Holy Ghost Prep MAGAZINE
IN LIKE FLYNN U N D E R
Real estate sales and leasing managers Colin ’98 and Brendan Flynn ’00 are featured in our first-ever “40 under 40” issue of the magazine. Curious to learn the other 38 Holy Ghost Prep alums under the age of 40 who we chose to profile? TURN TO PAGE 2.
ISSUE NO. 4
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FALL 2018
this issue Features 2
40 under 40 Welcome to Holy Ghost Prep Magazine’s inaugural “40 under 40” issue. The goal was to recognize some of the brightest stars in a vast galaxy of impressive young HGP alumni.
27 Starting the Next Chapter By Bill Doherty Five members of HGP’s Class of 2018—Casey Buck, Patrick Cannon, Zamir Guy, Matthew Hofmann, and Colin Landers—reflected about their time at Ghost, their goals for the future, and what their years at Holy Ghost Prep armed them with that will enable them to succeed in the next chapter of their lives.
Departments
34 Campus News
37 Athletic News
31 The Mentor By Matthew Jordan From September of 1969 until his “last lecture,” his commencement address to the graduating class of 2014, John Buettler ’64 became an iconic figure at Holy Ghost, serving as a teacher, forensics coach, counselor, and mentor to his students for over 45 years.
40 Alumni News
Stay connected to Holy Ghost Prep! Facebook: HolyGhostPrep Twitter: @holyghostprep Instagram: Instagram.com/ HolyGhostPrep LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/ grps/Holy-Ghost-Prep-AlumniNetwork-1093977/about Snapchat: Keyword: holyghostprep
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Issue 4, FALL 2018
Matt Dwyer
Holy Ghost Prep Magazine is published twice yearly by Holy Ghost’s Office of Communications and is distributed to alumni, parents, and friends of Holy Ghost Preparatory School.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
EDITOR
Bill Doherty CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Bradley Matthew Jordan Joe Santoliquito Brian Freeman Bill Doherty PROOFREADER
David Caruso CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Catalano Studio Douglas Benedict, Academic Image David Sinclair/Gettysburg College Lindsay Carico/Lynchburg Hillcats Holy Ghost Prep’s Executive Team PRESIDENT
Gregory J. Geruson ’79 PRINCIPAL
Jeff Danilak Cover Photography: Douglas Benedict, Academic Image
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Bill Doherty
Tim Woods DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Ryan Abramson ’94 DESIGN
Karp Graphic Design HOLY GHOST PREPARATORY SCHOOL
2429 Bristol Pike Bensalem, PA 19020 215.639.2102 t
PHOTO CREDIT: DOUGLAS BENEDICT, ACADEMIC IMAGE
Join Us on the Web
Holy Ghost Prep Magazine
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to HGP’s “40 under 40” Issue
I
welcome you to Holy Ghost Prep’s first-ever “40 under
40” issue of Holy Ghost Prep Magazine, highlighting the
accomplishments of 40 Ghost alums under the age of 40.
The initial plan, in all honesty, was for this to be a “30
under 40” issue, but then we put out the call for nominations.
And the response was, well, Holy Ghost Prep—like. The email
inbox of Bill Doherty, our director of communications, filled up quickly. To echo Roy Scheider’s famous line in the movie Jaws, we quickly realized that we were going to need a bigger boat. Hence, the decision to do a “40 under 40” issue.
In all, 137 different alums were nominated—giving us enough
outstanding graduates to fill this list three times over and then
some. So we formed a committee and then sat down and sifted through each and every nomination.
As an alumnus of Holy Ghost Prep, this issue of the magazine
“
As an alumnus
of Holy Ghost Prep, this issue of the
fills me with a tremendous sense of pride. These individuals have
magazine fills me with
of professions and industries. They are but a microcosm of our
of pride.
accomplished great success before the age of 40, in a wide variety dynamic alumni, and they showcase the Spiritan values and ambition that live in all of our alums.
a tremendous sense
”
We hope you enjoy this issue. In addition to featuring 40 HGP
alums under 40, the magazine includes a feature on Holy Ghost
Prep icon John Buettler ’64, a man who made quite an impact on not only a number of our “40 under 40” honorees but on most of our 4,000-plus alumni over 46 years, including me.
Gregory J. Geruson ’79 President
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MARK KUHN, JOHN HALKO, AND MICHAEL COURTNEY

Welcome to
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Holy Ghost Prep Magazine’s inaugural “40 under 40”
issue. In all, 137 different alums were nominated. Meetings were held to get down to 40 alums. Tough calls were made—like leaving some accomplished young alums who were recently featured in the magazine off this “40 under 40” list (yes, we’re looking at you, Rand Geiger, Jim Britt, Nolan and Peyton Jones) in order to give others their due. In the
PHOTO CREDIT: DOUGLAS BENEDICT, ACADEMIC IMAGE
end, we tried our best to compile a “40 under 40” roster that spanned professions, HGP grad years, and areas of expertise. Enjoy our firstever “40 under 40” issue. FA L L 2 0 1 8 3
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Mark Kuhn ’08 CEO, OAT FOUNDRY LLC
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Mike Courtney ’08 CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER, OAT FOUNDRY LLC
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John Halko ’08 COO, OAT FOUNDRY LLC
KEEPING THEIR COOL It may be hard to believe that soft pretzels could lead to the start of a successful business, but for the three creators of Oat Foundry, the Philadelphia specialty was indeed the catalyst. In 2013, when Holy Ghost alums Mark Kuhn, Mike Courtney, and John Halko were students at Drexel University, they collaborated on Kuhn’s engineering capstone project, a soft pretzel vending machine. They designed and built it in the basement of a West Philly house, and when it was completed, the trio came to a pretty obvious decision. “We concluded that this group works well together,” Kuhn says. “We should continue the momentum. Fifteen days after we graduated, we had an LLC.” That company, Oat Foundry LLC, has a simple motto: “We build cool stuff,” and it operates on a philosophy that the three credit HGP with instilling in them. “Holy Ghost inspired a dare-to-dream attitude,” Kuhn says. “Why stop at what other people are doing? The idea of building cool stuff allowed us to apply critical thinking and our talents to do things we love.” The “cool stuff” concept gives Oat Foundry a lot of latitude when choosing the projects it wants to pursue. Kuhn is the CEO, Halko is the COO, and Courtney is the Chief Technical Officer. That means Kuhn is responsible for creating the strategic vision and bringing business into the company, Halko executes it, and Courtney is in charge of creating the computer programs the company must have to be successful. Each man has a team with which he works, and there are three other minority partners who help with day-to-day operations.
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“Armed with our knowledge and degrees in mechanical engineering and an attitude that any problem can be solved with the proper rigor and skills, we knew we could succeed,” Courtney says. One of Oat Foundry’s signature products is the split-flap sign, which the company has created for a variety of clients. Based on the old-fashioned departure-arrival systems that could be found at train stations and airports, the split-flap is now used all over the country at places like Chicago’s Wrigley Field and at the visitor center of Starbucks’ coffee farm in Costa Rica to provide schedule, menu, and marketing messaging information. Another cool project involved a Michigan company that had created a canned draft latte. The owner, Todd Carmichael, wanted to launch the product by actually launching a can of it into the stratosphere. Oat Foundry created a weather balloon system that could lift the can into the sky and record its travel with GoPro cameras. The result was a collection of compelling photos of the can soaring above the earth. “Having the ability to experience every nuance of a project is both scary and enlightening,” Courtney says. “Our core capabilities grow with every project, due to our gain in unique knowledge. If you’re not being challenged, you will stagnate.” As Oat Foundry grows and continues to take on clients with fascinating needs, its founders remain committed to their Holy Ghost roots. They use current students as interns and employees and are always happy to welcome tech-savvy Firebirds into the fold, including Matt Hofmann, who began studying in the University of Pennsylvania’s VIPER energy science and engineering program this fall. “It’s important for us to give back to the school,” Kuhn says. “I worked at a grocery store when I was in high school. I would have killed to have worked at a place like Oat Foundry.” As the company continues to grow, it remains committed to servicing clients in creative ways. “Watching what our team comes up with is enormously gratifying,” Kuhn says. And cool. —By Michael Bradley
The ages of all of the HGP “40 under 40” selections are as of July 1, 2018.
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Alex Kuhn ’11 ARTIST “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Planning and executing the
Holy Ghost Prep mural. Also, I just broke $100,000 in artwork sales within three years of launching my professional art career.”
so we jump-started the painting of the mural over the summer. With the help of the same 10 students who helped create the design, and over the course of roughly 600 manhours, we painstakingly painted the design on the massive 10 x 45–foot wall. Even after school started in the fall, the students were there when the final bell rang, devoting multiple hours to the project.
“In the fall of 2017, I started planning the groundwork for Holy Ghost Prep’s first mural in their newly built Holt Center. The plan was to create a design that not only embodied the message and spirit of the school but also encapsulated what it means to be a Holy Ghost Prep student. To aid me in this pursuit, I recruited 10 students from the portfolio art class. Together, over the course of six months, we brainstormed ideas and created numerous designs—no idea too big or too strange. After guiding the students through the drafting phase and whittling the designs down through the process of editing, we eventually landed on three separate designs, each symbolic and beautiful in its own right. Each of the three designs was taken before the President (Geruson) to decide, and one was chosen.
“The design depicts a Holy Ghost Prep student, dressed in a jacket, tie, khakis, and wearing quintessential boat shoes. He is laying on his back with his head propped up as if reading a book. But the boy is not just a boy, he is also a building. An anthropomorphized Holy Ghost Prep. The body of the student is made up of smaller sections, each a specific location related to Holy Ghost, and in these spaces there are smaller depictions of students carrying out various activities that are not just school related, but also specific to extracurricular activities and the idiosyncratic nature of teenage life. Holy Ghost Prep is more than just a school, and it’s more than just a community. Each of the students within the school makes Holy Ghost what it is, and similarly, Holy Ghost offers students a chance to search for who they want to be, and what parts of themselves they would like to explore. Students can live and learn inside the walls of Holy Ghost, but it is really Holy Ghost that comes to live inside of the students. Thus, the design.
“Although the school year was ending, the students were eager to continue the project,
“This project means a lot to me because I got to pass the torch back to the students,
DESCRIBE THE MURAL PROJECT YOU WORKED ON INSIDE THE HOLT CENTER AND TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU TO BE CHOSEN TO WORK WITH HGP STUDENTS ON THIS PROJECT:
inspiring them to pursue their dreams. I also get to show them that art can be fruitful and doesn’t have to be something that stops after high school. It can be a tool to tell complex stories.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS: “Karen
Smallen.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “When I was
a junior or senior, I had a world religions class with Dan Ryan. As the final project, he gave us a list of 50 or so questions to ask ourselves, and write our answers in a ‘magnum opus.’ Many of the questions were very philosophical such as ‘What is the nature of what is?’ and we were asked to answer them to the best of our abilities. The average paper among the students ended up being 80-plus pages. I find this to be my fondest memory because I was asked to give my 17-year-old opinion—at length, in a document that I could save. And I did. I just recently looked through it 10 years later, and greatly appreciate the look into my teenage mind into questions that I still don’t have answers to.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I
don’t have a Twitter account, but I frequently use Instagram: @alexkuhnart. I only have 1,500 followers but my engagement is around 30%, which I’m really proud of. I think all of my fans are the coolest.” —By Bill Doherty
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Alphonce Mshomba ’10 BUSINESS MANAGER, SMALL BUSINESS CARD, CAPITAL ONE “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Making it through four years of long-distance
dating with my now-wife Kelley. It was a joint effort, and now we just had our first child, Mary Elaine Mshomba, in September.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET ME ON MY PATH TO SUCCESS: “Jason Fisher.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Having lunch outside Cornwells Hall with friends on nice days.” ROLE MODEL: “My dad Richard. I’ve always admired his dedication to his family and his work,
and that is something I aim to emulate in my own life.” BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED: “In middle school, I couldn’t be bothered to show my work
for my math assignments. My father told me, ‘You know you can do it, and I know you can do it, but you need to show everyone else you can do it.’ That stuck with me and is still relevant where I am today.” —By Bill Doherty HOW DID YOU WIND UP IN NEW ZEALAND?
“My wife and I were both exhausted after nine years of medical training (four years of med school, four years of residency, and a one-year fellowship), and although we had job offers to remain at Harvard, we felt we sacrificed a lot to get to that point and wanted to explore the world. New Zealand was an ideal choice, with no language or licensing barriers. It had been a destination we had always wanted to visit. We have been here for about a year now and have no set date to return, since we are enjoying the beaches, mountains, wine, and work/ life balance, while learning a new healthcare system.” “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Graduating medical school. It meant
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Chris Baca, M.D.’03 DIRECTOR, SOUTH AUCKLAND CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH TEAM; INSTRUCTOR OF PSYCHIATRY, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
a lot to my parents and grandparents to be the first doctor in the family, but I was proudest of overcoming what was the most rigorous and stressful four-year period of my life.” HOW DID HGP HELP YOU GET THERE? “Med
school felt like high school in many ways, with about 120 students all taking the same classes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It included a healthy competition, but a greater sense of teamwork and community. HGP gave me the discipline and focus to be able to handle a chaotic daily schedule.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “In my
case, it was teachers Ryan Abramson and Kristen Walters. Both were great mentors who challenged me to focus my rebellious 6
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side into positive change through student government and campus ministry. I spent countless hours in their offices/classrooms getting advice on everything from colleges to attend, to which AP classes to take.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Every summer
after our last exam, my parents would allow me to take my best friends to our shore house in Sea Isle City, New Jersey for a week. It was always my favorite time of the year and became an annual occurrence even after we left HGP. We are now spread all over the world, so this year’s trip will take place in Hawaii.” ROLE MODEL: “A. Bartlett Giamatti. He
served as commissioner of Major League Baseball and president of Yale University and made both institutions better. It would be my dream to run a professional sports league or the greatest university.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “The work ethic
I received from my mother and father to work harder than anyone else and to not be afraid of what you don’t know but use it for motivation.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I
have zero because I’m not on Twitter.” COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE BEEN: “Waiheke
Island, New Zealand. It’s only a 30-minute ferry ride from Auckland, but it is a mix of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts and Capri, Italy with amazing beaches, cliffs, and vineyards.” —By Joe Santoliquito
alive its rich history and tradition, and we also push hard to represent ‘New Philadelphia’ on a global stage. “I didn’t follow a direct line to get to where I am. I was in an accounting role after college, then moved to L.A. to work in entertainment, where I slept on an aerobed in my friend’s studio apartment for a few months. I moved back home and worked for over 10 years at QVC, where I worked in content production and had the opportunity to travel, including stops in India and Africa, as well as directing advertising campaigns working with Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, Joan Rivers, and The Muppets.” HOW MUCH DOES HAVING TWO BUDDING STARS LIKE JOEL EMBIID AND BEN SIMMONS HELP IN THE MARKETING OF THIS TEAM: “It helps a lot! Joel and Ben
are two transcendent stars who make this team one of the most exciting to watch in sports. The best part is at the end of the day, they are just like you and me—giving us a glimpse into their normal. That is what builds a deep connection with their fans— walking the (Benjamin Franklin) Parkway or randomly showing up to play pick-up ball at a playground, completely unprovoked. It goes a long way because the best brand marketing isn’t really ‘marketing’ in the traditional sense. It all comes down to being real and authentic—sharing your genuine self and nurturing a two-way relationship with your audience.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS (AND BRIEFLY HOW THEY DID SO): “Mr. Gillespie. I learned how to write
from the papers I had to turn in for his history classes. He taught me how to formulate thoughts/ideas and structure a message.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “It’s a tie between
‘White socks!’ and Mr. Healy’s passion for teaching the ‘VOWELSHIFT!’”
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Brian Adams ’99 VICE PRESIDENT OF BRAND & MARKETING, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
COOLEST PERSON FOLLOWING YOU ON TWITTER: “I’m not really active on Twitter GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT—PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL—THUS FAR: “Becoming
a dad. It’s the greatest thing but also challenges you to grow every day.”
so I’ll go with Instagram. Coolest person following me would have to be fellow Class of ’99 alum Dave Tuason (@dt3_twoe), my closest friend after all these years.” —By Bill Doherty
DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE WITH THE SIXERS AND YOUR CAREER PATH TO GETTING THERE: “My overarching mission with the
76ers is to build an aspirational brand that stands apart in the industry. We aim to build an authentic connection with our fans in everything we do. We make it an obligation to represent the city of Philadelphia, keeping
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Chris Crawford ’12 PROFESSIONAL GOLFER
For the Love of the Game Whenever Chris Crawford ’12 finds himself scuffling on the course, or struggling to get the break he needs to become a full-fledged PGA golfing professional, he stops to remember one thing: This is supposed to be fun. Through hundreds of rounds and the frustration of working his way through golf’s lower reaches in the hopes of a breakthrough, Crawford knows exactly why he’s out on the course. In fact, it’s the same reason thousands of players just like him continue to work for a chance at the big stage. “Most people would answer the question of ‘Why?’ that it’s the love of the game,” says Crawford. “It is fun, and I have to remind myself of that. It’s just that golf is the kind of game in which you can get on some bad runs.” There is no way anyone can say Crawford has had an uneventful experience on the road to the PGA. He has qualified as an amateur for two U.S. Opens, made it to the second flight of the qualifying process leading to the Web.com Tour (the main farm system for the big time), and played a game fulltime that he has embraced for so long he can’t even remember when he first picked up a club. “It’s about getting experience and preparing myself to move up,” Crawford says. “I’ve been playing so much lately that it’s becoming like a full-time job. There aren’t many days off.” Crawford began playing golf as a toddler, and though he enjoyed the game, he liked baseball more. At Ghost, he played both sports, and their summer confluence meant he couldn’t spend too much time competing in local PGA events. Thanks to a strong performance during the District One championship tournament his senior year, Crawford
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was noticed by Drexel golf coach Mike Dynda, who asked him if he wanted to play for the Dragons. During his four years at the school, Crawford won eight tournaments, was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year as a junior, and was first team all-conference three times. After his senior season at Drexel, Crawford entered the local qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open, which he won with a 66. That sent him to the sectional tournament in north Jersey and a dramatic finish. The two-round, one-day event came down to the final hole. Thanks to bogeys on 16 and 17 at Canoe Brook Country Club, he needed a birdie on the par-five 18 to avoid a playoff. Crawford snap-hooked his drive so far left that it landed on the 13th fairway. With no line to the 18th green, he played up 13 until he was 185 yards away and behind some imposing trees. Crawford lofted a six iron over the leafy impediments to within 40 feet of the pin and then drained the putt for his birdie and a ticket to Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh for the 2016 U.S. Open. “Oakmont was awesome,” Crawford says. “In my practice round Tuesday, I played with [2015 PGA Tournament winner] Jason Day. On Wednesday, I played with [2013 U.S. Open champ] Justin Rose. “It’s such a special venue. It’s iconic.” Crawford shot 76 both days, failing to make the cut but enjoying the
experience thoroughly. “I played well,” he said. A year later, he had an easier time qualifying from sectionals, although he needed to win a two-hole playoff at the local level. The Open was held at Wisconsin’s Erin Hills, which Crawford had played seven years earlier. He shot a pair of 75s and was again pleased with the experience. Last winter, he reached the second stage—one step before the final flight— of Qualifying School play and plans to return this year with the hopes of reaching the Web.com Tour. “That’s really the only way to get to the PGA tour,” he says. Crawford wants fans of the game to realize that while the major tourneys bring the best of the best into living rooms across the country and the world, there are plenty of people working diligently to reach that level some day, including him. “Sometimes people forget about everything that leads golfers to the PGA tour,” he says. “Golfers like Jordan Spieth and Tiger, who came right out of college, are in the extreme minority. Most of the pro golfers are running the gauntlet, trying to work their way up. “There are so many golfers, and it’s a fine line between who makes it and who doesn’t.” That’s true, but despite the tribulations of those golfers, they are united by one thing beyond their ambitions: the love of the game. —By Michael Bradley
“CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “I’ve received a number of scientific awards and opportunities that prepared me to continue both in research and teaching. However, my ‘crowning achievement’ is not based on my success in my career. My crowning achievement is being married to my wife of eight years and together raising three remarkable children. Many of my classmates were not aware that while I attended HGP, I was not raised by my parents. In fact, I was living in several group homes during the first couple of years. Being a husband and a father is something that I celebrate. It defies the statistics of African-American fathers being absent in the lives of their children. My wife and children have been my biggest supporters to this point.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Mrs. (Marie) Bliss definitely played a role in
my desire to pursue science. I enjoyed her classroom, ‘the habitat,’ so much. Her class was not easy for me, but the challenge made me appreciate the complexity of living organisms and sparked my interest in science.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “There are so many memories I have from my time at HGP,
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Ezekiel Crenshaw ’04
but the fondest was participating in the German exchange program.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “You have to see the bigger picture.” —Mr. Jeff
Danilak BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Proverbs 3:5-6: ‘Trust in Yahweh with all your heart
POSTDOCTORAL PENN-PORT IRADCA FELLOW,
and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.’ I truly live by that portion of the scripture, and it’s no secret, but it has contributed to my success.”
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA/DEPARTMENT
HOBBIES: “Writing poetry, studying the Torah, being outdoors with my family, arts and
OF NEUROSCIENCE
crafts, and occasionally watching episodes of Paw Patrol (lol).” —By Michael Bradley
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Robert McDonough II ’13 PH.D. CANDIDATE IN ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FAVORITE PART OF YOUR YEAR AS A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN AUSTRIA: “Waking
up early every morning in June to go swimming in the Wörthersee.” WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF?
“I learned how much I love to teach in a classroom and how much I love to share my knowledge and talents with students.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET ME ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS: “John Buettler and Tony
Figliola, my forensics coaches.” ROLE MODEL: John Buettler FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Traveling and
competing with the forensics team.” —By Bill Doherty
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Daniel Affeldt ’09 ASSOCIATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, PREMIER NATIONAL ACCOUNTS, INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE? “Ryan
Abramson. My brother was in the Class of 2007; therefore, I’ve known Mr. Abramson for over a decade. Throughout my four years at HGP and to this day, he continues to keep my head on straight and is someone I can turn to for anything.” IS BEING NAMED ONE OF HOLY GHOST PREP’S “40 UNDER 40” A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR LIFE? “Yes, I think it is because
my time at HGP is something I always look back on and am grateful for. I don’t think I’d be where I am today if I hadn’t graduated from Holy Ghost Prep. Therefore, to be named one of HGP’s ‘40 to watch under 40’ is an honor, especially when compared to the thousands of other HGP alumni.” WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT— EITHER PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY OR BOTH? “Personally,
I would say my greatest accomplishment was the success of the golf outing and raising $17,300 in three years. (Editor’s note: Daniel was diagnosed in 2014 with testicular cancer, but is now cancer-free. He started a “Chip-In for Cancer” golf outing that he puts together each fall. All of the money raised over the past few years has been donated to the American Cancer Society for cancer research.) Professionally, I would say it’s receiving four promotions during my five years at Independence Blue Cross: a year-and-a-half as customer service representative, one year as an account benefit specialist (appeals), two years as an account support rep (sales/marketing), and most recently as an associate account executive (sales/marketing).” HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO PUT ON A GOLF OUTING EACH YEAR? “Golf has been a passion of mine over the past few years and
something that brings my family and friends together. Therefore, I set time aside each week early in the year to begin the planning process for the event in August. My Holy Ghost Prep training helped me organize the outing, detail by detail, and build the relationships needed to make the event a success, i.e., with PGA player management, who donated autographed pictures, gloves, and flags from PGA players; with Bensalem Township Country Club, which hosted the event three years; and with local restaurants that provided donated gift certificates to raffle off.”
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HOW MUCH DID HOLY GHOST PREP HELP YOU IN REACHING THE SUCCESS YOU’VE ENJOYED IN YOUR CAREER? “I don’t think
there’s a limit. Holy Ghost Prep continues to help me reach new levels, personally and professionally. Other than my education and experience at HGP, one of the most noticeable takeaways is knowledge with writing papers and presenting in front of an audience. Being in sales/marketing, attention to detail and client interaction is a must; therefore, what I learned at HGP has continued to help me become more successful. In addition, I will be graduating with my MBA in the spring of 2019, and if I didn’t have my HGP background, the program would be much more difficult.” ROLE MODEL: “My brother, Bryan Affeldt ’07. Since we were kids,
we’ve shared the same friends, interests, hobbies, etc. and have always been close. We attended the same grade school, high school, and college together—even being roommates at La Salle University with fellow HGP alum John Petolillo ’07.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Setting goals and staying motivated.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Although he does not
follow me on Twitter, Bubba Watson is my favorite PGA golfer and he once responded to one of my tweets. He was hosting a Q&A (#BubbaTalk) and I tweeted at him, asking ‘What was the best part about winning the Masters?’ (which he won in 2012) and his response was ‘Is there a bad part about winning the Masters?’ (Watson then went on to win his second one in 2014.)” —By Brian Freeman
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Colin Flynn ’98 SALES AND LEASING MANAGER, THE FLYNN COMPANY FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Going to the
state playoff basketball games in 199596 and having what seemed to be the whole school in attendance.”
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Brendan Flynn ’00 SALES AND LEASING MANAGER, THE FLYNN COMPANY FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “My fondest
memories of HGP involve sporting events. Whether playing on teams and the camaraderie that came with it or going to watch basketball, soccer, or hockey games, HGP sports were a lot of fun.”
In Like Flynn When Colin and Brendan Flynn were students at Holy Ghost Prep, and as they continued their educational journeys in college, they always knew the “family business” would be available to them. However, there was no pressure on them to join The Flynn Company, the real estate leasing and development concern started by their father, Kevin, in 1980. “We were surrounded by it, and it was always in the background,” Colin says. “We always knew we could do it, but it was never forced upon us.” Their father never had to sell them on the idea. Being around the company and its people was enough. It didn’t hurt that Kevin Jr., who graduated from Ghost in 1991 and is therefore too old to be in a “40 Under 40” section—“Maybe you could do ‘50 Under 50’ (to get Kevin in),” Colin says—also worked for the company. When it came time for the brothers to chart their professional courses,
they came home. “It just felt natural,” Brendan says.
“but the kids are consuming all of my time.”
Today, Colin ’98 and Brendan ’00 are sales and leasing managers for their father’s company and using the foundation they received at Holy Ghost Prep to key their success. Each has a strong portfolio of clients and enjoys working with a variety of different companies to meet their office space needs.
Brendan began at The Flynn Company in 2004, and one of his biggest clients is SEPTA, which has a 670,000–square foot headquarters in Philadelphia. He leases space in that building to a variety of clients and enjoys the freedom his job has beneath the broader Flynn Company umbrella.
Colin has been with the company since 2006, after he finished a tour of duty with the Marines that sent him to Iraq and the Republic of Georgia. He earned the rank of captain and, while in Georgia, spent time helping to train troops to fight in Iraq. He now serves on the Philadelphia Ball Committee for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He considers the opportunity at Ghost to “surround myself with people who wanted to succeed” as vital to his development. “Nobody was there to cut corners,” he says. “We learned how to moderate ourselves.” He works largely south of the city, and some of his clients are in New Castle County, Delaware. He has completed more than $115 million in transactions, totaling three million square feet. “The market is very strong now, and there isn’t a lot of space available,” he says. “That’s pushing the rents and values, but everybody is questioning when it is going to change. We are in the late innings of this but there is a lot of runway left. Colin and his wife, Lindsay, have three children: threeyear-old twins Patrick and Molly, and Ryan, who turned two in the fall. “I used to have a life,” he jokes,
“It’s like having the ability to run your own business,” he says. “There is an entrepreneurial component to it. One day I represent a landlord, the next a tenant, the next a seller, and the next a buyer. I’m wearing a lot of different hats and am constantly working with different people and am usually a decision maker.” Brendan is engaged to Jessica Fritz and will be married in January. He enjoys playing squash and basketball and is part of a game involving Holy Ghost alums each Tuesday. He reports that during a late-spring contest, he blocked two shots by Ryan O’Neill ’00. It brought back memories for him of when he swatted away a pair of offerings by Ryan Harkins ’01 during a high school game. Their work life may not be as enjoyable as playing pickup ball every weekend, but both are delighted they followed their father and brother’s path into the commercial real estate world—and are even happier to work with them. “The culture at The Flynn Company features a lot of camaraderie,” Brendan says. “It’s a lot of fun.” —By Michael Bradley
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Joe Iuliano ’02 DIRECTOR, ESPN FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Mission trip to Nicaragua with Señor
Bus.”
Living the Dream It’s part of the classic American success story. Someone calls out sick. An opportunity arises. A young, willing substitute steps in.
Success Ensues Joe Iuliano would have ended up behind a camera at some point had a freelance photographer not taken ill on that Syracuse football game day. But one man’s misfortune turned out to be his providence and helped launch what has become a successful career at ESPN for the 2002 Holy Ghost Prep graduate. “The guy running the video operation for the football game knew I was a camera guy at heart, and when one of the freelancers was sick, he looked at me and said, ‘You’re on,’” Iuliano remembers. “From that point, I was one of the camera guys.” Iuliano isn’t operating a camera these days. He’s a director at ESPN, working on SportsCenter and other big events the network covers. It’s a dream job for someone who spent his childhood marveling at Steven Spielberg’s movies and hoping to land a job in the TV world someday. Iuliano grew up in Langhorne and landed at Holy Ghost after graduating from St. Andrew’s School in Newtown. He played sports as a youngster but found other interests as he got older. “I was interested in film,” he says. “I enjoyed the moviemaking process. In high school, I loved TV news and wanted to be part of that world.” At Ghost, a lot of the video work he did centered on sports, specifically the soccer and basketball teams. Though Syracuse accepted him, he didn’t enter Cuse’s renowned Newhouse School of Communications. “They offered me Arts and Sciences,” Iuliano says. The invitation came with a backdoor opportunity: If he earned a 3.5 GPA during his first two semesters, he could enter Newhouse. So Iuliano studied hard and earned…a 3.49. “They didn’t round up,” he says. Disappointed but not discouraged, Iuliano turned to political science and the school’s student-run TV station, which wasn’t affiliated with the Newhouse School. When he learned before his sophomore year that the school would be adding video boards to its Carrier Dome football and basketball home, Iuliano joined the production crew as an intern.
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Once he landed his camera gig, Iuliano gained great experience, both from the school and from TV networks that came to Syracuse to broadcast games. “If it was an ESPN game, I was getting a freelance check,” Iuliano says. “It was much better money than working in the cafeteria.” Iuliano had planned to head back to Philadelphia and work as a freelance cameraman after graduation, but a mutual friend floated his name at ESPN, and by the summer of 2006 he had a job in Bristol. Over the next few years he traveled a lot, providing production assistance and camera work at various games and events. In 2009, he joined ESPN’s College GameDay football pregame show. “The head of GameDay asked me when I was going to become a full-time freelancer,” Iuliano says. “I said, ‘I want your job.’ That confirmed I was serious about staying there.” By 2010, he was an associate director for ESPN studio shows, and in 2012 he became associate director of GameDay. He was named a director in 2015, the title he holds now. “I love the challenge of live TV in general,” he says. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. You get a great adrenaline rush.” Iuliano lives in West Hartford with his wife, Kelly, and sons Joseph, 3, and Jacob, 1. He stays in touch with friends from Ghost—“We have a GroupMe with a handful of us that goes on daily,” he says—and keeps busy with his family’s growing list of activities. Iuliano remains energized by his job and hopes one day to land his dream role as director of GameDay. “I want to continue to keep working on the biggest projects at ESPN,” Iuliano says. And taking advantage of any opportunities that come his way. —By Michael Bradley
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Matt Benchener ’04 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, VANGUARD RETAIL INVESTOR GROUP “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT:
“Elected and served as vice chairman of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors from 2009–14. Helped facilitate the township’s first balanced budget in over six years.” HOW HGP HELPED: “The rigor and excellence
of HGP’s culture became a lifelong pacesetter for me. If you can thrive at HGP, you can thrive anywhere.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “In his classes
and through his forensics coaching, Mr. Figliola taught me to take on issues with the courage, truth, creativity, and clarity that has served me well in both politics and business. He showed me that the best communication is authentic and bold, and that the truth, even when hard or controversial, is what ultimately inspires and refines us.” ROLE MODEL: “My father, for his unwavering
combination of faith, hard work, and love. He came from a very poor family and challenging environment, and has worked hard every day to build a new legacy for his family.” —By Matthew Jordan
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Brian Kozlowski ’03 GENERAL COUNSEL, ALPHATARAXIA MANAGEMENT HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “I was lucky to have a wide array of role models in the
teachers that were at the helm of Holy Ghost during my time. From them, I had an entire buffet of positive character traits to emulate. Everything from Father McCloskey’s moral compass and Mrs. Garforth’s lessons in observation, to Mr. Figliola’s social skills and Mr. Pomeroy’s work ethic. While each attribute has likely helped me in some way, Mr. Pomeroy’s influence has had the most obvious tangible benefit to me: over-preparation is far better than under-preparation.” “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “I’ve been fortunate to find a job that I
thoroughly enjoy—something that allows me to both think analytically and help shape the analytical skills of those that join the firm, often straight out of college. While it may seem pedestrian, looking forward to work in the morning and coming home happy in the evening has done more for me than any diploma or award.” HOW MUCH DID HGP HELP YOU IN REACHING THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS YOU’VE ENJOYED IN YOUR CAREER? “The importance of a strong work ethic cannot be overstated. Good
fortune plays a large role in every success story that I’ve ever heard, but tons of preparation is generally necessary to capitalize on the moments of good fortune. I think HGP got me ready to work hard. Without being ready to work hard, I couldn’t have handled the increased difficulty of college. Without stepping up to work hard in college, I never would have survived law school. And then the real world actually starts.” ROLE MODEL: “Perhaps it is cliché, but I would have to say my father. I’ve looked up to a
series of stellar individuals at various stages of my life, each of whom seemed to be the very best at a task I was struggling to master. While these individuals displayed traits that made them tremendously successful in their field, they were often fairly narrow as human beings. In contrast, my father has always been the consummate generalist: pretty good at almost everything. I’ve strived to emulate that my entire life.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I think we’re all a little worse off from Twitter’s
current importance.” —By Brian Freeman
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PRODUCT MANAGER, ROUNDCORNER, INC.
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, HOLT LOGISTICS
“CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “At
“CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Developing the Peruvian market and making Philadelphia the number one destination for Peruvian imports into the U.S.”
Michael Best ’07 roundCorner, I’m part of a team helping some of the world’s most powerful nonprofits achieve their mission of changing the world. Shortly after joining roundCorner, I worked with the International Rescue Committee to develop a series of improvements that allowed the IRC to sign up over 1,000 new volunteers, who then logged over 35,000 volunteer hours in an online portal. The improved efficiency allowed the IRC to have a greater impact on some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises that have occurred over the last few years.” HOW HGP HELPED: “The independence we were given as
young men at Holy Ghost helped prepare us for the hard work, tough choices, and consequences that we inevitably faced as we grew older. The environment was a great way to prepare us not only for college, but for the multitude of distractions we face and choices we make in life.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/ SHE HAVE: “From the public speaking requirements to
the critical thinking skills to the serious focus on staying organized (lest your binder be thrown out a window), Mr. DiGiesi’s freshman history class laid the groundwork for how I approach solving problems and working through challenges to this day.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Constantly asking
questions. Decisions and challenges become easier to handle after you’ve asked plenty of tough questions to ensure that you understand the problem you’re trying to solve.” —By Matthew Jordan
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Tom Holt III ’02
HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS: “Mr. McCullough.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “There are so many to choose from. I think the best and
most special memories are the friendships that were created and all the great times that we shared throughout our four-year journey.” ROLE MODEL: “This is an easy one. My father. He is simply the best person I know.” BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED: “Try to live in the moment. Life passes by in a
flash.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I am not a big Twitter guy.”
—By Bill Doherty
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Eric Tyler Holt ’03 DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS, HOLT LOGISTICS “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Raising a family of four—ages 12,
10, 7, and 4.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS: “Jeff Danilak.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Playing on the golf team.” ROLE MODEL: “My father.” BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED: “The best help is at the end of your own two
hands.” –Tom Holt, Sr. MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Don’t follow any social media.”
—By Bill Doherty
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Ryan Martin ’06 VP, ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, SAATCHI & SAATCHI IN NEW YORK CITY “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “When I was in college
studying advertising, the Old Spice commercial came out with Isaiah Mustafa. ‘The man your man could smell like.’ I thought it was so cool and unlike typical advertising. It made me feel like I chose the right field to focus on. In the Tide ad campaign we recently created for this past year’s Super Bowl, we spoofed that exact ad. Sitting on set with Isaiah on his white horse running lines with David Harbour was a very surreal moment for me. And I’m not the type of guy who has surreal moments, or really understands what surreal is. While I would say that the entire campaign we launched was my crowning achievement, that specific day was especially significant.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Tony Figliola.
This guy is a bar of gold in human form, though I am biased, because I did forensics pretty intensely and spent more time with him than most students would want to spend with a teacher. What I will say is he taught me that in a world filled with normal, it’s okay to be weird. Also, shout-out to my bud, J. Digiesi. I’m probably never going to get that Oscar you said I’d win, so I’ll thank you here. Thanks, my man.”
SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “I’m taking that secret to the grave, my
FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Anything having to do with forensics. Was
I’m having a tough day I just remember he’s probably working twice as hard as I am in a profession where lives are actually on the line. Baby lives. The most important lives. That or my Uncle Jim Benner; that guy could be laid up in the hospital and would still be laughing with a libation in his hand.”
an absolute blast.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “I wish I could say that it was
from my mom or dad (who have given me great advice over the years), but this is from a movie I’m embarrassed to say I saw in theaters, We Bought a Zoo. ‘Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and something great will come of it.’” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Do what you have to do and ask for
forgiveness later. There’s going to be a lot of times in your life when you need to say sorry. You may as well do something awesome first.”
friend.” FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: “I love making things, so shooting new
content and commercials is always sweet.” ROLE MODEL: “It’s painfully lame and cliché, but my dad. Whenever
HOBBIES: “I do triathlons. I’m garbage at them, but I do them. Not sure
why.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Twitter is lame, but I once
had Duncan Sweezey, captain of the 2005 Hatboro Horsham lacrosse team, like one of my Facebook posts.” —By Michael Bradley
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Richard Petroni ’02 MANAGING MEMBER, HIGH RESOLUTION ENERGY, LLC “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Successfully launching and managing High
Resolution Energy, LLC.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS: “Ms. Walters, Mr. Pomeroy, and Dr.
Tomshaw.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Traveling with the golf team.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Dedication to learning and education.” WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF YOUR LEAP EXPERIENCES WITH HGP STUDENTS: “It’s been an
absolute pleasure participating in LEAP. Holy Ghost Prep’s LEAP interns highlight the strong caliber and character of a Holy Ghost Prep student. In the short time they were here, each student was able to clearly understand our business model, create a presentation, and present recommendations to the High Resolution Energy team. My colleagues and I were beyond impressed.” —By Bill Doherty FA L L 2 0 1 8 15
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Frank Seravalli ’06 SENIOR HOCKEY REPORTER AT TSN, COVERING THE NHL ON TV, ON THE WEB, AND ON RADIO FOR CANADA’S ESPN “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Becoming a dad to
Christian and Grace.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Mrs. Kathy
Posey. I didn’t have the credentials to be in AP English Language, but she saw in me the writer I could be and challenged me daily to improve.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Winning HGP’s first-ever Flyers Cup as a
freshman in 2003.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “1. Insist on yourself. Be nothing if
not original. Every great man is unique. 2. Read for an hour every day. You can never be armed with too much information.” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Never say no. Find a way, no matter
what, and be dependable.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Looking way older than I am. I may not
have aged gracefully, but no one ever told me I didn’t belong.” ROLE MODEL: “My dad. We never talked about it, but hearing him
leave for work before six o’clock every morning taught me that hard work can be your most important skill.” HOBBIES: “When not on a plane, I can be found spending time with my
family, golfing poorly, or failing at CrossFit.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Jaromir Jagr.”
—By Michael Bradley
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Alex McMullen ’11 ASSOCIATE OFFERING MANAGER, IBM “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Graduating from Villanova, getting my master’s degree, and
landing an exciting job at one of the largest tech companies in the world.” HOW HGP HELPED: “HGP laid the foundation for a great career. The education allowed me to reach my
potential, not just by what I learned, but by how we were always challenged to keep pushing ourselves. The school is full of role models who reinforced values and habits and allowed me to grow. The friends I made there are lifelong connections who have encouraged me to set and meet ambitious goals.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “I have particularly fond memories of Mr. Danilak’s cinematography class. Apart from living
up to the usual HGP standard of caring and going the extra mile to help students, Mr. Danilak became a friend and advisor, getting involved in projects and giving me opportunities outside of the classroom to showcase my talents while also helping the school.” SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS: “Always making sure to focus on the positive aspects of any situation, especially
those that don’t feel so great at the time. There are always learning opportunities and ways to improve yourself.” —By Matthew Jordan 16
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Bryan Reinholt ’03 PARTNER, MCKINSEY & COMPANY “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Two happy, healthy kids.”
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Jim Frawley ’97
HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Mr. Buettler.
EXECUTIVE COACH AND BUSINESS CONSULTANT, FRAWLEY COACHING & CONSULTING
He taught me how to take responsibility for my own development and how to be ready to speak at any time, on any topic, to anyone.”
“CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Launching my own business. After
FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Getting snowed
HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Easily that would be Tony Figliola. I learned
into Boston after the Harvard tournament with the forensics team.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “If you
allow it, someone will always be around to tell you what to do next. Know when to chart your own course.”
a successful 15-year career in the corporate world, I decided to reach out and go in a completely different direction on my own.”
more on forensics trips about myself than I did in the classroom. It wasn’t just the tactical expertise of speaking in public; it was philosophically and emotionally a huge improvement in my life, maturity, growth, and confidence.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “The camaraderie of the forensics team and the thrill of
competing on a national level.”
BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “In
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “Don’t judge yourself by another person’s definition
whatever you decide to do, find mentors who will bring you along. Very few people have achieved greatness on an island.”
of success. Other people may go faster, some slower—but just find your pace and you will finish your race.”
SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “I have an
extremely supportive wife and family and have also developed a willingness to take select big chances.”
making you the best you can be so the people around you can be better. Finding love for yourself opens up the door for other people to love you. I believe it’s the secret to life. Jacques Rousseau said it best: ‘What can one be pleased with in life if one is not pleased with the only man one can never be separated from?’”
ROLE MODEL: “My dad. He continues to
SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Recognizing the value and benefit of constant learning,
show me the importance of balancing professional success with personal and family success.”
and in the process learning how to properly ask for help and support when I need it.”
HOBBIES: “Philadelphia sports (has been
a lot easier recently), travel, attending an occasional game.” —By Michael Bradley
BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Live life with an enlightened self-interest: Focus on
ROLE MODEL: “My wife is the most incredible human I know. I wouldn’t be anywhere
close to where I am today without her example, guidance, and support. And Mr. T; he’s also a role model for me.” HOBBIES: “Reading, triathlons, and family time (not in that order). I’m reading the 1001
Books You Must Read Before You Die, which are giving me an amazing perspective, relatable even today. I do triathlons because it’s the one activity that truly keeps me healthy, and nothing beats family time—watching my daughter grow and relaxing with my wife make my day-to-day life perfect.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Dr. Ruth Westheimer. She’s a rock star!”
—By Michael Bradley
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Tony Manfredonia ’11 COMPOSER/ORCHESTRATOR MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT SO FAR: “I just finished my first commissioned
full-length opera, titled Ghost Variations. It depicts the lives of Clara and Robert Schumann, famous composers of the 19th century, and how his end-of-life schizophrenia brought hardship upon their family. It is set to premiere in New York City in August 2019.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS:
“Mrs. Beth Vilsmeier! Her AP music theory course inspired me to pursue music composition. Alongside that class, her vibrant passion for music helped me understand that it’s a very plausible long-term career.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Without a doubt, playing the part of Joseph in Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While I haven’t done musical theater since my HGP days, I will forever hold those experiences in my heart. They helped shape my musical voice, both in composing and in singing.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Trust and faith in God, a supportive wife, an early-
to-rise schedule, and giving my full, uninterrupted attention to both creating music and connecting with other musicians.” TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE YOU WERE COMMISSIONED TO DO FOR HOLY GHOST PREP:
“‘Rejoice in the Holy Spirit’ is an uplifting, triumphant piece for concert band, meant to evoke both joy and reverence in contemplating the third person of The Trinity. You will hear the ancient 9th century hymn, ‘Veni Creator Spiritus,’ as an included theme within the piece. When I was asked to compose it after hearing about a brief description of the Holt Center, I had no doubt that the Holy Spirit was at work in bringing such a marvelous facility to the HGP campus. There was such an internal pull to have the Spirit as the driving force behind the music. I’m so grateful for Mrs. Vilsmeier and the entire Holy Ghost Prep community for this opportunity.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “While there are so many I could choose
from, I’d have to say Damjan Mozeti (@Rhuantavan), who is a friend and video game developer living in Slovenia. I’m creating the soundtrack for his game-inprogress, titled Call of Saregnar. He’s always been a huge supporter of my music, and I often think about how neat it is that Twitter connected us from thousands of miles away.” —By Bill Doherty
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Rev. Mr. Stephen Brunner, Ph.D. ’04 TRANSITIONAL DEACON, DIOCESE OF MADISON, WISCONSIN (ANTICIPATED ORDINATION IN JUNE 2019) HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/ SHE HAVE: “My path to the priesthood actually began
with Mr. Pomeroy’s AP physics class. His zeal, discipline, and clarity motivated me to pursue physics in college and medical physics in graduate school. Mr. Pomeroy held us to the highest standards of work. I still remember him explaining the meaning of the equation qE=F: ‘You put a charge q in an electric field E, and it will experience a force F. Everyone, say it with me!’” ROLE MODEL: “My father puts in the work for our family
every day. He’s not looking for credit. He simply wants to do the right thing. I definitely model my work ethic for the priesthood after my father’s love and dedication to our family. God willing, I will be able to bring that same love and dedication to serve the people of God in a year as a priest.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “To be a disciple and a priest
of Jesus Christ in the world today, you need to be God strong. In my past five years in the seminary, I’ve tried to stay God strong by cultivating a relationship with Mary, our queen and mother in heaven. I’ve been able to pray to her often, and she has been a faithful friend and a sturdy shelter. Being a friend of Mary is essential for anyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ and to be on the front lines as one of his priests.” —By Matthew Jordan
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Mark Manalaysay ’08 DIRECTOR OF INTERACTIVE DESIGN FOR APPLE ROLE MODEL: My mom MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWERS: Rick Osterloh (Senior
V.P. of Hardware for Google), Ads of the World, Lil B (popular rapper), Advertising Week, Stuart Elliott (former writer for the New York Times, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Barack Obama, NPR
Knowing What’s Next If you want to know what Apple has in the pipeline for consumers in the near future, don’t ask Mark Manalaysay. Oh, he knows. He just can’t tell you, at least if he wants to keep his job. “We knew about the iPhone X a couple months in advance,” he says. “When new stuff comes out, we’re briefed in advance.” His role as Director of Interactive Design for Apple has him working on marketing and advertising campaigns for the company’s products. That means he has the opportunity to develop promotional images that bring the goods to life for consumers. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s doing it for one of the world’s most creative and successful companies. “I’ve been here for four years, and I absolutely love it,” says Manalaysay, who graduated from Holy Ghost in 2008. “Working for Apple means that you also get other companies who want you to work for them. “I’ve been approached by Motorola, Samsung, Google and Facebook, but the work I’m doing now is some of the best work in the world.” Manalaysay grew up in northeast Philadelphia and came to HGP because “my parents decided they wanted me to get a really good education,” he says. At Ghost, he was involved in a slew of extracurricular activities, but he always gravitated to art-related pursuits. He took just about every art class he could and ended up at Savannah College of Art and Design after graduation, in large part due to Karen Smallen, a justretired Holy Ghost teacher who helped guide him toward the school. It took him a while to find a major he preferred—“I started in photography, whet to graphic design and ended up in advertising,” he says—but he was happy he did so, because it allowed him to take part in one of SCAD’s signature programs. In fact, one of his professors, Luke Sullivan, wrote the seminal advertising text, “Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This,” which is used in colleges throughout the country.
After graduating in 2012, Manalaysay worked in Chicago and New York doing digital advertising. In NYC, he was with Razorfish, working with clients like Motorola and Blackberry. For two years, he helped work on their web sites and social media before moving on to Apple. It was a big switch, heading across the country, but Manalaysay was more than ready to make the move. “When I was in high school, Apple was one of the dream companies I wanted to work for,” he says. “I thought I would end up there when I was 32 years old and had 10 years of experience, but I got there when I was 24.” Manalaysay and his team work on digital design and digital content that interfaces with Apple.com. He also has the opportunity to work with some nonprofits to help them advance their causes with design work. “I can’t turn my brain off when it comes to design,” he says. Manalaysay enjoys visiting museums, going to art shows, reading graphic novels and looking at comic books. In other words, if it has to do with art or design, he’s in. He also enjoys traveling and spent some time in Iceland last year. He plans to visit Tokyo soon. “Iceland is like one big national park,” he says. “We saw giant waterfalls, volcanoes and were able to walk on glaciers.” Although he does miss his home, Manalaysay is unabashed in his love of San Francisco. “It was always a city I wanted to live in,” he says. And he enjoys what he does and where he does it, because it allows him to have a good work-life balance. “To be good at my job, I need to be able to rest and recharge,” he says. And, at times, to keep his mouth shut. —By Michael Bradley
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(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): HOLY GHOST PREP GRADUATES MIKE O’MARA AND ROB BURNS ARE PICTURED WITH THEIR THIRD NIGHT SHIFT BREWING COFOUNDER MICHAEL OXTON.
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Rob Burns ’03 ROLE MODEL: “I don’t have one
voted the best brewery in Boston, and has allowed the longtime friends to pursue a passion, although O’Mara admits he does spend a little more time behind a desk than he might like.
MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWERS:
“Every time I go to an event and hear how much people enjoy our work, I get a proud feeling,” O’Mara says. “We started it from nothing.”
CO-FOUNDER, NIGHT SHIFT BREWING
particular one but I look up to legendary entrepreneurs Steve Jobs, Ray Dalio, Jim Koch to name a few.” “Not sure, perhaps my dogs Growler & Tap!”
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Mike O’Mara ’03 CO-FOUNDER, NIGHT SHIFT BREWING ROLE MODEL: “My dad, who also started
his own successful business in textiles and now has production plants and distribution warehouses in South Carolina and Utah.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWERS:
“No one specific, honestly I’m not very active on Twitter personally; I leave that realm to our killer marketing team@ nightshiftbeer.”
Working the Night Shift On any given day, a survey of the taproom at the Night Shift Brewery in suburban Boston could reveal a collection of millennials, a family of four, and a table of 70-something ladies—all enjoying the results of Mike O’Mara’s and Rob Burns’ creativity. There is something just about any beer lover could enjoy, from a brew that includes habanero peppers and agave nectar to a crisp American light lager. Since 2012, Night Shift has been providing New Englanders—and some New York City denizens—with a collection of craft beers born out of the ’03 Ghost grads’ affection for home brewing—and thanks to some good, old-fashioned entrepreneurial drive. Night Shift has won medals at domestic and international competitions, been
It’s not like Night Shift took over an established brewery or was cut loose from a major beer company. It started in a dorm room at Bowdoin College in Maine, where Burns began experimenting with the beer-making process. After graduating and starting a six-year tour of work with three different tech companies, Burns expanded his operation, working with Bowdoin friend Michael Oxton and trying new ingredients and equipment. Meanwhile, O’Mara was in Philadelphia’s Mayfair section, working toward becoming a bank manager, doing a little home brewing of his own, and thinking he might need a change of scenery after spending his first 25 years in the area. (He graduated from Philadelphia University.) In August 2010, he moved to Somerville, Mass., just northwest of Boston, to live with Burns and several other home-brew aficionados. They started producing much greater amounts—400 gallons in one year—and throwing parties for friends and strangers to get feedback on their product. The reviews were good, and on February 2, 2012, Night Shift was born, with O’Mara, Burns, and Oxton in charge, and Trifecta (which used Trappist yeast and strains of aged vanilla beans) as the company’s first offering. “We don’t make it anymore,” O’Mara says. “My father wasn’t happy when we stopped.” Since then, Night Shift has expanded from a 1,500– square foot run-down warehouse with a 60-gallon stainless steel pot and a 90– square foot tasting room to a 35,000– square foot facility with a steamjacketed brewing system and a bar that accommodates 12 to 15 taps. The two friends, who formed a bond while
running track and cross-country at Holy Ghost, hope to expand throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. “We have 1,200 accounts throughout Massachusetts,” Burns says. “We would like to bring it to Pennsylvania, but we haven’t been able to make enough. We’re trying to satisfy the demand in local markets.” Burns reports Night Shift ranks 147th among 6,000 brewers in the country and that the growing demand is “a good problem to have.” But don’t expect Night Shift to become the latest version of Samuel Adams. “We want to control the messaging and the quality of the product,” O’Mara says. While dreams of world domination sit on the shelf, the Night Shift crew is enjoying creating new products and learning how customers receive them. They have had the chance to capitalize on the nation’s infatuation with craft beers and have created a strong regional presence. In 2017, Boston Magazine voted them the area’s best brewery, and Night Shift’s Saisson won a silver medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival. A year earlier, its Santilli American IPA won a bronze at the World Beer Cup. “It’s fun to be continually learning,” Burns says. “It always piques our interest figuring out new things and how to keep growing while taking care of your team. “To be recognized in the industry is a great source of pride. It says we are doing something unique and of a higher quality.” Not bad for something that started in a dorm room. By Michael Bradley
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Larry Scheetz ’98 OWNER/PARTNER, LAW OFFICES OF WILLIAMS & SCHEETZ “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “My crowning
achievement is the birth of my twins, Madelyn B. Scheetz and Lawrence R. Scheetz, III. My professional crowning achievement has been making the successful transition from a large international law firm to owning and managing Williams & Scheetz, a small Bucks County law firm, where I am able to counsel local clients and make a difference in their lives, while helping shape our community.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/ SHE HAVE: “Eleanor Osborne.
Ms. Osborne taught me the importance of fairness, hard work, and compassion.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY:
“My fondest HGP memory was the feeling of solidarity and community as our entire class attended the funeral mass of our beloved classmate, Kevin Montgomery.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “The greatness of
a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Have a plan, make a list, and
don’t stop checking items off until you’re proud of the work that you have done.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “I strive to be the man that my
mother and father are proud to call son, my wife is proud to love, my children are proud to emulate, my friends are proud to stand beside, and my clients are proud to trust.” ROLE MODELS: “My parents, Larry and Cathy Scheetz. Their
amazing examples taught us how to love our family and friends and showed us the importance of hard work, determination, faith, and kindness.” HOBBIES: “Coaching, playing old man basketball and baseball,
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Lou DuBois ’02 DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL CONTENT, HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, INC. “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Tie: 2013 Peabody
Award for NBC News’ multi-platform series In Plain Sight, a yearlong reporting project focused on poverty in America; and 2014 News & Documentary Emmy Award, Breaking News Coverage, at NBC News.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “John DiGiesi.
Beyond the basics of being a great teacher, he was the first educator who helped me to understand that school is an instrument for learning and improvement of oneself.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Friends. From the lunch table to ‘The List,’
the people I met at HGP to this day remain some of the best people in my life.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “Don’t let a job define who
you are. It’s how you’ll spend a majority of your time, but you’ll be remembered most for the person you are and for how you treat others.” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Always be learning. In today’s
world of endless and accelerated change, you need to look three and five steps ahead to prepare yourself for the future. And that’s not just for what you do for work. Challenge yourself to learn new skills in life, whether it be cooking, golf, coding, whatever. Just dedicate yourself to something new and different, and challenge yourself to get good at it. Learning should never end.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Everyone has his or her own individual
definition of success. There is no straight line. To me, it comes down to defining your own goals, adjusting when challenges arise, and keeping an eye on the bigger picture while not overlooking the details.” ROLE MODELS: “My parents. They showed me the definition of hard
golfing, and surfing.”
work and taught me the value in treating others the way you’d like to be treated.”
MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Head coach of
HOBBIES: “Travel, coffee, golf, swimming, cooking, podcasts,
Bucknell baseball.” —By Michael Bradley
attending sporting events.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Tie: @JohnKruk and
@questlove.” —By Michael Bradley
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Michael Jelen ’06 DIRECTOR, GLOBAL APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP, LLC “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT:
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“Being an expert in technology without a formal education in that area. I’ve testified in U.S. federal court as an expert witness and all of my technology background is all self-taught.”
BASKETBALL STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS MANAGER, MILWAUKEE BUCKS
HOW DID HGP HELP YOU GET THERE? “Very
strong math and science program. I loved the TEAMS competition and the emphasis on STEM in our curriculum.”
Pat Haneman ’08 “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “I don’t
FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “The forensics fundraising spaghetti dinners
necessarily have a ‘Crowning Achievement,’ but I experienced a once-in-a-lifetime afternoon in June 2014, when (NBA center) Dwight Howard bet me a large sum of money that I couldn’t run about 30 miles from the Toyota Center (the Houston Rockets’ arena) to Dwight’s house in Richmond, Texas in fewer than five hours. Long story short, Dwight had one of his buddies meet me at 1 p.m. outside the arena in a car, and he followed me the entire way there, from Houston to Sugar Land to Richmond. Fewer than five hours later, I walked away with heavy pockets and a lifetime of memories.”
were always great. It was fun to bring people together and showcase some of the performances that we’d worked so hard on.”
HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “Too
ROLE MODEL: “There’s never been a single person who I’ve considered a
many to name—Mr. Mundy, Mr. Meistering, Coach Jacobs, Mrs. Flynn, Mrs. Carmine, Mr. Colapinto, Mrs. Garforth, Mrs. Posey, Mr. Danilak, among many others. All recognized my successes but pushed me to continue striving for more.”
HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE:“Tony Figliola. Hands down, the forensics program prepared me
for the inevitable public speaking required in any career, and the travel associated with that activity also planted a travel bug that I’ve yet to shake (I’ve been to 60-plus countries and love exploring).”
role model for everything, but I really admire several of my close friends for the things they’ve done in different areas of their lives. I think being able to balance every aspect of your life is incredibly challenging, so the people that have managed to maintain a good circle of friends while working hard always impress me.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Work hard, never stop learning, explore,
and say yes to crazy opportunities when they’re presented to you.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I don’t use Twitter but my
wife’s Instagram account is pretty awesome: @jetsetjebbie.” WHAT’S IT LIKE LIVING IN ABU DHABI? “Since January 2018, I’ve
been living in Abu Dhabi after nine years in London. Living in the UAE is incredibly exciting, as the government isn’t afraid to do incredibly ambitious and world-changing projects. They’re currently building a hyperloop train between Dubai and Abu Dhabi that will travel 760 mph, they’ve promised to be one of the first places with a fully autonomous fleet of both cars as well as person-carrying flying drones, and despite already having the world’s tallest building, they’re building an even taller one. I’m personally involved in the connection of billions of IoT (Internet of Things) devices to build Abu Dhabi’s smart city. We’re using real-time data from tons of sources (traffic, energy, weather, emergency services, etc.) to increase efficiency and automation in providing government services. It’s an incredible project and extremely cool to be involved. It’s an incredible time to be in the UAE!” COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE BEEN TO: “Afrikaburn. It’s the Burning Man of
Africa and happens every year in Tankwa Karoo Park in South Africa. It’s an incredible opportunity to get away from all of the crazy distractions of society and just be human for a week. I’ve been twice and will be going back next year with a huge group of friends. There’s no money, there’s a sense of community that I’ve never seen before that really gives me hope for the good of humanity. It’s a crazy experiment but a place I’ve really fallen in love with.”
FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “My fondest memories came during
my four years on the cross-country and track teams. We had a unique combination of talented guys who worked extremely hard. During my senior year, I was fortunate enough to be part of a cross-country team that qualified for the state championship.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “Stay ready for when the
opportunity comes.” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Don’t sell yourself short. In
anything important to you—family, job, school, hobby, etc.—give it your all. You’ll often surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Getting to where I am today took an
incredible amount of good fortune, but I was persistent in trying to get my foot in the door and prepared when the opportunity presented itself.” ROLE MODEL: “Tom Donnelly, my cross-country and track coach
at Haverford. He has a very unassuming demeanor, yet made you want to run through a wall for him. He’s a former Division I AllAmerican runner and Hall of Fame coach, yet you would never realize it through your interactions with him. He has a special blend of passion, humility, and charisma that makes for a great leader.” —By Michael Bradley
—By Joe Santoliquito
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Jack Gdovin ’04 SENIOR FINANCE DIRECTOR, JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “The
person that immediately comes to mind is Paul Pomeroy, who taught our senioryear physics class. On the surface, it seems odd that a physics teacher could have had an impact on someone who eventually became a finance professional, but what Mr. Pomeroy really taught was how to think, formulate opinions, and defend your answers. No amount of education on facts and figures is going to equip you with all the answers for every situation in business. However, having the ability to think critically through problems, form an opinion, and defend it to a tough assessor is a skill that transcends education in facts and figures. That’s what Mr. Pomeroy did; he just used physics as a vehicle to do it.” “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Without a doubt,
raising my beautiful children, Grace and John, with my wife, Rachel, is my greatest accomplishment. I’ve always viewed my professional career as simply an enabler to give my family a good life. Any professional accomplishments dim in comparison.” HOW MUCH DID HOLY GHOST PREP HELP YOU IN REACHING THE SUCCESS YOU’VE ENJOYED IN YOUR CAREER? “I think there’s two
major ways that HGP influenced my professional career. My studies at HGP allowed me first to be accepted into the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, and secondly, to enter with nearly a full year of credits under my belt. The result was a dual degree in finance and economics, which helped me secure my job at J&J before my senior year began. HGP set me on the right trajectory from the very start. “The second way is the education itself. The analytical background that I left HGP with continues to serve me well today. HGP has a way of stretching even strong students to be their best with challenging course loads, and I can vividly recall times where I felt I was being stretched to the point of breaking. What I didn’t realize at the time was that in learning how to succeed at HGP, I was building skills that would serve me well through my college and professional years.” ROLE MODEL: “Not just one, but many. I just heard this quote: ‘You
are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ As I think about who those five people are, I’m a pretty lucky guy to have incredible people in my life from whom I can model behaviors. My wife has taught me patience and tact. My parents showed me how important hard work and devotion are. A recent manager who I spent countless hours with helped me find ways to stand my ground and articulate my opinions. And my children simultaneously bring levity and purpose to my life.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “There is no secret—success in any job
takes hard work, smarts, a support network, and some good luck. I’ve been blessed through my academic and professional career to have all the above.” —By Brian Freeman
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Pete Naccarato ’10 ACQUISITION MANAGER, EQUUS CAPITAL PARTNERS, LTD. “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Personally overseeing approximately $220M in real estate transactions on behalf of my firm. Most recently, I closed on the sale of a $63 million apartment property that we owned and ultimately sold in Lansdale, PA.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “I’m going
with two: 1) Mrs. Posey, because she helped me learn to be an efficient and effective writer. I used the skills I learned in her AP English Language class all throughout college, and now I use them daily in my professional career; and 2) Mr. Figliola, because he helped me learn how to go in front of a room and speak freely and without any nerves. Both skill sets are crucial in my career in real estate.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Traveling through Europe (Switzerland,
Italy, and France) with guys who are still some of my best friends to this day. (Shout-out to Room 30.) I’m not sure I’ve ever had more fun than on that trip during the summer heading into our senior year.” BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “Trust the process.” BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “1. Stay humble. 2. Stay hungry.
3. Meet more people.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Continually looking to grow in my role
and never getting complacent.” ROLE MODELS: “My father, Anthony (HGP Class of 1984), and my
grandfather, Peter. They are two Villanova-educated, hardworking men who have had tremendous professional careers but have also found time to dedicate to their families, as well as other causes that mean a lot to them.” HOBBIES: “Traveling to fun cities, music festivals, trips to the Jersey
shore, trying new restaurants in Philadelphia, and playing golf. I’m a member at the Union League’s course at Torresdale, if any HGP alums want to get a round in sometime.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Admittedly, I’m a much
better Instagram follow (_petenacc). However, if we are talking Twitter, I’m going to go with the best band on Broad Street on New Year’s Day (@newsoundbrass).” —By Michael Bradley
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BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE: “Rocky said it best: In life, it’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
Ryan Becker ’98 PARTNER, FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP
SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Surrounding
“CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “I took on a pro bono case of a man
who was serving a potential life sentence in New York for a rape and murder he did not commit. I was able to push the district attorney’s office to search for physical evidence for a crime that occurred in 1980, the year I was born. It was a long shot, but they found hairs belonging to the perpetrator. DNA testing of the hairs showed that my client was not the killer. He was released from prison, exonerated finally by the State of New York, and in early June I attended his graduation from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “This is tough
because there are so many options. I would say there are three. Mike Gillespie, Kathy Posey, and Sandy Courtney. They taught me to believe in myself. They taught me the
myself with incredible family and friends who support me, encourage me, keep me honest, and inspire me to work hard and succeed.” ROLE MODEL: “My grandfather. He was smart
and hardworking. A self-made man. I looked up to him and tried to dress like him and act like him. He also introduced me to golf—one of the great loves of my life!” value of hard work. They did not let me quit. And they kept me humble when I forgot what made me successful in the first place. That was probably the greatest lesson of all.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Getting the
call from Coach Rich Venne when I was a freshman telling me I made the varsity golf team. That was very cool!”
HOBBIES: “Golf.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “The
Folds of Honor Foundation. The foundation raises money and awareness to support the families of fallen and wounded soldiers. Those men and women are true American heroes, and we owe them all a debt of service we will never be able to repay fully.” —By Michael Bradley
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN: “Show
up to work every day on time and with a purpose. Do that and you will be ahead of 90% of the people out there.”
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Carlo Capuano ’07 GENERAL MANAGER, CARLUCCI’S WATERFRONT WHAT’S YOUR ROLE IN YOUR FAMILY’S BUSINESS? “My role in the family business ranges from overseeing
our Mount Laurel location to payroll, scheduling, inventory, marketing, managing websites, reviews, social media for all six locations. As a business owner, you must wear many different hats and be able to expect new challenges on any given day. My father inspires me to be the best father and person I can possibly be. He came to this country when he was only 16 years old and built a successful business while being there for myself, my mother, and sister. He has taught me what it takes to make it in this business and to always work hard but leave time for family. Working alongside him, my grandfather, my uncles, and cousins, we all help each other accomplish whichever tasks are thrown our way.” ROLE MODEL: “My father is absolutely my biggest role model. He has shown me that hard work, dedication,
and love for your job are three main factors of what it takes to run a successful business. It is important to treat your employees with respect and make sure they are dedicated to treat your customers with the same level of care that you would treat them. Customer service is what brings customers back to your establishment, sometimes more than the product itself. It is important to make sure your customers always leave happy.” FELLOW HGP ALUMS YOU SEE MOST OFTEN: “Brendan O’Neill, Nick Seravalli, Kellen Wojnar, Patrick
Corcoran, Kishan Patel, Ryan Bray, Patrick Dorsey, and Kevin Smeraglio. We are a very close group of friends that keep in touch every day.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “Cory Booker, a United States senator from New Jersey.”
—By Bill Doherty
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Brian Laker ’99 GLOBAL BUSINESS MARKETING LEAD, TWITTER WHAT DO YOU DO FOR TWITTER? “My
team communicates the value of Twitter’s advertising solutions to the largest companies in the world. We create marketing campaigns that build Twitter’s brand and business.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Empathy,
perspective, and hard work.” HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS: “Kathy Posey.” FONDEST HGP MEMORY: “Volunteering at a
soup kitchen in Kensington with some of my classmates (who are still some of my best friends today!).” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER:
“That’s a tie—my 2-year-old daughter (@Little_Laker) and, as a Duke alum, Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball).” —By Bill Doherty
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Andrew Romano ’99 FINANCIAL ADVISOR, CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR, VOICE-OVER ACTOR HGP TEACHER WHO SET YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR CURRENT SUCCESS—AND WHAT INFLUENCE DID HE/SHE HAVE: “It was a true team effort with me—from
Doc Holloway’s humor to Mr. Chapman’s discipline to Mrs. Posey’s creativity to Mr. Nick’s coaching. These are just a handful. They and others contributed to the culture of ethics and effort that helped prepare me for college and life since.” “CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT” TO THIS POINT: “Personally, so far it’s being able
to visit my godson every few months in Florida so that we have a real relationship as he gets older. (‘He says poolside with drink in hand.’) Professionally, so far it’s being able to have crafted my various work into a vocation. I do work that I am proud of, for/with people I enjoy.” HOW MUCH DID HGP HELP YOU IN ACHIEVING THE SUCCESS YOU’VE ENJOYED IN YOUR CAREER? “77 percent. In all seriousness, Holy Ghost stretched me
beyond the person I was when I entered, and molded me into the core of the man I am today.” WHAT IS MORE REWARDING—LEADING SERVICE MISSIONS, DOING VOICE-OVER WORK FOR PBS, WRITING BOOKS, OR HANDLING MILLIONS IN INVESTMENTS FOR CLIENTS? “Of these, the mission trips by far. The children do more for us than
we for them, and it’s a unique honor to introduce that experience to people who’ve never experienced anything like it. More rewarding than these is waking up most days—let’s call it 77 percent of them—with purpose.” ROLE MODEL: “I am a ‘man of my mantras’ and have drawn wisdom from religious
leaders, secular leaders, athletes, commentators, orphaned children, and even Jim Carrey. Oh, and Jesus. Definitely Jesus.” SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS: “Before you can have success, you must do the things
a successful person does. And before that, you must BE that successful person. Be. Do. Have. In that order.” MOST IMPRESSIVE TWITTER FOLLOWER: “I’ve had a Twitter handle for years. Only
tweeted once or twice, but like to think I have a decent handle (@onetwitatatime). I plan to use that to inspire the world, one twit at a time.” —By Brian Freeman
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PHOTO CREDIT: DOUGLAS BENEDICT, ACADEMIC IMAGE
Casey Buck
Zamir Guy
STARTING THE
Next Chapter
BY BILL DOHERTY
Patrick Cannon
Matthew Hofmann
Colin Landers
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he Class of 2018 truly left its mark at HGP. Holy Ghost Prep Magazine talked to five members
of the school’s most recent graduating class—Casey Buck, Patrick Cannon, Zamir Guy, Matthew Hofmann, and Colin Landers—about their time at HGP, their goals for the future, and what their years at Holy Ghost Prep armed them with that will enable them to succeed in the next chapter of their lives.
Casey Buck COLLEGE HE’S ATTENDING: United States Military Academy HIS MAJOR: Mechanical engineering HOW DID HOLY GHOST PREP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE?
“Holy Ghost helped me learn how to manage my time well and forced me to get organized in order to keep up with the challenging academics. Knowing what it is like to have to catch up when falling behind, and learning what steps to prevent that.” HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GREW AS A PERSON AT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I think my maturity and confidence grew tremendously
over my four years at Holy Ghost. The independence I was given at HGP helped me enhance my decision-making skills as well.” WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT GHOST?
“My fondest memory of Holy Ghost Prep has to either be winning the Flyers Cup, the Jamestown tournament trips, or the HGP Dominican Republic service trip.” WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOLY GHOST PREP? “The
thing I’ll miss most about Holy Ghost is by far all the friends I’ve made here. I had a really tight-knit group of friends, people that I know I will be friends with for a lifetime.” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A HOLY GHOST PREP FRESHMAN? “I would tell freshmen to take every chance you
can to be involved. From playing a sport, to doing a forensics competition, to joining one of the many clubs at HGP. I think it is good to be well-rounded and push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and you never know what activity you may find interest in.” 28
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Patrick Cannon COLLEGE HE’S ATTENDING: Duquesne University HIS MAJOR: Physical therapy HOW DID HOLY GHOST PREP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE?
“Holy Ghost prepared me for my future by helping me form good study habits for college, getting me used to having free time in school (free periods), giving me a challenging curriculum like I will have in college, and reinforcing the importance of hard work and cooperation with others.” HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GREW AS A PERSON AT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I grew as a person at Holy Ghost by learning to just be
myself and not try to fit in with a certain group or care what other people think about me.” WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT GHOST?
“Senior Prank Day is my fondest memory from my time at Ghost because it was like all the hard work we put into school at Ghost over the last four years led to this one day where all the seniors can just have fun and not worry about classes. My friends and I just played frisbee, football, and basketball, and then set up an Xbox and played Halo until lunch when we had cheesesteaks and then got to go home.” WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOLY GHOST PREP? “What
I will miss most about Holy Ghost is probably that whether I was in class or in the locker room with the hockey team, no one was a stranger and everyone was included somehow.” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A HOLY GHOST PREP FRESHMAN? “Some advice I can give to a freshman at Ghost is:
1) use your time, especially free periods, wisely because the workload keeps getting bigger and harder; 2) make sure to study even if you don't think you have to because just looking over the material still can't hurt; and 3) enjoy your time at Ghost because it goes really, really fast.”
Zamir Guy COLLEGE HE’S ATTENDING: Temple University HIS MAJOR: Dual major of political science and criminal justice HOW DID HOLY GHOST PREP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE?
“Holy Ghost Prep provided me with rigorous classes that helped prepare me for college. Holy Ghost has also helped me become more responsible, specifically with time management. I learned how to use my free time wisely, which is a good skill to have for college.” HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GREW AS A PERSON AT HOLY GHOST PREP? “The service requirements helped me become more
appreciative for what I have. Also, my time at Ghost has helped me to become more open-minded.”
WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT GHOST?
“My fondest memory at Holy Ghost Prep was when the old president of the school did the ice bucket challenge. Another fond memory I have is after every flag football game, (science teacher Amanda) Coopersmith would bring everyone baked snacks. The brownies were to die for.” WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I will
definitely miss the teachers and the sense of community. I’ve never been to a school where the teachers cared so much about the students and actually created relationships with them.” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A HOLY GHOST PREP
the most. For me, talking to teachers made school more interesting, fun, and important to me.” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A HOLY GHOST PREP FRESHMAN? “Take fullest advantage of the six hours or so you
are at school every day. Sometimes for me that meant getting ahead on homework during break, free periods, and lunch, but it was worth it because I had more free time outside of school. You’re going to spend those six hours at school for about 180 days for four years, so don’t waste it.”
Colin Landers
FRESHMAN? “I would advise freshmen to enjoy every moment
COLLEGE HE’S ATTENDING: Marquette University
of being at Ghost because time moves fast and before you know it, you’ll be graduating. Also, to not be afraid to talk to your teachers or counselors if you’re having a problem with something. Lastly, I would highly advise that when you become a senior you should definitely go on the senior retreat. It’s a great experience that you won’t forget.”
HIS MAJOR: Dual major of public relations and another major
Matthew Hofmann COLLEGE HE’S ATTENDING: University of Pennsylvania HIS MAJOR: Computer engineering and mathematics HOW DID HOLY GHOST PREP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE? “My
Ghost education prepared me for my future by providing me a solid foundation to work off of in my future studies, because I was able to take advantage of the AP classes offered and great faculty. My math, science, and language classes during my four years built on top of each other and reinforced each other. Furthermore, the course rigor of these classes ingrained a good work ethic in me.” HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GREW AS A PERSON AT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I think I grew as someone who is diligent with their
work, but also as someone who is thankful to have such a great support system in my education and personal life as a result of attending Ghost.” WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT GHOST?
“My fondest memory was competing in the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling with my small group. The four of us were given 72 hours to formulate our best proposal to a logistical problem using math. I will remember for a very long time the intense frustrations and dead ends we faced when thinking of solutions for hours on end. However, it is a fond memory I have because that was my greatest experience of collaboration between my peers and I. Also, we were successful, becoming national finalists in the competition.”
within the School of Communications HOW DID HOLY GHOST PREP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE?
“HGP prepared me for my future because my time there taught me essential life skills in all aspects of life, from preparation/organization to studying to communicating with my peers. I also learned skills and strategies in academics that I can and will use for the rest of my life.” HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GREW AS A PERSON AT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I grew as a person at Ghost because who I am now is
a very different person from when I first arrived. Coming in as a freshman, I was a very quiet and shy kid. I was vastly out of my comfort zone coming to a school where I knew only two other kids, so I was nervous from the start. Over my four years here, I’ve learned so much, both academically and about myself, and made some of my best friends in the world. I think now ‘shy’ and ‘quiet’ would be the last two adjectives my friends and teachers would use to describe me. Additionally, I’ve learned so much about my faith, and I’ve grown in my faith. Because of my time at Holy Ghost, I’ve grown into the person I am today.” WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT GHOST?
“My fondest memory from my time at Ghost was winning my first forensics state championship in duo with Luke Muller.” WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOLY GHOST PREP? “I’ll miss
my friends who I spent the last four years with most from Holy Ghost.” WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A HOLY GHOST PREP FRESHMAN? “Even if you know no one coming in to HGP, don’t
be afraid of what the future holds. It might seem a little scary when you come for the first day knowing no one, but I promise you, by the end of your four years, you will have loved every second of your time learning and growing with your fellow students.”
WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOLY GHOST PREP? “Surely
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Holy Ghost Prep’s Class of 2018:
Where They Are This Fall
Holy Ghost Prep’s Class of 2018 was a group of spirited, unique, and talented individuals who excelled in the classroom, on the stage, in laboratories, in community service efforts, and on the playing fields.
THE STUDENTS IN HOLY GHOST PREP’S CLASS OF 2018 HEADED TO THE FOLLOWING DESTINATIONS THIS FALL: Bloomsburg (Pa.) University
St. John’s University
Boston College
Stevens Institute of Technology
Boston University
Syracuse University
Bucks County Community College
Temple University
Coastal Carolina University
The Catholic University of America
The Class of 2018’s collective talents didn’t go unnoticed as they submitted 754 college applications and received $18,219,250 in scholarships, an average of $155,720 per student. HGP’s Class of 2018 was an accomplished group of 117 students who are continuing their academic careers at 56 different colleges and universities in 18 different states.
College of the Holy Cross
The College of New Jersey
DeSales University
The University of Scranton
Drexel University
The University of Tampa
Duquesne University
Thomas Jefferson University
Elizabethtown College
United States Military Academy
Emory University
University of Dayton
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Delaware
“The wonderful array of college admissions offers that Holy Ghost’s Class of 2018 received is a reflection of the students’ many talents in and out of the classroom,” says AnnMarie Dougherty, Holy Ghost Prep’s director of college guidance. “As the world of college admissions becomes more competitive every year, it is a source of pride that colleges recognize Holy Ghost’s excellent academic preparation and the significant contributions that our graduates will make to their college communities.”
Gettysburg College
University of Michigan
Grand Canyon University
University of New Hampshire
Gwynedd Mercy University
University of Pennsylvania
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
University of Pittsburgh
The Holy Ghost Prep Class of 2018 included:
x 7 National Merit Scholarship Commended students
Holy Family University James Madison University Johns Hopkins University La Salle University Lafayette College Liberty University
x 4 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists
Loyola University Maryland
x 20 Summa Cum Laude graduates
Marquette University
x 26 Magna Cum Laude graduates
Muhlenberg College
(cumulative GPA of 4.15 or higher) (cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 4.14)
x 12 student-athletes headed to Division I and Division III
college athletics programs
x 5 legacies (graduating seniors whose dads also
graduated from Holy Ghost Prep)
Gregory J. Geruson ’79, president of Holy Ghost Prep, says: “The Class of 2018 left an indelible mark on Holy Ghost Prep. It’s a credit to them, their parents, our teachers, and our College Guidance Office that they are studying at an impressive list of colleges and universities this fall. They are undoubtedly prepared to make a difference within their college communities, just as they did in ours.” 30
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Miami University, Ohio New Jersey Institute of Technology Pennsylvania State University Philadelphia Steam Fitters Princeton University Providence College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Rutgers University Saint Joseph’s University Siena College
University of Rhode Island Ursinus College Villanova University Wake Forest University West Chester (Pa.) University West Virginia University
HGP ICON:
John Buettler ’64
The Mentor BY MATTHEW JORDAN
H
oly Ghost Prep was a very different place in September of 1969. Only four lay teachers worked among a faculty that was otherwise comprised of Spiritan priests. Founders’ Hall, the Holt Center, and the Firebird Fieldhouse were facilities that no one on campus could have imagined. In the winter months, students could go ice skating on a pond near where the track can now be found.
when some students first approached him about coaching a debate club that they had started. His first response was no. “But the kids kept pestering me,” Buettler says. “‘You’re the English teacher,’ they would say. ‘Don’t you know something about it?’ And I told them ‘No, actually, I don’t know anything about it.’ But they kind of dragooned me into coaching a speech event, which I accepted, just to get them off my back.” Once he saw what it was about, Buettler was hooked, and a fledgling version of the current forensics program was born. Matches didn’t always go well at the start. “We did everything wrong,” says Buettler. “Because none of us really knew what this was about. But it kind of intrigued me. I’ve always been a language man. A word man. And this featured things like language, interpretation, and acting, all of which I liked. Although the thing that grabbed me the most, that has to grab you as a teacher, were the kids themselves. It was never just
THE BUETTLER EFFECT
PHOTO CREDIT: CATALANO STUDIO
Do you have a John Buettler story you’d like to share? Send your story to Bill Doherty, director of communications, at wdoherty@holyghostprep.org, and he’ll post some of the best ones on HGP’s website and on Facebook.
But September of 1969 was also the month when John Buettler ’64 returned to his alma mater from Duquesne University to begin teaching English. From that September morning until his “last lecture,” his commencement address to the graduating class of 2014, Buettler became an iconic figure at Holy Ghost, serving as a teacher, forensics coach, counselor, and mentor to his students for over 45 years. Buettler and his wife, Arlene, even sent their four sons to Ghost: Jeff ’91, Mark ’95, Stephen ’99 and John ’02. Even in retirement, Buettler still finds time to provide part-time coaching for a forensics program that has become one of the best in the nation over the past four decades. But things were very different in the fall of 1969, 32
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about the subject or the competition. It was about the kids.” Buettler recognized something else that competing in forensics provided his students: the ability to communicate their ideas in a convincing, articulate, and professional way. As the team’s star began to rise, their coach was struck by the enormous confidence that public speaking, the art of going into any setting and expressing oneself with poise and precision, gave them. One of those students was Bryan Reinholdt ’03. Now a partner at McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm, Reinholdt still relies on the skills that Buettler brought out in him as a forensics competitor. “Whether I’m speaking to a room full of executives or
“
Winning is just a by-product of excellence. At the end of the day, there’s only going to be one winner. But no one can take excellence away from you.”–JOHN BUETTLER ’64
mentoring colleagues on my team,” Reinholdt says, “he taught me, and countless others, how to structure persuasive arguments, how to lead by role modeling, and how to remain confident under pressure.” Even as the accolades began to accrue under Buettler and Tony Figliola, who assumed head coaching responsibilities of the team in the early 1980s, Buettler’s focus remained not on winning, but on excellence. Pat McGhee ’03, a former competitor and the team’s current assistant coach, tells the story of a student who was so excited by his performance that afterward he swore to everyone around him that he had won his round. “Yes,” said Buettler, “but were you excellent?” Confused, the young man asked his coach what the difference was. “What you’re really striving for is excellence,” his coach replied. “Winning is just a byproduct of excellence. At the end of the day, there’s only going to be one winner. But no one can take excellence away from you.” Anecdotes like this one highlight the thoughtful counseling that so many of Buettler’s students have received over the past five decades. Of the many roles he assumed in his years at Holy Ghost, mentor might be the one that describes him best. For a teenager trying to understand his identity and his place in the world, the importance of a role model and mentor in those years can’t be overstated. Greg Geruson ’79, the school’s current president, felt the benefits of Buettler’s mentorship personally as a student at Holy Ghost. “Through forensics, I learned about who I was and, more importantly, who I could be,” says Geruson. “We could go to John with our concerns, our ideas, and our questions, and he was always there to guide and counsel.” Geruson can still recall the thoughtful, lively discussions on the team’s van rides to and from tournaments. “Those conversations ranged from the existence of God to whether I should date a girl on the Nazareth forensics team! Truly from the sublime to the ridiculous. At such a formative time in my life, he had an enormous influence, and I will always love him for that.” Tom McSorley ’02, who now serves as counsel for SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace manufacturer, offers his own amusing take on Buettler’s presence in his students’ lives. “He was a Yoda-like guide through that transition between being a kid and being the not-quite-an-adult that you become by the time you graduate from high school. Even after watching enough Lord of the Rings, Good Will Hunting, Harry Potter, or The Ten Commandments, you don’t think that you will have in your life an actual bearded wise man as a mentor and guide through that
life. And yet, that’s what Mr. Buettler has been to so many students at HGP. His advice, but also the calm, warm, and thoughtful way in which he helped me process problems and decisions, still echoes in my head as I try to navigate the world, 16 years after graduation.” Both Geruson and McSorley praise their former mentor’s ability to guide them in a way that allowed them to discover their own paths. “It was always about the potential that you had,” says Geruson. “He didn’t try to influence you to become someone you’re not. He was someone who encouraged you to figure out who you are and what your place in the world could be.” Buettler took the same approach in his coaching, says McSorley. “He would draw out your thoughts and ideas to help you make decisions independently. He would always give really sound, tailored advice, but just enough to teach you how to fish.” In Buettler’s view, this kind of guidance is merely part of a much longer tradition of teaching and mentoring at Holy Ghost, one that extends even further back than the days when he first began his teaching career in the fall of 1969. “I’ve always felt that there’s something about this place that allows teachers and students to come together in a very special way,” says Buettler. “It’s some sort of legacy from the old seminary days, when the seminarians and priests actually lived here. In those situations, there’s not just the teacher and the student. There’s the mentor and the disciple. In some mystical way, I feel like that kind of mentoring relationship has somehow seeped into the walls and emanates into the spirit of the students and the faculty.” That kind of relationship between teacher and student continues today at Holy Ghost Prep, spurred in no small part by the example of John Buettler. Matthew Jordan teaches English and writing at Holy Ghost Prep. He profiled Jim Stewart and Karen Smallen in the last issue of Holy Ghost Prep Magazine.
NEXT UP: TED GRABOWSKI This John Buettler feature is the first in a series of pieces on HGP icons. In the next issue of Holy Ghost Prep Magazine, we will profile Ted Grabowski. Over his 46-year career at Holy Ghost Prep, Ted served the school as a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor.
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HGP Is Ranked the No. 3 Catholic High School in Pennsylvania Holy Ghost Prep was recently named the no. 3 “Best Catholic High School in Pennsylvania” and received an overall grade of A+ from Niche, an organization that reviews and ranks schools nationwide. These Niche rankings include all of the private and diocesan schools in the state. Holy Ghost Prep received A+ grades in academics, college prep, clubs and activities, and sports. In addition to being ranked third among the 74 Catholic high schools in the state in Niche’s 2019 rankings, HGP was rated the 88th best Catholic high school out of the 1,155 schools profiled in the United States. “As a school, we are thrilled to learn that we have received such a strong ranking from the Niche organization,” says Holy Ghost Prep President Gregory J. Geruson ’79. “This recognition is the result of having a dedicated and talented faculty, administration, and staff, and a community of students who are passionate about their education. This combination is what elevated Holy Ghost Prep to being ranked so highly, and I am extremely proud of them all.” Niche rankings are based on a statistical analysis of dozens of public data sets. The rankings also take into account information on academics, faculty, clubs and activities, diversity, college prep, athletics, SAT and ACT test scores, and advanced placement classes, as well as reviews by parents, students, and teachers.
10,280
Number of community service hours logged by HGP students last year 34
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PHOTO CREDIT: CATALANO STUDIO
Campus
Holy Ghost Prep Celebrates Its Annual Mass of the Holy Spirit
On a postcard-perfect Sept. 16 morning, more than 500 members of the Holy Ghost Prep community officially kicked off the 2018-19 academic year with an outdoor Mass of the Holy Spirit in the school’s courtyard. The Very Rev. Jeffrey T. Duiame, C.S.Sp. ’76, provincial superior for the U.S. Congregation of the Holy Spirit, concelebrated the Mass—along with Rev. Daniel Sormani, C.S.Sp., Rev. Christopher McDermott, C.S.Sp., Rev. Thomas Dailey, O.S.F.S.’77, and Rev. Silvio D’Ostilio, C.S.Sp.’46. Near the conclusion of the Mass, a service that was filled with hymns beautifully sung by Holy Ghost Prep students, President Gregory J. Geruson ’79 delivered his annual state-of-the-school address. In his speech, Geruson outlined the considerable progress the school has made during the past 12 months relative to the stated goals in the Vision 2020 strategic plan—most notably, the completion of the STEM Tower, the opening of the Holt Center, and the establishment of new programs. If you would like to hear the entire state-of-the school address, please visit President Geruson’s page on the website. Following Mass, the celebration continued with tours of the STEM Tower and the Holt Center, a deejay, activities for younger children, a catered lunch, and several food trucks.
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Nine HGP Seniors Receive National Merit Recognition
Nine Holy Ghost Prep seniors were recognized this fall by the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program for their outstanding academic prowess.
HGP Hosts Annual Career Days
Current Holy Ghost Prep seniors Brendan Gibbons, Michael Calcagni, Keegan Pietrak, Jeffrey DiFrancesco, Andrew Beck, John Gasiewski, Daniel Kovacevich, Aiden Schmidt, and Nicholas Evans were all recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars, meaning that their test scores placed them among the top 5% of the more than 1.5 million PSAT test takers in 2017.
This fall, Holy Ghost Prep held its annual Career Days, which provided the Classes of 2019 and 2020 with the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of careers from a distinguished group of HGP alumni. The eight alumni speakers at the Sept. 21 Career Day for HGP juniors were: Brian Begley ’91, partner and portfolio manager, Philadelphia Investment Partners Chris Deon ’89, global corporate controller, Agrofresh Thomas DiEnna, D.O. ’96, emergency room physician, Doylestown Hospital Sam Hellings ’83, senior research scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb Christian Holt ’11, registered real estate salesman, Compass Real Estate Shane Moylan ’10, account manager, Apogee Insurance Group Bob Pfender ’05, global supply planner, Astra Zeneca John Stasny’00, FBI special agent, U.S. Department of Justice That same day, three additional Holy Ghost alums—Dan Cain ’05, Michael Jelen ’06, and Eric Michaels ’14—spoke to members of the HGP freshman class from Panama City, Abu Dhabi, and Philadelphia, respectively, on the importance of studying world languages. The five alumni speakers at the Oct. 10 Career Day for HGP seniors were: Michael Cavanaugh ’01, vice president, Apogee Insurance Austin Daly, M.D., D.D.S. ’01, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Pennsylvania Dental Implant and Oral Surgery James DeLuca’11, CFO And Chief Strategist, Inkwiry Tim Flocco ’95, power trader, NRG Energy John Stasny ’00, FBI Special Agent, U.S. Department of Justice During their presentations, each Holy Ghost Prep alum talked about his experiences in his chosen field and how his time at HGP uniquely prepared him to succeed. FA L L 2 0 1 8 3 5
HGP Receives $250,000 Connelly Foundation Grant Holy Ghost Prep was recently awarded a $250,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation to help fund the just-completed HGP STEM Tower project. Located in the lower level and first, second, and third floors of the northeast wing of Cornwells Hall, Holy Ghost Prep’s STEM Tower is home to six science labs (two each for biology, chemistry, physics) and the Brennan Family Innovation Center. All seven spaces are state-of-the-art, hands-on learning environments designed for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), and are already taking the level of teaching and learning at Holy Ghost to even greater heights. The new STEM Tower labs are already proving to be invaluable spaces for Holy Ghost Prep students to build the 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. These collegiate-level labs will transform Holy Ghost Prep and its curriculum and will provide the HGP students of the present and future with the tools necessary to compete in an ever-changing global economy. “We are so grateful for the Connelly Foundation’s generosity to Holy Ghost Prep and belief in our STEM initiative,” says Holy Ghost Prep President Gregory J. Geruson ’79. “This grant will have lasting impact as the STEM Tower will provide both current and future Holy Ghost Prep students with the most advanced learning spaces possible to develop the necessary analytical skills in STEM fields.” The STEM Tower is a $2.5 million project that is one of four strategic priorities of Vision 2020, the current strategic plan for Holy Ghost Prep. 36
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Prior to the school’s Vision 2020 musical celebration on Sept. 15, Holy Ghost Prep officially unveiled the gorgeous Holt Center mural. Professional artist Alex Kuhn, a Class of 2011 Holy Ghost Prep alum, worked with HGP portfolio art students to design and paint the mural in the Holt Center. Over the course of roughly 600 man-hours, Kuhn and the HGP students painstakingly painted the design on the massive 11 x 35–foot wall. The HGP senior portfolio art students who worked with Kuhn on the mural project were Kevin D’Auria, Jeff DiFrancesco, Thomas Forkin, Henry Glunz, Andrew Iannacone, Will Krohn, Hajir Likaj, Eric Mark, and Aiden Schmidt. “Alex worked countless hours, along with our senior portfolio art students, conceptualizing and painting a mural that literally makes the lobby of this building come alive,” said Holy Ghost Prep President Gregory J. Geruson ’79.
PHOTO CREDIT: CATALANO STUDIO
Holt Center Mural Is Unveiled
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Athletic Homecoming for Greg Olenski ’10
Greg Olenski ’10, one of the best players in Holy Ghost Prep’s storied baseball history, is the school’s new head baseball coach. Olenski, a former four-year starting catcher for the Firebirds before going on to play Division I college baseball at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware, takes over one of the area’s top high school baseball programs. “I am very excited to become the head baseball coach at my alma mater,” says Olenski. “I will leverage my success as a Division I baseball player, along with my business and coaching experience, to guide the program to the next level—always keeping in mind the values that my HGP education instilled in me, including the balance between academics and athletics.” Olenski has the luxury of taking over a talent-laden Firebirds program that features four seniors who have made commitments to play Division I baseball: Colin Costello (La Salle University), John McNamee (Rider University), Phil Stahl (Monmouth University), and Ryan Staropoli (Lehigh University). Olenski knows what it takes to excel at the Division I level, having signed with the University of Maryland after a brilliant high school career at Holy Ghost. During his time at Ghost, Olenski helped lead the Firebirds to four straight league titles and left for college as the HGP career leader in hits, doubles, runs, RBIs, and batting average (.443). After redshirting and then playing two seasons at Maryland, Olenski transferred to the University of Delaware, where he excelled on the field (earning All-East region honors as a designated hitter as a senior) and in the classroom (graduating with a 3.5 GPA and earning first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference honors). Olenski is now a territory manager for SKLZ, an emerging sports training brand. He brings some valuable coaching experience with him too, as the head coach of the Philly Bandits U22 college select team. Since 2016, Olenksi served as an assistant coach at Holy Ghost under fellow HGP alum Vince Rossomando ’02, who compiled a gaudy 46-16-1 record in his three seasons before resigning last spring due to the increased demands of his full-time job. Now it’s Olenski’s program to run. “We are excited to have a head baseball coach with the expertise and energy to maintain our tradition and transcend our level of play,” says Holy Ghost Prep Athletic Director Jim Stewart. “Greg Olenski brings a wealth of experience from which our players will learn more than just baseball.”
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Holy Ghost Prep’s cross-country team won its 23rd straight BAL independence Division crown this fall.
Heading into the Hall Six former Holy Ghost Prep studentathletes will be inducted into the HGP Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 26. The six former standouts who comprise the newest HGP Athletic Hall of Fame induction class are:
r David D’Aulerio ’86 / soccer r Dan Harmon ’86 / soccer
r Greg Winther ’02 / soccer
r Michael Ivcic ’03 / ice hockey
r Jamie Cousart ’04 / basketball r Christian Lupica ’11 / track and field
In addition, HGP’s 1974 PIAA state championship basketball squad will be honored as a “Team of Distinction.”
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PHOTO CREDIT: LINDSAY CARICO/LYNCHBURG HILLCATS.
12 HGP Class of 2018 Grads Are Playing College Sports Twelve members of the Class of 2018 are continuing their academic and athletic careers this fall. “We are so proud of the successes these young men had at Holy Ghost Prep, and we look forward to continuing to watch and cheer for them as they play at the next level,” said Jim Stewart, Holy Ghost Prep’s athletic director. The 12 HGP Class of 2018 members, in alphabetical order, who are playing collegiate sports are: Grayson Bautz / rowing College of the Holy Cross Brendan Eagen / soccer Catholic University Connor Fife / soccer Gettysburg College Mark Jonathan Pabalon / tennis Stevens Tech
Rising Star
Nolan Jones ’16 is one of the fastest rising stars in minor league baseball. The 20-year-old Jones had a terrific 2018 season—starting the year in Single-A Lake County before earning a promotion to High-A Lynchburg near the end of the season. Overall this past season, between the Lake County (Ohio) Captains and Lynchburg (Va.) Hillcats, Jones batted .283 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI in 120 games. Thanks to his monster 2018 season, Jones, a former second-round pick in 2016, is now ranked the number two overall prospect in the Cleveland Indians’ organization.
Matt Rueter / lacrosse NJIT Phil Rueter / lacrosse Elizabethtown College George Rusnak / lacrosse Siena College Mark Seibert / baseball Gettysburg College Brett Sternberg / baseball Rutgers University
Zach Vittorelli / baseball DeSales University Owen Yake / lacrosse Elizabethtown College
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PHOTO CREDIT : DAVID SINCLAIR/GETTYSBURG COLLEGE
Luke Verga / baseball Ursinus College
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Holy Ghost Prep Captures Third Straight PIAA Sportsmanship Award Holy Ghost Prep received the 2017-18 PIAA District 1 Sportsmanship Award at the September meeting of District 1 principals and athletic directors at Westover Golf Club in Norristown.
Legends of the Fall Holy Ghost Prep’s fall sports teams all excelled and were well represented on the 2018 All-BAL teams. Record-setting goal scorer Nkosi Graham, who has committed to Evansville, was selected the league MVP in soccer. Senior golfer Liam Hart, who will golf for Drexel University next year, finished third at the PIAA Class 3A state championship, while the cross-country team won its 23rd straight BAL title.
It marks the third consecutive year that Holy Ghost Prep has garnered this coveted award. “Winning the District 1 Sportsmanship Award for a third straight year is a tribute to our students, parents, and fans of HGP athletics,” says Holy Ghost Prep athletic director Jim Stewart. “We have a proud tradition of success in athletics, and to be considered a leader in sportsmanship is just as meaningful.”
The following HGP student-athletes earned All-BAL honors this fall:
CROSS-COUNTRY FIRST TEAM: Elliott Puckett ’21, Nick Polidoro ’19, Mitchell Feyl ’20, Tony Carbino ’19 SECOND TEAM: Jarett Zelinsky ’19, John Horgan ’21 2018 BAL COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Meistering
GOLF FIRST TEAM: Liam Hart ’19, Owen Heffernan ’19, Dan Kovacevich ’19, Calen Sanderson ’22 SECOND TEAM: Ryan France ’21, Nick Henn ’22 HONORABLE MENTION: Tyler Schmidt ’21 2018 BAL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Liam Hart ’19 2018 BAL COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Walder ’02
SOCCER FIRST TEAM: Nkosi Graham ’19, Ethan Ruppersberger ’19, Zack Moore ’19, Tyler Weimert ’20 SECOND TEAM: TJ Butler ’20, Max Guilana ’20, Stefen Melekos ’20, Jake McDonald ’19 2018 BAL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Nkosi Graham ’19 2018 BAL COACH OF THE YEAR: Ken Lawson ’92 FA L L 2 0 1 8 3 9
Alumni ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Shawn Connor ’95
Believe in Brynn By Joseph Santoliquito
Trust (RSRT), a 501(c)(3) charity that has raised $42 million for Rett research since 2008. The Mayo Clinic defines Rett syndrome “as a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops, causing a progressive inability to use muscles for eye and body movements and speech. It occurs almost exclusively in girls. Most babies with Rett syndrome seem to develop normally at first, but after about 18 months of age, they lose skills they previously had—such as the ability to crawl, walk, communicate, or use their hands. “Over time, children with Rett syndrome have increasing problems with the use of muscles that control movement, coordination, and communication. Rett syndrome can also cause seizures. There’s no cure for Rett syndrome (although, in 2008, Rett syndrome was reversed in mouse models, proving, in theory, that Rett syndrome is reversible in humans). Current treatment focuses on improving movement and communication and providing care and support for children and adults with Rett syndrome and their families.”
His bottom lip quivered. It was about the only sign of emotion Shawn Connor was about to let loose. He calmly hung up the phone and stared blankly at his computer screen for about 10 minutes, though to him it felt more like 10 hours, trying to digest what he just heard. Then, Connor faintly remembers, he rose from his desk, grabbed his things, and left his office without feeling the carpet under his feet.
nosed with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects predominantly girls. “It’s a moment and a day that I will never forget, it’s even painful to think about it today,” said Connor, 41, a 1999 St. Joseph’s University grad and father of three: Taryn, 10; Brynn, 7; and Devin, 4. “We’ve come a long way since that day. There is hope. I’m an optimist. We have true hope that Rett syndrome will be reversed in Brynn’s lifetime.
Brynn needs constant care. She’s restricted to a wheelchair, requires a feeding tube, and needs help with everything she does. Brynn has an eye-gaze device and attends first grade at a multi-disability school. There are 350,000 cases of Rett syndrome worldwide, with an estimated 20,000 in the United States, according to the RSRT, with a girl every 90 minutes born with Rett. Life expectancy is usually in the 40- to 50-year range, though some Rett patients haven’t reached 30.
Everything goes away. You become locked in a surreal spell.
“It’s a devastating diagnosis, it’s a devastating reality that’s a part of our lives, but there is a tremendous amount of hope attached to it. That’s what drives us to fight daily for a cure.”
“Believe in Brynn” had its first event on October 13, 2014, which included several of Connor’s Holy Ghost Prep pals. It drew over 200 people and raised $42,000. This year, the fifth annual Happy Hour to Help End Rett was held on October 13, 2018, at Pagano’s Market and Bar (2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA; http://reverserett. org/take-action/events/happy/).
Connor recalls the day his wife, Kristen, called him while lying on the living room floor of their Marlton, N.J. home, struck frantic with the news that their middle child, their daughter Brynn, had been diag-
It’s what drove Connor and his family to create “Believe in Brynn,” a movement that’s raised over $300,000 toward Rett syndrome research and awareness, partnered with the Rett Syndrome Research
Connor’s goal was to raise over $100,000 at the event. In the summer of 2015, the Connor family officially branded “Believe in Brynn,” creating a logo with social media platforms (Facebook: www.facebook.com/
That’s what happens when you arrive back from lunch one lazy weekday afternoon and receive a call that changes your life, as Connor, a 1995 Holy Ghost Prep graduate, did on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.
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2018 HGP Golf Outing Seventy-five alumni and friends of Holy Ghost Prep participated in the annual HGP Golf Classic on October 22. The event, which raised over $35,000 for Holy Ghost Prep athletics, also included a post-golf dinner at which the No. 20 uniform of legendary HGP coach Tony Chapman ’71 was retired.
Connor, who has been a sales rep since November 1999 for Balford Farms, a regional food distribution company out of Burlington, N.J., which specializes in dairy products, saw “Believe in Brynn” sprout to national proportions. After his daughter Taryn wrote pop star Gwen Stefani a letter on Facebook that went viral about her younger sister’s struggles last year, Stefani threw her considerable brand behind the cause. Stefani even invited the Connor family up to meet her in person last Thanksgiving week in New York, prior to the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony. Brynn is an honorary member of the University of Pennsylvania’s field hockey team. “Brynn is truly amazing, and it’s amazing how people have gathered around her to help,” Connor said. “I’ve received a lot of support from my friends at Holy Ghost Prep, and from work at Balford. I think I learned how strong people can be when they have no other choice. We have no other choice, but to be strong. “I learned that I’m stronger than I thought I was. I learned I have an amazing support system around me. After I got that call (in 2013), I was in a fog for the better part of four months. Our son was born, you go through the holidays, and you’re told your daughter has a rare disease. You literally try to make it through the day. There were some dark times and some hard times. It bonded us together even closer. You start taking inventory that this is your new reality. Kristen and I thought about ways we could help Brynn and the Rett community, and that’s to fight like hell to raise awareness and research funding to beat Rett.”
PHOTO CREDIT: CATALANO STUDIO
believeinbrynn/; Instagram: believeinbrynn_7; and Twitter: @believeinbrynn).
Warm HGP Welcome
Holy Ghost Prep’s Development Office recently welcomed two new members to its team: Jackie Gear (director of annual giving and alumni engagement) and Angela Smith (event manager). Jackie brings significant fundraising and development experience with a number of nonprofits and colleges. Most notably, she served in annual giving and alumni engagement roles at both Delaware Valley University and Bucks County Community College. Jackie received both her bachelor’s degree in business and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Delaware Valley University. Angela came to Ghost with a background in corporate event planning for a national patio design firm as well as Fisher’s Tudor House. She is a graduate of Holy Family University and Archbishop Ryan High School. Angela will manage the majority of HGP events, including the HGP Golf Classic, Spring Auction, and Class Reunions. FA L L 2 0 1 8 41
HGP Alumni Reunion Is a Rousing Success Leave a Lasting Legacy Consider Naming Holy Ghost Prep in Your Estate Plan Make a gift that costs you nothing today by naming HGP in your will or trust. To discuss estate planning options, please contact Matt Dwyer in the Office of Development: mdwyer@holyghostprep.org or 215.639.2102, ext. 203
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The Holy Ghost Prep Alumni Reunion made its triumphant return this fall as approximately 90 members of HGP graduating classes ending in either “3” or “8” returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce.
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Class Please take a moment to send us information for the next issue of Holy Ghost Prep Magazine. We would love to hear from you, and we are all interested in what you are doing with your life. Please send information (including high-res photos) to either Jackie Gear, director of annual giving and alumni engagement, at jgear@holyghostprep.org or Bill Doherty, director of communications, at wdoherty@holyghostprep.org.
1946
story of a Philadelphia policeman driven off the force who now works as a private detective. He gets by but faces challenges. A case falls into his lap that makes Mac, the former Philly cop, question his abilities and worth as a man as never before. What seems like a routine missing person case quickly starts to lead from one dead end to the next, with interference from at least two government agencies. The story starts in the Midwest, moves to Philadelphia, and then on to Annapolis, Washington, and even the Far East. Twists and turns aplenty present themselves in Sharp’s soon-to-be published novel.
1989 Rev. Silvio D’Ostilio, C.S.Sp., a beloved figure on Holy Ghost Prep’s campus, celebrated his 90th birthday on November 20. The birthday is just the first of two significant celebrations this year for Rev. D’Ostilio, who will celebrate the 65th anniversary of his ordination on June 3, 2019.
1967 Jim McTague, an acclaimed financial writer who served as Holy Ghost Prep’s Executive in Residence last fall, recently published Follow the Leader, a fictional murder mystery that takes place on Capitol Hill.
1974 Dr. Gerry Margiotti Jr. and his son Dr. Gerry Margiotti III ’03 were recently chosen Best Pediatricians by the Bucks County Courier Times. Joseph Sharp will publish his debut novel soon (the tentative publishing date is December 2018). Grasping at Shadows is the
giving for Special Olympics PA, focusing on corporate partnerships and sponsorship at the state level. Lutz formerly worked for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 years (1998-2011) and had worked in professional sports for 15-plus years before joining Manor College.
1999 John Fazzie is a senior software engineer for TripAdvisor. After HGP, Fazzie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School of Business in 2004 with a concentration in operations and information management. Before TripAdvisor, Fazzie worked at Trion Worlds and Petroglyph Games in San Diego and Las Vegas on online real-time strategy games.
2000
Holy Ghost Prep teacher John Fitzpatrick is celebrating his 25th year of teaching at his alma mater this year. Fitzpatrick is one of two HGP employees who are celebrating their 25th year of service at Ghost in 201819, the other being facilities maintenance technician Mike Stanish.
1996 J.P. Lutz is currently an assistant professor at Manor College in Jenkintown, Pa. and heads up their sports management program. Lutz started Bucks County Baseball Co. in 2013, a vintage sports clothing and collectibles store in Bristol, Pa. In addition, he is the director of corporate & individual
Rick Gabriele has returned home to HGP as an art teacher and the school’s fine arts chair. In addition to being a working artist, Gabriele brings 15 years of teaching at the collegiate level with him, including the past decade as an adjunct art professor FA L L 2 0 1 8 4 3
at Bucks County Community College. A former student of Karen Smallen, Gabriele will continue HGP’s tradition of excellence in the fine arts.
Looking to get more
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INVOLVED?
Work with the HGP Alumni Association in offering your time and talent to the school
x Serve as CLASS AGENT to help promote HGP
events and giving
x Volunteer for CAREER DAY or LEAP
(HGP’s student externship program)
RYAN BECKER ’98 / President rbeckernd@gmail.com Kevin Bushek has been hired as Holy Ghost Prep’s new innovation coordinator. Kevin is an extremely creative mechanical engineer with a rare combination of experience as both an aerospace defense subcontractor and a school teacher, including time as a substitute teacher and assistant speech and debate coach at Holy Ghost Prep. Bushek is a member of HGP’s new department of computer science and engineering.
JOE PARGOLA ’96 / Co-Vice President joe@pargola.net KEN LORENCE ’05 / Co-Vice President 64lorence@gmail.com
past six years. In 2015, he played on Team USA, serving as an assistant captain on that bronze medal–winning team.
2005
’08, Rev. Chris McDermott, C.S.Sp., Mike Frawley ’05 (the groom), Matt Ahearn ’05, Jim Frawley ’97, Nick Fox ’05, and Andrew Brown ’05. Kneeling (left to right): Andrew Wakelee ’05 and Andrew Neville ’05.
2006 Brett Manney has added another impressive accomplishment to a lacrosse career littered with them. Manney was invited to try out for the 2019 U.S. indoor team that will compete in the 2019 Federation of International Lacrosse World Indoor Lacrosse Championship next September in Langley, British Columbia. Manney is one of 32 players currently on the Team USA training team; 23 of them will be picked for the actual team next May. The vice president of events sales and recruiting for NXT Sports, Manney is in his 11th season in the National Lacrosse League. He currently plays for the New England Blackwolves; he has been one of the team captains for the 44
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Michael Murray and his wife, Jackie, celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Sept. 30. He currently works for the Madison Square Garden Company as premium account manager of corporate hospitality, working with suite holders. Murray manages the relationships with about 20 accounts for the 200-plus events at Madison Square Garden, as well as their other properties (Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, Hulu Theater at MSG). The Sept. 22 wedding of Mike Frawley and Colleen Kelley at Holy Ghost Prep turned into a full-blown HGP reunion. In this photo from left to right (standing) are: Kevin Bushek ’04, Barry Jordan ’03, Dan Marcel ’11, John McDonnell ’69, Kevin Frawley
2007 Tony Pimpinella was promoted to assistant director of membership services for the Washington Capitals this summer. In this new role, he maximizes retention and reve-
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nues for the Washington Capitals VIP membership base while working to manage staff and helping to oversee the day-today operations of the Membership Services department.
2015
More than 50% of Holy Ghost Prep students benefit from financial aid and that number increases each year. You can redirect your Pennsylvania state taxes as financial aid dollars to Holy Ghost, helping tomorrow’s leaders today.
2011
Brian Marion, a senior at Duquesne University, is excited to report that he has made it to the NHL—as an intern for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lt. Joe Esposito officially became an aviator in the United States Navy this summer. Fun fact: When Esposito landed for the first time on an aircraft carrier, he says: “I had my HGP shorts on under my flight suit.” Connor White is a developer and principal in Tern Water, a Philadelphia-based company that makes eco-friendly faucets/ water filter systems.
2012 Tom Heston has become a full-time faculty member in Holy Ghost Prep’s science department. He had served as a long-term substitute teacher at Ghost in 2017-18. Tom is a 2016 Kings College graduate with degrees in chemistry and secondary education. Heston plans to help out with the athletics department and get involved with other extracurricular activities.
Michael Kirby, a senior at DeSales University, is finishing his college soccer career in grand fashion. As of mid-October, Kirby, a forward on the soccer team, had twice won Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Division Offensive Player of the Week honors this season. A marketing and accounting major, Kirby was named to the All-MAC Freedom Division second team in 2016 and 2017.
2017
2014 Thomas Reading graduated from Smeal College of Business at Penn State University, and recently launched a financial services practice at Northwestern Mutual in Bucks County. Reading and his group of advisors help their clients make educated decisions with their money. They specialize in all areas of financial planning, from retirement to insurance planning.
EITC Funds Help Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
Patrick Taylor, now a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, displayed the true HGP sense of brotherhood when he gave Andrew Pflaumer ’19 an extensive tour of Notre Dame’s campus and shared helpful tips with him on the application process and on life so far from home.
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) are Pennsylvania tax credit programs that allow Pennsylvania businesses and individuals that pay applicable taxes to receive up to a 90% tax credit to be used by schools like Holy Ghost Prep for financial aid. EITC funds provide direct support to need-based tuition assistance subsidies for Holy Ghost Prep students. OSTC further augments the support options available for students whose neighborhood school is low achieving. For more information on how you or your Pennsylvania company can use your tax dollars to help Holy Ghost Prep students reach their goals, contact Matt Dwyer in the Office of Development at mdwyer@holyghostprep.org or 215.639.2102, ext. 203.
“I discovered the EITC BLOC’s program in December of 2016 and quickly learned that it provides a unique opportunity to receive a Pennsylvania state tax credit and the ability to direct that tax credit to HGP. These dollars now went to Holy Ghost to support our students, and the process was extraordinarily simple!” —BOB WATTERS ’81 FA L L 2 0 1 8 4 5
Holy Ghost Prep Magazine Office of Communications 2429 Bristol Pike Bensalem, PA 19020 www.holyghostprep.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR x December 13 Christmas Concert x January 26 Alumni Basketball Game/ HGP Athletic Hall of Fame x February 22 President’s Reception x March 3 Forensics Pasta Dinner x March 9 Mother-Son Dance x March 28 Alumni Association March Madness Event x April 4-7 School Play—Newsies x April 13 HGP Spring Auction x May 5 Father-Son Communion Breakfast x May 31 Baccalaureate Mass Commencement and 50-Year Reunion x June 1 Class of 1969 Reunion
Save the Date Saturday, April 13, 2019 Holy Ghost Preparatory School Spring Auction 6:00 p.m. / Firebird Fieldhouse For additional information, please visit www.holyghostprep.org/2019Auction or contact Angela Smith, event manager, at asmith@holyghostprep.org.