EC Magazine, Summer 2017

SUMMER 2017

Magaz

I N S I D E E A ST S I D E C AT H O L

EC MAGAZINE Inside Eastside Catholic

SUMMER

2017

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From Our Dean of Students

5

From Our President

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In the Classroom

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Our Community

10 Farewells 12 We Are EC 14 Alumni Profiles 16 Volunteer Feature 18 Class Notes ON THE COVER Freshman Kate Jendrezak was crowned State Champion in the 800m at the WIAA State Track and Field Meet with an incredible time of 2:10.99—the fastest time across all classiďŹ cations (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A)

and a new school record.

OUR MISSION Eastside Catholic School is a Catholic faith-based educational community where students learn to integrate their thinking and believing in ways that encourage intellectual excellence, nurture relationships and inspire a life of leadership and service to others.

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Destiny

is a life changing retreat experience because it

reminds every individual—leader, teacher or student—that no matter your circumstance, you are a valuable member of this school community and are supported and loved more than you thought possible.

— Mallie Floresca ’17

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From Our Dean of Students

A

s Dean of Students at Eastside Catholic School, my days are unpredictable, exciting, varied and rewarding. This role allows me to be involved in effecting many aspects of a student’s EC life. My hope is that through my work I can create positive change, inclusivity and respect.

On any given day, I might deal with a dress code violation, a family emergency, an academic struggle or a peer issue. Our students are young, inexperienced and just beginning to find their way independently in the world. I see my role as one of a guide, helping them to find the tools within to solve a problem, realize a mistake or make a change if necessary. I am passionate about helping others— it brings me great joy and I am grateful to be in a position where I can influence young scholars as they navigate new experiences and

challenge themselves to reach for greatness.

I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia with my mother and three sisters. Our family traditions are greatly influenced by my Caribbean background—full of song, self-expression and a passion for learning. Growing up, accountability was imperative to maintain a successfully functioning home life, and is central to my approach to education. My position as dean of students and as a school leader has allowed me to make contributions to help shape students’ paths to improve opportunities for success.

While most of our students thrive, to fully realize our mission, we must address the diverse learning needs of our entire student body. In my work, it is this support that I am most proud of. As a school, we provide tutors through National Honor Society, work closely with teachers and administrators to make sure our students are held accountable for their actions and support diversity and inclusion awareness efforts within our school community—just to name a few. These provisions improve the overall well-being of many students; I see students who are more confident in their ability to pursue personal interests and to challenge themselves because they know that they are supported.

My work is important to me and I am overjoyed to witness the amazing transformation in many of our students as they move from self-doubt to walking with confidence. That is God letting me know that I am on the right track and I know I am serving my purpose.

Amber Johnson Dean of Students

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From Our President

T

Dear D ear Eastside Catholic Community, he 2016-17 school year has been

outstanding. We have athletic teams that are more than competitive and a music program with confident students who can perform in front of their peers at assemblies, in concerts and at liturgies.

We have Broadway-caliber performers and Crusaders committed to service for no other reason than it is the right thing to do.

Because of persistence and diligent effort, we have a long list of students receiving recognition on our honor rolls. Our seniors have gained college acceptances from first choice schools such as Yale, Notre Dame, Georgetown, University of Washington and military academies. The moral and spiritual climate of Eastside Catholic and these first-rate achievements could not be accomplished without the tireless dedication of our faculty.

As you know, our faculty, staff and administration are here for one reason, the education of our students. Jay Matthews, education reporter and columnist for the Washington Post and author of Escalante: The Best Teacher in America describes the three rules of great teaching: • High expectations: Have the belief that students can learn.

• Personal contact: Have an individual relationship with each student.

• Creative use of time: Suggesting classrooms are open and teachers are available at lunch, before and after school, on Saturdays and during the summer.

Abraham Heschel wrote, “Everything depends on the person who stands in front of the classroom…to guide a student to the Promised Land, he/she must have been there first. When asking, ‘Do I stand for what I teach? Do I believe what I say?’ He/she must be able to answer in the affirmative. What we need more than anything else is not

textbooks but text people. It is the teacher who is the text that pupils read; they are the text students will never forget.”

I trust you agree with me that our faculty has the characteristics mentioned above. I have witnessed and you have experienced many instances that confirm the dedication of our team of professionals.

Through generous donations and good fiscal management, Eastside Catholic School has been able to make available the various resources required by our faculty to accomplish their work. When you consider the many employment opportunities available for talented faculty in our area, it is truly miraculous that we have attracted and retained such a talented group of people.

As another outstanding year of school closes and I move on to new challenges, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire community both internally and externally for your support, great efforts and hard work. You do make a difference in the lives of our students and through them you are making the world incrementally a better place for everyone.

Enjoy the summer break. Relax, read a good book, enjoy your families and friends.

Best wishes and God’s grace.

Sincerely,

John T. T Kennedy President EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017

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In The Classroom

Col lege: Centra l Wash i ngton U n iversi t y Free ti me: H i ki ng , Ma r io Ka r t , fa m i ly ja m sessions Hob bies: M usic a nd LEGOS In teresti ng fac t a bout you rself: I don ’ t have a spleen Favor i te movie: Lord of the Ri ngs Favor i te m usicia n or ba nd : U n i ted States Marine Band Favor i te gen res of m usic : Classica l , heavy metal, jazz

EC’s Music Man Jonathan Boysen

How many years have you been teaching at EC?

encourage my musical skills, my parents had me go watch the high school band once a week.

I’ve been teaching two years at EC, both as the band director. I taught for 17 years in Oregon and Alaska before coming to EC. I’ve always taught band and have taught choir and world drumming as well. I enjoy helping people and with my love for music, teaching seemed like the best direction to take my life.

What instruments do you play now and which is your favorite?

What was the first instrument you learned to play?

Was there someone who inspired you?

Piano, when I was three years old. My mom was a piano teacher and so it was always a part of my life. In elementary school, I lived in a small town and they didn’t have music. To

My high school band director, Dan Lundberg.

He had a passion for constructing, by hand, the largest percussion apparatuses possible.

He would often build them in his garage or convince the facilities people to help him.

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I can play most of them, but I’m most skilled on the trombone. It’s definitely my favorite but I also love playing percussion.

It’s challenging and there are so many cool tone colors that you can create with it.

For one piece, he created a 6’ x 10’ rack to suspend several bass drums and metal objects. He was also the coordinator for the All-State band last year and gave me a left over brake drum (from a car) used by his band for our percussion ensemble to use here at EC. Outside of class he was always willing to pause whatever he was working on to talk with us if we needed it.

Is there an EC band performance that stands out for you?

The very first football game when I heard the band play “Jungle Boogie” for the first time.

Their sound was huge. I had no idea that a band of 35 musicians could create a sound as big as a band of 100.

“Every student should have the opportunity to better themselves by being in band.”

Is there a magic number of students you are looking for in a school band?

All of them. Research shows that music is the most important subject that you can take in school—it is the one subject that reinforces and makes you stronger in all the other subjects. A great example of this is the Seahawks. They always have music going during practice. Several players are strong musicians as well. Earl Thomas plays four instruments! Every student should have the opportunity to better themselves by being in band.

What do your students gain from traveling?

Traveling gives students opportunities that

they can’t get at home. I aim to take students to a place where they can gain a once in a lifetime musical experience. During our recent trip to Anaheim, the band students participated in a recording session with a Hollywood conductor who has conducted the soundtracks to several major blockbuster movies. That’s an experience they can’t get in Seattle.

What innovations do you see on the horizon for band classes of the future?

One of the biggest innovations that has come along recently is software that enables students to get feedback on their playing.

Right now, the most current software can only evaluate if a student is playing the correct notes and rhythms. I see the

technology improving to include other aspects of playing such as dynamics and articulations.

Do you have a different teaching approach for middle school and high school?

Yes, with high school I can use a lot more abstract metaphors when I’m teaching. Middle schoolers like things more black and white.

What is the best part about being a teacher?

Watching students grow in their abilities of what they can do.

Any advice for students?

Practice!

EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017

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Our Community

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Our exceptional Eastside Catholic School community gathered on March 25 for the 32nd Annual STARS Gala Auction supporting our students and school, both now and in the future. We are tremendously proud of all that we achieved together, both before and on auction night, and give our profound thanks to the over 540 auction guests, 50 pre-event volunteers, 70 event night volunteers, 31 auction sponsors and hundreds of individual and business donors.

This year’s Making a Difference effort exponentially grew the Pope Francis Endowment providing ongoing financial support for Eastside Catholic School’s Learning Support Services and the Options Program. The funds generated through the 2017 STARS Gala Auction, including the 2017 Making a Difference combined with initial Pope Francis Endowment funds, reached a record net total of $1,171,684! The endowment is named in recognition of Pope Francis who is a champion of Catholic inclusive education.

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Thank You to Our Sponsors!

5 1•Auction Co-Chairs Mayten Gross and Cindy Huse 2•EC Parent Floret Richardson 3•EC Alumni Johnny Bannick ’12 and Marlena Norwood ’12 with Father Heric 4•EC Parent Thomas Padilla 5•EC Parents Marina Tebben, Tracy Walker and Jaimie Walker 6•Student volunteers

PJolineausseat

Jen DerGarabedian

n e xt y e a r’ s a u ct io n : March 17, 2018 3

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Farewells

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

These three long-time members of the EC family have put programs and processes into place that our staff and faculty will continue to build on for years to come. We thank them for their dedication, their leadership and their many years of friendship.

“

Arlene Naganawa

Your quiet professionalism and unshakable belief in the ability of each student to be successful sets a high standard for teachers everywhere. Thanks Arlene!

A

”

rlene Naganawa leaves Eastside Catholic knowing she will continue to be involved with helping young people and says, “I will not be sitting around.” She has taught at EC for the past 10 years, beginning her teaching career at the high school, teaching one year of English at the Newport campus. From there, she has taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade humanities classes at the Sammamish campus for the past nine years. Arlene, a teacher for 43 years, said recently, “I have been a teacher longer than many of our faculty and staff have been alive!”

Arlene knew she wanted to be a teacher while she was still in high school and began teaching right after she graduated from college. One of the highlights of her teaching career was when the Harry Potter book series was published. “I was given a copy of the first book before it was released in the U.S.,” Arlene said, “I read the book aloud to my seventh-grade students; it was unlike any book they had ever heard.” When the second book was released in England, she was again given an advanced copy. “I promised the students they could read it one at a time and the kids would cheer each time I gave the copy to the next student, as if the book was a rock star.” This was truly a highlight for her as a language arts teacher.

Arlene filled many roles at EC—spelling bee advisor, department chair, curriculum development and more. She will miss the EC community but looks forward to the freedom of retirement and spending time with family and friends.

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“

Starting with bear skins and stone knives, you built an incredible tech platform that transformed our school. Thanks Brad!

B

”

Brad Pritchett

rad Pritchett first became involved at EC as a parent volunteer in 1995, then became a contractor and, in 2003, he was hired as a full-time employee in the IT Department. Prior to his role at EC, Brad worked in the electric utility industry as a computer programmer, project manager and department manager.

The Eastside Catholic IT Department’s responsibilities are ever changing and Brad worked on the technology planning and implementation for the Sammamish campus from the beginning. He has been instrumental in managing numerous technological advances the school has gone through during his tenure. Some of these changes included moving to cloud-based systems in recent years and overseeing the implementation of the 1:1 Technology Program in 2016. One of Brad’s fondest memories of his time at EC was the move to our permanent home in Sammamish. “The move was a major milestone for everyone associated with EC and was a complex logistical challenge for the IT Department as well.”

Brad plans to spend time with his wife, two dogs and two cats in retirement.

He is the parent of three EC graduates, Joel ’99, Nick ’01 and Paul ’04.

Barbara Schille “

She exemplifies the core values that distinguish Eastside Catholic as a school. Does she have to retire?

B

”

arbara Schille has been a familiar face at EC for 18 years. Most parents and students will remember Barbara in the Attendance Office, while also managing the Nurse’s Room and athletic eligibility. The last few years, she has worked wherever needed which has included the Admissions Office, Business Office, Student Services, Advancement and the Office of the President.

Barbara will miss “watching the integrity and work ethic of our amazing teachers as they challenge our teens whether it is in the classroom, on a retreat or on a mission trip. I will also miss Father Heric and the many opportunities I have had at EC to enrich my personal faith journey.” Barbara knew the students and made a point of being deeply involved at EC by praying with students, chaperoning mission trips and assisting with Peace and Justice Day. One of her favorite memories is “move-in day” at the Sammamish campus, “I walked into the new building, vacuum cleaner in hand and the first person to greet me was President Jim Kubacki with a camera to record the event.

The second person to greet me was Principal Greg Marsh. They were both so proud of the accomplishment. The three of us had a quiet moment of awe and appreciation together before we began the task of unpacking.”

In retirement, Barbara looks forward to spending more time with her three children and grandchildren and traveling with her husband Bob. Barbara’s youngest son Matt is a 2003 graduate of EC.

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We Are EC

CHEER

SSE GIRLS LACRO

BACK TO BACK defend their 2016 state title Lacrosse team fought hard to e Back-to-back champs! The Girls championship game and cam e stat zing ama an ed play on. They title for the Eastside e stat and finished with a 14-2 seas third the is This nd.

Bainbridge Isla away with a 16-11 victory over .

Catholic Girls Lacrosse program

on to state title this year and went er won their second consecutive Back-to-back champs! EC Che on! nati finished 12th in the compete at Nationals where they

More Crusaders CROSS COUNTRY

to Cross Country sent four runners Kate h, Fait k Dere : year this e stat Ashlyn Simmons, Kate Jendrezak and Ramos. Special shoutout to Kate nish, Jendrezak for her 10th place fi ! ium pod the on spot a her ing earn

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ING BOYS SWIMM

e essful season in 12 years! Thre Boys Swim had their most succ inay, Tugu sar Cae ts: even al vidu swimmers went to state in indi . The Crusaders sent two relay Dane Williams and Nick Williams sar, Dane and Nick as well as Cae ded inclu h whic e teams to stat er.

Butl y Jimm Carson Holliday and

WRESTLING

ve) and EC Wrestlers Duncan Heger (abo nished as Metro Dustin Johnson (below) both fi pete at the Champions and moved on to com e.

Dom ma Taco the in sic Clas Mat

TRACK

SSE BOYS LACRO

Freshman Kate Jendrezak, who was crowned State Champion in the 800m at the WIAA State Track and Field Meet, became the first female individual track and field champion at EC.

edible ! The Crusaders played an incr onship in school history this year on mpi cha seas e r stat thei ed rst fi r nish fi thei won team The EC Boys Lacrosse ory over rival O’Dea. sed to a convincing 18-2 vict championship game and crui all. over 17-2 ue, undefeated in the Metro Leag

AT STAT E D TRACK & FIEL

peted Six Track and Field athletes com (13th at state: sprinter David Pritchard (7th 3200m), 200m), runner Ashlyn Ramos high jump), high jumper Drew Butler (10th jump) long h (12t e Grau n Rya long jumper ured, pict (not nt Brya and shot putter Mae 10th shot put).

BASEBALL

FOOTBALL

. This playoffs for a sixth straight year Football returned to the state . iakin Kam fell to they made it semifinal round but

year

e their way through the Metro Varsity Crusaders Baseball mad to defend their Metro title and nals fi the to tournament bracket a 7-0 victory over Lakeside, with y they did it! They came awa a bid to the state tournament! the Metro Championship and

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Alumni Profiles

Meet two alums whose

atypical day jobs keeps them smiling What do you do with a college degree in clothing textiles and design? If you are Kelsey Otter, you use it daily in your work as a Luxury Manager for The RealReal. After graduating from Eastside Catholic in 2006, Kelsey attended the University of Idaho.

She returned to the Seattle area post-college and began working for Zulily as an assistant buyer. The pace was quick and the experience amazing in honing her eye for what people like and what will sell. It is from here that Kelsey headed to The RealReal.

Her days are busy in her new role. The RealReal is the largest online authenticated luxury consignment website and Kelsey is the only Luxury Manager in Seattle. Her day might consist of 4-6 home visits across King County.

Her job is to view the items individuals want to consign and to make the decision on what will sell online. Kelsey enjoys the process. “People are happy to slim down their closet and make money at the same time.” The relationships she makes are lasting—most of her clients are repeat consignors.

“People begin to enjoy the process and it can be freeing to have less clutter and less stuff,” Kelsey says.

Helping people remove items from their homes goes beyond The RealReal company events and meetings for Kelsey. She is also a professional organizer and speaks at conferences where she gives her “Get It Together” talk. “I am all about helping people organize their space a bit more to help their lives feel more manageable, fun and free.”

Her time at Eastside Catholic was memorable. “I loved that at EC you had the opportunity to be involved in almost anything you were interested in. The size of the school allowed you more freedom and choice,” says Kelsey.

Her advice to EC students and recent graduates is to keep an open mind about college, be willing to do something different and know that it is OK to branch out. Kelsey keeps in contact with many EC friends and helped to plan her 10-year reunion last summer.

Personally, Kelsey’s life is busy in positive ways. She recently married and added a puppy named Harvey into the mix. Enjoying the day-to-day tasks of a job is a success in itself. She meets new people weekly, forms longstanding relationships, helps individuals enjoy parting with expensive items and has a second career on the side. She is one busy Crusader.

To learn more about The RealReal contact Kelsey at kelsey.otter@therealreal.com.

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Kelsey Otter

David Skiba

When David Skiba first attempted to open the door to the space that would eventually become his brewery, No Boat Brewing, the door was partially blocked by a warehoused boat. Serendipity? The name that he and his partners had joked about previously for months was cemented at that moment.

David’s path to owning a brewery in Snoqualmie is one paved with hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. From earning a master’s degree in viticulture and enology to working at several prestigious wineries to now co-owning his own brewery—his journey has been nothing but interesting.

David graduated from Eastside Catholic in 2009 and went on to St. Olaf College in Minnesota to earn his bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies. Even before heading off to college David knew what he wanted to do, “My family was always interested in wine and I knew I wanted to be involved in wine as more than a hobby.”

After earning his undergraduate degree, David headed to California to pursue a master’s degree at the University of California, Davis in viticulture and enology. The wine industry is a mix of art and science and was a perfect match for David’s interests. After graduate school, he went to work for Cliff Lede wineries in California. In 2015, David decided to head north to be closer to home and became the assistant winemaker at Woodinville-based Lauren Ashton Cellars.

As his career in the wine industry continued, he was also brewing beer at home. David and his father enjoyed crafting beer and soon

the demand for their homemade brew got them thinking. As David says, “The yeast species used in wine and ale are the same, much of the flavor comes from the yeast.” His experience making wine and his education in the science of wine and alcohol production give him insights that most home brewers do not have. What appeals to David about making beer is that there is a lot of work that goes into it, “You can design beer but wine is created more on its own. I can be intentional in how I craft beer.”

The idea for opening a brewery goes back to 2014. His parents were visiting and while discussing plans for a brewery, the conversation veered to how no one reads the story that is often printed on the label or packaging for craft beer. “I knew we needed a name that was simple, short and catchy,” says David. Although not a boat owner, David liked the idea of a nautical theme for a label—destiny intervened in the form of a warehouse utilized for boat storage.

Along with his father and another partner, they began to strategize plans for their brewery and opened No Boat Brewing Company on October 27, 2016. No Boat beers are made onsite in a unique space which is welcoming to all—including dogs and children. The space will continue to evolve and grow—as demonstrated by the recent addition of outdoor seating. David says, “I feel like I’m throwing a party every night and I feel obligated to give people a good time.”

To learn more about No Boat Brewing, visit noboatbrewing.com.

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Volunteer Feature

Mary Ellen Smith £ Where did you grow up? Go to college?

I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio called Broadview Heights. Education has always been important in my life, starting with Catholic school grades 1-12. For undergrad, I chose a dual major in Operations Research Management and Procurement at Bowling Green State University. I earned an MBA at Wright State University with a concentration in Finance and Logistics and completed post-graduate coursework through the Stanford University Executive Program.

£ Were you always interested in tech as a career?

Yes, as soon as I had the first interview in a semiconductor fabrication site, I was sold. Technology is absolutely fascinating to me in many ways, it keeps me on my toes as it is rapidly changing, allowing me to lead in new areas of focus as the industry continues to advance. Every day there’s something new to learn!

£ Do you see yourself as a mentor to other women? How? Oh my, yes! I have mentored many women as well as men through various points of their careers and even mentor people outside of technology at various stages of their careers. I love listening to others regarding their career opportunities and challenges and love it even more when they realize they can do something they may not have originally believed they could do. I truly believe we all can and should help each other learn and grow. We need to keep sharing to help others be wildly successful.

£ What advice do you have for students thinking about a career in tech?

Do it! Technology is relevant to all career paths. I encourage 16

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Eastside Catholic is privileged to have Mary Ellen Smith as a dedicated member of our volunteer Board of Trustees. Mary Ellen is currently the Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Operations at Microsoft. At Eastside Catholic, she first became involved as a parent volunteer when her son Shawn enrolled at EC in 2011. She brings a wealth of knowledge to our board with more than 30 years of leadership experience in industries ranging from semiconductors to PC hardware, software and services.

students to volunteer for organizations they admire or hope to learn more about. It is so rewarding to volunteer and it’s a tremendous opportunity to learn and grow. I recently participated in a Women in STEM panel hosted at EC in an effort to encourage women in the field.

Another suggestion specific to tech: Microsoft sponsors a wide variety of programs for students interested in learning more about tech. These programs are managed under the Microsoft Youth Spark brand and (among many others) include an Imagine Cup competition, free online computer tutorials and summer camps like DigiGirlz which give middle and high school girls an opportunity to learn more about careers in STEM. In fact, I’ll be sponsoring a DigiGirlz event at Eastside Catholic School on June 23.

£ Do you see early STEM exposure as important for students?

Yes—I can thank my high school and college professors for advising me to take advantage of my skills and capabilities, particularly in math. I always enjoyed math. I found it like a puzzle and loved solving the problems. When a student, parent or teacher recognizes a strength in an area like math or science, they should explore it and try new things. If a student has a great foundation early in his or her school years, it can continue to grow and develop, and it will be a key to positioning students for future opportunities.

£ How did you become involved at EC? Why? My son Shawn ’14 joined the school when I was transferred into the area by Microsoft. Shawn had a great experience at EC academically, through his athletic interest playing on the football team and

WOMEN IN STEM PANEL

(l-r): Patricia Carroll, Elizabeth Driscoll, Katie Van Zyl, Vanessa Feliberti, Paige Ormiston ’11, Mary Ellen Smith

through his involvement in various other activities including Campus Ministry, the Academic Resources Department and the Options Program. Shawn and our family had a rich experience and thoroughly enjoyed the community. EC helped him prepare for advanced academics as well as grow into a well-rounded person. I was involved as a parent supporting the many activities Shawn was involved in. We built many long-lasting relationships through the school community and I am grateful.

£ What other philanthropic interests do you have?

I serve on several other nonprofit boards supporting education at various universities. I am a passionate advocate for people with disabilities at Microsoft and in the world. My focus is supporting people on the autism spectrum.

£ Why do you believe it is important for people to be involved in their community?

EC has a special community and I take great pride in being a part of it. I believe it’s important to give back to the communities from which we’ve benefitted so others can have similar or better experiences.

£ What do you see as the role of an EC board member?

We have three primary duties: to make good decisions with reasonable care, to remain faithful to Eastside Catholic and to support the mission.

Trustees are the advocates and keepers of the EC Mission. We serve the whole school and strive to promote the school’s best interests.

Visit eastsidecatholic.org/summer for more information and to register.

Learn more about Microsoft YouthSpark programs at microsoft.com/ about/philanthropies/youthspark/youthsparkhub/programs/.

Student Point of View

Caroline Sonner and Shubhra Tewari

As seniors at Eastside Catholic, we have been involved in all aspects of the school house during the last four years. Our experiences, especially in computer science and coding, led us to wonder how we could attract more female students to STEM. Last year, we both had the opportunity to attend a panel on Women in STEM sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The panelists were engaging and had careers that were interesting and exciting to us. As STEM careers are increasingly being promoted to young women, we thought that a panel discussion would be an interesting way to bring information about STEM careers to EC. Having started the Girls Who Code club this year, a club that focuses on closing the gender gap in STEM, we had additional motivation for exploring this type of forum to inform and engage our peers.

We recruited six amazing panelists and could not have asked for a better, more representative group of women. The audience, comprised of more than 100 students, female and male, were fully engaged throughout the panel discussion. The panel’s experience was broad. Our panelists included a recent EC graduate, community professionals and a trustee member. Our panelists are employed in a wide range of jobs, from a business development manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne to a front-end developer at Native Design.

Through this forum we could show, instead of just tell, the members of the EC Girls Who Code Club and our classmates about the many career paths available in STEM. We hope to encourage young women to work hard, be confident and be empowered to help close the gender gap in STEM-based careers.

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Class Notes

Sheila Polonis ’08

Monica Taylor ’10

1998

2008

John McWalter is currently living

Sheila Polonis and Michael Johnson

in the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco and working at the UC Medical Center as an IT specialist. In May 2016, he and his wife Jess Skyler adopted three children, all siblings.

were married on January 7 at Holy Family Church in Kirkland, Washington.

2003

University in June 2017 with a master’s degree in sports administration and leadership.

Matt Schille was married on March

Do you have a new job?

A new address?

A new child?

Want to get involved?

Send an email with any updates to alumni@ eastsidecatholic.org.

2009 Mar Bactol graduated from Seattle

17 at Hampton Court in London. He and his wife Erica spent their two-week honeymoon touring the south of France and the coast of Italy. They currently reside in Seattle.

Josh Hite is currently teaching a Total

2004

are the proud parents of a son, Parker Steven born in October 2016.

P.J. Ross opened a new restaurant

share your news

Malia Bachesta ’12

called The Waffler in the Lake Hills neighborhood (near his other alma mater, St. Louise School).

2006 Kaitlin Doyle is the assistant district attorney for Cobb County in Marietta, Georgia. Kaitlin married Dr. Geoff Southmayd on April 15 in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Former EC teacher Mike Burton and his wife Jan attended. Katie and Geoff reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

2007 Kaitlyn Nichols and Brad Carey were married on February 11 at the Olowalu Plantation House in Lahaina, Hawaii. EC alums in attendance were

Jillian Nichols ’12, Lane McCormick ’07, Alex Iani ’07, Andy Hampson ’07, Trevor Parmelee ’07, Lauren Pomeroy Hampson ’08 and Kevin Kelly ’00.

Body Fitness Class at the South Sound YMCA in Olympia after completing his group fitness instructor certification.

Trenton Scott and his wife Marah

2010 Moriah Dworkin graduated in the top 10 percent of her class from Seattle University School of Law this spring and will start work at Davis Wright Tremaine this fall.

Brieana [Hendrix] Pitre and Caz Pitre were married in Key West, Florida at the Hyatt Centric on March 17, 2017. They currently live in Issaquah.

Monica Taylor graduated from Western Washington University in March 2017 with a degree in kinesiology with a specialization in health and fitness.

2011 Tessie LaMourea is a professional mermaid and over the past few months has traveled to California, Florida and London to perform. In June 2017, Tessie graduated from the University of Washington with a master’s degree in environmental policy.

Paige Ormiston is a user interface designer and front-end developer at Native Design in San Francisco. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B. A. in design and

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Kaitlyn Nichols ’07

a B.S. in computer science. Paige participated this spring in a Women in STEM panel hosted on the EC campus.

Rachael Whitehead has been accepted in the biomedical illustration (communication) master’s program at the University of Toronto. She is excited to take the next steps in fulfilling her dream of becoming a scientific illustrator.

2012 Malia Bachesta graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 2015. She is engaged and her wedding will take place in October 2017 in Washington, D.C.

Anna Groven graduated from floral design school this year and currently resides in Kirkland. Using her artistic talent and business savvy, she started a new business, Petal+Vine Floral Designs, with her sister Molly Groven.

Marlena Norwood and Jonny Bannick are engaged and will be married this summer.

2013 Michael Abraham graduated with honors in May 2017 from New York University. He is entering a five-year Ph.D. program at Yale in the English Department. He received a fully funded fellowship from Yale University.

Chad Brown graduated from Seattle Pacific University and joined the marketing and communications team at Eastside Catholic in March 2017.

Nicolette Dworkin graduated from the biomed engineering program at USC and has made consistent appearances on the dean’s list. She will soon begin work at Edwards Life Sciences in Irvine, California.

Macie Hudson graduated from Western Washington University in

Katie Doyle ’06

December 2016 with a degree in political science and a minor in communications. She is currently working in real estate.

Charlie Kittridge will be attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at WSU in the fall of 2017. He is also engaged to Colleen Rumens.

Christian Shigley graduated from Harvard University on May 25 with a B.A. in human developmental and regenerative biology. Christian will be working for the Greenberg Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center prior to pursuing a doctor of medicine degree.

Josh Hite ’09

Christian Shigley ’13

Anna Groven ’12

Join Us Upcoming Eastside Catholic School Events

Visit eastsidecatholic.org/calendar for details.

June–August July 21 August 14 August 19 September 13 September 16 October 13 November 5

Paige Ormiston ’11

Summer Camps Alumni BBQ Crusader Golf Tournament Class of 1997 Reunion Classes of 1983-85 Reunion Mass of the Holy Spirit Swirl: Fall Wine Tasting Event Homecoming Football Game Athletic Hall of Fame Event

Nicholas Strash graduated from the University of Washington in June 2017 with a B.S. in biochemistry and chemistry and is moving to North Carolina for his Ph.D. studies at Duke University. He recently accepted a fellowship and will be a Ph.D. student in the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Training Program with an interest in studying regenerative medicine. He also received a Mary Gates Research Scholarship for his work in human pluripotent stem cells at the University of Washington Center for Cardiovascular Biology.

2016 Jack Reilly is a freshman at American University in Washington, D.C. He is a columnist for The Eagle, the university newspaper.

IN MEMORIAM To the following members of our EC community who have died, but whose spirits live on always in our hearts.

Gene Colin

Former Board of Trustee Member

Fr. Ron Funk Faculty

GONZAGA GET-TOGETHER EC Chaplain Father Heric and Alumni Relations Coordinator Juliauna Rossi-Conklin ’09 traveled to Gonzaga to reconnect with many EC alums in February. Seated around the table from left to right: Juliauna Rossi-Conklin ’09, Eve Hormuth ’16, Reed Hunt ’16, Brad Barrett ’15, Sam Rossmeissl ’16, Jimmy Joliffe ’16, Tia Beck ’16, Dani Standish ’16, Father Heric.

EC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017

19

EASTSIDE CATHOLIC Eastside Catholic School 232 228th Avenue SE Sammamish, WA 98074 eastsidecatholic.org

Congratulations Class of 2017

Eastside Catholic School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, tuition assistance and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.