Panther Tracks Spring 2019

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2019 College and University Acceptances Washington State Public Universities

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR IS JANUARY 8, 2020.

Central Washington University Eastern Washington University University of Washington** University of Washington, Bothell* University of Washington, Tacoma* Washington State University** Western Washington University**

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Jesuit Colleges and Universities

Come and Be Part of the Magis!

Boston College** College of the Holy Cross Creighton University** Fairfield University Fordham University** Georgetown University** Gonzaga University** Loyola Marymount University** Loyola University Chicago** Marquette University** Regis University Saint Joseph’s University* Saint Louis University Santa Clara University** Seattle University** University of San Francisco** University of Scranton Xavier University Catholic Colleges and Universities Carroll College DePaul University Marymount University Saint Martin’s University Saint Mary’s College of California Seton Hall University St. John’s University University of Dayton University of Notre Dame** University of Portland** University of San Diego

Private Colleges and Universities Agnes Scott College American University Babson College Baylor University Belmont University Bennington College Berry College Boston University* Bowdoin College* Butler University California Lutheran University Carleton College** Carnegie Mellon University* Chapman University** Colby College Colgate University

Colorado College Concordia University Portland Connecticut College Cornell University* Cornish College of the Arts Fashion Institute of Technology Howard University* Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Linfield College Marist College Marymount Manhattan College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University* Occidental College Otis College of Art and Design* Pacific Lutheran University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Pratt Institute Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Sarah Lawrence College Scripps College Seattle Pacific University Southern Methodist University Syracuse University Texas Christian University** The College of Wooster The George Washington University The New School Trinity University* Tufts University* Tulane University University of Denver University of Miami University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Rochester* University of Southern California** University of the Pacific Vanderbilt University** Vassar College Wake Forest University Wesleyan University Whitman College** Whitworth University* Willamette University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Out of State Public Universities Arizona State University Boise State University* California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo** California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

*Indicates schools where a student from the Class of 2019 attends. **Indicates schools where more than one member of the Class of 2019 attends.

California State University, Long Beach College of William & Mary De Anza College* Georgia Institute of Technology Kennesaw State University* Louisiana State University Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Montana State University** Oregon State University Pennsylvania State University Purdue University* San Diego State University* Temple University University of Arizona University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles** University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara* University of Cincinnati* University of Colorado** University of Delaware University of Hawaii University of Idaho University of Illinois University of Maryland University of Michigan* University of Minnesota University of Montana University of Nebraska University of New Hampshire University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of Oregon* University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin* University of Wyoming

International Universities Durham University, England Lancaster University, England* Simon Fraser University, Canada* Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands* University College Dublin, Ireland* University of British Columbia, Canada** University of Sheffield, England University of Victoria, Canada University of York, England

United States Military Academies United States Naval Academy

LET T E R FRO M P R E S ID E NT K E NT H IC K E Y

The Perfect Illusion Something I’ve never seen in a college admissions brochure: “We’re better than some, not as good as most.”

Colleges – especially the “elite” ones – instead hawk perfection. All students live perfectly balanced lives; every course life-changing, every experience exhilarating.

There’s the student pictured while laboring in a lab, on the cusp of a cure for cancer. Another is shown scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef. Finally, a student curing cancer while scuba diving.

College advertisements mirror our society. I’m reminded of a lyric from “You’re So Vain,” a Carly Simon song: “You’re where you should be all the time.” Look at social media. There’s a lot of pressure to constantly post only beautiful faces in the most happening places. Even the Grand Canyon isn’t picture-worthy enough. It’s got to be the selfie at the edge of the Grand Canyon – which is why people are falling to their deaths in record numbers there.

Living the perfection illusion is hamster-wheel living.

It leads nowhere. And it’s also a missed opportunity.

Because what is best in life is often found in pedestrian places, unscripted moments, and with the not-sobeautiful, even scarred, people who are never pictured in marketing materials.

When I was in law school at Marquette most of my friends clerked at prestigious downtown firms. I didn’t. I ended up where no one wanted to go – an obscure, bluecollar firm in a rough part of Milwaukee. I was lucky to land there. I learned about the practice of law by actually practicing law; real people, real problems.

A lot of my work was in probate and bankruptcy. Death and debt. Widows and those who’d lost life savings due to medical expenses taught me how to be a more human lawyer. I also learned to admire small business owners, the effort and sacrifice required to keep afloat. Ever wonder who incorporated Bunk Bed City and Mattress World in South Milwaukee?

The firm even had me serve legal papers on people we were suing, including a local candy shop owner. How hard can it be, I thought, to serve process on the candyman, the guy who “…takes a sunrise, sprinkles it with dew, covers it with chocolate and a miracle or two?” That’s when I learned that the candyman keeps a baseball bat behind the counter and, even at 300 pounds, can jump over said counter with said baseball bat and chase me down the street. That experience taught me to question assumptions, and to get in better shape.

The firm was headed up by the not-so-beautiful, cigar chain-smoking, often belligerent Steve Enich, a former NFL player for the Chicago Cardinals who was rumored to be a gun smuggler for Serbian rebels. When you gave Mr. Enich an answer he didn’t like, he’d just punch you on the shoulder. Really hard.

One day Mr. Enich called me into his office. He showed me two circles he’d drawn: “These are two stadiums.

The Packers are playing in one, and Jesus is in the other.

Which one are you going to?” Not really thinking, I asked, “Who are the Packers playing?” This earned me a punch on the shoulder. “You don’t know where to stand, Hickey, because you have no idea what you stand for.” I needed to hear those words; I just never expected that Steve Enich would be the one to speak them.

We are sending forth the Class of 2019 – really “It turns out that life is more talented, creative, funny, improvisation than script. That’s bright, and genuine young people. We tell them they what makes it so wonderful.” should “Seek the Magis” – be more so that you can do more – because we really believe that they can. But they must be mindful, lest they get ensnared by what the world means by more: filling up lives with only the stuff used to fill in applications.

Sometimes the best place is the one we land in accidentally, and the most valuable people in our lives are initially ones most don’t value much at all. It turns out that life is more improvisation than script. That’s what makes it so wonderful.

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PantherTracks MAGAZINE

FEATU RES

4 What’s In a Name?

Considering the Jesuit Brand

10 Congrats to the Class of 2019 12 2019 Distinguished Alum

Kirby Winfield ’92

13 My Choice

Five Grads Reflect on Their College Choices

16 It All Began With a “Yes”

LRC – An Intersection of Service and Mission

18 SPREE News 19 Hamilton Redefined

11 Spring 2019 Volume 28, Number 1 Panther Tracks is published by: Seattle Preparatory School Kent Hickey, President 2400 11th Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102 206-577-2141

www.seaprep.org

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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING: Lisa Fernandez lfernandez@seaprep.org DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS: Kathy Krueger kkrueger@seaprep.org DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT: Liz Brennan lbrennan@seaprep.org

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DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Stephanie Benjamin sbenjamin@seaprep.org Becky Burns bburns@seaprep.org Alice Evans aevans@seaprep.org Katrina Freeburg kfreeburg@seaprep.org Shannon Hendricks shendricks@seaprep.org

Q & A with Actor Marc delaCruz ’97

PHOTO CREDITS: 2018-2019 Yearbook Staff, Michael Danielson, Lia Chang, Lisa Fernandez, Mark delaCruz, Wesley Chism, Rich Marinelli, Crew Community, US Rowing and Alumni

DESIGNER: Mathes Design PRINTER: DCGOne

If you would like to send a letter to the editor, update your information, or contribute a written piece for consideration to Panther Tracks, please send the information to the address listed, or e-mail alum@seaprep.org.

Seattle Prep is an inclusive community, and as such, publishes letters to the editor and class notes as submitted by our alumni and friends. These submissions do not necessarily represent the values or beliefs of Seattle Preparatory School.

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23 Au Revoir, Madame Davis

French Teacher Judy Davis Retires

24 Dr. Huntley Beyer Retires 26 A Friendship of Firsts

Alex Tuminello ’19 and Andreana Margaritis ’19

28 From Eggs to Empires

John Finn ’75 Publishes Fracturing the Founding

36 Life Lessons

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The Power of a Jesuit Education

I N E V E RY I S S U E

1 Letter from the President 30 Class Notes 34 Alumni Calendar 35 In Memoriam

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

EVERYTHING.

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BY L I S A F E R N A N D E Z

Twinings Tea. Established in 1706, this British mainstay is the oldest operating brand in the world. It coexists alongside modern-day big brands such as Coca-Cola, Disney, Amazon, Toyota, Facebook, Starbucks, Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

These brand giants have one thing in common – proven differentiation. From the onset they are led by visionaries who expertly craft a unique product that meets their customer’s needs. Big brands are relentless evangelists who are passionate about their story, compelling about their solutions.

But do you think of education as a brand? It is. Many of us choose to invest considerable time and a sizable amount of our income in education. Inevitably we profit from it – emotionally, professionally, spiritually, socially, financially, and intellectually. What more important brand is there?

In the world of educational brands, the Jesuits are king. Since their inception in 1540, the Jesuits continue to provide relevant, quality, life-changing education that is unrivaled in reputation. There is proof in the extensive network which thrives in 570 educational institutions in the United States alone, and 66 countries globally.

Brands are about values. And the Jesuits walk their talk. They go to the core, asking for a commitment of both the heart and mind.

Jesuit education is an expression of a theology that prioritizes a relationship with God, which in turn informs how we are asked to serve others in the world. The terms magis and cura personalis are the foundation of our schools. They are the elevator pitch of the Jesuit brand. Three simple words. One worthy challenge.

This year Seattle Prep celebrates 100 years on our current Adelphia campus. In their own words, read why our faculty are advocates for Jesuit education.

Twinings Tea step aside.

Cool Mentors

BY A N DY M C C A RT H Y

Andy earned a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley and practiced law in San Francisco and Seattle before changing careers. As a “convert” to teaching, he came to Prep in 1995. Andy has taught both English and History in Prep’s Collegio program and heads the mock trial program.

When I was a kid, my Aunt Kay, the Sacred Heart nun more formally known as “Sr. Catherine Baxter, R.S.C.J.,” used to tell me, “You’d make a good Jesuit.” I didn’t know what she meant, but it was the first time I’d heard the word. I became curious about who the Jesuits were. As I got older, I realized that the Jesuits were the cool priests – Daniel Berrigan protested the Vietnam War, Robert Drinan was a lawyer and Congressman, and Frederick Copleston

wrote the multivolume philosophy tomes that got me through a college class that would have completely eluded me otherwise.

To state the obvious, I never did become a Jesuit. But sometimes a morning prayer, a Lenten Examen, an alum’s comment during an in-service, or a bonehead move on my part will remind me to keep asking what it means to be teaching with and for the Jesuits.

Whenever those moments happen, they pull me back to one of the precepts of Jesuit education, the Grad at Grad.

The Grad at Grad motivates me, particularly when I feel myself losing sight of my goals. “Why am I doing this? What’s the point?” The cool priests have answers, as they have for hundreds of years. Every day I may have the opportunity to help a student develop one or more of the Grad at Grad characteristics. He or she may, just may, take on one or more of those

traits because of something I say or do. He or she may become a clearer writer or better reader (“Intellectually Competent”). Or a more compassionate friend and family member (“Loving”).

Or an agent for social change in a mock trial, or eventually in a real one (“Committed to Justice”). Or a more thoughtful person of faith (“Spiritually Alive”). As long as I remain “Open to Growth,” as long as I remind myself that I am part of long tradition that forms young people to become women and men for others, then I can often find those motivating moments that move students a step further on the path toward the Grad at Grad.

The activist, politically engaged, scholarly Jesuits of my youth, and my Aunt Kay, made me aware of the Jesuits when I was young. As an adult, I have been privileged to work alongside the cool priests. If Aunt Kay were here to see it, I think she would be pleased to know

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that although I didn’t join the order, I did do the next best thing – teach at a Jesuit school. And it’s the memory of these cool priests that inspires me to keep trying to be better – the embodiment of a true Grad at Grad.

A Poster Child for Jesuit Education

BY D R . M AT T B A R M O R E

understanding in the 16th-century world of Jesuit founder St. Ignatius. And this foundational belief is the underlying principle of all things Jesuit. At Prep, this means that we don’t just teach information and skills. Instead, we have an appreciation and awe for something as simple as an algebraic expression and we revel in the beauty of a musical score or poem. As a teacher, I don’t walk into class thinking about my belief that God exists in all things, but that belief informs how I teach and affects the enthusiasm I have for what I teach.

More importantly, my understanding that God exists in all things affects the appreciation I have for the students I encounter each day.

Contemplatives in Action Dr. Matt Barmore is Executive Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Center and member of the Prep English department.

Matt graduated from a Jesuit high school, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Jesuit universities, and has taught and served as an administrator at Jesuit high schools for the past 37 years. He is also a proud dad of two Jesuit graduates.

So where does my affection for and commitment to Jesuit education come from? Three key Jesuit phrases: God in All Things, Contemplatives in Action, and Cura Personalis. At first glance, these phrases might sound more fitting in a church or spirituality center, but they are actually the foundation of what makes Seattle Prep so special. They explain why we educate young people at Prep, what we educated them for, and how we care for them throughout the process.

God in All Things The notion that God exists in all things was a new and profound

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The Society of Jesus is not a monastic order; the Jesuits have always been out in the world. Prayer and reflection are essential, but a Jesuit education demands action, and it uses prayer as a tool to help us understand what we’re being called to do in the here-and-now. I tell parents that Jesuit education tries to do 3 things: 1) help students understand and appreciate the gifts they’ve been given, 2) develop those gifts to the fullest of their ability, and 3) begin to ask the question, “What am I being called to do with those gifts?” This third question is at the heart of Jesuit education.

That’s why we teach the way we do; that’s why synthesis and integration are so important in our curriculum. In Collegio, for example, we don’t teach history by focusing on events and dates, and we don’t teach English by focusing on literary genres or forms. Instead, we use historical events and literature to help students grapple with real world issues – social change, economic

disparity…. We help them develop problem-solving skills and challenge them to use those skills to help address problems we face today.

Cura Personalis Cura Personalis is a Latin term that means care and concern for the individual. The students that parents entrust us with are sacred. Our commitment to cura personalis aims to ensure that each student who comes to Prep knows that they are deeply cared for and supported.

Seattle has a number of good schools for families to choose from, to be sure.

But you would be hard-pressed to find a school that is as intentional as Prep is about why we try to form young people, how we try to form them, and the way we care for them when they become part of the Prep community.

Moving Closer to God

BY B E I B E R N A L

Bei Bernal was a licensed chemist in the paint industry before she was hired at Prep in her role as theology teacher, community minister and PULSE dance team coach.

She is mom to Juan ’16, Alicia ’17 and Juliana ’20.

When I was hired in 2006, I did not really know what Jesuit education meant. Initially, I was overwhelmed with the Jesuit lingo – AMDG, cura personalis, magis, and Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, just to name a few. These

terms and phrases were at first foreign, but now feel as familiar as my native language. But I have come to greatly appreciate all of these words that have become the basis for what I do inside and outside the classroom.

“Finding God in All Things” is a foundational phrase in Jesuit education.

In my theology classes and on retreats, students expect me to talk about God, but this phrase has challenged me to also find God in all my other student interactions. My colleagues have shown me how to respond to this challenge as I have observed them go above and beyond the call of duty. My opportunity to emulate them came when I offered to be the PULSE dance team coach in 2007. I strongly felt the Holy Spirit calling me to this role as I had become aware of students who had a passion for hip hop dancing. These were students who felt they didn’t fit the mold of an athlete or a cheerleader. They had a gift to offer, but needed an avenue in which to do it.

Let Me Think On It

BY D E I N O S C O T T ’ 74

they impact the energy and spirit of our school community at assemblies, and other events at which they dance. From a humble beginning of six students, the Prep dance team has now grown to more than thirty students. Their hard work has made their performances a crowd favorite from the McHugh Gymnasium to Seattle Center, and even to Disneyland!

Every year, Aara Meas – the PULSE head coach – and I give a speech to the team about how when we dance we get

“Dancers are the athletes of God.”

ALBERT EINSTEIN

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There is a line in the First Principle and Foundation of the Jesuits that states, “All the things in this world are gifts from God, presented to us so we can get to know God more easily and respond with love more readily.” Inspired by this, I knew I needed to help the students realize that first and foremost, the ability to dance is a gift from God. Not only is it meant to give them joy, but it is meant to bring joy to others. Student dancers practice their identity as a “Person for Others” when they give their all in a performance. It is wonderful to see how

to know God more easily. I explain that dancers are able to create something out of nothing. Dancers are able to share in God’s power as a creator – to bring into life that which is a thought or a feeling using the simple movement of their bodies. It is always my hope that not only do they grow in their talent, but they continue to grow in their relationship with God. Am I unique in this way as a coach or an educator at Prep? No, not at all. I believe that all my colleagues, as Jesuit educators, hope for the same thing.

Deino Scott ‘74 the is the moderator of Prep’s Black Student Union and has been teaching and coaching (football and track and field) at Seattle Prep for 19 years. He is beginning his third year as Prep’s Diversity Director.

I entered Seattle Prep on the advice of my elementary school principal. But it’s my mother who insisted I go. She was a career public school teacher, and she took education seriously. In 1970, when we moved from San Francisco to Redmond, Washington, Prep was a welcome refuge from the homogeneity of the suburbs. Prep was the twelfth school in my educational journey, and it quickly became home. Prep was one of the best decisions my parents ever made for me – a true gift.

At Prep, I found a way of teaching that implored the student (me) to harness the power of contemplation. Having spent my childhood in the South, with very southern grandparents, I was used to the phrase “Let me think on it.” So the idea resonated with me. I was taught how to think, and not what to think. And so this was one of the valuable takeaways from my years as a student.

The other was the value of relationships. This was something my mother also stressed as I became a teacher. I often think about my favorite teachers – Fr. Sullivan, Fr. Logan, and Mr. Brady Twohy – and how they genuinely seemed to care about me as a person. They always asked the right

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questions to bring me out of my shell, and they taught me to be myself.

I am committed to Jesuit education because I see how it allows me as a teacher to help students realize their potential. I once saw a cartoon where a teacher pulled back the top of a student’s head and then poured in what was supposed to be knowledge. I see the Jesuit model as one where a mind is opened so possibilities may enter. On a more humorous note, a Jesuit education is like a Jedi Academy, because students are taught to search their feelings and then search their hearts while at the same time learning life skills. I often liken my search for empathy and what is right to using the “force.”

Before coming back to teach at Seattle Prep, I spent my teaching years in public schools. I always felt that there was something missing. To quote President Kent Hickey, I would say it was “Jesuitica” – that is, everything and anything Jesuit. I am sold on it, and was ecstatic when my niece Dominique decided to attend Gonzaga University after attending public schools. Now she, too, is sold on it.

Years in the Making

BY D R . E R I N L U BY Dr. Erin Luby has an Ed.D from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education, an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.Ed. in secondary education from the University of Notre Dame. Her love

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for language has taken her to South America to teach in a Chilean high school.

In addition to her role as Seattle Prep Principal you can find her in the classroom teaching Spanish.

Growing up, I was not a complete stranger to Jesuit education. I recall stories from my dad, who fondly recounted his time at St. Louis University High School and St. Louis University, two Catholic, Jesuit schools integral to his early years. My grandfather was in an early graduating class at Loyola Academy, and my brother followed in our grandpa’s footsteps when he later attended Loyola. My dad still talks about the great education he received in Jesuit schools, the lifelong friendships he’s maintained since those formative years, and his staunch loyalty to his alma maters.

It wasn’t until I started working in Catholic, Jesuit schools that I began to fully comprehend the value of Jesuit education. Experiencing Jesuit education as a doctoral student at Loyola University Chicago deepened my appreciation.

Now I understand why my dad describes his time in Jesuit schools as “the best experience you can ever have.”

I’ve heard these words echoed repeatedly by countless graduates.

These echoes speak to the incredibly compelling mission of Jesuit schools, a God-centered mission that can be transformative.

As principal, I have the privilege of helping to ensure that our mission is fully integrated into the DNA of our students’ high school experience. This means that all of our efforts – including curricular, co-curricular, service, and retreat programs – are designed to form Men and Women for Others, leaders who will use their gifts in service of the world. Our “why” is abundantly clear: AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam), which translates to “for the Greater Glory of God.” Our faculty and staff wholly believe in this purpose; this authenticity helps us to operationalize Prep’s mission for our students. Constant attention to all five core values of the “Grad at Grad” (Committed to Justice, Intellectual Competence, Loving, Open to Growth, Spiritually Alive) fosters the holistic student growth essential to Prep’s mission. Faithful pursuit of the magis, or what is more or better for God, encourages a culture of innovation, reflection and action. These elements of our Jesuit charism are ingrained into our culture and are embraced by faculty, staff, and students alike.

I’ve seen Jesuit education transform countless lives, witnessed exceptional educators inspire students to be Men and Women for Others, and walked with students as they grow in the values of the “Grad at Grad.” I’ve lived it myself; I’ve been formed and transformed by it myself, and I’ve committed my career in education to it.

I did not know what I was walking into fifteen years ago when I started teaching and coaching in a Jesuit high school. But now I get it. It’s what my father knew all along. Jesuit education is life-changing. Every day I am part of this compelling and important work, and I get to witness what a fullyintegrated mission can do for students and the world. And that is something certainly worth working for.

was a quote from French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin S.J.: “I will make the whole earth my altar.” Every time I was in that chapel, I read that quote and was reminded of my great fortune: not only do I teach at a Jesuit school, but I teach at Seattle Prep.

Teilhard captures the idea that God can be found beyond church or in formal prayer. Rather, every part of our lives is an expression of our relationship with God. Recognizing this can sound like a daunting task, but I’ve realized that I simply have to look around to see that everything is already a prayer. I’m not always successful at seeing the world like this, but it’s a lens that has changed my life.

I could tell you that the reason I teach at a Jesuit school is about family history – my grandfather graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles in 1929.

I might have been influenced by my brother and three sisters, all of whom

trigonometric identity, and I can also see the divine in my students’ gritty determination to figure those proofs out.

If I’m honest, I’ve struggled to find God in lunch duty, but I have found God in the conversations I had with students as we waited for their turn to go through the lunch line—we’d chat about the previous night’s baseball game, or the choice between two colleges, or whether to choose the pasta bar or the lunch special. From the momentous to the mundane, I try hard to see God in the midst of it all.

The whole earth was my altar as I recently knelt on a hillside in Leschi Park and pulled out invasive plants with Prep sophomores. The whole earth has been my altar as I have cheered for so many different athletes, in gyms and on fields all over Washington. The whole earth has been my altar when I have sat with a student and rewritten a closing argument for mock trial for the 20th time. The whole earth has certainly been

What Altar Do You Pray At?

“I will make the whole earth my altar.”

BY J E N F R E E M A N

Jen has taught in the math and English departments at Seattle Prep since 1998.

She has coached mock trial for most of those years, and has moderated the school newspaper. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and previously taught in Bakersfield, California.

One of my favorite places on campus is our chapel – I love the light, the peace, the feeling of being up among the trees.

I have to admit, though, that there’s one thing I do miss from our old chapel on the fourth floor of Peyton. Painted around the edge of the chapel skylight

PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN, S.J.

attended Jesuit colleges. The real reason, though, is the Jesuit theology that has shown me the way that I want to live my life. That quote, from Teilhard’s “Mass of the World,” has helped me find my way in my life and in my teaching.

One of my altars is here, at Seattle Prep. It is here that I have found God in the everyday. I find God in grading a paper that shows real improvement, and I also try to find God in my students’ struggles with the correct use of semicolons. I can see God in the beauty of a well-constructed proof of a

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my altar as our students have celebrated mock trial state championships, but even more so when we haven’t won, and we have stood up and applauded the team that beat us, choosing to be gracious, despite the sting of losing.

I’ve learned to view the world this way from being here at Prep, from learning about and from Ignatian spirituality, especially from Teilhard. While that quote is no longer actually painted on a skylight, I continue to experience it every day in the Prep community, both inside and beyond the chapel.

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Congratulations, Class of 2019

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2019 Prep Graduates Moving Up and On Matthew Alexander Adam Dylon Poblete Alindogan Adam Alan Ambuske Ethan Douglas Anderson Gerald Thomas Anderson James Taylor Anderson Luke Gerard Anderson Alejandro Arce-Torres Abigail Lorraine Arthur Alexandria Jean Baker Emily O’Bryan Baldwin Jillian E. Bankaitis Alivia Justina Bautista Grace Violet Behrman Madeline Mueller Bender Lauren Marie Benjamin Colby Alexander Biesold Alexander Daniel Blattner Kayla Marie Bocek Daniel James Bowers Benjamin Trey Harlan Boyd Gray Katherine Brem Liam James Brennan Jack Albert Bronson Aedan Rollyn Brown Thomas Vidmar Buckner Henry Taylor Scribante Burton Lucas Ezequiel Cantrell Mia Lin Cerceo Margaux Frances Chhina

Caleb Michael Cochran Katarina Palma Conces Emma Katherine Connell Carolina De Biase Cooper Ithay N. Cortes-Quiroz Aaron Donovan Cross Shannon Marie Curtin Jackson Myron Dankers Ryan Harrington Dauber Elaina Ann Dawson John Ralph Chege Day Benjamin Nicolas de la Cruz Gabriella Louise de la Pena Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut Paige Ann DeOra Elijah James Dever William David Douglas Dominic Warren Ferro Austin Morgan Fischer Mackenzie Hannah Floyd Elizabeth Cashman Franklin Taryn Theresa Frank-Looney Colin Evan Gale Robert Wallace Gall Laurel Margaret Gary Mia Sophia Griff Abigail Mayer Hamblett Madoc Hanley Anna Grace Harlow Tennyson L. N. Hawk

Maxwell Victor Heid Owen Matthew Hendricks Grace Elisabeth Henn Ella Jo Hill Michael Andrew Hodari Hoyal Jack Forrest Huey Annette Karina Irby Emma Lane Jacobson Gabriella Catherine Jeakle Lucas Samuel Jensen Joshua Daniel Jinkens Isabel Margaret Johnson Luke Daniel Nestegard Johnson Grace Juliette Jordan Diana Carolina Kachman Biko Riley Kavalam Allison Mary Kearney Hattie Rose KenKnight Moses Thomas Kent Hugh Peter Killalea Grace Isla Kopp Samuel Dylan Kratz Mayme Liyueyan Krueger Cameron Raymond Lambert Mackenzie Ann Jebson Landerholm Matthew James Layton Jacob Q. Le Katharine Grace Leahy Olivia Gianna Leff Charles Caleb Lind

Olivia DeAnne Linke Andres Lopez-Castro Quinn Madison Losse Abigail Leigh Malzewski Andreana Vasiliki Margaritis Chloe Christine Raymonde Maximo Maxwell Chang-Yong Mazure Mark Moshier McClean John Richards McLaughlin Clark Alexander McNaull Liam Kevin Coluccio McNett Lindsey Anne Medved Isabella Julia Laigo Metcalf Edwin Runnels Miller Sicilia Lorraine Mirante Jack William Moffitt Hana Calis Nakata John Coleman Nelson Grace Ellen Nenke Raphaela Rose Nicholls Leila Simone Norton Myles Patrick Nowak Dawa Allo Nur Ella-Elizabeth Geme Nwachukwu Lauren Marie O’Donnell Noah James Ortiz-Jones Madeline Marie Parent Wyatt Harrison Parent Grace Marie Parkins Maria Jean Philip

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Sophia Louise Piacentini Noah Dalton Pingul Abigail Isobel Potts Matthew Joseph Pritting Paul Christopher Purnell Elizabeth Grace Ratliffe Caroline Claire Reischling Helena Elizabeth Reischling Ronelle Katrina Reyes Amber Sage Richards Christopher Matthew Roberts Charles Joseph Rogers Matthew John Roske Samuel Anthony Rothmeyer Charles Patrick Royer Andrew William Russell Chloe Drake Saharic Jaden Anthony Sakay Nicholas Sefton Sandford Tavnit Kaur Sandhu Helen Rose Sauvage Áine Joy Schimmelman Mirabelle Amelia Scholten Katherine Claire Scukas Andrea Dorris Shaw Ryan Matthew Shimizu Miguel Angel Silva-Soria Elisa Maria Simon Elizabeth Vladimirovna Skalatsky Joseph Robert Sneifer Jessica Elizabeth Sommerville Katherine Mary Stewart Carson William Stockwell Morgan Daniel Stolpman Alyssa Maria Sutanto Grace Mallory Swanson Lily Susanne Teders Lillian Walsh Thompson Cory Jackson Tolentino Asia Lauren C. Torralba Nikola Trifunovic Alex Sophia Tuminello Angelina Michele Usibelli Natasha Ashely Walker Aisha Evelyn Watt Adelaida Mary Weiss Fletcher Parsons Dinsmore Weld Grace Kathryn Pearl Wellman Matthew Joseph Wieck Christian Mason Wilgis Alexis Kendal Wong Isabella Luis Reyes Yuson

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2019 Distinguished Alum “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

This is a motto that this year’s distinguished alum, Kirby Winfield ’92, has clearly demonstrated in both his service to Prep and the greater community. Kirby has been a force in his career, as a very successful startup operator and angel investor for the past 20 years, and his current involvement with Residence at A12, a research and engineering facility dedicated to the field of artificial intelligence. But it is his commitment to the Jesuit motto of cura personalis that sets him apart. Over the past 10 years Kirby has combined his passion for athletics with his love for his daughter Kate in a wholehearted commitment to Special Olympics. This has included service as the Board Chair of Special Olympics and a leadership role in bringing the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games to Seattle.

Kirby has also stayed connected to Prep over the years, supporting tuition assistance through his giving and also spearheading the Alumni Basketball Tournament – even taking a black eye for his team.

As an English major turned business entrepreneur Kirby has this to say about making a difference: “There is a ceiling on how good money can make you feel. So, if it’s not [money], then you have to ask yourself, how are you going to feel good about being in the world, especially if you are a person who is driven to accomplish things? What does accomplishment and achievement look like, if it’s not for your own personal gain? If you do a startup maybe you

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Kirby with his parents, wife Alison, and children Kate and Kirby Jr.

change the world, but most likely you just change the way money moves around between investors and consumers. But if you grow a movement, you really can change the world, and you will change it for the people who need it the most.”

My Choice College choice is as unique and personal as each of the 172 members of the Class of 2019. This year over 1,200 college applications were submitted on behalf of the Class of 2019. That’s an average of 7 applications per student.

This fall, Prep graduates will attend 52 different colleges and universities, including international universities in Canada, England, Ireland, and The Netherlands.

In a peer-to-peer sit down, 5 seniors were interviewed to share their choice.

Born Creator

BY A U D R E Y F R I G O N ’ 2 0

Mirabelle Scholten ‘19 is making a new path for herself as she heads off to college across the Atlantic. The Prep senior is making her college debut at the Eindhoven University of Technology, located in the Netherlands.

From a young age, Scholten learned to love engineering from her father. She joined her grade school robotics team in second grade and has devoted herself to it ever since.

In her time at Prep, Scholten has been a vital member of the robotics team. She broke barriers being the most consistent and, at times, the only girl on the team. For the last three years, Scholten has worked with an all-girls school in Haiti in starting their robotics team. Scholten encourages girls to get involved in STEM, and says that “this industry cannot be male-dominated anymore.”

Scholten hopes that in her time abroad she will learn Dutch, travel, and make worldwide and lifelong connections. She will be studying sustainable innovation– a combination of engineering and sustainability focused on environmental and social good for everyone, especially those in developing countries. She says, “It’s important, especially for girls, to reach and push themselves out of their comfort level and possibly try out STEM!”

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Out of His Comfort Zone

BY M A D D I E D E A SY ’ 20

Just like his parents left their rural town of Oaxaca, Mexico, at the age of 19, and came to the United States, Miguel Silva-Soria ’19 will strike out on his own to an unfamiliar place as he joins the freshman class this fall at the University of Rochester in upstate New York. The firstrate medical facilities drew Miguel to this school, as well as a unique curriculum that allows for full customization.

As a Prep student, Miguel actively participated in robotics and the LatinX club while working two part-time jobs. At CenturyLink Stadium he has honed his customer and business skills as a sub-contractor for Starbucks, advancing from aisle vendor to cart manager. When he is not there, he is volunteering at Harborview Medical Center, where he uses his fluency in Spanish to help bridge language barriers between patients, their families, and staff. Miguel plans on leveraging this experience when he pursues the pre-med track at the University of Rochester, as well as when he continues his volunteer work with one of the many medical facilities on campus.

Miguel admits that as the first person to attend college in his family the pressure to succeed has been real. He says, “I didn’t want to misstep, and I have always wanted to exceed my own expectations of myself.” He credits Prep for giving him the opportunity to excel. He is proud of the advances he made in his math courses from algebra to calculus, taking an additional class that compressed one year of math into six weeks. Miguel is confident Prep has prepared him for the rigors ahead. He says, “I walked into a chemistry lecture at the University of Rochester on hybrid orbitals, and I thought, ‘I remember learning about this in Ms. Murphy’s class at Prep!’”

Independence is central to Miguel’s next evolution.

And heading 2,600 miles away from home is just the beginning. Miguel says, “I know that when I push myself out of my comfort zone, that’s when I grow as a person.”

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She Goes for It

BY L A U R E N D AY ’ 2 0 A N D T E S S A Z I N K ’21

Elisa Simon ’19 has been an impressive force at Seattle Prep these last four years. Captaining the crew team, co-founding Career Connections Club, leading the LatinX club and multiple retreats, and competing in varsity mock trial (and winning the state competition) are just a few of the activities on her extensive list of accomplishments.

This upcoming fall, Elisa will follow her interest in the sciences when she attends the University of Michigan. She plans to double major in computer science and business and hopes to discover and participate in new experiences, constantly challenging herself like she did at Seattle Prep.

After applying to 19 schools, Elisa ultimately chose to attend Michigan over other top-ranked schools such as Cornell and Carnegie Mellon because of its unique program and school spirit. It doesn’t hurt that her father is an alum either. This outgoing adventurer says, “You can make any school what you love. I hated Prep when I first applied, and now, I’m completely in love with it.” Elisa is a young woman who has no regrets and is as proud of her wins as her losses. “What matters,” she says, “is trying.”

Full Ride

BY S O P H I E J U R I O N ’ 2 0

Ideas in Flight

BY M I LO P E P P E R ’ 2 0

This fall, Fletcher Weld ’19 is looking forward to starting a gap year to pursue his passion for ballet, something he has been doing since the age of six. For Fletcher, this gap year is anything but a break, as he will take this time to learn more about himself. “Among many reasons, I believe that being one year older in college could make me appreciate it more and allow me to get more out of the whole experience,” says Fletcher. “I did not apply to any colleges this year, in part to live out my senior year at Prep to the fullest.”

This National Merit Scholar, who took great joy in his BC Calculus and Satire and Comedy classes this year, has a busy schedule ahead. Over the summer he will attend an intensive dance program at the University of Utah, followed by a disciplined schedule in the fall as a dancer in the professional division of Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). Fletcher is excited to dance on the McCaw Hall stage, in front of thousands of people. “I might have significantly more free time for fitting in piano and a bit of ultimate frisbee, and no homework, however, I am still a part of a structured school in PNB,” says Fletcher.

When asked about his primary reasons for taking a gap year, Weld says, “It’s certainly not for everyone. For me, I know I’ll have a better understanding of how I want my future to look.”

Noah Pinguel’s ’19 willingness to be open-minded and creative about his college search has paid off. This fall he will attend St. Joseph’s University, a Catholic, Jesuit college in Philadelphia, on a full ride scholarship.

Noah zeroed in on colleges in the Northeast part of the United States based on a combination of factors ranging from a fascination with family lore (it’s where his parents met) to wanting a small liberal arts school that prizes academics alongside athletics.

A six-year crew veteran, Noah will continue rowing at St. Joe’s. In considering colleges Noah knew he didn’t want his intellectual interests to be restricted by an overly intense rowing program. During a visit to St. Joe’s he met the crew coach who said, “I want a well-rounded oarsman, not an athlete oarsman.” This left an impression on him.

In addition to academics and rowing, Noah has many varied interests such as making and watching films, cooking, and reading. He is a self-declared history buff with a personal interest in the WWII era. “My grandfather was a prisoner of war two times; once in WWII and once in the Korean War. Both times he managed to escape.”

Noah says this influenced his most memorable project at Prep – his Collegio junior research paper on the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Noah aspires one day to be a rowing coach or teacher.

He will study history at St. Joe’s and is even considering a future project where he could blend his cinematic interests with his passion for rowing in a possible documentarystyle film.

This year’s yearbook recognized Noah for his embodiment of the Jesuit mission – being “men and women for others.” It’s a mission that Noah plans on continuing at St. Joe’s.

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BY L I S A F E R N A N D E Z

It All Began With a

YES “I didn’t set out to be a teacher,” says Regina Melonson, Director of Prep’s Learning Resource Center (LRC). “I wanted to be a scientist.” And she was well on her way with a laboratory job at Fred Hutchinson. But she was destined for other things. In 1994 her husband told her about a part-time job opening at Prep. Regina applied and was offered both the position of biology teacher and tutor. In her first year at Prep Regina noticed a pattern – students were coming to the school with diagnosed learning challenges and there wasn’t much in the way of support for them. She saw an opportunity. By the end of her first year, Regina had renamed the tutoring room the Learning Resource Center and enrolled in a master’s program in at Seattle University in special education. She was encouraged to do so by both what she was seeing at Prep as well as her own personal experience with her child’s struggle with dyslexia.

Continuing to teach and run the LRC, Regina eventually hit a wall fifteen years later as the school continued to experience exponential growth in the LRC. “I was in a unique place where all the things in my life were culminating in a vision of where my professional life needed to be. I do think God was calling me.” And so Regina took a leap of faith and left the classroom to devote herself fulltime to the LRC. She says, “It was a unique opportunity to create something that no other Jesuit school had done to my knowledge, and only one other Catholic school in the area had developed.”

When Regina first started her work in the LRC, there

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was a significant reluctance on the part of families to share information about their child’s need for extra support. Regina says the days of feeling that a diagnosis is an insurmountable difficulty in a college prep school are over. “There has been a profound evolution that you are not your limitations, you are your possibilities.”

The LRC provides comprehensive services for Prep students such as a peer note taking system; a tutoring program; a concussion protocol; and testing accommodations all to address a range of issues from different learning disabilities to mental health challenges and physical injuries. The extent and depth of the LRC program at Prep is unique, and Regina is often called upon for her expertise in bringing this type of program to other schools across the country. She says, “I am tremendously grateful to Prep for paving the way for me to find my true professional passion. And every step of the way there has always a yes from the Prep community.”

Cura personalis is at the heart of the LRC’s work. Regina says, “The students that are already here present their challenges to us, and if we don’t already have something already in place to meet their needs, we are continually thinking of what we can do to care for the student.

The program and changes to it have rarely been made in anticipation of a student’s needs, they have been developed over time in response to their needs.”

Over the last 25 years there have been two significant changes in the LRC: service delivery and technological advances. The delivery of services has evolved from a

pull-out model whereby students used study halls or parts of classtime to come into the LRC for help – a model that focuses on isolation as an intervention – to an accomodations model which focuses on working with teachers in the classroom, integrating support so that not only do students obtain the support they need, but others in the classroom benefit as well. Today this considered educational best practice.

Regina credits technology for giving students the tools to be independent learners. From audio-formatted books, to software that converts speech to text, to tools that support executive function abilities such as organization, time management, and starting and finishing tasks, “technology has opened the world for our students,” says Regina. Technology has also been helpful with the peer note taking program, which provides notes in core classes to 180 students. What previously took hours of volunteer time making photocopies of student notes has now been expedited by digital uploads and cloud storage, creating improvements in accessibility and efficiency.

Regina is quick to clarify that the LRC does not serve students who are unable to perform in a college prep environment. “What we are talking about here are smart, capable students who have an area of specific difficulty where unlocking their full potential requires additional support,” she says. Twenty-five years ago there may have been no avenue to do that. Today there is.” For Regina it is a service that is at the heart of our social justice focus and integral to the Jesuit mission. She says, “If Prep only

accepted bright, capable students who already know how to perform well, then any school would work for them.

But our mission is about transformational work. That’s what we do. It’s about providing the proper supportive environment for students to transform themselves into revealing their full potential – academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.”

This year’s auction raised nearly half a million dollars for the LRC. Regina is tremendously grateful, but not surprised by the generosity. She says, “The first time there was a need for more tables and chairs in the LRC, parents purchased them. When we recognized that technology could really help us provide better support to students, it was a parent who bought us our first 12 laptop computers.

When we needed more space, it was a parent committee that spearheaded the effort to raise funds for a new, larger LRC.” The evolution of the LRC has always been about saying YES to the invitation, but it has also been about taking risks. Regina recalls a resilient student who hit many walls while at Prep, both academically and personally.

“Prep found ways to support that student, some of which we had never done before, and because of that student we now serve others more readily with greater support,” says Regina. Today that student is a flourishing college freshman with a 3.6 GPA, 2,000 miles away from home.

“We took a risk,” she says, “and it was worth it. We really do live our mission of cura personalis.”

Left: Prep alumna Kate Kingen ’05 with Regina Melonson at the 2018 SPREE Auction. Katie shared her personal story of an injury she sustained from a hit to the head by a basketball during her high school PE class.

Kate suffered permanent brain damage, vertigo, and was bedridden for months.

Regina says, “This was the first time the LRC had been challenged with a significant medical diagnosis. We were trying to craft ways to help her be the student she once was.” This experience became the precursor for what ultimately evolved into a concussion protocol strategy which the LRC utilizes with great success. With the help of the LRC, Kate was able to graduate on time. She ultimately went on to the UW and graduated with top honors, taking a job with Deutsche Bank’s Mergers & Acquisitions group, where she was a lead analyst on several major deals, most notably the $9.7 billion announced merger of Deutsche Boerse and NYS. Kate later went on to earn her MBA from the Harvard Business School.

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SPREE Auction Thank you to our entire Prep community for contributing to the success of the 2018 SPREE Auction! Together we raised over $825,000 to help our students receive a “Golden Ticket” to a Jesuit education, including $460,000 for the newly named Regina Melonson Learning Resource Center (see story on page 16).

Thank you to our generous 2018 SPREE sponsors: PURE IMAGINATION Venture General Contracting, LLC Fortive

GOLD Avanti Markets Burien Chevrolet and Burien Toyota Gary Merlino Construction J. Scott Moffitt DDS Merlino Foods Salty’s on Alki Stoneway Concrete

Save the Date for SPREE 2019 Friday, November 22nd!

SILVER A. Luis Aviles, DDS - Endodontics Becker Capital Management CollinsWoerman Issaquah Endodontics Mukilteo Smiles – Stacey C. Sype, DDS, PLLC Pacific Project Management Tommy Bahama TRUEbenefits

BRONZE The Chen Family

S SP PR RE EE E 22 0 0 11 9 9

Cole Industrial Franz Bakery The Huey Family iMatch Kyocera Document Solutions NW Patriot Fire Protection Seattle Neurofeedback Sound Community Bank

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H A M I LTON

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Marc delaCruz ’97 Defines An

Unexpected Movement Hamilton. Unless you have been living off the grid, you have probably heard about this unexpected pop-culture phenomenon.

An unorthodox, inventive musical, Hamilton turns history on its head, and in doing so propels itself into the annals of legendary shows alongside hits such as Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, and Wicked.

But if Hamilton is the headliner, Seattle Prep alum Marc delaCruz ’97 is the subtext – proving things aren’t always what they seem.

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Q: Marc, many people would be surprised to see that your high school yearbook details accomplishments in football and track and field, but nothing in the arts. When did you discover your passion for the dramatic?

A: That’s correct, I did not do any theater while I was at Prep. I always harbored a passion for the performing arts, but didn’t explore it until I was in college at UW. I performed with dance and singing groups on campus, took classes from the dance department, and did theater around Seattle while completing a degree in International Studies. After graduation, I decided to continue exploring performing because I felt I had scratched the surface of something deeper and truer to myself.

Q: You could easily be considered a “dark horse,” as it seems your career materialized out of nowhere. True?

A: I can see how it might appear that way, and though I do consider myself a bit of a dark horse due to my unconventional trajectory, my career did not appear out of nowhere. I’ve been performing professionally for almost

twenty years now. I performed with theater companies for several years in Seattle before moving to New York. These companies, directors, and artists taught me the craft of theater, something I’m always learning. I continued dance training for years at various studios, and studied with voice teachers. By the time I moved to New York, I was working year-round as an actor in Seattle with companies such as the 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, and ReAct. When I arrived in New York, I auditioned for everything I could – Broadway shows, tours, and regional productions – and tried to get the attention of agents. It has been over twelve years since I left Seattle, and while I’ve had some amazing career highs, I’ve also experienced a lot of lows – a lot of debt, depression, and self-doubt. The bulk of my career has been performing in the ensembles of musical theatre productions. Slowly over the years, I’ve worked to show casting directors and directors that I can also play principal roles. A lot of hard work, maintaining a good reputation and a maybe a bit of luck at times laid out my career path. I think of it as a combination of doors opening at the right times, knowing when to walk through them, and pushing them open when need be.

Q: In 2014 you made your Broadway debut alongside Idina Menzel in If/Then. What was that experience like?

A: It was so many things at once! I was making my Broadway debut in a cast chock full of Broadway veterans including Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, LaChanze and Jerry Dixon; Michael Greif, the original director of Rent, and Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Next to Normal. To be in a room watching these luminaries create a new show was a mind-blowing experience. I learned so much about the development of a new work from page to stage and the magic that is possible when artists bring their sensibilities, aesthetics, talent, and passion to the table in collaboration with one another. I really couldn’t believe I was there, and I had to keep reminding myself that I was chosen to be there, which was difficult for me to accept! I was a swing in If/Then, meaning I understudied all the men in the ensemble, and one principal role. It was a challenge, one that required heavy use of the non-artistic side of my brain to take good notes and keep all the tracks straight.

Q: Acting. Dancing. Singing. What percent is artistry, versus technical, or simply pure passion?

A: Wow, that’s a tough question. I think it is hard to quantify because they are all integral to the performing

arts. When I first started out, I had a lot of passion but not much technique. Passion got me far, but I needed to learn technique in order to be consistent and effective. As I’ve watched and collaborated with different artists over the years, I’ve gained a fuller understanding and appreciation for artistry – it can’t just be about technique. And passion can be moving, but artistry unlocks all the nuances and limitless possibilities that give life and depth to the work.

Q: Who are your musical heroes?

A: Stephen Sondheim, Jeanine Tesori, Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, Stevie Wonder, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jason Ma, Tim Rice, Chita Rivera...to name only a few.

Q: You were born in Hawaii. Grew up in Seattle. Now, you are living in New York. Where is the place you feel most at home?

A: I think Seattle will always feel like home to me. Hawai’i comes in at a close second. Both places are intrinsic to my identity and my roots. Though we left Hawai’i when I was very young, we maintained close ties to the islands, and I was lucky enough to be able to return several times to visit family. My parents now live on the Big Island. Seattle is where I grew up, went to school, came of age, and started my theater career. Some of my oldest and closest friends are in Seattle, including friends from Prep. Even though I’ve lived in New York for over twelve years, I still consider myself a Pacific Northwest boy.

Q: In November 2018 you joined the cast of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Hamilton. You have played various roles: King George III, Hamilton’s fatherin-law, Hamilton’s eldest son, and Hamilton’s doctor. In 2019 you made history as the first Filipino-American to play the lead role of Alexander Hamilton himself. Did you understand the significance of this at the time?

A: I joined the Broadway company of Hamilton in December as Man 5 in the ensemble, which includes the roles of Philip Schuyler, James Reynolds and the doctor.

I perform that track every night unless I’m called to perform one of the three principal roles I understudy.

When I was getting ready to go on as Hamilton for the first time, I was so hyper-focused on learning the role and getting myself ready that I didn’t think much about the significance of what I was doing. Since the first weekend I went on, I’ve received many humbling and supportive messages that put it in perspective that this is

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all so much bigger than me. Being an Asian American – specifically Filipino American – actor, I understand the importance of representation and when people tell me how much it means to them that I played this role, it drives home the idea that what I get to do as an actor can and does have reach far beyond myself.

Q: Prior to the show, were you familiar with the work of Hamilton creator LinManuel Miranda?

A: Yes! I saw In the Heights on Broadway and was absolutely blown away by it.

The music and choreography were so familiar to me, as these were the styles of music and dance that influenced me most growing up. I became a big fan of Lin-Manuel for breaking new ground in the musical theater world with his specific style of hip hop, pop, and R&B. Marc delaCruz as King George III.

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Q: I understand you unexpectedly met Lin-Manuel Miranda.

A: The very first time I met Lin was in the basement of the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Immediately I could see how humble, gracious, and very down to earth he is – always wearing a hoodie and jeans. He warmly welcomed me to the company, and we talked about my experience with the show, and he shared some of his reflections with me. The second time I met him was at an EduHam talkback. Outreach is a key part of Hamilton’s mission, and about once a month, a Wednesday matinee is reserved for high school students from largely underserved schools from around the region. Before the show, students from each school take the stage to perform their own work relating to a subject in American history. Cast members then join onstage for a Q&A. Lin-Manuel unexpectedly showed up the day I was hosting the EduHam. As he answered the questions posed by students, I could see and feel his passion for his work, message, and compassion for the students. As I watched and listened to Lin, I caught a glimpse not only of the mind behind Hamilton but also the heart, and this informed so much of my understanding of the show.

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Q: You have said, “sometimes amazement is right around the corner.” What has amazed you on your personal and/or professional journey this past year?

A: Professionally, I’ve had some opportunities this past year to play complex, challenging roles – Quang in Vietgone, Dan in Next to Normal, Jason in Ordinary Days, and now the roles I play and understudy in Hamilton.

Having built a career as an ensemble member, the past year has been a huge turning point for me. Looking back it seems like such a short period of time from auditioning, to getting cast, to performing in the ensemble, to performing in the lead role on Broadway in one of the most groundbreaking shows in history. Also, I doubt myself a lot, so even though I admired Hamilton from afar when it first premiered, I wasn’t sure I had the skill set for the show, let alone to play the role of Alexander Hamilton.

Yet, come January I found myself in those costumes, on a Broadway stage, singing and rapping Lin-Manuel’s words which have become iconic in such a short period of time. Lesson learned: don’t shortchange yourself! We are capable of way more than we might think.

Q: This issue of Panther Tracks is about the Jesuit brand and how it distinctly educates students to “go forth and set the world on fire.” How has this served as a compass in the world?

A: At Prep I learned the importance of always asking questions, and teachers instilled in me the idea that learning never ends. As a performer this mindset has served me well. Knowledge and understanding of any subject can always be further sought out, and I try to bring this sense of curiosity and desire for truth to every project I work on as an actor.

Q: In an Instagram post you said, “this is not a moment, it’s the movement.”

A: That is a quote from the song “My Shot.” To me, it symbolizes the idea that whatever I might do in this moment in time – performing in this show, understudying and playing this role – is just a small part of something bigger. The show itself is a movement, a revolution of musical theater, a reframing of our history, a rethinking of who gets to tell our stories. It is also a call to everyone out there to tell their stories. As a person of color, and specifically a member of a historically underrepresented minority group, I know that my work in Hamilton is just one step in the process of empowering anyone who feels unseen or unheard.

BY L I S A F E R N A N D E Z

Au Revoir, Madame Davis And just like that, Madame Davis, esteemed educator, xenophile and French linguist, says goodbye to a 35-year teaching career, 24 of them in service to Prep.

“Prep has been a spiritual home that has nourished me on many levels,” Judy says. “I’ve grown to love this community and the Jesuit charism.”

Judy started her teaching career in public schools, but her family and friends who had experience with Jesuit education, encouraged her to consider a position at Prep.

Judy had heard so much about the Jesuits that her interest was piqued. She decided to apply and give it a try. That was in 1995. And she hasn’t looked back since.

The arc of Judy’s career has included a Fulbright award to teach English in Le Quesnoy, France, a small town in northern France, and attend Université de Lille. There, she took note of how common and impactful exchanges were in the French educational system. This experience later served as motivation for Judy to institute a popular student exchange at Prep that has successfully made twelve overseas visits.

The cultural icon of Notre Dame may look different this summer, but it won’t alter what Judy’s French students will take away from their summer language exchange.

Judy says, “Knowing another language gives us a window into another culture. Seeing the world from another’s perspective develops our compassion and enables us to reflect on own our culture and values. It’s when we can communicate with others that we begin to make authentic connections.”

As colleague Cheryl Healy tells it, “I admire how Judy is always reflecting on her own practice as an educator. She is creative, innovative, and works tirelessly to implement new strategies to engage her students. Her commitment to the art of teaching is only matched by her love of her

discipline and her unwavering dedication to her students.

She’s not afraid to take risks in the classroom, is quick to laugh at herself, and possesses an impressive knowledge of French culture.”

Over the years, Judy made getting out of the classroom a priority for her students. Excursions included trips to Seattle Art Museum, the Intiman Theater, The French American School, and the UW, for the occasional French play, and one of her favorites – coming together to prepare a culinary fivecourse meal.

Judy says many of her memorable teaching moments revolve around French meals, a time when students make food, practice table manners and engage in French conversation. She points to a favorite, student-driven fundraiser, “Soiree Sénegalaise,” which raised monies for a library project in Dakar, Senegal. “We served a Senegalese meal, had local Senegalese musicians, and students learned a song in French and Wolof. It was tons of work, but it had an impact on the community in Senegal and helped connect my students with the Senegalese community in Seattle.”

Two of Judy’s former students chose to work and live in Africa, where they continued their practical use of the French language – one to live, and the other to engineer a water project. Judy takes great satisfaction knowing that it was here at Prep that they began their journey.

Retirement won’t be sedentary for Judy. She plans on volunteering, taking classes, working on her Spanish skills, and instituting an active regimen of walking and hiking.

She also hopes to continue her volunteer work with women’s education in the African nation of Senegal. “I’ll just be letting things settle and see where God is calling me.”

“One thing is for sure,” Judy says: “I will still stay connected to this amazing community.”

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Prep Music Legend Retires

BY C H A R L E S S H A F E R ’ 14

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Year after year, the new Prep freshmen are in awe of the posters that hug the walls of his classroom. The Beatles. Janis Joplin. Kurt Cobain. The giants of the music world, past and present, watch as Dr. Huntley Beyer introduces musical creativity and passion to young minds.

These great artists stare eye to eye with students, encouraging imagination – imagination which seems to find no ceiling. If you were lucky enough to have him as a teacher, you will no doubt remember his pairing of the movie The Wizard of Oz with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

Dr. Beyer is a learned man; not only receiving an undergraduate degree from Williams College, but also a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Washington, and a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Claremont School of Theology. Dr. Beyer became interested in the mission of Seattle Prep due to its religiosity; it allows him to comfortably express his sense of the sacred. He meditates every morning before class. His relaxed composure and everlasting patience are no doubt a product of his spiritual practices.

Dr. Beyer finds that “Music for me is truer than anything else to the knowledge of a lived life.” Composing music allows him to express his thoughts and feelings more concretely than words allow. If he goes too long without composing the “tectonic plates” of his subconsciousness begin to grate. His personal and deeply integral relationship with composing almost makes one wonder if his first language is English or music. His passion and talent for composing was never clearer than when he performed at the Spring Coffee House (a Seattle Prep talent show) in 2015. His daughter, Eva Beyer ’15, was just weeks away from graduating, and so he composed a violin and piano duet in her honor. It was a surprise and a moment that Eva and Dr. Beyer will never forget.

Through the power of music, he articulated his love for and pride in his daughter.

Over the years, Dr. Beyer has nurtured the passion many students had for music.

He grew the Prep choir from seven people to an enormous 85. Every Christmas the choir performs for the Seattle Prep community, igniting a spiritual fire through their voices. He vividly recalls his first Prep Christmas Concert. The audience was overflowing in the Fr. Thomas Healy Theater, people standing in the back and sitting on the suspended catwalk. Everyone was there to witness his students sing the beautiful Christmas carols that we know and love.

Grace Kopp ’19 has had Dr. Beyer as a teacher all four years of high school.

Through the musicals, choir, and classes, she has countless fond memories. In the Seattle Prep production of The Addams Family, “every time the word ‘chimichanga’ was said, you could hear Dr. Beyer’s distinct chuckle echo through the theater.” She also says that Dr. Beyer has taught her to pursue what she loves. “I strive to be as happy and content with my life and what I do with it as Dr. Beyer is.” He has not only taught the fundamentals of music theory, or how to hit that high note, which seems impossible but he has taught students about life. It is fitting that his final words of wisdom are “Don’t forget to laugh.”

What happens next for Dr. Beyer is a mystery. He finds comfort and excitement in not knowing what will come after retiring. He wants to go into the experience with no expectations, so that the right thing will “bubble up” naturally. No one knows, not even he, what inklings or impulses will emerge, yet everyone knows that the passion and care will be the same.

Twenty-five years. Twenty-five musicals.

Twenty-five Christmas Concerts. Twentyfive freshman classes inspired by his passion for music. That is the legacy of Dr. Huntley Beyer.

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BY L I S A F E R N A N D E Z

A Friendship of

Firsts

On the water, the dynamic duo of Alex Tuminello ’19 and Andreana Margaritis ’19 are in effortless sync with each other as they give their all in a power 10 finish. They are the embodiment of swing, a rowing term that defines the feeling of a near-perfect synchronization of motion in the boat, enhancing both performance and speed.

As co-captains of this year’s Prep varsity crew team, these young ladies have experienced a four-year athletic trajectory that has quickly gone from zero to one hundred.

Both have signed with Division 1 schools and will row this fall on the collegiate level – Alex with Fordham University and Andreana with Santa Clara University. The funny thing is that neither of them saw it coming – the crew bug, the wins, the challenges, or the friendship.

“When we first got to Prep, we never imagined rowing.

We knew nothing about crew, regattas, or boats for that matter,” says Alex. But a trip to nationals during their sophomore year sold them on crew, and they made a commitment to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the sport.

Forging new territory is never easy, and Alex and Andreana say there have been challenges with being part of Prep’s inaugural crew team. “Our freshman year we felt that the crew team was not well connected with the school. It was also tough not having upperclassmen to show us what hard work meant in rowing,” they both said. But four years later they have made progress. “Our goal as co-captains this year was to make sure we involved the sport as much as possible with the school,” Andreana says. “We are proud to see how far we have come, to see the team’s development and to see the younger kids look up to us. We think of the legacy we are leaving behind; it’s so much bigger and more powerful than what we started with freshman year,” Alex says.

Rowing, an ancient form of travel turned competitive sport, debuted at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris.

This year, Prep’s junior varsity and varsity crew team went co-ed, another big first for these co-captains. Alex says, “We love the change. I feel it’s created a more competitive environment, because boys and girls push each other in different ways, and it only makes the team overall stronger.”

The duo dedicates many hours to their craft. Whether

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they are in season or off season, in the gym or on the water, their training persists. Andreana says, “We spend an average of 16 hours a week training, and that doesn’t include our weekend regattas.” “The culture and community you build with your crew mates is more powerful than other sports. I’ve played many other sports growing up, and never felt the way I do on this team,” she says. “Maybe it’s the early mornings on the water, multiple-day regattas, long bus rides, or difficult workouts, but there is a lot to bond over in crew.”

Their hard work has paid off with annual wins at the top crew competition in the country – the USRowing Youth National Championship. The duo placed 12th their first year at Nationals. The second year they got 8th. And this year they broke their record in Sarasota, Florida, when they placed 6th.

Their challenges make their victories that much sweeter, considering the serious hip injury Alex suffered last year. Andreana says, “In the Nationals time trial we placed 5th, but over the weekend we struggled with the hip injury and ended up placing 8th. But honestly, that’s a HUGE accomplishment. We finished the spring season strong with basically half an athlete.” Alex had surgery on her torn labral just three weeks after Nationals.

Alex and Andreana are equally proud of their friendship. “Sophomore year we were not friends at all.

In 1852, the Harvard–Yale Regatta was the first intercollegiate competition ever, in any sport.

We were in completely different friend groups and barely knew each other. Yes, we were on the same team, but we were never close. Then our coach put us together, in a double boat, and after spending all that time together we became quite close.” They say that crew attracts many different types of people and it has significantly broadened their perspectives. Alex says, “I feel like a lot of my friends on the team I wouldn’t have been friends with at Prep normally.”

Although small for their sport, this competitive duo relies on two key mantras to pull them through the challenging times: “Pain is a social construct” and “Be heavy in a head wind.” The second motivates them when the winds pick up on the water and blow around their boat. “We just imagine ourselves bigger,” says Alex.

Fordham and Santa Clara may be on opposite ends of the country, but Alex and Andreana are out to prove that their hard-earned friendship will stay the course in this larger-than-life tale.

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From Eggs

TO EMPIRES

In his latest book, Fracturing the Founding, John Finn ’75 measures today’s political climate against the divisive interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. A sought-after Wesleyan professor, John recently retired from his 30-year career as a government expert. John brings humor and intelligence to the topic of constitutional interpretation as an erudite counterpoint to the far right’s “distortion” of American core values.

In the introduction of your most recent book, Fracturing the Founding, you write about a “constitutional expert” you heard speak. How did she influence what you were intending to write?

I was finishing another book – Peopling the Constitution (2014) and starting another scholarly book about the role of trust in developing a constitutional democracy.

But I was so startled by what I heard that day that I set the trust book aside and immediately started on the Fracturing book. Her vision – the extreme right’s vision – of American public life and the Constitution was ugly, divisive, fracturing, dystopian, and so utterly at odds with my approach to what the Constitution means that I felt like I had to say something to an audience bigger than my classroom.

You have written three other books on the constitution.

How was this one different?

My other con law books were primarily for academic audiences. Fracturing is meant for a general audience, and especially for readers interested in contemporary politics,

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the Constitution, and the founding. I hope it’s less stuffy and less stilted!

Why is your book relevant in the America of 2019?

It’s easy to dismiss the Alt-Right as a temporary bout of ill humor in the body politic, but as I show in the book, most of the central tenets of Alt-Right ideology have a long pedigree in American history. And just as concerning is that some of them have begun to influence how ordinary citizens think about politics and the Constitution.

Would you point to a specific example of this type of distortion of the constitution by the Alt-Right?

One example involves the First Amendment. The extreme right and the Alt-Right embrace a very peculiar understanding of the First Amendment, in which they imagine themselves to be perfectly free to say anything, to anyone, at any time, anywhere, no matter what, without consequence or reproach by government or even by other citizens who disagree or take offense at their speech. I call such folks “Speech Freaks.” Of course, the “real” First Amendment means nothing of the sort.

The militant right embraces equally bizarre understandings of most of the other provisions of the Bill of Rights as well, and of the Fourteenth Amendment.

So-called “sovereign citizens,” for example, believe that the Fourteenth Amendment is not simply unconstitutional; it is also at the heart of a nefarious plot to deprive white citizens of their constitutional rights.

You describe the Alt-Right as seeing the founding fathers’ contributions as divine. This idea seems like the political doctrine of the divine rights of kings, which gave them absolute power and authority. Is the outlook of the Alt-Right a refresh of this old belief?

Not really, although one might note that many in the Alt-Right are very enamored of strongman, authoritarian leaders. The divine (or better, Christian) pedigree of the Founding, for many in the far right, is simply a way of asserting that God’s law (as they interpret it) must triumph over secular laws, even constitutional provisions, that they don’t like. In the hands of many, it becomes an argument about what certain constitutional provisions – like freedom of religion – really mean, again, as they interpret it. It’s not much of a step, in their eyes, to argue that the Christian nature of the founding means freedom of religion extends only to Christian faiths.

The argument that what happened in Philadelphia was a miracle (this is both a figurative and a literal truth for many in the far right) inculcates a political culture that leads to Constitution-worship, instead of a healthy constitutional culture of debate and critical engagement (two virtues I learned to respect from my Jesuit teachers at Prep!).

What are the fundamental differences between the U.S. Constitution and those of other countries?

Ours is old! Most constitutions are products of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and consequently they often have much more expansive lists of protected liberties. They are also typically longer and more detailed than the American Constitution. But I think the most fundamental differences have less to do with constitutional documents than constitutional culture. In many other constitutional democracies, the constitution has not quite the same degree of reverence and artifact that ours does.

Some measure of reverence is critical for a constitution to succeed, but too much is inimical to our constitutional well-being – a point Thomas Jefferson made on several occasions.

In high school, did you imagine you would work in academia and become a published author?

I learned to love learning, although you would never know it from the terrible grades I got! Honestly, when I left for college I didn’t have much of a plan. I’m glad I didn’t….

Was there a teacher at Seattle Prep that inspired you as much as you have your students?

Oh, so many! Margaret Garrison (English) and Dan Cole (History) both had an incalculable effect on me; I’ll never be able to repay their investment in my education. Father Sullivan was especially kind to me. Of course, there were a couple of clunkers too, but they shall go unnamed!

During a previous sabbatical, you earned a culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute. Do constitutional law and cooking have something in common?

I didn’t think so when I started culinary school, but over the years I’ve come to see many similarities. Recipes are like constitutions, and constitutions like recipes, in that both anticipate and envision a community of readers.

Constitutions and recipes, like religious texts, try to create and fabricate their readers – whether as citizens, cooks, or believers. Moreover, sacred texts, recipes, and constitutions all require interpretation. What their authors intended matters, but no more than what their readers think the text should mean.

Which cookbook is your bible?

My cooking bible has two books. The first is the Book of Julia. I love, love, love Julia Child, and I’ve published a couple of pieces about her, so book one is Mastering the Art of French Cooking. My other book is a little volume by Narcissa Chamberlain, first published in 1955, called The Omelette Book.

I think it’s the best book published on any subject, ever. It was the inspiration and the model for The Perfect Omelet.

What is the most interesting cookbook you have come across in your work?

Probably Salvador Dali’s Les dîners de Gala. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from Dali – weird, distorting, fun.

Do you have a future book in the works?

I should get back to the book on trust and the Constitution that I put aside, but I have a couple of cookbooks in mind that I’m excited about – one on meatballs and another tentatively entitled Retro Recipes for the 21st Century: Classic Recipes from 1950 and 1960s, Reimagined for Contemporary Cooks.

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C L ASS NOT E S Ralph Rafanelli ’52: Ralph and his wife are enjoying life in Arizona. Over

Paul Mullally ’66: Paul’s

the last five years they have made many friends and like living close to

painting, Under His Mercy,

family. They have also enjoyed getting reacquainted with old friends in

pictured here with Pope

the area.

Francis and Fr. Michael Czerny, S.J., was unveiled at

Jack Serwold ’53: Jack is retired from teaching at Shoreline Community

the opening ceremony for

College and Archbishop Murphy High School. However, he is still

two new homes for migrant

coaching the boys golf team at Archbishop Murphy High School.

women and children.

Tim Towey ’53: Tim is pictured here with

Brian Gough ’67: Brian and fellow Prep alums: Pat Irwin ’67, Jim Merrill

Joe Keaton ’22 a current Prep football team

’67, and Tom O’Leary ’67 all competed in the annual Bloomsday Run

member! Go Panthers!

in Spokane. The run honored their friend and fellow Prep alum Don Kardong ’67 who just completed his last year as the race director. This

John Griffin ’61: John continues his work at

event is iconic for the Eastern Washington community and beyond!

the Scripps Institute and lives in Del Mar, California. He enjoyed catching up with his

Bill Smith ’67: Bill moved into a new home in October 2018. He received

classmates at their 55th class reunion.

a new golf cart, so all drivers in the Phoenix area are safe!

Peter Torelli ’61: Peter was able to see John Griffin ’61 and his wife

Chris Harmon ’72: Chris wrote a book in 2018 published by the

Christena and John Cannon ’61. The class gathered at the Insignia

Brookings Institution Press entitled, The Terrorist Argument: Modern

Towers, the site of their 55th class reunion.

Advocacy and Propaganda. This year, Chris and his wife Laura celebrate 30 years of marriage.

David Schreiber ’62: Dave continues to reside in Rome, Georgia, not far from Atlanta. If any Prep alums get down to the Atlanta area contact

Dan Layman ’73: Dan retired from his position as Food Service Director

Dave, his email is: schreiber.david@comcast.net.

at Central Washington University. Dan served 36 years at the university.

Dan enjoys retirement with his wife and three children, and a new grandchild. During his tenure at Central, he had the opportunity to work with Joe Antonich ‘63, Harry Whitaker ’72, and Rob Lowery ’74.

John O’Neil ’76: Prep thanks John O’Neil ’76 for his tireless dedication to the school during his nine years as Facilities Director. John’s leadership was instrumental in the building of Adelphia Memorial Hall at a time when the school was envisioning a revamped campus. John’s extensive construction background allowed him to serve as a seasoned liaison

Greg Rafanelli ’64: Greg and his wife Catherine sailed out of Australia

between school operations, the board

earlier this year on a cruise. As luck would have it, Mike Lamb ’61

facilities committee, and contractors.

mentioned that he and his wife, Cheryl were also going on a cruise out

His biggest contribution may be Our Lady of Montserrat Chapel. As co-

of Australia. Greg, Mike, and their wives ended up on the same ship.

designer of the Chapel, John’s commitment to details resulted in a gem

The group is pictured during Formal Night on board the ship.

that continues to inspire our community. John is now employed with Rider Levett Bucknall in Seattle as a Project Manager.

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Brock Lindsay ’01: Brock and his wife Erica live in Eastern Washington and in 2016 they opened their winery, Succession Wines. If alums are ever in Lake Chelan, stop by and check out their selection of delicious wines!

Neil Ferron ’02: Neil and his sister Anna Ferron ’16 visited family and friends in Seattle over the holidays.

Neil, a writer and film director,

Brian Nova ’78: Need an evening out on the town? Come downtown to

is studying at the American Film

Seattle’s The Triple Door and watch the Brian Nova Big Band perform

Institute in Los Angeles. Anna will be

Friday, June 30th. Brian is the only guitarist who has been mentored by

a senior at Boston College in the fall.

and toured with two legends of jazz guitar: Herb Ellis and Jose Pass.

Paul Marchione MRC ’83: Paul is in his sixth year as Managing Director of Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the group behind Nuns on the Bus, a Catholic advocacy group in Washington D.C.

Brian Meza ’92: Brian enjoyed dinner with some of his classmates (left to right): Kate (Andrews) Kelly ’92, David DeWine, Matt Deines ’92, Lauren (Gores) Bonjrada ’92, and Mary (Rogers) DeWine ’92.

Change Kwesele ’07: Change co-authored the book Z is for Zambia: A-Z Alphabet Book.

Change wrote this book to encourage a culture of reading in Zambia. Change is currently in a PhD program focusing on Social Work and Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan.

Sarah (Comstock) Hanley ’08: In 2018 Sarah married Matt Hanley at Seattle University’s Chapel of St. Ignatius with a subsequent reception at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

Marc Dela Cruz ’97: New Yorker Marc plays many roles in the Broadway

Prep alums in the bridal party included:

musical Hamilton. See the story about Marc on page 20.

Stephanie Comstock '12 (Maid of Honor), Sarah Falcone '08, Lauren (Murray) Pecoraro '08, and Maureen (Cahill) Soto '08.

Former Prep teacher Fr. Bryan Pham, S.J. officiated. About 20 other Prep alums—family and friends of the bride and groom—were also in attendance.

Michael Krueger ’01: Michael visited with the Dahl family when he was in Seattle from New York. Michael is pictured with (from left to right): Berit Dahl ’07, Anders Dahl ’05, Sydney Dahl ’09, and Oscar Dahl ’01.

Caitlin (Corr) Donnelly '08: Caitlin and Patrick Donnelly ’08 were married in September at Suncadia Resort. The couple met at Seattle Prep, as did the bride’s parents, Caroline (Tobin) '79 and Chris Corr '79.

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We want to share your news, updates, and stories with your fellow Panthers! Send your Class Notes to alum@seaprep.org, or visit www.seaprep.org/alumni to make a submission online.

The celebration included many Prep alums and a special blessing

class their senior year at Prep and were good friends until they started

by Fr. Paul Fitterer, S.J. The wedding party included (left to right):

dating after their first year of college. John went to the University of

Ian Tierney ’08, Nico Fearn ’07, Trent Zottoli ’08, James Conti, Alex

Chicago and Nina went to Vassar College. Prep alums at the wedding

Wheatley ’08, Mark Spellman, Kirk Piper ’07, Victor Steinbrueck ’07,

were: Katie Salem ’13, Steve Andersen ’13, Emily Wise ’11, and Will

Connor Corr ’10, Connor Donnelly ’04, Erin Corr, Jacklyn (Ritchey)

Cooper ’11, Joe Walker ’11, Andrew Walker ’08, Sean Henderson ’02,

Story ’08, Ashley (Hogan) Schmidt ’08, Daria Hefler, Kelsey Wheatley,

Terry Read ’70, and great-uncle Lawrence Joseph Read ’53.

Katie Corr ’07, Katie Ahrens, Olivia Kristof, and Brittney Moore.

Michael Penuelas ’11: Michael is working for

Alex Kuehl ’09: Alex recently moved to

Washington State Representative Sharon

Washington, D.C. after graduating

Shewmake, in the House of Representatives. He

with a master’s degree in international

recently co-authored a textbook: Nourished Plant –

studies from the University of

Sustainability in the Global Food System.

Washington. He currently works as a case manager for a refugee resettlement

Dan Bladow ’12: Dan finished volunteering in the Peace Corps and is

agency in Virginia. In fall 2019 Alex

now starting a small agricultural startup with operations based in

will start a PhD program at American

Mozambique, Africa.

University's School of International Service in pursuit of a doctorate in International Relations. He will

Ian Hajnosz ’13: Ian is proud to be doing post-grad work at the University

continue his research on refugee crises and forced displacement. and

of Edinburgh in Scotland in the field of Social Psychology. Ian says

further his Arabic language skills.

he was able to obtain a spot in this program because of the great

Jessica (Bladow) Bellow ’10: Jessica married Dan Bellow this past year!

foundation he received at Prep!

Cozette Padon ’13: Cozette is a Community Health

Congrats to the happy couple.

Advisor in the Peace Corps, on the Southeast

E.J. Cummins ’10: E.J. recently completed her master’s degree in

coast of Madagascar. Cozette’s time at Seattle

chemistry at Western Washington University. E.J. accepted a position

Prep prepared her well for her current experience.

at Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute and is excited to be

She is enjoying working with the incredibly

back in Seattle!

resilient, truly happy, beautiful people in her community and throughout Madagascar, more than she could have ever imagined.

Gabe Dunatov ’14: Gabe recently graduated from Occidental College and is now a News Assistant for Morning Edition at National Public Radio in Washington D.C.

Patrick Spanel ’15: Patrick is a graduate of University of California Santa Barbra and has accepted a two-year commitment with the Peace Corps. He will be stationed in Paraguay.

Nina Andersen ’11: Nina and John Salem ’11 were married at Fireseed Catering on Whidbey Island. They first met in Mr. Bond’s physics

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TJ Werner ’15: TJ is a graduate of American University and will begin graduate studies in the Netherlands this fall.

Young Alums on Campus We always enjoy when our alums come to visit Prep. This spring we had several different groups of young alums stop by and say hello:

Naderi Tweedy ’18, Mars Conn ’17, and Alex Campbell ’17.

Aliyana Haag ’18, Pray Shiferaw Kyle Lydon ’16, Emma Kelly ’16, Chris Sheppard ’16, Ryan Blair ’16, and ’18, Elisa King ’18, Rosa Carter ’18, Philip Vien ’16.

Sofia Gutierrez ’18, and Sophie Freeman ’18.

Ben Bladow ’16: Ben is a student of Gonzaga University majoring in

Meghan McLaughlin ’16: Meghan is now the Editor in Chief of the student

math and engineering.

newspaper at Santa Clara University. Congrats, Meghan!

Avery Brown ’16: Avery is the head

Max Buchanan ’17: Max visited Prep

novice coach for the Green Lake

after finishing his second year at the

Rowing Crew. She enjoys coaching

United States Coast Guard Academy.

and being out on the water!

Noah Brown ’16: Noah came back to campus, over the holidays, to visit teachers and his younger sister, Amanda Brown ’21. Noah is enjoying being a student at Marquette University.

Collin Welp ’17: Collin came to visit campus during his spring break. Collin plays for UC Irvine and performed well in his first NCAA tournament games!

Emma Conaty ’18: Emma stopped by campus to visit with Prep teachers. She is pictured here with Prep President Kent Hickey. Emma is on the varsity women’s rowing team at Washington State University.

Seth Chism ’16: Seth and his fellow alums, John Jackman ’16 and

Annie Bladow ’18: Annie is proud to be serving in the Merchant Marines

Christian Smith ’16 caught up at a Prep football game this past fall.

where she currently attends college in Kings Point, New York.

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ALUMNI CALENDAR RSVP to alumni events at: www.seaprep.org/alumni

JULY 2019 Thursday, July 18th Seattle Prep’s Golf Classic Redmond Ridge Shotgun start at 1:30 PM Friday, July 19th Alumni and Friends Social Prep Campus 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Saturday, July 20th Fr. Sullivan Run Lower Woodland Park 12:30 PM Individual Class Reunion Gatherings If your class year ends in a 4 or 9, this is your reunion year!

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Sunday, July 21st Golden Panther Mass and Brunch (graduates welcome from the Class of 1969 or earlier) Prep Campus Mass at 10:30 AM Our Lady of Montserrat Chapel Brunch (following Mass) Patricia and James Navone ’54 Great Room

SEPTEMBER 2019 Thursday, September 12th Mass of the Holy Spirit T.C. McHugh Gymnasium 10:35 AM – 11:50 AM

Thursday, September 19th Raise the Roof and Hall of Fame Induction T.C. McHugh Gymnasium 5:00 PM Friday, September 27th Homecoming Alumni Social West Seattle Golf Course Banquet Room 5:30 – 7:00 PM Heavy appetizers and beverages will be served

NOVEMBER 2019 Friday, November 1st All Saints Day Mass T.C. McHugh Gymnasium 10:35 AM – 11:50 AM

IN MEMORIAM The Seattle Prep community remembers all of our alumni and friends who have passed away as of April 1, 2019.

AL U M N I

F R IEND S

Joseph Ford ’41

Current and former faculty and staff, and current and former members of Prep’s Board of Trustees

Fr. Thomas Lane ’45 Don Williams ’45 Joseph “Joe” Faccone” ‘46

Kellogg Metcalf

Laurence “Tyke” Furey ’48 Alfred Lorenz ’50 Richard “Dick” Purpur ’51 William O’Connell ’53 Com. Gerald “Jere” Bunn ’54 Ralph Alfieri ’55 Owen Lichtenwalner ’55 John Bradley ’56 William Harold Castle ’57 Joseph “Joe” Douglas ’58 Edward Ninneman ’58 Alec Brindle ’59 William “Nick” Mathais ’61 Terrance “Terry” O’Brien ’61 Tony Aversano ’62 John Rogers ’64 John Linder ’65 R. Timothy “Tim” Tobin ’69 John Gay ’80 Ben Hattrup ’86 Charlotte Loveland Pruitt ’92 Meghan Firnstahl ’00 Matt Gasparich ’00 Melissa (Chen) Sours ’07

“Those who carry God in their hearts bear heaven with them wherever they go.”

– St. Ignatius

Alexander (Alex) Shefs ’12 Pete LeeWays ’18

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BY K AT R I N A F R E E B U R G

Life Lessons Be kind. Say thank you.

For information about starting or supporting an endowment, visit www. seaprep.org/endowments and contact Katrina Freeburg at kfreeburg@ seaprep.org or call 206-577-2237

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Two simple lessons that Parvez Anandam, Ph.D. and Sudeshna Sen, Ph.D. want to impart to their children, and to the next generation. “The universe might not propel you forward for being kind, but it’s important,” Parvez stresses.

It is kindness that changed the trajectory of Parvez’ family. At a young age his father, Ignatius “Victor” Anandam, lost his own father and was essentially adopted by the Jesuits. Victor embraced their teachings; raising his family Catholic, attending daily Mass and sending Parvez to a Jesuit college.

Education was a priority. “Our fathers were self-made men, our mothers strong and educated,” says Parvez.

“All four of our parents have graduate degrees. My father became a professor of mathematics and Sudeshna’s father became a doctor and professor. They encouraged Sudeshna and me to pursue our interests, even if we didn’t follow our peers into medicine or engineering.”

A college course on Gandhian philosophy helped Parvez find his voice and foster a sense of empathy.

He says, “Jesuits are awesome; they are warriors and philosophers, people of action and deep thinkers. Jesuit education teaches you to deeply understand other points of view, not just your Catholic perspective, so you can truly know your place in the world.”

Parvez found inspiration in books by Richard Feynman and Stephen Hawking. Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman! showed a scientist having fun and doing important work at the same time. In A Brief History of Time, he was struck by the final paragraph: ‘…why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we should know the mind of God.’ Parvez pursued his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Oregon, and his research allowed him to delve deeply into Theoretical Particle Physics, to explore the mind of God. Sudeshna’s interests, nurtured by Carmelite nuns at an all-girls high school, led her to study three languages, ultimately choosing Japanese in college. “I loved my school. Catholic education instills curiosity. It compels one to ask why? And what more? We want that curiosity and inquisitive spirit for our kids too, and for all kids."

A turning point came near the end of Sudeshna’s undergraduate schooling when she won a Japanese Ministry of Education scholarship to study in Japan. She diligently sat in class for weeks until her advisor told her

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that the scholarship was for her to travel, meet people, and not bury herself in books. “This was wonderful! How often is a 19-year-old told to skip class?” she marvels.

After finishing her study in Japan, Sudeshna knew it was time to make a decision. “I was an outspoken kid in India and an outspoken teenager in Japan. If I wasn’t going to marry and settle down, I must have a career plan,” she says with a smile. She took the entrance test to pursue graduate school and find a place that would encourage unconventional and radical thought.

“I'm constantly drawn to strong female voices,” says Sudeshna. She chose to specialize in 10th-century women’s writing, a unique period in Japanese history when women exerted influence through the Empress’s court and her ladies’ writings.

Sudeshna jokes that studying feminist theory won’t get you a job, but it will teach you how to look at life. “With the current political and social culture, it’s important for women to be aware of female agency, and for all students to be self-aware. You have to speak up for the world to listen. Education teaches kids to speak up, and Catholic education encourages excellence.”

Frank Firmani, a former Prep parent and a benefactor, befriended Parvez at the gym and encouraged him to consider Seattle Prep for his children. When their son decided to enroll, Parvez and Sudeshna immediately set up an endowment providing unrestricted operating support to the school. They say, “Students are here not just for a grade, but for the sake of learning. You learn because you love the feeling of enlightenment, you understand the world better. We want to encourage that for all students.”

Sudeshna, now a filmmaker, is reflective. “I've been extremely fortunate in life. I got breaks that others did not. People help you, and you are grateful. My parents taught me that none of us can do what we do alone. Parvez and I share this feeling of gratitude and a commitment to pay it forward.”

2019 College and University Acceptances Washington State Public Universities

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