The Knights` Pages The Knights` Pages
Transcription
The Knights` Pages The Knights` Pages
The Knights’ Pages SPRING 2012 Remembering Al Burch 1 Letter from the CHAIRMAN Board of Governors Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends, How wonderful it was for me to witness two events on successive nights that embody the spirit and enthusiasm that flourish in our Bishop O’Connell community. On Friday, Feb. 3, the Knights boys basketball team hosted Paul VI in front of a packed house. Prominent among the fans attending were students clad in O’Connell blue. I have been a fairly regular attendee at O’Connell athletic events for over a dozen years and I have never seen a more exuberant group of young women and young men. They and the team they cheered are a source of great pride for our school as are all our students. Another source of great pride is the support our O’Connell receives from you. The Annual Gala was held the following night. The number of participants in this celebration of our O’Connell students was very impressive and the show of support given to our mission to provide students an education rooted in the life of Christ and to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person was uplifting. My wife and I have been O’Connell parents for many years and I have served on the Board of Governors since 2000. I can tell you that the investment of the parents, alumni and friends of our O’Connell has come a long way in the last decade. You have the deep appreciation of the Board of Governors and, I am certain, the rest of our O’Connell community for your essential role in the progress made and the strides we will continue to make. The two events I mentioned are but examples of great things that have happened and are happening at our O’Connell. From the award winning academic achievements of our students to the delightful production of It’s A Wonderful Life, The Musical to the annual Superdance for Cystic Fibrosis, evidence of the fulfillment of our mission accumulates. Continue to consider not only how far we have come, but also how far we can and will go. Respectfully and enthusiastically yours, Kevin Di Gregory Chair, Board of Governors 2011-2012 Board of Governors Front row: Kevin Di Gregory (Chair), Sister Reginia Ryan, I.H.M., Judith Dunn (Vice Chair), Dr. Anne Schaffner, Kathleen Prebble (President), Dr. Joseph Vorbach ’83 (Principal), William Arendt, Michael Underwood. Back row: Rev. Patrick Posey ’83, H. Mark Goetzman ’77, Donald Klawiter, Donald Lynch, Ambassador Peter Allgeier (Secretary), Michael Hayden ’74, Rev. Robert Rippy, Andrew Brown, Kevin Fay ’73, Murl Altoft (Chief Financial Officer). Not pictured: Arthur Bonair, Sister Bernadette McManigal, B.V.M. (Superintendent), and Rev. Paul Scalia. 2 Message from the President Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends, This edition of the Knights’ Pages is indeed a special one. We honor and remember Al Burch, one of O’Connell’s great leaders of the past. Young and old alumni are celebrated throughout this issue. Current student achievements are highlighted to remind us that our foundation is strong. New initiatives such as the athletic field renovations and technology enhancements point to a bright future. The past, present and future blend together as we all celebrate what it means to be an O’Connell Knight. Our presence as the largest private school in the Washington area allows current O’Connell students and graduates to exert great influence on what is happening in our nation’s capital and beyond. We thank God every day for allowing us to be a witness to the Gospel message of love of God and neighbor and service to the world, especially the poor and marginalized. We don’t need to look far to see our students responding to this message. This year our Superdance raised almost $140,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I would say with certainty that very few high schools in this country have consistently raised that amount of money in one event for one cause. Our students have been doing this for 37 years! Table of Contents Chairman’s Message 2 President’s Message 3 Remembering Al Burch 4 The Time Is Now Update 6 School News 8 Annual Giving Program 12 As most of us have been preparing our taxes, many of our students have been raising money to travel and service the poor in the Dominican Republic and Haiti over their spring and summer break. These young people grow into the wonderful alumni we celebrate in every issue of the Knights’ Pages. They continue to give to O’Connell and give back to the greater community. 11th Annual Gala & Auction 13 Why We Give 14 We close the year with two very special alumni events—the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and our second annual Alumni Weekend, which includes our Alumni Achievement Awards dinner. I hope you take the time to read more about this year’s recipients. Better yet, find the time to come to one or both of these events. We can all celebrate their accomplishments. The stories behind these recipients will remind you of why you continue to invest in Bishop O’Connell and why it is so important that future generations of young people have the opportunity to be part of the O’Connell experience. Recent Alumni Events 16 Alumni Roll Call 18 Alumni Spotlight 21 Sincerely, Athletic Hall of Fame 23 Staff Contacts 23 Upcoming Alumni Events 22 Kathleen Ryan Prebble MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to provide students an education rooted in the life of Christ and to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person. 3 Remembering Alward V. Burch Teacher, Principal and Coach The Bishop O’Connell community lost a dear friend on Oct. 29, 2011, when former principal Alward (Al) Burch passed away. Burch had been associated with the school as a teacher, coach and principal for more than 50 years. There was standing-room-only on Nov. 4 when hundreds of friends, former students and family members filed into Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna to pay their final respects. Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father William J. Metzger, pastor, celebrated the Mass, assisted by Father John C. Cregan, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria and Deacon Paul Ochenkowski of St. Veronica Church in Chantilly and an O’Connell teacher. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and priests of the diocese, along with students, teachers and friends, packed the church to remember the man who died at the age of 76. Following the Funeral Mass and burial, Bishop O’Connell 4 hosted a reception in the gym for family and friends to gather together informally to share special memories together. Burch came to O’Connell in 1961 as a P.E. and health teacher, initially coaching freshman football and basketball and junior varsity baseball. Over the next 15 years, he coached football, basketball, baseball and track, where one his most notable coaching successes involved the 1963-1965 varsity baseball teams who won 42 straight games. During his career as O’Connell’s head baseball coach, he compiled a remarkable record of 262 wins and 69 losses. In 1972, Burch moved into an administrative role at the school, when then-Principal Msgr. James McMurtrie appointed him vice principal. “I owe a lot to Msgr. McMurtrie,” Burch once said about his career as a principal. “He saw it was my dream to keep coaching, but he saw something in me that maybe I didn’t see.” Burch was named principal of Bishop O’Connell in 1977 by Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, and for the next 27 years the school thrived under his leadership. In 1993, the school was named a “Blue Ribbon” school by the Department of Education, and four years later, he was honored by the Washington Post and named a “Principal of Excellence.” “His genuine interest in each student and abiding love for the high school community are well known throughout the diocese,” said Bishop Paul S. Loverde to the Arlington Catholic Herald on the occasion of Burch’s retirement in 2004. Timothy McNiff, then-superintendent of schools for the Arlington Diocese, added, “The leadership Al Burch has provided Bishop O’Connell High School during his 27 years as the school principal epitomizes the uniqueness required of those individuals who are given the task of ensuring our Catholic schools are institutions of both academic success and Christian values.” Burch was even recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on the day of his retirement, in a tribute by the Honorable Frank Wolf of Virginia, saying “I am proud to call attention to the achievements and dedication of Mr. Burch as he ends his career as an educator and principal.” When asked to reflect about his time as principal, Burch would say: “This was the best job in the world.” “There’s not a day I dread coming into this school…We have an opportunity to influence an awful lot of young people, and there is no greater satisfaction.” After Burch’s retirement, he continued to stay involved in the O’Connell community, finding his niche as an ambassador to the school’s alumni and for development 5 efforts. Most recently, Burch was an honored guest at the Sept. 13 groundbreaking ceremony for the new athletic field. “Al Burch has been an icon of the Bishop O’Connell community for most of our history and he will be missed by many generations of parents, students and faculty members.” said O’Connell President Katy Prebble. “In his retirement years, he continued to be an important part of our school family. He absolutely loved to tell stories about kids, and his stories were always peppered with his wonderful wisdom and humor.” Burch is survived by his wife, Donna, and his three children Kenneth (class of ’82), Karen (Burch) Avvistato (class of ’85), Kristy (Burch) Bergmann (class of ’86) and their families. Visit www.bishopoconnell.org/memories to read personal tributes to Al Burch written by members of the O’Connell community. Over $4.5 Million Committed Through A total of $4.5 million has been raised in cash and pledge commitments since the launching of The Time is Now strategic initiative in May 2011. Included in the $4.5 million is a $100,000 gift of in-kind services for this initiative. The September groundbreaking on our athletic field was the first project made possible by this initiative. Construction of our rectangular field is well under way, with the projected completion date in late May. While we are working on additional funding to fully renovate the baseball field as part of the whole athletic renovation project, several improvements on the baseball field are currently underway, including new grass and and a new fence that helps reclaim an expanded right field. The school expects to host its first home football game on the new field this fall. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 31, when the Knights will host Bishop Ireton at 3 p.m. Athletic field construction on Mar. 13, 2012. Technology Initiatives During the fall, O’Connell was able to establish a campus-wide wireless network as a backbone for a host of technology initiatives. iPads in the Classroom Thanks to a generous individual donation through the Time is Now initiative, the school has created a mobile iPad lab, com- plete with 25 Apple iPads, a mobile cart, a charging station and educational apps. The classroom iPad set has been making the rounds in the hallways of O’Connell. Teachers interested in integrating this technology into their curriculum work with the administration and the IT department to schedule their use. The iPads have been used in AP Psychology and in history classes for concept mapping and for self-paced review, providing instant and individualized feedback. In government classes, the iPads have served as an in-class research tool. In biology, the iPads have helped students prepare for an upcoming lab. The response by both students and faculty members to the effectiveness of the iPads as a tool in the classroom has been overwhelming. Thanks to the giving spirit at the 2012 Gala, a second set of iPads will be arriving at O’Connell shortly. 6 BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) During the last quarter of the school year, O’Connell will pilot a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program. With the wireless network in place, students will be able to use personal smart phones, tablets, netbooks or laptops as directed by their teacher. The pilot program this spring will be limited to specific classes, with a full-fledged program to be launched in the fall. Technology issues repeatedly surfaced in our strategic focus groups last year as an area in need of critical upgrading. The school is grateful to have the ability to take these initial steps now. For more information on our technology programs, visit www.bishopoconnell.org/technology. QR CODE Use a QR code reader on your mobile device to view a video of iPads in action at O’Connell. The Time is Now Strategic Initiative Two of our eight science labs will be gutted and renovated this summer, and we expect to see two state-of-the-art chemistry labs for the 2012-2013 school year. Our plans include renovating the remaining six labs during the following two summers. A Grateful Thank You to Our Supporters As of March 1, 2012, the following individuals have graciously pledged their leadership support, or made an outright gift, toward The Time is Now initiative. Anonymous Richard L. Abood '74 Elizabeth Abood Michael and Kristine Albrittain '80 Sydney and Gloria Albrittain W. Sydney and Whitney Albrittain '83 Peter F. Allgeier Kathleen M. Almy '70 Alumni Class of 1989 Mark and Valerie Andreotta William and Joanne Armor William A. Bagot '70 Ted and Lisa Bennett Peter Bergmann '76 Suzanne Sniscak Blevins '70 Arthur and Wendy Bonair George and Susan Boras '83 James Bourne and Julianne Rish Bourne '83 Albert Bracht '70 Marc A. Brammer '70 Theodore A. Breiner '72 and Maureen Daunt Breiner '71 John and Karin Brough '82 Andrew and Denise Brown Sylvia Totten Carlson '70 Suzanne and Richard Carroll W. Rance Cleaveland Thomas and Pamela Cline Thomas H. Conaty '64 Timothy M. Corbett '70 and Kathryn Giebel Corbett '70 Luis Felipe and Ana Maria Cordoba David and Susan Courtney Jeffrey and Cristi Pola Craigmile '83 Peyton and Leslie Cross Joseph and Cheri Cusumano Rodney and Teresa Dade Eva Herbst Davis '83 John and Anne Depenbrock '61 John and Kathleen Dickman Tina Marrocco Dodge '84 Steven J. Donovan '86 Mike Doughty Pat Driscoll Bill and Patricia Duryee '61 Dennis E. Dwyer '61 Thomas J. Fadoul '70 Teresa Langen Fahlgren '83 Michael A. Farrell '70 Timothy Farrell and Kathleen Barry Farrell '80 Kevin and Nancy Fay '73 Robert and Karen Fornaro Rosemary T. Fox Eric Fracasso Kirk and Maria Galiani Joseph and Jerry Gargiulo Jr. Renee Walsh Garnett '83 Mark Goetzman ’77 and Martha Holroyd Goetzman ’80 Thomas Griffin and Lily Fernandez Griffin '83 Patricia Pettit Griffin '70 Bruce Gudenberg Steven Gulley and Constance Culosi Gulley '83 Dalton and Nan Gustafson Edward and Anne Hall Abdel-Rahman Hamed Parker and Rosemarie Harrington '75 Paul Hartmann '70 James and Judith Hathaway James W. Hathaway '93 Michael J. Hayden '74 and Julie Naylor Hayden '74 Mary Jane Healy '83 Kevin and Sally Healy Kevin J. Healy Caitlin Healy Mark A. Henry Jane Hayes Hohmann '70 7 Karen O'Malley Holland '70 Ralph E. Horvath and Cathleen Campbell John K. Hughes '70 Alexander Inglese '72 and Karen Carter Inglese Michael A. Ingrao '72 William J. Jacaruso Claudia Jadrijevic ’86 Robert D. Jentgens Paul Johnson and Judy Dunn Mark D. Jones '83 Maggi Hanlon Keating '85 William and Dawn Kerr Joseph Kimmitt '68 Robert M. Kimmitt '65 Mark T. Kimmitt '72 Richard Kingman '70 and Ann Reilly Kingman '71 Donald and Marie Klawiter Tara Laposa '93 Gretchen Laundon Eric W. Leonard Susan C. Leous Mary Flaherty Lewis '70 Donald P. Libera '70 Richard and Phyllis Mayo Loughery '70 and '70 Donald T. Lynch and Kimberly Burnett John and Peggy Maddox Elizabeth Von Drehle Madeira '83 James and Dawn McDonald Terrance McGovern and Margaret Hogan-McGovern Michael J. McGuire ’00 Anne Pida Mellen '70 James W. Mercer Katherine P. Muth Robert and Mary Ann Nirschl O'Connell PTO Kathleen Boylan O'Keefe '83 Kelly Olszewski-Hertel Helen Wilkinson Petrakes '80 Thomas R. Poos '70 Todd J. Preti '83 Marie Quinn Kevin and Sharon Reilly '77 Daniel and Mary Kay Reilly Rui Rodrigues Edward G. Rodrigues Robert and Jeanne Rucks Michelle Lalle Rush '70 Eduardo and Megan Salas Anne E. Schaffner Kevin S. Scully '70 Ronald and Kathleen Scully Marcel Semaan and Jennie Jreige Semaan '86 Reilly M. Shaughnessy '76 Paul and Rachel Sheridan '89 Neil Soloman Amber South Christopher and Jodi St. George Samuel and Marian Starr David and Karen Stuver William and Jamie Tanis Dennis L. Telzrow '63 Thomas E. Tiernan '72 Melissa Tierney Rev. Stephen J. Tisinger '70 Karen M. Tracey Michael and Lisa Mercer Underwood '74 JoEllen Urban '82 Patricia DeIuliius Walker '70 Martin and Nan Walsh ’62 Patrick and Margaret Walsh ’62 Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich & Walsh PC Jean Winslow Whitesell '73 Gregory and Donna Wilson Jeffrey Winslow '70 Kevin P. Wuest Raymond and Sandra Zdancewicz '74 Global Studies Speakers Students enrolled in Bishop O’Connell’s Global Studies Certificate Program continue to find learning experiences outside of the regular school day. Immaculée Ilibagiza Visits O’Connell As part of our One School, One Book program, Bishop O’Connell was thrilled to welcome Immaculée Ilibagiza, author and subject of Left to Tell, during Catholic Schools Week. School News She gave a public presentation on her experiences during the Rwandan genocide on the evening of Feb. 1 in the school auditorium. More than 700 members of the community were in attendance as she shared her inspiring story of faith, hope and forgiveness. Ilibagiza returned the following day to address our student body during a morning assembly. She tailored her remarks specifically to the hearts of teenagers, having been a teenager herself when the atrocities in Rwanda began. The students responded with a rousing standing ovation at the end, and long lines formed as many waited for a few personal moments with her to get a book signed or to just give her a special greeting. This event was made possible by the generous support of the Bishop O’Connell PTO. For more information on Immaculée Ilibagiza and the school’s One School, One Book program, visit www.bishopoconnell.org/lefttotell. Ambassador Peter Allgeier, shared his knowledge on global trade in an afternoon session with the students. Ambassador Allgeier currently serves on O’Connell’s Board of Governors and is the president of C&M International, Ltd., an international trade consulting firm. He previously served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Allgeier and U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Ambassador Paul Simons joined the Global Studies cohort for a session on the U.S. diplomatic service. Simons recently assumed the position of Executive Secretary of Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States, following a distinguished 30-year career with the U.S. State DepartAmbassador Simons ment, where he most recently served as the U.S. ambassador to Chile. Read more about the Global Studies Certification Program at www.bishopoconnell.org/global. A Note from Our I.H.M. Community The Sisters of I.H.M. are so very grateful for the generous response to their request for help with the cost of the renovation project at Camilla Hall on the campus of Immaculata University near Philadelphia. Camilla Hall is the convent home for all our Sisters who are retired or are ill and in need of skilled medical care. It was built 51 years ago and is in need of renovations today. So, we turned to you, and friends like you, and asked for your prayers for the project and a donation if possible. With the encouragement and leadership of our school administration, faculty and staff, as well as the PTO, the response from DJO was once again, “amazing.” From all sectors of our school community we received assistance, with the students’ uniform holiday being the main event this year. We are pleased and grateful to say that a check for $10,000 was sent to Camilla Hall for the renovations. God is never outdone in generosity and so we Sisters will pray that the Lord will bless each of you for your goodness to the Sisters, many of whom have served here at DJO as well as at St. Thomas More, St. Michael and St. James Schools of the Arlington Diocese. It is our firm hope that Mary our Mother and Mother of our Redeemer will keep each O’Connell Community member close to her Son and within her embrace! 8 Dual Credit Students Get Orientation at Marymount O’Connell students enrolled in a dual credit program with Marymount University attended a special orientation at the university. They officially registered for their class using the school’s online system, and received instructions on using library resources. Each student was issued a Marymount ID card, which gives them access to all campus resources. It’s a Wonderful Life Audiences were wowed by the new musical adaptation of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life staged by the Bishop O’Connell drama department this winter. Junior Tyler Fritz played George Bailey as the story followed him from his childhood to his midlife disappointments, where we found him wondering if life is worth living from the edge of a bridge on Christmas Eve. His guardian angel, Clarence, was played by junior Michael Bonini, and his wife, Mary, was played by junior Veronica Fernandez. With magical musical numbers added to this classic story, the audience was charmed into finding out, along with George Bailey, that this is indeed a wonderful life! This year, dual credit is being offered for two courses which are taught at O’Connell during the regular school day: Statistics and Forensics. Faculty members teaching these courses have already applied for and obtained adjunct professor status at Marymount University. Additional dual credit courses will be offered in the near future. Teacher Feature Diane Cerniglia If you pull almost any yearbook off the shelf dated anytime after 1990, you will undoubtedly find the smiling face of Diane Cerniglia peppered across the pages. Mrs. Cerniglia joined the English department at Bishop O’Connell in 1989 and almost immediately found herself not only in the classroom, but up to her elbows in student council and Superdance activities. She served as a class moderator and later as an SCA executive board moderator, before being appointed chairperson of the English department in 2002. Since 2008, she has also chaired the school’s accreditation selfstudy efforts, most recently submitting a two-year progress report this past December. Read more about the Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment programs at www.bishopoconnell.org/dual. Chorus Participates in Black History Celebration Members of the O’Connell Singers, the select women’s chorus at Bishop O’Connell, had the privilege of performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the 2012 National African-American History Month Celebration at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. President Katy Prebble and Principal Joe Vorbach, along with music faculty members Todd Mastric and Laura Van Duzer, were in attendance with personnel from the Coast Guard headquarters, including Vice Commandant Vice Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara and Mr. Curtis Odom, Director of Personnel Management. In addition to the O’Connell Singer’s performance, the morning program included poetry and words by J.Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford and a presentation of awards. Mrs. Cerniglia grew up in Bethesda and was drawn to the English language at the University of Maryland. With her freshly-minted degree in English and Education, she took her first teaching job at Bethesda Junior High School. She later taught at Immaculata Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. After eight years, she crossed the river into Virginia and began what has now become her 23-year tenure at Bishop O’Connell. While at O’Connell, Mrs. Cerniglia studied at Marymount University to obtain her master’s degree in school administration and Catholic leadership. Over the years, Mrs. Cerniglia has shared her love of literature and writing with countless O’Connell students, hoping to prepare them not only for college, but for whatever vocation they choose in life. In 2010, she was honored by her alma mater, thanks to a nomination by a former student who attributed her success to the influence of Mrs. Cerniglia in high school. As a result, the University of Maryland’s Phillip Merrill School of Journalism awarded a scholarship in Mrs. Cerniglia’s name to a future student. “I love working with young people,” remarked Mrs. Cerniglia. “Their energy and enthusiasm keeps me young, too. I can honestly say that I look forward to coming to school every day.” If you think she’s had enough of high school students by the end of the school day, you are wrong. On the weekends, Mrs. Cerniglia teaches religious education to high school seniors at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, where she is also actively involved in the parish council, and is the director of curriculum for the religious education program. St. Sophia has been her church since she worshipped there with her family as a young child. In her spare time, Mrs. Cerniglia enjoys traveling, reading and writing poetry. She has traveled several times to Greece, where members of her mother’s family still reside. She has also enjoyed trips to other parts of Europe, where a favorite destination is Florence, Italy. What books has she read recently? Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese and Unbroken—A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Mrs. Cerniglia is an avid football fan, cheering on the Maryland Terps and the Washington Redskins, both in the good times and the not-so-good times. The O’Connell Singers She and her husband, William, reside in Oakton, Va. They have a grown son, Mark, who lives in Ashburn with his wife, Aleks. 9 Members of O’Connell’s championship Cross Country team proudly display their award. Student Artwork Receives Accolades Congratulations to Su Jin Kim, Chrissie Moten and Pawnee Maiden whose artwork was recently published in the annual children’s issue of the Arlington Connection. The newspaper chose two pieces from Su Jin Kim to include in this issue. Her charcoal of a young girl singing was chosen as the cover art for the newspaper. In February, seniors Joo Ho Lee and Su Jin Kim entered their works in the 2012 Gonzaga All-Catholic High Schools Art Exhibition. Senior Joo Ho Lee’s self-portrait won 3rd place in the competition, and Su Jin Kim’s drawing received honorable mention. Seniors Sign Letters of Intent So far this year, four seniors at Bishop O’Connell signed National Letters of Intent with their colleges of choice, in the presence of their families, coaches, school administrators and teammates. Lacrosse player Courtney Cross signed with Villanova University, baseball player Greg Krug signed with La Salle University, soccer midfielder Regan Houston signed with the College of William and Mary, and soccer defender Shannon Nasca signed with Radford University. Running to Fifth Straight State Title For the fifth year in a row, the girls cross country team captured the Virginia Independent School title and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship. O’Connell junior Devin Nihill won both races, finishing at the state meet with a time of 19:46, and at the very wet and cold WCAC meet with a time of 21:24. Senior Emily Blagg finished in 4th place in the state meet and in 3rd place at the WCAC race. “This a talented group of girls,” said Coach Cindy Walls about their state meet victory.” They were able to win because they be- Student Spotlight Charlie Fidler ’12 If you’ve ever heard senior Charlie Fidler on his violin, you might think he was born with the instrument in his hand. Fidler plays in the school’s orchestra and pitches in around the school and the community when someone needs a “little bit of music” at a special event. “Charlie has a unique view of music in that it makes intrinsic sense to him so he is able to compose as well as perform music,” says Music Program Director Todd Mastric. “Because of his understanding of music, when he performs he is able to sense the shape of the music which leads to what we would think of as a ‘more musical’ performance of a piece. This awareness, coupled with his ability and desire to work hard, makes him a special musical talent.” Fidler was honored this year at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association (VBODA) District XII Orchestra auditions, by being named Concertmaster. This is the title given to the principal violinist of an orchestra. More than 80 violin players from public and private schools in the district performed scales, orchestral excerpts and sight reading for a panel of judges. Said Fidler of this experience, “I was able to work with a group of extremely talented musicians. There was quite a bit of stress over the intensive two days of practice, but it culminated in a great performance that made it all worthwhile.” He also volunteers his time, teaching violin to younger students at a special program at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington. But Fidler is far from one dimensional; he is also passionate about rowing. He is a captain this year of the O’Connell crew team, where he and his teammates have their sights set on challenging national championship boats this year. Unlike the violin, which he took up as a seven-year-old in a small town in Nebraska, 10 rowing is a pastime that came to Fidler relatively recently. After his freshman year at O’Connell, a friend suggested he join the crew team “for fun.” He participated in a fall learn-to-row program and he was instantly hooked. He has seen his team rise in the ranks at the annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Boston—the largest high school regatta in the world. He trains six days a week with the crew team, sometimes on the water and sometimes on a mind-numbing indoor rowing machine, or “erg” as they call them. Fidler has managed to stay on the honor roll at O’Connell while balancing his school work with both his music and his rowing. His favorite subjects are English and Theology, as he enjoys reading and analyzing materials. Fidler hopes to row competitively at the college level and is still waiting to hear from a few of his top choices. He would actually like to be able to continue both his music and his rowing pursuits, while studying psychology and business. Come to the O’Connell Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 7 p.m. to enjoy a musical evening with Fidler and the rest of the school’s musical ensembles. lieved in themselves, their talent, and their teammates. Each girl had an individual race plan that was part of our overall team plan which was executed perfectly.” A Real O’Connell Knight Dr. Daniel Stabile, a guidance counselor at Bishop O’Connell, received the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity and the title of Commendatore (Commander) in the name of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at a special ceremony at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on the evening of Dec. 9. Knighthood is the highest honor the Italian government can bestow on a foreigner. Dr. Stabile was recognized for his extraordinary leadership in American education, having served Department of Defense Overseas Dependents Schools, the Catholic Dioceses of Cleveland, Ohio, Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Va. He currently serves as the President of the National Council for the Promotion of Italian Language in American Schools (COPILAS). Dr. Daniel Stabile (left) receives award from Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Chief of Staff for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Italy. Jack Gigliotti Swim & Dive Team Successes Congratulations to sophomore Jack Gigliotti who finished first in the diving competition at both the Virginia Independent School Championships and the Northern Virginia Catholic Invitational this year. O’Connell girls and boys teams both finished first in the Catholic Invitational. In the state championship, the O’Connell boys team finished overall in third, backed by a first place finish by the 200-yard freestyle relay team (sophomore Christian Tiernan, juniors Don Tucker and Michael Luciani, and senior P.J. DiBenedetto). The girls finished eighth in a field of 20 teams from throughout Virginia. Senior Elena Marsilii led the girls team, placing third in the 500yard freestyle. Student Blood Drive Each year, Bishop O’Connell students come forward in large numbers to donate blood at school through INOVA Blood Donor Services. This year, the student-run Health Service Club worked in conjunction with INOVA personnel to host a blood drive in November which netted more than 70 pints of blood by day’s end. The doctor in charge was Dr. Grace Banez Sese, whose daughter, Lauren Sese, is a senior and a member of the Health Services Club. Members of the club Health Services Club members run another successful blood drive. helped organize, advertise, schedule and run this event from beginning to end. Students who donated blood received a t-shirt and snacks, as well as the satisfaction of knowing they were helping to save lives. Turkey Blitz Feeds 120 Families For the past 15 years the O’Connell community has participated in what has been called a “Turkey Blitz,” a two-week fundraiser to support the Thanksgiving efforts of the Gift of Peace home which is run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Northeast Washington D.C. To help get the word out on campus this year, students in the desktop publishing classes produced clever posters, and Art Department Chairman Joe Crivella made a special appeal during the televised morning announcements. With images of turkeys all around the school, the students, parents and staff members rose 11 to the occasion and donated the needed $2,500 to provide complete Thanksgiving meals for the more than 120 families who are humbly served by the sisters at the Gift of Peace home. View this year’s posters at www.bishopoconnell.org/turkey. March for Life Student participation in the annual March for Life in Washington D.C. is an O’Connell tradition dating back more than thirty years. On Monday, Jan. 23 approximately 200 students from Bishop O’Connell made their voices heard and stood up for the sanctity of human life. Students marched along Constitution Avenue from 7th Street to the Supreme Court. While the pace of the March was slow and the weather was not ideal, the mood of the day was upbeat and cheerful. Judging by the smiles on students’ faces, the 2012 March for Life was a great success. Still Time to Support the 2011–2012 Annual Fund The 2011- 2012 Annual Fund has a goal of $490,000 this year. To date, we have raised over $300,000 towards our goal. Our holiday Matching Gift Challenge was a great success. The Challenge was set to match up to $90,000 of gifts received between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31. Contributions to the Annual Fund during this time totaled $93,500 which exceeded our goal. With three months remaining in the fiscal year, we need your financial support now more than ever to help us reach our goal of $490,000. Your contribution directly benefits Bishop O’Connell students by funding programs that tuition does not cover. Your Annual Fund gift supports programs and services for students, as well as professional development for faculty and staff. Make a gift to the Annual Fund at Bishop O’Connell High School: 77Donate Supporting O’Connell online at www.bishopoconnell.org/give. the enclosed envelope with a check, payable to Bishop O’Connell High School or with credit card information. 77Return out if your company matches your donation at www.bishopoconnell.org/matching. 77Find 77Donate through your employer with United Way #8273 or CFC #65190. We thank all alumni, parents, parents of alumni and friends who support the Annual Fund at Bishop O’Connell. Every gift matters, no matter the amount. Contact Cindy Krech at 703-237-1446 or [email protected] for more information. New Scholarship to Honor Coach Walls An anonymous donor recently established the Cindy Walls Scholarship Fund to recognize the outstanding influence that Coach Walls has had on young women and men at Bishop O’Connell. For the past eight years she has coached cross country and track teams to new levels, including five straight WCAC and state championships for her girls cross country teams. The donor established the Cindy Walls Scholarship Fund not only for girls and boys who are members of cross country or track teams, but in general for students who meet certain academic achievements and contribute to the betterment of the Bishop O’Connell community. It is hoped that this initial generous gift will create awareness to current parents and alumni and inspire them to contribute to this scholarship fund. Robert J. and Elizabeth K. Murphy Family Scholarship The Murphy Family—(first row L to R) Colleen (in red), Katie, Beth and Tim; (back row L to R) Barry, Christine, Bob and Terry. 12 In 1999 the Murphy Scholarship was established in honor of Mrs. Elizabeth Murphy, beloved math teacher and mother to eight children who graduated from O’Connell—Robert ’67, Barry ’69, Tim ’70, Colleen ’73, Christine ’75, Terry ’76, Beth ’79 and Katie ’82. The Murphy family recently endowed the scholarship to ensure that their gift will continue to enable O’Connell to enrich the lives of students for years to come. The Robert J. and Elizabeth K. Murphy Family Scholarship awards financial assistance for two students each year, one male and one female, who excel in math, give back in service and are in financial need. Thank you, Murphy family for your generous support to the mission of our school. 11th Annual Gala & Auction Flagship Fundraiser Supports O’Connell Programs More than 350 parents, alumni, faculty and friends of O’Connell gathered at the McLean Hilton on Saturday, Feb. 4 for the school’s 11th Annual Gala. This year’s theme—Knights Around the World— helped transport attendees to a magical place, where beautiful baskets and special gift items were neatly arranged amidst flags and decorations from foreign lands. The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction, where the most popular items were the homeroom baskets that varied in theme from single-cup coffee makers to designer purses and spa packages. The guests enjoyed a three-course dinner in the main ballroom and a fast-paced live auction where vacation homes, special school packages, and a reserved pew at graduation created added excitement. One of the highlights of the evening was the presence of Sir Lancelot, the miniature English Bulldog, who was auctioned off to the highest bidder. In the end, “Lance” went home to a very, very happy family. In addition to the auction, raffles and other fundraising efforts of the night, generous attendees contributed $28,000 to the school to purchase a second set of Apple iPads for classroom use. The event grossed close to $200,000 to help advance the mission of O’Connell by supporting important programs at the school, including technology initiatives, facility improvements and faculty development. The Bishop O’Connell community is grateful to the sponsors of this year’s Gala, the generous donors who contributed unique and wonderful auction items, and to the individuals who attended and made this such a successful evening. In addition, this event would never be possible without the tireless efforts of countless volunteers; we thank all of you for your time and energy! Special thanks to our Gala co-chairs, Julie Gazala and Staci Meruvia, who went above and beyond the call of duty to make the “knight” a success! President Katy Prebble with parent and volunteer, Pam Benson. Special Appreciation to our 2012 Gala Sponsors Jose Cardenas ’78 and Tina Stephens Cardenas ’79 meet their new puppy. Excalibur Club Alcalde and Fay UGL – Unicco Walsh Colucci Lubeley Emrich & Walsh PC Bishop’s Circle SHW Group Knights’ Roundtable Kevin Foster ’01, Joe DeVylder, Lindsey Fay DeVylder ’01 and Sarah Greenwood. Cardinal Bank Flik Independent School Dining Flynn and O’Hara Sheehy Automotive Sword & Shield Society Nirschl Orthopaedic Center RAD Kirk & Anna Maria Galiani SAVE THE DATE! 12th Annual Gala & Auction Feb. 9, 2013 13 Mary Taneyhill ’83 participates in the “Heads and Tails” game. Why We Give Al Bracht ’70 Alumnus Going all the way back to my days at St. John’s Elementary, I can remember the CYO basketball games played in the O’Connell gym. Not only was the great big gym available to us CYO kids, there was Al Burch refereeing the games. Not only was Al refereeing, he was teaching as well, something that would touch so many lives. In the spring of 1966 sitting in my homeroom class in 8th grade, we listened to the public announcement every day about who had been admitted to the different high schools. I can remember the relief and excitement I felt when my name was finally announced for Bishop O’Connell. From the first day as a freshman in the “1-F Troop” homeroom under the guidance of Brother Anselm Deegan, I was ready to roll. There was such a great sense of school spirit and camaraderie. Moving ahead four years to our senior year, I can remember some of my friends who couldn’t wait to graduate and move on. It was just the opposite for me; I didn’t want to leave. High school had been a blast. I managed to learn a thing or two and made some great friends that I still maintain contact with. The unknown of college life was frightening compared to the security blanket of O’Connell. Looking back on my high school years, I can see the academic, religious, athletic and social development that has served me very well since then. My measure of life at O’Connell is that I would have loved to have my three children go to O’Connell had we lived nearby. Al Bracht, poses with his family (l to r): Al, daughter Sarah (21), son Jandro (17), wife Shannon, mother-in-law, Gretchen King, and son John (24). When the call came to support O’Connell’s effort to improve that physical plant of the school, I was more than happy to help. I asked some of those classmate friends if they would help me reach out to our class to raise funds prior to our 40-year reunion June 2010. While we weren’t able to reach everyone, those who could support the effort were generous and we were able to deliver a financial thank you to O’Connell. Maybe with this new year of 2012 coming into focus and an improving economy on the horizon, the class of 1970 can continue to support O’Connell. Thank you Bishop O’Connell for my education, my religious formation, the athletic training and the friends you provided me with. Tim and Lisa Bennett Parent of Alumnus Having just dropped our son off at college, we find ourselves thinking about his future and reflecting on his time at O’Connell. We have no doubt that O’Connell has prepared him well for the next four years—and beyond. We came to O’Connell after searching for the right high school for our son. He was a bright but shy kid, and we felt that the public schools were not bringing out his full potential. We were looking for a high school that would challenge him academically and provide a welcoming, engaging environment. From day one, it was clear that O’Connell was the right place. The school offers a lot of AP’s and interesting 14 clubs and the student community has a great vibe to it. Our son’s teachers were interested in him and they challenged him in a very supportive way. And he formed many lasting and positive relationships with his classmates. His O’Connell experience was incredibly empowering. His talents in science and math were nurtured and encourages and his faith grew. He is now studying electrical engineering and at one of the leading science, math and engineering institutions in the world. We give to O’Connell so that other kids can enjoy the same challenges and opportunities O’Connell afforded our son. Thomas H. Conaty ’64 Alumnus When I heard about Mr. Al Burch’s death and funeral last November, I felt I had to see my friend and more importantly, my mentor one last time. Mr. Burch was my health science teacher and baseball coach. As baseball coach of the Hall of Fame baseball team of the mid-1960’s, he instilled the perseverance to succeed and dedication to others. But he was more than that. His traditional values and his goal setting pointed me (and my teammates) in the right direction and has enabled me to carry on through the good times and the tough times. That training and perseverance inspired me to “be on the first team,” so after leaving O’Connell, I graduated from the University of South Carolina and was simultaneously commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam conflict. Tom and Dianna Conaty ter way to help raise money and see your friends futilely flail at a little white ball? Not only was Mr. Burch instrumental in molding my life but I must also include those wonderful Christian Brothers. Initially intimidated by the Brothers, I grew to admire their dedication and skills. Equally important is to put pen to paper and write a check to O’Connell. With so many Catholic schools closing because of the economy, we need to support this great school and continue the legacy of helping O’Connell maintain its high standard of eductation. I think it’s important to “give back.” As a means of giving back, I really enjoyed being on the committee and chairing the annual Connolly Golf Classic. What bet- After a career in federal law enforcement, I dove into full retirement and moved to St. James Plantation, Southport, N.C. with my wife Dianna, a Yorktown High School grad. We enjoy the amenities of St. James, especially playing the 81 holes of golf that St. James offers and communing with the many Northern Virginia retirees and other O’Connell alums in southeastern North Carolina. It’s not all play though. Continuing the inspiration garnered at O’Connell, we enjoy volunteering and helping local charities. Our three sons are also living in North Carolina. Always aspiring to be on the “first team,” I am forever grateful to be an O’Connell alum. The Bennett Family: Rebecca, Lisa , Tim ’11, Ted, Elizabeth 15 Left to Right: Mike Bowers ’82, Ted Dettmar ’82, Maria Bueno Minnick ’82, Jeanette Morin ’82, Gina Singel ’12 Homecoming 2011 Recent Alumni Events It’s become an annual tradition for O’Connell alumni to come together at the Homecoming football game each fall. For the past few years, a lovely white tent has been set up on the baseball field where alumni and their families came together before the game to catch up and enjoy a catered lunch. This year was a little bit different. Due to construction on our football field, all “home” football games this past fall were played at Wakefield High School. Homecoming was no exception. But that didn’t stop the alumni office from hosting the annual Homecoming event. No tent was needed to make alumni feel welcome on a grassy hill overlooking the football field. Alumni came from the class of 1961 through the class of 2010 and everything in between to enjoy each others’ company and to cheer for the Knights! The Knight Train Rolls Through DJO A group of alumni from the 1970s and 1980s came together to throw the first ever Knights’ Party last fall. This casual event was held in the school gym with music provided by the Fabulous Dialtones (alumnus Peter Warren ’77 is a member) and food catered by Tommy Gadell ’74. More than 400 alumni came out to enjoy an evening of great fun, friendship, food and music. Pictured: Class of ’77: Paul Bilodeau, John Greenhalgh, Suzanne Nirschl Brown, Pat McAteer, Bill Wilkinson and Scott Carpenter. Mark Your Calendars! Stay Connected with DJO 2nd Annual Knights Party will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012. 77The To keep your contact information up-to-date, visit www.bishopoconnell.org/alumni. 77Homecoming 2012 will be Saturday, October 20, 2012, O’Connell vs. McNamara. Join us as we cheer on the Knights! Don’t miss out on any upcoming alumni events! 16 Young Alumni Pizza Party Every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Bishop O’Connell opens its doors to recent graduates, inviting them to gather in the cafeteria for an informal pizza lunch. College students who came home for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend caught up with friends from near and far for some easy conversation and a few slices of pizza. Our young alumni are always excited to come back and see their old friends and favorite teachers! Sister Maureen Christopher chats with recent graduates at pizza party. Class of 1991 Reunion More than 100 members and guests of the class of 1991 gathered at Clyde’s Tysons Corner on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 for their 20-year reunion. Attendees were welcomed by the reunion committee, which included Danielle Pindell Plewa, Richard Boone, Allison Frischkorn Beach and Anna-Lisa Schneider. The night officially began with a prayer of thanksgiving for friendships and memories, and blessings over family members, over those who could not make it or have passed on. The evening menu included passed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and a pasta bar. Those in attendance hugged, laughed and introduced spouses and significant others and showed off pictures of children. The group danced the night away, many staying until the 1 a.m. closing. The party unofficially continued outside and in one of the nearby hotels. Panoramic Visions Photography Left to right: Allison Frischkorn Beach, Richard Boone Jr, Anna Lisa Ramos Schneider, and Danielle Pindell Plewa. Class of 1981 Reunion The Class of 1981 also held their 30-year reunion on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Their event was celebrated at the Hyatt Regency Dulles. A great turn-out of long time friends came for the fun with at least 75 graduates in attendance. Some even dragged their spouses along! The evening began with a cocktail party, and was followed with dinner and dancing. The night was such a success that another mini-reunion was held on February 25th! Go DJO Class of ’81! See you again soon. 17 Maddy Brown Alumni Roll Call Francine Proulx ’61 was highlighted in the Lifestyle section of The Washington Post about her work as a professional accredited appraiser. Visit http://tinyurl.com/74fqj6l to view the article. Michelle Deutsch LaMarche ’74 has recently accepted a position as a Senior Retirement Counselor at Stoneridge Creek continuing care retirement community being built in Pleasanton, Calif. Megan Lipari Brown ’98 and her husband Jimmy (teacher and basketball coach) are the proud parents of Madeline Kathleen, born Feb. 23. “Maddy” was welcomed home by her 5-year old brother, Vincent. Andrea McHugh ’93 is a style writer living in Newport R.I. She has a style blog focused on Newport fashion scene at www.newportstylephile.com. Ray Zdacewicz ’74 accepts the MORE award with Bishop Loverde looking on. Ray Zdancewicz ’74, received the MORE award at the Youth and Campus Ministry Appreciation Mass and Dinner for his work with the Northern Virginia Junior CYO. Robert Reed ’86 has been named the new varsity golf coach at DJO. He has been the Head Pro at Chantilly National for nine years, and has coached the Westfield High School golf team for four years. Welcome back Coach Reed! 18 Ali Renner ’03 and GP Manson Ali Renner ’03 is marrying GP Manson on April 27 at St. Rita Church in Alexandria. Fellow 2003 graduates, Colleen Stoehrer Sweeny will be here maid of honor and Libby Muldoon will be one of her bridesmaids. Groomsmen include Ali’s brothers Steve Renner ’06, Joey Renner ’08 and Robby Renner ’12. Over Christmas break, Katie Yohe ’05 and her dad Joe Yohe ’76 went to Ghana. Katie was able to share with her father where she had spent a year volunteering and he was able to meet the kids, experience the village, and just have all the stories make sense and come to life. They visited an orphanage in the capital city of Accra, spent a day handing out gifts to children in the village of Kasoa, celebrated Christmas with the Sisters and Brothers of the Holy Cross, and visited the Cape Coast Slave castle. Jimmy Murphy ’06 and his dad, Bob Murphy Jimmy Murphy ’06 reached the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina this past January. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at over 20,000 feet. This is Jimmy’s third mountaineering adventure. He and his father have already conquered Kilimanjaro in Africa and Elbrus in Russia. Rob Cherry ’06 is now a Certified Public Accountant and works as an Associate with Dixon, Hughes, Goodman LLC in Tysons Corner. Joe Yohe ’76 and his daughter, Katie Yohe ’05 Devon Metcalf ’08 was one of eight Drexel University softball players to earn NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete accolades. Two O’Connell graduates were honored with Virginia Tech’s Aspire! Awards which recognize current students who exemplify the university’s five aspirations for student learning—Curiosity, Self-Understanding, Civility, Courageous Leadership and “Ut Prosim” (that I may serve). Nicole Catalfamo ’08 was recognized for her service to the community with an “Ut Prosim” award, and Nicholas Roberts ’08 was honored for his Civility. Meet Our Manager of Alumni Relations – Michelle Kannan …and she wants to hear from you! As manager of alumni relations, Michelle Kannan’s goal is to help alumni stay connected with their alma mater and their friends from DJO. At her desk she has a complete set of yearbooks and at her finger tips she has an alumni database that reaches back to opening day at Bishop O’Connell. Michelle is a first stop for reunion planners as they begin organizing their class reunions. During the school year, she plans other events to help alumni feel welcome at DJO. These include the alumni events at the fall Homecoming football game, an informal young alumni pizza party during Thanksgiving break, the springtime Legacy Brunch, and the All-Alumni Reunion Weekend in June. She also supports the efforts of the Athletic Hall of Fame committee to host the annual awards dinner. Michelle works with committees of enthusiastic volunteers to organize the annual pages of the school web site current, and works with class moderators to engage with their classmates on the Alumni Portal of the web site. If you have alumni news, Michelle is the one who will make sure it gets into our Knights’ Pages magazine. Michelle Kannan interviewed Joe Alonso ’78 at the Washington National Cathedral. (See page 21). school Gala & Auction and the Connolly Memorial Classic golf tournament. Both of these events bring alumni, and even parents of alumni, together for a day of fundraising for a great cause. When Michelle is not busy organizing events, she is keeping alumni up-to-date through the monthly e-newsletter, AlumNotes. She also keeps the alumni 19 “One of the favorite parts of my job is interviewing alumni for the magazine’s Spotlight section,” says Michelle. “I am in awe of all that our alumni have accomplished and am often amazed at their individual stories.” Michelle came to Bishop O’Connell after two years as a development associate at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington, D.C. Michelle is originally from St. Petersburg, Fla. She received her undergraduate degree from Furman Univeristy in Greenville, S.C. and her Masters in Public Administration from the University of South Florida. Michelle can be reached at 703-237-1437 or [email protected]. In Memoriam Timothy Ragan ’61 January 20, 2012 Barbara Anne Orsinger Adolfson ’65 November 18, 2011 Elizabeth Keating Meehan ’68 February 29, 2012 Chris Breiner ’83 February 14, 2012 Monica Valdizan ’94 March 1, 2012 Brother James King former faculty member (1968) October 27, 2011 Alward “Al” Burch former teacher, principal and coach (1961-2004) October 29, 2011 Jason Clark ’08 has been a leader on the Georgetown University basketball team. He was recently named All Big East first team. Mo Williams ’10 is a first year student at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point). He was recently honored with the first Patriot League Rookie of the Week award of the 2011-12 season for his efforts in the Black Knights’ two basketball games at the All-Military Classic hosted by Air Force. Kendall Marshall ’10 is a finalist for the 2012 Bob Cousy Award, given to the top collegiate male basketball point guard annually spanning across all divisions within the game by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The selection criteria emphasize leadership, team work, success, and fundamentals as being critical parts for the game of basketball as a point guard. Read more at www.cousyaward.com. Kevin Fay ’73 Recognized by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Kevin Fay ’73 is being honored at this year’s Leukemia Ball in Washington D.C., where he will be presented with the first-ever James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was established in memory of Jim Eichberg, a long-time volunteer and supporter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society who made service to others an integral part of his daily life. The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of an individual who has demonstrated significant dedication and commitment to the mission of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thereby making a significant impact on the lives of patients and families. The recipient must also have demonstrated the same longstanding commitment to community and volunteerism as the award’s namesake, James L. Eichberg. Kevin is the first recipient of this great honor. Kevin Fay is the founder of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS’s) Congressional Honors Program and has been a long time advocate for increased funding for leukemia research and 15-year Leukemia Ball Executive Committee member. He has helped raise more than $3 million dollars through private donations and attendance at the Balls. Kevin has been a tremendous asset to the Bishop O’Connell Community. He is the immediate past chairman of the Board of Governors of Bishop O’Connell High School, having served as Chairman from 2006 through 2011. Kevin was also featured in the February 25, 2012 issue of the National Journal for his upcoming honor with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 20 Pvt. Tommy Farrell ’11 with Dr. Dan Stabile Pvt. Tommy Farrell ’11 recently graduated from U.S. Marine Corps recruitment training at Parris Island, S.C., earning a sharpshooter’s medal along the way. He is headed to Camp Geiger in North Carolina for his next assignment. Deon Thomas ’11 is a freshman in the School of Industrial Labor Relations at Cornell University. His perspectives on the difficulties of obtaining an appropriate summer internship were recently published in the Cornell Daily Sun. Read more at http://cornellsun.com/section/opinion/ content/2012/02/24/let-stress-resume. Deon Thomas ‘11 Keep in Touch Keep us informed of births, weddings, graduations and other celebrations! Send your news to [email protected]. Alumni Spotlight Joe Alonso ’79 Joe Alonso, stonemason or rock star? Spend a day with him at the Washington National Cathedral and you might be asking the same question. Joe graduated from O’Connell in 1979 and joined the Stonemason Union of D.C. After serving his apprenticeship and working on stone projects around the Washington metropolitan area, he secured a position as a stonemason at the National Cathedral in 1985. When the construction of the Cathedral was completed five years later, and the final finial was put in place, Joe was promoted to the position of head stonemason. For the next twenty years, Joe and his team of masons and carvers spent their time maintaining, restoring and adding to the existing structures. Everything changed on Aug. 23, 2011 when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake 100 miles southwest of Washington shook the foundation of the Cathedral. At that point, the life of the Cathedral changed and the vocation of stonemason was quickly thrust into the limelight. Joe and his craftsmen now find themselves in the midst of repairing the damage to this beautiful gothic structure, which many estimate to take more than ten years to complete. The total repair costs may run as high as $15 to $20 million. Just as major repair work was beginning in earnest, progress hit another snag. While working to secure the tower and the scaffolding in early September, a crane collapsed, diverting construction work and delaying the planned reopening of the Cathedral for nearly two months. “Believe it or not, throughout the course of this adversity, there have been a number of little miracles,” said Joe. He relayed several examples. First, the pinnacle that initially fell off the tower could have easily caused significant dam- age had it fallen onto the roof over the nave or even worse, onto the ground. But somehow it fell back onto the roof. In the crane incident, the crane had just secured a final piece of steel on the scaffolding that secured the tower. It had just cleared the building when it collapsed. Had this not have been the case, many of the men working up there could have been in serious danger. Also, had the crane fallen at a slightly different angle, it would have hit nearby office buildings where more people were working. There is still quite a bit of work to be done in the restoration of the Cathedral, but for now the structure is stable and safe. Joe and his team are working indoors for the winter months, recarving stones. Though it will be a long road, Joe and his team of stonemasons and carvers, along with the staff and clergy, will be working together to fully restore the National Cathedral. Amanda “Mandy” Renaghan Taylor ’94 The words “community organizer” or “activist” can conjure up a variety of preconceived notions. But a new brand of community organizing is sweeping the nation and its focus is on improving public education in low income communities and communities of color. Amanda “Mandy” Renaghan Taylor ’94 is an advanced doctoral candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) where she and a group of two HSGE professors and 14 fellow classmates conducted an intensive case study on community organizing and school reform. The team studied groups across the country who have successfully engaged in community organizing for education reform, examining how their efforts resulted in real change in their schools and districts. Amanda’s team worked with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition in New York City, and the results of this research have been published in a new book entitled A Match on Dry Grass: Community Organizing as a Catalyst for School Reform, by Mark R. Warren, Karen L. Mapp, and the Community Organizing and School Reform Project (Oxford University Press: 2011). Amanda shared some of the highlights of their work. “Leaders with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition were concerned about severe school overcrowding in Bronx public high schools. After working with organizers, they discovered that New York City was planning for future enrollment levels in Bronx public schools that had the expectation of 64 percent of their students failing,” she said.” The leaders then worked with school of- 21 ficials and politicians to reduce overcrowding. This process not only improved schools, but also empowered the local leaders to continue to press for positive change.” Amanda is now working on her doctoral dissertation, focusing her attention on racial issues in teacher-student relationships. Specifically, she is studying how white teachers think about race in their teaching practices and how district and school policies affect teachers’ racial understandings. Amanda’s work involves two schools in the same suburban school district with different demographics. The superintendent for the district has established an important initiative to address the achievement gaps based on race, and Amanda is documenting the implementation of this policy in both schools. Amanda’s interest in education reform stems from her early years as an inner-city high school English teacher, where she saw firsthand how social inequality affected student learning opportunities and experiences. As an adjunct professor, Amanda has taught a class at American University called “Race, Class, and Power in International and Intercultural Education.” She is currently the director of graduate admissions and financial aid for the university’s School of International Service. Upcoming Reunions Class of 1962 is planning their 50-year reunion for Sept. 28-30 at the Marriott in Fair Oaks. Contact Margaret McGarry at [email protected] for more information. Upcoming Alumni Events Class of 1967 is planning a reunion for Saturday, June 23 at Bishop O’Connell. More information will be released via email as the date gets closer. Please update your e-mail contact information with the school if you have not already done so (contact [email protected]). For more information on the reunion, contact Jeanne Whyte at [email protected]. Class of 1972 is planning their 40-year reunion for the weekend of October 19-21. For more information about the reunion or to get information about the next planning meeting on Feb. 3, contact Ed Blackadar at [email protected]. The Class of 1977 is planning their 35th reunion for the weekend of Nov. 9-10. Contact Suzanne Nirschl Brown [email protected] or Peter Warren [email protected] for information. Class of 1987 has begun planning their reunion for the weekend of October 20, 2012. The events include: 77Friday, 19 Oct: Happy Hour/Alumni Reception, Tysons Corner Marriott 77Saturday, 20 Oct: Homecoming Football Game vs McNamara, DJO 77Semi Formal Dinner & Dance, Tysons Corner Marriott 77Sunday, 21 Oct: Mass, DJO Chapel 77Reception, DJO Library/Old Busport Contact Brad Felling at [email protected] or Tina Ward at [email protected]. Class of 2002 is planning their 10-year reunion. Please contact Jennifer Booze ([email protected]) or Kelly Flannigan ([email protected]) if you would like to help with the planning! All-Alumni Reunion Weekend, June 8–10, 2012 Come back to DJO to celebrate and reconnect! Annual Alumni Awards Reception and Dinner Friday, June 8 at 6 p.m. Join us for a cocktail reception and dinner, as we honor our exceptional alumni: 77Distinguished Alumni Award Kevin J. Fay ’73 Kevin Fay is an alumnus, a past parent and a tireless advocate and volunteer for Bishop O’Connell, having served as chairman of the Board of Governors from 2006 through 2011. He is the President of Alcalde & Fay, and is an internationally recognized specialist on environmental and energy issues with particular emphasis on governmental policies involving the atmosphere and climate. In his spare time, he has devoted countless hours to promoting and fundraising important community efforts, from the McLean Little League to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where he is being honored this year with the James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more about Kevin Fay on page 20. 77Young Alumni Award Amanda Renaghan Taylor ’94 Amanda Taylor started out as an innercity teacher, who quickly recognized some inequities in the public school system. While building a career in school administration, she has been working with a team of doctoral candidates at Harvard University to bring light to the productive work of community organizers in improving at-risk schools, and addressing achievement gaps based on race in schools around the country. Read more about Amanda Taylor on page 21. 77Knights Spirit Award Bob and Paola (Egge) Pizzano ’81 In addition to running a contracting business, Bob and Paola Pizzano have raised a wonderful family and dedicated themselves to making a difference in the lives of children with developmental challenges. Through the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund (JPMF) and in conjunction with the Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities, the Pizzanos spearheaded the opening of Our Special Harbor, a 7,000-square-foot, zero-waterdepth “sprayground” in Franconia. In addition, their foundation provides funding and classes for water safety education for families of children with disabilities. Family Mass and Brunch Sunday, June 10 at 10 a.m. Come back and celebrate Mass with us in the student chapel. We will follow this special Mass with a light brunch in the cafeteria. Please join us! Classes ending in -2 and -7, this is your time to party! Please contact the alumni office so we can help you arrange a reunion during the All-Alumni Reunion Weekend! Please let us know you are coming! RSVP to alumni weekend events at [email protected] or call Michelle Kannan at 703-237-1437. Awards dinner tickets are $10 each. There is no cost for the family brunch, but RSVPs are necessary. 22 Athletic Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees The athletic department and the alumni office are pleased to be honoring eight alumni who will be inducted into the Bishop O’Connell Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Please join us for the induction ceremony and awards dinner on Saturday, Apr.28 at 5 p.m. in the school cafeteria. There is a cost of $40 per person in advance, and $50 at the door. This includes dinner and a cocktail reception. Contact [email protected] or call 703-237-1437 to reserve your seat. Meet the 2012 Hall of Fame inductees: John Friede ’67, Wrestling John compiled a career record of 53-3. He won the St. Albans tournament his senior year and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Ted Breiner ’72, Football, Wrestling In football, Ted was the MVP and was selected to the Washington Post AllIndependent School team. In wrestling, he won the Virgina Independent School tournament and was runner up at the St. Albans tournament. Mike Storm ’77, Modern Pentathlon Mike won a silver medal at the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He came in 5th place in the individual competition and led the 3-man United States contingent to 2nd place in the team competition. Eileen O’Brien Prophett ’88, Soccer, Basketball In soccer, Eileen was a co-captain and named the team’s best offensive player. She was a 1st team all-conference selection and received a scholarship to William and Mary. Get ready to golf! Kathy O’Brien Krug ’88, Soccer, Basketball In soccer, Kathy was a co-captain and MVP in her junior and senior years, and a 1st team all-conference selection. She was a Washington Post 1st team All-Met player and received a scholarship to William and Mary. Moira White Smith ’91, Softball As the team’s pitcher, Moira was the team MVP and twice selected to the WCAC 1st team. She received the Arlington Better Sports Club award and was a 2nd team Washington Post All-Met her senior year. Delaunta Cameron ’94, Football, Basketball Delaunta was a starter in basketball but excelled in football. His honors include Virginia independent all-state selection, all-conference, allNorthern Virginia, and Washington Post 2nd team All-Met. He became an All-ACC linebacker at Georgia Tech and played with two NFL teams. Terrence Wilkins ’94, Football Terrence was elected in 2006 and will be inducted this year. Terrence accounted for 21 touchdowns and established a new single-season rushing record of 1,617 yards his senior season. Terrence’s honors include: 1st Team AllMet and All-State. He received a scholarship to play football at the University of Virginia and was all-purpose back for the Indianapolis Colts. The 24th Annual Joseph W. Connolly Golf Classic Friday, May 4 • Laurel Hill Golf Club, Lorton, Va. www.bishopoconnell.org/connollyclassic 23 The knights’ pages Spring 2012 BISHOP O’CONNELL HIGH SCHOOL 6600 Little Falls Road Arlington, VA 22213 703-237-1400 www.bishopoconnell.org ADmINISTRATION Kathleen Ryan Prebble President Joseph E. Vorbach III, PhD ’83 Principal Rev. Phillip M. Cozzi ’94 Chaplain Sr. Catherine Hill, I.H.M. ’66 Dean of Academics Meghan Lonergan Dean of Students ADVANCEMENT Cindy Krech Associate Director of Advancement 703-237-1446 [email protected] Michelle Kannan Alumni Relations 703-237-1437 [email protected] Kim Aubry Advancement Services 703-237-1447 [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS Mary Jane Spurlock Director of Communications 703-237-1425 [email protected] NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #6479 MERRIFIELD, VA 6600 Little Falls Road, Arlington, Virginia 22213 www.bishopoconnell.org • 703-237-1400 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday, April 28, 2012 5 p.m. in the cafeteria 24th Annual Connolly Golf Classic Friday, May 4, 2012 Laurel Hill Golf Club www.bishopoconnell.org/golfclassic Grandparents’ Reception Thursday, Apr. 19, 2012 Festival of the Arts 9 a.m. in the convent Saturday, May 5, 2012 6–9:30 p.m. Coming Events Spring Drama Production The Matchmaker Apr. 20–22, 2012 www.bishopoconnell.org/theatre Legacy Mass & Brunch Sunday, Apr. 22, 2012 10 a.m. Mass in the school chapel with brunch to follow 24 Class of 2012 Graduation May 31, 2012 Basilica of the National Shrine Tickets are required All-Alumni Reunion Weekend June 8–10, 2012 www.bishopoconnell.org/alumni
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