Mustang Messenger Spring 2016

Volume 22 No. 2

MUSTANG MESSENGER The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Magazine

POSSIBILITIES

d n u o Ab

"With eyes of faith consider the greatness of your mission and the wonderful amount of good which you can accomplish." ~ Blessed Father Basil Moreau THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

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Table Of Contents

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10 4 5-7

8-11

12-13

14-17

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President's Pen Around Campus Lead. Learn. Proclaim.

Life Day Academic Excellence From the Classroom to The White House Success in Any Language Faith & Service Somerville Siblings Find Family Calling as Catholic Deacons Athletic Pride National Signing Day Good to Great to Golden

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18-20

Talent in the Arts

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Mustang Moments Dr. Rhonda Jordan-Antoine '00 Joffrey Ballet School

22-23

Bon Appetite: Alumni Chefs in the Culinary Arts

A Word with Our Alumni Association President: Marlo J.W. Ford LR '87

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Alumni Association

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HOF Class of 2016

26-27

Alumni News

Contact Us! BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL

6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, Maryland 20747 (p) 301.735.8401 (f ) 301.735.0934 PRESIDENT/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark '85 PRINCIPAL Dr. Robert Van der Waag

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

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L'oreal Edmondson '98, HOF

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS

Melissa Antonio Huar LR '91 Jasmine Johnson '10

CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Sandy Mammano

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Robert Nolte

COPY WRITER

Santana Questa We sincerely apologize for any errors or ommissions contained herein.

28-29 Upcoming Events 30

Ways to Support

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In Loving Memory

Available online at www.bmhs.org/publications. © BMHS All Rights Reserved

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"Where possibilities abound!"

Dear Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Family and Friends, At our recent National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 43 new members of the Bishop McNamara chapter were welcomed into this prestigious organization of scholarship, leadership, character and service. This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Rhonda Jordan-Antoine ‘00, spoke with a deep sense of gratitude regarding the academic preparation she received at Bishop McNamara High School. She emphasized in her speech that the McNamara experience not only prepared her for academic success, but also gave her courage, confidence and vision, and influenced her personal and spiritual formation.

While attending Bishop McNamara, Rhonda was a student leader who involved herself in numerous clubs and activities. She also participated in the Bishop McNamara Dance Program as a gifted dancer. Rhonda matriculated to Columbia University where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in electrical engineering…both before her 21st birthday! Afterwards, Rhonda used her love for dance to start a non-profit dance academy for inner-city youth in the Bronx, New York. Rhonda earned her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT and today she is a social entrepreneur who has created a company aimed at bringing energy sources to thirdworld countries in Africa in order to improve health, education and productivity.

That sense of courage, confidence and vision resonated with another alumnus. Ihsan Beezer ‘96 stated that Bishop McNamara gave him the courage to challenge himself and get out of his comfort zone, make difficult decisions, and to pursue his dreams; the confidence to believe that he could accomplish anything; and the vision to see the world with a new set of eyes— the eyes of faith, justice and hope.

After attending NYU and later the University of Maryland, today Mr. Beezer is an entrepreneur, mentor and leader who continues to personify these qualities in his daily life.

These two stories underscore what we mean when we say that Bishop McNamara is a place where possibilities abound. Today this school offers more than 170 courses, 55 clubs and activities, 21 varsity athletic programs and the most extensive arts education in the Washington, D.C. area. Next year as we introduce a new Freshman Gateway program and add courses in engineering, robotics and entrepreneurship to our curriculum, we arguably offer the most comprehensive college-preparatory program in the Washington Metropolitan area. As a Catholic school, all of this is taught through the eyes of faith. The Holy Cross education that is offered today at McNamara is committed to the development of the whole person—spiritual, intellectual, artistic, physical and social.

Rhonda and Ihsan are just two examples of the endless possibilities that exist for our students. More importantly, however, both are living as men and women with hope to bring and are making a positive difference in the world. As I have said every year for the past 19 years when welcoming our newest students, what I love about high school is that it is a time in which our students grow from boys and girls into confident, courageous young men and women. As we continue our commitment to this end, know that possibilities abound for each of you as members of the Bishop McNamara family to remain involved, remain connected and remain supportive.

Whether through prayer, mentorship or through your financial support, together we can assure that possibilities abound for the future generations.

Ave Crux Spes Unica!

With gratitude, in Holy Cross,

Marco J. Clark '85, Ed.D. President/CEO @mustangprez 4

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Lead.

LEARN.

PROCLAIM.

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BMHS Teacher Mr. Michael Pozniak receives NCEA's Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award.

or the past 50 years Bishop McNamara High School has been providing an extraordinary education for our students.

Without our phenomenal faculty, we would not be able to do this. Our faculty are the pride of the Catholic education community, and it’s no wonder why!

Mr. Pozniak has earned the admiration of staff, faculty and students alike. He is the recipient of the School’s highest honor, the Caritas Award, which honors members of the BMHS community for their faith and service either to the School or in their respective professions.

Michael Pozniak, also known as ‘Mr. Poz’ to his students, a Bishop McNamara High School faculty member for the past 12 years, has been chosen as a recipient of the National Catholic Educational Association’s Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award. The award acknowledges members of the Catholic education community, from pastors to presidents and superintendents to teachers, who are active models of service and faith to others in their communities and implement the vision of their respective schools. So often we forget that students are not the only ones learning in the classroom; teachers and staff also learn and grow every day right alongside, and sometimes because of, their students.

In addition to his career experience, Mr. Pozniak has participated in a variety of fellowships and programs that have enabled him to travel worldwide and bring those experiences back to the classroom for the benefit of his students and colleagues, not just himself. Most recently, Mr. Pozniak has traveled to Japan and Korea as part of fellowships from the Japan-America Society and The Korea Society.

Other prerequisites for award candidates included faithful stewardship of resources, as well as commitment to personal improvement through ongoing formation of faith and professional development. To keep things modern and up-todate, nominees also needed to make contributions to student and/or adult faith formation while simultaneously guiding them in 21st-century skills such as technology integration.

Prior to working at Bishop McNamara High School, Mr. Pozniak worked for seven years with Catholic Relief Services, during which he performed service and provided education in impoverished countries such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso and many more. When he shifted his career focus to Catholic education in the United States, Mr. Pozniak made it his goal to raise awareness of the injustices that he witnessed to the young people he taught and spark a passion in them to make a difference. During his time at BMHS,

“Mr. Pozniak has been nothing short of a God-given gift to our community,” said President/CEO, Dr. Marco Clark '85. “Yet he continues to seek opportunities to grow and improve.”

“Mr. Pozniak mainly focuses on global awareness and cultural sensitivity by having his students explore political, social and cultural movements in Africa, Asia, Latin and South America,” said BMHS Principal Dr. Robert Van der Waag. “His involvement in so many areas of our school makes him not only a valued colleague, but also someone who truly stands out for his commitment to our students.”

“He has mentored me without him even realizing it,” said Rachel Leader ‘15. “Michael Pozniak has made me a better student and a better person, and constantly inspires me even from 2,000 miles away to continue growing, to continue being better.”

The Bishop McNamara community whole-heartedly agrees with Rachel’s statement.

The NCEA Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Awardees were honored at the NCEA 2016 Convention & Expo March 30, 2016 in San Diego.

AROUNDCAMPUS

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Life Day 6

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This Ash Wednesday, our senior class celebrated Life Day by witnessing four guest speaker groups discuss life issues such as racism, intolerance, poverty, religion and more.

For many schools, it’s a typical Wednesday in February.

But at Bishop McNamara High School, the senior class is busy preparing.

It’s Life Day. “The senior class is broken up into four large groups to listen to different speakers throughout the day,” Rachel Longest, Campus Minister for Outreach, explained the purpose of the event.

The speakers, arranged by theology teacher and Life Day coordinator Jim Monahan, are meant to make students give serious thought to the world around them and the issues that confront everyday life. Issues such as racism, poverty, hunger, the justice system – the list goes on. Making students aware and informed of these issues allows them to make educated contributions to their potential solutions.

For the 2016 Life Day celebration, Bishop McNamara welcomed Deacon Presberry and presenters from the groups Operation Understanding DC, St. Joseph’s House and Sudan Sunrise.

DEACON PRESBERRY Born in Fort Meade, Md., Seigfried Desmond Presberry has been heavily involved with the justice system. His career began as a Correctional Officer before he entered Saint Mary’s Seminary in 1999 where he was ordained a Deacon by Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore two years later. Most recently, Deacon Presberry has been appointed to Director of Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. His work at this position has helped him to comfort and reform those who have been incarcerated – to keep them from dwelling in darkness and seething in anger and hatred while they serve their time.

These people have the potential to reform completely and become active contributors to society upon their release thanks to Deacon Presberry’s good work and dedication.

OPERATION UNDERSTANDING DC Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) has made it their mission to build a generation of African American and Jewish community leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation while simultaneously working to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination. Students become involved in the program as juniors, and spend the next year meeting for presentations around Washington on issues such as slavery, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights Movement, religion, current national and international issues, and more.

Students give presentations about their own experiences as well, detailing how they have dealt with discrimination and stereotypes to help raise awareness. They give these presentations to groups of all ages, to help remind them of the importance of equality, respect and understanding of other cultures.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOUSE St. Joseph’s House is a non-profit daycare and respite home that serves children with multiple disabilities. Its mission is to serve not only the children, but their families as well. Mary Frances LaHood, third child of SJH founders Dan and Cubby LaHood, presented to our seniors to raise awareness for these children with disabilities and the challenges they face with their families.

Having grown up in the St. Joseph’s House, Mary Frances grew up seeing these challenges every day, and has made it her mission and professional calling to help children with disabilities overcome these hurdles. Mary Frances received her Bachelor of Social Work from St. Edward’s University with cum laude honors. She has traveled around the world, developing relationships with disabilities communities in Central Texas, Edinburgh, Scotland, Lima, Peru and Montreal. By the end of her senior year, Mary Frances completed a proposal for an academic pilot program for students with intellectual disabilities, with the intent that it be fully included at the university.

SUDAN SUNRISE Sudan Sunrise is an organization that works with individuals of diverse religious backgrounds and experiences in an effort to facilitate prolonged peace in Sudan and South Sudan. Tom Prichard, an ordained Episcopal priest, has been involved with reconciliation efforts in South Sudan even prior to the founding of Sudan Sunrise. Joined by George Mason University graduate student Alexa Brand, Tom presented on the tension experienced in Sudan and South Sudan in order to raise student awareness.

By making students aware of the issues causing such tension, potentially they may be able to form a solution that may accomplish the goal of lasting peace.

Bishop McNamara High School prides itself on educating not only the minds of our students, but their hearts as well.

To that end, events like Life Day are meant to serve as further motivation for our students to go into the world, both during their high school career and after graduation, and help contribute to the solution of these issues. As always, we want our students to make the world a better place for future generations.

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ae ACADEMIC

EXCELLENCE

from the

CLASSROOM to

THE WHITE HOUSE washington, d.c.

Photography by: Johnny Shryock

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rom English and Rhetoric Teacher to Director of Faculty Development, Charles Shryock IV has been making great strides in the professional development of not only the Bishop McNamara High School faculty, but in the educational community as a whole.

Charles taught English at Bishop McNamara High School for 14 years, fulfilling roles such as Department Chair and being involved with student-driven groups such as the School newspaper, The Stampede. Beginning this year, Charles has taken on the role of Director of Faculty Development in order to better serve the Bishop McNamara community.

“I became more interested in issues that were affecting my classroom that went beyond my classroom scope,” said Charles. “I sought out a graduate degree program at the Klingenstein Center because I liked that they defined leadership broadly. It meant that anyone who completed their program would be able to come away with insights, practices and research-based expertise that they would be able to apply to a variety of roles.”

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As part of his graduate study, Charles collaborated with colleagues Geoffrey Molchan, Patrick Skerpon, Francine Amos Hardy, Nicholas Klimczak and Mindi Imes de Duclos '96 to initiate an instructional rounds project at Bishop McNamara. Through this project, similar to how it is enacted in the medical field, a group of teachers observe a colleague teaching a class – not for the purpose of critiquing the teacher, but to learn what techniques their colleagues use and potentially adapt it to their own lesson plans.

“We thought [instructional rounds] was something that might be effective here for building community and evolving our shared understanding of what constitutes good teaching,” said Charles.

Some of the work that the groups completed at Bishop McNamara was published in a textbook on instructional rounds.

Charles’ position as Director of Faculty Development is new to Bishop McNamara. Never before has there been a single staff member devoted solely to the needs and professional development of our faculty.

Charles develops various activities once a week for faculty development, often encouraging fun and educational activities at Bishop McNamara.

With Emma Scripps, project designer for the company IDEO, Charles leads an activity called "rapid empathy" with the 2016 Counselors of the Year at the White House. (Photo from Twitter)

In shifting into this new role, Charles said: “One of the biggest challenges for me is that as a teacher you have a sort of structure that you build around in terms of your work flow. But in my position now, I have to be very open to anything. It’s been nice to get a broader view of what’s happening in the School and to dive deeper into how adults learn and what it takes to change a school culture.”

partners that we have,” said Charles. “We’re working with some really interesting tech and innovation organizations, as well as some nonprofits that have deep expertise in what kids and their support teams need. Whether it’s counselors, families, or communities – we’re asking, what can we try to help people feel supported and are successful on their journey to and through college?”

Charles and his new position exemplify the support that the administration shows for the Bishop McNamara faculty. Because of Charles’ efforts in encouraging and implementing professional development activities with our faculty, they continue to grow and learn not only as teachers, but about their colleagues and the Bishop McNamara community as a whole.

In addition to contributing to the overall solution of academic problems alongside The Teachers Guild, Charles works every week with the Bishop McNamara faculty. Through meetings and activities he works tirelessly to figure out what can be improved at the School, and ensure the teachers are aware of upcoming conferences and professional development opportunities to help them continue to evolve as educators.

“I think teachers in general are happy that there’s someone who’s dedicated to their professional growth,” Charles said. “Because a lot of times that gets left out of the way schools dedicate their resources and time. It’s really important that anyone working in a school models lifelong learning.”

Because of his commitment to professional development and making certain that faculty and staff get the proper support and resources, Charles is a member of an online community known as The Teachers Guild. Comprised of educators and counselors, Teachers Guild members come together in order to solve problems faced by the academic world.

“The Teachers Guild is based on the premise that educators are our most powerful innovators,” Charles explained the organization in more detail. “Instead of working on solutions that are designed FOR teachers, we’re working on solutions that are designed BY teachers and counselors - and really anyone who works in the education space.

So it’s about taking those ideas and elevating them up to a place where they can impact students, schools and systems on a larger scale.”

As a representative of The Teachers Guild, Charles presented a workshop for the Counselor of the Year event at the White House in January. The Teachers Guild, as a partner to first lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher and Better Make Room initiatives, invited the honorees into their design process.

“It’s a really great collaboration because of the potential that we have to make a difference. I’m really excited about some of our

“Right now I’m leading a group of about 20 teachers who are working to reimagine the way professional development works at the school,” Charles explained what activities and developments are currently in progress. “We’re just taking the whole system and making it more focused on what they need.”

Charles’ commitment to the continuing evolution of education is what allows our teachers to be the best that they can be, voice their needs and opinions, and have those needs met. It is partly through his efforts that Bishop McNamara High School is able to provide such an extraordinary education to our students.

“A lot of what I’m doing is trying to spread the mindset of being optimistic, collaborative, experimental and focused on human needs,” Charles summed up his expectations for his position. “I think that if we can spread that mindset throughout our school and our education, it’s going to have a profound impact on the experience that our students have on their level of preparation. It will impact their own creative confidence as they go on to face exciting, unique challenges throughout their lives.”

Charles’ focus on the importance of creativity and how it is vital to the solution of problems is indicative of the Bishop McNamara education.

“People a lot of times think about creativity as extra or unnecessary, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that it is vital to the success of our nation.”

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Success in Any Language Modern & Classical Languages at Bishop McNamara High School

Neglegentia non tollit usum.

Just because something is often neglected or disregarded, does not mean that it is useless.

Many think that studying a language is only useful as a supplementary skill. Something to pad one’s resume to make them seem more appealing to potential employers. Because of this mindset, students sometimes look at learning a language as a chore, instead of seeing how lucrative learning a new language can be in enhancing their communication skills and the true variety of career paths they could undertake.

But at Bishop McNamara High School, our Modern and Classical Languages Department is thriving. Not only do we offer the languages of Latin, Spanish and French, we also offer Arabic, American Sign Language and online language courses such as German and Japanese. Offering this wide range of options for our students means that not only are students more likely to study a language that interests them, but they will also be able to pursue a better variety of career opportunities upon graduation.

“A lot of students will use Spanish as their kickoff language; if they can master that, then they’ll go into some of the other languages,” said Spanish teacher and current student parent Deanna Johnson. “They take that language with them and they go overseas, study abroad and they’ll bring it back. Sometimes they’ll go into international studies or business, other times they go into education and sometimes they go into service.”

“With modern languages of course there are a lot of jobs where they like you to know a second or third language,” said Latin teacher Dr. Ann Martin. “Obviously Spanish is big here, but now that we have trade relationships with so many different countries, knowing Japanese, Chinese or Arabic – there are dozens of languages that would commercially be an advantage for [students] to know.”

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Students at Bishop McNamara High School are required to take two consecutive years of the same language to obtain their degree. However, approximately 10 percent of Bishop McNamara students continue their language studies after they’ve completed this two-year requirement. Some continue studying the same language, others switch to a new language in order to better broaden their horizons.

“Learning Arabic boosts your career in international business, vacation industry, oil business, international exchange market, intelligence work, interpreting and ESL teaching in the Middle East,” said Arabic teacher Safaa Roumani.

“Pick a field, any field, it doesn’t matter what it is,” surmised Georgina Gomez-Bozzo, Spanish teacher and Chair of the Modern and Classical Languages Department. “If you’re bilingual, it doesn’t matter if it’s Spanish or French or something else; it can’t hurt. There’s a saying in Spanish: The man who speaks two languages is worth two men!”

Students who show a proclivity towards language and go on to study it after high school have no shortage of career opportunities at their feet.

They can go on to become interpreters, second language teachers, translators, broadcast journalists, lawyers, doctors, chefs – the possibilities are endless! The trick seems to be in getting students to realize how useful the skill can be and to generate interest in the subject matter.

Danita Brooks American Sign Language Teacher

“Learning a language is not easy,” said Ms. Gomez-Bozzo. “If we could control not only the material and learning opportunities which we offer our students every single day, but also infuse within them endless doses of enthusiasm, passion and love of learning another language, virtually every student who has ever taken a class here at Bishop McNamara would be quite fluent!”

“The potential is limitless, if they continue with [their language studies],” said Ms. Johnson. “It’s one of the most underrated skills and that's unfortunate because it’s so valuable! One of the things that I always tell my students is that your world will open up if you can communicate with somebody in another language.”

Ms. Johnson and Ms. Gomez-Bozzo explained that students are often intimidated by new concepts and cultures, so initially getting them to be open enough to come out of their shells and break their routines in order to experience something new can be difficult.

“It’s very daunting to them in the beginning to have to learn to communicate in a language that is totally different from their own,” said Ms. Gomez-Bozzo. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem as relevant to them as it could be.”

“The things that motivate the students are the occasions when they actually see [the language] in use,” said Ms. Johnson. “When they find that they understood something, the light goes on and they can directly relate it to what we’re doing in class.”

The faculty of the Modern and Classical Languages Department work constantly to ensure that their program remains relevant with the most up-to-date information and resources available. They also strive to make learning the material fun and interesting to keep students invested in the subject.

“I’ve jumped on the bandwagon of what’s called ‘comprehensible input.’

Dr. Martin explained her own classroom strategies. Comprehensible input is a second language learning concept in which the listener understands what is being said to them in this second language, even if they are unable to analyze the grammar of every sentence. “We do a lot of oral Latin. And the easiest way to do that is to tell stories that [the students] are actually interested in hearing. They even get to contribute to the story. So they’re tending to be a little more involved in the stories than they would be with the typical textbook.”

“We turn ourselves inside out on a daily basis,” said Ms. Gomez-Bozzo “What are we doing that’s working? What are we doing that’s NOT working? We’re constantly self-checking and checking against each other, and even asking the kids.”

It is this dedication to the students and to maintaining the superior level of education that makes Bishop McNamara High School’s Modern and Classical Languages Department so successful. The students are similarly dedicated and invested in the subject, even going on exchange trips to further immerse themselves in the culture and language. Every two years Bishop McNamara faculty members accompany interested students to Spain for a couple weeks for these exchange trips. Through these trips, the students gain first-hand experience on Spanish culture, food and language.

At the same time, students from Spain are sent to the United States and graciously hosted by Bishop McNamara families who experience the culture through their Spanish guests.

Pictured from left to right: Department Chair Georgina Gomez-Bozzo, Deanna Johnson, Roberto Ungaro and Luis Duclos, Spanish Teachers.

“I always tell my students that I am a Spanish teacher today because I did an exchange 30 years ago,” said Ms. Johnson. “For me to step out of my comfort zone and never having been on a plane before, much less out of the country, it was one of the most wonderful things I’d ever done for myself!”

The exchange program is an extraordinary opportunity for our students, whether they venture to Spain or host a Spanish student here, to experience a culture different from their own and gain new knowledge and understanding of the world around them. The faculty of the Modern and Classical Languages Department of Bishop McNamara High School know that it is this knowledge and experience that will help our students become great leaders, as well as educated and active contributors to society.

“The strongest aspect of the language department, I think, is the seamless teamwork that we do,” said Ms. Gomez-Bozzo.

“I don’t think it happens in every school, that 60-70% of the foreign language department is run by native speakers,” said Spanish teacher Roberto Ungaro.

Of all the language teachers, only one is a non-native speaker of the language they teach, giving Bishop McNamara students that unique luxury of learning from exceptionally-qualified teachers who want to share knowledge of their native language with our students.

“I think what’s best about the foreign languages at McNamara is that they’re interesting, and they’re taught by really cool teachers,” said Javin White '16.

Essentially, learning a new language is all about getting outside one’s comfort zone and taking on a new challenge. A challenge which can help open new forms of communication. As Ms. Roumani said: “Learning another language can help you develop a positive attitude towards different cultures and people.”

So, while many high school students learn a second language simply to complete a requirement for their diploma, the students of Bishop McNamara High School learn a second language because of their love for the teachers, and for the potential they could have in the future to help others, and improve society.

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f&s

Pictured left to right: James Somerville, John Somerville and Keith Somerville '83, John's son.

FAITH AND SERVICE

Somerville Siblings Find Family Calling as Catholic Deacons 12

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Feature originally published by NBCBLK on September 25, 2015; written by Alicia Hadley and photographs by Michael D. Hadley.

In recognition of their dedication to the church and their community, the brothers have received numerous awards including a paper medal given to John from Pope John Paul II and the Cardinal Award given to James.

The Somervilles were already serving their community long before joining the diaconate. James worked for the state highway administration and John was employed by NSA. Prior to his death in 1996, Joseph served as a Washington, D.C. police officer. During his tenure on the police force, he spotted one of America's Most Wanted and was shot 9 times in the process of catching the outlaw.

Joseph, James and John have served the church since childhood.

After Joseph died, John's 49-year-old son, Keith Somerville '83, was compelled to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles.

Pictured: James Somerville and John Somerville.

Though small in number and rarely recognized, black Catholics in the U.S. have been making significant contributions to the church since 1565. Of the 76 million Catholics in the United States, just 1.5 million are African American according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).

St. Mary's County Maryland was one of the earliest settlements to welcome black Catholics and two African American brothers that helped shape Catholic history are currently residing there.

James Somerville and John Somerville, along with their now deceased brother Joseph are recorded as the only three brothers who have served together as permanent deacons in the Catholic church.

John became a deacon in 1981, James was ordained in 1982, and Joseph's ordination was in 1986.

Deacons preparing for the priesthood are called transitional deacons.

Those not planning to be ordained priests are permanent deacons.

The diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry.

"It's interesting," says John, "We became deacons in reverse order of our age. I'm eighty-five, the youngest of the three and ordained first. James is 86 and was ordained second, and Joseph, the eldest, was last. Though Joseph is deceased, James and I are still very actively serving."

The three siblings have worked in several capacities during their combined 79 years in service. John helped establish a pregnancy center, served Catholic Charities in the medical field, feeding and clothing the poor, and housing the homeless. He has also assisted in marriage counseling, youth retreats and worked closely with the Archdiocese of Washington.

In addition to working in the parish, James also served at the pregnancy center and worked with Catholic Charities. "I retired at the age of 75 and they added 11 more years to my activities," says James. "When I resigned, I was asked to continue on. And I've been trying to do what I can since then. I participate, really, in anything that comes up."

In April of 2015, he was ordained a deacon and currently works with the preservation of families within the church. The ordination makes John and Keith the only father and son pair serving as permanent deacons in the archdiocese of Washington.

"Being very young and seeing my two uncles, deacon James and Joseph along with my Dad Walter, I was inspired," says Keith. "Of course, the Lord works in mysterious ways and he worked on me to become who I am today."

Though the Somervilles have dedicated their lives to the diaconate, they've witnessed the decline in church attendance among other Catholic members, especially African Americans. They fault lack of education, participation, and secular influence.

"The problem is lack of involvement," says Keith. "If you don't get involved, you won't see the importance of coming."

John points to a decline in study and involvement in the ministry.

"I believe it's a lack of education. Once they go through their first communion and confirmation, they basically drop off their education in religion. And usually that's where the cut off is for a lot of blacks.

They aren't putting their money into the church, practicing their faith, or studying the Bible. Their recourse is, 'I don't need it. I don't know too much about it so forget it.' It's easy to forget something you don't know much about."

James, John and Keith believe Pope Francis' visit is a step in the right direction and will bring people back to the church.

"I have seen three or four popes, really, and I think he has a different perspective on life and I think his visit to the U.S. will be fantastic," says John. "The simplicity of Pope Francis is something I think we need to see here. He cares for the common folk and his visit will help bring us together."

"I understand the many responsibilities of the pope," says James.

Pope Francis has done an amazing job and I look forward to his visit."

With an estimated 1.2 billion followers, the Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest religious groups in the world.

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NATIONAL SIGNING DAY 14

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N

ational Signing Day is the day when high school student-athlete seniors cement their commitment to colleges and universities upon their graduation.

It is a day when they are honored and recognized for their talents on the field by teammates and alma maters alike.

The National Signing Day Ceremony at Bishop McNamara High School was joyous and tearful. Starting off as guest speaker was Michael Brooks '97, who played football for Bishop McNamara High School during his time here.

After graduation, Michael went on to play football at Harvard University. In his opening remarks to the ceremony, Michael stressed the importance of sports and what it can do for students, but that sports are about more than just being a good athlete.

“This sport is going to take you places that you might not normally go, so use your sport to let it take you places,” said Michael. “This sport helped me make connections that I would not normally make. It gave me a good education that I take with me every day.”

A total of 10 of our student-athletes were honored during the ceremony, each one giving speeches of thanks and praise to their classmates, coaches and teammates.

“I want to thank the teachers, the administration and the School for preparing me for the next four years of my life. Bishop McNamara has molded me into a young, righteous man,” said Ramar Williams '16. “I want to especially give a shout out to Coach [Goganious]. He has definitely been an inspiration to my life. He’s certainly another father figure to my life.”

“I would not be where I am today without the amazing coaches that I’ve had throughout my time playing soccer so far,” said Melanie Stiles '16. “My coaches have given me the confidence and the courage that I have today, and I’m so thankful for that. They have invested so much time into making sure that I become a better player each and every time I step onto the field.”

“Every single one of you offered a little piece, and each piece helped me to complete my game and that’s how I got to the next level,” Moriah Crisp '16 said of her coaches and teammates.

Many reflected on when they first arrived at Bishop McNamara.

“At my old school we went to the championship once and lost the playoffs once. It was hard, and my coach told me ‘don’t worry, it’ll get better.’

Then the school closed, and I transferred to Bishop McNamara,” said Justice Davis ’16. “I want to thank my teammates, who I want to call my brothers because I didn’t think I was coming here to make a whole bunch of friends, but I ended up making a whole bunch of family.”

“I transferred to McNamara after my freshman year partly because I knew how great the teachers were,” said Melanie. “They have proven to me throughout my three years here that I made the right decision.”

“I’m a transfer from [another school],” Jordan Edwards '16 recalled.

“I remember my sophomore year telling my dad ‘I gotta’ get out of here’ y’know, it was a struggle. But I’m happy to be here. I call you all my family, brotherhood, sisterhood; and I’ll remember you all forever. I love this family.”

Throughout all of our honorees' speeches, there was one underlying theme that was clear: Family. This ceremony of raw emotion just goes to show how tightly knit the Mustang community is and how we truly are family.

“Thank you all for the love that you’ve shown me – it’s going to be hard going off next year without you all,” Camari Murray '16 said, tearfully.

“I want to thank the Bishop McNamara community; my classmates, teachers and the administration for being my second family for the past four years and helping me out each and every day,” said Jamar “Boogie” Watson '16.

There were smiles, there were tears and, of course, there were laughs.

“Coach [Goganious] is the first person to ever make me get up at five in the morning to get up for practice, and I thank you for that sir!” Justice laughed – to which the notorious ‘Coach G’ replied ‘No problem!’ from the background.

ap

ATHLETIC PRIDE

“I’d like to thank my second parents, Mr. and Mrs. Williams,” said Malcolm Harley '16. “Most of the time I find myself over at their house rather than at home. I call that my vacation home!”

“I never actually saw myself playing basketball in high school or college,” said Samuel Green '16, starting to laugh. “I started playing basketball when I was seven years old. I only started playing because I was tall - and I was fat! Needed to lose some weight, so my parents put me in basketball just to get me in shape!”

There were especially emotional words of thanks when the honorees spoke of their parents in their speeches.

Kyle Benjamin '16 said of his father: “I can’t thank him enough for making me the man that I am today. He is my biggest supporter, but he won’t ever hold back with some criticism. My father is my number one fan and the number one reason that I’m up here.”

“I remember playing basketball with [my dad] outside, one-on-one, and our games would get very intense,” said Samuel. “That’s where my competitive self came from. I thank him for that, and for challenging me to do better at everything that I do.”

Many had to pause in their speeches to take a step back from the podium to quell their tears of joy and gratitude. Each was met with thunderous applause and cheers of encouragement from the audience of students, teammates, faculty, staff, coaches and family.

It was a time of reflection, a time of appreciation, a time of celebration.

“What’s the legacy that you want to leave behind?” Michael Brooks posed the question to the honorees, and really to all in attendance. “A sport life is only so long, but our life takes us for forever. So what you do with it is in your hands.”

Congratulations to all of our National Signing Day honorees. Remember that, no matter where you go or what colors you wear in the future: Once a Mustang, always a Mustang!

Here’s where our National Signing Day honorees will be attending college, and what sport they will play:

Kyle Benjamin – Baseball, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Moriah Crisp – Women’s Basketball, University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Justice Davis – Football, Bowie State University Jordan Edwards – Football, Hampton University Samuel Green – Men’s Basketball, Drexel University Malcolm Harley – Football, Morgan State University Camari Murray – Football/Track & Field, Concord University Melanie Stiles – Women’s Soccer, Clemson University Jamar Watson – Football, University of Kentucky Ramar Williams – Football, United States Naval Academy

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Pictured from left to right: Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Principal, Tyoka Jackson '89, and Dr. Marco J. Clark '85, President/CEO

FROM GOOD, TO GREAT TO

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October 24, 2015

Bishop McNamara Mustangs vs. St. Mary’s Ryken Knights Halftime. In the chilly autumn air, Tyoka Jackson ‘89 makes his way to the center of the field that bears his name. As he had done so many times before during his time at Bishop McNamara, he crosses the field with football in hand as the people in the stands cheer him on. Only this time, he isn’t going for a touchdown.

This time, his goal is to deliver the football he carries, the Golden Football, to President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85 and BMHS Principal Dr. Robert Van der Waag.

But of course, no football game begins at halftime This past October, alumni from Bishop McNamara and La Reine High Schools flooded back to campus for our annual Homecoming celebration. But this year was a particularly special Homecoming.

This year, in honor of Super Bowl 50, Bishop McNamara was honored with the prominent Golden Football Award from the National Football League (NFL).

The Award was presented to high schools whose alumni have participated in Super Bowl history either as a player or as a head coach. Those alumni participants would deliver the Award to their respective schools. For Bishop McNamara High School, Tyoka Jackson presented the award. A former defensive lineman for the St. Louis Rams, Tyoka participated in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 against the New England Patriots.

Tyoka held his palm in the air, fingers outstretched to further illustrate that connection. He pointed to each finger respectively, and named the groups of people present during the game, giving their support: Offense.

Defense.

Coaches’ Staff/Trainers.

Administration.

Alumni.

Identifying that each and every group was of equal importance.

Roused by his speech, and by the cheering and support in the stands, the Bishop McNamara Mustangs secured the 21-14 win over the St. Mary’s Ryken Knights.

But arguably, the 2015 Homecoming Game will likely go down in Bishop McNamara history not only as a victory, but as the best halftime show and Homecoming Game to date thanks to Tyoka Jackson and the support and enthusiasm of our alumni.

Here’s to next year’s Homecoming and to our forever connection.

Tyoka arrived well before halftime to see the Mustangs off at the start of the game. Mere minutes before kickoff, Tyoka gave a brief yet moving speech to the Mustangs. He reminded them that, as members of the Bishop McNamara community, we are all connected; and that connection is something that never fades.

“Hundreds of people are here because we chose to come to Bishop McNamara,” Tyoka said during his speech. “This wasn’t a draft, this wasn’t who was offered the most this or that. We chose to come here. That’s what connects us. We are forever linked because of that. And that makes it personal.”

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ta TALENT IN THE ARTS

Bon Appetite Alumni Chefs in the Culinary Arts

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

In the dining room it’s quiet. Dimly lit by the glow of the

decorative lights set over the tables. Idle chatter keeps the room from being completely silent. The patrons consist of couples celebrating personal events, friends enjoying a night out; in general, people looking to relax and have fun.

In the kitchen it’s coordinated chaos.

Servers bring in orders from the dining room, calling out substitutions and allergy warnings to everyone from the line cooks to the second-in-command Sous-Chef. The Executive Chef oversees all the kitchen staff and ensures that everything is prepared perfectly. There’s no down time, no moment of respite even when the dining room is empty – there is always work to be done.

As Dwayne Motley ‘96, Executive Chef of Nage Bistro put it: “The hours are long. The life of a chef isn’t easy, this profession requires 100 percent commitment.”

While Chef Dwayne and other alumni chefs did not take culinary arts courses during their time at Bishop McNamara High School, they did develop an appreciation for the fine arts as a whole. Through this commitment to the fine arts, many of our alumni have gone on to become chefs at prestigious and cuttingedge restaurants.

Dwayne Motley has been Executive Chef at Nage Bistro in Washington, D.C. for two years.

“Nage Bistro opened in spring of 2006 in Washington, D.C. It’s an American bistro with a Southern touch,” Dwayne explained the history of the bistro and its offered cooking style. “My primary style of cooking is New American Southern with a focus on seasonal ingredients. My menu is very green market driven.”

The menu at Nage contains a variety of options and new spins on classic dishes. From the sweet heat of the sriracha buffalo wings or the melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork sliders, to the sophisticated lobster mac & cheese or the wild mushroom baklava with sweet berry compote to the scintillating New Orleans style barbecue shrimp. Clearly it is a menu that has been carefully honed and perfected by Chef Dwayne.

But one of the newest additions to the restaurant scene is Flavor in Baltimore, Md. The restaurant itself may be new, but Executive Chef Julia Donoghue Belton '09 is no stranger to the culinary world. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Julia went on to work at Eleven Madison Park in New York City.

Eleven Madison Park has earned various accolades, including a four-star review from the New York Times. The restaurant specializes in craft cocktails, fine wine and seasonal tasting menus made with local ingredients – each meal consisting of 8-10 courses.

“Working in New York City was an incredible experience,” said Julia. “I learned so much about culinary and restaurants and the quick pace of this industry.”

Flavor opened in fall 2015 and specializes in locally-sourced small plates and craft cocktails. The new restaurant has received outstanding attention in the Baltimore press. The small plates are designed to be shared but are certainly not lacking in flavor from chicken skewers with Vietnamese glaze to a variety of flatbreads to the spicy buffalo roasted cauliflower – a healthier, but just as delicious, take on buffalo wings. Flavor also has a special Sunday brunch featuring cinnamon vanilla French toast with strawberry puree, the fluffy Italian frittata and a mix-n-match sip special on cocktails.

When asked about the inspiration behind her dishes, Julia said: “I think it kind of depends on my mood. If I’m feeling whimsical then I’ll just play with spun sugar and make some kind of fancy dessert. Or if I’m feeling cold and want to stay at home, then I’ll do a braised short rib or something.”

Both Julia and Dwayne expressed the importance of using fresh, local ingredients and giving back to the community. An ideal that was and continues to be fostered by Bishop McNamara High School.

“It’s the food that speaks to me,” he said. “As a young cook I had always dreamed about cooking food like this in my own restaurant.”

Chef Dwayne isn’t the only Mustang chef in Washington, D.C. – Ignazio Bonanni '83 has been the Owner and Executive Chef of Tesoro Restaurant & Bar for more than 15 years. He has honored his Italian heritage through his cooking, and has been offering said cuisine to our nation’s capital. Then there is Chef Lauren Williams '01, who is working as a private chef and caterer in D.C. at his business: Prime Taste. Chef Lauren has also been featured on the new, edgy Food Network program: Cutthroat Kitchen.

Pictured above: Julia Donoghue Belton '09, Executive Chef and Owner of Flavor in Baltimore, Md.

Pictured left: Dwayne Motley '96, Executive Chef of Nage Bistro in Washington, D.C.

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“I don’t want to brag about what I do for the community. That’s not how I want to get my attention, I just like to do it,” said Dwayne.

“I try to be as philanthropic as possible, my goal for this year is to do more. At Nage we’re currently involved with organizations like Share our Strength, Food & Friends and others. We support local farmers by getting our ingredients from the local farmers' markets at Dupont Circle and at Penn Quarter.”

Share our Strength is a national organization whose goal is to end child hunger in the United States. Food & Friends provides home-delivered meals and nutrition counseling for children and adults diagnosed with life-changing illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer.

“I like using as many local products as I can. We go to the farmers market every Sunday and get everything; our meats, our cheeses,” said Julia. “During the wintertime when it’s closed they’ll deliver to us. Charlottetown Farm delivers all of our cheeses and Stony Point Farm delivers our beef. Everything’s antibiotic-free.”

Of course there are more Mustang chefs making their mark on the culinary world. Chris Wroblewski '03 is currently revamping the menu at the Fox’s Den gastropub in Annapolis, Md. as the Chef de Cuisine. The restaurant features artisan pizzas, craft beers and whiskey. Chris has been putting his own creative spin on the restaurant's dishes, and adding his own such as the delicious and creamy rabbit risotto.

But the culinary world is a difficult business. Even with the most fantastic dishes, the hours are long and the work is endless. The craft requires a dedication unlike any other – there are no ‘off days.’

“Make sure it’s something you really want to do,” Dwayne advised.

“I think that the best thing you can do is just get your hands in the kitchen,” said Julia. “Figure out if you really want to do it. Get in the kitchen – even if you’re just a dishwasher – get in and see what everyone’s doing around you.”

Julia also suggested that students considering a culinary career volunteer outside of school. She herself volunteered at a soup kitchen with her mother in her freshman year at Bishop McNamara once a month.

“Volunteering is also a great way to give back and also figure out if culinary is something you really want to do,” she added.

The road may be long and difficult for those interested in a career in the culinary world. However, if you have the passion and dedication, the possibilities are endless as to what you can do with those skills. Culinary can be more than cooking.

“I love being able to create and to teach, and hopefully make a positive impact on my guests and the community through the work I do,” said

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Dwayne. “A teaching opportunity may arise if I have a young cook who is misinformed about how to make a certain dish. I’ll pull that cook aside and go through the process once or twice with them step by step, and make sure they get it. I want to make sure that they understand the concept of building flavors.”

“I didn’t think that I would be opening a restaurant so young!” Julia laughed. “I always pictured myself owning my own restaurant, I just didn’t know when it was going to happen in my life. I want to have more – I want to open at least four restaurants by the time I’m 35 years old. But also catering, I definitely want to expand into catering.”

There is no shortage of the variety of cuisines that exist in the world or the things you can do with a culinary career. More than just cooking in the industry, you can provide support to local farmers or work in the nonprofit sector providing meals to those in need.

As with everything else at Bishop McNamara, the possibilities are endless. Thus, our chef alumni have each taken their own approach and flair to the cooking styles and careers they have chosen. So while there are a variety of cooking styles, ideas and goals that are shared by our chef alumni, they are all connected back to Bishop McNamara. They are all connected back home.

Join us for a special event on June 9, 2016 at Nage Bistro, DC

1600 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 Be on the lookout for future Bishop McNamara High School events at Flavor and other locations. Keep an eye on our social media pages for updates and details.

Flavor

15 East Centre St., Baltimore, MD 21202

Fox’s Den

179B Main St., Annapolis, MD 21401

Tesoro

4400 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008

mustang On September 27, 2015 Bishop McNamara High School proudly welcomed Daniel Harder of the Ailey II Dance Company to teach a master class to our dance students. Originally from Bowie, Md., Mr. Harder began his dancing education at Suitland High School's Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. He has toured internationally in performances such as West Side Story.

Charles Kelly '17, Wide Receiver and Backup Quarterback for Bishop McNamara's football team, was named DC Touchdown Club's High School Player of the Week.

Ms. Kathryn Heneghan, Fine Arts Teacher and Assistant Fine Arts Department Chair, attended and participated in Artomatic 2015, a six-week-long art festival in Prince George's County. She provided her perspective on the arts and showcased some of her creations, featuring her love of books and dedication to art and teaching.

Three Bishop McNamara students were selected for the 2016 Maryland All State Band & Orchestra. Jada Twitty '16 played percussion First Chair, this was Jada's third consecutive year in All State. Alora McManus '17 played baritone saxophone - the only baritone saxophone selected.

Alanna Imes '17 played viola, this was Alanna's second year in All State.

The Bishop McNamara High School Lady Mustangs Basketball team participated in the prestigious and challenging Nike Tournament of Champions. Established in 1997, the Nike Tournament of Champions is universally considered the greatest high school basketball event in the world. The Lady Mustangs won three of their four games.

The Boys Varsity Basketball Team participated in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Tournament in Lewes, Del. The Mustangs were victorious in both games they played against Roselle Catholic and Cape Henlopen.

moments For the 2015 Annual Food Drive, Bishop McNamara High School collected the equivalent of 7 tons of food between cash and cans. Thank you everyone for your generosity and service to the community.

December 5, 2015 the BMHS Bands participated in the WAMTC Band Festival. The Concert and Symphonic Bands both received overall ratings of "Excellent" with "Superior" in Sight-Reading. Wind Ensemble received "Superior" ratings from the judges.

Faculty member Pat Skerpon and former faculty member Katie Parks Skerpon welcomed new baby Nora Kathryn Skerpon into the world on November 25, 2015 - the day before Thanksgiving!

Our own Coach Keith Goganious attended the 2016 NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. Only 30 former NFL players with at least 5 years' Head Coaching experience at the high school level or currently coaching collegiate athletics were permitted to attend.

On Saturday, December 12, 2015, the National Honor Society for Dance Arts students and their moderator Victoria Keithline LR '90 worked in partnership with Joint Base Andrews Chapel to create care packages filled with toiletry items, hats, gloves, socks, scarves and small toys to be donated to S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), an interfaith, communitybased organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation's capital.

The BMHS InterAct club held a coat and blanket drive in January that collected 28 coats, more than 20 pairs of gloves, mittens and scarves, and 7 blankets that were donated to a nonprofit organization called Angelic Touch, which prepares and passes out nonperishable foods, hot meals and winter clothing items to the homeless.

DANCER. ENGINEER. ENTREPRENEUR.

Photo courtesy of rhondajordan.com

It’s rare that you find a dancer who doubles as an engineer. But that’s exactly who had been arranged as the keynote speaker at the 2016 Bishop McNamara High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony: Dr. Rhonda Jordan-Antoine '00; an entrepreneur, Energy Specialist for the World Bank and renowned dancer. Dr. Jordan-Antoine began dancing at the age of six, and she continued pursuing education for her talent at Bishop McNamara. Not only did she participate in the dance program, but Dr. Jordan-Antoine also emphasized her studies in subjects such as social studies, math and science. She continued her education at Columbia University in New York City, where she obtained both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in electrical engineering. Afterwards she continued to dance on stages all over the world, including South America, Europe and Africa – it was during these travels that she realized how she could use her education and skills to contribute to the improvement of societies in third-world countries. Dr. Jordan-Antoine became one of the founding members of EGG-energy, an energy service devoted to connecting low-income individuals with electricity.

Since 2009 EGG-energy has been operating and serving the people of Tanzania. Dr. Jordan-Antoine went on to obtain her Ph.D from MIT.

JOFFREY BALLET Bishop McNamara High School has been host to representatives from a variety of esteemed arts organizations. Among these representatives is Mr. Michael Blake, Director of Jazz and Contemporary Programs at the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet School. Mr. Blake has visited the School on more than one occasion, giving master classes to Bishop McNamara dance students and auditioning those eligible for the Joffrey Ballet School’s annual Summer Intensive.

Because of this program, Bishop McNamara students have gone on to earn scholarships to Joffrey and received additional training and education in dance.

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WE ARE ALUMNI

I AM

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'

"

A

Marlo J.W. Ford LR 87

word with our

A lumni A ssociation P resident

If you have not taken a tour of Bishop McNamara High School, I highly recommend it.

Come see what our future alumni are doing – you will be amazed.

As a La Reine graduate, why did you choose to connect with Bishop McNamara, and in what ways do you think that the modern BMHS has maintained the La Reine legacy?

I have to admit that when La Reine closed, I was skeptical about being “a part of Bishop McNamara.” I was a La Reineian. But, as time passed, I remembered my fellow all-girls sister schools; Notre Dame, St. Cecilia, ICA (Immaculate Conception Academy) and others. I had not heard of any other school incorporating the legacy of these all-girls schools within their walls to preserve their history.

The legacy of La Reine is fortunate to have alumni women work at Bishop McNamara, a President who realizes how special a place it was to us and a Board of Directors who back the dreams of the La Reine Science Wing and help to spear it to fruition. In doing all this, what was the true value, the noble commitment, and its essences of Bishop McNamara, “To Think with Christ” never diminished.

The real beauty is that there was an integration of the best of both schools; the steadfast legacy held true by the men of Bishop McNamara, and the legacy of La Reine held within the walls of maroon and gold truly speaks to a brother/sister relationship between the schools. Over the years, all the things that I have heard about Bishop McNamara from student and alumni parents have been nothing but positive with regards to the evolving curriculum, school spirit and the commitment of the parents.

How do you continue to stay connected with the School?

Currently, I have the pleasure of serving as the President of the Bishop McNamara/La Reine Alumni Association. I am still in my first year and I have to say it has been AMAZING. Throughout the year, I have made an effort to visit the school for various sporting events, open house, Homecoming, and fundraisers such as the Fall Gala and the Sip and Swing.

Social media has also made it easy to stay connected with the School.

Why do you think it is important to join the Alumni Association?

One of the visions the Alumni Board has is to create an entity where alumni can reconnect as well as an environment where young alumni can connect and reach out other alumni in their field to be potential mentees. I am a big proponent of mentorship. When a young person can put themselves under the aegis of a professional and glean information and wisdom, what society gets is a better-trained person.

The other vision for the Alumni Association is to allow our alumni who own businesses a chance to reach out to their McNamara and La Reine family. Support should not end once you receive your diploma. If I know there is an alumni who has a service or product that I need and use, why would I not support my fellow brother/sister alumni?

What would you say to someone to convince them to join the Alumni Association?

I will admit that, upon becoming Alumni President, I was nervous. I was truly stepping out of my comfort zone. I am more of a behind-the-scenes type of person. The alumni I have met in this past year have been warm, encouraging and just plain awesome. During this past Alumni Christmas Social, there were alumni from the first graduating classes of both schools to new alumni that graduated just last year.

Even if you are not in the immediate area, help us to help you to connect to the Alumni in your area. Never forget that the Alumni Association stands here to be supportive to our members. While our old homes of La Reine and Bishop McNamara house our memories, our legacy has an opportunity to flourish within a new generation of students.

I encourage you to be a part of the vision.

C onnect W ith M arlo !

E mail : alumnipresident @ bmhs . org ... A nd be sure to "L ike " the "B ishop M c N amara H igh S chool A lumni " F acebook P age !

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THE BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL & LA REINE HIGH SCHOOL

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION You’ll find many ways to stay in touch with your classmates, but only one “Association” is dedicated to keeping you informed and engaged through activities, programs, networking opportunities and publications.

Renewing, strengthening and developing life-long friendships are what you have to look forward to when you join the Alumni Association.

STAY CONNECTED

~

GET INVOLVED

WAYS TO JOIN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION If you are ready to be an active and engaged member of the Association, there are several simple ways to join!

• Fill out and return a registration form to the School • Sign-up at any alumni event this year • Join online at www.bmhs.org

For more information, contact Director of Alumni Relations, Bob Nolte, at robert.nolte@bmhs.org.

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~

BUILD LEGACY

BENEFITS 1. Across the nation and the globe, you’ll find a strong network of alumni involved with the Association.

Network with more than 11,000 alumni that call the Association “home.”

2. Members enjoy exclusive PERKS! Receive discounts from alumni-owned local businesses.

3. Association members receive special discounted rates at all special events including the Fall Gala, Annual Golf Tournament, Hall of Fame induction, and more.

4. Membership includes a special membership card, pin, and discounts at the Mustang Shop School Bookstore.

Hall of Fame Class of 2016

Stephen Smith '72

Since 1997 Bishop McNamara High School has formally recognized alumni scholar-athletes who excelled both in the classroom and on the field of athletic competition during their time at the School. Those who are selected as members of the Hall of Fame exemplify the lessons they learned in athletics and through their Catholic education - teamwork, integrity, the dignity of hard work, discipline, determination, service to others and respect – both in their work and in their communities. The Hall of Fame seeks to honor those Bishop McNamara and La Reine alumni who have continued to live their lives in accordance with these principles.

Our 2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was a wonderful night full of fun and memories. We wish to thank everyone who was in attendance. If you weren't able to attend the event, we encourage you to visit our Alumni Facebook Page and see photos taken at the event.

Michael Casey '76

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2016 INDUCTEES: Stephen Smith '72 Michael Casey '76 Lynda Hewins Wyatt LR '84 Waine Bacon '98 1984 Wrestling WMAC Metro Conference 1995 Women's Softball Division II

Lynda Hewins Wyatt LR '84

(inductees are pictured with Anthony Johnson '88 HOF, Athletics Director, Dr. Marco J. Clark '85, President/CEO & Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Principal)

But the Hall of Fame isn't quite full yet! We still have space for our other wonderful coaches and alumni athletes who haven't yet been inducted.

Bishop McNamara High School will now accept nominations for the Hall of Fame year-round! To make your nominations, please visit www.bmhs.org and visit the Hall of Fame page.

Waine Bacon '98

1984 Wrestling WMAC Metro Conference

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER 1995 Women's Softball Division II

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La Reine & McNamara '74 On January 14, 2016 The Greater Washington, D.C. Region of the National Organization of Italian American Women honored three esteemed women. Among the honorees was our own Gemma Puglisi LR '74, media expert and Assistant Professor of Communications at American University.

'75 The audiobook distributor Audible has released a new audiobook by Beverly Oliver LR '75 entitled: Sojourn to Honduras Sojourn to Healing: Why An Herbalist's View Matters More Today Than Ever Before.

'78 & '79 Christine Nairn, daughter of Thomas Nairn '78 and Danamarie Herbert Nairn LR '79 was selected by the U.S. Women's National Team to participate in the Victory Tour in celebration of the World Cup Championship. She played the position of midfielder on the soccer team.

ALUMNINEWS

'95 Alfonso N. Cornish II '95, a member of the Bishop McNamara Hall of Fame, was recently promoted to Government Affairs Manager at Target Corporation. In this position, Alfonso will lead the political advocacy and lobbying efforts for Target in 13 states, including Maryland.

'97 Ed Moore '97 and his wife Tiffany have a new addition to their family: Morgan Sanaa Moore. On January 20, 2016 Ed and Tiffany welcomed Morgan to the world.

'98 On Saturday November 21, 2015 Ben Rohan '98 married faculty member Angela De Leonibus in St. Michael's, Md. Many Bishop McNamara alumni, faculty and staff were in attendance.

'91 Melissa Radford Andrews LR '91 and her husband Todd Andrews were blessed on October 10, 2015 with a baby girl - Eliza Faith Andrews. Eliza came into the world at 9 lbs. 4 oz. and 22.5 inches.

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'01 Lauren Williams '01 and Tifney Skyles welcomed a new addition to the family on November 10, 2015. At 6 lbs. 11 oz. and almost 20 inches long, Emery Rose Williams came into the world at the peak of holiday season and brought even more joy with her.

'04 Phillip San Gabriel '04 has returned to Bishop McNamara High School as our Conductor for Musical Performances.

After graduating from Howard University with both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music education, Phillip's career has included work in the District of Columbia and Prince George's County Public Schools systems.

'05 Kamisha Kellam '05 was selected as a recipient of the 2015 American Volleyball Coaches Association Minority Coaches Award: Live it, Love it, Coach it. Currently Kamisha is the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Howard University. From 2012-14 she served as the Bishop McNamara Head Varsity Volleyball Coach.

'82 Matt Slattery '82 has been appointed Chief Technology Officer with Calvert Education Services in Hunt Valley, Md. '85 As a result of his hard work, scholastic dedication and service during his doctorate education, our own President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark '85 has been inducted into the Creighton University Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society. Membership into this society is the highest honor that Creighton University confers upon its qualifying students.

Congratulations to Bernadette Joy Carroll '00 and Hakim Carroll '00 on the recent birth of their daughter, Savannah Raye at 5.12 lbs. and 19 inches!

'00 Jason Reynolds '00 continues to be recognized for his brilliant talent. Jason was invited, along with fellow author Brendan Kiely, to the White House as part of Innovation & The Arts: Prison Reform and Reentry in the 21st Century. Additionally, for his book All American Boys, Jason has been awarded the inaugural Walter Dean Myers Award for outstanding children's literature in the YA category. Jason received the award March 18, 2016 at a ceremony held at the Library of Congress. There were 50 titles considered for the award.

'06 Ninia Agustin '06 graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) from the University of Delaware. Ninia graduated previously from the Ailey/ Fordham BFA Program with a minor in business administration and summa cum laude honors.

Congratulations to Brittany Copeland '06 on her extensive academic success. After completing her B.S. at the University of Pittsburgh in 2010 and her M.S. at California University in 2013, Brittany has now completed her Doctorate at Hampton University.

'07 Air Force 1st Lt. Justin Smith '07 led a team consisting of contractors and military personnel to win the 2015 Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Annual Award for Cyber & IT Excellence. The award recognized the efforts of Justin and his team in standing up a 24/7 operations center, which specifically focused on prioritizing largescale maintenance across the Air Force, which included 850,000 systems.

'07 & '08 On January 30, 2016 Rashard Proctor '08 and Lysha Fuentes Proctor '07 proudly announced the birth of their daughter, Layna Proctor. The healthy baby girl was born at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 19 1/4 inches.

'10 Adrianna Cornish '10, a senior seconddegree nursing major at Salisbury University, was recently accepted into Sigma Theta Tau. The Sigma Theta Tau chapter promotes nursing excellence and shares nursing knowledge. Adrianna is also a recipient of the Maryland State Delegate Scholarship and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority as well as of the SU Student Nurses Association. She is also the second-degree representative for the Nursing Resources Committee.

Zoe Travers Douglass '10 married Justin Douglass. A number of alumni from the class of 2010 were in attendance at the October 24, 2015 ceremony.

Congratulations to Ashley Miles '10 on her engagement to Cyril Crenshaw!

Both Ashley and Cyril are alumni of East Tennessee State University. Cyril proposed to Ashley on December 25, 2015 - another reason to rejoice on the most celebratory day of the year.

Lauren Pickering '10 recently celebrated her graduation from Towson University with a degree in elementary education.

'11 Nicholas Gessner '11, a senior history major at Ohio Northern University, wrote a paper entitled: The Contribution of Americans to Guerrilla Warfare in the Philippines, 1942-45. The paper was accepted for a presentation at the Phi Alpha Theta 2016 Biennial Convention in Orlando, Fla.

'08 On October 18, 2015 Kaisha Sutton Huguley '08 hosted an hour-long onewoman showcase entitled A Legacy for our Daughters. The event featured performances and short films that she had created and directed that are by and about women throughout various historical periods.

Congratulations to Kelci Reedy '11, who recently graduated from St. John's University with a B.S. in photojournalism.

We are proud to announce that Katherine Hampton '11, a senior nursing major at Salisbury University, has been accepted into the Sigma Theta Tau honor society!

'09 We are proud to announce that, as of November 11, 2015, our own Caitlin Smith '09 has been appointed as a District Court Commissioner in and for St. Mary's County!

In the January 20, 2016 George Mason women's basketball game against Virginia Commonwealth University, Taylor Brown '11 scored 21 of the total 70 points, and set a personal milestone.

During the second quarter, Taylor surpassed 1,500 points for her career total, making her fifth all-time in George Mason program history.

Congratulations to Robert F. Brett '09 on his graduation from University of Maryland University College. Robert earned his Master of Business Administration degree.

Austin Spriggs '11 is set to graduate with a B.S. in entrepreneur management from Virginia Union University this coming May.

'12 Congratulations to Michael Piazza '12 on being recognized by and inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Tau Chapter Honor Society at University of Maryland University College. Alpha Sigma Lamdba Tau recognizes adult students seeking their first Bachelor's degree who show dedication to their academics.

Antonia Hill '12 has been selected as a Spelman College Ambassador for President Barack Obama's White House Initiative on HBCU's. She will be working to advance the President's executive order "promoting excellence, innovation and sustainability at historically black colleges and universities."

'13 On November 7, 2015 Andrew Feather '13, a junior broadcast journalism major at Elon University, won first place in the student division of the Associated Press Convention and Awards Luncheon "Best TV Feature Reporting" for his story entitled: Local Youth Baseball Coach in Need of Liver Transplant at the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.

Mandla "Kosi" Dunn '13 is making some big changes at the University of Maryland, College Park! Currently in his junior year at the university, Kosi is involved with a variety of clubs and activities both on and off campus, and has recently proposed a major through the Individual Studies program entitled "Transmedia Storytelling." The major, which has been accepted by the university, combines principles of digital media, creative writing and film theory.

'14 Alexander Myers '14, who is currently double majoring in international communications and media studies with a minor in political science, has been selected as the Associate Vice President for the Penn State Interfraternity Council!

These pages represent news shared with the Advancement Office from September 16, 2015 - February 17, 2016.

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EVENT & REUNION INFORMATION SAVE THE DATE MILITARY APPRECIATION BASEBALL GAME @ Bowie Baysox Stadium Men's Varsity v. DeMatha APRIL 16, 2016 LA REINE REUNION APRIL 17, 2016 MUSTANG CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT MAY 6, 2016 CARITAS JUNE 2, 2016 A CULINARY TASTE @ Nage Bistro Washington, D.C. JUNE 9, 2016 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GENERAL PHASE KICK-OFF SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

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LET BISHOP McNAMARA HELP PLAN YOUR REUNION Bishop McNamara High School is reaching out to the following Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School classes to help organize their upcoming reunions:

La Reine High School ‘66 Bishop McNamara & La Reine ‘71, ‘76, ‘81, ‘91 Bishop McNamara High School ‘96, ‘01, ‘06, ‘11 Starting in 2017, reunion events will take place during a pre-determined weekend in June. For the first year we happily focus on honoring the Bishop McNamara and La Reine graduating classes whose years end in 2 and 7 (i.e. - 1972, 1977, etc.); specific dates are to be announced – keep an eye on our social media pages for updates!

If you or any of your classmates have questions, need help, or are interested in forming a reunion committee, contact: Bob Nolte, Director of Alumni Relations robert.nolte@bmhs.org | 301.735.8401 ext. 111

BMHS faculty member and past parent Patti Imes and past parent Garry Imes at the 2015 Masquerade Fall Gala.

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WAYS TO SUPPORT

Supporting the Vision of Blessed Fr. Moreau and the Mission of Bishop McNamara High School Bishop McNamara High School relies on the generosity of our school community. Tuition alone does not fully fund the needs of the School. It is only through the thoughtfulness of caring individuals that Bishop McNamara has been able to flourish and meet the needs of our students.

Spes Unica Annual Fund Gifts of cash are available for immediate use by the School for academic programs, student resources, and faculty support.

Cross & Anchor Endowment The newly established endowment allows for current and future students to have access to the best teachers and resources for their education. Establishing of perpetual scholarships, department chairs, naming of buildings and fields and general donor-restricted gifts encompass the possibilities of the endowment.

Scholarship Fund Giving You may make a donation to individual scholarship funds, which have been set up as memorial or honorary scholarships, or scholarships endowed by certain organizations.

Matching Gifts Many businesses and corporations match personal gifts to educational institutions made by employees, retirees, and family members.

Gifts of Securities & Stocks Gifts of securities and stocks can help you save on capital gains tax and offer a charitable income tax deduction.

Memorial & Honorary Gifts Your memorial gift to Bishop McNamara can help to perpetuate the values that guided a loved one’s life. Gifts may honor a person during his or her lifetime or commemorate a significant event.

Real Estate Real estate can offer great potential for a charitable gift. Bishop McNamara High School will consider accepting a gift of a home, vacation property, condominium, undeveloped land, or other real estate.

Personal Property Gifts of assets such as cars, jewelry and boats are also welcomed.

Planned Giving Gifts made through charitable donations.

wills, trusts

and/or

through

IRA

For further information, please contact L'oreal Edmondson at 240.455.9618 or loreal.edmondson@bmhs.org.

United Way of the National Capital Area: #8895 • CFC: #62489 • Maryland Charity Campaign: #6137

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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 this page reflects news shared with the Advancement Office from September 16, 2015 - February 17, 2016.

Christopher Basiliko '87, brother of Anthony Basiliko '84 and Kevin Basiliko '92, passed away December 18, 2015. Donations can be made in his honor to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County.

Joseph Bell '75, brother of Timothy Bell '71, Christopher Bell '76 and Phillip Bell '81, passed away in early November.

Brother Joseph Berg, C.S.C. passed away on January 27, 2016. He was a Holy Cross Brother who spent much of his time in the Bishop McNamara community.

JD Haardt '67 passed away peacefully November 1, 2015. His funeral mass was held November 13 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockville, Md. A remembrance reception followed at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Lydia A. Johnson, grandmother of Wayne Johnson, Jr. '13 and Justin Johnson '17, passed away.

Robert Patchan '79 passed away on November 29, 2015.

Ms. Sharon Clark, grandmother of Kendall Clark '15, passed away January 10, 2016.

Dorothy Ann Pearson, mother of Father Everett Pearson, pastor at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church and active supporter of Bishop McNamara High School, passed away. The funeral was held Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Church of the Nativity in Washington, D.C.

Teresa B. Day, mother of alumni parent Margaret Klimczak and grandmother of Jennifer Klimczak '02, Rebecca Klimczak '04 and faculty member Nick Klimczak '07 passed away January 10, 2016.

Sally Hall Robbins, mother of staff member Elaine Greene, passed away on December 25, 2015. The family held a small memorial service at Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Gabriel Dickerson, brother of Raymond Dickerson '99 passed away January 10, 2016.

Norbert A. Savoy, father of Derek Savoy '89 and Antoinette Savoy LR '92, passed away on July 14, 2014

Brenda Escano, mother of Jamie Escano Arambulo 04, Jillianne Escano Jackson '05 and Jabie Escano '08 (deceased 2009), and mother-in-law of Edwin Arambulo '04 passed away February 15, 2016.

Keith Sewell '84 passed away January 22, 2016.

Betty Cady, mother of Dr. Michael Cady '67, passed away.

Joseph Esposito '88 passed away August 19, 2015.

Milton Goldsmith, father of Marlisa Goldsmith '07 and Matthew Goldsmith '10, husband of BMHS Board of Directors member Dr. Marilyn Goldsmith, passed away. The funeral service was held Saturday, November 21, 2015.

Paul Graham, father of faculty member Ashley Graham, passed away December 29, 2015.

John Sutton, father of alumni parent and faculty member Rhoda Sutton and grandfather of Kaisha Sutton Huguley '08, passed away.

The funeral service was held on November 25, 2015 at Park Road Community Church.

Valerie Taylor, aunt of Sean Baker '08, passed away in late September. The funeral was held on October 8, 2015 at From the Heart Ministries.

Emmett G. Trainor, Jr., father of Christopher Trainor '85 and Joseph Trainor '88, passed away.

Brianna Wilson, sister of current student Eric Wilson '19, passed away the morning of December 25, 2015.

Anthony F. Mammano '82, husband of staff member Sandy Mammano, father of Victoria Mammano '09, Celena Mammano '10 and future Mustang Tony Mammano, Jr., passed away on November 21, 2015. Tony and his family have been dedicated supporters of Bishop McNamara High School. Alumni family members include siblings Rose Mammano Ayres LR '79 (Jeff Ayers '79), Joe Mammano '80 (Beth), Michael Mammano '83 (deceased), Vince Mammano '84 (Nancy), faculty member Angie Mammano Diehlmann LR '85 (Chuck), Frank Mammano '87 (Laura) and Nick Mammano '89 (Cyndi Wyne Mammano LR '89). He was the uncle of countless nieces and nephews who attended Bishop McNamara, including current students Danielle Pickering '16 and Ryan Diehlmann '18. In lieu of flowers, an education fund has been set up for Tony Mammano, Jr. Please contact Michael Byrne with Morgan Stanley for further instructions.

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

Bricks are $250 and benches are $1,000.

For further information, please contact L'oreal Edmondson, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 240.455.9618 or loreal.edmondson@bmhs.org.

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

OUR MISSION Bishop McNamara High School, a college preparatory school in the Holy Cross tradition, exists to educate and form young men and women in and through the Catholic faith. The School challenges its students to think with Christ, a thought animated by the Gospel, manifested in service and informed by academic excellence.

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