Who are those guys anyway?
Friday, August 7, 2020 Glendoveer Golf Course • Noon Shotgun Start
Four-person scramble with boxed lunch, followed by dinner and awards ceremony. Fun challenges along the way! Cost is $150 per person or $600 for a foursome. Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: Who are these students who were the grand prize winners of the student fundraiser? Identify the students above, submit your guesses, and the winner will be chosen in a random drawing in May. Contact Alaina Hill in the Advancement Office with your guess: ahill@centralcatholichigh.org or 503.230.1056 ext. 1229. Congratulations to Francis Maribona ‘66 who correctly identified the individuals (below) in the summer issue of the Central Catholic Magazine.
There are many more opportunities and levels for sponsorship! Contact Sara Wright, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement at 503.230.1056 ext. 1243 or swright@centralcatholichigh.org if you are interested in supporting the Ram Open.
Save the Date!
Tim Ramstad, Chris Connell, and Fr. Dernbach
R E U N I O N S
Marquee Reunions All Classes of the 1940s Class of 1950 • 70-Year Reunion Class of 1960 • 60-Year Reunion Class of 1970 • 50-Year Reunion Class of 1980 • 40-Year Reunion Saturday, August 8, 2020 • 5:00 p.m. Central Catholic Campus Register online: centralcatholichigh.org ••• More Reunion Information
Class of 2010 • July 25, 2020
Ariana Johnson, Mary (Wilson) Mauldin, Maria Shank, and Siobhan O’Malley are organizing the reunion. For more information contact Siobhan at siobhan.omalley@gmail.com Please contact Sara Wright, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, swright@centralcatholichigh.org or 503.230.1056 ext. 1243 if you are interested in organizing your reunion. see the Reunion Guide on the alumni page of the website for more information.
Features: On the Cover
Annaliese Krausse ’20 puts the finishing touches on her project in Rick Lorenz’s Stained Glass class. You can read about the Lorenz Family Fund which will help underwrite the arts on page 6.
Volume 27 • Number 1 • Spring 2020 Central Catholic Magazine is a publication of Central Catholic High School 2401 SE Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214 503.230.1056 • centralcatholichigh.org
Student Profile: Claire Krebs ’22 Page 4
Leadership Rev. Msgr. Timothy Murphy ’58, President Emeritus Colin McGinty, President Danyelle Ramsey, Principal Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement Board of Directors Gina Hill, Chair Matt Chapman ’68 Rev. Jeff Eirvin Tim Fleischmann ’79 Dave Gorretta ’87 Harry Hanna ’93 Therese Leineweber Colin McGinty Jonathan McGowan ’92 Connie Ozyjowski Molly Paustian ’85 Sarah Petrone ’94 Jeannie Ray-Timoney Ellen Ridgeway Char Riley Paul Scarlett Bill Winter ’58 Bro. William Dygert, CSC, Ex-Officio Jo Willhite, Ex-Officio Publisher/Layout and Design Jolyn Winczewski Director of Scholarships and Publications
Celebrating Father Murphy ’58 Page 7
Vision for Success Page 8
Contributing Writers Ellie Dir Colleen Newell Editing Team Cindy Hart Alaina Hill Elaine Payne Sara Wright Contributing Photographers Christina Kempster ’09 Colleen Newell
Alumni Profile: Scott Clark ’04 Page 10
Central Catholic High School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, The Western Catholic Education Association, and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Notice of non-discrimination as it applies to students and employees at Central Catholic High School:
Central Catholic High School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school administered programs. Likewise, Central Catholic High School does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender.
What’s Up With You? Page 12 Spring 2020 |1
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
Colleen Newell
Giving Tuesday
Within days of joining the Advancement team at Central Catholic, Colleen Newell, Communications and Annual Giving Coordinator, implemented a phenomenally successful Giving Tuesday, developed messaging for an appeal letter for the Central Catholic Fund, and interviewed a number of our graduates for our social media and marketing collateral (including tech entrepreneur Scott Clark ’04 whose profile is featured on page 10 of this magazine). Colleen also photographed school Masses, assemblies, and events and engaged innumerable constituents on our social media platforms via entertaining and well-crafted tweets and posts throughout our successful run to the 2019 state football championships, all while calmly troubleshooting issues with the website or figuring out the best way to provide online registrations for events and activities.
2019 was the second time in recent years that Central Catholic participated in Giving Tuesday and we are grateful to those who donated. Responding to a match from our Board of Directors, 149 supporters stepped up to help us raise $40,214 for tuition assistance. Among these donors were 131 alumni representing every decade of Central Catholic’s existence, 33 of those being GOLD alumni. (GOLD: Graduates of the Last Decade)
Welcome!
Newell is a graduate of La Salle High School (the one in Yakima) and Seattle University. With a year as a Lasallian Volunteer at the Brother David Darst Center for Social Justice in Chicago, followed by three years in Washington, DC as the Development Coordinator at San Miguel School, she comes by her work ethic and ability to multi-task naturally. At San Miguel she supported all functions of their Advancement effort including publications, social media, donor relations, database management, and execution of the school’s largest fundraising event. It is a privilege to have her as the newest member of the Central Catholic Advancement Team. Welcome to the Ramily, Colleen!
Student Fundraiser More Than a Game
We’d like to express our gratitude to the Central Catholic community and student body for their support of the 2019 Students4Students Fundraiser (S4S). With a new mobile-friendly online fundraising platform and a highly engaged student committee led by Alaina Hill, who developed a new prize structure and marketing strategies (including an all-school assembly which launched the fundraiser), new life was breathed into the student fundraiser, a Central Catholic tradition since the 1960s. Raising $180,000 (a $60,000 increase over the previous year), S4S saw a 20% increase in participation from students and engagement by their families, as well as the addition of 200 new donors, including many alumni donors who took calls from and supported students in their fundraising efforts.
2 | Central Catholic Magazine
24 Hours of Generosity
Thanks to all members of the Ramily who gave to S4S and Giving Tuesday! You are helping us advance Central Catholic’s mission to develop critical thinkers who are the best versions of themselves, prepared for where their gifts meet the world.
Stark Talks 2019
What is the role of a free press in a democracy? That’s the question we explored in-depth during our semi-annual Stark Talks event on November 20, 2019. The evening consisted of a panel discussion moderated by Social Studies Department Chair, Geoff Stuckart. A diverse group of panelists spoke on this topic including: Therese Bottomly, editor of the Oregonian; Nigel Jaquiss, reporter for Willamette Week and Pulitzer Prize Winner; and Terry Petty, author and former Head of Operations for the Associated Press in Oregon. (Coincidentally, all three of our panelists are parents of Central Catholic graduates!) The room was filled with nearly 100 members of our Central Catholic community and the panel discussion was guided by questions our audience members submitted beforehand. Many of the questions and responses explored themes of tensions between the press and society, a result of our country’s current political strife. However, our panelists emphasized the importance of reporting facts, fact-checking, and how they strive to continually be unbiased in their work. It was a lively discussion and our audience was engaged and eager to chat with the panelists after the event ended.
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS Name: Dave Gorretta ‘87 Occupation: Audit Leader, Pacific Northwest Group Organization: Deloitte Description: Deloitte is a global professional services firm specializing in audit, tax, and consulting Professional background: I’m a CPA and a Partner in Deloitte’s Audit Practice. I’ve served a variety of local and international clients in my career, and currently serve as the Leader of our Pacific Northwest Audit Practice. Education: B.S. in Accounting, University of Notre Dame, 1991 Residence: Vancouver, Washington Central Catholic connection: Many family connections including my wife, Julie (Warfield) ’87, my dad, Carl Gorretta ’60, my three brothers: Mark ’88, Kevin ’93, and Steve ’96; Julie’s three sisters: Susanne ’85, Kristine ’91, and Melissa ’99; our three children: Nicole ’16, Lexi ‘18, and Lucas ’21; as well as many nieces and nephews. What would you like to see as a legacy of your service to Central Catholic? Continued support for the Central Catholic community that has been such a large part of my family’s story. I’d like to make sure Central Catholic is well positioned to continue to be a highly desired school in our community, as well as make sure that we help our students continue to develop the life and career skills that will be required to thrive in the rapidly-transforming world. Yardstick of success: I really measure success by the successes of those I’m leading and coaching. Mentors: Too many to list in my professional career, but certainly my parents in so many ways throughout my life. Word that best describes you: Committed Like best about Board of Directors’ work: The ability to stay connected to the Central Catholic community, and to have a role in shaping the future of our mission. Most important lesson learned serving on the School Board: Similar to other boards I’ve served on, show up, be prepared to listen, don’t be afraid to speak up, and never forget who you are here to serve. Person you are most interested in meeting: My first grandchild (someday, many years in the future). Pet peeves: Meetings without a clear purpose, people with negative attitudes, and flights that get canceled for no obvious reason. Greatest passion (besides Central Catholic): Family vacations and Notre Dame football. First choice for a new career: Writer/author or professional golfer (neither of which I’m particularly well suited for). Favorite quote: “The best things in life aren’t things” – Art Buchwald Most influential book: The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt Favorite website: Various news and sports sites – I’m not a huge consumer of social media. Favorite cause: Catholic schools, Catholic Charities Favorite movie: Airplane – at least it’s the one I quote the most Favorite musician: Elton John Most treasured possession: none - I’ve always tended to value experiences over possessions. Favorite vacation destination: Italy Favorite restaurant: Piazza Italia (it’s my brother’s place, what else could I put?). Favorite way to spend time: On the golf course or with family.
Name: Connie Ozyjowski Occupation: Associate Director of Donor Engagement Organization: University of Portland Description: University of Portland is a private, Catholic university Professional background: Spent 15 years in compliance and administration for PaineWebber. All Saints School volunteer: Chair, School Advisory Committee (four years). Auction Chair (two years), still serving on the Endowment Committee. Currently the Associate Director of Donor Engagement at University of Portland (six years). Education: M.A. Accounting and Business and Administration: Coe College. M.B.A. Nonprofit Management: University of Portland. Spouse: Ozzie Ozyjowski Children: John ‘16 and Hank ‘18 Residence: Portland, Oregon Central Catholic connection: Two sons graduated from Central Catholic What would you like to see as a legacy of your service to Central Catholic? Helping Central Catholic continue to engage their strong alumni network and increase the amount of financial support they graciously offer the school. Yardstick of success: Increased donations and attendance at stewardship events Mentors: Bill Reed, Suzanne Richards Word that best describes you: Conscientious Like best about Board of Directors’ work: Staying connected to an institution that means a lot to my family. Person you are most interested in meeting: Peggy Noonan Pet peeves: Tardiness Greatest passion (besides Central Catholic): My family First choice for a new career: Pediatric Oncologist Favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou Most influential book: On Fire by John O’Leary Favorite cause: Scholarship support Favorite movie: Usual Suspects Favorite musician: Van Morrison Most treasured possession: Grandma’s Christmas wreath pin Favorite vacation destination: Portugal Favorite restaurant: 3 Doors Down Cafe Favorite way to spend time: Family dinner with the boys and friends.
Meet another new board member in the next issue of the Central Catholic Magazine: Jeannie Ray-Timoney
Spring 2020 |3
STUDENT PROFILE
Claire Krebs Class of 2022
With school, sports, homework, and countless other extracurricular activities, it’s easy for high school students to get buried in their endless assignments and schedules. At Central Catholic, however, we strive to help our students do more than just accomplish a set of tasks. With the introduction of our Vision for Success, we are encouraging our students to incorporate and live out the four virtues our school community is focusing on this year: faith, responsibility, honesty, and courage. Many students have found the Vision for Success instrumental in guiding their lives, and for sophomore Claire Krebs these virtues have been critical to her formation and time at Central Catholic. Claire has a packed schedule this year. She is on Community Council, the Communicare Committee, participates in cross country and varsity lacrosse, and is also in Sock Club (yes, we have a sock club!). Along with her academics and extracurricular activities, she regularly volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, is on her way to becoming a middle school tutor, and is training to be a referee for youth lacrosse. With this demanding schedule, Claire has embraced the four virtues to maintain order and intentionality in everything she does. Of the four virtues that Central Catholic has been incorporating across the school, responsibility has been most essential to Claire this year. “Responsibility applies to virtually all aspects of my life, because it helps me keep on top of various tasks,” Claire explains. “If I try to be responsible and disciplined, then all of the other virtues are easier to live out. By holding myself accountable for the work that I put into different areas of my life, I can somewhat control what comes out of my experiences, which proves to be a powerful habit.” In addition to responsibility, Claire has also found faith and courage to be important virtues in her life. “The virtue of faith is displayed strongly through service,” she notes. “Part of our faith has to do with helping those in need, and it is important to find an organization that feels fulfilling to volunteer at in order to get true value out of the experience.” Additionally, she explains how the virtue of courage has been especially present throughout her time at Central Catholic. “This year, because of my position on Community Council, I have had many opportunities to use courage. Courage has helped me to develop my leadership and public speaking qualities, which will be extremely useful in the future.” Claire has exemplified the role virtue plays in our lives. By focusing more on these virtues with our school community, our goal is for students to recognize their talents and strengths and live them out in a way that benefits both them and their communities. 4 | Central Catholic Magazine
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Students performed on stage for the Theatre Department’s production of Out of the Frying Pan!
Our school community came together to celebrate Our Lady of La Vang. This inaugural celebration at Central Catholic was rich in language, tradition, and faith.
Sydney-Leela Thomas ’23 and Olivia Paternoster ’23 brought in bags of blankets to donate for the Week of Giving.
Joey Harrington ’97 spoke to our freshman Character in Leadership Academy cohort about the importance of resilience, courage, and determination.
Ram football players and coaches celebrate their 49-28 victory over Lake Oswego High School in the 6A OSAA Football State Championship.
Students engaged with 35 local and statewide elected officials and representatives during the annual Democracy in Action event.
Central Catholic held its first-ever Human Dignity Summit, “Central State of Mind” where over 150 guests, including students from local middle schools joined us. With two keynote speeches by Joseph Lucero and Aisha Fukushima sandwiching 30 breakout workshops, we delved into a range of issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. Spring 2020 |5
LEGACY FUND PROFILE
The Lorenz Family Fund
Supporting the Art Program In October, Central Catholic celebrated long-time art teacher and volleyball coach, Rick Lorenz, honoring him with a reception in the Weston Commons that drew more than 200 alumni, parents, and friends. The occasion marked Lorenz’s retirement, first from coaching (2019 was his last season), and then from teaching, which will occur at the end of this school year. Lorenz is well known around the region for his successful coaching career in volleyball, but to our Central Catholic community, he is especially known as a beloved and skillful art teacher. He has inspired thousands of young artists over the decades, in particular, through his popular stained glass art classes. After news spread of his impending retirement, momentum began building around the idea of honoring Lorenz with a fund that would promote the arts at Central Catholic. Thus, the Lorenz Family Fund was born; a fund to help underwrite the art program at Central Catholic. While scholarships are critical to accessibility for Central Catholic students, Legacy funds, like the Lorenz Family Fund, help build and sustain excellence in our programs and facilities. The Central Catholic endowment currently has more than 100 endowed scholarships or Legacy funds. Endowed funds support the school in perpetuity as only proceeds from the funds are withdrawn and disbursed once the fund reaches a minimum balance of $25,000. Donors contribute to the funds either in one lump sum or over a period of time, typically three to five years. At present, the Lorenz Family Fund needs an additional $12,000 to reach full endowment status. Lorenz has been a teacher and coach at Central Catholic for over 30 years and his investment in our school community is more than just professional. Lorenz reflects on the impact that Central Catholic has, “When you send your children here, as I have, this place gets under your skin in a deeper kind of way. Central Catholic is more than just my workplace. It’s my family, it’s my calling. Anything I can do to help sustain the mission of this school…well, I’m all in.” He continues, “The fact that the community has come together to start the Lorenz Family Fund in support of our art program is incredibly meaningful to me. I can’t wait to see the impact it will have in the years to come.” Legacy funds like the Lorenz Family Fund help ensure that our programs continue to operate at the highest level of excellence. If you would like to honor Rick Lorenz’s legacy by helping the Lorenz Family Fund become fully endowed, please make a gift online or call Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement at 503.230.1056, ext. 1258 for more information. It’s a wonderful way to advance the mission of Central Catholic and to help our students reach their full potential, preparing them for where their gifts meet the world. 6 | Central Catholic Magazine
FOREVER YOUNG
Celebrating Msgr. Murphy Look Who’s 80!
On March 2, 2020, more than 400 Central Catholic alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to celebrate Msgr. Murphy’s 80th birthday. It was a packed house and the room was abuzz with chatter and laughter as our guests waited in line to wish Msgr. Murphy happy birthday. This turnout was just a small representation of the huge impact that Msgr. Murphy has had on thousands of people over the years. Those who ventured over to 24th and Stark Street included everyone from Msgr. Murphy’s grade school classmates, to students from his days teaching at Regis High School, to current students at Central Catholic. The diversity of individuals shows just how far and wide Msgr. Murphy’s impact has been! We are so grateful to everyone who was able to attend the celebration. It was a wonderful way to honor and recognize a person who has done so much for our community and so many people! The following acknowledgment was mailed to those who contributed to the Rev. Msgr. Timothy Murphy ‘58 Scholarship in honor of his birthday. Msgr. Murphy also extends his thanks to those who could not attend, but were sending well-wishes from afar: Dear Friends, Among other events at Central Catholic during the month was an 80th birthday evening. Family and friends gathered in the cafeteria as the “crust” settled on one in their midst. He was humbled by the adulation, but more importantly, enjoyed the conversations in the midst of family, friends, classmates, former students, and teachers, all of whom have played a part in shaping his Central Catholic years. Back in the mid-80s the musical world offered as theme, “Forever Young.” The more recent March 2 evening provided visuals that, no matter the year or time of year, via family, friends, faith, and community, each of us enjoys the potential to be “forever young.” Serving our young people as gifts, with their energies and vulnerabilities, supplies the constant as forever young. Many thanks and blessings to all of you who were part of the evening, whether by way of your presence, your note, or your gift, or any combination of the three. Gratitude and prayers are with you and your families.
Rev. Msgr. Tim Murphy ‘58 Spring 2020 |7
VISION FOR SUCCESS
FAITH
Faithful | Just
We listen to our hearts and embrace hope and optimism.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | WHERE CHARACTER MATTERS
Vision for Success Looking Forward
The impact of a Central Catholic education on the lives of its students is well understood by our alumni. After 80 years of providing a rigorous education and developing young men and women of character, Central Catholic remains committed to working and engaging with the larger community. Like all schools, we have evolved over several years and gained additional perspectives. As a result, there has been a need to make more explicit the direction in which Central Catholic will continue to move over the next 80 years of existence. This year, Central Catholic has embraced a Vision for Success, an initiative to help expand, define, and make our mission more explicit and better known. Central Catholic has added new leadership in the past few years, and with these changes come additional perspectives and opportunities. Colin McGinty was named President in 2017, Danyelle Ramsey was named as Principal in 2019, and several new members have been added to our Board of Directors. New leadership and changes were the catalyst for creating this Vision for Success. On the timing of implementing this Vision, Principal Danyelle Ramsey noted, “It’s really intentional that we set forth this vision as an opportunity for us to not necessarily change the culture of Central Catholic, but to refine and define who we are and what we stand for.” The new leadership arrives after decades of work that has made Central Catholic the exceptional school that it is today, and is building upon work done by former presidents and principals. Ramsey is quick to recognize the accomplishments of those who have preceded her: “The work that’s been done by John Harrington ’66, John Garrow ’76, and countless others to get to a place where this Vision of Success is possible, is not something we should shy away from.” She continues, “We have been really humble with our work and I think we still approach our work with a lot of humility, but it’s time for us to recognize that the work we’re doing at Central Catholic is impressive.” 8 | Central Catholic Magazine
The process for creating this Vision for Success was lengthy and engaged multiple stakeholders of the Central Catholic community. The initial conversation was sparked at a Board of Directors retreat in the fall of 2018, where conversations started about how they envision the school and how it will engage the school community across a 15-20 year horizon. At the same time, the school was undergoing accreditation, which provided great opportunities to collect data from all stakeholders about the current state of the school, issues that needed work, and its overall health and wellness. All of these factors, including new leadership, culminated at the right time for Central Catholic and sparked the opportunity to create a new Vision. In the spring of 2019, the leadership of Central Catholic conducted a two-day offsite retreat with a number of people who provided perspectives from all stakeholders: alumni, parents (both past and present), board members, faculty, and staff. A professional moderator facilitated the retreat, helping the leadership understand what all stakeholders felt the school was about today, and what the opportunities were to align with the future. From this meeting, the leadership team and stakeholders created what we consider our vision for the school—our Vision for Success. Central Catholic’s Vision for Success consists of four distinct and critical points: 1. Central Catholic is the most desired high school. The word choice in this is very important, and President Colin McGinty emphasizes this distinction: “The word ‘desire’ really calls out something that people want to be a part of.” McGinty also notes the importance of this statement in conjunction with driving the school forward, explaining, “Continuing down a road of clearly defining who we are, identifying what makes us distinct, and calling that out in an explicit way, will attract those who not only want to join our community but also want to invest themselves in it. For us to share this with a broad audience, we need to be able to articulate this.” 2. Central Catholic offers a rigorous education rooted in equity, collaboration, and a Catholic worldview. The Catholic worldview is extremely important to Central Catholic and is at the forefront of all we do. We continue
VISION FOR SUCCESS to remain true to our Catholic roots. The rigorous education component goes hand in hand with this worldview, as we do an exemplary job of reflecting the community we serve. Ramsey notes, “Our hope is that we’re helping develop young men and women to understand the world from such a context that they can go off in their lives and have a profound impact in the community where they live.” Our primary purpose as a Catholic educational institution is first and foremost to develop our students as people of faith and character, and our Vision for Success supports this work. 3. Central Catholic provides robust educational opportunities in an inclusive and supportive community. Central Catholic has always been a community that supports everybody. “Our faculty supports our students in a very sincere and genuine way. We want to make sure we continue to keep that a part of who we are,” McGinty notes. “I am very proud of the inclusive nature of the school.” This environment of inclusivity and support is known to anyone who has been involved in some way at Central Catholic. Making explicit the community aspect of the school will enable us to remain true to who we’ve always been, as well as increase awareness about this inclusivity to the larger community. 4. Central Catholic develops critical thinkers who are the best versions of themselves, prepared for where their gifts meet the world. This final point focuses on helping students learn how to be thinkers, learn how to ask questions, and do so in a framework that is supportive and healthy. “We’re focused on developing people who are going to become change agents in this world, and bring forth into the world the things they learned here,” McGinty explains. “Every person has gifts from God, and it’s both our opportunity and obligation to help bring and deliver them into the world.” This Vision for Success was crafted with intentionality, prayer, and a focus on the continued success of Central Catholic. This year, its inaugural year, the Vision for Success has been used as a lens through which decisions are made. It has been especially beneficial for our school leadership, as Ramsey states, “It allows us to make sure that the messaging, the work, from high level down is all clear on why we exist and what our goals are and how we’re going to get there.” She notes, “What we have
done really well so far is continually revisiting the Vision for decision making, in terms of resources, time, attention, and that it is connected intentionally and purposefully with our vision and where we want to be.” In addition to this top-down approach to living out the Vision, Central Catholic has implemented it in a more explicit manner. As a way to connect with the Vision, our school community will focus on four character virtues each year. This year we are focusing on faith, responsibility, honesty, and courage. These virtues are visible in the hallways, integrated in any co-curricular activity, and teachers are making connections to them in the classroom. Integrating these virtues into every facet of our school community has allowed us to grow in Catholicity and be people of virtue. Living out these virtues will enable us to fully embrace the Vision for Success. Central Catholic’s Vision for Success is the right step in continuing the mission of our school at this point in our history. With new leadership and opportunity for growth, we have set in motion this Vision to ultimately benefit our students and the larger community. Ramsey states, “Our goal is to help each student actualize who they are and how they’re being called to use their gifts as they move forward from this place.” This Vision helps foster growth in our students, not just academically but as individuals who will be prepared for where their gifts meet the world. Our primary purpose as a Catholic educational institution is first and foremost to develop our students as people of faith and character, and our Vision for Success supports this work. As we move forward and continue to implement the Vision for Success in our school, we invite our larger community to join us. Our stakeholders will help us make possible this Vision of being a place where we are developing students of character and virtues. Ramsey states, “I would close with an invitation. If someone has read this article, looked at the Vision, or seen something about the school that seems different to them, there is an invitation to re-engage with us.” As a school community we need our stakeholders to partner with us. This vision is a continuation of the journey they experienced while they were involved in Central Catholic. Ramsey concludes, “We need them to be with us on the way forward. So whatever we can do, that invitation is always there.”
HONESTY
We abide by the truth. Relational | Responsible
CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | WHERE CHARACTER MATTERS Spring 2020 |9
ALUMNI PROFILE of SigOpt, Clark continues to lead the company with responsibility and character; fundamental values that Central Catholic helped to cultivate. Clark credits Central Catholic not only with helping lay the groundwork for his academic successes, but also for fostering character growth and development that has driven his life and work. Clark’s astounding academic career was set in motion by his time at Central Catholic, but he wasn’t a perfect student in high school. He is the first to admit, “I wasn’t a straight-A student. I got in trouble plenty of times — worse than plenty of times.” Despite not being a model student, Clark was immersed in a challenging class schedule with plenty of guidance and support from his teachers. The rigorous academics were part of why he chose Central Catholic. “I was always very interested in the math programs and it was one of the reasons that drove me here.” Clark took advantage of the advanced math classes that were offered, completing Honors Geometry/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Calculus II throughout his time at Central Catholic. In addition to the math classes, Clark took several Advanced Placement classes, which helped set him ahead of his classmates in college. “I was able to start college with about a year’s worth of credits,” he notes. “Relative to my peers entering college, it was very obvious the depth I was able to come in with, as opposed to having to learn on the fly.”
Scott Clark Class of 2004
The word “character” usually doesn’t come to mind when thinking of a tech entrepreneur. A tech entrepreneur can elicit thoughts of a hard-charging CEO running a big company, battling to be on top in today’s economy of ravenous tech consumers. But for Central Catholic alum and tech entrepreneur, Scott Clark, “character” describes him precisely. Clark is the co-founder and CEO of SigOpt, a software company located in the heart of San Francisco. SigOpt helps large tech companies, academics, and other organizations optimize their research and artificial intelligence tools. Clark conceived of the idea for SigOpt while completing his Ph.D. at Cornell University, and over several years he grew it into a successful company. He was even recognized for his developing entrepreneurship in 2016, being named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. With his solid academic foundation contributing to the success 10 | Central Catholic Magazine
With a great educational foundation from Central Catholic, Clark embarked on his impressive academic journey. After graduation, he attended Oregon State University, where he earned bachelor of science degrees in three disciplines: Mathematics, Physics, and Computational Physics. Clark then went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Computer Science and his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University. Upon reflection, he notes how formative his time at Central Catholic was in forging the path for his academics, “What I actually learned in the classroom, especially around those Advanced Placement classes, helped prepare me for college, which then prepared me for the rest of my career.” The rigorous education from Central Catholic has contributed to the success in his academics and career. However, what stands out in Clark is the character and values that pervade every aspect of his life. These values were formed and began to shape his life during his time at Central Catholic. While he wasn’t a perfect student — his experience at Central was critical in fostering his personal growth. “Central
ALUMNI PROFILE Catholic has this unique combination of letting people explore and learn and fail, but has that safety, that guardrail that kept you on track,” he reflects. Clark’s ability to make mistakes but still have support from his teachers was the ideal space for him to thrive and become who he is today. “It was this type of environment where, as long as you learned, as long as you kept growing, they kept letting you do that.” Clark continues, “That was really valuable for me to try to figure out what I wanted to become, who I really was, and Central Catholic was a great fertile ground for that. It wasn’t just churning out the same person over and over again, but it really allowed me to flourish as an individual and still grow in that unique way.” One important value that Clark learned at Central Catholic and has carried throughout his life is the value of responsibility. His ability to make mistakes and learn from them was instilled in him during high school and helped him learn the importance of responsibility. “You only learn responsibility, the value of responsibility, if you make a mistake with it or if you have the opportunity to have that responsibility,” Clark says. “Within Central Catholic there’s a lot of those opportunities, and I think that helps you grow into a more holistic person.” In addition to the support and space for growth his teachers provided, Clark recalls the diversity of people, the “realness” of the school, and the emphasis on service as being some of the most formative aspects of his time at Central Catholic.
experiences have carried over into his life and his company, SigOpt. “Service was one of the reasons why we give away our software for free to academics.” He notes, “There’s always an angle of ‘How do you give back and not have that be a burden, but have it be an opportunity?’.” Clark’s great strides in academics and his career are impressive, to say the least. After earning the highest degree in mathematics and becoming a tech entrepreneur of a successful company, it’s evident that Clark is driven and successful. But his character and the virtues he embodies stand out amongst these accomplishments. Clark has even incorporated values into his work. He has named values that SigOpt operates by, including: empowerment, solidarity, respect, balance, and curiosity. He is a leader not just by his career standards, but a leader in character and virtue. His growth and development during high school has led to an impressive journey, and he has taken his experiences to live his life guided by these values. He truly is an example of not only how Central Catholic sets our students on a pathway to success, but how Central Catholic is a place where Character Matters. Scott is the son of Dick ’78 and Liz Clark. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Dr. June Andrews, and son, Caspian.
Clark recognized that the diversity of Central Catholic was important in representing the individuals and experiences that existed outside of school. He remembers, “There were different people from different backgrounds. The teachers are all different and they all have different perspectives. It felt like a closer version of the real world than a more cloistered high school.” Clark notes how valuable those various perspectives were: “There are many viewpoints in the world, many ways to live your life, ways to learn. That was really beneficial to me versus someone just teaching a subject to get a good score on a test. It’s very much not that, and it was much more amorphous, but that’s what real life is. Real life is not just a set of tasks.” The aspect of service being part of the curriculum at Central Catholic also had a big impact on his life. Clark remembers, “It was required to do hours of service every semester, and, especially as a 14-year-old, that was really transformative for me. It really forced me to see the world in a different way, which I’ve continued to try to do in my life.” These Spring 2020 |11
WHAT’S UP WITH YOU Walter Kawecki ’61spent most of his professional life as an attorney after earning a bachelor of science from Portland State University and an M.B.A. and J.D. from John F. Kenndy University (Pleasant Hill, California). He now focuses mostly on arbitration work. Brandi Wildfang Simmons ’99 was named a Denver Business Journal 40 under 40. She was nominated by her boss, Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Brandi currently serves as the Chief Communications Officer for the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology.
Craig Kirkman ’00 married Kelsey Perrin on July 20, 2019 at The Admiral’s House in Seattle, Washington.
Mark ’09 and Sam (Krause) ’09 Ferguson welcomed a daughter, Ramona Ann, on January 10, 2020. She joins big sister, McKinley.
Allison Skalbeck ’11 graduated from the University of Oregon in 2015 with a degree in General Social Science. Now she is working as a treatment coordinator at a fertility clinic, helping individuals and couples achieve their goal of becoming parents. Bailey Puetz ’16 will graduate this spring from Oregon State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. She has already accepted a job at Precision Castparts in their two-year Technical Rotation Program.
In Memory Fred Aloysius Allehoff ‘44 October 29, 2019 Charles Robert “Bob” Langslet ‘47 April 7, 2019 Robert Wayne McCullugh ‘47 January 16, 2020 Patrick John Feyerisen ‘48 June 5, 2018 Allan Joseph Bisenius ‘49 December 1, 2019 Samuel Thomas Di Re ‘53 February 12, 2020 William Allen Weber ‘54 November 26, 2019
Ed Curtain ’68
Legacy Society Member Why do you feel it is important to support Catholic education?
“If we just dropped by for the first time today, most of us would not recognize the Central Catholic of our youth. The caliber of students, their diversity, the rigorous teaching, the school’s social outreach — all would jump right out at us. It’s exciting to see and encouraging to know that these young people, with their keen skills and strong characters, will follow us. That’s why I contribute to Central Catholic — to keep it all going.” Include Central Catholic in your will or trust today and make a powerful impact on tomorrow’s students. Including Central Catholic in your long-term financial plan allows you to: • Make a significant gift without affecting your current income • Provide a charitable tax deduction for your estate • Ensure the best possible education and opportunities for future generations To learn more about how you can invest in the future of Central Catholic High School contact Ellie Dir, Vice President of Advancement: 503.230.1056 ext. 1258 or edir@centralcatholichigh.org 12 | Central Catholic Magazine
Raymond Joseph Thygesen ‘55 September 21, 2019 Mark Moreland “Marty” Gill ‘57 December 5, 2019 William Thomas Powers ‘57 November 30, 2019 Ivan Frederick Thomas “Fred” Bailey ‘63 September 9, 2013 David Lewis Nollette ‘66 February 24, 2020 Michael Joseph Moore ‘70 July 30, 2017 Steven Joseph Schwab ‘71 February 16, 2020 Philip Francis Lyster ‘72 February 4, 2020 Terry Cyril Schmidlkofer ‘72 November 26, 2019 Steffen Edward Toussaint ‘75 December 20, 2018 Vincent Joseph Johnson ‘83 December 14, 2019 Shari Sky Roessner ‘97 February 4, 2019
PRESIDENTS’ DINNER AND AUCTION
As the roaring 20s were a time of transformation, this year’s Twenty-fifth of sponsorship from $2,500 - $30,000, each of which Annual Twenty-Fifth Annual President’s Dinner and Auction is also include auction Presidents’ Dinner and tables. AuctionAdditionally, sponsorship packages faced with change. Out of concern for the safety and include recognition of your company or family in the Centralcatalog, CatholiconHigh health of everyone in our Ramily due to COVID-19, we are the School auction website, and on Central Catholic’s postponing the auction to June 6, 2020. The Ram Roaring social media pages. 20s Silent Auction will be shared with all of our supporters in an online format rolled out in the weeks leading up to theApril 25, 2020 event. The Live party on June 6 will have a hosted cocktail Promote your business or recognize your family! Ads range hour with a wine wall and student art, dinner, live auction from business card size to full page in our catalog. paddle raise, and entertainment from your Ramily! Don’t miss the Speakeasy Afterparty! Hopefully we will all be ready to gather and enjoy being with one another again, We are looking for donations for the silent auction. Do you but we are keeping our eye on recommendations for events have a service or goods that you can donate? We are and will be ready to adjust if needed. There are many looking for popular items, such as gift certificates for restaurants ways that you can be part of the Ram Roaring 20s: or outings, and would also love unique experiences! Do you have a vacation home or hotel connections for events? We are grateful for anything you can contribute! Join the Central Catholic community for a night of great food, drink, and the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items. Purchase a ticket for $125 or gather your We are looking for volunteers to help the auction family and friends together for a table of 10 at $1,250. committee! There are things you can do from home, join Our President’s Tables, which boast unlimited wine and us for setup, or help the night of the event. It is always a additional perks, are only $2,000. great time to volunteer with friends or make new ones! We appreciate any time that you can give.
Catalog Advertisement Donate Items
Attend the Auction
Volunteer
Auction Sponsor
When the auction is underwritten, all proceeds directly benefit students and their families. There are many levels
Questions? Contact Sara Wright or Alaina Hill in the Advancement Office at 503.230.1056.
Visit cchs.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Roaring2020 to purchase tickets, a sponsor package, ad, or to donate an item.
The Ram Roaring Raffle | A Little $20,000 Never Hurt Nobody Winner Will Choose Their Prize: Create your own dream vacation anywhere in the world! Book an adventure with $10,000 in visa gift cards AND up to $10,000 in travel vouchers.
OR
$20,000 to go toward Central Catholic Tuition and Fees for the 2020-2021 School Year! Funds will be credited to the student’s account and can be used for tuition, fees, and extra-curricular fees. (Funds cannot be applied to the lunch account.) Funds can be rolled over to the next year, but no remaining funds can be distributed upon graduation. $100 per ticket, and only 1,500 tickets to be sold. Retail Value: $20,000 Drawing will be held at Central Catholic High School, June 6, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. Winner need not be present to win! Winners are subject to all Federal and State income taxes based on the market value of the prizes awarded. Winner must supply their social security number and fill out a W-9 form to claim their prize. Must be 18 years or older to purchase. Tickets are only available for online purchase if you are physically in the state of Oregon. (Oregon billing address not required.)
Spring 2020 |13
Central Catholic
Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 441
HIGH SCHOOL
2401 Southeast Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214
Upcoming Events
Central Catholic’s calendar is packed with a rich offering of events including fundraisers, interesting speakers, and various celebrations. We are grateful for your support and attendance. However, due to uncertainty around the long-term impact of the coronavirus on our school calendar, we ask that you check our website and social media posts for the most current information regarding event postponement or cancellations. For any additional questions, please call the Office of Advancement at 503.230.1056.
May
13 Endowed Scholarship Breakfast 8:00 a.m., Memorial Gym 15 Student Recognition Assembly 9:30 a.m., Main Gym 20 College Athletes Breakfast 7:30 a.m. 20 Stark Talks 6:30 p.m., Weston Commons 22 End of the Year All School Liturgy 9:30 a.m., Main Gym 25 Memorial Day Holiday
28 Senior Awards Assembly Main Gym 28 Baccalaureate 7:00 p.m., Main Gym 29 Graduation 7:00 p.m., UP Chiles Center
June 5
Last Day of School
6
Presidents’ Dinner and Auction
5:00 p.m. Central Catholic Campus
The Ram Roaring 20s
15 First Day of Summer School
Stark Talks 2020 Religion and Interfaith Dialogue We are hosting our spring Stark Talks event on Wednesday, May 20, featuring Dr. Timothy J. Gianotti ‘83 as our guest speaker. The topic for the evening will focus on religion and interfaith dialogue. Dr. Gianotti has a rich background in interfaith dialogue, driven by his own spiritual journey and religious studies. He is a theologian and a committed interfaith advocate with hands-on experience promoting interfaith engagement around the globe. Dr. Gianotti is also a scholar of Islamic intellectual and spiritual traditions (philosophy, theology, and spirituality). He has more than 20 years of experience teaching at the university level in both the United States and Canada, and currently serves as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost at the American Islamic College in Chicago. In addition to his academic career, he is the author of two books and a wide range of scholarly articles, book chapters, and theological essays. We are very excited to host Dr. Gianotti at our Stark Talks event, and are looking forward to another evening of rigorously intellectual and spirited, yet civilized, discourse! RSVP: centralcatholichigh.org.
What’s up with you? Please let us know what is happening in your life to include in future issues of the Central Catholic Magazine and/or our website. Send in your form ASAP. The first 25 entries will be entered in a drawing for some great Central Catholic gear! Name:
Grad Year:
Spouse Name:
E-mail Address: My life:
Please return to: Central Catholic Office of Advancement • 2401 SE Stark Street • Portland, Oregon 97214 or e-mail swright@centralcatholichigh.org