Fall 2019
The Magazine for St. John’s College High School
OPENING IN SUMMER 2020
The Center for Performance and Leadership
In February, the junior De La Salle Scholars had the opportunity to travel to Boston to visit area colleges and universities. They are pictured at Northeastern University, and they also toured Boston College, Boston University and Tufts University.
Inside
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Life at St. John’s
Cadet Culture
Living Lasallian
Commencement 2019
St. John’s Center for Performance and Leadership
Sports at St. John’s
Alumni Action
Photo Gallery
Class Notes
Condolences
FROM THE PRESIDENT
DEAR ST. JOHN’S COMMUNITY,
As St. John’s looks toward the future, I am proud to announce the Campaign for Performance and Leadership. Within the pages of this magazine, you will learn about how this campaign will grow the school’s endowment and continue the second phase of the campus master plan. With the approval of St. John’s Board of Trustees, construction began on the Center for Performance and Leadership in May 2019. This state-of-the-art facility will directly support the Cadet Corps Leadership Program, Entrepreneurial Center and athletics program. The expansion of our campus facilities, the growth of our endowments and the success of the school have a common goal: to provide each current and future Cadet with the highest standard of academic, cocurricular and athletic excellence. Building the endowment provides the financial support students need to make a St. John’s education possible, but it also supports programs such as the Christian service immersion trips and scholarships for women in leadership. Established as an all-boys school by the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1851, St. John’s has an accomplished tradition. Today, we are coeducational with a highly successful and diverse student community, who continue to benefit from the school’s traditions. The Cadet Corps Leadership Program harkens to the school’s founding
principles, our athletic programs compete at the highest levels and the Entrepreneurial Center is preparing students for an ever-changing world. Moreover, our academic excellence is proven with each student accepted to the nation’s top colleges. Through all its success and growth, St. John’s continues to remain faithful to a strong and lasting sense of community instilled with our Lasallian values. The Center for Performance and Leadership addresses the needs of our students and provides for the growth of our programs and the student body. It recognizes the important objectives already established for the Donatelli Center for the Visual and Performing Arts and the Cap Mona Family Student Center additions. In this context, the master plan advocates a planned development of facilities that will enhance the campus as a whole and set a high standard for St. John’s next century of success. I hope you will consider supporting the students and the St. John’s community. Sincerely,
Jeffrey W. Mancabelli | President
Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 | St. John’s College High School Jeffrey Mancabelli
Kathy Bagley
Kathy Bagley
Christopher Themistos
Kathryn Zahner
Kathryn Zahner
PRESIDENT PRINCIPAL
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Esten
Heather Long
Mark Gibbs ’96
Beth O’Connell
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Tom Veith
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Lori Martin
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES
Jean Morin
DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
EDITOR
CONTRIBUTOR
Lawrence French, Kathy Bagley PHOTOGRAPHY
Linda Loughran ART DIRECTOR
St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 www.stjohnschs.org _______ Alumni and Development Office 202-364-0229 202-363-5091 | F kbagley@stjohnschs.org
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s Welcomes New Trustees This fall, St. John’s Board of Trustees welcomed four new members. Patrick Dunn ’03 is the founding member and practice leader for the employee benefits division of Copper Dunn, an independent, full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm. Under his leadership, Copper Dunn boasts a rapidly expanding employee benefits practice in the mid-Atlantic region. Dunn spends a significant amount of his time getting to know and understand his clients and prospects. His team is renowned for helping clients identify innovative and cost-effective solutions that effectively manage the inflationary pressures of the current insurance marketplace environment. These successfully implemented strategies consistently deliver favorable outcomes for his clients and are the foundation for building a sustainable benefits program. Dunn holds a bachelor’s degree from the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. He resides in Kensington, MD, with his wife, Mallory, their son, Sonny, and their daughter, Maisy. Bradley Fennell ’83 is a senior vice president for WC Smith. With more than 30 years at the company, Fennell currently serves as president of WCS Development. He is responsible for the company’s real estate development activities, from entitlement and design through construction and stabilization. Under his leadership, the company has executed neighborhood revitalization projects incorporating a mix of building types, uses, tenure and income ranges. Current development projects
include more than 1,100 units under construction in the Capitol Riverfront, H Street, NE corridor and the Hillcrest and Barry Farm neighborhoods. Fennell is a graduate of The Catholic University of America and a long-time resident of the District of Columbia. He is president of the DC Building Industry Association and chairman of the board of directors for the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District. Korey Neal ’08 serves as president of K. Neal Truck and Bus Center, a full-service commercial truck dealership headquartered in Hyattsville, MD. He is also the owner-operator of NAPA Automotive Parts of Greater Washington, a leading automotive parts and accessories distributor. Neal is a consistent executor of sales, service and leasing operations, generating more than $100 million in annual revenue. His company sells more than 800 commercial vehicles per year, maintains a leasing fleet of more than 200 units and holds nearly 50% of the market share on the school bus product for the state of Maryland. Most recently, K. Neal was recognized by the Washington Business Journal’s 2019 Family-Owned Business Awards, and Neal was featured in School Transportation News and Successful Dealer for his success in the transportation industry. Neal also serves on the boards for First National Bank-Washington Regional, Vehicles for Change, Excel Automotive Institute, Catholic Charities Task Force and Eastern Michigan University’s
Korey Neal ’08, Debbie Whyte and Bradley Fennell ’83. Not pictured: Patrick Dunn ’03
Athletic Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from American University. He currently resides in Bowie, MD, with his wife, Allison, and their son, Korey. Debbie Whyte is the owner and CEO of Whyte House Monograms, Inc., a small business that provides monogramming services for every occasion. For more than 15 years, Whyte House Monograms has been featured in many charity shows supporting the local community and schools in the Washington, DC, area. Whyte was recognized in Bethesda Magazine as a leader in the woman-owned small business sector. Prior to starting her own business, she was the office manager at the Christmas and Hamlin Law Firm. For the past two decades, Whyte has volunteered her time and expertise with several organizations. Most recently, she served on the board of directors for Children’s National Medical Center in DC, where she played an important role in their fundraising efforts. She has also served as president of the St. John’s Mothers’ Club, co-chair of the Little Flower Gala for the Little Flower School, junior chairperson at Kenwood Citizens Association and event chair for the Catholic Charities Legal Aid Fundraiser. Whyte earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and currently resides in Chevy Chase, MD, with her husband Roger. They are the proud parents of three St. John’s alumni: Roger ’04, Ryan ’06 and Morgan ’12. SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 3
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
THE ARTS AT ST. JOHN’S
Gallery Night Iciline Mix ’22
Isabella Davila ’19
GALLERY NIGHT 2019 AWARD WINNERS • Best in Show 2D – Tia Wilson ’20 • Best in Show 3D – Molly O’Connor ’20 • Second Place – Kevin Harper ’20 • Third Place – Isabella Davila ’19 • People’s Choice – Ella Weaver ’20 • Donatelli Art Award – Emma Farrell ’19 • Honorable Mention – Lefa Askew ’21 • Honorable Mention – Annie Hagerty ’19 Emma Farrell ’19
Tia Wilson ’20
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Kevin Harper ’20
• Honorable Mention – Jessica Kolevar ’21 • Honorable Mention – Caroline Lander ’20 • Honorable Mention – Sophie Ledet ’20 • Honorable Mention – Sara Miller ’19 • Honorable Mention – Iciline Mix ’22 • Honorable Mention – Ryon Sarkarzadeh ’20 • Honorable Mention – Nick Telma ’21 • Honorable Mention – Emily Woodhull ’19
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
THE ARTS AT ST. JOHN’S
The Marvelous Wonderettes April 4-6, 2019
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LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
Four students received special awards at Academic Convocation. From left: Thomas Kresina ’20, Paul Teter ’20, Maddie Vincent ’20 and Victor Aldridge ’20.
Brendan Shea (left), chair of the English Department, received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award. St. John’s faculty selected social studies teacher Jason Smith (center) and religion teacher Jonathan Navas as the recipients of the Gasser Award.
Honoring Academic Excellence On Sept. 15, St. John’s honored students and teachers for their achievements during the 2018-2019 school year at the annual Academic Convocation. Each September, St. John’s recognizes current sophomores, juniors and seniors for their academic success during the previous school year. For the 2018-2019 year, 377 students earned Certificates of Achievement with Distinction for receiving a 3.6 GPA with no grade lower than a B. Of that group, 88 students received the San Miguel Febres Cordero Award for earning straight As. In addition, St. John’s academic departments presented individual awards to outstanding students in each class.
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At this year’s Academic Convocation, four students received special awards. Victor Aldridge ’20 received the La Salle University Book Award, Thomas Kresina ’20 received the George Washington University Book Award, Paul Teter ’20 received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award and Maddie Vincent ’20 received the Wellesley College Book Award. Three educators were also recognized at this event. St. John’s faculty selected religion teacher Jonathan Navas and social studies teacher Jason Smith as the recipients of the Gasser Award, which is presented annually to two teachers who serve as Christian role
models for the students and who are committed to excellence in teaching. English Department Chair Brendan Shea received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award, which is presented each year to a faculty member who embodies the Lasallian ideals. During the second half of the program, St. John’s Archbishop Hannan Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 162 new members, and faculty members Chris Maloney, Kellie Prendiville, Tom Sipowicz and Michelle McIntosh-Peters each spoke about one of the society’s four pillars: leadership, scholarship, service and character.
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Jason Smith ’03 This fall, Jason Smith ’03 returned to St. John’s to join the Student Affairs Office as a dean of students.
For the past 11 years, Smith served in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department. He spent three years on patrol, followed by assignments to drug, firearm, crime suppression and tactical units. “It was different every day. It was a good chapter in my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” He had the same partner for five of those years, and they shared a focus on community. “We were always out in the community walking the beat, even when we didn’t have to anymore. We liked to be out amongst people, really talking with them and helping them.” He initially joined the force as a stepping stone to a career in the Secret Service. However, Smith changed his mind once he saw the proactive role he could have as a police officer. “You can see the effect that you have on people’s lives. If you want to do the work, you can go out there and really impact the community.” Now, Smith is walking the halls of St. John’s – a very different experience. However, while he takes his role as an authority figure seriously, he also wants to embrace the Lasallian tenet of meeting students where they are. “I really try to let them know that I’m not here to police them – I’d like to guide them in a positive direction. I think I have a lot of life experience I can lend, even if it’s just an ear for them to talk to.” Smith said he’d always wanted to find a way to be part of the school community, even in a volunteer capacity, but his schedule as a police officer just wouldn’t allow it. When he had the
opportunity to retire early this year, this position seemed like a perfect fit. Now, he’s enjoying being back on campus and reconnecting with his former teachers in a new way. “They were amazing teachers and amazing people when I was here, and now it’s fun to see them as colleagues and work with them.” As a Cadet, Smith played soccer, wrestled and ran track. He went on to play soccer for Salisbury University, and he played in Italy and Belgium during his summer breaks. Now, he’s enjoying cheering the Cadets on from the sidelines. “I like going to the games because I want the kids to know that they are supported, and it’s a great opportunity to build relationships outside the classroom.” Smith said one of the greatest lessons he learned during his time at St. John’s was the importance of a diverse community – something that is an integral part of the St. John’s experience. “I was fortunate to have a very diverse group of friends, and when I got out into the world, I felt like I could truly relate to a lot of people. And that’s something that is ingrained in St. John’s. You can learn so much from your peers, not just from your teachers.” St. John’s president Jeff Mancabelli was pleased to welcome Smith back to take on this new role within the SJC community. “With the ever-changing landscape of education, St. John’s is fortunate to have someone who understands our Lasallian philosophy and brings a wealth of experience from his previous career. That combination makes him such an asset to the school.”
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LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
Cadet Culture SJC MUSICIANS GO TO DISNEY In March, performing arts students from Vocal Resonance, Competition Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and String Ensemble competed at Festival Disney in Orlando, FL. The Regimental Band also marched down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, ST.
CADETS, YOU MAY APPROACH THE BENCH SERVING THE NYC COMMUNITY SJC students and faculty spent their spring break serving others in New York on the Bronx Christian Service Immersion Trip.
On April 30, our sophomore De La Salle Scholars met with Federal Judge Richard Leon at the US Courthouse. Judge Leon, who has been on the bench for 17 years, reflected on his responsibilities and discussed his experiences.
NEW HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES
ARTISTS CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF POVERTY EDUCATION WEEK Each year, St. John’s student-artist exhibits are displayed around campus during Poverty Education Week to raise awareness of the plight of the poor.
INNOVATION IN ACTION
On May 2, St. John’s Modern and Classical Languages Department welcomed new members to the Latin, Spanish and French National Honor Societies.
On April 11, the student teams that took first and second place at the Entrepreneurial Center’s Start-Up Experience Workshop in March v isited City Garage in Baltimore, an incubator space for small businesses, and heard from entrepreneurs about their experiences. These sophomores also had the opportunity to tour the Lighthouse, Under Armour’s innovation hub. PRESENTING THE COLORS
SCHOLARS TRAVEL TO EUROPE The senior De La Salle Scholars traveled to Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic during spring break.
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On May 3, the SJC Color Guard presented the colors at the opening ceremony of the Flower Mart at the Washington National Cathedral for the fourth year in a row.
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
JOHN’S STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES!
BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE On May 9, Jim Stakem ’66 returned to campus to speak to students in our American Literature classes, who are reading The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, about his experiences during and after the Vietnam War, as well as his time as an SJC student.
CAPPING OFF THEIR EXPERIENCE On May 20, students pitched their business ideas to their peers and faculty as part of the inaugural Senior Capstone Project for St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact. This project is an opportunity for students to collaborate outside the classroom as they create business-oriented solutions to realworld challenges impacting the global community.
CADETS CELEBRATED AT NATS PARK MEETING OF THE MINDS On May 14, Suzie Kowalewski ’05, director of St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact, met with Allie Wolfe ’18, who recently won the New Venture Exposition hosted by the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. Wolfe beat out more than 60 other business concepts with her product: jewelry that incorporates date rape drug testers within it.
On June 20, the SJC baseball team was honored on the field before WCAC Night at Nationals Park – they won their sixth consecutive WCAC championship this spring!
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE In July, rising juniors visited colleges including Johns Hopkins University and James Madison University as part of the Junior Summer Workshop.
BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED This fall, we are excited to welcome back four alumni as members of the SJC faculty! From left: Stephen Harlan ’15 (social studies), Antwon Bailey ’08 (math), Colleen Morse ’06 (science) and Madi (Tanzi) Wicker ’10 (English).
SUMMER SERVICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY This summer, SJC students and faculty participated in five different weeklong service trips to Montana, Mississippi and New Jersey through our Christian Service Immersion Program. SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 9
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s Dedicates New Exhibit Honoring the Christian Brothers On Oct. 4, St. John’s dedicated a new campus installation that celebrates the Christian Brothers and all they have given to the students and the community at St. John’s. The dedication of the Brothers’ Heritage Wall is part of the yearlong celebration of the 300th anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s entry into eternal life. The exhibit features a timeline of the Brothers’ history with the school, and an interactive touchscreen displays biographies of the many Brothers who have been called to serve at St. John’s. The display is located outside the entrance to the Lasallian Mission and Ministry Center, in the Cap Mona Family Student Center. The idea for the Brothers’ Heritage Wall was formed almost two years ago by Director of Mission and Ministry Tom Sipowicz. While St. John’s has several installations detailing the history of the school, there was no specific display about the Brothers’ many contributions.
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Msgr. John Enzler ’65 returned to campus to bless the new Brothers’ Heritage Wall.
“I was hit with the realization that there was nothing that spoke of the great ministry the Brothers have performed. This is likely not surprising when we consider the humility that the Brothers are
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
It was wonderful to have so many Brothers on campus to celebrate the dedication of our new exhibit. Front row: Bro. Robert Wickman, Bro. Edward Gallagher, Bro. John Kane, Bro. David Rogers and Bro. Thomas Gerrow; second row: Bro. Arthur Bangs, Bro. Malachy Broderick and Bro. Mark Brown; back row: Bro. Joe Grabenstein, Bro. Leo Smith and Bro. Patrick King.
known for, but there was no question that we had to create a permanent display that would honor these men,” said Sipowicz. Using the book that was published to celebrate St. John’s 150th anniversary, a group of students was charged with counting and re-counting the list of Brothers who have been assigned to the school – a total of 545 over the last 168 years. In the spring of 2018, the De La Salle Scholars Class of 2019 began working with faculty member Bro. Mark Brown, FSC, to research the Brothers’ history with St. John’s. They scoured yearbooks and conducted interviews throughout the district in order to create a record of images and stories about each Brother who has served at the school. Bro. Mark then took that research and expanded it, digging through archives, conducting additional interviews and writing biographies. This work will continue to progress until a biography for each Brother is available through the interactive touchscreen display.
Msgr. John Enzler ’65 returned to campus to bless the new Brothers’ Heritage Wall. St. John’s also took time to thank the many community members who contributed to this project, including Felicia Baker, St. John’s archivist; Bro. Joe Bro. Thomas Gerrow tries out the interactive Grabenstein, FSC, archivist touchscreen display. for the Historic Baltimore District; Billy Layton, chair of the SJC Computer Science Department; Mel Colvin, SJC director of technology; Kathy Bagley and Kathy Zahner of the SJC Communications Office; James Rogan ’20, summer research intern; and St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli, who recognized the importance of this project in celebrating the school’s history. “I am very grateful for the many people who made this possible,” Mancabelli said. “As we continue moving SJC into the future, we will always be reminded of the dedication and sacrifices of these Brothers.”
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LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
Cadet Corps News To reinforce their team building curriculum in the classroom, sophomore cadets participated in a variety of hands-on team building activities during a day with Outward Bound in October.
In September, freshmen in the Cadet Corps traveled to downtown DC to visit the Marine Corps Barracks, where they learned about cadet culture topics like military rank, military uniform, drill and ceremony and military history. St. John’s also hosted members of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon on Sept. 26. In addition to giving several demonstrations, members shared the history of drill and how it continues to play an important role in the formation of military units today.
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This fall, St. John’s Cadet Corps Leadership Program has introduced a number of new experiential learning opportunities for St. John’s cadets.
LIFE AT ST. JOHN’S
Over the summer, rising seniors in the Cadet Corps traveled to West Point for a two-day leadership experience.
In October, juniors in the Cadet Corps Leadership Program took a trip to Gettysburg Battlefield to learn about leadership through the lens of historical battles and decisions. This will complement their study of the evolution of technology over the last two centuries and how it has impacted our society and changed leadership.
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LIVING LASALLIAN:
Students Fulfill the Lasallian Call
TO SERVE This year marks the 300th anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s entry into eternal life, and the Institute of the Christian Brothers is celebrating his tercentenary as the Year of Lasallian Vocations. The year 2019 has also been declared a jubilee year by the Holy See, a time for expressing faith through concrete actions in favor of those most in need. St. John’s young Lasallians fulfill the spirit of this celebration each day through service to their community and to the disenfranchised, locally and globally. Here, two De La Salle Scholars from the Class of 2019 share their experiences serving the community at our fellow Lasallian institution, the San Miguel School, a middle school in Washington, DC, that is dedicated to transforming the lives of academically underserved and economically disadvantaged Latino boys and preparing them for future success.
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MARGUERITE SAUNDERS ’19 GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Helping San Miguel Students Find Their Voice During my time at St. John’s, I have had the privilege of volunteering through the Lasallian Youth Club as a tutor at the San Miguel School, a fellow Lasallian school in Washington, DC, that educates middle school boys who otherwise wouldn’t be able to benefit from a Catholic education. As a tutor, I had the chance to spend time with many of the students there, helping with their studies in math and English and speaking with them about their day-to-day lives. My experiences engaging with the students and teachers at San Miguel – from witnessing their kindness to appreciating their hard work – left me with an admiration for the way the San Miguel School lives out the Lasallian values I have come to appreciate at SJC. I began thinking about the ways I could use my own blessings to contribute even more to the San Miguel community, but I wasn’t quite sure what I could do to help. After working on The Sabre, St. John’s student newspaper, during my junior year and serving as editor-in-chief my senior year, I became excited by journalism and its possibilities. In May of my junior year, I asked a student I was tutoring if San Miguel had a school newspaper of its own. After learning the answer was no, I finally knew how I could help. Drawing from my experiences writing for The Sabre and seeking guidance from my teachers, I began designing a journalism workshop curriculum for middle-schoolers as my senior independent study project for the De La Salle Scholars Program. I first spoke with Bro. Mark, who encouraged me to approach San Miguel and offer to work with them in establishing their own school newspaper. After receiving an enthusiastic
response, I began working with Mr. Foley, a teacher at San Miguel, to plan and organize weekly journalism workshops. We held our first workshop in October 2018, and for the rest of the school year we had the pleasure of working after school with 10 San Miguel students every week. The students were eager to learn and excited about the opportunity to write something they could share with their school community. Over the course of the year, the students made substantial progress and learned how to write well-structured and engaging articles and how to consider their audience, while also developing important skills like sending professional emails and interviewing people with different perspectives. They decided to write articles about the way San Miguel’s house points system bolsters school spirit, the recent community service projects of their own Lasallian Youth Club, the impact of character-based Miguel Man awards at their school and profiles of teachers who volunteered in Guatemala and played for the Washington Redskins. For some of the students, having to plan and work in advance of deadlines, respond to feedback and remain motivated throughout the entire editing process presented a challenge. With the help of Mr. Foley, I adapted to the needs of my students and figured out how to both push them to grow and develop realistic expectations of my own. Despite our challenges, we ultimately learned how to work as a team and how to hold each other accountable for our contributions to the group effort while managing to have some fun, too. After finally finishing their first edition of The Star Times in March 2019, the students
enjoyed the satisfaction of sharing their work and the realization that people were interested in the stories they had to tell and thoughts they wanted to contribute. Since my freshman year at St. John’s, the foundational Lasallian mission of using one’s gifts and talents in service to the greater community has been impressed upon me. My freshman year at SJC, I learned in my honors scripture class that “At every time in our lives, there is an opportunity to see God.” I began volunteering at San Miguel because I wanted to live out that Lasallian mission and embrace the opportunity to encounter God in others, but what I didn’t anticipate was that I would truly learn from my students: not just new songs and jokes, but how to be adventurous and empathetic and joyfully take advantage of every opportunity. I enjoyed forming relationships with the boys in the newspaper club and came to appreciate spending time with each and every one of them, even when they missed a deadline or joked around too much during our meetings. My experiences leading journalism workshops at San Miguel have helped me develop a new appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the teachers at San Miguel and at St. John’s and allowed me to truly recognize the beauty and necessity of the work that Lasallians do by choosing to see God in all people, no matter their background. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside my students at San Miguel and hope to not just have given them a voice, but to have guided them in discovering and developing their own.
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LIVING LASALLIAN
JAKE SCHRAMM ’19 YALE UNIVERSITY
Serving As A Guide For San Miguel Parents As I approached the little pink house that sunny July morning, all my nerves surrounding living in a Dominican village for a month were calmed by two young boys beaming as they ran to welcome me, their father holding cups of guava juice. I had just embarked on the most challenging month of my life: volunteering through Amigos de las Americas. My service partner, Sam, and I were sent to work and collaborate with the remote, low-income, family-oriented community of Loma de Yaque. Among the precarious palm trees and omnipresent goats, we settled into our new life with the Diaz family. Every day, Sam and I would wake up to a cup of hot chocolate and warm “pan” from our abuelita, and more often than not, we would eat two, maybe even three, dinners due to constant pleas from different community members to serve us dinner. The outpouring of selfless love from families making roughly six dollars a day transformed my experience and outlook on the world and the Latin American way of being. On one of those nights, I remember thinking that I would love to break bread with an anxious newcomer (like myself) back home one day. The Lasallian emphasis on service to the disenfranchised provides St. John’s students with a strong foundation. Ten years from now, I am nearly positive I will have forgotten about thermodynamics and the Siege of Yorktown, but the sense of fulfillment brought on by our extensive service experiences will stay with me. During my sophomore and junior years, I collaborated with administrators at a public elementary school and then a recreational center, leading the young children in activities from reading to soccer drills. To this day, I
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still play basketball at the rec center with a high-spirited, athletic fourth-grader named Christian that I met during my junior year service. Going into my senior year, I knew I loved Spanish and its culture and serving youth – but I had no idea how I would combine those interests for my De La Salle Scholars senior independent study project. In retrospect, the eventual materialization could not have been more fitting and fulfilling. For the past two years, I had also tutored at the San Miguel School, a middle school for Latin American boys that boasts 100 percent private school placement. After arriving home from my summer Amigos experience, I arranged an interview with a former counselor at San Miguel, Bro. Mahon. We wove our way through the ins and outs of San Miguel, eventually agreeing that my initial service proposition, a peer-tutoring initiative, would not be logistically feasible. Before leaving, I dejectedly asked if I could, in any way, aid San Miguel, and the answer changed the course of my year. Bro. Mahon introduced me to their parent-teacher conference dilemma. Many San Miguel parents have recently immigrated to this country and are insecure about their English. Because of this, the school has had to scramble to find translators, and sometimes parents might not even come in for conferences. Hearing this was an epiphany: all of my Spanish training, immersion trips and service had collided, within my own city! I excitedly contacted my AP Spanish teacher, Mrs. Kemper-Moore, and San Miguel’s parent-teacher conference
coordinator, Mrs. Morataya, with my proposition. Both were exceedingly helpful, and Mrs. Kemper-Moore had me introduce the program to her two AP Spanish classes. Alex Toner ’19, Regina Familiar ’19 and Christina Vannoy ’19 all graciously pledged to assist for the entire school year. The idea Bro. Mahon and I had crafted was coming to fruition! During the year, two of us would translate from 2:00-5:00 pm. Each session consisted of 15-minute reviews of the student’s performance and areas that needed improvement. One student we frequently discussed was Juan. Quarter after quarter, Juan surpassed expectations on standardized assessments, but lacked the motivation to consistently turn in homework, hindering his grade. I began to lose hope, but in the third quarter, we changed our approach. Instead of telling Juan what to do, we devised an incentive-based plan – if Juan finished his schoolwork before his mother got home, then he could play video games later. At our final conference, his math teacher reported that Juan earned a 91 in his class! Saying “trabajo increíble” instead of “enfócate en la tarea” was the light at the end of my tunnel of constructive criticism. My experience with Juan and his mother was just one of many in which I saw my generous, loving Dominican community in my home city. This time, I was the one breaking bread for the newcomer, just as I had wished. I am sure my fellow translators would agree that the Lasallian pursuit of service, fused with our near mastery of the Spanish language, provided a unique way for us to connect with people we would never have met, a fulfilling experience that broadened our perspectives.
CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF
2019 SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 17
GRADUATION 2019
Clara Morrison
Maria Ascanio Alino
VALEDICTORIAN, SJC CLASS OF 2019
SALUTATORIAN, SJC CLASS OF 2019
AN EXCERPT FROM THE VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
AN EXCERPT FROM THE SALUTATORY ADDRESS
We are all blessed to have had the opportunity to attend this school, to receive support from the community and to come to know our value and potential. Often, it is the simple things our teachers do, like Mr. Shea, who starts each class by talking and joking with us, listening to us and making us feel valued.
As someone once said, “A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart.” We know that as students attending a Lasallian school, we were promised a quality education, which we received; but what we couldn’t understand until we got here was how a teacher could touch someone’s heart. At St. John’s, our teachers and counselors have made us feel like a part of a family.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
Other times it is long-standing traditions, like Kairos. There, we learned the power of vulnerability, trust and love. We were encouraged to know our self-worth and to help others know theirs. We were enlightened to understand the impact that small actions and a few kind words can have on our classmates. Now, as graduates, we are called to live this out on a larger scale. We leave St. John’s with a responsibility to serve the world. Standing before you today, I can proudly say that I am not just a field hockey player, but a valedictorian. I am a daughter and a sister, a friend and a teammate. I’m a problem solver and a hard worker, and like all of you, I am a child of God. I could not be more proud to represent this school and the values for which it stands. And I could not be in better company than the Class of 2019. Through every friendship we formed, every challenge we overcame and every lesson we learned from our teachers, coaches or our own mistakes, we have grown from uncertain freshmen into morally grounded, intelligent and independent Cadets, capable of anything.
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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
We have all seen how much our class has to offer; we have people with endless interests, and as different as we all are, not once have I seen anyone feel alone, which is what has ensured our extraordinary ride. Don Roff said, “Always work with and surround yourself with people who help make you a better version of you. Kindly avoid those who don’t.” The community our class has formed throughout high school is what guaranteed our great experience at St. John’s. The respect we had for each other made each of us feel included, even through our hardships. So, I want to thank all of you for being the kind, loving people you are, because without you, our high school experience wouldn’t have been the same. I now understand that who we surround ourselves with matters. We were lucky to be surrounded by each other, but in the next ride we go on, we need to make sure we find people that are talented, inclusive and supportive, just like at St. John’s.
Colleges and Universities This fall, the 254 members of the Class of 2019 are attending 128 colleges and universities. Collectively, they earned more than $33 million in scholarships. American University Amherst College Anne Arundel Community College Auburn University Barnard College Bentley University Bowie State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Case Western Reserve University Catholic University of America Champlain College Christopher Newport University Clemson University Colby College Colgate University College of Charleston College of William & Mary Columbia University Drexel University Duquesne University East Carolina University Eastern Kentucky University Elon University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach Fairleigh Dickinson University Florida Southern College Florida State University Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University High Point University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Howard University Indiana University at Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte) Lafayette College Liberty University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Manhattan College Marquette University Marymount University Massachusetts Institute of Technology McDaniel College Messiah College Miami University, Oxford Mississippi State University Montgomery College Morehead State University Morehouse College Mount St. Mary’s University New England College New School – All Divisions New York University North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences
Ohio University Old Dominion University Pennsylvania State University Radford University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Richard Bland College Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Francis University Salisbury University Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design Scripps College Skidmore College Southern Connecticut State University Southern Methodist University St. John’s University St. Thomas Aquinas College Stevenson University Syracuse University Temple University Towson University Trinity Washington University Tulane University Tuskegee University United States Air Force Academy University at Buffalo, The State University of New York University of Alabama University of Colorado at Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dayton University of Edinburgh
University of Florida University of Georgia University of Iowa University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh University of Richmond University of Rochester University of South Carolina – Columbia University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Vermont University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech Wagner College Wake Forest University Washington Adventist University Wilson College Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana Yale University SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 19
Class of 2019 Commencement Awards Excellence in Art: Isabella Davila Excellence in Computer Science: Maria Ascanio Alino Excellence in English: Liana Harris Excellence in French: Zoe Schmitt Excellence in Performing Arts – Instrumental: Caroline Peters Excellence in Performing Arts – Choral: Kate McLoughlin Excellence in Cadet Corps Studies: Isabella Heintz Excellence in Latin: Maria Shepp Excellence in Mathematics: Maria Ascanio Alino Excellence in Religion: Isabella Heintz Excellence in Science: William Heinle Excellence in Social Studies: Olivia Perna Excellence in Spanish: Marguerite Saunders Scholar-Athlete Award: Carlyn Rivera and Timothy Swope Raygan Mona’s graduation with the Class of 2019 marks 100 years of the Mona family legacy at St. John’s. The family’s first Cadet, Carl Hoffmann, graduated in 1919.
Theatre Award: Sophie Ryan Lasallian Christian Service Award: Zoe Walls Citizenship Award: Gabriella Williams Archbishop’s Award: Jesse Vega Principal’s Award: Rian Haigler Salutatorian: Maria Ascanio Alino Valedictorian: Clara Morrison
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Innovation | Leadership | Excellence
A Campaign for Performance and Leadership
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 21
The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
A Lasallian education must continually challenge itself to be creative while remaining faithful to its origins.
S T. J O H N B A P T I S T D E L A S A L L E
A
t St. John’s, our Lasallian mission challenges us to evolve to meet the needs of our students. As we move into the next phase
of our campus master plan, we have the opportunity to create spaces that allow students to open their minds, unlock their talents and build strong foundations in leadership. To support our students in these endeavors, we will also build our endowment to ensure St. John’s has the necessary resources for scholarships, tuition assistance and program expansion to support generations of students to come.
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THE CENTER for PERFORMANCE and LEADERSHIP WILL SUPPORT The spirit of
The lessons in
leadership instilled by the Cadet Corps
The culture of
excellence that is the heart of every athletic team
innovation that drives the Entrepreneurial Center
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 23
The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
A Culture of
excellence: Performance Center &
Gallagher Gymnasium
Expanding and enhancing our current athletic facilities will improve the on-campus experience for our more than 800 studentathletes and create equity between our boys’ and girls’ athletic teams, allowing St. John’s to better meet the needs of our students. When St. John’s became coeducational in 1991, we doubled the number of athletic teams without doubling the space for our student-athletes. In 1999, with an enrollment of 780 students, the construction of Roth Gymnasium added a practice court, weight room, training room and additional locker facilities. Over the last two decades, we have renovated and expanded the main school building to support the growth in our academics, arts, mission and ministry programs. Now, with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, the time has come to build a performance center that matches the level of achievement and excellence demonstrated by our athletics program.
sports and add new performance facilities, including an indoor turf training field, to give our coaches and athletes space to prepare for each season.
After 60 years of venerable service, Gallagher Gymnasium is due for a major renovation and expansion. A double-height open lobby will welcome athletes, fans and visitors, and a new upper level will add an alumni lounge, student lounge and offices for coaches and athletic administrators. In Gallagher, new flooring, new graphics, new backboards, a new scoreboard, an upgraded sound system and air conditioning will enhance the fan experience. The expansion will also provide enough locker rooms to serve our 29 varsity
Our athletes strive for greatness, and our coaches, trainers and athletic staff seek to help each student reach their personal best. It is time to create a facility to support that mission and to dedicate the space necessary to create equity among our teams. The Center for Performance and Leadership will allow St. John’s to meet every student where they are, from the novice to the college-bound athlete, and to help each of them achieve their goals, build character and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.
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A sports medicine suite will provide our athletes with the support they need to prevent and recover from injury, including large hydrotherapy and recovery pools. An adjacent crew training room will feature multiple erg machines and support the active care component of sports medicine. In addition to our athletic teams, students taking academic courses in sports medicine, performance training, health, physical education and nutrition will also use and benefit from the enhanced facilities.
First Floor SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 25
The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
Forging Leaders of
character: Cadet Corps Leadership Program Complex
For more than 100 years, St. John’s Cadet Corps has forged young men and women into leaders. As we look to the future, it is time for the program’s facilities to truly reflect the high standards and level of leadership embodied by the Cadet Corps. One of St. John’s proudest traditions and flagship programs, the Cadet Corps Leadership Program forges leaders of character who will make a difference in the world. To complement the program’s new vision, we must provide a dedicated space to allow the Cadet Corps to thrive, as well as a place for our cadets to call their own. The Cadet Corps Leadership Program Complex is an investment by the school and the St. John’s community in the future of the program and in the generations of cadets to come. Reinvigorated by a new curriculum and new leadership in 2019, the Cadet Corps Leadership Program is built upon four pillars: leadership, cadet culture, character and health and wellness. Students develop self-awareness, learn to motivate and influence others and have the
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opportunity to lead teams of their peers. Cadets learn to apply the four pillars in all aspects of life and study their applications in global society, preparing for lives of leadership beyond St. John’s. Strategically placed within the Center for Performance and Leadership, this new complex will provide a dedicated space to allow the Cadet Corps and its students to flourish. This learning and living environment will include a student conference room and student lounge to encourage collaboration. As the program continues to expand, leaders from the alumni community and the greater Washington, DC, area will speak in the 80-seat lecture hall shared with the Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact.
“ My father and uncle were both in the Cadet Corps at St. John’s. Being a part of the Cadet Corps, following in their footsteps and having the same experience they did, means so much to me.” RJ MORA ’22
Second Floor
“ Being a member of the Cadet Corps has enhanced every aspect of my experience at St. John’s. It has made me a better athlete, student, leader and friend.” S Y D N E Y A N TO N U C C I ’ 2 0
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 27
The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
The Spirit of
innovation: Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact
Like all great innovations, St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center started with an idea – to encourage our students to be creative in thinking and bold in action. Innovation and entrepreneurship are bedrocks of the global economy and the fastest-growing field of study at the collegiate level. Through their work with the Entrepreneurial Center, students come to understand that the primary goal of innovation is to improve the human condition. They will make an impact on the world by combining their entrepreneurial spirit with the Lasallian values of compassion, social justice, personal responsibility and service to others. Since the Entrepreneurial Center’s launch in 2015, St. John’s has developed a four-year, cross-curricular learning experience unlike anything students will encounter in a traditional classroom. Through their involvement in the program, students focus on the importance of social responsibility and come to understand their role in creating a positive impact, both within their communities and beyond. As freshmen, students attend a full-class retreat that focuses on character and leadership. Sophomores have the opportunity to attend the Start-Up Experience Workshop, an immersive, two-day experience that explores the full lifecycle of the entrepreneurial process. 28
The junior year curriculum is integrated with their Christian service requirement; students reflect on their service work and apply the design thinking process and the pastoral circle to create an action plan to end the cycle of poverty they encountered. The Senior Capstone Project is an independent study opportunity during which the students move through the entrepreneurial process in teams to create business-oriented solutions to real-world challenges impacting the global community. It culminates in a pitch session, where the students present their final business plans to a group of faculty members and peers. The next step in the center’s evolution is a dedicated facility for students to gather, collaborate, create and invent. Located in the heart of the Center for Performance and Leadership, this learning environment will include an innovation lab that can also serve as a classroom, a makerspace or a meeting place for group collaboration. The 80-seat lecture hall, which will be shared with the Cadet Corps Leadership Program, will allow students to learn from leaders and innovators who will share their real-world experiences.
Main Level
Second Floor
“ Someone once stated that there are three kinds of people in the world: those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and those that wonder what happened. I believe that. To succeed in business today requires creative innovation. St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact not only helps students deal with change, it teaches them to create it and do so in a way that benefits society. Someone else once said that if you hate change, you will love irrelevancy even less. This exciting initiative provides a tremendous boost to the creative process required for St. John’s students to become catalysts for positive change and innovation in our ever-changing world.” C H R I S S T E V E N S ’ 7 0 , E N T R E P R E N E U R , P H I L A N T H R O P I S T A N D E D U CAT O R
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The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
Community-centered
spaces:
Bringing Cadets Together to Celebrate Our History The Center for Performance and Leadership will also add new spaces for students and the greater SJC community to gather on campus. Lobby/Hall of Fame
ATHLETIC HA LL O F FA ME Since 1973, the Athletic Hall of Fame has recognized the individuals and teams that achieved excellence during their time at St. John’s. Now, the Center for Performance and Leadership will provide a physical location to honor the contributions these Cadets have made to the rich history of St. John’s athletic programs.
St. John’s College High School Campus Master Plan
HA LF C O URT A LUMNI LO UNGE A dedicated space for St. John’s graduates and their guests, the Half Court Alumni Lounge will encourage fellowship among Cadets – and provide unmatched views of the action in Gallagher Gymnasium. STUDENT LO UNGE This student-centered space will provide an inviting environment to work, gather and relax. It will also serve as a place to welcome those visiting our campus for events in the Center for Performance and Leadership.
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Student Lounge
Endowed
scholarships:
Investing in St. John’s Future
Creating new endowments, as well as supporting existing ones, is an essential part of this campaign. In order for St. John’s to continue the work of the Christian Brothers and ensure that generations of students have access to a St. John’s education, the school must build endowment funds to provide the resources for scholarships, tuition assistance and program expansion. Funds like the general endowment and named, endowed scholarships generate income from principle held in perpetuity and invested by the school, allowing us to plan for the future. The Campaign for Performance and Leadership will seek the support of existing endowments and the establishment of new ones. Three endowed scholarships have already been committed as part of this effort. T H E B E C K W I T H CH R I S TI AN S E RVI CE E N D OW M E N T Named in honor of the late Major General Ronald Beckwith ’53, the Beckwith Christian Service Endowment will provide St. John’s students with the opportunity to work directly with God’s poor, both in the United States and around the world. During these immersion programs, students will gain an integrated understanding of their Christian responsibility to lift up those in need, while also improving the lives of those they serve. Further, General Beckwith believed that personal growth and leadership skills are born out of accepting the challenge to leave the comforts of home and learning to navigate unfamiliar situations and settings. The resources from this endowment will place students in far-reaching communities similar to St. John’s current partnerships with a Lasallian school on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and struggling communities in Mississippi.
THE PIERC E FA MILY SC HO LA RSHIP Established by Albert C. ’62 and Mary Pierce in honor of his late parents, CWO and Mrs. Albert Pierce, USMC (Ret.), this academic scholarship is given with preference to a student who has lost a parent while attending St. John’s. This endowment perpetuates the work of the Christian Brothers, who allowed Al Pierce to finish his St. John’s education on scholarship after the passing of his father. THE GENE MO RRILL THEATRE SC HO LA RSHIP Established by Gene Morrill, who led St. John’s Theatre Program from 1965-1974, this scholarship will perpetuate the program he helped make an essential part of the St. John’s experience. This academic scholarship will be presented to a rising sophomore who has shown talent and dedication to the St. John’s drama program while maintaining a strong academic record. SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 31
The Campaign for Performance and Leadership
A Vision for Our Future
For more than 160 years, St. John’s has provided an outstanding education that encourages the academic, athletic, social and spiritual development of the students in our community. Our success is built upon the generosity of generations of alumni, parents and friends of the school, who have ensured that St. John’s students continue to receive the highest quality Catholic education in the Lasallian tradition.
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The St. John’s experience goes beyond the classroom; our students continue their education on the field, on the stage, in the halls and in service to the community. This is why we have envisioned a campus transformation that will enhance every aspect of student life. Through this evolution, we will fulfill our Lasallian mission to support and encourage our students to realize their talents and to help each one express their God-given potential.
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 33
11 Season HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
SPORTS
Winter 2018-19
First Team All-WCAC Players
ALL-MET PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WCAC COACH OF THE YEAR
ALL-MET COACH OF THE YEAR
WCAC CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
WCAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GATORADE DC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WCAC CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GATORADE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Azzi Fudd ’21, Girls’ Basketball
Desmond Dunham, Girls’ Track and Field Azzi Fudd ’21, Girls’ Basketball Quinn Kennedy ’21, Boys’ Ice Hockey Lilly Wardour ’19, Girls’ Ice Hockey Casey Morsell ’19, Boys’ Basketball
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY
Paul Wardour, Girls’ Ice Hockey Jonathan Scribner, Girls’ Basketball Azzi Fudd ’21, Girls’ Basketball Casey Morsell ’19, Boys’ Basketball
The girls’ varsity ice hockey team won the inaugural WCAC championship in February. Lilly Wardour ’19 was selected as the WCAC Player of the Year, and Head Coach Paul Wardour was named WCAC Coach of the Year. In addition, the varsity and JV teams both won MAGHL championships.
3
DCSAA Team Titles 34
16 7
Azzi Fudd ’21, Girls’ Basketball
First Team All-Met Players
Total All-Met Players
SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The girls’ varsity basketball team won their third consecutive WCAC championship and their fourth consecutive DCSAA title. The team also traveled to New York City to compete in the prestigious GEICO High School Nationals tournament for a national championship, becoming the first WCAC team to compete in that tournament.
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WCAC Team Titles
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
St. John’s girls’ indoor track and field team repeated as DCSAA champions, and Alicia Dawson ’19 and Mordecai McDaniel ’20 each earned MVP honors at the championship meet. Dawson won the long and triple jump events and Alahna Sabbakhan ’19 took first in the 800m, breaking the meet record. On the boys’ team, McDaniel won the 300m in meet record time and also captured gold in the 55m dash, while Lance DaSilva ’19 took first place in the shot put.
WRESTLING
The varsity wrestling team won their third consecutive WCAC championship, and six wrestlers earned individual WCAC titles: Tadhg Martinez ’21 (106), Luke Kowalski ’20 (113), TJ Stewart ’22 (160), Seamus Selmi ’19 (170), Jake Sita ’21 (182) and Mikey Keen ’21 (285). The team also won the DCSAA championship, their sixth since 2013, and nine individual DC titles. In April, TJ Stewart ’22 earned the title of national champion for the freshman 160-pound division at the National High School Coaches Association tournament in Virginia Beach.
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2
In February, the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation invited Mordecai McDaniel ’20 to represent the United States at the Reykjavik International Games in Iceland. He competed in the 400m and anchored the 4x200m team to victory.
MAGHL Team Titles
Total All-WCAC Players SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 35
2 Season HIGHLIGHTS 1 7 3 2 SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
SPORTS
Spring 2019
DCSAA Team Titles
WCAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Wesley Speaks, Boys’ Lacrosse
Interschool Horse Show Title
WCAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dane Hall ’19, Boys’ Lacrosse
Total All-Met Players
BASEBALL
The baseball team finished 30-3, winning the WCAC regular season title for the eighth straight season and the WCAC tournament title for the sixth straight year. The team then went on to win the DCSAA championship. Locally, the Cadets finished #1 in The Washington Post and ranked in the top 30 nationally by four different publications, including #14 by USA Today. James Triantos ’22 (first team), Ian Remalia ’19 (second team) and Luke Schauer ’20 (honorable mention) were selected to the All-Met team by The Washington Post.
First Team All-Met Players
WCAC Team Titles
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SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
EQUESTRIAN
In April, the JV equestrian team won Reserve Champion and the varsity team came in fourth for the yearlong Interschool Horse Show season.
5
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Total All-WCAC Players
First Team AllWCAC Players TRACK AND FIELD
At the 2019 WCAC outdoor track and field championships, the SJC girls’ team repeated as champions and the boys came in second place. Alicia Dawson ’19 was named MVP and came in first place in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. Alahna Sabbakhan ’19 came in first place in the 400m dash and 800m run. On the boys’ side, Josh Paige ’20 came in first place in the 200m dash, and Lance DaSilva ’19 came in first place in the discus. The boys’ 4X100m team also came in first place. The girls’ team also won the DCSAA outdoor track and field championship.
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 37
SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
SPORTS
Class of 2019
During the winter and spring seasons, 31 seniors committed to continue their careers at the college level.
College SIGNINGS GIRLS’ SOCCER
Maliah Morris will play for Clemson University and Gabriella Nastasi will play for Morehead State University.
SWIM AND DIVE
FOOTBALL
St. John’s football program had 12 seniors commit to continue their careers in college. Front row: Rian Haigler (College of William & Mary), Tim Swope (Amherst College), Aman Greenwood (Syracuse University), Ron Cook (University at Buffalo), Quinten Johnson (University of Michigan) and Keilan Robinson (University of Alabama); back row: Brayden Bapst (Vanderbilt University), Malik Burgess (Salisbury University), Drew Berggren (Colgate University), Nick Wolf (Fordham University) and Cam Ross (University of Connecticut). Not pictured: Tre’mon Morris-Brash (University of Central Florida).
RUGBY
Rory Culkin and Thomas Steele will both play for Mount St. Mary’s University next year.
Shelby Ball will attend Saint Francis University, Laila Michel will attend Case Western Reserve University and Keyla Brown will attend East Carolina University.
TRACK AND FIELD
SOFTBALL
Raye Thomas committed to play softball for Howard University. 38
Five Cadets will compete in track and field for their colleges and universities: Liam de Beaufort (New York University), Anna Cestari (College of William & Mary), Lance DaSilva (Bowie State University), Alicia Dawson (High Point University) and Maia LaFrance (St. John’s University).
BOYS’ SOCCER
Six Cadets will continue their soccer careers at the next level. Front row: Joshua Slager (Franklin & Marshall College), Jose Melendez (Washington Adventist University) and Aden BrodyOgborn (Skidmore College); back row: Sean McNamara (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Eric Eichler (Hobart College) and Matthew Surette (Southern Connecticut State University).
SPORTS AT ST. JOHN’S
Azzi Fudd ’21: Gatorade National
PLAYER OF THE YEAR On March 12, Gatorade announced Azzi Fudd ’21 as the National Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year for 2018-19. She is the first sophomore to earn this honor for girls’ basketball, and the first Cadet to be named as a Gatorade National Player of the Year. Fudd’s friends, family, teammates, coaches, teachers and special guest Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics surprised her at school with the news of her selection. The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character both on and off the field. The 5-foot-11 sophomore guard led the Cadets to a 35-1 record and both the WCAC championship and the DCSAA title this season. A twotime WCAC Player of the Year, Fudd averaged 26.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2021 by ProspectsNation.com, she was the only sophomore member of the gold-medal winning US team at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus in July 2018. She is also the first sophomore in history to be a Naismith Award finalist. Fudd planned and hosted “Hooping for a Cure,” a basketball clinic to raise money for the Pat Summit Foundation. She has volunteered locally with the Catholic Youth Organization and as a youth basketball coach, in addition to maintaining a 3.68 GPA in the classroom. On March 8, Gatorade announced Fudd as the 2018-19 DC Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, an honor she also earned for the 2017-18 season. She was also named as the WCAC Player of the Year and DCSAA Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season. “We are all so proud of Azzi and all of her accomplishments through her first two years here at St. John’s,” said Jonathan Scribner, St. John’s head girls’ basketball coach. “She has helped the team win championships, but more importantly, through her character, humble approach and incredible work ethic, she has helped to raise the bar for all of us, not just the girls’ basketball team. It is great to see this recognized on the national level as she is so deserving of this award.”
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 39
ALUMNI ACTION
ALUMNI ACTION
Kelly was joined by several of his classmates at this year’s speaker event.
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES
MICHAEL KELLY ’88 On Jan. 31, St. John’s welcomed Michael Kelly ’88, vice president of athletics at the University of South Florida and St. John’s trustee, as the guest lecturer for the annual Distinguished Speaker Series. Prior to taking on his current position at the University of South Florida, Kelly served as chief operating officer for the BCS and College Football Playoff from 2012 through 2018. He was president of the Super Bowl Host Committees for Tampa Bay (XXXV), Jacksonville (XXXIX) and South Florida (XLI). He also previously served as executive director of the 1999 NCAA Men’s Final Four and senior associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. During his remarks, Kelly focused on three centering principles that have guided his career path, a method he said he learned from Dr. Maya Angelou as a student at Wake Forest. The first, “love
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what you do,” has defined a career that is centered on a field he is passionate about and that has offered him opportunities to grow and take risks, both personally and professionally. The second, “life is a relationship business,” is applicable to his career path, as all but one of his positions were the result of a personal connection, but also to the importance of building relationships with those around you. Finally, he advised, “keep calm and play to your strengths,” which is applicable to both life and sports. Knowing the value of managing nationally-recognized sporting events, Kelly pursued short-tenure challenging positions in which he could use his strengths and develop additional skills. Throughout his talk, Kelly returned to these principles to demonstrate their significant role in shaping his attitude and professional expertise. He also spoke about the important impact of his family, particularly his parents, who encouraged him to embrace discipline and to be passionate about his career, and St. John’s, where he found many excellent role models among the diverse student body. He explained that he started living up to his potential under the charism
of the Christian Brothers at St. John’s, which gave him the foundation for a successful life. “I’m all in on St. John’s,” he said. Kelly also outlined his career path, emphasizing that “you have to take risks. It’s not our plan; it’s God’s plan. We must emulate others and be present to them.” At the conclusion of his presentation, he took questions from the audience that allowed him to speak to business aspects of college athletics, such as the proposal of stipends for college athletes and collegiate student-branding. The annual Distinguished Speaker Series provides St. John’s graduates with a chance to network and hear from successful individuals in fields such as business, politics, entertainment, athletics and the arts. Recent speakers include Karl Racine ’81, attorney general for Washington, DC; Chris Stevens ’70, one of the founders of Keurig; Raul Fernandez ’84, chairman of ObjectVideo and vice chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment; Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, DC; and Akihiko “Kiko” Washington ’76, executive vice president of worldwide human resources for Warner Bros. Entertainment.
ALUMNI ACTION
YOUNG ALUMNI
SJC LAUNCHES YOUNG ALUMNI BUSINESS NETWORK
Attendees heard from speakers, most of them SJC alumni, who are leaders in the business community. Middle: Daniela Bilmanis ’05, Chris Love ’03, Pat Dunn ’03, Nick DeSarno ’97, Korey Neal ’08, Matt DeSarno ’91, Jim Whitty ’93 and Suzie Kowalewski ’05. Right: Jay Long, Dana Bernard and John Poole ’71.
On Jan. 4, St. John’s Alumni Council and Entrepreneurial Center hosted the inaugural SJC Young Alumni Business Network event for the classes of 2013-2018. The half-day program provided more than 125 young alumni with a unique opportunity to learn from and network with SJC alumni who are leaders in the business community. Following breakfast, prayer and a brief introduction to the morning, the first of the four half-hour sessions began. Suzie Kowalewski ’05, director of the SJC Entrepreneurial Center, and Daniela Bilmanis ’05, director of strategic programming at Johnson Controls, led the Personal Branding session. The presenters provided foundational ideas for how to create a personal brand. Kowalewski explained, “You must communicate the essence of who you are and what value you can bring to the company, and then create a message and a strategy to promote the ‘you brand.’” Bilmanis offered advice for how to approach the job interview. She advised that preparing and practicing answers to common interview questions and going on several job interviews – even for positions that might not be the perfect fit – are important ways to become more comfortable and build self-confidence during interactions with potential employers.
The second presentation, Personality Profile, References and the Interview, was led by FBI Deputy Director Matthew DeSarno ’91, Nick DeSarno ’97, principal and owner of Rock Spring Contracting, and Jim Whitty ’93, president at R&R Mechanical, who shared their expertise regarding all aspects of the interview process. Their presentation outlined the general and specific types of interview formats, and they provided examples of interview questions that an applicant should be equipped to answer. Preparation, including knowing the company’s values, and practice are crucial to a successful interview. They stated that the goal of the interview is A.C.T. – be authentic, make a connection and give potential employers a taste of who you are. Pat Dunn ’03, president at Copper Dunn Company, Chris Love ’03, senior development manager at ZOM Living Mid-Atlantic, and Korey Neal ’08, president at K. Neal Truck and Bus Center, presented on the third topic, Leveraging the St. John’s Alumni Network. Their discussion centered on how to be an impactful networker, citing the more than 10,000 SJC alumni as a valuable resource. The panel emphasized that to be a good networker one must seize every opportunity to engage with people – even with individuals who are not in your profession or line of business. The larger the network, the greater the opportunities. Love advised, “Know your room – who you will be conversing with. Active listening is key to staying in the conversation.”
The final session, Once You Land the Job, was led by current SJC Board Chair and President of Daycon Products John Poole ’71, Dana Bernard, director of human resources at Summit Group, and Jay Long, vice president of human resources at Ruppert Landscape. The presenters focused on the art of negotiating once a job offer has been made. Long highlighted the importance of gathering information about the company prior to negotiating – including learning the company’s culture, reputation, vision and structure. Bernard explained that before entering the negotiating process, it is essential to know your budget, do salary research for the area and assess personal needs vs. wants in order to know your bottom line. Poole emphasized that negotiating, which includes the use of tactics, is a skill everyone can and must learn. He also reminded the alums, “It’s not all about the money. Find a job you love and never work another day in your life.” From 10:00 am through 12:30 pm, participants had the opportunity to meet with business representatives from 26 companies in Cassidy Commons, and the afternoon concluded with lunch in the Borger Promenade. “I loved the event,” said Maggie Wood ’15. “I connected with a few people at the career fair with whom I have already had further conversations over the phone, via email and through LinkedIn. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and I hope St. John’s continues this program in the future.” SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 41
ALUMNI ACTION
ALUMNI IN SERVICE
SERVICE AND SUCCESS BEYOND SJC Alumni return to discuss their careers in service as part of Poverty Education Week. On March 8, Mary McCarthy ’12, Jillian Griffith ’10 and David Street ’04 returned to campus during Poverty Education Week to speak with the senior class about their service careers. Even though each has pursued a different profession, they are all driven by their passion to build community through helping those in need. McCarthy, returning for a third year to speak with SJC seniors, works for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington as a housing advocate for the Rapid Re-housing Program in Montgomery County. She told the students of the pivotal role her Lasallian background and college experience played in helping her find her service career niche. While attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland, McCarthy found that engaging in college service activities helped her cope with the stress of her studies and final exams. However, her life took a turn when she realized she wouldn’t be able to graduate on time. And then it happened. “I was offered an internship at a transitional shelter with Catholic Charities, and I fell in love with the work,” she said. Her current position involves helping people find housing and then subsidizing their housing for a few months. This funding comes from the Catholic Church and through donations and grants. McCarthy stated, “The movement in the nation is ‘housing first.’ Then we deal with the rest of it. I am so blessed to be able to do this.” With doctors as parents, Griffith has always been influenced by and interested in the health field. At college, she studied nutrition, and during her graduate work at Georgetown University, she focused on public health and cancer prevention work. During her studies, she became intrigued by the possibility of providing people with a prescription for free food and vegetables. With a desire to serve at the community
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David Street ’04, Mary McCarthy ’12 and Jillian Griffith ’10 spoke to seniors in De La Salle Chapel.
level and meet people where they are having the most interaction with food, Griffith chose to become an in-store nutritionist and recently started working for Giant Food, Inc., at a store location in Ward 8. From her earlier work at a needle distribution center in the South Bronx, NY, Griffith knew that many people living in poor urban areas did not have access to fresh food and experienced food insecurity. “Nutrition doesn’t matter if people’s basic needs aren’t being met,” she said. As a public health nutritionist and retail dietitian, her work at Giant includes collaborating with the store to stock healthier products and helping Giant build a nutrition program for the local residents. “Let your passion fuel your work, and it will take you far,” she told the seniors. Street, who also presented to last year’s seniors, is a Washington, DC, native and the deputy director of grassroots organizing (Eastern region) for Bread for the World, the country’s leading nonprofit combating hunger and poverty. An associate minister at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in NW, DC, he also serves as the executive
director for P.E.N. (Promote, Enrich and Nurture) DMV, a faith-based nonprofit that specializes in mentoring and STEM instruction for middle and high school youth living in Washington, DC. When not traveling around the world to promote and facilitate legislative change to end poverty and hunger, Street mentors young men, focusing on the importance of digital citizenship. He told the students about his early childhood growing up in Ward 7 and how the diversity of St. John’s was somewhat of a culture shock for him. When he began attending St. John’s, he was very uncomfortable, which triggered disciplinary problems and forced him to decide if he really wanted to stay at the school and work through his issues. He made the choice to stay; however, the discomfort he felt during his high school years has remained a galvanizing force in his life. He said, “Make yourself uncomfortable and that is probably your calling – to bring attention to that injustice. When you start doing those things that make you uncomfortable, the world is yours – great things are going to happen.”
ST. JOHN’S THEATRE
HALL of FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY 2020 On April 24, 2020, St. John’s will induct five new members into the school’s Theatre Hall of Fame. __________________ THE 2020 INDUCTEES
Jay Holloway ’69 Paul Schommer ’70 Timothy S. Emerson ’84 Nathan Claridad ’00 Jone Dowd, Choreographer 1965-1969 __________________
The induction ceremony and reception will be followed by a performance of the spring musical in Frana Auditorium. An event schedule and ticket details will be available in the new year. To learn more about St. John’s Theatre Hall of Fame and view the full list of members, please visit www.stjohnschs.org/thof.
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 43
REMEMBER WHEN GOD INITIALLY CALLED YOU TO RELIGIOUS LIFE?
WHEN WE FIND SOMETHING MISSING, WE OFTEN HEAR THE CALL AGAIN. THE exploring your vocation as a christian brother
As graduation from college approached, you thought about the call again—but you chose a different path. Law school. Banking. Engineering. No matter the work, it just isn’t fulfilling. The tug at your heart to serve God and your neighbor is still there.
You’re hearing the call again.
Consider the Brothers Learn more at fscDENA.org Or contact Br. Edward Shields, FSC at shields@fscDENA.org
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BROTHERS ARE HERE TO HELP YOU DISCERN YOUR VOCATION IN LIFE.
MOST FEEL GOD’S CALL TO SERVICE EARLY IN LIFE . . .
PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO GALLERY A L U M NI E V E N T S
Naples Alumni Reception – Jan. 22, 2019
Los Angeles Alumni Reception – March 5, 2019
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 45
PHOTO GALLERY
A L U M NI E V E N T S
Dallas Alumni Reception – March 19, 2019
New York City Alumni Reception – April 9, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
A L U M NI E V E N T S John ’65 and Kari Hughett hosted a tailgate for SJC alumni before the Cadet football game against Duncanville High School in Texas.
Texas Football Tailgate – Sept. 14, 2019
SJC alumni gathered in Manhattan for what has become an annual event hosted by Asia Carr ’08 and Nick Papillo ’11. This year’s attendees had the opportunity to hear from News 12 reporter Marisa Marcellino ’04, and there was also a surprise appearance from Raul Fernandez ’84, who treated the entire group to a night out in the city after the event! Young Alumni Connection New York Network – Oct. 22, 2019
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 47
PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 1949 – Sept. 21, 2019
Class of 1954 – Sept. 21, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 1959 – Sept. 21, 2019
Class of 1964 – Sept. 21, 2019
Class of 1969 – June 6-7, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 1974 – Sept. 20, 2019
Class of 1979 – Sept. 20, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 1984 – Sept. 21, 2019
Class of 1989 – Nov. 1, 2019
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 51
PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 1994 – Nov. 1, 2019
Class of 1999 – Nov. 2, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
R E U NION S
Class of 2004 – Nov. 2, 2019
Class of 2009 – Nov. 2, 2019
Class of 2014 – Oct. 4, 2019
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PHOTO GALLERY
Doc Scalessa Golf Tournament 2019
Alvin Perkins ’75 and Pat Patton ’75
Jim Bieber ’65, Nick Carosi ’65, Ed McArdle ’65, John Thiel ’65 and Jeff Mancabelli
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PHOTO GALLERY
Kevin Stecklein ’92 and Beth O’Connell P ’22
Tommy Gletner ’84, Jeff Mancabelli, Rich Schneider P ’18, P ’22, Matt Galvin P ’22 and Andy Greene ’84
Andrew Cleary ’94, Matt Ritz ’97, Jeff Mancabelli, Bill Fay ’67 and Brad Fennell ’83
Coley O’Brien ’65, John Thiel ’65, Jim Bieber ’65 and Dave Murphy ’65
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Are You Following Us? Connect with St. John’s on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay in touch with the school and stay up to date on the latest news and events! instagram.com/stjohnschs facebook.com/StJohnsCollegeHighSchool @StJohnsCHS @SJCAthletics
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CLASS NOTES
CLASS NOTES
Do you have news to share with the St. John’s community?
1944
1963 Fr. Tim Corcoran ’63 published an article, “Service as a Lawyer Leads to Service of Another Kind,” in the July/August 2019 edition of The Bencher, The Magazine of the American Inns of Court.
1965 We want to hear from you! Submit your class notes and pictures to classnotes@stjohnschs.org.
Mike Dowe ’44 with grandsons Zach ’26 and Douglas ’28 in front of his class photo.
1949
Ralph Lorenzetti ’65 retired as a prosecuting attorney in 2016. He was elected and installed as a county commissioner for Jefferson County, WV, in 2018.
1966 Jim Stakem ’66 returned to campus in May to speak to students in St. John’s American Literature classes, who were reading The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Jim discussed his experiences during and after the Vietnam War, as well as his time as an SJC student.
1972
In March, Joe Cardaci ’49 was inducted into the Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his work as a coach. He is pictured with his wife, Ann; his son, Jim; his daughter, Kelly; her husband, Bill; and his granddaughters, Gabrielle and Ella.
This summer, Stephen Zubrod ’72, vice president of system marketing and communications at Mission Health, was inducted into the Hospital Marketing National Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the advancement of marketing hospitals or healthcare facilities.
SJC | Scarlet & Grey | Fall 2019 57
CLASS NOTES
On March 14, members of the Class of 1955 gathered on campus for a luncheon commemorating the dedication of St. John’s Classroom 100A in honor of their classmate, Tony Grimm.
1977
From Mike Hartnett ’77: “On Oct. 1, 2019, I retired from the Montgomery County Police Department after 36 years. My final assignment was deputy commander of the Second District (Bethesda). And secondly, my wife and I moved from Rockville to Dagsboro, DE.”
1980
1979
John McNamara ’79 was killed in June 2018 while at work at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, MD. The Capital of Basketball: A History of DC Area High School Hoops is more than just a book – it is a labor of love following a tragic event that is the legacy of who John was as a reporter, writer and local sports enthusiast. It’s also a tribute to Andrea, John’s wife, and her perseverance in the face of tragedy to finish this project that was so important to John. While several people helped Andrea complete the book from notes that John left behind, it was Andrea’s strength, perseverance and love for John that made the book a reality.
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From Roddy Naranjo ’80: “I wanted to share some good news...thanks to the grace of our Lord, I found a willing living donor and I received my miracle on Dec. 12, 2018...the greatest Christmas gift ever!!! The kidney transplant was performed at Tampa General Hospital and it was a total success, currently healing slowly but feel 1,000% better.” Pictured: Roddy and his donor were invited to tell their story during the local Good Morning Orlando Show on Fox35.
1982 Jan. 2 marked a new career opportunity at Covestic, Inc., for John Metz ’82: “At Covestic, (a ServiceNow business partner), I am helping businesses in the mid-Atlantic region to maximize their
This March, members of the Class of 1969 gathered at Clyde’s in Chevy Chase to “think of days gone by.” They meet regularly three times each year. Pictured are Mike Guilday, Pat Casey, Jack Gaegler, Pete Brown, Mike Boyle, John Arroyo, Scott Sumter, Babe Marina, John DiGiovanni and Steve Sinclair.
investments in their ServiceNow platforms to improve the delivery of services to IT, security, HR and business. I am also helping organizations transform the delivery of services to their external customers and improving the customer experience simultaneously. In addition, we are helping companies with managed services offerings to lower costs and help them focus on more innovation for their end-consumers. All this, while continuing to advocate and support the SJC football and basketball teams as they take on the nation’s best high school competition and delivering our SJC community play-by-play action via MaxPreps sports! GO SJC!!!”
CLASS NOTES
1987 Francisco Semiao ’87 was made a Knight Commander by the Royal House of Portugal.
1988
At this summer’s 50th class reunion, the 1969 championship baseball team also reunited for some fun. Front row: Walt Dosh ’69, Pete Grant ’69 and Pat Brant ’69; back row: Jim Kernan ’70, Mike Bolger ’69, Ray O’Brien ’69, Joe McNamara ’70, Jim Ohlhaver ’69, Mike Toomey ’69 and Phil Slagle ’69.
Richard Phillips ’88 wrote a children’s book, Read This Book If You Don’t Want a Story, that was published by Tilbury House on Sept. 3.
1996 In August, Best Lawyers in America recognized Teresa Teare ’96, a partner at Shawe Rosenthal LLP, as Lawyer of the Year. Teare, who represents employers and management in labor and employment-related litigation (including claims involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour violations and leave entitlement and accommodations), was recognized as 2020 Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year in Baltimore.
Members of the Class of 1978 met in Tampa, FL, for a Washington Redskins’ game on Nov. 11, 2018, hosted by Dave Queen. From left: Queen, Thomas Graham, Ron Ross, Rob Greenfield and Charles Sanders ’79.
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CLASS NOTES
1997
On Feb. 6, Glenn Benjamin ’97, principal of St. Jude Regional Catholic School (Rockville, MD), successfully defended his dissertation for his Ed.D. in interdisciplinary leadership at Creighton University (Omaha, NE). His dissertation, entitled An Examination of the Behaviors and Strategies of Resurgent Parish Elementary Schools, researches and studies the various models for leadership of a K-8 Catholic school and evaluates the pros and cons of each.
2003 This spring, Dominique Footes ’03 was selected as a Fellow for the 2019 Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at the Association for Career & Technical
Mary O’Donnell ’02 married Benjamin Drake on Oct. 7, 2018, and several SJC alumni were in attendance. From left: Adam Schneider ’02, Caitlin (Beston) Robinson ’02, O’Donnell, Marissa Coleman ’05, Emily DeGaglia ’02 and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins ’02.
Education, sponsored by the ECMC Foundation. The program’s advisory committee selected 20 participants for the 2019-2020 cohort, who will support current and aspiring leaders in career and technical education with the goal of providing professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders at nonprofits and postsecondary institutions.
2008
Gery Brownholtz ’08 married Kirsty Sievwright on Aug. 2 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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2006 Katherine DeStefano ’06 was recently presented with the 2018 Claude M. Scarborough Pro Bono Award by her law firm, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. The award recognizes outstanding commitment and contribution to pro bono work. An associate in the Washington, DC, office, Katherine has been instrumental in the firm’s involvement with the DC Bar’s Landlord-Tenant Court Clinic; due to her efforts, the court clinic is staffed six times per year. Katherine also handled seven cases for DC Volunteer Lawyers.
Robin Garcia ’06 has a B.S. in marine science and biology from the University of
CLASS NOTES
Submit your class notes and pictures online at classnotes@stjohnschs.org
2015 Zachary Hahn ’15 was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army on May 17, out of the ROTC program at University of North Carolina Charlotte, 49ers Battalion.
Matt Eiden ’04, former Cadet baseball player and current strength and conditioning coach for the Washington Nationals, is pictured with the 2019 World Series trophy.
Miami and an M.S. in marine biology from the College of Charleston. She is now the communications director for NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program in Silver Spring, MD, and recently traveled to Palau for the US Coral Reef Task Force meeting. She is pictured at the Todai Lookout, a World War II site overlooking the Northern Reefs in Palau.
2009 In January, real estate broker Cameron Webb ’09 was profiled by The Washington Informer as “The Millennial Shaping Our City.”
2014 On Sept. 7, Isabel Tanzi ’14 joined the religious life as a Sister of Life. She will begin her Postulancy in the Bronx, NY. As she begins this spiritual journey, she asks for the prayers of St. John’s community, who played an important part in the path she has taken.
Ricardo Roberts ’18 (second from right) traveled to Pasadena, CA, for the 2019 Rose Bowl Parade. He appeared on the 60th anniversary Honda Battle of the Bands float, on which the Hampton University Marching Force Drum Line joined seven other HBCUs.
In April, Andrew Martin ’15 was named Conference Carolinas Tournament MVP. He played for the Limestone College lacrosse team, which was ranked #1 in Division II lacrosse and was the only undefeated team.
2018 Last fall, Shalvit Grimes ’18 was announced as a winner of the 2018 Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. A total of $120,000 in college scholarships (payable over four years) was awarded to seven high school students who generated distinctive solutions to problems faced by their schools, communities, families and the world. Recognizing the global education crisis faced by girls in the developing world, Shalvit helped impoverished girls in Haiti create a sustainable plan for raising funds to pay their school fees. She worked with local organizations to help the girls source durable, free materials that would otherwise be discarded; cut and sew these materials into simple drawstring backpacks using solar-powered sewing machines (for which she helped raise funds); and develop strategies for getting the bags to market. Shalvit is currently attending St. John’s University.
This spring, Allie Wolfe ’18 (right) won the New Venture Exposition hosted by the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. Allie beat out more than 60 other business concepts with her product: jewelry that incorporates date rape drug testers within it. In May, she stopped by campus to visit with Suzie Kowalewski ’05, director of St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact.
2019 Sari Finn ’19 won second place in the Junior Achievement of Greater Washington scholarship competition and was awarded $10,000 toward college. Her essay was about the Senior Capstone Project she completed through St. John’s Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact.
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CONDOLENCES
CONDOLENCES Our deceased alumni, faculty and friends are enrolled as perpetual members of the St. La Salle Auxiliary. The Christian Brothers and the entire St. John’s community offer their prayers and condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed. (Includes notices received from Nov. 7, 2018, through Sept. 18, 2019.) ALUMNI
1937
James Anderson
1939
Francis Daly
1941
1952
John Conley James Hance Joseph Romero
1953
J. Mahlon Tarleton
Ronald Beckwith William Exner
1942
1954
Richard Stone
1943
Rosser Payne
1944
Eugene Cordes
1945
Daniel Callahan Vincent Durkin Victor Zangla
1949
Thomas Blaydes J. Thomas Bowles Leonard Wilson
Robert Tracy John Manfreda
1964
Robert Eiden Gregory Stanford Arnold O’Donnell
1967
Thomas Gaffney Daniel Porter John Walker
Francis Amorosi Herbert Brooks Kevin McCarthy Michael Tastet
1957
1968
R. Damian DuFour Peter Grazzini Angelo Marini H. Michael Rankin John Vinciguerra
1958
David Reckert
1959
Frederick Heider Richard Manfreda
62
1962
1966
1956
1948
Valentine Cawood
1955
1946
Robert Ostmann
1961
1963
Joseph Claffy Michael Konopa
1947
H. Michael Meagher Robert Miller
Gordon Bloom Harry Cook Francis DiMisa John Klimkiewicz William McCarthy Glenn Mitchell
James Fleishell Frederick Cotter
1960
James Duffey
1969
Thomas Althoff
1970
Orazio Miceli
1971
David Groff
1972
Michael Casey
1973
Kevin Darr
1974
Charles Edwards
1975
Kevin Kenealy
1978
Christopher Crowley
1979
Fern Baguidy
1980
William McNamara Robert Ott
1981
Richard Stascavage
1982
Paul Stanton
2012
Daniel Evans
2013
Hugh McDowell
2019
Marakah Dennis
CONDOLENCES
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ST. JOHN’S Amorosi, Francis ’67, brother of Craig Amorosi ’71 Ball, Fred, former SJC staff Barry, Rosena, mother of Bonnie Bush, SJC staff (deceased); grandmother of Logan Bush ’12 and Bianca Bush ’13 Bartkowiak, Bro. Barry FSC, former SJC faculty Belt, Noel, father of Guillermo Belt ’82 and Alberto Belt ’83; brother of Juan Belt ’62 Berard, George Jr., father of Robert Berard ’76 Beyer, Joan, mother of Kenneth Beyer ’77 Bigley, Eleanor, mother of Joseph Bigley, Jr. ’69 Bowles, John “Tommy” ’49, brother of William Bowles ’52 Brannan, Lori, sister of Matthew Brannan ’01 Broring, Shirley, mother of Charles Broring, Jr. ’76, Paul Broring ’78 (deceased) and Thomas Broring ’83 Bush, Bonnie, SJC staff; wife of Lyle Bush, former president of the Men of St. John’s; mother of Logan Bush ’12 and Bianca Bush ’13
Colevas, Prokopes, father of Gregory Colevas ’80; grandfather of Alexandra Colevas ’11, Sophia Colevas ’11 and Eleni Colevas ’13 Conaghan, Helen, wife of John Conaghan ’51 (deceased); mother-in-law of Douglas Donatelli ’79; grandmother of John Donatelli ’20 Conley, Mary, mother of James Conley, Jr. ’65 and Stephen Conley ’71 Cordes, Eugene ’44, brother of Joseph Cordes ’37 (deceased) Crowley, Christopher ’78, brother of Patrick Crowley ’85; brother-inlaw of John McNamara ’70, Thomas McNamara ’71 and Robert McNamara ’78 Culkin, Philomena, mother of Eamonn Culkin ’77 and Sean Culkin ’78; grandmother of Michael Culkin ’17, Sean Culkin ’19 and Rory Culkin ’19 Darr, Kevin ’73, brother of Joseph Darr ’70; uncle of Brendan Darr ’04 and Gillian Darr ’06; cousin of Terrence Kehoe ’73 Darr, Timothy, father of Brendan Darr ’04 and Gillian Darr ’06; brother of Joseph Darr ’70 and Kevin Darr ’73 (deceased) Dennis, Marakah ’19, sister of Ra-naa Watson ’10
Durkin, Vincent ’48, brother of Paul Durkin ’45 Eiden, Robert Jr. ’64, father of Matt Eiden ’04 Exner, William ’53, brother of Donald Exner ’55 (deceased) Gaffney, Thomas ’56, brother of James Gaffney ’52 (deceased), Richard Gaffney ’53 (deceased), Leo Gaffney ’58 (deceased), Joseph Gaffney ’60 (deceased), David Gaffney ’63 (deceased) and John Gaffney ’63; uncle of Chris Gaffney ’81 and Michael Gaffney ’83 Grazzini, Peter Sr. ’57, grandfather of Grace Grazzini ’20 and Brian Grazzini ’21 Greenwell, Francis, father of Wes Greenwell ’90 Hance, James Jr. ’52, father of James Hance ’72, John Hance ’73 and Charles Hance ’75 Hopke, Joan, wife of William Hopke ’44 (deceased) Hymel, Alice, mother of Gregory Hymel ’84 and Kevin Hymel ’85; grandmother of Victoria Hymel ’12, Grace Hymel ’14 and Sean Hymel ’17 Irving, Alice, wife of George Irving ’58
Dent, Elsie, mother of Howard Dent, former SJC assistant principal
Joy, Frances, mother of T. Kenneth Joy ’64 and grandmother of Patrick Haley, SJC faculty
Casey, Michael ’72, brother of Patrick Casey, Jr. ’70
DeStefano, Rose, mother of Paul DeStefano, SJC faculty; grandmother of Brian DeStefano ’01 and Katherine DeStefano ’06
Kelly, Michael, uncle of Jack Kelly ’78 and Lori Martin, SJC staff; great uncle of Andrew Martin ’15 and Madison Martin ’19
Cawood, Valentine ’61, cousin of Raymond Osbourn ’63
Ducibella, James Sr., father of James Ducibella, Jr. ’70
Ciliberti, Marie, mother of Eric Ciliberti ’91
DuFour, R. Damian ’57, brother of G. Maurice DuFour ’59; great uncle of Grace DuFour ’19, John DuFour ’23 and Olivia DuFour ’23
Kenealy, Kevin ’75, son of William Kenealy ’35 (deceased); brother of William Kenealy ’64, Thomas Kenealy ’66 and Michael Kenealy ’70; uncle of Shea Kenealy ’06
Callahan, Daniel ’48, brother of Vincent Callahan, Jr. ’50 (deceased); uncle of Vincent Callahan III ’73
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CONDOLENCES
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ST. JOHN’S Lapp, Virginia, wife of Claude Lapp ’52 (deceased); sister of Joseph Reckert ’51, Robert Reckert ’55 (deceased) and David Reckert ’58; sister-in-law of John Lapp ’64 (deceased); mother-in-law of Michael Joram ’74; grandmother of Sean Foster ’21 Malandrucco, Pietro, father of Roby Malandrucco ’84 Mancabelli, Ronald, uncle of Jeffrey Mancabelli, SJC president; great uncle of Nicholas Mancabelli ’17 and Alexa Mancabelli ’19 Manfreda, John ’63, brother of Richard Manfreda ’59 (deceased) and David Manfreda ’65; father-in-law of Stephen Strachen ’88; uncle of Michael Manfreda ’90 Manfreda, Richard ’59, brother of John Manfreda ’63 (deceased) and David Manfreda ’65; uncle of Michael Manfreda ’90 McCarthy, Kevin Sr. ’67, brother of Michael McCarthy ’58 McLaughlin, Mary, mother of Francis McLaughlin, Jr. ’76 and Michael McLaughlin ’81
Mullan, William Jr., father of Evans Mullan ’77 and Martin Mullan ’78
Rollman, Gordon, father of Joseph Rollman ’69
Murphy, George Jr., former SJC board legal counsel; father of George Murphy III ’78, Daniel Murphy ’79, Michael Murphy ’80 and Patrick Murphy ’82
Ruppert, Daren, wife of Christopher Ruppert ’69; sister-in-law of Carl Ruppert ’68 and Craig Ruppert ’71, SJC board member
Noone, Shirley, mother of Paul Noone, Jr. ’78 O’Donnell, Arnold ’66, brother of J. James O’Donnell ’64 (deceased), John O’Donnell ’65 and David O’Donnell ’70; brother-in-law of Kevin Conley ’76; uncle of Kevin Conley ’07, Brendan Conley ’10 and Dennis Conley ’12 Ott, Robert ’80, brother of Thomas Ott ’66 and Kevin Ott ’71 Otsmann, Robert ’47, father of James Ostmann ’84 and William Ostmann ’86; brother of Francis Otsmann ’42 (deceased); son-in-law of Emmet Burns ’81 Peterson, Barbara, mother-in-law of William Willard, Sr. ’73, SJC board member; grandmother of William Willard, Jr. ’04 and Matthew Willard ’09
Scaggs, Betty, wife of Willam Scaggs ’54; mother of William Scaggs, Jr. ’75 and Steven Scaggs ’78 Selwood, Peter, father of Christopher Selwood ’86 and Michael Selwood ’87; brother of John Selwood ’67 (deceased) and James Selwood ’73 Sidley, Mary “Toni,” mother of Steven Sidley ’86 Sipowicz, Patricia, mother of Thomas Sipowicz, SJC faculty Stascavage, Richard ’81, brother of James Stascavage ’78 Stanton, Paul ’82, son of James Stanton ’40, Sr. (deceased); brother of James Stanton, Jr. ’68, Michael Stanton ’69 (deceased), John Stanton ’75 and David Stanton ’78
Reckert, David ’58, brother of Charles Reckert ’41 (deceased), Joseph Reckert ’51 and Robert Reckert ’55 (deceased); brother-in-law of Claude Lapp, Jr. ’52 (deceased)
Stone, Richard ’42, father of Richard Stone, Jr. ’85 and John Stone ’86
Renauer, Edward Sr., father of Sean Renauer ’84
Tracy, Robert ’62, brother of William Tracy ’64
Miller, Nancy, sister of John Miller ’66 (deceased) and Kevin Miller ’68
Ribas, Eduardo, father of Eduardo Ribas ’84 and Anthony Ribas ’87
Worsley, Zella, mother of Dwain Worsley ’98
Miller, Robert ’60, brother of Norman Miller ’52 (deceased); great uncle of Tyler Miller ’13
Roberts, Rose Marie, mother-in-law of Dennis Brant ’72; grandmother of Kyle Brant ’04, Bridgette Brant ’04 and Tyler Brant ’06
Zigic, Ljubica, mother of Milan Zigic, SJC staff
McNamara, William ’80, brother of James McNamara ’79; uncle of Sean McNamara ’19 Miceli, Orazio ’70, brother of John Miceli ’74 (deceased); uncle of Francis Sawyer ’08
Mitchell, Glenn ’54, brother-in-law of John Harper ’69, Michael Harper ’71 and Denis Harper ’75; uncle of Patrick Harper ’99, Sean Harper ’02, Jacquelyn Harper-Merlehan ’04 and Emma Mitchell ’19
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Robinson, Lorenza, mother of James Robinson IV ’69 Rodgers, Maureen, wife of Rashad Rodgers ’98
Tompros, Fefronia, sister of Angelo Tompros ’58
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In 2020, St. John’s will welcome back classes ending in zero or five for their reunions! SPRING REUNIONS
FALL REUNIONS
Class of 1970 50th Reunion June 4-5, 2020
Fall reunion dates will be released in the spring. Visit www.stjohnschs.org/reunions for the most up-to-date information!
St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Rd., NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015
NEW YORK CITY ALUMNI RECEPTION Tuesday, April 21
YOUNG ALUMNI BUSINESS NETWORK Friday, January 3
ATLANTA ALUMNI RECEPTION Tuesday, January 14
NAPLES ALUMNI RECEPTION Wednesday, January 22
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES AND ALUMNI LUNCHEON February 2020
THEATRE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY Friday, April 24
DOC SCALESSA GOLF TOURNAMENT Friday, May 8
50TH REUNION: CLASS OF 1970 Thursday and Friday, June 4-5