2016
department. Shane is pictures third from left, standing, with his fellow co-workers in Prague. Alexandra Astorga graduated from Jackson State University where she played Division I soccer for the Tigers. Alexandra earned a BS in Biology and is currently studying for the MCAT with plans on attending medical school. Liam Buchanan graduated from UC Irvine with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Katrina Palffy graduated from the University of Oregon on June 19th with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in marketing and a minor in economics. Kara Donahue graduated in May from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a minor in Elementary Mathematics. She is now teaching fourth grade at Paradise Elementary school in Las Vegas.
Jackie Torrez, a swimmer at George Washington University, was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the third time. She earned the honor after guiding the Colonials to a 166-132 victory over George Mason, capturing solo victories in the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.61), 200yard breaststroke (2:22.45) and 400-yard individual medley (4:30.60), as well as two second-place finishes. Jackie is the second women’s swimmer in program history to earn Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors three times in one season. Samantha Hardy was hired as one of 39 tour guides out of 450 applicants at USC last year and to make the cut as a freshman is an even bigger deal! Sam was also the photographer for USC’s Victoria’s Secret PINK team and is a proud member of the POP Pilates club. Maddy Malicdem has joined the ASUC at UC Berkeley which prides itself as the most autonomous student government in the nation. She also works as a staff member in one of the ASUC Senator’s offices. Emily Wright is a sophomore at the University of Redlands where she is majoring in Theater. Her hard work in acting class and her involvement in department activities brought her to the attention of one of the senior professors who needed a Guildenstern for his adaptation of “Hamlet.” Emily got the part and they had a very successful run in Redlands, and revived the show in August at the Endinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the Intercollegiate Theater Competition.
2017
Elijah Griffin was selected as one of four California Legislative Black Caucus
$2,500 Scholarship and laptop recipients. The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Scholarship Program was established to assist deserving students by offering financial assistance to help meet educational expenses. Elijah was recognized during Assemblymen Chris Holden’s annual block party for the 41st Assembly District on August 5th. Elijah is currently attending Grinnell College.
Weddings Marianne Reifer ’01 and Kirill Kulikov were married on March 11, 2017 in Newport Beach. Lasallians in attendance included Veronica Blum ’96, Christine Reifer ’97, Jill (Trousdale) Barr ’01 and Pat Bonacci, Vice-President for Mission. Marianne is the development director for the St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles. She and Kirill reside in Long Beach. married Michael Casey on Alyssa Stefek ’05 May 28, 2016 at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles after getting engaged on Catalina Island in 2015. Their wedding party included Patrice (Cardamone) Veyna ’05, Amy (Neff) Holst ’05 and Anthony Napolitano ’02. Alyssa works as a freelance photographer and the happy couple resides in Duarte. Katja Nelson ’08 married Peter Winsky on August 28, 2016 at Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. Alexandra McLennan ’08 served as Maid of Honor. Katja earned her Master of Public Policy from UCLA’s Luskin
2016-2017 alumni service award Marisa Sanchez ’08 was presented with the Young Alumni Service Award in front of La Salle’s student body during the Catholic Schools Week Liturgy on February 3, 2017. Marisa is currently working on her PhD in biomedical sciences, focusing on intensive cancer research. Marisa’s sister Alessandra passed away in 2012 from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and since then Marisa has dedicated herself and her studies to cancer research, striving to find a cure. While working on her Ph.D. Marissa mentors high school minority students interested in science and teaches third grade science once a week to deaf and hard of hearing students. In the last two years she has raised $5,500 for cancer research by running full marathons, half marathons and participating in charity bike rides. For her embodiment of the La Sallian mission of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve” we are proud to honor Marisa with the Young Alumni Service Award. Marisa is pictured at right with Ed O’Connor, P’16, ’17 Director of Student Life. 58
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