals, Dung swam a 1:13.54 in the 100 breaststroke to finish 10th. The 200 freestyle relay team swam a time of 1:52.76 to finish 16th.

BASEBALL A young baseball squad, coached by Andy Marafino, battled through a tough schedule to qualify for the CIF playoffs for 7th time in

9 years. The Knights were 12-15 overall and finished 3rd in the Del Rey League. The Knights defeated Baldwin Park 2-0 in the wild card round of the playoffs before losing to Oaks Christian in the first round. Offensively, Andy Burschinger ‘12 (1st Team All League, 2nd Team All-CIF) led the way, batting .397 with 9 2B’s, 1 HR and 12 RBI. Jeff Villafana ‘12 (2nd Team All League) hit .296 with 8 SB’s and 15 runs. On the mound, Burschinger led the staff with four wins. Three other pitchers also had fine seasons. Johnny McLaughlin ‘11 (2nd Team All League) went 3-4 with a 1.80 ERA and 39 K’s. Kevin Flores ‘13 (2nd Team All League) went 3-5 with a 4.77 ERA. Alex DiGirgis ‘12 (1st Team All League) had perhaps the best season on the mound for the Knights. DiGirgis was 2-0 with a 3.30 ERA and a school record 7 saves. Evan Budrovich ‘11 was a 2nd team all league pick and led the team with 21 RBI’s.

BOYS’ TENNIS Boys’ tennis, coached by Alex Angel, won their first outright Del Rey League title since 1997 (they were co-champions in 2010) after posting an impressive 9-1 league record. The team (12-8) qualified for the CIF Division 5 playoffs and advanced to the 2nd round. The top singles players were Alex Cano ‘12, Vincent Budrovich ‘11 and Austin Guillermo ‘11. The top doubles players were Seth www.bmhs-la.org

Stratton ‘11, Eric Dazet ‘11, Ike Ikeri ‘12, Devon Kent ‘12, and Sal Lozada, Jr. ‘11. Cano was a 1st Team All-Del Rey League selection and advanced to the CIF singles tournament.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL Boys’ volleyball, coached by Kevin Norman, finished 3rd in the Del Rey League and qualified for the CIF Division 4 playoffs where they advanced to the quarter-finals before falling to top-seeded Santa Monica. The Knights, 1216 overall, were led by Del Rey League MVP and 1st Team All-CIF pick Danny Geber ‘11, 1st Team All-League pick Jonathan Legaspi ‘12 and 2nd Team All-League picks Jason Mallek ‘11 and Tim Parr ‘11.

BOYS’ GOLF Boys’ golf, coached by Martin von Kanel ‘80, had an impressive season in 2011. They won the Camino Real League title with a 10-0 record and finished 15-2 overall. Dean Billings ‘13 was the Camino Real League MVP and individual co-champion and Chase Bennett ‘14 finished 4th at league finals. Both Billings and Bennett qualified for the CIF individual tournament. In addition to Billings and Bennett, Michael Rodriguez ‘13, Brennan Delahanty ‘14, and Lorenzo Cruz ‘14 were 1st Team AllLeague. Joey Bruccoleri ‘13 and Grant von Kanel ‘14 were 2nd Team picks. Spring/Summer 2011 • 21

D EVELOPMENT

ATHLETIC NEWS

ADVANCING THE MISSION OF BISHOP MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL

Three Alumni Make Headlines In Their “Fields”

s the weather warmed up in the spring and summer months, so did three former Bishop Montgomery athletes in their respective sports. Amazingly, these three alumni represent three different decades - 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s - further proof that BMHS student-athletes thrive in high school and beyond.

Patty Froehlich-Gasso ‘80 Patty Froehlich-Gasso ‘80 not only completed her 17th year as the Head Softball Coach at the University of Oklahoma by leading the Sooners to a Women’s College World Series (WCWS) appearance, but she reached an impressive milestone as well. On March 19, she won her 800th game at OU with a 7-6 win against the University of Washington. Appropriately, the win came in a game played back home in California (Cal State Fullerton). She has a record of 817-269-2 at OU and an overall record of 979-328-2 in 21 years as a collegiate head coach. The WCWS appearance marks the 6th time (all under Gasso’s guidance) that the Sooners have reached the ultimate destination in women’s college softball. In fact, the Sooners have reached the NCAA regionals every year since she took over the program in 1995. In 2000, Gasso led the Sooners to the program’s first national title with an impressive 66-8 record. Gasso has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year four times.

Carmelita Jeter ‘98 For Carmelita Jeter ‘98, the summer of 2011 certainly went by quick, but one would expect that out of the “Fastest Woman in the World.” In May, Jeter won the women’s 100 meters at the Colorful Daegu meet in South Korea with a time of 11.09 seconds. That was just a warm up for things to come.

22 • Veritas

Her trip to Oregon in June proved to be even more successful. On June 4 she won the women's 100m at the Prefontaine Classic in 10.70 seconds, a world-best so far in 2011. On June 24, Jeter claimed a national championship by winning the 100m in 10.74 seconds at the United States Track & Field Championships. Jeter currently holds the title of "Fastest Woman in the World." In 2009, she ran the secondfastest 100m time ever recorded by a woman when she clocked 10.64 in Shanghai. The only woman to record a faster time is the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who ran a 10.49 in 1988.

Mike Zuanich ‘04 Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery, Mike Zuanich ‘04, a member of the Colorado Rockies organization, was named to the 2011 California League All-Star team and competed in the California-Carolina League Home Run Derby in Modesto, CA in July. For the home run derby, Zuanich invited Andy Marafino, his coach at BMHS, to pitch to him. Zuanich hit two home runs in the first round, but did not advance to the finals. One of his home runs in the derby hit the very top of the Modesto stadium scoreboard - 400 feet away and 47 feet high. In the all-star game, Zuanich, representing the Modesto Nuts, went 1-4 with an RBI single. Immediately following the California-Carolina League All-Star game, Zuanich was promoted to the Colorado Rockies AA affiliate in Tulsa, OK. At the time of his promotion, Zuanich had the fifth highest batting average of all minor league baseball players. He finished the first half of the season in the top ten in the California League in batting average (.366), home runs (14), RBI’s (49), on base percentage (.455) and slugging percentage (.674).

Another school year has begun at Bishop Montgomery and we are very excited about the many wonderful things that are happening on campus and with our students and alumni. We are proud to bring you another edition of Veritas. There are so many stories to tell about our school and we look forward to publishing each and every issue. After the Class of 2011 graduated, things certainly did not slow down on campus. In fact, the summer is almost just as busy a time as the regular school year. Summer school classes are in session, many student-athletes, including incoming freshmen, are involved in summer conditioning, and campus improvements are underway. There is so much activity on campus and the energy is palpable. This fall, construction is set to begin on the Retreat Center adjacent to the Student Activity Center. This will be a much-needed facility for our freshmen and sophomores to gather for their annual on-campus retreats. It will also serve as a place for Campus Ministry to prepare for school masses and plan service projects. We are so grateful to the Schneider family for their generosity in making this Retreat Center a reality. We are also excited about some campus improvement projects that are in the planning stages. We have started to draw up plans to renovate the student lunch area between the third building and gymnasium. This will include installing a new drainage system, resurfacing the area,

installing new tables and seating, and providing a cover. The architects of the Student Activity Center and Retreat Center have also drawn up plans for the installation of new field turf for Knights Stadium. This allweather surface will provide our student-athletes with a state-of-theart athletic facility. Additionally, we are working on plans to renovate the grotto adjacent to Knights Stadium and the weight room. We would like to thank all the members of our community for their support of the mission of Bishop Montgomery. Your generous gifts make it possible for us to provide our students with great facilities and equipment and an educational experience that develops each student spiritually, academically, physically and socially. Please know that each and every gift goes a long way in making these things possible. Sincerely,

Andy Marafino Director of Marketing and Public Relations

ALUMNI ATHLETE NEWS & NOTES • Omarr Smith ‘95 is the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. • Josh Jones ‘05 (#17, right) played for the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League. Following the completion of their season, Jones signed with the Utah Blaze of the Arena League • Rachel Clark ‘10, a volleyball player at the University of Virginia, was named to the Dean’s List at UVa in both the fall and spring semesters of her freshman year in 2010-2011.

Bishop Montgomery High School

• Jacklyn Duran ‘10 earned 1st Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in softball after an outstanding freshman season at the University of La Verne. She batted .403 in conference play and .383 overall. • Nolan Plummer ‘11 was named to the 1st Team Division III AllState football team by Max Preps.

KNIGHT PRIDE ANNUAL GIVING 2011-12 Bishop Montgomery High School relies upon the generosity of our entire school community -- alumni, parents, past parents, faculty, staff and friends -to assist us in providing our students with a quality, Catholic education.

A gift of only $10 from each BMHS alumnus would provide the school with over $150,000.

Consider making your gift to Knight Pride today!

Your tax-deductible contribution to Knight Pride is used to: *Enhance school programs - academics, music & arts, technology, athletics *Provide facility and equipment renovations & upgrades *Provide tuition assistance to students who would otherwise not be able to afford a BMHS education

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Spring/Summer 2011 • 23

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES MingleMedia TV. They also have three websites: CoupleDumb.com, ParentDumb.com and Dysaffirmation.com.

Send us your news and photos for publication in VERITAS. E-mail alumni@bmhs-la.org or send to: DevelopmentOffice Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90503 1967 Dr. Michael Weaver is Chief of Medicine at Kaiser Medical Center in Martinez, CA. 1972 Donna Fehlman-Lofton has been married to her husband, Reid, since 1977. They have three children - Elizabeth 33, Michael 32, and Gregory 28 - and three grandsons - Isaac 5, Joseph 3 and Max 4 weeks. Donna has been a midwife for years and loves her job (but not the hours). She was able to bring all three of her grandsons into this world. Jolene Kozeluh-Yowell is a compliance coordinator for NGL Supply, Inc. in Oklahoma. She has been married to her husband, Al, for 37 years. They have one daughter, Alene, 34. She moved to Oklahoma in 1978 and loves it. After working for Texaco for 22 years, they were purchased by Chevron. Not wanting to move to Houston, she took her severance, took some time off, and went back to work for NGL Supply. She feels fortunate to have worked for two great companies over the years. 1981 Eric Montenegro completed his Bachelor of Science degree in organizational security and management from the University of Phoenix. He is continuing with his master’s degree in administration of justice and security at the University of Phoenix. This continues his education after completing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worrkers local union 11 (I.B.E.W. #11) Electrical Apprenticeship Program and passing state certification. He currently designs security systems and offers consultations with the IBEW. 1983 Lauren Donovan-Bradford is the Director of Technology at Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, CA. She formerly served as the Vice President of IT at BRE Properties, Inc., Director of IT Operations at Virgin Records of America, and Internal Auditor with EMI Music Group. Elizabeth Reyes-Fournier works as a professional psychotherapist and is a writer along with her husband, Paul Reyes-Fournier ‘82, A few years ago, they published a book called Dysaffirmations: Because This Kind of Stupid Takes Work. They also host a web series called Relationship Rehab on 24 • Veritas

1989 Amy Meehan and her husband, Tony Echevarria, welcomed son Patrick James Antonio on April 7, 2011. Pat Sprengel, a Los Angeles County Firefighter, traveled to New Zealand in February as part of a Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team after the major earthquake hit the country. Video of Sprengel and the rescue team can be found on You Tube by searching “US Rescue Team Searches for Christchurch Survivors.” 1992 Andrew Dingman served in the US Navy from 1997-2006. He currently works at a major aerospace firm in Washington. 1994 Sharra Bucher-Goddard lived in Phoenix for 4 years, got married and worked as an educational interpreter for a local school district. She and her family moved to Texas, back to southern California, had baby #2, and now are back in Texas for the long haul. She has been married for 5 years and for now is a stay at home mom, but looking for more pay and less hours in a couple of years! :) Eric Fuller and his wife, Diana Jordan-Fuller, welcomed their son, Matthew Bradford, on April 21, 2011. 1995 Maj. Jordan Mastroianni, US Army, returned from Afghanistan in June after serving overseas for one year. On his tour of duty, he flew the C-12 doing surveillance. Upon his return, he was assigned to school at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 2003, Maj. Mastroianni served in Iraq where he piloted Black Hawk helicopters. During his 12 years in the military, he has been stationed in Germany, Italy, Alabama, Korea, South Carolina, Fort Hood, Iraq, and Afghanistan. May God bless him and all the military who are serving our country. Mandy Rogers-Kelley is blessed to be a full time mom. She has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Biological Sciences from the University of Northern Colorado. She and her husband, Jeff Kelley, are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary this September. 1997 Jeff Higbie and his wife, Harmony, welcomed their son, Samuel Haddon, on October 30, 2010. They reside in Underwood, ND where Jeff is pastor of Faith Evangelical Church (EFCA). Bishop Montgomery High School

1998 Justin Boren is an Assistant Professor of Communications at Santa Clara University. He received his Ph. D in communications from Arizona State University in July 2010.

1999 Andrew Abeita and Erika Gutierrez-Abeita ‘00 were married this past May. Stephanie Yong-Huynh and Michael Huynh, below left, were married on May 28, 2011 in Mammoth, CA. 2000 Erika Gutierrez-Abeita graduated in May from USC with a Master’s in occupational therapy. Amy Hubbell-Battle and her husband, Jimmy Battle, welcomed daughter Maggie Grace on June 13, 2011. 2nd Lt. Paolo Liwanag recently graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College with a BS in Nursing. In July 2011, he was promoted to 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force and will be serving as an Air Force Nurse. Becca Moran-Bateman married Michael Bateman on December 31, 2010. 2002 Chris Liggins and Monique Young were married on July 10, 2011 in Newport Beach. Pina Pumilia-Ramada married Jorge Ramada on June 18, 2011 Veronica Torres appeared on the cover of the March/ Aprill 2011 issue of Southbay Magazine. Torres, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, is a singer/ songwriter who has played at various venues in Los Angeles. More information about Torres and her music can be found at www.purevolume.com.

E-mail your news for “Class Notes” to alumni@bmhs-la.org

2004 Abrahim Bagheri and Jenny MeyerBagheri, below, were married on May 28, 2011.

BMHS Alumnus Graduates From the Naval Academy

2005 Cynthia Fuentes is currently working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 2007 Lauren Cooper, a recent graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with a degree in psychology/pre-med, has been accepted into medical school at Meharry College (TN). A-lan Holt, below, who graduated from Stanford in June, wrote and produced a play called “8ball” as part of her senior honors thesis. In the spring, “8ball” won the Dr. Floyd Gaffney National Playwriting Award at the James Baldwin New Play Festival. The play is a moving meditation on community and humanity during the drug wars in Los Angeles during the 1980’s. Holt’s work has been performed in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and internationally in Kampala, Uganda. She is also a four year member of the award winning Stanford Spoken Word Collective. Michelle Toomey has been accepted into the Teach for America Program and will teach high school English in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of San Diego in May 2011, and has been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. 2008 Jasmine Frank appeared on the first season of The Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” She is the youngest competitor to appear on the show. She owns her own cupcake business called Jazzy Cakes. To contact her, visit www.jazzycakesla.com.

n May 27, 2011, BMHS alumnus Chris Dippel ‘07 officially became a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps when he graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Along with over 1,000 fellow Midshipmen, Dippel received his diploma, took an oath of office, and was commissioned into the Marines in front of over 30,000 people at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Included in the crowd were many members of Dippel’s family, including his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Dippel, pictured at left. The emotional commencement address was delivered by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, pictured above right congratulating Dippel. After a short vacation following graduation, Dippel reported to Quantico, Virginia to begin training in the United States Marine Corps.

2010 Christian Carrillo was named to the Spring 2011 Dean’s List at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Kyle Olsen, below, completed his first year at College of the Holy Cross (MA). He is a majoring in political science with a minor in Russian and a concentration in peace and conflicts studies. He is also involved with a collegesponsored Christian service program. Over fall break, he took his first service trip to New Jersey to work in homeless shelters. He spent his spring break in Virginia building decks and wheelchair ramps and refurbishing a church. Additionally, he volunteers once a week at a senior citizen care center for Alzheimer’s patients. On campus, Olsen serves as a studenthost for visitors interested in attending Holy Cross and he was one of the freshman bloggers who wrote about college life on the East Coast. His blog is available at www.me.holycross. edu. Olsen was also named to the Dean’s List.

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Join the “Bishop Montgomery High School Alumni” group on FACEBOOK www.facebook.com

Spring/Summer 2011 • 25

CLASS NOTES

REUNIONS & EVENTS

Recent Reunions & Events

Class of 1971

In Memoriam Bishop Montgomery extends its prayers to the families of members of our community who have passed away:

Alumni

Alumni Families

Barbara Nicksich-Norton ‘61 passed away on February 12, 2011 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She worked for Magnavox, Hughes and Raytheon and retired after 44 years of service. She was married to her husband, Donald, for 40 years before his death. She is also preceeded in death by her parents, Anthony and Mildred Nicksich, and her sister, Mildred Nicksich-Marcum ‘65. She is survived by her sister, Audrey Nicksich-Gioiello.

Larry Bower, father of Justin Bower ‘83, Erin Bower-Johnson ‘84, Anne Bower-Shirer ‘86, and Mary Bower-Warner ‘91 and grandfather of Rachel Bower ‘11 and Jacob Bower ‘14.

Sr. Sharon Ann Breden, CSJ ‘63 passed away on April 21, 2011. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet in 1963 and influenced many lives as a teacher and administrator. She served at Queen of All Saints Elementary in Concord, Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego, Carondolet HS in Concord, Star of the Sea HS in San Francisco, Notre Dame HS in Belmont and finally St. Victor’s Elementary in San Jose, where she was principal for thirteen years. She is survived by her sister, Dr. Mary Breden ‘67. James Meehan ‘73 passed away on March 6, 2011 in Hawaii. He moved to Hawaii permanently in 1977 and met his wife, Elena. Together, they had four children, Shannon, Thomas, Kyle and Arlene. He is also survived by four grandchildren, his mother, Ann Meehan, two sisters, Bridget Meehan-McLeod ‘68 and Monica Meehan and a brother, Patrick Meehan. Andrew Kerby ‘84 passed away on April 20, 2011. He worked with his brother as an auto mechanic in the South Bay and maintained a license as an aircraft mechanic in Washington. He is survived by his three children, Janice, Logan, and Cynthia, his grandson, Oswald, and his three siblings, Joe Kerby ‘74, Jackie Kerby ‘75, and Carmela Kerby-Strange ‘76. Kevin Sharp ‘76 passed away on June 27, 2011 in Georgia. He was raised in San Pedro and attended Holy Trinity. He was preceeded in death by his sister, Peggy Sharp ‘75. He is survived by his siblings, Kathleen Briare, Daniel Sharp, Patricia Sharp ‘78, and Maureen Marquez. Elizabeth Szucs ‘90 passed away on June 4, 2011. She resided in Torrance and was a teacher at West Torrance HS. She is survived by her sister, Irene Szucs ‘93. 26 • Veritas

Anne Rhilinger, mother of Anne RhilingerCrofut ‘65, Susan Rhilinger, Charles Rhilinger ‘69, Michele Rhilinger, Mary Rhilinger, Marcia Rhilinger, Paul Rhilinger ‘79, Rick Rhilinger ‘80, and Brian Rhilinger ‘83.

Jill Brierley, wife of Casey Brierley ‘73.

John Silengo, husband of Sharon Garvey-Silengo ‘72.

Francesca DeGuzman, mother of Mitchell DeGuzman ‘03 and Stephen DeGuzman ‘04.

Anthony Timko, father of Marie Timko-Hazelwood ‘78, Allan Timko ‘80, Judy Timko ‘83 and Karen Timko.

Sophia Donlou, mother of John Donlou, MD ‘63, Stephanie Donlou ‘65 and Maria Elena Berry. Helen Donohoe, mother of Fran DonohoePitts ‘67. Lt. Col. Robert Goebel, father of Robert Goebel ‘64, Patricia Goebel-Arritt ‘66, Therese Goebel-Silveria ‘67, Thomasine Geobel ‘70, Mark Goebel ‘72, James Geobel ‘75, and Karen Goebel-Satterlee ‘78. Nora Humting, mother of Mary HumtingKnoll ‘69 and Joan Humting-Carbonel ‘73. Kathleen Jamison, mother of Tom Jamison ‘64 and Bob Jamison ‘68.. Timothea Kelly, mother of John Kelly ‘88, Kathryn Kelly ‘91, and Richard Kelly. Leo Leonelli, MD, father of Laura Leonelli ‘72, Steve Leonelli ‘73, David Leonelli ‘75, Lisa Leonelli-Gallego ‘76, Dan Leonelli ‘78, Mark Leonelli ‘80, Mindy Leonelli-Batty ‘82, and Mia Leonelli-McNamee ‘84. Virginia Lippman, mother of Gilbert Lippman ‘65, Joan Lippman-Mercado ‘66, Dorothy Lippman-Salovesh ‘68, Pat Lippman-Reams ‘69, Bill Lippman ‘71, Teresa LippmanWoods ‘72, and Ron Lippman ‘77. Eleanor Manis, mother of Mary Manis ‘66 and Michele Manis-Cahill ‘71. James McClain, father of Pat McClain ‘64, Mike McClain ‘67, Dan McClain ‘75, Susan McClain-Wells ‘72, and Ann McClain-Guerra ‘78. Bishop Montgomery High School

The Class of 1971 held their 40th reunion on July 16, 2011 at the Long Beach Marriott. The entire “alumni weekend” was a huge success. Special thank you to Mary Pat Smith ‘71 for keeping everyone in the class and all of us here at BMHS up-to-date on all the events and news going on with the wonderful Class of ‘71!

Upcoming Reunions & Events

Class of 1961 (50th) October 22, 2011 Ports O’ Call Restaurant, San Pedro grammyhunter@sbcglobal.net

Class of 1991 (20th) October 15, 2011 Torrance Marriott www.reunion.tabaldo.com

LEFT:

(l to r) Nancy BabinMcLemore ‘71, Colleen Connelly-Stanovich ‘71, Cyndi Wagner-Douglass ‘71 and Sammye SplawnLacy ‘71 at the Class of 1971 reunion.

Class of 2001 (10th) October 22, 2011 BMHS Gymnasium 6:00 - 11:00 pm bmhsreunion01@gmail.com Facebook - Bishop Montgomery: Class of 2001

Current Families

Class of 1981

Gabriela Rubiano, mother of Natalia Rubiano ‘14.

The Class of 1981 held their 30th reunion on July 16, 2011 at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo.

Faculty & Staff

LEFT: Marcus Harvell, a longtime BMHS security guard, died on June 22, 2011. For a complete story please see page 8 of this magazine.

Rev. John Joseph Mikula, O.F.M., Conv, a faculty member and administrator from 19591972, died on March 26, 2011 at the age of 80. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 22, 1956 and soon began teaching at BMHS. While at BMHS, Fr. Mikula taught world history and religion and served as the Boys’ Vice Principal (1970-71) and the Director of Student Activites (1971-72). He also served as the history department chairperson and as a moderator of several clubs and groups on campus, including the camera club, yearbook, journalism workshop, junior and senior advisor and athletic moderator. Dick Deyer, a neighbor and friend of BMHS, died April 21, 2011. Deyer was instrumental in helping Bishop Montgomery in the building of the Student Activity Center.

Members of the Class of 1981 share some laughs at their 30th reunion held on July 16, 2011.

ABOVE: (l to r) Pat O’Toole ‘71, Dave Reams ‘71, and Brad Williams ‘71 at the Class of 1971 reunion. Consider holding your reunion back on campus. Facilities and tours are available. Times and dates are subject to availability. Contact the Development Office at 310-540-2021 ext. 246 or e-mail alumni@bmhs-la.org.

9th Annual BMHS/Morgan Miranda Memorial Golf Tournament The 9th Annual BMHS/Morgan Miranda Golf Tournament was held on June 17, 2011 at Lakewood Golf Course. Once again, it was a perfect southern California day as alumni, parents, coaches and friends came out for a day of golf and dinner. All proceeds went to the Morgan Miranda Memorial Scholarship for tuition assistance at BMHS. The tournament and scholarship are named in memory of the BMHS Class of 2000 alumnus, Morgan Miranda, who died in 2002.

VERITASMagazine

Bishop Montgomery High School 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, California 90503 (310) 540-2021 www.bmhs-la.org

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. Postage

PAID Torrance, CA Permit No. 317

Go to www.bmhs-la.org to watch our video slideshow about Bishop Montgomery High School

HOMECOMING 2011 October 21, 2011

Football Gam

• 6:00 pm • Knights Stad ium • vs. Don Bosc o Tec

In-N-Out BBQ

• 4:00 - 7:00 pm ch Area • Student Lun ts Available ke • Pre-Sale Tic

ALUMNI Purchase a BBQ ticket and get a ticket to the game FREE! For more information about BBQ and Game Tickets, go to www.bmhs-la.org or call 310.540.2021 ext. 249