FOREVER SAINTS

Our mission at Notre Dame Preparatory is to form students who are intelligent, confident, hold strong moral values and possess a desire to serve others. We delight in the successes of all our alumni. In this issue of Saints Nation, we honor all our former students who answered the call to serve our nation in the military. We want to hear from all our alumni to feature more stories in our next issue of Saints Nation. Share your news with us at ndpsaints.org/myndp/alumni/alumni-news.

Pictured left to right: Connor Butt, Ethan Chantler, Matthew Malloy, Spencer Roy, Christian Sarlitto and Troy Zaro

SAINTS AND THE MILITARY: A LONG-STANDING LEGACY CONTINUES

Six graduates from the Class of 2020 decided to take a military approach to their post-high school experience.

Connor Butt, Spencer Roy and Christian Sarlitto accepted appointments to The United States Military Academy West Point; Matthew Malloy accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy; Ethan Chantler enlisted in the U.S. Army and Troy Zaro enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Notre Dame Prep has a history of producing men and women willing to serve our country in the armed forces and in government. “We are proud of this connection,” said principal Jill Platt. “It is proof that we are forming students who see beyond themselves and have developed a heart of sacrifice.”

The legacy began in 2005 with Steve Casares, class president of the first graduating class at NDP and the first Saint to accept an appointment to West Point, where he graduated in 2009. You could say that West Point runs in the Casares family’s blood as Steve’s father graduated from USMA in 1981 and his brother Mike in 2012. “The best year of my young life was when I was a senior and Mike was a freshman at West Point,” Steve

said. Then he went on to reminisce about his time at

Notre Dame Prep.

“The most important thing I learned at Notre Dame Prep is the importance of small-group, small-unit cohesion and the power of teamwork. Our class was small and we came from various backgrounds but we learned to get along and I look back at all my classmates with fondness,” he recalled. “I also remember learning that man in Latin is vir, the beginning of virtue. So, we should all strive to be good and virtuous.”

Since leaving NDP, both Steve and Mike went on to military careers. Steve was involved with high-level military intelligence and prior to that worked with “The Old Guard” at Arlington National Cemetery. “I get chills thinking about the cemetery and being on the other side of my eighth-grade field trip as students looked in amazement at the work my soldiers and I did,” said Steve.

Mike was commissioned as an aviation officer,

flying UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters in Germany, Alabama and Hawaii.

Fast forward 15 years and Steve is now interning at the U.S. Treasury Department and working on his master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy at George Mason University Schar School of Government and Policy. Mike is just starting the MBA program at Yale University.

“Mike was always the smart Casares,” joked Steve, then he added, “I congratulate the six men and their families from the class

of 2020 at NDP on their choice of a military career. There is nothing like having a job that has real-world implications and requires honesty and discipline. I can attest to the value of NDP’s motto of strengthening mind, body and spirit.”

MEN AND WOMEN WHO TOOK A MILITARY PATH AFTER GRADUATING FROM NDP

2005 Steve Casares United States Military Academy West Point

2007 Tom Fow United States Air Force Academy Michael Greco United States Military Academy West Point Tatum Jestila The Citadel University Dana Marston Scott United States Navy Christopher Moffo Army ROTC University of Indiana

2008 Austin Briehl United States Air Force Academy Michael Casares United States Military Academy West Point Brandon Hisrneise United States Air Force Academy

2009 Jonah Burelin Army Reserve Matthew Lewis ROTC University of Arizona Jessica Maxwell The Citadel University Katherine Murphy Army ROTC Gonzaga University Kathryn Polese Army ROTC University of Portland Buck Read US Army David Rice IV Army ROTC Arizona State University Blake Terry Air National Guard Casandra Uribe The Citadel University

2011 Brett Berry Navy ROTC Arizona State University Benjamin Duermit OCS Army Peter Igras United States Naval Academy (deceased) Kodey Jones US Navy Kevin Loud US Navy

2012 Douglas Wong United States Air Force Academy

2013 Brian Cebryski US Marine Corps Nikolas Monteferrante United States Military Academy West Point 2013 Gordon Rice Army ROTC

2014 Rob Jenkins Navy ROTC University of San Diego Grant Zaro United States Naval Academy

2015 Grayson Naquin United States Military Academy West Point

2016 Casey Cooper United States Air Force Academy Brice Smith ROTC Case Western Reserve University

2018 Sayler Butters United States Military Academy West Point

2019 John Tokish ROTC University of Washington

2020 Connor Butt United States Military Academy West Point Ethan Chantler United States Army Matthew Malloy United States Air Force Academy Spencer Roy United States Military Academy West Point Christian Sarlitto United States Military Academy West Point Troy Zaro United States Marine Corps

Note: If you are a Notre Dame Prep graduate who has or is serving in the United States of America Armed Forces, and you are not on this list, please contact our alumni coordinator at jdouglas@ndpsaints.org or update your information on our alumni page at www.ndpsaints.org/ alumni/stay-connected