Issuu

Providence High School

PIONEER Connections

Winter 2017

Compassion

Respect

Justice

Excellence

Stewardship

Providence High School YOU BELONG HERE.

Providence

High School

Celebrating our school …celebrating our community

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 LAKESIDE GOLF CLUB For more information, please contact Director of Development Vickie Bagwell at 818.846.8141 x14413 or Vickie.Bagwell@providencehigh.org.

Providence High School 511 South Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91505 818.846.8141 www.providencehigh.org

Administration

Dean of Students Ernest Siy, Principal Allison DeFrancesco Castro ‘02, Head of School Joe Sciuto, and Dean of Studies Kerry Martin strike their best pose as Lego figurines on Halloween.

Mr. Joe Sciuto, Head of School Mrs. Allison DeFrancesco Castro ‘02, Principal Mr. Ernest Siy, Dean of Students Ms. Kerry Martin, Dean of Studies

in this issue...

Board of Regents

MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL

FEATURES In Memoriam: Tom Durkin 6 Girls’ Volleyball Team Experiences Historic Season 8 Introducing New Board Members 9 Providence High Arts Tackles Complicated Material in The Crucible 10 Students Pitch Original Animated Series Idea to Disney Execs 12 PIONEER NEWS BRIEFS 14 PIONEER LIFE PHOTO ALBUM 16 FACULTY PROFILE Rafael Vega 18 REMINISCE Alumni Events 20 Class Reunions 22 Alumnotes 23 PATRONS Donate Your Old Car to Providence 26 List of Donors 27 LET US PRAY 30 BACK COVER Upcoming Alumni Events 32

Mr. Gary Arakelian ‘88, Chair Mr. Ken Coopman, Immediate Past Chair Mr. Stuart Posin, Vice Chair Mr. Tim Chan, Secretary Sr. Sheila Browne, RSM Ms. Pam Corradi Mr. Benedict Coulter Mrs. Christy Rodriguez Futernick ‘88 Mrs. Libby Ghekiere Mrs. Denise Gutches Sr. Mary Hawkins, SP Mr. Francis Largoza Rev. Francis Mendoza Mrs. Erica Menke Mrs. Sharron Dowthwaite Nelson ‘75 Ms. Stacy Smithers Mr. Stephen Swofford Mrs. Anne Zwart Sr. Lucille Dean, SP - Emeritus Member Sr. Nancy Jurecki, OP, PH&S Chief Mission Integration Officer Pioneer Connections is published by the Advancement Department at Providence High School. For questions or comments about this publication, please contact Allison Hastings Knowles ‘99 at 818.846.8141 x14417 or Allison.Knowles@providencehigh.org.

Photo credits: Greg Castro ‘02, Haley Diaz ‘17, Jennifer Harnsberger, Vince McManus ‘14, Kathy Nelson

Winter 2017

a message from our HEAD OF SCHOOL...

Dear Friends of Providence High School,

letters to our military members through Operation Gratitude. Our entire faculty and staff kicks off every school year with a service project day at different local Catholic elementary schools in need. Every year, homerooms and other groups on campus adopt needy families and provide for them during our annual Advent Drive. These are just a few of the many ways that we continue to live the Mission of Providence here daily at Providence High School.

elcome to another edition of Pioneer Connections. I can’t believe that we are at winter break and the holidays are upon us. I hope that you all had a blessed Christmas and a joyous holiday season filled with family, friends, and good times! The recent Presidential campaign and election was like none other in our country’s history. It was unique and unpredictable in so many ways, and it seems as though U.S. politics, for better or for worse, has been changed forever. As Head of School, I recently wrote a letter to our faculty and staff, Board of Regents, parents, and students, addressing the extreme feelings being displayed in our country. My letter focused on how as a school community, our emphasis will always remain on our Mission. We are extremely fortunate to not just follow in the footsteps of the Sisters of Providence, but as People of Providence we are challenged to seek what they sought.

My job, and our faculty and staff’s job, is to make sure our Pioneers live our Mission daily. That is my commitment to each and every one of the 434 students we serve at Providence High School today. And it’s my commitment to all of you. Legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, once said, “Just do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” We will continue to do our best as we support our students, families, and alumni, through the Providence Mission. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Check in at our public website – www.providencehigh.org – and come out to school events. You are always welcome!

At Providence, I believe that now, more than ever, is a time for us to reflect upon our school’s Mission. Please read it again carefully:

I wish you a Happy New Year!

“As People of Providence, we reveal God’s love for all, especially the poor and the vulnerable, through our compassionate service.”

Yours in Providence,

Our Mission is what will continue to propel us forward here at Providence. When it comes to our children, it’s not about the politics; it’s about the values we are teaching them. It’s about revealing God’s love for all. It’s about caring for the poor and the vulnerable. It’s about compassionately serving others. Our students performed over 19,000 hours of community service last year, and we are on pace to do more than that this year! Every Wednesday, we have “We Care Wednesday” after school where students and faculty members work on projects like writing

Joe Sciuto Head of School YOU BELONG HERE.

Go Green!

In an effort to be better stewards of the environment, if you would like to receive your issue of Pioneer Connections via email instead of snail mail, please contact the Advancement Office at 818.846.8141 x 14416.

Opposite page: Sr. Rosa Nguyen, SP, dressed as Sisters of Providence foundress Mother Emilie Gamelin, hands Michael Zwart ‘19 an ice cream sandwich. This is a long-standing Providence High School tradition in celebration of Mother Emilie Gamelin Day on September 22nd.

Pioneer Connections

Winter 2017

In Memoriam

Tom Durkin 1951-2016

Pioneer Connections

“It

was a privilege working with so many talented students but what made my time at Providence memorable and lasting is not that my students were talented. What I hold dear is that my students were kind, considerate, engaging, curious, and loving.” - Tom Durkin

r. Tom Durkin, faculty member and Director of the Media Focus Program from 1999-2007, passed away on October 26, 2016. He was a mentor and inspiring role model to many of his former students, and a beloved colleague. Below are a few of the comments that were either posted on the PHS Facebook page or sent via email that attest to the impact Mr. Durkin made in the lives of those who knew him.

“Tom Durkin was a gentleman and a scholar in every sense of those words. He was a trusted advisor, respected colleague, and loyal friend. I remember teaching vocabulary to my juniors and we always tried to give examples of people who could be described with the adjectives they had to learn. The students didn’t quite understand the word “magnanimous” until I told them that Mr. Durkin was the embodiment of its meaning: having a greatness and generosity of spirit, noble, big-hearted, and high-minded. They immediately got it.” - Kerry Martin, PHS Dean of Studies

“Mr. Durkin was a beloved teacher, colleague, friend, and mentor to so many at Providence High School. Mr. Durkin left a legacy and inspired numerous students to pursue their dreams in the media industry. He taught with compassion and heart and he will always be remembered by the many students who were blessed to be in his class. May he rest in peace.” - Allison DeFrancesco Castro ‘02, PHS Principal

“Mr. Durkin did not know me when I first started teaching in 2006, however he was good friends with Mr. Talley. We rarely spoke to each other that year except for the usual pleasantries. There was one exception, after the Senior Luncheon when the yearbooks were passed out to everyone, I went back to my bungalow, which at that time had all the lunch tables and basketball hoops in front of it. I was on the landing watching the students, and he came strolling across this large expanse, past all the students calling out his name, with a look of determination on his face I had never seen before this. The yearbook was confidently tucked under his arm and he walked up to me and said, “Thank you for this yearbook, this is the best retirement gift anyone could have given me.” I was stunned, it was my first year tackling the yearbook, and at that, he turned and walked away. I have never forgotten him or that comment and the impact it made on my career.” - Celeste Talley, PHS Faculty

“I am truly saddened by the news. Mr. Durkin was a wonderful and joyful man to be with. He is one of the few people who knew me after taking his English class during my Freshman year. Whenever I met him throughout my time in high school, he knew my name and always wondered how is everything going. ‘There’s Rod’ seemed to be his catchphrase for me. I respected and appreciated him for his dedication and time to his teachings. Rest In Peace, Mr. Durkin.” - Rode Arevalo ‘06

“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” - Quote submitted by Tommy Boucher ‘04

“So sad to hear about this. He told me after he left PHS...”What I miss the most is the relationships I had with my students. That’s where the joy was derived. When students were able to achieve success it genuinely pleased me.” He was so helpful and thoughtful, he will be missed!” - Jennifer Neal Morse ‘03

“Tom and I shared a love of old movies, good cigars, Rye Whiskey and chili dogs. Many times on retreats Tom and I would slip away and enjoy a Romeo y Julieta Numero 4 and recall old movies and directors. Then too, if I had a nickel for every chili dog we banged down over at Der Wienerschnitzel I could be driving a Beemer. He was a good man who will be missed.” - Reece Tallley, PHS Faculty

“Mr. Durkin was a great man. I knew him since grade school and he always had time to spend with you when you needed him. The world lost an important source of inspiration and he will be truly missed. RIP my friend.” - Donald Miller ‘02

“As counterparts of the focus programs at PHS in the 90s, Tom and I developed a unique respect and admiration for each other in our common commitment to our students and plans on how to get them to reach their fullest potential. One project in particular that is rooted in my memory bank involved students and the two us starring in a focus program promotional video (that Tom was writing, producing, and directing) that showed how the two programs have developed a “healthy rivalry”- running into each other as “gangs” in the 200s hallway, giving and getting icy stares, and showing off our “artillery” (stethoscopes representing Med Focus and tripods for the Cinema Arts/ Media Focus) before breaking out into a happy song and dance about “PHS being the happiest place to be…” At other times, we ate lunch together, met after school and on weekends to continue our discussions that involved student work and life as we lived it. It was a great camaraderie that I treasured through all the years even after Tom left California and headed back home to Missouri. We always remained in touch right up till the time when Tom knew that the end was near and it became an uphill battle for him to sustain even a brief phone conversation. He lives in my heart as much as he did while on earth and we still communicate even though he resides peacefully in the heavens above.” - Dr. Arjan Harjani, PHS Faculty

“One of the most influential teachers I ever had. Absolutely devastated by the news. Mr. Durkin lives on in each of his students.” - Abigail Ronquillo ‘08 “I’ll never forget his last message to me before leaving PHS. He wrote, “Little Kobe, you’re always a champion.” (He gave me that nickname my freshman year). RIP to a legend.” - Mariel Villalon ‘10 “Sometimes, it’s only when someone passes that you realize their effect on your life. Mr. Durkin was a wonderful teacher that saw the best in students. I vividly remember working on a project and trying to sort out tapes in classes. He looked at me and said, ‘You would make a great producer.’ Those words have always stuck with me. Mr. Durkin, you will be sadly missed.” - Tony Leong ‘02 (Editor’s note: Tony is an Emmy award-winning television news producer at NBC Bay Area.)

A scholarship fund is being established in Mr. Durkin’s name. For more information about that, please contact Director of Development Vickie Bagwell at (818) 846-8141 x14413 or Vickie.Bagwell@providencehigh.org.

“I never had a class that he taught, wasn’t in the program he helped make amazing at PHS, and yet he knew my name and said ‘hi’ to me every day. We had several conversations, and they were always inspiring. He had such an amazing way of inspiring with his words. The world lost a great one today. Rest In Peace.” - Chris Mowery ‘03 7

Winter 2017

Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Team Experiences Historic Season

t's been nine years since the Providence High girls' volleyball team was ranked by the CIF Southern Section. The 2016 girls’ volleyball season was full of wonderful surprises and joyful moments. The season began with the team beating the first 12 teams they faced. Included in that winning streak was the Bessette/Black Memorial Tournament, where the girls did not lose a single set during the tournament’s entirety, which resulted in them being named champions for the second straight year.

Division 8, which the program has not accomplished in ten years. The team made even more history in the playoffs as they were on the road in the first round and defeated a tough Rolling Hills Prep team. The team returned to Providence where they swept Banning, the 9th-ranked team, in the second round. In the quarterfinals, the girls avenged an earlier loss by beating the top-ranked team in the division, Gladstone, which placed the girls into the CIFSS semifinals, for only the second time in the history of the girls’ volleyball program.

“We came into the season having many questions because we graduated eight seniors. However, we had a great combination of leadership and talent,” remarked Coach James Jimenez ’02.

In a tough four-game match, the girls fell short of reaching their first CIF-SS Finals in program history, but the team qualified for the CIF State playoffs, which marked the first time a girls’ volleyball team from Providence has participated in the state playoffs. Unfortunately, the girls succumbed to Point Loma High School, but regardless it was a tremendous year for the girls’ volleyball team.

While the team struggled with the rigorous Liberty League schedule, they qualified for the CIF-SS playoffs again by beating Glendale Adventist on Senior Night, which is a major accomplishment considering how tough the league is. The top three teams (Archer, Milken, Providence) all made it to the quarterfinals of their respective divisions.

“Not only was it a historic season for the girls’ volleyball program, but it was an extremely enjoyable journey,” said Jimenez.

The girls also finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 of

Pioneer Connections

From left to right: Tim Chan, Francis Largoza, and Christy Rodriguez Futernick ‘88

Introducing New Board Members

his year’s Board of Regents includes three new members, although they are not new to Providence High School. Christy Rodriguez Futernick ‘88 is an alumna of Providence and Tim Chan and Francis Largoza are both parents of Providence alumni and current students.

born and the family was complete! Ben is now in his second year at the UCLA School of Law and Matt is a sophomore at La Salle High School in Pasadena. Christy has worked as an attorney and has volunteered many pro bono hours assisting victims of domestic abuse. Additionally, she has worked as a victims’ advocate both in New Orleans and Los Angeles. Christy is passionate about education and literacy, and to this end, has been a tutor with Reading Partners for the past two years. Christy, Marc, Ben, and Matt reside in Pasadena.

Mr. Tim Chan is a native Angeleno. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from USC. He worked for 15 years at Hughes Aircraft as a software engineer designing airborne radar systems. Tim left the defense industry 16 years ago to work for Nestle USA, where he continues to enjoy the challenges of Information Technology as a business analyst. To balance the technical side of his work, Tim enjoys cooking, playing the violin, and reading murder mysteries. He also enjoys his involvement with his parish, currently serving as a lector and a member of the Pastoral Council at Incarnation Catholic Church. Tim and his wife, Sandy, are the proud parents of Amy ‘16 and Brian ‘18. Tim hopes that many more families will come to realize that they, too, belong here at Providence High School.

Mr. Francis Largoza is a Registered Nurse and has been in the healthcare field for more than 25 years in various facets of healthcare leadership. He is currently the Chief Nursing Officer at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center. Prior to his current role, Francis served at the Chief Nursing Officer for Strategic Integration for Providence Health and Services and has been connected with Providence for eight years. Before becoming a Registered Nurse, Francis worked as a research lab assistant in Newfoundland, Canada where he lived for five years. It was Francis’s love and passion in bringing healing and wellness to people that led him to the nursing profession. Francis received his nursing degree in Toronto Canada and worked in Toronto before moving to California. Francis has Masters Degrees in Nursing and Business Administration.

Mrs. Christy Rodriguez Futernick ‘88 grew up in Los Angeles with her parents and two sisters, Nona ‘81 and Alexis ‘90. After graduating from Providence in 1988, Christy attended UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at UCLA, she met her husband-to-be, Marc Futernick, and together they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend graduate school at Tulane University. Marc earned his MD at the medical school while Christy earned a JD from the law school. Marc’s medical residency brought them back to California in 1996 and shortly thereafter, their first son, Benjamin, was born. Three years later, Matthew was

Francis moved to sunny Southern California in 1992 to follow yet another love and passion: his childhood sweetheart, Paula, whom he married. Francis and Paula are blessed with two wonderful children: Ysabella ‘13 and Paolo ‘17.

Winter 2017

Providence High Arts Successfully Tackles Complicated Material in Production of The Crucible Jeremy Kent Jackson PHS Faculty, Co-Director of DiscoveryOnstage Pioneer Connections

rovidence High Arts’ recently-closed production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the 14th play produced in conjunction with DiscoveryOnstage, garnered rave reviews from audience, press, and adjudicators alike. Running for six nights (three of which were sold out), the show featured a double cast giving performance and production opportunities to nearly 50 Providence High students representing every class and level of experience.

Produced uncut with two intermissions, this was a daunting undertaking by all involved and the students more than rose to the occasion. The reviewer from The Tolucan Times said it best when she wrote, "Never in my life would I have expected high school students to be able to tackle and convey the convoluted and complicated classic story that is The Crucible. Not only did the students of Providence High School accomplish this, but they also wowed with their superb acting and ability to memorize the complex language of the era.”

An entry in the California Educational Theatre Association’s upcoming festival, three judges were present throughout the run and provided feedback that was beyond positive. One of them wrote, “The cast of Providence High’s The Crucible should be proud of their hard work and commitment to their roles. The performance I watched was full of energy and vigor. Some fine acting was displayed. They created a believable reality that was full of vivid characters. Their commitment was evident and the product was memorable. Bravo!” The cast now awaits their final score sheets that will determine whether or not they’ve earned an invitation to the CETA MainStage or Festival of Scenes.

Providence High Arts Theatre and all involved certainly elevated expectations with this production and we look forward to the musical production of The Addams Family in March!

Winter 2017

Emmy award-winning Storyboard Supervisor Kyle Menke speaks to students about creating story-driven animatics.

Innovative ‘Pilot Project’ Leads to Students Pitching Animated Series Idea to Disney Animation Exec

his past summer, Imagination Up Productions (iUP Productions), DiscoveryOnstage, and Providence High Arts produced a groundbreaking endeavor, The Pilot Project. Eighteen young people ages 13-18, comprised of existing and prospective PHS students, embarked on this immersive, hands-on experience collaboratively participating in the process of developing an actual, viable television pilot from inception to final product.

and pitched, all with the hopes of launching iUp Productions’ very first television series celebrating the power of the creative spirit and the impact of process participation.

“It was exhilarating for us to seize on an engaging interdisciplinary opportunity,” said Cinema Arts Focus Program Director Chris Schaefer. “By combining Providence Theater and Cinema Arts we were able to create this innovative workshop.”

The students were split into three teams and engaged in the process of developing an animated television series from each team based on ideas generated from younger students at Providence High Arts Summer Acting Camp produced by DiscoveryOnstage. Once their stories were developed, each of the teams were tasked with creating a full length animatic of their pilot episode including a fully produced voiceover track (in which they performed alongside a team of professional actors) recorded at a professional studio and animation elements in the style of their choosing.

Within the walls of Providence’s brand new, state-of-the-art Cinema Arts Center, participants wrote, performed, produced,

Additionally, each team had to generate a pitch package for their series which included their animatic along with writing and

Pioneer Connections

visual art elements such as log lines, series synopsis, character compositions, atmospheres, etc. They then had to produce a pitch script and prepare to present it to a panel of industry professionals Students were guided by a team of industry professionals including PHS Drama Directors Jeremy Kent Jackson and Dominic Catrambone, Chris Schaefer, and a slate of mentors, including the creator of Nickelodeon’s animated series Rugrats, the executive producers of Disney XD’s series Lab Rats, a Disney animation producer, a casting director, and three award-winning actors: Hal Sparks, Maile Flanagan, and Angel Parker. “After the program was over and I looked at the list of people who participated, I was so excited to see just how many ‘Providence people’ were hired or volunteered to be involved,” said Schaefer. “This demonstrates how much the alumni and Providence community members stay involved and give back to our school.”

Frances Gross ‘18, Chase Tachau, Sophie Collins ‘18, Lori Khashaki, Brooke Beaird, Mr. Jeremy Kent Jackson, Mrs. Chris Schaefer, Mr. Dominic Catrambone, and David Power ‘20 at Disney Animation Studios where they met with a development executive.

Kyle Menke, PHS parent to Carl ‘19 and alumni Olivia ‘15 and Grant ‘16, is an Emmy award-winning writer and storyboard artist who has worked on Rugrats, Phineas & Ferb, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, among many other animated television shows and is currently the Storyboard Supervisor for Disney’s new animated series, Milo Murphy’s Law, participated in the Pilot Project as a mentor.

three non-Providence High School students: Brooke Beaird, Lori Khashaki, and Chase Tachau. The animated series centers around a quirky group of theme park employees and the shenanigans that ensue at the park. The students were selected to pitch their original animated television series to pilot to Disney animation development executive Daniel Wineman on September 29, 2016. “My experience with the Pilot Project was unlike any other,” reflected Collins. “Being able to pitch to Disney executives truly gave me an insight into the entertainment industry, and was an experience that I will definitely never forget.”

“I was very impressed with the professionalism of the Pilot Project,” said Menke. “During the time I spent with the students, I saw firsthand how engaged and excited they were to bring their animated stories to life. This was a great summer learning opportunity for students interested in a career in animation.”

“The pitch was a success, positive feedback was provided, and we are now exploring next steps for a show that illuminates our unique creative/educational process and/or gives voice to the original content it generates,” added Jackson.

The winning pilot, Knuckleberry Park, was produced by Sophie Collins ‘18, Frances Gross ‘18, and David Power ‘20, along with

Thank you to the following industry professionals and past and present Providence students for guiding the students along the way throughout the Pilot Project. ANIMATION MENTORS & INSTRUCTORS Jeff Bradfield, Animation Post Supervisor Kyle Menke, Storyboard Supervisor, Disney Zac Moncrief, Animation Director and Animator Brandon Swofford ‘14 Stephen Swofford, V.P of Digital Studio Services, Disney Brett Williams, Animator

PROVIDENCE ALUMNI PRODUCTION TEAM Mario Adriano ‘11 Michael Greenwood ‘11 Michael Sarkisian ‘16 Charles Schaefer ‘13 STUDENT VIDEO PRODUCTION TEAM (who filmed every day to capture the whole experience) Emily Ervolina ‘17 Isaiah Ferguson ‘17 Kelly Fitzgerald ‘18 Milena Mooradian ‘18

PERFORMANCE MENTORS Maile Flanagan, Actor Martha Mayakis, Voice Over Casting Director Angel Parker, Actor Hal Sparks, Actor

ADDITIONAL MENTORS Bryan Moore, Creator EP Disney XD’s Lab Rats Chris Peterson, Creator EP Disney XD’s Lab Rats

Winter 2017

pioneer NEWS BRIEFS

Isaiah Ferguson ‘17, second from left in the second to top row, is photographed with other student filmmakers and President Obama.

Crystal Kober ‘18, Amia McCombs ‘18, Tana Carrillo ‘18, and Maxi Coulter ‘18 give their film a “thumbs up” at the GreenShorts film contest at UCLA.

PHS Student Named a Finalist at White House Student Film Festival

Broadcast Journalism Students Win Award for Short Film

saiah Ferguson ‘17 was among the finalists selected out of hundreds of entries at the third annual White House Student Film Festival. Isaiah’s short animated film, A Vision, received an honorable mention and was screened at the South By South Lawn festival at the White House on October 3rd. This year’s theme was “The World I Want to Live In.”

tudents enrolled in the Providence Broadcast Journalism class won an award for a film they submitted to GreenShorts, an environmental short film contest held by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. The contest showcases high school students’ ideas, commentary, and vision for our city and the world. The screening and award ceremony took place on October 20th at UCLA.

“It was so surreal having my film screened at the White House! Just being in the same building where [everything happens] was hard to take in,” reflected Ferguson.

The award-winning short film, A Helpful Herd of Environmental Heroes, was entered into the Environmental Heroes category, which seeks to highlight people or communities making an environmental difference.

This marked Ferguson’s third time entering the festival, each year receiving an honorable mention, but the first time he has been invited to attend the Student Film Festival, as well as the South by South Lawn Festival at the White House.

Students Tana Carrillo ‘18, Maxi Coulter ‘18, Crystal Kober ‘18, Amia McCombs ‘18, and Adriana Ortega ‘17 conceived, researched and wrote the story while their classmates helped produce and film the broadcast portion in the Cinema Arts Studio.

“I’d like to pursue a career in the animation industry someday, and maybe even work across the street at Disney Studios. Nickelodeon has also caught my eye. I’d also like to work as a parttime musician,” said Ferguson, who already has a job with Mattel in which he scores music for Thomas the Tank Engine videos on the official Thomas & Friends YouTube Channel.

The film was screened at the EarthNow/Earth2050 symposium at UCLA, which explores all facets of modern environmental challenges and highlights efforts to make lives and businesses more sustainable.

During his time in Washington, D.C., Isaiah had the opportunity to meet a few celebrities at the festival, including Ty Burrell, Alfre Woodard, and Adam Savage. In addition to the film screenings, there were discussion panels, live music, and artwork on display. However, the best and most exciting moment of the trip for Isaiah was when the student filmmakers had the chance to meet President Obama.

Aside from the film contest and screening, members of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability have invited Providence Cinema Arts students to collaborate on an EcoCentered broadcast that would be produced at Providence, in direct conjunction with the University. Special thank you to devoted Providence High School supporters, Carmen and Ray Ferrante, who helped make the initial connection to the contest.

“I think [President Obama’s] job pays off when he knows that he is inspiring many children and young adults across the country to make the world a better place through these films,” said Ferguson. Pioneer Connections

“I genuinely believe that I am expected to work my hardest in class and I personally love the challenge. My teachers motivate me to not only work to my full potential, but encourage me to live out the Core Values of Providence High School in my every day life. I love how I am able to be myself in class because the teachers emphasize that the classroom is a no judgment zone. I also love the community at Providence and the “You Belong Here” mentality. Because I am at school for long hours due to my commitments, Providence has become a second home to me and I love being here.”

Alexandra Power ‘17 and Christa Kurkjian ‘17

Pioneer Achievement Award Recipients

lexandra Power ‘17 and Christa Kurkjian ’17, were awarded the Pioneer Achievement Award for the 2016-2017 school year. The $2,500 award, established in 2014, is bestowed upon academically high achieving students who are actively and positively involved in the Providence High School community and is applied toward the recipients’ tuition. Power, who hopes to attend USC and major in business administration or Chapman University to study creative producing, is heavily involved in the drama program and serves on the Associated Study Body (ASB) as the Visual & Performing Arts Commissioner. During the summer, Power worked at the Discovery Onstage acting camp held on campus. Additionally, she was chosen as a Kairos leader for her class.

Actor Donald Faison driving to the basket.

Providence Hosts Celebrity Basketball Tournament

n November 5th, 2016, Providence High School held its first Celebrity Basketball Game which featured stars like Seth Green, Donald Faison, Roger Lodge and many others from television shows and films like The Purge, Las Vegas, We Are Marshall, and more.

“I really love all of the supportive teachers I have encountered that have allowed me to explore new fields - like AP Chemistry, which is a class I never thought I’d take,” reflected Power when asked what she values the most about receiving a Providence High School education.

Freshman standout Bryce Whitaker ‘20 got the night off to a good start by winning the player/celebrity 3-point competition. This was followed by an intense game where Roger Lodge and James Lesure's team ran up a large lead in the first half, only to blow the lead in the second half lead by the brothers Faison (Dade Faison of the Providence High School coaching staff and Donald Faison of Scrubs, Clueless, and Remember the Titans). The comeback ultimately was in vain though as Arlen Escarpeta of We Are Marshall fame drilled the game winning shot in overtime.

To say that Christa Kurkjian is merely involved at Providence, would be a gross understatement! Kurkjian, who was recently named a Champion for Character by the CIF Southern Section, serves as the Religious Commissioner on ASB, is a leader of the Campus Ministry CORE Team, a member of the Varsity Basketball team, Publicity Commissioner for the Helping Hands Club, a Key Club member, a Freshmen Mentor, a FAD Ambassador, a CSF/NHS member, part of Les Dames (Providence choir), and a member of the Spanish Honor Society. Kurkjian has always had a passion for writing and sports. She aspires to be a sports journalist and hopes to be a part of the pre-journalism program at Loyola Marymount University.

As the night came to a close, a special treat was presented in the form of four suite tickets to the next night's Laker game that were auctioned off by Donald Faison and Seth Green. Celebrities, players, and fans alike are looking forward to continuing this game next year to kick off the season once again!

“What I value the most about receiving a PHS education is the quality of each class, the genuine care of the teachers, and the home-like atmosphere present on campus,” remarked Kurkjian.

Winter 2017

pioneer LIFE

Students participated in the Mannequin Challenge along with Mr. Jeremy Jackson and guest speaker, Ser’Darius Blain who spoke to the students about his experience as an actor during Career Day.

Providence High School and Providence Health & Services partnered in a campaign called #HealthyUnselfie to kick off #GivingTuesday on November 29th. The purpose was to make and document healthy, unselfish choices that build positivity in the community. This is yet another example of ways Providence students live out the mission of the Sisters of Providence through compassionate service to others and by sharing their passion for creating healthier communities.

Pioneer Connections

Providence High School’s third annual Grandparent/Special Friends Day on November 22nd was filled to capacity once again. Some 125 guests, together with their grandchildren, attended the beautiful Thanksgiving Mass arranged by our Campus Ministry Department. After the mass, the guests and their grandchildren were treated to a light lunch provided by the PHS Parent Board. Top row from left to right: Chuck Tengan, Weston Tengan ‘18, and Peggy O’Hagen; Valerie Agostinelli, Zoe Beveridge ‘18, and Richard Agostinelli; Lerma Faraon, Ty Tiomico ‘17, and Mercedes Tiomico Bottom row from left to right: Barbara Bolter, Ellen Renskoff ‘17, and Morris Bolter; Marc Bin ‘19, Felipa Landeros, Michael Bin ‘17, and Manuel Bin; Monty Greene ‘18, Francis Greene, Marie Greene, and Carrington Greene ‘20

Members of the Senior Class gathered on the roof of the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center parking structure to take in the sunrise. This tradition was established last year.

Current students demonstrate various chemistry experiments during Providence’s Preview Day, which was an opportunity for prospective students and their families to discover all that PHS has to offer.

Winter 2017

faculty PROFILE: Rafael Vega You

are the product of a Jesuit education, as a proud

Loyola High School and Georgetown University. How did the Jesuits impact your life? Did you always feel compelled to teach at a Catholic institution? alumnus of

"Back in the day" pretty much all the teachers at Loyola were Jesuits. They were very influential in the education and formation of the students. They were terrific teachers and great role models. They seemed to be omnipresent at school activities on and off campus. I was always impressed by their commitment to scholarship and their dedication to their students. They introduced me to good liturgy and a systematic prayer life, along with the importance of service in the community. In my memory, they had a special love for works of justice and compassion. One especially formative Jesuit was a visiting teacher from New Orleans who opened my eyes to the injustice of segregation and racism in our country. (It was the 1950's.) Early on I heard the call to be a teacher in the style of my own teachers. Though I began my career as a social studies teacher, religion in all of its dimensions was never absent from my classroom. Because of that, I never thought of teaching in any but Catholic schools. Since you’ve been an educator at Catholic institutions for nearly 50 years, how do you see Catholic education evolving? First, Catholic schools are no longer staffed primarily by priests, religious sisters or brothers. Lay people now staff and administer our schools. Our challenge is to keep our tradition of faith-based education alive and thriving. We must be constantly on the lookout for women and men who want to take up this challenge, no matter their individual field of study. We must work to create a faithconscious community made up of Catholics and otherthan-Catholic concerned educators.

Second, Catholic schools have to continue to seek to educate students who come from families of all income levels, and from a multiplicity of faith and ethnic traditions. We must effectively pass on our own faith tradition while welcoming and respecting families from other traditions.

r. Rafael Vega began his tenure with Providence High School in September of 1968. Though he left Providence for four years, during which time he taught at Mayfield Upper School and Salesian High School, for more than forty years he has made Providence his home. He plans to retire at the end of this school year and will be greatly missed.

Third, as education moves far beyond simply teachers and books, and focuses more and more on students and the ever changing technological world in which they live, our challenge will continue to be how to prepare our teachers Pioneer Connections

and update our schools to meet the challenge well. At the same time, justice will demand that our staff receives the compensation and respect due them. The future will demand a much greater financial investment.

was dedicated we decided to move our work to L.A.'s central city area. We had supported some of the activities of the Catholic Worker and so were familiar with the area. The cathedral began the Adopt-A-Family program and we decided to center our attention on that work. Our homerooms adopted a family and we made their Christmas really wonderful by meeting their needs at Christmas. We have kept this up over the years. This year we have adopted 18 families. One of the best parts of the program is the chance to actually deliver gifts to families in the downtown area. It is a world that our students don't usually see close-up. It is work that I know Mother Gamelin would be happy to know Providence High School is engaged in.

This past summer, you traveled to Montreal and visited many of the Sisters of Providence landmarks. As someone who is very much connected to the Sisters and their mission, what was the significance of that trip? I had always wanted to visit French Canada and see the sites that were important to the Sisters of Providence. Having worked with so many sisters over the years, I had heard all the stories of the foundation of the order and the women who made it all possible. Last summer was a true blessing. I visited the Motherhouse in Montreal and had a tour of its extensive archives. I toured the city and visited sites important in the life of Mother Gamelin. A particularly powerful moment was my visit to the tomb of Mother Gamelin. It was a moment to reflect and renew my commitment to the kind of work Emilie Gamelin did with such great devotion and faith. The visit to the Motherhouse also reminded me that the sisters are still working in many parts of the world bringing healing and education to people in need. The good work we do in Burbank is but a small part of the mission of the Sisters of Providence. How would you describe the connection you have Sisters of Providence and their mission of service?

Whether you would like to admit it or not, you have, in a way, become synonymous with PHS for many people. Many alums ask about you often and request your presence at their reunions, and you continue to be a favorite among the current student body.

Why

do you think you’ve been able to connect with so

many generations of students over the years?

From the beginning of my teaching career I have tried to be the teacher that my teachers were. I particularly keep in mind a Jesuit who, when asked what he taught, responded, “I teach students.” It's about the students. We're here for them. That doesn't mean that we should spoil them. Rather it means that they must see that they have value and dignity and that they matter to us. And yes, they are worth the time and the trouble to hear our correction as well as our praise.

with the

Over

The sisters I have worked with have been models of charity and compassion. When I began to work with them, California was dealing with the issue of justice for the states’ farm workers. Cesar Chavez was struggling to organize the UFW. The sisters took up his cause and welcomed the UFW supporters as they marched to Sacramento. Farm worker supporters spent a night on our gym floor. I was impressed by the sisters’ level of support for the cause of social justice.

the course of a few years, you’ve been easing into

retirement, teaching at

Providence

on a part-time basis.

You

announced that this is officially your last year as a member of

Providence staff. While you will always be a part of the Providence family, what will you miss most about Providence High School and/or its students? the

Without question, the students and the staff. To borrow another line from one of the oldest Jesuits who shaped my style; when asked if the kids wore out his patience, he responded, "They're a pain in the neck when they're with us, but they're a pain in the heart when they're gone."

The sisters were early in accepting the reforming spirit of the second Vatican Council. They changed out of their traditional habits and adopted lay clothes so as to better serve alongside other members of the Church. Liturgical renewal was openly welcomed by the sisters in all their institution. Their attitude nourished my own love for the Vatican Council and its call for renewal and reform. I felt at home at Providence High.

What are your plans post retirement? I haven't begun to think about that. As long as the body lasts, I'll seek out a way to serve.

Each Advent season, you are an integral part of the Adopta-Family program. How did you become involved with this organization and what are some of your fondest memories?

you had to give advice to teachers who are just beginning

their careers, what would you say?

I had been involved in Christian service activities during my high school and college years. It was a pleasure to find that the Sisters of Providence had a great commitment to that type of involvement for their students. When I began teaching at Providence we worked with M.E.N.D. (Meeting Each Need with Dignity), a Catholic charity organization in San Fernando. Each year we had a general collection of gifts for the people of the northeast San Fernando Valley. When the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

I'd restate what I said before. In the end, it's about the kids. In the future most will probably remember little of the information you taught them. However, they will never forget the person you were in their lives. Your affection for them, your love of learning, your sense of justice and compassion, your faith in goodness and God, that's what matters most. Give that a little exercise.

Winter 2017

alumni EVENTS Alumni-Fiesta Saturday, October 15, 2016

Silvana Fabrizi ‘10, Dasha Dorlandt ‘10, Mariel Villalon Terry Carter Stacy ‘67, Susan Turmell-Husk ‘66, Melissa Annie Matthews ‘93, Ms. Terry Piumetti, and Mrs. ‘10, Mrs. Mercedes Parodi, Liz Velez ‘13, Lily Nguyen 10, Farnsworth ‘66, and Renee Zuniga DiGregorio ‘66 Maribel Kuklish and Timothy Lambengco ‘10

Dr. Arjan Harjani, Mr. Rafe Vega, and Peter Laue ‘77

Judy Egan Umeck ‘75, Christy Olson Edwards ‘75, and Mary Bullock, Dennis Bullock ‘88, and Christy Cheryl Polfus Minor ‘75 Rodriguez Futernick ‘88

Guests enjoying the tacos and margaritas while they Roberta Morrone Wilson ‘64, Joannes Pamatmat ‘03, Lauren Jimenez, James Jimenez ‘02, Andrew Bencze ‘89, catch up and reminisce about their years at PHS. and Rhio Morrone Gillis ‘61 Joanna Bencze, and Nick Estrada ‘07

Pioneer Connections

Career Day Monday, November 7, 2016

hinking about potential careers may be the furthest thing on the minds of high school students, however it is something that they should begin to explore. Career Day is the perfect opportunity for students to become exposed to different fields or discover exactly what a job in the profession they’re interested in entails. At the very least, the experience can give senior students ideas and possibly put them in touch with mentors for their Senior Project. On Monday, November 7th, alumni and friends of Providence High School gathered on campus to inspire our current students for Career Day. The students attended three sessions and heard from speakers of various fields. Speakers shared what they do and their responsibilities, and they also offered advice to students. The sessions included a college panel made up of recent PHS graduates.

Ryan Curry ‘01 is the Technology Manager at Cal Net Technology Group.

Most of the guest speakers were PHS alumni. “This event is so fantastic because our speakers had a chance to encourage students to begin thinking how their interests and strengths can materialize into a career,” said Alumni Relations Coordinator Joannes Pamatmat ‘03. Pamatmat, along with Director of Student Activities Michele Mullaly, planned the event. Both agree that it provided our students with the opportunity to be exposed to potential careers they never thought existed before. “It was very touching to see how our students connected with professionals and potentially saw themselves in our speakers,” said Mullaly. Katherine Siordia Deubner ‘97 and Jessica Moresco ‘97 reminisce about their years at PHS. Katherine spoke to students about her job as a Program Manager at NEO Tech, and Jessica, a partner at Unified Management, spoke about being a talent and literary manager.

Terry Romero Paul ‘69 is an artist and brought some of her paintings to show the students during her presentation.

Nerses Aposhian ‘10 speaks to students about being a J.D. candidate at Loyola Law School.

Winter 2017

class REUNIONS

Class of 1966 50 Year Reunion

lanning began mid summer of 2015 - it’s never too early to try to get input on the best date to celebrate. Before we knew it, the weekend of July 16 & 17 was upon us. The Saturday event was once again at the lovely home of Julie Howard George. She is a pro at hostessing and we were all so comfortable in her spacious yard and home. Lots of hugs and reacquainting...and in some cases seeing friends with whom we also attended grammar school. All agreed that it seemed absolutely inconceivable that 50 years had passed since we crossed the stage at the Starlight Bowl. Having never missed a Class of '66 reunion, our extra special guest was again our former teacher Ms. Linda Gill. We all managed to eat and drink well-topped off by a hot fudge sundae bar. Many alums came to the campus the next day for tours lead by Head of School Joe Sciuto and Alumni Relations Coordinator Joannes Pamatmat ‘03. Partners were welcome with some alums having not been back on campus in 50 years. We found many elements of the familiar and much new. As alums we still feel an 'ownership' and were so proud to see that the school of our youth was making huge strides in still providing the highest standards of education; offering not only college prep courses, but media sciences; computer technology; all categories of the arts and medical sciences. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Thank you to the Reunion Committee for making this all possible. - Renee Zuniga DiGregorio ‘66

Class of 1971 45th Reunion

early 80 people attended the combined PHS/Notre Dame 45th reunion! We had a blast! It was held on the weekend of October 21st and 22nd at the Canyon Grille & Bar on the DeBell Golf Course in Burbank, which is the same location where the girls graduated in 1971. - Bonnie Cooper Mills ‘71

Pioneer Connections

Ronda Rose Klosterman ‘71 and Margie Zapata Scribner ‘71

Terry Goebel Fry ‘71 and Bonnie Cooper Mills ‘71

alumnotes

1960’s

Donna Degen McGourin ‘62 - “After living in Bend, Oregon for seventeen years, we moved to Broomfield, Colorado. We wanted to downsize and be closer to kids and grandkids. We sold our home in June, and while building a new home in a 55+ community, we lived with our daughter and her family. We’ve just moved in and are getting settled. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the Pioneer family.” Norma Brown Blunt ‘65 worked in food service for the movie studios, catering for the cast of some big shows, such as “Little House on the Prairie.” From there she moved on to teach Food Service Management at Pasadena City College, then opened a restaurant and antique store in Silverlake called, “Café Norma.” Intrigued by searching for antiques, Norma and her husband opened an antique shop with specialties in estate jewelry in the Melrose area. Later they expanded the business to Larchmont Village in the Pasadena antique center. It was a fullservice business offering art, sculptures, paintings, bronze, and many other types of items.

“I’m finally retired but I’m busier now than ever,” said Norma. While the physical business has scaled down, she still runs an online version. “It feels like I’m working 24/7. But I like being busy,” she continued. “I like to talk with people, be engaged with life. It gives me purpose. All I can say is that it truly has been a fun life.” (PHOTO #1) Paula Cosko SP ‘65 celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Providence in July of this year in Burien, Washington. The theme, “Providence Alive in Us”, honored 15 Jubilarians for their faithful and loving service to the poor and needy. Ruth Shoemaker Cunningham ‘65 and Janis Russo Van Keuren ‘65 were among the many friends and family who joined in celebrating Paula’s service as a Sister of Providence. Among those who attended a reception for Paula were Sister Alexis Melancon, Sister Lucille Dean, and Marian Julum Weaver (formerly Sister Anne Therese). Paula has been the Lord’s hands and feet as a teacher, first in a small village above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. There she first learned the joy and love of serving people of different cultures. From there she went

to Nome, Alaska where she taught religious education to the Eskimos. When she returned to Seattle, she taught children living in the city’s Central District. She also served as a cook for a short-term mission in Haiti. In 1991, Paula began teaching English as a Second Language to adults at North Seattle College. She has been in this mission field for the past 25 years. “It is truly a blessing to minister to immigrants and refugees, especially when they first arrive,” Paula said. “Most of my students have been in the United States for less than six months. Being with them is another Kingdom Experience.” The Mass and reception for the Jubilarians was held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Burien, Washington. The joy-filled ceremony rung with praises for God’s Providence in providing for the needy through the lives of these women. (PHOTO #2) Janis Russo Van Keuren ‘65 - “This Fall my husband, Tom, and I traveled to the Holy Land with a group of 21 people from our church to see first-hand the Biblical history of Israel and parts of

Winter 2017

Greece. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus was the spiritual highlight of our journey. We sailed on the Sea of Galilee, stood before an archaeological excavation of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus preached, overlooked the Mt. of Beatitudes, and walked the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem. So much to absorb, we are still mulling it over now that we are home. Definitely blessed to be part of this.” (PHOTO #3) Toni Dirscherl Werk ‘68 - “My first and only grandson, Wynn Kenneth, celebrated his first birthday last August. My husband of 36 years, Steve, and I moved to Southeastern Idaho this past summer to be closer to Wynn’s mom and dad (Callie and Patrick Werk) and we now are farmers (growing hay) and cattle ranchers. This is a piece of heaven and life is the best here! We survived 39 years in Las Vegas, and it was time to go. Grace and gratitude to you all!”

1970’s

(PHOTO #4) Debbi Bennett ‘71 - “I am still quite happily employed as a state licensed optician. I now create and edit online continuing education for other opticians to be able to renew their licenses. I have also updated study courses to help an optician pass the national tests and work one on one over the phone to assist in their study progress. Working in a small office with a “boss” who is a true partner, I look forward to each day. While I sometimes miss the environment of being up front of a Pioneer Connections

classroom, using my active teaching skills, I am rewarded when time after time I receive a sincere thank you from my clients when they pass the national tests. It is always a pleasant surprise when one of my former students recognizes me on the telephone, or recognizes my voice from the online courses that I have narrated. Someone asked if I am preparing for retirement soon. I love my current position and I work three days a week, leaving the balance of the week free for my personal interests. It is the ideal situation, I am working and semi-retired at the same time. Here is a photo taken at my national convention, Vision Expo, which is held every year in the fall. I am pictured with Tanish, a student who has become a lifelong friend.” Gail Robillard ‘74 - “I participated in the 2016 PHS Career Day and had a great time. Go Pioneers! Spoke of 18 years as a real estate litigation attorney in my own practice and then 16 years as an elementary school teacher, in both public and private sectors. Changing careers again! Now in the process of earning my California Teacher Librarian credential online through San Jose State University so I can be school librarian at my elementary school beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. Married to lawyer and classic car enthusiast Neil Katz since 1985 with two wonderful adult children, Mallory Katz and Gregory Katz.” (PHOTO #5) Tim Shannon ‘77 - “I ran 24

into some current PHS students and their mom at a Feeding the Homeless service opportunity at the St. Francis Center in Downtown LA. I am the coordinator of the program put on by the Order of Malta and was pleased to see some of the PHS family there. In the photo from left are Dacotah Fierro ’17, myself, Tiffany Fierro ’19, and their mother, Judy.

1980’s

(PHOTO #6) Charles Sill ‘80 - “So many things to share, goodness where do I start? OK, I’ll spare you the ad nauseum details. Currently I live in Atlanta, GA and work as a freelance videographer and photographer. Along with that I have a full time gig as a traffic reporter with I Heart Media. My partner/husband and I are both artists at heart so getting creative is what we do. After our commitment ceremony in Lake Tahoe back in August of 2013 we started Bluberry Productions,LLC. We specialize in creating great images of mostly real estate and portraits for clients. It keeps us busy and we really enjoy it. Occasionally we create video too for those clients who need more for their marketing ideas. Also on the business side I am a voice actor. I have done many thousands of radio and tv ads for a varied client list from McDonald’s to Lotus Cars of Britain and Nissan just to name a few. Growing up in and near the entertainment/advertising businesses apparently taught me something.” Melissa Crandall ‘88 has been appointed as Director of Operations for Cancer Care Network Foundation, a 501(c)(3)

community benefit foundation co-founded by PHS alumna Christeil Figueroa Gota ‘87.

2000’s

(PHOTO #7) Christina Piazza Novak ‘01 recently gave birth to her second son, Colin Edward Novak, on September 10, 2016. He joins his big brother, James Patrick Novak, who was born on October 14, 2014. Christina and her husband, Sean, both work at Walt Disney Studios and live in Reseda.

(PHOTO #8) Majelane Bautista ‘06 ”After meeting at Providence and dating for 11 years, Brian Dinh ‘06 and I became engaged on October 22nd and are thinking about setting a wedding date in the fall of 2017. Brian works as a firefighter for Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank and I am the Graduate Program Specialist at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.”

2010’s

(PHOTO #9) Emily Henderson ‘11 became engaged to Eric Dirting and moved

to Texas. She’s currently planning her wedding which will take place in Texas.

We love to hear about all of the wonderful things our alumni are experiencing!

Please keep us updated about your lives post PHS. Send updates and photos to Allison Hastings Knowles ‘99 at Allison.Knowles@providencehigh.org.

For information about upcoming reunions, or all things alumni-related, please contact Joannes Pamatmat ‘03, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at 818.846.8141 x14403 or Joannes.Pamatmat@providencehigh.org.

upcoming reunions Reunions for the Classes of 1962 (55th), 1967 (50th), 2002 (15th) and 2007 (10th) are in the planning stages!

Save the Date!

If you belong to any of the following graduating class years and are interested in planning your reunion, please contact Joannes Pamatmat ‘03 and she will help you get started! 1972 - 45th 1977 - 40th 1982 - 35th 1987 - 30th

The 55th reunion for the Class of 1962 will take place on April 29th, 2017. For more information, please contact Terry Forte Strong ‘62 at trstrong@aol.com or Ginny Dalton Fico ‘62 at pamamtns@hotmail.com.

1992 - 25th 1997 - 20th 2012 - 5th

Winter 2017

donAte your cAr to suPPort Providence

Did you know that car, truck, motorcyle, RV, or boat that’s in your driveway or garage collecting dust could support our scholarship program? Donate your vehicle today to support scholarships at Providence High School. We’ll handle the pick-up of your vehicle donation at no cost to you and most vehicles can be picked up within 24-72 hours. We’ll provide you with the tax deduction documents. If you’re interested, please call (855) 500-7433 or email Michelle.Jackson@providencehigh.org. Pioneer Connections

we give thanks to OUR GENEROUS DONORS

he Providence High School community would like to thank the following patrons who have graciously made donations to Providence High School from July 1, 2016 through October 31, 2016. The Advancement Department does its best to ensure all donors are recognized, however if we inadvertently missed someone, please accept our sincere apology and know that your generosity did not go unnoticed.

Cynthia Haran Adelman ‘75 Mr. and Mrs. Zare Agazaryan Kelli-Ann Recker Agner ‘77 Mr. Fernando Alberto Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Alejo Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Angrisani Gary Arakelian ‘88 Mr. Misak Arakelyan and Ms. Ninel Grigoryan Dr. Emily Arambulo and Mr. Karl Arambulo Mr. and Mrs. Norayr Artenyan Alan Artunian ‘92 Ms. Angela Arutunian Mr. Haik Asaryan and Ms. Kameliya Muradyan Christina Ashjian ‘03 Michael Ashjian ‘07 Dr. Ghassan Assaf and Dr. Suzan Ghrair Mr. and Mrs. Phil Avila Mr. and Mrs. Armik Baghdasarian Ms. Ani Balabanian Ms. Gisela Baltazar Ms. Patricia Balue Ms. Gene Barnhart Mr. and Mrs. Rene Barton Mr. and Mrs. Adonis Bautista The Benevity Community Impact Fund Mr. and Mrs. Randolf Bialkowski Michael Bin ‘86 Mr. David Bird Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Blanchette Mr. and Mrs. John Bonano Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bossom Renee Chicoine Bowles ‘69 Mr. and Mrs. Gil Breakman Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Buckner Dennis Bullock ‘88 Nancy Brown Bussard ‘73 Mr. and Mrs. Boris Bystritsky Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Caedo Stephanie Brown Cannon ‘63 Mary Cappadonna ‘69 Mr. and Mrs. Mario Carrillo Mr. and Mrs. Mauro Casella Ms. Josefina Castillo Mr. and Mrs. Froilan Casupanan Mr. Mark Cave Mr. and Mrs. David Cedeno

Ms. Alexandra Cervantes Mr. and Mrs. Tim Chan Michelle Fodor Clapp ‘66 Class of 1966 Gabrielle Sosa Cochran ‘71 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Collins Ms. Daneen Conroy Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Conty Ms. Pamela Corradi Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cox Ms. Kathy Culpepper Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cunningham Mrs. Gassia Dabbaghian Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Dahdouh Mr. and Mrs. Jon Dalberg Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Daquino Mr. and Mrs. Charles D’Atri Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Davila Mr. and Mrs. Craig Davis Ms. Palmer Davis and Mr. Greg Fuller Mr. and Mrs. Noel De Vera Mr. and Mrs. Charlito Degorio Mr. Bruce Del Castillo Mr. and Mrs. Windell Del Valle Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Dela Rosa Jr. Karen Vanblair Delgado ‘62 Mr. and Mrs. Sean Dempsey Mr. Franco Di Venere and Ms. Lydia Yannakis Mr. and Mrs. Romer Dimalanta Mr. and Mrs. Joselito Dimapilis Mr. Tuyen Dinh and Ms. Thao Nguyen Walt Disney Company Foundation Ms. Christine Dizon Ms. Jennifer Dodge Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation Ms. Lina Doi Mr. and Mrs. Tim Donnelly Mr. and Mrs. Scott Dourian Mr. and Mrs. John V. Du Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Dubon Mr. and Mrs. William Duke Mr. Mehdi Ebrahimi and Ms. Faranak Hosseinkhani Dr. Nahid Esani Mr. and Mrs. Rodrigo Escolano Samantha Esguerra ‘07 Mr. and Mrs. Cesar Espinosa 27

Mr. and Mrs. Erik Estrada Mr. and Mrs. Jose Estrada Sr. Mr. Osmundo Evangelista and Ms. Maria Ignacio Ms. Lorraine Faiola Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Fajardo Ms. Michelle Faraon Melissa Farnsworth ‘66 Ms. Joanie Fenstermaker Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fitzgerald Ms. Kimberly Forbes Cherie Foster ‘62 Sharon Young Galindo ‘59 Mr. and Mrs. Christian Garcia Mr. Mauricio Garcia and Ms. Leslie Barnett Mr. and Mrs. John Garrick Mr. and Mrs. Paul Garrier Mr. and Mrs. Tirso George Mr. and Mrs. Vahe Ghazarian Mrs. Elizabeth Ghekiere Mr. and Mrs. Hans Ghekiere Ms. Linda Gill Dr. and Mrs. David Gjertson Ms. Alexandra Glickman Michelle Goffin Godfrey ‘75 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Goodin Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Greene Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenfield Carolyn Urone Greenwood ‘61 Paula Grimaud-Diniro ‘76 Carol Kiernan Griswold ‘71 Ms. Jeanne Grosset Mrs. Barbara Grossguth Mr. Villamor Guillermo and Ms. Lea Alfonso Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Alan Gutierrez Victoria Reynolds Hallak ‘95 Mr. and Mrs. David Hancock Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Harnsberger Mr. and Mrs. Nevin Harrison Mr. and Mrs. Akio Hayano Ms. Marife Helling Mr. and Mrs. Luis Hernandez Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hertling Mrs. Claire M. Hickey Mr. and Mrs. William Holt Dr. Thomas Howard and Mr. Ken Yood Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hulne Winter 2017

Michele Garrier Hunstable ‘86 Mr. Thomas Hur Janice Myotte Hurd ‘59 Susan Turmell Husk ‘66 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. C. Stephen Jaeger Melinda Mathison Johnson ‘65 Mr. and Mrs. Tristan Juan Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jury Mr. and Mrs. Tigran Karamanukyan Ms. Louann Katz-Curtis Ms. Lesli Keligian Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Khoury Alina Koubikian ‘93 Ms. Madeleine Koubikian KPMG LLP Theresa Kubasak ‘69 Claire Ramsey Kurkjian ‘65 Ms. Michelle Laforce Dianne Sorrell Lamb ‘60 Bonny Harvey LaMonica ‘59 Mr. and Mrs. William Lebeda Mr. and Mrs. Angel Lee Mr. and Mrs. Robert Levitan Mr. Yuriy Leytman and Ms. Yana Katamadze Ms. Amy Liebowitz Ms. Nancy Linari Mrs. Joan Linkogle Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lipton Mr. and Mrs. Michael Loftus Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Loveless Nancy Maben ‘71 Sean Macias ‘88 Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mactal Karen Loew Maerz ‘65 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mahan Carlos Makara ‘82 Mr. Dennis Malabanan and Ms. Jeannie Acdan Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Marcelo Mr. and Mrs. Charles Marikian Mr. and Mrs. James Markey Mr. and Mrs. Joselito Marquez Pioneer Connections

Mr. and Mrs. Nicasio Martin, Jr. Mr. Anthony Martinez Mr. and Mrs. Kim Kee Martinez Ms. Rosemary Martinez Dr. Elizabeth Maslow and Mr. Lorenzo Najera Mr. and Mrs. John McBrairty Clarene Graham McCartney ‘66 Mr. and Mrs. Nelson McCormick Mary McDermott ‘71 Martina McGlynn ‘69 Mr. and Mrs. Paul McKenna Ellen McManus ‘81 Mr. and Mrs. Nick Megrabyan Ms. Raquel Mejia Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Menke Mr. and Mrs. John Meza Mr. Samuel Michlap and Ms. Selina Lucas Mrs. Estelita Miller Mr. and Mrs. Genaro Mitjans Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mohnani Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Monegain Mr. and Mrs. George Mooradian Ms. Jennifer Morgan Julie McAndrews Mork ‘68 Donna Castro Morrow ‘60 Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Narisma Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Nazario Mrs. Patricia Newman Mr. and Mrs. William Nunez Kurt Nusbaum ‘86 Mr. and Mrs. Terry O’Brien Mr. and Mrs. Cary Ocon Mr. and Mrs. Robelson Oreto Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Ortega Ms. Gayane Ovsepyan Mr. Josue Pacheco Ms. Michelle Parungao Mr. Jeffrey Pedersen and Ms. Suzanne Knill Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pfeiffer Mr. and Mrs. Tony Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Picazo Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Picazo 28

Joy Anne Glassmire Pierce ‘81 Mr. and Mrs. Roman Pinal Stacie Gwillam Plunkett ‘89 Barbara Palumbo Poer ‘59 Mr. and Mrs. Vagan Poladyan Dr. Jaime Policarpio Mr. and Mrs. Luis Polo Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Power Ms. Holly Priebe-Sotelo and Mr. Larry Sotelo Dr. and Mrs. Scott Protzman Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Quille Mr. Jerry Palacio and Ms. Shirley Quiros Dr. Elizabeth Ramos and Mr. Dimas Ramos Mr. and Mrs. Erizaldi Rebultan Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Reed Mr. and Mrs. Edgardo Regala Gail Reisman ‘73 Mr. and Mrs. Alex Renskoff Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Reyes Ms. Chantilley Rios Gail Robillard ‘74 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Romano Ms. Elisa Rothstein Mr. and Mrs. Conrado Roxas Mr. and Mrs. Jose A. Ruiz Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rustom Mr. and Mrs. Matt Sagona Ms. Blesilda Salao Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Salinas Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Sanger Mr. and Mrs. Dede Sanrow Sister Joeline Santiago, SSS Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Santos Mr. and Mrs. Ruel Santos Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sartoris Ms. Tricia Savitt Margaret Caito Savluk ‘67 Dr. Vincent Sayoc and Dr. Jocelyn Jerusalem Sister Barbara Schamber, SP ‘61 Mr. James Schneider Mr. and Mrs. Craig Schulze Patricia Baier Schwab ‘69 Ms. Patty Sciuto Susan Tuomy Scott ‘75 Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Selders Mary Rausch Sepucha ‘61 Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Serenil Mr. and Dr. Khachatur Shahinyan Mr. Dan Sheehy Mr. David Sherlock-Haban Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Simitian Mr. and Mrs. Craig Simon Jeanne Riendeau Sisson ‘60 Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Siy Mr. and Mrs. Farrall Smith Ms. Stacy and Denise Smithers Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Solomon Mr. and Mrs. Rama Sou Christy Stevens ‘90 Mr. Alan Stock

Ligia Urcuyo Strauss ‘79 Mr. and Mrs. John Straw Mr. Martin Sukunyan and Ms. Azatui Tagvoryan Dr. and Mrs. Fawzy Tadros Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Tanasi Mr. Nestor Tapia and Ms. Leniza Cruz Ms. Christina Tatevossian Mr. and Mrs. Khachatur Ter-Sahakyan Tim Thobe ‘87 Mr. and Mrs. Nelio Tolentino Ms. Maribel Torres Ms. Veronika Tovanyan Ms. Marti Treichel

Nancy McNamara Trudeau ‘72 Betsy Sweet Truyoo ‘68 Mr. and Mrs. Lance Tucker Victoria Swackenberg Umans ‘62 Vancrest Construction Corp. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Vardapetyan Mr. and Mrs. Eric Velez Mr. Florentino Villarreal and Ms. Livier Lopez Mr. and Mrs. Angelito Vitug Dr. Michele Walker-Bauer and Mr. Eric Bauer Denise Charland Weddle ‘64 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Weitekamp Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign

Named Scholarship Funds: 50 Year Club Scholarship Fund Class of 1966 Sharon Young Galindo ‘59 Ms. Linda Gill Barbara Palumbo Poer ‘59 Margaret Caito Savluk ‘67

Class of 1975 Scholarship Fund Cynthia Haran Adelman ‘75 Susan Tuomy Scott ‘75

Eleonora Greenhill Scholarship Fund Christina Ashjian ‘03 Paula Grimaud-Diniro ‘76 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hertling Nancy Maben ‘71 Ellen McManus ‘81 Christy Stevens ‘90

Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Whitaker Sister Teresa White, SP ‘62 Most Reverend Gerald E. Wilkerson Ms. Linda Wyatt Richard G. Yousko ‘83 Mr. James Ziegler

In Honor Of:

Our Lady of Lourdes Scholarship Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Tirso George

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Garrier Tim Thobe ‘87

Sister Alexis Melancon, SP

Sister Alexis Melancon, SP Scholarship Fund Renee Chicoine Bowles ‘69 Mary Cappadonna ‘69 Gabrielle Sosa Cochran ‘71 Cherie Foster ‘62 Melinda Mathison Johnson ‘65 Theresa Kubasak ‘69 Martina McGlynn ‘69 Patricia Baier Schwab ‘69 Denise Charland Weddle ‘64 Sister Teresa White, SP ‘62

Sr. Lucille Dean, SP

Renee Chicoine Bowles ‘69 Mary Cappadonna ‘69 Gabrielle Sosa Cochran ‘71 Cherie Foster ‘62 Melinda Mathison Johnson ‘65 Theresa Kubasak ‘69 Martina McGlynn ‘69 Patricia Baier Schwab ‘69 Denise Charland Weddle ‘64 Sister Teresa White, SP ‘62

In Memory Of:* John and Irene Castro Donna Castro Morrow '60

Eleonora Greenhill

Jainee Abrera KAIROS Scholarship Fund

Christina Ashjian ‘03 Paula Grimaud-Diniro ‘76 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hertling Nancy Maben ‘71 Ellen McManus ‘81 Christy Stevens ‘90

Samantha Esguerra ‘07 Mr. and Mrs. Luis Hernandez Mrs. Estelita Miller Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Sanger

Melissa Mathison ‘68 If you would like to make a donation, or for more information about donating to the scholarship funds, please contact Vickie Bagwell in the Advancement Office at 818.846.8141 x14413 or Vickie.Bagwell@providencehigh.org.

Melinda Mathison Johnson ‘65

* Names listed in bold and underlined are deceased members of the PHS community. Names listed underneath are benefactors who have made contributions to memorialize the deceased.

Winter 2017

we pray to THE LORD... Scott Keeshen ‘16 for the loss of his grandfather, Larry Keeshen. The family of former student from the Class of 2015, David Kessler. David passed away on September 12, 2016. Michael Mirkovich ‘79, Paul Mirkovich ‘81, Christopher Mirkovich ‘84, Peter Mirkovich ‘88, Mark Mirkovich, Tim Mirkovich ‘97, Melissa Mirkovich, and Francesca Estrada ‘18 for the loss of their mother and grandmother, Natalie Mirkovich. Donna Castro Morrow ‘60 for the loss of her husband, Vernon “Bud” Morrow. Michelle Ricciuti ‘10 and Danielle Ricciuti ‘12, for the loss of their sister, former student from the Class of 1997, Renee Chavez Zimmerman. Renee passed away on September 1, 2016. The family of Sherry Newell Saxe ‘65. Sherry passed away on August 16, 2016. Charles Schaefer ‘13 and PHS Director of Cinema Arts Focus Program Chris Harty Schaefer for the loss of their grandfather and father, Larry Harty. Bernice Restrich Snowdon ‘60 for the loss of her husband, Donald Snowden and Barbara Restrich Reinike ‘61 for the loss of her and Bernice’s sister, Valerie Davenport. Shoushan Tavlian ‘05 and Aline Tavlian ‘07 for the loss of their brother, Daron Tavlian ‘10.

lease keep the following members of the extended Providence Community in your thoughts and prayers:

Kevin Tumanyan ‘16 and Emily Tumanyan ‘18 for the loss of their great-uncle, Grigor Tumanyan. Theresa Hinton Van Cleave ‘71 and Cheri Hinton Gaylor ‘72 for the loss of their mother, Mary Hinton.

Sheila Florence Benson ‘64 for the loss of her husband, Ben Benson, and son, Gregory Benson.

Mason Vaughan ‘20 for the loss of his grandfather, Robert Vaughan.

The family of former Media Focus Program Director, Tom Durkin. Mr. Durkin passed away on October 26, 2016.

ternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Alyssa Garcia ‘09 and Emily Cervantes ‘20 for the loss of their uncle, Mario Juan Navarro. Carol Feloney Garibay ‘64 for the loss of her mother, Florence Feloney.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Alissa Goretsky ‘18 for the loss of her second cousin, Dimitri Povolotsky. Bonnie Bowren Jacobsen ‘79, Garry Bowren ‘82, and Marcia Scarpace Bowren ‘69 for the loss of their mother and mother-inlaw, Dorothy Bowren. Pioneer Connections

At Providence High School, our motto, “YOU BELONG HERE,” does not just apply to our students. Please take the time to follow PHS on social media as an additional method of staying connected to all things Providence-related.

@phsburbank

@PHS_Burbank

www.providencehigh.org

@providence_highschool

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID No. Hollywood, CA Permit No. 852

Providence High School 511 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91505 www.providencehigh.org

Parents of Alumni: If your daughter or son no longer resides with you, please contact the Advancement Office so we can be sure to update our records. Contact Alumni Coordinator Joannes Pamatmat ‘03 at (818) 846-8141 x14403 or Joannes.Pamatmat@providencehigh.org.

upcoming alumni events Spring Musical Preview of The Addams Family March 22, 2017 Annual Gala March 25, 2017 Paint & Sip Night April 27, 2017 Dodgeball Tournament DATE TBD For more information, please contact Joannes Pamatmat ‘03, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at 818.846.8141 x14403 or Joannes.Pamatmat@providencehigh.org.

Pioneer Connections is published by the Advancement Office at Providence High School. For questions or comments about this publication, or if you would like to contribute to Providence High School, please contact: Mrs. Vickie Bagwell Director of Development (818) 846-8141 x14413 Vickie.Bagwell@providencehigh.org

Ms. Michelle Jackson Development Officer (818) 846-8141 x14409 Michelle.Jackson@providencehigh.org

Mrs. Allison Hastings Knowles ‘99 Publications Coordinator (818) 846-8141 x14417 Allison.Knowles@providencehigh.org

Ms. Joannes Pamatmat ‘03 Alumni Relations Coordinator (818) 846-8141 x14403 Joannes.Pamatmat@providencehigh.org

Mrs. Susan Yee Asst. Director of Development (818) 846-8141 x14414 Susan.Yee@providencehigh.org

Ms. Suzie Soghoyan ‘13 Development Assistant (818) 846-8141 x14416 Suzie.Soghoyan@providencehigh.org