The Vector | Summer 2023

Spring/Summer 2023

FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

MISSION STATEMENT

Moreau Catholic High School is dedicated to the legacy and values of the Congregation of Holy Cross and its founder Blessed Basil Moreau. We are a college-preparatory school committed to outstanding achievement. As a community of faith, we prepare our students through academic, social, and spiritual learning experiences that form and transform them as they become responsible citizens of our global community.

The Class of 2023 returned to the Paramount Theatre on Sunday, May 28, 2023, to celebrate graduation.

FEATURES

8

TEDX: THE NEED TO KNOW

TEDxMoreauCatholicHS returned with 18 powerful talks by 21 inspiring seniors.

14

EMPOWERED TO ACHIEVE

Valedictorian, Gabi Diroll ’23, and Salutatorian, Audrey Martin ’23, share a common message about being supported within the Moreau Catholic community to accomplish many achievements.

COVER STORY

16

COMMENCEMENT 2023

25

MAMA HOOD: EDUCATOR, ARTIST

Patrick Alparone ’00 reflects on the immeasurable impact Arlene Hood had on his life.

Congratulations to the graduates! With tenacity and faith, the Class of 2023 rode the waves of their high school experience and move forward with great hope into their very bright futures.

FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

MOREAUCATHOLIC.ORG

Comments or suggestions for The Vector are welcome. Email us at communications@moreaucatholic.org

EDITOR

Dr. Elizabeth Berkes

MAIN CONTRIBUTOR

Toni West DESIGN

Matthew Tominaga

PHOTOGRAPHY

Matthew Tominaga

CONTRIBUTORS

Patrick Alparone ’00

Katherine Cava ’23

Christopher Diaz ’23

Gabrielle Diroll ’23

Erica Escalante

Colleen Galloway ’77

Carson Mandigma ’23

Evan Mao ’19

Audrey Martin ’23

Dr. Kaia Richards ’99

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY

Samuel Barnes ’23

Dominic Earney ’22

Gurshan Singh ’23

Manuel Torres ’24

Zachary Vo ’24

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Mariner Family and Friends,

With gratitude and pride, we celebrate the successful conclusion of another school year. I am in awe of all we have accomplished to continue to demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts here at Moreau Catholic High School, and we are excited to share some highlights with you in this Vector. We commend our extraordinary Class of 2023, and we wish them many blessings as they head out into the world to pursue their passions and make the waves that our world needs. And while we celebrate all of our alumni making a difference in our world, we honor in a special way in this edition our alumni who have chosen to pursue their vocation of teaching right here at home on Mission Boulevard. We are grateful to these alumni and to all of our faculty, staff, coaches, and administrators who have dedicated their lives to the cultivation of minds and hearts. We especially thank God for the gift of Arlene Hood, who passed away this year after sharing over three decades of her life with our students. Her impact— and the impact that all of our educators empower our students to make—is transformational.

With hope, we look forward toward our bright future. Our incredible incoming Class of 2027 is full with a waitlist. We are adding solar panels to our hillside this summer. In addition to reducing our carbon emissions and creating more clean energy, we will be reducing our future electricity bills, advancing our environmental and financial sustainability efforts. We are wrapping up our feasibility study for our new center for Music, Social Justice and Transformation soon. We are excited about all of the positive changes on deck to not just maintain but to grow our academic offerings, co-curricular program, enrollment and campus facilities.

It is a gift to build upon our strong foundation. With our Holy Cross values, our legacy of outstanding achievement, and your support, we move forward with hope into the future. Please stay engaged and join us on this exciting journey ahead.

As I shared with our graduates at our Commencement in the Paramount Theater in Oakland, please remember as you go out and transform our world that it is God’s hand guiding all things. So let God guide, and just add your light. Let it shine brightly, and bring the world hope. We are Mariners, after all, true and proud.

With gratitude and hope,

Dr. Liz Guneratne President

Our dream on deck…

EXTRAORDINARY MARINERS

Carson Mandigma ’23: Cal-Hi Sports Volunteer Recipient

Volunteering is a powerful and transformative way to give back to one’s community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. For me, volunteering was a way to cope with a traumatic event that affected my family.

My family dynamic started to shift when my uncle became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Our family tried to help him out, but he was already in too deep. As it became worse, my family had to distance ourselves from him. I later found out that he became homeless and was living somewhere on the streets. I was always taught to care for others, especially family. I wanted to help him but he didn’t want the help. Growing up, I couldn’t process why he didn’t want the help or how affected he truly was.

As I grew older, I uncovered a new passion for volunteering. My high school brought me and my class over to the Tenderloin district in San Francisco to learn more about the disparities that homelessness and poverty create in a community. I often thought about my uncle and I wanted to give back. As a way to give back, during Covid, we collected over 2,000 winter coats and 1,800 pairs of socks in just two days. We donated the items to Saint Anthony’s Foundation in San Francisco and to an after school program at the Tenderloin Children’s Playground called Up On Top. Through volunteering, I not only feel more connected with my uncle’s experiences, but I am filled with joy knowing that I am able to use my privilege to impact people’s lives for the better.

Published Author

The whole idea about this book of poetry, Because You Told Me to Write, was the belief that everything that happened throughout the four years in high school happened to me so I would have a reason to write. The book speaks to mental wellness and how situations affected my life and my perception of the world. It also mentions relationships in high school and their ups and downs. On my dedications page I thanked four people, two of them being teachers at Moreau: Ms. Thomas and Mr. Spinelli. They have both been inspirations through the drawing or writing process. Ms. Thomas was willing to model for one of my drawings for my poems. She has been an incredible support system. She’s always so amazed by what I draw, and that makes me want to improve my skill further. Mr. Spinelli always reads my poems and tells me his honest opinion about them. He tells me I can find synonyms so there’s less repetition. Sometimes with that feedback, it opens up a whole new world of poems I could write because I suddenly see the situation in a different light. I truly do not think this publication would have happened without Ms. Thomas and Mr. Spinelli.

For college I will be attending Penn State to study creative writing and criminology. I will also be working on a second poetry book and a novel in college that I hope to publish.

Kat Cava ’23: Graduate and

MAKING A GLOBAL DIFFERENCE

Philippines Service Immersion Program (PSIP)

The Philippine Service Immersion Program offers all students an opportunity to travel abroad to help our struggling brothers and sisters in the Philippines. In a country with a prominent poverty rate, students give back to the community by building schools in areas where there is a lack of educational resources. Students experience the pillars of Holy Cross come alive as they are Bringing Hope to future generations and are Being Family to their Filipino brothers and sisters.

24th Annual Holy Cross Immersion

In the beginning of June, Ms. Kristie Alejo ’15 and Mr. Justin Firmeza ’20 took four of the 2023-2023 Campus Ministry Team to the 24th Annual Holy Cross Immersion with our Holy Cross family at Holy Cross, New Orleans. They served at Hagar’s House, a home for women and children who have come from houses with domestic violence. While there, they helped with fundraising and cleaned up their community garden. While visiting their home in Covington, LA, they learned the history of the Marianites of Holy Cross, painted their property, and experienced the vibrant women who continue the mission of Father Moreau. Their last day of service concluded at the Woodland Conservatory, cleaning up a local swamp, and planting trees that will help their wildlife during floods. Each night was filled with prayer, community building, and theological reflection with the other five Holy Cross schools. Next year will be our 25th Anniversary of Holy Cross Immersion and Mariners will continue to expand their impact.

The 2023 Night Market: Celebrating Diversity as One Family

In a community as interconnected as ours, celebrating diversity has become an essential part of our Mariner Mindset and promoting inclusivity, understanding and appreciation. The MCHS Night Market was the culminating event of this year’s Culture Week. Current and future Mariner families joined together to celebrate our diversity. The Night Market is not merely a recognition of the differences that exist among our Mariner community, but also a profound acknowledgement of the inherent value and richness that each unique perspective brings to the tapestry of humanity and to our community.

The MCHS Night Market showed us that we can come together to celebrate the vast cultures and traditions that truly make us unique. From food, dancing, and activities, our Mariner community truly showed what it means to Appreciate Diversity and to celebrate who we are as one family.

1. School: The Little Known Factory

Gursimran Dhindsa

2. My Burnout Needs to Bud-Out

Meghan Freitas

3. Normalize Nonconformity

Jessica Grospe

4. What Could We Do About Poverty?

Pierce Ran

5. Pursuing Your Creative Outlet Can Save Your Life

Amruta Turlapati

6. Find Your “Why”

Aryan Mohindra

7. The Comparison Trap

Anjanae Henry

8. You Learn Differently and That’s Okay

Jonnae Henry

9. 3 Keys to Winning

Toni West, Keynote Speaker

Not Pictured

Wake Up Now: Discovering the Truth

Behind Black Maternal Care

Tabi Aloo, Aymani Bouyer

Inside the Melting Pot

Karina Anthony, Sophia Araujo, Gabi Diroll

The Effects of Words

Katherine Cava

Standarized Testing and Why It Should Be Abolished

Divisha Khanna

A Teenager’s Advice For the 21st Century

Emma Murchison

Empathy and Equity for Diabetes

Isabella Panganiban

Beating Assumptions, Breaking Stereotypes

Delilah Sanchez

FinTech: The Seed for Change

Diya Sridhar

Redirecting the Mental Health Conversation

Hiya Verma

Rightfully Trans

Nicole Westerhoff

Moreau Catholic is proud to be the first in the Bay Area and the only TEDx partner school in the Diocese of Oakland. We are celebrating our sixth year of empowering student speakers to share ideas worth spreading

To watch this year’s talks, please scan the QR code below.

THE CROSS & ANCHORS AWARD

The Cross & Anchors Award was created to honor the outstanding achievement of a person who is not a current student but is, or has been, associated with the school community in a variety of ways. It is awarded periodically in the name of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni of Moreau Catholic High School to honor individuals for their outstanding achievement on behalf of our school. Recipients of the Cross & Anchors Award are noted for their leadership and commitment to our school’s Holy Cross mission. The award is the highest honor Moreau Catholic High School confers upon special friends, patrons, alumni, and benefactors of our school.

At our commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023, we conferred the Cross & Anchors Award on a special person who has served the Moreau Community as a volunteer, trustee, and a true Holy Cross leader: Mr. Rick L’Heureux.

Rick L’Heureux has been an active member of the Mariner family since his eldest daughter, Andrea ’07, became a Mariner in 2003; he continued his involvement when his other children Melissa ’10 and Richard ’12 attended Moreau Catholic. Rick and his wife, Jeannie, dedicated their time, talents, and treasure to Moreau Catholic as they both supported their children’s activities and interests. The entire Mariner family has been blessed by their kindness, generosity, and engagement.

During Rick’s twenty years of service to the school community, he has served faithfully on many committees and is currently finishing his term as the Chair of our Moreau Catholic High School Board of Trustees. His leadership has been unwavering, and his countless hours of volunteerism are appreciated and admired. Rick is known for his steadfast patience and creative leadership; he encourages others to let their light shine and share their gifts with our community. He has been an anchor during times of turbulence and challenge in our world, and he continues to be a beacon of hope as we strive to meet the needs of our current and future students.

I think it’s a consensus that our class had the weirdest high school experience ever. Just as we were getting used to the newly-found freedom of high school, we found ourselves in a global pandemic and were sent home thinking we would soon return. Because of Covid, we spent roughly 38% of high school in front of a screen. A regret I have is treating that 38% like such a big number because complaining about lost time only created more lost time. It was easy to get carried away, but as I began to accept loss and the fact that high school was meant to be temporary, I started to focus my thoughts on self-reflection and how much we’d all grown.

It was like staring at a timeline the first time I opened the Senior Google Folder. Some people looked just like they did when they were fourteen, while others were very different. It was nice to see how much had changed in such a short time, but the growth I’m more interested in came between the piercings, haircuts, and hair dye. Seeing pictures of our first Spirit Week, I remembered the freezing rush of adrenaline the day I performed in our class skit. I also remember that we lost, but that pushed us to rehearse more frequently for dance, to create impressive decorations, and to stay later to set up. Having learned from our mistakes, we were able to win as juniors and as seniors. I also saw pictures of junior retreat and remembered the lessons of dignity and respect for all creation. Somewhere in the mix, I caught glimpses of school dances and sports events. Taking it in, I remembered the conga line at our first Welcome Back Dance, how tired my throat always felt after screaming lyrics, and how competitive we all get whenever a game is surprisingly close. Of all the things I saw in that folder, I can confidently say that the prettiest wasn’t any of the costumes or skylines. It was the pictures where people didn’t look at the camera and captured a random moment as they laughed or yelled or posed. It was breathtaking to see the effortless smiles because after spending so much time wondering what high school could have been like if Covid hadn’t happened, I began to appreciate the experience I did get. I stopped thinking about the 38% of time I “lost” and started living for the other 62% of time so that when it was all over, I could say that I enjoyed 100% of it. And when I broke that 100% down, it was a collection of even more laughs and yells and poses, and each of them was beautiful.

Northern California

CSU East Bay (12)

CSU Fresno (2)

CSU Monterey Bay

CSU Sacramento (7)

Chabot College (16)

City College of San Francisco (3)

College of San Mateo

Cosumnes River College

Las Positas College (2)

Lincoln University

Ohlone College (7)

Saint Mary’s College of CA (5)

San Francisco State University (4)

San Jose State University (20)

Santa Clara University (5)

Sonoma State University (2)

UC Berkeley (5)

UC Davis (9)

UC Merced (3)

UC Santa Cruz (5)

University of San Francisco (4)

University of the Pacific (5)

West Valley College

Nevada

University of Nevada - Las Vegas

University of Nevada - Reno

Southern California

Cal Poly (4)

Cal Poly Pomona (2)

California Baptist University

California Lutheran University

CSU Fullerton (6)

CSU Long Beach (6)

CSU Northridge

Chapman University (2)

Grossmont College

Loyola Marymount University

Orange Coast College

Pepperdine University

Point Loma Nazarene University

Saddleback College

San Diego State University (11)

UC Irvine (4)

UC Los Angeles (3)

UC Riverside (5)

UC San Diego (6)

University of San Diego

University of Southern California (4)

Washington

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Seattle University

Oregon

Southern Oregon University

University of Oregon

University of Portland

Nebraska University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Arizona

Arizona State University - Tempe

Northern Arizona University

Ottawa University - Phoenix

University of Arizona (2)

Hawaiʻi

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2)

Kansas University of Kansas

Michigan Michigan State University (2)

Wisconsin University of Wisconsin - Madison

Canada University of Alberta

Indiana Purdue University - Main Campus

New York

Barnard College

Marymount Manhattan College

New York University

The New School (2)

United States Military Academy at West Point

New Hampshire Dartmouth College

Massachusetts

Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Northeastern University

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State UniversityPenn State Altoona

Maryland Morgan State University

Washington, D.C.

American University

The George Washington University

100% of the Class of 2023 graduated and are heading off to college.

Texas Saint Edward’s University

EMPTYING THE NEST

Class of 2023 goes off to college

EMPOWERED TO ACHIEVE

In their own words

I would like to thank my family for giving me the opportunity to get my education at Moreau Catholic and for always supporting me in all of my endeavors. As a little girl who went to school next door for nine years, I always thought about my high school career. Although my high school experience was not ideal due to COVID, the Moreau community lived up to everything I hoped it would be and more. It has taught me life lessons, while helping me meet my life-long friends. Those friends are some of my number

one supporters and are always there to pick me up. I would like to thank all my mentors, especially Ms. McGowan, who throughout my years has guided me through my academic career. Lastly, I would like to thank the Moreau Catholic community for being a second family to me and presenting me with a numerous amount of opportunities. The family I have built at Moreau Catholic from teachers and classmates have made me feel safe with the people here and I know I am always welcome back.

Salutatorian: Audrey Martin ’23

Moreau is a spectacular environment, and I’ve grown so much here. It’s challenging—you are pushed academically, athletically, artistically, and socially out of

your comfort zone. All my teachers have dedicated themselves to guiding students to their fullest potential in every single course. I’ve had to work harder, smarter, and more diligently than I’ve ever had to before. But with all those challenges comes a great deal more support. In every space on campus, from the teachers, the administration, and the staff, every single person at Moreau is rooting for you. They all want to see you succeed and will do anything to help you do so. I couldn’t imagine accomplishing any of these achievements without the total support of everyone in the Moreau community—I’ve been empowered. From the second I stepped on campus, Moreau has been like a home away from home, welcoming me, inviting me, and cheering me on. This welcoming spirit from the teachers, administrators, and staff has rubbed off on my classmates, my friends, and me. I saw how the upperclassmen brought life and enthusiasm into every meeting, class, and practice. When I became a junior, I knew I wanted to share this same spirit with incoming students and families, and I have seen their enthusiasm for such a vibrant community. Now that I am a senior, I also feel prepared for college. I am very fortunate enough to attend a wonderful university in the fall of 2023 and couldn’t have done it were it not for the challenges and total support of the Mariner community. With the wonderful opportunities that Moreau has provided me, I’ve been truly grateful to attend Moreau and especially to be the Class of 2023’s Valedictorian.

Gabrielle’s Accomplishments at Moreau Catholic President’s CIF List (Water Polo and Varsity Swimming) | Hackathon Award | MVP MVAL Championships (Varsity Swimming), Commended Student Award (National Merit Scholarship Program for PSAT in 2021) | National Hispanic Recognition Award | Mariner Award (Varsity Water Polo) | Scholastic Excellence Award (U.S. Marine Corps) | Certificado de Membresía (Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica) | Top Ten Senior Certificate | Spanish Dept. Award | Life Membership Award (CSF) | Science Dept. Medal | Link Crew Medal | Founding member of Multi-Heritage Club | Student Leadership Council | Co-Captain Swim Team | Future Female Developers.

Gabrielle is attending UC Berkeley, majoring in Environmental Engineering Sciences

Audrey’s Accomplishments at Moreau Catholic

Mariner Award for Girls’ JV Basketball | ASB Executive Council Medal | GPA Presidents’ Award (four years) | Member of Taiwanese Club, Philipinx, and National Honors Society | Frosh Public Relations Officer | Sophomore Public Relations Officer | Junior ASB Activities Commissioner | ASB Co-Curricular Commissioner.

Audrey will be attending UC Irvine, majoring in Chemical Engineering

Valedictorian: Gabrielle Diroll ’23

BACCALAUREATE MASS

Friday, May 26, 2023 | Main Gym

GRADUATION 2023

Sunday, May 28, 2023 | Paramount Theatre

GRADUATION AWARDS

1. Aymani Bouyer: In Tenebris Lux Award and Scholarship

2. Dean-Taylor Chapman: Principal’s Award and Scholarship

3. Gabrielle Diroll: Cross & Anchors Award | Valedictorian

4. Meghan Freitas: Blessed Basil Moreau Award

5. Audrey Estrella Intal Martin: Mariner Leadership Award and Scholarship | Salutatorian

6. Phuong Thy Nguyen: Moreau Catholic Theology Award | 2nd Highest GPA Award

7. Tasniya Rahman: 1st Highest GPA Award

8. Luis Alejandro Villegas: Brother Gary Stone Memorial Award and Scholarship

HOLY CROSS EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

By Colleen Galloway ’77

Described as “Un Gran Profesor, Señor Gonzales,” Luis Gonzales was honored at this year’s Academic Assembly as one of our Holy Cross Educators of the Year. Mr. Gonzales has been welcoming students into his Spanish classes at Moreau Catholic for 22 years. His classes have been described as marathons. You might be exhausted, but you’ll feel happy and you can bask in the glow of accomplishment that accompanies learning. Mr. Gonzales is an example of the Holy Cross commitment to the whole student. As a student said, “I am just one of many students upon whom Señor Gonzales has had a transformational impact.”

Congratulations, Señor Gonzales!

“Señor Gonzalez is available before school, after school, during Office Hours, and even during breaks. You can find him helping his students with retakes, presentations, and to clear up any confusion with the material. He does not only teach Spanish but also life lessons. He instills in his students the value of hard work and integrity and he pushes his students to do their best.”

~ Nolan H. ’24

Affectionately known as “Coach Ben,” Ben Greenbaum ’00 was honored as one of our two Holy Cross Educators of the Year. In his 11 years as a Theology teacher and Track & Field coach, Mr. Greenbaum has positively affected many of our students and student-athletes. Students have described him as “enthusiastic, passionate, energetic, kind, funny, and uplifting.” Coach Ben is known to give more than what is asked and educates his students both in the classroom and on the field. Coach Ben is known to display the love he has for his students in everything he does. As a Holy Cross educator, Coach Ben teaches his students about Moreau’s values and more about their faith. He is a fun and spectacular teacher to all his students.

Congratulations, Coach Ben!

“Coach Ben gives more than what is asked and expected of him, and never fails to fulfill his duties as both a teacher and a coach. He can be found educating his students both in the classroom and on the field. He displays the love he has for his students in everything he does, whether it be supporting students directly in the classroom, or giving them advice and help with situations they may be experiencing in their personal lives.”

~ Jasmine Waileia Lee ’23

Hired: 2012 | Theology Teacher | Varsity Track Coach | Motor Club Moderator

Hired: 2001 | Spanish Teacher | Nuesta Gente Moderator

2022-23 ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

Let’s look back upon the excellence in athletics of the 2022-23 school year. We had 565 Mariner students participate in interscholastic athletics, representing 72% of our student body and underscoring the importance of our athletics to our community. While our varsity teams captured Mission Valley Athletic League titles, historic NCS berths, CIF State Title runs, and national athletic honors, our excellence extended beyond the playing arena into the classroom as our students shined as extraordinary scholar-athletes.

Three of our varsity teams achieved recognition as NCS Scholastic Champion Teams, having the top team GPAs in our division of the section, which stretches from Fremont to Crescent City. Nine of our varsity teams also achieved the designation of NCS Distinguished Academic Team, for having a team GPA above 3.5. On an individual level, 127 of our student-athletes were recognized on the NCS President’s List, which requires that an athlete maintain a GPA of 3.8 or higher during their season of sport, at the varsity level. In all, our students showed their excellence, on and off the field, and it’s exciting to think about what their future holds.

EXCELLENCE AT THE NEXT LEVEL

Every year, several talented Mariners work hard enough in school and on the court or field to take their athletic careers to the next level by signing a National Letter of Intent to attend and play their sport at an NCAA institution. This year was no different, and we congratulate these student-athletes as they head off to college.

Dean-Taylor

LeBrie

Cristian

Boston

Francisco Peraza: Lacrosse at San Jose State University

1. Xavier Rios: Baseball at CSU Northridge

2. Dymonique Maxie: Basketball at University of Nevada Jasmine Beltran: Basketball at UC Merced

3. Bryce Thomas: Track and Field at Dartmouth College

4. Jacob Hupke: Cross Country, Track and Field at University of Portland, OR

5. Emma Murchison: Softball at U.S. Military Academy at West Point

6. Zoe Lannon: Cheer at University of Oregon

7. Thaddeus Sprinkles-DeBacker: Soccer at Lincoln University

8. Madison Mathewson: Water Polo at Ottawa University of Arizona

Not Pictured

Marisa Arnst: Soccer at University of Arizona

Chapman: Football (PWO) at UC Berkeley

Goudy-Lee: Basketball (PWO) at Michigan State University

Lopez: Cross Country, Track and Field at San Jose State University

Meideros: Lacrosse at CSU Fullerton

MCHS CHOIR PERFORMS AT CARNEGIE HALL

By Dr. Kaia Richards ’99

By Toni West

As I was standing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, the importance of the experience was swirling through my mind. As a performer, singing on this stage, where world-class musicians have performed, I am excited. However, I found myself thinking about the parallels between this trip as a teacher and a trip I took as a student. When I was a student at Moreau, we had the opportunity to go to Japan. We toured as guests and performed at special events. Needless to say, this was an extremely memorable visit. I learned a lot about Japanese culture, and bonded with my choir friends. Through my years at Moreau, Arlene Hood, the choir teacher, encouraged me to sing at state festivals, apply for scholarships, and opened my eyes to the world of singing on stage. I will forever be grateful to Arlene, Moreau, and music for guiding my life to where it is now.

Now, I am the choir teacher at Moreau, taking my students on trips that will hopefully leave indelible marks on their memories. These students gave up hours of free time to learn a difficult piece of music for a year; and even when we arrived in the Big Apple, we still had 3-4 hours of rehearsals each day. One day, looking back on these memories, I hope the singers fondly recall our trip for more than just the Broadway show we saw, the dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty, the free time exploring Manhattan, or even singing at Carnegie Hall with a world-class orchestra. I hope they remember the friendships they made in our class; the sense of achievement in mastering a 40-minute long choral work; the experience of working under the baton of a university department chair professor; and lastly that they remember how happy they were when they sang together. Although I realize most students will not pursue music degrees like I did, it doesn’t mean that their singing journey should end. The tools they learn in choir will hopefully give them the confidence to join choirs in their communities and continue to sing throughout their lives!

In the fall of 2022, Donovan Madden-Watson found a way to use his passion for music for a purpose that meant so much to him. It was during the formation of his band that performed at the school’s play that he had a starter idea to have a concert for mental awareness. “I drew inspiration from concerts like LiveAid, and wanted to have that same impact here at Moreau.”

The concert served people suffering from mental illnesses by raising money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for them to be able to use the funds to support their mission. A secondary objective was to raise awareness in the school community. Mental health is something that a lot of teenagers struggle with, anxiety, depression, social pressures, and even things at home can all contribute to negative mental effects for teens.

Donovan shared, “I, myself, have struggled to deal with my own mental health throughout my life. I wanted to use my voice as an artist to share my story, and help others share their stories in an engaging way.” His event raised over $2,000 dollars and sold over 150 tickets. “I’m really proud of everything we were able to do.”

Feedback from the event’s attendees truly touched Donovan and confirmed the success of the event. Through the mix of musical performances, dance performances, an art show, and small talks where students shared their experiences with mental health struggles, the audience connected with the performers and grew in their understanding of mental illness and its impact. “Many people told me that they found it inspiring, and some younger students have even expressed a desire to continue the project moving into their senior year. I would love to see Music Over Melancholy become a legacy project to benefit the Mariner community.”

Donovan added that there was no way he would have pulled this off without the support of his Moreau family. “I would first like to highlight all of the participants of the concert, because without them the whole thing would not have been possible. I would like to highlight my band, Phuong Thy Nguyen, Edison Chow, Kayden Wallkvist, and PJ Landeza, as well as my adult mentors, Cara Madden and Charlie Kaupp, who were crucial to the success of the event.”

Donovan will be attending UC Davis for Environmental/ Civil Engineering this fall. His plans are to work in either the energy sector or in an area that focuses with sustainability in transportation and city planning.

MAMA HOOD: EDUCATOR, ARTIST

By Patrick Alparone ’00

Arlene Hood’s impact on my life is immeasurable.

In the final quarter of the 1996/1997 school year, I walked into Art Room B to what I had been told was an easier FAPA class. I had also been told the teacher of that Theatre class was “funny,” and “quite a character.”

To an invisible 15 year old boy—who was attempting to mix apathy and cynicism into an identity—this news was distressing. Anything unknown or unpredictable that threatened my limited, yet rigid, understanding of the world was not welcomed.

But the rumors were true: this lady was funny. Somehow cutting through any adolescent dismissiveness or rebelliousness, Arlene used her sense of humor and charisma to reach through to us.

Over the years Arlene made me repeat to her students the story of my first audition. After that same resistance I brought her when we met, she’d sit back

in her chair and smile as I ran through the story one more time. How my name was called and in standing up, I got my chain wallet got stuck in those old wooden seats. How I stood there scared of auditioning but mortified that I was now bound to the furniture.

How I sat curled over my script filled with confusing words that I’d never seen, yet somehow expected to make sense of them and recite them loud enough for the auditioning audience to hear.

How apparently the Theatre Kids resented her decision to give this 16 year old, this vaporous haze with shaggy hair a job to do.

She’d turn to your freshman and say “I saw something in him. And I was right.” Saying goodbye to Arlene means we also have to let go of the numerous inside-jokes and comedic bits. Anyone that worked with her for even a short amount of time, be it the theatre or classroom, has a long running gag, a

secret handshake, personal to you and her.

Throughout the many productions we collaborated on over the past 25 years, we compiled an archive of bits – born in the delirious late hours of rehearsal when you’re so tired you could cry—and kept them alive for decades, even up to those last hours.

We laughed.

We laughed from across the room with each other. We sat laughing silently with each other. We were sometimes in a room with 1000 other people and the only ones laughing. We laughed on the phone for hours. We spent a number of months there where we laughed on the computer together.

And, as our students will attest, I laugh with her while ardently trying to explain a bit.

It will take some time before I can adequately sum up Arlene’s influence as an educator and as an artist; but as a friend and mentor, even longer.

MUSIC IS MY PASSION

By Toni West

Justin Firmeza ’20 has been influenced by many styles of music including gospel, R&B, and jazz. During his time at Moreau Catholic, you could find Justin sharing his musical talents in Campus Ministry, as part of the MCHS Band and Orchestra, or delivering a TEDx Talk, “The ‘Key’ to Great Artistry”, in which he reflects on his artistic journey and tells his audience about finding their own unique artistry.

He also spends time playing and creating beautiful music with his mentor, slack-key guitarist Patrick Landeza. Patrick, who is currently the Community Outreach Coordinator at Moreau Catholic, introduced Justin to the beautiful music of Hawaii. As a member of Patrick Landeza and Sons, Justin fell in love with Hawaiian music. He has performed up and down the West Coast, Hawaii, and had a reoccurring stint at Yoshi’s Oakland. A lifelong learner, Justin has recently picked up the steel guitar.

When he is not on stage with Landeza and Sons, Justin can be found teaching jazz improvisation and percussion at Moreau Catholic High School, working as a sound engineer, providing music for Moreau’s Campus Ministry Team, playing piano at church, performing in a variety of jazz groups, and playing as a solo artist in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are glad to have Justin continue to share his gifts and talents with our Mariner family!

EDUCATING HEARTS AND MINDS

By Evan Mao ’19 | March 2023

Growing up in Union City, California, I drove down Mission Boulevard every weekday. In the middle of the drive there emerged high trees on the side of the road, outlining a tan building right between them. In front of that building was an electronic sign that read, “Moreau Catholic High School,” and on the building behind it was a striking symbol: a cross intertwined with an anchor. At that time, I had no idea what it was or what it meant, but it was something I looked at each passing day. Today, that symbol means so much more: that symbol represents the community that has blessed me with the experience of a lifetime, an experience that has not only educated my mind, but my heart as well.

My Holy Cross journey began in August 2015 as a freshman at Moreau Catholic High School. As I was educated in the classroom, I was carefully formed as a person as well. Moreau Catholic encourages its students to be the change they wish to see in the world, and that truly resonated with me. Whether it was outreach to St. Anthony’s soup kitchen, serving at funerals and other special Masses, coaching CYO, or mentoring the next generation to be stewards of the environment through

wildlife education and environmental conservation at Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Moreau Catholic showed me the value of giving back to the community. By cultivating the heart and developing the mind through rigorous study, Holy Cross education contributes to making a better world for tomorrow.

Moreau Catholic was only the beginning of my Holy Cross journey, as St. Edward’s University has shown me a whole new world of opportunities for spiritual growth and fulfillment, and in particular what it means to educate the heart along with the mind. Two of the most profound moments of my life occurred during my Campus Ministry Service Break Experiences. My first Service Break Experience was in Puerto Rico, where I volunteered alongside a group of Hilltoppers on a one week mission to restore homes destroyed by Hurricane Maria. We shed sweat, tears, and even blood in the recovery efforts, laboring in the intense humidity and heat to power wash, scrape and paint for over ten hours a day. The tears of joy that erupted from the families who came back to their restored homes is a humbling moment that I will never forget. My second Service Break Experience was in Phoenix, Arizona,

where I led the group that visited André House, a Holy Cross ministry for those experiencing homelessness. We spent each day doing a multitude of tasks and chores, including kitchen work, giving showers, providing clothing, and just sharing conversation with those who came for comfort. I met many different people, shared stories, and made permanent memories in my mind and my heart.

Today, I hold the words of Basil Moreau in my heart: “With eyes of faith consider the greatness of your mission and the wonderful amount of good which you can accomplish.” A Holy Cross education has given me the opportunity to flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually. A Holy Cross education has allowed me to travel the world, interact and build relationships with amazing and hard-working people, and discover what nourishes my soul and helps me find happiness. When I visit home and drive on Mission Boulevard now, I look at the large Holy Cross seal on the side of Moreau Catholic High School with pride. It’s no longer a mystery to me, but a trusted symbol of faith, love, and hope for all the best possibilities that we can achieve.

Originally published by The Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward’s University

ONCE A MARINER, ALWAYS A MARINER

Cheers to these alumni working at their alma mater, transforming the hearts and minds of students today!

Kristie Alejo ’15 Associate Campus Minister

Patrick Alparone ’00 Teacher: Theatre Arts | Drama Director

David Baptist ’85 Teacher: Social Studies, TAMA | Yearbook Moderator

Glenn Davis ’15 Teacher: Social Studies | Mock Trial Moderator

Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 Alumni and Special Events Coordinator

Theresa Doty ’78 Counseling Administrative Assistant

Stacey (Raimondi) Ferreira ’86 College and Academic Counseling Department Chair | Saints and Scholars

Justin Firmeza ’20 Campus Ministry | Percussion & Jazz Improvisation | Band & Orchestra Sound Engineer

Colleen Galloway ’77 Principal

Ben Greenbaum ’00 Teacher: Theology | Varsity Track Coach

Katie (Hansen) Greenbaum ’08 Teacher: Mathematics

Jessica Guidotti ’04 Teacher: English

James Hannon ’02 Teacher: Theology Department Chair

Kristin Hannon ’02 Assistant Principal of Instruction

Angela Irizarry ’93 Dean of Restorative Practices and Safety

Paul McKenna ’83 Teacher: TAMA Department Chair | MCTV Moderator

Heather Radovich ’09 Attendance Clerk | Theatre & Dance Production Manager

Dr. Kaia Richards ’99 Teacher: Choir | Choral Director

ALUMNI WAVES

’71 Gary Waples (A), his wife, his sister-in-law, and a college friend completed walking the Camino Frances route for the Camino De Santiago de Compostela. They walked about 500 miles on the Camino, plus all the walking around the cities they visited, including Burgos, Leon, Santiago and Barcelona. “It was quite a ‘feet’ and I recommend it to all. If you need any tips, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

’73 Chris Borden (B) is in his sixth month as a brain cancer survivor, doing his best to stay healthy and cherishing each and every waking moment. He recently completed a most inspirational pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, MO to pray for continued survival. “So far, so good, despite having endured a nasty round of chemotherapy and radiation. Looking forward to being alive for our 50th reunion in October. See you then.”

’76 Joi Grabowski (C) is now living in beautiful Oregon for going on 8 years now. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Minor in Sociology last year. She survived breast cancer and had surgery right before the pandemic. She has her step daughter in her life and has been sober and drug free for 13+ years. “My life is blessed.”

’85 Erica Montgomery (D) is excited to announce that her full-service digital marketing agency, Three Girls Media, Inc. (www. ThreeGirlsMedia.com) celebrated 18 years in business in June! They offer a wide range of services including social media management, blogging, search engine optimization, website design/ build, graphic design, email marketing and more! She is the proud employer of a team of eight remarkable employees and is honored to work with clients

locally in Washington state as well as throughout the U.S. and internationally.

’96 Dr. Kevin Nadal is a professor at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. He is the recipient of the Teacher’s College Medal for Distinguished Service. He is the President of the Filipino American National Historical Society, located in Seattle, Washington. In 2014, he founded the LGBTQ Scholars of Color, which is a national network for LGTBQ people of color in academia.

Kevin also is a producer for a musical called Larry the Musical, based on the biography, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by Dr. Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta. The musical tells the story of the workers’ rights icon.

’04 Rondy Lazaro (E) was a Lead Venue Physician for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games. He led one of the venue medical teams providing care for athletes and delegates throughout the 11-day competition. The World University Games is the largest multisport collegiate athletic event in the world. The 2023 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York consisted of over 1,400 student-athletes from 540 universities across 46 countries competing for medals in 12 winter sports.

’06 Tiffany Lockett (F) received her Doctor of Philosophy in Social Psychology with a secondary concentration in Quantitative Social Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz in June 2022. Prior to graduation, she was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Milam-McGintyKaun Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Division of Social Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

’13

Michael

This June, Moreau Catholic welcomed home Michael Pacheco as the Associate Director of Admissions

After graduating from Moreau Catholic ten years ago, he had the most amazing opportunity to continue his Holy Cross education at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, for five years. He

graduated from St. Edward’s with a degree in History with a minor in Secondary Education.

“St. Edward’s helped prepare me to return to Moreau Catholic for the 2018-2019 school year as a Moreau Fellow, where I worked as a Theology co-teacher for the Saint Andre Program and as an assistant to the Admissions office. After that school year ended, I accepted a position as a Religious Studies teacher at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley. I spent the next four years connecting and guiding a diverse student population in their spiritual journeys, planning and organizing daily lessons and activities for my students, and providing clear and concise communication with my students and their parents. Through the transformative experience of teaching, I found a new love for education and an appreciation for all the teachers who have taught me. I am blessed to have this new opportunity to return to my home as a Mariner, where I can hone my leadership gifts in the Admissions office and welcome the next generation of Mariners onto our campus.”

Intercultural Center, creating programs and events that center intersectional identities. Melanie is the recipient of the Paulo Freire Senior Thesis Award which is given to a graduating senior in recognition of a research project that most exemplifies the Freirian values of action, reflection, and humanization. She also is the recipient of the Justice, Community, and Leadership Martin Luther King Jr. “World House’’ Award, which recognizes a graduating senior who best exemplifies the values of the Justice, Community, and Leadership program and college through their work in communities, the classroom, scholarship and as active citizens. Next semester, Melanie will begin the Master’s program in Public Health with a Community Health Promotion concentration.

’06

Dr. Thomas Wilcoxon, MD, son of Rick Wilcoxon ’75, started a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard University in June. He has completed his service in the Navy. He and his wife, Alison Dana are living in Boston, MA.

’11 Jessica King (G) graduated from San Francisco State in 2015 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology. From there she continued her education at Azusa Pacific University with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021. She moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to family and is currently working as a physical therapist at Washington Hospital in Fremont.

’12 Sophia (Aguirre) Ragasa (H) and Chris met freshmen year when Sofia was campaigning to be freshmen council VP, but it wasn’t until senior year they began dating after Chris asked Sofia to Homecoming. Chris is now pursuing his Master’s in Computer Science while working full time as a Software Engineer and Sofia has been working as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse for the past 6 years. On September 25, 2022 Chris and Sofia got married. They now live in the Bay Area with their golden retriever puppy Mayo.

’15

Brianna King (G) graduated from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Utah in February 2020. There she got her Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing. She started her career as a new grad nurse during the pandemic and worked as a Covid nurse. She is now a Pediatric RN working at Stanford’s Children Hospital.

’18 Katrina King (G) graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry in December 2022. She is currently working as a clinical lab associate where her job includes isolating plasma, extracting DNA, and dissecting miscarriages. She hopes to become a clinical lab scientist in the near future.

’19 Melanie Salas (I) graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California, majoring in Justice, Community and Leadership, and Ethnic Studies and furthering her work in social justice. In the fall of 2022, Melanie completed her senior thesis on researching the impacts of culturally responsive pedagogy on marginalized identities in higher education. In addition to her studies, she flourished in her role as social justice advocate at the

’19 Clifford Vuong (J) recently graduated with merit from the great United States Naval Academy Class of 2023 with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering. On that same day, he was simultaneously commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy. He has been selected to serve in the submarine warfare community after graduation and will report in August to Charleston, SC for Navy Nuclear Power School. “My time at USNA has been chock full with memories, learning experiences, and most importantly people I am proud to call my shipmates and who I wouldn’t trade the world for.” Shoutouts to Mr. Parker, Mr. Tobler, and the entire MCHS Cross Country and Track and Field coaching staff past and present for pushing Clifford to be the best person he could be and always believing in him even when he didn’t believe in himself. Moreau Catholic taught him valuable lessons in humility, integrity, treating others with dignity and respect, and refusing to settle for mediocre performance. There is no question that Clifford will apply the lessons he learned from his teachers and coaches at Moreau Catholic in his Navy career and beyond. “Imua, and Beat Army!”

’20Alessandria “Alex” Carpio (K) will be finishing her third official year in the WPSL, the largest semi-professional soccer league in the world as she waits to start her senior year at University of San Francisco to complete her degree in Nursing. In 2021, Alex played for San Ramon FC, and this summer will be her second year playing for the San Francisco Nighthawks. As a founding team within the WPSL, the Nighthawks will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. Alex is excited to have the opportunity to continue to play

Pacheco

soccer at a high level, while finishing her degree.

Upcoming Class Reunions

Class of 1973 50th Reunion

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Bobbie (Gasson) Valladon ’73 bvalladon@gmail.com

Class of 1983 40th Reunion

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Michele (Craft) Burkett ’83 michelecraft1@gmail.com

Class of 1993 30th Reunion

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Haydee Mayorquin ’93 haydee.may@yahoo.com

Class of 1998 25th Reunion TBA Tiffany (Johnston) Wittmer ’98 tiffanywittmer@comcast.com

Class of 2002 21st Reunion TBA

Marilyn McCarthy ’02 marilynmccarthy@gmail.com

IN LOVING MEMORY

Brother Donald Blauvelt, C.S.C. Barbara Ann Bouterious Grandmother of Dominic Marinai ’22, Guiliana Marinai ’23

Patricia Burnside

Mother of John ’69, Robert ’73, Don ’74 Ray Hall ’71

Arlene Hood

Past Faculty Member

Dorothy Libby

Past MCHS Registrar; Mother of Kristina Mew ’81, Mark Mew ’84, Steven Mew ’87; Grandmother of Daniel Mew ’04, Jacob Mew ’09

Larry Long

Past Faculty Member

Gerald (Kookie) Nasario

’21

Victoria Cava (L) is a Junior at Arizona State University majoring in Astrophysics. She recently returned from a Study Abroad trip to Antarctica. Since returning, she has been on the ASU homepage and on the local Phoenix news being interviewed about her extraordinary experience. You can see the interview here

’20

Kaleb Elarms-Orr received the Jonathan & Judy Hoff Scholar-Athlete of the Week recognition in the first week of April for his personal academic development and achievements on and off the football field. As Dr. Kasra Sotudeh, Ph.D., Academic Discovery & Curriculum Design Coordinator at UC Berkeley stated, “We are very proud of Kaleb and acknowledge the role that the Moreau Catholic community has played in preparing him both academically and athletically.”

Father of Gerald ’79, Dereck ’82; Grandfather of Tony ’07, Kiani ’10 Joe Ochoa ’81

Laura Pessagno

Mother of Janet ’03†, Joan Lopez; Grandmother of Tony Avila ’83, Tim Avila ’87, Gina Avila ’91

Mary Pult

James Redmond

Carolyn (Hansen) Roach ’73

Robert Lee Rubino

Father of Bob ’80, Janeen ’82