Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015

Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

3 Life at St. John’s 9 Class of 2015 Commencement 15 Sports at St. John’s 24 Alumni Action 29 2015 President’s Medal Honorees 37 Photo Gallery 42 Class Notes 44 Condolences

This yellow tang is one of St. John’s newest residents. Read about our new living laboratory on page 3.

From the President

Scarlet & Grey VOL. XXVII • NO. 2 • SUMMER 2015

St. John’s College High School President

Jeffrey Mancabelli Principal

Bro. Michael Andrejko, FSC Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Michael Esten Director of Development

Mark Gibbs ’96 Director of Communications

Kathy Howe Director of Annual Giving

Heather Long

Dear St. John’s Community, As we prepare for the beginning of the school year, I want to congratulate the Class of 2015, which earned more than $24 million in college scholarships. I would also like to acknowledge the achievements of our valedictorian, who is attending Stanford University, and our salutatorian, who earned a Division I football scholarship to the University of Delaware.

For the fourth year in a row, St. John’s has been blessed with more than 1,000 applications and has enrolled a highly engaged and competitive freshman class for this fall. Undoubtedly, their impact at St. John’s will be significant. In addition to the typical events that kickoff the school year – football games and class reunions – there is a sense of excitement in the air due to the upcoming Cadet Corps Centennial, which will be held Nov. 6 at the JW Marriott Washington, DC. The hallmark of a St. John’s education is the outstanding leadership embodied by our graduates. This evening provides us with the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of our JROTC program and honor four distinguished alumni with the President’s Medal. As I write this letter, more than 700 people have pre-registered for this historic event. Look for your invitations to arrive by mid-September.

Please take a few minutes to read about our medal recipients – inspiring men who personify leadership through service.

Sincerely,

Associate Director of Development

Tom Veith Director of Special Events

Maddie Freburger Database Manager

Lori Martin Editor

Kathy Howe Contributor Patrick Haley Photography

Lawrence French Kathy Howe Art Director

Frank Sheehan St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 www.stjohnschs.org Alumni and Development Office 202.364.0229 | F: 202.363.5091 khowe@stjohnschs.org

Mr. Jeffrey W. Mancabelli President

Life at St. John’s

The Living Seas This spring, St. John’s welcomed several new residents to campus – the fish, mollusks, coral and sea anemones that call the school’s new 410-gallon reef aquarium home.

Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the school was able to install the aquarium for use as a living laboratory for the Science Department. In particular, the saltwater tank will provide our marine biology students with a chance to perform fieldwork right here on campus.

Students will assist with maintaining the tank’s tropical ecosystem by measuring its nutrient levels, dissolved oxygen and salinity; testing the water quality; performing emergency maintenance; and participating in supplemental feedings of its inhabitants. They will also augment their classwork by studying all levels of biological organization in the aquarium, including individual organisms, interspecies relationships at the community level and inorganic interactions in the ecosystem. They will then apply the data from their observation experiments to the study of larger natural ecosystems.

The tank features top-of-the-line lighting and filtration systems, which allow several types of creatures not typically found in this part of the world to thrive in this environment. An iPad kiosk built into the tank’s façade provides more information about

these exotic residents. The aquarium has already become a point of interest for students and visitors alike, as a tank this size is very rarely seen in a school environment.

“It’s a true ecosystem we’re building here. This kind of hands-on learning brings the field experience to the classroom and enhances the entire student experience,” said Seth Brown, marine biology teacher. “We’re so grateful to have the support of the school and the entire St. John’s community – it allows us to give our students the unique opportunity to learn in a living environment.”

Elissa Hipolito-Magsalin ’15 was surprised with a full scholarship by George Washington University President Steven Knapp and George, the school’s mascot! Her mother, Marietta Hipolito, and fellow scholarship recipient Jasmine Vicencio ’11 also joined in on the surprise.

Cadet Earns Prestigious Scholarship On March 18, George Washington University’s president visited campus to surprise Elissa Hipolito-Magsalin ’15 with a full scholarship to GWU. President Steven Knapp and other university representatives presented Hipolito-Magsalin with the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship. Established in 1989, it awards

a full, four-year scholarship to academically talented high school seniors in Washington, DC. The scholarship will cover her tuition, room and board, books and fees during her time at GWU. At St. John’s, Hipolito-Magsalin is a member of the De La Salle Scholars Program and a JROTC officer. GWU is her first choice for college, and she plans to study science as a pre-med major. “This scholarship shows me that all of my hard work and dedication have definitely paid off. I’m so overwhelmed and so happy to have this opportunity!”

“Elissa is a wonderful example of an SJC Cadet,” said Victoria Melin, director of the De La Salle Scholars Program. “She is a dedicated student and completely deserving of this award.

We are all so proud of her.”

Hipolito-Magsalin is the third SJC student to earn this prestigious scholarship. Fellow St. John’s JROTC members Andrew Haynesworth ’10 and Jasmine Vicencio ’11 are also recipients; Vicencio, now in her senior year at GWU, returned to campus as part of the presentation ceremony to offer her congratulations to Hipolito-Magsalin.

St. John’s College High School 3

Life at St. John’s

4

6

5

10

2

13

7

4 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

12

Life at St. John’s

1

Gallery Night 2015 On March 11, St. John’s showcased drawings, paintings and sculptures from visual arts students across all grade levels at the annual Gallery Night.

Awards were presented to 13 students for their artwork.

Dominique Williams ’15 received this year’s Donatelli Art Award, which is presented annually to an upper-level art student for outstanding involvement, service and commitment to art at St. John’s.

St. John’s is grateful to this year’s panel of volunteer judges: Eileen Donovan ’10, Erin Feliciano Otwell ’01, Joseph Giacalone ’55, Nicci Falcone (P’16), Elizabeth Weigand (P’14, P’17) and Liz Leary (P’14, P’16).

1. Ariana Breen ’16, Best in Show 2D 2. Mickey Demas ’15, Best in Show 3D and People’s Choice Award 3. Nick Soresi ’16, Second Place 4. Emelia Carroll ’16, Third Place 5. Geordie Fellows ’15, Honorable Mention 6. James Fookes ’17, Honorable Mention 7. Leana Hohman ’17, Honorable Mention 8. Hannah London ’17, Honorable Mention 9. Bussy Odusanya ’16, Honorable Mention 10. May Overmyer ’15, Honorable Mention 11. Temple Palacio ’17, Honorable Mention 12. Giselle Tolentino ’16, Honorable Mention 13. Maggie Wood ’15, Honorable Mention

11

8

3

9

St. John’s College High School 5

Life at St. John’s

Front row, from left: Margaret Iapalucci ’16, Genevieve Pennanen ’16 and Caroline Stiger ’16; second row: Charles Lewin-Smith ’16 and William Masters ’16; back row: Alexander Marshall ’16, Joseph Nadonley ’16 and Thomas Oristian ’16.

Cadet Promotions 2015-2016 On March 31, St. John’s JROTC program announced the names and ranks of next year’s regiment leaders, including the new Cadet Colonel: Genevieve Pennanen ’16. Next year’s senior officers are listed below; for the full list of promotions, visit www.stjohnschs.org/news.

• Colonel: Genevieve Pennanen ’16 • Regimental Command Sergeant Major: Charles Lewin-Smith ’16 • Lieutenant Colonel: Andrew Roberts ’16 • Lieutenant Colonel: Caroline Stiger ’16 • Band Commander, Lieutenant Colonel: Margaret Iapalucci ’16 • Major: William Masters ’16 • Command Sergeant Major: Alexander Marshall ’16 • Command Sergeant Major: Joseph Nadonley ’16 • Command Sergeant Major: Thomas Oristian ’16

6 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Life at St. John’s

100th Annual JROTC Pass In Review On May 13, St. John’s held its annual JROTC Awards Ceremony and Pass In Review. This year, St. John’s welcomed LTC(P) Scott Petersen as the reviewing officer. In addition to the annual federal inspection, the JROTC program presented awards to this year’s exemplary cadets: • Army ROTC Scholarship: Matthew Chapman ’15 (West Virginia University) • Daughters of the American Revolution Bronze Medal and Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Medal: Jacob Bearer ’15, Elissa Hipolito-Magsalin ’15, Margaret Iapalucci ’16, Lauren Weigand ’17 and Julia Pennanen ’18 • Military Order of the Purple Heart Award: Alexander Marshall ’16 • Military Order of the World Wars Award: John Dour ’16 • Navy ROTC Scholarship: Matthew Arceo ’15 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) • Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award: Gregory Smith ’15 • President’s Medal: Matthew Chapman ’15 • Reserve Officer’s Association Award: Kyle Smith ’15 • Sergeant Major Vincent Fisher Scholarship Award: John MacCormack ’18 • St. John’s Principal’s Medal: Matthew Arceo ’15, Joseph Nadonley ’16, Jula Miller ’17 and Benjamin Colvin ’18 • Superior Cadet Award: James Sigg ’15, Caroline Stiger ’16, Kyle Reagan ’17 and Daniel Barteldes ’18 • United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award: Aaron Hansford ’16 • United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award: Cole Christenson ’16 • United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award: Jesse Correa ’16 • US Military Academy Preparatory Schools Appointees: Konstantine Glaros ’15 (Navy Prep) and Gregory Smith ’15 (Army Prep)

St. John’s College High School 7

ENTER TO LE ARN LE AVE TO SERVE

O

n Friday, June 5, the Class of 2015 received their diplomas and became lifetime members of the St. John’s alumni community. Thanks to the foundation they built during their four years at St. John’s, these young men and women will move on to the next phase of their lives ready to lead others, achieve success and serve their communities.

Excerpted from the President’s Address JEFFREY MANCABELLI

I

n preparation for my remarks today, I spent the last few months meeting with the entire senior class. I asked them: what did they want all of you to know about the Class of 2015?

They want you to know that they have strong friendships and consider themselves a family. They want you to know that, no matter what, they cared for each other, and when their friends at Gonzaga struggled with tragedy, they were there with prayers and support. They are proud of their leadership: taking field hockey to the championship game, creating the first all-

10 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

male choir and elevating the Robotics Team to a nationally competitive level.

They want you to know they appreciated their close relationships with the teachers and credit the faculty for helping form them into the people they have become. They also insisted on announcing that Mr. Darko is the man. And finally, they want you to know they raised the bar on school spirit and are very proud to be Cadets.

I would like to add that this is a class that received more than $24 million in college scholarships and helped lead us to volleyball, basketball and track DCSAA championships, a DC title in wrestling, another girls’ tennis WCAC championship and a WCAC baseball championship for the second year in a row.

As a class and as individuals, you should feel proud of your accomplishments and rejoice in your successes. You are the reason Maggie Wood stated in her valedictory address: “The SJC community breaks any mold or preconceived notion of how we are ‘supposed’ to act. Instead, our family grows stronger by adding more people who learn together, cheer together, laugh together, pray together and, perhaps most importantly, grow together.”

Class of 2015 – you will be missed. Good luck and may God bless each of you!

CO M M E N C E M E N T AWA R D S Excellence in Art Michela Demas Excellence in Computers Serge-Olivier Amega Excellence in English Kathleen Jevtich Excellence in French Marcos Melendez Excellence in Performing Arts – Instrumental Nathan Dorsey Excellence in Performing Arts – Choral Colin McCarthy Excellence in JROTC Studies Matthew Chapman Excellence in Latin Claire Merwin Excellence in Mathematics William Golding Excellence in Religion Camille Greaney Excellence in Science Rachel Alexander Excellence in Social Studies Maxwell Wade Excellence in Spanish Patience Timi Scholar-Athlete Award Omar Garcia and Maggie Williams Theatre Award Daniel Pearson Lasallian Christian Service Award Wesley Harris Citizenship Award Matthew Arceo Cardinal’s Award Colin McCarthy Principal’s Award Luke Garrett

St. John’s College High School 11

Excerpted from the Class of 2015 Valedictory Address M A RG A R E T WO O D

S

t. John Baptist de La Salle…pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts… forever. I bet many of you finished the phrase with me … For many of us, this saying has become part of us, a habit, even a reflex. We don’t even have to think about the response to it. We say it at least eight times a day, at the end of every prayer that begins every class. If you do some math, that comes out to around at least 1,440 times per year and at least 5,760 times over the course of four years. Think about that for a second.

You and 230 other students have said the same words more than 5,760 times each. Not many people can say they have that type of bond. An entire community is built up around one simple phrase.

We’ve learned a lot at St. John’s. We’ve learned that art is not actually anything we want it to be. We’ve learned how to use the foot-in-the-door phenomenon to get what we want.

We’ve learned how to make gummy bears explode with the proper chemical reaction. Many of these things we’ll probably forget over time. But, the one thing we won’t forget is one of the first things we’ve learned: how to respond when someone says “St. John Baptist de La Salle.”

12 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Since freshman year, we have grown through a set of common experiences. We have been through the construction of the cafeteria and library. We’ve gotten iPads. We’ve been to numerous sports championships, including the girls’ tennis team’s magical four-straight WCAC championship wins.

We’ve helped many of our classmates hobble around school on crutches or in boots for some injury or another, taking the time to let them slow all traffic on the stairs. We’ve experienced all these things as a class, a community, a family…

While it may sound cliché, St. John’s truly provides a family away from home.

But how does such a community exist? At the most basic level, our St. John’s community is tied together by our prayer.

Yes, we automatically have a bond because we know the same responses and we say it unison; but perhaps more importantly, this phrase ties us together spiritually. It ties us together in our Lasallian values, Christian principles and belief in God. At the heart of our community is our faith foundation.

Yes, we are leaving this community, but we are joining a much larger community: a global community of St. John’s alumni, just like the men of the Class of 1965 sitting with us today… All that will remain of our physical presence is our Class of 2015 photo in Heritage Hall. We will join the thousands of students pictured in that hallway who have graduated from St. John’s since this school was founded in 1851… So, yes, while we are leaving the physical building of St. John’s, we

TA K I N G T H E N E X T S T E P S This fall, the 231 graduates of the Class of 2015 will attend 123 colleges and universities. This year’s seniors had a 100 percent college acceptance rate and earned more than $24 million in scholarships.

Class of 2015 College Acceptances American University Appalachian State University Arcadia University Arizona State University Auburn University Belmont Abbey College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Brown University Bucknell University Butler University Cabrini College California College of the Arts Capital University Carnegie Mellon University The Catholic University of America Chestnut Hill College Christopher Newport University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University College of Charleston College of William and Mary Columbia University Cornell University Creighton University DePaul University Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University East Carolina University Elon University Fairfield University Ferrum College Florida State University Fordham University

Frostburg State University George Mason University The George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Goucher College Hampton University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard University Hult International Business School Indiana University James Madison University John Carroll University Johns Hopkins University Juniata College Kenyon College King’s College La Salle University Le Moyne College Limestone College Longwood University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University of Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Lynchburg College Manhattan College Marquette University Marymount University Massachusetts College of Art and Design McDaniel College

Methodist University Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Morehouse College Mount Saint Mary’s University New York University North Carolina Central University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Old Dominion University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Plymouth State University Pratt Institute Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Radford University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Robert Morris University Rutgers University Saint Francis University Saint Joseph’s University Saint Louis University Saint Mary’s College of California Salisbury University San Diego State University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design Seton Hall University

Skidmore College Southeastern University Spelman College Spring Hill College St. Edward’s University St. John’s University St. Mary’s College of Maryland Stanford University State University of New York at Albany Stetson University Stevenson University Syracuse University Temple University Tennessee State University Texas A & M University Towson University Tufts University Tulane University United States Naval Academy University of Alabama University of California, Los Angeles University of Colorado at Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dallas University of Dayton University of Delaware University of Denver University of Illinois University of Kentucky University of Mary Washington University of Maryland University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan

University of Mississippi University of Nebraska University of North Carolina University of Northern Colorado University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Scranton University of South Carolina University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech Wagner College Wake Forest University Washington College Washington University in St. Louis West Virginia University Western Michigan University Wheeling Jesuit University Widener University Winthrop University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ALEX EFLON, FLICKR

St. John’s College High School 13

aren’t really leaving St. John’s at all. We will always be a part of this community – past, present and future. In 50 years, some of us will be sitting on this altar, listening to the Class of 2065’s graduation. But we still, 50 years later, will know how to respond to our prayer. So, I want to end my speech the right way.

Before we officially become alumni I would like you to join me in our prayer one last time as St. John’s students: St. John Baptist de La Salle…pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts…forever.

Excerpted from the Class of 2015 Salutatory Address CO L L I N WA L L I S H

A

s I wrote this speech, a song kept coming to mind. Now don’t worry – I am not planning to sing. But I do want to read the lyrics of a song – our school song. There is something about this song that transcends time. Whenever I hear it, I can’t help but think of those faces pictured on the walls outside of the chapel and all those students who have passed through St. John’s. I imagine that when we sang this song on retreats, when we shouted it in athletic victory and when we echoed it among the ranks of the regiment, our voices echoed down through time and joined with that multitude in a brilliant harmony. To me this song captures the tradition and community that is at the heart of St. John’s. It begins like this: Come whatever kind of weather; When the old gang gets together; That’s the time to think of days gone by.

14 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Four years ago on a splendid summer day in August our journey began together… As I looked around at our class for the first time, I could not help but think about what possibilities lay in the room. I could only imagine the things we would do, and I felt an overwhelming excitement for what lay ahead… Our teachers, coaches and mentors at St. John’s saw in us a potential that we did not even see at times. They went about unlocking this potential through challenging us, pushing us out of our comfort zone and helping us to mature.

Soon our class will be scattered throughout this country and around the world. But wherever we go, the lessons we have learned at St. John’s will go with us like a song, permeating our lives. It is up to us whether we will listen to this song. We decide whether we will continue to live in tune with the Lasallian values we have been taught and in step with the will of God. The future will be filled with trials and temptations, but we have been given the tools we need to overcome any adversity.

Our school song concludes: To the Gray and to the Scarlet; We will pledge our loyalty. And may the years add more fame to that grand Old Name; Oh! St. John’s, dear St. John’s!

It is a grand old name built upon a grand old tradition.

As students we have added to this name, but as graduates we have the potential to contribute to it in an even greater way.

Friends, always remember that we “enter to learn” and “leave to serve.” I can only imagine the places that we will go from here, the things we will do and the lives we will touch. The future promises to be filled with excitement and new opportunity. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures in college and in the world beyond.

Sports at St. John’s

Cadets Commit to College Athletics More than 20 St. John’s studentathletes were recognized at official signing events this winter and spring, where they made official commitments to continue their athletic careers in college.

• Rachel Alexander (Soccer) – Columbia University • Eric Assoua (Football) – Western Michigan University • Karen Aye (Soccer) – University of Maryland, Baltimore County • Anthony Beins (Rugby) – Wheeling Jesuit University • Garret Brams (Wrestling) – George Mason

• Kendall Cherry (Wrestling) – Ferrum College • Makela Davidson (Soccer) – Howard University • Omar Garcia (Football) – Bucknell University • Mason Gray (Football) – University of Albany • Jared Harris (Football) – Butler University • Will Jackson (Football) – University of Kentucky • Mandela Kabi (Track and Field) – Virginia Military Institute • Griffin Mahon (Baseball) – McDaniel College • Kevin McGinnity (Soccer) – Stevenson University • Stephanie Miller (Tennis) – Saint Francis University

• Ayron Monroe (Football) – Pennsylvania State University • Ryan Olsen (Baseball) – Central Alabama Community College • Cooper Roark (Football) – Kenyon College • Andrew Rogalski (Football) – Stetson University • Gabby Rouse (Soccer) – Boston College • Alonzo Ruffin (Track and Field) – University of Maryland • Kevin Sawyer (Soccer) – Washington College • Sammie Scaffidi (Soccer) – St. John’s College • Collin Wallish (Football) – University of Delaware • Scotty Washington (Football) – Wake Forest University

St. John’s College High School 15

Sports at St. John’s

A Rink of Their Own The St. John’s ice hockey program has grown from a club-level sport, which took the ice for the first time in 2002, into a robust varsity program. Soon, the Cadets will have the facilities to take that program to the next level and attract top DC-area players who are committed to academic and athletic excellence.

Beginning with the 2015-2016 season, St. John’s has entered into a longterm lease agreement with the Rockville Ice Arena that gives the Cadets a rink to call their own. SJC ice hockey will enjoy preferred ice time for practices and games at the premier ice hockey arena in the DC metro area, a significant advantage considering the shortage of local ice rinks.

St. John’s will also have sole branding rights in the arena, including a lighted sign at the main facility entrance identifying the arena as the school’s home rink. The ice and boards will be colored scarlet and grey to ensure the feel of a true home rink, giving players a sense of home-ice advantage and fans a sense of pride when they are cheering on the Cadets.

The school will also start a campaign to raise funds to construct two new locker rooms for St. John’s exclusive use at the arena over the course of the next three years. These state-of-the-art locker rooms will give the Cadets a private team space and provide each athlete with their own locker for the first time.

“SJC moving to the Rockville Ice Arena is a pivotal move,” said varsity captain Griffin Long ’17. “It will help improve the fan base and provide visibility for recruiting. Having our own locker room will

bring the team closer together and help us form even more of a brotherhood.”

Campus Expansion Continues With New Turf Field This spring, St. John’s completed the installation of a brand new, multisport turf surface measuring more than 74,000 square feet. This new field sits on top of the hill behind Gallagher Gymnasium.

Adding a third turf field will not only give St. John’s softball a home field on campus, it will serve as a practice and potential game field for field hockey, lacrosse, rugby and soccer. It also provides additional practice space for the football program.

The new space features a turf hill for speed work and performance training, goalposts with backup nets for football and two log pylons stand-

16 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

ing 12 feet tall that the JROTC Raiders will use for rope bridge training. In addition, there is an elevated filming deck and a wall built specifically for lacrosse players to use for practicing stick work.

The new field will provide the entire athletic program with more practice flexibility on days when games are played on Quinn and Smith fields. This additional space

is also an important step in St. John’s dynamic master plan to balance the campus athletic facilities for our girls’ and boys’ sports.

Sports at St. John’s

Winter 2015 Sports In Review After a successful regular season that saw boys’ basketball win the King of the Bluegrass tournament in Louisville, KY, the Cadets had an eventful postseason. In the WCAC tournament, SJC beat McNamara by one point in a thrilling quarterfinal game, during which the Cadets trailed for much of the fourth quarter. The Cadets lost in the semifinals to DeMatha. In the DCSAA tournament, the Cadets rallied and took home the title against Gonzaga. The Cadets finished the season 25-8.

A young girls’ basketball team finished the season with a record of 1715. In postseason play, the Cadets beat St. Mary’s Ryken 53-48 in the WCAC quarterfinals before losing to PVI in the semifinals. SJC reached peak form in their last tournament of the season, reaching the DCSAA championship game before falling to Georgetown Visitation in a hard-fought final game.

Behind the strong play of captains Danny Overcash ’17 and Griffin Long ’17, ice hockey finished their first season in the MAPHL AA division with wins over Mt. St. Joe’s and Bullis. With a final record of 5-13, St. John’s gained valuable experience in the advanced division and will look to continue their upward progress in 2015-16.

Indoor track and field made their presence known at every event they attended. Continually posting meet records throughout the season, the Cadets finished as well as they started, taking home the DCSAA championship. Ayron Monroe ’15 won most valuable player at the championship and the 4x200-meter relay team of Aaron Hansford ’16, Eric Harrison ’17, Omar Garcia ’15 and Alonzo Ruffin ’15 set a meet record (90.25). That same relay team finished the winter season with the second-best time in the nation this year (87.98).

In their biggest event of the year, the National Catholic High School Cham-

pionships, SJC’s swim and dive team thrived. In his sophomore year, Trever Buonomo broke the school record of 57.58 seconds set by Kevin MacKenzie ’14 in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 57.39. The boys’ team finished 10th overall in the nation. Sydney Kirsch ’16 won both the 100-meter (52.54) and 50-meter (24.13) freestyle finals. The girls’ team finished third

overall in the nation, capping a memorable season for the Cadets.

Wrestling, under the guidance of All-Met Coach of the Year Karl Danso, finished the season with a record of 24-30. Senior Brett Simon capped off his career with consecutive individual WCAC championship titles, and the team took home the DC city championship for the third consecutive season.

St. John’s College High School 17

Sports at St. John’s

Boys’ Indoor Track and Field Takes the DCSAA Title On Feb. 10, St. John’s boys’ track and field team put on quite a show to cap off a winter filled with tremendous success, winning the team title at the DCSAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with 139 points over Gonzaga (100) and Carroll (67).

Ayron Monroe ’15 had only competed in three meets leading up to the championship, but his impactful performance helped propel SJC past defending champion Gonzaga. Monroe earned the event’s Most Valuable Player award after finishing first in the long

18 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

jump (22’), 55-meter hurdles (7.48 seconds) and the high jump (6’2”).

Monroe was not the only standout in the event; the 4x200 meter relay team consisting of Eric Harrison ’17, Aaron Hansford ’16, Omar Garcia ’15 and Alonzo Ruffin ’15 set a meet record with a time of 90.25 seconds on their way to a first-place finish in the event. That same team set meet records at multiple events this winter, including the Kevin Dare High School Invitational at Penn State, where they posted the nation’s then fourth-best time of 89.32 seconds.

Most impressively, the fast group of four finished the season with second-best time in the nation, running a blistering

87.98 seconds. “Wow,” said Head Coach Alonzo Ruffin of this special group, “those guys put in the work every day and they knew they had something special.”

Garcia also finished first in the 500-meter finals with a time of 66.98 seconds. Senior Mandela Kabi finished second in both the long jump (20’ 8.5”) and the high jump (6’2”). Monroe was awarded the first-place medal in the high jump because he was the first to clear the 6’2” mark in the event. “This championship, as well as other meets, have put SJC on the map among the top track programs,” said Ruffin. “The respect that they received at each meet was unbelievable.”

Sports at St. John’s

Wrestling Completes Impressive Three-peat Head Wrestling Coach Karl Danso is not afraid to put his squad up against some of the stiffest competition in the country. In fact, Danso purposefully schedules some of the hardest tournaments in the country in order to prepare his wrestlers for perhaps the most crucial part of their year, the post-season. “We’ve seen it all and wrestled the best,” Danso said. “We want [our guys] to go into the tournaments thinking that this is the easiest thing they’ve done all year because we’re battle tested.”

This method proved to be effective, as St. John’s won the DC city championship on Feb. 21, just two weeks after a second-place overall finish in the WCAC championship event. Luke Davis ’17, Imran Heard ’18, Malcolm Robinson ’18 and Brett Simon ’15 all won individual WCAC titles.

Especially impressive is the fact that every Cadet wrestler who competed in

the city championships placed in their respective weight classes, including eight wrestlers who won individual titles: Davis, Heard, Robinson, Simon, Garrett Brams ’15, Kendall Cherry ’15, Brian Hennessy ’17 and Adrian Nelson ’16.

Phil Spencer ’18 and Zach Wentz ’17 each finished in second place, while Patrick McConville ’17, Anthony Orellana ’15 and Kyle Smith ’15 each placed third. “It was especially rewarding seeing the seniors [Orellana and Smith] finish their careers on a strong note,” said Danso. “Not a lot of people get to go out that way.”

The Cadets’ hard work, consistency and competitive edge have paid off, as they have now won the DC city championship each of the last three years. With such a strong showing from the underclassmen, next year’s team should be one to watch.

St. John’s College High School 19

Sports at St. John’s

Boys’ Basketball Finishes Strong with DCSAA Championship St. John’s boys’ basketball team began the 2014-2015 season with a promising young core to build around, but success was not guaranteed after graduating most of last season’s significant contributors. However, the young Cadets stepped up and went 21-7 in the regular season, including winning the King of the Bluegrass tournament in Louisville, KY, where they faced some of the nation’s best talent.

St. John’s split wins with rival Gonzaga in their regular season matchups, winning the first meeting 79-59 at Gonzaga before dropping the second 70-62 at home. SJC would not get the chance to play Gonzaga again in the WCAC tournament, as the Cadets fell to DeMatha in the semifinals. Gonzaga would go on to defeat DeMatha in the WCAC championship game.

20 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Entering the DC State Athletic Association tournament, St. John’s played with a renewed energy, refusing to end their season in a disappointing fashion.

The Cadets outscored their opponents in the quarterfinal and semifinal games by a total of 53 points. “We finally played at the speed that we wanted to play all year,” said Head Coach Sean McAloon. “We were faster, more efficient and the ball found energy.”

In the DCSAA championship game at the University of the District of Columbia, SJC got the chance to settle the score with archrival Gonzaga, who was ranked #2 and coming off a WCAC championship. Things didn’t bounce the Cadets’ way at first, as Gonzaga seized momentum and entered halftime with an 11-point lead. But the team knew they could dominate if they played their

game, and they came out in the second half with the mindset to take over.

“Defensively, I felt that the guards stayed in front of their men better and had more pride,” McAloon said. “Kylia Sykes ’16 was a huge factor…he completely shut down any inside game.”

Behind the efforts of Sykes, Jeffrey Dowtin ’16 (25 points), Anthony Cowan ’16 (21 points) and Dejuan Clayton ’16 (12 points), who was named MVP, the Cadets finished off the Eagles 74-66 and claimed the DC state title.

“In my 10 years of coaching, this team is easily one of my favorites,” McAloon reflected. “Early in the year, people bet against them and they bet on themselves.

They put in the sweat equity and accomplished some things that haven’t been done around here for a long time. I am very proud of them as a whole.”

Sports at St. John’s

CORY ROYSTER

Baseball: Back-to-Back WCAC Champions St. John’s entered the 2015 season with a target on their backs as the defending WCAC champs. However, the pressure didn’t seem to faze the Cadets, who remained poised throughout the season due to their senior leadership.

“This group of seniors tried to lead with actions more than words,” said Head Baseball Coach Mark Gibbs ’96. “They weren’t a very vocal group, but led by example.”

The Cadets’ humble attitude and gritty

work ethic paid off in their post-season run. After beating McNamara in the quarterfinals and sweeping O’Connell in the semi-finals, the Cadets were set for a showdown with DeMatha for the championship.

SJC lost the first of the three-game series by one run to DeMatha, which put the Cadets on the brink of elimination going into game two. St. John’s came out firing on all cylinders and secured a 12-2 victory to force a third game. “[I’ve] never seen a team play with such composure and calmness during the tournament,” Gibbs said. “Even after game one there was no sense of desperation with this group.”

In the final game, Gibbs went with freshman Jake Steinberg on the mound.

The big stage didn’t unnerve the ninthgrader, as he allowed just one run in five innings. The Cadet offense also stepped up in a big way. “In game three we were able to take advantage of some situations presented by DeMatha,” Gibbs said. “The hitters took good at-bats, but most importantly they kept pressure on the defense.”

The Cadets rattled off 12 runs to win their second consecutive WCAC championship, marking the first time since 1978 that SJC has won back-to-back baseball championships. This is the 20th time in the last 22 years that St. John’s baseball has finished ranked among The Washington Post’s Top 10; the team has also been ranked nationally in eight of the past 12 seasons.

St. John’s College High School 21

Sports at St. John’s

spring 2015 Sports In Review Baseball won a second consecutive WCAC title, topping DeMatha 12-1 in the final meeting of a three-game championship series. This is the first time the Cadets have won back-to-back titles in baseball since 1978. St. John’s completed the season with a record of 25-6-0 and finished number five in The Washington Post’s Top 10 rankings.

St. John’s crew translated a strong fall season into improved results this spring.

After winning six of eight races in a dual event against Montgomery Blair, the Cadet crew raced in the Al Urquia Regatta and finished with three silver medals (boys’ varsity four, boys’ second varsity four and boys’ novice eight) and two third-place finishes (girls’ second varsity four and girls’ novice four). In the WMIRA championships, the boys’ varsity four (grand) placed fourth while the boys’ varsity eight (petite) won the finals.

Softball dealt with many rained-out games early this spring. Once the weather turned for the better, highlights of the Cadets’ 8-14 season included a close 3-2 win over Georgetown Visitation, 9-6 and 16-5 wins over Holy Cross and a 12-7 win over Good Counsel. Grace Poley ’16 and Allie DeGrouchy ’16 were selected to compete in the DCSAA all-star game.

Golf finished the season with a 4-6 record. Sterling Wills ’15, Amanda Meyers ’15 and Pete Dunne ’18 each advanced to the individual WCAC championship round. Highlights of the season included team wins over Holy Cross, St. Mary’s Ryken and McNamara.

Boys’ lacrosse took on an extremely challenging schedule that included games against four of the top 25 teams in the country. St. John’s traveled to IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, for team training over spring break. Although they finished the season 6-9, including four one-goal losses before eventually losing in the quarterfinals of the WCAC playoffs, the Cadets exhibited tremendous growth under first-year Head Coach Bobby Horsey.

22 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Girls’ lacrosse finished strong with wins against nationally ranked programs.

The team beat Bishop O’Connell 20-18 in overtime and ended the regular season with a 19-13 win over Holy Child for senior day. For spring break, the team rallied for a 10-11 comeback win against Germantown Academy (PA) in St. Petersburg, FL. The JV team also finished with a winning record.

Rugby kicked off the season with a trip to Ruggerfest in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, an event where they went 1-1. The Cadets took some momentum with them into the Brothers’ Cup with back-to-back wins against LaSalle and host Calvert Hall.

SJC finished the hard-fought season with a record of 5-8.

Boys’ tennis competed well this season. Highlights included an 8-3 win against The Heights in regular season play and a 7-2 win against Ireton and a 5-4 win over DeMatha in WCAC play.

Track and field finished a remarkable year with a dominant showing at the WCAC championships. Eric Harrison ’17

placed third in the 100 meters; Omar Garcia ’15 placed second in the 200 meters and first in the 400 meters; Ayron Monroe ’15 placed first in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles; and Aaron Hansford ’16, Mandela Kabi ’15, Harrison and Garcia won the 4x200meter relay. Kabi placed first and third in the high jump and the long jump, while Monroe placed second in both; Kabi also placed second in the triple jump. Kasey Ebb ’18 placed third in the girls’ 400-meter finals; Emily Carroll ’16 placed third in the 3,200 meters; Sahna Sabbakhan ’16, Aliya Williams ’18, Ebb and Jasmine Graves ’15 won the 4x400 relay; and Nyah Wilkinson ’15 placed third in the shot put and discus.

Sports at St. John’s

winter 2015 athletic honors INDIVIDUAL

• Anthony Cowan ’16 (Basketball) – DCSAA Player of the Year

ALL-MET

Coach of the Year • Karl Danso (Wrestling) First Team • Anthony Cowan ’16 (Basketball) • Brett Simon ’15 (Wrestling) Honorable Mention • Amira Collins ’18 (Basketball) • Jeffrey Dowtin ’16 (Basketball) • Omar Garcia ’15 (Indoor Track and Field) • Aaron Hansford ’16 (Indoor Track and Field) • Eric Harrison ’17 (Indoor Track and Field) • Brian Hennessy ’17 (Wrestling) • Sydney Kirsch ’16 (Swimming) • Ayron Monroe ’15 (Indoor Track and Field) • Sarah Overcash ’16 (Basketball) • Kayla Robbins ’16 (Basketball) • Malcolm Robinson ’18 (Wrestling) • Alonzo Ruffin ’16 (Indoor Track and Field) • Sahna Sabbikhan ’17 (Indoor Track and Field)

ALL-WCAC

First Team • Anthony Cowan ’16 (Basketball) • Sarah Overcash ’16 (Basketball) Second Team • Jeffrey Dowtin ’16 (Basketball) Third Team • Kayla Robbins ’16 (Basketball) • Kylia Sykes ’16 (Basketball) Honorable Mention • Matas Budrys ’15 (Basketball) • Dejuan Clayton ’16 (Basketball) • Asia McCray ’17 (Basketball) • Kristopher Saulny ’15 (Basketball)

• Spring 2015 Athletic Honors

spring 2015 athletic honors INDIVIDUAL

• A.J. Lee ’15 (Baseball) – Gatorade DC Player of the Year, Louisville Slugger First Team All-American

ALL-MET

Player of the Year • A.J. Lee ’15 (Baseball) First Team • Omar Garcia ’15 (Track and Field) Honorable Mention • Eric Harrison ’17 (Track and Field) • Fionn Hembruff ’16 (Crew) • Mandela Kabi ’15 (Track and Field) • Stephanie Miller ’15 (Tennis) • Ayron Monroe ’15 (Track and Field) • Alonzo Ruffin ’15 (Track and Field) • Brett Simon ’15 (Baseball) • Brian Tagoe ’15 (Baseball) • Maggie Williams ’15 (Lacrosse)

ALL-WCAC

First Team • A.J. Lee ’15 (Baseball) • Brian Tagoe ’15 (Baseball) Second Team • Jackson Coviello ’15 (Baseball) • Gerald Flood ’15 (Lacrosse) • Colin Hinton ’17 (Lacrosse) • Cam Remalia ’16 (Baseball) • Josh Simon ’16 (Baseball) • Brett Simon ’15 (Baseball) • Maggie Williams ’15 (Lacrosse) Third Team • Maddy Flood ’16 (Lacrosse) • Eric Lane ’17 (Lacrosse) • Grace Segreti ’18 (Lacrosse) Honorable Mention • Myles Mensah ’16 (Baseball) • Mitch Mona ’15 (Lacrosse) • Laura Naccarato ’16 (Lacrosse) • Ryan Olsen ’15 (Baseball) • Alex Taylor ’16 (Baseball) • Ryan Wanner ’15 (Baseball)

St. John’s College High School 23

Alumni Action

Alezandra Russell ’99: Becoming A Force For Change

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, pictured with St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli, spoke to a full house as part of the Annual Distinguished Speaker Series.

Distinguished Speaker Series Welcomes DC Mayor to Campus On Feb. 13, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser visited campus as part of St. John’s Annual Distinguished Speaker Series.

The Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by the Alumni Council, provides St. John’s graduates with a chance to network with each other and hear from successful individuals in fields such as business and politics.

Last year’s speaker was Raul Fernandez ’84, chairman of ObjectVideo and vice chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment.

Bowser, who took office in January, spoke to a full house in St. John’s Vaghi Dining Room. She addressed the challenges facing Washington, DC, and shared her plans for improvement, particularly in the areas of education, technology, employment, housing, transportation and engaging older residents. Bowser also spoke highly of the school and told alumni to remember they “have a friend in city hall.”

24 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

On April 23, Alezandra Russell ’99 spoke to St. John’s students about human trafficking and how to become a force for change and make an impact on the world around them.

Russell met with religion classes in the De La Salle Chapel throughout the day, sharing with them the story of how she founded Urban Light (www.urban-light.org), an organization dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking and exploitation. While on a volunteer trip to Thailand, Russell saw young boys working in the red light district. Unable to turn away from their need, she knew she needed to do something to help these victims change their lives.

More than five years ago, Russell founded Urban Light in Chiang

Mai, Thailand. She sold her wedding ring, quit her job and now spends six months of the year living in Thailand and serving as “center mom” for a group of young men aged 14-24. Urban Light reaches out to boys working in the red light districts and provides them with education, housing, health services and emergency care. The organization also tries to prevent young men from becoming victims of exploitation. When she’s back in America, she spends her time educating others about human trafficking and building support for the cause, “making noise” about these issues.

Russell urged SJC students to embrace their faith, be bigger than their fears and make their lives into stories worth telling.

Alumni Action

Mashiro Sato ’60 was reunited with some of his former classmates and friends. From left: Moriyasu Ito, Bernard Schwartz ’60, Jeff Mancabelli, Bro. Ed Adams, Sato, Don Roth ’61, John Burch ’60, Yoshiko Imaizumi and Ted Pappas ’60.

Mashiro Sato ’60: A Cultural Exchange

President Jeff Mancabelli presented Mashiro Sato ’60 with a St. John’s coin in honor of his visit to campus.

On April 27, St. John’s welcomed Mashiro Sato ’60, director of the Meiji Jingu Intercultural Research Institute in Tokyo, back to campus.

Originally born in Tokyo, Sato attended elementary school in France and high school in the United States, including his time at St. John’s. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo and then went to work for the Bank of Tokyo, eventually serving as deputy director of the Paris branch and director of the Brussels branch. In 1995, Sato was appointed as the chamberlain of the Emperor at the Imperial household. He became vice-grand chamberlain in 2008 and accompanied the Imperial Couple on official visits to 19 countries.

After retiring from that office in 2012, Sato took on the role of director at the Meiji Jingu Intercultural Research Institute. Established in 2008, the institute

spreads the virtues of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, cultivates Shinto sensibilities, pursues academic exchanges and researches Shinto history.

The institute also seeks to enhance inter-religious dialogue and international exchanges; to that end, Sato stopped in at St. John’s as part of a four-city US tour and cultural exchange. He was joined by fellow institute representatives Moriyasu Ito, a Shinto priest, and Yoshiko Imaizumi, a senior research fellow. The three also visited Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Harvard University on their trip.

At St. John’s, Ito spoke to this year’s Peer Ministers about Shinto religion, culture and history and shared details about the Meiji Jingu shrine. He also exchanged questions and answers about Catholicism and Shintoism with the students.

St. John’s College High School 25

Alumni Action

Cadets At Large:

The Class of 1965 St. John’s Class of 1965 has just finished a year of milestones. Not only did they celebrate their 50th reunion, but as a class they also pledged a total of $1 million to St. John’s during the 20142015 fiscal year – and they are now the only 50th reunion class in school history to hold that distinction.

For the last half-century, the graduates of 1965 have maintained a strong relationship with St. John’s and with each other. Aside from attending many school-sponsored events over the years, they also regularly meet on their own for lunches, dinners, sporting events and golf outings. These alumni have also proven to be generous supporters and stewards of the school – not just financially, but also with their time and talents. Members 26 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

of this class have served on the school’s Board of Trustees, including current Board Chair Tom Frana ’65, as well as the Alumni Council, Men of St. John’s and other school committees. They have also taken the time to speak with current students and work with SJC alumni in the professional world.

“Our guys have consistently been a participating entity in St. John’s. We definitely haven’t lost our spirit,” said John Thiel ’65. “There’s an underlying theme that I hear from alumni – ‘If it wasn’t for St. John’s, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’ As far as giving, that’s just the way we were brought up. Even if it’s just a dollar in the bucket, it means a lot.”

“St. John’s today does so much for the student body in regard to service to the community and instituting a mindset of giving back,” said Tom Frana ’65.

“My wife and I believe in giving back, and St. John’s is significant for us. St. John’s and the Christian Brothers have

both had a significant effect on my life.

I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today if it wasn’t for them.”

While the Class of 1965 has always given generously, the 2014-15 school year was special. In the fall, the undefeated 1964 football team, which included a number of these men on its roster, was inducted into St. John’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Throughout the spring, excitement about their golden anniversary spread through the class as they prepared to return to the school in June.

Alumni Action

In May, St. John’s Alumni and Development Office discovered that the Class of 1965 was just $70,000 shy of the $1 million mark based on their gifts and pledges to the annual fund, the Class of 1965 Scholarship, the Doc Scalessa Scholarship, the Cadet Corps Centennial and the Hall of Honor. When they alerted the class, these men rallied together to reach their goal – including an anonymous matching donation of $50,000 from one member.

At commencement, the graduates of 1965 joined the graduates of 2015 in celebration. It has become tradition for the 50th reunion class to sit on the altar and

be recognized at the ceremony, and St. John’s was proud to celebrate this particular class’s many accomplishments. It was made even more special because Msgr.

John Enzler ’65 served as the celebrant for this year’s graduation Mass.

“It was a moving experience, it truly was,” Thiel said. “It was very moving to participate in 2015’s graduation and to be recognized by the entire congregation that day for our 50th celebration of our graduation.”

St. John’s is lucky to have a large alumni community that supports the school and the education of its students.

The Class of 1965 stands out for their dedication to each other and to the Lasallian principles that make St. John’s such a special place.

“The devotion of this class to all aspects and facets of St. John’s is incredible,” said St. John’s President Jeff Mancabelli. “They are active members of the SJC community, which was obvious by the high attendance at their reunion events. We are so grateful for their presence and support, and their financial support this year is yet another reflection of their devotion. It was a true class effort.”

St. John’s College High School 27

th e Cad et Co rps Centen n ial A Celebratio n o f Lead ersh i p This historic event will commemorate the founding of St. John’s Cadet Corps in 1915 and celebrate 100 years of leaders forged by this program. It is expected to be the largest gathering of St. John’s alumni in history. Proceeds from this fundraising event will be used to establish a Hall of Honor that will recognize St. John’s alumni who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country and depict the history of the Corps of Cadets.

Fri day, Novem b er 6, 2015 JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC Black Tie Attire Schedule of Events Cocktails: 6-7:30 p.m. | Dinner and Program: 8-10 p.m.

Dancing and Drinks: 10 p.m. – Midnight Ticket Prices Individual Tickets: $275 | Current Students: $100 Young Alumni Tickets: $200 (Classes of 2007-2011; limited availability) Sponsorship Information There are a number of sponsorship opportunities still available for the Cadet Corps Centennial. For information about purchasing a table, sponsorship or an ad in the event program, please visit www.stjohnschs.org/ cadetcentennial. Table sponsorships include seating for 10 guests.

For more information about this special event, including accommodations and online registration, please visit www.stjohnschs.org/cadetcentennial.

T

his fall, St. John’s will recognize the accomplishments of four outstanding graduates by presenting them with the President’s Medal, the school’s highest honor. This medal is awarded to distinguished alumni and friends of St. John’s who have given extraordinary service to the school or to the world community. St. John’s will proudly honor Msgr. John Enzler ’65, Gen. Stanley McChrystal ’72 (Ret.), Mr. John Veihmeyer ’73 and VADM Manson Brown ’74 (Ret.) at the Cadet Corps Centennial on Nov. 6, 2015. There is truly no better occasion to honor the leadership, service and dedication of these Cadets than the celebration of the founding of St. John’s Cadet Corps 100 years ago.

VICE ADMIRAL MANSON BROWN ’74 (RET.)

M

anson Brown ’74 has always been a trailblazer. From joining the Coast Guard as a 17-year-old who couldn’t swim to becoming the Coast Guard’s first African-American vice admiral, he has never shied away from opportunities to challenge himself and make his own path.

One of his first formative experiences began in 1970, when Brown came to St. John’s as one of only a few African-American students. He grew up in the inner city and his father, an Army veteran, worked several jobs to send Brown and his three sisters to private schools in Washington, DC. He expected his children to work hard in order to secure the best possible future for each of them. “He was very insistent on academic achievement for all of his kids – he knew that education was the ticket to the American dream.”

Brown’s father chose St. John’s for his son because of its strong academic reputation, and Brown thrived here. He knew he wanted a career in science and technology, and his classes at St. John’s gave him a strong foundation. “The overall academic preparation for college and the rest of my life was, upon reflection, stunning.

I couldn’t have been in a better situation.” Brown said that it also helped broaden his worldview because he got to know students and teachers from all walks of life. “I got a chance to connect with a lot of good classmates and a lot of good faculty and staff who showed me there was a bigger world out there. The rest is history.”

The overall academic preparation for college and the rest of my life was, upon reflection, stunning.

I couldn’t have been in a better situation.”

As a senior, Brown was offered scholarships to several top-tier colleges and universities. However, he was more interested in a college experience and career that would minimize the financial impact on his family and offer him the chance to experience life on the broader stage. The United States Coast Guard Academy was a unique blend of both requirements – and coming from a military high school, Brown felt that he already had a leg up on his classmates.

The Coast Guard gave him the opportunity to practice leadership right from the start. In 1977, he became the first AfricanAmerican to lead the corps of cadets at the academy. After graduation, he served as assistant engineering officer aboard the icebreaker Glacier, supervising nine professionals. During the next 36 years of active duty, Brown continued to take on positions of increasing authority. He credits the military’s constant leadership training and reinforcement for his success. “I found an organization that valued me, nurtured me and gave me limitless opportunities. I learned everything that you need to know to be successful, not only as a professional but as a person. For me, the hallmark of my Coast Guard experience was leadership.”

30 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Another formative moment for Brown came in 1994, when he was the first recipient of the Captain John G. Witherspoon Award for Inspiration Leadership. One of the Coast Guard’s most prestigious awards, it is presented each year to the active duty or reserve officer who best exemplifies the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty. Brown knew Witherspoon personally, and he said Witherspoon was able to go into any situation, no matter how intense or stressful, with a calm, reasoned approach that centered everyone on their goal and helped the team execute their mission in inspiring ways.

“That was quite an honor, quite an achievement. Even to be held at the same level as John Witherspoon in our service is quite a humbling honor. That became the centerpiece of everything I did from that point forward. I wanted to be that guy – the one who was given the tough jobs and was able to go into a situation and achieve success out of chaos.”

That calm, reasoned approach served him well when he took on his most challenging role in 2004, serving as the senior advisor for transportation to the coalition provisional authority in Baghdad, Iraq. Brown’s assignment was to oversee the rebuilding of Iraq’s major transportation systems, including two major ports. It was a huge task to accomplish in a war-torn country, but Brown and his team were able to meet the challenge successfully. “Any leader going through a situation like that, you learn more about yourself than you do about others. I was actually pretty shocked and amazed that I was able to go into a warzone and bring a level of calm, maturity and reason and achieve progress in that environment.”

On May 14, 2014, Brown retired from the Coast Guard as a three-star admiral. He served as deputy commandant for mission support from 2012 to 2014, and his previous commands included the Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West, the 14th

Coast Guard District, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, Sector Honolulu and Group Charleston. He was honored at his retirement with the Distinguished Service Medal and recognized for his leadership, including his efforts in the campaign to end sexual assault within the Coast Guard.

In July 2014, President Obama nominated Brown for a civilian appointment with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2015 and sworn in as the assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction. He also serves as NOAA’s deputy administrator and chair of NOAA’s Observing Systems Council.

Now that he’s in a civilian agency, Brown said his leadership style has changed to a more collaborative model. He works on long-term projects that have national effects, such as the sustainment of the satellite systems that collect environmental information and identify environmental threats. However, he’s still able to employ the same calm, reasoned approach that served him well in the Coast Guard to educate people about NOAA’s missions and persuade them to support the agency’s needs. “The chain of command doesn’t really apply here. I don’t tell people what to do; I help to convince people that they need to do it.”

St. John’s really gave me an opportunity to learn the basics of leadership – not only in a school setting, but in a personal setting. I learned a lot about personal leadership, which is really the first step in becoming a good leader.”

Whether he’s commanding a military unit or helping influence environmental policy, Brown knows that being a good leader comes from within – something he said he learned during his time at St. John’s. “St. John’s really gave me an opportunity to learn the basics of leadership – not only in a school setting, but in a personal setting. I learned a lot about personal leadership, which is really the first step in becoming a good leader.”

MONSIGNOR JOHN ENZLER ’65

M

sgr. John Enzler ’65 is a yes man – that is, he’s a man who likes to say “yes” to people. Whether that’s to someone asking for money, to a couple who wants to get married in a parish where they aren’t registered or even to his alma mater’s request to celebrate Mass at this year’s graduation, his answer is almost always yes.

This spirit of philanthropy has been part of his life from an early age – he said his parents modeled it every day for Enzler and his 12 siblings. He particularly remembers leaving for church

with his family on a cold winter morning when his father saw a man walking without a coat. Enzler’s father approached the man, and after a brief conversation his father removed his coat and gave it to the other man. His father ran back into the house and got another coat, and the family continued to church. When Enzler asked his father why he’d given away his coat, he simply answered: “The guy was cold.” That example had a huge impact on Enzler. “We were taught that you’re supposed to take care of other people; it’s part of your job. It was an overall family value for us: you’ve been blessed, God has watched over you – now find a way to do things for other people, whether that’s through money, time or talent.”

We were taught that you’re supposed to take care of other people; it’s part of your job.”

Enzler has continued to embrace that value throughout his life. At St. John’s, he was involved with the Catholic Students’ Mission Crusade, an organization that gave students a way to support Catholic missions throughout the world. In college he joined The Buddy Club, a group that worked with disabled people and whose signature phrase was “the rewards lie in giving.” He then chose a career that allowed him to fully embrace a life of service to others when he made the decision to join the priesthood.

The thought of becoming a priest had been on his mind since grade school. At St. John’s he took four years of Latin, which he said was his way of keeping the option open, but while he talked to Bro. Peter about the vocation as a senior, he still wasn’t ready. He went St. John’s College High School 31

on to attend Loras College in Iowa, and it was there that he found he could no longer ignore the calling he felt. “I went to seminary saying ‘I’m not sure I should be a priest, but I’m sure that I need to find out.’” By his second year at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Enzler was convinced this path was what God had planned for him. He was ordained in May of 1973 at The Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, DC, and has now served as a priest for more than 40 years.

Most of those years have been spent serving the greater Washington, DC, community. He started off as a seminarian and deacon at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church in Bethesda, MD, then served as an associate pastor at the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda from 1973-1979. When the Cardinal assigned him to direct the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) in 1979, he took residence as a priest at St. Gabriel Church in DC until 1987 and then spent three years as pastor for Mount Calvary Parish in Forestville, MD. In 1990, he became pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Parish in Potomac, MD, and 15 years later he was appointed pastor at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in DC. In 2011 he joined St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Bethesda, where he is still in residence today.

During that time Enzler also worked closely with the Archdiocese of Washington. He started working with the DC Office of Youth Ministry/CYO in 1978 and served as its director from 1979-1990. During that time, he became actively involved in philanthropy and developing resources in support of youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington. In 1990, he started working as assistant moderator of the Cardinal’s Appeal, and he became its moderator in 1992. He was appointed vicar general for planning and development in 2004 and named vicar for development in 2006, a position he still holds for the Archdiocese.

All of this experience led Enzler to accept the position of president and CEO of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in 2011. In this role, he leads an agency that serves tens of thousands of DC’s most vulnerable residents each year.

Enzler feels that growing up in the area and serving its residents for so many years has made it easier for him to be effective in his position. “About 30 of my 42 years as a priest have been spent three or four miles from my parents’ house – that’s not normal! I can’t explain it except to say that I think it was God’s plan to help me develop those relationships, so now with Catholic Charities I’ve got a base of long-term friendships and relationships to work from. It’s pretty special to be so close to home.”

Many of those important relationships reach back to his time at St. John’s – with his classmates from 1965, but also with the many SJC alumni he’s worked with at various churches in the

I’m so impressed with the St. John’s guys in many ways. They’ve found ways to be successful, but there’s also a sense of giving back. They really want to find a way to serve, and I’ve got a lot of Cadets working with me today.”

32 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

greater DC area and during his eight years on St. John’s Board of Trustees. “I’m so impressed with the St. John’s guys in many ways. They’ve found ways to be successful, but there’s also a sense of giving back. They really want to find a way to serve, and I’ve got a lot of Cadets working with me today.” St. John’s Mission and Ministry Department also finds ways for current students to work with Catholic Charities throughout the year, including the Cup of Joe program named for fellow St. John’s alumnus Joe Robert.

During the last four years, Enzler has spearheaded initiatives to improve the way the organization functions. He is particularly proud of helping Catholic Charities become less dependent on government funding – they went from a $65 million operating budget that included $42 million in government funding to a $94 million operating budget that includes $37 million in government funding. He’s also happy with the work Catholic Charities has done to get the 140 local parishes invested in the organization’s work. He views each parish as a franchise, and he eventually hopes to help turn each one into a local service organization.

Enzler’s success as a yes man is evident through his leadership at Catholic Charities and his service to his community. He finds it to be the best way to live his life, and plans to continue saying yes to helping his fellow man. “I find it to be very easy to live that way – I find it to be challenging, but not hard. It gives me a sense of peace about trying to respond to what I think God wants me to do.”

GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL ’72 (RET.)

S

tanley McChrystal ’72 did not expect to begin his senior year of high school as a private in a military, all-boys Catholic school. But when his father moved them into northwest Washington, DC, in 1971, McChrystal found himself starting his high school career over at St. John’s.

However, his experience here not only turned into a great senior year, it also taught him a valuable lesson about leadership.

“One of the great experiences about being a leader is following. If you’ve never been a private down in the squad, you don’t have as a good a sense of what it takes to be a good squad leader.”

One of the great experiences about being a leader is following. If you’ve never been a private down in the squad, you don’t have as a good a sense of what it takes to be a good squad leader.”

McChrystal’s time at St. John’s also gave him an idea of what to expect at West Point. His father attended the United States Military Academy, and McChrystal had long been interested in becoming a cadet there. He started college at a time when he said the academy was trying to redefine its identity and get back to its foundation

2015 ––VADM Manson K. Brown ’74 (Ret.) ––Msgr. John J. Enzler ’65 ––Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal ’72 (Ret.) ––John B. Veihmeyer ’73

1994 ––Bro. John A. Herron, FSC

2013 ––Joseph E. Borger ’76 ––Louis T. Donatelli ’52 ––Bro. Thomas Gerrow, FSC ––C. Allen Merritt, Jr. ’58

1991 ––Bro. Carl Clayton, FSC

2011 ––B. Thomas Frana ’65 ––John D. Magnolia ’66 ––Tom and Edie Schaefer 2009 ––Vincent “Cap” Mona ’61 ––Edward J. Quinn, Jr. ’59 ––W. Christopher Smith, Jr. ’70 2007 ––Joseph E. Robert, Jr. ’70 ––Hon. Vincent E. Callahan, Jr. ’50 ––Patrick F. Noonan ’60 2006 ––Kevin A. Plank ’90 ––Lawrence V. Jackson ’71 2005 ––George Tenet 2000 ––Jack Kemp 1999 ––Mayor Anthony A. Williams 1998 ––James V. Kimsey ’57 1997 ––Corinne “Lindy” Boggs 1996 ––Art Buchwald 1995 ––Hon. Louis J. Freeh

1993 ––Hon. Antonin Scalia 1992 ––Mildred M. Fitzpatrick

1990 ––Hon. J. Daniel Howard 1989 ––Rev. William J. Byron 1988 ––Florence Scalessa ––Archbishop Joseph Thomas Ryan ––Daniel C. Morley ’54 ––Bro. Edward J. Adams, FSC 1987 ––Rev. Pio Laghi ––George W. Murphy, Jr. ––Bro. Laurence Beilman, FSC ––Rudolf Beckmann 1986 ––Bro. John Patzwall, FSC ––Archbishop James A. Hickey ––William J. Kenealy ’64 1985 ––Sr. Barbara Hughes, FCJ ––James Branson Ferry ’55 ––Bro. Louis de Thomasis, FSC ––Dr. Leonard DeFiore 1984 ––Andrea B. Protacio ––Bill Mayhugh ’45 ––James C. Jones ––Bro. Charles E. Gresh, FSC 1983 ––Rev. Joseph J. Kleinstuber ––Bro. Richard Kestler, FSC ––Josephine Frye ––Timothy F. Brant ’67

1983 ––Bro. Albert Mosser, FSC ––Maurice James “Mac” McGarry ––CSM Vincent L. Fisher USA (Ret.) ––Sr. M. Cornelia Boyle, OSB

1972 ––William T. Hannan ’29 ––Jerry Wilson ––Msgr. Louis Quinn ––Rev. Edward H. Roach ––Bro. George Heil, FSC

1981 ––Rev. Robert O. McMain ––William McGregor ––Michael F. Kruczek ’71 ––John L. Keating

1971 ––Michael J. Wilson ––Francis J. Ortman ’33 ––Bro. Timothy Dean, FSC ––Conrad Perry ––Francis J. Kane ––John Sullivan

1979 ––Henry Kelly, Jr. ’39 ––Walter H. Brooks, Jr. ––Rev. Eugene A. Marino ––Bro. Colman Coogan, FSC ––Francis Emmet 1978 ––Rev. Thomas W. Lyons ––Dr. Clarence Walton ––Kathleen Crowley Enzler 1977 ––Rev. George B. Reid ––Paul Hume ––Bro. F. Patrick Ellis, FSC 1976 ––Lee Mason ––SGM Michael J. Hackett, USA (Ret.) ––Msgr. R. Joseph Dooley ’51 1974 ––George J. Quinn ’43 ––Sr. Mary John Shannon, FCJ ––William C. Baum 1973 ––Msgr. Joseph E. Schieder ––J. Collis Jones ’67 ––Bro. James Conaghan, FSC ––Katherine Anne Porter ––Thelma Catherine “Pat” Nixon

1970 ––Bro. Eadbert Moran, FSC ––John J. Higgins ––Rev. John Bellwoar ––Joseph R. Kennan ––Frederic A. Moretti 1969 ––Bro. Eugene Graham, FSC 1968 ––Bro. Daniel Bernian, FSC 1967 ––John W. Stadtler ’35 ––Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle ––John F. Henning 1966 ––C. Francis “Doc” Scalessa ––Charles P. Maloney ’38 ––Milton S. Kronheim ––Joseph M. Gallagher, Sr. ’39 ––Cartha D. De Loach 1965 ––Daniel Callahan ’48 ––Evan Sholl ––Bro. William J. Quinn, FSC ’34 ––J. Edgar Hoover ––Archbishop Philip M. Hannan ’31

St. John’s College High School 33

no longer works – it’s too slow and too imprecise. By giving all of his soldiers a clear, real-time awareness of what’s happening across the command and providing the context of their mission, each squad leader is empowered to make time-sensitive decisions and then held accountable for their actions. In this way, the entire organization learns to execute.

He now teaches a similar model of leadership called CrossLead to civilian firms through his consulting firm, the McChrystal Group. CrossLead is a leadership and management system that combines the concepts of shared consciousness and empowered execution honed during his service in the Middle East with trust in one’s colleagues and a shared purpose for an organization.

of building leaders. Although it was a challenging four years, McChrystal said it was a good experience that pushed him outside his comfort zone. “Even in the moment, I absolutely understood that what they were demanding of me was giving me habits and values that would have been much harder to come by without it.”

After graduation, he began his initial five-year term in the Army, which was long enough to confirm that McChrystal wanted a military career. He immediately began serving in leadership roles, beginning as a platoon commander in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He went on to hold positions in the Army Special Forces, Army Rangers and the XVIII Army Airborne Corp. He commanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2003-2008 and was the director of the Joint Staff from 2008-2009. In 2009, McChrystal was appointed by President Obama to lead the US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan. He retired as a four-star general on Aug. 1, 2010.

McChrystal is known as an innovative leader, although he said it’s more accurate that he demands innovation from his teams. At most organizations, military or civilian, people learn to follow the rules in order to get ahead and keep from getting in trouble. However, McChrystal said those people aren’t typically the ones who can take their team to the next level. It’s the people who are willing to think outside the system that come up with the most innovative ideas.

During his command in the Middle East, McChrystal knew that the Army needed to change its operating model. To that end, they created the idea of shared consciousness, an unprecedented transparency of information and strategy across his command that empowered leaders at every level to execute orders.

McChrystal said that in a pyramid hierarchy, information and orders are expected to flow down from the top. However, with the speed and interconnectedness of today’s world, that model 34 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Human beings in the military or in civilian firms have the same basic motivations – they want to be cared for, they want to do something they think has value or importance and they want to feel that they are valued.”

McChrystal said it was much easier to apply this military model to the civilian world than he expected. In the military, soldiers expect to follow a chain of command and they have a clear mission: to protect the country. However, corporations typically have statements of values underlined by a profit motive, and they primarily use money to motivate their employees. McChrystal said that money actually makes leadership more difficult, because it doesn’t do enough to motivate people and can actually be a point of dissatisfaction. “Human beings in the military or in civilian firms have the same basic motivations – they want to be cared for, they want to do something they think has value or importance and they want to feel that they are valued.” CrossLead shows organizations how to meet those basic needs and unite their employees in a shared purpose.

In addition to transforming the way corporations operate, McChrystal is also passionate about changing the way America operates. He serves as chairman of the leadership council for the Franklin Project at the Aspen Institute, an organization he helped found in 2013. The Franklin Project’s mission is to create an opportunity for every young American between the ages of 18 to 28 to complete a full-time, paid year of national service.

That year could be spent working in a variety of fields, such as healthcare, education or conservation, but the end goal is to create a sense of citizenship within the next generation.

McChrystal said that young people today seem to think of citizenship as a set of rights, like voting or paying taxes. There is a tradition of service in America that reaches all the way back to Benjamin Franklin and continued through national crises like the Depression and World War II. “This sense of service was directly linked to citizenship. I think the concept of citizenship

in America has eroded.” Thinking back to his time at St. John’s, he said that while the members of the SJC Corps of Cadets learn the concepts of citizenship and leadership through their JROTC studies, most young people don’t have that opportunity. The Franklin Project wants to give all young people that essential, formative experience.

It’s a big idea, but McChrystal has never been scared of big ideas. Through his work with the Army, the McChrystal Group and the Franklin Project, he is changing the leadership model for the next generation. “The real payoff is the alumni we create – it changes you for the rest of your life, and it changes the idea of your responsibilities. We want them to be better for society. I think it’s critical that we take a look at what works and tie more people to the American way – not a narrow American way, but a broad American way where everyone can feel like a part of it.”

MR. JOHN VEIHMEYER ’73

I

n many Lasallian classrooms, students are greeted by the words “Enter to learn, leave to serve.” Although that phrase is a recent addition to the vocabulary of Lasallian schools, its underlying meaning is a long-held tenet of the Christian Brothers and a recurring theme in the life of John Veihmeyer ’73. While he first learned the importance of service and responsibility to the community from his family (his father, Ned, graduated from St. John’s in 1939), he said those values were strongly reinforced during his years at St. John’s.

If you have the opportunity to go to a school like this and you don’t come out with a clear recognition that you’re in a position to make a difference in the world, then you’ve missed the boat. You’ve missed a big part of the experience of going to a place like St. John’s.”

“If you have the opportunity to go to a school like this and you don’t come out with a clear recognition that you’re in a position to make a difference in the world, then you’ve missed the boat. You’ve missed a big part of the experience of going to a place like St. John’s.”

Veihmeyer said he’s been blessed to have spent his life involved with three organizations with strong cultures of community and camaraderie: first St. John’s, then Notre Dame and finally KPMG, a $25 billion global professional services network that provides a wide range of audit, tax and advisory/ consulting services. While he certainly didn’t expect to remain at the same firm for 38 years, Veihmeyer has enjoyed a career with KPMG that has provided a wealth of opportunities for growth, development and diversity of experience. In 2014, he

took the next step on that journey when he was elected global chairman of KPMG International.

From the beginning, KPMG’s corporate culture felt like the right fit for Veihmeyer. By his third year with the firm, he was supervising a large team of professionals and further developing his leadership skills. During his time with the firm, he has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, including managing partner of Washington, DC, operations; global head of risk management and regulatory; chairman of the Americas region; and chairman and CEO of KPMG’s U.S. firm.

While he had opportunities to leave the firm for other companies and clients, he made it a point to ask himself each time whether he believed he would develop more over the next five years if he left KPMG. Each time the answer was no – the firm continued to challenge him and give him new opportunities for personal development. “You can literally have 20 different careers in KPMG and never change companies. I haven’t done the same job for more than five years at any point in time. It’s been a great opportunity to keep expanding my skills and feel like I’m developing in ways that I might not have had the opportunity to do elsewhere.”

Veihmeyer cites the firm’s culture as the main reason he’s been happy there for nearly four decades, and it’s something he’s proud to have had the opportunity to help build. As CEO, he said his primary responsibility is to help motivate his partners and employees and to use creativity and innovation to make that unique culture even more robust. “If you build a great culture that encourages your people to have strong emotional ties to the firm, then everything else will take care of itself. I firmly believe that the growth, profitability and success of a firm grow out of a great culture.”

St. John’s College High School 35

He also understood from his earliest time at KPMG that the firm expected its professionals to take on a broader responsibility to make an impact on the communities where they work and live. Having internalized the value of service at St. John’s and Notre Dame, Veihmeyer had no problem living it out as an employee. “When I began my career, it was almost second nature at that point – that you would view what you were about and what you were supposed to be doing more broadly than just what you do at work. You can’t be a great professional if you only do a great job at work.”

From Veihmeyer’s perspective, his leadership roles have given him an opportunity and a platform to make a bigger impact.

Although KPMG had a strong history of community service, he wanted to find a cause that could unite all of KPMG’s professionals. “I wanted to create something that the whole firm felt like they were behind and that was big enough that we could see the impact we’re making.” Seven years ago that cause developed into the KPMG Family for Literacy Program (KFFL). It was co-founded and is led by Veihmeyer’s wife, Beth, and has become an energizing force throughout the firm. KFFL is focused on positively impacting childhood literacy by providing access to books.

To date, they have provided children in need with more than 2.5 million brand new books and have expanded beyond the U.S. to include 10 countries.

Veihmeyer said that what makes KFFL unique in corporate America is that it is completely KPMG spouse-driven. He felt it was important to engage the broader KPMG family, which includes talented individuals from a wide variety of career backgrounds, and their work on KFFL has been integral to the program’s success. “It’s created a whole sense of energy around this program that is different than anything we’ve ever been able to achieve before. I think involving the broader family has been a big part of it.”

had the opportunity to really be challenged and forced to think about the type of leader they want to be, I’m not sure too many people would start with high school, but I would. I’m pretty thankful to St. John’s for that.”

Service through leadership is a way of life for Veihmeyer. As he continues his journey with KPMG, he will certainly have more opportunities to impact the global community and make a difference in the lives of KPMG’s people and their families around the world – for him, it’s just part of his responsibility as a leader. “There is no one right way to lead – you have to figure out your own way. But if you don’t take advantage of the opportunity and use the role that you have the privilege to be in to have a positive impact, not just on your organization but on the broader community, then you’re missing a big part of your responsibility as a leader.”

When you ask most people about when they first had the opportunity to really be challenged and forced to think about the type of leader they want to be, I’m not sure too many people would start with high school, but I would. I’m pretty thankful to St. John’s for that.”

His inclusive leadership style has its roots in his days at St. John’s, where the JROTC program first challenged him to think about what it means to be a leader. As a lieutenant colonel in his senior year, Veihmeyer led one of three battalions composed of his classmates and peers. He said that gave him his first experience with finding a way to lead others without “ jamming things down their throats.” Through the Cadet Corps, he began developing the leadership skills that have served him well throughout his career. “When you ask most people about when they first 36 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

The SJC community is extremely grateful for and proud of the accomplishments of these four graduates. They are outstanding examples to our students and living embodiments of De La Salle’s message, ‘Example makes a much greater impression than words.’ ”

—Jeffrey Mancabelli, St. John’s President

Photo Gallery

Class of 1965 50th Reunion: June 4-5, 2015

Bay Area Alumni Reception: Feb. 24, 2015 St. John’s College High School 37

Photo Gallery

Malcolm Palmore ’87, Erik Harris ’87 and Devin Hughes ’87 at the Bay Area Alumni Reception.

Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Reception: March 25, 2015

38 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Photo Gallery

New York City Alumni Reception: April 15, 2015

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

St. John’s College High School 39

Photo Gallery

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

This group wanted to know – where’s the Class of 1976?

40 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

Photo Gallery

8

9

10

11

1. Tim Harper ’85, Eric Ellis ’85, Robert Gibbs ’81 and Scott Harper ’82 2. Rob Spallone ’89, Tom Benjamin ’89, Jeff Mancabelli, Brendan Quinn ’89 and Mark Munson ’89 3. Paul Bowen ’85, Greg Hymel ’84, Jeff Mancabelli, Jack O’Connell ’85 and Matt Conway ’85 4. Jay Fielding ’68, Mark Crosby ’68, Jeff Mancabelli, Mike Noonan ’68 and Phil Feliciano ’68 5. Coley O’Brien ’65, Jeff Mancabelli, Mike Brant ’65 and Dave Murphy ’65 6. George Kalas ’65, John Thiel ’65, Jeff Mancabelli, Alex Kozar ’63 and Billy Wilder ’63 7. Denis Harper ’75, Tommy Ugast ’76, Paul Zmuda ’85, Rob Zmuda ’05, Jeff Mancabelli, Pat Patton ’75, Lawrence Zmuda ’79, Rob Zmuda ’75 and Mark Hughes ’75

Friday, May 8, 2015

8. John Scango ’88, Greg Farrah ’88, Mark Tropea ’88, Jeff Mancabelli, Bobby Browning ’85, Pooh Strachan ’88 and Mark Macpeak ’88 9. Alfio Bruno ’70, Joe McNamara ’70, Jeff Mancabelli, Ron Serabian ’69 and Mark Conrad ’71 10. John Carroccio ’03, Chris Love ’03, Jeff Mancabelli, Matt Borger ’04 and Chris Carroccio ’04 11. Kevin Stecklein ’92, Jim Whitty ’93, Jeff Mancabelli, Pat Whitty ’98 and Rich Whitty ’85 12. Ronnie Davis ’70 won the first-annual SJC Shootout.

12

St. John’s College High School 41

Class Notes

We want to hear from you!

Do you have news to share with the St. John’s community? We want to hear from you! Submit your class notes and pictures to classnotes@stjohnschs.org.

1970 This March, Rev. Jeffrey Samaha received the Msgr. Harry A. Echle Award for Outstanding Service in Health Care Ministry at the 24th annual Rose Mass for medical, dental, nursing and allied health care workers at the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, and sponsored by the John Carroll Society. Samaha has served as a chaplain for Holy Cross Hospital, Prince George’s Hospital Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Cedar Lane Senior Apartments and Newtowne Village Senior Apartments. He has been the chaplain at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center since 1993. The hospital presented him with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2000, and he was then appointed chief of chaplains. He also received the St. Philip the Apostle Service Award and was recognized by the National Council of American Executives in 2014.

1975 Francis Counselman MD, CPE, FA-

CEP is currently serving as president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). He has been on the board of directors of ABEM since 2008. He continues to serve as the EVMS distinguished professor and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.

1977 Christopher Whalen is the senior

managing director and head of research at New York-based Kroll Bond Rating Agency, where he is responsible for financial institutions and corporate ratings. He is the author of the December 2010 book Inflated: How Money and Debt Built the American Dream, now in a second printing, and co-author of the book Financial Stability: Fraud, Confi-

42 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

On the 10-year anniversary of his passing, family and friends gathered to honor Steve Liberatore ’72 at a park dedication ceremony and picnic at the family home in Silver Spring.

He was remembered for his persistence and dedication to his community. Stephen A. Liberatore Memorial Park sits on property once owned by the family. If you’d like to make a contribution to support the park, visit www.gofundme.com/sm2jum4. (Photo by Kathy Eszeki)

dence & the Wealth of Nations, which was published in September 2014. Whalen is a member of the Finance Department Advisory Council at the Villanova School of Business and a member of the Economic Advisory Committee of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He appears regularly in such media outlets as CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox News and Business News Network. He is active in social media under the Twitter handle @rcwhalen. His nephew, Nicholas Aram ’17, is currently attending St. John’s and participating in JROTC.

1992 Russ Washington was selected as the

director for incident management integration policy for the White House National Security Council. He is responsible for supporting the president and senior leadership during national crises while coordinating policy for response and incident management. Russ was the director of FEMA’s National Watch Center for five years, prior to his current White House assignment.

2000 From CPT Jabari White (USA, Ret.): Following the retirement of my former boss, Sen. Tom Coburn, I am continuing my service in the US Senate as Sen. Joni Ernst’s national security advisor.

2007 Brendan Kernan is now the direct sales marketing representative for Jersey Mike’s Subs in Wilmington, NC.

2010 This May, Alex O’Neill was chosen as one of the student speakers at Georgetown University’s commencement ceremony. He was also awarded the William J. Clinton Fellowship for service in India and the Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellowship for a project entitled “Saving Shangri-la: Conservation of Sikkim’s High-altitude Wetlands.”

2012 Morgan Whyte set two individual team records and was a part of three medley relay records at the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championships in February. She earned two gold medals and three silver medals in all, and she received the Lady Swimmer of the Year Award from the University of Delaware this spring. This season, Whyte was an NCAA Provisional B qualifier, Top 5 CAA finisher, Bucknell Invitational champion, CAA Swimmer of the Week, Top USS Winter Nationals finisher and Best of the Blue Hens Athlete of the Week; she also earned All-CAA honors.

Class Notes

On June 14, Trever Buonomo ’17 completed the 4.4-mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. He came in 14th out of 174 non-wetsuit swimmers, 45th out of 619 finishers, and sixth in his age group.

Ally Grossman ’12 (left) will be the new captain of the Yale women’s soccer team during her senior year. She is majoring in psychology and hopes to attend grad school in the fall of 2016. Grossman (right) is pictured with Yale teammate Chrissy Bradley.

Tiffany Davis ’12 (right) was selected to introduce President Barack Obama at a March 10 Town Hall event held at her college, Georgia Tech, in Atlanta. She was selected to introduce the president based on a letter she wrote him in October on college affordability.

“Words cannot express what an extraordinary experience it was to meet Mr. Obama and then introduce him. It’s a day I will never forget.”

to

St. John’s College High School 43

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 through June 30, 2015.)

Alumni • • • • • •

1936 1939 1939 1940 1942 1948

Albert Litschgi James Bowes John Broderick Joseph Fahey Richard Giebel Vincent Warring

• • • • • •

1949 1950 1953 1953 1954 1955

John Thompson Albert Suite John Moulton John Vecchiarelli Robert Berquist Martin Kilfeather

• • • • • •

1955 1957 1969 1971 1979 1984

James Kleindienst Kevin Baldwin John Daubenheyer Kevin Mulholland Dermot Meehan Sean Austin

• 1989 Tito Rowell • 1996 Justin McGahan • 2008 Andrew Esherick

Family and Friends of St. John’s • Amoroso, Dorothy, mother • • • • • • •

• • •

• •

of John Amoroso ’80 Baldwin, Kevin ’57, brother of Brian Baldwin ’56 Basso-Luca, Giorgio, father of Paolo Basso-Luca ’84 and Marco Basso-Luca ’86 Beans, Frances Anne, mother of Timothy Beans ’66 Boone, John, father of Sherman Boone ’73 and Kenneth Boone ’75 Calomiris, Maria, mother of Leonidas Calomiris ’84 Cavanaugh, Doris, wife of Thomas Cavanaugh ’44 Dolan, Mary, wife of James Dolan ’42; mother of William Dolan ’72 and Michael Dolan ’74 Donegan, Dorothy, mother of Gerald Donegan ’73 Esherick, Andrew ’08, brother of Kevin Esherick ’13 Finelli, Rosaria, mother of Domenic Finelli ’68, Philip Finelli ’73 and Mario Finelli ’76 Gailliot, Christopher, grandson of Thomas Gailliot ’49 Gannon, Mary, motherin-law of Jorge Garayta ’67 and grandmother of Jorge Garayta ’95

44 Scarlet & Grey Summer 2015

• Gerrow, Thomas, father • • • • •

•

of Bro. Thomas Gerrow, FSC, former SJC president Giebel, Richard Sr. ’42, father of Richard Giebel ’68 and John Giebel ’71 Gilmartin, Susan, cousin of Matt Scalzo, SJC faculty Greene, Alfred, father of Michael Greene ’71 Hagen, Grant, father-inlaw of James Speros ’77 Haley, Patrick Sr., brother of John Haley ’57 (deceased); uncle of Peter Haley ’76 (deceased), Michael Haley ’76 and Matthew Haley ’79; grandfather of Patrick Haley, SJC staff, Nathaniel Williams ’15 and Bennett Williams ’18; great-uncle to John Teare ’93, Kevin Ricca ’94, Jamie Ready ’96, Kristi Ricca ’00, James Ricca ’02, John David Ricca ’02 and Jacqui Ricca ’03 Hanzcor, Mary, mother of Mary Ellen Hrutka, former SJC board member and Mothers’ Club president; grandmother of Joseph Hrutka ’91 and Stephen Hrutka ’95

• Ingram, Eva, mother • • • • • • • •

•

of John Ingram ’75 Linson, Susan Mary, wife of Lawrence Linson ’66 Madoo, Christian, brother of Troy Madoo ’84 Majkrzak, Charles Sr., father-in-law of Linda Majkrzak, SJC faculty Jackson, Mattie, mother of Lawrence Jackson ’71 Montefiore, Joseph, father of Gregg Montefiore ’70 Murphy, Agnes, grandmother of Irene Murphy, SJC faculty Keany, Patrick, father of Kevin Keany ’72 Morin, Tricia, wife of Thomas Morin ’83; mother of Danny Morin ’11 and Christine Morin ’14; aunt of Raley Hinton ’14, Colin Hinton ’17, Grace Morin ’18 and Henry Morin ’18; daughter-in-law to Howard Morin ’58; sister-in-law to Susie Hinton, SJC staff, Michael Morin ’86, Matthew Morin ’88, John Morin ’90 and Vincent Morin ’93 Mulholland, Kevin ’71, brother of John Mulholland ’68 and William Mulholland ’76

• Partin, David, father of

• • • • •

• •

Barbara McCully, former SJC staff, and grandfather of Stephanie McCully ’05 Pulupa, Feliciana, mother of Jorge Pulupa ’63 and Rene Pulupa ’73 Scribner, Norman, father of Jonathan Scribner, SJC staff Shackelford, Basil, father of Murray Shackelford ’13 and Albert Shackelford ’16 Vitt, Barbara, wife of Francis Vitt ’56 Wilkinson, Patricia, former Mothers’ Club president; mother of William Wilkinson ’81 and Charles Wilkinson ’84 Wood, Donald III, father of Jonathan Wood ’02 and Timothy Wood ’06 Zellers, Robert, father-inlaw of Laura Zellers, SJC faculty, and grandfather to Theodore Zellers ’07

mber 19 Class of 1980 Septe October 2 Classes of 1985 & 1990 , Classes of 1955, 1995 3 r be to Oc 05 2000 & 20 er 16 Class of 1960 Octob & 1975 October 17 Classes of 1950, 1970

nions www.stjohnschs.org/reu

St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Rd., NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015

th e Cad et Corps Centen n ial A Celebratio n o f Lead ersh i p 1915 –2015 F r i day, N ov e m b e r 6, 2015 For more information, visit www.stjohnschs.org/cadetcentennial or contact the Alumni and Development Office at 202-364-0229.