Mustang Messenger Volume 25 No. 2

Volume 25 No. 2 The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Magazine

Empowered Leaders Transforming the World

class of

2019

The Mustang Messenger is published two times a year by Bishop McNamara High School's Office of Communications.

We sincerely apologize in advance for any errors or omissions contained herein.

Notices of misinformation or error may be sent to the Advancement Office at advancement@bmhs.org.

4 President’s Pen

Unless otherwise noted, photos are either taken by families, staff or courtesy of LifeTouch, Inc.

16-21 Academic Excellence

Impact/Process of Early Application to College

The Evolution of a Counselor

Continued Commitment: Faculty Celebrate Decades of Service

Available online: www.bmhs.org/publications.

Contact Us!

Bishop McNamara High School 6800 Marlboro Pike | Forestville, MD 20747-3270 (p) 301.735.8401 | (f ) 301.735.0934 © BMHS All Rights Reserved.

PRESIDENT/CEO

Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85

PRINCIPAL

Dr. Nigel A. Traylor

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Sandy Mammano Director of Development

Geneen Delarosa Director of Advancement Services Melissa Antonio Huar LR ’91 Director of Events and Programs Jackie Oglesby Development Assistant

Santana Questa Director of Communications

Dr. Robert Van der Waag Director for Mission Advancement

5 Class of 2019 Roll Call 6-15

22-29

Around Campus Mustang Moments 2019 Black History Month Assembly Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

2019 Prince George’s County 40 Under 40 List Thank You, Mr. Williams!

Athletic Pride 2019 Athletic Signing Day 2019 Military Appreciation Game McDonald’s All-American, Jakia Brown-Turner ’19 Mustangs in the Water Baseball/Softball – Play Ball!

30 Why I Give 31-35 Faith & Service

Serving the District, Todd Lee ’86

In the Aftermath, Emily Smith ’14 36-41

Talent in the Fine Arts The Fine Arts Christmas Festival Learning from the Masters Dancing to Her Dreams, Alisha Peek ’14 Music Trip to Chicago

42-46 Campaign

Letter from the Proctors

La Reine Science & Innovation Labs

Deloitte Meeting

Locker Room Renderings/Step Up Our Game 47 Ways to Support 48 Planned Giving 49-50 Alumni News 51 Alumni Affinity Groups 52 The World Next Door, Sonja Lowery LR ’88 54 Telling the World's Story 57 Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Washington 58 Upcoming Events/Reunion Information 59 2019 Homecoming/Hall of Fame 60 E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair, Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85 62 Crab Feast 63 In Loving Memory...

2

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

TABLE OF CONTENTS Empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the World VOLUME 25 ISSUE No. 2

10

22

38

53

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

3

President’s Pen Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85, President/CEO

Dear Bishop McNamara Family and Friends,

‘‘

Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:5

‘‘

Innovate. Transform. Thrive!

This Gospel verse from Matthew describes the essence of what we do in Catholic education. It brings us such joy to welcome our new students every year and to walk the journey of their formation and development. For the 15th consecutive year, Bishop McNamara received more than 2,000 inquiries for admission and more than 700 applications, and again this year we will be welcoming a class of more than 205 students to our school, the 2023 class! We also bade farewell to the great 2019 class. This has been another record year for our Bishop McNamara students. I am so proud of them all and I am confident that they are entering the world possessing, as Fr. Moreau hoped for, “the competence to see and the courage to act.” Please pray for these young men and women as they take the next step in their journey and go out into the world to make a difference.

I am also extremely humbled by the extraordinary progress we made this year in our fundraising efforts. We are scheduled to break ground on the La Reine Science & Innovation Center this November with an anticipated spring 2021 completion date. Due to the generosity and support from many of you and the foundations and corporations that have partnered with us, this dream will soon become a reality.

The La Reine Science & Innovation Center marks a new era of Bishop McNamara’s presence in Prince George’s County, deepening and expanding our connection to the community while allowing us to better serve and prepare our students. It will: • Change lives, by inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology; • Diversify the nation’s workforce for the next iteration of the information revolution - “5G,” robotics, cybersecurity and space exploration; • Anchor the community through a transformational new training and education program in workforce development and senior programming; • Enhance the educational opportunities available to our students as well as contributing to the increasingly positive reputation and image of Prince George’s County; and, • Reinforce our commitment to teaching our students all that they should know in an increasingly technological society.

Undoubtedly, this new facility will provide our students and the community with unprecedented opportunities in STEM and Career Technology Education (CTE) fields of endeavor.

But it doesn’t stop there. Your commitment to the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign will also provide additional scholarship and financial assistance for deserving students, enhance our current facilities including new furnishings for 19 classrooms and the renovation of the locker rooms and weight rooms. Truly, the best is yet to come at Bishop McNamara!

As I wrap up my 22nd year in leadership at Bishop McNamara, I cannot begin to thank you enough for your love, support and prayers.

Just as the Scripture verse says above, we know that thousands more children in the future will experience the transformational education that many of us have received in the past. Thank you for welcoming children to a place that teaches them to know, love and serve our Lord.

With deep gratitude,

Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 President/CEO

4

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Class of

2019

Lawrence DeAngelo Aitch, Jr. Grace Akinmade John Andre Alexander, Jr. Christina Leigh Ambrose Natasha Haley Ames Dominic Christian Amprey Nicole Fei Dungo Andaya Paul Oscar Andrews Daniel Donald Apperson Hassan Jalen Artis Alvin Atuonah Chloe Grace Baltimore Wesley Michael Barnes Lloyd Emerson Baskin III Aniya Jordan Bell Morgan Armand Bernard Nigel Marcellus Black James Boccabello Bryson Jovon Boston John Wesley Braland Braelynn McKinley Braswell Laila Arielle Breakbill Kayla Amarni Bridgers D’Mia Lashay Britton Jordyn Marie Broadnax Tyler Gwynne Brockett Jordan Deneen Brown LaVonnte’ Julian Brown-Thomas Jakia Roshel Brown-Turner Wayne Christopher Bumbry Breyanna Lelilani Burney Cayla Loren Cade Solé Omara Calá Kia Raven Calloway Nile Sahara Campbell Alyjah Jamaal Carver Ian Jabari Cawthorne Nailah Marie Chambers Mya Briana Chase Jaylen Emanuel Cheek Celine Martinez Chiong Coya Lynn Cockerham Aminah Simone Cole Jalen Jahari Cole Tyme Collins Ezekiel Paul Crampton Chance William Crockett Acacia Crockett-Oliver Jahna Renee Crump Michael Darryl Dandridge, Jr. Brianna Davis Krista Sara Davis Leah Janelle Dawson Dwight Clinton Debnam III

Christine Jill Agir dela Paz Kaitlynn Marie Devitt Korine Elizabeth Devitt Delaney Vernae Dixon Makayla Eliza Dixon Nazir Sabree Donelson Casey Kendall Eiland Jordan Leah Embrack Osagie Franklin Emwanta Imani Simone Ezell Danielle Marie Fennelly Olivia Estelle Fenwick Dillon Michael Fitzgerald Jaelyn Maria Fletcher Isaiah P. Francis J’TA Nya Freeman Aaron Jordan Fuller Jordan Gayle Julius Gayle Taleah J. Gholson Sydni Erin Nicole Gilmore Malcolm Darius Goodley Trinitee Aujanae Gramblin Andrew James Gray Ajaya Denise Green Calen Michelle Green Christopher J. Grillo Alexa Monae Hagan Terance Edward Hare II Taylor Elizabeth Hargraves Kennedy Suzanne Harmon Aisha Lennae Harris Daniel Oliver Hassell Lauren Annette Hawkins Sydney Marie Haynes Debra Denise Henderson Trent Wesley Henderson Brian James Henson Zaniyah Unique Herring Jalyn Michelle Hill Victoria Frances Hinton Kayla Kristine Holland Jesseca Jamie Holly Julissa Jenae Holly Jackson Dylan Hopkins Jelani Nkosi Jackson Promise Claudette Jackson RaeChelle Symone James Simone Monét James Miles Michael Johnson Sydney D. Johnson Ahmari Sanjiv Jones Brandon Andre Joyner Mary Alina Kacar

Roll Call JeVonni L.C. King Garrett Scott Kirkland Jalyn Imani Lagman John Paul Lavallee Jasmin Taylor LeBoo Aajiyah Marie Lee Thomas Jerome Lewis Zurie Goddard Lewis Brittney Victoria Logan Mekhi Jermaine Long Aliyah Matharu Mateo Cortez Mathis Tamya Michelle Matthews Morgan Nicole McCann Johnathan Paul McGriff Christina Marie McPhail Nicholas Alfred Mebane Miles Alexander Miller Nicholas Michael Miller Kendall Alexandra Mitchell Tyler Brigitte Muniz Drake Kamyle Murphy Lexi Alana Murray Isaiah Romero Myers Micah Antonio Neal Trinity Teashia Newsome Demetrius Harvey Nicholson Ryson Emanuel Oakley Keith Lafayette Parker, Jr. Savanna Joy Parran Jasmine Natalie Partlow Sage Miko Patterson Matthew Hamilton Payne Milan Tanecia Payne Taylor Danielle Pennington Jeffrey Mason Perez Miguel Angel Perez, Jr. Jordon T. Peterson Maya Alana Plater Julia Kocher Porcari Charles Lynwood Proctor III Noah Aiden Proctor Joseph Patrice Quelch Haedn Rho Stanley Garnell Richards, Jr. Megan Barua Rivera Joi Sydney Robinson Kamryn Alexa Rodgers Morgan Ashley Ross Ronnie Anthony Rounds II Camryn Shervonne Royster Zina Omer El Faroug Mohammed Saleem Alliyah JaNae’ Sanders

Carlos Yovany Saravia Kennedy Alexis Sarvis Collin Walker Saunders Amarah Brianna Scott Michael Liam Scott Emma Rachel Settles Jasmine Tamika Shields Brandon Alexander Simms Ashley Renee Smith Jermaine Smith II Jordan K. Smith Logan Phyllis-Arreail Smith Nia Christine Spriggs Gabrielle Denise St. Paul Ryan Kendall Steed Sarai Samara Steglich Deja Imani Stephenson Justin Ricardo Stewart Jared Galen Stinnett Kiersten Simone Stokes Nicole India Sumpter Sierra Ave Sweeney Marius C. Taper Destiny Simone Thomas Jada Nicole Thomas Jamyra Niani Thomas Nathaniel Dail Thomas Tyra Leandria Thompson Riley Blake Tinsley Tyeron Mathew Tolson Ellik Morales Trotman Jordan Cole Tucker Raymond Sylvester Tucker, Jr. Imani Vann Ndeyah Yvonne Vaughan Quentin Isaac Vickers Schuyler Eden Walker Harrison C. Wallace Varonika Sherise Ware Sydney Victoria Washington Jalen Martell Watson Bria Lynette Welcome Matthew Thomas Weslowski Layla Markelle White Kenneth Bailey Wilburn Kyra Janel Wilcox TaMira Jacqueline Wiley Ervin Wilkins Nyela Simone Williams Eric Brandon Wilson Hampton Wilson, IV Tyler George Wilson Johnny Cornelius Woodbury, Jr. Laila Elizabeth Yarrish

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

5

aC Around Campus

MUSTANG MOMENTS Congratulations to faculty member Ms. Christy Bartholomew - on Oct. 20 at 6:36 p.m. she celebrated the birth of her daughter, Reina Lyric Quinn! Reina is 7 lbs. 11 oz. and is very happy and healthy. n

The Bishop McNamara Cheerleaders were presented with the prestigious UCA Traditions Award on Aug. 10, 2018 for outstanding School Spirit and Demonstration of school traditions. Additionally Alexia Lee ’22, Riyan Bowden ’21, Lyris Brown ’20, Kiersten Stokes ’19, Tyler Muniz ’19, and Sierra Sweeney ’19 won the coveted ALL America Team honor.

After competing for the All-American title over other nominees they were bestowed this top honor along with some of the best cheerleading athletes in the Region (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania). n

Imani West ’20 was selected as one of 11 finalists for the Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate competition. The PGC Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify youth writers and leaders who are committed to civic and community engagement, poetry and performance, human relations and diversity across the State of Maryland. This program is a partnership with Urban Word NY with Dialect of Prince George’s County & Lyrikal Storm of Parkdale High School, with assistance from the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Commission. n

6

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Cayla Cade ’19 has been asked to sit on the Washington Journalism and Media Conference Youth Advisory Board hosted by George Mason University. Cayla was nominated for the Washington Journalism and Media Conference by her BMHS English teacher in 2017, and was thrilled to attend the conference last summer at George Mason as a National Youth Correspondent. Her attendance at the WJMC qualified her to apply to the WJMC Youth Advisory Board which gives her the opportunity to assist the leadership team with future conferences and new initiatives. n

BMHS Senior Class Counselor and Assistant Director of College Counseling Alicia Oglesby recently co-authored a book with Rebecca Atkins entitled: Interrupting Racism. The book provides school counselors with a brief overview of racial equity in schools.

The book is available for purchase through Amazon. n On Monday, Dec. 10 the BMHS Enrichment Zone hosted a Graduation Showcase honoring 17 BMHS students who participated in and completed the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program. This eight-week program taught leadership skills and public speaking. n

Bishop McNamara High School senior members of the Varsity Football Team organized a Toy Drive before Christmas break hoping to uplift and bring cheer to patients at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The student athletes set up collection points and solicited donations for toys around campus and throughout the community. n

On Saturday, Jan. 19, 21 of our Musical Mustangs participated in The Catholic University of America High School Honor Band.

These students, along with high-achieving musicians from eight other Catholic high schools, were chosen to make up this year’s honor band. The students gathered early in the morning on the campus of Catholic University and participated in rigorous rehearsals and clinics throughout the day. n Congratulations to Chinyere (Chi Chi) Okonkwo ’20 and Joshua Denegall ’20, who were sponsored by The Rotary Club of Upper Marlboro for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Chi Chi’s group came in first place, and Josh’s group came in fourth place out of a total of 14 groups. n

Members of the Bishop McNamara Baseball Team along with coaches, parents and families, joined together with Wreaths Across America in early Dec. 15 to “...honor those who serve...” laying wreaths and taking a moment to say the name of each veteran aloud.

The baseball team also attended Assembly Day at the DC Armory for an organization called Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit that distributes millions of care packages to our service men and women abroad and to our first responders domestically. Students helped to put together hundreds of care packages, as well as met with our service men and women and first responders to show our sincerest gratitude for their service. n

Imani Ezell ’19 was accepted to The Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD Rising Star Program for 2018, and she has been accepted to SCAD for the 2019-2020 school year. The SCAD Rising Star Program is available to incoming high school seniors ready for a university experience - one which provides a challenging five-week program, awards two college-level-credit for classes taken and provides students with the opportunity to build or enhance their portfolios. n

continued on next page

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

7

MUSTANG MOMENTS More than 175 individuals participated in the Teens in Action MLK Day of Service. There was a program for young children in which students worked with them on inclusion, safety, emergency readiness and first aid. Students broke into 14 different groups that rotated through a multitude of projects to benefit our community in a significant manner. Partners for this day of service included Disney Foundation, Youth Service America, Jack and Jill of Prince George’s County, Red Cross, as well as community businesses that donated hundreds of dollars in supplies. n

Bishop McNamara High School would like to thank everyone who donated on our Pi Day of Giving! Thanks to your generosity, we raised $41,209, which exceeded our goal! n Ryan Steed ’19 participates in an art studio in her local community.

The studio was invited to submit artwork at Children’s National in Washington, D.C. - the picture that Ryan submitted is a depiction of gentrification in D.C., and is now on display in the hospital. n

Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Board for Special Olympics, which serves more than 5.6 million Special Olympics athletes in 172 countries to promote health, education, and a more unified world through the joy of sports, visited Bishop McNamara High School on Friday, March 1 with colleagues from Inspiration Nation, an initiative started by Dr. Shriver to create a political platform that taps into the energy of transformation in order to build a more just and joyful nation. During their visit, Inspiration Nation representatives, including Dr. Shriver, conducted small group discussions with 20 Bishop McNamara students from each grade level to gather their reactions about the state of America. n

8

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

On Wednesday, March 27 Morgan O’Brien, the founder of Nextel and current CEO of PdvWireless, visited Angelina Diehlmann’s LR ’85 Foundations of Engineering class, Matthew Buckley’s ’98 Robotics class, Keith Veney’s ’92 Millionaires Club and was given a student-led tour provided by Ayanna McCarley ’20 after his classroom visit. Morgan shared his life story as an entrepreneur, particularly life lessons that he has gathered during his more than 50 years in business. n

Congratulations to Bishop McNamara student Ainsley Spain ’22 for her performance at 2019 Maryland State NASP® (National Archery in the Schools Program) Bullseye Championship and the March 16 3-D Challenge. Ainsley took 1st Place in the 2019 Maryland National Archery NASP®/IBO 3-D Challenge in all Divisions of the Girls competition and 2nd place in the High School and 9th Grade Girls Divisions of the Bullseye Championship with a score of 281 out of possible 300. She has now been invited to participate in the National Tournament in Louisville, Ky. in early May. n

A Year to

Remember

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

9

aC Around Campus

Black History 2 0

Black Excellence through Each year, Bishop McNamara High School celebrates Black History Month with a special assembly, which is organized and arranged by the students and moderators of the BMHS Black Cultural Alliance. The assembly focuses on a theme that is interwoven through all the featured performances and speaker presentations.

This year’s theme - Black Excellence Through Social Entrepreneurship offered attendees the opportunity to hear from a panel of distinguished African-American business leaders and entrepreneurs, some of whom were BMHS alumni.

10

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Panel members included: Darius Baxter ’11 - Co-Founder of GOODPartners LLC, which bridges the gap between communities in need and the organizations and individuals seeking to provide resources to them.

Diana Leon Brown - Director of Strategic Partnerships for Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks.

Andrew Johnson, Jr. ’80 - Managing Director of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC.

M o n t h A s s embly 1 9 Social Entrepreneurship Rob Summers ’86 - President and CEO of Pantera Management Group, and Chair of the BMHS Board of Directors.

Tamika Tremaglio - Greater Washington Managing Principal for Deloitte.

Dr. Charles Thomas, Jr. - Multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, educator, best-selling author, on-air personality and Concerned Citizen™.

After the panel, attendees enjoyed performances by the BMHS Sankofa Company, poetry club, hip hop club, step team, and for the first year ever, a group of our theatre students gave a one-act performance. n

Black Excellence

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

11

aC

B A

WH

Campus

O

E

Around

N TS T O A W

MU

S

TA NG

A N MILLIO

“Mustang Millionaires” - it has a nice ring to it!

Of course most Americans dream of joining the ranks of the rich and famous, being able to spend money on a whim without fear of the consequence of balancing a checkbook. But not everyone is willing to put in the work that it usually takes to achieve this millionaire status.

However, if you start early, the workload becomes significantly easier.

This year, Bishop McNamara High School has started the Millionaire’s Club; an extracurricular activity dedicated to teaching students personal finance, how to invest, managing real estate, the intricacies of stocks and bonds, and other streams of financial income. Keith Veney ’92 leads the club, while also serving as the Bishop McNamara Boys’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach, drawing off of his own experience managing his personal brand and business.

“I touch on finance a little bit in my summer leadership program, but when the faculty said they wanted to do a Millionaire’s Club, I said I’d do it right off the bat,” said Keith. “It’s right up my alley, and getting these kids ready for the real world is something near and dear to my heart.”

Keith said that teaching students how to become millionaires starts with understanding their interests and helping them to figure out what skills are within their wheelhouses is one of the main focuses of the club. If a student is interested in art or dance, for example, while they may major in those subjects in college, they should also minor in business to learn how to market themselves after graduation. A student interested in art or dance may need to own a studio in order to hone their craft, or to teach others - a minor in business would help students understand how to manage their talents and use them to become successful professionals.

12

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

IR ES

MILLIONAIRE Learning from the experiences, and sometimes the mistakes, of others is a key aspect of professional success. Keith himself worked with several people in his youth and over the course of his career, learning how to manage summer camps and how to teach basketball skills and practices, so he emphasized the importance of students taking advantage of that same opportunity. Almost like an apprenticeship, working directly with professionals on the career path a student is interested in will give them hands-on experience unlike any they would have in the classroom.

Being honest and open with students, and giving them direct, hands-on opportunities to manage business prospects is a teaching method that Keith values above all others. Students in the Millionaire’s Club are working on a state entrepreneurship competition, where they will build and manage their own business - in Bishop McNamara’s case, they have chosen to create a clothing line. Keith said that it is their hope to use the proceeds earned by the club’s business to further build the club and provide more opportunities for students to engage in business activities.

“If we made a certain amount of money, I would love to use it to do something like buy a house and offer it to a renter, and give residual income back to the club,” said Keith. “That would really teach kids how to invest in real estate. But I’d also love to take them to Wall Street as a group, see the exchange, meet with a high-level financial advisor and learn from that person as well.”

Keith went on to say that, in an effort to understand investing, students in the club have gone to their parents to talk about buying stock in companies that they are familiar with each month. Many parents have been helping their kids invest real money in the stock market, to understand and appreciate the financial decisions their parents make each day.

“It really expands their minds, I think that’s what this class is doing for them,” said Keith. “They’re starting to look at life differently. They want more, the buzz has been crazy!”

We talk about it all. We talk about investments, life insurance, everything. You know when storms are coming, we tell them this. You could lose your job at any time, you should have like six months’ salary saved for those circumstances... getting these kids ready for the real world is something near and dear to my heart.” .......................

Keith Veney ’92

Parents have reached out to him to ask if their children can join the club as word-of-mouth continues to spread from student to student. The Millionaire’s Club and Keith’s teachings have helped demystify the idea of obtaining wealth and helped students to understand that - through hard work and an understanding of finance and business - they too can become millionaires.

But the club does not just focus solely on becoming a millionaire for fun; Keith also wants students to learn how to maintain wealth in order to avoid hardship later down the road. The government shutdown this year impacted many of our students personally, and they saw the vital importance of proper financial planning and management.

“We talk about it all,” Keith said. “We talk about investments, life insurance, everything. You know when storms are coming, we tell them this. You could lose your job at any time, you should have like six months’ salary saved for those circumstances.”

He wants students to take advantage of opportunities similar to those he missed in his younger years. Considering the students’ enthusiasm for the subject, there is no doubt that the Millionaire’s Club will continue to grow in the coming years.

Who will be the next Mustang Millionaire?

•

G

SCHOO H • • • • • • • •L G ST

ARA H WE T I AM D R N O U

SHOP M BI• • • • • • • IN C

Keith said he would love to expand the club into an actual class for students in the future. His goal is to educate students on proper financial management to help them understand such concepts at a young age; the younger a person starts their financial planning, the better off they will be. These were lessons that Keith did not learn in high school, and he laments the opportunities he missed out on as a result.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

13

aC Around Campus

Forty under

40

“ To be selected gives me hope and zeal to continue to be the best that my God-given potential will allow me to be.”

Dr. Nigel Traylor In March 2019, we were excited and honored to announce that our Principal, Dr. Nigel Traylor, was selected as one of the top 40 under 40 leaders in Prince George’s County!

Eight years ago, the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund (PGCSIF) launched 40 UNDER 40 Prince George’s as a pilot effort to identify the best and brightest in Prince George’s County across a range of fields including medicine, law, engineering, business, the arts, and education.

This program is sponsored by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which has also supported several initiatives here at Bishop McNamara. Recent recipients to be named to the Prince George’s County 40 Under 40 List from Bishop McNamara High School include Ryan Middleton ’06, who was named to the 2017 list.

Confident that the county is ripe with exceptional talent, PGCSIF wanted to offer a hometown recognition of excellence, youth and leadership. Every year since its inception, the numbers of nominations have increased and the competition has become even more intense. Indeed, Dr. Traylor’s selection to be named as part of this group is all the more impressive given these developments within Prince George’s County.

“When I found out that I was selected to be among this group of leaders in Prince George’s County, I was shocked but elated to hear the news,” said Dr. Traylor. “I looked at previous cohorts for the 40 Under 40 list and I realized that these were individuals that I have long admired and respected as professionals in their fields.”

Dr. Traylor is an innovative educator who personally witnesses to Bishop McNamara’s vision to form empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world. He is dedicated to the continued academic success of every student and to the mission of Bishop McNamara High School as a Catholic and Holy Cross school. His positive attitude balanced with his humility are marks of his excellence as an educator and it is these qualities that inspire colleagues and students alike.

Dr. Traylor is an extraordinary role model for our community. This year we were very sad to announce that Dr. Traylor would be stepping down from his position as Principal to return to his hometown of Atlanta. He will be sorely missed, and we wish him all the best for the future. n

14

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Thank You,

Mr. Williams!

aC Around Campus

On Friday, May 10, Mr. M. ChrisTopher Williams celebrated During his tenure at BMHS, Mr. Williams has served as

his last day of class with his seniors in Global Studies, along with several members of the Bishop McNamara administration and faculty.

He is retiring after 40 years of teaching - having spent 36 of those years here at Bishop McNamara High School.

Mr. Williams first came to BMHS in 1979 after serving for nearly three years as a volunteer English and African History teacher in the Sudan. For the next nine years, he taught World History to sophomores and Anthropology as a senior elective.

In 1994, the newly co-ed BMHS instituted a new Global Studies course for all senior students. Over the years of his educational service, Mr. Williams has been awarded opportunities to work and study abroad, the better to incorporate his foreign travels and international studies into this new course. He traveled as a volunteer for Operation Crossroads Africa to Kenya and Botswana, and for International Development Exchange to Ghana. Moreover, he was awarded fellowships and grants to travel with the Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs to Japan, with Saudi Aramco to Saudi Arabia and with Global Exploration for Educators Organization to Costa Rica with the assistance of the BMHS Capital Partners program. To date, he has traveled to more than 100 countries.

From 2007-2009, Mr. Williams was granted a leave-of-absence sabbatical, during which he served as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps as a teacher in Guyana, South America.

the Chair of the Social Studies Department, was selected by Presidents Heather Gossart in 1995 and Marco Clark ’85 in 2012 to sit on the committees reviewing candidates for the new Principal. He was greatly honored with the Caritas Award for Distinguished Faculty Service in 2004, and was awarded a BMHS diploma as an honorary member of the Class of 2010; Mr Williams holds Masters degrees in World History and Applied Anthropology, earned at Georgetown University and the American University, respectively. In 2001, he received an honorary Ph.D. from Mount St. Mary’s University.

An outstanding Holy Cross educator, Mr. Williams has furthered Bishop McNamara’s vision to form empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world for almost four decades and he will be greatly missed by his students and colleagues.

He has informed and formed countless Mustangs over his 36 years at the School, thus leading to tremendous transformation through the impact his students have had on the world in which they live. Alumnus and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds ’00 credits Mr. Williams with expanding his worldview and encouraging him to look at the world from a variety of cultural perspectives.

From all of us here at Bishop McNamara High School students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and administration - we wish Mr. ChrisTopher Williams much happiness and joy in his retirement. We thank him for helping us to advance our mission to educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school setting rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

15

ae

academic excellence

Impact/ Process

Early Application College of

to

16

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The college application process has gone through an start planning earlier for their scholarship and financial aid options.

immense transformation over the past few years as technology continues to evolve. Each year, students prepare earlier for their college applications.

Students take the SAT and ACT, write their personal and college essays, fill out The Common App, and figure out if their preferred colleges and universities need other things like art/writing samples, letters of recommendation or other similar pieces. The Common App, an undergraduate college admission application, is used by students each year to apply to more than 800 member colleges and universities, not only in the United States but also Canada, China and many European countries.

At Bishop McNamara High School, Senior Class Counselors Jennifer Auchmoody and Alicia Oglesby write recommendation letters for each and every student to help get them into their colleges of choice.

Bishop McNamara students are strongly encouraged to apply to college early.

“Sometimes - not always - but sometimes the odds are in the students’ favor if they apply earlier,” said Alicia, who is also the Assistant Director of College Counseling. “The hope is that the earlier they apply, the earlier they hear back.”

It makes sense; having students apply earlier can sometimes mean that they’re among the first candidates seen by college and university admissions staff, who see hundreds if not thousands of similar applications every year. Seeing an application from a Bishop McNamara High School student early in the process may set them apart from other applicants.

However, pushing up the application due date coincides with a time when students are still adjusting to their classes for their final year of high school. It can be an incredibly stressful time, juggling college applications and current school work all at once.

“It’s a pretty exhaustive application because there’s so much information that the students don’t know,” Alicia said. “So I think the pressure of getting it all done in early fall is the main drawback.”

However, in addition to potentially hearing back from colleges early on the application decision, students who apply early can also

Alicia said that some students felt a little less overwhelmed when the application process was over and that they were better able to focus on scholarship applications. Knowing where they have been accepted ahead of time means that students and their families have that much more time to prepare themselves financially for the cost of collegiate education; that way they are not scrambling to find a way to pay for tuition at the last minute.

When early application time comes, many students feel the stress of handling so many tasks all at one time. After observing students and talking with them, and in an effort to address and alleviate the stress felt by students completing early applications, our School Counselors plan on starting the planning and preparation process even earlier in the hopes that students next year will not feel so overwhelmed. Alicia said that the counselors will start the early college application process with students earlier in the year, even at the end of their junior year, to help them prepare and be ready to finalize everything in their applications by September and October.

Despite all the apparent stressors that come with handling a fulltime class schedule and the lengthy college application process, Alicia said that generally students report that applying to college early is a major relief. With that weight off their shoulders, students are able to focus on financial aid and scholarship applications, along with their current schoolwork and projects. The process can be a struggle when they first start, but in the long run, our School Counselors believe early application to college is the best option for our students.

Bishop McNamara is proud of our 99 percent college/university acceptance rate for our students. Graduating seniors go on to such renowned institutions as Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Notre Dame, and so many more.

Not only do our students attend these prestigious schools, but 85 percent of BMHS alumni go on to graduate from college - which is an astounding percentage, given that fewer than 45 percent of all high schoolers admitted to college graduate within eight years.

Bishop McNamara students are able to easily adjust into the collegiate lifestyle thanks to our college-preparatory curriculum and the support they receive from our devoted faculty and staff our School Counselors especially. n

We can’t wait to see what future generations of graduating Mustangs will accomplish!

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

17

ae

T he

Evolution

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • excellence

of

‘‘

a

C ounselor

... I see my students almost every day and that feels like a huge blessing.

18

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

‘‘

academic

• • •

Education has gone through major changes in the past several

years. In general, we understand more about how students learn and what techniques are most effective in the classroom, so we have adapted to keep up with the most modern practices.

Our Counseling Center is no exception.

Previously referred to as ‘guidance counselors,’ a school counselor’s main duty in previous decades has been simply to assess a student’s talents and interests in order to guide them during the college application process. While this is still a very important aspect of the role, especially for a college-preparatory school like Bishop McNamara, a school counselor’s job has expanded a great deal over the last several years as we have learned more about the mental development of our youth.

“I remember my high school guidance counselor, and I saw her maybe two or three times out of the year,” said Alicia Oglesby, Senior Class Counselor (students A-J) and Assistant Director of College Counseling for Bishop McNamara High School. “She helped me apply to colleges, but thinking of my role now, I see my students almost every day and that feels like a huge blessing.”

Alicia started at Bishop McNamara High School after working the previous four years in D.C. high school counseling. Being from the Philadelphia area, she was not as familiar with schools in the Metropolitan D.C. area; so when she was looking for a new school to serve, Alicia relied on the recommendations of local friends, some of whom said that Bishop McNamara High School would be “a perfect fit” for her.

Considering that the BMHS colors were the same as her own high school colors, it seemed like a match chosen by fate!

Alicia has always been committed to the importance of keeping up with the most modern counseling practices. With the advent of technology and our reliance upon it in our day-to-day activities, negative trends such as cyberbullying have arisen. Changing the way we view technology and understanding how students are using it helps us to serve them better in addressing their troubles and concerns when they step into a counselor’s office.

Students spend the majority of their day in a school setting, thus it is vitally important that school counselors are equipped with the most recent studies, information and tools to handle any situation a student may present.

While some students have similar concerns that they may present to a counselor, Alicia said that there is a range of concerns and reasons that students come to see her each day, and no two are exactly alike.

From concerns about college applications, to schedule changes, to troubles at home and so many more, there are several situations that Alicia helps her students deal with each day.

“It really is a matter of meeting students where they are,” she said.

“When they come into my office they could be needing to meet with me for a number of reasons. It could be anything at any given moment, so I just always have to be ready and open to whatever the students are coming in with.”

In 2018, Alicia was named D.C. Counselor of the Year for her commitment to her students. Alicia attended the event at the Kennedy Center in February 2018, during which time she was able to meet former first lady Michelle Obama. It was an incredibly moving experience for Alicia, not only being able to meet the former first lady, but to be thanked by her; Alicia said: “She was just so grateful, it was kind of strange to be on the receiving end of gratitude from the former first lady.”

As Assistant Director of College Counseling, one of Alicia’s main goals for her students is to ensure that they are truly ready for college.

Bishop McNamara High School, being a college-preparatory school, offers a variety of programs and extra-curricular activities in order to prepare students for college/university life after graduation.

Many alumni credit Bishop McNamara’s academics, stating that they would not have been so successful in their collegiate classes had they not already undergone such a rigorous curriculum.

But more than just being prepared, Alicia wants students to go on to the collegiate level of education and make an impact on the world around them.

“I want to make sure that [students] graduate with what they need to pave their own path in the future, whatever that path might be,” she said. “I want to make sure that they attend a college or university where they can have a great impact, but also be influenced in a memorable way. As much as I can prepare them for a life of greatness, that would make me really proud to have been their counselor.”

Bishop McNamara High School students go on to become some of the greatest servant-leaders in their communities and worldwide.

This is due in part to the support system they have in our Counseling Center. Alicia is only one of our many talented and committed counselors who help our students through the various challenges brought on by high school life.

We are thoroughly blessed to have Alicia on staff with us at Bishop McNamara High School, and we look forward to having her with us to support our students for many more years to come! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

19

ae

academic excellence

Continued Commitment

Bishop McNamara High School Faculty Members Share Why they have Stayed after Decades of Service One of the unique aspects of a Bishop McNamara education is arguably the dedication, knowledge and skill of our faculty. The School boasts a total of 84 faculty members, 56 percent of whom hold advanced degrees. But the main thing that sets our faculty apart from others is that they are in for the long haul; once they come to Bishop McNamara and teach our talented students, they are hard-pressed for a reason to leave.

Many of our faculty members have been teaching at Bishop McNamara High School for at least 10 years; some for as long as 30 years!

The main reason that they stay, is for our kids.

“When a student realizes they understand a concept is my favorite aspect of teaching,” said Social Studies Teacher and BMHS Caritas recipient Laura Keller, who has worked at BMHS for 19 years. “I love the ‘a-ha!’ moments. It is so much fun to watch their minds expand.”

“When [students] hear, fathom and/or put into practice one of Jesus’ teachings, especially for the first time, it is remarkable to witness,” said Justin McClain ’00, also a BMHS Caritas recipient. Justin started teaching Spanish at Bishop McNamara in 2006, and now focuses solely on teaching theology. He has been awarded the Golden Apple Award for his teaching excellence.

Similar to Laura, Anthony Conto, who has taught band and orchestra for 18 years and is a past president of the Maryland Band Association, said that his favorite aspect of teaching is seeing students realize their potential. Our fine arts students have proven year after year to be particularly dedicated to their respective crafts, and many alumni musicians have credited their prowess to Anthony and his teachings.

BMHS Art Teacher Kathryn Heneghan has served the School

Laura Keller Justin McClain 20

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

for 20 years and has been recognized as a Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year; she said that she loves working in a school environment because it gives her the chance to talk to experts in a variety of topics all in the same place. Rhoda Sutton, who has also spent 20 years teaching at Bishop McNamara, said that the School has helped her exercise her faith more.

While the love of students and continued learning are the main reasons our faculty stay with BMHS, what brought them to Bishop McNamara High School varies from teacher to teacher. Some, like Bob Nolte who has been with the School for 20 years and has been named a HSPA Veteran Teacher of the Year, felt the love and family atmosphere the moment they stepped onto the campus.

“After visiting the School, I realized the students brought forth a great energy, one that I hadn’t felt in other schools,” said Laura. “I wanted to be a part of that community.”

Others, such as Brenda Stephens, migrated from our sister school La Reine High School after its unfortunate closing in the early 1990s - Brenda said specifically that she was invited to join the Bishop McNamara staff by Matt Goyette, who was principal from 1989-1997 and a much-beloved long-time BMHS faculty member, who was honored by having an award created in his name, the E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence.

“I truly love the School and the students that walk our halls. We don’t just talk about being family, we are family,” said Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85, BMHS Math Teacher of 30 years and a Caritas recipient.

Throughout their years here at Bishop McNamara, these faculty members have been witness to a great deal of changes, both physically on campus and within the curriculum. The main campus changes have included the construction of the Fine

Anthony Conto Kathryn Heneghan

Arts and Athletic Center, and the more recent Andy Mona ’82 Student Center. Despite these changes, our faculty have appreciated our continued commitment to our Holy Cross mission.

“I believe that we as a faculty are willing to adapt to change in the education field without losing sight of the foundations that are needed for our students to be strong, positive, educated citizens,” said Angelina. “Every day is new, every year is new. A teacher can continue to grow in their profession, we don’t just sit still.”

“From a structural standpoint, the School has grown in space to accommodate more students,” said Geoffrey Molchan, who has been a faculty member for 18 years. “However, the mission to educate the hearts and minds of our students has not wavered.”

Whether they stay with us one year, five years or 30 years and beyond, our faculty are among the most dedicated men and women in the realm of education. We are so blessed to have them as part of the Bishop McNamara family.

Change is something that educators are used to in their daily lives of teaching. Every student is different, and new forms of teaching and lesson planning emerge every day.

••

“

••

•

••

••

•••

••••••••••

••

••

•

••

••

• •• •

•• •

Rhoda Sutton Bob Nolte

•••••••••••

Linda Corley BMHS Math Teacher 15 years

•••

••• • • •

“

••

Find challenge in the struggle. You only learn when you push your limits of understanding.

Bishop McNamara High School expresses its sincerest thanks to all of our devoted faculty and staff - we couldn’t celebrate more than 50 years of excellence in education without you! n

••

•••

•••

“I have stayed with Bishop McNamara High School because I still believe in this place and love witnessing the impact it has on its students, including my own children,” said Bob, whose oldest son John is a BMHS sophomore, and his younger son Ben will be starting his freshman year this fall.

••

••••••••

••

••

••

• ••

•••••••••••

Brenda Stephens Angelina Diehlmann THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

21

•

athletic signing day

On Wednesday, February 6, Bishop McNamara High School honored nine of our student-athletes for National Signing Day, an event celebrated across the nation by high schools looking to honor their studentathletes who have announced their official commitment to colleges and universities pending their graduation.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees!

Aniya Bell ’19

Jakia Brown-Turner ’19

Ian Cawthorne ’19

Fairleigh Dickinson University

North Carolina State University

North Carolina A&T University

GIRL’s Basketball

Tyme Collins ’19 Football

Air Force Academy

GIRL’s Basketball

Baseball

Mekhi Long ’19

Aliyah Matharu ’19

Rhode Island University

Mississippi State University

BOY’s Basketball

GIRL’s Basketball

Nicholas Miller ’19

Nyela Williams ’19

Joseph Quelch ’19

Cuyahoga Community College

St. John’s University

Patrick Henry Community College

Baseball

Track & Field

Baseball

We also recognized a few other student-athletes for their academic commitments after the official signing day ceremony: Ervin Wilkins ’19 - Morgan State University (Football); Michael Scott ’19 - Penn State Mt. Alto (Baseball); J’Ta Freeman ’19 - Howard University (Girl’s Lacrosse); Drake Murphy ’19 - University of Maryland (Track & Field); Garrett Kirkland ’19 - Mercy College (Boy’s Basketball); Johnathan McGriff ’19 - St. John’s University (Boy’s Basketball); Miles Miller ’19 - Millersville University (Football); Sierra Sweeney ’19 - St. Edward’s University (Cheerleading); Logan Smith ’19 - Towson University (Gymnastics)

22

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Photos courtesy of Dane Bryant-Hall of Fame Photos

athletic Pride

2019

ap

2019 Military Appreciation Game On Saturday, April 6, Bishop McNamara High School held its fifth annual Military Appreciation Baseball Game! The Mustangs faced Gonzaga in this special game that honored United States military personnel. We even had the honor of hosting the Joint Base Andrews Color Guard during the national anthem.

We had two first pitches thrown to start off the game, the first by our own Raymond Tetschner ’21, and the second by special guest retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel. Kevin

On Wednesday, April 10, Bishop McNamara High School was proud to host Major General Steven Basham as a guest speaker for our students!

Major General Basham (pictured with Brookes Yates ’18 and Tyme Brit-Collins ’19) shared his experiences and focused on his life of service in the military. Additionally, Major General Basham talked about the work he does as the liaison on all programs between the Air Force and Congress collaborating directly with the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure full authorization of the Air Force’s $145 billion annual budget.

ap

athletic Pride

is currently the CEO of Operation Gratitude, an organization that seeks to forge bonds between American civilians and military/first responder heroes through volunteer service projects.

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to honor our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen through our Military Appreciation Game. Thank you to everyone who attended, we deeply appreciate your support - not just for the Mustangs, but for our dedicated United States military personnel. n

“What really matters is that if you start something, you finish it.

Don’t limit yourself.”

Students asked the Major General several questions about his career and experiences. Major General Basham gave our students advice - not just applicable military service, but to anything. One of his most notable lessons was: “What really matters is that if you start something, you finish it” as well as “Don’t limit yourself.” We are so grateful for Major General Basham’s visit, and we sincerely thank everyone who made it possible! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

23

ap

athletic Pride

More Records to Break Jakia Brown-Turner ‘19 sat with her teammates in study hall. Their homework done, the team was watching a video stream which would announce the McDonald’s All-American high school basketball honorees. For the most part, everyone was focused and quiet… ...until Jakia’s name was displayed on the screen.

There was much celebrating and excitement as team members hugged and congratulated Jakia on such a prestigious accomplishment. After all, Jakia is the first in Bishop McNamara High School history to be named a McDonald’s All-American.

“It was always one of my goals, but seeing my name on the screen was just unbelievable,” said Jakia. “I was stunned. I’m so blessed to have received this honor.”

Girl’s Basketball Head Coach Frank Oliver often said last year, during Jakia’s junior year, that she definitely stood a good chance of receiving the honor. His proclamations only grew more sure and confident this year as Jakia continued her hard work and dedication to the game, becoming Bishop McNamara’s leading scorer in School history with 1,883 points.

“It’s really one of the highest honors in the nation,” said Frank. “To be the first [McDonald’s All-American] in Bishop McNamara’s history, that really says a lot.”

Photos courtesy of Raechelle James ’19

But Coach Oliver knew from Jakia’s freshman year that she was special, and that she was going to leave a lasting mark on Bishop McNamara High School. Jakia makes the game of basketball look incredibly easy each time she is on the court. She has always been driven by her singular goal of becoming a professional basketball player, and has always put in the hard work necessary to pursue and achieve that goal.

Not only is Jakia Bishop McNamara’s leading scorer and a McDonald’s All-American, she has also earned many other honors and accolades in the past four years, such as last year when she was named First Team All-Met. Because of her drive and athletic talents, Jakia was offered scholarships and financial aid to several colleges and universities. Ultimately she accepted the offer from North Carolina State University, sealing her commitment to the university this past autumn.

24

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

“I love the coaching staff [at NC State], I know that they want to push me and challenge me,” said Jakia. “Also, NC State is in the

Jakia Brown-Turner ‘19 Finishes her Senior Season Strong as the first McDonald’s All-American for Bishop McNamara High School [Atlantic Coast Conference], which is a very competitive conference.”

Jakia plans to study psychology at NC State, and said that she enjoys learning about people and what drives them to do things or think a certain way.

Her interest in the competitive nature of the ACC is not surprising, considering that the spirit of competition is what she enjoys most about basketball. Jakia said that she enjoys competing against other players who are just as talented - or even more talented - than she is; she learns from each and every game and practice session.

“NC State is going to be a great fit for her,” said Coach Oliver.

“She’s the type of player that you want in your program, and she’s going to enhance your program in every way. You know she’s going to come in and work hard, you know she’s going to take care of her books, you know she’s going to be a good person and you’re not going to have to worry about her off-court. NC State is getting a great young lady.”

Leaving Bishop McNamara High School will be difficult for Jakia, and of course the team is very sad to see her go. Jakia said that the four years she has attended the School have gone by quickly, and that she will miss it. While she does want to be remembered as a great athlete, Jakia said it was more important to her that others remember her as a good, kind person.

“This has been a great journey,” she said before issuing advice for future Lady Mustang players: “Always put a lot of extra work in; hard work pays off and it’s the extra moments, the extra time that you put in - that’s where it counts.” “[ Jakia] left the program in a better place than when she arrived,” said Frank. “That’s what all players strive for.”

While her time breaking records for Bishop McNamara High School may be over, we know that Jakia will continue to break existing records for other teams. We look forward to seeing her play at the professional level in the future.

Congratulations Jakia! n THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

25

ap

athletic Pride

Water

How many high schools can say that their swim coaches have worked with Olympic athletes? Bishop McNamara can!

New BMHS Swim Coach Carly Evans, a swimming athlete herself, has been coaching since she was about 18 years old, and has continued her involvement with the swim clinic and swim camp organization Fitter and Faster.

“[Fitter and Faster] brings a former or current Olympic athlete to your facility or your host team, and you host a clinic,” Carly explained what Fitter and Faster does for swimmers and coaches. “You as a coach or as a team say what you want to work on, they bring that clinician in and you host a clinic to hone those skills. You get to physically work with these former or current Olympians, it’s so cool!”

26

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Mustangs in the

Swimmers and coaches get to meet-and-greet the clinicians at Fitter and Faster clinics, ask questions and learn all about the most modern swim practices, techniques and strokes. Some of them even bring their Olympic medals to show attendees. According to Carly, swimmers and coaches alike are welcome and encouraged to attend.

As a team-building exercise and commitment to helping her athletes improve in their sport, Carly hopes to bring a Fitter and Faster clinic to Bishop McNamara in the future. This year, her

first year with the School, Carly arranged for the swim team to participate in the Polar Plunge, a charity event where attendees plunge into large bodies of water despite frigid temperatures in an effort to raise money for organizations such as the Special Olympics.

“It’s such an easy and great organization to give back to,” said Carly.

“It’s a great team-building activity, it’s a great way to give back to the community. This year I think we raised more than $1,000 - let’s try doubling that next year, let’s raise $2,000 for the Polar Plunge!”

Carly is all about goal-setting. Goals are such an important step on the road to improvement; not just in athletics, but in all things.

Carly said that her goal for the freshmen members of the swim team is for them to hit their own top goals and personal best times in order to get started on the right foot for their first season as Mustangs. For the older student-athletes, Carly wants them to finish this season better than they did during the previous season; not settling for the scores and times they earned last year, but committing themselves to doing better.

During her own high school and college years, Carly was used to a rigorous swim practice schedule. She said that her high school swim team had the highest academic average of the athletics programs, and they also had a high-winning record. In college Carly said she practiced 30 hours per week - some days she had two practices per day - on top of her academic course load.

“I had a very competitive high school experience, and then my college experience was just crazy on another level, but I loved every second of it!” said Carly. “It made me such a stronger swimmer and a very well-rounded student-athlete.”

Carly went on to say that for her own coaching techniques, she employs a mixture of her high school and college experiences; combining the strict commitment and dedication required during her college years with the team atmosphere of her high school years.

Through her involvement with Fitter and Faster, Carly dedicates herself to stay up-to-date on the latest coaching techniques in order to best serve the members of her team.

The level of strict dedication that she imparts upon her swimmers is new to them, being that this is Carly’s first year with Bishop McNamara. However, through her coaching techniques, Carly is teaching her student-athletes in the best way she can in order to help them excel, challenge themselves, and become better swimmers overall. When she gives an instruction, she usually couples it with a brief explanation of why. This is an effort to make sure that her student-athletes have a deeper understanding of how these instructions and techniques can help them improve, rather than just going through a motion because a coach told them to do it.

“It kind of clicks a little bit more, it’s something that they can take home with them,” said Carly. “Trust your coach. Odds are they’ve probably done the sport that they’re coaching you in, and they know a little something about it.”

Carly herself still stays very close with her own high school coach, and other coaches alongside him. The Bishop McNamara swim team had an impressive season this year under Coach Evans, and we hope to see both her and the team continue to excel in the seasons to come. n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

27

ap

athletic Pride

There is a certain adrenaline rush that fans and players get

when they hear the ‘clang’ of a baseball or softball hitting the bat.

Eyes immediately shift to try to follow the ball’s path - where it will land, on the ground, or in an outfielder’s glove?

There is a reason that it is called the great American pastime.

The Bishop McNamara High School Varsity Softball and Varsity Baseball Teams have both had one of the best seasons in School history. Varsity Softball finished with an in-conference record in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) of 12-4, and Varsity Baseball finished with an in-conference WCAC record of 10-3; both teams went to the playoffs, and although neither team walked away with a championship in hand, the players all tried their absolute best to bring home the win.

Many of our Varsity Softball and Baseball players received honors and accolades this year recognizing their talent and dedication to the sport. Three Varsity Softball players, Bailey Wilcox ’20, Brooke Varner ’21 and MaKayla Marbury ’22, were named WCAC First Team, and another three players, Jade Greene ’21, Jaylah RomeroThompson ’20 and Callie Cooper ’22, were named WCAC Second Team. Kennedy Atwater ’20, Akilah Johnson ’20 and Lindsey Bayes ’21 made honorable mention. Additionally, Bailey Wilcox ’20 was named the CTV Prince George’s 2019 Player of the Year. Similarly, three baseball players, Ian Cawthorne ’19, Joe Quelch ’19 and Ryan Shieh ’21 were named WCAC First Team. Ian was also named WCAC Player of the Year, and Donavan Frayer ’20 was named WCAC Second Team.

“I am very proud of our team,” said BMHS Varsity Softball Head Coach and Mathematics Teacher Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85.

“Many of our players stepped up against adversities and finished the season strong. They overcame injuries, they had to play different positions, and through it all they kept a positive attitude!”

28

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

There is a the

PLAY Head Varsity Baseball Coach Anthony Sosnoskie, who was named WCAC Coach of the Year, also noticed the positive attitude that his players brought to the field. He said, “They’re all about winning, there’s no selfish attitudes on the team. The kids play good together, it’s a combination of playing good baseball and good team chemistry.”

The positive attitude and culture of winning is not just something the Baseball Team had naturally, according to Coach Sosnoskie. He said that building to this point has been a process, working with the student-athletes and their differing skill levels, teaching them how to work as a team and working hard to learn how to be a good teammate and winner. In the end, the team has been able to meld pretty seamlessly, and the players have said that they feel like family.

“We’re all together, like we’re family,” said Donavan. “We have great relationships and it shows on the field.” Fellow baseball players Nick Mebane ’19 and Michael Scott ’19 echoed his sentiment.

The Varsity Softball players also felt strongly about the family aspect of their team. Kaitlynn Devitt ’19 said that she had been playing softball since the seventh grade, but playing for Bishop McNamara allowed her to build lasting relationships with her coaches and fellow players that she did not have before.

Victoria Hinton ’19 said that she had been playing since the fifth grade, and that the travel team she played for felt isolated and separate. The team played softball together, then went their separate ways. But McNamara was totally different.

“At McNamara we hang out almost all the time, we do things together as a group - we’re like sisters,” Victoria said. “We understand each other, we don’t have problems with each other, and we love each other genuinely. When I was a freshman and I joined the varsity team, I realized that this is a family I could stick with.”

reason that it is called great American pastime...

BALL Moving from travel and middle school teams to the highlycompetitive WCAC was also a difficult transition for the baseball and softball players. The majority of them said that prior to coming to Bishop McNamara, playing their respective sports had mostly been just for fun; but at McNamara they learned that they had real athletic talent, and how to hone it. Some of the student-athletes on both teams have been playing for the Mustangs all four years of high school. Some intend to continue playing when they move on to college.

Donavan said that he would like to attend Florida A&M when he graduates next year, and that he would like to study computer science while continuing to play baseball. Ultimately, he would like to open his own company. Kaitlynn will be attending St. Edward’s University, and has committed to playing softball for the Hilltoppers. Michael will play baseball for Penn State Mont Alto while simultaneously participating in a five-year architectural engineering program.

Some players said that they would rather focus on academics and their chosen career paths after graduation, rather than continue to play softball or baseball. Victoria will be studying psychology and minoring in biology at Hampton University in the hopes of pursuing a medical degree and becoming a trauma doctor. Nick said that, while he loves baseball, he is more interested in business, and has enrolled in a five-year Master of Business Administration program at St. John’s University.

Regardless of whether they continue playing their sport at the college level and beyond, the student-athletes of Bishop McNamara High School have learned a great deal of skills that they can apply both on and off the field. Both Coach Sosnoskie and Coach Diehlmann are confident that whatever the players choose to do after graduation, they will no doubt succeed.

As both coaches and teams say goodbye to the seniors, they are all just as ready and excited to welcome the incoming freshmen who will be joining the Mustang family. For the underclassmen players on the team, they will be shifting into more of a leadership role that they have learned from the seniors who came before them.

“It changes you; freshman year people don’t really look at you as a leader,” said Kaitlynn. “And then stepping into a leadership role, it’s a big decision. You have to be on top of everything.”

“Once you get into that starting role, you’re the one in the spotlight, you need to be the one that everyone looks to,” said Michael.

Being in that spotlight and participating in such a competitive conference as the WCAC is nerve-wracking for even the staunchest athlete. But with living examples like our senior student-athletes, and the dedicated guidance of Coach Diehlmann and Coach Sosnoskie, we have no doubt that next season our Varsity Softball and Varsity Baseball teams will play even harder and do even better than they already did this season. This season’s juniors will take on the mantle of leadership and do their part to guide the underclassmen players.

Donavan and Coach Sosnoskie both expressed the same thought: “Don’t let the moment get too big. Just play the game.”

“We have high expectations for each other,” said Victoria. “But stay true to yourself and don’t let anybody change who you are.”

“You never know when the last time you’ll play is, so every time you step onto the field, do your best,” said Nick.

With these parting words of wisdom, we say goodbye and good luck to our senior baseball and softball players, and we look forward to next spring and what the new team members will bring to the field.

Keep up the Mustang Spirit, everyone! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

29

Dr. Nigel Traylor Principal, Bishop McNamara High School Why do you give back to Bishop McNamara High School?

“Bishop McNamara is such a special place, and I know that the work we do makes a difference in the lives of all the people we encounter. I give because I want to ensure that I can make a difference in yet another way in the lives of our students.”

What impact do you think Bishop McNamara High School has on the community?

“Bishop McNamara provides a place where families are able to have access to a high-quality education. We serve a very diverse population that is rich in morals and values and we are blessed to be called to form these young people’s hearts and minds.”

What do you see for the future of Bishop McNamara High School?

“I see our school being among one of the top thought leaders in education. It is my hope that other schools will look to Bishop McNamara as the model for educating the hearts, minds and souls of students.”

Will you continue to donate to Bishop McNamara High School after leaving?

“Yes, I will continue to donate because I want to make a difference in as many lives as I can in perpetuity. ”

••

• ••

••

“

•••••••••

•••••

••

[By donating] you would be creating an opportunity for a student that they may not get otherwise. Every little bit, big or small, helps.

••• •

•• ••

•

•••

•

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

••

••

“

••

•••••••••

••

30

•• ••

Serving

the District Todd Lee ’86

The District of Columbia (D.C.) has a variety of people and cultures that make the capital city a physical representation of the country’s diversity.

fs

faith & service

Over the past decade, the city has been experiencing economic prosperity not seen since the 1968 riots as evidenced by a building boom, a continued influx of new residents and a more diverse economic base driven by the arrival of new industries.

That said, the city looks very different across its numerous zip codes and income bands - and not always in a positive way.

Some sections of D.C. are vibrant and alive with artistic renderings of the cultures within the city; some have rows upon rows of restaurants varying from fine dining to family-owned; some sections have stretches of lonely, long-unoccupied houses with boarded-up windows and small, unkempt lawns.

Deeply affected by the surging state of the economy, the housing market in the United States can be a turbulent one.

Housing prices are climbing and rents are rising, causing challenges for many low- and moderate-income families, many of whom are long-term residents that remained in the city during the 1980s and 1990s, which were its more trying years. Being the capital of the United States, D.C. is one of many high-cost housing markets in the country where access to quality affordable housing can be daunting.

Enter the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA).

Created by statute in 1979, the organization is to serve as a financial intermediary and administrator of affordable housing programs and resources, specifically to the District of Columbia. Since 2016, the DCHFA has been led by Executive Director and CEO, Todd Lee ’86, who received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from The College of William and Mary after his graduation from Bishop McNamara High School.

“I am fundamentally a commercial real estate finance professional, a career that I have been in for more than 27 years,” Todd said. “Joining DCHFA gave me an opportunity to continue to pursue the field that I love while at the same time serve a public mission. The opportunity to lead DCHFA also presented a very interesting challenge as the need for affordable housing continues to grow throughout the United States...”

According to Todd, the DCHFA focuses on providing capital for the creation and preservation of affordable rental housing, as well as the delivery of mortgage products to support homeownership in the District of Columbia. The organization provides financing for both non-profit and forprofit developers involved in the development of affordable continued on next page

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

31

housing and homebuyers seeking mortgage financing.

Todd said that the DCHFA has served more than 1,000 homebuyers since its inception, and has financed more than 50,000 units of affordable rental and for-sale housing.

In 2018 Todd received the Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award, and he was honored in May by the District of Columbia Building Industry Association as the 2019 Government Sector Awardee.

“It is always nice to be acknowledged for your hard work and contributions,” said Todd. “Because I am team-oriented, it made me consider how fortunate I have been in my life and career to have worked for some very good and supportive leaders who were interested in my advancement.”

Being the leader of such a prestigious organization that does such good for the D.C. community, and considering the accolades and honors he has received, naturally one would be

32

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

curious about Todd’s day-to-day life and how he accomplishes so much. While no day is truly ‘typical’ for him, Todd said that he does try to have 30 minutes of reflection time each day, and makes it a point to talk to each of his senior staff members, either individually or in a group setting, in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. Todd works with developers, bankers, investors, community groups and stakeholders, as well as public agency heads in order to address housing strategies that can benefit the local community. In addition to his office work and meeting with various people, Todd also regularly attends events such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, industry conferences and public hearings - as both a guest and as an invited speaker.

Throughout his career, Todd has continued to be impacted by the virtues of hard work, accountability, sacrifice, family orientation and care for the community that he gained at

Bishop McNamara High School. He said that these ideals have impacted him both professionally as well as personally.

“While I do a lot to serve the community in my professional life, there is always more that can be done,” Todd said. “For me, that means getting more involved in activities involving educating young people around combining your talents, interests and strengths to find careers, hobbies and other activities that contribute to your happiness, productivity and community.”

Of course there are always different ways that one can use his or her God-given gifts, not just to accomplish their own goals, but to help make the world a better place for others

••

••

•

••

••

•••••••••••••

•

•

••

••

Joining DCHFA gave me an opportunity to continue to pursue the field that I love while at the same time serve a public mission. The opportunity to lead DCHFA also presented a very interesting challenge as the need for affordable housing continues to grow throughout the United States.

“

••

••

•• •

••

•••••••••

••

•••••••••

“The moment that you find yourself comfortable, try something else,” said Todd. “Stretch yourself. You will not know your limits or potential unless you test those perceived limits.” n

•••

“

Todd encouraged current BMHS students to step out of their comfort zones during their years at Bishop McNamara.

Trying new things and learning new skills can open up all kinds of doors to those who are willing.

••

••• • • •

••

••• • • •

as well. Students at Bishop McNamara strive to serve the community, both locally and globally, with living examples like Todd paving the way for them.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

33

•

fs

faith & service

In the

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria

devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica and Puerto Rico, resulting in more than 3,000 fatalities. Prior to Hurricane Maria’s arrival, Puerto Rico had been among the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Irma, which destroyed many homes and left a large portion of the country without power - which still had not been restored when Maria hit the island.

In an all too real sense, when it rains it pours.

Emily Smith ’14 (pictured to immediate left) was one of many members of FEMA Corps dispatched to Puerto Rico to assist with the recovery effort. She had originally joined FEMA Corps in an effort to pursue her continuing education after graduating from the College of Southern Maryland with an Associate’s degree in Social Science. Joining FEMA Corps would soon prove to be an incredible educational experience in and of itself.

Emily worked with several Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in Puerto Rico, spending 11 hours a day, six days a week for two months working directly with Hurricane Maria survivors. She was involved in a great deal of case management, helping to manage a multitude of assistance requests sent to FEMA. Emily also helped collect and analyze data for FEMA’s assessments of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education certified schools, determining their needs and helping connect the different schools with grants that could help provide them with funding. During her stay in Puerto Rico and throughout the entire process of working with survivors, Emily was deeply affected by their responses and reactions following the hurricane.

“I have seen the people of Puerto Rico display resilience and camaraderie. But many have mixed feelings regarding the ability to receive help from government agencies…” Emily explained that many of the survivors were skeptical about receiving help from the United States government. “While I wanted to say that the governments at play did want to help, I could see that it would be difficult for many to believe that statement, seeing as it was already seven, eight, even nine months after the disaster and some had yet to receive any kind of assistance.”

While many survivors were skeptical, Emily went on to say that for the most part, the people she interacted with were very grateful to have FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps present in Puerto Rico. Many survivors were shocked to learn that the involvement of FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps was all service-based and that workers like Emily were not getting paid.

34

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

When Emily came back from Puerto Rico, she and her team were scheduled to travel to New York City to work on a project with the American Red Cross after their debrief from Puerto Rico.

Aftermath Emily Smith ’14 Emphasizes the Importance of Faith and Service

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Instead, Hurricane Florence and its impact on North and South Carolina caused FEMA Corps to redirect many of their teams, including Emily’s, to assist in the relief efforts. Emily was stationed in Durham, N.C. assisting the DRC Management Team.

Recently, Emily and her team were redeployed to Albany, G.A. in response to the impact of Hurricane Michael, which hit in October 2018, resulting in 72 fatalities and an approximate total of $25.1 billion in damages. Emily and her team worked in Disaster Survivor Assistance and helped to register survivors and connect them with resources they needed in order to recover from the hurricane.

Emily has signed on with FEMA to continue working in Individual Assistance to help disaster survivors, and is currently stationed in

Alaska to help with recovery efforts from the November Cook Inlet earthquake.

It is indeed hard, demanding work not suitable for the faint of heart - seeing so many people suffering and in need of help can take its toll. While Emily said that she has questioned her faith a handful of times, she believes in the vital importance of her work.

“Serving others that are sometimes experiencing the worst days of their lives can give a small amount of hope that is needed to get through their days…” she said.

Emily also emphasized the importance of learning about new people, places and cultures, and that faith and service, ideals that she learned and honed at Bishop McNamara, are the best ways to expand one’s knowledge of the world around them. This allows us to better serve others in need.

Since her time at Bishop McNamara, Emily has carried a particular piece of advice with her from one of her teachers, which has helped her stay strong through a variety of endeavors: “A person’s realm of knowledge can only expand when it encounters new information, and I think the best way to do that is to experience other communities and other people’s cultures.” n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

35

ta

talent in the arts

Every December there is one major Fine Arts event that we look forward to...

All of the visual and performing arts students showcase their talents in a spellbinding production. Band and orchestra students put on a concert for attendees, pieces lovingly crafted by visual arts students are displayed in the main concourse and through electronic slideshows, dancers put on choreographed performances, and theatre students act out scenes. All fine arts programs are represented.

As a liberal arts school with an outstanding and comprehensive fine arts program, Bishop McNamara High School is proud to host this annual event to showcase the talented students we are privileged to serve and help hone their existing skills. Many of these young artists and performers go on to pursue their crafts at the professional level.

Visual Arts Teacher Kathryn Heneghan has helped with the festival since she started at Bishop McNamara, and has seen it evolve drastically over her past 20 years.

“The production has become far more collaborative over time, with different performing and visual art groups creating pieces together,” she said. “My first festival in 1999 was divided into two halves - the dance and choir programs performed during the first half, and the band performed during the second. There were no collaborative performance pieces and only one slideshow.”

With our fine arts department continuing to grow and expand, it is only natural that this festival celebrating the department and its students grow right along with it. The physical face of the Bishop McNamara campus has changed over the years as well, and this has also helped change how the Fine Arts Christmas Festival operates. The added space of Holy Cross Hall and the Fine Arts and Athletic Center give more students room to change costumes for performances, change their stage makeup, or anything else they need to do in order to help the event run as smoothly as possible. “[When she first started] the festival had a cozy, homespun feeling, but it lacked a professional sheen,” Kathryn said. “That transformation has taken a number of years, and we have the hard work and generosity of the community to thank for that.”

The addition of Fine Arts Coordinator Michele Vicino-Coleman to the BMHS staff has also had a major impact on the festival. With a full-time staff member supporting and overseeing all aspects of the department, the Fine Arts Christmas Festival is able to run that much smoother and end up running like a professional production.

Not only does this make for a more entertaining experience for the parents and community members who attend the festival, but

36

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

it also allows the students involved to get a feel for the flow and a truly hands-on understanding of what it takes to put on such a production.

“The average person is not aware of what goes on behind the scenes of a production of this magnitude,” said Michele. “We are a department of 12 people, and we bring on the support of parent volunteers and even hire a few more staff members to be present to monitor and support the flow of about 450 students - that’s half of our entire student body!”

While the production has evolved and will continue to do so in the coming years, the Fine Arts Christmas Festival sells out each year and is vastly enjoyed by the attendees, most of whom are parents of the featured fine arts students.

Kathryn said that seeing the parents and their reactions to the performances and visual art pieces is her favorite part of the entire festival. As a teacher who works one-on-one with many of the students involved in the festival, she finds it rewarding to see the parents so pleased at the work our students are generating.

“These are the families that entrust their children to us and are the true lifeblood of our program. It humbles me that together we can pull off such a large, high-quality production and I am very grateful to be a part of it.” n

Learning from the Over the years, many renowned artists and performers

have visited Bishop McNamara High School to hold special workshops for our students, particularly for our Fine Arts Diploma Endorsement (FADE) Program.

The FADE Program serves to refine students’ talent and skill, cultivate a community of respect, appreciation and understanding of the arts, and acknowledge students’ dedication to the Fine arts throughout their high school career. The program arranges for guest performers to come to campus throughout the year and provide their wisdom and experience from the professional world and help students get a better understanding of what it means to be a professional artist or performer.

On March 5, renowned composer and Peabody Conservatory Professor of Music Theory, Omar Thomas visited the Bishop McNamara Wind Ensemble. The Wind Ensemble at the time was practicing a piece called Of Our New Day Begun, which was written by Omar n honor of the nine people who were murdered in June 2015 in the AME Church in South Carolina. Born to Guyanese parents in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1984, Omar moved to Boston in 2006 in order to pursue a Master of Music in Jazz Composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is the protege of lauded composers and educators Ken Schaphorst and Frank Carlberg, and has studied under multiple Grammy-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider. Omar is also the recipient of several awards for his musical prowess, such as the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, and in 2012 he was named the Boston Music Award’s Jazz Artist of the Year.

Omar spent a great deal of time on campus, helping

ta

talent in the arts

students hone and perfect how they performed the piece. He explained different sections in detail, and what emotions he intended to invoke to help students gain a better understanding of the piece.

Then, on May 2, Spanish opera singer Israel Lozano visited campus and sang for our award-winning String Orchestra and students from Spanish Teacher Luis Duclos’ Spanish Exchange Program. A tenor from Madrid, Spain, Israel started his studies with soprano Emelina Lopez and tenor Alfredo Kraus. Studying at the Superior School of Music and Queen’s Superior School of Music in Spain, Mr. Lozano made his operatic debut at age 22 as Il Conte di Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini, and at the National Symphony Auditorium of Madrid. He holds a G.P.D in Opera from Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins University with tenor Dr. Stanley Cornett.

Among his many worldwide performances include Paco in the Spanish opera La vida breve with Opera Carolina, Sarasota Opera, Teatro Real of Madrid, Washington National Opera, Teatro Liceu of Barcelona and a Concert Gala with the Baritone Joan Pons.

Israel passionately encouraged our students to pursue their musical talents for the sheer joy of spreading this “universal language” that brings people together instead of separating human beings apart.

Omar and Israel are only two of the incredible artists we’ve had on campus this year. We are so grateful to have such talented professionals share their craft with our students to help inspire and encourage them, and we look forward to seeing who visits us next! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

37

ta

talent in the arts

Dancing

to Her Dreams 38

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Like many children at the age of three, Alisha Peek ‘14 could often be found dancing around the house, whether or not music was playing. As a result, Alisha’s parents enrolled her into two dance studios, both around the corner from her house - Dance and Body Works, and Expressions Dance Theater.

They were small studios, according to Alisha, but they had a lot to offer when it came to teaching many different forms of dance. Alisha said that from a young age she was honing her dance skills by studying ballet, modern dance, jazz, and many other styles. By the time she turned seven years old, her parents thought she should begin training at a professional level, a lofty goal for such a young child, but one that would prove vitally influential. Alisha’s parents enrolled her into The Washington School of Ballet, which naturally was heavily focused on ballet and how it intertwines with all genres of dance.

While studying at The Washington School of Ballet, Alisha said that she also began training with the Kirov Ballet Company, The Dance Theater of Harlem Residency Program at the Kennedy Center, and a number of summer programs like The American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet School, Hubbard Street Chicago and The Ailey School.

Ailey went on to have an even bigger impact on Alisha.

“The pivotal point in my life when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in dance was when I saw Clifton Brown, of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, perform a piece called Caught by David Parsons at the Kennedy Center,” Alisha said. “Mr. Brown was performing some extremely technical movements, but he made it look so effortless. The way the audience reacted to his performance was the way I wanted people to respond to my dancing - speechless and in awe.”

Alisha was naturally heavily involved with the dance program during her years at Bishop McNamara High School, under the direction of Victoria Keithline LR ‘90 and Cindy King. She was a member of the dance team from her sophomore year through to her senior year, the latter of which she served as team captain. But as dedicated as she was to her craft, Alisha was equally as dedicated to her academics, serving as a Youthleader and being named to both the National Honors Society and the Science National Honors Society.

But she knew that her true calling was to be a professional dancer.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 by

dancer, choreographer and visionary, Alvin Ailey. The company is split into the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, which is the larger of the companies comprised of 34 dancers, and Ailey II, which is comprised of 12 dancers total. The first company tours larger cities worldwide, while the second company, according to Alisha, tours smaller cities in order to spread Alvin Ailey’s legacy to a wider audience.

In order to even audition for Ailey II, a dancer must be personally invited by the directors of The Ailey School. During her freshman year of college, Alisha was blessed to receive an invitation to attend the Ailey II audition.

“It’s very rare that freshmen are invited to attend the audition,” Alisha explained the audition process and how dancers are selected. “Though I was cut pretty early in the audition process, I felt like I had the chance to get my face out there and let the director of the company see what I was capable of.”

Alisha was again invited her sophomore year to audition, which yielded much better results when the company asked her to join their classes to further hone her skills as a dancer. Then, during her junior year, Alisha was offered the opportunity to become an apprentice with the company, which allowed her to understudy all of the dancers so that she could fill in if a dancer was injured and unable to perform.

Finally, during her senior year of college, Alisha was asked to officially join the Ailey II Company for the 2018-19 season. Alisha completed the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and has been dancing with Ailey II ever since.

Through her involvement with the company, Alisha has been able to travel all across the United States, and abroad to such places as Poland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain.

“My favorite part about being in this company is that it not only allows me to do what I love every day, but it also allows me to see places that I have only dreamed of,” Alisha said.

While Alisha is indeed living her dream as a dancer for a renowned dance company, she has faced her fair share of challenges as well.

Many people are spellbound by performance art without realizing the physical toll that dancers go through in order to maintain their craft. For example, many ballet dancers are often afflicted with broken toes or other similar injuries - sometimes these injuries can be career-ending.

For Alisha, who has spent so much of her life training and dedicating herself to dance, maintaining her emotional and mental

“This happens to not only be my dream job, but my first professional dance job post-graduation!”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

39

40

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

n Fro ma Ky le

of

health is paramount in supporting her physical skills and talents.

“You not only have to take care of yourself physically, but also emotionally and spiritually,” she said. “I found at times when my body was completely fatigued, my mental state was at its most vulnerable point. Sometimes, because my body was so tired, I couldn’t execute or perform certain movements to the ability that I know I have, so I would get frustrated with myself.”

Alisha admitted that there have been many times that she has doubted herself, or times when she felt completely unmotivated to dance.

The key to getting through those difficult times, she said, was finding things that brought her joy. Things like visiting her family in Maryland, reading self-help books or watching a new series on Netflix helped her to relax and rekindle her love of dance.

“It’s the little things that can get you back up and running again,” Alisha said. “It is normal to have moments like these, especially in such a demanding art form, but you have to find ways to keep pushing through.”

Another thing that brings Alisha joy is giving back to the community, a foundational principle that she learned during her time at Bishop McNamara. She said it is a core element that has stuck with her since graduation. During her breaks from Ailey II, Alisha comes back to Maryland to teach dance workshops, sharing her talent and passion for her craft with the next generation of aspiring dancers.

Being a college-preparatory school with a deep concentration in the fine arts, many students at Bishop McNamara High School have dreams similar to Alisha’s of being professional artists or performers someday. Our students exhibit a level of dedication and creativity that is unmatched.

“Professional dance can take you on an amazing journey,” said Alisha. “Becoming a professional dancer comes with an understanding that there is a certain level of intensity when it comes to training. You have to have a certain level of drive, desire and patience. Be true to yourself and realize that you will have highs and lows.”

Alisha went on to say that she is beyond grateful for all of the people that have helped her on the path to her dreams. She has had an amazing support system which the school hopes to replicate for many more students. We know that Alisha will have an incredible career as a dancer, and we will be seeing her name in lights soon enough! n

sy rte ou c to Pho

Musical Mustangs Take Chicago

ta

talent in the arts

This spring, 246 Bishop McNamara High School student musicians, accompanied by their instructors Anthony Conto, Francine Amos-Hardy and Rhoda Sutton, traveled to Chicago for their annual music trip.

Students were given the opportunity to visit the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College and Harper College. At Notre Dame, students participated in music clinics provided by Notre Dame music faculty.

A select group of students were chosen to perform a recital for the retired Holy Cross Brothers at Holy Cross College. The second day of the trip, each music ensemble performed three pieces for a highlyqualified panel of judges, who were each elite, accomplished musicians. The performances were followed by a brief workshop given by one of the panel members.

The entire group was awarded the Esprit De Corps a.k.a. “Spirit Award” for exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. That wasn’t the only award issued to the students of Bishop McNamara on that trip! Individually, Debra Henderson ’19 was named Outstanding Vocalist, the Gospel Choir received the Overall High School Specialty Choir Award, and the Wind Ensemble won the William D. Revelli Concert Band Award.

Here are the rest of the awards and rankings given to our Musical Mustangs: • Jazz Choir................ 1st Place....... Excellent • Chamber Choir........ 1st Place....... Excellent • Gospel Choir........... 1st Place....... Excellent • String Orchestra....... 1st Place....... Excellent • Concert Band........... 3rd Place...... Excellent • Symphonic Band...... 2nd Place...... Excellent • Wind Ensemble....... 1st Place....... Excellent Congratulations to all of our incredible performers for your hard work and dedication! We are so proud of your achievements during this trip! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

41

C

Campaign

F a i t h . F a m i l y. F u t u r e !

C ap i ta l C ampa i g n

Dear Bishop McNamara High School family, community and friends,

ture!

F a i t h . F a m i l y. F u

C ap i ta

We are delighted to serve as the Honorary Co-Chairs of the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign for Bishop McNamara High School!

Bishop McNamara has held a special place in our hearts ever since we became members of the School community. As proud parents of a BMHS alumnus (Trey class of ‘04), and through Steve’s service on the Board of Directors, we have witnessed the profound impact of a BMHS education on the trajectory of young lives and the subsequent positive impact on the community.

It is a privilege for us to join with Board members, La Reine and Bishop McNamara graduates, parents, and friends of Bishop McNamara as we create a better future for the students of today and for generations to come. We welcome your involvement in this vital initiative.

As you know, the $15 million Faith. Family. Future! Campaign promises to literally transform the campus, impacting the lives of our students each and every day. Campaign goals include the following: • Establishing the La Reine Science & Innovation Center ..................................$11.5 million • Increasing Scholarship Aid by ............................................................................ $1.0 million • Campus Improvements, Modernization and Creating the Legacy Courtyard ..... $2.5 million The La Reine Science & Innovation Center will develop tomorrow’s innovators and entrepreneurs by building on highly-successful science, engineering, robotics and entrepreneurship programs and providing robust training in and exploration of cutting-edge technologies. This eco-friendly state-ofthe-art facility will allow Bishop McNamara to expand beyond traditional science offerings.

Growing our scholarship endowment will allow us to provide a continuous stream of financial support for low-income, high-caliber students who will thrive at Bishop McNamara if given the chance to attend.

Campus improvements, modernization and the creation of the Legacy Courtyard will provide updated spaces for our student community to gather, collaborate, study and discover; including classroom modernization and renovations to our aging athletic facilities. The multi-purpose outdoor Legacy Courtyard will pay tribute to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and the Brothers of Holy Cross.

These initiatives will provide Bishop McNamara’s students with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to embark on successful and fulfilling careers.

With gratitude for your support of Bishop McNamara,

Mr. G. Steve Proctor, Jr. and Mrs. Dianne Proctor Honorary Co-Chairs, BMHS Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign

“

••••••••

••••••• 42

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

F a i t h . F a m i l y. F u t u r e !

ta l C ampa i g n

C ap i ta l C ampa i g n

Steve and Dianne have assembled a “Brain Trust” - a small advisory group of influential men and women who know and love Bishop McNamara High School, in order to advise both the Proctors and President/CEO Marco Clark ’85 on strategies and tactics aimed at building the new La Reine Science & Innovation Center.

The Brain Trust gathers once a month on campus to discuss approaches to local companies, foundations and philanthropists who are interested in promoting science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship to our techthirsty student population. Indeed, these subjects, and the facility that we will build, will be key to successful careers for many of our students. The new center will be a game-changer for the School - and the community.

Our approach is that we all work better when we work together to change the lives of young people - now and for years to come. We are grateful for the amazing work of this committee to achieve our ambitious campaign goals.

Thank you to our Brain Trust members:

Rosie Allen-Herring President/CEO, United Way of the National Capital Area G. Thomas Borger Chairman, Borger Management

Col. (Retired) Jasey B. Briley ’77 CEO of JBB Group Karmen Brown Government Affairs Consultant

Diana Leon Brown Director of Strategic Partnerships, Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks Patty Cappello LR ’76

•••••••••• • • • • • • • • • •n•all•of• us• from the business It is incumbent upo , and our community, the religious community portive sup be community of homeowners to help but of what McNamara is doing. You can’t like for uld wo believe in their mission. I really kground everyone in the community, of any bac or faith, to come and just look at what much McNamara is doing - McNamara is so . more than a school Steve Proctor

“

•••••••••••••••••••••

••••

Dan Connelly ’77 President, Atlantic Technology Group Kenneth J. Harris ’82 Small Business Advisor

L. Paul Jackson II ’94 Attorney, Shipley & Horne

Laura E. Irwin ESOL Program Supervisor, Catholic Charities DC

Mr. Brian Larkin ’99 VA Director, Assistant General Counsel for Fair Lending, Capital One Robert Summers ’86 Chairman, BMHS Board of Directors; President/CEO, Pantera Management Group

Tamika Langley Tremaglio Greater Washington Managing Principal, Deloitte

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

43

C

Campaign

La Reine Science and Innovation Center

The new science laboratories in our La Reine Science

and Innovation Center provide stunning, multi-faceted classroom and lab spaces to allow faculty and students alike to learn and grow. Our faculty will be able to expand their teaching skills and discover new techniques and studies to share with students, who will be able to better interact and engage, applying the lessons in hands-on, real-time lab projects, experiments and more.

Featuring modern workstations, equipment and collaborative areas, these labs encourage interactive learning and implementation for student groups of all sizes in a wide range of topics and courses.

44

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The new science laboratories are $75,000 each - we’ve had one donor take advantage of the naming opportunity for one laboratory already, so only four are left!

For more information, please contact: Michael Brodie, BMHS Campaign Counsel at michael.brodie@bmhs.org or 301.735.8401 ext. 170 Liz Dobbins, BMHS Campaign Counsel at elizabeth.dobbins@bmhs.org or 301.735.8401 ext. 171

Robotics Class Visits Deloitte’s Digital Studio

C

Campaign

Members of the Robotics class taught

by Matthew Buckley’s ‘98 visited Deloitte’s Digital Studio on March 22, where they had the opportunity to learn from and work with members of Deloitte’s innovators who work to address global challenges for numerous government and non-governmental organizations around the world. The Deloitte Digital Studio in Arlington is one of 48 such centers located in 29 countries around the world. Students had the opportunity to solve problems, code, work with the Raspberry Pi which is a tiny and affordable computer that individuals can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects - and engage innovators with practical questions about their work at Deloitte during the course of their visit.

Allison Solomon, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Ms. Tamika Tremaglio, Managing Partner of Deloitte for the Greater Washington Metropolitan Region hosted the event. Our students look forward to visiting Deloitte Digital in the future to continue their focus on identifying important global issues and the ways that technology can help solve them. n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

45

C

Campaign

Step #Up Our Game

Giving Campaign

Attention BMHS Family!

In an ongoing effort to sustain athletics excellence, Bishop McNamara launched the #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign. This Campaign gives Bishop McNamara alumni, families, fans, and you, a chance to directly impact all our athletics programs by raising funds for Bishop McNamara Athletics. We are excited to inform you here of a great naming opportunity that will greatly enhance the athletic experience of our varsity athletes — see details below:

Varsity Team Room Locker

$1,000 EAch Limited Availability!

Every gift made to the #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign contributes to the formation and development of Bishop McNamara student-athletes by providing them with the best facilities and equipment necessary for athletic success. Our scholar-athletes are not beneficiaries of this support and funds are not earmarked for a specific scholar-athlete’s use. All gifts are tax-deductible and are directed to Bishop McNamara High School’s Athletics Department. Your gift will make a lasting difference in the lives of our student-athletes and the future success of Bishop McNamara Athletics.

Please consider supporting the #StepUpOurGame Giving Campaign through a named gift today.

46

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Ways to Support

$82 per month,

which becomes...

1,500

$

becomes...

$41

per paycheck.

(Assuming a twice/month pay period)

When you look at it in one lump sum,

$1,500 is a lot of money.

But when you break it down over an 18-month timespan (as seen in the infographic above), $1,500 is not such a large total as you think! While you certainly can pay off your donation to Bishop McNamara High School all at once, you can also pledge larger sums (like $1,500 - or $1,964 in honor of the School’s founding) over a period of time.

Your support towards the Bishop McNamara Fund is a driving force behind our success. The Bishop McNamara Fund remains the primary vehicle for members of the Bishop McNamara community to join together in a meaningful effort to support our mission to educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. The School prides itself on giving any deserving student an extraordinary college-preparatory education that prepares them to meet the demands of higher education, contribute to society, and answer the call “to think with Christ,” a motto coined by Bishop John M. McNamara himself. We couldn’t educate and serve the fine young men and women who enter our school without your generosity to the Bishop McNamara Fund! n

Please consider giving to the Bishop McNamara Fund!

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

47

Planned Giving Give with the greatest

impact and in the easiest way: Include Bishop McNamara High School in your will or estate plans. These type of gifts - including wills, trusts, retirement plans, real estate, and insurance policies - are a wonderful way to ensure that Bishop McNamara’s mission to educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition can be carried on into the future. n

OPTION

BENEFIT

Planned Giving Table

GOAL

To learn how your legacy can transform the trajectory of Bishop McNamara students for generations to come, please contact Ms. Sandy Mammano, Director of Development, at (301)735-8401, ext. 295.

48

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

La Reine & McNamara

ALUMNINEWS

These pages represent news shared with the Advancement Office from Fall 2018–Spring 2019 On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Bishop McNamara High School welcomed home distinguished alumnus Thomas Burgess ’75 who spoke to students in Matthew Buckley’s ’98 and Angelina Diehlmann’s LR ’85 Robotics and Foundations of Engineering classes and Keith Veney’s ’92 Millionaires Club.

Thomas’ presentations focused on his successful career as a global supply chain director for Northrop Grumman and the lessons he has gathered while here at Bishop McNamara and beyond applying his skills in athletics, business, and engineering. n ’73 Stephen Nagy ’73 graduated from Yale and Berkeley Divinity Schools May 2018, and since last September, he has been in Rome, serving a post-graduate year as a missionary of the Episcopal Church at St. Paul’s Within the Walls. Stephen has been documenting his experiences in a blog called Among the Saints in Rome, which includes several incredible photos. n

’74 Since his graduation, Michael Russell ’74 has been the President and Chief Investigator of one of the largest private investigation companies in the Washington Metropolitan area for 40 years. Michael has been a licensed investigator since 1978, and is currently the President of Legal Investigations, Inc., and previously served as Regional Director of Council of International Investigators.

He has conducted many investigations throughout the United States and has worked on more than 12,000 cases. He received the Meritorious Service Award, Charles County for his service. n ’99 The 2019 Sundance Film Festival coordinated with Ancestry.com to complete a documentary. Ancestry identified six people who had a common link: The Underground Railroad. Among those involved and interviewed in the documentary was our

own Cecilia Penn-Diallo ’99, who got the opportunity to learn more about her ancestors, including her great-great-greataunt, and the descendants of those who aided in the success of the Underground Railroad. n

’04 On Dec. 2, 2018 Omari Mandela Daughtridge ’04 was part of a team that won and set a record The Cayman Islands 4x4 Marathon. The competition featured 80 teams from countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, various states across the United States, as well as several other countries. Omari’s team not only won the event but set a Cayman Island record in the 4x4 marathon relay in a time of 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 28 seconds. Omari had the best time of 320 runners. n ’05 Nafis Pickett ’05 pulled off an incredibly well-coordinated play on the field early November 2018 - with the help of his Lanier High School football team, Nafis proposed to his girlfriend Ashley Wilson! n

’06 On Nov. 11, 2018, Ricardo Durham II ’06 celebrated his marriage to Erica Lawson in Baltimore, Md. with family and friends - many of whom were Bishop McNamara High School alumni. Aaron Anderson ’06, Jeffrey Anderson ’06 and Howard Folkes ’06 were members of the wedding party. n

’08 Tiana Myers ’08 helped the Lady Mustangs in winning the WCAC basketball championship in 2008, and has continued her record of athletic excellence ever since!

Tiana received a full scholarship to play college basketball for George Washington University. She was a four-year starter for the Colonials and a three-year team captain, scoring more than 1,000 points and earning the title of MVP twice. Tiana also excelled in her academics, being named to the dean’s list and serving on the student-athlete advisory committee. In 2014 she graduated from Northwestern University with a Master’s degree in Sports Administration. n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

49

Mariah Crilley ’08 has successfully obtained her Ph.D. after defending her dissertation! Her dissertation was titled: “Material Disease: Agency and Illness in Early American Literature.” n

’09 Krista Scanlan ’09 was recently named to the University of Maryland’s 30 under 30 list! Currently, Krista works as a teacher.

Krista utilizes resources such as guest speakers to teach life lessons to her students.

Throughout the year, Krista provides opportunities to her current and former students to experience sporting events at Maryland. n

Craig Glover-Hines ’09 has been recognized as a BMHS Caritas recipient this year. Additionally, in further efforts to support students at Bishop McNamara, Craig has partnered with the School to form a brand new scholarship opportunity - the P’s and Q’s Scholarship! The scholarship will be offered to a rising sophomore of strong character and faith, who demonstrates the qualities exhibited by the Four Pillars of Holy Cross. n ’13 Samantha Loh ’13 is pursuing her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. This summer she will be interning with Uganda Village Project, working on their Healthy Villages Program.

She will be assisting in improving the provision of healthcare and increasing preventative health education to underserved populations in Iganga, Uganda. n

’14 On Dec. 19, 2018, Matthew Williams II ’14 graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies, as well as a minor in Philosophy.

Matthew said that he will be continuing his education, and starting this month he will begin studying for his Masters of Divinity degree at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.! n

Josephine Kalshoven ’15 has decided to attend Brown University this fall! She will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering through the Brown Division of Biology and Medicine.

’18 The Lee University Men’s Track & Field team completed a long weekend of competition with an eighth-place finish at the University of South Alabama Jaguar Invitational. The Flames started the weekend in Lexington, Ky., at the Rod McCravy Memorial hosted by the University of Kentucky. At Kentucky’s Nutter Fieldhouse, our own Jeremiah McCain ’18 set a Lee record in the 60-meter hurdles. His time of 8.58 beat the old standard of 8.63 that was set in 2017 by Derek Flatford.

On Oct. 18, 2018, Victoria Mammano ’09 graduated as an Officer for the University of Maryland Police Department! Family and friends attended the ceremony to celebrate this occasion, and Lt. John “Zeek” Teletchea ’92 of the Prince George’s County Police Department did her official pinning, welcoming her as a fellow officer. n

’15 For the second consecutive year, the team from West Virginia University took home top honors in the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration–Eastern Collegiate Mine Rescue Fall 2018 Competition! On Nov. 3, Jeremy Diehlmann ’15 and his teammates from WVU bested teams from University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Penn State to win the event, which was held at the Coronado Coal Mine Rescue Training Center, in Oakwood, Va.

50

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

CALLING ALL ALUMNI!

Alumni Affinity G r o ups

Do you have a big announcement?

Maybe you're getting

married, having a baby or graduating from college –

we want to know!

Send us your news so

that we can share it with your BMHS family!

Please contact us at

advancement@bmhs.org and let us know what's new and exciting!

Of course we know

that our alumni go on to pursue careers in journalism, law, finance, medicine, the arts, entrepreneurship and more. Above all, our alumni go on to become servant-leaders who change their communities and the world.

In an effort to stay connected with all of you and your incredible accomplishments, Bishop McNamara High School would like to start forming alumni affinity groups! This will not only give alumni from Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools the chance to come back to campus, but it will also allow you all to network as professionals with one another. Come see who else from your beloved alma mater is pursuing a career similar to yours - it’s a great chance to learn more about your fellow Mustangs.

Another great benefit of joining our Alumni Affinity Groups? You get the chance to speak to our students and share your experiences with them! So many of our students have big plans for the future, and they could absolutely benefit from some words of wisdom from men and women who once walked in their shoes as students.

If you are interested in joining an Alumni Affinity Group, please reach out to our Advancement Department at advancement@bmhs. org - tell us your name, graduation year and let us know what sort of career you’ve been pursuing since graduation, and any other noteworthy news, as we may want to feature you in our alumni newsletter, or in the next edition of our Mustang Messenger!

We look forward to reconnecting with all of you! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

51

The World Next Door

••

•••

••••••• •

• ••

••

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

•

•

“

•••••••

•

•••••

•• ••

If you’re afraid of everything, you’ll never do anything.

••• •

52

••

•••

“

•••••••

••

•

•• ••

About 10 years ago, Sonya Lowery LR ’88 was going through

“I think La Reine just gave you a really good foundation to know that you can rise above different adversities,” she said.

She was working from home as a graphic designer and marketing professional, on top of taking care of her two children. Sonya felt boxed in; like she would never do anything else in her life except spending day in and day out just working and living cooped up in her own house.

Sonya shared a story of how she went on a cruise ship with her children, and they encountered an older man with a cane who was also on the cruise. He was overjoyed to be on the cruise because it was his very first vacation. That struck home for Sonya. She was happy for the man, but also sad because he had apparently waited so long to do something for himself.

a state of depression.

To help alleviate some of the cabin fever she was feeling, Sonya started writing down all the things she would do if she could kind of like a bucket list. As the list grew, Sonya realized that some of the things she wanted to do were possible, albeit expensive. In order to make these things happen, Sonya came up with a plan.

“My idea was to make YouTube videos for these places and things that I wanted to do so that they could put it up on their website or market it however they wanted,” she said. “This was before the big boom with YouTube, not a lot of people were using it at the time. So we started doing these videos, and they would give me the experiences in exchange for the video.”

“When we got back to our cabin, I told my kids ‘don’t wait’,” said Sonya. “No matter what it is, or what you’re trying to accomplish; no matter where you want to go or what you want to do, don’t wait.”

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Too often we forget that.

Too often we wait, thinking we can always have fun and travel to exotic places later. But why wait? Why wait when these places and experiences are there now, ready for us to take part? n

As an example, Sonya said that she had wanted to go skydiving, but the whole package cost $400 - which was too expensive for her to afford at the time. So she contacted the company and offered to make a video of the experience to help sell potential customers on the experience. The company agreed, and Sonya went skydiving, filming the whole experience for the company, and gave them the video to use to market their business. Sonya continued to do this for others, and soon enough she had 20 videos up on her Youtube channel, which were used by companies and agencies to use in their marketing plans.

Since then, Sonya has grown her business, and has plans to expand the company even further. Sonya does not make so many videos anymore; as she explains it, she “creates experiences” for people looking to go on adventure vacations. Using social networking sites, Sonya assembles groups of people looking to get out of their comfort zones with new and exciting experiences.

“We’ve done things like skydiving, whitewater rafting, hanggliding and ziplining,” said Sonya. “Then we also take people on trips to places like Peru and South Africa and Costa Rica.”

This year, Sonya said that her group went to Egypt, and that she was planning something even bigger for the next major trip, as it coincides with her 50th birthday.

Many might be hesitant to visit new places and try new things; some may even be too afraid to try. Experiencing the unknown is one of the most exciting aspects of life for Sonya. Her motto is, “If you’re scared, do it scared, but do it anyway.”

Trying new things and traveling to new places helps people truly get to know themselves and what makes them happy. Sonya said that the biggest fear of all is self-discovery, and allowing yourself to experience things that you’ve never tried before for fear of what people may think or that it might not work out. But if you try that one thing you’ve always been curious about, if you take that risk and allow yourself that opportunity, there is no limit to what you will be able to do.

Sonya said that part of what gave her the courage to start this endeavor was the education she received at La Reine High School.

In fact, some of her classmates from La Reine have become regular participants in her group trips.

Interested in getting out of your comfort zone and going on an adventure? Sonya will be announcing the big trip for 2020 soon, and she’d love to have you join in!

Contact her at media@worldnextdoortv.com Check out her Facebook and Instagram pages by searching “WorldNextDoorTV”

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

53

News stories are told through good, solid writing.

Those who communicate the news are passionate about their field and maintaining their ••••••••• journalistic integrity.

••• •

••

“

• Over the years, there have been countless alumni from Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools who have gone on to pursue careers in journalism. Marlisa Goldsmith ’07 is an Emmy Awardwinning journalist who spent a great deal David Early, Sr. ’68 of her career at WPXI in Pittsburgh, Penn., and recently announced that she will be returning to THV11 in Arkansas, the station where she worked before moving to Pittsburgh.

McNamara gave me honor, armor, smarts and a depth of confidence that has informed my entire life.

••

•• ••

•••••••••

••

•

Story

Journalism is the art of factual storytelling.

“

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

•••••••

•

54

••• •

Breana Ross ’15

•••

“

Journalism is not an easy or glamorous field, but you have the opportunity to make a big impact.

•

••

the World’s

“

Telling

Reporting news and facts

to the masses has been and continues to be a fundamental aspect of communications and journalism professions. As technology continues to advance and becomes more of a daily facet in our lives, it changes how news stories are delivered and received.

But at its very core there are key details that remain the same.

One of the most award-winning alumni in the journalism field is David Early, Sr. ’68, who has won several awards and accolades throughout his career. He has won the William Randolph Hearst Award, Associated Press and Poynter Institute prizes, and his newspaper The Mercury News won the Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. According to David, every newspaper in the west and many across the United States covered the earthquake, so it felt good when his newspaper in particular was recognized by one of the most prestigious journalism awards.

David’s success is especially interesting, considering when he first started writing as a journalist at Bishop McNamara High School, he absolutely hated it.

“I had a good reputation at Bishop McNamara as a writer, a teacher suggested me to the newspaper to write sports,” David said. “I hated it. I wrote stories and the ‘editing’ involved the insertion of some of the silliest, most durable sports cliches imaginable.”

After graduating from Bishop McNamara High School, David began his collegiate education at Virginia State College (now known as Virginia State University), where he was again pursued, much to his chagrin, to join the newspaper staff.

During his sophomore year David was given a paid offer to co-edit the newspaper, so he took the job.

Marlisa Goldsmith ’07

Possibly one of the most notorious circumstances surrounding politics and journalism was the saga of President Richard Nixon

•

••

•••••••••

••

•• ••

••••••

There is certainly no shortage of incredible news stories in the United States, both during the present day and over the course of our history. The goal of journalism and reporting the news is to do so objectively, without imposing one’s opinion on the facts. Millions of people rely on the news to help them make decisions in their daily lives and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in current events. This goes especially for those who dwell in the Metropolitan D.C. area, considering our close proximity to the nation’s most influential political powers.

••

“Every day is a new adventure. That is what happens in a career that involves telling the great story,” he said. “People love to read your stuff because it touches them, or takes them somewhere special.”

“

••• •

Throughout the course of his career, David has covered a variety of topics and stories. David provided coverage of the 100-year floods in North Dakota where he sat with a family as they watched a ‘bowl’ being built around their home, which was then subsequently destroyed in order to save the town from flooding. He also wrote from a county hospital burn unit where he shared the story of a 16-year-old boy who suffered head to toe burns and just barely escaped death. These are only two of the thousands of stories that David has written over the years, and that is part of what makes the job so special to him.

Because of her interest in journalism ••••••••• • • from an early age and thanks • •• to the encouragement in •• • feminine leadership she The biggest witnessed at La Reine event I remember was High School, Gemma the fall of the Berlin Wall. went on to lead an illustrious career, That was extraordinary, particularly with I was in the newsroom NBC. This was no easy feat at that and we saw the pictures time, considering when they came in how journalism was before anyone else did.” primarily a maledominated field. Gemma Gemma Puglisi LR ’74 said that while there were women in producer roles and other similar positions, there were not many female executives and it was hard to be promoted.

•••

He also was the recipient of the most prestigious fellowships in print journalism - The Knight Fellowship at Stanford University and the Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University. It is rare to earn even one of these fellowships, but David was given both! As he won them in the same school year, he had to choose between them, and ultimately David chose the Knight Fellowship.

“It was all happening in my backyard, it was really powerful for me,” Gemma said. “I didn’t understand what exclusives were at the time, and I remember questioning that The Washington Post was saying Nixon did this and it was all happening, but no one else was reporting it.”

••

David shared that when he started with the newspaper at VSC, it was an exciting time in the school’s history. VSC, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) was highly impacted by the civil rights movement, which received a great deal of coverage in the VSC newspaper. David said that the paper covered riots, sit-ins, marches and educational issues at the state and national levels. This was where his award-winning track record began, as VSC competed against million-dollar papers from major universities and contests, and won top prize on several occasions, according to David.

and the 1972-1974 Watergate scandal. Gemma Puglisi LR ’74 had always kept an eye on the newspapers and daily news reports, an effort she credits her father for instilling within her.

She remembered what it was like living through the Watergate scandal.

“

“I decided to dedicate myself to great editing and writing so that no one would hate journalism the way I did at my start,” he said.

Nevertheless, Gemma felt empowered in her career at NBC and often pitched segments and story ideas to her superiors. In particular, she was able to do a few series features for The Today Show, some of which won awards. But perhaps the most notable story she remembers being a part of was the NBC coverage of the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Tom Brokaw, the NBC News anchor, was the first to cover the event.

“You have to remember, the Berlin Wall had been a fixture for years. We were seeing the fall of communism, and a lot of us thought that we would never see the fall of communism,” Gemma said. “Our main competitors were ABC and CBS, and continued on next page

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

55

I remember the night that we broadcast the fall of the Berlin Wall, we got a telegram from Peter Jennings and Roone Arledge, the president of ABC News at the time, congratulating us.”

Gemma is considered an expert in the journalism and public relations fields. She currently teaches as an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at American University. Naturally, having been in journalism and public relations for such a long time, Gemma has seen how the field has continued to change, especially as technology evolves. Gemma herself said that, while she loves her newspapers, it is much more convenient now to pull up her preferred media outlets on her phone and read the daily news on one little device.

But there are drawbacks to having so much information at one’s fingertips. Literally anyone in the world can share any story they want, regardless of factual accuracy. In order to keep the attention and interest of the masses, many news stations are becoming more entertainment-based, with journalism students being taught such rules of thumb as ‘sex sells’ and ‘if it bleeds, it leads.’

“Journalism is going through a very interesting time, and we really don’t know where it’s going,” said Gemma. “I think what’s important for students is to not be biased. A true journalist gets all the information and disseminates it, you give it to the public and then the public decides and makes their own opinions, that’s what true journalism is.”

As journalism continues to evolve through these ‘growing pains’ it is now more important than ever that students of the field remember to maintain their objectivity. What is even better is if they can look at journalism and storytelling as a method of providing service to their local communities.

Breana Ross ‘15 always knew that she had a passion for writing and storytelling. She said that she never thought of journalism as a career possibility until she went on a college visit with her cousin. At the age of 12, Breana got her first glimpse of the University of Miami and its impressive journalism program. She was hooked.

Immediately after that, Breana devoted herself to her goal of studying journalism at the University of Miami. She enrolled in a journalism camp in middle school, and continued her rigorous education at Bishop McNamara High School. Breana pursued the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship in order to cover the cost of her collegiate education. The scholarship is awarded to minority students committed to diversity and leadership Breana won the scholarship. Since she began her education at the University of Miami, Breana has been heavily involved with UMTV, the school’s award-winning television station. She has served in the roles of reporter, anchor, host and associate producer on several of the station’s seven shows. Currently Breana oversees all seven shows as the Station Manager of UMTV. In addition to her studies, Breana has completed internships with ESPN3, Smithsonian Channel, WETA and the NBA. As if all of that weren’t enough, Breana has founded her own service organization to share her love of writing with others in the community. Her organization, Written in My Soul, was originally inspired by a writing assignment that Breana completed for her

56

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

10th grade English class with Mr. Charles Shryock IV. “We were instructed to either write a poem or choose a poem written by someone else that demonstrated what was ‘written in our soul.’ My classmates and I used the presentation as a catharsis to let out a lot of experiences and thoughts we had been holding in. It became a very emotional experience, something I think a lot of us needed,” Breana said.

Breana spent a great deal of time volunteering at a local homeless shelter working predominantly with children, and it was then that she realized that a lot of them had built-up emotions and anger.

She saw the perfect opportunity to use the classroom assignment that had done so much to help her and her classmates as a similar cathartic exercise for the youth at the homeless shelter. It was a healthier way to express their feelings.

Thus, her organization Written in My Soul became official.

Today, Written in My Soul is now an official service program designed to teach youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds how to express themselves in a healthy manner through poetry.

For this and her other numerous activities and honors that she has received, Breana was recently inducted into the Iron Arrow Society, the highest honor attainable at the University of Miami, and she has been chosen to give a TED Talk about her experiences with service.

It is her service-oriented core which has helped hone her next set of goals in life. Considering the level of dedication and tenacity she has exhibited for one so young, we have no doubt that Breana, much like David, Gemma and the countless other award-winning alumni journalists, will be a major influence in the journalism field.

“My goal is to be an on-air reporter or anchor for a major news network in the future,” Breana said. “I want to be able to tell stories that educate and inspire change. I want to amplify the voices of people who are often forgotten about. I want to be a role model for other African American women who want to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.”

Journalism and the delivery of news to the masses is a method of storytelling, this is true; but so often we forget that journalists have that power to see everything that is happening in the world, both good and bad, and call attention to it. Journalists shed light on the injustices of the world, hoping that others will help find solutions; journalists spread the word about the actions and good deeds of those who are making a positive effort to change the world.

Careers in journalism may not be easy, but there are multiple options available for those interested in telling the world’s story from print to radio to broadcast and beyond.

“Journalism is really the fabric of our country, and the fabric of all countries,” said Gemma. “Important issues are at the forefront of our country and it’s journalists who are able to capture or write about what has happened or getting exclusives.”

“Apply for the best gigs you can find. Do not be silly about it, but don’t assume your rookie status will freeze you out from strong jobs,” said David. “Don’t assume you can’t because you’re young and inexperienced.” n

Pope Francis has named Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as the seventh Archbishop of Washington.

Wilton D. Gregory was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 9, 1973, and three years after his ordination began graduate studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute (Sant’ Anselmo) in Rome. He earned his doctorate there in 1980, studying sacred liturgy.

After serving as an associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, as a member of the faculty of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein and as a master of ceremonies to Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin, on December 13, 1983 he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Chicago. On February 10, 1994, he was installed as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., where he served for the next 11 years. On December 9, 2004, Pope Saint John Paul II appointed Bishop Gregory as the sixth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

clergy escalated; and under his leadership, the bishops implemented the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” He previously served as the chairman of the Bishops’ Committees on Personnel, Divine Worship and the Third Millennium/Jubilee Year 2000 from 1998-2001, and Liturgy from 1991-1993; he has also served on the USCCB’s Executive and Administrative Committees, the Administrative Board, the Committee on Doctrine and the U.S. Catholic Conference Committee on International Policy.

Archbishop Gregory has written extensively on church issues, including pastoral statements on the death penalty, euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide and has published numerous articles on the subject of liturgy, particularly in the African-American community. He has been awarded nine honorary doctoral degrees from prestigious colleges and universities. In 2006 he joined an illustrious group of preachers with his induction into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers at Morehouse College, Atlanta. At the National Pastoral Life Center in Washington, D.C., Archbishop Gregory was honored with the Cardinal Bernardin Award given by the Catholic Common Ground Initiative.

Bishop McNamara High School welcomes Archbishop Gregory and we look forward to his leadership of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC and the ways his pastoral presence can further our School’s vision to form empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world. n

Archbishop Gregory has served in many leading roles in the United States church; in November 2001, he was elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) following three years as vice president under Bishop Joseph Fiorenza of the Diocese of GalvestonHouston. During his tenure in office, the crisis of sex abuse by Catholic

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

57

Upcoming Events Reunion Information Let Bishop McNamara help plan your class reunion!

Bishop McNamara and Bishop McNamara High School is reaching out to the following ions: La Reine High School classes to help organize their upcoming reun Bishop McNamara and La Reine: ’74, ’84 and ’89 Bishop McNamara High School: ’94, ’04 and ’14 Contact our Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Robert Van der Waag to help plan your reunion!

Upcoming Reunion Dates : BMHS Class of 1 979 : Sept. 13, 2019 BMHS Class of 1 999: Sept. 6, 2019 Contact Alkia Mo rris shortcake893@gm ’99 at ail.com for details

La Reine High School 50th Reunion Photo 58

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL

O C M E I N M O H weekend 2019 G

Hall of Fame October 11, 2019 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Homecoming October 12, 2019

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

59

E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence

Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85

60

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Established and named

in honor of Mr. E. Matthew Goyette, a longtime faculty member and administrator at Bishop McNamara High School, the Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence recognizes a BMHS faculty member who goes above and beyond their call of duty in service to colleagues and students alike. Recipients are given a cash stipend, augmented funds for professional development, and a reduced assignment of duties for the following school year. Since its inception three years ago, more than 95 BMHS faculty members have been nominated.

This year, of the four finalists chosen from the numerous nominations, the selection committee’s unanimous choice for the E. Matthew Goyette Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence was Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85!

Angelina is a Mathematics Teacher, Department Chair, and Head Coach of the Varsity Softball Team at Bishop McNamara High School, though her connection to the School began long before she started her teaching career. A graduate of La Reine High School, Angelina’s brothers were all graduates of Bishop McNamara, as were several of her other close family members.

Angelina has been teaching at Bishop McNamara High School for almost 30 years, and she has made an immense impact on the School and its students.

A lifelong learner, Angelina regularly attends conferences and professional workshops in order to grow as an educator.

She even started a new YouTube channel as “the MATH DIEHLER.” Colleagues and students alike speak highly of Angelina. In the nominations, one colleague wrote, “Angie is such a leader

among our faculty through her courageous optimism and deep joyful passion for teaching directly to our students.”

Angelina’s students and student-athletes have often said that they look up to her for guidance; many even say that she is like a mother to them.

Another colleague wrote of Angelina, “[She shows] concern for her students academically but also personally and spiritually. She actively talks to her students about her faith life and is a positive role model for her students and her colleagues.”

The Endowed Chair selection committee included the first three recipients of the Endowed Chair: Kathryn Heneghan, Michael Pozniak and Nicholas Klimczak ’07; Academic Dean Charles Shryock IV facilitated the committee. Angelina was recognized and presented with this honor at our 2019 Caritas Awards Ceremony. n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

61

Crab Feast Sponsored by the BMHS Athletics Department

S at urd a y September 7, 2019 Bishop McNamara High School Andy Mona Center 6:30pm - 10:30pm Doors open at 6:00pm Crabs served 7:00pm - 9:30pm Other food will also be available

Beer, wine and soda will be available - ALCOHOL FOR ATTENDEES 21+ ONLY

• $60 per ticket - purchase in advance TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT DOOR • 50/50, Raffle, Silent Auction To purchase tickets or sponsorships visit:

w w w.bmhs.org

For more information, contact Athletic Director, Anthony Johnson ‘88 at 301.735.8401 ext. 103 or anthony.johnson@bmhs.org 62

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

in loving memory...

Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

The information included on these pages reflects news shared with the Advancement Office from Summer 2018 – Spring 2019 Elenore Albright, mother of Jack Albright ’70, Terry Albright LR ’72, Ann Albright LR ’74, Jim Albright ’76, Margaret Albright LR ’78, Joe Albright ’80 and Julie Albright ’LR 82, passed away Dec. 30, 2018.

Mary Alfieri, mother of Michael Alfieri ’73, Eileen Alfieri Abecassis LR ’78 and John A. Alfieri ’86, passed away Dec. 15, 2018.

George L. Ballard, father of Michelle D. Williams LR ’89, and grandfather of Matthew L. Williams II ’14, passed away on February 14, 2019.

Maureen Barry Mussler LR ’73, sister of Delores Barry Heil LR ’69 and Kevin Barry ’71 (deceased), passed away Dec. 4, 2018.

Sister Lourdine Bielawski, long-time Secretary at La Reine High School, passed away Feb. 3, 2019.

Michael D. Biesecker ’88, brother of Cristina J. Harmon LR ’89, passed away on July 29, 2018 after a long battle with MS. Demetris Calhoun, mother of Rudy Holland ’18, passed away Nov. 22, 2018.

Marc Christian, brother of Daylon Alexander ’21 passed away Jan. 15, 2019.

Francis William Cook, father of Jay Haigler III ’78 and father-in-law of Vanessa Haigler LR ’77, passed away on Oct. 27, 2018.

Francis Countiss, Jr. ’83, brother of Marc Countiss ’85, passed away Feb. 26, 2019.

Ruth C. Crifasi, mother of Catherine Crifasi Taylor LR ’67 and Patricia Crifasi Branson LR ’69, passed away March 5, 2019.

Richard J. Dilley ’71 passed away Nov. 10, 2018.

current BMHS Board Member Ken Harris ’82, passed away Oct. 23, 2018.

Charles Leon Daugherty, Jr., brother of BMHS staff member Shannon Brown, passed away in February 2019.

Linda Norris Simons, sister of BMHS staff member Patricia Norris Garber, passed away Sept. 30, 2018.

Dorothea Garrison, mother of of Stephen Garrison ’74 and grandmother of BMHS staff member Dr. Jessica Nash, passed away on April 1, 2019.

Walt O’Brien ’70, husband of Patti Beetham O’Brien LR ’70, and brother of Dennis O’Brien ’76 and Patricia O’Brien Lesher LR ’80, passed away Dec. 8, 2018.

Richard Garrison, father of Stephen Garrison ’74 and grandfather of BMHS staff member Dr. Jessica Nash, passed away on March 19, 2019.

Margaret Hennigan, mother of BMHS supporter and community member Melanie Hennigan, passed away Nov. 22, 2018.

Sharon Hoard LR ’78 passed away on March 27, 2019.

Patty Lord Ryan LR ’73 passed away Dec. 7, 2018.

Kathleen Magill Mullins LR ’73, sister of Sister Bernard OSF LR ’65, Bonnie Magill Fleenor LR ’67, and Bernie Magill ’81, passed away Dec. 28, 2018.

Donna Marchick, mother-in-law of BMHS staff member Dr. Robert Van der Waag, passed away Feb. 6, 2019.

Mack McCreary, grandfather of Shannon McCreary ’18, passed away Oct. 11, 2018.

Ather McKelvy, grandmother of Tay-Lor Albright ’20, passed away Nov. 26, 2018.

William Mosby, father of Jordan Mosby ’15 and Zane Mosby ’20, passed away March 8, 2019.

Mary Ellen Shunk LR ’65, sister of Christopher Shunk ’69, passed away Oct. 22, 2018.

Darnita Strong Massey ’99, sister of Deona J. Strong ’02, passed away Sept. 6, 2018.

Deborah Tucker, wife of Stephen Tucker ’84 and mother of Garrett Tucker ’13, passed away Jan. 20, 2019.

Alvin A. Turner, Sr., previous BMHS Board member and father of Alvin A. Turner, Jr. ’74 and Matthew Turner ’84, passed away Feb. 6, 2019.

David Van Dyke, father of Christopher Van Dyke ’86, passed away Feb. 15, 2019.

Tyler Van Rossum, husband of previous BMHS faculty/staff member Sue Rossum, passed away November 2018.

Almyra Williams, mother of Ralph Williams II ’98 and Melanie Williams ‘00, passed away on March 7, 2019.

Sister Magnifica Zdancewicz, OSF, longtime art teacher at La Reine High School, passed away Dec. 11, 2018.

Carmella Nicolosi Harris, mother of Photo credit to a little bit of whimsy photography.

Bricks and benches for the Memorial Garden are available to purchase and personalize in memory of your loved ones.

Additionally, memorial Mass Cards can be purchased from the Advancement Office.

For more information, please contact Sandy Mammano, Director of Development at 301.735.8401 ext. 295.

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

63

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747-3270 301.735.8401 www.bmhs.org Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Forestville, MD Permit No. 2048

Vision: Empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world.

Mission: To educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. Social Media Icons - Vector Set - Basic by @garrettgee

Stay connected with Bishop McNamara! visit our website: www.bmhs.org B​ishop McNamara High School is an exempt organization as described in Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code: EIN 52-0805939. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the current financial statement of Bishop McNamara High School is available by writing to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Bishop McNamara High School, 6800 Marlboro Pike, Forestville, MD 20747 or by calling 301-735-8401.

Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

garrettright 2012 - Please do not redistribute as your own.