Issuu

WHAT’S INSIDE 2 4 6 8 10

A Message from the President

ICA Cristo Rey’s Vice President of Mission Advancement

ICA Cristo Rey’s Chair of the Board

ICA Cristo Rey’s 2020 Business Lunch ICA Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program Hosted Its Inaugural Distinguished Corporate Partner Breakfast

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

Congratulations to Our 89 Class of 2020 Graduates! A Different Sort of Commencement Career Day 2020 Residency Match During COVID-19 Pandemic

Choosing to Celebrate

Virtually Meeting with Donors

Spartan Stories

ICA Cristo Rey Academy has been sponsored by The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose since 1883. The ICA Update is published twice a year by the Mission Advancement Department of ICA Cristo Rey Academy. 3625 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 415.824.2052 www.icacristorey.org

SUMMER/FALL ISSUE

No. 116

A Message from the President Dear Friends, The acclaimed poet Maya Angelou proclaimed: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Throughout the last months, ICA Cristo Rey did thrive with support from educators and staff, families, alumnae, sponsors, and our Board members. With passion, we designed online education that would meet the needs of our students within the context of family life. With compassion for all, we adapted instruction and remained in communication with students in order to provide the support necessary to achieve educational goals. At the close of May, we celebrated the graduation of our senior class with virtual style and creativity. 89% of our graduates are the first in their families to attend college. We are proud of what they have accomplished in the midst of extraordinary COVID-19 circumstances. We are deeply grateful to our teachers and Academy staff who worked tirelessly to provide a quality Catholic education to all students. Resilience is a hallmark of this educational experience which students will carry with them into the future. Life will present many opportunities to exercise resilience and hope when challenges seem insurmountable. Scripture urges us to Choose Life in response to these moments and to be beacons of light in our world. May we also cherish the dignity of each person and nurture a world of appreciation for diversity. May we reach out to one another with understanding and promote unity among us. We are focused on the start of this new school year. There are many significant decisions to be made in providing a well-rounded educational experience for the students. Be assured you remain present in our prayers. We are very grateful for all of your support given the fiscal challenges we all face this coming year. With faith in the love of our God, we will thrive and grow, for we do not walk alone. We are blessed with a faith community of grace and strength. God bless you, Sister Diane Aruda, O.P. President

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

ICA Cristo Rey Leadership Sister Diane Aruda, O.P. President Rita Cummings Vice President of Mission Advancement Dr. George V. Fornero Principal Missy Mastel Chief Finance Officer Bill Olinger Director of Corporate Work Study Program and Director of Spartan Investment Program Angelica Granera Director of Admissions and Enrollment

Board of Directors Cathy Unruh Chair of the Board Ann G. Miller Vice Chair of the Board Elizabeth Dondero Secretary of the Board Jim Moloney Treasurer of the Board Nicholas Andrade Maureen Coleman Jim Dekker Mike Heffernan Mary Kate Kamka Anna Kearney Mary Lawson Rev. Matt Link, CPPS Paul Mohun Ryan Musser Joshua Myerberg Meghan Railey Sister Mary Susanna Vasquez, O.P.

Contributors Leticia Cottrell Rhonda Hontalas Andrea Manchester Tim Szarnicki Derek Wetzel Managing Editor Andrea Manchester

Editorial Designer Barbara Peavy On the Cover Maya La Salle â€™20 and her Grandmother Cover Photo: Thea Fiataroni

Copy Editor Derek Wetzel

Mission Statement ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a Dominican Catholic college preparatory that empowers girls from underserved communities to become confident young women able to realize their full potential. By providing an excellent academic curriculum, a unique corporate work study experience, and the support of our spiritual community, we prepare students for a life of faith, purpose, and service. Summer/Fall 2020

ICA Cristo Reyâ€™s Vice President of Mission Advancement

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The ICA Cristo Rey Update

This summer we are thrilled to welcome Ms. Rita Cummings as Vice President of Mission Advancement. Rita comes to us from an extensive international career in higher education teaching and in marketing communications for financial institutions and Internet startups, as well as in fundraising, most recently as Senior Director of Development at the SF-Marin Food Bank leading Major Gifts, Foundation & Corporate Support, and a $40 million campaign to expand the Foodbank’s SF warehouse. Rita’s journey began with her Catholic education at Lawside R.C. Academy in Scotland, where, she says, “our motto was Laborare et Orare (‘to work and to pray’): very similar to ICA!” Rita received an M.A. (Hons) at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and then pursued graduate studies in English and American Literature at UC Santa Barbara, followed by classes at UC Berkeley’s Executive Business Program when she worked at Bank of America. Early in her career, Rita taught at the Community College level in English teaching writing, poetry, and drama. She was also an adjunct professor in PR and Communications at Golden Gate University and St. Mary’s College in Moraga. Rita said, “I really enjoy teaching and being a mentor for my students. Hopefully, my business and academic background will be an asset to ICA Cristo Rey as well.” Rita’s career spans management experience at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, as well as two internet startups. For the last 20 years, she has been a fundraising executive for non-profits like Marin Agricultural Land Trust and San Francisco Zen Center, as well as several charities in the United Kingdom such as the University of St. Andrews and Scottish Opera. “Given my background, I thought this job would be a good fit. Most importantly for a fundraiser, I felt a strong affinity with the Mission of the organization,” Rita told us. Rita looks to hit the ground running with her work: “I hope to raise the profile of the school, and set up a fundraising plan to ensure that ICA has a stable revenue base, as well as build an endowment for its long-term stability and growth.” Rita had this to say about the ICA community thus far: “Sister Diane, the Leadership Team, and my colleagues in Mission Advancement have been warm and welcoming. They have made me feel included and supported in this challenging time. I am impressed by the academic staff under George Fornero’s leadership. ICA teachers are clearly highly committed and devoted to the success of the girls in their classes. ICA also has a terrific Board of Directors who are all deeply committed to the mission of the school and highly involved in helping to plan for the school’s future success.” We are pleased to welcome Rita to the ICA family, and we look forward to working with Rita on the long-term success of ICA Cristo Rey. n

Summer/Fall 2020

ICA Cristo Reyâ€™s Chair of the Board

L to R: Rob Unruh, Jim Dekker and Chair of the Board Cathy Unruh.

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

Ms. Cathy Unruh recently became ICA Cristo Rey’s Chair of the Board. She steps into this role with a passion for ICA Cristo Rey’s mission and hope for the coming school year: “You’re catching young women at an early stage in life, exposing them to a wide range of professional opportunities. The program is unique as it combines a rigorous college prep curriculum with a professional work experience. We are the only school in San Francisco that offers this program.” Cathy’s own experience with Dominican, all-girls education in San Francisco (at St. Rose Academy, now closed) helps her to identify with our students: “My parents didn’t have the benefit of an advanced education and for them, going to college was a significant gift for us. The values and college-prep focus that the students have at ICA Cristo Rey are similar to what I experienced.” Cathy majored in Sociology at UC Berkeley and went on to a career in business, including 30 years at Levi Strauss & Company, ultimately becoming their Chief Human Resources Officer. Her professional experience also informs her work as Chair of the Board: “I have a passion for developing women leaders. This is what drew me to ICA Cristo Rey. I grew up in an era where there were very few role models for women in the corporate world. “The research shows that companies with more diversity, and particularly more women in leadership, offer higher returns on capital, lower risk, and greater innovation than firms without such leadership. The ICA Cristo Rey program begins this development of young women early.” When asked about the unique challenges facing the ICA Cristo Rey community this coming year, Cathy responds with optimism: “The dedication of students, faculty, and staff was never more evident than in the last three months of the 2019-2020 school year. While participating virtually in the various graduation ceremonies, I and our Board members were truly inspired. What we saw was everyone—students, faculty, and staff--rise to the challenges of the moment, with creativity, adaptability, and resilience. It is these qualities that will serve our students well and that make us hopeful for their future.” Cathy says the Board is actively working on plans for the coming year: “The Board members embrace the mission and are committed to ensuring the sustainability of ICA Cristo Rey for the long term. I am inspired by my Board colleagues as each member brings a unique perspective and background, and we are bound together by a genuine passion for developing these young women whom we see as future leaders. “As we develop plans for this year, we recognize the challenging circumstances in front of us: providing a rigorous academic curriculum virtually, adapting our support to our corporate partners with students possibly working remotely, and developing fundraising campaigns and events in new ways as distancing measures remain in place. But we are not daunted. We are grateful for the unwavering commitment and engagement of our donors, corporate partners, and the broader community who support our mission. They want to support our students, as they too recognize that these young women represent their future. The Board will work vigorously in telling our story, advancing our mission, and reaching out in adaptive and creative ways to engage others to walk down this path with us. And so, I am hopeful, I am confident, because when people hear our story, they want to join this very special community.” n

Summer/Fall 2020

ICA Cristo Reyâ€™s 2020 Business Lunch

Diane B. Wilsey recipient of the 2020 Leader in the Mission Award.

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

L to R: Board member Anna Kearney, Co-chairs Mary Lawson and Liz Dondero, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, school President Sister Diane Aruda.

Kimberly Magpantay ‘21 talks with guests before the event begins.

On March 4, 2020, ICA Cristo Rey welcomed more than 725 guests to our 10th Annual Business Lunch and raised more than $700k to invest in our young women’s education and professional development. This was the largest event in our school’s history and the most successful in raising funds, highlighting our mission, and recognizing key partners who make it all possible. We were honored to recognize Diane B. Wilsey as our 2020 Leader in Mission, and the UCSF Medical System as our Leader in CoEducation. The Business Lunch has become ICA Cristo Rey’s signature fundraising and community event, comprising almost one-third of our fundraising budget and bringing together our invested partners to celebrate our mission. Over the last four years, our attendance has tripled and our annual fundraising has grown from $15,000 to $750,000. This event brings together the San Francisco community around the common goal of investing in the next generation of our young women leaders. We thank all of our sponsors, donors, and partners who made this year so successful. This year, we will see changes to our fundraising approach due to the pandemic, but our mission and model stay the same: to form and educate the next generation of young women. ICA Cristo Rey’s mission of providing unique access to a quality education combined with professional experience is even more critical. With your support, we can ensure that the next generation of young women, regardless of their background, can aspire to the future career of their dreams.

Event Co-Chairs Mary Lawson and Liz Dondero.

Karina Montiel ‘20 welcomes guests.

Our educational model is incredibly dependent on community and business partnerships. During the pandemic, we are working more closely with our 100+ business partners to ensure our students can still have a professional work experience during the school year. Similarly, we are reaching out to our Spartan Investment Program partners to ensure our 356 $10,000 student scholarships continue to be funded. We couldn’t do this work without you—our supporters. Together, we’ve built a fantastic foundation for our students and alumnae. As ICA Cristo Rey graduates, our young women are equipped with a life-changing experience that prepares them practically and professionally for future careers. Now, in spite of the uncertainty of the pandemic, with your support, we can continue our mission and the important legacy of ICA Cristo Rey. n

2020 CWSP Leadership in CoEducation Award presented to UCSF. Summer/Fall 2020

ICA Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program Hosted Its Inaugural Distinguished Corporate Partner Breakfast

Michael G. McCaffery and Janet Reilly discuss digital transformation in business.

Director of ICA Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program welcomes guests.

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

The Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) of ICA Cristo Rey Academy hosted its first Distinguished Corporate Partner Breakfast on January 24, 2020 at the Merchants Exchange Club in San Francisco. Michael G. McCaffery, Senior Vice President, Chairman, and Managing Director of Makena Capital Management, was in conversation with Janet Reilly, Co-Founder and Board President of Clinic by the Bay, Regent at University of California, and Executive Producer and Host of The Mix with Janet Reilly.

Alondra Gil ‘22 with President, Sister Diane Aruda

As part of its theme of workforce development, ICA Cristo Rey took the opportunity to bring trusted community partners together in conversation about workforce trends as the school prepares its young women for the workforce of the future.

Partners shared their insights and thoughts about AI and the digital transformation of the workplace. Topics of conversation included automation, efficiency and productivity, and even touched on medicine. McCaffery was confident that there would always be a need for people in the workplace, and noted, “We can’t let the technology get ahead of our public policy and values, for long periods of time, or you do run into problems.” As a Corporate Partner, Makena Capital Management has sponsored students since the fall of 2015 and has renewed their commitment for the 2020-2021 school year. After sharing experiences about adult employees, McCaffery said of ICA Cristo Rey students: “These young women are motivated; they show up; they work well on teams; they are inquisitive; and they are polite.” n

Summer/Fall 2020

Congratulations to Our 89 Class of 2020 Graduates!

100%

91%

85%

$8.5 million

of our graduates were accepted into college

of the class were accepted to a four-year program

are firstgeneration, college-bound students

in grants and scholarships earned by graduates

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

We Couldn’t Do It Without YOU!

ICA Cristo Rey Academy greatly appreciates your support of our school over the years. Our school, like many others, is facing a shortfall this year due to a drop in support of our Corporate Work Study Program. This program is an important way for our students to gain, not only important work experience, but also the confidence and skills needed for their future careers. It’s one of the unique differences in our education program from other girls’ schools in the Bay Area. If you’d like more information on how to make a gift or support one of our students with a scholarship, please contact Rita Cummings, Vice President-Mission Advancement. Email: rcummings@icacademy.org. You may also make a one-time gift on our website: https://www.icacristorey.org/apps/form/give. Or if you prefer, please send a check made out to ICA Cristo Rey Academy to: Update Appeal, ICA Cristo Rey Academy, 3625 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Summer/Fall 2020

A Different Sort of Commencement

Graduating students around the globe had to do something a little different this spring to celebrate the conclusion of one stage of life and the commencement of another. This year’s ICA Cristo Rey seniors met the moment with joy and flexibility. Seniors came onto campus one-at-a-time on a staggered schedule to collect their cap and gown and to don their robes, club pins, and honor stoles so that their “diploma” moment could be captured on video by socially distanced faculty. Lockers were cleaned out, books turned in, and smiles and cheers shared as safely as possible. The day of graduation came and faculty and staff dressed in their customary academic regalia to deliver congratulatory signs around the Bay Area, along with a program for that evening’s “virtual graduation.” What follows is excerpted from the Commencement Speech by Valedictorian Laura Barragan, who will be attending University of California, Berkeley in the fall. Good evening Sister Diane, Dr. Fornero, faculty, families and friends, and the Class of 2020. It’s unfortunate that this celebration of our accomplishments isn’t what we expected it to be. Nonetheless, now that we’re all about to become frosh again, I wanted to leave the Class of 2020 with some advice. The majority of us identify as first-generation college women of color. For many of us, school is one of the only ways out of an underprivileged life. We’ve seen our parents or guardians work hard daily in order to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. With that comes a lot of internalized pressure to excel in everything possible. As if the pressure we put on ourselves wasn’t enough, society tends to put us in a box from which it is deemed almost impossible to come out. We are frightened and intimidated into remaining in this box of oppression due to the injustices committed against our communities. This includes but is not limited to: police brutality, gentrification, homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, and other discriminations based on our social locations. Sometimes even we behave like this amongst each other because it is so internalized and dates back to various generations before us. Well, I’m here to remind you all (and myself) that this is not an excuse to remain in this box. We will come out of this box as intelligent, independent, and confident individuals. Education is important. Working towards your future is important. However, taking care of your mind, body, and soul matters just as much as these things. Learn to take breaks. Learn to appreciate the blessings in life: the trees that surround your neighborhood, the people that fill you with love and support, the knowledge you’re being introduced to. Not every assignment is worth sleep deprivation, skipped meals, and sheltering from a social life. Furthermore, all your feelings are valid. While it may be hard to speak up about the things you believe in, you have every right to do so, because it’s part of the human experience. Lastly, remember that we don’t have to look or behave like society’s definition of perfect in order to feel content. Class of 2020, go out there and live your own truths.

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

What follows is excerpted from the Baccalaureate Speech by Pamela Cabotaje, who will be attending University of California, Irvine in the fall. Good evening Sister Diane, Dr. Fornero, Ms. Rose, faculty, staff, family, friends, and the Class of 2020. Did you know that lions can sleep for up to 20 hours a day? Unlike real lions, the Class of 2020 lions didn’t get that much sleep per day throughout high school. We were too busy navigating this wild environment called ICA Cristo Rey. As freshmen, we would have never anticipated for our high school experience to play out as it did. We endured many challenges as a class, but each setback pushed us to be better. We learned how to be strengthened by our struggles. We conquered personal, academic, communal, and global adversities to become the lions we are today. But we didn’t do it alone. Real lions are social by nature, so they always travel in family units known as prides. In our case, our prides are our individual support systems. To the Class of 2020, reflect on those who are in your pride. Who supported you throughout this wild journey? Think of them. They helped you become the lion you are today, and thus we extend our gratitude. Thank you to our prides. Thank you to our families for working long hours, for providing us meals, and for getting us to school every day. Thank you to our friends for making classes more bearable, for supporting us during our best and worst days, and for creating irreplaceable memories. Thank you to our teachers, faculty, and supervisors for your mentorship, for your endless efforts to help us succeed, and for your belief in us. Our walk in the wilderness as lions now comes to an end. But the spirit of the Class of 2020 will live forever. As we enter a new open savanna—the future—we enter as 89 strong, powerful, and resilient women. We are future world leaders, performers, artists, engineers, scientists, business owners, activists, healthcare heroes, and so much more. We are ready to conquer the world, so let’s hope that world is ready for us. A lion’s roar can be heard as far as five miles away. So when you hear our roar out in the real world, never forget where it was first heard. The roar of the Class of 2020 lions will forever echo in the hallways of ICA Cristo Rey. n

Summer/Fall 2020

Career Day 2020

On Friday, February 29, ICA Cristo Rey opened its doors to welcome business professionals to campus to share their paths, passions and experiences with our young women for our Career Day, revived after many years on hiatus. It was a tremendous success! The entire faculty and staff were instrumental in making sure that the day ran smoothly, helping students prepare for the day ahead of time, and welcoming our guests with Spartan pride. Our presenters ranged from “A” (actuary) to “Z” (zookeeper) and so much in between. Women and men represented the fields of academia, architecture, art, business, civil service (SFFD & SFPD), engineering, finance, government, health care, hospitality, law, marketing, medicine, theater, and veterinary medicine. Thank you to all who participated in helping to open eyes and hearts to learning about various professions. We are grateful for your time and energy and hope to see you next year! Over 40 guests took part in our day, including alumnae, corporate work study partners, and friends of ICA Cristo Rey. Sister Diane Aruda, OP (President, ICA Cristo Rey) “Just imagine, 274 teenage young women excited about a career! That was the scene for our Spartan young women and invited speakers who joined us for this remarkable day. Our goal was to introduce our students to a variety of possibilities. We wanted to broaden their exposure to what the future might hold for them through listening and interacting with the adults who had already chosen a path of life. These wonderful mentors enthusiastically shared their stories and where they led them. Now this becomes possible for our young women. Their experience of study, community, service and prayer becomes a learning ground for new seeds of hope to blossom within them. A HUGE gift of GRATITUDE to all who participated in this day and who spent hours organizing this educational experience for our young women scholars!” Dr. Anne Montgomery (UCSF) “I had a lot of fun! The girls were very prepared with questions during the session.” Student comment: “Dr. Anne Montgomery was great! She was kind enough to answer questions and give us an insight into medical school and her experiences.”

Denise Flaherty ’88, Law Enforcement

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

Paula Pardini ’63, Environmental Education

Faculty member Leti Cottrell was with the panels of members from the Brandi Law Firm. “The presenters were great and each lawyer had a different journey, and all practiced different types of law so it gave students great insight into the world of law. The presenters commented on the great questions the students asked. In one session, the presenters asked the students questions about their aspirations, and why they are [interested in] law as a career. To my delight, the answers varied from: making a difference in the world, helping the most vulnerable, making my family proud, and taking the opportunities that they have been given at ICA and paying it forward.” Faculty member Carolyn Sideco shared, “It was an honor for me to host and facilitate Dr. Rosche Brown’s [‘01] sessions. I had the privilege of coaching Dr. Rosche when she was a junior varsity basketball player on my first team as a newly hired Spartan coach. In between sharing her educational and professional journey with our current Spartans, she indulged me by reminiscing about those days, and how those days fueled her ambition. Dr. Rosche’s message to our current Spartans (‘If I can do it, so can each of you!’) was affirmed by examples of specific behavioral actions, mindsets, and approaches that led her to manifest her successful career. ”

Dr. Rosche Brown ’01

“I really liked the presentation from Meredith Curry who spoke on local government and politics. I enjoyed how she was an active, energetic presenter who touched on how her high school career impacted her college and professional journey. I would definitely encourage her to come again next year to speak with the students.”

Erin Murphy ’89

Meredith Curry

“My favorite was Erin Murphy [‘89]. She is a firefighter and an alum from ICA. She was very cool and interesting. I always wanted to be a firefighter. She gave me a good sense of what her day to day looks like.”

Susana Lapeyrade-Drummond ’84, Fatima Ramirez ’08, Art/Museum Curation Education Summer/Fall 2020

Residency Match During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“I think the playful story behind me wanting to be a doctor is that I had said I wanted to be a doctor in kindergarten. Even though I didn’t remember that, I was reminded of it in college. It is documented in my school work from then, but it was really in high school that I committed to wanting to be a doctor,” Millie Hathaway ‘08 recently shared. “My sister, who is 13 years older, is a doctor, and she was a big influence, seeing how much she loved it and was enjoying helping other people. That is where [becoming a doctor] got seeded.” Millie remembered her high school science experience at ICA Cristo Rey well: “It was actually Ms. Young’s Honors Biology class that made me want to major in biology as an undergrad [at Dominican University].” After finishing her biology degree, Millie sought ways to strengthen her application for medical school and grow as a person: “I became a volunteer at Laguna Honda, and became a personal assistant to a physician, so I could shadow, and chat at the stations, and learn more about health care.” Millie had developed an interest in public health, and after consulting with some mentors, she entered Touro’s Masters of Public Health program in 2014, where she saw opportunities to serve the community, especially low-income and underserved people. “I saw community health as a way to learn about medicine, but also it brought me back to the community. One of my biggest strengths is that I really enjoy volunteering and being a part of a community,” Millie told us. She recalled some of her volunteerism in her junior and senior years at ICA Cristo Rey: “I volunteered at St Luke’s in the ER. It was a combo triage/admissions role. I also remember being really involved in ICA, and the values that were instilled in me. Among them was service.” Millie’s move toward family medicine has been made in a series of steps. “One of my most grounding experiences professionally was in community health promotion and coaching in low-income and underserved communities [as a part of her master’s program],” she explained. “I learned a lot about health disparity. I coached with professional health coaches, other Tuoro students, and elementary schools. I learned how to be more culturally aware and sensitive. [Being healthy] didn’t mean giving up the food they loved to eat, but could be as simple as exchanging ingredients. We don’t have to give up who we are. It was really meaningful work, to connect with people and support their cultural values.”

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

After concluding her master’s degree, Millie set off to medical school in southern California at the Western University of Health Science to become a DO, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. “You’ve probably heard this before, but med school was the hardest four years of my life—being away from family, managing the rigorous curriculum while still trying to take care of myself. I’d still do it over again! I met great friends, and that’s where I met my fiance,” Millie shared. DOs are present in any specialty or discipline of medicine. Fully licensed physicians like MDs, they can prescribe medicine, perform procedures and surgeries, and deliver babies. A DO is distinguished by completing additional curriculum in osteopathy to learn how to manipulate the musculoskeletal system, and to learn how it influences the whole health of the human body. After didactic work in the classroom, and years of clinicals and clerkships (where medical students rotate in hospitals and clinics), medical students then decide on a specialty to apply for in residency. “I was deciding between pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine. Because of my community health experience and rotations, I fell in love with family medicine. I appreciate the ability to develop long term relationships with patients,” said Millie. In 2020, the DOs and MDs merged into a single accreditation system for graduate medical education in the U.S. It brought both pools of residencies under a single academic governance and collected all DO and MD residents into a single pool. The matching for the residency process includes applications, a review of board scores, grades, extracurriculars, and interviews. As Millie explained, “at the end of the interview cycle, which tends to be around January and February, students make a list of preferences and the hospitals and programs do the same. An algorithm is used to match students, and at the end of March all students in the country find out where they matched. I am going to Pomona Valley Hospital and Medical Center.” “My school did a great job in supporting us, especially those completing their fourth year. The dean and faculty put an emphasis on taking care of ourselves and being healthy because as we’d start residency, we’d be entering a fatigued health care system,” Millie said. “In talking with classmates and colleagues in other med schools, we have a shared feeling that though we are nervous, we feel like we were chosen to do this. This pandemic happened in our year. We’re called to do this and rise up to the challenge. This is especially true for those of us in the specialties of ER medicine and family medicine, the ones who are taking care of patients in ERs and ICUs.” Millie knows her practice will involve more video and phone appointments, especially for outpatients. She looks forward to more education about how to treat COVID-19 through studying ongoing research and the hospital’s own patient-case presentations. She knows the hospital will be addressing the pandemic and how to make it a safe workplace. As Millie said, “it’s really engaging and challenging from an intellectual standpoint. It’s interesting and changing and so important to keep up with. Data keeps changing, treatment modalities are pretty hospital-based at this point. The body of literature is very fluid right now.” As the pandemic has continued, Millie began her residency in July. The months between school and residency helped her mentally prepare for being on the front lines. “It’s very exciting and nerve-racking, but at the same time, it’s coming together for me in a unique way so I know I will rise to the occasion. Put me in, coach!” n Summer/Fall 20200

Choosing to Celebrate

Many plans have been impacted during this pandemic, and among them are the weddings planned by so many. As couples made their choices about what to do in terms of postponing or going forward, one of our alums focused on celebrating. Natasha Marston ‘10 met her fiance Xavier during her senior year at ICA Cristo Rey, but it wasn’t until after college, when they’d each moved back to the Bay Area, that they started dating. “It proves to me that timing is everything because we knew each other for so long,” Natasha said. The couple’s original wedding plans involved celebrating the sacrament of marriage with family on April 25th: “Our families are very Catholic so we were going to have a church ceremony at St. Celia’s in San Francisco.” To include extended family and friends, the couple intended to have a larger wedding celebration, on May 2nd, at a location described by Natasha as “this gorgeous vineyard close to where we went to college [Cal Poly] in Paso Robles: Central Coast wine country. “So when the country went to full-on lockdown in the middle of March, we basically needed to come up with our communication plan. We needed to notify guests, vendors, etc. “We had thought we could still, at least, do the service at St. Cecilia’s because we were going to keep it really intimate—close people, close family, but their appointment to get the license was in late March, and offices still closed at that point.” As Natasha and Xavier considered different dates, she said, “We realized August 2020 was way too optimistic. So to save ourselves time and heartbreak again, we decided to postpone a full year to May of 2021.” “As the day was approaching we were coming to grips with the fact that we’re not going to get married until 2021,” Natasha remembered. “I began to research online, and the

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

recommendations were about having a nice meal out, making it about the two of you, there was nothing special about that in my mind. I was thinking ‘I already get take-out with my man’ which wouldn’t make a meal out special. So we decided to just go for it!” They chose to celebrate April 25, the original date of the nuptial mass, as something for just the two of them. They went to the beach, spent time outdoors “at a socially appropriate distance,” as Natasha told us, and drove together enjoying the coast. “On May 2nd, my mom hosted a Zoom call so we got to share that day with family. She had asked everyone to prepare a thirty-second toast. It was quite a long call.” With a laugh Natasha explained, “Our own wedding would have been the 18th wedding we attended together! We are wedding guest pros! So he wore one of the suits that he had worn as a guest. I wore the outfit that I was going to wear to the smaller reception because my dream has always been to be in a pantsuit or jumpsuit, even though I still wanted a dress. “We had dinner at his parents’ house. We wrote each other love notes, instead of vows, to remember this day as special and unique from what will be the wedding next year. We were back-to-back so we were free to read each other’s notes without the other watching. We did the first dance in the living room... just us two. “We just celebrated the day the best we could and the way we wanted to. He and I have such a big family and we’re so blessed to have a lot of friends. I feel that when it comes to us we’re pretty private. We don’t need a ton of parties and attention.” As a former Associated Student Body (ASB) executive officer, we know Natasha as the extroverted leader of student rallies, so it was no surprise when she said, “I don’t mind a ton of attention, but my fiance is more introverted, and as we planned, he said, ‘I don’t need that, I just want to think about you and me,’ and I 100% respect that.” Still honoring their eventual plans and hopes to celebrate their marriage together, Natasha and Xavier choose to celebrate in their own way today. n Summer/Fall 2020

Virtually Meeting with Donors

The SIP (Spartan Investment Program) connects donors and foundations to the ICA Cristo Rey Spartans whose education they support. The SIPâ€™s essential goal is to cultivate strong relationships between students and donors. The program has developed in different ways to build these relationships and keep donors and foundations informed about the progress of each student, allowing them to witness first-hand how their investment has helped in forming the next generation of young women leaders.

Some of the ways in which we communicate are: progress reports from individual students, personalized cards and letters from students, invitations to oncampus events, and one-on-one coffee or lunch meetings with students. Under perfect circumstances, at least two of these four touch points would occur in a school year, but this year brought us and the rest of the world the great challenge of a pandemic. We were all forced to think outside the box and create a similar experience with the restrictions of coronavirus. In the first weeks of stay-at-home, it was a marvel. Our faculty were committed to challenge our students, but also to create spaces of compassion and understanding to help them navigate the world of at-home learning. As teachers used Google Meets for virtual classes we recognized that platform would also be a great way for our supporters to interact with students. Most supporters we reached out to were excited to set up online meetings with students. The experiment worked! Although we did not get to set up these meetings with everyone in the program, the meetings we had were great. Students spoke very candidly about what they were experiencing through the stay-at-home orders. Some of the challenges they faced included limited space at home to work and adjusting to a different way of learning. Maureen Sullivan asked students what some of their anxieties were in terms of workload and AP exams. Dolores Donahue also asked about what was positive about online learning, and what students were most looking forward to in the summer. In all the conversations students spoke about their mental health, and how they were trying to stay physically active. The adults offered insights on how they were staying healthy. Overall the conversations were enthusiastic and uplifting. It is one thing to read on paper about the progress of a student, but it does not take the place of seeing and hearing directly from students to really capture the essence of the studentâ€™s spirit. These online visits provided some of that essence. Video calls continued over the summer, and we will hopefully continue this form of meeting, along with our other communications, until it is safe to have people back on campus. We continue to value the time donors spend with students to really experience the Spartan Spirit. n

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

2019-2020 Corporate Work Study Partners 160over90 Accenture Adda Clevenger School Advanced Clinical The Agency A.M. Crawford, Inc. Andersen AppDynamics Archdiocese of San Francisco Atreca AT&T Bank of the West Barulich Dugoni & Suttmann Law Group BDO Beacon College Funding Solutions Beronio Lumber BiRite Foodservice Distributors Bon Appetit Management Company Boston Consulting Group Burr Pilger Meyer The Brandi Law Firm BRIDGE Housing Brown & Toland Physcians Buchalter Law Firm Cahill Contractors CIRM California Pacific Medical Center Center for Social Dynamics Cigna City of Hayward Clint Reilly Holdings Cobaltix Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP Convent of the Sacred Heart Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP Coté & Company, APC Cupertino Electric, Inc. Cutera, Inc. Darcoid Nor-Cal Seal Davis Polk & Wardell LLP De Anza Properties Dignity Health Dome Construction

DPR Construction Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires Environmental Sciences Associates Expeditors Facessf Fairmont San Francisco Fennie+Mehl Architects Fenwick & West LLP First Republic Bank Forge Franklin Templeton Investments Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP Freyer & Laureta, Inc. Gap Inc. - Risk Management Genentech Genesys Gladstone Institutes Global Blood Therapeutics Glynn Capital Management Golden Gate Glass Golden Gate Pediatrics Golub Group GOOGLE Grant Thornton LLP Greenbelt Alliance Hamilton Zanze Harrell Kane Structural Engineers, Inc. Heffernan Insurance Broker Highland Capital Partners Holy Family Day Home The Jamestown Community Center JAMS Jones Day Kaiser Permanente KGO-TV ABC7 Kirkland & Ellis LLP KKR L3 Consulting Latham & Watkins LLP Levi Strauss & Co. Lisa C. Capaldini, M.D. Liz is All Biz Accounting Makena Capital Management Malcolm Drilling

Mercy Housing Mills-Peninsula Medical Center MOC Insurance Morrison & Foerster LLP Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney Mynd Property Management Myovant Sciences NCIRE VA Health Care N.F. Stroth & Associates, LLC Nektar New Relic Nurix O’Brien Mechanical Inc. Ogletree Deakins On Lok One Workplace Pacific Foundation Services Pacific Heights Chevron Pantheon Peninsula Custom Homes Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Plant Construction Prime Group Probitas Partners Prologis PSAI Realty Partners, LLC Recurrent Energy Reed Smith LLP Roofstock Ropes & Gray LLP Salesforce.com San Francisco Gynecology, Inc. San Francisco VA Medical Center SF Firefighters Toy Program Sheppard Mullin Skanska USA Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) Stanford University Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation Swanson & McNamara LLP.

Tenant Law Group Thorton Tomasetti TPG Capital TY Lin International Group UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital UCSF Medical Center UCSF at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Youtube Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

2019 - 2020 Sponsors

Nick Andrade Paul & Debbie Baker Mark Bley Gene & Sue Bugatto Thompson Builders Carolyn & CJ Daley Scott & Anne Davison Dominican Sisters of San Rafael John & Marie Duggan Phil & Stephanie Gatto Robert Half Lenore Heffernan Mike Heffernan Foundation Robson Homes Jan and Jerry Kennelly KLA Tom Lockard & Alix Marduel McKesson Corporation Merrill Lynch Jim & Mimi Moloney Anna & Mason Morfit Corey Mulloy Tim & Rachel Parker Roselyn Payne John & Nicole Piccetti Racine Dominicans Rogers Family Foundation Don Santel & Kelly McGinnis Schow Foundation Maureen Sullivan Dom & Leona Tarantino Liz & Greg Vaughan Visa Wells Fargo

Summer/Fall 2020

Spartan Stories Congratulations to alumna and current Director of Guidance at ICA Cristo Rey Melissa Ruiz ‘02, who married Jason O’Campo mid February. Among the wedding party was her cousin and Spartan sister Gloria Ruiz ‘13.

Arcella Latimore ‘88 receives her MBA.

ICA Cristo Rey Academy Class of 2020 earned admission to the following 75 colleges and universities: Alabama State University Alaska Pacific University American University Arizona State University The University of Arizona Baylor University Central Washington University California Baptist University California College of the Arts California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State University Maritime Academy California State University, Bakersfield California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, East Bay California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Monterey Bay University of California Berkeley University of California - Davis University of California Irvine University of California Los Angeles University of California Merced University of California Riverside University of California San Diego University of California Santa Barbara University of California Santa Cruz Central Washington University Chaminade University of Honolulu Chapman University Chicago State University Columbia College Chicago Concordia University - Irvine

The ICA Cristo Rey Update

Concordia University Portland Dartmouth College Dominican University of California Grand Canyon University University of Hartford Hawaii Pacific University Hofstra University Holy Names University Humboldt State University La Salle University Loyola University New Orleans Marquette University Marymount California University Menlo College Mills College Mount St. Mary’s University Maryland University of Nevada Las Vegas University of New England Northern Arizona University Notre Dame de Namur University

Pace University - New York Pacific Northwest College of Art University of the Pacific University of Portland University of Redlands Regis University Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University University of San Diego San Francisco State University University of San Francisco San Jose State University Seattle Pacific University Seattle University Sonoma State University University of Southern California Stanford University College of Staten Island CUNY University of Oregon University of West London Whittier College

In Memoriam Alumnae

Friends and Family

Sister Mary Paul Mehegen, O.P. (Dolores Frances)

1941

Eleanor F. (Kenny) Mulkeen

1943

Patricia A. (Crowley) Becketti

1946

Bernice (Wyrsch) Johnston

1946

Amelia Espinal, Mother of Gina Espinal-Aguerre ‘78 and Marisa Espinal ‘83 and Grandmother of Danielle Stekert-Espinal ‘08

Aimalae Nauer, Mother of Cummings (Nauer)Takapautolo ‘97 and Grandmother of Hope Nauer ‘19

Mary (Nixon) Peard

1953

Sister Mary Peter Traviss, O.P.

Maureen (Falvey) Laval

1956

Curtis Mallegni husband of Kathy (Rende) Mallegni ‘66

Connie Hsu

1959

Gilda (Caruso) Tarzia

1960

Marlene (Tanti) Muscat

1960

Kathleen (Kerr) Klafter

1965

Karen Dorcey

1981

Danielle (Dani) Grillo

1992

Give a gift to the future Remembering ICA Cristo Rey in your will is an important and personal gift to future generations. Throughout the history of the school, thoughtful individuals have helped to provide a Catholic education to countless young women. We hope that, after you have provided for your family, you will consider making a bequest to ICA Cristo Rey Academy. The following wording is suggested as appropriate for an unrestricted gift: I give and bequeath the sum of $_____ (or, _____% of my estate) to ICA Cristo Rey Academy. When you help to provide education for the young women of tomorrow, you provide an enduring gift for the future. For more information, please call the Mission Advancement Department at (415) 824-2052, ext. 66.

Michael Marion, brother of Diana (Marion) Giampaoli ‘76 Barbara Murphy, Mother of Terri (Murphy) Mino ‘76 and Corinne (Cori Murphy) Zerga ‘80

Memorial Cards ICA Cristo Rey Academy is a school rich in history and proud of its place in the story of San Francisco. Because of this pride, we feature on our Memorial Card the beloved statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception which stands in the foyer of the convent chapel. This statue is prominently featured in an 1880 picture of Mother Pia and her original community of Sisters. A complete history of the statue is included with each Memorial Card. Would you like to remember your loved one in a special way? In addition to Memorials, cards are also available for special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, or illness. You may order by calling (415) 8242052 ext. 40 or emailing Rhonda Hontalas at rhontalas@icacademy.org.

Summer/Fall 2020

(Immaculate Conception Academy) 3625 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94110

Calendar November 29

ICA Cristo Rey’s Birthday

December

Giving Tuesday and Christmas Appeal

February 8

Founder’s Day

March

March Forth Virtual Event

April

Next edition of ICA Cristo Rey Update

is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our tax identification number is 94-1156675.