Summer 2017
In this issue • Summer Service Trips Students taking part in teambuilding activities during Freshman Orientation.
• Donor Spotlight: JP & Evelyn Bolduc • An Ignatian Pilgrimage • The Ricci Experience
Message from the President Dear Friends, The 2017–18 academic year is well underway. I hope that you and your family enjoyed a restful summer. This issue of Blakefield Magazine includes stories that reflect the vibrancy of our mission. You will learn more about the summer service and immersion experiences that our students experienced, including trips that took them as far as Jamaica, Belize, and China. Additionally, Ben Horgan (Director of Mission & Identity) reflects on a pilgrimage he took this summer that followed in the footsteps of St. Ignatius. These are just a few examples of our students and staff moving beyond their comfort zones and stretching out across the globe. We look further to even more opportunities like this going forward. Lastly, I’d like to draw your attention to a few highlights of what the generosity of our donors enabled us to accomplish this year (see p. 3). The 2016–17 annual giving year saw a few records set and many enhancements to the educational experience of our Dons. Many of you can proudly take credit for these achievements.
“I am humbled by the extraordinary generosity that our benefactors bestow upon the Loyola Blakefield community.” I am humbled by the extraordinary generosity that our benefactors bestow upon the Loyola Blakefield community. Please join me in expressing gratitude to all those who choose to support our mission. I hope that we continue to be blessed with increased financial support as we look to grow in a number of areas and begin to lay the foundation for what the future of Loyola will look like. It is indeed an exciting time to be part of this extraordinary community. With gratitude,
Anthony I. Day P ’15, ‘19 President
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GIVING IN REVIEW GIVING IN REVIEW 2016 2017 2016 2017 GIVING IN REVIEW 2016 - 2017
SUMMARY OF GIFTS RECEIVED SUMMARY OF GIFTS RECEIVED July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 SUMMARY OF RECEIVED July 1, 2016 – June 30,GIFTS 2017 The Loyola Fund
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 TheUnrestricted Loyola Fund& Designated Endowed Scholarship Gifts Unrestricted & Designated Capital Projects The Loyola Fund Support Endowed Scholarship Gifts Blue & Gold Auction Net Proceeds Unrestricted Designated Capital Projects&Support Endowed Scholarship GiftsProceeds Blue & Gold Auction - Net Capital Projects Support Blue & Gold Auction - Net Proceeds
33%
$2,227,693
49%
$1,562,963 $2,227,693 $523,444 $1,562,963 $386,718 $2,227,693 $523,444
33%
The Annual Fund
49%
49%
$1,562,963 $386,718 $4,700,818 $523,444 $4,700,818 $386,718
11% 33% 7%
11%
Endowed Scholarships The Annual Fund Capital Projects Support Endowed Scholarships Blue & Gold Fund Auction The Annual Capital Projects Support
11%
Endowed Scholarships Blue & Gold Auction
7%
7%
Capital Projects Support
$4,700,818
Blue & Gold Auction
ALUMNI GIVING month JUNE ALUMNIOFGIVING ALL ALUMNI month MADE A GIFT 17.4% JUNE OF ALL ALUMNI ALUMNI GIVING TOP 5 CLASSES MADE A GIFT 17.4% month JUNE participation dollars raised
TOTAL GIFTS * TOTAL GIFTS * $4.7 * TOTAL GIFTS $4.7 million
TOP 5 CLASSES 17.4%
OF ALL ALUMNI
RECORD RECORD AOKRI NDG B RREE C G BREAKIN E AKRI N G YA E R B YEAR YEAR
million $4.7 million LOYOLA FUND
1953 1978 A GIFT $352,140 MADE participation 71% dollars raised 1947 & 1954 42% 1982 $177,599 1953 71% 1978 $352,140 TOP 5 CLASSES 1949 & 1955 38% 1963 $158,580 1947participation & 1954 42% 1982dollars raised $177,599 1960 35% 1964 $121,922 1953 & 1955 71% 1978 $352,140 1949 38% 1963 $158,580 1952 & 1965 33% 1957 $107,515 1947 & 1954 42% 1982 $177,599 1960 35% 1964 $121,922 1949 & 1965 1955 38% 1963 $158,580 1952 33% 1957 $107,515 1960 35% 1964 $121,922
LOYOLA FUND $2.6 million $2.6 million LOYOLA FUND
FAMILY GIVING 33% 1957 $107,515 campaign FAMILY FY 48% GIVING campaign 55% F2017Y 2016 FY 48% GIVING FY FAMILY 55% 2016 2017 PERCENTcampaign PARTICIPATION BY CLASS
1952 & 1965
48%
$2.6 million
FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES GIVING FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD PARTICIPATION OF TRUSTEES GIVING * PARTICIPATION FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD
55%
CLASS OF 2017 43% CLASS OF 62% PERCENT PARTICIPATION BY2021 CLASS FY FY 2016 47% 2017 CLASS OF 2018 CLASS OF 2022 73% CLASS OF 2017 43% CLASS OF 2021 62% CLASS OF 2019 55% CLASS OF 67% PERCENT PARTICIPATION BY2023 CLASS CLASS OF 2018 47% CLASS OF 2022 73% CLASS OF 2020 54% CLASS OF 2017 43% CLASS OF 2021 2019 55% 2023 62% 67% CLASS OF 2020 2018 54% 47% CLASS OF 2022 73% CLASS OF 2019 55% CLASS OF 2023 67% View the digital report and complete Donor Roll online CLASS OF 2020 54%
OF TRUSTEES GIVING * PARTICIPATION
* denotes record setting figures for 2016-2017 giving
*
* denotes record setting figures for 2016-2017 giving * denotes record setting figures for 2016-2017 giving at
loyolablakefield.org/presidentsreport View the digital report and complete Donor Roll online at loyolablakefield.org/presidentsreport
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CAMPUS NEWS
Summer 2017
Contents
THE RICCI EXPERIENCE
Campus News 4 Alumni Events
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An Ignatian Pilgrimage 8 Donor Spotlight: JP and Evelyn Bolduc 10 The Ricci Experience
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Summer Service Trips
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Five Questions with Mark Finlan
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Class Notes
18
In Memoriam
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ourteen rising juniors, accompanied by history teacher Sam Manelski and Assistant Principal for Academics Brian Marana ‘00, took part in a cultural immersion trip to China during the last two weeks of June. In collaboration with The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, they visited key historical and religious sites in Beijing and Shanghai. Learn more about this experience and read a reflection from one of our students on p. 12.
Staff Editor Michael J. Nitti Marketing Coordinator Photography Michael J. Nitti Jerry Dzierwinski Donovan Eaton ’09 Contributors Ben Horgan Jake Sanft ’19 Design Inkwell Communications, LTD
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NEW BASEBALL PRACTICE FACILITY
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n September, we opened the Bolduc Family Training Facility, a $50,000 state-of-the-art baseball training space located in Knott Hall. The facility was gifted to Loyola by JP & Evelyn Bolduc, GP ‘19, ‘21, in name of Mr. Bolduc’s company, JPB Partners. Read more about this new facility on p. 10.
Visit loyolablakefield.org/campusnews to view media associated with each of these stories, and stay up to date on all current news at Loyola Blakefield.
STEVE MORRILL VISITS AUSTRALIA
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r. Steve Morrill, Director of Technology and Cyber Science at Loyola Blakefield, traveled to Australia during August, where he conducted professional learning workshops and presentations for educators and politicians on the development of Loyola’s cyber program. He was personally invited by program sponsors LifeJourney, the Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE), and Day of STEM. In addition to his presentations, several current and former Loyola students participated in portions of his workshops via video conferencing. Read more about Mr. Morrill’s travels via our website.
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL
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he Blakefield Players were invited back to the largest arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this summer. During the first two weeks of August, the group performed several shows of their spring play, War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, while also experiencing shows and performers from all over the world. Read more about their adventures in Edinburgh via The Blakefield Players section on our website.
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
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he Class of 2021 had an action-packed week during Freshman Orientation from Aug. 26–31. From bonding with their classmates on the ropes course at the Claggett Center in Adamstown, MD, to picking thousands of pounds of corn and potatoes at First Fruits Farms in Freeland, MD, which was delivered to food pantries and homeless shelters across Maryland, these Dons quickly learned what being men for others is all about.
MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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n September 13, the Loyola Blakefield community gathered inside Knott Hall on a rainy morning to celebrate the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit to bless the start of another school year and to honor Dan McNeal ’90, who died tragically in the World Trade Center Towers on the morning of September 11, 2001. Matt Jackson ‘90 gave our students, teachers, and everyone else present a deeper look inside just who Dan was as a person, friend, and man for others. At the end of the ceremony, Mark Sucoloski ’18 was named the recipient of the 16th Annual Daniel W. McNeal Scholarship Award. You can watch the entire Mass on our website.
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Alumni Events @ Blakefield CLASS OF 1965 70 BIRTHDAY PARTY
ALUMNI SUMMER SERVICE PROJECT
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ver the summer, the LBAA hosted a day of service at fellow Jesuit high school, Cristo Rey, for all Loyola alumni and their families. The morning entailed cleaning classrooms, landscaping the gardens, and even painting a classroom! Despite the heat and humidity, our Dons showed what it truly means to be men for others. Thank you to everyone who participated, and be on the lookout for other alumni service opportunities throughout the school year.
DONS DOWN THE OCEAN
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n August 19, the Loyola Blakefield Alumni Office hosted its annual summer event, Dons Down the Ocean, at the Abbey Burger Bistro in Ocean City, MD. Guests enjoyed complimentary appetizers from Abbey Burger, as well as delicious signature burgers on the spacious outdoor deck. Prizes were won and plenty of stories were shared from the glory days at Loyola, with Mr. John Stewart even making a guest appearance! Special thanks to Russ Miller ’89 and wife Marigot for hosting, as well as everyone who came out and supported this annual Loyola tradition.
ALUMNI HAPPY HOUR WITH DIAMONDBACK BEER
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n September 12, we hosted a Happy Hour for all Dons at Diamondback Brewery in Locust Point. Diamondback cofounders Colin Marshall ‘09, Francis Smith ‘09, and Tom Foster ‘09 graciously opened their taproom to Dons only, while also giving tours of the brewery throughout the evening. Given the popularity of this event, be on the lookout for more happy hour networking nights in our home city of Baltimore.
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he Dons of ‘65 organized a class 70 th birthday party on September 15, in the Alumni Lounge of Knott Hall. About 65 alumni gathered and enjoyed a wonderful seafood and beef buffet catered by Bill’s Seafood, with plenty of liquid libations. It was a beautiful fall evening and many of the guests enjoyed the outdoor patio overlooking Hargaden Field. Exaggerated stories of exploits in the 1960s abounded, and the Class of 1965 biggest debate of the night was determining the youngest member of the class. A prayer was said for the deceased members of the class, and the group even sang “Happy Birthday” to themselves. Plans are already underway for the next gathering.
DC ALUMNI RECEPTION
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n September 7, the Loyola Alumni Office, along with President Anthony Day, hosted a reception for all DC-area Dons at the prestigious Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square. Upon arrival, our group was given a tour of the historic club before settling in the John Paul Jones Room for the evening. Dons from all years were in attendance to socialize with their fellow alumni and hear important updates on life at Blakefield. President Day, Patrick Muth, and Mark Finlan provided brief updates on the school’s financial health, as well as introduced the Washington, DC, Regional Alumni Chapter. Thank you to those who attended, and be on the lookout for when Loyola will be in your city next.
PRESEASON FOOTBALL KICKOFF SOCIAL A massive group of alumni, parents, and friends braved a rogue thunderstorm and torrential rain to support Loyola’s football program and new head coach Anthony Zehyoue at our preseason kickoff event on August 18. Coach Zehyoue addressed the crowd, describing his plans to implement a new culture and process for the football program. Coach also fielded a variety of thoughtful questions from those in attendance. It was a tremendous start to a new era of Loyola football. Come support our Dons this season.
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Alumni Summer Service Project
DC Alumni Reception
Alumni Happy Hour
Class of ’79 Gathering
Dons Down the Ocean
Upcoming Events Boston Alumni Reception
October 19, 2017
Loyola Legal Networking Night
November 1, 2017
LBAA Board Meeting
November 8, 2017
Homecoming Bull & Oyster Roast
November 22, 2017
Alumni Night of Reflection
December TBA
Alumni Blood Drive
December 16, 2017
Basketball Alumni Social
December 22, 2017
Taste of Blakefield
February 3, 2018
Visit www.loyolablakefield.org/events to stay up-to-date on all Alumni Events. 7
A n
I g n a t i a n
Pilgrimage
By Ben Horgan, Director of Ignatian Mission & Identity at Loyola Blakefield
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his past summer, I received a Certificate in Jesuit Studies from Boston College. This program, aimed at forming laymen and laywomen working in Jesuit institutions, began with a two-week pilgrimage to the important sites of the life of St. Ignatius in Spain and Italy. Following the pilgrimage, I spent three weeks in classes at Boston College studying Jesuit history, Ignatian leadership, and Ignatian spirituality. A colleague from McQuaid in Rochester, New York, and I were selected by a benefactor of Boston College to pilot this program and build collaboration among Jesuit schools in the Northeast and Maryland Provinces of the Society of Jesus. With the full support of Loyola Blakefield and my family, I spent five weeks this summer as a spiritual pilgrim, following the legacy of St. Ignatius and his search to be in relationship with God. One of the greatest gifts of the Society of Jesus is their ability to build community, bringing great people together. In late June, I met eighteen of my fellow pilgrims in Boston as we departed for Madrid, Spain. My future travel companions and
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classmates included faculty and staff from Jesuit higher education, secondary education, Jesuits scholastics, and lay people unaffiliated with a Jesuit work that have been deeply moved by Ignatian spirituality. While our backgrounds and affiliation with the Society of Jesus were diverse, we had each been transformed by Ignatian spirituality and sought to grow deeper in our understanding through this experience. Our pilgrimage followed the footsteps of St. Ignatius’s journey to experience first-hand his growing relationship with Christ as a layman and his personal transformation from a vain knight to a humble pilgrim. Within the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius uses the “composition of place” to invite practitioners of Ignatian spirituality to use their senses and prayerfully imagine themselves as active participants in the Gospel stories. Location and geography played an important role in Ignatius’s own transformation. The countryside of northern Spain transforms gradually from the lush mountainous Basque region, to the arid plains of Catalonia, to the scenic coast of Barcelona.
Vatican City
Manresa, Spain
These geographic changes mimic the personal transformation of St. Ignatius as he voluntarily abandoned his noble pedigree to become a humble pilgrim.
Montserrat, Spain
Much like Ignatius, the cave Ignatius occupied as a pilgrim has been dramatically transformed. The right wall of the cave reflects the original stone with its two hand-carved crosses still present. This stone wall shows the simple humility Ignatius was seeking in his relationship with God. The opposite wall of the cave, adorned with ornate marble, stands in stark contrast to his desired simplicity. As I prayed in this space, I could not help but feel the palpable disruption of Ignatius’s life of pride and riches and his invitation to accept a simple piety. God, in his mercy, invites Ignatius into a transformation of body, mind, and spirit.
Much like Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, I had thought that Ignatius’s conversion from knight to pilgrim was sudden and definitive. Only in visiting the landscape and walking in Ignatius’s footsteps did I realize the slow and gradual conversion he underwent from leaving the safety of his home in Azpetia, Spain, to his arrival in Rome to found the Society of Jesus. Of all the places I had the privilege of visiting this “My experiences summer, my time in the city this summer of Manresa had the greatest impact on my spiritual allowed me to journey and personal spiritual see that that the conversion.
I cannot help but connect my experience on pilgrimage in Manresa with the formation of our Dons at Loyola. Each day, one thousand boys come road to becoming to campus to be stirred from their place of comfort and are After surrendering his sword a saint is messy challenged to use their skills to Our Lady of Montserrat, and talents in the service Ignatius voluntarily invites and imperfect.” of others. My experiences the death of his privileged this summer allowed me life. As Ignatius descends – Ben Horgan to see that that the road to toward the settlement of becoming a saint is messy Manresa, he adorns himself and imperfect. In times of darkness and in light, with a new armor of humility as a pilgrim. While Ignatius was transformed and sustained through Ignatius freely accepts this transition from knight his trust in God. As Loyola challenges our students to pilgrim, it is not without conflict. Manresa is a to embrace humility and become advocates for place of extremes. The transition from winter to those most in need, they are invited into greater summer is dramatic in this region, and the contrast wholeness with God. The imperfect life of Ignatius between the Cardoner River and surrounding cliffs invites us all to see that God’s interruptions to our of Montserrat is striking. The tensions between perfect plans serve as invitations to greater love old and new, local and foreign, and sacred and and personal growth. This is the grace I received profane in Manresa help us to better understand from my pilgrimage. I look forward to integrating the physical and spiritual interruptions that stirred my experiences from this journey into the mission Ignatius in this sacred landscape. Living in a cave formation programs that Loyola Blakefield offers in Manresa, Ignatius began experimenting with his its community. prayer practices and crafting the Spiritual Exercises. 9
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
JP & EVELYN BOLDUC Bolduc Family Provides Support to Create State-of-the-Art Baseball Training Facility
JP
and Evelyn Bolduc, GP ‘19, ‘22, have seen more than their fair share of little league and interscholastic baseball games. In addition to witnessing their two sons play, they have been ardent supporters of youth baseball programs in Howard County. Therefore, it is no surprise that they have had a front-row seat in seeing their grandchildren grow in the game as well.
Their roots with America’s favorite pastime go back even further, though. JP attended high school in Maine and was offered a baseball scholarship to St. Cloud University (Minnesota). Having played since the age of six, baseball had always been a major passion for him, even playing recreational baseball and softball for several years after college. When the Bolducs learned of the opportunity to enhance the training facilities for Loyola’s baseball program, they were delighted to provide the generous support necessary to underwrite the installation of HitTrax, a baseball hitting simulator that uses the latest technology to help hitters understand what actually happens before, during and after their swing. Loyola is one of only ten high schools in the country with this technology. “The players are excited to start using it to get better at the hardest
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thing to do in sports, hitting a baseball,” said Mike Kelly, Varsity Head Coach. Members of the team are eager to put the facility to use. “Having this really puts us at a significant advantage over our competition,” said Carson Barnes ’18. “Being able to analyze the way we move and use advanced statistics will help us as we chase another championship title. I can’t wait to use the facility and see the effects firsthand. As a member of the team, I am grateful that we had such generous individuals to provide something like this for us.” The state-of-the-art baseball training space located on the second floor of the Four-Court Gymnasium in Knott Hall, was dedicated as the Bolduc Family Training Facility thanks to a $50,000 gift from their family company, JPB Partners. In early September, the Bolducs toured the completed facility after a special blessing offered by Fr. Bruce Steggert, S.J. “Loyola offers such an amazing experience to our grandsons and we are fortunate to have the interest and ability to support something that will help enhance the baseball program,” said Evelyn. “We have supported youth baseball over the years as a result of our sons being active participants. This contribution is just another way for us to continue to be involved in the game. We hope it adds to the already positive experience for the young men here at Loyola.”
More About HitTrax
HitTrax measures:
• Velocity of the ball off the bat • Launch angle of the ball at contact • Distance of the hit These metrics are the newest ways that college and professional hitters and coaches analyze their swings. The system can simulate a player’s swing and then place their hit in their MLB stadium of choice. Players can challenge other players on their own team or others around the country that utilize the HitTrax system. The platform can also video the swing and instruction can be done in slow motion and sent to the player via email. Each player in the program will have their own account, which will archive swings that will show the differences from when they started using the system.
“We have supported youth baseball over the years as a result of our sons being active participants. This contribution is just another way for us to continue to be involved in the game. We hope it adds to the already positive experience for the young men here at Loyola.” — Evelyn Bolduc
“Having this really puts us at a significant advantage over our competition...I can’t wait to use the facility and see the effects firsthand.” — Carson Barnes ’18 11
THE RICCI EXPERIENCE By Jake Sanft ’19 “I learned that every country has its own views on history, and we can only understand history by what we see and by learning from both sides.”
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rom June 13–28, I traveled to China with fourteen of my classmates as we took part in the final phase of Loyola Blakefield’s Ricci Experience, and it was arguably the two most important weeks of my life. When I signed up to apply for the course, I thought it would be fun. My freshman religion teacher, Mr. Marana, was running it with my AP U.S. History teacher, Mr. Manelski. I went to the introductory meeting and was blown away by all the stuff we would get to do and the fact that we would get credit for the experience as well. After that, I thought I just had to go, because it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of my main goals when I left for the trip this summer was to gain a greater cultural awareness of China and other countries outside of the U.S. When we arrived, we were greeted by Arthur, our personal tour guide from The Beijing Center. He was one of the most personable guys I have ever met. I had the chance to talk with him about what it’s like living in China, as well as his perspective on American sports and people. One of the best experiences of the trip was going to Shanghai and seeing the Imperial Palace. It was repeatedly burned down, but emperors would rebuild all the different types of buildings and have
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the designs hand painted over and over again. Shanghai was awesome because we traveled up one of the tallest buildings in the city and stood on a glass floor. Possibly more fun, however, was our river tour of the Bund. We got to see all the lights in Shanghai’s business district, and people would repeatedly approach to take pictures with us. Another highlight was staying at a local village bed and breakfast called The Little Yard, located about an hour and a half outside of Beijing. We stayed there overnight before seeing the Great Wall the next day. The Little Yard presented us with many different opportunities to experience Chinese culture, including dumpling making. That was awesome because we learned how to make one of the staples of our meals while we were over there. When I returned, my uncle already had a dumplingmaking handbook ready for me. After we made dumplings, we explored the village and learned about the sense of community that is shared in China, at least where we were. Everyone was nice and those who spoke English came up to us and had conversations with us. Lastly, six of us (Andrew Melvin, Matt Tan, Ty Schumacher, Michael Vaughn, Tiernan Brunner, and I) taught three local kids some English, which was so much fun.
Shanghai
Beijing
We divided into pairs of two. Tiernan and I worked with a young boy named Harry, and we taught him the alphabet and the pronunciations of some of the letters. Now whenever he wants to say “J,” he actually says “Jake.” That will have to be ironed out at some point. The next day, we explored the Great Wall. The section that we visited prohibits access at the twentieth tower, but you can go past it without anyone stopping you. Eight of us moved on and made it all the way up to tower twenty-two. It was an exhilarating ascent and definitely worth the struggle once we got up there because the view was breathtaking. One of the most important things I came to realize over the course of the trip was that I couldn’t really tell that China is a communist country. The best way I can describe the feeling I got while in China is as follows: Since we had school still, it was hard to perceive that we were on the opposite side of the globe. It just felt like a very large, much better version of Chinatown. The people there are all really nice, and besides military presence at some historical sights and at Tiananmen Square, one can’t really tell that China is communist. The people there do not act like they are being oppressed at all, and they live in a manner pretty similar to the way we do. I also learned that the world is a lot different than what we are taught in schools here in the United States. I learned that every country has its own views on history, and we can only understand history by what we see and by learning from both sides. For example, the National Museum
in Beijing never mentions the U.S. dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. They act as if Mao Zedong defeated the Japanese and then came back a hero and god to China. Lastly, I learned that I am a good leader. When we were there, I would be taken to places around campus where we were staying, and we could go back to those places during free time. I would then take people where they wanted to go off campus. They mocked my sense of direction, but they still followed me because they didn’t know where to go and just didn’t want to admit it. Overall, I cannot stress how much fun and what a life-changing experience the Ricci Experience was, and I would do it again a thousand times over. The Ricci Experience, named after the Italian Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci, S.J., who founded the Jesuit China mission in the late 1500s, is an interdisciplinary academic program designed to expose our students to Chinese culture. The experience was created by history teacher Sam Manelski and Assistant Principal for Academics Brian Marana ‘00 during the summer of 2016 and first implemented for students during the 2016-17 school year. At the heart of the program is a two-week summer excursion to China in collaboration with The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, the only Jesuit-run study-abroad institution in China. While abroad during the last two weeks of June, students visited key historical and religious sites in Beijing and Shanghai. In conjunction with the trip, students are required to complete related coursework for which they will receive academic credit in both history and theology.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP AT LOYOLABLAKEFIELD.ORG/RICCIEXPERIENCE 13
2017
SUMMER SERVICE TRIPS
TALENT TOUR June 11–16
A group of students worked with Loyola Blakefield Theatre Director Chris Garretson to create a traveling variety show and perform at different agencies throughout Philadelphia and Baltimore. The variety show included dramatic performances, musical numbers, comedy acts, dancing, juggling, joke telling, and more. The group traveled to Philadelphia for two days of performances and ended their service experience in Baltimore where they performed for three days. In all, the group put on about 14 shows in five days, entertaining the young, elderly, those with disabilities, and those experiencing poverty, addiction, or homelessness. “It was almost a culture shock for me, but not really. Every single person I met, regardless of their situation, was just like me. They loved the same songs, laughed at the same jokes, and grimaced at the bad ones, too. So rather than treat them differently, I treated them just like me, and soon, I forgot I was a service trip.” – Chid Nnake ‘18
JAMAICA
June 11–18
Dons who attended the Jamaica service trip spent the entire week working with various non-profit groups in and around Kingston in partnership with the Jamaica Volunteer Foundation. Students visited the poor and homeless populations, at-risk children, the sick, and the elderly. The focus of the trip was about the ministry of presence, or just being there for another human in their time of need. “The Jamaica service trip was a really humbling experience that offered opportunities to serve those in Kingston less fortunate than us. Many of us took for granted the things we are given from our school and families, but after a trip like this we grew mentally and closer together as friends.” – Christopher Derzak ‘18
PHILADELPHIA
June 19–23 & June 26–30 During the two service trips to Philadelphia this summer, our students stayed and worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Youth Retreat Center in Germantown. Dons worked in various ministries of the parish, rotating between several worksites throughout the week. These worksites included home rehabilitation, schools and summer camps, thrift stores, community gardens, retirement communities, and adult day centers. “The Philly service trip helped me to realize that even though the people we met might have a lot less than us, at the end of the day they are just like us with the same hobbies, ambitions, and fears.” – Jack McCaul ‘18
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One of the most inspiring and life-changing events our Dons experience during their educational and spiritual journey at Loyola Blakefield is the service trip they attend during the summer before their senior year. On these trips, they are whisked away from their comfortable surroundings to experience poverty, homelessness, and addiction up close and personal—most for the very first time. It is in these foreign and humbling experiences where they grow together as brothers and come to learn what being men for others is all about.
BALTIMORE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
June 25–30
During the final week of June, our Dons partnered with students from Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia to complete a Habitat for Humanity project by restoring several inner-city houses. In addition to the Habitat work, during the afternoons and evenings the group served at other local agencies in Baltimore City including soup kitchens and local shelters. During the week, they lodged at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in North Baltimore and even brought their own food to prepare. “The Baltimore Habitat trip was a great bonding experience for the seven Dons that were on the trip, and it was great getting to know some of our brothers from St. Joe’s in Philly. It was very eye-opening to walk through the streets of West Baltimore and see the poverty that is only a few miles away from where we live. Also, it was rewarding to see the progress that we made on the houses for people who really need them.” – Andrew Bruns ‘18
WEST VIRGINIA June 25–July 1
Also during the final week of June, a group of Dons traveled down to Bethlehem Farm in Summers County, WV. Bethlehem Farm is an intentional Catholic community that lives by four guiding principles—Prayer, Simplicity, Community, and Service. The group was immersed in this prayer-filled, communal agrarian life with other school groups from around the country. The farm also engages in community work, assisting poor and elderly neighbors with basic construction help such as roof and porch repairs. Students assisted in these activities, while also contributing to maintaining the community’s working farm. Students experienced life with no technology for a week, learning how to simplify their lives and become more prayer-oriented. “My experience at Bethlehem Farm made me realize how wasteful we are in modern life and opened my eyes to practices that help achieve sustainability within communities. They ran their lives off four cornerstones: prayer, community, simplicity, and service, which I have tried to integrate into my own life back home.” – Adam Musselman ‘18
BELIZE
June 27–July 11 The service-learning trip to Belize began with a week in San Pedro working with the Belize Tropical Research Education Center (TREC). Students learned about the unique biodiversity and complex ecosystem structure of the local coral reef as well as the challenges to maintaining healthy systems. During the second week, students traveled to Belize City to work with Hand in Hand Ministries to build a home for a local family. Finally, the group traveled to San Ignacio to explore the beauty of the rainforest and the local Mayan ruins. “Reflecting on this experience, I am amazed at the extent of gratitude that this family felt just by me taking a mere three days out of my summer to dedicate my time and efforts to build a very small house by American standards. When I look at my own life and see how much I have been given, it makes me think of all those who have provided for me and shaped me into the person I am today. It gives me an overwhelming sense of gratitude for those who have contributed in giving me such a great life.” – Nick Isola ‘18
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CAMDEN
July 9–15 & July 16–22
Two groups of students traveled to Camden, NJ, this summer, working with the Center for Environmental Transformation to complete projects in the community gardens, as well as outreach to local organizations that included serving meals to the homeless at New Visions Homeless Day Shelter and Cathedral Kitchen and assisting with summer camp programs for children of low income families at Sacred Heart School, the Neighborhood Center, and the Fellowship House of South Camden. “Spending a week in Camden opened my eyes to poverty—not just what poverty is, but the strength, courage, and resourcefulness of which the impoverished are capable. I was amazed how people with so little could give me so much.” – George Welsh ‘18
CURA URBI July 10–21
In response to the tragic events that happened and continue to happen in Baltimore City, Cura Urbi is a multi-school, cross-curricular, service-learning, summer immersion experience that strives to answer the question: How do we explain and care for Baltimore City? In its second year, this program engages students from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and Loyola Blakefield in a Catholic-infused, project-based educational program that prioritizes academic research, direct-service, advocacy work, and reflection as tools for discernment. Students spent their mornings at Loyola University Maryland engaging in learning, conversation, and research, and their afternoons at various service sites across Baltimore City. Towards the end of the experience, the group visited the Baltimore City Council and the Maryland State House to promote social justice issues and make suggestions to political leaders based on their research. “Young people, like myself, are desperate to make an impact in the world. To that end, most of us ‘think big’ about global issues, which also makes us feel small and maybe even powerless. Cura Urbi taught me that making a change doesn’t always have to be on the national stage. By spending two weeks learning about the problems facing Baltimore and Maryland at large, I learned that making a change was not far from my doorstep.” – Jon Pejo ‘18
BALTIMORE CITY July 24–28
In late July, a group of rising seniors set out on weeklong service experiences, catering to organizations in their own backyard. Each morning, students met at school for a quick prayer and reflection and then spent each day at a different organization throughout the Baltimore metro area. Students played games with inner-city children at the SHARPkids summer camp, spent time with adults with intellectual disabilities at the Gribbin Center, served breakfast and lunch to the homeless and less fortunate at My Sister’s Place, Our Daily Bread, and the Franciscan Center, and planned and prepared dinner for the men in recovery at Baltimore Station.
“By interacting with those in need throughout Baltimore, we were able to experience life as others live it. We don’t need to travel to a third-world country to see poverty and homelessness, it is right here in our backyard. Experiencing this makes me want to become more involved in bringing about positive change to this city that I call home.” – Michael Wicklein ’18
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FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MARK FINLAN
1 2 3
We caught up with Mark Finlan, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, about his time at Loyola so far. He has played an integral role in helping expand the reach of the Loyola Blakefield Alumni Association, connecting Dons across the country and around the world.
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1. What brought you to the Baltimore area, and what attracted you to working at Loyola Blakefield?
4. What should alumni and other members of the community be excited about this year?
After graduating from Xavier University (Cincinnati) in 2015, my first full-time position was at Under Armour in their E-Commerce Division. After spending 18 months there, I felt a change was needed and I began a light search for new opportunities. I had heard really great things about Loyola. After passing the school for the first time on Charles Street, I was sold. So, you could say it was my Jesuit background, Loyola’s stunning campus, and its extraordinary reputation that attracted me to applying for a position here.
This year, we are embarking on a few new and exciting initiatives. We are in the early stages of creating regional Loyola Blakefield Alumni Association chapters in Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. By expanding our network beyond Baltimore, we are attempting to take on the university model for alumni engagement. We’re also taking a necessary step towards expanding the Loyola Blakefield presence in each of these cities. Another project we have been working on is the LBAA Networking Series. This year, we will be hosting five Networking Nights, with each being tailored to a different profession. Our goal is to have a more professional structure for these events, whether it be with a keynote speaker or a Q&A panel with high level executives. This would allow any prospective alumnus to hear first-hand about new industry trends, expand his professional networks, and hopefully get a foot in the door with a preferred company.
2. Tell us about your Catholic education and how it formed your career path and current passions? Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I attended two parochial schools (K–8) and then Lansdale Catholic High School. Upon graduating from Xavier, my Catholic education spanned a total of 17 years. Looking back, I know I would not be where I am today without my Catholic education. It has always led me to move in the right direction, from a career standpoint and from a personal standpoint. Having lived in multiple cities, it can be challenging getting in routines and learning the ways of new cultures. One constant is attending Mass. Practicing my faith is still a passion of mine today, and to be able to do that wherever you go only ignites your sense of purpose and allows you to get comfortable being uncomfortable. 3. What has been the most exciting part of your role at Loyola Blakefield thus far? The most exciting part has been the freedom. Because our alumni office is ever-evolving, we can always feel comfortable trying something new. Whether it be Taste of Blakefield or the Loyola Golf Open, there are so many opportunities to add new features to these Loyola events. Another exciting part is the chance to meet new people every day. Each alumnus has a unique story about their time at Loyola and I have the privilege of hearing these treasured stories daily.
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5. As a non-native Baltimorean, what parts of the area have you discovered and what are some of your hobbies/interests?
As a non-native Baltimorean, I really enjoy Baltimore County. There are so many nice parks, restaurants, and historical locations throughout the county that it’s impossible not to come across a new one on a given weekend. The NCR Trail especially comes to mind when thinking about my favorite spots to run or walk. Another interest of mine is playing golf whenever I can. Though fairly spread out, Baltimore has a good amount of golf courses to choose from. And then whenever I’m not golfing, I’m usually at Fox Hollow’s driving range. Lastly, I’ve finally gone crabbing and have successfully picked apart a crab. Mr. John Stewart ‘60 took me under his wing and taught me during a small alumni gathering where we crabbed, steamed, and ate them together. Just getting that under my belt made me feel a little more settled here in the region.
Interested in getting more involved in alumni events or hosting a regional gathering? Email Mark at mfinlan@loyolablakefield.org
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CLASS NOTES Matt Doud ’86
John C. Busse ‘89
Reggie Thornton ’91
Summer 2017 as an officially-named award.
1996
1986
Matt Doud ‘86, cofounder of Planit Ad Agency in Baltimore, was recently named one of The Daily Record’s Most Admired CEOs of 2017. Lawrence Jackson ‘86 recently published his new book, Chester B. Himes: A Biography, which was featured by The New York Times. Jackson is a professor of history and English at Johns Hopkins University. He is known for his extensive scholarship on African-American literature and culture, including a biography of Ralph Ellison and a narrative history of mid-century writers. After 14 years at Emory University, he returned to Baltimore as a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor.
1989
John C. Busse ‘89 was appointed Cristo Rey Jesuit’s new director of the Corporate Internship Program in August. In his new role at Cristo Rey Jesuit, Busse will manage all areas of the Corporate Internship
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Program, from engaging existing corporate internship partners to adding new corporate internship sites to overseeing student site placement, professional development and transportation.
1990
Joe Plecker ’90, a nationally-recognized golf instructor and PGA Professional, was recently named Loyola Blakefield’s new varsity
agency. He will be at the company’s New York headquarters.
1993
Aaron LaCrate ‘93 (formerly Aaron La Canfora) is being featured in an exhibit by the Creative Alliance in Baltimore regarding his influence on street art, fashion, and the Baltimore Club Music scene. The exhibition, “Just a Kid from Highlandtown,” will remain open through November 25.
1995
Joe Plecker ’90
golf coach. Most recently, he served as the Director of Golf Instruction at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore for the past three years. Brendan Moag ‘91 and Ben Shields ’09 will join him as assistant coaches.
1991
Reggie Thornton ’91 was recently hired as Director of Brand Licensing for LMCA, a global brand licensing
Thomas Maronick Jr ‘95 was recently named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for the second year in a row, a recognition befitting just a very small percentage of lawyers. Also, the Thomas J. Maronick Jr Forensics Scholarship has been established for several years at Loyola Blakefield as an annual award to the speech and debate team member who best defines the ideals of being a man for others. The 2017–18 school year is the first year the scholarship will be presented
Eric Kruszewski ‘96 has worked with various editorial outlets over the past few months including The Guardian to make portraits of and record an interview with Bernie Sanders, Vox Media to record a Cory Booker interview, and AARP to do environmental portraits of an avid cyclist. Between local assignments, Kruszewski leads a workshop in San Francisco and Yosemite National Park with National Geographic Student Expeditions, where he teaches high school students from around the world. In addition, he has taught photography aboard a small ship with Lindblad Expeditions in Scotland’s Caledonian Canal and Inner Hebrides. He currently resides in Washington, D.C. Benjamin Prosser ’01
PhD ‘01 recently received the Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, one of its scientific divisions. He is an assistant professor of Physiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
2003
Jesse Vann ‘03, who resides in St. John, has been coordinating
Jesse Vann ’03
relief efforts for the Virgin Islands from the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma. He and his organization, Virgin Islands Relief Fund, were featured by several media outlets, including The Baltimore Sun, regarding his efforts.
2004
2001
Benjamin L. Prosser,
Chris Blair ’04 has been named Outreach Officer for the Loyola Blakefield Alumni Association. In this position, he will serve as the liaison between the new satellite chapters of the LBAA and the LBAA Board of Governors. He
Share your news with fellow Dons! loyolablakefield.org/classnotes Andy Oles ’07
at the top-rated Mu Ramen in New York. Kyle Stupi ’08 recently graduated from New York Medical College with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
2010
Matt Hnatiuk ‘10 was featured in Towson Lifestyle Magazine this summer as one of Towwill also communicate with more than 50 Jesuit high school alumni associations across the country to share best practices.
olina, recently moved back home to Maryland to help take care of his mother, and in the last few months he received his Maryland Real Estate License. He is now licensed in two states at the age of 23.
2013
Andrew Haley ’13 was hired as a marketing strategist for PI Inter-
Matt Hnatiuk ’10
2016
Sean Clarke ’16 was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie Player of the Week in September as a member of the University of Cincinnati Men’s Soccer Team.
2007
Andy Oles ’07 married his wife, Amanda Ward (IND ‘07), on August 12 at Loyola Blakefield in front of 200 of their closest family and friends. During their honeymoon in Rome, they were invited to receive a special blessing (Sposi Novelli) from Pope Francis at the Vatican, where among a crowd of thousands, Pope Francis placed his hands in theirs and prayed with them.
active Solutions this summer, a marketing company with a focus on direct mail. Now, he has decided to volunteer a year of his life with a program called City Year, a non-profit organization that mentors students in underserved schools across 28 locations in the United States. He is stationed in Boston. You can follow him in his journey at AndrewRHaley.com/blog.
Conrad Nieberding ’08
2008
Conrad Nieberding ‘08, chef de cuisine at Salt in Baltimore, was recently featured by The Baltimore Sun as an up-andcoming chef to watch. Before returning to Baltimore, he received a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked
son’s most influential teachers. He teaches engineering at Loyola Blakefield and serves as an assistant coach for the varsity football team.
2012
Adam Troska ’12, who has his Real Estate License in South Car-
I N M EM O R I A M ALUMNI
PAST PARENTS
Philip W. Kyne ‘48 David G. Greenwood ‘53 John C. Ryan ‘57 Stephen B. Dunbar ‘76 Michael J. Gilmore ‘76
James F. Cooke Pearl L. Engle Peter J. Del Bene Robert W. Smith William B. Kelley
GRANDPARENTS
FRIENDS J. Albert Chatard Jr. William H. Engel III John F. Feezer Jr. W. Lee Thomas
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