The Vector | Spring/Summer 2021

Spring/Summer 2021

FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

OUR MISSION

Moreau Catholic High School is dedicated to the legacy and values of the Congregation of Holy Cross and its founder Blessed Basil Moreau. We are a college-preparatory school committed to outstanding achievement.

As a community of faith, we prepare our students through academic, social and spiritual learning experiences that form and transform them as they become responsible citizens of our global community.

7

SCHOOL NEWS

27

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

37

40

ATHLETICS

ALUMNI

FEATURES

22

28

40

TO SERVE WITH ZEAL

YOU ARE HERE

BAPTISM BY FIRE

Terry Lee reflects on his 23 years of service to Moreau Catholic before starting his new role as Director of School Sponsorship with the Brothers of Holy Cross.

The dance program presents an innovative hybrid dance concert and brings live performance back to Moreau Catholic for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Lionel Feliciano ’03 and Chris Ingram ’03 share their experiences as firefighters in a state plagued with ever intensifying fire danger.

COVER STORY 15

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021 For the first time in 40 plus years, the Commencement Ceremony returns to the MCHS campus as one of many reimagined events to celebrate the graduates of 2021.

EDITOR AND DESIGN Elizabeth (Morales) Zepeda ’03

FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

MOREAUCATHOLIC.ORG Comments or suggestions for The Vector are welcome. Email us at communications@ moreaucatholic.org

CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Alparone ’00 Erica Escalante Adrianne Ford Mary McInerney Dan Morrison ’69

PHOTOGRAPHY Dean Barnes Samuel Barnes ’23 Timothy Chaparro Dominic Earney ’22 Still Light Studios Screenshots submitted by Moreau Catholic faculty

THE VECTOR is published two times a year by Moreau Catholic High School | 27170 Mission Boulevard | Hayward, CA 94544 510.881.4300

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings Mariners!

We are thrilled to share with you good news from Mission Boulevard. This is a message of gratitude and hope, and an invitation to come home. As your new President, I am excited to continue all of the great traditions of Moreau Catholic and also bring some new ideas, and I welcome your insights and engagement as we strive to be better every day. As we recover and emerge from a time of great challenge and strife, I take heart knowing that our founder Blessed Basil Moreau wanted us to “prepare our students for better times than these.” We have been truly living out our vocation as Holy Cross educators and doing phenomenal work as we closed the 2020-2021 school year.

Here at Moreau, we don’t want business to go back to usual. We want to remember all we have lost, and embrace our renewed connection to what matters most—being family, building respect, educating hearts and minds, and bringing hope to each other and to our world. I invite you to peruse this Vector and remember what you love about being a Mariner. Let’s all recommit to making waves in the world today by using our gifts to live out our values and amplify transformation, together.

As we celebrate our beloved graduates, we thank them for the difference they have already made in our lives and for the great work they will do with all they have learned at Moreau Catholic.

We thank all of our students for their resilience and grit, and we thank our faculty, staff, and coaches for their tenacity and creativity during this pandemic. We thank our parents, guardians, benefactors, and alumni for faithfully supporting us in this journey toward outstanding achievement for all of our students.

In this issue, we also thank some titans of Moreau Catholic who have shaped the minds and hearts of generations of students and will be moving on, and we welcome and thank our rising leaders Colleen Galloway ’77, Toni West, and Austin Reaker.

Although we have been apart, we have never been alone. We have grown and changed, but at our core we will always be Mariners. And as we move forward together, let’s move with hope. Like Sr. Helen Prejean, let’s speak out when our voices are needed. Like Dan Morrison ‘69, let’s forgive and give of ourselves. Let’s fearlessly serve like Lionel Feliciano ‘03 and Chris Ingram ‘03. Like our student artists, TEDx speakers, student athletes, and student leaders, let’s make transformation happen now. Our community can’t wait—let’s bring that hope!

As Angela Demmel and our students reminded me in our groundbreaking dance concert, we are here. And we are together. And that, beloved Mariners, is everything.

Thank you for reading this Vector, and thank you for your continued engagement and support of Moreau Catholic High School. Know that the lights are on for you at Moreau Catholic always to welcome you home.

With gratitude and hope,

Dr. Liz Guneratne President 4

|

THE VECTOR

moreaucatholic.org

|

5

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome back, everyone!

We are so excited to have our Mariner family back on campus. Our site services team has been hard at work refreshing the school in preparation for the new school year.

For some of you, this will be your first time on campus for fulltime, in-person learning and interacting face to face with your teachers and classmates.

For others, it will be a return to what you knew prior to the pandemic and a time of reacquanting yourself with the school and with your friends.

For my fellow alumni, it will be the first chance to get back on campus for special events, performances, and athletic competitions in over a year.

Wherever you are on your Mariner journey, our administration, faculty, and staff are eager to get to know you, support you, and welcome you!

-Colleen Galloway ’77 Principal

6

|

THE VECTOR

DIGNITY OF GUILTY LIFE A member of the Congregation of Saint Joseph (CSJ) based in New Orleans, Sister Helen Prejean’s calm, Southern drawl is comforting and inviting while her message is passionate and invigorating.

Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for playing her in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking, which is based on Sister Helen’s book by the same name. But her work to abolish the death penalty began over a decade prior to the film. Sister Helen sat down with Moreau Catholic’s Speak Out podcast to have a conversation with the Social Justice Leadership (SJL) students about the death penalty and our role as Catholics in preserving the sacred right to life, even for those who have committed acts of murder.

As a young woman, she believed that following the way of Jesus meant being charitable, a good teacher, kind, and loving. She joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille at just 18 years old in 1957.

Over the years, she learned that in order to truly follow the way of Jesus, she must also lead a life of activism. She says, “God’s grace wakes us up… when we wake up, we take action…as we awaken, we make change.” In 1982, as part of her ministry’s community outreach program, Sister Helen began corresponding with death row inmate Elmo Patrick Sonnier. She became his spiritual adviser in the months leading up to his execution. It was during this time that she learned more about the death penalty, how it affects all involved, and began actively working to abolish it. For her, it became about the “meeting of the human being” no matter the sins they committed.

She defines the death penalty as “the most premeditated form of killing,” acknowledging that even the cause of death is listed as “homicide” on the death certificates of executed prisoners.

She cites the 1948 United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 3 which proclaims simply, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.” It wasn’t until 70 years later in 2018, that the Catholic Church changed its official Catechism to include

the death penalty as a violation of the right to life, calling it “an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and deeming it “inadmissible” in all cases.

Not only are violations of the right to life unholy, but they are also undemocratic. She says, “[It’s] the last vestige of the rite of kings when you have power over life like that.” During her conversation with SJL, Sister Helen cautions listeners to “watch how religion is used by political leaders to seal in [violations of human rights].” She uses former Attorney General Jeff Sessions as an example.

During the height of family separation at the US/ Mexico border, Sessions quoted Saint Paul to justify these inhumane separations. This is what Sister Helen calls “putting the holy on it.”

What is desperately needed in this work to abolish the death penalty, she says, is the election and appointment of prosecutors who will not seek the death penalty. Since poverty and systemic racism play a huge part in who ends up on death row, she also emphasizes the need for good public defenders, a career to consider for students interested in studying law.

Sister Helen is hopeful for the future, saying, “Young people are a power force for change in this country.” She leaves the students with these words of unity and encouragement: “The best definition of justice is ‘just us.’”

To hear the entire conversation with Sister Helen, go to tinyurl.com/MCHS-Pod and click on Episode 7: Dignity of a Guilty Life.

To read more about Sister Helen, visit www. sisterhelen.org. moreaucatholic.org

|

7

MoreauCatholicHS

8

|

THE VECTOR

The seats were empty, there was no applause, and there was a strange level of calm for an event that runs on courage, adrenaline, and excitement.

The 2020-2021 school year may have brought some changes and challenges, but one thing was constant: our students’ desire and passion to share their voices. At our 2021 TEDxMoreauCathoicHS event, nine Moreau Catholic seniors shared their ideas and left a lasting impact and legacy. The theme of this year’s event was “together” and the content of their talks ranged from cultural appropriation, to the sexism women face, to concussion prevention and management.

We are incredibly proud of our students for persevering through a challenging year and having the strength and courage to stand on stage and share their voices with the world. Our students’ TEDx talks can be found on the TEDx website and YouTube page. If you are interested in supporting our TEDx program, please reach out to Mary McInerney at mmcinerney@moreaucatholic.org.

-Mary McInerney TEDx Coordinator and Educational Technology Coordinator moreaucatholic.org |

9

Topics

Use this QR code to view all the together talks

Brooke Nunes spoke of the unsolicited opinions from men that women receive every day.

Ashley To expounded on the need to teach young girls to not shrink themselves to accommodate men.

Biana Punzalan considered the history of Colorism in the Philippines and how to confront this prejudice.

Teri Beasley highlighted the roots and consequences of cultural appropriation.

Carissa Ott articulated the gravity of brain trauma and the need for concussion treatment.

Mahda Fallay expressed the importance of athletes sharing their voice and being heard.

Mariya Malik unearthed the duality of living as a child of immigrants.

10

|

THE VECTOR

Aarush Kapur formulated the need for a breakdown of the stigma surrounding mental health.

Katrina Pace spoke of self-love and how we can break societal standards to be comfortable in our own skin.

Moreau Catholic is excited and honored to reintroduce three of our faculty and staff members as they move into new roles at the school.

alumni, and twenty year MCHS faculty/staff veteran, took on the role of Moreau Catholic’s eleventh principal on July 1, 2021. She shares, “I live and breathe MCHS – After a national search, the it is part of who I am, where I came Principal Search Committee, led by from, and where I want to be.”

Board of Trustees member Maritza Ilario, unanimously recommended Toni West, formerly the Associate Colleen Galloway ’77 to be the Dean of Students, will take on next principal of Moreau Catholic the newly created position of High School. Ilario says that the Assistant Principal of Climate and goal of the search committee Culture starting next school year. was “selecting someone who West will continue to lead us in demonstrated leadership, developing an equitable climate excellent communication skills, and inclusive culture through an embodiment of Holy Cross Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) values, engagement with students development for both adults and and parents, and commitment to students, relationship building, continuing to build a strong school and restorative practices. She will culture and academic gains that manage the Associate Dean of have been made.” Galloway, who Students and Campus Supervisors is an alumna, parent of MCHS and oversee matters involving

possible disciplinary action. West will coordinate with the Associate Dean of Students to administer the school’s emergency plan and campus safety and security.

Finally, Austin Reaker joins this team as the new Associate Dean of Students. This is a part-time position as Reaker will continue to teach some science classes, starting on August 1st. He will be working closely with West and the Campus Supervisors to address concerns regarding student behavior and accountability.

As we move toward the start of a new school year, we pray for these three, and all our faculty and staff members, that they may continue to live out and find fulfillment in the mission of Blessed Basil Moreau. moreaucatholic.org

|

11

A GIFT FROM THE HEART

The Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 Alumni Office Endowment Established by Dan Morrison ’69 Dan Morrison ’69 has generously created a $100,000 endowment in honor of Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76. According to Morrison, “Diana has been supportive and professional in her enthusiasm for Moreau and the alumni events she shepherds.

The Class of 1969’s 50th Reunion as well as other reunions were great examples of Diana’s guidance, encouragement, and constant attention to details.”

DeFrance shares, “I was shocked, honored, and humbled to hear Dan named the endowment after me. I must admit, I was nervous planning the first 50th Reunion for the school. Dan and I worked for over 2 years planning his 50th Reunion and it was a pleasure to see how beautiful the event turned out...Thank you Dan from the bottom of my heart for your most generous gift to our alma mater.”

The endowment will enhance operating expenses for other Mariner classes celebrating their milestone reunions (25th, 50th, and 75th). This endowment will also support a rising senior whose family is experiencing financial challenges 12

|

THE VECTOR

to complete their final year. This student will demonstrate a positive academic and community service record.

Morrison is a member of the first graduating class of (then named) Moreau High School. His family has deep roots in the Mariner community. His siblings and nephew all graduated from Moreau: Mike ’70, Norman ’71, Walter ’74, Brian ’77, Kathleen ’80, Theresa ’81, and Brandon ’05. His mother, Agnes, began as a part time administrative assistant at Moreau and ended her years of service as the school’s registrar. She passed away in February 2021. Morrison’s aunt, Sr. Ann Marguerite Souza, was a German, Band, Chorus, and Choir teacher at Moreau in the ’70s. His cousins were also faculty members: Dennise O’Neill (English) and Ann Marie Everton (Social Studies).

On the following page, Morrison expresses his gratitude for Moreau and DeFrance, and describes his reasoning for creating this endowment.

When I thought about how I wanted to divide up my estate, I decided that education had brought me a career and enlightenment. As a retired teacher, I am grateful for my education and used the great teachers I had as models for my teaching practice. As a member of the LGBTQ community and as a member of the human race, I want this gift to be a sign of forgiveness for the exclusion I have experienced as a person. At the same time, it is a thank you for the acceptance and respect I have experienced with former staff and the current Alumni Manager. As an alumnus, I want the Alumni Office to be able to perpetuate the celebrations of all who have graduated from Moreau as well as the dedication of the staff who guided their learning experience and influenced their lives.

The high school years are a mixture of critical mind, body, and spiritual development. The dedication of the staff in recognizing students as individuals is very important. Critical thinking, listening, and determining goals are important aspects of development, but self awareness, empowerment, purpose, accountability, resilience, and personal growth are just as important. I was so fortunate to have had a principal who found others to stand shoulder to shoulder with him to navigate Moreau into a place where I began my journey which challenged my thinking, developed my integrity, promoted accountability, established my purpose, acknowledged my value, experienced trust and consequence, learned the difference between tolerance and acceptance, and determined choice and compliance.

This endowment is the result of much reflection and consideration. It is a way to demonstrate forgiveness and promote acceptance of change and reality for all human beings without judgment to race, gender, sexual orientation, or any label designed to separate

or divide people. This endowment is to support all alumni and the celebrations and gifts they bring to the Mariner family.

This gift is a gift from my heart for all of my classmates and all alumni we cannot find or who don’t want to be found. This gift is in Diana’s name because of her efforts to find and welcome all alumni back to Moreau to celebrate their experiences at Moreau without judgment and with open arms. She is an outstanding alumna and exemplifies through her work the family atmosphere of love and acceptance.

Diana’s demonstration of inclusiveness, enthusiasm, and follow through with alumni and the events planned are reminiscent of the dedication of The Five Original Navigators—Brother Fisher, Phil White, Patrick Wagener, Gale (Peachy) Perkey, and Brother Alfred—who were the founding faculty and staff of Moreau. She is unselfish with her time and effort to be of service and dedication to Moreau and the events she plans with alumni. This endowment is in recognition of that effort and dedication. The work Diana has done for alumni is a model that should be sustained and followed with as much rigor and love that Diana has brought to her work. This endowment is to encourage and sustain the Alumni Office and the legacy of Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76.

I believe the Alumni Department should be valued, supported, and sustained financially. This department is the home of opportunities for former students like me who are potential resources to maintain and keep the Spirit of the First Navigators and founders’ dedication to making a difference in students’ lives. The Alumni Office, under the guidance of Diana, has set a foundation that exemplifies and personifies the Mariner spirit and dedication to graduates and students.

-Dan Morrison ’69

SAVE THE DATE The Navigators Monument Dedication Ceremony Saturday, October 9, 2021 11:00 a.m. - Mary's Grotto, MCHS Campus Please contact Diana (Straggas) DeFrance '76 at ddefrance@moreaucatholic.org for more information moreaucatholic.org

|

13

HOLY CROSS EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR C a it li n R il ey

Rookie Year: 20 14 Position: Mathematics Department Ch air

Ri n i l t Cai C h r is t in e

l ey

Career Highlig hts: “Being a stu dent of this teacher makes you feel like sh e is on your team, that she is cheering you on every step of the way, becaus e she is. In fact I found myself wanting to impr ove to make he r proud, and when I did impr ove I could see just how proud she was. Becaus e what makes this teacher so special is that she was there for me at my low and my highs an s d at the end of my year in her class, I began to see myself the way she had seen me all alo ng, I began to push myself th way she had pu e shed me all alo ng, and I bega to believe in m n yself the way sh e believed in m all along.” -Bro e oke Nunes ’21 2021 Holy Cross Educators of the Year

K r is m a n

Rookie Ye ar: 1980 Position: G irls’ P.E. Teacher

Career Hig hlights: “She sees her studen ts as peop be an ath le, lete, artist, writer, or m whether that possesses usician. She the ability to see bey sometimes ond a stud se ent, cannot. She eing things that we ourselves nurtures us person wit b y ch er is hi hin her cla ssroom and ng every campus...S around he remind s her stud can contin ents of wa ue to impro ys th ve themse shares he lves and su ey r wisdom in btly ho greater.” -E pes of ma lla Murchis king us all on ’22 2021 Holy Cross Educ ators

14

|

THE VECTOR

of the Year

C hrist

ine

s Kri

man

Senior Celebrations Reimagined Director of Student Activities, Nichole McGowan, along with the rest of the leadership team and student leaders faced the many challenges presented by COVID restrictions to reimagine and even create special events to celebrate the class of 2021.

From having Baccaluareate Mass and Commencement on campus to experiencing Moreau’s inaugural Senior Sunset, graduates got a multifaceted and much deserved send off. Though these celebrations don’t make up for the difficult and unexpected senior year they experienced, we hope that the graduates felt as loved and appreciated as they truly are to the Moreau Catholic community.

moreaucatholic.org

|

15

MEET THE CLASS OF 2021’s Salutatorian & Valedictorian 16

|

THE THEVECTOR VECTOR

that inspiration forward, sharing the moment he is most proud of: “I remember one moment, a younger freshman came up to me [and said] ‘You inspired me to be a part of PSA and inspired me to do all these things’ And that’s really what I look forward to and what motivates me the most.”

For the first time in forty years, Mariners held the Commencement Ceremony on the Moreau Catholic campus. Despite a year off campus in distance learning and missing most senior year traditions, the class of 2021 was able to celebrate their Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation with their classmates, family, faculty, staff, and friends.

Commencement speakers Zachary Ron Usac ’21 and Carissa Ott ’21 spoke to and on behalf of their classmates as Salutatorian and Valedictorian, respectively.

Usac, whose speech reflected on the class’s four years at Moreau, has been heavily involved in Mariner life throughout his four years as a saxophonist in the band, a member of student government, a music minister, a member of the Pilipinx Student Association (PSA), and on several different sports teams. When asked what motivated him to be so involved, he shares, “I think it’s just the fact that everything is just so welcoming.” He adds that MCHS offers so much to the students that he can’t help but want to be part of it all.

He says that his sister, Felicity ’18, is one of his biggest inspirations. He shares that because she was so involved at MCHS that he was moved to follow in her footsteps. Usac also says that his big sister inspired him to follow his passions, one of those being business. He hopes to major in finance at either the University of Portland or Pepperdine University in order to follow his entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, Usac has started his own unofficial businesses, such as sneaker reselling, and he hopes that drive and experience coupled with a formal business background can lead him to starting a formal business in the future.

Speaking of looking forward, Ott’s speech was about just that. After the year her class in particular had, she wanted to inspire her classmates to look forward and remember this year as a tiny bump in the road of their lifelong journey. She says, “I feel like I’m always just naturally someone that looks toward the future.

As high school comes to an end, that’s a pretty significant part in our lives, but at the same time, it’s really just the beginning.”

Her new beginning will be at UCLA where she will study neuroscience. As the founder of the Medical Education Direction club, or MED club, Ott has shared her love of science and medicine with other Mariners. She shares, “I’ve always been interested in science, biology and chemistry in particular. I grew up watching Grey’s Anatomy and everything.

So that kind of influenced me to be a doctor. But really, it was my dad. He suffers from a neurological condition, so I want to help people like him.”

Despite facing the challenges of helping her dad manage his condition by taking extra online courses as well as commuting from her home in San Jose, Ott was able to make the most of her time as a Mariner. In addition to MED club, Ott is also grateful for her time in the dance program and on the Cross Country and Track & Field teams.

Those experiences contributed to the deep sense of community that she is so grateful for: “I feel like I met so many people with so many different experiences. And I was really able to learn from diverse perspectives, and grow as an individual, and hopefully help others grow as well.”

We wish these two and all the 2021 graduates many blessings in their undoubtedly bright futures!

Usac also gives a lot of credit for his success in high school to his mentors Ted Newton, Band Director, and Jerico Abanico, Boys’ Volleyball Coach and Social Justice Coordinator. Usac has known Abanico since middle school and he says that both men have inspired and challenged him to be the person he is today. In fact, he prides himself on paying moreaucatholic.org

|

17

18

|

THE VECTOR

moreaucatholic.org |

19

With over 120 years at Moreau Catholic between them, these four beloved Mariner faculty members are moving on to a well-earned retirement. Though we will miss them, they will always be an important part of the Mariner family.

Dorothy Lubin has been at Moreau Catholic since 2015 as a science teacher and has been the Science Department Chair for the last two years.

“I would have to say that being part of the Moreau community has continually renewed my faith in humanity because there are so many generous, kind, compassionate, and talented individuals here.

I have had the support and latitude to try new ways of teaching and learning, which has been an amazing professional experience. My plans are to spend more time with my family, travel, dig into the pile of books I’ve been wanting to read, and embrace a life without bells.”

20

|

THE VECTOR

Cheryl Steeb began working at Moreau Catholic in 1985. Her partner, Michael Steeb, whom she met here, retired from Moreau Catholic in 2016.

During her tenure she has served as various class’s moderator, Writing Coordinator, and English Department Chair.

“To be honest, there’s too much to try to encapsulate into a blurb about my time at Moreau, but some plans for the future include a trip to Greece and Croatia next spring, some classes in literature and art history, and a lot of hiking, preferably in the mountains.“

Christine Krisman has been at MCHS since 1980.

Over these 41 years she has served as PE teacher, Athletic Department Chair, Impact Coordinator, Community Advisory, Driver’s Education Teacher, and Athletic Director. She has also coached Cross Country, Track, Volleyball, Badminton, Intramurals, Soccer, and Softball. She is also a Mariner alumni mom to Kacey ’03, Kimberly ’03, and Tiffany ’05.

“After teaching at Presentation High in Berkeley for 3 years, I came to Moreau and in a twist of fate, the person I was replacing at Moreau, replaced me at Presentation. I also discovered an interesting connection with the person who I would work with closely, and develop a life long friendship with, Janet Chrisman. We shared a ‘best friend’, she in elementary school and me in junior high school.

Both of these are examples of how God has had a hand in directing me along the path of my life. I married an alumnus from Moreau class of 1974, Mike Krisman, and have made some of my closest and longest lasting friendships with the students, faculty, and athletes at Moreau. I have been truly blessed to work at a place that puts student success first, and ensures that everyone in the school has the opportunity to stay connected. I hope that my legacy is that I cared deeply about providing the best experience I could for my students, parent community, athletes, and colleagues and that they knew and still know how much I care about them.

Always a Mariner!”

Jim Patterson has been at Moreau since 1978. In his time here he has served as a bus driver, Student Senate moderator, various class’s moderator, Learning Center supervisor, College Workshop teacher, Student Testing supervisor, and Counseling Department Chair for most of his career.

“Thank you to the students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and the Brothers of Holy Cross for the opportunity to be part of this experience.”

Artwork by Carson Moses ’21

moreaucatholic.org

|

21

22

|

THE VECTOR

“God brought me to Moreau and he gave me a mission, not a job or even a career. But he gave me an answer, in part, to the meaning of life, my life. And it’s Holy Cross education, to help you all and those who will follow your path after you leave. My days at Moreau are filled with Little Wonders to remind me of what God wants me to do with the rest of my life. The rest is a work in progress.”

-Terry Lee Kairos Retreat Speech

Artwork by Carson Moses ’21

moreaucatholic.org

|

23

The walls and shelves of his office, which once proudly displayed 23 years worth of Moreau Catholic memorabilia, photos of students and faculty, and trinkets from his travels, are now bare and freshly painted in preparation for his successor. Terry Lee announced his appointment as the Director of School Sponsorship with the Brothers of Holy Cross back in September 2020. Over the last ten months, Moreau Catholic has prepared for this transition by promoting Dr. Guneratne to the role of president and Colleen Galloway ’77 to principal. Of thee changes, Mr. Lee says, “I am thrilled that our school will be led by passionate, experienced, and mission-driven Mariners.”

the role of Assistant Principal of Student Activities, then Principal, and finally to President in 2008.

During most of his first year as President, Mr. Lee was acting as both Principal and President until Lauren (Clark) Lek ’97 was promoted from Assistant Principal.

When he began teaching in 1998, Mr. Lee made it a tradition to take a photo with his classes at the end of the year. The thing that resonates most for him in looking back on those photos as well as others taken during his decade of teaching are the happy relationships he built over the years. Building strong relationships is a cornerstone of the vocation of teaching and something on which Moreau Catholic prides With his new appointment itself. Mr. Lee believes, “If you are beginning on July 1, 2021, Mr. Lee not building strong relationships reflected on his years with Moreau with students and colleagues, Catholic. and feeling a sense of joy and Terry Lee came to Moreau Catholic accomplishment, you should not be in this profession.” in 1998, hired by then principal Patricia Geister to teach History He shares that these photos bring and English classes, an ideal back happy memories for him teaching assignment for his love “mostly my willingness to be silly of both subjects and the way they or entertain students.” He blames overlap. He jokes that this is the the students for goading him only job at MCHS for which he into it, but anyone who knows ever officially applied. His natural Mr. Lee knows that he doesn’t enthusiasm, care for students, and take himself too seriously and is his devotion to the mission of the always good for a laugh, as these school soon led him to take on pictures tell us.

24

|

THE VECTOR

A jazz saxophone player in high school, Mr. Lee has long been a big proponent of the arts.

Going to college in New York City introduced him to the world of theatre, a love of which he brought to Moreau Catholic. One of Mr. Lee’s first co-curricular assignments as a teacher was to assist Arlene Hood with moderation of the Theatre Club along with Amy Armstrong. He has always been an advocate for Moreau Catholic’s robust Visual and Performing Arts programs, stating that the arts are “One of the unique ways in a school where you can help students explore, find their voice, be creative, or even be technical. There’s so much in the arts that is very technical and very creative and of course there’s a crossover.”

Mr. Lee is proud to have been part of planning and leading many efforts to make physical enhancements to the school, including: the Transforming Tomorrow campaign (renovating the front of school, science lab, and library, and creating the TV studio), the Campaign for Champions (updating the Al Vermeil Athletic field and track), as well as updates to the Ivaldi Student Center, Teves Theater, and various classrooms. He led the charge to get land from the

Diocese of Oakland for the master site plan. And his final pièce de résistance, the installation of air conditioning throughout the school (anyone who’s been in the main building during the summer will understand what a true blessing this is!).

Despite all of these physical improvements, there were still families who could not come to Moreau because the school could not accommodate their learning needs. Mr. Lee shares that telling families there wasn’t a place for

them was difficult. So, in addition to tangible improvements to the school, Mr. Lee is most proud of the consistently innovative work Moreau Catholic does to fulfill the mission and meet more and more students where they are, particularly the Saints & Scholars Program that supports students who require accommodations in the classroom. He says, “Where [students are] at right now in the summer of 2021 is different than where they were when I started in 1998 and it’s different from when

the school opened in 1965…As Fr. Moreau says, we have to change with the times.”

Taking all of this in, Mr. Lee comments that he’s “lucky to have had 23 years in a place and to be able to look back and say, ‘We did some great things together.’”And Moreau Catholic is lucky to have had a leader who so thoroughly embodies and lives out Holy Cross values and principles every day.

Thank you, Terry Lee, and may God bless you in this next phase of your Holy Cross journey.

Dear Mariners, Thank you all for the many happy memories—to my former students, to those in my alphabet when I was Assistant Principal, to all the colleagues and Trustees I have worked with other the years, to the alumni community, and all the many donors and supporters who said yes when we needed you to help make our dreams come true. I am humbled and blessed, and truly grateful for those who believed in me and took a chance on me—most importantly, our former Principal Patricia Geister, and our former President Dr. Joseph Connell; and most recently, Brother Thomas Dziekan, C.S.C. and Brother Donald Blauvelt, C.S.C., who I will be working closely with in my new role.

Until we meet again, may God hold you all in the palm of His hand.

Ave Crux, Spes Unica! Go Mariners!

Terry Lee

We are so grateful for all that Mr. Lee has done for Moreau Catholic, so it is with a spirit of gratitude that we would like to honor him for his years of devotion and commitment by establishing an endowment named in his honor.

This endowment will not only honor Mr. Lee’s legacy but also provide much-needed tuition assistance to those in the Moreau Catholic Family who are most in need. The endowment will support an incoming frosh student who has a demonstrated financial need and has exhibited a high level of academic achievement.

If you wish to contibute to the endowment, use the QR code to contribute online or send your gift in the attached envelope.

moreaucatholic.org

|

25

FOOD FOR THOUGHT A new pilot program at Moreau Catholic aims to help the hungry, reduce food waste and inspire students to ask themselves, “What more can I do to serve my community?”

If you think that no one at Moreau Catholic High School struggles to put enough food on the table, think again, says Toni West.

West, Assistant Principal for Climate and Culture, wants to dispel the notion that families at parochial schools couldn’t face “food insecurity,” a term that the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.”

As West explains, nearly 40 percent of Moreau Catholic students receive some form of financial aid, and unlike public school students, they don’t have access to a free food program provided by state funds. “We have families in need,” she says, and in the era of Covid-19, that need has only grown.

Thanks to a generous $18,000 grant from the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, help is on the way. Soon students in these Mariner families will have more access to the food they need to learn and grow.

The grant will allow Moreau to begin making direct deposits this fall to student meal plan accounts, adding additional funds for food in families where the financial need is greatest. The new boost to School Bucks is the latest addition to the Mariner Mindset Program, which puts into action the mission of Blessed Basil Moreau and the four pillars of a Holy Cross education: Educating Hearts and Minds, Being Family, Bringing Hope and Building Respect.

26

|

THE VECTOR

Whether in one of Moreau’s social justice courses or in an administrative office meeting, students, faculty, and administrators continue to seek out new ways to address problems like food insecurity, both on campus and in the greater community. Together they have breathed life into new ideas that can bring positive change to campus. Ideas like the cafeteria “Share Table” that awaits Mariners when they return from summer break. The new table will be the place for our students to leave that unwanted apple or package of crackers instead of dropping them in the compost or trash. Open to all, the table was put in place to inspire conservation and reduce food waste as well as ease the hunger pangs that can strike any student during a long day of school and co-curricular activities.

West, who served as Associate Dean of Students before stepping into her new role, sees these efforts as one more way to ensure that every student can focus and give their best at school each day. “We always want to prevent students from getting into trouble, to stop problems before they start in the first place,” she says. “Being ‘hangry’ isn’t just an adult problem. We can’t possibly think that the decision making of a 14-year-old isn’t going to be affected.”

Food insecurity has been on the rise during the pandemic and is expected to continue to accelerate for years to come.

According to the California Association of Food Banks, hunger in California has doubled, and in some counties has tripled since Covid first closed school and office doors. But even before the pandemic, food insecurity

impacted far too many families.

Lay-offs at work, unexpected expenses, an accident or health issue can suddenly force a family to choose between buying food and paying bills.

No one should go hungry or do without other basic needs. During the past year that belief has also inspired the Mariner family to come together to organize food and clothing drives for our neighbors hardest hit by the pandemic. These drives have brought over half a ton of rice to families in need as well as nearly 4,000 coats, jackets, sweaters, and pairs of socks to help clothe them.

“Our students are amazing,” West says. “They are not people waiting for others to make changes. They are the game changers.”

Angels Needed: Inquire Within When a student at Moreau experiences a crisis beyond their control, The Angel Fund is here to help.

The fund does what angels do best: swoop in and protect. Your gift can help replace a student’s stolen laptop or provide another with lunch, school supplies, even tickets to a prom that they might have otherwise missed—anything a student may need to get to the other side of an especially tough time and continue their academic journey.

Our investors are the angels who make this support possible. Your tax-deductible donation to The Angel Fund helps us continue to watch over every student at Moreau.

-Adrianne Ford To learn more or give, visit moreaucatholic. org/give/ support-moreau/

Moreau Catholic High School Visual and Performing Arts Department Presents

A Musical

The collective heartbreak and subsequent mourning of the previous year’s musical was profound to our Theatre program of performers and crew whose work deserves an audience. So at the beginning of the year, I joined the chorus of Theatre teachers across the country asking themselves, “What the hell are we going to do?”

Theatre requires a shared space; we didn’t have that. And what message did we want to express through story when the country is tearing itself to pieces in the middle of a pandemic?

We decided to focus on the individuals. Working is real stories about real people who take pride in their work; whether they like their job or not, they are proud of what they accomplish. The cast and crew began work in early 2021, just as vaccines were beginning to go into arms. When filming had concluded, students were back in the classroom and the whole Working team was invited to the Great Mall in Milpitas to watch their work on the big screen—an event that would never have been possible without our new circumstances.

-Patrick Alparone ’00 Theatre Teacher and Working Director

Working 2012 revised version – is presented through special arrangement with Muscial Theatre International (MTI) All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI • www.mtishows.com

moreaucatholic.org

|

27

After the cancellation of last year’s spring concert and a successful virtual winter concert, the MCHS Dance Program got to present live dance once again in the spring concert You Are Here, a hybrid dance experience. Once some of the Alameda County COVID restrictions were lifted, what started out as another virtual concert was reimagined yet again into a partially filmed/ partially live performance. The concert venue became the Al Vermeil Athletic Field, the dance floor was laid out on the track, a forty foot inflatable screen was set up on the field to project the filmed portions of the concert, construction lights were set up to light the performance space, and dancers all wore a uniform of black pants and black “You Are Here” branded t-shirts.

Student choreographers in 28

|

THE VECTOR

the upper division courses were tasked at the beginning of the semester with creating dances for film. They were still getting used to teaching and learning movement over Zoom, recording and editing video clips, and getting their creative vision across in film when they got the opportunity to add an element of live dance to their pieces. Honors dancer, Erin Co ’22, choreographed two pieces and performed in several others. She reflects on the process: “Creating dance for film is such a complex process. Directing a camera is like choreographing on another body...Film also enhances dance in ways that are impossible to do in live performances. As a director, I can control what I want the audience to watch. I can’t control what the audience collectively chooses to focus on in live dance. With that, film

clarifies the choreographic intent even more because the audience gets a closer look at the work and the choreographer is in more control of their vision. However, the whole process challenged me to think super far ahead...The beauty of live dance is that you can change things last minute.

The opportunity to integrate live dance into the production really brought the pieces to a whole new level. It was like watching characters in a movie come to life. I felt that this element of surrealism really drew the audience in.”

Another Honors dancer, Elena Bruce ’21 was a Teaching

Assistant for the Concert Dance class, choreographed two pieces for the show, and performed in many others. She shares, “We all had to go in with an open mind and be ready to change anything if safety became an issue. At times it felt like walking one eggshells because of all the uncertainties. Some opportunities I had as a choreographer were to really connect with other dancers in the program...I was able to be inspired by all of the dancer’s styles and artistic choices. Being able to see dancers transition from online to in person was extremely inspiring and made me want to work even harder.”

Bruce, who will be attending UCLA in the fall and majoring in Dance, added, “I know that I was put on this earth to dance and perform which is why I will never stop. I hope to be able to learn from as many dancers as I can and fully enjoy and appreciate this beautiful art. I also plan to perform frequently in LA. One main goal I have had for a while is that one day I am able to inspire at least one person to love dance the same way I do and to pursue it out of pure passion.”

Kyle del Rosario ’21 was also heavily involved in the success of the concert, from choreographing and performing in many pieces

moreaucatholic.org

|

29

to assisting with concert preparations without being asked. He describes his Honors piece as being “about how screens can damage real-life relationships. I got this idea because during the pandemic, a lot of time was spent on screens because of factors like online school and not being able to go out. Often we would use screens as a pastime, whether that would be social media, video games, Netflix, etc. Screens would remove us from real life, and distance us from the people around us.” Once the concert became hybrid, del Rosario had the creative opportunity to make his live dancers interact with a giant screen in real time, which enhanced the thematic elements of his piece in unanticipated ways.

Anneliese Wirsching ’20 took a semester-long sabbatical from her studies at the University of Hawaii and came on board to assist Dance Program director Angela Demmel as a choreographic and production assistant for this concert. Wirsching states, “Regardless [of the circumstances] the dancers and everyone involved did an excellent job adapting to the situation.

None of this would have been possible without the immense amount of time and work that Ms.

Creating dance for film is such a complex process. Directing a camera is like choreographing on another body” -Erin Co ’22

30

|

THE VECTOR

Demmel put into it. She organized the screen and stage with Heather Radovich ’09, choreographed and edited a majority of the class pieces, and made sure everything went smoothly both days of the show. I am so thankful to have been a part of this experience and will forever be grateful for this dance program. We made history with our hybrid dance concert, especially since it was the first live VAPA performance here at Moreau since the beginning of the pandemic!”

FLOWER GIRLS Top Row: Kalena Manansala ’24, Kaia Hopkins ’24, Kyle Ha ’23 Middle Row: Megan Amaro ’21, Riya Patel ’24, Jhanavi Kotian ’22 Bottom Row: Katherine Cava ’23, Catalina Interiano ’24, Layla Bilal ’24

moreaucatholic.org

|

31

A.P. ARTISTS

Clockwise from Top Left:

Opposite, Clockwise from Top Left:

Antonia Dias ’22, Ava Palma ’21, Ashley To ’21, Adela Day-Rodriguez Anza Vo ’21, Bianca Punzalan ’21, ’22, Danica Martinez ’21, Ivy Guo ’22, Carson Moses ’21, Sydney Ebert ’22 Penny Semko ’22, Ai-Linh Phan ’22

32

|

THE VECTOR

Emilia Valdez ’21

moreaucatholic.org

|

33

GOOD, BETTER, BEST Top Row: Neranti Gary ’22 Janelle Leuterio ’23 Waileia Lee ’23 Bottom Row: Janaviel Pangan ’23 Carrie Wang ’22 Gabrielle Diroll ’23

WRAP IT UP Clockwise from Top Left: Waileia Lee ’23, Mya White ’23, Janaviel (JJ) Pangan ’23, Janelle Leuterio ’23, Alex Chan ’23

34

|

THE VECTOR

KALEIDOSCOPIC Top Row: Angelica Chavez ’24, Isabela Nayak ’24, Sneha Santhosh ’24 Bottom Row: Camille Harge ’24, Kristen Onate ’24, Jaylene Campos ’24

Top Row: Lukas Varga ’21 Waileia Lee ’23 Alexa Chan ’23 Bottom Row:: Mya White ’23 Neranti Gary ’22 Janelle Leuterio ’23

IN THE MIDDLE

moreaucatholic.org

|

35

ASSORTED VARIETIES

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

13

36

|

1. Lana Cello ’21

6. Kanika Jain ’22

2. Leanardo Lansang ’24

7. Adesina Tyler ’22

3. Amira Thomas ’22

8. Jennifer Tran ’24

4. Patricia Espejo ’21

9. Katherine Cava ’23

5. Alexa Chan ’23

10. Anina Ferreira ’21

THE VECTOR

11. Alex Martinez ’24 12. Noemi Flores ’21 13. Emmalyn Chan ’24 14. Jamila Mata ’24

SEASON ABRIDGED Thanks to the hard work of our Athletics Department, Mariner scholar-athletes got a chance to train and compete in most of the sports they love. Athletic Director Monica Heuer, Assitant Administrator to the Athletic Director Erica Escalante, and Athletic Trainer Dave Bruton coordinated closely with the Misison Valley Athletic League (MVAL) to provide safe ways for Mariners to participate in shortened sports seasons.

Below are some highlights from this condensed year of Mariner athletics.

BASEBALL The Moreau Catholic Varsity Baseball team is bringing home its first league title in over a decade!

Coach Market continued by saying that the team is already setting its sights on playoffs for the Spring 2022 season even though the team graduated ten seniors (Ty Aldridge ’21, John Bader ’21, Patrick Dixon ’21, Sebastian Espinoza ’21, Alexander Franco ’21, Alonzo Guijarro ’21, Jacob Hoffmann ’21, Kirk Kinzler ’21, Tyler Mathewson ’21, and Noah Zertuche ’21) meaning 2022 will be a rebuilding year.

“This is a very talented and special group of guys, and as their coach, it’s exciting to hear that they are not yet satisfied with their accomplishments, and that they believe there is still work to be done,” Market said.

In a year that’s been far from normal for students, coach Brian Market said being able to play the sport and compete for the school and the community has helped return a sense of normalcy to the students’ school days. “I hope they look back someday and realize that this was no small feat,” said Market.

Winning the league is a goal the team sets each year, but following a close run a few years back, achieving it now feels even sweeter. Market explains it comes with extra significance because Moreau Catholic’s baseball community values school pride.

The team led the league in home runs (11), strikeouts (K 133), runs (113), slugging (SLG .563), RBI (RBI 109), on base percentage (OBP .459), and batting average (Avg .361).

moreaucatholic.org

|

37

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL The Moreau Catholic High School Boys’ Volleyball team entered the season with one goal in sight, to be the #1 team in the MVAL, and they were able to do just that.

It was a day of celebration for the Boys’ Volleyball team back on March 26, 2021. The team brought back its first MVAL championship since the formation of the program here at Moreau Catholic.

“Being the only NCS Division III in the MVAL, we were always seen as the school who couldn’t produce and we proved everyone wrong by going undefeated,” said Coach Jerico Abanico.

With five seniors on the team, led

by Jacob Ramos ’21 and Renzel Bautista ’21, they were able to work together to defeat major teams like James Logan High School.

Things may have looked different at Moreau Catholic this season and in the world, but even with a mask on, the game of volleyball didn’t change for our athletes.

And while they were grateful to be on the court, the team recognized that they needed to be careful off of it as well. The team was consistent in following all Covid-19 policies, testing multiple times a week, and being diligent in their efforts to stay healthy.

“We knew from day one in tryouts pretty much what was in front of us this season,” Abanico said. “We knew the great opportunity our seniors this year could accomplish.

I truly believe we could have gone far into the NCS Playoffs.”

GIRLS’ GOLF While the girls normally tee up in the fall, this year’s season began in early Spring and went into April.

But from another perspective, the season was unlike any other.

With Amanda Wei ’21 and Michelle Zhang ’21 leading the team, the girls’ golf team continued to improve in league play as they competed with four first-years and two juniors. The program looked to continue their tradition of playing golf and having fun while doing so.

38

|

THE VECTOR

Coach Kenny Johnson finished the season impressed with the team’s performance and also relieved that the season even took place, given the challenging circumstances.

“It was very important,” he said.

“The girls were very happy to play golf again and see each other. We formed the team before the return to hybrid learning. In a way, we started the return to school. There were five sports approved, and girls’ golf was a part of that process.”

However, this season wasn’t about winning for the golfers. They were all just appreciative to get the season underway.

“It’s great,” Taliyah Harvey ’23 said.

“It makes the whole experience so much more valuable knowing that

it almost didn’t happen. It was even better for the seniors on the team to have their final season.

We’re just really happy.”

The golfers now have a few months’ break before the traditional fall season begins where the competition resumes as normal.

-Erica Escalante Assistant Administrator to the Athletic Director CONGRATULATIONS The Moreau Catholic congratulates the Athletics Department and all the coaches and scholar-athletes who made the best of this tough year to uphold Mariner Athletics’ commitment to sportsmanship, integrity, grit, hard work, and teamwork.

moreaucatholic.org

|

39

Like many young children, Lionel Feliciano ’03 and Chris Ingram ’03 had always dreamt about becoming firefighters. Now, they are living out those dreams as members of the fire service during a time when the frequency and intensity of fires across California are at an all-time high.

40

|

THE VECTOR

moreaucatholic.org

|

41

During their years at Moreau Catholic, Feliciano and Ingram were already learning about the fire service as members of the Fire Explorers programs in Hayward and Fremont respectively.

Coincidentally, Ingram’s mentor in those years was fellow Mariner Mark Garcia ‘84 (pictured together left) who is now a retired Alameda County Fire Captain.. Both went on to study fire sciences in college, Feliciano at the University of New Haven, Connecticut, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Fire Administration and another in Arson Investigation, and Ingram at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he entered the Forestry Program and earned his degree with a concentration in Wildland Fire and Fuel Management and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Ingram explains GIS as essentially collecting data from different sources to create and update accurate maps of fire incident areas to help fire teams battle the flames as well as evacuate people out of an affected area in a safe and efficient manner.

the Main Library. It moved into its current location, a three-story building two blocks from the original building, in the late 1980s.

Station 9 doesn’t look much like a fire station on the outside, but just inside the truck bay guests are greeted with three classic, two-story-tall, brass firefighter poles. Outside the station is the first cast iron bell, purchased in 1864, that called the volunteers to duty. Inside the station, the tones that sound are much less jarring than one might expect. During the tour of the station led by Feliciano, these tones sounded and, within seconds, firefighters slid down the poles to report to a call.

Before becoming a fire captain, Ingram (pictured right) was a seasonal firefighter with CAL FIRE. He joined the Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) in 2009, moving up the ranks until becoming Captain in 2016. He continues to work with SCCFD while also being Situation Unit Leader for one of six California Incident Management Teams.

Different Routes to the Same Goal These teams go to major fires After graduating college a year early, Feliciano (pictured below) moved back to California to take a job to plan and manage the fire and resources, which includes as a Fire Prevention officer with the Sacramento Fire coordinating strike teams Department in 2007. In 2011, he became a firefighter (groups of five engines) from for the City of San Carlos, which later merged with the departments all over the state.

Redwood City Fire Department (RCFD) to serve both Although Ingram’s great-great-grandfather was cities. He is now a firefighter engineer and currently ranked number one on the fire captain promotional list a San Francisco firefighter during the horrific fires following the 1906 earthquake, the level of and is signed off to work as acting captain. destruction his great-great-grandson sees continues RCFDwas established in 1861 and staffed by volunteer to increase year after year. In his role as Situation firefighters until 1920. The department has seven Unit Leader, Ingram has been part of the teams stations—numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, and 20—and that managed some of the biggest fires in recent Feliciano is assigned to Truck 9 at Station 9. Station 9 memory. Just last year he responded to the SCU (originally Station 1) was once housed in what is now Lightning Complex, the CZU Lightning Complex, the Glass Wildfire, and the August Complex Fire, which required four teams, burned over a million acres of California wildlands, and became both the single-largest wildfire and the largest fire complex in recorded California history.​​This track record has not traditionally been the norm for firefighters. Fires like those mentioned were once thought to be once in a generation. To put it into perspective, in his 15 years with the fire service, Ingram has “personally been to ten of the top twenty most destructive fires in the state’s history.”

What Can We Do? Multiple-year droughts, extreme weather events, and early snowmelt are all acute effects of climate 42

|

THE VECTOR

change that directly contribute to the angry fire seasons Californians have witnessed in recent years, none more than California’s firefighters. Due to their first-hand experiences, Feliciano (pictured right) and Ingram both emphasize the importance of educating the public about fire safety and preparedness.

Ingram’s forestry background tells him that “we really need to improve the way that we manage our forests.” He understands that “some people are against timber harvesting and cutting down of trees but if we’re going to put fires out or suppress fires, and we don’t take the timber out, we’re just overcrowding our forests.” Most people understand that less rainfall equates to dried-out trees and foliage, inviting insects and other diseases to even further damage and destroy timber. Ingram says this all amounts to creating “a bunch of matchsticks waiting to burn.” He acknowledges that there is much to be done at the state and federal levels to manage these wildland fuels, but suggests that “right now I think the biggest focus would be, we just need to work on fuel reduction around our communities.”

Feliciano echoes this concern, recommending that property owners, especially those whose property butts up against forests and other wildland, take the time to make sure potential fuels such as dried-out brush and timber are managed away from homes at least 100 feet.

Though both men acknowledge that fire is rejuvenating for the environment, Feliciano highlights that fires have become much more frequent and severe due to extreme heat waves and drought conditions.

The explosive nature, as Feliciano puts it, of the fires California has recently experienced has put a strain on the fire service. Feliciano shares, “there gets a point in the state where we run out of resources all over California. And so California will contract and bring in crews from the east coast, from the southwest, the Midwest, I mean, all over the place.” He encourages folks to consider a career in the fire service, and in true Mariner fashion, he leaves us with some words of hope: “I’m hopeful for the next generation of students to get out of Moreau Catholic High School and promote

change. And that was one of the things I remember when I was at Moreau is how the teachers there would encourage us to participate in social change... so I’m hopeful for this next generation...I think the future is brighter now, but we need more firefighters.”

FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY TIPS To find out more about steps you and your loved ones can take to prepare for and mitigate fire damage, visit readyforwildfire.org and implement the following steps into your family’s emergency preparedness plan.

2

1

3

5

4

6

7

1. Create an emergency exit 4. Keep up to date with plan including a go-bag of car maintenance to avoid important, irreplaceable items overheating. and emergency supplies.

5. Trim foliage back at least 2. Avoid using fireworks and 100 feet from property. other explosives, especially 6. Make sure campfires are near wooded areas and fully extinguished. property.

3. Secure chains on campers 7. Follow local agencies on socials and register for and trailers so that they don’t drag and create sparks emergency alert messaging in county of residence and work. with the asphalt.

moreaucatholic.org

|

43

’80

’98

Mark Alhadate

Dawn Oliveria

(Submitted by Chris Krisman) Mark currently works for NASA on the VIPER mission. It’s the next lunar lander to land and study water ice. He also works as a professional tennis instructor for a tennis academy in Fremont.

’81

“My family welcomed a new baby on January 1, 2021. My husband Hector and I welcomed River Vincent Olivera into the world on our own at home! He was a whopping 9 pounds, 2 ounces and 20.5 inches tall. His sister Scarlett Rae and brother Remington Crisantos are in love. We feel very blessed.”

Kyle Willet

Kyle received his 35 year award in the fire service. His son went to De La Salle and played football and was a wrestler, and received a full ride scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

’87

’02

Carlos Feliciano

Dagney Gallegos

She and her husband have retired after 24 years in the United States Navy. They live in Tucson and Dagney is a part-time barista at Starbucks.

’95

Jenny (Puppione) Lillard

“This picture was taken in December 2019 and it was the last time the 5 of us were physically all together. When the pandemic started in March 2020, the 5 of us decided to set aside 1 night per week to “meet”. Since then, the 5 of us have never missed our 1 1/2 hour Zoom calls on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

These calls have been our life lines to each other, and through them, we’ve gotten through some of the roughest moments of our lives. While the past year and a half has been difficult, these girls and our calls have been our greatest blessing. Thank you, Moreau for giving me the gift of these lifelong friendships.”

’98

Pictured left to right: Veronica (Lagos) Jaramillo ’95, Christie (Zucca) Tayar ’95, Jenny (Puppione) Lillard ’95, Tina (Parini) Nicholas ’95, and Heather (Kennedy) Bishop ’95.

Christopher Espinoza

Chris earned his B.S. Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from U.C. Davis and his M.S. Engineering Management and Leadership from Santa Clara University. He got married in 2014 and moved to Colorado in 2018. He has been a Lockheed Martin Employee working in the Aerospace Industry as a System Engineer and Project Manager for 17 years on both Civil Space and Department of Defense programs including the International Space Station and Fleet Ballistic Missile Program. He recently fulfilled a life-long dream and began working at NASA where he will be part of the Orion project, NASA’s next generation spacecraft that will take humans deep into space.

44

|

THE VECTOR

“Since graduating Moreau, I received a Bachelors Degree in Criminology from UC Irvine. I currently work as a Special Agent for the US Department of Homeland Security, Office Of Inspector General and I’m responsible for investigating allegations of bribery and corruption involving DHS employees/contractors.

I have pursued additional training in my field and I’m now a Certified Technical Investigator responsible for deployment of hidden cameras, body wires, tracking devices, and other covert law enforcement devices.

Outside of work, I’m a founding member/volunteer of the UCI LatinX Community Alliance who’s mission is to support the success of LatinX students/alumni.”

’03

Claire Calalo Berry

“My husband Douglas and I happily welcomed our daughter Nova Luz Calalo Berry into the world on October 13, 2020. She has certainly brought a new light into our lives.”

’09

Courtney Frost

Earned B.A. from University of Pacific (UOP) and Masters from Louisiana State University (LSU). Currently living in Baton Rouge with boyfriend Alex Meyer ’06 who is finishing up his Doctorate in Chemistry.

’14

Erin de Leon

“Physical therapy is something I knew I wanted to do after my first year at Moreau. I took Anatomy and Kinesiology during my junior and senior year before heading to San Diego State University to double major in Dance and Kinesiology with an emphasis on pre-physical therapy. In June 2020, three months into COVID, I logged onto Zoom University to begin my first didactic year of the joint Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UCSF/SFSU. On April 22, 2021, my friends and family were invited to UCSF/SFSU Class of 2023 virtual White Coat Ceremony celebrating my cohort’s entrance to the physical therapy profession and transition into clinical studies. The ceremony was filled with inspiring moments, off-topic chat messages, and

wholesome clips of loved ones putting white coats onto each of my classmates.

2020 made it necessary for us to find creative ways to stay connected with ourselves and engaged with each other. I am grateful for the camaraderie my cohort has developed in having to navigate PT school over Zoom.”

’16

Alexandra Farhangui (Submitted by Katrina Dyrby)

Alexandra graduated with honors from Cornell University on May 29th, earning dual degrees in Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry. She has accepted a scholarship to attend Texas A&M’s Engineering Medical School in Houston where she will earn her M.D. as well as a Master’s degree in Engineering. She received her White Coat at a ceremony on July 19th.

’14

Colin De Guzman

is a former Moreau Fellow and now the recipient of a Fulbright grant. He shares, “Starting in January 2022, I will be going to South Korea to be an English Teaching Assistant at a high school of the Fulbright Commissions choice. At my location, I will be supporting English teaching, while also serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States and showing the community an American perspective. Having the chance to teach students about the culture in America through English lessons and speaking about issues that they are interested about. During my time there, I will also be immersing myself in the culture through the school I am placed at and the community I am with.

Despite the long process of many meetings with staff at Notre Dame and having many many drafts of every essay, I felt a calling to apply for the program to continue to be in education, all while fulfilling a dream of mine

to live in a different country. The long wait from October to January to finally May, Fulbright continued to be a goal of mine and I knew that if I were to get it, I would accept it fullheartedly. I knew it was a longshot, however, I have learned that the risks I have taken from going to undergrad in Austin, Texas, to being an ACE graduate student teaching middle school science in Santa Ana, that being a risk taker is who I am as a Holy Cross student.”

Director of Campus Ministry, Ann Khristine Tabora, adds, “The program is well-known and prestigious; high applications...low rate of acceptance.The application is a daunting process. But so worth it! Fulbright awardees go on to have bright careers and [Fulbright] alumni include 37 heads of state, 60 Nobel Prize winners, 75 MacArthur Fellows, and 88 Pulitzer Prize winners. As a neuroscience major, dedicated to community and education, our Colin is in great company with altruistic individuals. So proud of him!”

UPCOMING REUNIONS IN LOVING MEMORY Please pray for the souls of all our dearly departed especially

John Cerruti ’75 Wayne Chung ’80 Oscar Frayer ’16 Margaret Lee Andrew Li ’15 Walt Morrison ’74 Kristina Teves ’04

moreaucatholic.org

|

45

GAME-CHANGER, ON AND OFF THE COURT On March 23, the Moreau Catholic High School community was devastated to learn about the passing of Oscar Frayer ’16 just days after he played for Grand Canyon University (GCU) in the men’s NCAA tournament. He was without a doubt a star basketball player, stunning crowds with his impressive dunks, but he was so much more than that. When he came to Moreau Catholic as a freshman, he not only changed the culture of the MCHS boys’ basketball program, Frayer played a significant role in changing Moreau Catholic. His impact goes beyond his impressive athletic accomplishments.

A “game-changer to the entire Moreau Catholic Community” is how English teacher Rick Spinelli, who taught Frayer, speaks of him. “Oscar created a pathway for many students who had not considered attending Moreau Catholic and a Catholic education, but seeing Oscar excel changed their minds,” explained LJ Anderson ’18, Frayer’s friend and teammate.

Anderson continues, “Oscar opened a door for me and many other students to be able to receive an amazing education and ultimately greater opportunities.” When Frayer graduated and went to GCU, he remained constantly connected to his family, friends, and community in the Bay Area, offering advice, guidance, and encouragement.

Frayer’s smile was known to light up a room. He exemplified many of the values Moreau 46

|

THE VECTOR

the basketball team experienced success as it had never seen before.

Frayer led the team in turning the program around by winning two North Coast Section (NCS) Champions in 2014 (Division 4) and 2016 (Division 3), a Northern California Championship in 2014, and a state runner-up in 2014.

Catholic holds dear. Counseling Department Chair, Stacey (Raimondi) Ferreira ’86, was his academic adviser and adds that “everyone really admired and looked up to Oscar as a role model and figure on our campus, but he had the incredible ability to make every single person he interacted with feel important and special.” Frayer lived by the adage, “I’ll never dim somebody else’s light, so mine can shine brighter.” Ferreira shares examples of times that Frayer would help her mentor younger students who admired him by reminding them that they had to put in the work in the classroom first and foremost.

This was something Frayer lived because working on basketball came more easily to him, but he had to work “extra hard” on his academics. “As good an athlete as he was, he was a much better human being,” says Ferreira.

Starting Frayer’s freshman year,

Bionca Sparrow, Frayer’s mother and biggest supporter, in remembrance of her son wrote, “Oscar, you exceeded any expectations that I could have ever imagined for you and I’m so, so proud of you and every one of your accomplishments,” and continued to share, “and thank you for loving us unconditionally and showing us how to love with humility, without measure or judgment. Well done, my son.” Of the many lessons that Sparrow taught her son, he lived by this principle, “God’s plan will always be greater than our own…Cherish your loved ones.”

The Moreau Catholic community will always cherish our time and memories of Frayer. We feel blessed to this day by the impact he made on our school community and to have seen his boundless potential just beginning to flourish. We pray as one Mariner family for his entire family and for the souls of Oscar, his sister Andrea Moore, and the third passenger who lost their lives on that tragic day.

-Stacey Ferreira ’86 Counseling Department Chair and Douglas Hupke Director of Advancement

Mariners, We Would Love to

HEAR FROM YOU!

Detach this form and mail to: Moreau Catholic High School Alumni Office, Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 27170 Mission Blvd.

Hayward, California 94544

Your fellow Mariners are interested in reading about what you are doing. Please use this form to keep your classmates and other Moreau Catholic friends up-to-date on the activities in your life. Send us news about career moves, publications, additions to your family, awards, etc. We especially welcome wedding, baby, and group gathering photos.

You can also email your news to: Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 at ddefrance@moreaucatholic.org. or update your information online at www.moreaucatholic.org/AlumniKeepInTouch

Full Name ________________________ Maiden Name __________________________ Zip________________ Class Year __________ Occupation ____________________Employer _________________________________ Street Address _____________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________ State ________________________ Zip ________________________________ Home Phone _______________________ Email __________________________________________________ News _____________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ moreaucatholic.org |

47

27170 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544-4194 Change Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG US Postage PAID HAYWARD, CA PERMIT NO. 851