Salesian Magazine 2023

“Education is a matter of the heart.”

— St. John Bosco

TheSummer 2023

The Salesian Magazine

An annual publication of Salesian College Preparatory for its alumni, faculty, staff, students, donors, and friends.

President Principal Director

Stephen Pezzola ‘74

Kenneth Farr II ‘10

Fr. Joe Thinh Nguyen, SDB

Editor/Production

JoEllen Baker, Major Gifts Officer

Layout and Design

Tatum Baker

Photography

Javier Ochoa ‘08

Juan Rodriguez ‘09

Maya Love-Sangco ‘22

Lea Smith

Oscar Ruiz

Henry Huang

Contributors

Stephen Pezzola ‘74

Dr. William Heidenfeldt ‘94

John Kunzweiler

Gabriella (Zaragoza)

Carrillo ‘08

Layth Handoush ‘22

Adrian Fulay

Chad Nightingale

Joseph Thomas

Fr. Joe Thinh Nguyen, SDB

Salesian College Preparatory 2851 Salesian Avenue

Richmond, California 94804

510.234.4433

Please send inquiries, feedback or change of address requests to communications@salesian.com or call 510.234.4433, ext. 7219

Fundraising

Farewell

Message from Leadership

Dear Salesian Family,

We are living in a very interesting time. A famous actor, powerful athlete, or heroic personage no longer has a monopoly in commanding the attention of a vast portion of the population or endorsing a product or a cause. Powerful media corporations have an increasingly diminished role in swaying the opinion of the populace. Thanks to technological advancement and the availability of digital platforms, ordinary men, and women, with a little knowledge of technology and understanding of communication, can become powerful voices, capable of changing the mind, heartsheart, and actions of others. They are popularly known as “influencers.”

Merriam-Webster defines “influencer” as “a person who inspires or guides the actions of others” and “a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.” However, this idea of an influencer is not a new phenomenon found only in the technologically advanced 21st century. Two thousand years ago, Jesus called his disciples to be the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” He called them to be like the yeast that leavened the dough. This is a true definition of an “influencer” of the world. They are to inspire the actions of others toward goodness and beauty and to generate the interest of their fellow human beings in the cause of truth and justice. All of this is to give glory to God, whose masterpieces they are.

We, at Salesian College Preparatory, hope to foster men and women who seek to transform the world through their words and actions. True to being disciples of Christ, they seek to be signs and bearers of God’s love to the world. In so doing, they will inspire the actions of others and generate in them the interest to serve after the example of Jesus Christ. Our work continues the work of our founder St. John Bosco who believed that this noble effort was only possible with a vast army of collaborators, supporters, and helpers. We ask you to join our efforts through your contributions, counsel, prayers, and support. May our Lord, who is generous, merciful, and just grant you an abundance of His grace for all your assistance to our education of the young men and women at Salesian College Preparatory.

Abundant blessings,

Fr. Joe Thinh Nguyen, SDB Director

Dear Salesian Alumni, Family, and Friends,

I am thankful for all the support we receive from our Salesian Family: alumni, alumni parents, and friends of Salesian, as we continue to guide our students in knowledge, spirit, and service, strengthening our identity as a mission school.

Here at Salesian, our goal transcends merely preparing our students to thrive in college. We are dedicated to nurturing our students’ holistic development— intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Our school’s mission is to educate young men and women in our community to develop into good citizens for the betterment of society and the glory of God. We thrive by combining the elements of home, school, church, and playground in a supportive and caring environment.

A successful Salesian education means not only achieving academic success but fostering the growth of moral and ethical values. We continue to integrate into our curriculum the opportunities for students to understand, discuss, and enact our core values of respect, integrity, compassion, and responsibility, while also creating a welcoming environment. Service to the community is an integral part of our identity. Our students engage in various service projects throughout the year as part of their educational experience.

As a mission school, we continue to face challenges. You, however, make it possible to meet those challenges. In the pages that follow, you will read stories about: an alumni donor who made a significant donation to our endowment, which will assist with tuition assistance and our greatest needs; the story of a foundation and a group of alumni who made possible the repair of our beloved 83-year-old gym whose floor had breathed its last breath; the news that another philanthropic partner enabled us to meet the enormous and seemingly impossible challenge of repairing nearly every restroom on campus and provided a long overdue painting of the exterior of our school building. The start of the 2023-2024 school year will be with newly remodeled restrooms and a renovated gym. We are so thankful for our supporters.

As most of you know, a Salesian education is like no other. Our community’s beautiful mosaic comprises students from many different cultures, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds working together. Providing an equitable education to a student body with several families that qualify for financial aid is the cornerstone of our mission.

It takes all of us to keep Salesian Forever. If you believe in the value of our mission and in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, then help us bridge the gap between what we ask in tuition and what our Salesian families are able to pay. Please help us stay true to the mission of St. John Bosco by supporting our Annual Fund.

I cannot say it enough: It is only through your generosity that we will remain Salesian Forever.

In Don Bosco, Stephen Pezzola ‘74 President

Congratulations Class of 2023!

A Prayer for the Class of 2023

Gracious and caring God, we ask for your hand to be upon these graduates as we send them forward.

With their classes and grading now complete, may they strive toward excellence in all they do. With the applause quieted, may they celebrate and lift up those around them. With the speeches concluded, may their voices rise up to pronounce peace and justice in the world. With the fanfare ceasing, may they find bliss in future endeavors and adventures. With diplomas in hand, may their achievements grow and enrich their communities. From this day onward, may they remember they are Salesian Forever. Amen.

“Our time here at Salesian has been like a long song, with each year representing a verse, each memory a chord, and each lesson a lyric.”

—

Alizia

Dela

Cruz,

Salutatorian University of the Pacific “But before we step into that new chapter, let me leave you with some advice: Tie your shoes. Tying your shoes is one of the first lessons we learn as children. We start by struggling to get the laces through the holes, and eventually, with patience and persistence, we learn how to tie the perfect knot. At first, we struggle, but with determination and grit, we will succeed. Similarly in life, we encounter challenges that at first, seem impossible.”

— Yvan Peña, Valedictorian University of California, Berkeley

Hats off to the Salesian Grads: The graduating Class of 2023 earned acceptances to ALL 9 UCs, 20 of 23 CSUs, as well as the University of Chicago, New York University, Howard University, Boston College, Gonzaga University, University of Southern California, and more.

For a full list of recent acceptances visit

Mateo Alejandria

Nyana Asiasi

Makiah Asidanya

Tessa Barfield

Jordan Bell

Mia Bellamy

D’Yani Bernstine

Kamiryn Braxton Grimes

Aamori Buchanan

Caroline Carrillo

Hailey Cheng

Jessica Coronel

Alizia Dela Cruz

Jacob Diaz

Jessica Diaz

Robert Drake

Johnathan Drake, II

Jennifer Escalera

Sofia Fidelus

William Flores

Emma Garcia

Sydney Garcia

Eryn Gardner

Briana Gonzalez

Evin Goodwin

Aniya Griffin-Johnson

Daniela Guevara

Jaimelyn Gutierrez

Hassan Guy

Forever

Cameron Hale

Dalasia Hawkins

Liliana Hernandez

Emma Jackson

Emerson Jones

Daniel Kariuki

Siem Kidane

Herschell Lazaro

Dionna Leblanc-Keith

Meagan Lee

Alyssa Leung

Ian Leung

Cortney Lovan

Maya Love-Sangco

Luke Magsino

Julia Malgren

Elisabeth Marks

Lilyanna Mejia

Luis Mendez

Alexis Mendoza

Miguel Mendoza

Jonathan Merino

Raquel Ashlee Miyamoto

Luis Morfin

Christian Naguit

Shermally Naldoza

Matthew Njome

Kyra Oh

Devin Olsen

2022-2023 Award Winners

Valedictorian:

Yvan Peña

Salutatorian:

Alizia Dela Cruz

Salesian Award Nominees: Yvan Peña, Tyler Thompson, and Penelope Toland

Salesian Award Winner: Penelope Toland

Jessica Park

Yvan Peña

Matthew Perez

Kayla Phan

Maya Pinckney

Nohemi Pizana

Monique Plummer

Ethan Ramos

Aidan Reyes

Alondra Robles

Jessica Rodriguez

Sofia Rojas Cervantes

Santiago Santes, Jr.

Marco Segovia

Mian Shah

Derek Simmons, Jr.

Bryan Tabora

Francheska Tagle

Tyler Thompson

Giancarlo Thurmond

Richard Timbang, Jr.

Penelope Toland

Gabriel Torres

Vicente Travalini

Paul Victor, Jr.

Henry Vincent

Eric E. Watson, Jr.

Jermayne Inno Cortez Yuen

Junke (Lawrence) Zhang

Award for Excellence in Fine Arts: Alyssa Leung

Award for Excellence in Liberal Arts: Tyler Thompson

Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science: Yvan Peña

Salesian Scholar-Athlete Awards:

Sofia Fidelus and Richard Timbang, Jr.

Fundraising Snapshot 2022-2023

Over $2M Raised + $1M Endowed

The Salesian College Preparatory Annual Fund is the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts and the key to Salesian’s financial success. The tuition that Salesian families are able to pay is considerably less than the true cost to educate each student. For this reason, Salesian has a shortfall that needs to be made up through fundraising efforts.

Everything you read in this magazine was made possible, in part, by donations to our Annual Fund. Your gift helps fund tuition assistance, curriculum development, supplies for STEM as well as the visual and performing arts, athletic programs, co curricular activities, and maintenance of our 21 acre campus. All essential contributions to our students’ educational experience.

We thank each of you who have been generous to Salesian College Preparatory and encourage you to remain faithful in your generosity. For those who have not given in awhile, please become part of our Salesian Forever movement. Your gift allows us to continue the legacy and mission of St. John Bosco.

This year in particular, we have been humbled by donor support and as a result we have expanded the giving levels on our Donor Honor Roll.

*Matching Corporate Gifts are a great way to increase your giving. Please use the Employer Matching Gifts tab on our Donate page to learn if your employer will match your gift.

Hank Delevati ‘66 has presented Salesian with a $1,000,000 endowed gift! A gift that helps create a permanent source of support for our mission. Hank’s generosity stems from his strong desire to keep Salesian Forever so others can reap the benefits he did from a Salesian education. With the philanthropic desire to ‘Pay it Forward,’ Hank said, “I have been blessed with the ability to give a gift that keeps on giving. Over the years I have been able to help Salesian fund a portion of their greatest need in any given year—whatever I could do to give back. Salesian gave me the academic foundation I needed to be successful in college and in life. I want to do what I can to play a part in giving that opportunity to other young people. Salesian is a special place.”

Donor Honor Roll

This is a list of donors who have contributed to Salesian College Preparatory between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Thank you for your support.

St. John Bosco Circle

$100,000+

Hank Delevati ’66

Robert and Dana Emery Family Foundation

Robert S. and Helen P. Odell Fund

Family Aid-Catholic Education

Bill ‘64† and Kathryn Selway

Shea Homes

Bay Scholars

Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation

Salesian Forever Club

$50,000-$99,999

Michael Oddo ‘76 and Jennifer Hyde

Home of Champions Club

$25,000- $49,999

Robert T. and Tina Ing Yahng Foundation

Anonymous

Metro Services Group

David ‘82 & Jill Kenney

Stephen Pezzola ‘74 & Twila Foster

LaNasa + Kunzweiler Foundation

Phyllis V. Smith†

Jim and Diane Coward Family Foundation

Philip Rinaldi Charitable Trust

Director’s Club

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous (2)

Clark Stanton

Arthur M. Robinson Foundation

The Guardsmen

Rogers Family Foundation

Paul V. Bennett

Richard & Nancy Robinson

Marjorie Mosher Schmidt Foundation

Greg & Jody Ginsburg

Salesian Booster Club

Cogent Solutions & Supplies

Chevron Matching Employee Funds

Trust Funds Incorporated

The Olympic Club Foundation

Gerald H. Fay

President’s Club

$5,000 - $9,999

Peter ‘74 & Karen Filice

Christopher ‘80 & Nancy Kane

Kelly Robinson

Khadija A. Fredericks

Michael & Patricia Niedermeyer

Pete & Janet Muncie

Joseph & Denise Reid

Jessie Banuelos Insurance Agency, Inc.

Marvin Collins Construction

Mechanics Bank

Principal’s Club

$2,500 - $4,999

Anonymous (2)

Emmanuel & Pamela Lugos

Marylou and Brian Flannery

Republic Services, Inc.

Oaks Jewelers

James Watts

EM Downer Foundation

French Brothers Flooring

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

Frederick Morris

Christ the King Parish

Whole Kids Foundation

Christ the King Catholic School

Eddie Foster

Anne & Michael O’Neal

Michael DeOrian ‘72

Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation

Jerome ‘77 & Grace Paolini

Pride Club

$1,000 - $2,499

Nataliya and Shmuel Arditi Foundation

Xiao & Douglas Pena

Anne T. Omura

Today’s Youth Matter

Christine Mann

Edward Escueta & Lina Chau

Mandeep K. Jhutti

Louis G. Navellier

John & Monique Ziesenhenne

Merrill & Deborah Chandler

Barbara Sundahl

Steven R. Frias

Kwame E. Inkabi

Bruce & Donna Hartman

Christie Rosete ‘93

Phyllis L. Lee

Gina Butson Real Estate Remixing

The Debt Crushers

Mechanics Bank- San Pablo Towne Center

Nannette Beacham

Sachin Rege

Weatherford BMW of Berkeley

William and Janice Saner

Janis L. Vega

Pauline Porter

David Fontanilla & Teresa Hurley

Daniel ‘02 & Jamie Hutson

Maurice ‘89 & Liza Atendido

Sapina D. Bentosino

Isabel Sanchez Cabrera & Richard Fife

Larry & Maritza Foster

ACC Environmental Consultants

Jeffrey ‘78 & Denette Accornero

Speedee Oil Change & Tune Up

Marco & Lleny Rios

Stephen Odom & Margaret Peterson

Marc Colelli

Jupian Leung

Mark & Beth Reitdorf

Satyaraj & Anjana Berde

J. Friedman Foundation

Knowing Technologies, LLC

John W. Kluesener

Grip It Golf Repair

Paul & Quyen Toland

Louis & Bonnie Paulson

JoEllen & Neil Baker

William Heidenfeldt ‘94

David ‘01 & Zikarra Jobe

Gabriel Rhoades

Red & Black Club

$500 - $999

La Strada Restaurant

Yvonne Oberto

Patrick & Carmelina Conway

Jim & Laurel Morrison

Christina Karabinis & William Mellis

Bryan ‘71 & Donna Millsaps

Henry & Margaret Clemes

M.A. Hays Insurance Co., Inc.

Steven Mitchell

Adrienne & Tom Pearse

James ‘66 & Miriam Swanson

Daniel & Teresa Pasquini

Stephen Hill

Kenneth V. Kauftheil

Donald N. Hirabayashi

Gary C. Macaluso

Daniel J. Gayton

Myra & Edgargo Perez

Gina Ryan

Todd & Wilada Thompson

Billy Coleman

Bradford McCullough

Christopher Tolentino

Leroy & Felecia Johnson

Vinnie’s Bar & Grill

Jeffrey Marks

East Bay Brass Foundry, Inc.

Irma Sampedro-Perez & Leslie Perez

Rotary Club of Richmond, Inc.

Jefferson Hilliard

Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation

Matthew ‘82 & Michelle Parella

Sharon Casey

David Dierke

Robert E. Oakes

Tamera Davis

See’s Candy Shops, Inc.

Gregory ‘64 & Linda Parini

John & Patricia Olivero

John ‘81 & Paula Martinucci

Desiree Elvira

Raymond Cheng & Nai Phan

Nicholas Andrade

Lawrence Herbert

Michael Price

Alfonso ‘84 & Joan Delgado

Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Program

Paul Begley ‘68

Marvin Florence

HY Floor & Gameline Painting, Inc.

Russell & Jennifer Hague

Shing-Hwa Lai & Yi-De Chuang

Mark & Victoria Lewis

AmazonSmile Foundation

Jose Lozano IV

$100 - $499

Henry Moe ‘89

Roxanna Jimenez

Bryan McCaul

Laurenteen Brazil

Maritza Navichoque

Stephen Temple

Andrew Nguyen

Christina Spaulding

Marie DeSaiter Bonaducci-Sanchez

Caden Salvata

Patricia Waller

Michael Cogliandro

Terry Tran

Amintas J. Major, IV

Janice Rigney

Patricia Fortier

James & Britt-Marie Eyen

William Gallagher

Cesar & Elsa Melgar Carrillo

Arlene & Paolo Naguit

Edwar & Cherrie Tinio

Dorothy Lee

Meghan L. Bradbury ‘15

Eileen & John Howard

John & Mary Alexander

Nancy Wallis

Henry & Doreen Covell

Jose & Maria Pajuleras

Gina & Ovidio Portillo

John Gerletti

Debbie Y. Barnaby

Noel & Aida Jinon

Clayton Leche

Flor & Gloria Lugos

Dennis Heidenfeldt

Stephen & Lark Randall

Kenneth ‘72 & Diane Sena

James Perero

Edward ‘66 & Patricia McLaughlin

Jennifer & Jeff Gadd

James Ryken ‘64

Kelsea ‘04 & Michael Fitzgerald

Ralph ‘68 & Joan Brignone

Paul & Mary Buechler

Milagros C. Canoy

Michael & Pat Corral

Noel & Colleen Tejano

Ralph & Carole Freeman

Raymond Felix & Jerrilee A. Doss

William & Cheryl McCombe

David ‘80 & Julia Flaherty

Roland ‘72 & Cheryl Young

Stephen & Linda Hedstrom

James & Carol Greene

Steven Frias

John Castro

Lawrence Herbert Jr.

Margaret Baker

Ana Cardona

Nation’s Hamburgers

Patrick & Judith O’Callaghan

Aljoe & Lorena Mandoriao

Julie Sherman

Susan & Ricardo Gonzalez

Jessly A. Chicas ‘18

Ricardo Gonzalez

Ray Jakubiak

Philip Aber

Bright Funds Foundation

Owen & Kristen Clement

Eunice Charles

Juan ‘84 & Evangelina Montenegro

Alison Perez ‘17

Alyssa Sanchez ‘12

Marie Freschi

Gabriella ‘08 & Ricky Carrillo ‘09

Andrea & Dena Marchini

Andrew & Jewel Lojo

Daniel Tashjian

Loyd & Vivienne Richardson

Kaiser Permanente

William & Alice Thompson

Helen Nichols

Michael & Charisse L. Wan

Thomas ‘64 & Carol Ozanich

Christopher ‘81 & Celeste Rodwell

Mark Hirth ‘73

Gerald ‘64 & Peggy Mascaro

Terrance & Marcia McDonough

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc

Steven Hallock

James Brandt

Nardi Construction Company

Larry Oliver

Michelle & Kevin Bowling

John J. Deimling

Dolores S. Rosier

Armor Locksmith Services

Doherty’s Truck & Auto Rentals

Philip Foster

Gregory ‘77 & Joni Hirth

David ‘86 & Debra Lewis

Stephen Kelley

Raymond D. Smith ‘85

Rashad Nichols & Lianna Aduato

Erle & Phyllis Brown

Kenneth ‘66 & Deborah Wilson

Thomas ‘66 & Sue Wright

Mark & Cindi Scott

Olivero Plumbing Co., Inc.

Fungus Fighters Termite & Construction, Inc.

Italian Catholic Federation

Bradley Shafer & Carol Mansinne-Shafer

Enterprise Roofing Service, Inc.

Gary Torretta

Alice Hantke

Security Pacific Real Estate Brokerage

Joseph Doherty ‘77

Stefanie G. Ali ‘08

Jiangtao Lu

Columbus Advisors

Mark Forbes

Zuleyma & Leonel Guardado

Horace Green

Robert ‘67 and Regennia Kilmer

John H. Rath ‘05

Loaded Chicken

Patrick & Carmelina Conway

Diana & Greg Kenyon

Kathleen C. Murphy

The Blackbaud Giving Fund

Donald Fry

Cornelius ‘69 & Suzanne Doherty

Diane Butler

United Way

Christopher Malixi

Rebecca Mangle

Leonard Neal

Friends of Salesian $99 and below

Anonymous (2)

Nichole Lorensen

Christina McAfee ‘00

Debra Shushan

Janet O’Hair

Mollin K. Helfrich ‘19

Henry Huang

Lynnette Franks

Sharon Llewellyn

Jennifer Mills

Mike Egan

Betty Hecht

Robert and Bernadette Antaki

Lillian E. Smithson

Carol Ertle

Patrick Uebelhor

Monica E. Andrade

Daran & Lucille Santi

One Hope

Erica R. DeJesus

Patricia Bauer

Charles & Margaret Miglia

Nicole ‘07 & Erik Nielsen

John & Eduardina Perdigao

Michael Aparo

William & Kelly Driscoll

Janet Pires

Valentin & Maria Saldaña

Elizabeth M. Coscia

Rhodora Casta

Denise Grimshaw

Donald Miller

Trudy Miller

Fabiola Higginbotham

Hank Gaudet

Farewell Marylou Flannery

On the occasion of Marylou’s retirement from a very distinguished career at Salesian College Preparatory, I have a few thoughts to share.

By introduction, I’m the Chairman of the Board of our school. As the Chairman, I deal with all aspects of the school and for years have had considerable interaction with leadership, including Marylou.

We all have been blessed to have Marylou as a key part of our community. Marylou has been a dedicated teacher and administrator/principal for over 30 years. While always the consummate professional, I found Marylou to deeply understand and animate the unique pillars of the Salesian approach: Home, School, Church, and Playground.

In this context, I want to recognize Marylou’s extraordinary service to our students and their families.

As our principal, Marylou created a safe and encouraging HOME for our students. High school years are a period of growth, exploration, challenge, disappointment, and reward. Each student is different and changing. Marylou has been an anchor.

The CHURCH holds our community together. Under Marylou’s leadership, the “faith” of our students has taken shape through the many programs and Campus Ministry. We are a community of many faiths and deeply shared values. Marylou always set the standard of faith, compassion, and acceptance.

The college prep SCHOOL that has led so many of our students to successful college performance was created by Marylou. Yearly, she devised and oversaw a system of curriculum, conduct, and evaluation. As principal, Marylou led our talented and dedicated faculty on a daily basis with clarity and strength.

During Marylou’s 30+ years at Salesian, we’ve had an extraordinary PLAYGROUND with countless state and conference championships. But beyond that, Salesian offers scores of programs and activities and gives all of our students a chance to shine. In her career, Marylou shaped all these programs, creating an incredible array of offerings.

As I said in a talk, Marylou is definitely not retiring…Marylou is graduating! And as with all graduations, Marylou’s playing field is wide open with time for some rest, reflection, and re-engagement. Marylou’s talents are extraordinary, and we have been truly blessed to have Marylou in our community for the past 33 years.

On behalf of the Board and the entire Salesian Community, we deeply thank Marylou for her unselfish service and wish Marylou the best of days ahead.

Generous Giving Makes Critical

It has been said that nonprofit visionaries have 100 ideas for every one that’s actually possible to implement. And the key to getting even one accomplished is to name your strategic priorities and then identify those that are important and urgent to the sustainability of the mission. The next step is to find organizations and individuals whose philanthropic interests align with your mission and who are willing to lend their support.

This past year we were faced with facility challenges that seemed insurmountable. Our 83-year-old gymnasium floor had reached the end of its life. The floor itself was too thin to be refinished and the subfloor beneath too damaged to support a replacement. Both would need to be replaced prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. In addition, a repair was needed to correct a water seepage problem in the walls that would threaten a new floor once installed. This quickly became an important and urgent priority for our mission. The gym is much more than a practice facility for sports and a court for home games. It is the venue for drama and band performances, school-wide Masses, and student gatherings. A high school without a gym—a Salesian without a gym—is simply inconceivable.

Equally challenging was the status of our 73-year-old bathrooms. Alumni would joke as they returned to their alma mater for a visit, that the same facilities they used as teenagers were still in place well into their retirement. Legacy students would joke that they were using the same facilities their grandfather used when he was a Chieftain. We knew something had to change.

Who could we turn to for support? We approached our philanthropic partners who share our desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students through a quality Catholic educational experience. Partners who are committed to the well-being of our students and who understand that by addressing the critical infrastructure of the building we are able to directly impact the daily experience that contributes to their ultimate success. Actions that show they are deserving and valued.

We were truly blessed with very generous philanthropic gifts from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation to complete the vast majority of our gym renovations, and from Shea Homes who have provided the funds aimed at renovating all bathroom facilities as well as painting the exterior of the main school building.

The sounds of sledge hammers and jackhammers have filled the hallways of our school since spring break. The 83-year-old gymnasium floor was brought down to its mortared foundation. The 73-year-old bathrooms were brought to their studs. The demolition has made way for the renovations, the transformation, and the sustainability of the mission.

We are hopeful that both of these generous gifts serve as an inspiration for others to follow suit and invest in our efforts to continue the mission of Saint John Bosco. A mission that is very much alive and well here at Salesian. Go Pride!

Renovations Possible

The Gym Floor

The Valley Foundation gift supports the outstanding athletic program that Salesian is known for and the very reason we have earned the reputation “Home of Champions.” In addition, it allows us to continue our partnership with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) court programs through the provision of shared facilities.

The gym renovation, as with any major construction project, came with a host of change orders. Once the overruns exceeded our contingencies and after much discernment, we reached out to a family who has long supported Salesian, the Selways. Bill Selway ‘64, in particular, had a love for Salesian that ran deep and often shared his time, talent, and treasure with the alma mater he loved so dearly. In Bill’s memory, the Selway family came thr|ough with more than half of the shortfall to complete the project. With the finish line in sight, we reached out to another alumnus who has been there for us in support of major improvement projects, David Kenney, Class of 1982. David, along with donations from Crab Feed attendees and Annual Fund supporters listed on our Donor Honor Roll, made it possible for us to close the books on the gym project.

The Restrooms

The gift from Shea Homes is truly special and unique. John Shea, Chairman of J.F. Shea Co., Inc., was a Catholic, faith-filled man who went above and beyond to support inner-city Catholic schools by providing tens of thousands of scholarships and funding more than 1,000 school renovations. Sadly, John Shea passed away in 2022. Still, his legacy and philanthropic passions live on through the generosity and work of Shea Homes. What makes this gift so unique? It is all inclusive. Shea Homes has shared their financial resources as well as their exceptional expertise and professional networks in order to complete the bathroom renovations and exterior painting.

Shea Homes asked that we contribute to the overall project. A gift from a board member and alum has made it all possible through his generosity and desire to keep Salesian, forever.

To all our partners who had a hand in making these improvements possible, the Valley Foundation, Shea Homes, the Selway family, David Kenney ‘82, our anonymous alum, and the countless individuals who give what they are able, you have sent a powerful message of support and care to our students, faculty, staff, and the entire Salesian community. Thank you!

Welcome Home Kenneth Farr II ‘10

Mr. Farr is a proud graduate of San Francisco East Bay schools, most of which are steeped in Catholic education: St. David of Wales, Salesian, California State University, East Bay, and St. Mary’s College of California. His professional passion has long been teaching and educational leadership. After having served as a student teacher at St. David of Wales, he became their full-time fifth grade teacher. Mr. Farr then became the very active principal of the school, not only serving as administrator but working in the classroom with teachers. After several years of leadership there, Mr. Farr is now bringing his knowledge and experience at a prominent feeder school to Salesian College Preparatory. After Mr. Farr’s first full week as Salesian’s principal, our Associate Principal, William Heidenfeldt ‘94, took a moment to meet in Mr. Farr’s bright, inviting, and comfortable office to speak with him about his journey as a longtime member of the Salesian community and as an educator.

WH: You’re a proud alumnus of Salesian. What is something from your experience as a student at Salesian that has stayed with you all these years?

KF: I remember how much every single teacher I had cared about me; how passionate so many teachers were about Salesian when I was here. I see how many of those teachers are still here now, which speaks to their character. I always wanted to do that [be part of a school for a meaningful amount of time]. And now a blessing like this comes up, and I get to do it at Salesian.

WH: As you reflect on your transition to being a high school principal from being a diocesan preK-8 principal, what are some beliefs and practices that are important to you?

KF: It comes down to this: You have to unconditionally love all these children—they’re still at a delicate and passionate stage in their lives. We have to show up every day. No matter who walks through these doors: It’s our time not to just teach them, but to get to know them and ensure that they feel safe. We have to do all we can to set them up for success. They’re going to remember how we made them feel.

WH: What has been a magical moment in your educational career thus far?

KF: It’s always watching the students graduate; I just can’t deal! When I’m looking at them, I’m looking at all the memories, the triumphs, the obstacles, and the challenges conquered. Having been on their educational journey, I am always reflective. There is always something special and sentimental about each student. I always tell the graduates in front of their families, friends, and teachers that when our work with them is done, then it’s their work that has begun.

WH: What is a final message that you would like to share with our broad Salesian community?

KF: I thank every single shareholder of our community who is reading this for this opportunity because I have earned the trust to lead this school, and I am so grateful for it. Something has happened in each of our lives to allow us to show up to this moment and identify the spirit of Don Bosco and Salesian that is within us. I’m going to work as hard as possible with everyone to ensure that that piece which we hold on to—that Salesian in us—strengthens and grows so that future generations get to experience it, too.

The Salesian College Preparatory family is excited to welcome Kenneth Farr II back into the fold. When you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by and meet or catch up with him in his office, on the court or field, or on the Holy Grass in front of the Salesian Café.

This summer, Salesian College Preparatory welcomed back home Kenneth Farr II, ‘10, as our new principal. He succeeds the dedicated and long-serving Marylou Flannery, who has begun a retirement.

Som-thing Special from the Garden

In the midst of a global climate crisis, Salesian College Preparatory is advancing its movement towards a more environmentally-sound future for its students and our world. The school is taking action with its Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative, a multiyear plan embodying the Salesian mission of innovative education and widespread leadership and service.

While some goals of the initiative have already been fulfilled, such as installment of energy-saving LEDs in campus buildings and the start of a student-led recycle and compost campaign, Salesian is proud to announce its most significant milestone thus far: the establishment of greenhouse gardens on campus.

The gardens initially began as a Faith Family project during Salesian Service Day 2022 and it has since evolved into a student-maintained campus fixture that includes two greenhouse gardens, housing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and edible plants. The hope is for the project to continue growing through future years and to have an impact on the local San Pablo and Richmond communities.

The ultimate goal is to have green spaces in many different areas of the 21 acre campus, possibly near the football field, rooftop gardens, or planting a variety of trees. All in an effort to grow and harvest what we can and give it to some local food banks.

In addition to environmentalism and service, the garden allows Salesian access to organic produce that is often used in the daily cafeteria menu.

“What I’ve learned through my cooking is that if you find good ingredients…your food will taste clean and delicious,” says Som Saengsourith, Salesian lunch caterer and owner of SOM-thing Special Catering.

Saengsourith comes from a family where food symbolizes comfort and community. Inspired by her father’s care and support, she began her catering business in 2020, earning special praise for her farm-to-table cooking and elaborate cake designs. As the official caterer for Salesian since Fall 2022, she loves getting to know the students and aims to serve organic lunches with the taste of home-cooked meals.

“I just think that there’s so many big things going on with people, and these kids (deserve) to get a warm meal and have a happy moment, even (if it’s just) once a day,” says Saengsourith.

Incorporating fruits and vegetables from the garden, Saengsourith has made delicious meals for school lunches and events, including persimmon salads, salmon sandwiches, and bulgogi. When asked about the significance of her meal preparations, she explains that, for food to be special, it must tell a story, and that is acknowledging the farmers and chefs who made each dish possible. She wants to give students the opportunity to learn more about food and make more informed dietary choices, knowledge that will help them lead healthier and happier lives.

Saengsourith is helping Salesian develop healthy habits, both inside and outside of the kitchen. As a part of the Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative, she is working to make all school dining utensils and containers 100% compostable to eliminate non-sustainable waste on campus. Additionally, she hopes to offer both Salesian and Contra Costa culinary students hands-on experience in the kitchen to learn more about sustainable cooking and food.

“This is one of those special incoming years with changes,” says Saengsourith, “I want to help however the school may need.”

With the student body playing an active role in sustainability practices on campus and incorporating them into the academic curriculum, students will receive an education that prepares them for the world after high school. It is hoped that students will find reverence for the natural world and be inspired as catalysts for local and global change.

Currently, students from all classes have begun offering their services to the garden and will continue to do so with members of the service organization, Club Bosco. The garden’s growth is thanks, in large part, to a grant given to Salesian last summer by the Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Whole Foods Market, devoted to the nutrition and wellness education of young people. Whole Kids educates students through their environmental programs and endowments, and Salesian is looking forward to continual work with them as the Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative progresses.

Going forward, the Initiative seeks to integrate connection with the natural world into all of its academic departments, such as the Environmental Science excursions to Wildcat Creek. Additionally, Salesian hopes to advance their new practices and programs through aid and involvement by Salesian families. In this way, school community and sustainability will strengthen hand-in-hand.

“Everything (Salesian) do(es), they want to do at a high level, and I think bringing this program in with food and sustainability needs to come in at a high level so these children will have a full package when they leave,” says Saengsourith, “They can take (what they learn) into the world with them and be mindful.”

Competing with PRIDE

Football: The 2022 Salesian football team finished the season with a record of 6-6. The team entered the NCS playoffs as the 7 seed and upset the two seed Moreau Catholic Mariners in the first round by the score of 14-10. The team’s season concluded with a loss to Justin Siena in the semi-finals.

Cross Country: The team had an outstanding year, with 9th grade sensation Nestor Alvarado leading the pack into the league championships and NCS meet held at Hayward High School. Nestor set a frosh school record running 16:37.5 and placing 22nd overall for Division 5 boys.

Girls Tennis: The girls’ tennis team played well under Coach Gary Hazard, placing 4th in league.

Girls Volleyball: The volleyball team finished with a 1912 overall record and went 13 – 0 in league. The team won their first round NCS contest against Upper Lake 3 – 0, before losing to the Bay School in the second round.

Girls Golf: Salesian fielded its first ever varsity girls’ golf team led by Coach Josephine Orozco.

Boys Soccer: The Pride qualified for the NCS playoffs where the team played Roseland Prep in the first round prevailing 1 – 0. The team lost in the second round to Lick-Wilmerding by the score of 2 – 1.

Girls Soccer: The girls’ soccer team competed well all season long.

Boys Basketball: The team won the TCAL Championship and won the consolation NCS Open Division game against Granada High School. In NorCal playoffs, the team advanced to the Division I Championship game before losing.

Girls Basketball: The girls’ basketball team won the TCAL Championship, the NCS Open Championship, and made it to the NorCal Open Division Championship before losing to the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs.

Boys Tennis: The team competed well in the always tough TCAL.

Swimming & Diving: The swimming & diving team was again led by senior Richard Timbang, Jr. ‘23.

Softball: The softball team finished second in league playoffs losing to Pinole Valley in the league championship game. The team earned the 3rd seed in the NCS playoffs. The team beat Ft. Bragg 6 – 1 in the NCS quarter finals, before losing to Del Norte 6 – 3 in the NCS semi-final game.

Baseball: The baseball went undefeated in the TCAL winning the league championship, earning a berth in the NCS playoffs. The team lost their first round NCS game to eventual champion Arcata by the score of 15 – 10.

Track and Field: The track team turned in many fine performances this season, with 9th grader Nestor Alvarado setting a frosh school record in the 1600 meter, running a time of 4:39.15.

Boys Volleyball: The team was led by first-year head coach Daniel Rome. After a productive regular season, the team qualified for the NCS playoffs, losing in the first round 3 -1 against College Prep High School.

Boys Golf: The team competed well all season long in the tough TCAL competition.

Redefining a Sustainable Model of Academic Success

Being intentional about encouraging students to develop their unique gifts and abilities, Salesian College Preparatory spent the 2022-2023 academic year examining the significant role that academic success plays in that development. How could the move to a new bell schedule with longer instructional times and a Flex learning period help students succeed more meaningfully? How could teachers’ professional learning around the social-emotional learning of their students and their own social-emotional health translate into new practices in the classroom? These questions were central to new activities that administrators, teachers, and students adopted during the school year.

Longer instructional blocks allowed students more time to try assignments collaboratively and with direct teacher facilitation. In other words, students had more opportunities to do quality work during the school day, making for less homework and less at-home confusion. This then led to different ways for students to demonstrate their understanding and learning through more critical thinking and project-based assessments. To understand that process more, all teachers attended a Challenge Success workshop on grading and assessment in December 2022. Inspired by workshops at Stanford University, Salesian’s Challenge Success team—comprising three students, three administrators, three teachers, and one staff/parent—provided suggestions to teachers to rethink assessment strategies, particularly end-of-semester summative assessments.

Related to this, all teachers provided two homework questionnaires to students to assess student time, interest, and difficulty with assignments, which could then affect their assessment performances. Using that data, teachers redesigned homework assignments and assessments based on that. In December 2022, student climate surveys, the data showed that students reported less homework. In Summer 2023, there was no on-campus summer school for the first time in over ten years due to a significant increase in students passing all of their classes. As Salesian moves into the 2023-2024 school year, the school community is thankful for its newer understanding of how our students can succeed and look forward to more meaningful innovation.

First Successor of Don Bosco Appointed Cardinal

On July 9, 2023, after the Angelus and reflection on the Gospel, Pope Francis announced the convocation of the Consistory on September 30, 2023, for the appointment of 21 new Cardinals. Among the names of the new Cardinals was our very own Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB. It is great news for the Salesian Family to have one of its members elevated to the rank of Cardinal. On the one hand, it shows the Holy Father’s love and trust in the congregation. As Don Bosco himself often said to his sons and daughters, “No efforts should be spared when the Church and the Holy Father need us.”

On the other hand, our Salesian Charism and mission is, through Fr. Ángel, placed at the service of the Church at a different level. Fr. Ángel wrote in his letter to the Salesian Family, “I presented to the Lord, in faith, this gift that Pope Francis has given us as a Salesian Congregation and the Family of Don Bosco. We should have no doubt about how much the Pope loves us; in the same way Pope Francis knows how much we all love him and how we support him, as much as possible, through our prayer.”

Pope Francis has allowed Fr. Ángel to continue his duties as a | Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation through July 31, 2024. After this, the Rector Major handed in his resignation letter. General Chapter 29 will be celebrated in February 2025, at which time a new Rector Major will be voted into office. The Vicar, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, has assumed the government of the Congregation until General Chapter 29 is concluded.

At the time of this writing, Fr. Ángel had yet to know what his duty as a new Cardinal will involve. He has asked for our ongoing prayers for him and the new Cardinals that they may fulfill the duties of their office. He writes, “In truth, I ask you to pray for me too as I face the prospect of this new service in the Church which, as a son of Don Bosco, I accept in obedience, without having sought or wanted it. Our beloved Father Don Bosco is a witness of this before the Lord Jesus.”

Rector Major Visits Salesian

Fr. Ángel paid a visit to the Salesian College Preparatory campus on November 18, 2022 as part of his official visit to the Western Province. He met with school administrators, parents, and students. Fr. Ángel's visit began with a visit to the cemetery, where the first Salesians who came to the US and California are buried. His visit included a dinner with school and province representatives, with entertainment provided by our student band. Fr. Ángel joined the band, playing the guitar and leading us in song.

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In Memoriam

Phylura Ryken, Mother to James ‘64, Bob ‘67, Mark ‘66, mother-in-law to Mark Shelton ‘72, grandmother to Nicole ‘99, Eric ‘04, and Katherine ‘09, Roxanne Mangosing (Ryken) ‘03 and Robert ‘ 06

Chuck Selway ‘70, Brother to Bill ‘64 (Deceased), Pat ‘65 (Deceased), Jim ‘67 (Deceased) and Dan ‘71

Polly Russell, Mother to Randy ‘67

Evelyn Canepa, Mother to Ray ‘73, Gary ‘77, grandmother to Silvio ‘03 and Nick ‘09

Catherine Murray, Grandmother to Cecilia (Vega) Jimenez ‘95 and Nicholas Vega ‘97

Kabir Kapur ‘10

Zoltan (Nick) Kraynik, Father to John ‘13, Julian ‘15, James ‘15, and Jozsef ‘22

Rose Anne Wright, Mother to Thomas ‘66, grandmother to Daniel ‘96 and Charlene ‘98

Bruce Hall ‘66

Marie Oddo, Mother to Michael ‘76

Sharon Quintero, Mother to James ‘09 and Carina ‘11

Dell Selway, Brother to Bill ‘64 (Deceased), Pat ‘65 (Deceased), Jim 67 (Deceased), Chuck ‘70 (Deceased) and Dan ‘71

Colleen Hanks (Mundt), Mother to Allison Bolen (Mundt) ‘98 and Adrienne Peterson (Mundt) ‘99

Toni Reeder, Mother to Joe Reeder ‘86 and Kim Laruta (Reeder) ‘96, Grandmother to Ruben Trevino ‘16

Geraldo Lorenzo (Larry) Blum ‘06, Brother to Maria Teresita Blum ‘04

Charlotte Granzella, Grandmother to Gina Schober ‘03 and Jacquelyn Rios (Schober) ‘06

Gary Freschi, Father to Mark ‘81

Manuel Antonio Nieto, Grandfather to Shawn Guardado’ 13 and Brittany Guardado ‘19

Al Guggemos, Father to Alena ‘95, Joe 98’ and Leigh ‘00

Dan (Shag) Shaughnessy, Faculty Member and Coach

Andrew (Andy) Fadelli, Father to Scott ‘81 and Steve ‘86

Tracy Sergeant, Parent to Tiffani (Sergeant) Bruno ‘98

Noreen Shaugnessy, Mother to Patrick ‘69 (Deceased), Dennis ‘72, Thomas ‘78, Kevin ‘82, Mother in Law to Jerry Olivero ‘81, Grandmother to Amanda (Olivero) Hassel ‘03, Andrew Olivero ‘05, Ashley (Olivero) Crawford ‘07, Anthony Olivero ‘10, Shirley Ann Shaughnessy ‘15, Devin Shaughnessy ‘17 and Robert Shaughnessy ‘18

Donald Ott, Father to Corey ‘97

-Fr.

“Their lives are a testimony to the integrity of life, the search for excellence, the joy of living and the commitment to family, church and school.”

John Itzaina, SDB

Once in a Lifetime Man

Daniel R. Shaughnessy

January 16, 1936 - June 21, 2023

Dan was born January 16, 1936, the youngest of nine siblings raised by James and Ella in Berkeley, CA. Dan attended St. Mary’s College High School, Berkeley, and played football with several of his brothers—all standouts in the game. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College and San Jose State and graduated from Utah State before receiving his Masters degree from St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

In 1965, Dan landed his dream job as an English teacher and Head Football Coach of his alma mater, St. Mary’s HS. He taught and coached at St. Mary’s for three years before becoming the Head Football coach at Salesian in 1968. Coach Shag was instrumental in transforming the dirt “pasture” Salesian was known for into a proper grass field for his Chieftains to compete on. Shag, along with the Selway and Martin families, was often seen plowing the “field” on the school’s tractor. The Giacomellis did their part and forged the goal posts. Dan’s wife Diane and all of the kids were never far from the field; she took the stats and kept every player’s record. Each of their children took a turn at the water bucket and as the ball kid.

Throughout his 17 years at Salesian, Coach Shag was a teacher, coach, mentor, confidante, and friend. He taught the X’s and O’s of football and life and gained the respect and admiration of all who knew him. He emphasized education and took pride in working hard. Shag believed athletics were a vehicle for achieving and becoming a great competitor in all facets of life. His coaching career is one for the books and includes St. Mary’s HS (1965-1968 and 1985-2001), Salesian (1968-1985), and Albany (2003-2005), in the end he retired with an outstanding record of 252-114-6 over his nearly 60-year tenure.

As for his time at Salesian, his legacy lives on—once a Chieftain, always a Chieftain.