Logos 2016-2017: The Magazine of Northwest Catholic

THE MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

2 016-2017

Editor’s Letter

Upcoming Events

Dear Reader,

Christmas Toy Collection

This edition of Logos is dedicated to the good work being done by the Northwest Catholic community. As you know, faith and service are integral to a Northwest Catholic education. Within weeks into my first year as communications director at the school, I saw this mission realized. Students at Northwest Catholic are guided toward giving and expected to think beyond themselves.

December 1 – 14, 2017

I am awed by the volume of community outreach initiatives sponsored and supported by the school. I am equally impressed by the number of students who conceive and execute service projects of their own volition. Students are looking for ways to serve.

I’m not naive. Yes, sophomores must complete a service project for religion class.

And, sure, students hope to fill a few lines on a college application. Still, the drive at NWC to do good for goodness’s sake eclipses self-serving motives. It’s obvious.

I’ve worked in schools for 25 years, and I’ve yet to see a school that takes the responsibility to serve others as seriously as Northwest Catholic. I hope this edition of Logos illustrates that truth.

Drop off toys: Room 104

Mondays Manna Community Meals December 4, 2017 January 8, 2018 February 5, 2018 March 5, 2018 April 2, 2018 May 7, 2018 June 4, 2018 July 2, 2018 August 6, 2018

5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm 5–7pm

Christ Church Cathedral In Hartford To volunteer, contact Kristina Gillespie: KGillespie@nwcath.org

Maureen C. Scudder

Unified Theater Show

Logos Editor

March 2, 2018 at 7pm The Rice Auditorium Questions? Contact Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84: TBournique@nwcath.org

LOGOS

Empty Bowls Dinner

The Magazine of Northwest Catholic

March 7, 2018 at 6pm

The Greek word λόγος or logos (pronounced lo-gaas) is defined as “word” or “meaning.” St. John’s Gospel opens: “In the beginning was Logos (the Word), and Logos was with God, and Logos was God.” The phrase “Word (Logos) of God,” found in John 1:1 and elsewhere, shows God’s desire and ability to “speak” to the human. The Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs (the founding Order of Northwest Catholic) have been noted for their ability to preach the word. The mission of the Dominicans is to provide intellectual formation, social communication, and service through word and action. Our publication, Logos, conveys our mission and values through this medium of the word.

The Navin Dining Hall

Logos is published once a year by the Communications Department of

Please send comments or suggestions to: Maureen C. Scudder Northwest Catholic High School 29 Wampanoag Drive West Hartford, CT 06117 860-236-4221 ext. 133 MScudder@nwcath.org 2016 – 2017

PRESIDENT & HEAD OF SCHOOL Christian J. Cashman DESIGN GO

Northwest Catholic High School.

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EDITOR Maureen C. Scudder

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

TABLE OF CONTENTS

F eatures 6 8 18 20 In Your Light

by Christian J. Cashman

A.C.T.S. Seniors at Northwest Catholic Get “A Chance to Serve” The First Monday Made with love and served with love

A Conversation with Kristina Gillespie Director of Campus Ministry, Spanish and Religion Teacher

Departments 25

#GOODWORKS

42

NEWS FROM WAMP

62

KUDOS

78

ATHLETICS

92

IN THE ARTS

105

ADVANCEMENT NEWS

115

ALUMNI NEWS

129

IN MEMORIAM

131

THE 1961 SOCIETY

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T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Letter from the President & Head of School Dear Friends of Northwest Catholic, Northwest Catholic High School opened its doors in 1961 and graduated its first class of distinguished young men and women in 1965. We are strong today because of the zeal and missionary spirit of our founders and because of decades of loyal faculty, students, graduates, parents, priests, religious sisters, and the Catholic community who sustained us. We are firmly rooted in the traditions of our Catholic faith, which drives us to academic excellence, personal excellence, and a commitment to service, justice, and leadership in our global society. At Northwest Catholic we educate the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.

I am thrilled and humbled to be joining the Northwest Catholic community in this decisive moment in the long, rich history of our school. It is a moment in which our vision must be as bold as that of our founders. Our mission must be rooted in our time-tested Catholic educational tradition while also seeking to innovate and meet the needs of the 21st century learner. In an increasingly competitive global society, a Northwest Catholic graduate must be equipped with the formation to become a young man or woman of academic, spiritual, and physical excellence who seeks to lead and serve in a needy world.

I have already been deeply moved by the vitality and generosity of the Northwest Catholic community far and near.

It is truly the school “where I know I belong.” Among the many listening sessions I have had in my first six months as President, it is clear to me that a desire exists at Northwest Catholic to deepen the existing vision begun nearly six decades ago. To that end, with the help of our devoted school board, faculty, staff, students, parents, and loyal graduates, we are embarking on a two-year process of developing a “Northwest Catholic Vision 2021,” which clearly articulates a multiphase strategic and master plan whose primary goal is the long term sustainability of Northwest Catholic High School.

It is our firm conviction, rooted in faith and hope, that this plan will be the living and breathing statement of our most ambitious goals and hopes for future generations of Northwest Catholic students and graduates.

We stand on the shoulders of Northwest Catholic giants who knew at the founding they were “prophets of a future not their own.” So, I invite us all to take the long view. Let us all seek to lay a foundation for future generations to experience the transformative power of a Northwest Catholic education. I invite you to join me and the Northwest Catholic community in bringing this shared vision to fulfillment. With God’s help and our faithful stewardship, I know we will be light for a world that urgently needs the gifts we bring. Thank you for the warm welcome. Let’s go NWC pride!

In peace and gratitude,

Christian J. Cashman, M.Ed. President & Head of School

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by Christian J. Cashman

The Northwest Catholic High School motto In lumine tuo videbimus lumen, which is Latin for In Your light we shall see light means that in the light of Christ, in the light of God, is the lens through which we at Northwest Catholic view our entire lives and the world. It teaches us that everywhere we go, in every experience we have with one another, we can seek the light of Christ. We can seek God and find peace, if we only have the eyes to see it, as the gospels teach. And, candidly, this is an all or nothing proposition. Either God’s light can be found everywhere, or it can be found nowhere. In case my Jesuit education causes me to seem too philosophical or abstract, let me put it more plainly, In your light we shall see light simply means everywhere we go—on the football field, on the stage, in the dining hall, and beyond our hallowed halls—we look for Christ’s light in ourselves and in one another. This is the magnificent challenge and vision of Northwest Catholic.

I have already learned that Northwest Catholic is a place where we celebrate the light in one another, raising each other up, bringing light into the darkness. Students and graduates of Northwest Catholic are shining light where there is suffering, where there 6 • LOGOS

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is conflict in the world. In this way, Northwest Catholic is living fully the model of the ancient Christian tradition—to be a light for the world, through simple acts of faith, leadership, and service.

It’s not about giving something away.

It’s being yourself in presence in service to another.

At Northwest Catholic, this is expressed in many ways at many different times of the day and year. Through our morning and afternoon prayers, we ask ourselves and each other the reflective questions: Where did I see the light today? Where did I see it in another?

Where did I fail to see it and how can I improve tomorrow? Who should I pray for today? Asking ourselves how we can be better is a practical matter for reflection. It demands we examine the motto, then live it. It also is the beginning of humility and

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wisdom, which are enduring traits of a Northwest Catholic education. If I can learn to bow in humility, as our teacher Jesus did, then I am ready to serve others in compassion. This is happening every week at Northwest.

Not only are Northwest Catholic students expressing small acts of kind faith on Wampanoag Drive, they are taking their faith to the streets of greater Hartford to serve and give back.

This is the leadership we aspire to teach and develop at Northwest Catholic.

At Northwest Catholic, leadership means service and “power with” not “power over.” Shaping servant leaders is a hallmark of a Northwest Catholic education. To be clear, Christian leadership is service. Our students do not have any delusions about their role as saviors of the world; rather, they are servants to individuals in need.

Our brand of Christian leadership at Northwest Catholic is about relational service. This approach is unique and different from volunteerism which, while an important aspect of good citizenship, is not the equivalent to the Catholic educational tradition at Northwest Catholic, where service is personal. It’s a relationship. And why should it be so?

Because, clearly, we find the face of God in the other. We find Christ in the other person. In someone else’s suffering we see our own suffering—and there is the decisive connection. That’s the cornerstone where the curriculum we teach and the actions we take become one reality. Transformation happens in that moment when a Northwest Catholic student finally realizes all this book learning actually means “I have to take my learning to the street and serve.” Father Greg Boyle, the Jesuit writer, says it well, “Solidarity is when your heart is in the right place, but kinship is when your feet are in the right place.”

And when taking it to the street, we are taking our light from Northwest Catholic to the world. It’s not just about giving something away. It’s about being yourself in presence and service to another. Our Northwest Catholic faculty and staff live this mantra as do our students and our distinguished and wonderful graduates around the globe.

May the light of Christ that illuminates all things in this world, even the broken things, give us abiding hope.

May this motto always be at the heart of a Northwest Catholic education, a method and a vision ever ancient, but ever new.

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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Seniors at Northwest Catholic Get “A Chance to Serve”

by Maureen C. Scudder The 2016 A.C.T.S. class at Northwest Catholic gave a very special group of 18 seniors “A Chance to Serve.” I spoke with this remarkable crew after their five-day community service Immersion in November and again on their last day of religion class in June. On both occasions the students spoke candidly about their experiences in this unique course, extolling the virtues of the curriculum, explaining how their good work spread school-wide, and hammering the message they have created bonds unmatched and unbreakable.

The A.C.T.S. students were clear on many points. One, they came together from different backgrounds, different circles, and with varying degrees of enthusiasm for the course. They chuckled about waffling when applying and enrolling, and by June they were amused they had felt any reluctance when the course had so obviously been a boon. This motley collection appreciated their divergent paths and used the expression melting pot repeatedly to describe their chemistry. No matter how they arrived to class with Mrs. Gillespie, it didn’t matter.

What mattered is they took the leap, they found one another, and they are better for it.

According to the group, the magic began during their three-day camping trip held before the start of the school year. One student remarked, “We really didn’t know what to expect.” Another added, “Mrs. Gillespie does a great job of telling us just enough. She doesn’t spoil experiences by giving away too much.” The camping trip left an enormous impression on these students. In fact, our conversation in early June returned again and again to the August excursion as the students explained how getting off-site was the first key to their affinity.

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If the group hadn’t fully gelled from the summer junket into the woods, it surely did after their five-day community service Immersion—the A.C.T.S. signature experience—held directly before Thanksgiving.

The A.C.T.S. course hinges on the November Immersion. My guess is that it’s this fiveday commitment that draws some students to A.C.T.S. while, at the same time, scares others away. Applicants know the Immersion is tough stuff. It is also life-changing.

Words like “momentous,” “transformative,” “challenging,” “gratifying,” and “inspiring” peppered their reflections. The students had no doubt this week-long experience that put them face-to-face with people’s hardships left its effect. And although the students spoke honestly of what it felt like to really see those in need, they spent more time talking about what it meant to witness volunteers relieving others’ stress and suffering. These students seemed to know instinctively what eludes most adults: “Look for the helpers,” as Fred Rogers said.

Service is the good work of the A.C.T.S. class, but serving together is the real gem.

One student admitted she might cry if she started describing how important this group had become to her and how their experiences together had forged her best memories of high school. If you think this genuine, emotional response sparked nervousness in the room, you’re wrong. These young men and women simply smiled. They’d been through a lot together and a lump in their friend’s throat couldn’t rattle them. That’s when I knew the trust was real.

When I challenged the group with the notion that the class might not be as important as they thought because it only served 18 students in a school of more than 500, they flashed T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

with responses. “Benefits only 18 students?

Are you kidding? No way! The whole school benefits, directly and indirectly,” they assured me. In practical terms, they explained how they ran the monthly Masses as well as the underclassmen retreats. In less tangible ways, they made plain that they are the keepers of the faith. They are the students who talk about God. One student admitted, “Before I joined A.C.T.S. I wondered if anyone else believed like I did.” Another student concurred and added, “I used to be quiet about my faith.” A third student joined, “Now I’m not afraid to talk about my faith.” They told me about God’s presence in their lives, and although you may think that’s commonplace in a Catholic school, it still takes courage to stand witness and speak up.

These teenagers are confident, faithful, and brave.

...but serving together is the real gem.

During our roundtable chat, the A.C.T.S. students were flooded with memories, opinions, and emotions. The end of their high school career was upon them and they waxed nostalgic about their rare and beautiful A.C.T.S. community and their role within it. They wanted me to know this class had changed them, and for that they were grateful. Yes, along the way they questioned their faith, their perspective, their experience, their everything, as teenagers should do, but, at the same time, they knew from day one they were part of something. They knew they were welcome. They knew they belonged.

Reflections on the Immersion

Claire Nicholas ’17 There is a phenomenon in nature, one that describes the cooperation of living things with a special relationship. It’s a scientific phenomenon that doesn’t typically suggest sociological aspects or anything anthropogenic. On the A.C.T.S. Immersion, I observed this phenomenon in society firsthand.

I traveled with peers to various nonprofits in Hartford—doing culinary work at the House of Bread, entertaining children at Cathedral Green, filling bags with Thanksgiving food, and leading a retreat for young students at St. Brigid St. Augustine.

I clearly helped others. I used my physical and emotional strength to “get stuff done,” making sure the onions were diced and the children were happy and that Ken and Josh weren’t cheating during sharks and minnows.

But that was only the half of it.

Helping others, and this is the part people seldom expect, almost 100% guarantees the helper will be helped in return. Inadvertently, yes, but helped nonetheless.

I cut 100 frozen bagels for hungry city dwellers, and with this task I learned patience and efficiency. (Plus, I am now confident I can cut any bagel right down the middle, no matter how deformed.) I babysat and made crafts with children, yet I received in return joy lasting for days and a desire to serve more people. I stood for two hours packing cans and boxes for those needing Thanksgiving dinner, and I felt gratitude for what I have, giving me a broader perspective and deeper understanding of my responsibility to share and act for justice. I chased a group of middle schoolers around a gym for an entire day, teaching them we are one body and directing them in their various endeavors, and I found new patience and formed friendships with some truly beautiful, wild little people.

The people I served helped me as I helped them, and in this way the Immersion gave me a chance to observe and experience the scientific phenomenon of cooperation in society. With all this in mind, I reached the conclusion that I received the gift of perfect symbiosis on the Immersion, which science tells us is “a cooperative relationship between organisms,” but which I now define as love. X

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“I could not have imagined to what extent the Immersion would change me. It was an eyeopening experience—I learned about myself, my classmates, and the world around me. Never before have I had the chance to be with a group of my peers who are so kind, driven, open hearted, and beautiful. I came back from the Immersion not only with a new outlook on life, but with a second family as well.

Victoria O’Neill ’ 17

The Immersion was a lifechanging experience. It opened my eyes to a world of need in our community and to the amazing things people do to help alleviate this need.”

Julia Klein ’ 17

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Reflections on the Immersion

David Ogbonna ’17 Eighteen of us attended the Immersion. We slept on the floor of the Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience.

The Immersion helped me recognize problems in our own community and feel gratitude from the people we served. It is one thing to donate to an organization but entirely different to see the faces of people you are helping.

The five days I spent on the Immersion were some of the best days of my senior year, and I’m very grateful for the experience.”

Kennedy O’Hara ’ 17

On Sunday we picked up recently immigrated African children to go on a hike. When we arrived to meet the children, Mrs. Bournique returned to the bus saying, “I need welcomers!” When I got off the bus, I looked down the street to a group of smiling children. After crossing the road I locked eyes with this one little boy who could not stop smiling at me. Out of all the little kids in the group, I picked him to walk with. The hike hadn’t even started and I was tearing up.

During the hike I interacted with different kids, but I ended up staying with this little boy named Inge. He was shy, wearing a purple jacket. I got him to smile at the beginning of the trail, and I knew I wanted to experience this hike with him. I gave him a piggyback ride all the way to the top. We were laughing and just enjoying each other’s company. It snowed at one point, but ask anyone on that hike about the weather, and they would say, “What snow?” Everyone was so focused on having the best time, and no one wanted to let anything stop them from enjoying it.

After the hike I sat with Inge the whole way back to Franklin Avenue. Seeing him continue to smile the whole ride warmed my heart. We all got off the bus and crossed the street, and as we got closer to the apartment building Inge could not stop holding onto me. Finally when we stood in front of the steps, he climbed each step waving and smiling at me. With each wave my heart was filled with joy.

I don’t know Inge’s story but I know I am a part of it. We took these children on a hike, forgetting about tomorrow, forgetting about what we were going to do next. It was a chance to serve.

Right: Kennedy O’Hara ’17 and Anderson Murphy ’17 carry their new friends on their backs during a hike up Case Mountain.

Left: A.C.T.S. students en route to their community service locations.

Christian Heiden ’17 captures a moment on Snapchat.

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Being part of the Immersion reminded me of my mother’s saying: ‘Be grateful for the things you receive and cherish them.’

Prior to the Immersion I did not fully understand what my mother’s words meant, but this trip was very humbling and helped me understand their true meaning.”

Virgil Rona ’ 17

The A.C.T.S. class together for the last time before graduating.

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The volunteers and workers at the organizations we worked with were some of the most selfless and inspirational people I have ever met. They were good, sincere people who knew the importance of serving their neighbor. There is nothing more beautiful than a person sacrificing oneself, in any way at all, for another.”

Leanna Beaulieu ’ 17

One of my favorite activities was the dinner dance for elderly people with mental challenges.

I met a shy man sitting on the side of the room observing people dance. I gathered my nerves to approach him since he seemed left out. I will never forget the look of gratitude and joy I received from him. Small things can brighten a person’s day entirely.”

Thi Ri Soe ’ 17

If there were one lesson I learned on the Immersion it would simply be to love. I met so many genuine, kind, compassionate people who have dedicated their lives to putting the needs of others before themselves. It was truly inspiring.”

Jessica Follo ’ 17

Reflections on the Immersion

Emily Driscoll ’17 On the Immersion I experienced so much growing in such little time. I got the chance to help in many different ways, and I developed deeper relationships with friends I already had. Our group became closer through service to others.

My favorite part of the Immersion was working with children. On Sunday we had the privilege of taking a large refugee family from the Congo on a hike up Case Mountain. Mrs. Gillespie told us there would be around nine children, but they had brought friends. It looked like the whole neighborhood had arrived. We were excited to spend the day with the children; the struggle was they spoke little English.

It was difficult to communicate with them, but we learned that through gestures and smiles, communication was possible. One five year old boy could barely understand English, so we asked him about colors, and he knew only red, yellow, and white. We pointed to the sky and taught him how to say “blue,” as well as some other words like “glove” and “hat.” Even though language was a barrier, we broke it by laughing, holding hands, and learning colors.

Monday was also an adventure. We needed to use the city bus to get to our two destinations in downtown Hartford. The first was Catholic Charities, which is an organization that assists refugee and migrant families with finding shelter and work. The second was Grace Academy, a girls’ middle school where we were to teach religion and P.E. as well as tutor.

At Catholic Charities we sorted donated clothing and sat in on an English class taught by a man named Joseph who had been in a refugee camp for 20 years. Joe now volunteers at Catholic Charities to give back to the place that once helped him.

Leanna and Lizzy played with some of the children in the back of the classroom, while David and I tried to speak with some of the parents and babies in front. We learned a few words in Swahili, so we could greet people and tell them our names. It was a culturally educational experience I will never forget.

Later that afternoon, when we arrived at Grace Academy, we went to work teaching.

We taught the students that no matter one’s age, or how small one feels, everyone can contribute to solving the world’s problems if they act out of kindness.

What I learned through these experiences is that children are incredibly special because they look at the world with innocent eyes. They have wild imaginations and big dreams. Children are open to every idea, and they are not judgmental. I realized that if we could get in touch with our own inner child, we would all get along a little better and the world would be a little nicer.

I am incredibly thankful to have been part of the A.C.T.S. class. We are like family. I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to meet wonderful people through my service on the Immersion, to have shared lots of laughs, and to have experienced how rewarding volunteering can be.

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I discovered that perspective sometimes requires a change of scenery, and it can lead us to the fullness of faith and a hunger for more. As long as I haven’t experienced every walk of life, I have more perspective to gain.”

Claire Nicholas ’ 17

This trip really made my senior year. At night we would reflect together as a group on how the service we did that day impacted us. Seeing the people we had served smile made me realize how much of a positive effect we have on someone's life.”

David Ogbonna ’ 17

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Reflections on the Immersion

Julia Klein ’17 “The Immersion opened my eyes and forced me to get out of my comfort zone. It was a tiring experience, but I was so happy doing it. It helped me decide that serving people is what I want to do.

Kayla Walton ’ 17

For five days we spent our time volunteering at various organizations throughout the greater Hartford area. This experience was truly life changing for me.

Throughout the Immersion, a major theme, and the gift I received, was unity. Removing ourselves from our usual schedules and comfortable homes allowed us to fully commit to the experience.

On Saturday morning I volunteered for A Hand Up, an organization collects and distributes furniture to people in need. Oftentimes these people are formerly homeless. Delivering couches, tables, and chairs to a home that previously had minimal furnishings was an amazing feeling. Seeing the faces of people receiving the furniture was truly inspiring.

I also spent much of my time at the Catholic Worker House. We sorted and packaged donations of Thanksgiving food, including turkeys. The first delivery I made was to a woman named Lily.

She has been relying on the Catholic Worker for her Thanksgiving box for 18 years. I was able to see firsthand how organizations like the Catholic Worker directly affect the community around them.

Both of these organizations, as well as any community service, create a unique, unifying atmosphere.

Throughout the Immersion I was able to see how simply delivering ingredients for a meal or dropping off a couch someone needs can bring true joy to the person receiving it. These organizations bring together communities by working to give any help they can to people who may otherwise not have a bed to sleep on or food to eat for Thanksgiving dinner.

Participating in the Immersion also created new connections for us students and unified our A.C.T.S. class. This time last year I had not talked to some of the people in class, and now I consider them to be some of my closest friends. I am forever grateful to the A.C.T.S. class, Mrs. Gillespie, and Mrs. Bournique for making this experience possible and something I will never forget.

Top: Virgil Rona ’17 and Patrick Douglas ’98, a fifth grade teacher at St. Bridget-St. Augustine School, during the middle school retreat led by the A.C.T.S. class.

Left: The A.C.T.S. class after their November Immersion.

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A.C.T.S

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7 Heiden ’1 Christian

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7 Thi Ri Soe ’1 Thi Ri Soe ’17

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by Kristina Gillespie

The first Monday of the month is always a busy day in the Campus Ministry Office, and a favorite day at Manna Community Meals on Church Street in Hartford.

For the past fifteen years, students, teachers, parents, siblings, and friends of Northwest Catholic have gathered each month to prepare dinner for the guests at Manna Community Meals. We serve our signature dish—chicken catalina. This was a favorite dinner at my house growing up, one of the dishes my mother would make that all of us enjoyed.

My children and my husband love it too. (My daughter Sarah ate it for lunch nearly every day for nine years of school, and still asks for it for her birthday dinner.) For the first NWC meal at Manna, I suggested that everyone bring a chicken dish, and, of course, chicken catalina was what I brought. It was a big hit— the guests all asked for the “red chicken,” so it was decided that the next time we went, we would all bring chicken catalina. That is how our legendary menu was set!

The visits to Manna began after one student, Shana Moynihan ’05, suggested cooking dinner at a soup kitchen as an activity for Campus Ministry. After several visits to Manna that first year, we made the decision to commit to a regular time every month.

Over the years our menu has evolved, based on the ideas of our guests and of our students.

We started serving the chicken with a side of buttered noodles because that is how I serve

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it at home. One of the guests finally had the courage to tell me that the buttered noodles were too bland! We switched to macaroni and cheese, but I insisted on homemade recipes.

This was hard to produce, so we went back to the noodles and added cheese sauce. That was a hit! One year a student suggested that chocolate milk might be a nice addition, so we added that. She knew what she was talking about—the chocolate milk is very popular, and I believe we are the only group that serves it. We have made an effort to serve root beer floats every August, and one guest a few years ago asked why we don’t serve ice cream every month. Ice cream is expensive and hard to buy ahead of time. However, the establishment of a memorial fund in Linda Glascock’s name has allowed us to serve ice cream at our Manna Meals almost every month. Linda was the mother of John Glascock ’15. She passed away in November 2015. Brownie sundaes are now the standard dessert.

We love when a guest says to us, “I am stuffed!” Along with the chicken and noodles, we serve mixed vegetables, garden salad, fruit salad, bread and butter, white and chocolate milk, and dessert. Some guests tell us that while they don’t eat at Manna Meals every night, they make a point of coming on the first Monday of the month for our meal. The best compliment we have ever received was a guest who told us, “This all tastes homemade.

I can tell it is made with love.”

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Isabella Schuchardt ’20 and Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84

Matthew ’20 and Paul Querfeld.

Jenny Loveland ’19

The Church Street kitchen buzzes with activity at NWC’s monthly Manna Meal.

Matthew Querfeld ’20 and Elizabeth Rogers ’19

Matthew Masciocchi ’15

Claudia Hart ’78

Sr. Grace Marie Horan and Yingying Chen ’18

Sisters Molly ’18 and Erin Conway ’20

Students prepare parts of the Manna Meal in the kitchen at NWC. Kathryn Krocheski ’18, Julia Frasco ’18, and Junnuo Liang ’18.

Claire Nicholas ’17. Background left to right: Claudia Hart ’78 and Christian J. Cashman, President & Head of School

Made with love and served with love.

Our meal is made with love and served with love. In fact, the love we serve with might be the most important item on the menu. Poverty, and homelessness in particular, can make a person invisible. Think about how often we encounter people in need on the sidewalk as we go about our day, and how often we turn away and try not to look at them.

This is how people in need become invisible. But when we serve dinner at Manna, we look our guests in the eyes, we smile, we talk with them.

And if the serving goes smoothly and we have enough food, we make plates for ourselves, and we sit down and eat dinner with our guests.

We get to know the guests who are there every month. A few of them are fans of Northwest Catholic sports. One of them works for the company that plows our parking lot, making our walkways safe for us when it snows. It is important that both physical hunger and the hunger for friendship and human interaction are addressed in equal measure.

There are some students who have come with us only once or twice, but most students who attend become regulars. It might be the love—it is powerful stuff. And the chicken catalina is very good too.

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A Conversation with

KRISTINA GILLESPIE Director of Campus Ministry, Spanish and Religion Teacher

What roles do you play at Northwest Catholic, how long have been in these roles, and what do you like best about each one?

This year will be my 28 year at NWC. I was hired to teach Spanish—and coach cheerleading! The cheerleading only lasted two years, and then I became the senior class moderator for the next 25 years. I have been to more than 25 proms. I "retired" from that position at the end of last year, so maybe 2017 was my last prom. Maybe. th

I was a full-time Spanish teacher for the first five years, and then I became the Director of Campus Ministry. At the beginning of my career I had an Opera Club. It started just after the school bought the first van. A group of students and I would go to dinner at a nice restaurant and then to the opera at the Bushnell. For three summers I also taught a summer course to help incoming students with study skills.

Now, as Director of Campus Ministry, I teach the A.C.T.S. class and lead all the retreats. I also lead the Liturgical Choir, and I moderate the Pro-Life Club, Manna Meals, the St. Isidore Garden, Wednesday Morning Prayer Group, Thursdays in the City as well as other clubs that pop up from time to time, like the Sewing Club this past year.

I enjoy teaching Spanish because it is a link to other places, and it is gratifying to help students learn to express themselves in a new way. I enjoy what I do in Campus Ministry because we get to do the things that are really most important—we learn how to love and serve God.

And what is the single greatest challenge to achieving this goal?

I don't find my students hard to love, so I am not sure what the greatest challenge is to do it. I know people who make comments about being afraid of teenagers or about dreading their own children growing into teenagers. One person I know even told me and my daughters on their thirteenth birthdays that he would not be talking to them for the next five years because they were now sulky teenagers. My daughters knew he was joking, but it did bother them. It definitely bothered me. The teenage years can be such an exciting time of life, and so much growth happens, and it happens fast. Teenagers are thoughtful and curious and idealistic and opinionated and competent and hard working. It's fun for me to take a group of students to work at an agency where our contact there has set up what she thinks is all-day project.

The students finish it in no time and have fun doing it! We adults often forget how to attack challenges that way. The change from freshman year to senior year is amazing, and sometimes even the change from fall of senior year to graduation day is huge. I feel privileged to be invited to be part of that growth. And for me to be effective in fostering it, I have to let the students know I love them, no matter what. That's what makes it possible for them to take the good risks, the ones where they step outside their comfort zones and discover who they are and what they can be.

What is the most important goal in working with teenagers?

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Gillespie (far right) enjoys the company of her colleagues at the school’s annual Christmas party. Gillespie has worked at the school for 27 years. Also pictured are Nancy Scully Bannon ’73 (27 years), Helga Phillips (15 years), and Ana Barrett (46 years). Together this foursome has given 115 years of service to Northwest Catholic!

What kind of student do you think you’ve left the greatest impression on?

I think I am most effective at reaching students who have not yet discovered what they are good at, or who think they have nothing to offer. I create opportunities for them to discover otherwise.

And what kind of student has left the greatest impression on you?

Rev. Shawn Daly ’79 and Gillespie present crosses to every junior during the school’s annual Junior Investiture ceremony. “These crosses are very special to the students. Not a year has passed in my 27 years at NWC where an alum hasn’t asked me to replace a lost cross. And I always give them a new one.”

We have had some students who are so faithful and generous that they taught me how to be more like Christ.

How do you nourish your faith? Can you give us tips on ways to nourish our own?

First, the Mass. I used to be able to go to daily Mass, and now I can't, but I go as much as I can. I have a routine of prayer every day, including a shorter version of the Liturgy of the Hours, reading the Bible, and the Rosary. I also pray the Jesus Prayer regularly. Almost every day I read something about theology, apologetics, or spirituality. I follow several Catholic bloggers and podcasts. And I ask the questions, "Is it good? Is it true? Is it beautiful?" about all the media I consume. I am making a conscious effort lately to bring more beauty into my life and to actively look for beauty.

My advice? Pick one type of prayer you want to try and commit to doing it for a set period of time. It's perfect if it happens to be Lent when you make this decision, but you can commit to it anytime.

Then, after you have made a habit of that, pick something else and add that in. The goal is to pray always and all ways. Also very important is to make sure that what you are watching and listening to is good stuff. You must ask yourself those three questions. Get rid of the junk that is going into your mind and your heart, and start filling yourself with truly good and beautiful things. You will be amazed how your prayer life will expand if you do a media (and social media) detox. You will find yourself filled with so much peace and joy.

Gillespie and Yingying Chen ’17 harvest vegetables from the Saint Isidore Garden behind the school. The vegetables are donated to organizations who feed the hungry.

Gillespie plays the guitar and leads the Praise Band during all schoolwide Masses and other special religious events.

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Bright Lights Kristina Gillespie and Teresa Giegel Bournique ‘84 are shining their light on NWC as they guide students toward lives of faith and service. As the director and assistant director of campus ministry, these two teachers model lives of service and create opportunity after opportunity for NWC students to give back.

Kristina Gillespie Director of Campus Ministry, Spanish and Religion Teacher Kristina Gillespie’s adventurous life began in Peru where her parents were working as Papal Volunteers. Kristi is the oldest of six children.

Her family lived in many places as she grew up, including Puerto Rico, but they finally settled in Connecticut. Kristi received a guitar for Christmas when she was seven, and she began sharing her musical gifts in music ministry in the Church when she was ten. Kristi graduated from Brookfield High School, Dickinson College with a BA in Spanish, and Boston College with an MA in Spanish Language and Culture. In college she also studied German.

Because she learned Spanish as a child, she wanted to know what it felt like to struggle to express oneself in another language. That goal was definitively achieved when she spent a summer studying in Germany! She had a much

easier time during her junior year, living in Spain. Kristi began her career at Northwest Catholic as a Spanish teacher and as the leader of the liturgical choir. After earning a certificate in youth ministry, Kristi became the Director of Campus Ministry. Kristi has also worked in youth ministry and music ministry at several parishes in the Archdiocese.

She is currently a youth minister at St. Edmund Campion in East Hartford.

She attends Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

Kristi’s husband, Jerry, and her daughters Sarah ’13 and Amy a member of the Class of ’15 are also well known in the Northwest Catholic community.

Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84 Religion Teacher, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry A 1989 Religious Studies graduate of Saint Joseph College, Teresa teaches Sacred Scriptures; Old Testament and New Testament, and is the proud proctor of ConnectiKids Mentoring and Unified Theater. In March of 2017 the Intensive Education Academy, our partner school for Unified Theater, honored Teresa for the positive impact of the program on the students of IEA. Finding adventures while seeking Christ, Teresa serves with the ACTS class on the annual five-day Service Immersion, and journeyed with a remarkable group of students to the 2017 March for Life in Washington D.C. Traveling with family in the summer 22 • LOGOS

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brings its own adventures as this summer she roamed the Eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia to Key West. A bold new quest this year led her to the OARS camping trip with the HILL class, and triggered nostalgia for her days with the Farmington River Watershed Association in the early 90’s pursuing “Wild and Scenic” designations for the upper stretch of the Farmington River. Teresa is grateful for these experiences as reminders of how generously God makes Himself known to us—in His Word in Scripture, in His Artistry in nature, and in His Love experienced in family and community.

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#GOODWORKS NWC Donates Over $10,400 Raised in Dress Down Collections Every month students and staff from Northwest Catholic donate to a worthy cause in exchange for a coveted dress down day. Each participant donates $2 to earn the right to dress casually while giving back to the greater community.

Amy Griffin Buzzell ’97, Director of Operations for the Saint Francis Foundation, visited the school to thank students representing the school community. Buzzell explained to the students how the school’s donation directly benefited The Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity at Saint Francis Hospital. Saint Francis is committed to helping those affected by disparities in health care, and this special arm of the Saint Francis Fund was a perfect touchpoint for Northwest Catholic’s mission.

Michelle Murphy, Executive Director of Malta House of Care, a mobile medical unit that visits neighborhoods in Hartford and East Hartford, also came to Northwest Catholic to thank students. Murphy, an alumni parent, explained the mission of Malta House and how the school’s donation directly affected the health of our neighbors.

Junior Class Officers present a check for $1,042.75 to Michelle Murphy, Executive Director of Malta House of Care, a mobile medical unit that visits neighborhoods in Hartford and East Hartford. Left to right: Clara Barnes ’18, Eliza Wizner ’18, Bridget Murphy ’18, Dylan Rispoli ’18, Michelle Murphy

Students present a check for $1,127.71 to Amy Griffin Buzzell ’97, Director of Operations for the Saint Francis Foundation. Left to right: Dylan Rispoli ’18, Sarah Loitz ’18, Nicole Meahla ’18, Eliza Wizner ’18, Amy Griffin Buzzell ’97, Regina Chappano ’17, Kelly Galeota ’17, Asa Guest ’17

Proceeds from January’s dress-down day were given to Operation Fuel, a non-profit that ensures families in need receive energy assistance.

Operation Fuel gives grants ranging from $250 to $500 per family.

Northwest Catholic’s gift helped up to four Connecticut families stay warm last winter. Major Gifts Officer at Operation Fuel, Clayton Jason ’07, said, “We are so grateful and fortunate to have the support of the Northwest Catholic community.”

2016-2017 Dress Down Donations September

$1,189.70 Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

October

$1,127.71

The Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity at Saint Francis Hospital

November

$1,133.30

Relay for Life

December

$1,042.75 Malta House of Care

January

$1,032.00

February

$1,111.55 Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist

March

$1,029.55 H2O for Life

Operation Fuel

April

$957.95

National Alliance on Mental Illness

May

$943.11

Relay for Life

June

$838.82 Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Student Council representatives present Clayton Jason ’07, Major Gifts Officer at Operation Fuel, with a check for $1,032.00. Funds were raised through the school’s January dress down day in order to keep families warm last winter. Left to right: Sean Macary ’19, Clayton Jason ’07, Justin Lam ’18, Claire Nicholas ’17, Daniel Ogbonna ’18, Jenna Creighton ’17

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NWC Collects Over 100 Pints Through Bi-Annual Blood Drives In November the Red Cross collected 50 units of blood during the first of two bi-annual blood drives held at the school. Of the 62 donors, 31 were donating for the first time. In March, 63 units were collected. For a school with a limited number of 18 year-olds eligible to donate, NWC is proud of its results.

Dean of Students and advisor to the blood drives, Jennifer Montoney reminded the Northwest Catholic community that the school’s March drive alone saved a possible 189 lives.

Every year under Montoney’s direction, a group of student volunteers help facilitate the drives. Last spring chairperson Claire Nicholas ’17 mentored Dylan Rispoli ’18, who will lead the blood drives in 2017-2018.

NWC transforms one of the school gyms into a clinic twice a year so the Red Cross can collect muchneeded blood to replenish its supplies.

The Red Cross collected more than 100 units of blood at NWC’s bi-annual blood drives. Student facilitators made sure the drives ran smoothly. Back row (left to right): Olivia Chappano ’19, Dylan Rispoli ’18, Sean Macary ’19, Claire Nicholas ’17, Megan Kaake ’17. Front row (left to right): Jenna Creighton ’17, Claire Carew ’19, Yiwei Yuan ’17. (Not pictured: Meghan Shea ’19)

Sarah Loitz ’18 has her blood pressure checked before donating blood.

Megan Kaake ’17 holds her friend’s hand in support as the senior donates.

Northwest Catholic Holds Annual Turkey Drive Since 2002 Northwest Catholic’s sophomore class has led the Thanksgiving turkey collection in the spirit of giving. Throughout November students raised $3,482 with which they purchased 80 turkeys for The Hartford Catholic Worker and donated the remaining funds to Foodshare.

Homeroom 603 wins NWC’s annual turkey drive as school raises $3,482 for The Hartford Catholic Worker and Foodshare.

Elizabeth Vandal ’19 and Madeline Travers ’19 collect money during morning drop-off for the school’s annual turkey drive.

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In addition to this year’s $3,482, Northwest Catholic families donated grocery bags full of Thanksgiving side dishes. Vegetables, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, and more filled the Campus Ministry office. Students delivered the goods along with 80 turkeys to the Catholic Worker.

Former sophomore class advisor and science teacher Virginia Murphy said she loves the turkey drive because the students can see they are giving something concrete. She especially likes that each student is invited to give only what he or she can. She said, “A student can give $2 or $10 or $20 or more, and each one is helping to buy a turkey.” In the past, she said, families have given as much as $1,000.

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Since the turkey drive began, the school community has raised $42,381 to feed Hartford’s hungry on Thanksgiving.

To encourage student participation in the annual turkey drive, the sophomores continued the tradition of pressing a little friendly competition. The homeroom that collected the most money earned itself a dress-down day. Through November cartooned turkeys appeared on the walls outside each homeroom. For every $20 raised, a new turkey appeared. Students watched their paper-turkey collection grow, knowing they were inching closer to the blue ribbon.

This year’s winners were Mr. Mark Dodd’s homeroom 603, raising $384.

As a mission-driven school committed to its Catholic identity, service is an integral part of the school culture, making its ways into both co-curricular and extracurricular life. The annual turkey drive is one example of this kind of outreach.

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NWC and AHS Compete in vie for the Kids™ Business Competition

After the kickoff of this year’s vie for the Kids™ Business Competition, students from Northwest Catholic and Avon High School gathered in front of NWC’s atrium.

Economics students divided into groups to compete against one another in this year’s business competition. Back row (left to right): NWC’s winning team: Robert Matson ’17, Marissa Lamb ’17, Kirsten Armetta ’17, Kelly Galeota ’17, Regina Chappano ’17.

Front row (left to right): Anthony Ceolin ’17, Mikayla Bordiere ’17, Ryan Sherba ’17

In February approximately 100 students gathered in Northwest Catholic’s Mortensen Theater to kick off the 2017 vie for the Kids™ Business Competition. Paul Shapiro, current parent and founder and chairman of vie for the Kids™, along with mentors and guest speakers, explained the components of the competition to students from Northwest Catholic and Avon High School. After the kickoff the students gathered in front of the school’s atrium for a photo.

Economics students from both schools competed against each other, trying to create and execute the most successful business plan and raise the most money for childhood cancer research and support. All profits funded clinical trials and research

at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and provided financial support for cancer patients and their families.

Through the competition students deepened their understanding of business strategy, community development, and social responsibility. Each of the teams given seed money, and each group found a mentor.

In May a panel of business leaders evaluated each group on its organization, ability to work together, and execution of its business plan, as well each team’s creativity, collaboration, and financial results. A team from AHS won the competition.

Last year’s competition at Northwest Catholic raised approximately $7,500.

NWC Nurse Saves a Life Students get advice on how to build a successful business plan.

The group that called themselves the Koupon Kids sold coupons to raise money to fight caner. Left to right: Kelly Deneen ’17, Caela Daly ’17, Julia Klein ’17, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, Yingying Chen ’18, Hannah Borowiec ’17

School nurse Beth Bornstein performed CPR on a fellow traveller when flying to visit her parents in Texas.

Read story at: http://tiny.cc/NWCNurseSavesLife T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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STUDENTS BUILD HYDROPONIC GARDENS IN HAITI

by Christian Heiden ’17 When I was in middle school, my history teacher brought in a guest speaker whose son who had just come back from working in an orphanage in Ghana. I can still remember the moment during that presentation in sixth grade when I decided I wanted to do everything I could to help people in developing countries. At the time I was unable to grasp the depth and the closeness of poverty. Shortly after graduating from Northwest Catholic this past spring, I had the opportunity again to visit the deep and near poverty of Haiti with some classmates, and to do what I could to help.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is located in the Caribbean, on the island of Hispaniola, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic. Haiti lacks a strong agricultural system, despite the fact that agriculture is the main focus of its economy, which causes Haiti to need to import more than 50 percent of its food needs. Since two thirds of the population lives on less than two dollars a day, many cannot afford a proper amount of food and other necessities, like medical care.

This leaves a third of its children’s growth permanently stunted with conditions such as anemia rampant.

of growing recycles water, it uses far less of this precious resource than traditional farming. Hydroponics can be simplified, reduced to smaller hand-pumped systems, which can be put anywhere as there is no reliance on good soil.

Hydroponics is the centerpiece of our work that began in Pignon, Haiti a year and a half ago. Pignon, a northern town on the northern plateau of the island, is a small city of about 30,000 people. It is the site of a permanent missionary organization called Many Hands for Haiti. When we reached out about hydroponic agriculture, Many Hands saw the technique as fitting well in their “inch wide, mile deep” philosophy of working intensely with small numbers of individuals to build capacity and leadership in the community. With logistical assistance from Many Hands in the summer of 2016, I was part of a three-person team that went to Haiti and constructed a demonstration system. Encouraged by the initial success and the significant need, we developed a long range plan with hope and confidence that hydroponics could change agriculture in Haiti.

The systems we have designed are inexpensive, efficient, and easy to build and operate. A gallon of water a day can nourish about 20 plants Haiti’s lack of irrigation infrastructure without any use of electricity. These systems and volatile rain cause major problems for West Hartford Life by Alicia B. Smith designed to be operated by individual families farmers without adequate water storage in at their homes, and if distributed in a large scale, the rainy season or access to ground water during the dry season. can allow Haitians to grow year round without having to worry about Hydroponics offers remediation for this challenge. Hydroponics is a transporting large amounts of water to their gardens. form of farming which uses no soil. Instead, nutrient rich water is In June our team returned to Haiti and built eight greenhouses with run through pipes where the roots of plants sit. Because this system hydroponic systems in Pignon as a pilot program. While the systems 28 • LOGOS

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are relatively simple in design and operation, they do represent a significant change in methods; therefore, training is critical to longterm success. Since leaving Haiti we have regular communication with the staff who we trained to help diagnose and troubleshoot challenges that arise. That staff, in turn, is training local residents to engage in hydroponic farming.

As the pilot program proves itself, it will be the model for a rollout of a hundred greenhouses or more in the coming year. By the end of 2019 we hope to have a thousand greenhouses in Haiti. In order to help make these goals achievable, we have formed a non-profit, Levo International, and have developed a funding plan to enable our operational objectives.

To help fund the greenhouses, Levo will be doing several things. First, of course, we will accept cash donations, as any non-profit would. But we are also selling hydroponic greenhouses for patios and backyards in the United States. These greenhouses use a similar system as the one used in Haiti, though they are a little more visually appealing than the utilitarian versions used in the developing country. Lastly, we expect to also be teaming up with churches in the region to both sponsor the materials and provide the mission groups to build the units in Haiti.

These systems work. We have confidence that if we stay focused and develop the right support, we can have a profound effect on food instability in the developing world. It is with gratitude that we acknowledge the role Northwest Catholic played in the evolution of this effort. The school’s faith-centered approach to education highlighting the importance of service provided both inspiration and material support for the accomplishments so far.

For more information about Levo International and its work to reduce food instability go to levointernational.org.

Christian Heiden ’17, founder of Levo International, spearheads project to build hydroponic gardens in Haiti.

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Brian Waterston ’17, Christian Heiden ’17, Josh Vallera ’17, and Jonathan Heiden ’20 gather in the school’s atrium to reflect on their experiences in Haiti.

Brian Waterston ’17 takes a break to play soccer with the children in Pignon, Haiti.

Claudin Augustis (left) is Manager of Agronomy for Many Hands for Haiti, a non-profit providing aid in the country. Kely (right) is the head of Levo’s new hydroponics program in Haiti.

Christian Heiden ’17 explains how the new hydroponic system will work.

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Josh Vallera ’17 finds a friend in the translator who helped the students communicate.

The group gathers for prayer.

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Jonathan Heiden ’20 precisely measures parts of the hydroponic system.

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Athletes Give Back At Northwest Catholic students are expected to give back. One opportunity presented to students is through their athletic teams.

Over 80% of the student body plays at least one sport, and each sports team is expected to organize at least one community service project during its season. That equals a lot of giving back.

This year the girls’ basketball team, under the direction of Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, served lunch one Sunday at The Hartford Catholic Worker. Jacobs was also a student in the A.C.T.S. class, a religion elective that stands for A Chance to Serve. After her five-day community service Immersion with A.C.T.S., Jacobs and her classmates were assigned a response project—a project inspired by the intensive volunteer experience.

Jacobs explained, “On one of the days of the Immersion, I went to the Catholic Worker in Hartford. During my time there, I had an absolutely amazing time playing basketball

Varsity football coach Brett Quinion directs his players as they load items into a dumpster outside St. Brigid School. In September St. Brigid and St. Augustine School merged.

Girls’ basketball players gather after serving lunch at the Catholic Worker in Hartford. Pictured on porch: NWC student and friend of the team, José Echevaria ’17; (left to right): Lauren Murphy ’17, Nora Staunton ’20, Nina Singer ’20, Kenzi Lee ’20, Jordan Silva ’20, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, Taylor Griffith ’20, Isabel Mortillaro ’20, Caroline Rutenberg ’20, Sophia Boudreaux ’20, Amber Charles ’18, and visiting children.

Football Captain Elijah Warner ’17 and his teammates spent the day making room for St. Augustine staff and students by cleaning storage spaces at St. Brigid School.

Cheerleaders volunteered at Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Bushnell Park in Hartford.

Back row (left to right): Keily Murillo ’19, Gabriella Alexander ’20. Front row (left to right): Ashley Ponce ’19, Shania Lapsey ’18, Angelica Cornejal ’19

with the kids, getting to know them, and serving lunch.” After her experience at the Catholic Worker, Jacobs knew she would complete her response project at the organization.

Jacobs continued, “I knew I wanted to share my experience with my basketball team.”

Jacobs didn’t hesitate when she explained why the afternoon at the Catholic Worker was important to her. She said, “I didn't just get a chance to serve, but I got to share that same experience and feeling of making a difference.”

NWC hockey players volunteered at the Special Olympics Winter Games. Members of the boys’ hockey team with the speed-skating team from the Stoughton Association for Exceptional Citizens. Back row (left to right):Paul Arel ’18, Brennan Horn ’20, Kevin Eustis ’17, Brett Baker ’17, Anthony Ceolin ’17, Michael Kaliff ’19, Brendan Bompane ’17, Tucker Alissi ’17

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Catholic Relief Services Presents at NWC

Cecilia Suarez, Head of Catholic Relief Services Mexico, spoke at Northwest Catholic in February. Suarez explained to the students how they can make a difference in people’s lives.

Left to right: Catholic Relief Services Relationship Manger Danielle Corea, Bridget Murphy ’18, Clara Barnes ’18, Head of CRS Mexico Cecilia Suarez, and Director of Campus Ministry, Spanish and Religion Teacher Kristina Gillespie after Suarez’s presentation to the student body.

NWC Participates in iPhone Fast Northwest Catholic was one of six Catholic high schools across Connecticut that pledged to give up their iPhones on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer that precedes Easter.

Students and staff agreed to “fast” from their phones for the day. Stickers were distributed during homeroom, and students and staff wore them on their breast pockets or backpacks, reminding everyone who saw them to keep their phones silenced and tucked away.

The hope was that fasting from phones would help students and staff have more conversations with one another and with God. WFSB reporter Evan White interviewed students at NWC for his story on the iPhone fast.

Elizabeth Vandal ’19 was interviewed by WFSB reporter Evan White.

To watch the story, visit: http://tiny.cc/NWCiPhoneFast

Kevin Eustis ’17

WFSB anchor and NWC alumna Irene O’Connor ’85 reported on the iPhone Fast from WFSB’s Digital Desk.

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Fox 61 ran a story about the six Catholic high schools across the state that gave up their phones for Ash Wednesday.

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Carlos Figueroa ’17

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CLARA BARNES ’18 BRINGS HELPING HANDS TOGETHER

Clara Barnes ’18 spearheaded this year’s Helping Hands collection. Catholic Relief Service’s Helping Hands, now called Rise Against Hunger, is an international hunger relief organization that helps schools organize meal packaging events. During Lent, Barnes, with the help of her student committee, raised $6,575, which allowed the school to package 13,150 meals for hungry families in Burkina Faso.

Director of Leadership Mary Turbert Roberts ’96 and Teyshawn Jackson ’18

Caroline Cooper ’18, Damian Mackay-Morgan ’17, Sarah Grinnell ’17 (left to right)

Patrick Williamson ’99, IT project coordinator and track & field coach (left) and Megan Lowe ’17 (right)

Vida Benejan ’17, Taylor Armstrong ’19, and Brendan Chan ’19 (left to right)

Dawid Karpiej ’18 and Cameron Ayers ’17

Families were invited to attend the meal-packaging event. Kyara Heredia ’18 brought her little brother.

Jenna Creighton ’17 and Meghan Truong ’17 (left) Teyshawn Jackson ’18 and Yingying Chen ’18 (right)

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Another Successful Household-goods Drive at NWC

Sam Belliveau ’19 and Garret Griffith ’19 stand outside the bus they helped fill with household goods for people transitioning to their own homes.

Garret Griffith ’19 unloads a bag at A Hand Up’s warehouse in West Hartford.

Sam Belliveau ’19 and Garret Griffith ’19 spearheaded the school’s “Stuff A Bus” drive for A Hand Up, Inc., a West Hartford nonprofit agency that supports individuals and families transitioning to independent living by providing furnishings and household items.

During the weekend of the school’s spring musical, the Northwest Catholic community collected new and used blankets, sheets, towels, kitchen items, and more for those transitioning from homelessness to housing.

“Current parent Sue Keating, the donation coordinator at A Hand Up, was thrilled with our collection and was restocking shelves even as we unloaded.”

Sophomores at NWC must complete a Sophomore Service Project, which requires at least 25 hours of service. The Service Project is handed in during the second semester of sophomore year as part of the curriculum of Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society. While completing the project, students have the opportunity to interact with both the people receiving services and the people whose life work is dedicated to the service of those in need.

Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84 Assistant Director of Campus Ministry

Relay for Life

Northwest Nation, NWC’s Relay for Life team, raised $7,996.83 at various events and through their website for this year’s walk to end cancer. Left to right: MaryCharlotte Barnes ’20, David Karpiej ’18, Justin Lam ’18, Margaret Bello ’18, Clara Barnes ’18, Caroline Cooper ’18, Dylan Rispoli ’18, Delaney Marshall ’20, Gabriella Alexander ’20

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The students spent the entire day and night Saturday, June 10 at NWC’s Relay for Life.

Left to right (back row): Lidia Anderson ’19, Elizabeth Vandal ’19, Kristen Newman ’20, Emily Miller ’18, Calla Kremidas ’18, David Karapiej ’18; (center) MaryCharlotte Barnes ’20; (front) Brendan Chan ’19, Alex Kanya ’18

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SCHOOL HOLDS EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION TO CELEBRATE EASTER

Science teacher Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland readies Rev. David Dawson for the Eucharistic Procession following the school wide Mass before Easter weekend.

Rev. David Dawson places the Eucharist in the monstrance and holds it high throughout the procession.

Virgil Rona ’17 carries the cross and altar servers Sean Glick ’20 and Elizabeth Rogers ’19 hold candles to light the way. Director of Choral Studies Daniel Avery ’97 leads the choir singing during the procession.

Members of the A.C.T.S. class Leanna Beaulieu ’17, Christian Heiden ’17, Daniel Noone ’17, and Patrick Barry ’17 carry the canopy that protects Father Dawson and the monstrance that holds the sacred Eucharist.

The choir sings throughout the entire procession even as they return to the school chapel where the Eucharist is safely stored.

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First Time NWC Sends Students to March for Life For the first time Northwest Catholic sent a group of students and staff to the annual March for Life in Washington DC. Three students, two teachers, and the school chaplain Rev. David Dawson attended the march.

They joined hundreds of thousands of others in witness to the dignity of each human life.

They also attended the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and a Mass celebrated

by Archbishop Blair. It was a prayerful and hopeful experience for all who attended.

Religion Teacher and Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84, John Ezzo ’18, school chaplain Rev. David Dawson, Yeji Jang ’18, Religion Teacher Sr. Grace Marie Horan, Kathryn Krocheski ’18 attend the March for Life.

The Pro-life Club raised money for the trip through events such as bake sales.

The students attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic church in the US and one of the largest churches in the world.

The students in Washington DC.

Top: Katelyn Konigsberg ’17 received a flower as a thank you from her tutee, (bottom) then smiles with her young friend before saying goodbye.

The seniors laughed together after their last tutoring session. Left to right: Patrick Barry ’17, Nicholas Ramdial ’17, Laura Serfin ’17, Brianna Dorbuck ’17, Jenna Creighton ’17, Kayla Walton ’17, Katelyn Konigsberg ’17, and Daniel Noone ’17 36 • LOGOS

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A Tradition of Tutoring at NWC

ConnectiKids tutors and tutees gathered for a photo outside the school library.

Every Thursday afternoon throughout the school year, Northwest Catholic hosts students from Hartford’s West Middle Community School and Michael D. Fox Elementary School for tutoring. Through ConnectiKids, an organization committed to enriching the lives of children in Hartford, and NWC’s tutoring program advisor Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84, Northwest Catholic welcomes these students

to sessions with our students. There are currently nine host tutoring spots, and NWC is one of them.

Students from West Middle Community School enjoy coming to Northwest Catholic every Thursday for tutoring and time with friends.

Alton Grange ’19, Nicole Fitrzyk ’17, and Chyanne Gordon ’17 (left to right) play checkers with two students in the ConnectiKids tutoring program.

Kayla Walton ’17, Sarah Monarca ’20, Allison Tessman ’20 (left to right), play bingo with their tutees.

Jenna Creighton ’17 works on a language arts worksheet with her tutee.

NWC students help their tutees complete homework as well as activity packets provided by ConnectiKids. At the end of the year, the tutees are given books to add to their home libraries.

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A Tradition of Volunteerism at NWC

Hadley Waterbury ’19, Taylor Fischer ’18, Regina Chappano ’17, Olivia Chappano ’19 and, Caroline Cooper ’18 represented NWC at Avon Day.

Through November Jenelle Baldwin ’20 collected hygienic items, cleaning supplies, and nonperishable food for Barrels of Hope 4 Haiti.

Megan O’Shea ’19, Taylor Armstrong ’19, and Hope Moustakakis ’19 volunteered at the Burlington to Collinsville 10k, which is part of the Hartford Marathon Foundation Events.

A Unified Voice of Kindness and Acceptance

The West Hartford Press by John Fitts

Top: Students from NWC and the Intensive Education Academy teamed up for Unified Theater. The combined group puts on a student-written and student-directed performance each year. Last year’s show highlighted kindness and acceptance.

Bottom: NWC also hosts a Unified Volleyball program. Students from the Intensive Education Academy come to NWC to play volleyball with our athletes and coaches. Connecticut Special Olympics has partnered with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) to bring Unified Sports to Connecticut schools.

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In honor of St. Joseph Day, the Archdiocese of Hartford's patron saint, the freshman religion classes organized a canned goods collection to benefit The Little Sisters of the Poor's St. Joseph Residence for the Elderly in Enfield, CT.

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NWC HOLDS SCHOOL-WIDE MASS MONTHLY

School Chaplain Rev. David Dawson

Eucharistic Minister, Religion Teacher William Tressler

Eucharistic Minister , Guidance Chair Joyce O’Rourke

Science teacher Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland

Deacon Jeffery Sutherland, Rev. David Dawson, and Religion Teacher Deacon Richard Santos ’82

Guest priest Father Edmund Nadolny

Kristina Gillespie and the Praise Band

Cantors Emily Driscoll ’17, David Ogbonna ’17, and Claire Nicholas ’17

Sr. Grace Marie Horan

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Freshman Toy Drive Brings Christmas Joy to Children This year’s annual Freshman Toy Drive collected over 150 presents for children in Hartford. NWC partnered with the Catholic Worker to distribute the gifts.

Freshman class officers hosted the collection table each morning. Class President Justin DeFina ’20 said, “The toy drive is a great opportunity to help the people in our community who normally would not be able to get their kids gifts.”

Each December the freshman class invites the entire Northwest Catholic community to share Christmas joy by donating toys for local boys and girls. Students are asked to bring in a variety of toys as well as any batteries which might be required.

This important tradition at Northwest Catholic reminds the school community of the true meaning of Christmas.

Emma Forster ’20 helps fill the school van with more than 150 collected toys.

Global Awareness Club Helps Children Sleep Easier

Claudia Hart ’78, Global Awareness club advisor and Math Department Chairperson (center) shows the donations to DCF staff members.

Sydney Samele ’17 helps organize the delivery of pajamas and pillowcases to DCF.

Gabriella Bragaia ’19, Caroline Chapell ’19, and Sydney Samele ’17 present 50 sets of pajamas and pillowcases to DCF in Waterbury.

The Global Awareness Club delivered approximately 70 sets of pajamas and hand-sewn pillowcases to the Department of Children and Families in Waterbury in June. Helping organize the project were Tanesha Lambert, Social Work Supervisor at DCF and mother of Shamar Hall ’17; Program Director Maritza Acosta; Global Awareness Club Advisor and Math Department Chairperson Claudia Hart ’78; and Club President Sydney Samele ’17.

With the money raised from bake sales, Sydney Samele ’17 and Nella Chapell ’19 were able to buy 20 more sets to add to the collected 50.

Kamryn Desrosiers ’17 also gathered donations from the Riverside Rehabilitation Center. The sewing club sewed beautiful pillowcases to accompany each set of pajamas. Sewers included Yeji Jang ’18, Julitza Garcia ’18, Kyara Heredia ’18, Yingying Chen ’18, Sydney Samele ’17, Kayla Walton ’17, Kathryn Krocheski ’18, Alton Grange ’19, and Thi Ri Soe ’17. Alumni parent Joan Andrew Luddy ’71, advisor to the sewing club, helped facilitate the pillowcase project.

Yeji Jang ’17, Julitza Garcia ’18, Kyara Heredia ’18, and Yingying Chen ’17 hold up pillowcases they sewed that accompanied pajama sets donated.

The Global Awareness Club led other outreach efforts throughout the year, such as raising money for a camp in Thailand where Burmese refugees live.

Members of the Sewing Club at work.

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NEWS FROM 29 WAMP Spirit Week a big deal at Northwest Catholic Last year's Spirit Week allowed students to drop the dress code and sport their patriotic red, white, and blue on one day; pajamas another day; and school colors a third day. Seniors decorated the halls in honor of their status. On Friday afternoon the community gathered for their annual pep rally where students cheered for the fall sports teams, unveiled the 2016 Boys’ Track & Field Championship banner, and wished the football players well in Saturday’s homecoming game against Tolland High School. That evening students gathered in the school cafeteria for the homecoming dance.

Jessica Nunez ’17 and José Echevarria ’17 at the Homecoming Dance.

Sarah Grinnell ’17, Cal Skwara ’19, Natalie Smith ’17, and Laura Kunkel ’17 on Pajama Day.

Katherine Hurley ’20 and Myia Chappell ’20

Gabriella Alexander ’20 at the fall pep rally.

The boys’ track & field team unveiled its 2016 championship banner during the pep rally.

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Spirit Week concludes with a football game. Last year NWC played Tolland High School.

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NWC Welcomes New President On May 23rd Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Michael S. Griffin announced the new President & Head of School of Northwest Catholic High School, Christian J. Cashman.

Cashman was appointed to serve as president and head of school, overseeing all aspects of the institution ranging from interactions with students, faculty, and parents, to finances, advancement, alumni relations, strategic planning, board initiatives, and marketing.

Said Griffin, “Mr. Cashman’s background and experience make him an ideal choice to lead Northwest Catholic into the future.

His academic background, teaching and administrative experience, commitment to Catholic identity, and excellent communication skills will serve the school well as he joins with faculty, board members, alumni, and parents in shaping a strong and bright future for Northwest Catholic High School.”

Cashman’s experience in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford includes four years as principal/chief administrator at East Catholic High School (2006-2010), and two years as Principal of St. Timothy Middle School (2004-2006). Since 2010, Cashman served as a theology teacher at Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he was an active participant in faculty professional formation and mentorship, campus ministry, international service outreach, and the school’s music program.

Addressing Northwest Catholic faculty and board members when his appointment was announced, Cashman stated, “I am truly humbled and honored to have been selected as the next president and chief administrator of Northwest Catholic High School. I am keenly aware of the giant shoulders I stand upon in the leadership story of Northwest Catholic, and I pray that I will be able to make a lasting contribution to its vibrant legacy.

As a Catholic parent and educator, I believe wholly in Northwest Catholic’s vital mission to serve a diverse student population and to educate the whole person. I am eager to begin serving the excellent, faith-filled students of Northwest Catholic. I truly look forward to collaborating with the committed and generous faculty, staff, parents, and graduates of Northwest Catholic High School. In this moment of great transition in our Church and in our region, I am confident that God will bless our work abundantly.”

Natiel Cooper ’18 shakes Christian J. Cashman’s hand and welcomes him to the NWC community.

Cashman grew up in Indiana and attended Xavier University in Ohio where he received his BA cum laude in Philosophy and his M Ed in Secondary Education and English. He did post graduate course work in Catholic educational leadership at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is a graduate of the Seminars in Ignatian Leadership sponsored by the US Jesuit Secondary School Network.

His leadership experiences include participation in four NEASC accreditation visits, twice as a visiting committee member and twice as the head of school during reaccreditation self-study. He has guided schools through strategic and capital planning that has focused on spiritual renewal, faculty professional development, and upgrades to both technology and facility infrastructure.

In collaboration with board members and graduates of his school communities, Cashman developed comprehensive master plans of facilities as well as solicited significant capital gifts. He successfully increased annual fund and endowment giving in his role as a chief administrator.

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His background also includes experience in the business field, serving for five years as a field vice president of marketing and regional wholesaler with Manhattan National Life and Great American Financial. He was a teacher of theology and English as well as the director of campus ministry at both Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and at East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut, as well as an associate retreat director with the Passionist community of Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford.

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NWC WELCOMES CLASS OF 2020

Freshman Contacts are seniors who volunteer their time to welcome the incoming class. After training, they are ready to run orientation for the incoming freshmen.

Seniors in green t-shirts are members of the executive board.

Emilia Palascak ’17, Laura Serafin ’17, Valeria Seymour ’17, and Theadora Petropoulos ’17 of the Freshman Contacts greeted the class of 2020 on the first day of orientation.

Freshmen registered and picked up instructions from Freshman Contacts running the table in the school’s atrium.

Nicholas Klingman ’17 helped Isaac Riley ’20 and Connor Rich ’20 unlock their combinations.

Seniors help freshmen understand their schedules and navigate their way through the building.

Anna Deneen ’17 spent the morning with her assigned freshman Sarah Monarca ’20.

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Caroline Sisk ’20 helps demonstrate a game led by Empower Leadership Sports and Adventure Center’s General Manager Dan Jaskot.

Jenelle Baldwin ’20 takes part in the orientation activities.

Isabella Vallera ’20, Allison Tessman ’20, and Sophia Przystawski ’20 enjoy the LEADS games during orientation. LEADS is a program unique to NWC and stands for Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, Determination, and Service.

Amir Spears ’20 takes charge of the group during one of the games.

The Freshman Contacts gather on the senior patio after orientation.

“Can I get a NORTH? Can I get a WEST? NORTH-WEST! NORTH-WEST!”

Lauren Murphy ’17 and Sarah Grinnell ’17 teach the freshmen the NWC cheer.

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Junior Investiture: A tradition full of weight, expectation, and promise

Veronica Eskander ’17, Clara Barnes ’18, Katherine Mullen ’17, Bridget Murphy ’18, Francesca Link ’17, Eliza Wizner ’18, and Yimeng Yang ’17 before the procession.

Jose Hernandez ’17 watches Courtney Burke ’18 place his candle on the platform.

Seniors usher their assigned juniors into the auditorium for the school’s Junior Investiture, a ceremony that welcomes juniors into the upperclass, which imparts on them a new role with greater responsibility. Left to right: Filamena Vukaj ’17, Olivia Bianco ’18, Margaret Bello ’18, Margo Lipari ’17, Brian Waterston ’17, and Aaron Belletsky ’18.

Last October the class of 2018 celebrated its Junior Investiture, a ceremony welcoming juniors into the upperclass and bestowing upon them a new role with greater responsibility.

For almost thirty years Northwest Catholic has conducted its Junior Investiture, a tradition that began when teachers and administrators realized the typical junior ring ceremony lost its verve. Perhaps some students no longer embraced the symbolism of rings or perhaps some students could not afford them.

According to Director of Campus Ministry, Spanish, and Religion Teacher Kristina Gillespie, it’s hard to recall all the reasons for the shift but says the change is a good one.

Today’s Junior Investiture at NWC, during which every junior is given a small, beautiful cross without charge and is ushered by a senior to one’s new position in the NWC community, is a tradition full of weight, expectation, and promise.

Junior Investiture begins with a junior class retreat, last year’s led by Tony Bellizzi, youth minister and director of Hope for the Children Foundation. Bellizzi told stories drawn from his experiences in charitable work around the world, taking his audience on a virtual trip to Peru, Bolivia, and beyond. He showed videos of children who struggled and found joy. He used a geode to demonstrate 46 • LOGOS

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Weiting Hong ’17 stands in support of his assigned junior Yingying Chen ’18.

the different sides of an obstacle — one side rough, ugly, worthless, the other beautiful, colorful, shimmering. Depending on how one looks at a geode can make all the difference, a message not lost on the students.

Following the retreat, the student body gathered for a special Mass. Then the community listened to inspiring speeches by former president David Eustis, senior class president Chris Ravosa, and junior class president Dylan Rispoli. Following the speeches, each junior received a blessed cross from the chaplain and handshakes from the school deacons as well Eustis and Gillespie.

In the evening, the Class of 2018 and their families gathered for the final part of Junior Investiture — a candlelight procession and prayer service. At the start, after each junior placed a candle on the stage, each carried one back to one’s family, symbolizing the light coming together as a community and heading back to the family and out to the world.

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Students find out what impairment means Senior Class President Christopher Ravosa ’17 explains the significance of Junior Investiture.

Junior Class President Dylan Rispoli ’18 welcomes his fellow juniors into the upperclass and charges them to meet the responsibilities this demands.

Junior Investiture’s significance lies in its designating a new role for juniors. With this honor comes much responsibility. They must now act as leaders and role models.

They are expected to use their gifts to benefit others, act out of a sense of responsibility in every situation—in school and out—work for the good of the community, and be a light in the world.

A student wears special glasses to illustrate how difficult it is to drive while impaired. Captain Jeff Rose of the West Hartford Police Department and alumni parent leads the lesson.

A student tries to catch a football while wearing the impairment glasses.

Yunshan Liu ’18

Three students attempt to walk in a straight line.

Nicholas Flynn ’18. Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland, Deacon Richard Santos ’82, Fr. Fr. Shawn Daly ’79, and Kristina Gillespie.

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NWC WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students climb Heublein Tower during orientation last fall. Pictured with NWC welcoming committee (left to right): Zhengchao Wang ’17, Weihao Feng ’17, Weiting Hong ’17, Daniel Dudaj ’19, Hantang Lin ’19, Junnuo Liang ’18, Alisa Dudaj ’17, Dylan Rispoli ’18, Seungju Lee ’18, Katharine Jessen ’17, Sarah Jessen ’17, Yushuan Liu ’18, Ying Wang ’19, Elizabeth Vandal ’19, Clare Doyle ’19

International students get to know one another and students from the welcoming committee during orientation games.

International students and their host families are invited to a welcoming dinner in the school’s atrium. Standing (left to right): Haowen Tan ’17, Zeyu Yang ’18, Rui Shi ’19 Sitting (left to right): Weihao Feng ’17, Yimeng Yang ’17, Weihao Feng ’17, Daniel Dudaj ’19 48 • LOGOS

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Yiwei Yuan ’17, Alisa Dudaj ’17, and Yeji Jang ’18 at the dinner.

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Yizhe Han ’19 in the art studio

Ziqi Shen ’19 and Weiting Hong ’17 are interviewed by the local paper for a story on adapting to life in the US Pictured here with Chinese Teacher Jeff Gurganus and International Student Program Coordinator and Assistant Director of Admissions Andrew Selig ’06.

Injun Hwang ’20 and Yutong Gu ’20 in science

International Student Program Coordinator Andrew Selig ’06 organizes field trips for the international students through the year.

Chinese teacher Jeff Gurganus and Andrew Selig ’06 host lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Weiting Hong ’17 on Senior Day with Tim Crowley tennis coach and science teacher, and host brother Declan Kiley ’17.

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HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE Veteran’s Day is always celebrated at Northwest Catholic. Each year the school invites alumni who have served in the military to address the student body. Last year’s presentation was riveting as Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Alex L. Sonski ’74 and Captain Patrick Bonner ’05 delivered powerful talks to the student body.

Lieutenant Colonel Sonski was a student at Northwest Catholic from 1970 to 1974. At the start of his lecture he reminisced about his former self, referring to that young boy of 14 as a “nerd.” Sonski admitted when he first arrived at NWC he didn’t “fit in,” but “little by little” that changed. He helped his listeners understand that with time and growing selfawareness and self-confidence, everyone can fit it at Northwest Catholic.

Sonski told the students his most memorable moment at NWC came in Room 703 when he met the future Mrs. Sonski. Surely the students began to wonder if they too would meet their future spouse in math class. Sonski’s story was heartfelt with his sincere affection for his wife Ellie Foley Sonski ‘75 and all she had done for their family over the past thirty years highlighted throughout his speech.

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in to where you want.” He spoke fondly of his Spanish teacher Mrs. Cosentino, who attended Friday’s celebration, and how in her class he discovered his affinity for languages.

Sonski followed his facility with languages and studied both Lithuanian and French, in addition to Spanish, while still a student at Northwest Catholic. Sonski stressed how “sometimes thirty years can pass and you can then say, ah, this is why God put these people in my life.”

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Alex Sonski ’74

Sonski also spoke of his service to the United States. After graduating from UConn with a degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies, Sonski enjoyed a long and varied career in the military. He told of important experiences and their attendant lessons.

Sonski served in Afghanistan in 2002 and again from 2006 to 2007, first coordinating donation efforts involving the delivery of relief supplies to organizations, later mentoring to the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior's Finance Department. What Sonski really wanted his listeners to know, however, was not about his tasks or achievements, but rather about the gratitude of the people he met.

Sonski’s lessons were timely, convincing, and powerful.

In the end, he reminded students to have a Plan B, to trust they will one day fit in, to know a door will always open, and to believe that God will put people in their lives to help them along.

Advancement officer and US veteran, Colby Thresher; Former NWC faculty and US Veteran, Ron Ferri; Captain Patrick Bonner ’05; Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Alex Sonski ’74; former NWC president David C. Eustis in the school atrium.

Sonski shared several nuggets of wisdom as he explained how bad things might happen and the students won’t understand why, but he assured them: “A new door always opens.

At the right time, if you believe it, God will put people in your life to push you — or shove you — along the right path.”

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Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Alex Sonski '74 talks with Senior Class President Chris Ravosa ’17.

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Captain Patrick Bonner ’05

Captain Patrick Bonner ’05 and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Alex Sonski ’74 deliver powerful messages to students on Veteran's Day.

Captain Patrick Bonner’s lessons for the students were equally compelling. A natural storyteller with poise and presence rivaling a world leader twice his age, Bonner held his audience enraptured with his tales. Bonner, a self-proclaimed “average dude” is anything but.

To begin Bonner explained how humbled he was to be a guest lecturer at the Veteran’s Day event. He stressed he was “just an average kid in high school,” a theme that recurred throughout his speech. Bonner had his audience laughing as he poked fun at his high school fashions and brought us back to the days when Justin Timberlake was still a member of *NSYC. Bonner assured the audience if they knew him in high school, they too would be surprised he was standing before them.

When describing his path to service, Bonner explained how he was in Mr. Fitzpatrick’s social studies classroom when the second plane hit the World Trade Center. He saw this pivotal event as the first seed of his decision to serve, but he also admitted it took many years for that seed to grow. In between that pregnant moment in 2001 and his commitment to join ROTC while a student at Sacred Heart University, Bonner repeated

to his audience how he was undeniably “average.” He played football at Northwest Catholic, joined a few clubs, “did his thing,” always referring to himself as “ordinary.”

Bonner helped his listeners understand how special NWC is. He said, “Northwest is a unique environment. You may not realize it. I understand why you might take it for granted — I did. But you’ll see later.” Bonner described the many skills he learned at NWC — how to get along with others, how to communicate, how to be a leader. He drove home the point: “All those interpersonal communication skills I now have, I learned at Northwest.”

Advancement officer and US veteran Colby Thresher talks with Mitchell Karangekis ’17, now a freshman at Virginia Military Institute.

recruits battered and exhausted provide an accurate picture of the training he endured.

Afterwards Bonner was stationed in Italy, supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, served in the Republic of Korea, and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve to combat ISIS. Bonner held his audience spellbound when he told a story of his own bravery in Afghanistan.

Clearly Bonner doesn’t like to sing his own praises, but he put those reservations aside to share with the students an incredible story of grace and courage. While enemy forces shot at him and his men, Bonner bravely ran from post to post around the side of a mountain to determine the exact coordinates from which the enemy fire had come. With perfect detail and brutal description, Bonner told a story of the importance of precision, the rewards of training, the power of communication, and the proof that heroism doesn’t act for accolades.

Bonner closed his talk with his most important message: “If an average guy like me can have a positive impact on others, then I can’t wait to see what you will do.”

After graduating with a degree in English from Sacred Heart, Bonner survived a grueling physical selection process for a role in the Tactical Air Control Party corps. He told the students that those film montages of young T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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Students Benefit from Internet Safety Presentation

Officer Scott Driscoll stands with students after his presentation “Empowering Smart Online Choices.”

President of Internet Safety Concepts, Officer Scott Driscoll, explains the dangers of making impulsive decisions online.

Last March Scott Driscoll, President of Internet Safety Concepts, presented to students and staff.

Driscoll’s lecture “Empowering Smart Online Choices” explained how adolescents today remain as vulnerable as ever. The conversation about online safety is still in its infancy, and advocates for internet safety like Scott Driscoll are finding no shortage of issues to confront and repair.

Annie Alissi ’19 and Claire Carew ’19 enjoy a few minutes before the presentation begins.

Driscoll explained to the students that several years ago as a law enforcement officer, he was assigned to work with the FBI in New Haven. He admitted he went reluctantly and was leery of his new position—to impersonate a 13 year old girl online in an effort to find predators. After five years tackling this difficult assignment, Driscoll came to understand that education is the key to prevention. Today he is making educating young people about smart online choices his life’s work.

Driscoll kept the conversation with Northwest Catholic’s audience honest and relevant, reading the students’ minds with questions such as, “Do we really need this as high school students?’” The answer is “Yes.” Driscoll assured them students that are still getting into trouble online with their digital footprint following them. Without belaboring horror stories of inappropriate photos reappearing a decade later, Driscoll made sure his audience understood the danger of making impulsive decisions online. He referenced harmful, anonymous social media sites, such as Whisper, Yik Yak, and After School even as he conceded that attractive, new sites like Snapchat and Vine can be fun.

Driscoll explained how easy it is to lose control online, and he gave pointed advice on how to maintain or regain control once it has slipped away. With anecdotes, both common and extreme, Driscoll painted a picture that every listener could imagine.

Shea ’85 fields questions from the audience.

Driscoll’s golden nugget of advice? Before you post anything, ask yourself is it S.A.F.E. — are you Sure? Is it Appropriate? And is it For Everyone?

Driscoll encouraged the students to think about whether or not they’d want a college scholarship committee to see the message, or their mother, or their girlfriend’s father, which, of course, had the teens chuckling even as they understood the weight of his message.

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Paul Fitzpatrick’s AP US Government students with US District Judge Michael P. Shea ’85 after his presentation.

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NWC Alum Teaches Students About U.S. Judicial System

United States District Judge Michael P. Shea ’85 returned to Northwest Catholic in February to speak to Advanced Placement US Government students about the US judicial system.

United States District Judge Michael P. Shea ’85 returned to Northwest Catholic in February to speak to Advanced Placement US Government students about the US judicial system.

Shea used a straightforward and interactive approach throughout his presentation, asking questions, such as “Where can a case ultimately go?” On cue the students responded, “The Supreme Court.” Shea followed with, “And how many Supreme Court Justices are there?” And the students reflexively answered, “Nine.” If these questions seem simple, don’t worry, Shea quickly dug deeper, explaining concepts such as the writ of certiorari and how difficult it is to get one’s case reviewed by the Supreme Court as well as presenting statistics, such as that the Supreme Court will hear only 1 in 100 cases submitted, approximately 58 this year.

Shea ricocheted between basics, like the state court system being “a miniature version” of the federal system to more heady information, such as definitions of diversity and admiralty jurisdictions. He explained to the students how the framers of the Constitution designed the court system with intention. In laymen’s language and with clear illustrations, Shea clarified how federal judges needn’t curry favor. He remarked, “The Framers wanted judges to make decisions based on the law, not on whom they might offend.”

After providing an informative overview of the court system and the role of judges, Shea described the nomination process, using himself as an example. Shea was expert in asking his audience rhetorical questions, such as, “How did you really become a judge?” And in coherent yet sophisticated language, Shea outlined his process. Even when recounting the vetting method, he elucidated with such

straightforward queries as, “Is this person smart? Is this person a jerk?”

Throughout the presentation, students posed Judge Shea insightful questions. One notable query was, “What lessons did you learn at Northwest Catholic that you’ve carried into your work as a judge?” And Shea quickly responded that the diversity at the school provided him with his greatest lesson. Shea had friends of different races and socio-economic backgrounds, focusing specifically on his close connections with African American friends and teammates.

Shea noted how building relationships that both transcend and bridge race and socioeconomics have informed his work and life.

A second especially astute question was, “What do you think the biggest obstacles to justice are?” Shea made plain how wealth and education provide privilege. He discussed ways in which he works to balance the scales, using the example of a person coming to court without representation. He said that judges must work hard to listen very carefully to determine whether a person has a claim. There are other important angles or elements a judge may use to bring fairness, but Shea admitted that wealth and education play their roles.

Shea concluded with perhaps the greatest lesson of the lecture: the value of listening.

He granted that being a judge is not right for everyone but absolutely right for him.

He tactfully yet directly spelled out that not everyone is good at listening nor does everyone want to be. He drove home the point that judges must be able to listen.

Because people must be heard, want to be heard, need to be heard, he is determined to do that. Shea concluded, “When I was your age, I thought I knew all the answers. I am not that way anymore.”

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Michael P. Shea was sworn in as a United States District Judge on December 31, 2012.

He was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1967. Judge Shea graduated from Northwest Catholic in 1985. He went on to Amherst College, graduating with a BA, summa cum laude, in 1989. Shea graduated from Yale Law School in 1993.

After earning his JD, Shea clerked for Judge James L. Buckley of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Later he joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as an associate, first in the firm’s Washington, DC office and then in its Brussels office. His practice focused on US and European antitrust matters.

In 1998 Shea returned to Hartford and joined Day, Berry & Howard LLP, now known as Day Pitney LLP. He became a partner in 2003. At Day Pitney, Shea focused on commercial litigation, mass torts, First Amendment matters, and white collar criminal defense. He also chaired the firm’s appellate practice group. Throughout his career in private practice, Shea maintained an active pro bono practice, receiving awards from both the Hartford County and Connecticut Bar Associations for his work on behalf of indigent persons in criminal and civil cases.

On February 2, 2012, President Obama nominated Shea to be US District Judge for the US District Court of Connecticut.

He received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 28, 2012 and his nomination was reported to the floor on April 26, 2012. The Senate confirmed his nomination on December 5, 2012, by a vote of 72 ayes to 23 nays. He received his commission on December 7, 2012.

Judge Shea is a Bencher of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, as Treasurer of the Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society, and as Chair of the Antitrust Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

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at NWC

The students gather after their participation in the LEADS/Complexity workshop.

Students at NWC are called to accept the challenges of responsible citizenship, to demonstrate compassion for others, and to exercise leadership centered in the gospels.

Under the direction of Mary Turbert Roberts ’96, the LEADS (Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, Determination and Service) program provides the students at NWC with opportunities that allow them to achieve the school’s mission and vision.

LEADS complements the academic program with concepts and skills ensuring NWC students’ success in college and beyond. Each year students take a semester-long class linked to the theme of that grade level.

Students work together during a LEADS program with Complexity: A Puzzling Adventure.

Director of Leadership Mary Turbert Roberts ’96 gives a lesson on the importance of clear directions during one of her LEADS classes.

At the end of four years, students from NWC demonstrate the following characteristics: • Open to Growth • Intellectually Competent • Religious • Loving • Committed to Justice • Developed as Leaders 54 • LOGOS

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Students learn about teamwork during their LEADS exercise of building marshmallow structures.

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LEADS Job Shadow at the Bushnell in December

NEWS FROM 29 WAMP

Students at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. Back row, left to right: Dr. Scott Wolf, Marissa Lamb ’17, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, Francesca Link ’17, Jennifer Garcia ’17, Veronica Eskander ’17, Rachel Conover ’17, Tailanae Brantley ’19. Front row, left to right: Haley Duarte ’18, Grace Sawka ’18, Elizabeth Vandal ’19, Ashley Ponce ’19

LEADERSHIP

•

ENGAGEMENT

•

ACCOUNTABILITY

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Mary Turbert Roberts ’96, Tailanae Brantley ’19, and Ashley Ponce ’19 suit up to enter restricted areas.

DETERMINATION

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SERVICE

"I really enjoyed the job shadow experience because of its ability to place students directly into job environments. Rather than have a group of workers come to a school and inform students about their workplace, our group was able to be immersed in a true workplace environment for a full day. This allowed us to really gauge if a certain career would be a good match for us. I walked away from the job shadow knowing right away if a career was or was not for me.” Sean Macary ’19

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney John F. Fahey, Brandon Drummond ’20, KelciBrooke Goodison ’20, Amber Charles ’18, Ananda Palmer ’20, Taylor Armstrong ’19, Elizabeth Vandal ’19, Mary Turbert Roberts ’96 at the State Supreme Court.

“I would love to expand on my experience in this program. The people I met gave me a great example of the path it takes to be successful. I am grateful I had this opportunity.” Justin Mathew ’19

LEADS works in conjunction with Empower Leadership Sports & Adventure for a zip lining and team building workshop.

Students at the State Legislative Building in Hartford. From left to right: John Dudley ’17, Sean Macary ’19, Thomas Spinella ’99, Aaron Belletsky ’18, Taylor Armstrong ’19, Angelica Cornejal ’19

Yingying Chen ’18

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Devon Lane ’18

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17th Annual St. Patrick’s Breakfast to Support Catholic Schools

Mary Wood ’17 was one of four students selected to present an essay at this event where more than 1,000 people gathered to support Catholic schools.

Archbishop Leonard P. Blair and Irish step dancers, including Clare Doyle ’19 (far left) and Katie Dudley ’20 (second from right), after the 17th Annual St. Patrick’s Breakfast at the Hartford Convention Center.

Archbishop Blair and the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools hosts this important fundraising event.

Voter Registration Drive

NWC Attends Annual Latin Day

Isabella Schuchardt '20 and Melania Gluch '20 have fun donning laurel wreaths at the Connecticut State Latin Day run by the Classical Association of Connecticut.

Over 70 seniors registered to vote during NWC’s annual voter registration drive last May.

Social Studies teacher Paul Fitzpatrick has been organizing the voter registration drive at NWC since 2007.

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Caroline Cooper ’18 and Elizabeth Vandal ’19 along with approximately 20 NWC students attended the annual Connecticut State Latin Day MMXVIII: Sic Parvis Magna. CSLD is an annual event celebrating different aspects of Latin culture in the 1st century BC.

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NWC GLOBE TREKKERS

Social Studies Teacher Paul Fitzpatrick led a history trip to Ireland.

H.I.L.L. Teacher William Tressler took his religion/history seminar class to Ireland as well.

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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CLASS OF 2017

Commencement June 7, 2017

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NEWS FROM 29 WAMP

Farewell Seniors!

A selection of schools where 2017 graduates were accepted: American University Boston College Boston University Case Western Reserve University Clark University College of the Holy Cross Drexel University Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Lehigh University Marquette University Miami University Oxford Michigan State University New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rutgers University Saint Louis University Southern Methodist University Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University Tufts University University of California University of Colorado University of Connecticut University of Illinois University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of North Carolina University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of Washington Villanova University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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KUDOS Katharine Jessen Named National Merit Finalist

Katharine Jessen ’17 was named a National Merit Finalist. Last September the National Merit Scholarship Program recognized approximately 16,000 students across the country who scored exceptionally well on the 2015 PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test), also known as NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test).

Over 1.6 million students in more than 22,000 high schools across the country entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the exam. The pool of semifinalists was comprised of less than one percent of US high school seniors.

In February the National Merit Scholarship Program named approximately 15,000 college-bound students as finalists. This esteemed group of students received a portion of its $33 million scholarship fund— money provided by hundreds of businesses, colleges, and universities who share NMSC’s (National Merit Scholarship Corporation) goals of recognizing the nation’s most academically accomplished.

2017 Superintendent’s Summa Scholars

2017 Superintendent’s Summa Scholars

Eight outstanding students from NWC were named “Summa Scholars” by Dr. Michael S. Griffin, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Hartford. These eight seniors were recognized for their superior academic achievement.

To qualify for the award, which was given to 53 seniors from the eight Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese, students had to be in the top five percent of their graduating class based on cumulative grade point average.

Each Summa Scholar was invited to name a teacher from a Catholic elementary or secondary school who had been the most influential in the student’s education.

At the ceremony to honor the Summa Scholars and their teachers, Dr. Griffin said, “It’s really wonderful to have this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary academic achievements of a group of young people who have devoted themselves to such exceptional pursuit of knowledge.” He continued, “It’s also wonderful to recognize some very special teachers—people who by your words and example have led and inspired and guided each of our young awardees along the way.”

The Summa Scholars received bronze medallions engraved with their names, the crest of the Archdiocese, and a prayer: "May you find truth through faith, knowledge, and wisdom.”

Seven Commended Students in 2017 National Merit Program Seven NWC students were recognized as Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Last year’s Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition.

“Being named a Commended Student is an exceptional accomplishment,” said John Cusson, former Academic Dean at Northwest Catholic. “It opens numerous opportunities for these students. It certainly assists in the college admissions process and potentially provides additional scholarship opportunities.” Cusson continued, “We are extremely proud of their accomplishment.”

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From left to right: Taylor Pane ’17, Rachel Conover ’17, Sarah Jessen ’17, Bryanna Ledwidge ’17, John Dudley ’17, Veronica Eskander ’17, and Allyson Voelker ’17

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KUDOS

John Allen ’17 of Burlington (Northeastern University) honored Deborah Metzler, NWC math teacher.

Brendan Gill ’17 of Avon (Villanova University) honored Joan KeatingMcKeon, NWC English teacher.

Rachel Conover ’17 of Windsor (Northeastern University) honored Deborah Metzler, NWC math teacher.

Katharine Jessen ’17 of Colebrook (Northeastern University) honored William Tressler, NWC religion teacher.

2017 Valedictorian Katharine Jessen ’17 Katharine Jessen ’17 of Colebrook was valedictorian of the class of 2017. The daughter of Paula and Mark Jessen, Katharine was an outstanding scholar, athlete, and musician at Northwest Catholic.

A National Merit Finalist, Katharine Jessen was a remarkable student at the school. She was the recipient of numerous academic awards during her tenure and was a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Society.

Senior year she was named a Superintendent’s Summa Scholar, given to students in the top five percent of their class. Katharine played varsity field hockey and varsity golf. She was a member of the robotics and math teams and volunteered as an international student ambassador.

Katharine also contributed a great deal to NWC’s music program.

Beyond her remarkable contributions as a baritone saxophonist for NWC’s honors wind ensemble, big band, and pep band, Katharine contributed to the larger music community through her work for the Connecticut Music Educators Association All-State Band, CMEA Northern Regional Festival Orchestra, Connecticut Youth Symphony, Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble, Boston University Tanglewood Institute Wind Ensemble, as well as a clarinet quartet and clarinet trio at the Hartt School of Music.

Katharine is currently a freshman at Northeastern University.

Sarah Jessen ’17 of Colebrook (Curtis Institute of Music) honored Joseph Ohlheiser ’05, NWC social studies teacher.

Taylor Pane ’17 of Simsbury (Villanova University) honored Joseph Ohlheiser ’05, NWC social studies teacher.

“We have the ability to support people in times of need, when they are depressed, lost, or grieving. We have the ability to stand up for someone who is being slighted or oppressed.

Our simple presence in the world as a daughter, son, sister, brother, parent, student, mentor, or friend, makes us an invaluable part of someone’s life, somewhere.

We, as graduates from high school, are now facing a significant change in our lives. This change is a great opportunity for all of us. Every single person we meet will be a new opportunity for us to find meaning.”

Natalie Smith ’17 of West Hartford (Villanova University) honored Joseph Ohlheiser ’05, NWC social studies teacher.

Allyson Voelker ’17 of New Hartford (Davidson College) honored Daniel Avery ’97, NWC music teacher.

Excerpt from Katharine Jessen ’17’s valedictorian address at the 2017 Commencement Exercises.

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KUDOS

54 Student Inducted into National Honor Society

National Honor Society Inductees 2017 Gabriel Ahmad ’18

Justin Lam ’18

Clara Barnes ’18

Sarah Loitz ’18

Aaron Belletsky ’18

Colby Lytle ’18

Yingying Chen ’18

Kevin Manning ’18

Ifeoma Chidozie ’18

Nicole Mealha ’18

Molly Conway ’18

Spencer Merkel ’18

Caroline Cooper ’18

Kayla Midney ’18

Natiel Cooper ’18

Emily Miller ’18

Alexia Cuevas ’18

Luca Mirabello ’18

Elizabeth D’Arcangelo ’18

Bridget Murphy ’18

Taylor Fischer ’18

Dung Nguyen ’17

Julia Frasco ’18

Emily Noll ’18

Jennifer Garcia ’17

Maame Nti ’18

Charles Gfeller ’18

Caroline O’Meara ’18

Dalton Griggs ’17

Kayla Randolph ’18

Weiting Hong ’17

Shayne Rice ’18

Carter Horton ’18

Dylan Rispoli ’18

Tyler Hubert ’18

Grace Sawka ’18

Andrew Hungerford ’18

Kathryn Shea ’18

Katherine Jacobs ’18

James Sullivan ’18

Quincy Jacques ’18

John Sullivan ’18

Megan Kaake ’17

Zachary Taylor ’17

Alex Kanya ’18

Anna Waldeck ’18

Jason Karangekis ’18

Samantha Wang ’17

Dawid Karpiej ’18

Abigail Wilcox ’18

Declan Kiley ’17

Eliza Wizner ’18

Kathryn Krocheski ’18

Yufei Wu ’17

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NHS Officers (left to right) Kevin Eustis ’17, Katherine Mullen ’17, David Ogbonna ’17, and Sarah Grinnell ’17

Katherine Mullen ’17

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KUDOS

Gabriela Doskos ’17 Named National Hispanic Scholar by 2017 National Merit Program 2017 Salutatorian John Allen ’17

Gabriela Doskos ’17 of Simsbury was named a National Hispanic Scholar by the 2017 National Merit Program.

To be recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar, Hispanic and Latino high school juniors must rank among the top 250,000 students who take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or PSAT/NMSQT. They also must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher by the middle of their junior year.

John Allen ’17 of Burlington was co-salutatorian of the class of 2017. The son of Mary Beth and Scott Allen, John was a stand-out student at NWC and contributed a great deal to student life. He was a member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He was an AP Scholar, a National Commended Merit Scholar, and a Superintendent’s Summa Scholar. In addition to playing soccer for NWC, John participated in several activities, such as chemistry club, calculus club, and computer club as well and the robotics and math teams. John volunteered at UConn Health Center and the Bristol Challenger Program.

John is currently a freshman at Northeastern University.

Every year the NHRP recognizes about 5,000 Hispanic and Latino juniors who take the test, and colleges use this program to identify academically exceptional Hispanic and Latino students.

2017 Salutatorian

Gabriela is currently a freshman at Johns Hopkins University.

Rachel Conover ’17

Dylan Rispoli ’18 and Elizabeth Vandal ’19 Participate in Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference at the University of Bridgeport

Rachel Conover ’17 of Windsor shared the salutatorian title with John. The daughter of Lynn and John Conover, Rachel was an accomplished student whose talent and hard work earned her several academic awards throughout her four years at NWC. Rachel was a member of National Honor Society and National Latin Honors Society. She was an AP Scholar and a National Commended Merit Scholar. She played varsity field hockey and participated in unified theater, student council, yearbook, and the freshman contact executive board, a group that leads freshman orientation.

Rachel is currently a freshman at Northeastern University.

Dylan Rispoli ’18 and Elizabeth Vandal ’19

Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Students at the University of Bridgeport

“Think back to all the people who have impacted us in these last four years and shaped us into the young men and women who are sitting here today. Our coaches who gave us that inspirational talk and the pat on the back when all we could feel was defeat. Our classmates who sat in the rows of the auditorium, the bleachers in the gym, or the sidelines at the field cheering us on. Our parents who drove us to every practice or game, supported us during those late nights with homework, and offered their advice when we felt lost in our journey. Our teachers who dedicated long hours outside the school day, offering insight, support, and knowledge not only to help us succeed in the classroom but also to succeed in life. Artificial intelligence can never replace the relationships we have formed with these support systems, the sense of family that has been developed, the creation of an environment where one truly feels the motto where you know you belong.”

Excerpt from John Allen ’17 and Rachel Conover ’17’s salutatorian address at the 2017 Commencement Exercises.

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KUDOS

36 Seniors Make First Honors Every Semester

Dylan Rispoli ’18 Named Governor's Scholar Dylan Rispoli ’18 was named a 2017 Governor’s Scholar—one of only 30 juniors in Connecticut to receive this prestigious honor.

Rispoli was chosen from a pool of outstanding juniors from throughout Connecticut. The students, nominated by their principals, must rank in the top five percent of their class, complete an essay, and submit scores from standardized tests.

The winners are chosen by a committee of professional educators selected by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), which sponsors the program.

John Allen ’17

Brynna Ledwidge ’17

Brett Baker ’17

Francesca Link ’17

Leanna Beaulieu ’17

Joseph Morelli ’17

Rachel Conover ’17

Katherine Mullen ’17

Kamryn Desrosiers ’17

Claire Nicholas ’17

Gabriela Doskos ’17

Kennedy O’Hara ’17

John Dudley ’17

Emilia Palascak ’17

Veronica Eskander ’17

Taylor Pane ’17

Abigail Flower ’17

Elleana Paradise ’17

Kelly Galeota ’17

Theadora Petropoulos ’17

Brendan Gill ’17

Christopher Poniatowski ’17

Christina Gluch ’17

Valeria Seymour ’17

Katharine Jessen ’17

Natalie Smith ’17

Sarah Jessen ’17

Joshua Vallera ’17

Maeve Kearns ’17

Allyson Voelker ’17

Katelyn Konigsberg ’17

Shane Walsh ’17

Laura Kunkel ’17

Mary Wood ’17

Elizabeth LeBlanc ’17

Angel Zohrabian ’17

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who was unable to attend the event, wrote in the Governor’s Scholars Luncheon program, “This award is reflective not only of your academic excellence, but also of your dedication and your strong work ethic.

The skills and focus you have developed during your school experience will serve you well throughout your life.”

NWC English Teacher Joan Keating-McKeon, Dylan Rispoli ’18, and former NWC President David Eustis pose at the Governor's Scholars Luncheon at the Aqua Turf Club last May

Clara Barnes ’18 Honored at YMCA’s Women in Leadership Luncheon Clara Barnes ’18 was honored at the YMCA’s Women in Leadership Luncheon last May. The event celebrated women who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their fields. YWCA Communications & Resource Development Assistant Shaun Cullen, said to Clara, “Thank you for all the great work you are doing and the many ways you are contributing to the central Connecticut community. You are truly inspiring.” NWC agrees.

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From left to right: YWCA board member Laurie HiltonDinkins, Clara Barnes ’18, and Women in Leadership Awards Chair Regen O'Malley at YMCA’s Women in Leadership Luncheon T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

KUDOS

Mock Trial Team Goes Far For the past four years, the NWC Mock Trial team—comprised of both plaintiff/ prosecution and defense sides—has made it to the quarterfinal round, a distinction involving only eight Connecticut teams from an initial pool of more than sixtyfive different teams from more than thirty different school districts.

Mock Trial Team has another successful year under the leadership of English teacher Mrs. Joan Keating-McKeon.

Advanced Placement Scholars AP Scholars

AP Scholar with Honor

AP Scholar with Distinction

Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Tucker Alissi ’17 Brett Baker ’17 Clara Barnes ’18 Leanna Beaulieu ’17 Caroline Cooper ’18 Natiel Cooper ’18 Christina Gluch ’17 Asa Guest ’17 Christian Heiden ’17 Dawid Karpiej ’18 Katelyn Konigsberg ’17 Laura Kunkel ’17 Damian Mackay-Morgan ’17 Joseph Morelli ’17

Abigail Flower ’17

John Allen ’17

Elizabeth LeBlanc ’17

Olivia Bianco ’18

Francesca Link ’17

Rachel Conover ’17

Noah Lisle ’18

Jenna Creighton ’17

Amelia Molinari ’17

John Dudley ’17

Gianna Molinari ’17

Veronica Eskander ’17

Lauren Murphy ’17

Brendan Gill ’17

Claire Nicholas ’17

Katharine Jessen ’17

Emilia Palascak ’17

Sarah Jessen ’17

Theadora Petropoulos ’17

Declan Kiley ’17

Meghan Truong ’17

Bryanna Ledwidge ’17

Joshua Vallera ’17

Dung Nguyen ’17 Taylor Pane ’17

Katherine Mullen ’17

Christopher Poniatowski ’17

Kennedy O’Hara ’17

Natalie Smith ’17

Elleana Paradise ’17

Allyson Voelker ’17

Dylan Rispoli ’18

Yilin Wei ’17

Virgil Rona ’17 Jack Ruddat ’17 James Rybczyk ’18 Valeria Seymour ’17 Eliza Wizner ’18 Mary Wood ’17 Yiwei Yuan ’17 Angel Zohrabian ’17 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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NWC STUDENTS HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND SERVICE 2017 Northwest Catholic honored students in all academic disciplines during its 2017 Academic Awards Ceremony. Students were also honored for their commitment to service and their leadership skills.

Outstanding Achievement Awards in Academics English Freshman English

Erin Conway ’20

Sophomore English

Joseph DeVito ’19

Junior English

Dylan Rispoli ’18

Senior English

Veronica Eskander ’17

World Languages AP French

Emilia Palascak ’17

Honors Latin III AP Spanish

James Rybczyk ’18 Katharine Jessen ’17

AP Chinese IV

Jack Ruddat ’17

Latin II

Religion I

Erin Conway ’20

Religion II

Joseph DeVito ’19

Religion III

Clara Barnes ’18

Religion IV

Sydney Samele ’17

Fine & Performing Arts Artist of the Year

Thi Ri Soe ’17

Outstanding Musicianship in Choral Music Allyson Voelker ’17 Excellence in Instrumental Music Katharine Jessen ’17 Excellence in String Ensemble Yeji Jang ’18 Excellence in Musical Theater

David Ogbonna ’17 Excellence in Theater Emily Driscoll ’17

Mathematics Mathematics I Mathematics II

Religion

Benjamin Lee ’20 Michael Stamm ’19 Matthew Villani ’19

Mathematics III

Olivia Bianco ’18 Dylan Rispoli ’18

Mathematics IV

Dung Nguyen ’17

Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Alton Grange Jr. ’19 Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Jacob Beaudin ’19 Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Michael Stamm ’19 Maxima Cum Laude, Silver Medal Sean Macary ’19 Maxima Cum Laude, Silver Medal Caroline Cooper ’18 Maxima Cum Laude, Silver Medal Brendan Chan ’19 Honors Latin III

Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Excellence in Dance James Rybczyk ’18 Valeria Seymour ’17

University Book Awards and Special Awards Wheelock College Book Award To a junior who has demonstrated a commitment to working with children.

Science Advanced Physical Science Alessandra Good ’20 Honors Biology Honors Chemistry

Caroline Cooper ’18

Jacob Beaudin ’19 Michael Stamm ’19

AP Physics

Dung Nguyen ’17

AP Biology

Rachel Conover ’17

Le Moyne College Award Yiwei Yang ’17 and Emily Driscoll ’17 earned arts awards.

Academic Competition Awards Latin I

Social Studies World History

Andrew Colliton ’20

U. S. History AP Government

Dylan Rispoli ’18 Brendan Gill ’17

AP Comparative Government Declan Kiley ’17

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Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Michael Foster ’19

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Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Gabriel Landi ’20 Maxima Cum Laude, Silver Medal Melania Gluch ’20 Maxima Cum Laude, Silver Medal Evan Clark ’20

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To a junior who has shown significant contributions in academics, leadership, and service to school and to the community at large.

Luca Mirabello ’18 Saint Michael’s College Book Award To juniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, is a member of the National Honor Society, and has shown a commitment to community service through NWC and its community.

Emily Miller ’18 John Sullivan ’18

KUDOS

Smith College Book Award

College of the Elms Book Award

Harvard Book Award

To a junior girl who exemplifies academic achievement, leadership qualities, and concern for others.

Kathryn Shea ’18

To a junior for outstanding academic achievement.

Maame Nti ’18

To a junior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement.

Dylan Rispoli ’18

The University of Hartford Book Award St. Anselm College Book Award To a member of the junior class who has shown excellent academic achievement and is actively involved in school and/or community activities.

James Sullivan ’18

To a junior who is in the top 20% of the class, has displayed outstanding academic promise, exhibited exceptional leadership qualities, and expressed an interest in pursuing a future business career.

Justin Lam ’18

Trinity College Book Award

College of the Holly Cross Book Award

To a junior for outstanding academic achievement.

Olivia Bianco ’18

To a junior who demonstrates outstanding scholarship, personal qualities, and evidences strong concern for school and community.

Bridget Murphy ’18

Former Academic Dean John Cusson presents Katharine Jessen ’17 the award for being class of 2017 Valedictorian.

Wellesley College Book Award To a junior girl who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity, and excellence in scholarship, and who exemplifies the motto: “not to be served, but to serve”.

Kayla Randolph ’18

Bryant University To a junior, who ranks in the top 10% of the class, pursues a challenging curriculum, and demonstrates involvement.

Salve Regina

To a member of the junior class who has distinguished him/herself in the study of United States History.

Dawid Karpiej ’18

Given to a junior who has demonstrated academic achievement and a commitment to NWC. Kathryn Krocheski ’18 Notre Dame

To a junior who has demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills, displayed outstanding academic promise, and exhibited exceptional leadership qualities.

To a junior who exhibited strong leadership skills and high academic achievement.

Clara Barnes ’18

Elizabeth D’Arcangelo ’18

Gettysburg Book Award

Regis College Book Award

George Eastman/University of Rochester Young Leaders Award

To a junior who combines excellence in academics with a sense of community and of responsibility that prepares one for subsequent leadership in building a society that is at once more human and more divine.

Yeji Jang ’18

Eliza Wizner ’18

Fairfield University Book Award

Mount Holyoke Book Award

To a junior in the top 10% of the class, who is active in school and/or community, and has leadership qualities and a sense of concern and responsibility in the community.

To a junior girl who exhibits outstanding academic achievement, leadership qualities, and a dedication to community service.

Calla Kremidas ’18

University of Rochester Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Science To a junior who has exhibited strong leadership skills and high academic achievement in the humanities and social sciences.

Alex Kanya ’18 Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology To a junior for outstanding achievement in the pursuit of innovative approaches and appreciation of the possibilities of technology.

Natiel Cooper ’18 Bausch & Lomb Science Award To a junior for outstanding academic achievement and intellectual promise.

Abigail Wilcox ’18

James Rybczyk ’18

Yale Book Award Bay Path College Award To a junior girl who has shown a commitment to academics and a significant interest in community service.

Yunshan Liu ’18

To a junior who demonstrates qualities of leadership, effective teamwork, organizational abilities, and ranks in the top 10–15% of the class.

Molly Conway ’18 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Rensselaer Award To a junior who has displayed outstanding achievement in math and science.

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KUDOS Artistic Communication Awards

Mock Trial Award

Robert Kay Memorial Award

Dramateur Award

The 2016-2017 Mock Trial Team Award is presented to two seniors this year:

Donated by the family and friends of Robert Kay in his memory. This award is presented to senior golfers who have participated in the program for four years and who have demonstrated the qualities of leadership, responsibility, and character.

Given in memory of David Lenz ’87, for cooperation and dedication in the pursuit of excellence in dramatic arts.

Carlos Figueroa ’17 Brendan Gill ’17

Gabriella Fenton ’17

Katherine Mullen ’17

Diane T. Weldon Award

Greenwood/Melanson/Gartland Memorial Hockey Award

To a senior who has been recognized for outstanding achievement in the performing arts and/or creative writing.

Named in honor of the late David Greenwood (NWC alumni parent), the late Alfred Melanson (NWC alumni parent and grandparent), and the late Owen Gartland (NWC great-grandparent), the award goes to a graduating Northwest Catholic varsity hockey player who has shown dedication and leadership both on and off the ice.

Victoria O’Neill ’17 Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award To outstanding high school visual and performing arts students. This award is given to students in the fine arts who have demonstrated a talent and passion for creative expression.

Sarah Jessen ’17 Yiwei Yuan ’17

Taylor Pane ’17 and Natalie Smith ’17

The Nancy Ann Fritsche ’69 Visual Arts Award

Jack Kearns Award

To an upperclassman and exceptional visual artist in memory of Nancy, an artist and therapeutic recreational therapist who developed her artistic talents at NWC, and of her parents, Joseph and Louise Fritsche, who put enormous value on a Catholic education.

Donated by the Kearns Family for a senior who has displayed unselfish concern for the welfare of others with integrity, hard work, spirit, and sportsmanship and who has participated in track or cross-country.

Brian Waterston ’17

Elizabeth LeBlanc ’17 Alexander S. Cavanagh, Jr. Award Given to a senior for excellence in the field of journalism and creative writing, this year’s recipient devoted many hours to the successful publication of Passages, the school newspaper.

Regina Chappano ’17 Richard Rice Award Given in memory of Mr. Richard Rice to a senior who has evidenced in life a search for truth and dedication to Church, one who is known among their peers as a listener and a peacemaker, one who is able to express feelings through the arts.

Thi Ri Soe ’17

Ryan Sherba ’17 Nora E. O’Brien ’82 Memorial Award

Athletic and Academic Achievement Awards

2016 – 2017

CIAC Excellence Award

Scully Award

For exemplary display of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity.

Brett Baker ’17 Julia Klein ’17

To a senior athlete and student who maintains a strong academic record.

Natalie Smith ’17

Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete Awards

Richard Pitek ’84 Memorial Award

Presented to outstanding athletes who also maintain an academic average of at least 3.5.

Donated by the Pitek Family to a senior who is a dedicated student and athlete, and has participated in at least one varsity sport.

Asa Guest ’17 Katharine Jessen ’17

Sean Keating ’17 Kenneth G. Phelan ’69 Memorial Award Donated by the Phelan Family to a senior who expresses interest and ability in higher education, who participate in athletics (basketball and/or track), and who is sincere, sensitive, reserved, and idealistic.

Lauren Murphy ’17

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Named in honor of Nora by her friends, this award goes to a graduating senior who exemplifies Nora’s attributes—a fun loving, school-spirited, female athlete who will attend a Catholic college.

Kelly Galeota ’17

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

The Dramateurs are well represented at the Academic and Service Awards ceremony.

KUDOS Service Awards Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools Service and Leadership Award Christian Heiden ’17 Naomi McPherson ’17 John Florio National Honor Society Award For seniors in the National Honor Society who strongly exemplify the four National Honor Society traits: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Kevin Eustis ’17

The NWC School Unity Award

Connecticut Boys State

Awarded to a senior who has contributed to the development of greater understanding, unity, and school spirit throughout the Northwest Catholic community.

This opportunity to attend the American Legion Boys State is given to junior boys who show leadership and have an interest in the electoral process.

Luke Fox ’18 Dawid Karpiej ’18 Noah Lisle ’18 Christopher Raymond ’18

Dalton Griggs ’17 The Joe Fritsche Memorial Service Award Awarded to a good student with a passion for service in memory of Joe Fritsche, a NWC alumni parent who devoted many hours to working with community non-profit organizations in service to others.

Katelyn Konigsberg ’17

Connecticut Girls State This opportunity to attend the American Legion Girls State is given to junior girls who show leadership and have an interest in the electoral process.

Clara Barnes ’18 Elizabeth D’Arcangelo ’18 Eliza Wizner ’18 The John Rice Award Given in memory of John Rice to an underclassman who has exhibited interest in politics, as well as demonstrating an understanding of the political process.

Clara Barnes ’18 Paige Ann Corrigan Scholarship Award

Rachel Conover ’17 receives an award for being class of 2017 co-salutatorian.

Former President David Eustis presents John Allen ’17 an award for being class of 2017 co-salutatorian.

The NWC Student Council Service Award Presented to a senior for service above and beyond requirements and expectations to the Northwest Catholic High School Student Council.

Claire Nicholas ’17 Navin Award Presented by the Navin family to a senior for academic excellence and outstanding service to the school.

Patrick Barry ’17 Robert C. Johnson Award Given by the school in memory of Mr. Robert C. Johnson, assistant principal of Northwest Catholic, and goes to a senior who is idealistic, sensitive, unassuming, open to life and brings out the best in others.

Leanna Beaulieu ’17

To students who have demonstrated a keen interest in mathematics and who represent the standards and values of Northwest Catholic High School.

Nicole Mealha ’18

Citizenship Awards and Honors American Legion Awards

GHCEA Award

American Legion medal and certificate awards are presented to seniors who meet the exceptional standards of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service.

Each year, the GHCEA (Greater Hartford Catholic Education Association), which represents the lay teachers at Northwest Catholic, East Catholic, St. Paul, and Sacred Heart High Schools, presents the Barbara Banville/David McCreesch Scholarship.

Medal Certificate

Mitchell Karangekis ’17 Christopher Ravosa ’17

Sarah Monarca ’20

Daughters of the American Revolution Award Honored by the Sarah Whitman Hooker Chapter as a “Good Citizen” displaying the qualities of dependability, service, patriotism, and leadership.

Jenna Creighton ’17

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2016-2017 HONORS BREAKFASTS

Students who achieve first honors each semester are rewarded with a delicious breakfast and inspirational alumni speaker.

Amy Griffin Buzzell ’97 spoke at the Fall Honors Breakfast. After graduating from NWC, Buzzell attended Fordham and then returned to NWC to work in Advancement.

Buzzell earned her MBA from UConn and is currently the director of special events, grants and operations for the Saint Francis Foundation. Buzzell credits her work ethic and values to Northwest Catholic. Her advice to the audience: embrace this time now with friends, for it passes quickly.

Jennie Quinn ’03 spoke at the Spring Honors Breakfast. After graduating from NWC, Quinn went to the College of the Holy Cross, earning a degree in history and environmental studies. After graduating in 2007, Quinn began her career at USI Insurance Services. Quinn later returned to school to pursue a law degree at Western New England University. Today, with her BA and JD, she is an investigator for the Department of Labor, reviewing and regulating employee benefits. Quinn told the students that one day soon they will greatly appreciate their education at Northwest Catholic, especially because they will discover that they’ve built strong relationships at the school.

Students wait for their table to be invited to the buffet.

Sydney Samele ’17 chats with friends during breakfast.

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KUDOS

NWC Performs at the American Mathematics Contest In the American Mathematics Contest 10, given to 9th and 10th graders, Hantang Lin ’19 took first place. Rounding out the top 5, in order, were Matthew Villani ’19, Michael Foster ’19, Haotian Deng ’19, and Michael Stamm ’19. In the AMC 12, given to 11th and 12th graders, Dung Nguyen ’17 took first place. Rounding out the top 5, in order, were Weiting Hong ’17, Katharine Jessen ’17, Bridget Murphy ’18, and Gabriela Doskos ’17. The American Mathematics Contest is sponsored by the Mathematics Association.

Northwest Catholic has been participating in this nationwide contest for over 20 years.

Front left to right: Gabriela Doskos ’17 and Weiting Hong ’17 were the captains of the Math Team.

Weiting Hong ’17 was recognized for being the math team's MVP for the season. His average score for six meets was higher than other teammates. Weiting was also awarded a certificate for scoring one perfect meet during the regular season, the only student on NWC's team to accomplish this feat.

Left to right: Haotian Deng ’20, Yufei Wu, and Dung Nguyen ’17 practice for the exam.

Lukasz Burkacki ’19 Recognized for Work in ACE Program ACE stands for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering and is an after-school mentoring program for high school students held in different locations. Under the guidance of professionals in these fields, students from area high schools create projects that are then presented

to the public. Besides gaining skills for ACE careers, members also hone skills in public speaking and leadership, and learn about opportunities for scholarships and employment. Lukasz Burkacki ’19 was recognized for his successful contributions to last year’s program.

Chris Desrosiers hands certificate to Lukasz Burkacki ’19 upon completion of Connecticut’s Architecture, Construction, and Engineering program.

Lukasz Burkacki ’19 (center) stands with the other students from across the region who completed the ACE program.

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West Hartford’s Terrific Teens Northwest Catholic is delighted to announce José Echevarria ’17 and Maeve Kearns ’17 were selected as West Hartford Magazine’s Terrific Teens.

West Hartford Magazine

Congressman Larson Presents NWC Student with Bronze & Silver Congressional Medals

Congressman John Larson made a very special visit to Northwest Catholic last March to award Dylan Rispoli ’18 of Windsor both the Bronze and Silver Congressional Medals, honors bestowed upon an elite number of students who set and achieve challenging goals.

Congressional Award recipients are committed to bettering themselves and giving back to their communities. By creating and achieving their personal goals, they stand out amongst their peers. To earn a Congressional Medal, the young person must accomplish goals in four areas: public service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration. Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979, when it was originally signed into law by President Jimmy Carter.

From left to right: Superintendent Dr. Michael S. Griffin, Dylan Rispoli ’18, Congressman John Larson, and former NWC President David Eustis after the ceremony where Larson awarded Dylan Silver and Bronze Congressional Medals.

This unique program recognizes achievement, initiative, and service among America’s youth.

Dylan Rispoli ’18 being interviewed by Fox 61.

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KUDOS

Robotics Wins Big at Sea Perch State Championship The NWC Robotics Team brought home three trophies from last year’s Sea Perch State Championship hosted by the Connecticut Technology Engineering Education Association.

Sea Perch is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, and this state championship event was judged by crew members of the USS Vermont submarine with technical support by the Navy Submarine Medical Research Divers.

The boys team of Dung Nguyen ’17, Weiting Hong ’17, Kieran Shanley, and John Allen ’17 placed 3rd for the "challenge" event and 2nd in the obstacle course.

The Robotics Team before the Sea Perch State Competition. Front row (left to right): Bridget Murphy ’18, Julia Klein ’17, Andalena Chancio ’20, Katherine Mullen ’17, Jacob Hanelius ’20, Jack Pirrello ’20, Dung Nguyen ’17. Back row (left to right): John Allen ’17, Weiting Hong ’17, Kieran Shanley ’17.

The girls team of Katherine Mullen ’17, Bridget Murphy ’18, Andalena Chancio ’20, and Julia Klein ’17 placed 3rd in the obstacle course.

Sea Perch is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

West Hartford’s Rising Stars Hurray for NWC’s Rising Stars! Every year West Hartford Press shines a light on two stand-out students from West Hartford high schools. Last year the newspaper honored David Ogbonna ’17 and Katelyn Konigsberg ’17.

The West Hartford Press

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TEACHERS HONORED

Ana Barrett took a selfie with her colleagues who have been teaching at NWC for more than 15 years. Ana has been teaching at the school for 46 years! Together, this esteemed group has devoted 733 years of service to Northwest Catholic!

Anna Barrett

46 years

Timothy Crowley

23 years

Not pictured:

Joyce O’Rourke

41 years

William Tressler

23 years

Ronald Swanson

Madonna Burke

34 years

Katy Sibley

21 years

Barbara Fanning Iorillo ’69 27 years

Scott Fletcher

32 years

Deborah Metzler

20 years

Joan Keating-McKeon

21 years

Francis Laffin

30 years

Mary Jo Foran

18 years

Paul Fitzpatrick

18 years

John Mirabello

30 years

Richard Santos ’82

18 years

Daniel Avery ’97

16 years

Claudia Hart ’78

29 years

Elizabeth Lynch McCarthy ’94 17 years

Nancy Martin

15 years

Kristina Gillespie

27 years

John Cusson

17 years

Nancy Scully Bannon ’73

27 years

Michael Tyler ’73

17 years

Virgina Murphy

25 years

Helga Phillips

15 years

Elizabeth Quinn

23 years

Jeffrey Przech ’92

15 years

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35 year

KUDOS

Colby Thresher was honored at the NWC Christmas party. He retired after 17 years of service to NWC—his second career. Colby continues to offer his services to the Advancement office. Here he is pictured with his colleagues: (left to right) Debra Lebel, Jane O’Leary, Colby Thresher, Francis Laffin, Patricia Walsh

NWC teachers were honored for years of service to the Archdiocesan schools at last spring’s Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis meeting at St. Paul’s School in Bristol. From left to right: William Tressler (40 years), Francis Laffin (40 years), Helga Phillips (15 years), Virginia Murphy (25 years), John Mirabello (30 years), Matthew Martorelli ’03 (10 years), Jeffrey Przech ’92 (20 years).

Not pictured: Ronald Swanson (35 years) and Deborah Metzler (25 years)

Celebrating 733 years of service!

Kristina Gillespie with the gifts she won from the Archdiocese of Hartford Facebook trivia contest last fall.

NWC basketball coach and teacher John Mirabello stood with his family after receiving the CIAC Merit Award for significant contribution to high school basketball in the state of Connecticut. Mirabello has taught and coached at NWC for 30 years. He has led the school to four state championships.

Virgina Murphy retired after 25 years of service.

John Cusson retired after 17 years.

Religion Teacher Fran Laffin was honored at the Hartford Sports Legends Reunion & Celebration Weekend in July. This year's ceremony was entitled "Oh, What a Move, Profiles of Hartford Basketball Players, 1954 to 1984: Honoring Hartford's Greatest Players.”

Social Studies Teacher Paul Fitzpatrick participated in the 2017 summer institute, "Critical Issues in Contemporary China," sponsored by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA) at the Program for Teaching East Asia (TEA) at the University of Colorado Boulder. He also enjoyed an all-expense paid trip to China this past summer.

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ATHLETICS WHERE YOU KNOW YOU BELONG

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ATHLETICS

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ATHLETICS

A Message from Matthew Martorelli ’03 This fall our school community learned how well our students performed academically at both local and national levels throughout the 2016-2017 school year. From the SAT to the ACT to the AP and beyond, NWC students surpassed national standards. I was not surprised by our statistics, because research has shown that participation in athletics helps students perform better in the classroom. With remarkably high participation in athletics by our student body year after year and a large number of All-Academic athletes, Northwest Catholic student-athletes prove again and again they meet the challenges faced in both the classroom and in their sports. Each year our teachers and coaches challenge our student-athletes to be the best they can be, in all areas. I am grateful to be a part of such a supportive and accomplished community, and I look forward to many more years of raising the bar, both in the classroom and in athletics.

“Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose—it teaches you about life.” Billie Jean King SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

FALL ’16 FOOTBALL The football team finished the regular season with a 5-5 record. Under Coach Brett Quinion, the team picked up big wins over Avon and Plainville and capped off the season defeating East Catholic 38-28 in the Archbishop’s Cup. The team was led by a huge senior class that included: Daniel Adebimpe ’17 (Captain), Javier Bello ’17, Collin Farrell ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award, All-Conference), Louis Dillon ’17, Suliman Foster ’17, Richard Hansen ’17, Sean

Paris Carpenter ’19

Keating ’17, Clayton Stewart ’17 (Captain), Sherba ’17 (Captain), Brendan Begley ’18 and Elijah Warner ’17 (Captain, All- (Captain, All-Conference), and Sean Kelly Conference). Also contributing were juniors ’18 (Captain). Also, the team enjoyed strong Spencer Merkel ’18 (MVP, All-Conference), contributions from seniors Julian Barba Cooper Lorenz ’18 (All-Conference), Colby ’17, Anthony Ceolin ’17, and Zachary Lytle ’18 (All-Conference), and Jay Mota ’18 DeSena ’17. Freshman goalie Jack Zapata (All-Conference). ’20 (Coach’s Award) was impressive in net throughout the season.

BOYS’ SOCCER

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The boys’ soccer team finished the regular season with a 5-10-1 record under Coach Terry Phillip, Sr. Although they did not qualify for the state tournament this season, the boys competed in every game and kept each game close until the end. The team picked up solid wins over Bulkeley, Bristol Central, and Windsor. The team was led by its four captains Asa Guest ’17 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-State), Ryan T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

GIRLS’ SOCCER The girls’ soccer team had another exciting season this year, finishing with a regular season record of 11-5 and an overall record of 13-6. The team ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak to solidify another state tournament bid. After losing eight senior starters from the previous year, the new team stepped up to the challenge and made it all the way to the quarterfinals

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Gabriella Fenton ’17, Kelly Galeota ’17, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, Maeve Kearns ’17 (Captain, All-Conference), Elizabeth LeBlanc ’17 (Captain, All-Conference), Katherine Mullen ’17, Lauren Murphy ’17, Claire Nicholas ’17 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-State), and Allyson Voelker ’17.

CHEERLEADING The cheerleading squad had a successful year under Coach Courtney Ramos. The team made it to every football game, in good weather and bad, and always had smiles on their faces. The fall team was led by their two

Kirsten Armetta ’17

of the Class M State Tournament. The team was led by its seniors: Kirsten Armetta ’17 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-State), Hannah Borowiec ’17 (Captain, AllConference), Kelsey Lankton ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), Naomi McPherson ’17 (All-Conference), Meredith Oakley ’17, and Allison Strid ’17 (Captain, All-Conference).

Two sophomore standouts, Claire Carew ’19 (All-Conference) and Madison Cote ’19 also made key contributions throughout the season.

Ashley Ponce ’19, Anjelica Corneal ’19, Margaret Bello ’18, Shania Lapsey ’18, Gabriella Alexander ’20

FIELD HOCKEY

The field hockey team had a good year, finishing with a 2-11-3 regular season record under Head Coach Bill Mullady ’66. The The volleyball team had a terrific season, team had big wins against Wethersfield in finishing the regular season with a 15-5 overtime and against Windsor. There were record and an overall record of 18-7 under three tied games against Stafford, E.O. Smith, first-year Head Coach Jonathan Bui. The and Northwestern. The team had a large biggest win of the season was beating group of senior leadership that included: powerhouse Southington. The team looked Rachel Conover ’17, Caela Daly ’17, like it was pushing to make a deep run in Veronica Eskander ’17, Margaret Hoffman the Class S Tournament with a strong senior ’17, Katharine Jessen ’17 (Captain), Sarah class. The team lost in the quarterfinals Jessen ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), Julia in five sets to Lyman Memorial, the soon- Klein ’17 (Captain, MVP), Amelia Molinari to-be champions. The seniors were led by ’17, Gianna Molinari ’17 (Captain, AllLeanna Beaulieu ’17, Kelly Deneen ’17, Conference, All-State), and Gianna Salemi ’17.

VOLLEYBALL

senior captains, Margo Lipari ’17 (Captain) and Filamena Vukaj ’17 (Captain). Also contributing were Angelica Cornejal ’19 (MVP) and Olivia Bianco ’18 (Coach’s Award). Most importantly, the team collected money at each home game, raising over $800 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY The 2016 girls’ cross country team was led by seniors Emily Driscoll ’17 (Captain), Jessica Follo ’17 (Captain, Coaches’ Award), and Christina Gluch ’17 (Captain).

Kathryn Shea ’18 (MVP) won the division championship and earned All-CCC honors.

She also qualified for the State Open Championship with a ninth-place finish at the Class SS State Championship meet under Head Coach Patrick Williamson ’99. The team finished third in the CCC Central White division and 11th in Class SS with Annie Alissi ’19, Melania Gluch ’20, Clare Doyle ’19, Meghan Shea ’19, and Valeria Seymour ’18 rounding out the varsity squad.

Katharine Jessen ’17, Julia Klein ’17, Amelia Toscano ’18, Caela Daly ’17 and Gianna Molinari ’17 in goal

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BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY The boys’ ice hockey team had an outstanding season this year, compiling an overall record of 21-4-1. Under Head Coach Don Melanson ’84, the team racked up 16 regular season wins, won the CCC North Division Championship, and made it all the way to the Division I State Championship game, losing to Ridgefield. The senior-heavy team was led by Tucker Alissi ’17 (Captain, AllConference), Brett Baker ’17, Brendan Bompane ’17, Anthony Ceolin ’17 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-State), Kevin Eustis ’17 (Captain), Anthony Giannone ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), Ian Jacobs ’17, Ryan Sherba ’17 (Captain, All-Conference, All-State), and Zachary Taylor ’17.

Christian Heiden ’17

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Under Head Coach Patrick Williamson ’99, the 2016 boys’ cross country team ran to great performances throughout the season, collecting an 8-2 record in the CCC Central White division and a second place finish overall. Senior Captains Brendan Gill ’17 (Captain), Nicholas Klingman ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), and Brian Waterston ’17 (Captain, All-CCC, MVP) led the varsity team to a seventh-place finish in the Class SS state championship meet. Also on the varsity team were Patrick Cronin ’17, Christian Heiden ’17, Aaron Belletsky ’18, Alex Kanya ’18, Noah Lisle ’18, Michael Stamm ’19, and Declan Wlochowski ’20.

WINTER ’16

Cairo McCrory ’19

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL The girls’ basketball team had a good year, finishing the regular season with a 7-13 record. Under Coach Sean O’Brien ’02, the team had two significant wins over rival East Catholic and made the Class M State Tournament. The program was led by its three seniors, Caela Daly ’17 (Coach’s Award), Elizabeth Jacobs ’17 (Captain, Co-MVP, All-Conference), and Lauren Murphy ’17 (Captain, Co-MVP, All-Conference). The team earned a very special honor for sportsmanship from the Executive Committee of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO). Numerous young players are returning, and looking to make a deep tournament run.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL The boys’ basketball team had another strong winning season, finishing the season with a 12-8 record. Under Coach John Mirabello, they made the CCC Tournament and the Class L State Tournament, losing to Sacred Heart (Class L Champion) in the second round. This year, the team had two huge wins over CCC powerhouse Windsor. The team was led by its four upperclassman, Christopher Chappell ’17, José Echavarria ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), Jayson Williams ’17, and Luca Mirabello ’18 (Captain). Also playing big roles were Cairo McCrory ’19 (MVP, All-Conference, AllState) and Amir Spears ’20 (All-Conference).

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Caroline Rutenberg ’20 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY In the program’s second year, the girls’ ice hockey team, a co-op with Mercy High School, vastly improved from last year. Under Head Coach John Alissi, the team finished with a 7-11-2 record, four more wins than the previous year. The team was led by its two seniors, Gianna Molinari ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award) and Elleana Paradise ’17 (Captain). Also playing key roles to the team’s success were Kayleigh Manion ’18, Annie Alissi ’19, Meghan Sisk ’19, Elizabeth Murphy ’19, and Eymee Salazar ’19.

GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK & FIELD Seniors Jon’yea McCooty ’17 (Captain, MVP), Kelsey Lankton ’17 (Captain), Jessica Follo ’17 (Captain), and Sydney Samele ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award) led the way for the girls’ indoor track & field

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team throughout the 2016-17 winter season.

Kathryn Shea ’18 scored points in the 1000m (6th) and 3200m (4th) at the Class S State Championship meet and the 4x200m relay team composed of McCooty ’17, Kiana Woods ’19, Sheena Wolliston ’19, and Katherine Jacobs ’18 also medaled in sixth place. Coach Patrick Williamson ’99’s team also finished third in the CCC Central White Division. Contributions also came from fellow varsity members Calla Kremidas ’18, Madeleine Hasson ’17, Megan Lowe ’17, and Elizabeth Peterson ’17.

BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK & FIELD The boys’ indoor track & field team had a successful 2016-17 season that included top finishes in the sprint, relay, and distance events at the conference and state championship meets. The boys placed third in the CCC Central White Division and ninth in the state in Class S. Under Head Coach Patrick Williamson ’99 the team’s four senior captains led the way throughout the season— Asa Guest ’17 (Captain, MVP), David Ogbonna ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), Damian Mackay-Morgan ’17 (Captain), and Brian Waterston ’17 (Captain). Guest had one of the top seasons in the program’s history during which he broke the school record in the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.66 seconds.

He won the State Open Championship in that event, finishing the season as the fastest hurdler in Connecticut. Asa went on to earn All-New England honors with a fourth place finish at that meet, and he qualified to race at Indoor Nationals. Other top performances came from the 4x200m relay team of Guest ’17, Ogbonna ’17, Mackay-Morgan ’17, and Samuel Deveau ’19 that was runner-up

Swim team at a meet against St. Paul High School

at the Class S Championship meet, and the same quartet also finished sixth in the 4x400m relay. Waterston took fourth place in the 1600m at the state meet and scored points in the same event at the CCC Championship meet. Other contributing senior varsity team members were Patrick Barry ’17, Patrick Cronin ’17, Jared Flores ’17, and Christian Heiden ’17.

SWIMMING The swim team had a very good year, finishing with a 4-9 overall record under Head Coach Tammi Haynes. The co-ed team competed in an all-boys league and held its own all season long, including at the CCC Championship and the State Tournament. The team was led by its very heavy senior class, which included Brianna Dorbuck ’17, Gabriella Doskos ’17, Mitchell Karangekis ’17 (All-Conference, All-State), Rachael Krawiecki ’17 (MVP), Laura Kunkel ’17 (Captain), Francesca Link ’17 (Coach’s Award), and Natalie Smith ’17 (Captain). The future looks bright with nine seniors returning and with seven sophomores and juniors as well.

CHEERLEADING In the winter season, the cheerleading team competed at four competitions and cheered at all the home basketball games. They won first place at the Windsor Warrior Challenge for the second year in a row. The team also competed at the State Championship for the first time since 2010 and placed 13th in the Class S Division. The team was led by their one senior Filamena Vukaj ’17 (Captain). Also contributing were Olivia Bianco ’18 (MVP) and Gabriella Alexander ’20 (Coach’s Award).

The athletes have been taking tumbling classes over the summer to come back stronger than ever for the fall season.

“I tell my athletes (and students!) those that mind don’t matter and those that matter don’t mind.”

Health teacher John Mirabello, coaching basketball at NWC for 30 years

SPRING ’18 GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD The 2017 Class M State Champion girls’ outdoor track & field team won its first state title since 2006 in astounding fashion! Seven girls went to the state meet and six scored points in their events to reach 50 points and win the team title under Head Coach Patrick Williamson ’99. The 4x100m relay team of Kiana Woods ’19, Sheena Wolliston ’19, Katherine Jacobs ’18, and Jon’yea McCooty ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award) won in 50.51 seconds to earn AllState honors. McCooty ’17 returned to score in the 100m dash, Wolliston ’19 in the 200m dash, and Jacobs ’18 as runner-up in the 100m hurdles. Megan Lowe ’17 (Captain, MVP) placed second in the discus throw.

Kathryn Shea ’18 had a huge performance in all three distance events—scoring second in the 1600m, fourth in the 800m, and third in the 3200m. Monique Bryant ’18 rounded out the championship roster. Fellow captains Jessica Follo ’17 and Sydney Samele ’17 finished their careers with strong performances throughout the season along with senior varsity team members Emily Driscoll ’17 and Elizabeth Peterson ’17.

Samuel Deveau ’19 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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“My mission: to help student athletes achieve something they never thought possible.”

IT Special Projects Coordinator Patrick Williamson ’99, coaching cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field at NWC for 9 years

BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Luke Fox ’18

The 2017 boys’ track & field team scored the BASEBALL SOFTBALL most points in the CCC Central Division at the regional championship meet and shared The baseball team had another exciting year The softball team had a good year, finishing the overall division title, followed up by a as they finished the regular season with a with an overall record of 7-13. Under Coach seventh-place finish in the state in Class M. record of 15-5 and overall record of 17-6. Rick Smith, the team won four out of their Head Coach Patrick Williamson ’99 varsity Under Coach Cory Carlson, the team won last six games and just missed the state team was led by a talented and deep senior class the CCC Central Region White Division tournament by one game. They picked up starting with captains David Ogbonna ’17 with a record of 8-1 and won two early big wins over Conard, East Hartford, and (Captain, MVP), Damian Mackay-Morgan round Class M State Tournament games. two times over Avon. The team was led by ’17 (Captain, All-CCC, Coach’s Award), Asa They reached the Quarterfinals of the Class its four seniors: Caela Daly ’17 (Coach’s Guest ’17 (Captain, All-CCC), and Brian M State Tournament, losing to a tough Award, All-Conference), Margaret Hoffman Waterston ’17 (Captain, All-CCC). Jayson St. Joseph team. The team was led by its six ’17 (Captain), Taylor Pane ’17, and Gianna Williams ’17 (All-CCC) won the CCC seniors: Anthony Ceolin ’17, Kevin Eustis Salemi ’17 (Captain). Also playing big Central Division championship in the triple ’17, Collin Farrell ’17, Ian Jacobs ’17, and roles were Kayla Midney ’18 (MVP, Alljump and graduates with the school-record in Robert Matson ’17 (Coach’s Award, All- Conference), Samantha Scott ’19 (Allthe long jump. Each of those athletes scored Conference). Also playing big roles were Luke Conference), and Allison Tessman ’20. The points at the state meet in their individual Fox ’18 (MVP, All-Conference, All-State), team will return a lot of young talent, as they events. Also making contributions were Andrew Hungerford ’18 (All-Conference), look to have a strong 2018 season. senior varsity team members Patrick Barry and Shayne Rice ’18 (All-Conference). ’17, Patrick Cronin ’17, Cameron Ayers ’17, BOYS’ LACROSSE Augustus Pope ’17, and Jose Hernandez ’17.

The boys’ lacrosse team worked hard finishing with a 5-11 overall record. Under Coach Peter Vlahakis, the team was plagued by injury but never gave up. The team’s biggest win came over Hamden 15-13 and had key victories over Rocky Hill and St. Paul. Leading the team were its three seniors: Tucker Alissi ’17 (Captain), Brendan Gill ’17 (Captain), and Shane Kearns ’17. Also playing huge roles were Spencer Merkel ’18 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-State) and James Nicholas ’19 (All-Conference). The team is looking bright due to the large number of returning players.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Samantha Scott ’19

The girls’ lacrosse team had a respectable year finishing with an overall record of 6-10.

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James Nicholas ’19

retired after 15 years of leadership, came just short of qualifying for the state tournament by one game. The team set a school record with 22 goals in a game in a win over Newington. They also had good wins over the Bristol Co-op and Berlin in overtime. They were led by their five seniors: Madeleine Hasson ’17, Julia Klein ’17 (Captain, MVP), Marissa Lamb ’17, Gianna Molinari ’17, and Meredith Oakley ’17 (Captain). Also contributing were Bridget Murphy ’18 (Coach’s Award), Claire Carew ’19 (AllConference), and Madison Cote ’19.

BOYS’ GOLF

The girls’ tennis team had another magical The boys’ golf team had another successful year. Under Coach Stan Piorkowski, the season under Coach Scott Fletcher. The team finished with a regular season record team picked up eight regular season wins of 11-5, and they didn’t hold back when they and qualified for the Division III State made it to the Class S Tournament again. Tournament. They picked up big victories For the third consecutive year, they found over Hall and Simsbury in the regular season. themselves back in the State Finals. Although The team finished in fourth place overall out they came up short to Weston, it really of twenty teams in the Division III State shows that Northwest Catholic girls’ tennis Tournament. Sophomore Justin Mathew ’18 is a force to be reckoned with in the state of (MVP, All-Conference, All-State) finished Connecticut. The team was led by its seniors tied for second individually. The two seniors Regina Chappano ’17 (All-Conference), led the team this past year, Ryan Sherba ’17 Anna Deneen ’17 (Captain, Coach’s Award), (Captain, All-Conference) and Brett Baker Kelly Deneen ’17 (All-Conference), Megan ’17. Also playing a key role was Justin DeFina Kaake ’17, and Rachael Krawiecki ’17 (All- ’20 (Coach’s Award, All-Conference).

Conference). Also playing key roles were GIRLS’ GOLF Katelyn Mogelnicki ’18 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference), Lauren Mogelnicki ’18 (Captain, All-Conference), and Elizabeth The girls’ golf team finished with another O’Neil ’19 (All-Conference). amazing regular season record of 13-3-1 under Coach Jeffrey Przech ’92. The team picked up key victories over Farmington, Hall, Conard, and Simsbury twice. The team finished 16th overall in the State Tournament. Individually, Jenna Fahey ’19 (All-Conference) finished tied for 40th place and Katherine Mullen ’17 finished tied for 47th place. The team was led by its four seniors Leanna Beaulieu ’17, Katharine Jessen ’17, Katherine Mullen ’17 (Captain, MVP, All-Conference), and Yiwei Yuan ’17. The team is looking to enjoy on another great season next year.

BOYS’ TENNIS The boys’ tennis team faced many competitive teams this past year but never gave up. They picked up a big victory against Bulkeley/ HMTCA. Coach Timothy Crowley, couldn’t be prouder of his players over the past four years. The team was led by its three seniors, Weiting Hong ’17, Declan Kiley ’17, and Virgil Rona ’17 (Captain, MVP). Also making big contributions to the program were juniors Justin Lam ’18 (Coach’s Award) and Justin Miguel ’18. The future looks bright with a lot of youth returning next year.

Weiting Hong ’17

“The most important shot in golf is the next one.”

NWC English teacher Jeffrey Przech ’92, coaching at NWC for 18 years and coaching girls’ golf for the past six years Leanna Beaulieu ’17

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NWC Brings Home Sports Awards All Year Long

Ryan Sherba ‘17 is All-Courant hockey player for the 2016-17 season. Sherba helped the Lions reach their first Division I championship.

The girls’ track & field team wins Class M Championship.

Cheerleading team wins first place at the Windsor Warrior Challenge.

Asa Guest ’17, wins the State Open 55m hurdles, with his indoor track & field coach Patrick Williamson ’99

Boys’ Indoor track & field relay team medal at the Class S Championship meet.

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IAABO Executive Committee Member Peter Palermino (left) presents the 2016-2017 IAABO Sportsmanship Award to Northwest Catholic Girls’ Basketball team.

Coach Sean O’Brien ’02 accepts the award on his team’s behalf.

Baseball Coach Cory Carlson reaches 200 wins at NWC!

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The Hartford Courant named Kirsten Armetta ’17 (soccer, pictured center) to its All-Courant teams for fall 2017. An additional five student-athletes received Honorable Mention: (from left) Spencer Merkel ’18 (football), Asa Guest ’17 (soccer), Kathryn Shea ’18 (girls’ cross country), Gianna Molinari ’17 (field hockey), and Allison Strid ‘17 (soccer, not pictured).

The girls’ track & field team unveils the Class M Championship banner at the fall pep rally.

Asa Guest ’17 (far right) ran 7.76 and placed 4th in a photo finish at the New England Championships.

Seniors from the girls’ basketball team stand with their coach Sean O’Brien ’02. From left: Lauren Murphy ’17, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, and Caela Daly ’17.

Boys’ hockey wins the Christmas Classic in Auburn, Maine.

Asa Guest ’17 and Katharine Jessen ’17 were named CIAC Scholar-Athletes. The Scholar-Athlete Program recognizes a boy and a girl from each high school “whose academic and athletic careers have been exemplary, whose personal standards and achievements are a model to others, and who possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline, and courage.”

Boys’ hockey wins the CCC North Division Championship.

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Northwest Catholic Celebrates 21 Students Headed To College Athletics

Front row (from left): Gianna Selemi ’17, Elijah Warner ’17 , Daniel Adebimpe ’17, Elizabeth Jacobs ’17, Clayton Stewart ’17, Madeleine Hasson ’17, Mackenna Dillon ’17. Middle row (from left): Claire Nicholas ’17, Samantha Wang ’17, Robert Matson ’17, Lauren Murphy ’17, Allison Strid ’17, Julia Klein ’17, Gianna Molinari ’17 . Back row (from left): Suliman Foster ’17, Christopher Chapell ’17, Naomi McPherson ’17, Kirsten Armetta ’17, Meredith Oakley ’17 .

Not pictured: Jayson Williams ’17, O’Neil Brown ’16

Daniel Adebimpe ’17 football at Duquesne University

Gianna Molinari ’17 field hockey at Mount Holyoke College

Kirsten Armetta ’17 soccer at Anderson University

Lauren Murphy ’17 basketball at Fordham University

O’Neil Brown ’16 track & field at University of Connecticut

Claire Nicholas ’17 volleyball at Haverford College

Christopher Chapell ’17 basketball at Rogers Williams University

Meredith Oakley ’17 lacrosse at Sacred Heart University

Mackenna Dillon ’17 equestrian at Bentley College

Gianna Selemi ’17 softball at University of Massachusetts

Suliman Foster ’17 football at Hampton University

Clayton Stewart ’17 football at Southern Connecticut State University

Madeleine Hasson ’17 lacrosse at Franklin Pierce University

Allison Strid ’17 soccer at Sacred Heart University

Elizabeth Jacobs ’17 basketball at Case Western University

Samantha Wang ’17 ice skating at Adrian College

Julia Klein ’17 field hockey and lacrosse at Mount Holyoke College

Jayson Williams ’17 track & field at Central Connecticut State University

Robert Matson ’17 baseball at Bates College

Elijah Warner ’17 football at Muhlenberg College

Naomi McPherson ’17 soccer at Monroe College

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Jayson Williams ’17 (center) with NWC Track & Field Coach Patrick Williamson ’99 (left) and Athletic Director Matthew Martorelli ’03 (right) after he signing to compete in track & field at Central Connecticut State University.

Madeleine Hasson ’17, Kirsten Armetta ’17, and Allison Strid ’17 shared the spotlight when all three signed to play Division I athletics at their respective colleges.

O’Neil Brown ’16 (center) poses with family members after signing to compete in track & field at the University of Connecticut.

Meredith Oakley ’17 signs to play lacrosse for Sacred Heart University. Behind her stands (from left) Athletic Director Matthew Martorelli ’03, soccer coach Todd Sadler, former field hockey assistant coach Ashley Mara ’08, and former NWC President David Eustis.

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IN THE ARTS Students Named to All-National Music Ensembles Katharine and Sarah Jessen ’17 joined the “best of the best” during the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2016 concert by performing with the All-National Honor Ensembles. Last November the Jessen twins performed in the gala concert in Grapevine, TX. Students were chosen for the All-National Honor Ensembles through an audition process.

Eligible students first qualify for their state-level ensemble programs then compete against top students for a spot in the national ensembles. Both Kate and Sarah and were selected as principal players in the symphony orchestra, exhibiting top auditions among all applicants playing their respective instruments.

Kate and Sarah performed under the baton of five prominent conductors: Dr. Anton Armstrong, Dr. William LaRue Jones, Dr. Paula Crider, Chris Crenshaw, and Todd Stoll. These conductors, who have received top honors in their fields, spent several days rehearsing with the students before the concert.

“They earned this,” said Daniel Luddy ’03, director of instrumental music at Northwest Catholic. “Sarah and Kate hold themselves to very high standards and gracefully take on each new musical challenge. They represented Northwest Catholic in a very big way.”

Katharine Jessen ’17 and Sarah Jessen ’17 performed in the All-National Honor Ensembles in Grapevine, TX last fall.

Thérèse: The Story of a Soul Comes to NWC show patience when working with someone who challenges us. Thérèse shows us how to do that work with love.” Gillespie drew one last and very real parallel: “Thérèse needed to wait a long time before she was accepted into the convent. Like Thérèse, seniors will soon be waiting for their college acceptance letters.”

Students stand with actress Audrey Ahern following the performance.

Last fall students at NWC enjoyed a live performance of Thérèse: The Story of a Soul, an enactment of the life of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

The touring play was created by Saint Luke Productions, a Catholic theater ministry that creates plays and movies about the Gospels and saints. The mission of the theater company is to teach audiences about Jesus and to support those in theater and media arts.

The man behind bringing Thérèse: The Story of a Soul to NWC is Father Ed Nadolny.

When asked why he works so hard to bring these plays to schools, Father Nadolny answered, “Because many of our students have no idea what a saint is. I want them to understand the Catholic identity.” He continued, “Students have models in football and basketball and so on but not in saints.” Father Nadolny wants young people to have models like Saint Thérèse.

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Director of Campus Ministry Kristina Gillespie, also answered the “why” question, explaining, “Plays like Thérèse help teach the history of our faith. Studying the lives of saints helps us see in practical ways how we can live holy lives.” She gave examples of how we could relate to Thérèse. For example, “Thérèse was melodramatic in her youth, much like we are. Thérèse had to help people who required an extra measure of patience. We, too, need to

Father Ed Nadolny, the man responsible for bringing the live performance of Thérèse: The Story of a Soul to NWC poses for a picture with Audrey Ahern.

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Actress Audrey Ahern, originally from Dallas, played Thérèse in Saint Luke Production’s Thérèse: The Story of a Soul.

Sara Avery, English teacher and Dramateurs director, appreciates the value in bringing live productions into the school. She said,

“Theater as an educational experience is often overlooked. Live theater offers something unique. It helps foster a respect for the art.”

IN THE ARTS

Northwest Catholic’s Dramateurs Present Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor Last November NWC delighted audiences with its fall play The Good Doctor.

The Good Doctor, a comedy based on short stories by Russian writer Anton Chekov, is episodic, evocative, and downright funny.

And the Dramateurs, NWC’s acting troupe, nailed every vignette with skill and verve. The young actors’ deep and clear understanding of irony as well as their command of rapidfire dialogue was impressive. Perhaps even more impressive than the actors’ spot-on timing and sophisticated delivery was their understanding of the human condition — people are flawed and silly and manipulative and masters of their own demise. Each vignette highlighted one or more of life’s challenges and its players’ foibles.

The episodes of The Good Doctor hold together as the character "The Writer,” meant to be Chekov himself, weaves through a single motif — humans are, well, human. Through chapters such as “The Sneeze,” “A Defenseless Creature,” and “A Drowned Man,” Simon, following Chekov’s lead, depicts how easy it is for people to get knotted in the absurd. This willingness to walk headlong into trouble is further demonstrated in “The Seduction” and “A Quiet War.” Simon takes Chekov’s stories and masterfully transfers them to the stage, executing the lifts and dips of interpersonal communication and the complexities of human relationships.

For the lay-viewer, determining what’s Chekov and what’s Simon is difficult to distill, but one thing is certain: both artists knew comedy.

Add to that another truth—Northwest Catholic’s students know humor too, and voila! a rollicking performance ensued.

Dramateurs director/producer and NWC English teacher Sara Avery said, “Neil Simon produced timeless, classic comedy, and we need this, especially when the world is in turmoil as it is now.” Avery also remarked, “One of the great things about the structure of The Good Doctor is that it’s a collection of vignettes, which allows many students to get involved. We had several fall athletes on stage.”

In terms of the talent at Northwest Catholic, Avery keeps it real: “Yes, the students are talented, but they’re also typical. It’s not that they’re all incredible actors. They work hard. What we’re most proud of is who they are as people. They are kind, generous, and inclusive. They welcome one another to rehearsal every day. They work as a team.

They really are a family.”

Dramateurs staging director/choreographer and NWC dance teacher Kate Morran echoed Avery’s sentiments. Morran said, “As long as I’ve been at NWC the Dramateurs have always been a kind, smart, silly, and talented group of young people. This group came together as an ensemble in a special way this fall. Not only did they perform at a high level artistically, they were also a joy to work with. As a director, saying ‘I’m proud’ is an understatement.”

Alton Grange ’19 as Cherdyakov, James Sullivan ’18 as General Brassilhov, and Mary Velazquez ’19 as Madame Cherdyakov bring “The Sneeze” to life.

Photo credit: RDK Photography

MaryCharlotte Barnes ’20, Dayanara Vega ’20 and Anderson Murphy ’17. Photo credit: RDK Photography

Jordan Pita ’20 plays “The Writer.

Dramateurs director/choreographer and NWC dance teacher, Kate Morran, and artistic director/producer and NWC English teacher, Sara Avery, before a performance of The Good Doctor.

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Students Finish in Top 10 of Statewide Poster Contest Four NWC students placed in the top 10 of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center’s 2017 Poster Contest. The students’ work was selected out of 100+ entries submitted from across Connecticut. Yeji Yang ’17 took 3rd place, Mary Velazquez ’19 took 6th place, Sydney Samele ’17 took 9th place, and Yiwei Yuan ’17 took 10th place.

The theme of the contest was A Loving CommUNITY, and entries were judged on the clarity of that theme as well as the poster’s design and creativity.

Third place winner Yeji Yang ’17 said, “I have been doodling all my life, which turned into my passion. I'm not particularly sure what I want to do in the future, but I know I want to study art in depth. I am grateful I've come this far, and I will continue to participate in my community every way possible."

Yeji Yang ’17 (second from left) at the 2017 Loving Civil Rights Awards Dinner where she was honored for her 3rd place win in the Connecticut Fair Housing Center’s 2017 Poster Contest. She received a $200 cash prize and a two-week gallery display at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. In addition her poster was mass produced and turned into a thank you card with a short bio of the artist on the back.

Yeji Yang ’17’s 3rd place winning poster captured the contest theme A Loving CommUNITY. Yang used acrylic, watercolor, colored pencils, and markers.

She commented: “I wanted to incorporate the idea of ‘family’ by putting different kinds of people under the same roof. My central idea is that family is the cornerstone of a community, and we are all one loving family.”

6th place poster winner by Mary Velazquez ’19

9th place poster winner by Sydney Samele ’17

Sydney Samele ’17, Yeji Jang ’17, and Mary Velazquez ’19 in NWC’s art studio.

10th place poster winner Yiwei Yuan ’17

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NWC CELEBRATES THE SEASON THROUGH ART Jazz Singers entertain with holiday favorites.

Director of Choral Music Daniel Avery ’97 leads the choir.

Katalin Viszmeg conducts the string ensemble at the annual Christmas concert.

Students in Celina Marquis ’07’s classes depict the season through their art.

Daniel Avery ’97 conducts the choir while Daniel Luddy ’03 leads the band during the concert finale.

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PERFORMING ARTS TRIP TO DISNEY

NWC teachers took 66 students on a performing arts trip to Disney over President's Weekend. The students participated in workshops such as “Disney Sings,” “You’re Instrumental,” “Disney Broadway Magic,” and Disney Dancin’.”

Here the group is gathered at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The actors came together for a cheer before running the scene they had staged.

Chaperones Andrew Selig ’06, Sara Avery, Daniel Avery ’97, Kerri Smith, Kate Morran, and the Avery children (missing: Daniel Luddy ’03) grab a photo with Mickey Mouse!

During the choral workshop students recorded lines from Disney songs, such as Can You Feel the Love Tonight? Their recording was then patched onto the movie for them to enjoy.

Band students read music from Disney films, then scored a section from Beauty and the Beast.

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Dramateurs attended a workshop staging Beauty and the Beast. Delaney Marshall ’20 played Belle. Emily Driscoll ’17, MaryCharlotte Barnes ’20, and Taylor Bowie ’20 (background left to right) played the "silly girls.”

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Musicians Win Top Honors at Berklee Jazz Festival Berklee College of Music hosted its 49th Annual High School Jazz Festival in February.

Northwest Catholic was among the 200 high schools competing at the festival and came home with four awards.

The high school instrumental and vocal jazz outfits hailing from 15 states battled in three categories: large, combo, and vocal ensembles.

Within each category were divisions based on school size. More than 5,000 guests attended the festival, and a panel of Berklee’s top faculty judged each performance. The festival also included performances by Berklee faculty, tours of Berklee’s campus, and jam sessions.

NWC’s Big Band won 1st Place in the large ensemble division at the 49th Annual High School Jazz Festival at the Berklee College of Music.

This year NWC’s Big Band won 1st Place in its large ensemble division. Directed by Daniel Luddy ’03, this 18 piece big band wowed the judges with its renditions of “Such Sweet Thunder,” “Closely Dancing,” and “Coconut Champagne.” Soloists included Sarah Jessen ’17 (trumpet), Katharine Jessen ’17 (baritone saxophone), Marcos Garcia ’18 (trombone), and Carter Horton ’18 (percussion).

NWC’s Jazz Singers won 5th Place in its Vocal Jazz Ensemble division, an impressive showing where only 12 ensembles were ranked. The Jazz Singers crooned a samba tune “No More Blues,” a Sinatra-like arrangement of “Come Fly with Me,” and “Days of Wine and Roses”

by Henry Mancini.

Trumpeter Sarah Jessen ’17 won the Outstanding Musicianship Award.

Director of Choral Music Daniel Avery ’97 with Emily Driscoll ’17, who won the Judges’ Award for Jazz Choir.

“There’s great camaraderie in this group.”

Jazz Singers director Daniel Avery ’97 said, “There’s great camaraderie in this group.

They look out for one another, and they hold one another accountable. Still, there’s no substitute for talent.”

Northwest Catholic celebrated individual successes as well at the event, as Sarah Jessen ’17 won the Outstanding Musicianship Award in the Class L5 category, and Emily Driscoll ’17 won the Judges’ Award for Jazz Choir in her division.

Jazz Singers won 5th Place in its Vocal Jazz Ensemble division.

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NWC Presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid Last spring NWC presented Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Over 50 students hailing from more than 15 towns made waves in this beloved, coming-of-age story of friendship, courage, and the importance of following one’s dreams.

Audiences of all ages gathered for four stellar performances that proved, once again, the professional quality of NWC’s performing arts program. NWC’s Dramateurs, renowned for their splendid plays and musicals chock-full of exceptional talent and technical feats, have been charming audiences for five decades.

Their top-notch performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid with Grammy Award winning songs “Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Under the Sea,” was no exception.

NWC English Teacher and Dramateurs Artistic Director and Producer, Sara Avery, remarked, “Though the idea of doing a Disney show is always daunting, the joy of the students in working with the material was palpable.

The best testament to what the show meant to me was watching small children, including my own, react to the characters after the show.

They were mesmerized by the students and believed the story we told. I am so proud of my students and the happiness they brought to so many through their hard work.”

Co-director and Choreographer and NWC Dance Teacher Kate Morran echoed Avery’s remarks, adding, “There is nothing more fun than working on a Disney show. The students, creative team, parents, and designers worked incredibly hard to get this production

“...I am so proud of my students and the happiness they brought to so many through their hard work.”

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on its feet. Sara and I love a challenge, so collaborating with our team on how to create a spectacle of this scale was an absolute blast. At the same time, we kept our firm commitment to ensure that the process remain educational and fun for everyone involved. The senior class led a very special group of students into what I believe was our finest production to date, and they did so with love, kindness, and respect for all. We are so very proud."

IN THE ARTS

Damian Mackay-Morgan ’17 plays King Triton, who can rule the sea but not his daughter Ariel.

David Ogbonna ’17 as Sebastian.

Erin Conway ’20 as Flounder and Hayden Neubert ’20 as a mersister.

The cooks Natiel Cooper ’18, Charlie Gfeller ’18, Brendan Chan ’19, and Kat Morelli ’19 serve seafood to John Sullivan ’18, Joanna Kuziak ’19, and Matthew Villani ’19.

Joanna Kuziak ’19 plays Ariel.

Emily Driscoll ’17 as Ursula, the evil sea witch.

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NWC Holds 10th Annual Jazz Cabaret Night Last May NWC held its 10th Annual Jazz Cabaret Night. The event featured performances by Northwest Catholic’s Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Singers, and Big Band as well as refreshments and raffles.

All seats for the Jazz Cabaret Night must be reserved in advance, as only a limited number of seats are available. Proceeds benefit all students in the music department and are used to pay for new instruments and music, guest performers and clinicians, and to support music festival participation.

The 2018 Jazz Night will be held May 5!

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SPRING DANCE & ART SHOW “Students prepare for the annual spring art show.”

NWC art teachers Celina Marquis ’08 and Elizabeth Lynch McCarthy ’94 in the arts wing during the annual spring art show which runs concurrently with the spring dance recital. Former Dance Teacher Kerri Smith directed the show.

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SPRING MUSIC CONCERT

Declan Kiley ’17

From left: Sarah Jessen ’17, Patrick Donnelly ’17, Katharine Jessen ’17, John Dudley ’17, Aaron Belletsky ’18 (back).

The choir led by Daniel Avery ’97.

Elizabeth D’Arcangelo ’18, Allyson Voelker ’17, and Naomi McPherson ’17

Making Northwest Catholic Beautiful Mary Velasquez ’19 paints a mural on LEADS office wall

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Dramateurs Nominated for HALO Awards for The Good Doctor and Disney’s The Little Mermaid Emily Driscoll ’17 took home Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Ursula the Sea Witch in the school’s spring production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Emily Driscoll ’17 Wins Best Supporting Actress in a Musical at the HALO Awards.

The 14th Annual Seven Angels HALO Awards for excellence in high school theater was held at the Palace Theater in Waterbury in May. Sixty-four schools participated in this year’s competition. The HALO Awards is considered the premier high school theatre award program in the state.

In addition to Driscoll’s award, NWC secured an additional seven nominations.

The school’s fall play The Good Doctor was nominated for Best Classical Play as well as Best Performance by a Cast in an Ensemble Play. Individual nominations included Joseph Morelli ’17 for Best Sound Design and Emily Driscoll ’17 for Best Standout Performance in an Ensemble Play.

For Disney’s The Little Mermaid, James Sullivan ’18 was nominated for Best Comic Male Performance in a Musical in his role as Scuttle. Mary Velazquez ’19 earned a nomination for Best Costume Design. And Daniel Ogbonna ’18 and Chyanne Gordon ’17 were nominated for Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo in a Musical in their roles as Flotsam and Jetsam.

Students Honored for Their Work in the Arts Sarah Jessen ’17 and Yiwei Yuan ’17 earned the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) High School Outstanding Arts Awards. This honor is granted to two seniors from each Connecticut high school for their outstanding abilities in performing or visual arts. Both students were recognized at Northwest Catholic’s Academic and Service Awards ceremony in May.

Sarah Jessen ’17

Yiwei Yuan ’17

Upcoming Arts Events Dramateurs present Into the Woods March 23 – 25, 2018

Art Show and Dance Concert December 12, 2017 May 17, 2018

Christmas Concert December 14, 2018

Music Concert May 22, 2018

Jazz Night May 5, 2018

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ADVANCEMENT NEWS Founders’ Circle Dinner Thanks Top Donors and Celebrates Excellence in Teaching

Cathleen Fox Laffin ’77 AP and Director of Constituent Relations and Event Organizer Jane Leary

Last October NWC hosted its annual Founders' Circle dinner, a special event to honor those who gave $1,000 or more to the school the previous year.

They push against the Northwest Catholic flywheel. They give and give and give, moving the school to greatness, and we are indebted to them.

The Founders' Circle is comprised of donors committed to moving NWC forward. Their vision is clear and their generosity inspiring.

At the event former board chair William Carew explained how Northwest Catholic continues to raise the bar in every arena, and Superintendent Dr. Michael S. Griffin echoed this sentiment. Founders' Circle members not only see this progress, they drive it. In his breakthrough work Good to Great, Jim Collins explains how transformation happens.

There is no single idea or miracle invention.

Transformation comes from steadily pushing against a flywheel until it takes off.

That's what Founders' Circle members do.

During this annual event, a NWC faculty member is given an excellence in teaching award. Last year’s was the Rev. Henry C. Frascadore Teaching Award and was given in recognition of Fr. Frascadore’s extraordinary contribution to NWC and Catholic education. This award recognizes the unique contributions of the recipient to the mission, values, and ideals of NWC, as well as to the young people the school serves.

Last year this prestigious honor was given to NWC Science Teacher Timothy Crowley, whose wife Lauren accepted the award on Tim’s behalf.

Top: NWC Advancement Officer and Alumni Parent Colby Thresher, former NWC President Fr. Henry C. Frascadore, and former NWC Athletic Director John Shukie AP

Former NWC board chair William Carew CP & AP welcomes the members of the Founders’ Circle.

Current parents and new members of the Founders’ Circle, Dane and Susan Dudley and Fran and Paul Argay, along with longstanding Founders’ Circle member and NWC Social Studies Teacher Paul Fitzpatrick

Bottom: Linda and Superintendent Dr. Michael S. Griffin AP and alumni parent Anne Carpenter

NWC Jazz Band plays for the donors.

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Live from Northwest Catholic, it’s Saturday Night!

NWC director of constituent relations and Saturday Night Live! organizer, Jane Leary AP; current parent and SNL! volunteer, Kara Langan ’81, and NWC athletic director and SNL! auctioneer, Matthew Martorelli ’03, led the live auction.

On Saturday, November 19th NWC hosted its 33rd Annual Saturday Night Live! Current and alumni parents, old and new friends of the school, and current and former staff members gathered for an exciting evening of entertainment, fellowship, and magnanimity.

What distinguishes NWC’s Saturday Night Live! from peer events is its eclectic character, binding catholic with Catholic. On this special evening the school is transformed into a variety of venues—a wine bar, a dessert café, a sports club, and more. Last fall guests enjoyed a comedy show by Sea Tea Improv and a meal at the international buffet. They chatted with friends by the school store display, where swag sold quickly to Christmas shoppers, and walked quietly through the silent auction, bidding on items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to summer reads.

At Saturday Night Live! NWC came alive as one hallway became a shop, a gym morphed into an auction room, and an art room transformed into a pub. There was cheerful traffic moving from location to location, keeping the evening lively and fun.

What also distinguishes SNL! from similar events is its warmth and casual character with guests coming as they like, and that, gratefully, could mean jeans. Some gussied up, some gussied down; it made no difference: guests at SNL! came to laugh and eat and drink and give.

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Clint and Terry Notte Becker ’76 AP and Irene Sawka CP in the auction room.

clearly community-building, the focus of the night is fundraising, which is spotlighted through the brief but spirited live auction and raffle drawing. NWC athletic director and SNL! Auctioneer Matthew Martorelli ’03 pumped up the crowd for getaways, theater tickets, and more until the final battle for front-row graduation seats.

The live auction was followed by the annual raffle drawing during which ticket holders enjoyed the chance to win $10,000, $2,500, or $1,000. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Northwest Catholic Fund, which annually supports not only the school's operating budget but also the educational programs T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

and significant financial aid program that distinguish NWC. This fund ensures that financial aid remains at the heart of the school’s mission while also maintaining for students in need. Northwest Catholic’s emphasis on academic excellence, faith and service, the arts, and athletics.

This year’s winners were Shevon Sweeney Hickey ’79 ($1,000), Kristen Post ($2,500), and Denise Przystawski ($10,000).

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Senior parent David Lamb raised the paddle to win front row seats at graduation.

Current parents Dr. Michael Moustakakis and Dr. Emily Daponte with Julie and Thomas Armstrong

Parent volunteers make the night a huge success.

Friends gathered outside the sports bar: (from left to right) Diane Klingman, Kimberly Shea, John Staunton, Billy Stiles, and Kirsten Shea.

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Raffle Winners Win Big!

Freshman Grandparents’ Day 2017

Former President David Eustis and Director of Advancement Patricia Walsh present the winners with checks.

Members of the class of 2020 showed off Northwest Catholic to their grandparents during the school’s annual Grandparents’ Day held in May.

Northwest Catholic holds an annual $10K Raffle to benefit the Northwest Catholic Fund, which supports the school’s educational programs and significant financial aid program. Raffle tickets are $20 each and only 3,000 tickets are available for sale. Questions may be directed to Patricia Walsh, Director of Advancement at PWalsh@nwcath.org.

Roseann Harding and Ashley Harding ’20

Ariana Marquis ’20 and Alma Lambert

Shevon Sweeney Hickey ’79 $1,000

Kelly Schultz and Keenan Brosmith ’20

Kristen Post $2,500

Margarita Liu, Steven Liu ’20, and William Liu

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NWC’s “Grandpa” Dornfried Honored with Lifetime Volunteerism Award Robert B. Dornfried Sr. was recently honored by the town of Berlin, CT with the creation of The Robert B. Dornfried Sr. Lifetime Volunteerism Award. The award was established to honor those who are “dedicated to a lifetime of community volunteerism, civic duty, and extraordinary service given unselfishly to the residents of the town of Berlin.”

Four of Dornfried’s grandchildren graduated from Northwest Catholic between ’07 and ’16.

Mr. Dornfried is a Korean War veteran, a former contractor, and has a list of service projects that could fill pages. From his work with the VFW to the Lions Club to the Berlin Little League and beyond, Mr. Dornfried has been giving back for decades.

According to NWC Advancement Officer Colby Thresher, “Grandpa Dornfried is a legend at NWC. For many years he was present at most NWC athletic events and has been a generous supporter of the school.”

Thresher continued, “Bob Dornfried is among the top five persons I have ever known in terms of kindness and giving of self.” Just to be clear, Colby Thresher has met a lot of people in his 80 years.

Robert Dornfried ’07, a member of the Vermont National Guard and grandson to the guest of honor, Robert B. Dornfried, affectionately known at NWC as “Grandpa Dornfried” take a photo after Dornfried Sr. is honored at Berlin event.

Congratulations, Grandpa Dornfried!

NWC Alums Establish Scholarships

Members of the class of ’76 at the 40th reunion last fall.

John P. Scully ’73

Classmates and friends of John P. Scully ’73 have established the John P. Scully ’73 Memorial Scholarship fund at NWC, which, when endowed, will award an annual scholarship in John's memory in perpetuity to deserving NWC students. John's friends wish to honor both his wonderful personal qualities and his memory in this special way. You are invited to support this scholarship by making a gift at the level that is right for you.

During the run-up to its 40th reunion, the class of ’76 established the Indians Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship was conceived in 2016 with the intention to create an endowed scholarship fund that benefits current NWC students and honors Northwest Catholic's original mascot. The fund, now exceeding the minimum balance for endowment, $25,000, will be used to provide annual scholarships for deserving students in perpetuity. Gifts to the NWC Legacy Scholarship Fund are welcome and deeply appreciated.

To learn more about the Indians Legacy Scholarship, visit: northwestcatholic.org/IndiansScholarship.

To find out how to give visit: northwestcatholic.org/ScullyScholarship.

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40th Annual NWC Golf Tournament Demands Drinks on June Scorcher

40th Annual NWC Golf Tournament Winners 1st Place Gross Winner Brendan Fox ’13, John Fox ’14, Aidan McDonnell ’14, John DiNucci 2nd Place Gross Winner Chris Grenham ’13, Matthew Laffin ’13, Ryan Coursey ’13, Andrew Dornfried ’13 1st Place Net Winner Scott Hesketh ’84, Andrew Hesketh ’16, Todd Hesketh, Ken Eilers ’76 2nd Place Net Winner Al Connal, Chris Connal, Jack Bitterli, Austin Jadovitch

The thermometer read 90 degrees during last June’s 40th Annual NWC Golf Tournament at Wampanoag Country Club. It’s a good thing NWC Music Teacher Daniel Luddy ’03 and Guidance Counselor Michael Tyler ’73 and their drink carts were never far from the players! Eighteen sponsors, over 100 registered golfers, and many raffle and silent auction donors helped raise over $40,000 for the Northwest Catholic Fund, which provides tuition assistance for NWC students.

The Annual Golf Tournament was established in 1977 to support scholarships, both academic and need-based, for deserving NWC students. Golfers sign up for the 18-hole scramble event or choose to attend only cocktails and dinner. Special pricing is available for young Northwest Catholic alumni (classes ’07-’17) and for early registrations.

Current and alumni parents, alumni, and friends are encouraged to be part of this fun event.

Save the date for the 41st Annual NWC Golf Tournament on Tuesday, June 12, 2018!

Alumni Parent Dennis Lubozynski

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Brendan Fox ’13, John Fox ’14, Aidan McDonnell ’14, and John DiNucci

Ken Eilers ’76, Todd Hesketh, Scott Hesketh ’84, and Andrew Hesketh ’16

Phox Ngaopraseutsack , Patrick Gill, Robert DiNino, and Jeff Plenzio

Phil Coco, Kevin Gresham ’78, Greg Godbout, Bill Doran ’78 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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Annual 5K Scholarship Scamper Supports Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial Scholarship

NWC Science Teacher Deacon Jeffrey Sutherland said a blessing before the gun fires.

On June 24 NWC hosted its 5th Annual Scholarship Scamper 5k Road Race.

Runners and walkers of all ages participated in the event. The 5K and its affiliated Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial Scholarship raised money for the Northwest Catholic Fund, providing scholarships for NWC students. The top male and female high school student-finishers were awarded the Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial Cup. A portion of the proceeds of the 5K is directed to the Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial Scholarship Fund—an annual scholarship for a deserving Northwest Catholic student given in memory of Adam Lawton ’99.

Patrick Daly was the overall race winner with a time of 17:46.6 while Linda Spooner was the top female finisher with a time of 20.20.5.

Samuel Schiffer placed second and Alex Kanya ’18 third in the men’s division, and Kathryn Shea ’18 and Margaret Molloy ’07 placed second and third respectively for women.

The Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial High School Division Champions winner were Kathryn Shea ’18, for the third year in a row, and Patrick Daly. These top high school student finishers, male and female, were awarded the Adam M. Lawton ’99 Memorial Cup.

From left to right: Sarah Loitz ’18, Eliza Wizner ’18, Jazmyn Clark ’18, Katherine Jacobs ’18, and Kennedy Gayle ’18 volunteered at the event.

From left to right: Margaret Molloy ’07, Mark Molloy ’77, Katherine Molloy ’11, and Jean Molloy ’78

Classmates and teammates of Adam Lawton ’99 established the scholarship in Adam’s memory. Adam passed away far too young, and Adam's friends want to help other young, creative, athletic, and adventurous students like Adam to have the opportunity to attend Northwest Catholic and follow their own passions. If you’d like to help Adam's friends achieve this goal, you are invited to make a gift at northwestcatholic.org/LawtonScholarship.

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NWC IT Project Manager and Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Patrick Williamson ’99 high fives the winner in the youngest division.

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John Flannery ’79 Named CEO of General Electric John Flannery ’79 was named CEO of General Electric effective August 1, 2017.

At the first of the new year, he will add to his title GE Chairman. Jeff Immelt, Chairman of the Board until his retirement from the company on December 31, 2017, commented, “John is the right person to lead GE today. He has broad experience across multiple businesses, cycles and geographies. He has a track record of success and led one of our most essential businesses. Most important are his strong leadership traits—good judgment, resilience, a learner, team builder and a toughminded individual and competitor. He will be trusted by investors, our customers and the GE team.”

Before Flannery’s appointment as CEO of GE, he was the President and CEO of GE Healthcare.

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ALUMNI NEWS 1960s Susan Fortier Hogan ’65 and her husband Donald recently moved to Denver, NC. The couple lives on Lake Norman, a few miles north of Charlotte. They are delighted to be able to see their sons more often as one lives in Charlotte and the other in Blacksburg, VA.

Frank “Chip” Frey ’67, owner of C&M Electric, LLC in Haddam, CT, recently made his eighth trip to Africa. For the past 16 years Chip has been traveling to the Republic of Congo to offer his electrical skills. In 2001 Chip travelled with Global Outreach Mission to the Congo where he visited a deserted 1980s Communist Youth Camp. It was on this 17 acre site that Chip set his sights.

Today on the same grounds the Pioneer Christian Hospital stands with 70 beds, nurses, and a doctor on site, as well as visiting, volunteer physicians. Solar panels and generators provide electricity for lights and for refrigerators to store medicine and blood. Frey is now on the hospital’s Board of Directors.

Interested in learning more about Chip’s work in the Congo or accompanying him on a trip, email him at ChipFrey@comcast.net.

Susan McKeown A.P.R.N., C.P.S. ’66 is the author of Beyond the First Dance: A Guide to Couples to Think Beyond Their Wedding Day. She is also a F.A.S.T.E.R. (Families Advocating Substance Treatment, Education and Recovery) Facilitator in Manchester, NH.

1970s Richard Burke ’71 is the Head of School/ Principal at the Health & Science Charter School in the Bronx. Richard said his school is in the poorest Congressional District in the US with 95% of his students qualifying for free lunch. To learn more about Richard’s school, visit www.healthscienceschool.org.

Dan Mara ’72 is Commissioner of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. He was named CACC's 2016 ECAC Conference Commissioner of the Year and was honored at the ECAC Honors Banquet in Danbury, CT this past September. He’s been coaching his son's school basketball team at Blessed Sacrament School in Waterbury for the last four years. Dan said, “It was a wonderful experience, and we had the opportunity to play my alma mater St. Timothy's in the state tournament all four years.

They have a great team.”

Don Perrault ’72 and his wife Ann recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Chip Frey ’67 sets up electrical panel at church in the Congo.

Joanne Riordan Collins ’69 and John Collins ’69 have retired to Belchertown, MA. They recently had the opportunity to travel to Washington state. While in eastern Washington, John and Joanne toured the Yakima Area Arboretum with Carey Reber Leeds ’69. They then traveled to Seattle and spent an afternoon visiting with Janice Lavoie Dobson ’69.

Eric Meyer ’66 is an artisan living in Portland, OR. He handcrafts pegs and tailpieces for instruments from the modern to the million dollar. Learn more about Eric’s professional history and handiwork at http://stringsmagazine.com/eric-meyersfittings-stand-out-in-a-world-of-massproduced-pegs/ and check out his business at http://www.meyerfittings.com/.

Tim Bourret ’73 was inducted into the National College Sports Information Hall of Fame in June. Tim has been working for Clemson athletics since 1978.

Bill Keenan ’69 was inducted into the Northwest Catholic Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame on September 30, 2017. He played football, basketball, and baseball at NWC and was captain of the baseball team. He also played baseball for the West Hartford American Legion and at Amherst College, and for ten years in the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League. He also coached baseball at various levels in West Hartford for many years. He practiced law with Murtha Cullina LLP in Hartford for over 38 years, retiring at the end of 2014.

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Casey Sabella ’73 is a pastor, writer, podcaster, and conference speaker. He’s been married 34 years and has two daughters and two sons who all serve with him in ministry.

Casey is also the proud grandfather of six.

Follow Casey on Twitter @leadersministry.

Leonard “Len” S. Discenza ’75 is living in Waterbury, CT with his partner. Len is active in a number of LGBT organizations.

He is president of the Waterbury PFLAG Chapter, a member of the Stonewall Speakers in Connecticut, and is active in his parish LGBT ministry and in the LGBT Interparish Collaborative of NYC. Len’s picture recently appeared in the national Jesuit magazine America in the article by James Martin, S.J.’s We need to build a bridge between LGBT community and the Catholic church. Len is happy to have reconnected recently with classmates from NWC Mary Ann Hayes ’75 and Greta (Diemente) Sibley ’75. Len has been president and owner for 21 years of a mechanical engineering consulting company Design By Analysis, Inc. in Middlebury. He has three children and a foster son.

where she has worked for the past 33 years.

She is now teaching Spanish as an associate professor at Vellore Institute of Technology University (VIT). Mirtica says this time in India has been the experience of a lifetime and a blessing in many ways. She is humbled by the kind hearts of the beautiful people of India.

She recently completed a ten-day journey from Vellore near the Bay of Bengal to Cochin, one of the largest port cities. She traveled north by train to enjoy the coastline all the way to Goa, “a kaleidoscopic blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, sweetened with sun, sea, sand, seafood and spirituality.” She then flew to Bangalore, one of India's main cities known as “the Garden City, Pub City, Silicon Valley of India, Land of Silk, Gold, Incense” then back to her temporary home in Vellore. To follow Mirtica’s journey this year, visit mirtica1210. blogspot.com.

Ed Singer ’76 has been working in power plants and in cement manufacturing for 36 years, most recently as the plant maintenance manager at LehighHanson Corp. in Nazareth, PA. Ed coached baseball for 18 years and was highly involved in his local youth baseball organization. He has cycled in more than a dozen events to raise money for multiple sclerosis, and he’s been skiing for 45 years. He is currently a ski patroller at his local ski resort. He hunts deer, is a butcher, and his deer jerky is admittedly “awesome.” Ed golfs regularly and travels to Keene, NH every year to play in a tournament with his NWC friends. He’s a novice fisherman, woodworker, welder, auto mechanic, electrician, plumber, and beer drinker. Ed has been married to Rebekah for 31 years and has two sons.

Mirtica N. Aldave ’76 and her colleagues celebrating National Teachers’ Day at the Vellore Institute of Technology.

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1980s Jodi Kennedy Gaffey ’81 and her husband Peter recently purchased a medieval chateau tower in the south of France where they now run La Tour du Chateau, a full-service, luxury property that offers four ensuite bedrooms, hosting up to 10 guests. La Tour du Chateau is located in the small village of Ventenacen-Minervois in the Languedoc region, now called Occitanie. The tower is on the famous Canal du Midi with gorgeous views. They offer custom designed vacations that include accommodations, transportation, gourmet meals, fine local wines, and unique and authentic French excursions. Visit www. latourduchateau.com to learn more.

La Tour du Chateau, a medieval chateau on land once owned by Julius Ceasar, now a hotel run by Jodi Kennedy Gaffey ’81 and her husband Peter.

Tom Brewer ’82 along with his brothers Stephen Brewer ’79 and Ed Brewer ’80 and cousins David Brewer ’78, Matthew Brewer ’81, and Colleen (Brewer) Moore ’80 recently traveled to Antarctica for an expedition, which included face to face meetings with polar bears and musk oxen as well as snorkeling with walruses and whales.

The three-week journey allowed them to enjoy the majestic peaks and incredible beauty that fills this fabulous continent.

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Ted Boland ’84 is working as a materials manager on the Department of Energy's uranium processing facility project in Oak Ridge, TN.

Ted Boland ’84 when he was a warehouse manager in Tengiz, Kazakstan.

Mike Collyer ’86 was recently promoted to Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Mike graduated from Kenyon College in 1990 and the Ohio State University College of Law in 1993. He was an Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor from 1993-95. From 1995-2007 Mike was an Assistant Attorney General in the Capital Crimes Unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, working part-time as a Special Assistant US Attorney in the Northern District of Ohio from 2004-07 before becoming a full-time Assistant US Attorney in May 2007. He was the deputy chief of the white collar unit from 2011-17 and the criminal health care fraud coordinator since 2008. He became the chief of the white collar unit in October 2017.

John K. Hampton ’84 is serving his third term in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing Simsbury. Representative Hampton is Assistant Majority Leader, Ranking Member of the Internship Committee, and serves on the Aging and Commerce Committees.

Mike Collyer ’86 (second from left, holding plaque) is accompanied by Rod Rosentein, Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice (left), and David Sierleja, then acting US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio (right). In July 2017 Mike was awarded the Department of Justice’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant US Attorney, which was based on his prosecution of an interventional cardiologist who was performing medically unnecessary tests and procedures on patients.

Irene O’Conner ’85 graduated from Northeastern University in 1990 before she began working at television stations in Denver, Providence, and Hartford. She began working at WFSB Channel 3 13 years ago.

Irene lives in Hartford with her husband Matt Fleury, president of the Connecticut Science Center, and her twin eight year old sons, Robert and Quilty. (Quilty is the name of the town where her father was born in Ireland.)

The boys attend St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford.

Betsy Guertin Regan ’88 participated in a homespun version for the 25th anniversary of the 100 Days Across America bike trip. In 1992 Betsy rode with Fr. Frascadore and other NWC alumni and community members in the 100 Days Across America. During that trip she met her husband Joe Regan. Greg Staley ’69, Betsy’s uncle, and Margie Shea-Turner ’79 participated as well. In June Betsy, Joe, and their three children, Emma (15), Abby (13) and David (10); Greg Staley ’69; Margie Shea-Turner ’79 and her husband Lyle and their four children, Jonathan (15), Rosie (15), Catherine (12), and Christopher (12); and the Turners' young friend, Jack Freas, (15) embarked on another bike trip. Lyle’s parents, Tom and Joanne Turner, came for support. It was the first bike trip for all the children. They rode 200 miles on the Great Allegheny Passageway and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath from Belle Vernon, PA to Williamsport, MD. It was a mini-version of their cross-country trip, averaging about 40 miles a day. The trip was mostly flat and sunny, but, not unlike the trip across country, there were a couple of unexpected climbs, a few flat tires and wrong turns, one or two scrapes and scratches, and, of course, some rain and one very muddy day on unpaved trail. The Turners live in Cleveland, OH, the Regans live in Branford, CT, and Greg lives in West Hartford.

1990s

Irene O’Conner ’85 was honored by her colleagues with a 50th Birthday Parade July 24, 2017. NWC cheerleaders participated in the parade.

George Kurland Sadler ’85 was coronated in January 2016 to Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33rd Degree as a Scottish Rite Mason.

Anu Boswell Garrity ’90 was selected as the Randolph Elementary Teacher of the Year for the 2016-17 school year. Randolph is part T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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of Katy Independent School District in Katy, TX where she teaches kindergarten. She has lived in Katy for the past 15 years with her husband John and four children Keelin (17), Aidan (15), Mairin (14), and Reece (13).

Jeff Przech ’92 recently finished recording his second album, his first with his backing band The Outfit. Jeff hopes to have limited copies of the new record Jeff Przech & The Outfit by Thanksgiving with a formal release in early 2018. Jeff’s first record is still available for download on iTunes and Bandcamp and for streaming on Spotify. You can find out more at www.jeffprzech.com or at www. facebook.com/jeffprzech.

Camella “Camie" Beebe Mollica ’94 and her seven year old daughter started an organization called Bianca’s Bumblebees.

Bianca has been collecting new and homemade blankets and hats for patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Camie and her daughter have teamed up with the athletic department from Central Connecticut State University to help with the collection. So far Bianca has delivered 208 hats, 187 blankets, 13 handkerchiefs, and one really cute headband. She recently received a letter from Senator Chris Murphy commending her for her efforts.

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame He is married and living in Hartford with his wife Catherine and two sons Kannon (4) and Kash (1).

Anne Mastronardi Miller ’98 is excited to be running her portrait photography business full-time after 13 years of working in television production at ESPN. She specializes in maternity, newborn, and family photography and dedicates her craft to tapping into the longevity of family roots. Anne has loved being able to photograph several NWC alumni families including Tim Cloud ’96, Mary Turbert Roberts ’96 and Nigel Roberts ’98, Kelly Carpenter Habif ’99, Courtney Jason Driesch ’99, Marybeth Slavin Reiss ’99, Melissa Delligan Bambery ’01, and Mike Spalla ’02. You can view more of her work at www.annemillerphotographer.com. Anne lives in West Hartford with her husband Justin and is always excited to connect with NWC families!

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Meredith Neumann ’02 is the Director of the Connecticut Children's Chorus (CCC).

She is a proud alumnus of the CCC and her choirs have performed throughout the country. She is also an active presenter and festival choir conductor in the Northeast.

Meredith holds a MA in music education from the Hartt School, where she studied choral conducting.

Katie E. Thorner ’03 earned her Phd in educational leadership and administration from the University of Hartford in May 2017. Her dissertation and research focused on teacher-mentor programs for newly hired novice and newly hired veteran teachers at independent secondary private schools. Katie has been working at Avon Old Farms School since 2011, teaching Spanish and serving administratively.

Camie Beebe Mollica ’94’s Bianca of Bianca’s Bumblebees with some of the CCSU football players who helped with a recent delivery of goods to CCMC.

Kurt Reis ’97 is a special education teacher at New Britain High School and was recently appointed to be the school’s varsity boys’ basketball coach. Kurt is in his 11th year of teaching and was the varsity boy’s basketball coach at Hartford Public from 2006-2017.

Kurt was recently inducted into the NWC

Jourdan Smith ’01 has been working in Tokyo, Japan as Amazon.com's global creative director of fashion. In Japan Jourdan delivered his design vision for 2018. He did the same in Italy and China this past summer. Jourdan has also sold a portion of his Chicago based company emitips LLC (touchscreen compatible fabric). Jourdan's other Connecticut based, handmade shoe company The Brothers Crisp has gained more celebrity clients with the addition of Big Boi of Outkast and Killer Mike of Run The Jewels.

Marsha E. Barrett PhD ’01 recently accepted an assistant professor position in the history department at the University of Illinois. Dr. Barrett received her BA in history from Yale University and her PhD in history from Rutgers. Her research interests include US history, African American history, and policy history.

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Ana Cecilia Cantú Félix ’04 graduated from law school in Mexico in 2012, was married in 2013, and had a baby in April 2017. During all this time, Ana continued her figure skating. She’s been taking students to international events since 2011. She started the first Mexican synchronized skating team and has taken them to the World Championships on four occasions between 2013-2016. Ana is the Directora General de Deportes de la Pista de Hielo Ice Complex in Los Treviño, Santa Catarina N.L. México.

Kate Williamson ’08 earned her PhD in May in educational psychology with a concentration in school psychology from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.

Fran Rogers ’04 debuted as a featured vocalist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at this year’s opening night with Fredericka (Flicka) von Stade in a small role as one of the dos señores in I Am Easily Assimilated from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide under the baton of Andris Nelsons. He also recently made his Boston Symphony Hall solo debut. Fran sings regularly for Boston sports teams and made his debut on national TV on Monday Night Football last season for the Patriots with 12.5 million people watching. He was on national TV again this season during week three. He continues to sing opera around the region and works with the BSO on the administrative side as a Major Gifts Officer.

Margaret Molloy ’07 is teaching fifth grade English at Excel Chelsea in Chelsea, MA and is living in Brookline. After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in 2011, Margaret taught English at Connelly Middle School of the Holy Child in Manhattan for three years. In May of 2015, she received her MA in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. In addition to teaching elementary school in Chelsea, she coaches cross country.

Kerry Bannon Garofalo ’04 was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Development at the Connecticut Humane Society, where she and her team manage the annual giving, e-philanthropy, and marketing programs. Kerry recently celebrated her fifth wedding anniversary with her husband Eric.

They live in downtown Mystic and invite anyone to be in touch when they’re in town!

Kate Williamson ’08 at her graduation with her PhD from UConn with Patrick Williamson ’99, Meghan Williamson Lawson ’03, and brother-in-law Nick Lawson.

2010s Mara Case ’11 is currently enrolled at Notre Dame Law School with an expected graduation date of 2020. Go Irish!

Mara Case (third from right) with law school friends.

Mike Golic Jr. ’08 is joining a new morning show on ESPN radio that will launch in November. The show will feature his father Michael Golic Sr., a co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike and a former National Football League defensive lineman, and Trey Wingo, a co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter, as well as co-host of NFL Live. The new show featuring Mike Jr. will run Monday through Friday 6-10am EST. Mike will continue to host his own show First & Last from 4-6am before joining Golic & Wingo from 6-7am.

Mike Golic Jr. ’08 was a member of an alumni panel that spoke at last year’s NWC President’s Reception for accepted students.

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Jenny M. Garcia ’11 graduated from the Hartford Police Academy Basic Training Class of 2017 in September and is serving as a Hartford Police Officer.

Three NWC alumni were at Hartford City Hall to celebrate Jenny M. Garcia ’11’s graduation from the Hartford Police Academy Basic Training. NWC Religion teachers Teresa Giegel Bournique ’84 (left) and Deacon Richard Santos ’82 (right) and Deacon’s wife Renee Roberts Santos ’81

Katherine Molloy ’11 graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in 2015 with a BS in biology and a minor in philosophy. She is a research assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital’s Virus and Virology department in Boston. She lives in the North End.

they are now a team of six (plus a student intern), launching their initial product release this fall.

They’ve created a collaborative construction project management solution called ProjectXR, which uses the Microsoft Hololens mixed reality headset to let stakeholders using any device communicate with project managers wearing the headset by seeing through their eyes and sharing annotations, documentation, and other critical information through holograms. A.J. writes, “It has been a thrilling and challenging year, and every day I draw on the values of ethics, accountability, and personal excellence instilled in me at NWC.” To learn more about A.J.’s startup, visit www.imajion.com.

Matthew Laffin ’13 graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a BS in finance.

Thomas James “T.J.” Lowe ’13 gave the Student Commencement Address for the Ringling College of Art and Design Class of 2017. T.J. is pursuing a career in graphic design and animation.​

Sadie Martinez-Clavijo ’13 competed in May with the University of the Cumberlands golf team in the the 2017 NAIA National Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Sadie shot 88 (+16) in the final round for a total of 271 (+55) for a 90th place finish. Sadie graduated with a BA in criminal justice in the spring and currently works at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston.

Anna Case ’15 is opening the fall term abroad with Colgate University's London Economics Study Group where she is taking classes and completing an internship at a local non-profit organization.

Excerpt from his graduation speech:

Jessica Fontaine ’13 was named 2016 Female College Player of the Year by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association.

Do not lay down and follow blindly those with the loudest voices. Question the​​future, and push back against those that​t​hink our best days are behind us. There’s a quote that​​is often attributed to Henry Ford, but there’s no evidence he ever said it. However, it is a quote​​that I think is important. It goes,“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said​​faster horses.”

Going forward, make faster horses, but watch out — the car will quickly overtake​​you, and horses don’t have rear view mirrors, only blinders.”

Adrian “A.J.” Hatch ’13 graduated from Syracuse a year early as one of the 12 2016 University scholars. Last fall he helped cofound a tech startup in Syracuse with two local U.S. army veterans. The company is called Imajion and

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Anna Case ’15 (center) with friends at the Tate Modern Museum in London.

Stay in the loop!

Update your email and mailing address with Jane Leary: JLeary@nwcath.org.

ALUMNI NEWS

FROM OUR BEGINNING

by Thomas G. McGuire ’67

Thomas G. McGuire ’67 caddied for 13 years at Wampanoag Country Club and was one of the lucky few who watched the high school being built from the ground up. Take a stroll down Memory Lane with Tom and read about life at NWC from the beginning.

During the 1950s Interstate 84 was constructed through Hartford, West Hartford, and beyond. Living on Wedgwood Road in the south end of West Hartford, I had a great view of the activity and heard those huge earth movers go back and forth for many months. During that time another construction endeavor came to life: the building of three new Catholic high schools — East, South, and our Northwest.

I caddied at Wampanoag Country Club for 13 years, from the age of 10 to 22, and also had a great view of the construction of my eventual high school, which opened in the fall of ’61. Only one new class started, each year, so the first graduating class of ’65 had the whole building to themselves. Once the class of ’68 entered we had a full school, which I think totaled around 1,200 students.

Right from the beginning it was so exciting and interesting going to school with so many students from many different parishes. There were some old friends who entered with us as freshmen, but many new friends too. And we all marched into the future together.

Our first principal was Fr. Bradford Colton, a fine, educated man and well-known disciplinarian. We had two vice principals, Sr. Theresa Miriam, who was even more of a disciplinarian, and Fr. William O’Keefe, another fine person. Most of our teachers were Dominican nuns, and they lived in the convent next door to the school with the nuns

who taught at St. Timothy’s Grammar School across the street. The Mother Superior was a wonderful woman, Sr. Delores, who was also our music teacher.

Our major fundraiser every year was the magazine drive. All of us had to do our best to sell magazine subscriptions to our families, friends, and neighbors. Each class chose a theme song, a popular song from the era, and the class that brought in the most sales, each day, had its song play on the intercom during class changes. The seniors had the first choice of a song, then the juniors, and so on. Obviously we hated hearing “Hang on Sloopy” because it wasn’t our class song, so we did our best to collect as many subscriptions as we could.

Our first varsity sports teams (all boys) were football, basketball, baseball, and track.

Walter Stousy and Charlie Larson were the boys’ gym teachers. Walter coached football (“with an iron fist”) and Charlie, who I think eventually became one of our vice principals, coached basketball and baseball. I don’t recall who coached track (Sorry, Coach!) There were cheerleaders coached by the girls’ gym teacher, Mrs. Halloway, for football and basketball seasons. These teachers and coaches were fine, hard working people who gave it their all.

In the fall of ’66, we added the first NWC marching band, which performed at football games. I had the honor of being the first president of the NWC band and orchestra.

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c. 1965

In the fall of ’66 we named our first football field “Father’s Field” and invited Sacred Heart in Waterbury to be our opponent after the dedication. My uncle Fr. John Blanchfield was Sacred Heart’s principal and a well known and respected priest in the Waterbury diocese.

I remember being so excited at the prospect of beating “The Hearts” but also remember getting beaten badly by their talented team.

The winter of ’67 we got a bit of revenge when Sacred Heart brought their eventual state championship basketball team to NWC and were taken into overtime and beaten thanks to Dick Fairbrother ’70’s winning shot.

Sacred Heart lost only three basketball games that year and one of them was to us. (My uncle never got over it.)

In ’67 we performed the school’s first musical, The Music Man. Thanks to Sr. Elizabeth Seton and Sr. Delores, we secured the original backdrop and costumes from the original Broadway production of that famous musical.

Sr. Elizabeth was in charge of the acting (She had Broadway experience prior to entering the convent.), Sr. Delores was in charge of music, and Dan Carney was in charge of the barbershop quartet. (I was in the first class that Dan Carney ever taught and we were all fortunate to benefit from his teaching talent.)

It was during this exciting time that I met my future wife, Nancy Tantalo-McGuire ’68, who played the part of Alma Hicks, a “picka-little woman” in the show. I did all the LOGOS

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percussion work and made the sounds of the train and Wells Fargo Wagon. We performed the musical seven times and were reviewed by some Broadway critics, who wrote that it was one of the finest high school productions of The Music Man they had even seen.

Right from the beginning there was always a great sense of pride being a Northwest Catholic Indian. One by one the boys, in particular, were able to obtain those green and white NWC jackets, which were purchased at Herb’s Sports Shop, and worn so proudly around our communities. We also had great pride in competing against East Catholic and South Catholic, our obvious rivals. I remember busloads of students going to Mt. Nebo Field in Manchester to see our football team lose (unfortunately!) to East. But I also remember Luther Christi ’65, a huge lineman for NWC, push an opposing lineman right down the field just like in the scene from The Blind Side. And who could forget Billy Mullady ’66 and all his tremendous performances in all three original varsity sports? We’ve had so many great teams and athletes over the years, but those first years, given our lack of facilities, and equipment were really special.

NWC WEDDINGS Mary Catherine Muccio ’79 and Louis Fort were married August 28, 2017. The couple lives in Somersworth, NH. Owen Davis ’00 and Melanie Laramie married October 7, 2017 in Worcester, MA.

O’Leary Maloney ’95, Niamh O’Leary ’99, and Mary Kate Sitarz ’99.

At the wedding they had a NWC concert choir reunion! The bride’s old choir mates sang an a capella song during the Mass: Mary Kate Sitarz ’99, Susan Poirier Zybert ’99, Niamh O’Leary ’99, and Liz Kelly Harvatine ’98.

Patrick Skahill ’02 married Sara Moore in May 2017. Patrick works as a reporter at WNPR in Hartford, covering science and the environment. His work is nationally featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace.

Patrick and Sara just bought their first house. Their cat is slowly adjusting.

The NWC alumni at the reception made a human pyramid! From top to bottom: Brian DeConti ’00, Jessica DeLeon ’03 (left), Melissa DeLeon Foryan ’02 (right), Owen Davis ’00 (left), Emily Phillips Gordon ’02 (middle), and Nate Davis ’97 (right) Tom McGuire ’67 (second from left) at the NWC senior prom 1967 with his future wife Nancy ’68, Rose Corsillo Ziegler ’67, and Rose’s date.

Writing this piece has been fun. I’ve enjoyed strolling down Memory Lane. This special experience, the Northwest Catholic experience, will always have a special place in my heart and in my life. NWC has been such a special place right from the first day I saw those bulldozers across the street from the golf course. That construction led to so many unforgettable moments in the lives of so many of us. As one of our original school songs said, “Hartford named her and West Hartford claimed her, our Northwest Catholic High.”

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Keara O’Leary ’00 married Dennis O’Leary (No, that’s not a mistake—they have the same last name!) August 7, 2017.

The couple was married in St. Columba’s Church, Ballyduff, County Wexford, Ireland. Dennis was born and raised in Dysart, County Clare, Ireland. The couple lives in Yonkers, NY. The bridal party included NWC graduates: Miriam T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Jacquilynn “Jackie” Ozark ’03 and Matthew Mangene married August 26, 2017. To honor her father who passed in 2015, the wedding was held on his birthday.

ALUMNI NEWS

Maria Carpenter ’04 married Alex Bertran Saturday, October 22, 2016 at St Joseph’s Church in Newport, RI. Maria graduated from Fordham University and is now studying at Hartford Seminary to become a chaplain.

They are living in New London, CT.

Kaitlin Olson Cuas ’05 married Marco Cuas September 2016 and welcomed their fist baby Alexander Cuas this September.

Kaitlin works as a care transitions nurse at Hartford Healthcare at Home. The couple lives in Newington.

Tyler Gualtieri ’06 and Joanna Timmons married on Cape Cod in July. Many NWC alumni were present. Michael Gualtieri ’04 (best man), his sister Ali Gualtieri ’09 (bridesmaid). Anthony Mascolo ’06, John Scurlock ’06, Michael Bourdon ’07, and Jon Larocque ’06 were groomsmen. NWC faculty member Mr. Paul Fitzpatrick read the first reading of the Mass. Invited guests included John Vaughn ’06, Alaina Tosatti ’06, Kate Masciocchi Scurlock ’06, Pete Andruszkiewicz ’06, his mother Danielle Schiffer Andruzskiewicz ’77, and Anthony Donatelli ’76. Following a reception dinner at the Wychmere in Harwich, MA, the couple left for a two week honeymoon in Italy.

From left to right: Michael Gualtieri ’04, Michael Bourdon ’07, Jon Scurlock ’06, Tyler Gualtieri ’06, Jon Laroque ’06, Anthony Mascolo ’06, NWC teacher Paul Fitzpatrick

From left to right: Elizabeth Carpenter Brantley ’96 (matron of honor), Elise Tosatti ’04 (bridesmaid), Alexis Randazzo Sheldon, member of the class of ’04, Maria Carpenter Bertran ’04, J.K. Vaughn ’06, Alaina Tosatti ’06, and Nathalie Hacken ’96

Maura Conway ’06 and David Johnson were married at the Riverview in Simsbury in June 2016.

Tyler Gualtieri ’06 and NWC teacher Paul Fitzpatrick

Mark Filomeno ’04 and Sandra Tokic were married September 17, 2016 at the Church of St. Peter Claver in West Hartford, followed by a reception at the Farmington Club.

Joseph Filomeno ’06, Alex Filomeno ’10, Michael Lombardi ’03, Daniel Luddy ’03, Sandra Tokic Filomeno, Mark Filomeno ’04, Nicholas Filomeno ’08, Christopher Filomeno ’08 Front row left to right: Sean Halloran ’04, Madelyn Filomeno ’09

Sarah D’Addabbo ’06 and James Rocco were married September 16, 2017 in Farmington with the reception at Shuttle Meadow Country Club in Kensington.

The couple met at Quinnipiac Law School.

Maureen Spalluto ’06 and Maura Conway ’06 were bridesmaids.

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Andrew Selig ’06 and Elizabeth Demaria Selig were married July 2, 2017.

Katherine Murphy Sullivan ’07 and Mike Sullivan married at St. Patrick St. Anthony Church July 15, 2017. Kate’s best friends from NWC, Maeve Daly ’07 and Deirdre Graham Kennedy ’07, were bridesmaids.

Taylor Selig ’12, TJ Selig ’77, Elizabeth (Demaria) Selig, Andrew Selig ’06, Lori Selig, and Ryan Selig ’08. The wedding party included NWC alumni Daniel Luddy ’03 and Michael Ciparelli ’06.

Brooke Denver Brigham ’09 married Cody Brigham June 18, 2016 in Stockbridge, MA with a reception at Gedney Farm in New Marlborough. Brooke’s sister Jacqueline Denver ’14 was in the wedding party and is currently a senior at Iona College working toward her degree in biochemistry. Brooke graduated from Anna Maria College with a BA in business administration in 2013 and an MBA from the same school in 2014.

Brooke is currently a career and academic advisor and head field hockey coach at Anna Maria College.

Alumni proudly hold the NWC banner at Katherine Murphy Sullivan ’07 and Mike Sullivan’s wedding.

Jack Murphy ’11, Jane Leary, NWC staff, Deirdre Graham Kennedy ’07, Jim Leary ’65, Mike Sullivan, Kate Murphy ’07, Thomas Murphy ’13, Maura WalshO’Brien ’67, and Bridget Daly ’10.

Deirdre R. Graham ’07 married Shane Kennedy June 24, 2017 in Newport, RI. Maeve Daly ’07 and Katherine Murphy ’07. The bride’s siblings Neville Graham ’06, Maura Graham ’09, Patrick Graham ’11, and Brennan Graham ’12 were also in the bridal party.

Erica Stewart ’07 was married October 1, 2016 on the Connecticut River with Lady Katharine Cruises. Kelsey Brick Meczywor ’07, Elizabeth Conway Chatterjee ’07, and Kate Flaherty ’07 were all at the wedding.

Erica is the campus minister for community service and partnerships at Stonehill College, her alma mater, class of 2011.

Brooke Denver Brigham ’09 and her cousin Celina Marquis ’08, NWC faculty, at Brooke’s summer wedding.

Molly McCormack Spolarich ’07 and Phil Spolarich were married July 15, 2017 at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford followed by a reception at the Simsbury Inn. From left to right: Noreen Daly Cavanaugh ’78, Mark Molloy ’77, Jean Donnelly Molloy ’78, Katherine Molloy ’11, Liam Cronin ’07, Siobhan Danahey ’07, Phil Spolarich, Molly McCormack Spolarich ’07, Patrick McCormack ’15, Meghan McCormack ’08, Kathleen McCormack ’12, Emma Higgins McGlynn ’08, Cathleen Collins ’12, and Sarah Clark ’07.

REUNIONS 2018 If you graduated from NWC in a year ending in 3 or 8, your reunion year is 2018!

We know each class likes to celebrate in its own way. In the past NWC alums have held reunions with a variety of events, such as lunch, dinner, or cocktail party at a restaurant or classmate’s home.

The class of 1968 will celebrate its 50th Class Reunion Saturday, June 2, 2018.

Class reunions are planned by members of the class. If you would like more information or would like to plan your reunion, please contact: Jane Leary, Director of Constituent Relations, at 860-236-4221 ext. 131 or JLeary@nwcath.org

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NWC BABIES Daniel Avery ’97 and his wife Sara, both teachers at NWC, welcomed twin girls June 5, 2017. Beatrice and Ruby joined older siblings Charlie and Penny.

Andrew Velazquez ’05 and his wife Holly Fredrickson welcomed a daughter, Virginia Holly Velazquez, September 8, 2017.

Meghan Kiley Cleckler ’07 and her husband Blake welcomed their second son, Conan Laine Cleckler on November 16, 2016. Conan joins big brother Cason.

Had a baby? Get a bib!

Request your bib from Jane Leary at JLeary@nwcath.org.

Recently married?

We’d love to include your photo in a future issue of Logos.

Send a photo of your wedding or baby (in a NWC bib, if you’d like!) to Maureen Scudder at MScudder@nwcath.org.

Joseph Scott Guilmartin III ’03 and his wife Nicole welcomed Joseph Scott Guilmartin IV on May 18, 2017. J. Scott Guilmartin ’74 is the proud grandpa! Joe and his family live in Somerville, MA where he is a commercial banker at Bank of America.

Former Principal of NWC Serving in Honduras Sr. Doris Regan is working with prisoners and people with HIV/AIDS in San Pedro Sula, Hondurus. San Pedro Sula is considered the capital of HIV/AIDS cases in Central America. The Casa Aurora AIDS Center offers a support groups and workshops that help families cope with the disease. If you would like to learn more about the work of Sr. Doris Regan and the Dominican Sisters of Peace, please visit: h t t p s : //o p p e a c e .o r g /m i n i s t r i e s/ overseas-missions/

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MARRIED COUPLES WHO MET AT NWC Kathleen Kelly Satut ’68 and Miguel Satut ’68

Ellie Foley Sonski ’75 and Alex Sonski ’74

Ernest Omar Wilson ’90 and Jennifer Bucchiere Wilson ’98

Peter Van Schaack ’81 and Jeanne Murray Van Schaack ’83

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Kelly Lewis Harrigan ’98 and Joe Harrigan Sr. ’96

ALUMNI NEWS James Prignano ’01 and Marcia Minto Prignano ’02

Mary Turbert Roberts ’96 and Nigel Roberts ’98 Meredith Moore Jefski ’96 and James Jefski ’95

Tom McGuire ’67 and Nancy TantaloMcGuire ’68 Marc Pericolosi ’98 and Christine Prince Pericolosi ’96

Where it all began!

Tim McDonnell ’86 and Laura Ginnetti McDonnell ’86 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

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South Catholic’s Les Childs Memorial Concert The Les Childs Memorial Concert was held November 25, 2016 in NWC’s Mortensen Theater. Les Childs was an iconic music teacher at South Catholic High School who touched the lives of many students while helping to shape the musical careers of dozens more. Les passed away in 1999. His charismatic persona was remembered in a special way last fall as past members of the SCHS Glee Club, Choralaires, and Swing Choir came together to sing some of Les’ favorite songs. This special event was free, but guests were invited to make a donation to the Rev. Henry Frascadore/South Catholic High Scholarship Fund in Les’ memory.

Northwest Catholic continues to warmly embrace the South Catholic community. If you have questions about how you can help strengthen the South Catholic-Northwest Catholic connection, please contact Fran Laffin at FLaffin@nwcath.org.

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IN MEMORIAM Northwest Catholic extends its prayers and sympathies to the families of those in our community who passed away during the 2016-2017 school year.

Please send newspaper obituaries to Jane Leary at JLeary@nwcath.org, and please notify MScudder@nwcath.org of any error or omissions.

Alumni Brian Broderick ’88, brother of Maureen Broderick ’90 and the late Patrick Broderick ’86.

Clara Deena Neptin Brown ’84, sister of Catherine Neptin ’83.

Sara G. Grady Corcoran ’78, sister of Brendan Grady ’81 and Margaret Grady McCrudden ’84; sister-in-law of Peggy Keefe Grady ’83; aunt of William Grady ’09.

Eugene “Gene” Patrick Cronin ’73, brother of Daniel Cronin ’69 and Timothy Cronin ’72.

Vivian C. Dawson ’86.

Kathleen A. Fitzgerald ’77, sister of Colleen Fitzgerald ’85 and the late Mary Fitzgerald Bodkin ’80.

Ann C. Fogarty ’67, sister of Mary Chiarillo Controvillas ’72 and Barbara Chiarillo D’Amore ’69.

Diane Boisevert Henahan ’66.

Sister Mary Norman Joseph CLHC (formerly Elizabeth Woodend) ’65, sister of Mary Woodend Dupuis ’69.

George Osgood ’68, brother of Norene Osgood Haley ’65 and Valerie Osgood Carrier ’74.

John P. Scully ’73, brother of Sr. Theresina Scully, C.P. ’66.

Eileen Marie Duffy Warren ’85, sister of Leonard Duffy ’86.

Helen B. Bassano, mother of John Bassano ’79, Cathy Bassano Pearce ’80, and Matthew Bassano ’83.

Pauline Desaulniers Bisson, mother of Jacqueline Bisson Gustafson ’75, Thomas Bisson ’78, Paul Bisson ’79, and Donald Bisson ’80.

Kevin J. Flaherty, uncle of Noelle Bellefleur ’08; sister of Tara Bellefleur, Principal of St. Timothy Middle School.

Carol A. Brosmith, grandmother of Keenan Brosmith ’20.

John Leonard Flannery, father of John Flannery ’79.

Gene F. Bruyette, father of Michelle Bruyette Melander ’73.

Lena Fusick, grandmother of Jeffrey Fusick ’03 and Kevin Fusick ’05.

Barbara Jackson Campbell, grandmother of Lauren Contenta ’16.

Helen Puchkoris Gostyla, mother of Nancy Gostyla ’70; grandmother of Heather Gostyla Fusick ’05 and Ashley Gostyla ’08.

Edward J. Casey, uncle of Brian Casey ’94 and Beth Casey Boyle ’96, NWC staff member.

Anthony C. Chapell, grandfather of Chris Chapell ’17 and Nella Chapell ’19.

Dr. Francis T. Curis, father of Catherine Curis ’79, Patrcia Curis ’83, and Robert Curis ’85.

John J. Daly Jr., father of John Daly ’74, Patrick Daly ’78, and Mary Elizabeth Daly White ’81; grandfather of Sarah White ’09.

Margaret Salkeld Danaher, mother of Neil Danaher ’65, James Danaher ’67, Anne Danaher Connelly ’70, and Margaret Danaher Garikes ’77; mother-in-law of Eileen Kelly Danaher ’66.

Frederick "Rick" Wasilausky Jr. ’72, brother of Wendy Wasilausky Borawski ’74.

Current & Alumni Friends & Family

George David Jr., grandfather of Meghan O’Shea ’19.

Philip Charles Armetta, grandfather of Nicholas Armetta ’12, Alessandra Armetta ’14, Christopher Armetta ’14, Peter Armetta ’14, Kirsten Armetta ’17, and Emily Armetta ’21.

Donald Francis Fenton, father of Mary Kay Fenton ’82, James Fenton ’85, Maureen Fenton ’88, and Donna Fenton Aquino ’88.

Donald Andrew Brewer, father of Colleen Brewer Moore ’80 and former NWC football coach.

Robert Cornelius Danaher, father of Neil Danaher ’65, James Danaher ’67, Anne Danaher Connelly ’70, and Margaret Danaher Garikes ’77; father-in-law of Eileen Kelly Danaher ’66.

Teresa L. Annulli, mother of Richard Annulli ’73.

Gail Hafner Fairbairn, mother of Stacey Fairbairn-Sweeney ’86; grandmother of Jonathan Olszewski ’08, Emily Olszewski ’10, and Elizabeth Olszewski ’11.

Anna C. Filomeno DiCiccio, grandmother of Paige DiCiccio ’20; aunt of Tom Filomeno and Dan Filomeno, former NWC board members; great aunt of Mark Filomeno ’04, Joe Filomeno ’06, Chris Filomeno ’08, Nick Filomeno ’08, Madelyn Filomeno ’09, and Alex Filomeno ’10.

Myla Matilda (Mehr) Egan, mother of Peter Egan ’71 and Bill Egan ’76.

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Robert "Bob" Michael Heslin, brother of Patricia Heslin Olsen ’65 and Susan Heslin Quish ’73; brother-in-law of William Quish ’73.

Jo Ann Lassiter Kearns, mother of Ann Ragan Kearns ’09.

Florence Kevorkian, grandmother of Richard Kevorkian ’07, Christopher Kevorkian ’08, and Joseph Kevorkian, member of the class of ’12.

Richard "Dick" Weaver Loomis, grandfather of Andrew Selig ’06, NWC staff member, Ryan Selig ’08, and Taylor Selig ’12; fatherin-law of TJ Selig ’77.

Lucille Mary Cavanaugh McKeeman, grandmother of Tim Bourdon ’03, Peter Bourdon ’05, Michael Bourdon ’07, Thomas Bourdon ’10, and MaryKate Bourdon ’13; grandmother-in-law of Carrie Frederick Bourdon ’03; mother-in-law of Peter Bourdon, former NWC Board Chair Ethel Melanson, mother of Charline Melanson Poirier ’76, Denise Melanson McDonald ’77, Marc Melanson ’78, Robert Melanson ’79, Charles Melanson ’81, Donald Melanson ’84, Andrea Melanson Wlochowski ’85, Paul Melanson ’87, Daniel Melanson ’93; grandmother of Susan Poirier Zybert ’99, Christopher Poirier ’01, Michael Poirier ’03, Michelle Poirier Marchand ’05, Nicole Poirier Levesque ’11, Patrick Melanson ’13, Brendan LOGOS

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IN MEMORIAM

Wlochowski ’18, Declan Wlochowski ’20, Anna Melanson ’20, Connor Melanson ’21, and Aidan Wlochowski ’21.

Joseph J. Vitali, grandfather of Sam Frasco ’10, Nate Frasco ’13, Serena Frasco ’15, and Julia Frasco ’18.

Denis F. Mullane, father of Gerard Mullane ’76 and Denise Mullane ’79; grandfather of Daniel Mullane, member of the class of ’03 and Molly Mullane, member of the class of ’09.

Michelangelo "Mike" Zullo, brother of Toni Zullo Carreira ’79; uncle of Kristina Carreira ’07 and Sabrina Carreira ’15.

William F. Murphy Jr., grandfather of Javier Bello ’17, Maggie Bello ’18, and Luke Bello ’20.

Lois Meyer, mother of Eric Meyer ’66.

Eileen J. Newcomb, mother of Barbara Newcomb ’71, Mark Newcomb ’75, and Jeanne Newcomb McGeehin ’77.

Stephen O’Brien, brother of Bobbie O’Brien Stimpson ’73.

Jon Omichinski, father of John-Paul Omichinski ’01, Zachary Omichinski ’08, and Anya Omichinski ’13.

Beth Ellen Preissner Page, sister of Mark Preissner ’74, Mary Preissner Fuller ’74, and Lauren Preissner Roche ’78.

Vytautas Pileika, father of Victor Pileika ’74 and Rimos Pileika ’77.

John Joseph Quinn, father of John Quinn ’74, Maureen Quinn Tarca ’76, Eileen Quinn Brown ’78, Kevin Quinn ’80, and Kathleen Quinn Votaw ’84; father-in-law of Ellen Schiffer Quinn ’74.

Kevin-Shawn Andre (S. A.) Russell, brother of Kadian Russell-Forbes ’00.

Nancy Saeger, grandmother of Jack Carew ’16.

Walter Schawiak, father of Alex Schawiak ’05.

Elaine Claire Bessette Smith, grandmother of Mark Adanti ’13 and Michael Adanti, member of the class of ’15; mother of Sarah Adanti, East Catholic Director of Advancement.

Mark A. R. Smith, husband of Judith Chambers-Smith ’82; father of Simone Smith ’14; stepfather of Gregory Chambers ’05.

Faculty, Staff, Administration Mollie (Hyman) Bornstein, mother of NWC nurse Beth Bornstein.

Ann Marie (Fitzgerald) Dombroskas, worked as a nurse at NWC. Richard C. Elliott Sr., father of NWC athletic trainer Brian Elliot.

Helen V. McKeon, mother-in-law of Joan Keating-McKeon, NWC faculty member; grandmother of Keating McKeon ’08.

Patrick J. McKeon III, brother-in-law of Joan Keating-McKeon, NWC faculty member; uncle of Keating McKeon ’08.

Gloria E. (Hedblom) McNally, mother-in-law of Rosemary McNally, former NWC faculty member.

Thomas Patrick Prendergast Sr., brother-inlaw of Lynn Prendergast, NWC staff member.

Joan Couzens Sauer, mother-in-law of John Cusson, former NWC administrator.

Corrections to Logos 2015-2016 Edwin G. Devine was the father of Lorrie Devine ’70.

Phyllis Sachs Katz was grandmother to Michael Rossler ’19 and Drew Rossler ’19.

Dolores “Dorie” Zingle Sopelak was grandmother of Anne Edmonds Sopelak ’78 and grandmother of Mary Sopelak ’09.

Eulalia Anne “Anne” Gloekler was mother of Ellen Gloekler Murphy ’78.

We are sorry for the errors.

John "Jack" Spalluto, brother-in-law of Ellen Fox Spalluto ’77; uncle of Maureen Spalluto ’06, Carolyn Spalluto ’08, and Caitlin Spalluto ’12.

Julia DeFrino Sponzo, grandmother of Kerry Kearney ’12, Nicholas Kearney ’13; motherin-law of Kevin Kearney ’78.

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T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

Northwest Catholic faces our second half century with justified enthusiasm. The history of its first 50 years of accomplishments is exceptional. Graduates of our school have achieved notable success and leadership in education, religious life, business, military service, law, medicine, and other fields.

They have also given back generously to support their school’s mission. The 1961 Society is established to encourage future support of Northwest Catholic through planned gifts to increase endowment. This effort assures a continued

strong financial future and allows us to provide financial aid to deserving students, as well as keeping future costs of a Northwest Catholic education as manageable as possible.

Below is a list of current members of the society. We would be pleased to learn of others who may have made this provision, or are considering it. Please contact Pat Walsh, Director of Advancement, at 860-236-4221, ext. 138 or PWalsh@nwcath.org. You can also inform us directly at NorthwestCatholic.org/The1961SocietyEnrollment.

MEMBERS OF THE 1961 SOCIETY Theresa Notte Becker ’76 and Clint Becker(AP) Drs. Catherine Foley Bodak-Gyovai ’65 and Levente Bodak-Gyovai Phil Bonee ’72 and Valerie Bonee (AP) +Clarence Bourret (AP) Timothy F. Bourret ’73 +Maureen Dennehy (Former Faculty) Rev. Henry C. Frascadore (Former President) Karen L. Fritsche (Friend)

Frank Genovese ’65 and Susan Genovese +Rev. Leonard T. Goode (Friend) Kevin Grenham ’78 and Beth Grenham (AP) +Martha Johnson (Friend) Philip F. and Susan Kelly (AP) (GP) Jean Lam (Friend) William Murphy ’67 and Katherine Murphy Jane Z. Reardon (AP) (Former Faculty Spouse) +Anne F. Satriano (Friend)

+Francine M. Sider (AP) Dennis P. Sullivan (AP) +William C. Sullivan (Friend) Ronald E. Swanson (Faculty) +Elizabeth P. Sweeney (Friend) Colby and Anita Thresher (AP)

+ Denotes Deceased

TIMOTHY F. BOURRET ’73 From the time I was eight years old I wanted to go to the University of Notre Dame. My dad graduated from Notre Dame in 1948, and I grew up in Fighting Irish gear. In the summer of 1966, we took a trip to South Bend, and the moment they let me sit in Ara Parseghian’s chair, I was hooked.

To get to Notre Dame my parents felt the best course was a quality Catholic education, and I agreed with them. I went to grammar school at St. Brigid in Elmwood and then to Northwest Catholic High School.

My four years at Northwest Catholic prepared me in every way to succeed at Notre Dame. NWC provided an environment where most of my fellow students were on the path to college, and that common goal led to a strong work ethic. I felt I was not in this pursuit T H E M A G A Z I N E O F N O R T H W E S T C AT H O L I C

alone. Northwest Catholic also promoted community service and stressed the importance of a well-rounded educational experience. That meant involvement in extracurricular activities. For me, that meant athletics.

For the past 40 years I have been the sports information director at Clemson University. We have had a few students from Northwest Catholic come to Clemson and meeting them tells me NWC still has the same ideals it had when I was there, and the school continues to provide great preparation for the college experience and beyond.

I will always look fondly on my years at Northwest Catholic and continue to have an appreciation for what the school has done for me. That is why I continue to support The 1961 Society.

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Northwest Catholic High School 29 Wampanoag Drive West Hartford, CT 06117

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

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HARTFORD, CT PERMIT NO. 246

If you receive a copy of Logos for your son or daughter who has established a separate permanent address, please notify Jane Leary JLeary@nwcath.org or 860-236-4221, ext. 131.

A.C.T.S. 2017

A Chance to Serve

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