Spring 2013 Lancer Magazine

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Spring 2013

CRYSTALL BALL HONORS CRISTI AND STEVE SEIDNER P’09, ’12

The RCA Drive to the Finish

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ith just a few weeks left before the Board of Regents Campaign for the Arts ends, this is a great time to consider your gift to this important initiative, if you have not yet contributed. The RCA campaign is well on its way to reach $300,000 by the end of June. Now is the time to be part of the success. This $300,000 initiative is tailored to add to the strengths of each of the School’s six programs in the Arts (Visual Art, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Dance, Theatre, Film and Video Production). More than 43% of La Salle students benefit from our award-winning Arts programs at a time when many other secondary schools are reducing or eliminating these programs.

The campaign will endow a $100,000 scholarship fund in the Arts, as well as fund $200,000 in refurbishments to the Linda M. Grinstead Theatre, the Mareina Dance Studio, and Band Room with equipment, acoustic shells and instrument purchases. Sound, lighting and video upgrades for the theatre and LTV’s broadcast studio are also scheduled.

The campaign runs through June 30, 2013, and we hope you will be part of the success and the magic.

Gifts may be made through the La Salle website, www.lasallehs.org/ArtsCampaign.

To see the programs your gift will support, go to www.lancernetwork.com/ArtsVideos.

5 Lancer Magazine is published three times a year by the Office of Institutional Advancement at La Salle High School of Pasadena, Inc. for alumni, parents and friends.

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Inquiries and/or correspondence should be directed to: John C. Blackstock ’67 Director of Communications La Salle High School 3880 East Sierra Madre Boulevard Pasadena, California 91107-1996 626.696.4316 jblackstock@lasallehs.org All pages are displayed on the La Salle website. www.lasallehs.org

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OFFICERS & ADMINISTRATIONS Board of Trustees: Mr. Peter Godfrey (Chair) Mr. Ty Gaffney ’65 Ms. Tamara Flowers Mr. James Canny ’65 Dr. Vera Vignes Sister Marilyn Bender, CSJ Mr. Tom Caulfield Mr. Ryan Resurreccion Mr. Barry Schweiger ’60 Mr. W. Robert Kohorst ’71 Ms. Erica Hahn Dr. Ken Canzoneri ’72 Br. Kevin Slate, AFC Board of Regents: Dennis A. Jebbia, Chair Julie Williams P’04, Vice Chair Lisa Bononi P’15 Doug Campbell John Delaney P’82, ’85, ’89 John DeMarco P’12 Carol Duffey P’10, ’12 Peter Godfrey, Esq. P’07, ’08 Pete Griffith P’00, ’03 Scott A. Hancock, Esq. P’11 ’11, ’11 Bradford Hixson P’13 David Lam P’08, ’09

Joseph Lumarda P’14 Edward L. Malicdem ’88, P’16 David J. Skibinski, MBA Craig Sloane P’09, ’11 D’Arcy Sloane P’09, ’11 Michael W. Stoddard P’07, ’10, ’12, ’15 Yolanda Valadez P’08 Serena Flowers Williams P’04, ’06 Walt Williams P’04 Brad Wright ’73, P’07, ’12 Joseph M. Zanetta, J.D. P’12

Alumni Board: Jeff Weigand ’67, P’02, ’05, ’08, Chair Brandon Birr ’03 Angie Gilliam ’02 Marissa Lluch ’95 Tony Messineo ’80

Steve Peterson ’85 Alex Plumb ’06 Robin Quintanilla ’03 Thomas Stafford ’99 Mike Sullivan ’70, P’08, ’13 Andrew Vogelbach ’01

Administration: Richard Gray, Ph.D., President Patrick Bonacci, AFSC, Vice President for Mission Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Principal John Ring, Associate Principal for Student Services Frank Laurenzello, Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Robert Packard, Chief Financial Officer Jon Keates, Director of Institutional Advancement

FEATURES Crystal Ball’s CirQue De La Salle Dances and Delights all that Attend........ 5 Cristi and Steve Seidner P’09, ’12 are honored Oh, The Places She Will Go, Part 2....................................................8 Princess Tracy Cresta ’13 tells of her day in the sun It is a Great Day for Pi!................................................................... 10.

The Cardboard Regatta celebrates Pi day Lancers Sign National Letters of Intent ........................................... 14 Four seniors earn athletic scholarships A Little Bit of Chocolate ................................................................ 16.

Kelley Williams ’06 returns to perform her play It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again ............................................................. 30.

La Salle and Alverno enjoy the first ever joint social

Editor: John C. Blackstock ’67 Director of Communications

DEPARTMENTS

Publication and Production: KGB Studios, Los Angeles

La Salle Matters.............................................................................. 2

Editorial Contributors: Kristen Schultz ’98 Jade Rogers ’01 Vicki Paluch P’13

Principal Ideas................................................................................ 4

Photo Credits: Cover, inside and back cover: John Blackstock ’67 Inside back cover: James Parks ’07 Pages: Pages 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 (Screen Shots), 28, 29, 36.

Pages 8, 9 Courtesy of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. Pages 18, 19 Courtesy of Ashley Howie ’08.

Pages 28, 29 Summer Williams. Pages 30, 32, 34 Kristen Schultz.

On the Cover: 14TH Annual Crystal Ball Honorees, Cristi and Steve Seidner P’09, ’12 receive the Lasallian Volunteer of the Year Award, before a backdrop of CirQue de La Salle aerial performers.

Alumni Profile............................................................................... 18

Ashley Howie ’08 Who Knew?....................................................................................20 Alumni Profile .............................................................................. 23

Michelle Blair ’95 Amazing Lancers .......................................................................... 24 Staying Connected ........................................................................ 32 SPRING 2013

© 2013 La Salle High School of Pasadena, Inc.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

matters

La Salle I

just saw a matinee performance of Guys & Dolls, the spring production put on by our Lancer Thespians. The play was outsized in a variety of ways (not the least of which was its running time which clocked in at three hours). Thanks to an emerging spirit of cooperation between Athletics and Visual & Performing Arts, a sizeable number of football athletes joined the Ensemble. At any given moment, there were up to 40 dancers on stage. The Grinstead Theater isn’t designed to support such a large cast, so the production moved across town to Porticos Art Space on Washington Boulevard. With a larger stage and greater distance between performers and patrons, one could more fully appreciate the elaborate choreography which dominated the show.

I was keen to see how our athletes would fare on stage - especially since so much of their time would be spent mastering a seemingly infinite series of dance moves. With more than a dozen dance numbers in the show they could have been forgiven a few missteps. Well…if there were missteps, I didn’t see them. I was thoroughly impressed by their ability to appear as if they had been part of our Dance program since their first year at La Salle. In retrospect, it occurs to me that many of the drills football athletes must master on the gridiron serve as excellent preparation for learning and executing a choreographer’s vision on stage.

This synergy between athlete and dancer causes me to wonder if there are other alliances that could be forged between and among the students entrusted to our care. One example of this type of synergy can be found in this issue’s coverage of the annual Cardboard Regatta in which Math and Science students must collaborate in the construction of a cardboard “boat” that won’t sink when weighed down by teenagers competing in a race to be the first to reach the other side of the pool. Reading the feature on Rose Princess Tracy Cresta ’13 provides additional evidence that La Salle students understand that an excellent college preparatory education is not just about classes taken. Our students know that stretching themselves to take on unusual challenges like the Tournament of Roses or the Cardboard Regatta or leaving the gridiron for the stage is an essential part of their readiness for life beyond high school.

All of which prompts me to comment on our recently concluded Mission Effectiveness Workshop. For the better part of a decade we have been gathering administrators, teachers, parents and students along with Trustees and Regents to examine the degree to which La Salle is faithfully fulfilling its Mission to:

NURTURE • INSPIRE • CHALLENGE • MOTIVATE the students entrusted to our care. The Mission Support Committee collects data, interviews various constituents and analyzes trends which speak to our ability to implement the Mission on a daily basis.

That information is shared with the Workshop participants, who identify our strengths and make

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recommendations on how to improve the delivery of the Mission in the coming year. One such recommendation from last year’s Workshop was to encourage greater collaboration between Athletics and Visual & Performing Arts. This led to the inclusion of football players (and other athletes) in the Ensemble of Guys & Dolls.

I am fond of saying that the La Salle Difference can be found in our students’ ability to find their niche here. Whether that niche is as an actor or athlete, aspiring journalist or filmmaker, visual artist or instrumental musician, we take pride in making sure that students are on their way to becoming their best selves during the four years of high school. I suspect this is one reason why our students are always so busy - they are forever juggling their home, school and after-school lives. I think it also explains why students like Tracy Cresta ’13 and alums like Kelley Williams ’06, Ashley Howie ’08 and Michelle Blair ’95 can pursue their passion in high school as a way to prepare for the life they will encounter when all of their formal education is behind them.

This issue of Lancer Magazine highlights the connection between life as a La Salle student and life as a Lancer alumnus. In drawing our attention to the (apparently) seamless way in which La Salle students leave one world and embrace another, these stories of accomplishment encourage the reader to appreciate the central role nurturing, inspiring, challenging and motivating plays in their educational, moral and personal development.

This year’s report of the Mission Effectiveness Workshop emphasizes the vitality of these connections: La Salle provides a challenging academic environment that sees the teenager in a holistic manner - as a student, a person of service, as an athlete, and/or as a performer.

I am excited that the “new normal” at La Salle is beginning to encourage “cross-fertilization” between and among the programs we offer. As a school which emphasizes the stretching of adolescent boundaries, I am encouraged to see our teenagers embracing new and different ways of expressing themselves, regardless of the platform.

One of the show stopping numbers in Guys & Dolls has the Ensemble singing Luck Be a Lady Tonight. I’d like to think that, at La Salle, it’s not about luck but about hard work, risk taking and the ability to trust one’s instincts that matters.

Dr. Richard Gray President

SPRING 2013

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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Principalideas

his morning, I looked at my office calendar and saw that the month of May has arrived…already. Catching my breath, I said to myself, “Where did it go? Another school year has come and is almost gone.” I think I would get used to the speed at which the school year moves, but not so. The pace of events and activities at La Salle has kept me moving very fast this year. While the clock has appeared to move more quickly than before, I know that I’m enjoying all that it is bringing my way.

The past few weeks were a typical, yet wonderful reminder of all that makes this school community such a special place.

Our Lenten season – in preparation for Easter Sunday – involved members of the student body contributing loose change to be donated to various charitable causes that the students selected. Through the collections of nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars, the student body raised a significant amount of money to assist others in genuine need. This Lenten practice at La Salle hopefully develops a habit of giving by our young men and women. I know our Student Life Team is very proud of the work they accomplish in trying to sensitize our students to realize that the world away from Pasadena is very different. Our generosity of our treasure does make a difference in the lives of others.

Eight years ago at this time, I was recovering from cancer surgery. As I have told many friends, I would wish it upon no one and yet I know that it was a real blessing in my life. The experience of battling cancer with a doctor and his medicines helps put life into perspective. I quickly learned who and what is important to me. I was given the opportunity to step away from my normal activities and to heal. Today, I more fully appreciate what it means to be a cancer survivor. So, when we decided to participate with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises funds to assist in the remediation of “kids” with cancer, I could not have been more pleased. In our country, more children are lost to cancer than any other disease. So, our participation in this activity was focused on students and faculty who raised money by offering to have their head shaved of hair (I couldn’t participate – I don’t have any!). This St. BALDrick’s activity is designed to place the recipient in harmony with those kids who lose their hair because of their cancer treatment. Our community raised in excess of eight thousand dollars to help fight this dreaded disease. As hundreds gathered in the Dining Hall to witness the shaving of heads, it was done so with great laughter and a genuine understanding that the donations collected would help increase the number of cancer survivors.

As we returned to school after a very welcomed Easter Break, I attended the Crystal Ball. This event brings together many of our friends and benefactors who understand that La Salle depends upon them for helping us improve the quality of the student’s experience on this campus. Some of the funds generated by this enjoyable evening are used by our Parent Booster groups to underwrite and make possible the wishes and hopes of teachers and students. While I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner and festivities, I paid particular attention to the numerous volunteers (both students and parents) who worked feverishly throughout the night to ensure that all the partygoers had a first class experience. I know the old adage that “many hands make light work” was certainly true that evening. What struck me most was that the volunteers who staffed this event were very similar to those that I’ve seen all year long at numerous school happenings. By similar, I’m not referring to the actual people. I’m referring to individuals who are giving their time and energy to help make a certain activity a success. This school relies heavily upon volunteers and friends to ensure the success of an event. We are a most fortunate school community because of the many, many individuals and friends who give of their time and effort to ensure that we are able to carry out all of our activities. As one who witnesses this ongoing generosity, I am very grateful for the many kindnesses of time that our friends give us.

Whether it is students supporting our Lenten change collection, or those choosing to participate in our St. Baldrick’s Foundation work, or the many volunteers it takes to help make the Crystal Ball successful, the La Salle Community is truly a giving group - a group that gives time, talent and treasure. To all of you, you make me proud to be a part of this school community. Our collective actions speak more forcefully than our words. Without a doubt, many members of the La Salle Family make a significant difference for the GOOD in the lives of others.

Brother Christopher Brady, FSC Principal 4

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14TH ANNUAL CRYSTAL BALL

DELIGHTS AND ASTONISHES GUESTS

Crystal Ball Co-Chair, Hilary Sanchez P’14 and Chair, Pamela Jacques P’13 with Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Principal and Dr. Richard Gray, La Salle’s President, as they display their “thank you” gifts from an appreciative community.

By Jade Rogers ’01

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a Salle High School held its 14th Annual Crystal Ball, “CirQue De La Salle” on April 12 at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. Crystal Ball Chairs, Pamela Jacques P’13 and Hillary Sanchez P’14, chose the theme that is self-described as a dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment. Pamela says, “We wanted something different than anything else we had seen in the past and something that would create great energy and fun.” Guests enjoyed an evening of wonder and charm in celebration of those in the Lasallian community who help create the La Salle experience through their generosity. CirQue De La Salle was engulfed in bright colors of pinks, oranges, purples, blues and greens as guests dined at tables beautifully adorned with white feather bouquets and draped in multiple vibrant hues, as well as watching performances by contortionists, acrobats, and aerial silk artists.

The night was filled with the thrill of pursuit with bidding on several dozen items during the live, super silent, and silent

auctions. The Rêvez Grand (Dream Big) Auction items included tickets and dinner at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, hockey tickets to the Anaheim Ducks- Columbus Blue Jackets game, Los Angeles Dodgers tickets, Adventures to Sea World, a trip to Augusta, Georgia to attend the 2014 Masters Golf Tournament, and “I Dreamed of Africa” photo safari, just to name of few.

Aside from the auctions, there was also an Opportunity Drawing where guests had the chance to win a trip for two for a 7-night stay in Hawai’i, an iPad or four Disney Park Hopper passes.

Over 300 guests came to congratulate this year’s Crystal Ball honorees Cristi and Steve Seidner P’09, ’12, the recipients of the 2013 Lasallian Volunteer Award. The spirit of volunteerism runs deep in the Seidner family. They have volunteered for many organizations that include Foothill Unity Center, Maryvale’s “Shop for the Girls at Christmas” program, synagogues, Anita Oaks School, Barnhart School, La Salle’s Parent Association, Technology Fundraising Committee, and especially the Crystal SPRING 2013

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Having fun at the Live Auction were Stephanie Pelentey and Christie Joseph P’13, ’16.

Glen and Sheri Wedeen P’17, ’17, with Shelley Allen and Bob Kohorst ’71 P’03, ’07.

Ball. “They have been untiring in their commitment to support their children’s high school – even after they have graduated,” says Dr. Richard Gray, President of La Salle.

“The Crystal Ball is truly a team effort. All the amazing parent volunteers, La Salle staff, and local businesses play such an integral role in the success of the Crystal Ball. I’m truly thankful to our amazing committee, especially Co-Chair Hillary

Sanchez. I couldn’t have done it without her,” says Pamela.

The Crystal Ball is La Salle’s largest fundraiser of the year that allows everyone an opportunity to come together and support La Salle’s programs and activities that the School provides to the students. The proceeds from the evening help support our academic, athletic, student life, arts and financial aid programs.

Pictured at center are Angela and David Lam P’08, ’09, and their entourage.

Bret Hardy P’16 with Lidia and Brent Schoenbaum P’16 and Michele Hardy.

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Mike and Lisa Bononi P’15, Tom and Julie Brady P’14 and Pam Cimino P’13, ’17.

Steve and Cristi Seidner with her parents, Richard and Barbara Abraham.

Cheerleaders Kylie Salkin ’14 and Libby Lynch ’14 present one of the marvelous silent auction items.

One of the many Crystal Ball “Opportunity Drawing” winners was Mr. Luis Pimental who won an Apple iPad.

CirQue De La Salle Aeriel Ribbon Artists perform.

The Crystal Ball “Opportunity Drawing” Grand Prize winner was Mr. Paul Gelinas and his wife Karen P’17 who won a weeks vacation in Hawai’i. Mrs. Ellen Mareina P’02 won the Disney Park Hopper tickets.

SPRING 2013

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he Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade is not just a “parade,” rather it is a single historical event that brings millions of people around the world together to welcome and celebrate the first day of the New Year. In the months leading up to the Rose Parade, countless hours are put in by hundreds of volunteers to decorate each float and on January 1, 2013 it all came together as everyone celebrated with cheers of triumph.

This year’s Rose Parade theme, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” featured 21 equestrian units, 23 marching bands, and 42 floats, all going down Colorado Boulevard to help spread positive messages of the New Year. One of those floats was the elegant Macy’s float, “Presenting the Royal Court.” The beautifully decorated float presented the Rose Court beneath a well-designed gorgeous canopy, sitting amongst a perfectly tailored rose garden. One of the lovely ladies sitting atop that float was none other than La Salle senior, Tracy Cresta.

to keep us comfortable and our feet warm. We also were given little bags for each of us that we discretely kept so no one could see. It contained tissues, lipstick, and our cell phones,” says Tracy.

Finally, at 8:00am, the 124th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade officially started, and it was time for the Rose Court to make their worldwide debut. Tracy was extremely happy and almost burst into tears of joy when she saw teachers from La Salle at the beginning of the parade route and her family up in the grandstands. “Any time I saw someone or a group of people that I love, I would blow kisses to them. By the end of the parade, my make-up was all over my gloves,” says Tracy.

When Tracy neared the end of the parade route, she almost lost her composure, when she saw her cross country teammates from La Salle and many eighth graders from St. Philip, her alma mater. The eighth graders were her “buddy class” and she even baby sat for some of them. She says, “I got emotional

Oh, The Places Tracy Continues to Go!

By Jade Rogers ’01

In the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of Lancer Magazine, Princess Tracy spoke about her Rose Court tryout experiences with 900 other young hopefuls, attending over 100 community service and philanthropic events, photo shoots, and public relations events. Out of all the busy days that lead up to the Rose Parade, however, Tracy wishes she could relive the final week before and day of January 1 the most. Even though that week was filled with more than a dozen hours of events per day, Tracy was filled with excitement. It was during that week that she met the Grand Marshal, Dr. Jane Goodall, as well as Inger Miller (former Rose Princess and 1996 Olympic gold medalist) and the 2013 Rose Bowl teams from Wisconsin and Stanford.

But it was the morning of January 1 that Tracy will cherish for the rest of her life. “Even in the middle of the night on January 1 during those few hours left leading up to the start of the Rose Parade, I was still jumpy. I was ready to make the most out of what the day had to offer and I don’t recall ever being that excited,” says Tracy. Around 2:00am, Tracy and the rest of the Rose Court arrived at the Amadeus Salon & Spa in Pasadena for hair and make-up. They then headed back to the Tournament House to change into their red formal gowns designed by Tadashi, placed on their hand warmers, and slipped on their Ugg shoes. “We wore hand warmers everywhere while on the float, and instead of wearing the high heels that went with our gowns, we wore the Uggs underneath 8

LANCER MAGAZINE

The 2013 Royal Court at the Tournament of Roses House, from left to right, Nicole Nelam, Sonia Shenoi, Madison Teodo, Queen Vanessa Manjarrez, Victoria McGregor, Tracy Cresta and Kate Benuska.

when I saw my cross country team because I knew they had spent the night on the parade route. I got emotional all over again when I saw the eighth graders from my elementary school. They were holding up posters that showed things I love, like The Little Mermaid, ’Go Lancers!’ and countless flowers.”

Now that the Rose Parade is over and her duties as a Rose Princess have come to an end, Tracy delights in being a “normal” teen again. She missed being at school every day,

seeing her friends, and exercising. Tracy is looking forward to enjoying the rest of her senior year with her classmates. She says, “This experience of being on the Rose Court has been a dream come true for me. Since my official duties are over, I will get back to focusing full time on my school work, track and field season, and making sure that my last high school semester is one that I will cherish forever.”

From her first day of Rose Court tryouts to her last day of official duty as a Rose Court Princess, Tracy has grown inside and out. She learned to handle multiple duties by managing her time better and taking everything one day at a time, which Tracy felt could not have been possible without the help and understanding of the teachers and staff at La Salle. She felt blessed to have so many helping hands across the board.

Thanks to her Rose Court experience, Tracy will have a summer internship after graduation with the President of the Tournament of Roses, Mr. Scott Jenkins. As for the fall, Tracy will be attending the University of Redlands in the fall and she will be majoring in political science. She looks forward to getting involved in student leadership, participating in community service, partaking in various law internships, and giving back to the Tournament of Roses. “If you follow your dreams and work hard, you can achieve any goal and make any dream come true,” says Tracy.

Oh, the places Tracy will continue to go!

If you follow your dreams and work hard, you can achieve any goal and make any dream come true.

The 2013 Royal Court smile beautifully and graciously wave as they ride on the Rose Court float down Colorado Blvd. In the center, Queen Vanessa Manjarrez. On the left side, Kate Benuska, Tracy Cresta, and Victoria McGregor. On the right side, Nicole Nelam, Sonia Shenoi, and Madison Teodo.

SPRING 2013

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Monty Pi-Thons sails to victory with Maddy Salazar’14 aft, Zack Rose ’14 amidships and an unidentified swabby in the bow.

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t was a beautiful, warm day to set sail. This year, the Regatta was held on Pi day (3-14). Thirty-four teams of physics and honors geometry students proudly brought their cardboard creations to the Sierra Madre Aquatic Center for the Fourth Annual Cardboard Regatta. We decided to play up the fact that the event happened to be scheduled on Pi Day this year. The students had the opportunity to create a theme around Pi. We had several boats christened “Life of Pi,” as well as “Pi-Rats of the Caribbean,” and “American Pi.” “Monty Pi-thon,” “John 3:14,” “Pi-o-neers,” “Pi-napple,” and “Pi Salesman Ship,” were all great boats names as well.

Equipped with only standard or appliance grade cardboard and clear packaging tape, the teams were charged to design seaworthy boats that would hold three of their team members and then paddle the length of the Sierra Madre pool and back.

This year we are so excited that the robotics team wanted to join in the fun and created two robot-powered cardboard boats of their own. The teachers involved were quite proud of their students who were able to apply the physics and geometry that they learned in class to a real life situation.

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E L L A S A AT L acher ysics Te uer, Ph

a Ba

By Chij

Liam Buchanan ’13 prepares to launch one of the Robotics Team’s two Regatta entrants.

Kayci Jatico ’16, Kylie Salkin ’14, Libby Lynch ’14.

Sky Garcilasodelaveja ’14, Katzia Wilson ’14, (front) Joely Zuker ’14.

Amir Evins ’13, Alex Cross ’14 and Cameron Jones ’16 heading for the deep.

Kennedy Cribbs’14 (back to camera), Caroline Knop ’14 and Katherine Knop ’16.

Cheri Raymundo’ 14, Nadia Casildo ’14, and Jana Ramerez ’16 are followed by Mr. Rynerson with his underwater camera

Marcus Castor ’14, Jaimie Quiambao ’15, Robbie Hoffman ’14.

Francesca Burch ’14, Sean Kelly’16 and Solina Beringer thank the Home Depot.

Ashton Holmes ’14, Abby Marich ’16 and Joe Occhipinti ’14 fight the waves.

Marilyn Crowley ’14 and Noelle Crowley ’14, paddle for land as their 3rd member has already jumped ship.

The Pi Salesman Ship is on the way down with Conor Williams ’14, Graydon Manzke ’14 and Joaquin Barlow ’14.

SPRING 2013

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he 2012-2013 Lancer basketball team started the season 5-0 behind a newly infused energy and style of play. First year Coach Jelani Gardner pushed a high level of energy, fundamentals, and technique. He has installed a fast-paced and inyour-face type of basketball at La Salle. The players loved the style and experienced early success.

The team captured the Governor’s Bracket Championship of the Rose City Round Ball Classic by dismantling Blair, Los Angeles Marshall, and Marshall Fundamental by 30 points each.

The championship game against Cajon was the first glimpse of a competitive game where the Lancers prevailed 51-49. Then came a game versus an always-tough Servite team. The Lancers prevailed again 59-55 by stifling Servite with their full court press and aggressive style.

FRESHMEN STEP UP STAR FOR LANCERS and

By John Blackstock ’67

“Our good start was a product of the hard work and dedication the boys’ have put in since July,” said coach Gardner, “but two freshmen have stepped up to lead the Lancers through the Del Rey League and into the CIF playoffs,” he continued. Vance Jackson, a 6’ 7” forward and 5’ 11” guard, Milan Acquaah, made news as freshmen when they teamed with senior Israel Lacy and juniors Rob McCreary to start for La Salle. “The entire team had great attitude.

It’s tough to be a senior and have a freshman be the focus of the team. They all stayed together. It was very gratifying that every player gave 100% effort.”

Milan Acquaah ‘16

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Vance Jackson ‘16

La Salle is in arguably the toughest league in the state with Serra and Bishop Montgomery who went 29-0 as State Champions.

“We played both teams tough and were in both games,” commented Gardner.

As the season concluded, the Lancers defeated the visiting Lancers of Bishop Amat through extremely hard play that forced a plethora of turnovers defensively. Then they defeated St. Bernard High School to secure third place in the difficult Division IVAA Del Rey League. The win also secured a playoff spot for first year coach, Jelani Gardner (14-9). The first round loss to St. Genevieve ended the Lancers’ exciting season.

Highlighting Gardner’s inaugural coaching season was the selection of guard/forward, Vance Jackson, and guard, Milan Acquaah to the All-League and All-Area Basketball First Teams. Jackson averaged 19.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Lancers.

Acquaah averaged 19.2 points 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. Called the Dynamic Duo by Maxpreps, Jackson and Acquaah were named Honorable Mention to the Maxpreps National Freshman All American Team. Jackson has already received scholarship offers from Arizona, Connecticut and Washington.

“Our Frosh stars worked very hard at their craft, had a great attitude and are great students. It’s a pleasure to coach them and be part of their future,” said Gardner.

soccer blasts into CIF

The Lancers Girls Soccer Team, played hard in a tough Del Rey League. Early success against, Duarte, Pasadena, Monrovia, Marymount and Maranantha High Schools gave way to league losses to Bishop Amat and St. Joseph High School that sent La Salle (10-6-6) into the CIF playoffs as a third place team. The season ended at Santa Paula High School. Outstanding play by senior Erica Stanislawski (shown above) and stalwart goalkeeper Cassidy Rey kept the scores down while sophomores Kacey Venti and Riley Martin advanced the offense.

lancer girls RECEIVE CIF RINGS

The CIF Division IA Champions, La Salle Girls Volleyball Team show off their championship rings. From left, standing they are: Haley DeSales, Olivia Bin, Coach, Tiare Tuitame, Carolyn Knop, Katrina Palffy, Renaissance Forester, Jessica Kennedy, Reilly Spriestersbach, Jaya Banks and Sierra Bononi. Kneeling, Katie Smither, Cheri Raymundo, Jewels Tavera, Katrina Leek and Maddie Pefferle. The girls finished the season 34-3. The presentation took place before the Boys volleyball victory over Salesian High School on March 12.

SPRING 2013

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lancers sign letters of intent

By Jade Rogers ’01

CASSIDY REY, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

For the past 13 years, senior Cassidy Rey has learned that she needed to push herself in her school work first to be able to reach her athletic goals. Whether it was inside a classroom or outside on the field playing soccer, Cassidy held the same belief of never settling for being mediocre. Settling for being mediocre was not going to make her a 4 year Varsity starter for the Lancer soccer team, Captain during her junior and senior years, Hall of Fame, MVP, Most Valuable Goalie for the Del Rey League, and National Champions for her CalSouth ODP club soccer team in 2008, 2011, and 2012.

“I have always been competitive and I believe that if something makes you happy you should push to be the best you can, and that is what I did and will continue to do,” says Cassidy. At the end of 2012, Cassidy signed a Letter of Intent to play soccer at the University of Denver, though she verbally committed with the school in January of 2012. “Yet, that feeling of signing the LOI gave me a sense of accomplishment and that it was really official.”

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STEPHANIE FERRI, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY

In November 2012, senior Stephanie Ferri signed her Letter of Intent to play softball at Fordham University. It was nothing short of a moment of excitement for Stephanie, because it not only confirmed the journey she was going to be on for the next four years, but it was also a realization of goals that she had set for herself since her freshman year at La Salle when she started on the Varsity softball team. “I started playing organized softball when I was 5 years-old. The high school softball season is only 3 or 4 months and so during the other months, I played travel ball. I currently play travel ball for ’SoCal 3D 18U-Gold’ which consists of softball players who are committed to play in college.”

Over the years, Stephanie has achieved many honors and awards as an individual and with her teammates.

In 2010 the Lancer softball team was the Camino Real League Champions and California Southern Section CIF State Champions. Stephanie was First Team All-League for the Camino Real League in 2010 and for the Del Rey League in 2011 and 2012. Stephanie also had the honor of being Team Captain for the Lancers in 2012 and 2013. Stephanie says that it was hard work, dedication, and continuous night practices with her sister or dad that helped her to get where she is today. Now that her senior year is almost over, Stephanie will be setting a new goal for herself in the fall at Fordham.

During the next four years at Fordham, she hopes to earn an Atlantic 10 Conference Championship ring and compete with her new teammates in the NCAA National Championship.

ALEX ASTORGA, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Passion, dedication, commitment, determination, countless hours of practice, sacrificing weekends, and overcoming a big injury kept senior Alex Astorga strong and focused, and led her to believe that it was those exact things that helped her to excel in soccer. “I look back over the 11 years I’ve been playing soccer and think that it was all worth it because I reached my goal of playing in Division I in college. If it was not for my passion for the game I don’t think I would be where I’m at today,” says Alex. This passion and excellence did not go unnoticed. In 2010 and 2011, she received the Academic Achievement Award for the La Salle soccer team and was Captain of her soccer club team, the Legends FC, from 2010 to 2013. Many schools were out to recruit Alex, but she was positive that the best school for her was Jackson State University in Mississippi. “I signed with JSU because everyone made me feel right at home when I went to visit the campus. I love that they pride themselves in student athletes. I plan on majoring in biology and so academics come first, then soccer. Ultimately, those were the reasons I chose JSU,” says Alex. Signing her Letter of Intent was an honor and an achievement that made her realize that she reached her goal of becoming a Division I player.

DANIEL DE LA TORRE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

Senior Daniel De La Torre has learned that nothing comes easy. Since starting cross country three years ago, he has learned that if he wanted something, it was going to be his own responsibility to get it done. Daniel has compared life to running: both are not easy but if you do not give it your all, then the results will be mediocre. Daniel says, “I was aware I had some natural ability but what motivated me greatly was that I wanted to turn that natural ability into something great. I was motivated to do my best and be the best I could be.” And that he did. Daniel went on to win the Division IV California State Cross Country Championship, defending Division IV 1600 and 3200 CIF Championship, and he has broken every cross country record at La Salle. He enjoys every second of practice and racing, even though it is painful, it still feels great to him.

Daniel’s love and passion for running was recognized far and wide. He was recruited by 60 universities across the country, but decided to sign a Letter of Intent with UCLA to be on their cross country team. “When I went on my official visit to UCLA everything felt right. The atmosphere, team, and coach were great,” says Daniel.

Daniel does not know what he plans on majoring in, but we do know that at the speed he’s going, he will go far.

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IS “LOVIN’ CHOCOLATE”

By Jade Rogers ’01

“Lovin’ Chocolate” is a story about a young woman named Chocolate who is discovering what it means to love herself as a young black woman. As Chocolate is alone in the sacredness of her room, she sheds the secrets of her soul and encounters her inhibitions. She cries out and speaks to those who she fears would not listen to her.

Through a combination of dance, poetic verses, and music, Chocolate expresses her rawness of emotions and vulnerability. “Lovin’ Chocolate” is everyone’s story regardless of race, class, sex, and gender. You will find yourself lost in Chocolate’s words, emotions, and pain.

“Lovin’ Chocolate” is written by and stars La Salle alum Kelley Williams ’06. She began writing “Lovin’ Chocolate” for her Senior Thesis during her final year at Pitzer College where she was earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in International and Intercultural Studies, emphasizing in World Religions. Though theater was not her major, Kelley believed in her heart that she was set on the arts at a very early age. She says, “I have a deep affinity for speech, theater, and poetry, as well as a passion for human rights and crosscultural experiences.” Theater for Kelley is “a vehicle that unveils the hidden, embraces and loves the unloved and makes the silence heard.

It is a tool that evokes emotion that leans into the movement of activism.”

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concepts, learning a dance, and creating movements for “Lovin’ Chocolate” took Kelley five months. While at the start of developing “Lovin’ Chocolate” Kelley wanted to write about the hardships that black women face on predominately white college campuses. Kelley began exploring her black culture, history, community, and sisterhood. With all the writers, artists, and experiences, being black was all she seemed to think about and all she saw. Kelley says, “I had all these pains, scars, heartaches, and finally had the answers to why I was hurting so badly. I had all the knowledge and I wanted the world to know. So I began to write.” At first, Kelley did not set out to tell her story, it sort of happened by accident. At that time, her roommate and friends were telling Kelley to use her poetry, which was and still is very private to her at times. She says, “Some of the poems in the play I wrote before I began to write for the purpose of creating a performance piece. I wrote the words because I needed to get what was plaguing me off my chest and when I had no words to express my emotions, then I moved my body.”

Every time she would write and finish a poem, Kelley would remove herself from certain emotions, and while writing “Lovin’ Chocolate” she felt she was letting go and leaving behind pain and heartache during those moments she compiled many of her poems into the play. “Lovin’ Chocolate,” was not a means to an end for Kelley, rather it was a beginning of starting a new chapter in her life that was fearless, confident, faithful, courageous,

humble, and overall filled with a deep love for herself and others.

Kelley says, “I won’t admit it but my friends constantly tell me that Chocolate is me. I’m working on fully admitting that.”

However, Kelley has found that overtime, after performing “Lovin’ Chocolate” over a dozen times and answering questions from the audience, that she is growing more comfortable with embracing the fact that Chocolate is her and if Chocolate is the word of the play, then she is Chocolate to the bone.

Kelley has performed “Lovin’ Chocolate” numerous times, including a performance at La Salle on February 20th. Even though she was nervous, Kelley loved being back at her alma mater, where she was a cheerleader, Senior Senator, dancer, and actor in a couple of school plays. Kelley says, “It was great coming back and seeing all my old teachers. I had an amazing experience when I was a student at La Salle and I had an amazing experience coming back and performing ‘Lovin’ Chocolate’ for everyone.” Regardless of how Kelley feels after each performance and how it went, she always feels joyful and inspired after the

La Salle and Saint Mary’s College High School band members combined to play music together.

WE MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER

By John Blackstock ’67

O

Q&A with the audience. The audience reminds Kelley of why she has continued performing “Lovin’ Chocolate.” She believes that no matter how good or bad she feels after a performance, she knows that God is in control of the message and the hearts of those that receive what they have just experienced and enables the audience to have a connection to the piece.

Kelley is currently adding another scene to “Lovin’ Chocolate”. She says, “I have a new scene but it scares me a bit to add it because I want it to be the same spirit as the rest of the pieces. I want it to complete the piece.” This new scene will be molded and memorized for her four shows that she has booked this June for the Hollywood Theater Fringe Festival at The Complex Theater.

Kelley expresses much appreciation and remembrance to her La Sallian experiences in the classroom, pep rallies, dance floors, and cheer practices because it has all helped to shape her into the young woman that she is today. Remembering La Salle’s mantra of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve” Kelley would like to work with a non-profit organization in the future, one that helps fight against injustices committed to victimized people.

Kelley says, “I want to tell untold stories of people whose voices have been silenced and ignored. It’s a deep passion of mine to help others and to break cultural barriers.” Writing “Lovin’ Chocolate” helped to inspire Kelley to earn a Masters Degree in Theater from the East 15 Acting School in London and she hopes that in the work and art that she does, she is striving to continue making small steps each day to affect and create change.

n Friday, February 15, members of the St. Mary’s College High School band and choir joined members of the La Salle Advanced Band, String Ensemble and Choir in a mini-exchange concert. St. Mary’s is one of our Lasallian schools to the north and was in the midst of their Southern California tour, stopping at Cathedral High School and Disneyland. Both choirs performed selections for each other and La Salle senior Judah Lacy sang a beautiful rendition of “Pure Imagination” from the movie Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Her brother, Israel, accompanied her on piano.

Members of La Salle’s Advanced Band performed “Invicta” by James Swearingen and then joined St. Mary’s concert band as they performed a John Philip Sousa march.

Then the String Ensemble joined with the St. Mary’s orchestra as they performed part of a Mozart symphony.

Ms. Megan Foley, La Salle’s Band Director, states, “It is fun for the students to Matt Ferriera, SMCHS Band Director, essentially ’show off’ for Megan Foley La Salle Band Director, and each other by performing Chris Trinidady, SMCHS Chior Director pieces they’ve been working on. But really, the best part is for them to meet each other and play music. Music is that thing that can connect people immediately, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak. All of the students played well. I just wish we had had more time to hang out!”

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By Jade Rogers ’01

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THE RENAISSANCE WOMAN

he last time I spoke with Ashley Howie was during her senior year when she made her directorial debut with the short horror film “Scenic Drive.” In that article, I described the then 18 year-old Ashley as a multi-talented and multi-faceted student filled with so many ideas and interests. She was an “open book” who would see a vision and have the dream come true right in front of her face. Coincidentally, during that same interview, Ashley spoke of a book that she was in the process of writing and hoping to one day publish. It has been five years since my last interview with Ashley and the title and theme of the book have remained unknown until now. And now the latest addition to all the things Ashley has accomplished is called The Butterfly Pendant.

It took years of writing before Ashley found the right story to tell and what originally started off as one book has now become a trilogy. She says, “Starting at a young age, I have always had a huge imagination, always taking me on new adventures. I had a passion for writing at a young age. The Butterfly Pendant was beginning to conceptualize and I spent my high school career creating and falling in love with it.”

The Butterfly Pendant is a young-adult fantasy-fiction series that was released in July 2012. It follows the journey of a young girl and her adventures in discovering who she really is. The first book in the trilogy introduces the readers to the characters and the world of Elayia. The main character is Andala, who is originally introduced to the reader as Sarah. Sarah arrives from Earth after her guardian angel Krath saves her from a tragic accident. He brings her back to her home of Talena Mori. Vampires (Pre-twilight) are on the move to take over Elayia. The vampires are enslaving the free people into torment, using them like herd animals for feed and holding them in the deep mountains of Andurian. Andala’s life on Elayia had begun to take flight those first few weeks after arriving.

Her disappearance from Earth had become a fading memory.

Nearly every day after her arrival, she followed a strict training routine in order to release her inner elf.

Ashley started writing The Butterfly Pendant when she was in the eighth grade and what inspired her was The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Tolkien’s immersion into his world of Middle Earth helped Ashley create a world of her own and by the time she was 18, Ashley had a rough outline of The Butterfly Pendant. At this point, the longest and most brutal part of the entire process was getting the book published. Ashley says, “I tried submitting it when I was 18 but it did not get any major hits. The publishing process would consist of sending out cover letters and queries to publishers that fit my genre. Many submissions will come back as rejections but you need to have a tough skin in the book world.” As graduation neared at La Salle, Ashley began to research the publishing field. She says, “Back then, E-books and self publishing made you a black sheep in the book industry. Now, they are the norm.” After her disappointing experience, Ashley and her business partner decided to start Ink Smith Publishing.

To help develop their publishing company, Ashley researched other publishers, looking to see where they went wrong, and how to rise above the rest. Ashley says, “With money out of our

own pockets, we started the company. It was a bit rocky at first but we got a hold of the industry and how publishing works, and now it is smooth sailing.” It has almost been a year since the creation of Ink Smith Publishing and it has already obtained a somewhat prestigious reputation in the publishing world. Ashley says, “We receive a wide variety of submissions ranging from young students to well-developed authors who have a Ph.D. in English.

It’s very exciting and I hope we continue to grow.”

Ashley’s life has been a whirlwind of events. She has learned from her mistakes and takes on every adventure with a full sail. In The Butterfly Pendant Ashley uses her own experience of being adopted and wondering where she came from as a small focus point.

One huge life experience that influenced Ashley the most and helped her develop The Butterfly Pendant was her job at the Renaissance Faire. She says, “I was able to learn a different way to speak and put it into my book. I also became informed on the clothes I tried to describe, except this time I could be precise.”

Throughout Ashley’s entire book experience with The Butterfly Pendant, she admits that it was not writing the book that was the best part but rather it was the editing. With each round of editing that Ashley did, The Butterfly Pendant would continue to grow and the characters would become more real. For Ashley, getting the story concept down took the longest time and was the hardest to write, especially with life’s distractions. But for the past decade, ever since she started writing The Butterfly Pendant, Ashley never gave up. She was determined and dedicated to go farther in life and to never settle and to always remember that anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Her ultimate goal: to one day see her book turned into a movie.

Ashley is definitely a “Renaissance Woman” who keeps herself extremely busy. She is currently focused on her publishing company and will be graduating from The Art Institute in Orange County with a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Management in June. She has also finished Book Two of The Butterfly Pendant and has also published a practice book called “The Silence of Ink Smith.” She is thankful for the help she received from others while a student at La Salle. Ashley says, “The teachers at La Salle inspired me to find myself. Everyone from the Science Department to the History Department gave me the knowledge and inspiration to do what I do today.”

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Who Knew?

Pasadena Parrots Rise From the Flames Eyewitness report by John Blackstock ’67 20

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hile riding my brother’s cool, banana-seated, Sting-Ray bicycle to play football with a few friends at Wilson Junior High, numerous sirens and smoke billowing into the sky just a few blocks away suddenly distracted us. Peddling furiously up Rosemead to Colorado Boulevard, we came upon the devastating inferno of the Simpson’s Garden Town Nursery fire of November, 1959. We dropped our bikes and stood there with hands on our faces making the same anguished face Macaulay Culkin made in the movie “Home Alone.”

We watched as the fouralarm fire virtually burned everything to the ground — from the nursery store and lawnmower shop to the F.T.D. florist shop and pet store where firemen desperately tried to save the animals. You could see dogs and cats literally running for their lives as frantic birds of all types took flight through the swirling brown smoke.

This was a traumatic sight for young boys 10 and 11 years old, but it was glorious to see the escape of dozens of blue, green, yellow and white parrots, macaws, cockatiels and cockatoos silhouetted against the dark smoke at it roiled into the sky.

Today, the descendents of these aviary escapees of the “Simpson’s Nursery Fire” create the noisy flocks of green and red crowned parrots that perch in our campus trees and squawk almost continuously. They circle and fly above La Salle and annoy teachers and students in class and subsequently irritate Hal Simpson residents of Hastings Ranch, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, San Marino, Monrovia and Temple City.

Some claim that the parrots migrated up from Mexico and others state they were originally black market birds released by animal smugglers, but we saw what we saw. They came from fire like the phoenix to multiply and annoy. They can be seen year-round, but these gregarious parrots are especially irritating in the winter. The Parrot Project of California has identified at least five different species of parrots in Southern California, but the beautiful green and red ones are ours!

Parrots take flight ove r the

This saga began in 1928 when Hal Simpson built Simpson’s House of Service with a $500 loan and a used Model T delivery truck. He moonlighted on odd jobs as his farm and ranch business slowly took hold.

However, in 1942, with most Americans leaving their civilian jobs to work in the war effort Simpson was left with only a few employees. This brought the need to change the name of the business from “Simpson’s House of Service” to the “Simpson’s Garden Town Nursery.” Simpson’s Bird Farm soon became an integral part to the multiacre concern. The nursery blossomed and after the war, Simpson’s Garden Town grew dramatically with over 70 trucks, 47 telephone lines, a florist shop, full landscape and design office, garden-tool and lawnmower sales and repair shop, pet shop, and several other outlets. The small business that was once “at the end of the road” on Colorado Boulevard, past where the yearly “Rose Parade” takes a turn north was thriving.

Billing itself as the largest and most diversified garden center in the West, life was good. My pals and I enjoyed visiting the pets and talking with the birds. Then, the fire hit.

In addition to all the nursery buildings, bird and animal cages and supplies, all the records and charge receipts were destroyed in the fire. In an amazing gesture of neighborly good will, customers came forward to pay their accounts and suppliers helped out by restocking. The birds were gone and a big part of his operation decimated. But, Hal Simpson got back on his feet and rebuilt.

However the 1960s were a time of change and Simpson’s rebirth was short-lived. In 1968, the State of California, in the name of progress, took most of the nursery property to build the 210 Freeway. The State did what the fire could not do, so Hal bought the 185 acre “Barrett House Ranch” in Jamul, just north of San Ford Model T Diego, and re-opened his nursery operation on the newly purchased ranch, where it operated until 2012.

Hal got a new nursery and we got his parrots.

La Salle gymnasium .

Who Knew?

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New Life for Tennis Courts From left, Ryan Wright, City of Arcadia Recreation Department, Anthony Harris, La Salle Athletic Director, Bob Harbicht, Mayor of Arcadia, Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, Principal, Dr. Richard Gray, Prersident and Tim Pawley, La Salle Tennis Coach.

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n early March, Athletic Director Anthony Harris, presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony for La Salle’s newly resurfaced tennis courts. In his opening comments he said, “Today is a special day in the La Salle tennis program as it serves as the celebration of our new courts here at Orange Grove Park.”

The history of the La Salle tennis program began in the 1960s when Brother Wilfred Menard, FSC served as coach. Because La Salle does not have on-campus courts, the program developed a variety of relationships over the years with neighboring tennis facilities, with the last two being Live Oak Park and Whittier Narrows. “When I began as AD here at La Salle in January of 2011,” Harris continued, “I had discussions with our current tennis coach, Tim Pawley (our boys and girls tennis coach of 10 years), about securing a more permanent location for Lancer Tennis. The

fruit of that meeting places us here today.” Harris went on to thank Arcadia Mayor, Bob Harbicht, who, along with the city council was instrumental in getting the project approved. Harris said he greatly appreciated the help of Ryan Wright and Sara Somagyi from the City of Arcadia, who “pointed me in the right direction” while helping us through the permit and construction process.

Harris thanked Mark Mitchell, the father of Christine Mitchell ’12, a former girls tennis player who made a significant donation toward the completion of the project. He also thanked the La Salle Athletic Boosters, “the backbone of the La Salle Athletic Department,” who donated $5,000 toward the completion of the project. They are just some of the special people that we need to thank as this project would not have been possible without them.”

New “Home” for Lancer Swimmers M

arch 5, 2013 marked the first official home swim meet for the La Salle Lancers in over 20 years. The history of the La Salle aquatics program began in 1964 where the Lancers all boys’ team would pair up with the Westridge all girls’ team. Later, La Salle developed a relationship with Sierra Madre Pool in the early 1970s for their aquatics programs.

Over the years, the La Salle swim program has participated in the San Fernando Valley League, Prep League, Sunshine League, and now in the Del Rey League.

In 2012, the Lancers captured their first ever CIF Division IV swimming championship. “That was accomplished by a group of six girls that proved quality is better than quantity. Two of those girls’ (Samantha Torrez ’13 and Maddi Lanyi ’15) remain in the program today,” Harris said. “I would like to thank Arcadia County Park for allowing us to be in partnership with them and this beautiful facility and Dr. Richard Gray and La Salle for allowing me the freedom as Athletic Director to go out and find a home for our program.”

Harris said he felt that it was only fitting to have our first and only CIF championship swim coach Nicki Maichrowicz cut the ceremonial ribbon.

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Michael Jafari (Boys’ swim coach) Shari Baugh (Associate AD), Nicki Maichrowicz (Girls swim coach) David Ireland (Assistant swim coach), Anthony Harris (Director of Athletics).

ALUMNI PROFILE

SETS THE STAGE FOR DRAMA STUDENTS

By John Blackstock ’67

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ichelle Blair ‘95 is a professional stage manager for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from USC, a Master in Film Theory and a Master degree from the University of Amsterdam. Earlier this winter, she entertained members of the La Salle drama classes with tales of major theatre production success, backstage missteps and stage management difficulties, intrigues and joys.

Her lecture was part of the ongoing series of career mentor presentations sponsored by the Alumni Association.

Michelle believes that “people management” is the essential skill for theatre stage managers. It is their role to coordinate all aspects of a theatre company to ensure the successful delivery of the performance.

“This involves managing rehearsals, actors, technicians, props and costume fittings, as well as liaising with front of house staff and the director. A stage manager needs to have a solid understanding of both technical and artistic elements of a performance so that they can ensure it is delivered exactly to the director’s requirements. They will be involved from the rehearsal phase through to the live performances, where they will be on hand to deal with any emergencies or issues that may hinder the show,” she said.

A great stage manager needs to be strong in math and it helps to read music. “Math is very useful when blocking a play on stage. Being able to read music when you are managing a musical is critical for the lighting and special effects that are sometimes based on a half note!”

Michelle will often “call” a play. Once a play opens, the director is off contract and leaves. The stage manager assumes the role of directing the actors and crew and calling cues for the actors’ entrances during a performance.

Michelle has worked on numerous productions including Red, Los Otros, Vigil, Poor Behavior, Burn This, Leap of Faith, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Parade, Lydia, The School of Night, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Distracted, Nightingale, Without Walls, Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates, and Flight, Nothing But The Truth, Stones In His Pockets, Topdog/Underdog and “QED” at Lincoln Center Theater.

Her other favorites include The Pee Wee Herman Show at the Club Nokia and A Long Bridge Over Deep Waters with Cornerstone Theater Company.

“I’ve worked with many great actors and some really famous ones.

It’s a thrill to be part of these great plays. It’s nice knowing your art (work) is affecting people. It’s great to be part of the process.”

One of the most interesting chapters in her professional career occurred when Michelle was the stage manager for the Pee Wee Herman Show at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown LA. “Paul Rubens is an amazing and charismatic actor. His performances were powerfully intense. I never really watched Pee Wee’s Playhouse as a child, but those in the audience did. I had not been involved with a production that had so much energy from the audience before. These people were literally going back in time and reclaiming a part of their youth and they loved Pee Wee Herman for that. It was a very emotional experience every night.” “You find beauty in art in some very unexpected places,” she continued. “This taught me not to preconceive things because this play definitely was not what I expected.”

Michelle was a member of one of the first co-ed classes at La Salle. She was a member of Pi Alpha Chi, Science Outreach, and Campus Ministry and was involved with the daily production of LTV. Michelle was also very involved with the Theatre Program and received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama her Senior Year.

“I was not really interested in theatre as a career until I worked with Linda Grinstead. I was so uneasy as an actor. I don’t know what I would be doing now, (probably some silly desk job) if Ms. Grinstead hadn’t gotten me involved. I just knew I liked the Theatre, so she suggested Theatre Tech, or Crew.” The one show that really hit Michelle hard and convinced her to make theatre her career was Cabaret. “I thought it was so well done, so exciting and, at the time, a bit risqué for a Catholic school to perform. I loved the theatre from then on.”

Michelle reminisced about the “Little Theatre” (Grinstead Theater): “This space was home for many of us. The old boiler room creaking away as the actors rehearsed and we painted sets. This place gave us a sense of purpose. We believed in what we were doing.”

“It’s a cliché, but teachers really do make a profound difference in a young person’s life,” she said. “Linda Grinstead was always pushing the envelope. She was tough and expected excellence. The actors and crew just wanted to be great for her. She was inspirational. She was truly one of my best teachers at La Salle. It is too bad she has passed because I think we would have been great friends now. I do miss her.”

Michelle also mentioned Mr. John Ring, Mr. Sean McCarthy, and former Brother Patrick Henry as excellent teachers.

Heather Verhoef, mother of Isara Bishwakarma ’16, was also part of the presentation.

Heather is a professional stage manager for the Pasadena Playhouse. Some of her theatre credits include: The Real Love for Pasadena Civic, Intimate Apparel, The Heiress, and Blues for An Alabama Sky for Pasadena Playhouse. Heather has also done shows at the Main Street Theatre, the Rubicon, the El Portal Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum and has worked with the Reprise Theatre Company.

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AMAZING LANCERS

club founder PORTRAITS OF COURAGE

SELECTED AS KABC COOL KID

By John Blackstock ’67 Mariel Lo Guercio ’15 with her competed portrait.

Corinne Dyson ’16 holds her beginning pencil sketch.

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AMAZING LANCERS

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ophomore Taylor Brennan has launched a new school club to help military families through the healing powers of art.

More than 15 talented art students have joined La Salle’s Portraits in Courage club. “Portraits of Courage is designed to give talented art students an opportunity to get together with other likeminded artists and give back to our courageous men and women in the armed services who protect our freedom and our lives every day, “ said Taylor. The club members are currently creating portraits of military service members: they will give these works of art to the military families as the student’s way of thanking the soldiers and their families for their service.

In recognition of Taylor’s commitment and perseverance, he has been selected as a KABC Cool Kid. He was filmed and interviewed for the segment by KABC reporter, Danny Romero.

The interview and Cool Kid segment aired on KABC, channel 7 on Thursday, February 21 during the 4:00pm edition of EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Art instructor Joanne Lamb serves as the staff moderator of the club, which meets after school when the students paint or draw the portraits. They intend to complete at least 15 portraits by the end of the school year, and will be presented in time for Memorial Day 2013.

The club is currently reaching out to the greater Pasadena community to connect with military families who would like to receive a portrait of their loved one serving in the armed forces, as well as of those who have fallen or returned home injured or disabled.

Brennan, 16, is also the president of the school’s Support Our Troops club, which he started last year to provide support to members of the armed services and their families, as well as “Boxes of Love” for needy military families. The Portraits of Courage club is an extension of the Support Our Troops club, he said.

KABCs Danny Romero with Taylor Brennan ’15.

“I’m an artist, and my friends in art wanted to use their talent to help the families who have gone through loss,” he said.

“I don’t think the needs of these people are being fulfilled. We want to help those families who are coping with the loss of a loved one or those who have been badly injured and whose lives have been changed.”

Mrs. Lamb explained that these students are highly gifted artists who are serious about their art and about giving back to the community. Portraits Club moderator and art teacher Joanne Lamb. are produced as paintings or drawings in pencil, charcoal or colored pencil depending on the artists’ preference and skill.

Jodie Kaya ’15

Aubin Schuler ’15 and John Stover ’15 in background.

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AMAZING LANCERS

BRITTANY BARRERA ’13

ANIMATOR HOPES TO FULFILL HER DREAMS

By John Blackstock ’67

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rittany Barrera ’13 was recently featured as a “young, aspiring, and very talented teen” in The Chance Raspberry Newsletter, an online publication for digital animation. She was the Artist of the Month selection. Her online illustrator nom de plume is Red Moon Dragon, creator of the epic web comic, Skies Aflame! “Brittany has much love and passion for animated content, as well as the craft itself, she also expressed a rare level of enthusiasm and ambition, which has since driven her onward to establish her brand online,” said the editors.

As a member of Lancer Television, Brittany recently created La Salle’s award winning animated video title sequence for the “Los Angeles Sequence” at the Student Television Network (STN) Convention in Los Angeles.

“My La Salle experience has been quite a roller coaster. I’m so lucky I got a chance to be here. I never would have gotten a chance in my neighborhood.” She continues, “I would love to go to CalArts, but I need to improve and 26

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increase my portfolio.” She lists Loyola Marymount’s College of Communications and Fine Arts as a possibility.

Brittany has been animating characters since she started watching anime when she was just 11 years old. “I was really impressed and subsequently influenced by the quality and style of eastern animation art rather than the simplistic western cartoon animation.”

“My La Salle experience has been quite a roller coaster.

I’m so lucky I got a chance to be here. I never would have gotten a chance in my neighborhood.”

She wants to work for Pixar or DreamWorks in animation and character development, but she hopes to eventually be a director. “I just love story telling. Working at DreamWorks would really be a dream come true.”

AMAZING LANCERS

MALONE LUMARDA ’14 Makes a Festival of his Films

By Vicki Paluch

F

or a teenage-boy who first picked up a video camera toward the end of his freshman year, Malone Lumarda ’14 has come a long way as a student filmmaker. Two of his videos – “The Farm” and “Escaping the Island” -- have been accepted in a total of twelve film festivals across the country so far this year. The 17-year-old is still awaiting word from a few more festivals slated in the fall and winter.

The first opportunity for him to see his film “The Farm” on the big screen at a movie theater came at the 11th Riverside International Film Festival on April 21. “It’s was so so cool to see it on the big screen,” Malone said after the screening in Riverside. “For me, the biggest screen the film has been shown on a SmartBoard, but this was amazing.”

Malone, who went to Barnhart School before coming to La Salle, is also looking forward to watching the reaction of audience members to his 9-minute film. He shot “The Farm”

Teen Film Festival in Santa Monica; and the 19th Los Angeles Film Festival here in Los Angeles.

His other film – “Escaping the Island” – was screened at the Green Mountain Film Festival. It was also screened at the 13th Delta Moon Film Festival in May where it won best

The Farm

at his grandfather’s farm in Pennsylvania during the winter vacation. The falling snow and desolate farmland inspired him to make a film about the mysteries lurking on the farm and its seemingly abandoned barn.

So far, “The Farm” is screening in eleven festivals, including the 11th Reality Bytes Independent Student Film Festival at Northern Illinois University; the 16th Green Mountain Film Festival in St. Johnsbury, Vermont; the 22nd Arizona International Film Festival in Tucson, Arizona; the 11th Riverside International Film Festival in Riverside, California; 3rd Lovett School High School Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia; CineYouth 2013 in Chicago, Illinois; the 13th Delta Moon Film Festival in Walnut Creek, California; the Sunset Film Festival in Sherman Oaks, California; the 4th Grand Rapids Film Festival in Michigan; the 8th Santa Monica

experimental film and best of show award and trophy.

“Escaping the Island” will also be screened Escaping the Island at the 10th Other Venice Film Festival in October.

Now that he has the film bug, Malone is setting his sights on attending a college with a film school. “I’m glad I actually have something I want to study at college,” he said. “I know what I have to accomplish to do what I want to do, and that is to make movies.”

You can view his films online. “The Farm” is at vimeo.com/58593694 and “Escaping the Island” is at vimeo.com/58645664.

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It’s Déjà Vu A L L O V E R A G A I N Déjà Vu

For the first time in the two schools’ histories, nearly 200 La Salle and Alverno graduates gathered for a party to reminisce about friendships and good times formed with people from the school up (or down) the road at the Déjà Vu Social.

The idea behind the social grew out of La Salle and Alverno’s 30 years of shared history. La Salle, founded in 1956, and Alverno, founded in 1960, were once brother and sister schools. The schools regularly hosted each other at dances, athletic events, pep rallies, student productions, and more until the Fall of 1991 when La Salle went co-ed.

The event was held on February 2nd, Groundhog Day, with Bill Murray specifically in mind. Nearly 300 photos from the past

30 years were continuously projected on the Dining Hall walls, much to the delight of all who attended.

Such a great time was had by all those in attendance that there is sure to be another social in the future. Many thanks to the Planning Committee made up of alums from both schools as well as those who donated items for the Opportunity Drawing at the event including: Matt Denny’s Ale House, The Bottle Shop, Friends of the Sierra Madre Library, RedWhite+Bluezz, Ranchero, and MATCO Tools.

Tom Fahey ’73 and Jeannette Sinnette Fahey ’74 took home the crown for being the longest married La Salle/Alverno couple in attendance.

They have been married for 34 years.

Bill Sullivan ’75 and Patty Germaine Sullivan ’75 also took home a prize for being the second longest married La Salle/Alverno couple in attendance. They have been married for 25 years.

Back Row: Blake Proudfit ’86, Victor Blanco ’85, Joseph Kong ’87, Kirk MacDonald ’85, Robert Ell ’85. Front Row: Bill Hardy ’84, Sean Mispagel ’86, Suzy Underbrink Rettig ’85, Mary Dinniene Gleason ’85, John Tellez ’85, Jay Cali ’86, Nancy Chapman ’86, Johnna Cali ’85, Guest, Pamela Barvin Pedersen ’85, Guest, Mike Ryan ’85, Gianni Galati ’86 28

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Steve Luder ’63, Terry Merlo Traver ’65, Lou Santilena ’63.

Mike Hornbuckle ’77, Christine Ford Wise ’77, Tom Cullen ’75, Monica Lopez Sullivan ’77, Liz Hansen Peckenpaugh ’77, Mike Helin ’77, Rick Hornbuckle ’78.

Gina Schober, Marvin Schober ’91, Andrea Bertollini ’91, Anne Bigley ’91.

Roxanne Bevan Rodgers ’71, Mark Bevan ’70, Maureen Crow, Lori Berberian Pelentay ’79.

John Blackstock ’67, Jack Belcher ’67, Parme Plancich Giuntini ’67, Chuck Mispagel ’67.

Shawn Blakeslee ’80, Richard Oberreiter ’80, Jim Hezlep ’80, Jim LeVeque ’80, Al Prado ’80.

Sheila Collins ’90, Leo Anaya ’89, Jennifer Willett Vogtmann ’90.

Mike Salcido (former La Salle faculty), Matt McCoy ’82, Tim Griffy ’82, Tai Taylor ’82, Rafael Mirasol ’80, James Ryan ’86, Dan Sullivan ’77, Hans Underbrink ’82, Brian Guthrie ’82, Robert Houle ’82, John Coombes ’82.

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The 2012-2013 Alumni Association Executive Board with the Class of 2013 Alumni Association College Scholarship Recipients. Back row, left to right, Brandon Birr ’03, Steve Peterson ’85, Mike Sullivan ’70, Angie Giliam ’02, Alex Plumb ’06, Tony Messineo ’80, Jeff Weigand ’67, Tommy Stafford ’99.

Front row, left to right, Andrew Vogelbach ’01, Marissa Lluch ’95, Jennifer Robi ’13, Julia Jacques ’13, Robin Quintanilla ’03.

Alumni Association T

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

he La Salle High School Alumni Association hosted the firstever “Taste of La Salle” in March 2012. This food and beverage tasting event was a huge success and the proceeds from the event established the Alumni Association College Scholarship to support the Alumni Association’s mission to provide resources and opportunities for alumni and current students. This past school year, the Class of 2013 had the opportunity to apply for this $1,000 College Scholarship and members of the Alumni Association

Executive Board whittled it down to the top two candidates. Julia Jacques and Jennifer Robi will officially be presented with their Alumni Association Scholarship at graduation on May 24, 2013.

The Alumni Association is proud of all of the accomplishments of the Class of 2013 and is pleased to honor Julia and Jennifer with this prestigious award! Mark your calendars for the return of the Taste of La Salle set for March 22, 2014.

JULIA JACQUES ’13

service, Adopt-A-Family, promotion of charity walks for organizations like MADD, the Pasadena Humane Society and Club 21. In addition to Student Life, Julia is a team member of LEAP (Lasallian Education Advantage Partnership), an outreach-tutoring program that visits three inner city Catholic elementary schools, Pi Alpha Chi (PAX), the National Honors Society and serves as a retreat leader. One of Julia’s proudest accomplishments is starting La Salle’s annual St. Baldrick’s Event where students and members of the La Salle community raise money to have their heads shaved to support childhood cancer research. Julia will be attending Gonzaga University in the fall. She has broad interests and has yet to find the one major that speaks to her but she does hope

found her niche at La Salle through community service. Julia always had a passion for community service. Before she even entered high school, she volunteered with the Arcadia Recreation Leader-In-Training teen program which involved working at a weeklong summer day camp for elementary school children at Wilderness Park. She continued with this work in high school spending her summers volunteering at The Zone, a summer day camp for middle school kids. She is also a member of Assisteens, the teen organization of the Arcadia Assistance League, volunteering at their local thrift store, putting together birthday boxes for underprivileged kids and reading to children at the public library. Along with her family, she prepares and serves a hot meal for up to 60 homeless adults and their children once a month at the Union Station Family Center in Pasadena. Julia continued with her passion for service at La Salle and became the Assistant Commissioner for Service on the Student Life team her junior year and is the Commissioner for Service this year. In this role, Julia is responsible for leading her team to create, plan and execute all of the service events for the School. This includes “March Madness” a week-long charity drive, a week of hands on service where each day a different grade level goes out in the community and does

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The anticipated return of the

TASTE OF LA SALLE An evening of delectable tastes and sips!

March 22, 2014 La Salle High School All proceeds help support the La Salle High School Alumni Association College Scholarship Fund so that our graduates can continue to Learn, Serve and Lead on their college campuses and beyond!

to study abroad and participate in immersion trips and international service opportunities in order to gain a global perspective. After college, Julia is hoping to take part in the Teach for America program to continue her passion for philanthropy. Julia is quoted in her application as saying, “With the foundation that La Salle put into place, I achieved a level of leadership

Seniors Andrew Torrijos and Julia Jacques pose with Archbishop Jose Gomez after receiving the Archdiocesan Christian Service Award. The award is given to one or two seniors from each of the 51 high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Some of the work that Andrew did to receive the award was volunteering on Skid Row with his family, as well as going on a service immersion trip

JENNIFER ROBI ’13 is

more than just an accomplished high school student; she is a community leader, volunteer and activist.

Five years ago Jen and her mother sustained serious injuries in a horrific car crash involving a drunk driver. She took that experience and became the youngest member of the Speakers Bureau for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Jen spends much of her time traveling around Southern California educating police officers, first time offenders, court mandated juveniles and students about the negative impacts of underage drinking and drinking and driving.

She estimates she has spoken to over 50,000 kids over the last five years. She even got La Salle students involved by forming a team for MADD’s Annual Walk. The team is made up of students from both Cathedral High School (a fellow Christian Brothers high school in downtown Los Angeles) and La Salle. Students have continued this walking team for the last three years and have been the top academic team at the MADD walk each year. Jennifer is also a member of the Leadership Team at Santa Teresita, a skilled nursing facility in Alhambra that is run by the Carmelite Sisters and is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award. On campus, Jennifer is just as involved.

She was on Class Council her freshman and sophomore year and has served on the Spiritual Life Team for Student Life the last two years.

As Commissioner of Spiritual Life, she is responsible for leading her team and organizing the monthly Student Masses and prayer services. Jen is also a Student Ambassador through the Admissions Office, a member of the California Scholarship Federation and

ability that I never dreamed possible. Once I got settled in here at La Salle I knew there was no other place I wanted to be to grow academically and personally. I have been prepared for a life of service, extensive learning and introduced to a lifelong Lasallian family; that is truly the La Salle Difference.”

to Ghana. He still has a relationship with the people he met.

Julia received the award for her longtime work with Assisteens and volunteers throughout the area.

She has also helped plan and implement the St. Baldrick’s event at La Salle the past two years as well as motivate others to participate in service projects in her role as Commissioner of Service.

National Honors Society, a LEAP team member, and is involved with several clubs on campus. She was an asset to the Girls Basketball program until her health prevented her from continuing on the team. Even though she was no longer physically able to play basketball she attended every practice, game and conditioning session that the Varsity team had and cheered her teammates on every step of the way. Jennifer will be attending Whittier College in the fall and while her program of choice is still unknown she feels compelled to work with the marginalized in society.

Jennifer hopes to join the Lasallian Volunteer Program out of college in order to help the worldwide Lasallian community and to one day come back and teach at La Salle. Jennifer stated in her application, “La Salle is not just a place where tests are graded and scores are recorded. It is a place where lifelong friendships are made. I know La Salle has prepared me for whatever my future may hold and I am truly grateful to the dedicated faculty and staff who allowed me to prosper.”

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Alumni News, Weddings & Births

Staying

enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in HHS funded health and welfare programs, specializing in the issues of language access to programs (provision of interpreters) and HIV-related discrimination.

Connected

1963

John Zuerlein works for Southern California Edison as the manager of capital budgets for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant and is looking forward to retiring by the end of this year. He and his wife Sally celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in February and have two grown children and one granddaughter.

John lives in San Clemente.

John Karnowski is a senior financial analyst with the RSR Corporation. He also participates in mission trips to Juarez, Mexico and volunteers with the Museum of the American Railroad.

John and his wife Ann have been married for 37 years and have two children, Michael (31) and Sarah (28).

John Kalen has his own insurance agency, Mile Hi Insurance Agency, LLC. He has eight grown children, six grandkids and lives with his wife Chris in Arvada, Colorado.

1964

Joseph LeBeau is retired from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. He has served as a founding board member for the Valley Community Recycling Center, Member of the Mat-Su Borough Health

Advisory Committee, Past Chair of the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Committee, Past Chair of the Rock County Wisconsin Democratic Party and is currently enjoying his hobby as a cabinet and furniture maker as well as President of the Rock County Rifle and Pistol Club. Joseph and his wife Kathleen have one son and live in Janesville, Wisconsin.

1968

Dave Banis & Jim McManus are both members of the California Private School Advisory Committee which numbers about nine people and officially advises the State Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding educational issues from the vantage point of the state’s private schools. Jim has served on the committee for six year and Dave just joined the committee this year.

1970

Brock Evans had a 30 year career with the federal government in San Francisco before relocating to Los Angeles in 2001 to help open a downtown office. At the end of 2012, he retired after 38 years of service with the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, formerly HEW,

DICK BAUMER ’63, father of Chris Baumer ’94, was

on campus on April 10, 2013 to speak with members of La Salle’s Support Our Troops Club and Animal Heroes Club about his experience as a military dog handler in Vietnam and his current volunteer work with the Military Working Dog Team Association, Inc.

Dick received his commission as an Infantry Lieutenant through the ROTC program at Claremont Men’s College (now Claremont McKenna College).

He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Ft. Benning, GA in February 1968, and following the Ranger Course was assigned as the Training Officer and Commander of the 26th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) at the US Army Scout Dog School at Ft. Benning.

Following the Airborne course en-route to Vietnam, he served as the Commander of the 62nd Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker), attached to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division from January 1969 to January 1970.

On his return, he was named the Chief of the Visual Tracker Division at the Army’s Combat Tracker School at Ft. Gordon, GA. He then attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and spent 3 years in Europe with the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, as the Battalion Adjutant and B Company Commander.

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Steve Singer works in business development for Grant Thornton. He has three sons and lives in San Jose.

1971

Father Greg Apparcel is the Rector at Santa Susanna Church in Rome, Italy, a parish for Americans and other English speakers. He has three graduate degrees including one in Theology and one in Pastoral Liturgy.

Bob Kohorst is the owner of Everest Properties. He is very active in the community with the Boy Scouts and the Huntington Library and serves on the Board of Regents at LMU and the Board of Trustees at La Salle. He and his wife have two sons, Kevin ’03 and Matt ’07, and live in Pasadena.

Daniel Lopez is the president of DBL & Associates, a financial consulting company for public agencies, non-profits and for-profit organizations involved in the development and financing of affordable housing.

1973

Bernie Doerning is the senior director for Merck Pharmaceutical. He and his wife Liz have three grown children and live in Middletown, NJ.

On his return to the States he was an Operations Research/Systems Analyst at the US Army’s Recruiting Command at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. In September 1976, he resigned his regular Army commission but remained in the Army Reserve, assigned to HQ Dept of the Army at the Pentagon as an Individual Mobilization Designee.

In January 1991, he was recalled to active duty and served in the Army Operations Center for 5 months during Operation Desert Storm. During his 22 years in the Army Reserve, he was also the Commander of the 6302d Reinforcement Training Unit, located at the Army Reserve Center in Pasadena. He retired in 2000.

Dick is now on the Board for the Military Working Dog Team Association, Inc., a non-profit that supports the efforts of current military dog handlers and their canine companions. La Salle’s Support Our Troops Club and Animal Heroes Club are planning on putting together a joint fundraiser on campus to raise money to put together care packages for military dog handlers and dogs currently deployed in Afghanistan.

Dick Baumer ‘63 is pictured with his dog Brutus who is named for one of Dick’s working military dogs who was killed in action in Vietnam.

Jeffrey Maldonado retired from his position as Vice President, General Counsel for Verizon last year and is currently pursuing a certification to teach at the secondary level. Jeffrey sits on the board for the Latino Justice PRLDEF (a legal advocate for latino rights) and Catholic Big Sisters Big Brothers of NYC. He and his wife Maria live in Ardsley, NY with their daughter Gabriela (9).

1974

Mark Moreno is retired after spending the majority of his working life caring for the sick. He has three grown daughters and one granddaughter. He occasionally volunteers with the Red Cross and for the local community repairing broken bicycles to pass on to the “under served.” Mark makes his home in Davis.

1975

Terence Kelly is an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, a corporate and securities practice including financing and M&A. He sits on the boards for The Sustainability Fund and the Consortium for Global Development.

Terence and his wife Alison have four sons, the youngest will graduate from high school this year, and live in Palo Alto.

1979

Ed Pope is the CEO of MATECH, a company that specializes in developing advanced materials for defense and aerospace.

He lives in Westlake Village.

1982

Hans Underbrink is the client relationship manager for RICOH, USA. He and his wife Carolyn have four children, David (8), Audrey (7), Michael (5) and Clara (5), and live in Santa Monica.

1983

Ruben Alvarez is a managing partner with Molera Alvarez, LLC in Phoenix, Arizona.

1990

Brian Bulter

had a big birth-

Patrick McLaughlin works in operations for Air & Ground World Transport and lives in La Verne.

Michael Lamberti is the owner of a manufacturing company, Tools & Production, Inc. He and his wife Cindy celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in May and have two sons, Jonathan (25) and Philip (23).

1978

James De Leo is a nutritional care supervisor at Mission Hospital. He also teaches backpack cooking for the High Adventure Team of the Boys Scouts of America, Orange County Council.

1994

Brett Wong has been promoted to Associate Professor and Tenure at Kansas State University’s Department of Kinesiology.

1995

Json Marruffo is the network administrator for the UC Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, Colorado. He received his Master in Communications from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2012. Json and his wife Jennifer have three children, Caleb (12), Aurora (9) and Isabella (7) and live in Colorado Springs.

Aaron Saenz completed his Master in Healthcare Administration-Informatics from Saint Joseph’s University in May 2012. He is currently a health information technology teacher for LAUSD and ICDC College.

1998

1976

Joe Girillo is a marriage and family therapist intern at the Georgiana Rodiger Center. He has two step-children with his wife Ruthie and lives in Pasadena.

Raoul received his MS in Leadership from the University of San Diego in 2004. He and his wife Bernadine have a daughter Janelle (7).

day bash in March at the American Legion Hall in Azusa. Fellow classmates in attendance included, left to right, Rick McManus ’90, Owen Hou ’90, Johnny Segura ’90, Andy Law ’90, Joe White ’90, Brian Butler ’90, Tom Badzey ’90, Eric Medina ’90, Brian Chien ’90, and Joe Mudnich ’90.

1992

Paul Sutton is a research assistant at the University of Washington where he is currently working on his PhD in Education.

1993

Raoul Bustamante is a deputy director and adjunct professor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Jim Togneri ’66 recently received the Pat Vincent Lifetime Achievement Award from Saint Mary’s College for his contributions to the Gael Athletics and Rugby program. Jim and other friends of Frank Tucci ’66, founded the Annual Frank Tucci Golf Tournament in memory of his La Salle classmate and fellow Gael at SMC who died in 2000. Jim has produced the event for his fellow Lancer and Gael for 12 years, with the 13th coming up in September.

John Maffei ’66 sent his congratulations to

Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo is a published poet, literary curator and high school educator.

She is the winner of the 2013 Poets & Writers California Writers Exchange. The prize was judged

by Marilyn Chin and included an all-expense paid trip to NYC to meet with top agents, editors, literary magazine editors, and authors. Her winning manuscript was inspired by time she spent on the USA-Mexico border volunteering with No More Deaths, a Tucson-based direct humanitarian aid organization, in August 2011. She currently teaches Theatre Arts at Arroyo Pacific Academy in Arcadia.

Jim and reminds us that Jim, John Giambastiani ’67 and Mike Genovese ’68 and himself were the “Italian Connection” on the Lancer Baseball team.

At La Salle, Jim was ASB Treasurer, News Editor of The Lance, on the Pep Council, in the Glee Club and a member of the varsity baseball team.

Previously Jim received the Saint Mary’s Alumni Meritorious Service Award that is presented to the alumnus who has exemplified the mission of the College by commitment to service in his own community and the College.

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1999

Chris Miller works in marketing and sales for CPS Advantage. He and his wife Jacqueline reside in Westminster.

2001

Felisa (Farzana Marie) Hervey separated from the United States Air Force on September 1, 2012 after a two year deployment in Afghanistan. She is now back in her PhD program at the University of Arizona’s School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies, focusing on Persian Literature with a minor in Creative Writing. She is President of a nonprofit called Civil Vision International, creating a vision-oriented citizen network of Afghans and Americans who want to see more creative, costeffective solutions to issues that vex both countries and a fruitful partnership between both nations in the future. See more at www.facebook. com/CivilVisionInternational.

2003

Alison Lewis is a special education teacher and lives with her husband Stephen Jasko and their daughter Isabela (3) in Long Beach.

Charles Campo is a financial analyst with the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Austin, Texas.

2004

Kevin Lee graduated from George Washington University Law School in May 2012. He recently passed the California Bar exam and plans to practice in the area of criminal law.

CLASS OF 2003

2008

Veronnica Krizek is currently living in Washington, D.C. attending Georgetown University where she is studying for her Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management with a concentration in Strategic Marketing, Communications and New Media.

2010

Rosalina Alvarez is a junior at Dennison University where she is double majoring in psychology and education. She has set up an internship in May to work with elementary school students.

Engagements Jessica Horn ’03 and Brian Quinn ’03 are engaged to be married on June 22, 2013. Jessica is a process engineer with WorleyParsons in Monrovia and Brian is in his second year of medical school at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

Thomas Mendez ’04 and Wendy Ojeda are engaged to be married in August. Thomas works for Aramark at Angel Stadium as the Director of Concessions and has been with the company for six years where he started as an intern while still in college.

SaveTHE Date

10 YEAR REUNION at NOOR in the PASEO COLORADO

AUGUST 24, 2013

Have a new email address or a new place? Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@lasallehs.org with your updated info so that you receive all the news regarding your reunion.

Ashley Aloi ’04 and Paul Poulos got engaged on January 1, 2013 at the Huntington Beach Dog Beach at sunset where their first date was almost four years ago.

They have set their wedding date for July 13, 2013 at the Huntington Harbor Bay Club.

Nicole Stone ’09 and Corporal Jonathon Stedelin of the United States Marine Corps are engaged to be married on August 10, 2013. Nicole is finishing her senior year at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and will graduate with a degree in marketing this spring.

alumni baseball game Returning to Lancer Field for the 2013 Alumni Game were (left to right): Ernie Martin ’09, Matt Jones ’05, Alec Edwards ’06, Kenny Williams ’11, Chris Knowles ’04, Chris Williams ’12, Steven Petrovich ’11, Michael Bottala ’10, Brian Hill ’10, John Auer ’11, Brendon Gripp ’08, Michael Palffy ’08, Matt Kohorst ’07, Tommy Stafford ’99, Leo Anaya ’89 and Tony Messineo ’80.

The Alumni battled back from an early hole to regain the lead but fell back in the end with the Lancer Varsity winning 13-10.

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Weddings Rose d’Amato ’98 and Alex Salinas were wed at Caesars Palace on December 1, 2012. Rose is currently teaching for the Glendale Unified School District as a special education teacher and Alex is the Sales Manager at a local Cadillac dealership. The couple purchased a home in Montrose last year and are hoping to go on a honeymoon sometime in the fall.

Amanda Mareina ’02 and Shane Malsom were married on October 6, 2012 in Newport Beach at The Balboa Inn. The couple honeymooned in Seattle, New York City, and Boston before returning home to Portland, OR. Amanda is the manager of Louie’s Pizza and Catering in Portland and Shane is the manager of Copy Pilot Shipping.

Jenifer Beck ’04 and John Sojka were married on July 14, 2012 at The Langham in Pasadena. The wedding party included La Salle grads Alison Beck ’01, Sean Beck ’08, Ryan Beck ’99 and Michelle Toyoshima ’03. La Salle guests in attendance were Jessica Ampikapon ’04, Eric Bartolo ’03, Emily Considine ’04, Alissa Godwin ’04, Dorothy Habrat ’04, Justin Healy ’03, Scott Holman ’03, Kristin Kelley ’04, Jennifer Reaume ’03, Dan Saldana ’03, Peter Stewart ’03,

and Daniele Visconti ’04. Jeny teaches 3rd/4th grade at a charter school in Columbus, Ohio and John is a medical student in his second year at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Antoinette Kathol ’04 married Christopher Brunasso on October 20, 2012 at St. Rita’s Church in Sierra Madre followed by a reception at Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont. La Salle grads in the wedding included Maid of Honor Jackie Peters ’04, and bridesmaids Ashley Sanello ’04 and Marianne Ward ’04. Antoinette graduated with her Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D) in June 2012 from the California School of Professional Psychology and is currently working at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House as a Psychologist working with families who have children with cancer and other serious and terminal illnesses.

She continues to coach at SG Elite Volleyball club and last fall she started coaching the varsity team at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

Rachel Wogensen ’05

married Tim Yaeger in Santa Barbara on June 30, 2012. Rachel graduated from Santa Clara University in 2009 but had met Tim in Pasadena during one of her Christmas breaks. The two live and work in San Francisco. Alumni members of the bridal party included Christa Pozzi ’05 and Neil Wogensen ’09.

CLASS of

2008 THANKSGIVING EVE Everyone will be there so you don’t want to miss out!

Wednesday November 27th, 2013 7:30pm-10:00pm Old Town Pasadena If you are interested in being part of the Reunion Committee contact Kristen Schultz ’98, Director of Alumni Relations, 626.696.4362 or kschultz@lasallehs.org.

E L E C T E D T O A S S E M B LY Bill Quirk ’63 was elected to the California State Assembly on November 6th and was sworn in on December 3rd. Bill hopes to use his science and engineering education to develop policy to make it easier to integrate renewable energy into the electrical grid. Additionally, Bill is concerned about better funding of education, support for police and fire, and making it easier to start, grow, and keep business in California.

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Births & Adoptions

Joel Wesser ’99 and his wife Alisha welcomed their son, Liam Istvan Wesser, on August 9, 2012 weighing 8lbs., 10 oz. and 21” in length.

Mark Sanderl ’90

and his wife Liliana welcomed their daughter, Julianne Sofia, on October 11, 2012. She weighed 8 pounds and measured 20 ¼ inches long. Big brother Andrew, 3 ½ years old, is excited to have a little sister. Mark is completing his fourteenth year of teaching middle school Computers at Rosemont Middle School in La Crescenta.

Ken Watson ’00 and Kelly (O’Connor) Watson ’00 welcomed their third son, Jonathan James Watson, on January 8, 2013 at Methodist Hospital weighing 6lb., 10oz. and 18” long. Jonathan was born just four days before Ken and Kelly’s 5th wedding anniversary and joins big brothers Thomas (4) and Christopher (3).

Danica Lemison Doolittle ’00 and her husband welcome their second son, Liam, on December 22, 2012 weighing 8lbs., 5oz.

Erin Swedlow-Murphy ’98 and her husband Brendan welcome their baby boy, Connor Timothy Murphy, on December 21, 2012.

Jason Lee ’01 and his wife Miranda are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Sonya Rae Lee, on October 5, 2012, weighing 6lbs., 13oz., and 19” long.

Jason and his family live in Ashburn, Virginia and he is currently working at the State Department in Washington D.C. Kari Umland Sapir ’02

and her husband Robert welcomed their fourth child, Mikaela Ku’uleialohamaikalani, on November 5, 2012 weighing 6lbs., 10.6oz.

Mikaela joins her siblings Kayli Ku’leinani (5), Viktoria Ke’alohilani (4) and Robert Kawika Kealoha Jr. (RJ) (2).

Kari and her family reside in Hawaii.

TELLS OF AFGHAN DEPLOYMENTS CAPTAIN LEROY CISNEROS ’89 came back to campus following his 3rd deployment to the Middle East to meet with members of La Salle’s Support Our Troops Club. Last spring, the Club put on a “Letters from Home” drive and collected cards of thanks and appreciation from the school community and sent these along with care packages to Captain Cisneros and the battalion of 200 soldiers that he was Company Commander of in Afghanistan.

Captain Cisneros met with the Club on March 11, 2013 to thank them for their support and to give them insight into what life in the military is like.

Leroy joined the US Army Infantry in August of 1989 where he was stationed overseas in Germany until 1991. He joined the California Army National Guard in 1992 and was promoted to Sergeant in the US Army in 1993. He graduated from Cal State LA in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and

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joined the Culver City Police Department in 1998.

Captain Cisneros was ordered to Emergency Federal Active Duty on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC.

His first deployment was to Baghdad, Iraq during 20052006 as a Lieutenant and he was deployed a second time to Afghanistan in 2008 as a Captain. His third deployment was to Afghanistan in 2012 as Company Commander. He survived 3 roadside bomb attacks that took place in 2005 and 2012 during his tours of duty.

Leroy is a Detective in the Traffic Division with Culver City Police Department and is married with one stepson. He has a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State LA and is in the process of applying to Law School.

The Bacon Foundation

ENDOWS A $100,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS

From left to right, Karl Swaidan, Managing Director, Bacon Foundation, Jon Keates, Director of Institutional Advancement, Jude Lucas, Visual & Performing Arts Chair, Corene Pindroh P’90, Director, Bacon Foundation, Dr. Richard Gray, President and Henry Gibbons, Director, Bacon Foundation.

By John Blackstock ’67

T

he Francis Bacon Foundation has awarded La Salle a $100,000 grant to endow an annual scholarship to the visual and performing arts at La Salle. The Bacon Foundation donation is an integral part of the Board of Regents Campaign for the Arts (RCA) that concludes on June 30, 2013. Corene Pindroh P’90, former trustee and current Bacon Foundation Director, helped guide La Salle through the gift process. The scholarship is available to eighth grade students who have shown a passion for the arts. The recipient will join a student body where nearly 45% of the students participate in La Salle’s award-winning visual and performing arts programs.

The first Francis Bacon Scholar is Sebastian Beltran-Moeller ‘17 from Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary elementary school, in Pasadena. Sebastian is a dedicated thespian with numerous plays to his credit. “He’s a delightful young man with extraordinary talent and we are excited to welcome him into the La Salle family,” said Jude Lucas, Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair.

Walter and Louise Arensberg established the Francis Bacon Foundation in 1937. Their intent was to promote “research in history, philosophy, science, literature, and art, with special reference to the life and works of Francis Bacon.”

Walter Arensberg’s Francis Bacon collection became one of the finest in North America. In 1995, The Huntington Library in San Marino became the permanent home for the nearly 13,000-volume collection of books centering on the sixteenth-century English polymath.

Bacon Scholar, Sebastian Beltran-Moeller ’17, is acknowledged by “Groucho Marx” aka Frank Ferrante ’81 at “An Evening with Groucho,” in May, a fundraiser for the RCA. Look for more details in the summer issue of Lancer Magazine.

Besides supporting the study of the works and life of Lord Bacon, the Foundation also supports schools, colleges, universities, and research institutions in Southern California; the intention being to disseminate a knowledge of Lord Bacon and to encourage the advancement of learning in those areas upon which he has had an enduring influence.

“I am really exited about coming to La Salle. I love the plays they stage and I can’t wait to be part of the theatre program at La Salle,” said an exuberant Sebastian Beltran-Moeller.

Gifts to the RCA may be made through the La Salle website at www.lasallehs.org/ArtsCampaign.

La Salle High School

3880 East Sierra Madre Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91107-1996 www.lasallehs.org Address Service Requested

Transforming Lives Since 1680

CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF

1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, & 1979

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 - 6:00PM LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL ATRIUM & DINING PAVILION Dressy Casual Attire

RSVP by June 14th by mail or online at www.lancernetwork.com/70sReunion Any questions or if you would like to invite an alum from another decade, please contact Kristen Schultz ’98, Director of Alumni Relations, at 626.696.4362 or kschultz@lasallehs.org.

TICKETS ARE $65 PER PERSON Cash Bar The party will include campus tours, class pictures, entertainment, a buffet dinner and much, much more!