14 minute read
Class Notes
from The Counselor | 2021
by olgchs
George Glekas ’91 & Family
PLATINUM FALCONS $10,000
The Saiz Family
The Celtnieks Family The Dickerson Family
GOLD FALCONS $5,000
Phil Mantua ’76 The Potter Family
The Worch Family Steve E. Richter ’75
BLUE FALCONS $2,500
The Shioutakon Family The Lanning Family Marty Murphy Michael J. McCartin, CPCU & Family
Rockville and Prince George's
The Entwistle Family Fairfax, Reston, Potomac, Kensington & Olney Kristi Weaver ’96 & Dave Eynon ’97 Rockville-Olney, Silver Spring North, Laurel, and Greenbelt NE Beltsville E The Gutierrez Family The Schilling Family
MARIKO MURRAY
(continued from page 17)
“There was a 16-piece orchestra playing, so if you flubbed a word, that affected the entire room. The orchestra had to reset; the crew had to reset,” she says.
Murray never expected to act in a virtual show, but she says it is important to stay open to career changes.
“I’m mainly a theater actor, but during this time I’ve been putting myself on tape a lot to audition,” Murray says. “You just roll with it. It’s made me more interested in the medium of film.”
Murray enjoys the thrill of telling someone else’s story and seeing the world through another person’s eyes. “Acting is really what life is, which is trying to understand other human beings and to do the best you can.”
She says she gets that empathy and also fortitude from her family. Her mother is Japanese, and her father is Scotch Irish. “Both of my grandfathers served in World War II but on different sides,” she says.
“In acting you’re usually telling someone else’s story,” Murray says. “You begin to understand you cannot possibly know someone else’s whole experience, but there are other ways in. I think the most potent one is through story.”
EMANUELE (continued from page 18)
This summer, Emanuele focused on a documentary about hip hop jewelry with hip hop group Migos, from Georgia.
The most recent film she produced on her own was “Sisters,” a short comedy released in 2021. It was written by and stars Beth Hoyt, who has appeared on “Better Call Saul” and “Brooklyn 99,” and Shoniqua Shondai. “Sisters” was curated by the Museum of Modern Art in New York and featured in their Virtual Cinema collection.
Emanuele enjoys the flexibility offered by directing, writing and producing. “I like doing my own projects, but it’s also great to support other artists and other storytellers,” she says.
MPASI (continued from page 21)
Mpasi’s classmate, Kaya Harrison née Simonson ’11, fine arts teacher, took her to her first real audition. “I sang ‘The Wizard and I’ from ‘Wicked,’ the show that made me want to do Broadway,” Mpasi says. “When I finished singing, Kaya was crying and she told me I was gifted and I had to keep singing. She is really the first person who didn’t have to take an interest in me, but did, and I’ll always be grateful.”
The summer after her junior year at Good Counsel, Mpasi enrolled in the Broadway Theatre Project, an intensive training program for high school and college-aged students. “That’s where I met people from Elon, and I realized I wanted to go there,” Mpasi says.
She is grateful to have found this path. Theater has helped her become comfortable with integrating her racial identity into her work. As a teen, Mpasi hesitated to identify with being Congolese because of negative stereotypes about Africa portrayed by American media. She once played the baker’s wife in “Into the Woods,” a role she was hesitant to take on because it isn’t normally played by a black person. “But the director told me not to put myself in a box,” Mpasi says. That was a valuable lesson she carries with her today.
During the pandemic when the theater industry shut down, Mpasi began focusing on a new passion.
“I really enjoy writing. When you audition for an acting role, they need someone of a certain height or someone who can leave tomorrow. With writing, I am in control,” she says.
She wants to use that power to showcase the strength of African Americans. “In the pandemic, I started a YouTube show, ‘By Phylicia,’ with a friend.” She received positive feedback, especially on an episode that focused on race, called “Dear White People.” Mpasi soon won a writing fellowship and has been meeting with production companies about her work. She wrote a short script called “The Swing,” based on her Broadway experience of having to seamlessly enter a show.
“I also wrote a pilot that I’ll be pitching to production companies soon,” she says. “This pandemic showed me there’s no rhyme or reason to anything. I decided I really wanted to put myself out there through my writing.”
Mpasi adds, “I want to showcase Black and African joy and positivity.” In her work, she has depicted first- and second-generation Americans balancing having to assimilate while holding onto their own culture. This is something she wants people to recognize is a challenge for many.
She also encourages people to invest in the arts. “Immersion into the arts can open someone’s eyes to a world they wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise and builds a connection to people they wouldn’t have met,” she says. “The arts build empathy, and the world could use a lot more of it.”
CLASS NOTES
2020
MONTELL COOPER was honored by the Virginia Sports Information Directors as the Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year. He plays for Marymount University.
CHLOE CHAPMAN 2019
Join Good Counsel Connect, our interactive virtual networking and mentoring platform, and connect with fellow Falcons across the globe. #foreverafalcon
Connect.olgchs.org
HEATHER HINZ
ALEXIA AYUK wrote an article that was published in the “Catholic Standard” about faith-based activism in today’s world. She is studying at University of Maryland.
CHLOE CHAPMAN was recently recognized by the Atlanta Sports Awards as its Top College Athlete. Chloe is a dual threat, as she was named to the Southeastern Conference put (SEC) All-Freshman team in women’s soccer and contributed to the women’s basketball team by moving into the starting lineup by the end of her first year.
HEATHER HINZ was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week in women’s soccer for the University of South Carolina.
KAT CLOSE
2018
KAT CLOSE was one of 10 students awarded the Adobe Design Circle Scholarship from a pool of 1,000 applicants. She will receive a substantial scholarship as well as mentoring from industry leaders and access to various internships, opportunities and resources. She is attending the University of Maryland, College Park.
TAYLOR MCDANIELS
JOSHUA PASCHAL
2017
TAYLOR MCDANIELS was selected to receive $22,500 as the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway grand prize. The ACC, in partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, honors 15 recipient student-athletes who are pursuing careers in education after the conclusion of their playing careers.
JOSHUA PASCHAL was named a semi-finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes the top leaders in college football.
LINDSAY PULLIAM was the 27th selection in the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream. She has graduated from Northwestern University.
LINDSEY PULLIAM
UCHE EKE
LANDON HAMMERLY
KYLE SNYDER NICOLE ENABOSI
SAM MUSTIPHER
2015
UCHE EKE will compete as a member of the Nigerian gymnastics team at the Summer Games in Tokyo after earning the all-around Bronze medal at the 2021 Cairo African Games in late May.
NICOLE ENABOSI was named MVP after her first professional season with MBK Ruzomberok, when the team finished as Slovakian Champions. She also played with the Nigerian National Team and participated in the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament for one of the final roster spots for the Nigerian women’s basketball team in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
LANDON HAMMERLEY is the founder and owner of Karnage Clan, a professional gaming entertainment organization that has put multiple gaming kiosks in children’s hospitals for their use while hospitalized.
2014
SAM MUSTIPHER played in his first NFL game in the Chicago Bears Week 6 win vs the Carolina Panthers during the 2020 NFL season.
DOMINIQUE POPE was featured in an alumni Black History Month sports spotlight by the United States Merchant Marine Academy for being awarded most outstanding female first-class student athlete throughout her four-year career.
KYLE SNYDER qualified to defend his Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
BRENDAN HUGHES JACK CONGER
2013
JACK CONGER qualified in five events for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials but failed to make the team.
KENDALL FULLER tied for the NFL lead in interceptions as reported in the “Washington Post,” which called attention to his versatility on the field. He plays for the Washington Football team.
MIDGE PURCE was named to the roster of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team first training camp, was elected as a member of the Board of Overseers and Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) Directors and received the Community Champion Award from the Sky Blue FC, New York and New Jersey’s Women’s Pro Soccer Team.
KENDALL FULLER
2010
MEREDITH BRAGG
was featured in the “Wake Forest Deacon Spotlight," which highlighted her work with the Dow Jones in New York, N.Y.
2007
BRENDAN HUGHES recently published a non-fiction book that takes the reader on a unique journey around the world in a discussion about various economies called “The Wandering Investor.”
OLA SHOKUNBI
2005
OLA SHOKUNBI has written a science fiction film, “Satellite,” which will be made by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company.
2004
MARY ALOUETTE (KAVALAUSKAS)
decided to pursue a dream of creating a solo month-long artist retreat in Cuba. The result was “Cuba Diaries,” an album written in Havana and recorded with a 6-piece Cuban jazz band.
2002
BYRON JACKSON debuted in his first theatrical role as Bass Reeves, the first African American U.S. Marshall in the television series “Wild West Chronicles” on INSP.
WELCOME BABY
▲ PETER DERRY ’95 and his wife, Cecilia, celebrated the first birthday of their daughter, Marley Luna Derry, on July 23, 2021.
Congratulations to ONNIE ONWUEMENE ’99 and his wife, Christine Dahnke-Onwuemene, on the birth of their daughter, Liliana Adanna, born January 18, 2021, weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz.
MATT CORRADO CHRISTIANA COLEMAN KELLEY
2001
MATT CORRADO was featured on NBC4 Washington for his artistic work and craftsmanship on Jordan Spieth’s golf bag used in the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am Golf Tournament.
2000
CHRISTIANA COLEMAN KELLEY
published a children’s book, “How Will I Know When I’m a Unicorn?” highlighting the important life lesson of loving and accepting yourself.
HASINA OUTTZ received the Jo Rae Wright Early Investigator Award for excellence in science from the American Thoracic Society.
CECILIA MAJORS ’05 became engaged to Paul ▲ Newman at the Tudor Place Historic House and Garden in Washington, D.C., on September 25, 2020.
JUSTIN CASSIDY ’18 and ELIZABETH MENDOZA ’18 got engaged on August 22, 2020. They met at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School as sophomores in their self-defense and martial arts gym class, and received the title of cutest couple in the 2018 senior superlatives.
GOOD COUNSEL Weddings
▲ JIMMY BITONTI ’08 and KATELYN MCALEER ’10 were married on July 7, 2019 in Olney, Md. Katelyn’s father, Robert McAleer ’78, walked her down the aisle. They were surrounded by immediate family, which included Katelyn's siblings Bobby ’02, Megan ’05, Joe ’13 and Tommy ’15, along with Jimmy's siblings Jessica ’02, Katie ’04, Lindsay and Mike Burch ’05, and Michael ’10. The ceremony was officiated by Father Lee Fangmeyer ’79. Among their wedding guests, nearly 70 were Good Counsel alumni from classes 1970-2015.
◀ DAVID ELIE ’07 and
MEGHAN (TOBIN) ELIE
’07 got married October 10, 2020 in Bethany Beach, Del.
ROGER MASON
1999
ROGER MASON was a guest on the SportTechie podcast and shared his experiences in basketball and business that led to his current venture as the CEO of Vaunt.
1998
JENNIFER KASMAN (LEE)
recently published her first book, where she imagines a version of a near future America in "Anna and the American Puzzle."
1997
MITRA TAHERI was honored by The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) as a 2021 Brimacombe Medalist for sustained excellence and achievement in business, technology, education, public policy or science related to materials science and engineering.
CHARLIE DESANDO
JENNINFER KASMAN
JAMES BULLOUGH
DANNY LLEDÓ
DR. SAFA FARZIN
1996
JAMES BULLOUGH continues his work worldwide as an oil painter and muralist based in Berlin, Germany. He also hosts VantagePoint, a monthly podcast.
COLLEEN MICHAEL (MURPHY) and her sister Lindsay Guyer (Murphy) ’00 recently launched a photography company, Sister Shots Photography, LLC, specializing in outdoor family, children and special occasion photos.
CHEF DANNY LLEDÓ received a Michelin star for his restaurant Xiquet in Glover Park known for its paellas.
1990
MATTHEW DAVIS and Annie Davis ’98 are celebrating the one-year anniversary of their business, Davis Wealth Management, LLC., based in Olney, Md.
SAFA FARZIN, M.D., has been named vice president for medical affairs and staff development for Penn State Health Medical Group.
1985
MATT BURKE retired this year after 29 years of service with the United States Marshals Service (USMS). Matt spent most of his career working in the D.C. metro area and spent the majority of his career in investigative operations and fugitive apprehension.
JUDGE MICHAEL MCAULIFFE
1981
The REV. DOMINIQUE PERIDANS is the Rector of the Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes in Washington, D.C.
1980
JOHN BALLMAN and his wife, Deb, sold their business in August 2019 to ADT, completed their contractual obligations and are looking forward to their future lives together as a retired couple.
1979
JUDGE MICHAEL MCAULIFFE ran for and was elected to a full 15-year term as Circuit Court judge for Montgomery County, Md., in the November 2020 election.
1976
Captain ROLANDO KING, U.S. Navy call sign "SKY," recently retired from Delta Air Lines after 32 years of commercial flying and eight years of Naval Aviation. The majority of his airline service was with Northwest Airlines. He lives near the twin cities of Minnesota, but plans to winter in Kauai, Hawaii.
1973
JOHN DEERIN and his wife, Carol, moved to Charleston, S.C. following retirement.
1971
MICHAEL DUNI and his wife, Suzanne, are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary this year.
FREDERICK (RICK) ELLROD
had his science fiction romantic comedy novella "Time Signature" published by Wild Rose Press on May 10, 2021.
1970
MICHAEL BAUM retired in January 2019 after working for 40 years as a mechanical engineer. Baum and his wife, Sally, are travelling the country in their RV with motorcycles in tow touring Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon and many more national landmarks.
1969
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums General Counsel JACK KEENEY was elected to the board of directors of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
1967
ROBERT GOLEY lost his wife, Judy, in July 2020 after 34 years of marriage. She had been fighting lung cancer for over three years.
CARL OEHMANN and his wife, Katharine, have relocated to Florida to enjoy the sunshine.
1965
JOHN BREWER has retired and lives in Ellicott City with Megan, his wife of 51 years. The couple have four children and 11 grandchildren.
1964
JOSEPH GIACOFCI works as a contractor with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), supporting the USAF on-site at the U.S. Pentagon.
