Priorities #65: Summer 2016

A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #65

· Summer 2016

Abbot Mark Cooper, OSB Father John Fortin, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB Father Benet Phillips, OSB

Board of Trustees Brian Axe Catherine Boyle Dave Brett Mike Calbert Jennie Chiu Laura Cornish Craig Dauchy Eileen DiGiorgio Mark Gainey Cathy Gawne Karen Gregory Sally Harris Eric Harrison Sandy Herz Bob Larson Bob Latta Father Jonathan Licari, OSB Susan Light Bud McElroy Guy Nohra Stan Pierson Stewart Putney Ray Rothrock Maureen Sansbury Keith Van Sickle Pamela Weiss Phil Young

Priorities magazine is published in the Winter, Spring and Summer by Woodside Priory School for its alumni, parents, students, neighbors, and friends.

Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6131 or the school at 650-851-8221.

Editor: Kelly Sargent Contributing Writers: Suzanne Couch, Kathy Gonzalez, Lily Price, Kelly Sargent Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, Copperline Multimedia Photos: Molly Buccola, Jennifer Hammer, Jim Kirkland, Gulliver LaValle, PJ Lhuillier Inc., Father Martin Mager, Kelly Sargent, Still Light Photography, Katharina Stromeyer Printing: Colorprint, Mark W. Allen

Chapel Services

Masses at 7:15 a.m. Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday Hungarian service

Dear Priory Community, We are right in the midst of summer break and the activity level, while quieter in the offices, is anything but quiet outside. It seems we have a lot going on at the Priory no matter what month it is—and that is the way it should be.

So what actually goes on within the walls of Founders Hall and on campus during the days of summer vacation?

We have people attending Mass every weekday morning at 7:15am with our monks and Father Martin is in his wood shop working on another project and planning next year’s Gala clock. Out front we have many forms of graders and bobcats leveling dirt for our long anticipated track and field and Father Maurus, as a member of our Building and Grounds committee, can be seen watching the progress from the hillside in the monk golf cart. Hundreds of campers arrive at 9am for a day of exciting activities at Mountain Camp, along with the obligatory singing as they pass by our windows; and a bit earlier, 80 students arrive to participate in the summer enrichment program, Peninsula Bridge, held at the Priory for 23 years.

Inside our offices, preparation for the 2016-17 school year is in full swing.

There is planning for the inservice for early August, tweaking the Master Schedule, and celebrating birthdays for those here. There are construction meetings on the progress of our STREAM building, the track and field work status, design planning for the pool renovation as a swimming and water polo site, and work on the next phase of 7 faculty and staff homes. In this list of projects, there is something for everyone connected with the Priory and enhancements to the program experiences for all our students.

The track and field, which can be seen from Portola Road, is the most dramatic landscape change on the campus since it was founded in 1957. With the removal of the berm we have restored the original view as you travel toward the Priory entrance and it will show a beautiful spacious green field bordered by a regulation 6 lane track and a renovated softball field against the hillside. It will be our main athletic field, hosting football, softball, soccer, track, cross country and the site of our annual Priory Field Day. It is our own Field of Dreams!

The attendees of our 5th Benedictine Life and Spirituality Seminar (BLSS) have returned from Saint Anselm having “lived the life of a monk for 3 days.” Over the past five years, 36 faculty, staff and trustees have journeyed East to meet, pray, eat and celebrate with the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey. This too started as a dream—to provide an opportunity to experience and understand the spiritual nature and rhythm of those who live in a religious community. Our hope was that it would deepen the understanding on what it means to be a Benedictine school and the mission that we follow in educating lifelong learners who model our five values. The reviews of this experience have been “5 star”— not only from the attendees but also the monks they meet at the Abbey. It continues to be a mutually beneficial exchange for our laypeople and the monks who come together to listen…with the ear of their hearts.

May your summer be one of happiness and joy, filled with honest and thoughtful exchanges that enrich the life that you live.

Tim Molak Head of School

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Board of Directors

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6-9 10-11 12-13 14-19 20-21 22-27 28-29 30-33 34-35 38-39 40-41

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End of Year at a Glance Athletics Performing Arts Cultural Trips The St. Benedict Statue Upper School Graduation 2015-16 Awards Middle School Graduation 25th Anniversary: Sue Koppett Volunteer Appreciation Last Volunteer Standing: Barbara Calbert Alumni Spotlight: Jean Henri Lhuillier Class News & Notes Monastery News

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

Woodside Priory School Celebrating 58 Years of Benedictine Education

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2. The Priory Robotics robot, “Castle Crasher.”

3. Sixth grade students dress up for “Day of the Gods.”

4. Annie Kroo ‘16 was the pilot for a special flight with Father Martin as she works for her pilots license.

5. The senior class got creative and colorful with their senior panorama!

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9 6. Members of the sophomore Health and Wellness class show off their newborn “Flour Baby” projects.

7. Sixth graders took a field trip to the Baylands.

8. The Glass class visited the Bay Area Glass

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Institute.

9. Students enjoy some Japanese sweets during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

10. Resident students enjoy a day of rafting during

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the annual Dorm Rafting trip.

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11. The force was strong during “May the Fourth Be With You” day.

END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE

END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE

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1. Lauren Kastanis ’18, Kelsey Gosling ’16, Daniel Klein ’19 and Ryan Schackel ’19 pose with the robot at the Central Valley Regional; Priory was ranked 26th after qualification rounds!

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survivor, Helen Farkas, who was a guest speaker.

2. Gulliver LaValle, Bob Bessin, and Lisa Wood enjoy the festive “Farm to Table” themed appreciation luncheon.

3. Prom was a great time to show both elegance and creativity.

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END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE

END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE

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1. Father Maurus greets Holocaust

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8. Seniors endured the rugged

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outdoors at the annual senior campout.

9. John Gregory ‘16 and his swing dancing skills are a must-see!

10. The track and field team hosted a track meet for the California School for the Blind.

11. The 2016 yearbook was dedicated to Chris Georgules this year.

12. Senior retreat bonding and campfire.

5 4. Nate Spears battles the fire-breathing BBQ. 5. The Sustainability Club took a night hike to Windy Hill.

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6. Michael Fitzgerald ‘16 with the goat skin drum he made for his Senior Project.

7. Priory was well represented at the Benedictine Educators Network meeting in Rome, Italy.

13. The seniors celebrated on their last day of school.

14. Yearbook day is always a fun day to reflect on the year.

US BASEBALL MS BASEBALL

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ATHLETICS WRAP UP

ATHLETICS WRAP UP

Athletic seasons concluded in the Upper School for Track & Field, Baseball, Swimming, and Boys’ Tennis. The Middle School finished out the year with MS Baseball, MS Tennis, MS Girls Volleyball and MS Water Polo. It was a busy season with many teams making vast improvements and enjoying momentous victories.

US SWIM TEAM

MS WATER POLO

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MS JV VOLLEYBALL

MS VB VOLLEYBALL

US BOYS TENNIS

MS TENNIS

MS VA VOLLEYBALL

US TRACK AND FIELD

Day for the Arts

CREATIVE ARTS

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The Hound of the Baskervilles Middle School Show Based loosely on one of Sherlock Holmes’ greatest adventures: The Hound of the Baskervilles, the show follows Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson, the nieces of the famous duo. The play featured not only a very talented middle school cast, but also a great crew of stage managers made up of students both in the upper and middle school.

CAST LIST Aaron Lipp: Alex Yonehiro: Dimitri Saliba:

Evan Hughes: Grant Whitman: Greta Patterson: Jennie Carlsmith: John Max Byrne: Leah Strickland: Makena Serughetti: Markus Brugger:

Sir Henry Baskerville Sir Charles Baskerville Hugo Baskerville, Selden, Messenger Mrs. Barrymore, Laura Lyons Mr. Barrymore Jennie Watson Dorothea Stapleton, Maid John Stapleton Dr. Maxine Mortimer Shirley Holmes Inspector Victor Lestrade, Perkins

STAGE CREW John Sugden: Producer Ben Fatum: Director Matt Roth: Technical Director &

Lighting Designer Andrew Brethaupt: Set Designer Carol Clever: Costume Design Rebecca Whitman ‘16: Stage Manager Chris Russell ‘19: Assistant Stage Manager Daniel Klein ‘19: Assistant Stage Manager Tara Tedjarati ‘16: Props Master/Assistant

Stage Manager Remy Fu: ‘22 Light Board Alex Leblang ‘21: Sound Board Anna Gutow ‘18: Video Operator Amelia Hoffmann ‘19: Hair & Makeup/Stagehand Luke Turk ‘22: Stagehand Sharp Queener ‘19: Stagehand

The annual Day for the Arts featured a variety of talents from both the Performing Arts department and the Visual Arts department. Students enjoyed watching glass blowing demonstrations, face painting, eating pancakes created on a printer and listening to a variety of groups perform on the stage. Several pieces of artwork were also on display in the Kriewall Haehl Gallery featuring work from AP Studio Art, Glass, Metalsmithing, Drawing and Painting, and CAD and 3D Printer classes.

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1. Artistic beauty by Rachel Goines ‘17.

2. Matt Galloway ‘16 makes glass figures for students.

3. Middle School students proudly display their butterfly face paint.

4. Sonya Walker ‘19 makes pancakes from the 3D pancake printer.

5. The choral ensemble performed on the outdoor stage.

6. Jack Herrera ‘16 and David Casente ‘16 performed a duet in the most stylish way possible.

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7. Acoustic solo by Jacob Kowalski ‘19.

8. Sam Pollock ‘16 on the guitar.

CULTURAL TRIP

CULTURAL TRIP

Burma Appreciating the Burmese Culture

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15 Lily Price ’19 shares her journey to Burma where she and eleven classmates had a very unique culture experience. Photos by Lily Price and Molly Buccola.

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Over Easter break, I traveled with a small group of students and two teachers to Myanmar, also known as Burma. Throughout the trip, we were welcomed by the local Burmese people who wanted to share their culture with us. In addition to learning about the country’s traditions and history, we learned about each other, and as a result, became closer with one another.

Our experiences taught us about being grateful for what we have and enjoying life as we have it. Our 10 days in Burma pushed us to live in the moment and try new things, such as riding in the back of a cart pulled by oxen and taking bucket showers behind a monastery.

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Other families showed their hospitality and kindness by offering us food and painting our faces with Thanaka.

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1. Ox cart ride to our guide Soe Than’s village.

2. Boat ride to the island home of one of our local guides.

3. Day 1 of our 42 mile trek.

4. Two young monks-in-training at the monastery where we stayed.

Next, we began a three-day trek through villages, down train tracks, and into big rice fields. On the first day, we witnessed preparations for a Buddhist festival when we stopped for a quick break. We ended up staying an hour as we watched women with baskets of food offerings and a group of people dressed in traditional clothing march toward a nearby temple. Miles later, we arrived at the monastery exhausted and hungary where we stayed the night. As we ate dinner, we watched the child monks prepare our beds for us on the floor. In the morning, we began our day to the sound of all of the monks praying and singing. Throughout our second day of trekking, the sun was shining (a lot) while we passed by fields and small shrines. The third day of the trek was a significantly shorter distance. After a quick break for food, we took a long boat ride to Inle Lake. We passed several houses on the way to dock. Like Soe Than’s village, these houses were all built on stilts over the water.

One of our guides had generously arranged for us to receive massages when we arrived at Inle Lake. I think I speak for everyone when I say how nice it was to sleep on a bed again and take a regular shower. After a full night of rest, we were all ready to explore Inle Lake. One of our stops was a place where fabrics are handwoven. We were briefly introduced to the labor intensive process of making the fibers used for weaving before stepping into the room where the weaving was done. All the women in the room were focused and silent as they wove beautiful textiles from lotus stem fibers.

After a day in Inle Lake, we took a short flight back to Yangon. There, we concluded our trip with a closing ceremony. It was so sad having to leave three of our guides. I remember seeing the faces of some of our group members practically pressed up against the glass that separated the guides and the general public from those who were traveling.

The trip was interesting, fun, and humbling. We all learned so much from the Burmese people about what it means to be hospitable and kind. It was nice to return back to California and Priory, but we were all so grateful to have had the opportunity to go to such an incredible place. Our experience in Burma was unforgettable. A lot of the people who went on the trip had never talked with or were not close with each other. However, this amazing shared experience helped us form new and stronger connections with one another.

CULTURAL TRIP

CULTURAL TRIP

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After a full 24 hours of travel, we almost fell asleep at the dinner table at our hotel. The first couple of days were rough, as half of our group fell ill with a stomach bug. The remainder of the group had the opportunity to travel to a language center to help local students with their English. The next day, the rest of us joined the group in exchanging US dollars for Burmese kyat and exploring a nearby market. The market’s dirt floor and low canopy roof set it apart from any market that I had ever seen. Our group took advantage of our time at the market and wandered around the market place, taking in all of the sights and smells. We also used this chance to buy longyis, the traditional Burmese pieces of clothing worn like skirts by both the women and men.

After our time at the market, we took a boat to an island where we got into ox carts that brought us to the village of one of our guides, Soe Than. His family kindly welcomed us into their home and prepared a delicious meal of native foods of that region. Other families showed their hospitality and kindness by offering us food and painting our faces with Thanaka (the Burmese equivalent of sunscreen.) We also saw some of the villagers play cane ball, a traditional Burmese sport similar to a combination of volleyball and soccer. As we had done the previous night, we visited another pagoda to see the sunset.

The next morning, as we left for the airport for our flight to Heho, the hotel staff came outside and waved goodbye to us. What might have seemed like a small gesture to them meant so much to us and it was such a profound example of the kindness we received while we stayed in Burma.

After arriving in Heho, we took a bus to Kalaw.

There, we visited an NGO house that provides housing and education for students who come from regions that are not currently safe and where there is not easy access to schools. An ex-political prisoner named Tommy, introduced us to the students who studied there.

He explained to us that because he was not allowed by the government to be involved in any more political acts again after being released from prison, he started the school to continue helping others in whatever way he could. He also told us that he still had to be careful about what he said and did because the government monitored his actions and conversations relating to government matters.

5. On our way to Inle Lake.

6. More trekking in the red dirt.

7. Our trip ended at the Yangon airport.

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All the women in the room were focused and silent as they wove beautiful textiles from lotus stem fibers.

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An International Experience

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CULTURAL TRIP

CULTURAL TRIP

Argentina

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Over the Easter break, 14 Priory seniors traveled to Argentina for a whirlwind adventure filled with glaciers, music, and to-die-for Patagonian chocolate. The trip all began in Buenos Aires where the group spent the day doing community service with the organization Decir es Poder, which means “Speaking is Power.� The students learned about the organization and how it helps illiterate adults in the neighborhood to learn to read and write from the neighborhood children and educators. The directors of Decir es Poder and a famous Argentine folk musician named Leo Gieco took the students around the neighborhood to meet and talk with the residents and hear first-hand about the program. The day ended with a mini-concert in the neighborhood by Gieco.

The following day the group went to the delta region that is located just outside of Buenos Aires. They enjoyed a boat tour through the delta and then returned to the city to experience a traditional Argentine party with folkloric music and traditional Argentine food such as empanadas and barbeque. On day three, they were able to watch a tango show and a city tour before flying off to their next destination of Bariloche. Over the next few days in Bariloche, students took a 10 mile hike to an extinct volcano and a hidden valley that had an amazing view of a glacier and waterfalls. Then they kayaked on the El Tronador Mountain lake followed by a mountain bike excursion around the area. During the evenings the students enjoyed great Patagonian food and lots and lots of delicious chocolate as that region is known as the chocolate region of Argentina.

Day six was a bit calmer with travel to Calafate where students enjoyed a tour of the historic town. They also were able to visit a Patagonian sheep ranch where they saw a traditional sheep shearing, rode horses, and enjoyed a traditional meal of lamb barbeque. The trip concluded with a hike to the top of the famous glacier Perito Moreno.

How It Came About

Have you ever wondered about the history behind the new St. Benedict statue in Schilling Square? Believe it or not, it took years of planning and numerous designs before the statue actually came to a reality. It started with Tim Molak and his vision for a statue on campus. After visiting De La Salle High School in Concord, he noticed a beautiful bronze statue of St. John Baptist de la Salle and inquired where they had it made. He thought Priory should have its own statue, one of the founder of our tradition, St. Benedict. After some consultation with Father Martin, it was decided that the statue would be based on a statue of St. Benedict at St. Anselm College.

While a group of Priory faculty and staff attended the BLSS Conference at St. Anselm, the group took photos of the St. Benedict statue from every angle.

Those photos were sent to the statue company with a few instructions for modifications such as removing the cowl on the habit and making St. Benedict look younger. The statue slowly began taking shape with emails sent back and forth between the company and Father Martin.

Finally, the drawings were sent to China where a clay statue was created. The clay statue was photographed and sent to Father Martin who continued to make slight tweaks and edits. The nose, eyes and facial hair were changed by Father Martin, who actually made pen marks on the photo and emailed the marked up photos to the company.

The statue was then bronzed and shipped to the Priory, where it arrived on July 16, 2015.

The statue was moved to five different locations on campus before finding its forever home in the center of Schilling Square.

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The clay statue was photographed and sent to Father Martin who continued to make slight tweaks and edits.

1. Father Martin with the original St. Benedict statue at St. Anselm.

2. The original facial design of the St. Benedict statue.

3. Father Martin etched facial hair and modified the eyes.

4. The nose and eyebrows were also changed.

ON CAMPUS

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The St. Benedict Statue

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US GRADUATION

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Commencement 2016

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On May 28th, the members of the Class of 2016 concluded their years at the Priory in much the same way they began: with sincere enthusiasm, immense pride, and great Priory spirit. The 68 graduates were accepted to over 150 colleges around the world and were offered more than $7.5 million in scholarships towards their college educations.

Student speaker Maria Naclerio expressed her love for the Priory community in her student address. Maria said, “If somebody asked me what I love most about Priory now, the answer would be easy. I could say the lush green hillsides surrounding Priory, laden with running trails, or the outstanding array of classes. I could point you to the cafeteria’s chocolate chip cookies, or the opportunity to pursue a myriad of interests. But what I really love most about Priory is the people. You guys. The Class of 2016. The teachers and staff members who helped us get where we are now. All of the amazing, supportive, passionate, and dedicated people who made the last four years so worth it. The people at Priory make it a community where taking risks is not only allowed, but encouraged. It is a community where my 67 fellow seniors and I are here, ready to graduate and meet the challenges of the world head on.”

Former ASB President and student speaker Brooks Royals expressed his summary of Priory in a single phrase. He said, “Priory isn’t your typical high school. I’ve found over the years that Priory life can be summarized with the phrase, ‘It’s not every day.’ It’s not every day you get to say that you attend a school where you can make pizza and develop photos in a dark room with our resident Renaissance monk, Father Martin. It’s not every day you get to see the Head of the Upper School French kiss a goat for a fundraising event. It’s not every day you see Father Maurus embracing his inner Formula 1 racer in a golf cart as Father Pius rides shotgun. It’s not every day you get to say that you dominated your World History teacher in a game of ping-pong during break. It’s not every day you get to attend a school that is nestled in such a beautiful area, and it’s not every day you get to go to a school where you feel like you are a part of one big family.”

Commencement speaker, author and Chief Evangelist Guy Kawasaki entertained the crowd by telling students to take out their cell phones and launch SnapChat.

Then he said, “In less than ten seconds, I’m going to repeat this message, so you can send it to everyone you know. The opposite of success is not failure. It’s learning. As long as you’re learning, you’re not failing. This is how to avoid failure for the rest of your life.” He then gave the Class of 2016 one more piece of unique advice. “Live off your parents as long as you can.” Both parents and students laughed and smiled at that suggestion. But Kawasaki was serious. “My theory is that your parents and grandparents have worked hard to provide you to receive a great education,” he said.

“Don’t deprive them of the satisfaction of seeing you take advantage of their efforts.

Take time off. Travel. Live outside the Valley. Outside the U.S. Outside your comfort zone. It’s a big world. I don’t know anyone who says, “I should have started working sooner.” In the long run, you will be a better person for this experience.” Kawasaki then concluded his speech with the same enthusiasm as he began it. “Kawasaki out,” he said, and dropped the mic.

“The opposite of success is not failure. It’s learning.

As long as you’re learning, you’re not failing.”

Commencement speaker Guy Kawasaki addresses the crowd.

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US GRADUATION

US GRADUATION

The Class of 2016

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Student speaker Maria Naclerio.

Micah Aguila Carolyn Sarah Akers ** Samuel Max Baumgarten William Ernest Bentley Madeline Ayala Birnbaum ** Kate Bowers * Claire Marie Buiocchi Megan Lynn Buiocchi ** Kanin Bunajinda Riley James Cantwell * David Anthony Casente * Richy Chen * Ghislaine Maria

Alba de Fort-Menares * Olivia Jacob DeStefano Anjali Kaur Eichbaum Michael Paul Fitzgerald Matthew Greer Galloway * Jaulie Goe Kelsey Ann Gosling John William Gregory * Joshua Blaurock Gutow * Sarah Lin Halabe * Scott Quarmby Harris Kylie Nicole Harrison * Pieter Christiaan Henkens * Arisa Rachel Herman * Jack Veloso Herrera Graham William Hughes * Lauren Alyssa Isackson Nicholas Graham Jaeger ** Lillian Rose Johnson Camryn Paige Kaplan Justin Reiji Koerner Anne Rebecca Kroo

Christian Randall Kruep John Chad Lee Veronica Bergeron Lempert Sergio David Lopez Paulette Marie Ma * Monica Mallon Hana Grace Marsheck * Maria Elizabeth Naclerio * Curie Park Kenny Park Matthew Briggs Patzer Samuel Hudson Pollack * Mirthia Beatriz Prince Figuereo Michael Eli Rapoport Anisha Nerabetla Reddy Austin John Foster Risley Charles Brookshire Royals, Jr. Samuelle Maria Saliba * Alejandra Sanchez * Lindsey Alexandra Schoenthaler Robert Murray Screven ** Haoyu Sheng ** Yuju Shin * Avery Faye Simon Avery Norma Ridley Singson Tara Sophie Tedjarati Rebecca Cooley Whitman ** Kalonee Latiara Wiggins Rachel Jessica Wolff Zhongguo Xing * Shiqiao Yin * Qinyi Yuan * Jocelyn Denisse Zambrano Yueyao Michael Zhao

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Student body president and student speaker Brooks Royals.

ACADEMIC HONORS AT COMMENCEMENT Academic honors at commencement are awarded to graduates who have earned the following cumulative grade point average by the end of the first semester of the senior year: ** Benedictine Honors - GPA of 4.0 plus * Head of School Honors - GPA of 3.81 to 3.99

Upper School Commencement Awards

Schools noted in bold are where Priory graduates of the Class of 2016 will be attending in the fall.

American University Amherst College Arizona State University Azusa Pacific University Bard College Barnard College Barry University Bates College Baylor University Bentley University Boise State University Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Bryant University Bryn Mawr College California State University Cal Poly Pomona Cal Poly SLO Chico East Bay Fullerton San Francisco San Jose Sonoma Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Clarkson University Colgate University College of William and Mary Colorado State University Connecticut College Dartmouth College DePaul University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Duke University Emerson College Emory University, Oxford College Foothill College Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gonzaga University Hamilton College Harvard University Haverford College Hofstra University Hollins University Illinois Institute of Technology Indiana University, Bloomington

Kenyon College Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Loyola Marymount University Loyola University, Chicago Loyola University, New Orleans Macalester College Manhattan College Marquette University McGill University Middlebury College Montana State University, Bozeman Mount Holyoke College Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Notre Dame de Namur University Oberlin College Occidental College Ohio State University Olin College of Engineering Pace University, New York City Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Pratt Institute Purdue University Queen’s University Reed College Regis University Rutgers University Saint Anselm College Saint Edward’s University Saint John’s University Saint Mary’s College of California Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Scripps College Seattle University Seton Hall University Skidmore College Smith College Southern Methodist University Stanford University Suffolk University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Texas Christian University Tufts University Tulane University Union College University College Cork United States Army University of Arizona University of British Columbia

University of California Berkeley Davis Irvine Los Angeles Merced Riverside San Diego Santa Barbara Santa Cruz University of Colorado, Boulder University of Denver University of Idaho University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign University of Kansas University of La Verne University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Montana, Missoula University of Nevada, Reno University of New Hampshire, Durham University of Oregon University of Pittsburgh University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Tampa University of the Pacific University of Toronto University of Utah University of Vermont University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University Washington State University Wellesley College Wentworth Institute of Technology Wesleyan University Westmont College Wheaton College Whittier College Willamette University Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University of Louisiana

Valedictorians Carolyn Akers Madeline Birnbaum Megan Buiocchi Nicholas Jaeger Robert Screven Haoyu Sheng Rebecca Whitman Dean of Students Award Brooks Royals Rev. Benignus F. Barat, OSB Citizenship Award Megan Buiocchi Academic Dean Award Rebecca Whitman St. Elizabeth Service Award Nicholas Jaeger Head of School Award Michael Fitzgerald Anne Kroo St. Benedict Award John Gregory Residential Life Award Alejandra Sanchez Athlete of the Year Hana Marsheck Michael Rapoport

Seven Year Club Carolyn Akers Ghislaine de Fort-Menares Michael Fitzgerald Jaulie Goe Kelsey Gosling John Gregory Scott Harris Graham Hughes Nicholas Jaeger Justin Koerner Hana Marsheck Michael Rapoport Anisha Reddy Austin Risley Brooks Royals Robert Screven Rebecca Whitman Residential Life Four Year Award Mirthia Prince Figuereo Haoyu Sheng Kalonee Wiggins Zhongguo Xing Qinyi Yuan National Merit Scholars Carolyn Akers Kate Bowers Megan Buiocchi Joshua Gutow Graham Hughes Nicholas Jaeger Maria Naclerio Samuel Pollack Samuelle Saliba Rebecca Whitman

US GRADUATION

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2016-2017 College and University Acceptances

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2015-16 AWARDS

2015-16 AWARDS

Middle and Upper School Awards

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St. Anselm Book Award winner Valerie Filloux ‘17.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS

UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS

The St. Ambrose Award for the Humanities Julia Singh ‘22 Ethan Veghte ‘21 Katherine Mawhinney ‘20

St. Elizabeth Service Award Mark Theis ‘18 Elise Rust ‘17

The St. Albert Award for Sciences and Math Michaela Maroney ‘22 Christina Cheng ‘21 Annabelle North ‘20 The St. Catherine Award for Fine Arts and Performing Arts John Max Byrne ‘22 Calvin Katz ‘21 Dimitri Saliba ‘20 Scholar Athlete Award Annabelle North ‘20 Matthew Covington ‘20

Rensselaer Medal winner Jack Youstra ‘17.

Athlete of the Year Maya Blevins ‘20 Samson Axe ‘20 The St. Benedict Award Luke Turk ‘22 Emily Stanger ‘21

Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Emma Erickson ‘17 The George Eastman Young Leaders Award Ryan Calbert ‘17 University of Rochester “Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences” Matthew Carusi ‘17 University of Rochester “Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology” Megan Love ‘17 The Rensselaer Medal Jack Youstra ‘17 The Williams College Book Award Wako Morimoto ‘17 The Wellesley College Book Award Elise Rust ‘17

The St. Anselm Book Award Valerie Filloux ‘17 The Harvard Book Award Konnor Von Emster ‘17 The St. Benedict Award Ila Lane ‘19 Kieran Pandey ‘18 Søren Madsen ‘17

UPPER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AWARDS Campus Ministry Samuelle Saliba ‘16 Computer Science Ryan Schackel ‘19 Emily Kuo ‘18 Pieter Henkens ‘16 English Kenny Akers ‘19 Elizabeth Duncan ‘18 Tony Li ‘17 Robert Screven ‘16

Mathematics Andrew Sirenko ‘19 Mick Jeon ‘18 Emma Erickson ‘17 Rebecca Whitman ‘16 Performing Arts Joseph Casente ‘19 Betty Chen ‘18 Gianna Morales ‘17 Anne Kroo ‘16

St. Elizabeth Service Award winner Elise Rust ‘17.

Science Ryan Schackel ‘19 Francesca Cohn ‘18 Mate Bago ‘17 Carolyn Akers ‘16

Theology Genevieve Chiu-Schaepe ‘19 Kieran Pandey ‘18 Sophia Lipp ‘17 Matthew Galloway ‘16

Social Sciences Daniel Cassel ‘19 Duncan Croll ‘18 Margot Heron ‘17 Arisa Herman ‘16

Visual Arts Caleb Pollack ‘19 Miya Herman ‘18 Kelsey Gosling ‘16 World Languages Sharp Queener ‘19 Duncan Croll ‘18 Yoonho Choi ‘17 Jocelyn Zambrano ‘16

MS GRADUATION

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On Their Way

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While the Middle School Choir sang the fitting song, “Thank You For Being a Friend,” the thirty-five eighth-grade students ceremoniously walked onto the stage in the Rothrock Performance Hall.

Mr. Schlaak called their generation “Generation Z,” currently the largest generational group in the US, making up 26% of the population. He explained that Generation Z people, “communicate with video and movies, rather than simply by text or voice,” and “as a group, you are against the concept of photoshopping and the idea of changing yourselves to be more ‘perfect.’ You will go forward as the most educated and diverse generation in American history.”

Student speaker Maya Blevins provided a comical futuristic look at what will become of the Class of 2020 in the year 2028 when the summer Olympics would occur. She described it this way. “U.S. Water polo team captain, Justin Wood got out the pool long enough to give an interview on his new gill and fin transplants, performed by doctor Grant Whitman.” Maya continued to predict, “The Olympians were honored with a trip to the White House to have dinner with the newly elected President Bobby Barbagelata. His Vice President, Carla Tamer, who is widely know to be running the country quietly from behind the scenes, is working closely with the CIA and FBI co-directors, Luke and Dimitri.”

Ally Sinclair, second student speaker, said, “The middle school years are some of the most important years of our lives. We’ve learned, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown and we’ve bonded. Middle school was an experience filled with so many memories. I can’t imagine myself making these memories with anyone else.”

PE teacher and coach David Moseley was chosen by the class to give the graduation address. Moseley’s normally playful personality became serious and focused as he told the class, “Upon finding out I was to be your speaker a few weeks ago, I must say the fear and trepidation of being the best possible speaker hit me like a ton of bricks.” His demeanor then quickly lightened up as he explained how he found the “sign” that he was ready to be the graduation speaker. “I told myself, stop and get a chicken egg roll at Panda Express because you cannot find answers to life’s questions on an empty stomach.” he said. “Now I’m at Panda. I get two egg rolls of course, and the sales clerk gives me a fortune cookie. Being quasi-superstitious, I decide to eat the cookie and see the words of wisdom that fortune has to share. ‘You will be recognized and honored as a community leader.’

BOOM!” Combining his love for sports and education, Moseley told the graduates, “Be willing to step out of your comfort zone to work towards a common goal with someone new. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish with others.”

Closing out the ceremony, Moseley left them with some last words of wisdom.

“Walk as if you have no where to go and reconnect with your surroundings.

Wonder as if anything you think can be done and complete regardless of the outcome, because it is the journey that you will remember. “

“I told myself, stop and get a chicken egg roll at Panda Express because you cannot find answers to life’s questions on an empty stomach.”

Middle School commencement speaker David Moseley.

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MS GRADUATION

MS GRADUATION 32

The Class of 2020 Samson Haley Axe Robert Joseph Barbagelata Justine Marie Biscay Maya Kearney Blevins Markus Wolfgang Hubertus Brugger Christian Charles Castelo Michael Chang Matthew Bruce Covington Ada Kate Fathers Charles Hayden Gainey Jacob Culbertson Gainey Mark Gregory Hughes Alec Blaze Israelski Jacqueline Sooyoung Lim Elizabeth Lye Kathryn Spencer Mawhinney Annabelle Olivia North Seeun Park Dominique Kamil Robson Elijah Manuel Roybal Ava Katherine Rust Jason Draxler Sadler Dimitri Alexander Saliba Gabriela Sanchez Kiana Kimberly Sargent Camille Elizabeth Shelton Muti Mohammed Shuman Alexandra Grace Sinclair Caroline Anne Smith Luke Martin Souter Carla Anna Tamer Katie Marie Walsh Zeta Simone Weiss Grant Michael Whitman Justin Michael Wood

Middle School Commencement Awards 8th Valedictorian Matthew Covington Grant Whitman 8th Salutatorian Justine Biscay Charles Gainey

Matthew Covington

Leadership Award Charles Gainey Middle School Head’s Award Jacob Gainey Leadership Award Charles Gainey

Grant Whitman

Justine Biscay

St. Benedict Award Ada Fathers

Jacob Gainey

Ada Fathers

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by Kathleen Gonzalez

“Anyone who is extraordinary in a certain field is that way for a reason.

Those people didn’t fall into it or do it for the money, but because they have a passion for it and the ability to do it well.”

David Koppett is describing his mother, English teacher and writing coach Sue Koppett, who celebrates 25 years tenure at the Priory this year. Sue explains, “The best teachers that I knew had high standards.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence and her graduate degree in English literature from Columbia, Sue spent time working as a writer. “I wrote a lot of book reviews for newspapers plus grant proposals and position papers for the American Jewish Committee,” she recalls, “and also edited a college textbook.” She taught English at Hofstra University for six years, and then developed a writing program called “How to Become an Effective Writer” that she brought to Bay Area schools like Harker Academy and Hoover.

Because she was raising her children David and Kathy at this time, she didn’t want to work full-time.

When Sue saw that the Woodside Priory School was hiring a teacher for one English class, she was happy to take the job.

Within a couple years, Sue and the administration agreed that her writing program would be a good fit for Priory students’ needs, and for years afterward it was required for all incoming freshmen. Students studied grammar, punctuation, and writing under the microscope of Mrs. Koppett’s gaze, and met with her

one-on-one for writing conferences as well. “To say she intimidated me and my peers would be an understatement,” recalls alumnus James Cox. “Intimidating people never know they’re intimidating, so I’m not the best judge of that comment,” laughs Sue. “But if you’re not rigorous in your standards, then you’re not teaching in a valuable way. I love my students and never meant to intimidate anybody.”

Persuasive essays, poetry explications, literary analysis, and a raft of stylistic devices marched from student pens or laptops and across Mrs. Koppett’s desk. Alumna Chrissa Trudelle explains, “She always told us the truth about our writing. For many students this was hard to hear, but at the end of the semester when she complimented our writing, we knew it was genuine.” Though some students at first didn’t see the value in taking the course, Chrissa says, “I’m thankful the Priory gave us such a strong writing foundation with Mrs. Koppett in our freshman year.” Academic Dean Brian Schlaak adds his own story. “I went to an alumni dinner back East and met a bunch of our alums there. They said, ‘I hated Writing Lab,’ and I said I was going to dump the class. To a person they all yelled, ‘No!’ They were still using the stuff they had learned from Sue Koppett in their fancy schools.” Though their expectations are high, the people who push us to reach our highest potential are often the ones we respect—and thank—the most.

When she retired from teaching Writing Lab, Sue Koppett switched gears to focus on guiding students through their college application personal statements.

that needs an answer. Shivani Dayal recalls, “One time I was about to leave for Christmas break to go to India, but I needed to finish editing one last college essay.

So I remember sitting on my bedroom floor with my computer in my lap and suitcase on my bed, talking to Mrs. Koppett on the phone at 8 o’clock at night. Her dedication to me as a student was amazing.”

“The kids feel her investment in their ability to write,” notes Brian Schlaak. “She makes the kids work hard to do well. She spends a lot of time outside of the work day working with them.” In fact, one of Sue’s best-known compliments is “hot shot.” “I always remember her calling me ‘hot shot,’” recalls alumna Joan Ratliff. Brian Schlaak smiles when he says that this is Sue’s nickname for him as well.

It’s clearly about hard work, and time, and growth, and not taking the slacker path. “She doesn’t tolerate lack of effort when it comes to revision,” states Damian Cohen, who admires her consistent messaging to students.

“It’s not just about writing a good essay,” clarifies Sue, “but I care about students and want to see them be successful.”

Though alumnus James Cox remembers feeling like Sue had peppered his papers with numerous comments, he quickly adds that “the seemingly insurmountable standard she held us to made her praise feel like a real and earned achievement.” Pete Trudelle recalls his own experience in writing lab class. “When a classmate turned in a rush job paper,” Pete recounts, Mrs. Koppett would expect him or her to go back and do more revisions. “That may not sound positive, but she demanded our very best and taught us to write better papers.” Paul Trudelle agrees. He saw all six of his children grow and thrive in Mrs. Koppett’s ninth grade Writing Lab. They also warned that if Mrs. Koppett says you need to do more revising, “that means she cares about helping you improve!”

Hard work, high standards, and real effort are the keys to success in Sue Koppett’s world. Alumnus Mark Ruiz agrees that Sue’s standards “were indeed rigorous but they prepared me for college and beyond.” Mark’s mother Kathleen Ruiz adds, “She’s our family’s favorite teacher of all time!” James Cox declares of Sue Koppett, “Every teacher that taught me thereafter was measured by her.”

25TH ANNIVERSARY

25TH ANNIVERSARY 34

The Measure of a Great Teacher

Alumna Katrina Jim says, “I remember telling her broadly about what topic I was interested in, and she would help me brainstorm more specific topics to write about, and that helped direct me. My impression of her was that she was very knowledgeable and would like to see her students succeed.” Fellow alumna Amanda Lee agrees that the process was helpful and adds, “At first it was a little intimidating because I had a completely wrong idea for formatting, so I thought I was doomed after my first appointment with her. However, my second draft went very well, and she complimented me on my imagery and writing, which is something out of the ordinary for me. It gave me confidence in my writing, and I thank her for that.” The college application process is stressful enough, but having Sue Koppett as their coach helps students navigate the hazards.

History department chair Damian Cohen takes a broader perspective. “When it comes to applications, she aims to teach students to tell their story without bragging. That can be challenging for some. Some aren’t used to talking about themselves at all, and some aren’t used to being told they need to scale back their self-esteem.” What Sue says to students is, “We never brag, we just sneak it in.”

Writing that personal statement is much more than just ticking something off an application list; it’s about expressing one’s unique experience, teasing out the kernels of truth. Alumna Shivani Dayal comments, “I think by the time I was a senior I understood her advice and she really helped push me to make these essays unique rather than cliché, which is hard to do for these standardized essays!” Sue sums up her belief by saying, “Going over each sentence individually apparently develops individual style. Teaching phrasing, eliminating certain clichés, and using strong verbs is essential to create an individualized paper.”

Besides the writing skills, though, Sue believes that “Reading has everything to do with writing. You don’t have the language in your ear if you don’t read.”

Sue Koppett has continued showing up at the Priory and working well beyond the years when most people are already sitting on their porches and enjoying retirement. Each week throughout the fall and winter months, she has a long list of student names scrawled on her appointment sheet, then meets with them in the Academic Resource Center for advising and revising. Students may walk out with an essay draft with a long fix-it list, yet they keep coming back or even call her at all hours with one more question

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DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT 36

S

Summer greetings, Priory!

While you are enjoying the relaxing pace of summer, know that the Priory campus is buzzing with activity, preparing for two new facilities and for the beginning of an exciting new school year.

As Director of Development, I’d like to introduce myself, and to report that our Building Ingenuity Campaign has been very successful, thanks to the incredible philanthropic support of families like yours. To date, we have raised over $18 million dollars, including contributions from faculty and staff, trustees, and parents. It is my great privilege to accept the baton from outgoing Director of Development Siobhan Lawlor and to enter the final stretch as we work together to achieve our goal of $25 million.

With classroom renovations completed in 2014 and the opening of Schilling Square and the Benedictine Classrooms in 2015, we are now in the third and final phase of Building Ingenuity.

Two significant projects remain: the construction of a regulation-size field and six-lane track, and the STREAM Center. Colony Construction has already begun work on the track and field, which will be completed late this fall, and demolition of the Arts Building is scheduled for late summer to make room for the much-anticipated STREAM Center. Progress!

These improvements are scheduled for completion in time for our 60th Anniversary celebrations in the fall of 2017. Priory’s new, modernized academic spaces will allow us to better

meet the needs of today’s students and to fulfill our mission decades into the future.

While Building Ingenuity is a key investment in Priory’s future, it’s the Annual Fund that “keeps the lights on,” filling that all-important gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of operating the school. I have the honor of working with a dedicated team of Annual Fund parent volunteers whose commitment to the school transforms our vision into a reality.

As a community we have much to be proud of. Priory has become the school of choice on the Peninsula. Applications are at an all-time high. We continue to recruit outstanding faculty, our parent community is engaged and involved, and, of course, we continue to be graced by the presence of our wonderful monks!

The Priory of today is built on the philanthropic support of the parents who have come before us. Your generosity helps support our faculty and curriculum while also transforming the campus and sustaining the dream of our founding Fathers.

Thank you for your belief in our mission. Thank you for your support of our 21st century Benedictine education. Thank you for partnering with us to assist students in creating meaningful, balanced lives in order to productively serve a world in need of their gifts.

Wishing you all a relaxing end to summer and a wonderful start to the new school year!

Always we begin again,

Mr. Molak oversees construction of Priory’s ‘Field of Dreams’ and our Benedictine philosophy: “To return that which has been in our care in as good or better condition than it was when given into our custody.”

— John McQuiston II (Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living)

Suzanne Couch Director of Development

Your generosity helps support our faculty and curriculum while also transforming the campus and sustaining the dream of our founding Fathers.

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With Thanks For Your Gifts Of Thyme

On April 13th, Rothrock Performing Arts Center was abuzz with celebration. It was the annual Volunteer Appreciation Brunch, a beautiful commemoration of the Priory volunteer community’s goodness. To show the community’s gratitude and with quintessential Priory hospitality, alumni mothers—led by Meg Lansing, Linda Barnes, Eileen DiGiorgio, Ann Marie Draeger, Tami O’Neill, Liz Pavlov and Patti Turnquist—created centerpieces, set tables, greeted guests, served beverages and then welcomed senior parents to life after Priory with the presentation to each of an alumni parent Priory Panther key ring.

Head of School Tim Molak recognized Gala Chair extraordinaire Carolyn Putney for her phenomenal leadership of this year’s Emerald Ball which generated over $700,000—a new record!—and strengthened our community in support of every single student at the school. Wearing her customary Emerald Ball tiara, Carolyn thanked her committee Chairs for their generous time and talent.

Tim then initiated a custom known as The Last Volunteer Standing. He asked all those who had volunteered for at least one year to please stand and be recognized. At first, nearly everyone in the room was standing. Next, he called out higher and higher numbers of years, and more and more volunteers sat down, until at last there was only Barbara Calbert, the Last Volunteer Standing with 14 years of dedicated service to the Priory community.

After that, Tim acknowledged Pamela and Scott Weiss, outgoing PPA Chairs, for their inclusive leadership of the parent community over the last two years.

Tim highlighted the contributions of their tenure including expanded volunteer staffing of the Franklin Garden, reinforcement of the Parent Resource Network and the initiation of a pre-Christmas Concert Party which will become an annual tradition.

Pamela and Scott expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be of service to the Priory community. They acknowledged the contributions of the PPA Event and Activity Chairs, and presented them with a beautiful burlap covered thyme plant accompanied by a handwritten card that read, “Thank you for your gift of Thyme.”

Newly installed 16-18 PPA Co-Presidents Kathy Fitzgerald and Kari Rust added their praise for Pamela and Scott’s two-year term of good works and expressed their enthusiasm for undertaking leadership of the parent volunteer community.

In the end, after special acknowledgment of those volunteers who helped raise money for Priory’s Annual Fund, there was the last hurrah, dispatched via video. It was the entire student body chanting, “Thank you Priory volunteers!

Thank you, very much!”

PPA Events

On-going Volunteer Activities

Back to School Coffee/Volunteer Fair Wendy Haesemeyer & Patti Lee-Hoffmann

Founders Hall Flowers Clayre Fathers

Kick-Off Family Homecoming Festivities Mary Rose Theis & Paula Hughes

Upper School Sports Team Liaison Simone LaValle

Parent Resource Network Jennifer Nash, Kaleo Serughetti-Waxman, Sandra Fairon

Kathy Fitzgerald and Kari Rust accept the PPA Presidency from Pamela and Scott Weiss.

Fine Arts Judy Borcz

Christmas & Chapel Décor Kathleen O’Rourke & Najwa Tamer Winter Concert/Christmas Reception Saila Kariat, Cindy Vogt & Pamela Weiss

Honoring senior parent volunteers.

Advent Vespers Reception Sally Ann Reiss & Kathy Fitzgerald

Sustainability Program volunteers with Father Martin and Mr. Molak.

8th Grade Graduation Breakfast Meg Barton

Class Parent Coordinators Sandra Fairon, Carolyn Putney

Used Dress-Up Clothing Exchange Suzanne Akers Common Ground Liaisons Rebecca Wedl, Jennifer Nash, Margaret McCormack Parent Association Website Managers Ann Kearney, Karen Gregory, Janey Ward

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch Bill and Jennifer Youstra

Boarding Students Liaisons Anne Harrison, Cheryl Chin, Shirley Oberman

Orchestra Mimi Blaurock, Cindy Vogt

Anam Cara Spirituality/Reflection Group Ramsay Waterman

Gala Auction Carolyn Putney

Used Book Swap Cindy Vogt

Theatre Karen Gregory, Jill Wernicke

Support for Sustainability Program Lisa Putnam, Claudia Geoly

Grandparents Day Cindy Cheung & Dani Keil

Performing Arts Banquet Karen Gregory, Jill Wernicke, Mimi Blaurock, Cindy Vogt, Saila Kariat, Linda Buiocchi

Middle School Sports Team Liaison Jean Barbagelata Choir Saila Kariat, Linda Buiocchi

Open House Cindy Cheung & Debbie Thibault

eScript/Shop for Priory Katy Jenkins Courtney Anne Harrison, Mary GastonDuling and Nicole Bergeron.

Below: Alumni mothers graciously served and celebrated volunteers.

APPRECIATION

APPRECIATION 38

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Class Breakfasts Jennifer Youstra, Lisa Gainey, Evan Castelo Buddy Family Program Katy Jenkins Courtney

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Barbara Calbert began as a class parent at Priory in 2002 when her son David, ’09, entered 6th grade. She wanted to keep her finger on the pulse of what was going on in his life away from home. Little did she know that her commitment to volunteerism would reap great rewards in the form of enduring friendships for herself and her children.

Fourteen years and two sons later, she continues on as a class parent, and she believes that her consistent involvement has contributed to her children’s commitment to the school. “The kids know the school is important to us and that builds pride,” she says. Whether volunteering as a Host Parent, serving at the Faculty Appreciation Event, chairing Grandparents Day, stuffing envelopes, or decorating for events, Barbara prefers working behind the scenes and away from the spotlight.

“I’m continually impressed by the number of parents who roll up their sleeves and make a difference,” she says. “Volunteering provides the opportunity to meet great people who are like you and share similar values. This bonding experience creates a network of support for the children.”

Barbara adds, “There are specific challenges to parenting in our community.

How do we provide our children with a rigorous academic experience that prepares them for college while protecting and supporting them as individuals—emotionally, socially and spiritually?” She cites the religious foundations of the school and the Benedictine values as the supporting framework for these challenges. The Priory culture allows students to be comfortable being who they are, she says, so “they don’t have to be someone they are not.”

From the beginning, volunteering gave Barbara a community of other mothers who came to share their time and talent and ended up sharing much more. “I don’t believe you can raise a child on an island. We don’t have all the answers. We learn from the parents ahead of us. I have gotten so much more than I have put in: parents as resources who become friends, relationships with students who become young adults, and a feeling that I am a part of something much bigger than myself.”

LAST VOLUNTEER STANDING

LAST VOLUNTEER STANDING

40

LVS

Perennial Volunteer Barbara Calbert: Creating a Network of Support

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42

Making a Positive Impact Jean Henri Lhuillier ’88 is the President and CEO of the PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies. His companies deal with financial services such as pawning, remittance, microinsurance, and microloan solutions. Lhuillier is also involved in other industries including retail, hotel and restaurant management, IT, sports management, and real estate. His flagship brand is Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest microfinancial institution in the Philippines.

L

Lhuillier explains how it all began, “Our company started as a small pawnshop and jewelry store established in Cebu, Philippines by my grandfather. It was my father who brought the business to the capital Manila and started opening a number of branches in other parts of the country, mainly providing pawning services to the Filipinos.”

When Lhuillier was a young boy, he would watch his father work and he always knew that he had to come back and help him some day. He said, “As early as nine years old, I would go to our pawnshops and join meetings with my dad.” By age ten, he already knew he was going to join the business. “Being around a father who had a passion for the business, I picked up that passion,” he said.

Lhuillier’s time at the Priory began in the seventh grade, when he lived in the Junior Dorms which at the time housed students as young as seventh and eighth graders. His memories of Priory had a lasting effect on him. “Living in the dorms instilled in me early the essence of time management. The set study hours and structured time spent for sports day and night made things simple and efficient,” he said. Lhuillier returned to Manila each

summer and helped out in the family pawnshop outlets.

He explained, “Being the eldest child, I felt the need to help make sure that things get done, and if we would be working together, I had to learn what needed to be learned from my dad.” Lhuillier had to work his way up even in the family business. “My grandfather wanted us, his grandchildren, to know our family business starting from the bottom.” he said. “So we were made to sit by the teller and learn what the teller was doing.”

After graduating from Priory in 1988, Lhuillier went on to Saint Mary’s College where he earned a degree in Economics and Business Administration in 1992. He also completed the Owner/President Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2009 and obtained a Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) degree from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2013. Lhuillier is also an alumnus of the Gemological Institute of America, where he finished Graduate Diamonds and Graduate Pearls, among other programs. In June 2014, he was conferred the rank of Official Knight of the Equestrian Order of Saint Agatha by the Republic of San Marino due to his

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT

Jean Henri Lhuillier

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SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT 44

“I know that ALS means Alternative Learning System, but for me, ALS means “Always Love Schooling.” One should always desire to continue learning to better themselves.

Education is the great equalizer.” seven years of active and consistent efforts to strengthen the bilateral relationship between San Marino and the Philippines. The knighthood is usually given only to foreign nationals who have positively contributed charitable and other services for the benefit of San Marino for at least 10 years.

Lhuillier officially joined his family’s company in 1992 and became the Executive Vice President and General Manager in 1994. Four years after, he assumed the position of President and CEO of the company. From then on, he spearheaded it’s development into a one-stop microfinancial solutions provider, expanding the network of branches and offering more products and services. Today there are more than 1,800 branches all over the country.

As he builds Cebuana Lhuillier into a mega brand, Lhuillier has also simultaneously pushed for its education advocacy through his Nationwide Scholarship Program, supporting deserving but economically handicapped youth throughout the country. Through the Cebuana Lhuillier Alternative Learning System Program, a ladderized, modular, non-formal education program, he aims to help out-of-school youth receive free education through Community Learning Centers located nationwide. Intended for Filipinos located in far-flung communities with no or limited access to formal schools and in need of basic literacy skills, Cebuana Lhuillier Alternative Learning Program aims to give hope and opportunity to the less fortunate by giving them the chance to gain and develop knowledge and skills that are vital in creating better futures for themselves. At present, there are now 65 ALS centers in the Philippines with over 1,700 learners.

“I know that ALS means Alternative Learning System, but for me, ALS means “Always Love Schooling.”

One should always desire to continue learning to better themselves. Education is the great equalizer. Whether you’re rich or poor, you can use it to improve your life and achieve success.”

Lhuillier also has a very strong passion for sports, especially tennis and softball. Through this passion, he has been able to make a positive impact on the lives of many Filipinos. He explained how he began the process. “As early as 1994, I already started to organize, support and spon-

sor various tennis tournaments in the country through our company’s corporate social responsibility program.”

From there his involvement increased. “In 2004,” he says, “I started sponsoring the Philippine Davis Cup team and have been serving as their team manager since then. In the same year, I started bankrolling development programs for tennis players who showed great potential to make it to the professional league.” In 2005, Lhuillier was appointed the country’s team manager of the men’s and women’s tennis teams for the Southeast Asian Games.

The following year, Lhuillier launched the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis, a year-round grassroots tennis competition for young Filipino tennis players. It is now in its 10th year and continues to discover and produce international junior standouts.

Together with other tennis patrons in the Philippines, he formed the Philippine Tennis Academy in 2011 with not only the aim of identifying and training talents but also providing the opportunity to underprivileged boys and girls in the countryside to use their tennis skills and rise out of poverty. Through the company’s sports advocacy, he was able to sponsor a number of tennis tournaments in the Philippines. In 2014 and 2015, he helped bring to the Philippines the International Premiere Tennis League.

Lhuillier is also the co-owner of the Philippine Mavericks and also serves as the team manager. At present, Lhuillier is the current Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Tennis Association, and the Director of the Philippine Tennis Academy.

Through Lhuillier’s efforts, Philippine tennis has reached new heights. It has produced standouts such as Treat Huey, world number 18 doubles player and semi-finalist at the 2016 Wimbledon Open; Francis Casey Alcantara, 2009 Australian Open Juniors doubles champion; and Jeson Patrombon, former world number 9 doubles player. The Philippine tennis men’s and women’s teams have also won numerous gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games. He has also organized world-class tennis tournaments such as the ITF Men’s Future’s in 2015 and the ATP Challenger in 2016.

As if that weren’t enough, Lhuillier serves as the President of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philip-

pines (ASAPHIL) since 2007 and is also supporting and sponsoring the Philippine softball national teams RP Blu Boys and Blu Girls in their international training and competitions. RP Blu Boys and Blu Girls are perennial champions in Southeast Asia and are one of the strongest teams in Asia. RP Blu Boys finished runner up in the 2009 and 2012 Asian Men’s Championships and placed 10th in the World Men’s Championships in 2009. RP Blu Girls, on the other hand, placed 4th in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games and finished 7th place in the World Cup in 2014.

“My first major project as ASAPHIL President was the Summer Grand Slam, a yearly softball tournament in the country and considered as the national open for softball in the Philippines,” Lhuillier said. He also started sponsoring and supporting various softball activities and tournaments like the National Inter-Collegiate and Secondary Tournaments, Department of Education’s Batang Pinoy, and the Palarong Pambansa, all of which serve as the primary youth development programs for softball in the Philippines.

“My next goal is to have our RP Blu Girls qualify and fight for a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I’ve always believed that softball is the team sport where Filipinos can be at par with the world’s best.”

Lhuillier also used to own and manage a basketball team that played in the Metropolitan Basketball Association and in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League, the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.

He gave opportunities for basketball amateur players through the Tryouts ng Bayan program, a nationwide activity in partnership with the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) that aimed to discover hidden talents from all over the country and develop the talent pool for the National Team. Lhuillier supported national teams such as the 2003 Philippines Basketball Team which bagged the gold medal in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games, where he acted as Team Manager. He also supported the Team Gilas Pilipinas, which made a historic run in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. All these efforts have resulted to numerous awards throughout the years. Some of the most recent and notable

were his Gold Stevie Award for the Executive of the Year for Diversified Services and for the Financial Services categories from the 2015 International Business Awards. He also received a Silver Stevie Award for Maverick of the Year, Chairman of the Year, and for the Executive of the Year for Conglomerates categories, and a Bronze Stevie Award for the Innovator of the Year and for the Executive of the Year for Insurance categories from the same award-giving body. He was given the Gold Award for the CEO of the Year category by the 2015 Golden Bridge Awards, and another Gold Award for the CEO of the Year category from the CEO World Awards in 2014.

His work in education advocacy, was recently recognized by top PR awards such as Anvil and Philippine Quill. Lhuillier was even cited earlier this year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association for his valuable contributions to sports development in the Philippines.

Some may wonder how Lhuillier has found time to be the CEO and President of his company and also invest so much time and energy into supporting so many athletic events. Lhuillier answers, “I combined my love for sports with my interest in helping the plight of many Filipino athletes by boosting sports development and awareness of those sports in the Philippines.”

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CLASS NEWS & NOTES

CLASS NEWS & NOTES 46

Note: If you would like to become a Reunion Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@prioryca. org or (650) 851-6138. And remember to check out Woodside Priory Alumni Association on Facebook for additional photos and updates!

Congratulations to all our Priory alumni who graduated college this year! Best of luck in all your future endeavors. Always we begin again.

1976

Peter Draeger, Joe Montero, George Stromeyer and Erhard Wegman reunited over a delicious BBQ, several beers and a good bottle of Argentine Malbec. They let ideas fly with how to make their 40th reunion in September a fun and meaningful event. There was tons of laughter and fun sharing great stories about their experiences and adventures at Priory. This is the class that inducted Father Martin into the school during his first year at Priory. Little did Father Martin know what he would get into, but even 41 years later he continues to smile.

1976 1976

George Stromeyer, in his new role as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Division, Barco, currently spends the majority of his time in Kortrijk, Belgium, enjoying the great beer, mussels and frites—and at times even a ray of sunshine. Recently he had the opportunity to meet and give a tour to King Philippe of Belgium during the inauguration of the new state of the art BARCO campus. None of the royalty rubbed off of him however, and he remains his humble self.

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1996

Jeanine Yost accompanied her mother, Camille Yost, on a Knights of Malta sponsored pilgrimage to Lourdes. During their pilgrimage, they were surprised to see several Priory families. In Voiture, they found James, Kathryn, and William Janz who are the family of Elizabeth Janz ‘04. Later, they connected with Dr. Edgar Gamboa and Dr. Lucia Gamboa, parents of J P Gamboa ‘07.

2004

1996

George Schnurle has visited many places since leaving Priory. He’s done a tour of duty in the medical device manufacturing world, followed by an intense experience as a bitcoin miner. At regular intervals, he’s visited Burning Man, bringing with him blood, sweat, tears, and his team’s artwork and infrastructure. At times, he’s inhabited the State of Misery when things weren’t working out in Relationship Land. Last year, he had a great time reuniting with the Priory Robotics team (go 751!) and he is extremely excited to be mentoring the Priory Robotics team in the coming year, as well as teaching CAD.

1996 2006

2005

Laura Newton (Trudelle) enjoyed a delicious Priory lunch with her adorable 10 month old daughter, Lily. Laura has been teaching high school math at Providence School in Santa Barbara and has enjoyed coaching the varsity volleyball team. For the past four years, the Providence team has scrimmaged against our Priory girls.

2005

Timothy Kovachy completed his PhD in Physics at Stanford. The topic of his thesis was using the quantum mechanical wavelike properties of very cold atoms to make sensors for practical applications, such as inertial navigation and Earth science, and fundamental physics tests.

Michael Lee came back to Priory to reconnect with the monks and some of his teachers. After graduating from Priory, he moved to New York and attended NYU for college and medical school. He completed his residency in internal medicine at NYU and is now working as a chief resident and applying for fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. His hope is to return to the West Coast for fellowship.

2006

Molly Magnuson visited the Priory with her siblings Natalie ‘15 and Max ‘08. Molly married Matt Woodward in the Priory chapel with the ceremony performed by Father Martin.

Tori Patton has been working in residential real estate since graduating college. Tori currently works at Sotheby’s International Realty in San Francisco and her team sold $91M in 2015. Kendall Bell ‘06 and Tori are roommates in the Marina district and recently visited Priory. Tori and Kendall are looking forward to their 10th reunion weekend in September and hope to reconnect with many of their classmates and teachers.

2005 2006

Reunion Years 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011

Zuhayr Mallam returned to the Priory to work as an AP proctor this past May.

2011

Darbus Oldham came to graduation and reconnected with George Schnurle ‘04 and other friends from the Robotics team. He is majoring in engineering and minoring in Japanese at Swarthmore College. He studied at the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies during the fall 2015 semester, and this summer is doing research relating to machine interpretation of American Sign Language.

2012

Allegra Thomas earned a degree in Art at Santa Clara University and graduated in June. In the spring her oil paintings were part of an exposition in the Fine Arts Building on Santa Clara’s campus.

2011

2009

2013

48 2014

Courtney Cheung just returned from studying in Barcelona, Spain for four and a half months. There, she took advanced Spanish and a variety of marketing classes, but also completed a four month marketing internship at Reseau Entreprendre Catalunya. Next year, she will be a senior at Cornell University and will be graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Applied Economics and Management and Communication.

2014

Riley Gallivan led Boston University in the national anthem at Fenway Park. Our alumni are doing incredible things.

Chris Gregory recently earned his EMT license, getting one step closer to his dream of becoming an emergency physician. He is back at Priory working at Mountain Camp Woodside for his fifth summer. In the fall, Chris will be spending a semester in Tours, France, studying French and chemistry. In addition, Chris just closed the show ‘Spring Awakening,’ at Bucknell, in which he was cast as ‘Otto.’

2013

Laura Wu is spending her summer in Maine working with Colby College psychology professor Tarja Raag.

Raag specializes in lifespan development, and Wu is assisting as a blind experimenter in her lab. In addition, Wu is working as student co-director of ASB (Alternative Spring Break), a Colby program that organizes community service trips around the world at a relatively cost effective price. Post summer, Wu is excited to play rugby for Colby, continue as a sexual violence peer prevention trainer, and work at hospice in the Waterville area.

2012

2015

Thomas Mudge and Nick Souter visited the Priory and enjoyed a nostalgic breakfast-for-lunch meal.

2016

2015

Mike Fitzgerald ended up running into Father Martin at Logan Airport in Boston. The awesome Priory community is coming together everywhere.

2016

Annie Kroo was welcomed by Marcus ‘11 and George Stromeyer ‘76 into the “Priory Pilot Association” with an aerial tour of the Bay. As part of her senior project, Annie did her first solo and is hoping to get her pilot license very soon. Go for it and fly high, Annie! (Who else would like to join this fun group of “Passionate Priory Pilots”? )

2016

CLASS NEWS & NOTES

CLASS NEWS & NOTES

2009

49

MONASTERY NEWS

5th Annual BLSS Seminar Living a Monastic Life (For a Week)

This past June, five faculty members, and three trustees traveled to St. Anselm for the fifth annual Benedictine Life and Spirituality Seminar (BLSS). The purpose of the fourday immersion program is to allow lay faculty and staff to experience the rhythmic schedule of monastic life. The program includes participating in daily prayer, experiencing mass and meals with the monks, enjoying a meal in silence with table reading, listening to a history on the Benedictines and to a panel of monks describe their vocational call and story, meeting and conversing with members of the St. Anselm community, and touring the church and Abbey. By experiencing the life of a monk, the attendees gain a greater understanding and awareness of Benedictines and their rich lifestyle, tradition, and history.

50

Stay Connected Friend us on our Facebook page where you can keep up to date with the latest Priory events. www.facebook.com/woodside.priory.5 See photos on Flickr of past and current events. www.flickr.com/photos/paxpanther/ Follow us on Instagram @woodsidepriorypanthers. People love our Throwback Thursday photos from the archives. You never know, you might be in one!

View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/user/paxpanther ALUMNI!

Let us know what you are up to. We love learning about the interesting things you are doing! Send an email with any address updates or news to alumni@prioryca.org Like and Friend us on our Alumni Facebook page “Woodside Priory Alumni Association” www.facebook. com/groups/22629168008

Monastic Updates Father William Sullivan suffered a stroke last year and continues to recover in the hospital under care. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. Father William was the prior and president of Priory from 1985-1997.

Father Jude Gray, OSB, 81, a beloved Benedictine monk and priest at Saint Anselm Abbey, Goffstown, for more than 50 years, as well as an educator, coach and vintage automobile restoration enthusiast, died Monday, March 14, 2016, at Saint Teresa’s Nursing Home, Manchester, after more than a year of declining health. Father Jude was the fifth headmaster at Priory in the 80’s.

Connect and network on the Priory Alumni Association LinkedIn page.

Thanks to all who shared photos with us on Instagram! We got picture happy with this photo by vivianplaysoccer. Tag your Priory related Instagram photos with #priorypanthers and you may see your photo here as one of our favorites!

Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839

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Rediscover Priory - the Old and the New Join your classmates, monks and former teachers for a weekend of activities: • Football Game • Be a Priory Student Again • Campus Tours • All Alumni Reception • Reunion Class Dinner • Sunday Mass Alumni Reunion Classes 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 RSVP online at prioryca.org/Page/Quicklinks/Alumni