X AV E R I A N
INSIDE: SPEECH AND DEBATE • SPIRIT OF XAVERIAN GALA • CLIPPERS AT AVIATOR
WINTER 2019
CONTENTS WINTER 2019
STORIES 6. Xaverian Keeps Reaching for the Stars
It’s a new day at Xaverian as we report on recent progress and growth.
8. Learn with Zeal A look at four academic
programs shaping confident and courageous Clippers of today.
14. After Class
The Resurgence of Speech and Debate.
18. We Are Xaverian
Meet 10 middle and high school students and see how they live the Xaverian mission.
DEPARTMENTS 1. President’s Message 2. Compass Points: News and updates from Xaverian
16. Clipper Conversation: Director of Music Joseph Loposky
30. Blue and Gold:
Class news, notes and events
37. Last Word: Clippers look forward to the new academic year
22. Advancement: Recap of
the Spirit of Xaverian Gala; Look to the Stars! takes teaching and learning to the next level
26. Clipper Athletics
On the Cover
Front row, (L to R): Christian Kaykaty ’19, Douglas Levy ’19, Joseph Graffagnino ’24, Mia Sanabria ’20 and Alessandra Priante ’20. Back row, (L to R): Alyssa Beltran ’20, Logan Noss ’21, Callie O’Brien ’20, Amayah Domingue ’20 and Liam Sawyer ’19.
Director of Advancement Mrs. Eileen Long Chelales The Navigator is a publication of Xaverian, a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored school established in 1957. Comments and contributions to this publication, as well as address updates, should be directed to: Mrs. Stephanie Lorenzo Director of Communications slorenzo@xaverian.org President Mr. Robert B. Alesi ’78 Principal Deacon Kevin J. McCormack
Director of Admissions Mr. Mark Spelman ’92 P’22 Director of Communications Mrs. Stephanie Lorenzo Director of Major and Capital Gifts Mr. Denis Brosnan Associate Director of Advancement Mr. Eddie Mayrose ’79 P’05 ’07 ’08 ’19 Advancement Associates Mr. Dillon Burns ’12 Ms. Siobhan Galligan P’19 ’23 Alumni Coordinator Mr. Tom Burns ’83 P’12 ’17 Database Manager and Gift Processor Mrs. Brittany Campanile
Archivist & Advancement Consultant Mr. Sigfried Heiles ’64 P’04 Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group Printing Abigal Printing Photography Mr. Joshua Joyner ’17 Mrs. Stephanie Lorenzo Michael Marmora Photography Xaverian 7100 Shore Road Brooklyn, NY 11209 www.xaverian.org (718) 836-7100
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A
s we start the new year, I find myself looking back to my own memories as a student at Xaverian. I have such clear and vivid memories of great times spent with classmates, teammates, teachers, and close friends. As a typical teenager, I probably didn’t spend much time thinking about all those people who made my Xaverian education possible – my parents, the Xaverian Brothers, our teachers, and the countless alumni who quietly and without much fanfare, continued their generous support of our school so that my classmates and I might also become part of the Xaverian legacy. So much of our identity at Xaverian is built around our legacies and traditions. This year, we have 103 students whose fathers attended Xaverian. Thirty-nine members of our faculty and staff are proud to call themselves Xaverian alumni, ensuring that our current and future students continue to stand on the shoulders of the giants that stood before them. While Xaverian continues to march forward, our past will never be forgotten. Today, Xaverian is blessed to have young women and young men who understand the significance of a Xaverian education, perhaps far better than I did at their age. One day they too will look back with gratitude and pride for all those who made their journey possible. During this most holy time of year, I thank each and every one of you for your support in preserving Xaverian’s legacy of molding the minds, the hearts, and the souls of our future leaders. The opportunities afforded to our students are endless, but only because of the support they receive from each of you. Thank you for all that you do to ensure the success of our students, the continuation of our mission and the promise of our future. I wish you and your families a most Blessed New Year. Peace,
Robert B. Alesi ’78 President
Xaverian, Winter 2019
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COMPASS POINTS •
News and Updates from Xaverian
Clippers Go Above and Beyond Nick Mattera ’19 and Nick Franki ’21 were able to make the All Hands on Deck Reunion very special for two Clippers. Xaverian caught up with Nick Mattera, who recapped this incredibly moving story: “Mr. Edward Mayrose had informed me that two graduates were not going to be able to make their 50th anniversary reunion — Mr. Joe Duffy ’68 suffered from ALS and was not physically able to attend. His friend, Mr. Dennis Michalak ’68 wanted to spend the day with him. Mr. Mayrose, a member of the class of ’79 himself, suggested that I speak to Mr. Michalak and together, we should figure out some way to get them involved in the reunion despite being miles away. That’s where we came up with the idea to bring an iPad and have the two speak to their classmates over Skype. Speaking with Mr. Michalak on the phone, I could see that Xaverian was a major part of his world. Just from talking to him for ten minutes, I understood that he was heartbroken that he and Mr. Duffy could not make the reunion, and so, we decided to do the thing that makes Xaverian an amazing place: we go above and beyond for our family. While we were walking around with the iPad and speaking with Mr. Michalak and Mr. Duffy’s classmates, it was clear as day that this reunion was extremely special to them, and knowing that I could help bring them there was extremely humbling. What makes this school different from any other place is the fact that our community is willing to drop anything at any time to help a brother or sister in need. It’s an amazing feeling to know that if I were in the same place, a hundred kids would volunteer to help me if they could. It’s what makes Xaverian unique.”
CHRIS HOBAN ’80 MEMORIAL RUN: 30TH ANNIVERSARY! The fall calendar of Bay Ridge events kicked off September 16 with the 30th Anniversary of the P.O. Chris Hoban ’80 Memorial Run! The Hoban Run, a September tradition in Bay Ridge, is enthusiastically supported by the Xaverian Police Alumni, the NYPD, and the entire surrounding community. The event keeps alive the memory of Chris Hoban’s personal sacrifice and serves as the primary funding for the Hoban Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance to sons and daughters of New York City Police Officers attending Xaverian.
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Board of Trustees Steven Galetta, MD ’75 Educational Programs Committee A nationally recognized leader in neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, and medical education, Dr. Galetta joined NYU Langone in 2012 to serve as the Philip Moskowitz, MD Professor and Chair of Neurology. Dr Galetta comes from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), where he was the Ruth Wagner Van Meter and J. Ray Van Meter Professor of Neurology,
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 Robert B. Alesi ’78 Reverend Michael J.S. Bruno, S.T.D. ’03 Katheleen Sullivan Coen, Esq. P’14 P’16 G’16
Vice Chair of the Department, and Director of the Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology. During his tenure at Penn, he led the Department of Neurology residency program for an unprecedented 23 years. He also ran the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship program and served as Associate Dean of Admissions of the medical school. Dr. Galetta’s areas of expertise include the treatment of double vision, multiple sclerosis (MS), concussion, neuroophthalmology, and optic nerve disorders.
Francis J. Mirabello, Esq. ’72 Advancement Committee
Brother Brian Davis, C.F.X. ’63 Steven Galetta, MD ’75 Neil Hall ’66 Brother Lawrence Harvey, C.F.X. Capt. Barbara Ives Michael Kawas ’77
Francis J. Mirabello concentrates his practice on estate planning;
Philip Lian ’66
closely held business planning, including succession and philan-
Frank Lupo ’68
thropic matters, and shareholder agreements; and federal income,
James Lynn, Esq. ’79
estate, and gift taxation. He also handles charitable trusts, foundations and nonprofit organizations, family law, international tax, and
Cara Macksoud G’92 P’23 ’24
real estate planning. An active writer and lecturer, Francis speaks frequently on estate
Edward McDonald, Esq. ’64
and trust administration and income, and estate and gift tax planning. Francis recently
Michael Mennella ’64
presented “Current Developments in Insurance Trusts” at the New York University Tax Institute and “US Tax Planning for Foreigners” at the University of Miami Estate Planning Institute. He has taught “Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts” at the University of
Francis J. Mirabello, Esq. ’72 Salvatore J. Russo, Esq. ’74
Pennsylvania Law School; and “US Taxation of Foreigners,” as part of the Villanova Law
Michael Strianese ’74
School’s graduate tax program. A Harvard Law Grad in 1978, Princeton graduate in 1975
Anthony Stumbo, Esq. ’93
and a proud member of the Xaverian Class of 1972, Francis is also the founder of the Francis G. Mirabello Scholarship that provides tuition assistance to the son or daughter
William Zucker ’75
of a member of the New York City Fire Department.
Neil Hall ’66 Neil F. Hall retired in 2017 as Head of Retail Banking for PNC Financial Services. He now serves as a Senior Advisor for the Boston Consulting Group. He was also an Advisory Board member of the U.S. governments’ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He was responsible for leading PNC’s consumer businesses, business banking, brokerage and distribution. Prior to being named executive vice president in February 2012, Hall led the delivery of sales and service to PNC’s retail and small business customers, directing branch banking, business banking, community development and PNC Investments. Hall joined PNC in 1995 and held various positions within retail banking. Prior to joining PNC, he was executive vice president of Chemical Bank New Jersey’s Consumer Banking Group. He began his banking career at Irving Trust Company and held several positions in commercial and private banking.
Xaverian, Winter 2019
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COMPASS POINTS •
News and Updates from Xaverian
Service by the numbers
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Immersion retreats
Students are welcome to attend one of at least four annual immersion retreats through the Romero Center
CLIPPERS HONORED
in Camden, N.J., where they are asked to work with
On Monday, June 4,
and reflect on the poor and hungry in today’s world.
some of our Clippers attended the W!SE 23rd Annual Awards
$77,101
Ceremony, celebrating the work of young people and honoring individuals
The amount of money raised by Clippers for St. Jude’s Research Hospital with
to improve the quality of life in our communities
Clip the Clippers.
across the five boroughs. The group, who were
31,928
all participants in our “Clip the Clippers” event that raised $77,101 for St. Jude Children’s Research
Service hours
Hospital, were on hand to
Throughout their four years as high school
Award in honor of the
students, the Class of 2018 completed over 31,928
fundraiser held here at
hours of service.
Xaverian this past March.
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Soup kitchen retreats
By the end of the 2017–2018 school year, the Junior class had participated in over 80 soup kitchen retreats to C.H.I.P.S. 100% of the Junior class goes at least once on this retreat.
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and organizations striving
receive the Social Impact
Art Mural Project The New York City Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Art Program, together with Xaverian and Mr. Anthony Grosso ’70 and GPI, unveiled a unique mural within an overpass on 69th Street in Brooklyn. Over the course of a three-week period, the Xaverian art teachers, Mr. Pat Mathews, Mr. John Hendrick, and Ms. JoAnna Mesiti, along with the assistance of Xaverian art students, transformed the space with a dynamic, colorful mural. The mural titled, “Diversity”, explores the relationships between old and new, constancy and rejuvenation, and harmony and variety. The architectural backdrop represents the history of Brooklyn, anchored in its brownstones and row houses, while the addition of the colorful sea life, represent the continuous flow of various cultures and peoples that make Brooklyn their home.
FROM THE ARCHIVES by Sigfried Heiles ’64, Archivist As Xaverian opened its doors for the 61st consecutive September, welcoming the Class of 2022, the third co-ed class, eyes are clearly focused on the future. Now, in its second year of a permanent home, the Xaverian Archives are appropriately located in the former Brothers’ residence on the third floor. Most alumni remember the third floor as a strictly cloistered area, only occasionally visiting the Brother’s Chapel for a Class Mass. But it was here
in the early days that the nautical and
handbooks, and thirty years of
maritime themes which underlie the
Hoban Run brochures are particularly
school’s iconography and traditions were
valuable. Also increasing are slides,
embraced and developed.
audio cassettes, and videos, as well
The Archives seek safeguard
as Xaverian athletic apparel. Please
materials to preserve the school’s past
consider donating your memorabilia
in order to serve the present and the
to the Archives!
future. Currently the print collection
Lastly, the Archive Office is always grateful to hear from you. Suggestions,
is growing – alumni and school
ideas, proposals, personal recollections
newsletters, Shore Road Locals,
are very welcome. Get in touch. Visit
yearbooks, etc. – and being compiled
www.xaverian.org/archives online to
and digitized. Some special collections,
keep up with news, articles, photos,
such as an almost complete set
and more!
of graduation programs, student
GO CLIPPERS !
FEATURE
XAVERIAN KEEPS
Reaching STARS FOR THE
The pursuit of excellence is a constant at Xaverian. The growth of existing programs and introduction of new ones, has made 7100 Shore Road a top choice for students throughout New York City. XCEL Program Allows Future Clippers to develop as Leaders For the past seven years, XCEL (Xaverian Community of Emerging Leaders) has seen growth in a myriad of ways. With an initial group of less than 60 students, the program recently boasted 175 participants in the summer 2018 session. XCEL has grown curricularly, in alignment with Xaverian’s growth and also as a testament to the talent of our teachers. Electives like computer programming are creating things with Micro:Bits, and long-standing favorites like Robotics and Studio Art are still alive with Clipper creativity and ingenuity.
Xaverian student leaders. Over the last four years, XCEL has become a cornerstone for welcoming the best and the brightest to 7100 Shore Road. Emma Markey, a sophomore, recalls her experiences as both a student in XCEL and most recently, as a leader this past summer: “As a student in XCEL, the leaders helped with learning in the classes, creating in the electives, and having fun outside. Ever since my experience as a student from XCEL was over, I wanted to do it all over again! Being a leader and giving back what I received from XCEL was amazing.”
IPAX Program Allows Students to Reach New Heights The Internship Program at Xaverian (IPAX) is a dynamic opportunity for rising juniors in the Honors Program to learn about a wide variety of careers in hands-on, real-world experiences with talented professionals. Designed to help students make well-informed decisions about their future majors in college and investigate potential career paths, IPAX places students with mentors (who are quite often Xaverian alumni)
XCEL is a summer enrichment program that integrates educational, spiritual, and leadership development for young women and men entering the eighth grade. In the Xaverian tradition, we seek students who possess zeal in the classroom and humility in their leadership. Willing to excel as a servant leader and grow as a young person of faith and integrity, participants explore their potential and sharpen their talents within a nurturing environment of passionate Xaverian teachers and friendly
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in their desired professional areas of interest. The list of partner organizations is constantly growing, and includes the areas of Architecture and Engineering, Journalism, Law, Business, Medicine and Dentistry, Arts and Culture, Politics, Military, and Law Enforcement. Class of 2017 graduate and Cornell University sophomore, Stefano Priante, reflects on his experience interning with Major League Baseball saying, “My internship in marketing with Major League Baseball was more than a home run — it was a life-changing experience. I was able to make connections I never thought possible, in a field I never thought 17-year-old me would be involved in. I was an integral player in the conception of MLB’s social media campaign for the World Baseball Classic. I was able to learn the skills necessary to achieve my goals through day to day work experience, lectures from the commissioner of baseball himself, and meaningful conversations with my mentor, Dominick Balsamo, a Xaverian alum who took me under his wing.” Mr. Balsamo, a graduate of the Class of 1994, remarked: “The IPAX program provides the invaluable opportunity for students to experience a living, breathing professional work environment in their areas of interest. As Xaverian students begin the exciting, yet daunting, task of choosing a career direction, this program offers them a great head start. I strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this great benefit that Xaverian offers.”
Students Emma Stanton ’21 and Tyler Hines ’21 recently spoke with us about the benefits of taking the ferry to and from school. Emma, who lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, told us that “with the views of the NYC skyline, my commute has not only shortened but has become a lot more scenic. Who wouldn’t want to pass by Lady Liberty every morning on the way to school?” Similarly, Tyler, who lives in Battery Park City, remarked that “going home each day on the ferry is the perfect way to end my day at school. Being out on the water each day allows me to reflect, have a peaceful ride home from school, and yes, on the occasion, some time to get homework done.”
The Honors Program Our Honors Program at Xaverian is bustling with new programs, new courses, and most importantly, new opportunities for our Clippers to succeed.
Xaverian is at the Center of it All! Xaverian is at the center of it all, thanks to NYC Ferry. As of summer 2017, NYC Waterways established a ferry route that stops right here in our “backyard” — the 69th street pier! With stops in Sunset Park, Red Hook, Dumbo, and Wall Street, Xaverian now attracts students from all parts of the city!
The Honors Program at Xaverian is designed to cultivate the talents, interests and scholastic aptitude through an interdisciplinary approach to academic study. Through a study of the core curriculum, students in the Program will have the opportunity to view the connections among distinct subject areas via complementary experiences and the processing of such through enhanced exercises in critical reading, creative writing and an integrated use of technology as both a research and writing instrument. Eric Kroon, a member of the class of 2020 recounts: “Many things make the Honors Program worthwhile for me. The program challenges me beyond what I could have ever imagined, and is preparing me for life after high school. My AP Physics class consistently pushes me past what I ever thought I would be capable of, and regardless of the concepts of science that I am learning, I know the skill set and the drive I have learned from being part of it will remain with me long after class ends.”
Xaverian, Winter 2019
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LEARN WITH ZEAL
Whitcome Genesis Center PUTS STUDENTS AT THE CENTER
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The entire Clipper Community was abuzz February of 2017 as we marked the official opening of the Whitcome Genesis Center. President Robert Alesi ’78 and two representatives from the 6th, 7th and 8th grade Genesis classes did the honors and cut the ribbon that marked the conclusion of the heavily-anticipated opening. The new wing was designed to give Xaverian’s Genesis middle school program a state-ofthe-art, dedicated educational facility. The space boasts nine classrooms, office spaces, a Faculty Project Room, and a large Commons Area. The entire wing was furnished with a variety of seating and workspace options that allow for individual, small, and large group work settings. The new addition to the footprint of 7100 not only means a new space for our middle school, but also additional classroom space for our high school as our Genesis students moved into their new digs! The Philip Whitcome Genesis Center, made possible by the posthumous donation of Dr. Whitcome ’66, allows Genesis to thrive. Here are just some of the highlights of the new wing:
The Whitcome Genesis Center Promotes Student-Centered Learning “A student-centered learning environment involves students leading the charge on whatever the activity is. They decide what they want to do in order to demonstrate what they’ve learned,” said Tom Snyder ’06, Assistant Dean of Genesis and English teacher. Xaverian’s faculty are trained and mentored in active learning pedagogy. Instructors spend 10-12 minutes during a typical class relaying information and students spend the rest of the period working independently or in groups on whatever the task is for the day. The educational approach mirrors the way colleges, and later companies, are asking people to work. Collaboration and communication are just two of the benefits teachers point to of project-based learning. “It’s not only more fun for the kids, it’s a lot more fun for us to design lessons that don’t involve a single limited space and especially don’t involve us at the front of a classroom lecturing,” said Brendan Gorman ’04, English teacher and Speech and Debate moderator. “We’re more enthusiastic about carrying out our plans because we realize how it will work in the space versus how it used to work. I think that’s kind of contagious. We’re more enthusiastic, the kids are a lot more enthusiastic and everything gets done quicker and better.” Pictured
(left to right): Joseph Portas, Katalina Davis, Chryssy Dossous, Jayden Buono and Rose Maese
The Whitcome Genesis Center Breaks Down the Four Walls of the “Traditional” Classroom Xaverian equips every student with an iPad so their ideas and their resources travel with them as they move from project to project or work by themselves or with a group. As teachers continued to explore active learning methods, they began to realize their space was not keeping up with their pedagogy. Mr. Gorman had this to say about the old layout: “The biggest issue was mobility. All the rooms had very large, very difficult to move desks. All of our surfaces were chalkboards fixed in place. If you wanted to reconfigure the room for a couple of different lessons throughout the day, it would take five to eight minutes (during a 40-50 minute class) to position everything the way you wanted it and more time if you wanted to transition within a class.” “Our new space allows students and teachers the room for exploration and creativity,” said Dean Patricia McEvoy. “You have the child who’d rather sit on the carpet working in a corner or a child out in the commons at one of the diner-style tables with other students. There’s a variety of ways to meet them where they learn best.”
The Whitcome Genesis Center Proves Its Worth The new Genesis middle school looks nothing like a traditional parochial school. “It’s considered state-of-the-art, almost futuristic in design,” said McEvoy. A little under two years into the new environment and teachers, students, and parents have seen the impact of their new space. • More learning — Teachers said spending less time configuring their space meant they could use more time to dig deeper into lessons. For example, a task that used to span two periods can now be done in one. • More flexibility — A multitude of different types of spaces means students can move just a few feet away to find a place that works best for them. Educators say one student may use the commons area to find a spot to focus while others gather in a classroom for a group assignment. As a result, the class can accomplish more in a shorter period of time. • More maturity — Students who used to sit in desks now have more freedom, more autonomy and more ownership. They are able to take control of what they’re doing and teachers report seeing more maturity as a result. • More productive — When students stand up to move around, teachers report seeing enthusiasm. That small bit of energy they get from walking from space to space or moving in and out of the classroom mid-period translates into a burst of productivity and even some fun.
Xaverian, Winter 2019
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LEARN WITH ZEAL
Virtual
Anatomy
Anatomage Table 5 is the Centerpiece of New Biomedical Science Lab The world’s leading medical schools use them. So do the health science departments of colleges and universities intent on providing the best training for future medical professionals. Now, Xaverian students and faculty have access to the most technologically advanced anatomy visualization system, the Anatomage Table 5, thanks to a $25,000 lead gift from Rita Oussani, Esq., her husband, Joseph Farraye, M.D., ’74 and the generous contributions of others. The Anatomage Table 5 is the centerpiece of a newly renovated laboratory dedicated to the school’s Biomedical Sciences Program. “This is cutting-edge technology for high schools,” said Lalita Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., Program Coordinator of Biomedical Sciences at Xaverian who also teaches biomedical science and psychology courses. Students are using the life-size 3D anatomy table to put scientific concepts and knowledge into practice whether it’s tracing the pathology of a particular disease or virtually dissecting a human cadaver. “The Anatomage Table can be used for so many different classes,” said Erin Richroath, who teaches 7th grade science for Genesis as well as Living Environment and Principles of Biomedical Science on the high school level. The technology also allows for more trial and error learning experiences. “The table allows students to not only dissect human cadavers, but it allows them to make mistakes as well,” Ms. Richroath explained. “If you are dissecting a real organ and make a wrong cut — well there is no un-do button, but there is on the Anatomage Table.” The Biomedical Science pathway of Xaverian’s STEM program has experienced exponential growth since its inception in 2015. “Enrollment has exploded,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy,
From Xaverian to Stanford University One day, there may be better therapies for treating musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer because of research conducted by bioengineering Ph.D. candidate Ionnis “John” Eugenis ’12 and scientists at Stanford University. Mr. Eugenis, who earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Brooklyn College, began the graduate program at Stanford in 2017. “Actively working on something unknown was exciting to me,” said Mr. Eugenis, who began college as a Science
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Teacher Erin Richroath and Vanchi Ly ’20 use the Anatomage 5 Table.
noting that multiple sections of Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems, the sophomore and junior level courses in the pathway, have been added each year. The hands-on nature of the classes has a lot to do with the program’s popularity. In Principles of Biomedical Science, for instance, students conduct an in-depth forensic investigation based upon a case history of an individual who died of natural causes. “Students are given information as the unit progresses,” explained Dr. Krishnamurthy. “They review medical histories, study autopsy reports and review lab analysis so they come to an understanding of how the patient died and can justify their conclusions. There’s a lot of skill building.” Both teachers believe the purpose-built laboratory and Anatomage Table 5 is raising the bar for teaching and learning. “It is really going to enhance the STEM program at Xaverian,” said Ms. Richroath. “Students love the interactivity and appreciate it as a tool for learning.” “We are very excited to have a brand new lab for Biomedical Science,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy, noting that teachers now have dedicated space to prepare lessons. “Our goal is to bring our passion for STEM to students. It’s all about giving kids an opportunity.” That’s exactly what Dr. Farraye, a recipient of the Bernard McQuillian Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Ms. Oussani had in mind. “Joe and I wanted our gift to be as impactful as we could foresee,” said Ms. Oussani. The couple envision that a Xaverian student who uses the Anatomage 5 Table might go on to conduct brilliant scientific research. “This could be the genesis of a cure for cancer,” she continued. “Anything can happen once you create the possibility!”
BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER, PHILIP LIAN ’66, IS OPENING UP DOORS FOR STUDENTS Philip Lian ’66 is always looking for ways to connect Xaverian students with new opportunities. Last year, a group of seniors in the “Medical Interventions” course of the Biomedical Science Program visited Amicus Therapeutics, thanks to Mr. Lian and Frank Crowley, M.D., the biotechnology company’s CEO and chairman. According to STEM Coordinator Lalita Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., Xaverian students spent an entire day with Amicus scientists and technologists learning about cell biology, the drug development process, lab safety, patient advocacy and career paths. They also got to delve more deeply into Fabry and Pompe, two rare genetic diseases the company has prioritized for research and the development of treatments, and attended special sessions on the isolation and extraction of proteins, which they studied in the “Medical Interventions” course. Dr. Krishnamurthy called the field trip, insightful, memorable and meaningful. “Students couldn’t thank us enough for the experience,” she said. The loyal Clipper has opened other doors for Xaverian students. Last year science teacher Robert Procida ’02 and Paul Mastrokostas ’18 attended Acquisitions Night at the Chemical Heritage Foundation Museum in Philadelphia as guests of Mr. Lian and his wife, Joan. Said Mr. Mastrokostas, “It was an amazing experience. I viewed a rare collection of books and manuscripts, met distinguished chemists and benefactors, and shared a
pre-med major, but quickly became fascinated by scientific
timeless evening with Mr.
research and made the laboratory a second home.
Lian, and his wife, Joan, both
Mr. Eugenis also traces his career path back to Xaverian,
of whom I thank for this great
and an in-depth research project on acne he conducted as
opportunity.”
part of the Honors Program. Science Teacher Roseann Guido mentored Mr. Eugenis on the project and his former teacher has invited him back twice to speak with current students. “There has been a lot of change,” said Mr. Eugenis, noting
technology as medical students at Stanford University. To the growing number of Xaverian students pursuing
that the advancement of STEM education, and in particular,
STEM tracks, Mr. Eugenis offered this advice: “Be curious and
the addition of the Anatomage Table 5, “is a great tool for
ask questions, no matter what field you pursue. And be open
students to have, especially in high school. It can spark
to anything. Having options open is a good thing. Don’t feel
interest, not just in medicine but other fields like animation.”
the rush to make a decision to choose [your academic major]
He is impressed that Xaverian students are using the same
in high school. It’s okay not to know.”
Xaverian, Winter 2019 11
LEARN WITH ZEAL
Stem
THE MICHAEL T. STRIANESE ’74 PROGRAM IS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS Four years ago, Xaverian’s startup STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Program took off with a game-changing $1 million gift from Michael T. Strianese ’74 and his wife, Alyson. Mr. Strianese, the retired chairman and CEO of L3, a Fortune 200 global aerospace and national security company, wanted to provide academically gifted students with the education, resources and skills needed to succeed in STEM-related fields. “Scientific and technological advancements drive innovation, jobs and economic growth,” he said regarding the announcement of the Michael T. Strianese ’74 STEM Program at Xaverian. The program quickly established a reputation for excellence, one that has attracted growing numbers of students 12 www.xaverian.org
to Xaverian. The school partners with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading developer of innovative STEM education and Xaverian’s talented faculty bring the program to life. “We have really good teachers who are passionate about what they do and create great interactions with students,” said STEM Coordinator Lalita Krishnamurthy, Ph.D. “Word-of-mouth is really strong.” Problem-based learning and hands-on classroom experiences are the hallmarks of the STEM Program, which is designed to benefit all students in Grades 6-12. In high school, once all Grade 9 students complete the required “Computer Science Essentials,” they can opt into three STEM Pathways: engineering, biomedical science
TAKING THE CURRICULUM TO THE NEXT LEVEL Clippers innovate, create and get a head start on college with a host of courses added to the curriculum in recent years: AP Music Theory and Composition is one of 11 advanced placement courses offered at Xaverian. The college level course is intended to develop students’ ability to recognize, understand and describe the basic materials and processes of music as both a performer and listener.
Introduction to Psychology surveys the basic principles of the discipline. Students read and evaluate articles from journals of psychology, develop analytical and expository writing skills and even connect the transdisciplinary nature of psychology to literature, art, music and other subjects.
Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) is the premier cooperative partnership offering qualified seniors the opportunity to enroll in Syracuse courses for college credit. Xaverian currently offers four classes including Psychology, an advanced-college level class completed by junior and senior students in the Honors Program and Introduction to Financial
and computer science. In the engineering track for instance, sophomores take “Introduction to Engineering Design,” and if they continue in the pathway, move on to increasingly challenging material that culminates with “Aerospace Engineering” senior year. The STEM Program has also been bolstered by investments in facilities including an engineering laboratory, Mac computer lab, new computer science lab and the dedicated biomedical science lab. (See story on page 10.) All have been designed to support collaboration and problem solving — the skill sets needed most in the 21st century. Xaverian students are well prepared to pursue STEM fields in college, especially when they take AP courses in combination with a hands-on STEM Pathway. “Students are learning the content and applying it at the same time,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy. “It’s generated a lot of excitement around STEM because it involves a lot of teamwork, collaboration and opportunities to explore on your own.”
Accounting, as well as Syracuse Spanish and Syracuse Italian.
Capstone Courses through Project Lead the Way (PLTW) exposes Xaverian students to advanced STEM coursework and real world problem solving. Students pursuing the STEM pathway in biomedical science for instance, track the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease of a fictitious family in Medical Intervention. The capstone to the engineering STEM pathway is Aerospace Engineering. In this specialized course, students explore the fundamentals of flight in air and space and bring flight concepts — airfoil, propulsion systems and rocket launching — to life.
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AFTER CLASS
THE RESURGENCE OF
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SPEECH AND DEBATE
hen the Xaverian Speech and Debate team set up a recruitment table at Freshman Orientation last spring, they expected a fair amount of interest. After all, the team swept the last four championships in the Brooklyn-Queens Catholic Forensic League, won the 2017 New York State Forensic League championship in Congressional Debate and captured its first national title at the 43rd University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic in February 2018. Midway through orientation, team members told Speech and Debate Coach Brendan Gorman ’04, “You may want to look at this.” Forty-five freshmen expressed interest in the extracurricular club, and by the time the event ended, 65 incoming freshmen signed up for one of Xaverian’s finest traditions. “It’s a good problem to have,” laughed Mr. Gorman, noting that there are nearly 100 middle and high school students participating in Speech and Debate this academic year. That’s a substantial increase from the handful of students who revived the team seven years ago. Mr. Gorman, who teaches English and history at Xaverian, became coach in 2013. He attributes the resurgence to several factors. “Part of it is the success,” he explained. Xaverian quickly amassed a winning record and the enthusiasm and talent of team members brought new recruits to the program. In 2016, coeducation generated even more interest, and participation in the extracurricular club doubled.
Students Take the Lead To manage the exponential growth, the team relies on student captains who are responsible for everything from
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orienting new members to organizing practices and motivating teammates. “Students take very serious ownership of the leadership role,” Mr. Gorman emphasized. “They dedicate a lot of time so that the experience they had is the same for students coming in.” That camaraderie comes alive each spring at Spark of Madness, an event initiated by team members to showcase the skills and talents honed with the greater Xaverian community. Prior to the 2018 event, several students shared the powerful impact of Speech and Debate on their lives. “Speech has not only shaped me into the person I am today, but has also helped me academically,” said Alexandria Zaky ’20, who qualified for the National Catholic Forensics League Grand National Tournament in 2017 and 2018. “Now, with my experience, oral presentations have gone from a weakness to a strength. Speech has left me a far better person than I would have been otherwise.” “Speech and Debate did more than just give me something to do; it gave me the confidence I never would have dreamed of as a freshman,” said Louis Savoia ’19. “It motivated me to do better in all aspects of my life — academically, personally and intellectually.”
Top Five at Grand National Tournament Savoia, in fact, was one of 21 Clippers who qualified for the 2018 Grand National Tournament held in Washington, D.C. last May. Six team members ranked among the top 50 in the country, while Savoia and Adney Silva ’18 qualified for finals and finished in the top 10. Xaverian also finished among the top five schools nationally based on the team’s highest ranked entry in each event, the best finish ever for the team.
Record of Excellence The impressive record of Speech and Debate could fill a book. Here are highlights of the team’s resurgence in recent years:
“It was a really big deal for us,” said Mr. Gorman, noting that the team now participates in 22 competitions leading up to state and national championships. The schedule includes invitations to compete at Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Harvard universities, as well as the University of Pennsylvania. Alumni support has been instrumental to the team’s success. Speech and Debate alumni turn out for events like Spark of Madness and have also demonstrated great commitment and generosity to the program through the Clipper Fund and endowed scholarships. Mr. Gorman noted that annual giving has kept weekend travel to tournaments affordable for Clippers, and two tuition scholarships are awarded each year to promising Speech and Debate team members.
2018: Xaverian finishes among the top five schools in national competition based on their highest ranked entry in each event, the best finish ever for the team. 2017: Clippers become Congressional Debate champions at the New York State Forensic League finals at Hofstra University. The team also ranks fourth in the state for speech at this event.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants In 2011, the Brother J. Meric Pessagno, C.F.X., Scholarship was established by the Class of 1961, members of the Speech and Debate teams and Brother Meric’s family. Brother Meric was an influential coach of Speech and Debate in the 1950s and 60s. The Dr. Fran Giordano scholarship, established by Robert Carotenuto ’85, honors Francis P. Giordano, Ph.D., who served as Xaverian Speech and Debate coach for 22 years and was past president of the Brooklyn-Queens Catholic Forensics League. Silva, who finished in the top 10 at the national tournament, remembered meeting Dr. Giordano at the 2016 Spark of Madness. “It was amazing to meet the man so integral to Speech and Debate,” he said. Silva is now attending Franklin & Marshall College, yet the lessons from Speech and Debate remain. “My time in Speech and Debate has been the most impactful,” he noted. “It’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
2016: First time Speech and Debate competed in the series of high school tournaments presented by five Ivy League universities. Two years later, the Clippers won their first national tournament, the 43rd University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic.
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CLIPPER CONVERSATION
The music Man
Joseph Loposky has performed all over the world, but the memento that means the most to Xaverian’s Director of Music is the photograph he keeps from his marching band days at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, N.Y. That’s because a robust music program, inspiring teachers and opportunities to perform for the broader community, shaped the course of Mr. Loposky’s life. A gifted teacher, musician and conductor, he’s been doing the same at Xaverian for the last 25 years. You trained as a classical trumpeter. When did you start playing? I was about seven years old. My father walked through the door with a case, and I asked, “What’s that for?” He said, “It’s for you. It’s a trumpet.” I took to it right away and never looked back. I fell in love with it. What was your music experience like in school? All the programs from the elementary level up to high school were extremely good. Endicott is the home of IBM, so there was a lot of culture, a lot of music at that time. My freshman year of high school there were 300 students in the marching band. That’s where I got my first understanding of music and the teachers cajoled everyone to move on. Getting a full scholarship to Wilkes University in Pennsylvania was providence. It was a small school; you weren’t a number. It might have been 50 musicians in the freshman class so you got the lion’s share of playing and could hone your craft even more.
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How did you make the leap from music student to professional musician? After I graduated college, I took nine months off to decide if I should do a master’s degree. I was still playing trumpet, but I went back to Endicott and worked construction. A friend called and said, “Brooklyn College is looking for trumpet players.” I auditioned, moved down here and found an apartment within three days. That’s when my playing career started to take off. Wherever a job was offered, I took it. I played Latin and jazz. I was with the rock band The Fleshtones for many years and then moved to Mexico to play principal trumpet with the Mexico State Symphony. What drew you to Xaverian? In 1994, the stock market in Mexico crashed. I had to make a decision to stay or move back to New York. I came back not knowing I’d ever teach. I played with the Metropolitan Opera Trumpet Ensemble and The New York Choral Society Orchestra, but was also doing summer programs for students. An
acquaintance told me Xaverian was looking for a music teacher and thought I might be a good fit. It was part-time the first year, but by the following year, Xaverian had me hook, line and sinker.
them into a set group for the year; that’s much different than most other schools. How has coeducation impacted the music program?
What made you want to go all in after your first year? I guess I liked it more than I realized, but the school was the right fit, too. I based the music program on my professionalism as a player. I trained the students to be out in the real world as players, and that was a good methodology. They took to it very quickly and easily. My approach is to be open and creative. It wasn’t, “You have to do it this way.” My way is not always the right way for every student, sometimes you have to take a different track and offer something else. That’s how a lot of students blossomed. What other techniques did you use to develop Music at Xaverian (MAX)? Our program is all inclusive. My philosophy from the beginning was anyone and everyone can do it. We started with one group of 24 musicians the first year. They were all beginners. And that’s still part of the program; students can start at the beginning level and go to the highest levels of musicianship. The sky’s the limit for them. As students progressed, we added groups for upper level players and the program took off. Now we have 28 performing groups, and 850 students involved in MAX. That’s threequarters of the school involved in music. And it’s very fluid. If a student comes in and by November they’re ready to move to the next level, I’ll move them up. We don’t lock
Seamless transition. I taught Genesis, and the middle school students have always been involved in these programs. A good musician is a good musician. I can’t think of one issue other than students not practicing. In a perfect world they all practice. But students at Xaverian are involved in so much. We want them to be that triple threat: the academic, the musician, the athlete. That’s what Xaverian is all about, opportunities and trying everything in high school.
What have you learned from students over the last 25 years? A ton of things. I’ve learned to adapt to each situation; different students learn different ways. I’ve also grown with the students as the program has improved. And MAX is still growing, which is incredible. We’re always morphing into new and different areas. Joseph Loposky has served as Director of Music at Xaverian for 25 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education and trumpet performance from Wilkes University and a master’s degree in trumpet performance from Brooklyn College. Mr. Loposky serves as adjunct lecturer, music education, brass instruments at Brooklyn College. He has been married to Ana Loposky, College Coordinator, since 1997. The couple has three children and resides in Staten Island.
THE WORLD IS THEIR STAGE Community service is a big part of MAX. From the Tunnel to Towers Run in September, to Fleet Week festivities in May, Xaverian ensembles play an essential part in New York City events. MAX has also been in the national and international spotlight. This includes:
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chorale performances at the White House in 2002 and 2007.
Jazz Band performances for
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Pontiffs. Xaverian musicians welcomed Pope
Francis and Pope Benedict XVI to the United States in 2015 and 2008 respectively.
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tours to Japan through the “B” Bridges Exchange Program. In 2005, Jazz Band I and the Doo Wop Chorus performed at
the World’s Fair. Since then, groups of approximately 60 students returned five times to perform in Inuyama City. The exchange program is run in conjunction with Anthony Bianchi ’76, the first North American elected to public office in Japan.
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Living Our Xaverian Mission In 2016, the adoption of a new mission statement had a profound impact on the Xaverian community. In their own words, Xaverian students describe how they embrace and live the mission’s guiding values — Serve with Humility, Lead with Compassion, Learn with Zeal, Live with Simplicity and Pray with Trust.
we are
COVER STORY
Serve with Humility Alyssa Beltran ’20 and Douglas Levy ’19 may be involved in different service projects at Xaverian, but they share strikingly similar outlooks on their respective ministries. “Xaverian has raised me to be a person who reaches out to others, as opposed to waiting for others to reach out to you,” said Beltran, a participant in “Clip the Clippers” and the Urban Challenge retreat in Camden, N.J. The four days she spent in Camden were especially influential. “The act of connecting with someone and learning a story that’s different from your own, yet somehow the same, shifts your perspective. It’s life changing.” Levy, too, feels compelled to reach out, whether it’s helping a friend with Spanish, or acting as altar server for Mass at his parish church and at Xaverian. “It’s something that is embraced by the entire school,” said Levy. “Service with Humility means that you care, that you’re respectful and have courage. You are not only here to better yourself, but are here to help others.”
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Lead with Compassion
Learn with Zeal
For Amayah Domingue ’20, leadership began day one at Xaverian because she was part of the first coed class setting the future course for the school. Since then, she’s been involved with Campus Ministry service projects and helping orient freshmen to Xaverian. “The environment here definitely makes you want to be more compassionate to those around you,” Domingue said. “You also grow as a person because you have to show a level of maturity to in order to guide incoming freshmen into their transition to high school.” Liam Sawyer ’19 has also been involved with Campus Ministry and serves as co-president of the Clipper Society. Last year, he participated in the Kairos Retreat, which presented the opportunity “to open up and listen to everyone’s stories. It really brings everyone closer together.” Sawyer valued the experience so much he decided to be a Kairos leader this year. “Xaverian taught us how to serve others throughout all our experiences,” he added. “No matter what we do in life, we’re always going to give back to others.”
Whether they are adjusting to the rigors of the high school curriculum or building time management skills in Genesis, students appreciate the learning environment Xaverian creates to challenge them to their fullest potential. “Learn with Zeal is a good description of all our classrooms,” said Callie O’Brien ’20, a standout student and basketball player. “There’s a lot of energy and our teachers are all enthusiastic and passionate about what they teach.” Joseph Graffagnino ’24, a 7th grader who began in Genesis last year, agrees. Since the program is dedicated to providing an engaging and challenging middle school program to academically talented boys and girls, “You learn to work hard and manage your time,” he said. Xaverian’s STEM program is especially motivating. When O’Brien took “Principles of Biomedical Science” sophomore year, she investigated a crime scene analysis and conducted blood splatter analysis. “It was very hands-on and so interesting,” she said. “We also got to explore all the different careers that are related to biomedical science.”
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COVER STORY
Live with Simplicity
Pray with Trust
Family paved the way for Alessandra Priante ’20 and Logan Noss ’21 to join the Xaverian community. Priante attended Genesis with her twin brother, Daniele ’20, and was thrilled when Xaverian transitioned to coeducation. “It was an easy choice because I always loved the school,” said Priante, whose older brother, Stefano ’17, served as student body president and now attends Cornell University. Noss’ uncle attended Xaverian and his sister, Kasey ’20, is also a member of the first coed class. He calls it “the best decision,” because he is learning and becoming a better person. Xaverian’s call to Live with Simplicity is a big part of that. “It’s about passing on all the goodness that Xaverian is bringing in to you,” said Noss. “It’s pretty easy to make time for others and help them out.” Priante embraces the motto by “taking it one day at a time and appreciating everything we’ve been given. It’s such an opportunity to come to this school and be a part of this community.”
Christian Kaykaty ’19 wanted to do many things when he got to Xaverian; service as a minister of Holy Communion wasn’t one of them. “I wasn’t that big on my faith,” said Kaykaty, one of 16 student Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in a program run by Campus Ministry. The school’s familial atmosphere encouraged him to delve deeper into his faith. “Xaverian is about being open and honest and trusting the people around you,” he continued. “They’ve instilled in us that you’ll always have someone there for you.” Mia Sanabria ’20 also serves as a Eucharistic Minister and says her spiritual and prayer life has grown at Xaverian. “Praying is trusting that God is listening, that the people around you will do the same and that we’re all living in faith,” she said. For Sanabria, becoming a Eucharistic Minister was a natural progression from lector at Church and a way to feel more connected to God. “[The ministry] is very accepted here and everyone is one big family, so we’re all working together. It is a new and growing program for us.”
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ADVANCEMENT The entire Xaverian community gathers annually at the Spirit of Xaverian Gala to recognize those among us who have achieved great things – professionally and in their volunteer work — and more importantly, in living lives that emulate the values of the Xaverian Brothers. Xaverian’s mission, a part of daily life at 7100 Shore Road, instills in our students a commitment to faith and service to community. A revered teacher at Xaverian for more than three decades, Mr. Bernard McQuillan impacted the lives of just about every student who walked through the doors of 7100 Shore Road during his tenure. As a teacher of Russian, Psychology, English, and Computer Science, Bernie had a tremendous impact on generations of Alumni. His inspirational passion and zeal for knowledge, along with his kind, mentoring contributions to all members of student body, faculty, staff and administration still exist today, through his example, as vital aspects of our school. Congratulations to our Bernard McQuillan Distinguished Alumni Award recipients: Dr. Robert Giasi ’61, Dr. Walter Koroshetz ’71, Mr. Charles Johnston ’72 and James Lynn ’79.
Dr. Robert Giasi A proud member of the Xaverian’s first graduating class, Dr. Robert Giasi ’61 graduated from the College of Holy Cross and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from SUNY Downstate Medical School. A two-time veteran, Dr. Giasi returned to the states to begin his medicinal career in Massachusetts whereupon he served as both Clinical Director of Anesthesia and Chief of Cardiac Anesthesiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School until retirement. Dr. Giasi is also proud to have completed several missions abroad with the International Children’s Heart Fund, Project Hugs, and Forward in Health, to just name a few. Currently, Dr. Robert Giasi enjoys his time with his wife MaryEllen, whom he met at a Xaverian Speech and Debate competition, and children and grandchildren.
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Dr. Walter Koroshetz Dr. Walter Koroshetz ’71 was named Acting Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS) in October 2014. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Director of the NINDS since January 2007. While Deputy Director, he helped found the collaborative Traumatic Brain Injury Center at intramural NIH and Uniformed Health Services University, and the National Institute of Health’s Office of Emergency Care Research. Dr. Koroshetz graduated from Georgetown University and received his medical degree from the University of Chicago. He trained in internal medicine at the University of Chicago and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The Spirit of Xaverian Award is presented to an individual who truly embodies the spirit and values of the Xaverian Brothers: trust, zeal, humility, simplicity, and compassion. Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Xaverian Award: Sigfried Heiles ’64, Xaverian Archivist.
James P. Lynn, Esq. James P. Lynn, Esq., proud member of the Class of 1979, is the principal of the New York City law firm of The Law Offices of James P. Lynn. He concentrates his practice on the representation of businesses and individuals in intellectual property, corporate, employment, and general commercial matters. Jim’s practice includes both transactional and litigation matters. As a litigator, Jim has successfully tried cases and otherwise litigated a wide variety of matters in federal and state courts throughout the United States, as well as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the tribunals of the American Arbitration Association, JAMS and the New York Stock Exchange. Jim graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1983 and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1987. Jim currently resides in Middletown, New Jersey with his family, where he has coached children’s basketball, baseball and softball teams for many years.
Charles Johnston Charles Johnston is a proud member of the Class of 1972. Upon graduating, Charles studied Russian at Colgate University. He went on to receive an MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Charles began his professional career at Arthur Young as a CPA and also began consulting for corporations across the city experiencing severe cash flow issues. In 1984, Charles became the managing director for Morgan Stanley, leaders in the development of the mortgage derivative market. In 1996, he became the managing director of Lehman Brothers, eventually running the Investment Management Division, consisting of 16 offices and over 1200 people. In 2014, Charles then began to lead the NY Investment Management Division of Deutsche Bank. Upon retirement, Charles went back to school — this time St. Joseph’s Seminary — and received an MA in Theology. Currently Charles is back home at 7100 Shore Road, as a member of Xaverian’s Religion department.
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ADVANCEMENT
Look to the stars The most ambitious capital campaign in the school’s history builds on Xaverian’s momentum and success Xaverian has come a long way since it opened its doors in 1957. No one could have anticipated what the future would hold — with changes coming in all forms over the last six decades. What has not changed is Xaverian’s unyielding commitment to Catholic educational excellence. Over the years, programs and curriculums evolved to meet and exceed the needs of students. Xaverian continually invests in programs that challenge the mind, spirit and hearts of Clippers. With unmatched programs and curriculum, and with enrollment at record highs, Xaverian now seeks the same excellence and investment in its facilities. In the words of Xaverian President Robert Alesi ’78, “Now is the time to build on
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the progress we’ve made and give our students the best possible launching pad to go out and change the world.” Therefore, over the past few years, Xaverian has set out on what has become Phase I of an ambitious, multi-tiered renovation and expansion plan to enhance and modernize facilities. Thanks to the effort of many and the support of key leaders in the community, the following projects have been completed:
PROGRESS TO DATE
The Whitcome Genesis Center The Dr. Philip J. Whitcome ’66 Educational Center was transformed into The Whitcome Genesis Center. The new
space now provides the Genesis middle school program — a program for high achieving and gifted students — with a dedicated space, complete with nine classrooms, office spaces, a Faculty Project Room, and a large Commons Area, along with access to Michael T. Strianese ’74 STEM Laboratory.
Third Floor Renovation Previously serving as the residence of the Xaverian Brothers, the third floor was renovated to include a music and art wing, office space and Alumni Hall.
Engineering and Biomedical Science Laboratories Xaverian’s STEM education is one of its highest priorities. To this end, two new laboratories — one for engineering and one for biomedical sciences — have been completed. The biomedical laboratory features an Anatomage table, the most technologically advanced visualization system for anatomy education, which is currently being adopted by many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions.
Boys and Girls Locker Rooms Since young women were welcomed to Xaverian’s Class of 2020, the school has updated and renovated athletic and team locker rooms located in the Anthony Leondis Gymnasium. Clipper teams now have separate locker rooms for boys and girls, as well as female and male coaches. The completed Phase I projects have allowed Xaverian to make significant strides forward and have improved the lives of students, even in the first semester of the school year. Looking to Phase II, members of the Xaverian community are excited by what lies ahead. “Since we are never satisfied with ‘good enough,’ our plans will touch nearly every corner of our beloved school,” said Mr. Alesi. Xaverian’s president noted that the school has always embraced the importance of preparing students for the 21st Century, collegiate expectations, and professional fields. “Recognizing the profound promise of our students — and with the full support of our entire community — there is no better time than now to continue our investment in them,” he said. Xaverian looks forward to keeping alumni and friends informed about its plans for the future and providing a way to support these efforts.
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CLIPPER ATHLETICS
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F I Home L D
The scoreboard at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Floyd Bennett Field says it all: “Welcome to the Home of the Xaverian Clippers.” Last September, Aviator Sports and Xaverian cut the ribbon on two renovated outdoor turf fields, the home fields for five Clipper programs — football, girls and boys soccer, as well as girls and boys lacrosse. “This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to our sports programs and grow awareness of Xaverian High School across New York,” said Xaverian President Robert Alesi ’78 at the opening celebration, which coincided with a girls soccer game. Within the first full year of operation, the benefits to student-athletes, coaches and teams are even more pronounced. Athletic Director Anthony Mancusi ’96 cites a number of advantages the partnership has generated that range from
priority time slots for practices and games to more efficient scheduling, which gives coaches and staff more time to focus on student-athletes and teams. The sight of Xaverian’s iconic clipper ship at the 50-yard line has also inspired massive school spirit. “Having these fields gives us a sense that this is our home,” Mr. Mancusi said. “The kids understand that Aviator is our facility, so they take even more pride playing there.” Turnout for games and team support has also increased. “Everyone knows the home games are at Aviator,” Mr. Mancusi explained. “Many kids live in the neighborhood, and if they have a friend playing, they head over to the game.” With attractions such as an arcade, rock climbing wall, food court and other amenities, the athletics complex is now a destination for the Clipper community to congregate and socialize. More than 800 alumni, parents, family members and friends turned out for the annual Homecoming game on September 22, 2017 when Xaverian defeated St. Dominic High School, 35–7. “The crowd was gigantic,” said Mr. Mancusi. “To see that kind of turnout the first year was incredible.” Enthusiasm was even greater the second year. Varsity Football capped off Homecoming Week with a 44–24 victory over Mount Saint Michael before a large crowd.
ADVANTAGE
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CLIPPER ATHLETICS
Time Out with Clipper Coaches Bill Daly used to follow the Mets. That changed after he accepted the J.V. Baseball coaching position at Xaverian in 1995 and dedicated all of his baseball acumen to the Clipper team. “I couldn’t even tell you the Mets lineup anymore,” Mr. Daly laughed. Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Mr. Daly owned a stationery store in the neighborhood and coached sandlot and travel teams in his spare time for many years. Even as a part-time Clipper coach, he recognized there was something special about Xaverian. “The more I worked in the school, I got to know a lot of really great people who work here,” he said. He also enjoyed meeting new students every year and forming bonds that last beyond students’ high school years. Mr. Daly joined the athletics staff full-time in 2004. As Athletics Assistant, he assumes multiple roles from driving the bus for various sports teams to the supervision of summer programs. Mr. Daly also took on a new sport, basketball, and coached the Varsity Club team in 2017–18. The program is expanding this year to accommodate junior and senior players. Reflecting on his 23 years at Xaverian, Mr. Daly said it’s gratifying to see students develop all of their capabilities in athletics, academics and spirituality.
Margaret McKeon has the passion and track record for building basketball programs. She did it at the collegiate level at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Boston University and George Washington University, and now as Assistant Athletic Director and Girls Basketball Coach at Xaverian. “When I heard that Xaverian was going coed, I thought this could be a great opportunity,” said Ms. McKeon who joined the athletic staff in 2016. A standout player at St. John’s University, she also competed in the Brooklyn-Queens GCHSAA. “I know what the league did for me as a person. Being back, it’s also a way for me to have a positive effect on girls.” The first year, the JV team finished number one in their division. The second year, the program expanded to JV and Varsity and faced stiffer competition. “We were a young team and that was okay,” said Ms. McKeon. “We got our feet wet and Varsity tied for fourth out of seven teams. This year, the team knows what to expect and we have a chance to be pretty good this season. Top three team is our goal.” Ms. McKeon is a great promoter of Xaverian’s girls teams on Twitter. “For our girls, it’s extremely important that people know we have a good program and players who will go on to play at the college level,” she said. Follow her @MargaretMckeon.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! The Clipper Athletic program won three championship titles in 2017–2018!
The Girls Varsity Soccer Team won the Brooklyn / Queens “AA” Championship. 28 www.xaverian.org
Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team won the CHSAA “A” City Championship.
Boys Varsity Baseball Team won the CHSAA “AA” City Championship.
A HISTORY OF BREAKING RECORDS From its inception in 1957 to the current day, talented student-athletes and visionary coaches have vaulted Xaverian’s Cross Country/Track & Field program to new heights. 1958 Tony Perrone becomes the first lay faculty Xaverian coach, after Brother Rosarius, C.F.X., Brother Byron, C.F.X., and Brother Christopher, C.F.X. moderate the team during its inception year in 1957. 1959 Jim Warren ’61 and Phil Minardo ’61 are the first two Clippers to win a CHSAA City Championship event. Warren wins the 440 yard dash and Minardo takes the 220 yard dash at the Outdoor City Championship Meet. 1965 Frank McCartney becomes Xaverian’s second Cross Country/Track & Field head coach. 1974 The Outdoor Track & Field team wins the first ever CHSAA City Championship in any sport. The Gary Fantry award is also established. The award is presented to a senior student-athlete that has demonstrated loyalty and dedication to the sport of Track & Field at Xaverian. 1979–1986 Joe Bozzone becomes the third head coach, while Frank McCartney takes on Athletic Director duties until 1986.
1987 Cross Country becomes the first Xaverian team to compete internationally and win the team division of the Bermuda 10K Race. 1987 The 3,200 meter relay team of Kevin Roche, Paul Fonte, Paul Whittaker, and Pat Sullivan win the team’s first ever State Championship.
2002 Brother Pat retires from Xaverian after 40 years of service as a counselor and assistant Track and Field coach. He moves to a Xaverian Brothers house in Danvers, Massachusetts. 2005 Sal Tinervia ’97 becomes the third Cross Country/Track & Field head coach.
1991 & 1992 Joe DeGregorio becomes a two-time NY State Champion, winning the shot put two years in a row.
2007 Elba Maldonado becomes the fourth Cross Country/Track & Field head coach; she is the first female head coach within the Track program.
1992 Bob Maroney and Brother Jim Smith, C.F.X., lead the freshman team to a City Championship.
2010 Brian McCartney ’04, Frank’s son, becomes the fifth and current Cross Country/Track & Field head coach.
1994 Frank McCartney is inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame. Brother Pat Pennell, C.F.X. soon follows him with his own induction in 2002.
2011–2012 Laray Smith ’13 breaks five school records to become the individual with the most school records for the Track Program. He joins Joe DeGregorio and Paul Whittaker for the most CHSAA City Championship wins for Xaverian. 2016–2017 Kinga Lewandowska ’20 is the first female to medal for the Girls Cross Country team. Kinga, along with Jessica Dunn ’20, Thea Oberman ’20, and Cassandra Bogdan ’20 are the first girls to compete as a relay team for Xaverian girls Indoor Track & Field. 2018 The 1600 meter relay team of Doug Knapp ’19, Todd Charles ’19, Michael Vazquez ’18, and Jadon Gilbert ’19 win the CHSAA Catholic State Championship and place third in the Emerging Elite Division at New Balance Nationals.
Michael Vazquez ’18 scans the course after a race at Van Cortlandt Park.
Xaverian, Winter 2019 29
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
Do you have news you’d like to share with your fellow Clipper Alums? Be sure to submit a Class Note for the next monthly edition of the Alumni E-News, as well as the next Navigator! Examples of interesting Class Notes include: • birth announcements • wedding announcements • recent graduation • career news (new job or promotion) • relocation updates • retirement plans • recent awards or recognition for professional or volunteer accomplishments Send your news, along with your full name and class year, to classnotes@xaverian.org. Photos are welcome and may be sent as attachments. We ask that you include the highest resolution image possible.
1964
Congratulations to Paul J. Mila on his new children’s book, Henry Hawksbill Helps His Friends. Paul, an author and underwater photographer, also published an online newsletter, “Sea-Gram.” You can check it out at www.milabooks.com.
1965
Gerry Kearney launched a new website, www.kitsapattorney.com, for his legal practice in Hansville, Wash. If you’re in the area, look for Gerry and his band, Gerry and the Tonics, at local venues
30 www.xaverian.org
such as the Filling Station and Slippery Pig Brewery.
1968
Joseph Amato, Senior Partner at Cameron Engineering, was honored by the Theodore Roosevelt Council of The Boy Scouts of America at their Design and Construction Reception at The Carltun at Eisenhower Park on September 14, 2017. Ron Orton reports, “After vacationing with family on Hilton Head Island for decades, we decided to relocate to the area. Warmer
weather, slower life style, great outdoor activities and lots of good eateries. Thanks to technology, which allows me to work from anywhere, I am still in the international dry bulk shipping industry, representing a Norwegian and Filipino company.”
1969
An amazing recognition for Matthew Besheer and John Anticev ’80. The two were featured on a History Channel Special: ”The Road to 9.11.” Besheer wrote in: “I was assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force and
was very involved in the 1993 explosion and follow up investigation into that incident as well as Ramzi Yousef’s plot to blow up 12 U.S. Airliners known as the Bojinka Plot. John and I will be featured on the series. John is also assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force and has been very involved in numerous terrorist investigations.”
Joe Simonelli’s new comedy, “Old Ringers”, is currently running at the James Downing Theater in Chicago.
1970
Anthony Giliberto of Giliberto Designs, provides many of the costumes for Broadway shows such as A Bronx Tale and Hello, Dolly! Anthony recently designed costumes for The Honeymooners, a new musical comedy debuting at The Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.
Robert Thoelen is enjoying his fourth year of retirement, staying active in his church. He and his wife recently welcomed their 13th grandchild.
1971
Gary Tully (below, left), recently returned home to 7100 Shore Rd. He made the visit to reminisce with teammate, friend and fellow Clipper Charles Johnston ’72 (right) about the good old days! Welcome home, Gary! 1
1972
Congrats to Robert Howe on celebrating 37 years of practicing law. Steve Rolandi is teaching M.B.A. graduate studies at Pace University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He was re-elected President/ CEO of Carlshire Tenants, Inc. in 2016.
1975
Thad Dupper is the proud author of two novels, Attack on Nantucket and The Torchlight Gambit.
1976
Tom DeAngelo and his wife, Maureen, became first-time grandparents in July 2017 with the birth of their granddaughter, Audrey.
1979
Christopher Spinelli P’17 painted a piano for “Sing for Hope,” as part of the SFH Piano Project that hit the streets of NYC on June 5, 2017. After the pianos’ debut on Liberty Street, they were taken all over the city and placed on streets where passers-by could see performances, both professional and amateur. After the project’s conclusion, all pianos were distributed to schools in the New York City area.
1982
Richard Borecky renewed his U.S. Coast Guard Captains License and became a legal guardian for his brother who was born with a learning disability and could not attend Xaverian.
1985
Robert A. Carotenuto, CPP, PCI, PSP, Associate Vice President, Security, The New York Botanical Garden, was named the 2016 Council Chairman of the Year of ASIS International (ASIS), the leading association for security management professionals worldwide. Awarded annually since 1980, this prestigious award honors security leaders for their outstanding contributions to both ASIS and the security profession.
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Xaverian, Winter 2019 31
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
FOLLOW US
1989
2000
1992
Congratulations to Rob Oliva, and his wife, Marie, on the birth of their son, Robert Nicholas Oliva, Class of 2035.
Anthony Mussolino’s son, Jonah, has landed the role of Gavroche in the U.S./Canadian tour of Les Miserables.
Sgt. Anthony Lisi and Det. Ralph Stallone recently came back home to 7100 Shore Road to provide a workshop on active shooter awareness.
1993
Sheldon Bryan and his wife welcomed the birth of their first son, Silas Quinn, on June 28, 2017.
#XaverianHS
Deacon Michael Panicali celebrated his ordination into the Priesthood. Anthony Stumbo, Vinny Iannelli ’68 and Nick Vendikos ’87 became Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
1996
Justin Brannan was victorious in the Democratic primary election for City Council in Brooklyn’s 43rd district.
1997
Congrats to Fabio Militello and his wife, Cheryl, who welcomed their first child, Luca Enzo Militello, on May 23.
1998
Kevin Clinton was named partner at Lydecker Diaz.
1999
Brandon Barten and wife, Elyse, welcomed their son, Jackson, in September. Anthony Simone and his wife, Joanne, welcomed the arrival of their son, Gabriel.
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Bill Neri married Maria Neri on January 19.
2001
Andrew D’Egidio and his lovely bride, Marianna, wed in September. Charles Maniglia, his wife, Maria, and daughter, Bianca, welcome the newest member of the Maniglia family, Gianna. Steven Lord and his wife, Lauren, proudly welcomed the birth of their daughter, Kaitlin, on June 8.
2002
Michael Diaz and his wife, Adrianne, welcomed their son, Thomas.
2003
Nicholas Mastroguilio married Joanne Longa on September 24, 2017. Daniel McCartney and his wife, Mary Jane, welcomed the birth of their second son, Cody Frank McCartney on March 7, 2017.
2004
Congratulations to Robert Carroll on being elected to the New York State Assembly. Clyde Chapman was named head coach of Xaverian’s Boys Varsity Basketball team. Moe Halwani and wife, Niki, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Peyton, on July 31, 2017.
ALUMNI PROFILE Ander Heiles, an OPS Officer on the guided missile cruiser, USS Shiloh CG67, has been temporarily assigned to the carrier USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 as part of the 7th Fleet Strike Group 5, replacing the USS Carl Vinson off the coast of Korea. Ander will liaise between the two vessels. Brian Kelly and wife, Kayla, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Riley, on March 27, 2017. Brian McCartney, current Head Coach of Xaverian’s Track & Field and Cross Country program, married Xaverian’s Director of Communications, Stephanie Lorenzo, on February 23, 2018.
2005
Sean Hayes and his wife, Mary, welcomed the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Rosemary Shannon. Congratulations to Terrence Mayrose, who recently became a member of the FDNY. Steve Young, Clyde Chapman ’04 and Damian Echevarrieta ’91 were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in March.
2006
Brian Mckenzie and his wife, Ryan, welcomed the birth of their son, Ty Anthony, Class of 2035.
2007
Mohammad Ali, a graduate of Windsor University School of Medicine, St. Kitts & Nevis in July 2016, began his general surgery residency on June 26, 2017 at Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut.
2008
James Clark married his high school sweetheart, Tara Scoza, on July 9, 2017. Dennis Larkin married Jillian Troise on December 31, 2017. Best men were Dylan Larkin ’12 and Tyler Larkin ’10. Matt Troisi became engaged to Lauren DeMatteo.
2009
Deputy Chief Ruel R. Stephenson Deputy Chief Ruel R. Stephenson joined the New York City Police Department in June 1995, and began his career on patrol in the 70 Precinct. He also served in the 28, 30, 32, 47, 50, 70, and 81 Precincts; Patrol Borough Manhattan North, and the Internal Affairs Bureau. He was promoted to Sergeant in September 2000, Lieutenant in November 2004, Captain in December 2008, Deputy Inspector in
Well wishes to Joseph Castiglione, M.D. on his marriage to Christina Castronovo. The couple have dated since Joe was a student at 7100 Shore Rd! Joe also began his residency at Northwell Health, specializing in pediatrics. Joseph Franzese and wife, Sarah, welcomed their son, Joseph Theodore Franzese into the world on May 16, 2017.
October 2011, and Inspector in November 2014. Currently
Luigi Patruno developed Good Karma Tutoring, an educational company focused on math and science tutoring for students of all ages.
basketball program here at Xaverian! It was on the court
2011
Coach’s Award that season. When this awards ceremony
Marco Giarracca is currently an Occupancy Planner for JLL at Google New York and works on developing floor plans and test fits to accommodate Google’s fast-paced growth.
the Commanding Officer of the 47 Precinct, Deputy Chief Stephenson has also commanded the 30 Precinct, and served as Executive Officer in the 32 Precinct. Deputy Chief Stephenson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from John Jay College. Deputy Chief Stephenson has been married to his wife, Andrea, for 20 years, and they are the parents of three children: Dyondra, Jenaye, and Ruel Jr. — who is currently a member of the Class of 2020! Before climbing the ranks of the NYPD, Ruel R. Stephenson, Class of 1988 was an integral member of the that Deputy Chief Stephenson and President Robert Alesi ’78, who was at the time the Freshman Basketball Coach, developed the lifelong friendship that still stands today! Stephenson was the proud recipient of President Alesi’s came around — the one that elevated Stephenson into the upper echelon of the New York City Police Department — President Alesi made sure he was amongst the crowd at 1 Police Plaza cheering him on!
Xaverian, Winter 2019 33
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
2012
2013
Steven Blandino was a proud member of Tuacahn’s Broadway season last year as an ensemble player in their musical performances.
Christopher “C.J.” Matthews graduated from the Police Academy.
Nick Anderson began a new career at Cushman & Wakefield.
Congratulations to Dillon Burns, who recently came back home to 7100 Shore Road to work in the Advancement Office. Dillon has also been named the Freshman Boys Basketball Head Coach.
Anthony Defillippo graduated from the NYPD Academy in December 2017.
Calendar
2018-2019
Brendan Moloney began his career as a teacher at St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy.
Spring Musical February 28, 2019 — March 3, 2019
2 Raj Patel (standing, center) graduated from the United States Naval Academy. Raj was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Pat Egan was promoted to production coordinator at Broadstreet.
Ron Simonson began working for the accounting firm, RSM US, LLP.
John Eugenis was accepted to the BioEngineering PhD Program at Stanford University.
2014
All Hands on Deck Reunion (Celebrating 4’s and 9’s)
April 13, 2019
Michael Zito earned Dean’s List Honors at St. Joseph’s University for the Spring 2018 semester.
As a SUNY Oneonta senior, Michael Sanbeg was one of 60 college students from across the country selected to receive the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation’s prestigious President’s Innovation Award.
MAX Spring Concert May 3, 2019
Xaverian Golf Classic May 20, 2019
2.
34 www.xaverian.org
Heroes Golf Outing June 27, 2019
In Memoriam In memory of beloved members of our community. Philip Ayoub ’77 Patrick Billera ’79 Eugene Brady ’70 Justin Calicchio ’05 Salvatore Cirnigliaro ’96 Matthew Collins ’09 John Craig ’65 Thomas Cronin ’01 James D’Albora ’77 Francis Dee ’62 Stephen DelRey ’61 James Donnellan ’88 Kevin Downey ’82 Peter Fazio ’67 Steven Frasca ’85 John Giannotta ’92 James Hunkele ’67 Francis Koenigsamen ’68 Kevin Liang ’08 Thomas Ludwinski ’64
REMEMBRANCE
Timothy Magee ’07
Marie Lane Marie was a Xaverian parent and served as a full-time administrative assistant to the President’s Office before her retirement. In 2010, Marie agreed to return to her second home at Xaverian to serve as an assistant to the Advancement Office. She will be deeply missed by her colleagues, Xaverian parents, and the thousands of Alums who were greeted by Marie to welcome them home to gatherings at Xaverian. “She was the most loyal of friends who fiercely defended those she loved. Tireless in all her efforts to accomplish a task, she had boundless energy and a work ethic unequaled by any. I miss her friendship, her love, the wonderful way she made me feel that I mattered. She will always be in my heart — some friendships are eternal, such was ours. I miss you my friend.” — Ana Loposky, Faculty Member Xaverian has established the Marie Lane Memorial Scholarship, to honor Marie’s years of dedication and service to our students, our alumni, and the entire Xaverian community. The Marie Lane Scholarship will be awarded to a student who emulates
Robert Maresca ’05 Stephen Mazzara ’80 Arthur Mondella ’75 Michael Morrin ’77 Douglas Nehlsen ’82 Arthur Pagnini ’78 Ceaser Pitta ’64 Raymond Quartuci ’08 Vincent Ruggieri ’64 Francis Sapienza ’70 John Summa ’89 P’18 Joseph Van Aken ’83 Denise Morris P ’21 Janine Powers P ’15 ’21 William Switzer P’21 Marie Lane, staff
Marie’s love for community, volunteerism, family, and education. To donate, please
Robert Violetto, former faculty
visit www.xaverian.org/marielane.
Miriam Ligammari P’09, former faculty
Xaverian, Winter 2019 35
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
Xaverian Graduate Named Gates Scholar After completing an arduous application process with three rounds of cuts, Xaverian’s Barron Wei ’18 is one of only 300 students from across the country to be awarded a Gates Scholarship. Launched this year, the new program from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded its first full scholarships to 300 students in the Class of 2018. The support includes not just tuition, but also covers fees, housing, books and other costs. Barron, who was accepted to Princeton University, Cornell University, Columbia University, and Brown University, is now a member of Harvard University’s Class of 2022. “Applying for and receiving The Gates Scholarship has been an incredible opportunity for me to reflect on both myself and my community,” Wei remarked. “Being a Gates Scholar is and will continue to be a reminder that this honor, alongside all of my other achievements, does not only belong to me but also to those around me.”
“Never has anticipation filled my mind more than at this chapter of my life. As the final dawn of this adventure comes to a close, I cannot help but look forward to the next one — with greater zeal and empathy because of the first. Thank you, Xaverian.” — Barron Wei ’18
Class of 2018 College Acceptances Over 31,928 hours of service. Awarded scholarships totaling $44,123,530. Xaverian is proud to announce six Ivy League acceptances, four Macaulay Honors Scholars, and one Gates Scholar. A partial list of college acceptances: American University
Harvard University
Saint Joseph’s University
The Ohio State University
Bard College
Iona College
Seton Hall University
The University of Arizona
Boston College
Loyola University
St. Francis College
The University of Scranton
Brown University
Manhattan College
St. John’s University
University College Dublin
California State University
Marist College
University of Connecticut
Columbia University
Marquette University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Cornell University
New York University
Stony Brook University
University of Massachusetts
CUNY-Macaulay Honors College
Pennsylvania State University
Drexel University
Providence College
SUNY Maritime College
Rensselaer Polytechnic University
Syracuse University Temple University
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Catholic University of America
Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College George Mason University Hamilton College 36 www.xaverian.org
Princeton University
SUNY College at Binghamton SUNY College at Geneseo
University of Delaware University of Miami University of Oregon University of Tampa Virginia Tech Villanova University West Virginia University Xavier University
LAST WORD
WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO... Being a Clipper means getting to be involved in so many exciting experiences! Check out what these Clippers are looking forward to below:
Kinga Lewandowska ’20 “I am most looking forward to the Christmas Cabaret. I am always proud to be a Clipper, but on that day, when I look around at my classmates bringing holiday cheer to the senior citizens in the surrounding neighborhoods, I could not be prouder of my school.”
Danielle Phillip ’21 “I can’t wait to continue working on the Yearbook Staff — being involved in that club really has developed my passion for taking photos!”
Mark Spelman ’92, Director of Admissions “This year, I am most excited to welcome my daughter into the Xaverian family — she is a member of the Class of 2022! #ClippersTogether”
Julian Singh ’20 “I am so excited to be able to take part in the Belgian Exchange Program here at school. I think it’s great that not only are there so many Xaverian schools in this country, but to travel to one in another country seems like the ultimate way to express my Clipper Pride!”
Jeffrey Chin ’20 “Something that I am excited about this year is my AP Calculus class. I was so happy to see that I have Mr. Maroney again — he is one of my favorite teachers!”
Karolina Palac ’20 “One of the most anticipated events at Xaverian is without a doubt Spirit Week. It allows the Xaverian community to come together and show pride in the school, what it stands for, and what makes it such a constructive environment through a series of fun, engaging activities during the week.”
William McNeely ’21 “Definitely Chemistry Lab. I’ve always liked science class, and I am looking forward to doing all the experiments that Chemistry students get to complete this year. Whenever I passed the lab last year, everything looked pretty awesome!”
XAV E RIAN
7100 Shore Road, Brooklyn, New York 11209
“No people on earth have more cause to be thankful than ours, and this is said reverently, in no spirit of boastfulness in our own strength, but with the gratitude to the Giver of good who has blessed us.” — President Theodore Roosevelt
Thank you! Your support is an example to us, showing us your Xaverian pride and belief in our mission and our students. For a full list of donors from the 2017-2018 school year, please visit www.xaverian.org/annualreport WE ARE A BETTER AND STRONGER COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU.