OLP M a ga zi n e
Tech @ OLP
Soars to New Heights
Academy of Our Lady of Peace {Spring 2014}
Spring 2014 | 1
OLPMagazine
Academy of Our Lady of Peace | {Spring 2014}
Look Inside 6
Tech @ OLP
By Chris Boyer, Director of Technology
OLP embraces learning in the 21st century with a variety of tech initiatives.
10
10
Q&A With Cara McMahon ’95
OLP alum and former teacher, Cara McMahon, announced as 2014 Commencement Speaker.
12
The Legacy Lives On
By Dr. Melinda Blade, Director of Athletics & Kirsten Rauber Hadzicki ’81, Alumnae Relations Coordinator Sister Joyce Hampel, CSJ touched the lives of OLP students and teachers alike. Her legacy lives on at OLP.
14
Reflections On A 21-Year Coaching Career
By Dan Keays, OLP Coach
The coach with the longest track record at OLP reflects on his 21 years coaching our girls.
18
14
Come Fly With Us Gala Snapshots
By Margot Meier Howard, Director of Institutional Advancement
Patrons contributed more than $70,000 at this year’s Come Fly With Us Gala at The Prado.
21
Pilots Take Flight OLP alumnae from all years share their exciting life news.
OurMission Statement The Academy of Our Lady of Peace is a Catholic, liberal
arts oriented, college preparatory secondary school dedicated to the education of young women. As a Catholic school, it is committed to helping its students become active participants in building Christ’s kingdom of justice, love and peace. As a school rooted in the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph, it promotes the cultivation of “gentleness, peace and joy” as we respond to the needs of the “dear neighbor” both in our midst
2 | OLP Magazine
18 and in our human community. Through its college preparatory program, its mission is to empower its students to become knowledgeable in those skills needed to achieve success in post-secondary studies, and to make informed and valuesdriven decisions in the context of today’s world. As a result of these endeavors, and working with parents as our educational partners providing a family context of faith-in-action, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace strives to graduate responsible women educated to the needs of society.
Letter From Head of School At OLP, excellence is not just a word quoted as part of our charism, it is embedded in the very fiber of who we are, and what it means to be an OLP graduate. From scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, mothers, educators, politicians, judges, social workers, religious, these women touch the lives of those in their community. There is markedly something different about an OLP graduate – she is prepared to face whatever challenge confronts her! As we at the Academy continue to prepare this next generation of women, readying them to meet the demands of an ever, rapidly changing world, we must look carefully at the skills we are including in their academic rigors to ensure they leave equipped to compete on a global scale. A study from the MacArthur Foundation highlights how this translates to the needs of tomorrow. According to the study, authored by Cathy Davidson, 65% of the world’s children starting grade school this year, will end up in jobs that have yet to be invented. The challenge facing OLP today is to prepare our young women for a world that is ever changing, while never losing sight of the traditions and faith that distinguish an OLP learning experience. In a recent talk hosted by Qualcomm Women in Science and Engineering (QWISE), CISCO Chief Technology Officer, Padmasree Warrior, spoke of the rapidly changing world of technology. It is estimated that by 2020 approximately 50 billion devices will be connected. Just this past year alone more unique data points were created than in the past 5,000 years. Technology is radically changing how we communicate, how we learn, how we share, build, construct information, and work. It connects us globally, while allowing us to learn locally. In this edition, you will get a snapshot of how OLP is responding to our changing world, to ensure our young women are prepared. We highlight our new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy starting in the Fall 2014, providing families with options for which device best meets their needs. Readers will also be given a glimpse into how classes are integrating technology to better engage students, maximize collaboration, and provide opportunities for student creation and ownership of their learning. Along these lines, we gratefully showcase the success of the February 21st Gala and Auction. Donors gave more than $70,000 to keep the educational and spiritual enrichment process in full motion. It is an exciting time at the Academy with internal changes in teaching and learning, and with the launch to our first major construction project in 20 years—a new parking structure! The rich legacy of OLP lives on in the young women of today – come see what that looks like in 2014!
Peacefully yours,
Lauren Lek Head of School
OLPMagazine Academy of Our Lady Of Peace Head of School Lauren Lek Vice Principal John Galvan Assistant Principal, Director of Admissions Jessica Hooper Assistant Principal, Director of Campus Life Jeanette Handelsman ’64 Director of Institutional Advancement Margot Meier Howard Editor Emily Pippin ’06 Contributors Margot Meier Howard Siobhan DeVore ’01 Courtney Govan ’14 Jenna Hyatt ’14 Angie Gascho Chris Boyer Dr. Melinda Blade Kirsten Rauber Hadzicki ’81 Dan Keays Grace Credo ’92 Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Head of School Mike Coughlin, Board Chair Sister Breege Boyle SSL Msgr. Richard Duncanson Dr. Nora Faine-Sykes ’78 Mike Guerrero Susan Hause Clair Kennedy ’81 Damian McKinney John McMahon Sister Jill Marie Napier CSJ Kathleen Olsen Coreen G. Petti Barbara Picco Sister Virginia Rodee ’53 RSCJ Rita Scherrei
To contact the editor or submit a story idea,
please email Emily Pippin ’06 at epippin@aolp.org
Class notes should be sent to Kirsten Rauber Hadzicki ’81 at alumnae@aolp.org
To update your address, please contact Chris Abdenour at cabdenour@aolp.org Spring
2014 | 3
Construction Coming Soon
Contractors, T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. will be working throughout the
summer to maximize time without all students and teachers present. In partnership with OLP, contractors have proposed a tenacious schedule to expedite construction of a new parking structure, moving teachers and students into the facility as quickly as possible. It is anticipated that students will be able to park in the garage within the fall semester, with the project fully completed by December 2014.
The school has set-up a website with timetables, truck routes, and pictures to provide clear and transparent communication for our neighbors, parents and students. On March 19, 2014 OLP held a Community Open House with MAA Architects and representatives from T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. to address questions from neighbors, and share drawings. This is an exciting first step as OLP begins a multi-phased project to enhance existing structures, while preserving the architectural authenticity of the grounds, in order to meet the rigorous demands of our exemplary educational program.
More Technology for the Library There have been some exciting techrelated additions to the OLP library!
Students now have access to over 20 online databases for their research. These new resources support all areas of the curriculum. For a full listing, visit the Library Portal at library.aolp. org and click on the Online Databases tab. This portal not only provides links to our online resources but also offers tips on conducting research, creating proper citations, and using tech tools. 4 | OLP Magazine
We have also added Kindles that students can check-out for
a 2-week period. Many school libraries have experienced a renewed interest in recreational reading after offering e-readers to students. So far the Library has uploaded a plethora of fiction titles and student book recommendations are always welcome. For a regularly updated list of titles, visit our OLP Kindles blog olpkindles.tumblr.com. Want more information from the library on events, books, technology and much more? Be sure to network with us! Facebook: facebook.com/OLPLibrary Pinterest: pinterest.com/OLPLibrary Twitter: @OLPLibrary Blogs: OLP Library – olplibrary.tumblr.com OLP Book Club – aolpbookclub.tumblr.com OLP Kindles – olpkindles.tumblr.com
Spring Sing Rocksthe Stage Written By
Courtney Govan ’14 & Jenna Hyat t ’14
This past March, the students of
Our Lady of Peace dazzled the audience of the Balboa Theatre downtown. The audience was transported through various “Eras.” They first traveled to the Future, where the Junior Class of 2015 impressed the crowd with their take on the year 3015. Junior Megan Cali ’15 exclaimed, I couldn’t stop laughing when Natalie Panigall portrayed her character Gary. No one can compete with her dance moves! The second stop on the adventure was the Modern Era with the Sophomore Class of 2016. These underclassmen showed their talents though their “outstanding opening medley of 20th century music” says Junior Jordan Stewart ’15. You could tell they worked hard, and were proud of themselves.
After a short 15-minute layover, the Freshmen Class of 2017 welcomed the audience to the next stop, Ancient Greece. In their first year at the Academy, the Freshmen showed that they were here to stay! Junior Erin Brown ’15 applauded the Freshmen saying, They showed talent and skill, and can someone get the phone number of Adonis?! Good show, Freshmen, you’ve finished your first Spring Sing! Now at their final destination the audience was told the true story of how America became a free and independent nation. Junior Veronica Marquiz ’15 stated, The second the Senior class started marching on stage, I could see their determination and commitment to their show. It was amazing to witness. The Seniors won the overall prize as well as “Best of Show,” but all classes did an incredible job! Come see the Senior class reprise of their Best of Show number “Skyfall,” and enjoy a preview of The Little Mermaid in the Spring Arts festival, April 9th during co-curricular. All are welcome.
St. Joseph’s Day Honorees
National Catholic Schools Week OLP faculty and students proudly donned Catholic college sweatshirts around campus on Friday, February 1st in honor of National Catholic Schools Week (January 26 to February 1). Faculty and staff were also encouraged to wear a sweatshirt from their alma mater and USD had the largest presence by far!
St. Joseph Day Honorees with some of our Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Assoociates St. Joseph’s Day is a special celebration honoring
St. Joseph, the patron of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Three seniors who epitomize the spirit of St. Joseph and the qualities of gentleness, peace and joy are recognized each year. The St. Joseph’s Day award winners are nominated and chosen by the faculty. Msgr. Mark Campbell The 2014 honorees are: (Our Mother of Confidence Parish) presided at the St. Gentleness: Mary Kemp Joseph’s Day Mass on March Peace: Rose Marie Oshana 19, where the honorees Joy: Faith Konja each received a medal of St. Joseph.
Written By
Chris Boyer
Director of Technology
6 | OLP Magazine
Tech @ OLP Today’s generation of high school students are far more tech savvy than ever before. The use of technology and mobile devices has become a daily standard in both their personal and academic lives. Here at OLP, students arrive on campus not only wanting access to the school’s Wi-Fi network, but expecting it. Most students have on average 2-3 devices that they use on a daily basis, ranging from cell phones to tablets to computers. OLP students are tech literate and want to utilize more technology in the classroom. In an effort to stay ahead of the curve and embrace 21st century learning in our classrooms, OLP will be initiating a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in the Fall. Students will have the capacity to access school material, learning environments, and school-hosted applications all on their own personal devices without being limited to computer lab space.
In an effort to stay ahead of the curve and embrace 21st Century learning in our classrooms, OLP will be initiating a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in the Fall. For the last few years OLP has unofficially functioned as a BYOD school with more than 75 percent of the population having registered a device with us. Beginning in August 2014, we will officially move to being just that. Rather than mandating each student to have one specific device, we opted for supporting each student’s individual preference when it comes to selecting a computing device. OLP will require that these devices be set up to conform to specific, basic requirements. These minimum standards have been established in part to help families decide what device will work best for their daughters. This year our focus has been geared towards upgrading the school’s Wi-Fi infrastructure to handle all additional Web traffic. Instead of managing what type of device students use, we will manage the content and tools that they have access to. In an effort to do this, we have recently upgraded our main Firewall and Content Filter devices along with re-cabling and installing a Cisco Meraki Wi-Fi system. We have also increased professional training and development for our teachers and staff to prepare them to use these tools. There are many challenges when working with a variety of operating systems and types of devices. Teachers must find a multi-platform tool when integrating student devices into the classroom. One of our most successful tools that we have chosen has been Google Apps. Each student has been assigned a Google account which they use in various ways to enhance their educational experience, mainly through the ease of communication and collaboration. OLP is also working with University of San Diego Supercomputer Center to be a pilot school for a new Pre-AP Computer Science Principles Course next year!
Spring 2014 | 7
Tech & Teachers:
{ L e a r nin g }
23 Things Learning Program
Written By
Siobhan DeVore ’01 Librarian
What better way to help our students
stay on top of technology trends than to get our educators ahead of the game? In an effort to ensure the entire OLP community―administrators, faculty, staff and students alike―is keeping up to date on the ever-changing world of technology, the OLP Library launched 23 Things learning program for faculty and staff the day before students returned from Christmas break.
This learning program was pioneered by the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Public Library and they encourage other libraries to take their model and adapt it to their community’s needs. School Lauren Lek suggested this program because it was a huge success at Moreau Catholic High School, where she was previously principal. Also, while attending the Internet Librarian Conference in Monterey last October, I spoke with many librarians who felt the program greatly transformed their school campuses. The library hand-picked tools, curated resources and outlined helpful instructions to build the learning resources that will lead our campus into the world of Web 2.0!
This program introduces a new Web 2.0 tool each week and provides a structured framework for teachers to explore and learn how these tools are being used in education. So what is Web 2.0? The term refers to the evolution of the Internet from static webpages where users simply consume content to dynamic, Enrolling in 23 Things is completely voluntary and interactive webpages where users create, participants track their progress by posting to their collaborate and consume information in a variety own individual blogs. Some examples of the tools of formats. This learning program was pioneered covered include wikis, podcasts, image and videoby the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Public sharing websites, Google tools, presentation Library, which encourages other libraries Web 2.0 At OLP tools and social networking websites. With to take its model and adapt it to their EDUCATORS EMBRACING INNOVATION & an impressive enrollment of 48 participants, community’s needs. TECHNOLOGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY our school has taken the Web 2.0 plunge! A number of OLP teachers expressed that It’s an exciting journey that has us exchanging ideas for although these tools are worthwhile, they can be quite success and encouraging each other to master these tools overwhelming to learn independently. OLP’s Head of in the interest of our students. 8 | OLP Magazine
Reflection on Current Technology Use in the Classroom Today’s students are are
facing challenges unseen by previous generations. They are now required to process information, apply it, and be creative problem solvers on a global platform. To meet these challenges as their teacher, I must not only teach them content, but I must also foster critical thinking skills in my students that will allow them to solve the complex problems presented in today’s society and think creatively. Take that one step further: it is my duty to be sure that they can do that on a global platform in a rapidly evolving technology-driven world. Thus, my personal professional quest began.
I must not only teach them content, but I must also foster critical thinking skills in my students that will allow them to solve the complex problems. I started giving surveys to my students at the beginning of every school year questioning what kinds of media they were using and how proficiently. Then I began to gradually develop projects that integrated these types of technologies into the learning process. As in traditional assessments, there have been varied levels of success, but what was seen in all students was an increase in engagement. Students also began to remark that they had never before thought of using some social media devices as a platform for networking and learning. I currently use a variety of technology tools in my classroom. The integration of technology-based learning experiences allows my students to develop their
Angie Gascho
English Department
Written By
Tech @ OLP in Action
skills. Some of the ways I have been using technology so far include:
Kathy Gibbs, Religion Department
» Facebook: A class “Fanpage” is used for online
The girls use tech in several ways as part of my courses:
discussion, sharing media and ideas outside of class, pre-discussion stimulators, sharing pictures and video of in-class activities, and much more. It is also used for student projects.
» Pinterest: Students create projects that include journaling and critical thinking
» Twitter: Students are encouraged to follow my professional Twitter account, where I tweet topical information in regard to the subject area. It has also been used for student projects and online discussions.
» Tumblr, WordPress: American Literature Honors students are creating comprehensive online blogs about their outside reading and using them for discussion boards.
Bell Work: They respond to a
prompt each day as soon as they arrive to class. I give them the choice to turn in a hard copy or complete it on: beta.socrative.com.
Project/assignments: For several
assignments they have been given a choice of creating a Tumblr blog, using Popplet to create timelines, or other sites that will help them to best complete the project/ assignment.
Creating a flier to show what they have learned: I recently required my Freshmen to use: smore.com to create fliers. I created one to introduce the assignment (and to practice myself); here is the link. Enjoy! smore.com/xdsg3
» YouTube: In addition to being used as a class resource, students also post videos made for class. One student is producing a comprehensive online journal on her personal channel, which includes a written transcript.
Aaron Gonzalez, Social Studies
In the near future, students will be creating both a podcast and Popplet as we study The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Department
I recognize that these projects are just a start. Many questions remain as educators explore the integration of technology for learning in the 21st century: How can I teach my students to use the tools in a meaningful and responsible way? How can I teach my students that media literacy is not separate from cultural literacy? How can I teach my students that technology is really something that can support their creative ideas and problem solving abilities? How can I teach my students to be responsible global citizens? This continues to be my quest.
One of our students traveled to Dubai this year and we were able to Skype with her to discuss geopolitics in the Middle East.
In U.S. History, our class visited the Truman Presidential Library website to view primary source materials and think critically about U.S. Cold War policy. Our Western Civilization Honors students are using Glogster (virtual poster app) to evaluate 20th Century revolts and revolutions.
Our Senior Government class is organizing a Google Hangout with a Federal District judge from New York to coincide with our unit on the judicial branch. This will be an amazing opportunity for our students to speak with a person who happens to be all of what we | 9 want our Spring students to2014 be!
QAwith &
Cara McMahon ’95
OLP Alum, Former Teacher and Commencement Speaker 2014
OLP is excited to announce Cara McMahon ’95 as the 2014 Commencement Speaker.
Pursuing Justice Through Love {This story originally ran in the Spring 2014 issue of USD Magazine and was reprinted with the permission of University of San Diego.}
Written By
Krystn Shrieve, USD
Director of Brand Marketing Communications
USD and Catholicity bring life full circle for Cara McMahon Sitting in a classroom that suddenly felt cold and drafty, she
thought about her ethics assignment and hoped, as she put pen to paper, that the recipient on the other end wouldn’t realize the ink stain in the margin revealed a momentary hesitation that caused her pen to leak. After all, what does a Catholic schoolgirl say in a letter to an inmate on death row? Cara McMahon ’99, ’07 (MA), then just a sophomore at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, doesn’t remember exactly what she wrote. Nor does she recall everything the convict said in his typed response. She remembers his admission of guilt, his remorse for his crimes and his plea with her to care for the world and change the trajectory of someone’s life. That inspired how she lives her life. McMahon graduated from USD in 1999 with bachelor’s degrees in theological and religious studies and sociology. She worked as a campus minister from 2000 to 2006 and earned a master’s degree in pastoral care and counseling in 2007. From 2008 to 2010, she earned a second master’s degree in global development and social justice from St. John’s University. She came to USD again in 2012, for yet another assignment, to lead the Center for Christian Spirituality. Her story abounds with full circles — interesting moments when life repeats lessons previously taught. What others think of as coincidental, McMahon considers the work of God.
10 | OLP Magazine
Q A
You mentioned you were “born a Catholic.” What does that mean for you?
Q A
What drew you to study religion and sociology?
You always hear people say, “I’m Irish Catholic” and they think it tells you everything you need to know. My parents came to the United States in 1968 from Dublin, by way of South Africa and then Canada. Both my parents lost their fathers when they were very young so they were raised by two pretty phenomenal women. My most prominent images of my grandmothers are through the lenses of faith and prayer. They had an authentic trust in God. My folks were raised with that same trust and passed it on to me. My parents worked hard to put us through Catholic school. I’ve been Catholic-educated my whole life. Those who have inspired me the most are people who live, very intentionally, committed to God and faith-based social justice.
I loved the study of God. I liked that we could study aspects, like the historical Jesus and the Church and Catholic traditions, but was also intrigued by the fact that we’ll never really be able to know everything entirely because — it’s God. Sociology is the same way because society is constantly evolving and changing. I had no idea those things would eventually make sense in my life and in who I would become. I just studied what I loved. When I was 28 years old, I went
back to OLP and became an ethics teacher. Full circles. I’m all about it.
has religion and sociology, and your Q How background in pastoral counseling and social justice, shaped the work you’ve done in other countries?
A
At OLP, I wasn’t just a social ethics teacher. I also ran the service immersion program and took students to Tijuana. My goal was to create relationships that helped students understand how God works through people in the world. In Tijuana we worked at various sites. One was a home for women, called Casa de las Madres de Caridad. The other was a home for men called Casa Juan Diego. I would bring the students to the home for men and watched them clip the men’s toenails, give haircuts or change their bedding. At school, I could ask them to pick up something off the ground and might be met with a sigh of exasperation, but in doing this kind of work, they never complained. That’s when you realize it’s a humbling privilege to be part of the works of mercy.
the mission of the Center for Christian Q What’s Spirituality and how is the center evolving under your leadership?
A
In 1985, USD established the Institute for Christian Ministries, which was endowed by the Society of the Sacred Heart. The institute had two roles. It offered a community-service element by sponsoring ecumenical programs, leadership training and resources for parish programs. It also offered an academic element, including a theology degree that started in 1985 and a graduate degree in pastoral care and counseling, which was established in 1989. Maybe not so coincidentally, that was the same graduate degree I earned 18 years later. There’s another full circle. The name changed in 2001 to the Center for Christian Spirituality, but we’re still fulfilling the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. I’ve learned so much and have become a more spiritual person because of the Center for Christian Spirituality. The people I work with — people who are doing contemplative prayer or who work in health care to help people care for themselves spiritually— have challenged me to pray more, to live more simply, to spend time in silence and to focus on Scripture. This has been a gift.
also a member of USD’s Council for the Q You’re Advancement of Catholic Social Thought. How do you
is at the center of many full circles in define Catholic Social Thought and its role at USD Q USD your life. What brings you back? A A
?
In March of 2000, I got an email asking if I’d like to apply to be a campus minister at USD. I sent in my paperwork, did my interview over the phone from Ireland and left the next day to backpack around Europe for two months. I found out I was hired while standing in a train station in Madrid. My new job was, largely, to run the University Ministry programs based in social justice education. At the end of my second year as a campus minister, I went to Peru for the summer. I grew up in the St. Rose of Lima parish in Chula Vista and couldn’t wait to go to Lima, Peru — another full circle. I lived with the Sisters of the Holy Faith in a barrio neighborhood where they ran a center for children with special needs.
I met a 6-year-old boy named Adrian who was completely disabled and couldn’t speak. Another boy, Cesar, was about the same age. He could see and hear and was completely ablebodied, but couldn’t speak. They were best buddies. One morning, their teacher brought out a doll. She was showing Adrian the head, the hands and the arms. She asked, “¿Adrian, donde está la cabeza?” “Where is the head?” He couldn’t move and couldn’t talk and I wondered how he’d answer. Cesar picked up Adrian’s hand and pointed it at the doll’s head. It was the most beautiful moment of solidarity I’d ever seen.
Catholic Social Thought is the body of moral teaching that addresses the Catholic Church’s response to many social ills and injustices in the world. The Catholic Church seeks to be attentive to the needs of the world by providing teachings that eradicate oppression and make way for a more loving human family and a more Christ-centered existence. The social teachings of the Church are rooted in Scripture and draw from Catholic theology, to encourage, challenge and demand those of good will to persist in the pursuit of justice through the most loving avenues possible. The university honors Catholic Social Thought by dedicating Masses, lectures, events and other academic endeavors to seven themes: option for the poor; call to family, community and participation; solidarity; dignity of work and the rights of workers; dignity of the human person; and rights and responsibilities. Catholic Social Thought is my academic joy, the stuff I come alive to. I think young people want to know about this. It’s what Pope Francis calls us to live right now. It’s not the entire religion or the entire faith, but it’s an aspect, or a lens, that has helped me glimpse God in the most challenging and meaningful ways. Catholic Social Thought is a tradition that has made me proud to be Catholic. Catholic Social Thought has been the light that casts a glow on Cara McMahon’s journey so far. Where she’ll go and what she’ll do next, only God knows. “We have no idea how God will work through us,” McMahon says. “We don’t know the things we’ll be challenged by or what will eventually become blessings and gifts. All I know is that I can see the heart of God in the hearts of people. Nothing competes with lessons I’ve learned because of the people God has put in my life and the relationships He has given me.” Spring 2014 | 11
God had other plans for Joyce, however. She entered the Order on September 8, 1973, her reception date was August 2, 1974, and she made her final profession on October 11, 1980. IN 1976, she began her teaching career as a Religious at Carondelet High School in Concord, where she taught Religious Studies and Biology. After one year, she moved to Star of the Sea Academy in San Francisco, where she was the Religious Studies Department Chairperson. From 1982 to 1983, she taught at St. Joseph’s High School in Lakewood in the English and Religious Studies Departments. IN 1983, she arrived at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, where she taught English, was the Department Chairperson and worked in administration as the Associate Principal for many years. Ironically, Sister Dolores Anchondo (who hired her at OLP) was a third grade teacher at St. John Baptist de la Salle when Sr. Joyce was in elementary school, although they did not know each other.
Sister Joyce Hampel THE LEGACY LIVES ON BY DR. MELINDA BLADE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS & KIRSTEN HADZICKI ’81, ALUMNAE RELATIONS COORDINATOR
I will personally miss her presence at OLP. She was such a dedicated person who only wanted the best for the school and the students.
―Ursula
Uribe Gamboa ’87
Sister Joyce was an exceptional educator and was such an important part of my high school experience. I still use so much of what she taught me, both personally and as a teacher
―Margaret
Kazan ’97
12 | OLP Magazine
JOYCE LYNN HAMPEL was born on December 4, 1948 to Wilbur and Lorraine Hampel in Chicago, Illinois. She was the eldest of seven children, four boys and three girls (Kenneth, Glenn, Patricia, Donna, Robert and William who died as an infant). As the family grew and tired of cold weather, the Hampels moved to California. Sr. Joyce attended St. Peter’s in Chicago, then St. John Baptist de la Salle in Granada Hills. She graduated from Alemany High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Mount St. Mary’s College in 1970 and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from San Diego State University in 1988. Though she first met the CSJ Sisters at St. John’s and was impressed by them throughout her college career at the Mount, Sr. Joyce never thought that she would become a Sister―she just wanted a big family like her mom.
In their 30 year partnership, the “dynamic duo” of Sisters Dolores and Joyce continued a tradition of excellence at the Academy with the renewal and renovation of historic structures and a capital campaign to build a multi-purpose event center. Sr. Joyce moved the school forward in the areas of technology, academic leadership, curriculum enhancements, teacher mentoring, peace education, and service learning. She was the voice of OLP in educating teachers, parents, and students about CSJ history and the profundity of the Sisters’ spirituality. She kept the mission and charism alive and vibrant at the Academy. Under the Sisters’ leadership, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace was Under the Sisters’ leadership, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace was recognized three times as a U.S. Department of Education “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
recognized three times as a U.S. Department of Education “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.” OLP was also nationally acknowledged for its exemplary character education program. Additionally, Sr. Joyce was part of the leadership team for the “CSJ High Schools Together” program and created a CSJ high school faculty orientation program. Moreover, she was responsible for the establishment of Carondelet Circle, a service organization for select OLP students who serve as the Academy’s ambassadors. Perhaps because of her name and birth date, Sr. Joyce loved Christmas. Her abiding sense of joy was a result of her knowing and serving God with great faith, hope and love. She relished filling the shoes of OLP students (all 750 of Her abiding sense of joy was a result of her knowing and serving God with great faith, hope and love them!) with treats and a holy card on the feast day of St. Nicholas each year. She enjoyed nothing better than the smell and taste of her mother’s Polish influenced food, especially during the holidays, so it’s no surprise that Sr. Joyce also loved to cook. Watching the Food Network and perusing cookbooks were favorite hobbies, but she did so not for her own pleasure. She was a gracious hostess at OLP, bringing a sense of welcome and hospitality to all. She cooked numerous meals and treats (her coffeecakes and brownies were particularly loved) for the faculty and
staff over the years, and baked yearly Christmas cakes for each member of the Board of Directors. No comments on Sr. Joyce’s interests and talents would be complete without mention of her “cat mistress” duties. Joyce was “owned” by three OLP cats during her thirty years at OLP: Ditto, Smokey and Brandy. She was their attentive captive and catered to their every whim. Sr. Joyce was a master wordsmith and her prose had a sense of lyricism to it. She could even make WASC accreditation reports sound fascinating, a rarity! Her love of words began in childhood, as she was an avid, “under the covers with a flashlight” reader. She took that love of reading into the classroom, entertaining students with her storytelling abilities. Her Sophomore Honors English class gaily celebrated Emily Dickinson’s birthday each year, Sr. Joyce dressed as Emily. Sr. Joyce taught Japanese literature dressed in her kimono. An excellent essayist and poet, Sr. Joyce also was the founding editor and chief writer for the Academy’s AtOLP Newsletter. Further, she contributed to other CSJ publications. She was published in Designs, the Review for Religious and she also wrote an article on women administrators for the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals Journal. She was able to extract disparate ideas and mold them into a cogent design. Sr. Joyce also enjoyed travel and learning about food in the regions where she visited. She especially enjoyed a trip to Le Puy-en-Velay where she learned more about CSJ history and lacemaking. She truly was a daughter of Mother St. John Fontbonne, and took to heart the CSJ call to be “une femme de cœur, une femme de foi et une femme de courage.” Private by nature, many people did not know Sr. Joyce suffered from primary biliary cirrhosis (an auto-immune disease) for nearly 30 years. She bore this affliction with grace and dignity, never complaining and never wanting to be treated differently because of her condition. In the fall of 2013, complications from the disease and a
Her thirty-year presence at OLP will be her legacy. She instilled within each of us the CSJ expectation of achieving “excellence, tempered by gentleness, peace and joy.” broken hip brought Sr. Joyce back to Carondelet Center and UCLA Medical Center. It was determined that nothing could be done when she was not a viable candidate for a liver transplant. Sr. Joyce completed her earthly life’s journey on Sunday evening, January 19, 2014. Her thirty-year presence at OLP will be her legacy. She instilled within each of us the CSJ expectation of achieving “excellence, tempered by gentleness, peace and joy.” Moreover, each OLP student, faculty and staff member was challenged to be all of which she or he is capable, just as each student and alumna knows that she has been called to care for the “dear neighbor.” In conclusion, Sr. Joyce was a lacemaker in the fashion of her CSJ Sisters of past centuries. In lace making, the material that connects the larger pieces of material is called a bride. Joyce was the bride in the lace that is OLP. Her lace legacy is what will bind OLP together for generations to come. She offered her family, Sisters, friends and colleagues an open heart, wise counsel and tender understanding. THANK YOU, SR. JOYCE, FOR FOLLOWING YOUR VOCATION TO RELIGIOUS LIFE. Thank you for being a true servant leader. Thank you for “going where there is need.” Thank you for being you. Thank you for directing us until we could direct ourselves, and then, with a true sense of humility, like smoke, you vanished. |
Spring 2014
13
Reflections on a 21-Y
{ At hl e t ic s }
Written By
Dan Keays
14
Cross Country, Track & Field | OLPCoach Magazine
Year Coaching Career Whenever I’m introduced at an OLP sports assembly, it usually includes the phrase “the senior member of our coaching staff.” There are several ways of pondering that, but the thought I substitute is “here is the luckiest guy in the room.” My career at OLP began in 1993 when the school was in need of a track coach. I had been coaching as a volunteer at St. Patrick’s School in North Park, and one of my fellow parents, Eddie Gross, had been a track coach. Eddie had two sons who were lightning fast and one of my daughters, Christine, was a superb distance runner, so we had formed a small community track club that trained at St. Augustine after hours. That led me to cross paths with Jerry Downey, the Saints track and cross country coach, and when OLP asked him for a recommendation he, for some reason, thought of me. I’ve been at OLP ever since. Of course such a tenure is filled with very dear memories of athletic performance, far too many to mention in one article. They include Heidi Nolte ’96 in 1996 winning the CIF high jump and placing 6th in the state. That same year Heidi set the school record for the 100-meter hurdles. Krystine Cuaresma ’04 was Western League champion in the 300 hurdles in 2004, and went on to finish second at CIF, setting the school record. Krystine is now our assistant track coach, and in 2011 she coached Natalia Barbosa ’11 to break her own school record. I had a similar experience, as my daughter Christine ’97 held the school record in the two-mile. Then along came the prodigious Sammy Silva ’09 to not only smash that record, but win the California state championship in both cross country and track. Another superb distance runner was Elizabeth Schultz ’12, who started out as just a pretty good runner, but then really found her stride as a senior finishing fourth at CIF in cross country and winning the Western League championships at a mile.
There are so many more team and individual accomplishments, but the most gratifying part of serving over two decades at OLP has been the remarkable people I’ve encountered. The administration, parents, fellow coaches and of course the amazing young women I’ve been blessed to guide. Every guy should be so lucky.
Coach Keays and Elizabeth Country state championScshihupsltz ’12 at the Cross in Fresno
Sammy Silva ’09 on her way to a CIF and State championship
Natalia Barbosa ’11
Spring 2014 | 15
$19 Million 50+ 24+
The amount of merit-based scholarships offered to the class of 2013
The number of elected student leadership positions
15
132
Years of legacy. OLP is the longest running high school in San Diego
The number of ADVANCED PLACEMENT and honors courses available
OLP By The Numbers
The average number of years faculty members have taught at the school
290 The number of LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES available each year
$2.6 Million
The dollar amount of TUITION ASSISTANCE and scholarships granted to students last year alone
226
The number of AP exams taken by OLP students in 2013
66% 30+
The percentage of the 2013 graduating class that received scholarships
The number of clubs and organizations on campus
24,562 +
The number of volunteer hours completed by the student body last year
16 | OLP Magazine
400+
The number of OLP students who balance ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS and represent OLP on the fields, courts, pools and gyms of San Diego County
8,000
256
47
The class of 2013 was accepted into 256 colleges and universities in 42 states and 4 countries
The number of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) classes offered
100
The approximate number of women who have graduated from OLP in our 132-year history
20 The number of CIF sports teams
%
The percentage of the 2013 graduating class that went on to higher education. The percentage of OLP grads who CONSISTENTLY go on to higher education is 99%.
940
The number of college and university acceptances the class of 2013 was offered
55% 19
70%
The percentage of full time faculty that hold ADVANCED DEGREES
The percentage of the student body who are scholar athletes, maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher while participating in athletics
The number of current OLP faculty & staff who are alumnae Spring 2014 | 17
Come Fly With Us It was a spectacular night of philanthropy for the students of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, which generated more than $70,000 for the Carondelet Annual Fund! The annual auction and gala, Come Fly With Us truly soared thanks to the participation and generosity of many. OLP Students will truly feel the “wind beneath their wings” thanks to those good hearted individuals who contributed items for auction, purchased event tickets, provided challenge grant funding, purchased an auction item or raffle ticket and made a gift during the “Fund-A-Pilot” part of the celebration. On behalf of each OLP student, thank you for contributing!
Be sure you save the date for next year:
Saturday, March 14, 2015
1. Julia Nava ’15 and Belle Parra ’15 helped welcome guests and served as our “flight ambassadors” throughout the evening.
2. Sr. Barbara Anne Stowasser, CSJ shared a table at the gala
with some of her fellow CSJs. Sr. Barbara shared her appreciation to Head of School Mrs. Lauren Lek for her enthusiasm and leadership.
3. Morgan Stewart ’14, presented the Dom Pérignon raffle prize to Dawn Sacco. The Dom Pérignon was donated by Paola Avila Gorostiza ’93.
4. We were pleased to welcome many members of the Saint
Augustine High School administration team. Seated from left: Diane Hearn, Ed Hearn (Saints President), Mark Hubka, Janet Wilson Hubka ’76, Mary Valdes, Roberto Valdes. Standing from left: Steve Chipp (Saints Executive Director of Finance and Facilities), Karen Chipp, Cathy Horne, Jim Horne (Saints Principal).
5. Many of our Board Members joined us at the event. Seated
from left: Dorrie Montgomery Adessa ’48, Geraldine Smith Williamson ’48, Dr. Nora Faine-Sykes ’78 (board member), Michael Sykes, Sr. Breege Boyle SSL (board member). Back row from left: Don Sloper, Mary Caratan Sloper ’58 (Board Chair emeritus), Barbara Picco (board member), Susan Hause (board member), Nancy Ryan ’58.
3
6. Mike and Trudy Pearlman bid on and won the reserved yearlong parking space auction item for their granddaughter, Caroline Pearlman ’15, which sold for $1,600!
7. The Prado at Balboa Park was the perfect location to host the evening’s event. The decorations were beautiful thanks in part to PEP Creative’s Joanne Mera and parent volunteers.
8. Some of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet joined us at the
event. Seated from left: Lee Fitzgerald, Ken Stephenson, Laura Impastato ’66, Sr. Helen Louise Lacey, Sr. Anne Lorraine Mahlmeister, Sr. Fay Hagan. Standing from left: Sr. Margaret Barbara Anne Stowasser, Rita Scherrei, Sr. | OLPSr.Magazine 18Murray, Suzanne Ensminger.
5
1
{ p hil a n t hrop y }
supportive
6
2 lively
4
7
Special Thanks To Our Sponsors Atlas Diamond Company Terry ’77 and Dave Camarata Costco Donovan’s Steak & Chop House Farmers Insurance Open Hightower Cellars Carole Finch Hard Rock Hotel Beth and Tom Joyce Claire ’81 and Mark Kennedy Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers Larry and Sandy Smelik Manzer Lori and Damian McKinney
Joanne Mera & PEP Creative Kathy and Eric Olsen Debbie and Bill Pollakov PRP Wine International Rancho Bernardo Inn San Diego Air and Space Museum Dr. Nora Faine Sykes ’78 and Michael Sykes Tamarack Beach Resort T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. The Modern Honolulu Hotel Timken Museum of Art Wayne Foster Entertainment
empowering
8 Spring 2014 | 19
Alumna Spotlight Grace Credo ’92 I am currently a senior research scientist at Silicon Valley-based Intel Corporation’s Labs division, analyzing and controlling chemistry on silicon-based sensors, which is directly related to the work I first did at UCSD while I was a senior at OLP. Before I went to high school, I enjoyed my science and math classes and was encouraged strongly by my teachers (Good Shepherd School in Mira Mesa) to think about being a scientist. I wrote a report about quantum mechanics in 7th grade so I thought maybe I should be a physicist. While at OLP, I tried to figure out which of the sciences interested me. I still remember my class award for Chemistry S from Mrs. Handelsman, which instantly made chemistry my favorite branch of science. I also enjoyed AP Biology with Ms. Gammon and Physics with Ms. Wiedower. I was one of two future Ph.D. students (Chi Nguyen ’92, UC Irvine Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry) to take AP Chemistry but it was independent self-study and we were easily distracted while enjoying the sunny view in Upper Court. What really influenced my career were two programs for which I successfully applied in junior year. Recommendations from my teachers based on my academic record and dedication to extracurricular activities were a large part of the strength of my application. One position was in molecular biology as an American Cancer Society summer intern, which I found frustrating because our cells died. The more fulfilling one for me was my work senior year as a National Science Foundation Young Scholar in a chemistry lab at UCSD, exploring size-dependent light emission properties of silicon nanoparticles. I had several publications from that work (Science, Journal of the American Chemical Society) as well as my first patent. In addition to science, 20 | OLP Magazine
some of my favorite classes were in the social sciences like history and government and I was heavily involved in ASB (Secretary, Historian) and was captain of Academic League and Academic Decathlon. I loved my time at OLP and I was sad to leave. My career path has been pretty straight with a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in chemistry. After high school, I attended Harvey Mudd College, the science and engineering school of the Claremont Colleges. It was a hard adjustment going from a religious all-girls school to an adamantly secular college dominated by men. I was recently honored to be invited as a speaker in October 2013, meeting with students and professors from all five undergrad Claremont Colleges. The title of my speech was “Chemistry at the Interface: Opportunities Where Biology Meets Silicon.” After HMC I went to UC Santa Barbara for my Ph.D., where I was also active in the campus Catholic church and student government, eventually becoming president of the Graduate Students Association. After grad school I lived on the East Coast for five years, first as a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State in Raleigh and then as a senior research chemist at Waters Corporation in Milford, Massachusetts. Even though I am glad I got to see the other side of the country, I’m glad to be back in California to enjoy the weather and be close to family.
I still remember my class award for Chemistry S from Mrs. Handelsman, which instantly made chemistry my favorite branch of science. For the past 8 years I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, in San Mateo. I’ve been married for 7 years to another California chemist I met at UCSB and we are expecting our very first baby (a girl) in early May. I am a parishioner at St. Luke’s in Foster City, where we got married. I visit San Diego often to see my family and close friends. OLP truly helped mold me into the woman I am today and gave me the start I needed to launch my career.•
1. Grace (center) and her engineering, biology, and chemistry co-workers in biosensor research at Intel Labs in summer 2011, Santa Clara, CA
{ A l umn a e Ne w s }
Pilots Take Flight 70s Tracy Smith ’78 has studied
abroad and traveled since graduating. She is currently a bilingual Public Affairs Specialist at Social Security Headquarters.
80s Marla Clausen ’80 is excited to
report that her daughters, Daniela and Alicia attend Mt. St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, AR.
Lisa Van Valkenburgh Degler ’83 welcomed her 2nd grandson Cody Edward in March.
Carrie Cwiak ’88 is an associate professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.
Meredith Dow ’89 opened her own business last June, Driven Staffing, Inc., a firm specializing in temporary and permanent placement of scientists and engineers.
90s Danielle Blowers Janavice ’91 has
been married for 17 years to her husband, Jay. Their first child, a son, was born December 2010. Both army officers, Danielle is a field medical assistant in the medical service corps, while Jay is a combat engineer. The Janavices currently live in New Jersey.
Laura Colonelli Walsh ’83 has
a bachelor’s degree in marketing from SDSU and worked for Advo, a direct mailing advertising company, after her graduation. Married to her high school sweetheart, Larry Walsh, Laura is now a stay at home mom to their four children. Ryan and Scott graduated from St. Augustine High School and attend Villanova University and Marquette University. Krista is a junior at OLP and Jeffrey is in 6th grade at Our Lady of Grace. This year Larry and Laura will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Laura says, “It has been special to share my memories with my daughter as she experiences life at OLP.”
Alums: now an easier way to find each other! register in our alum directory online at aolp.org
Tiffany Tang ’93 is a writer,
actor, and social media content creator for Intrepid Shakespeare Company. She received her bachelor’s in English from Mount Holyoke College and her MFA in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. She was recently featured in the Sunday Arts Section of the UT San Diego with a four-part actor’s diary describing her preparation for Macbeth.
Linda Rabin Bensadoun ’94 went to
Gundula Dunne ’93 and Robert Lugo joyfully announce the arrival of their third child, a daughter named Brigitta John Lugo, on November 25, 2013. Big sisters, Adeline and Evadene love having a little sister!
the University of San Diego and got a degree in business administration. She then moved to Grenoble, France to pursue a Master’s in international business. She married a Frenchman and the couple have three children and are currently living in Padua, Italy.
Marcela Valladolid ’96 is hosting
a new television show, “The Kitchen,” on the Food Network.
Spring 2014 | 21
Jennifer Pohl Kolterman ’97 and Jeff proudly announce the arrival of their first child, a daughter named Brianna Lorraine born June 3, 2013. Jennifer is a CPA and works as a tax manager at McGladrey LLP.
Stevie Meech ’05 graduated from
San Diego State University. She went to cosmetology school and is now working at Millicent & Company.
Jessica Frances Cavanaugh ’05
graduated from UCSD and is now working for the San Diego Police Dept as a 911 dispatcher following in her mother’s footsteps.
Erin Capistrano ’06 received her
master’s degree in Shakespeare Studies from King’s College, London and recently moved back to NYC to continue acting.
Paulina Bustamante ’06
00s Jessica Healy Neder ’03 graduated Loyola Marymount University with bachelor of science in accounting in 2007. She worked in public accounting as a CPA for 5 years. She was married in October 2010 and had her first child, a daughter named Ayden, in September 2012. Since her birth she works as a part time controller at an insurance brokerage and resides in San Diego.
Theresa Bishop ’04 is a graduate
of the University of San Diego who majored in philosophy and minored in biology. Theresa’s passion for biomedical ethics led her to a career in clinical research. Since May 2009, she’s worked at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center as a clinical research coordinator for the hematology team, and recently transitioned into data management.
22 | OLP Magazine
graduated from SDSU with where she majored in international security and conflict resolution, and political science. She completed the graduate degree program in Homeland Security (also at SDSU) in May 2013. Married since June 1, 2013, she and her husband are looking forward to starting a family this May.
Cristina Farkas ’06 is a medical
student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, finishing up her third year. Since she started school in 2011, she has led research projects in interprofessional education and biomedical ethics, in addition to taking in the sights, tastes and sounds of Southern life!
Sara McKinney ’07 graduated
from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in social justice. She studied abroad in Salzburg and traveled all over Europe in addition to Cairo and Istanbul. After working as an office assistant for a San Diego law firm, she’s now studying for her juris doctorate at Baylor Law School. Sara reflects, “I would not have done any of this without OLP. I am so thankful for the doors it has opened and the advantage I have over my peers.”
Rebecca Ortega ’08 attended
Duke University and received a BS in cell and molecular biology in 2012. She is a first-year dental student at UCLA School of Dentistry, on her way to becoming a DDS! She thanks OLP for helping her get one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a dentist!
Elizabeth “Liz” Ferry ’09 closed
out her golf career at St. Martin’s University in Washington by earning academic honors for the third straight year (her major is business administration) and being named second team All-GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference).
Andrea Camarena Gamboa ’09
graduated from the University of San Francisco in May 2013 with a major in architecture and a minor in business. She is currently working for an architecture firm in the Bay Area.
10s Alyssa Faaborg ’10 studied at
Palomar College for two years and is now transferring to the University of San Diego to pursue a double major in environmental studies and business administration. She currently works at Evergreen Nursery in San Diego which she loves because she gets to talk about plants all day long! This summer she has a trip to Germany planned to visit her boyfriend’s family.
Isamar Gonzalez ’10 attends Elmira College in upstate New York and will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology this June. While earning her undergraduate degree, she traveled abroad in Greece and Turkey and had the experience of a lifetime. She hopes to pursue a graduate degree in social work.
Giselle Austria ’13 is studying
biology at UC Riverside and is a member of this quarter’s ensemble theatre production of In The Heights.
Kelly Walsh ’13 is studying
biomedical engineering at Syracuse University. She is grateful for the study skills she learned at OLP and says, “I still find it weird that everyone wears hoodies to school!”
Reunions
Contact alumnae@aolp.org for more info Date: April 19, 2014 Event: OLP Hosted 19th Annual Easter Egg Hunt Date: April 12, 2014 For Years: 1944, 1945, 1954, 1959 Event: Jewel Jubilee Luncheon Date: May 29, 2014 For Year: 1964 Event: 50th Reunion at OLP Commencement Exercises Plus other activities during the week
Date: June 21, 2014 For Year: 1969 Event: Contact Janet Cooper at jcooperfer@cox.net Date: September For Year: 1974 Event: Contact ReinaMartinez at rmreader056@gmail.com or 619-436-7559 For Year: 1979 Event: Committee now forming For Year: 1984 Event: facebook.com/groups/54230833600 For Year: 1989 Event: Contact Yvette Aguayo at Bruin4Lyfe@hotmail.com For Year: 1994 Event: facebook.com/ groups/1453770418176658 For Year: 1999 Event: Committe now forming Date: August 22, 2014 For Year: 2004 Event: Social on the OLP campus for classmates Date: August 23, 2014 Event: Semi-formal event with Saints at the Hyatt Mission Bay for alums and their significant others Contact Theresa Bishop at tcbishop08@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/OLP.Reunion.2004 For Year: 2009 Event: Committe now forming
Charitable Giving For information on charitable giving, including designating OLP in your will, please contact Margot Howard at 619-725-9188.
InMEMORIAM We remember our beloved alumnae who have gone to their eternal rest.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Marguerite finnegan caso ’43 Helen Dawson Carroll ’44 Francie Richardson Patrick ’56 Mary Mahedy Shier ’63
Michelle Marriott ’80
Spring 2014 | 23
ACADEMY OF
OUR LADY OF
PEACE FOUNDED 1882
4860 Oregon St. San Diego, CA 92116
22nd ANNUAL
Golf“Fore” Tournament OLP’s Sports Programs Monday, October 27, 2014
SAN DIEGO COUNTRY CLUB
facebook.com/ academyofourladyofpeace
linkedin.com