Saint Francis High School Progress Spring 2025

Spring 2025

A Publication for our Lancer Community

What Happens When

Passion Meets Purpose?

Contents Spring 2025

Publisher Jason D. Curtis Executive Editor Jamie Ceccato Perkins ’97 Editorial Staff Michele Tjin Kalix Marketing/Sarah Achenbach Design Kalix Marketing/Jason Quick Support Staff Bernard Nemis Contributing Photographers Rishabh Anand ’26 Sydney Chua ’25 Ana Gallaga ’25 Now and Forever Studios Michele Tjin Cover Artist Ella Lerissa ’20 Holy Cross Interns Ella Lerissa ’20 Alyssa Repetti In this issue we are proud to have contributions from two of our Holy Cross interns, Alyssa Repetti and Ella Lerissa ’20.

Our Holy Cross intern program serves college graduates who wish to provide service and leadership in a professional capacity. The interns work across broad segments of our school, and their interests and talents are matched with the needs of Saint Francis.

Progress is published twice a year by the Marketing and Communications Department for the alumni, parents and friends of Saint Francis High School.

Email us: progress@sfhs.com

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SFHSLancers

Saint Francis High School

Saint Francis Lancers

PROGRESS Spring 2025

SFHSLancers

#Lancerlife

Three Lancers talk about how they’ve been formed by their learning opportunities that are outside of an academic setting. Check out our video to hear their stories!

5 DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LANCER What’s it like to be a student at Saint Francis? Spend a day with two of our Lancers.

13 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Find out how students are taking advantage of opportunities to explore beyond the classroom walls.

21 SAINT FRANCIS FUND Three members of our community share their inspirations for supporting the Saint Francis Fund.

23 LANCER FAMILY CONNECTION Hear from three families on the power of parent engagement at Saint Francis.

30 HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR Audrie Naranjo shows students how to effectively run social media.

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Lancernews Mercury News Hails “Rage Cage” as Best Stadium Student Section We already knew our student section was the best.

Now the rest of the Bay Area knows, too. Last fall, The Mercury News listed its top 12 stadiums to watch high school football. It did our Lancer hearts proud to read, “Nobody has a better student section than Saint Francis, a bunch intimidatingly dubbed ‘The Rage Cage.’” The nod also mentioned our Bay tree and its shadow cast behind the west end zone.

11 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists The nationwide pool of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highestscoring entrants in each state. The Class of 2025 scholars are: James Byrer, Simren Garg, Alexander Gklaros-Stavropoulos, Tej Nadkarni, Divya “Devyn” Ponnuvelu, Rhishi Balaa Sakthivel, Kenya Sweatt, Katie Tao, Smriti Vijay, Katherine Winton and Anvitha Yalamanchili. They qualified by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen.

Multicultural Showcase More than 250 students planned and executed the weeklong celebration highlighting our rich cultural diversity with food, music and acts of worship, culminating in the Interfaith and Multicultural Prayer Service and the evening International Showcase of performances. Led by students and moderators of affinity groups and Natalie Lai ’06, director of school culture and belonging, the group coordinated promotion with an intentional, unified message rather than singular announcements from multiple groups.

They included educational pieces throughout the week for context on why certain things were important to each culture.

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New Innovation Projects Three new innovation projects kicked off this spring to encourage collaboration among students and partnerships with industry experts: • “Applied Technology and Entrepreneurship” is an eight-week workshop on developing a physical therapy app for patients to stay on their rehab program, using a humancentered design approach to prioritize the needs of the enduser so that the app works for them. Students are working with Zoetic Motion founded by Zeeshan Khan ’17.

• “Telling Our Stories” is an oral history project with students collecting and digitizing personal stories from alumni or past educators, led by members of the library and marketing and communications staff.

• “Digital Music Innovation” includes learning music fundamentals, working with digital music software and collaborating to produce new music using Logie, a new digital musical instrument created by entrepreneur Ed DeSanto.

Lightning Strikes With 2025 Student-Run Musical Saint Francis students performed “Percy Jackson, the Lightning Thief,” this year’s annual studentrun musical. Director Sydney Salazar ’25 says the student-run musical, which runs between the fall play and the spring musical, is a perfect opportunity for any theater newbies to explore their talents because it’s run entirely by students, from auditions and choreography to vocals and tech, and who better to take care of students than their peers? Adapting the idea of the Rage Cage, an element of school life Lancers are proud to own, Associated Student Body leaders encouraged students to attend the musical with a “Stage Cage” night, a twist on the student section at football games, which resulted in a full house.

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A Day in the life of a lancer Sione “Ofa” Netane ’25

Associated Student Body (ASB) member, Basketball, Tagata Pasifika Polynesian Club, Football, Affinity Council

9:37 a.m.

Enjoying a laugh with a classmate during a small group activity in Sports and Spirituality class.

11:22 a.m.

Encouraging students to take part in a planned boat race held in the Saint Francis pool during Leadership in Action class, one of the ASB-planned activities during Holy Cross Spirit Week.

Viviana Barajas ’26

Track and Field, Student Moreau Board (student advisory board shaping school community), Fellowship of Holy Cross Athletes, Bring Change to Mind (club focused on student mental health)

8:56 a.m.

Discussing early Cold War foreign policy in U.S. History.

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10:39 a.m.

Sharing thoughts about “Hamlet” in AP English Language.

11:21 a.m.

Conversing in Spanish during AP Spanish Language.

1:50 p.m.

Participating in a small group debate on regulation in Economics class.

1:14 p.m.

Chatting with Mr. Pilawski, vice principal for campus life, during lunch.

4:07 p.m.

Rehearsing choreography for the spring musical “High School Musical.”

Photo by Ana Gallaga ’25

2:44 p.m.

Designing a roller coaster in Physics class.

5:15 p.m.

Strength and conditioning workout during basketball practice.

4:49 p.m.

Sprinting during track practice.

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Lancer Art Gallery

Students in AP Studio Art and Ceramics are producing impressive work across different mediums and exploring new areas of art.

Grey Brisson ’25, “Whales in Space” Digital Design

Ari Murphy Stroth ’25, “Tallow of the Lost” Digital Design

Andrea Chow ’25 “Sahasra” Ceramic

Kylie Tran ’25 “Afar Admiration” Digital Design

Sophia Khan ’25, “Jelly In the Sky” Painting

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LANCER

BY THE NUMBERS STUDENT SERVICE

21,250+ Service hours by students this year

118

students and educators participating in

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immersions this school year

25 Lancer interns

50 Middle school and high school participants at AdaHacks V last year, a hackathon hosted

by Saint Francis Girls Who Code

300

60 Student leaders running senior retreats

466 Lancer Ambassadors

Toys collected for Toys for Tots in a December drive led by students

150 Cards made for homeless veterans for Veterans Housing Facility by students in Service Club and Calligraphy Club

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Playing it

FORWARD Athletes may leave it all on the field during a game, but what Lancer team captains gain from playing a sport inspires every aspect of their lives off the field.

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Sophia Cordoni ’25, Field Hockey

Brooklyn O’Brien ’25, Girls Soccer

Landon Kim ’25, Baseball

“To be a part of a team means being a part of something bigger than myself. When I show up for practice and games I am not just showing up for myself, I am showing up for others because people are relying on me. I am part of a community and family, and a part of the love and friendship on our team. I have learned many life lessons — like how to communicate effectively and compassionately with players and coaches — that I know will help me. I hope to embody these values throughout the next four years playing for Bates College.”

“Leadership is establishing a positive and supportive culture and then inspiring others to want to achieve it. It is less about management and more so about connecting and building bonds with those around you. This is one of the closest-knit teams I have ever been a part of.

When you have that sort of love for one another it makes wanting to train hard and work for one another so easy. I have loved getting to know each girl on my team and coming together to win a CCS championship.”

“I’ve learned how important accountability and selflessness is. It’s vital for me to put the team before myself, and I’ve been preaching this message to everyone on our team. One of our team core values is ‘serve each other,’ so I try my best to uphold that. I’ve been on varsity for three years, and this year is the most connected team I’ve been a part of. Because of this tight-knit nature, I want to give my all for my teammates as I want to experience as much success with them as possible.”

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Bella Sandoval ’25, Softball “Leadership means holding myself accountable so that my teammates can trust me, feel motivated to do the same and know that we are all working toward the same goal together.

Knowing that my teammates can rely on me as much as I rely on them creates a bond that makes every practice, every game and ultimately our goals worth it.”

Post to Post With Lancer Athletics Hillary Chang ’25, team manager of varsity boys soccer, is the first Saint Francis team manager to be trained on how to run a professional social media account. She’s training other managers to create engaging content for Lancer fans and teams that showcases players’ and coaches’ personalities and adds a whole new aspect to the spirit of Lancer athletics.

A self-taught content creator who films, edits and designs more personality-based, fun videos and graphics, Hillary has learned to work under pressure and manage her time while overseeing all content for @sfhs_boyssoccer on Instagram. She even went viral with 10,200 views of her video of the coaches facing the camera with the players behind them and guessing each player by voice.

This beyond-the-score approach is common with pro and college teams but not high school.

“Saint Francis is really cutting-edge with this,” she says. “When other WCAL teams find out about my role, they say they need it at their school.”

She’s leading a program without a blueprint on how managers should implement their teams’ social media, a role that formerly fell to busy coaching staff to post scores. Hillary, football team manager Kendall Serrano ’26 and Ms. Naranjo, athletics operations Follow your favorite Lancer coordinator, created a presentation to teach other managers. teams! Scan the QR code [See Holy Cross Educator on page 30 for more on Ms. Naranjo.]

“The posts give the team a sense of pride even when the final score isn’t great,” adds Hillary, who plans on a career in sports management. “There’s a friend behind everything I post. One of our players has an aunt who lives in North Carolina and has never been to a game. She DMs the account every time I post, thanking me for showing her his soccer life. Having somebody so far away pay attention makes it feel real.”

Evan Guerrieri ’26, Boys Lacrosse “Leadership isn’t just about being the loudest voice or making big speeches, but it’s about setting a team culture through actions, staying accountable and making sure everyone on the team feels valued. I’ve learned that communication and trust within your team are just as important as skill and strategy.”

to sfhsathletics.com and select your teams(s) to see the social media accounts.

FALL 2024 AND WINTER 2025 CHAMPIONSHIPS Girls Cross Country: 1st Place, CCS D2; 2nd Place, CIF State D2 Football: 1st Place, CCS D1 Championship; 2nd Place, Northern California D2 AA Championship Girls Volleyball: 1st Place, CCS Open Division; 2nd Place, NorCal D1 Boys Water Polo: 2nd Place, CCS Open Division Girls Soccer: 1st Place, CCS D1 Championship; NorCal D1 Championship Spring 2025 PROGRESS

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Questions with

Zade Lobo ’19, Robotics Team Mentor ZADE LOBO’S LOVE FOR TEACHING AND ROBOTICS INSPIRED HIS RETURN TO SAINT FRANCIS TO GUIDE A NEW CROP OF LANCER ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS.

1.

Why return to mentor Lancer robotics?

I was on the robotics team for all four years, working in the old garage. I loved being the electrical lead and teaching my peers about electrical engineering. After this, I knew that I wanted to teach STEM subjects. I went to the University of Illinois and got my degree in electrical engineering with minors in computer science and game design. At Illinois, I began mentoring two local high school robotics teams. After I graduated I got an engineering job in the Bay Area, but I wanted to return to Saint Francis to coach because I loved teaching.

2.

How would you like to see robotics evolve at Saint Francis?

Our program has a lot of potential for more students and multiple levels of coaching and teaching. This would be modeled by what we see in athletics with junior varsity and varsity levels. It would help to grow our students in a linear manner and aid their novice or advanced skill sets. They will then be able to gravitate toward more technical skill levels.

3.

Who at Saint Francis influenced you?

Two of my favorite classes here were Joanna Vollucci’s Intro to Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles. They were eye-opening in terms of how a formal lesson plan can guide students through a lesson from point A to point B. The way she talks about different concepts makes it easy for students to connect the dots

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between things that might normally be difficult to understand. She taught me to always start with familiar topics to gain confidence and build up to content that was harder for me to understand.

4.

What skills beyond technical knowledge should students develop?

There are a lot of things that people in engineering find important such as collaboration, listening skills and cooperation.

Our team needs to work together constantly and consistently, so project management is vital. The mentors and I communicate to the students about how common and necessary this is in engineering, so we introduce this early. Keeping their projects in line helps them meet deadlines and lead others.

5.

How is being a mentor meaningful?

The students get a lot of value out of interacting with STEM professionals who can explain concepts that are not taught in classes. I can feel their appreciation for me each time we build or design a robot together in the Eggers Innovation Center. The students’ “Eureka!” moments where they figure out how to fix an issue is such a powerful feeling for me. Our team strongly believes in learning from failure. Failure is a hard teacher, and we want our students to get comfortable with it due to how much this is faced in engineering careers. We want them to make their own decisions and mistakes to provide learning opportunities.

W H AT ’ S I N M Y

Fluff Ball Keychain

Backpack?

When I played basketball in middle school, after every game, my coach would give [the fluff ball] to the player who worked the hardest. I was the last one to receive it because she thought that I worked the hardest throughout the whole season.

Keychains

I’m a keychain person. People definitely know my keychains.

My grandma, who used to work at Saint Francis, is a college counselor now, so she travels and brings me keychains.

California Academy of Science

In February, my Marine Biology class went there on a field trip. It’s my favorite class, and I am a huge fan of harp seals, which I researched for my class project.

Arcadia Invitational Savannah Filios ’25, grew up on the Lancer sidelines

watching her grandfather Steve Filios coach basketball for 30 years, and she continues the family legacy as manager for the girls basketball team. One of the region’s top-ranked shot putters, Savannah also throws discus for Saint Francis track and field.

“Saint Francis has always been my second home,” says Savannah, who will compete for Linfield University in Oregon this fall where she plans to study sports management. “I’ve made so many friends through different activities, and there are so many adults here who support me with the decisions that I make.”

Hammer Glove

The Arcadia Invitational for track and field is probably one of the most difficult to get into for high school athletes. I competed in the shot put.

Book for Girls Basketball

As manager, I keep the book during games, stats during practice, prepare the ball bag for away games and upload the stats to MaxPreps [online sports program]. At the start of this season, we had five new managers, and I taught them all the basic things about managing. Sports have taught me organization and time management, especially because track and field and basketball seasons overlap. When my grandpa coached basketball, his motto was pride, commitment and no excuses.

His players lived by the motto, and that’s what I’ve lived by my whole life.

I’m part of Throws Lab, a throwing club for track. I throw the hammer for my club and hope to throw at college.

Sheet Music

I absolutely love choir class and Liturgy Band, which is the Mass choir. I sing alto II, which is the lowest girl voice.

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What Happens When

Passion Meets Purpose?

E

very day, Saint Francis students discover new possibilities and their potential through realworld, real-time opportunities. From student leadership roles in a club, activity and on the playing field to independent research and travel, learning beyond the classroom transforms how students grasp concepts and what they achieve.

Whatever term you choose — experiential learning, hands-on learning, full-cycle learning, a learnercentered approach — the outcome is the same.

When students engage in opportunities to put learning into practice, they increase knowledge retention and self-confidence. As the research shows and educators know, they are more likely to achieve higher levels of learning. Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills improve. By practicing collaboration and advocacy skills, they develop needed muscle memory to be flexible and open to new ideas and ways of solving challenges.

Baked into every opportunity are Holy Cross values and traditions to better serve the world and bring hope. Going on an immersion trip to Atlanta pushes a student to deepen his understanding and love for community. Joining the robotics team from a spark in an Engineering class fosters the zeal to learn more, for her to take curiosity to the next step.

From Mountain View to Taiwan, Lancers embraced opportunities and their potential to make an impact this school year.

Illustration by Ella Lerissa ‘20 Spring 2025 PROGRESS

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Sharing the Spirit of the Season Riley Clarke ’25 sees only possibilities. With the expansion of the Quad and the completion of new facilities, he and his fellow Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders saw an opportunity to enhance the annual Christmas at Our House community event.

Students, families and educators visit the student-led activities during Christmas in the Quad.

The much-anticipated, beloved event has evolved over the years, from holiday home tours to recent on-campus events like a boutique, high tea, interactive Advent celebration and a student art gallery.

“We wanted to embrace a sense of family and have everyone who came feel they were part of this experience where student culture and student participation really shined,” says Riley, who is spirit commissioner for ASB. The ASB introduced a week in early December of themed dress-up days and lunch activities for students, culminating in Christmas in the Quad, an evening event on the last day for students, educators and the broader Mountain View community. Festivities included student-led activity tables around the Quad, a performance stage for student groups, food and even a live Nativity and petting zoo.

“This event was a chance for people to gather in Holy Cross fellowship,” says Riley, who oversaw logistics, coordinated with student groups and various departments on campus and served as emcee for the evening.

Riley Clarke, left, leads a student parade.

Teacher Stacy Dawson works with Devin Pham ’28 on writing stories for the yearbook.

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Infusing Service into School Culture: Avani Thakur ’27, President, Service Club Avani Thakur admits she and her friends were a little lost trying to figure out how to complete required service hours as freshmen, and she wanted to find a way to make it easier for students to get involved in service projects. Sophomores and juniors have schoolsponsored service-learning trips, which are supported by the Saint Francis Fund, but she wanted to give first-year students an equal and inspiring service opportunity.

In 2024, Avani reinvigorated the inactive Service Club, which for years had led the Thanksgiving food drive. She is changing that with 60 members doing one or two monthly service projects. “I’m proud of how our numbers have been increasing,” says Avani, who has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. “More students want to get involved.

Seeing the interest grow is really fulfilling. When you’re starting something, sometimes it may seem like it’s not plausible, but if you really want to do it, there’s always a way.”

She connects people to service by reaching out to other clubs and school programs. During August’s Freshman Connection Day, she and the club organized three school supply kit-making sessions to benefit children at SJB Child Development Center. For the past two years, Service Club has collaborated with the Calligraphy Club to create more than 150 cards for veterans who are unhoused.

Last December, Service Club collected 300+ toys during its first Toys for Tots drive, and during its card-making station at the new Christmas in the Quad event, club members led event-goers to make cards for children and teens who were hospitalized.

“When we partner with other clubs and groups on campus, we can reach more students and make new friendships,” Avani says.

A growing collaboration is with a new Food4All chapter at Saint Francis, led by sophomores Gemma Liang and Ananya Ghatak.

Under the Service Club umbrella, the school’s Food4All chapter connects with the larger nonprofit Food4All, founded by Los Altos High School students with a mission of addressing food insecurity and waste within the region.

Anika Gupta ’27 holds cards to be distributed to unhoused veterans.

The first joint venture of Service Club and the Lancer Food4All chapter was collecting 60 bags of food to make food kits for unhoused veterans during the fall semester. In March, Service Club and Food4All hosted their first-ever servathon, inspired by the hackathons for coders. For this one-day, all-day event, students worked shifts at local stores to collect food, did service activities on campus and learned about food insecurity from guest speakers.

Avani’s plans are to continue growing Service Club activities beyond the campus to engage students directly with the community.

“There’s still an impact when we do events at school, but I think actually being able to interact with real people in need is a different feeling,” she says.

Poverello: Storytellers, Journalists, Collaborators Stacy Dawson, one of the yearbook teachers at Saint Francis, often gets to share with others that a yearbook is more than just a fun scrapbook of memories. In fact, the students behind the Poverello are serious journalists who follow professional standards. Recently, several members of the yearbook staff attended the National High School Journalism Convention in Philadelphia to enhance their skills. The staff has earned accolades for its work this year, including first place in news and current events writing and second place in photography.

The yearbook program at Saint Francis teaches storytelling, project management and creative problem-solving and reflects

Holy Cross values of integrity, respect and service. The staff takes on every aspect of the publication from photography to layout.

The leadership structure changes every year to meet the needs of the yearbook.

Transitioning from an after-school club to a formal class, the yearbook will become a four-year program next year. Looking ahead, Ms. Dawson hopes to unite the yearbook and other school publications under one department to foster collaboration and media literacy — essential skills for informed citizens.

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Campus Style: Isabella Assirati ’26, Lancer Locker Intern

What she does: I learn from whatever Ms. Pazmany, Lancer Locker manager, is working on and help with what she needs: inventory, organizing, receiving shipments, printing out tags. Sometimes I help her with design decisions for spirit wear. I go with my personal style and what is trending.

Why she sought the internship: Last summer, I was learning about business on my own and wanted a practical experience. I thought of Lancer Locker because I like fashion. When I was 9 I ran a store on Etsy selling things I would crochet, though my only customer was my grandma. The internship was perfect timing because the store wanted an intern, and I was seeking an internship.

What she’s learning about retail operations: Lancer Locker runs on Shopify, and I am learning how it’s integrated and about fulfilling online orders. I’ve learned about inventory, but I already knew about a point-of-sale system. I’m also learning how Ms. Pazmany makes decisions about what she thinks is going to do well. Whatever she’s doing, I get to learn. I learned that I’m determined and organized. I like to be precise.

What her plans are: I want to go into business, but my dream of being a lawyer has returned because of my AP U.S. History class, which I love. I might want to combine law and business and fuel both passions.

Why she loves having a real-world opportunity: I’m learning things that are going to be applicable in life. When Mr. Curtis was my advisor, he told me multiple times to seek other opportunities.

Pursuing things that haven’t been done before is one of the exciting things about Saint Francis. Mrs. Teekell said that we need to see our school as a place with endless opportunities. Everyone is really open to trying new things, innovating and giving power to the students.

School internships make us more prepared for real life. This has given me an opportunity to know what I’m actually passionate about to study in college.

Isabella Assirati ’26

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What’s on her resume: I have a few jobs under my belt now. It’s good to keep building your resume. On campus, I do Next Level flag football coaching, have tutored, and worked at the front desk at a country club. Mr. Curtis taught me to not just look at things the way they are.

Look at the way things could be.

Cultural Immersion, Global Understanding Travel is an amazing teacher. Lancers traveled to France and Taiwan in spring 2024, immersing themselves in new cultural practices, applying language skills and expanding their view of the world and their place in it. Yes, students toured notable locations, but the itinerary is not the intention.

These journeys, which are supported by the Saint Francis Fund, reflect the Holy Cross value of being informed citizens of the world. Students deepen their understanding of different cultures, while embodying the spirit of compassion and respect for others.

From ordering food in French at restaurants to bargaining in Mandarin at local markets, students apply learning to real-life scenarios, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to better understanding our world.

Saint Francis also welcomes visitors seeking cultural understanding.

Earlier this year, students hosted a group of Taiwanese high school students at Mountain View. They shared experiences from attending Saint Francis classes and high school sports to visits to Bay Area tech companies. Last year, French language students hosted visitors from Saint-Michel de Picpus, a Holy Cross sister school in France, to further

Lancers explore culture in Taiwan.

strengthen connections within the global Holy Cross community.

French teacher and program coordinator Rachel Safier hopes to incorporate service in future exchange trips for opportunities to understand compassion and integrity.

Advocacy at Home Regional, national and international immersion experiences provide Lancers with possibilities to explore their potential and encourage the potential in others. While locations may change from year to year, the focus remains on helping students grow through experiencing simplicity, solidarity, spirituality and community.

These themes help our students break out of their comfort zones and seek new opportunities.

Lancers learn about social justice during an immersion trip to Atlanta.

Our robust immersion program has grown steadily since 1997 with the first Saint Francis immersion trip to San Jose where students lived for a week with those who were unhoused. In the 2000s, Sue Fullerton, a member of the Campus Ministry department, and her husband Pete took students to Tijuana and the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona with their Truck of Love ministry.

Last spring, a group of Lancers and educators traveled to Atlanta to immerse themselves in social justice, expanding their education on activism and civil rights to become better advocates for others. They learned about Atlanta’s history, toured historically Black colleges and universities and partnered with a local organization to serve underprivileged youth.

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Sharing Stories, Revealing Truths: TEDx Talks at Saint Francis In March, nine student storytellers shared their carefully crafted personal experiences for the sixth annual school TEDx Talks.

The student-led and -produced program works with the selected storytellers on a topic of the person’s choice to craft an evening of talks that encourage vulnerability, honesty and hope for the storyteller and audience alike. This year’s event, which is made possible by the Saint Francis Fund, included an alumni reception before and after to increase opportunities for alumni and students to connect.

Speaker Shaurya Gulani ’26

“Through TEDx, I’ve learned the importance of being honest with myself. I’ve found it’s almost easier to be truthful to the people around you than yourself, because at the end of the day the only person who can hold me accountable is me. I thought being onstage would be comfortable due to my dance background, but dancing and revealing a part of myself through conversation have turned out to be two very different things. Having a voice is the most powerful tool someone can have, and I’m so excited to see how I can continue to grow!” — Edla Lahtiranta ’25, on her experiences getting her ADHD diagnosis “Sharing my story about religion and atheism has helped me develop a stronger understanding of my own personal journey with faith.

Through the act of trying to describe ourselves to others, we explore ourselves in ways we never have before. Self-discovery is prompted by the challenge of figuring out who you are. Giving a TEDx Talk has helped me find the confidence and proper words to express myself.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that sharing your story helps open not only the eyes of others, but also your eyes to your own truths.” — Riyana Goel ’25, on breaking down stigmas around atheism “The biggest thing I learned is that everyone is on your team. From the TED board to the audience, I felt so much positive support and energy. Everyone smiled, lifted me up and wanted me to succeed. It encapsulated everything I love about our Saint Francis community.”

— Avery Simonsen ’26, on learning to listen

Speakers Devyn Ponnuvelu ’26, left, and Katherine Winton ’25

Scan the QR code to view the livestream of this year’s TEDx event.

Videos of individual talks will be available later this spring.

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Thirty-two Lancers contributed to this year’s TEDx event as speakers, board members and A/V support.

Photos by Rishabh Anand ‘26.

Devoted to Discovery: Lancers in the Lab Saint Francis students often pursue independent research on a topic that sparks their passion. Seeing family friends lose their house to a wildfire in Sonoma County compelled Ahvish Roy ’26 to take his interest in wildfires to the next level. Since summer 2023, he has been working with Dr. Ramakrishna Nemani at Bay Area Environmental Research Institute to lead a team of researchers using AI and space-based imagery to detect and predict wildfires and their potential spreading in near real time.

Last July, Ahvish founded ARX, Inc. to commercialize this technology.

This summer, when most rising seniors are thinking about college applications, he hopes to go to market with the technology and compete in the final phase of the multimillion-dollar XPRIZE Wildfire competition. His team is one of 20 finalists out of 300+ projects focused on rapid detection of wildfires.

We talked to Ahvish about addressing climate change through coding.

There is a wave of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and we should be applying that to climate change. It’s revolutionary and changing the way that we address climate disasters. It’s a new step in climate resilience. The research can save lives. It prevents so many ecosystems, infrastructures, homes and people’s lives from being destroyed. Wildfire research is a perfect opportunity for me to fight climate change.

We get raw data from the geostationary satellite GOES-R Series.

The spatial resolution of a zoomed-in view is not as good as most other satellites — only two kilometers, not nearly enough to see details of where the wildfire’s spark is. The images come every two minutes. I utilize the high speed of the images to download at a very fast rate. We process that data through code we’ve built to get the data about where the fire is and where it will go. The problem is that there’s a lot of risk because of false positives. A satellite image could look like a fire, but it could end up being just a reflection of that glass.

We have methods that we’re inputting that can lower that risk.

We tested our model on the Los Angeles fires. The first 911 call for the Palisades fire was made at 10:29 a.m. Our algorithm detected it at 10:26 a.m., but the first emergency units didn’t arrive until 10:48 a.m. With our machine-learning algorithm, the time we gained was 20 minutes for the Palisades fire and 25 minutes for the Eaton fire.

In this work, very often there are setbacks, but once you finally cross that barrier, things start to click. That’s what I love most. This project has taught me how to persevere better. I’ve learned that most questions aren’t closed-ended.

Ahvish Roy ’26

Independent Research Snapshot Saint Francis scientists are doing independent research with STEM partners beyond campus: Eden White ’26, Mochly-Rosen Lab, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University Working with senior scientist Dr. Che-Hong Chen and studying a genetic variation in the ALDH2 gene, which is responsible for how the body breaks down alcohol. About 8 percent of the population worldwide has this gene variation, and it is linked to cancer.

Bethany Ma ’27, Independent Research Studying how changes in the gene PSEN1 affect Alzheimer’s disease, mutations that disrupt cell communication and other functions that contribute to the disease.

Srivalli Adarapu ’26, Anoushka Pandya ’26 and Diya Desikan ’26 They co-founded Pathoscribe, a youth-led organization and platform created for students to learn more about health conditions, reduce the stigma surrounding various conditions, and advocate for global health literacy. Visit pathoscribe.org to view 100-plus articles and weekly art pieces created by Pathoscribe’s international team of 70 members.

I want to put my solution out there in the world, so I can actually make a difference. Wildfires are just a start. Why not use this technology and apply it to so many other climate challenges that we have to increase our climate resilience?

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The Saint Francis Fund fuels experiences that shape our students through academic programs, clubs, leadership opportunities and more.

Empowering Students Through the Saint Francis Fund: FOSTERING LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY At Saint Francis School, every student is given the tools to grow not just academically but also as a leader and a compassionate individual. In this issue of Progress, we highlight the opportunities our students have for leadership, service and transformation. But what makes this vision a reality? The answer lies in the Saint Francis Fund, a vital resource that directly supports the numerous activities, programs and opportunities that help shape students into the next generation of leaders and innovators.

The Saint Francis Fund plays a pivotal role in the experiences that define student life from the first bell of the day to the final school

event. This fund provides the financial support necessary for a wide range of programs, including clubs, arts, athletics, faith-based activities and leadership development opportunities. It’s through this generosity that students are given the tools to foster faith, encourage intellectual curiosity and innovation, develop leadership skills and build connections with peers and mentors.

We are deeply grateful for everyone who supports the Saint Francis Fund. While each of our supporters gives in their own unique way, what unites them is their shared gratitude for the past, confidence in the present and excitement for the future.

Michele Landry and Brad Vollmer Parents of Nicolas ’19 and Seth ’26

Why do you support the Saint Francis Fund?

We value the approach Saint Francis has to developing the whole person. It’s not just academics, but also character, service and community. We also understand that tuition doesn’t cover everything. While not everyone at Saint Francis can give financially, we believe that for those who are able, the opportunity to contribute is a joyful responsibility—one that helps ensure that no student misses out. When parents send their children here, they want them to have the best experience. By giving a gift, you can be proud that you had a part in helping educators provide a more enriching experience.

Describe a moment when you saw the impact that giving has.

At our President’s Celebration, there were students performing and representing their clubs in our Eggers Innovation Center with various hands-on activities that guests could do. We had a chance

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to talk to several students about their experiences, and that was really impactful. We were exposed to so many clubs, and we could see how the Saint Francis Fund supports these programs.

Pepe ’74 and Sue Hinojosa

Parents of Angela ’99, Jessie ’12, Jackie ’13 and Jodi ’14 As an alumnus, why do you support the Saint Francis Fund?

I [Pepe] had a very positive experience as a student at Saint Francis.

I was very much into sports, and I had a very strong connection with my coaches, who cared about us as individuals. The Brothers were our teachers, and my classmates and I have a tremendous affection for them. We also had Sisters who came from Holy Cross High School, and they were outstanding as well. My parents had a history of giving, and I’ve always had a passion for giving back to the community. By giving to Saint Francis, we are helping to nurture the future leaders of our community and our country.

What makes you excited about the future of Saint Francis?

We have just completed new facilities and in the Welcome Center and the Eggers Innovation Center, we have a space where students can interact with each other and with the staff in a way they never could before. When you add to that the robotics lab and all the practical experiences students are receiving, like TEDx, the performing arts, sports and more, these programs are so valuable. We’re at a tipping point where innovation is going to play a huge role forward. We’ve

From left, Pepe, Jackie, Sue, Jessie Hinojosa Franco, Angela Hope Bents. Jodi is Facetiming on the cell phone.

had the computer revolution, then came the social media revolution and now we’re going to have the artificial intelligence revolution. Our students are going to be part of that and have such an incredible opportunity ahead.

Kimberly Benedetti ’08 Educator

What inspires you to give?

When I was a student at Saint Francis, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in everything that I was interested in. Now as an educator, I get to see the diverse interests of our students. Whenever a student has an idea for something that they want to explore or they find something that ignites their curiosity, I want them to be able to do that. The Saint Francis Fund is one of the tools that our school has to make those dreams and ideas possible.

Was there a time when the Saint Francis Fund has made an impact on your work?

Three years ago, I went on an immersion to New Orleans to help rebuild homes damaged by hurricanes. I taught the students some of the basics about construction and how to use power tools. The students asked why we don’t have a class like that on campus, which got me thinking. So, this year I proposed an Introduction to Woodworking course, which will be offered next fall. I have a background in interior design and contracting, where I began to learn how to build and began honing my woodworking craft.

Kimberly Benedetti, back row, third from left

Building is a creative outlet for me. Not only was the immersion supported by the Saint Francis Fund but so is my ongoing professional development to teach this class and our ability to purchase the necessary tools and materials.

WAYS OUR DONORS SUPPORT THE SAINT FRANCIS FUND • Make a secure gift online • Make a monthly gift • Request your employer to match your gift

• Give through a donor-advised fund • Include Saint Francis in your estate plan

Visit sfhs.com/giving/how-to-give for more information.

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New Saint Francis families meet and connect at a summer Lancer Family Connection event.

LANCER FAMILY CONNECTION: EVERY FAMILY ENGAGED

At Saint Francis, we believe that just as students benefit when they engage in school life, including with opportunities that take them outside the classroom, so too do our parents. Family is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s not just a value we merely talk about — it’s the foundation of our Holy Cross identity.

Parents reconnect during dinner at Back to School Night.

We ask Lancers to use their God-given gifts with those around them, but how powerful would it be for our students and educators to witness parents also sharing their talents with the Saint Francis community? Our mission as educators is to continue the Holy Cross charism passed down to us by the Brothers. We take seriously the calling to invite not just our students but their entire families into this incredible four-year journey. The Holy Cross experience is for the whole family, and we are committed to offering opportunities that allow students, parents and families to grow together, becoming the best versions of themselves throughout this shared experience.

Lancer Family Connection is our vision for what family engagement looks like at Saint Francis. We go beyond simply offering opportunities for involvement; we create a welcoming space where families connect, care for one another and find support. Rather than standing by an open door, waiting for people to enter, we reach out to them and invite them in to build meaningful relationships. When our families connect, our community grows stronger.

Lancer Family Connection provides ways for families to engage throughout the year.

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From answering questions for prospective families at Open House to serving as team parents and planning and hosting events, three Lancer families share the community and joy in helping others they have found through Lancer Family Connection.

WAYS TO ENGAGE AT SAINT FRANCIS AS PARENTS THIS SPRING: • Support the Saint Francis Fund on Day of Giving on May 1 • Check out student presentations at the Design Showcase on May 2 • Support and attend the Lancer Car Show on May 4 • Assist the Technology department in configuring iPads for the Class of 2029 on May 5-16 • Volunteer to proctor AP exams on May 5-16 • Hear the choir sing on May 7 • Attend the spring dance showcase on May 9 • Meet new freshman families at the Class of 2029 Family Welcome Day on June 1 • Volunteer to be a mentor parent for incoming freshman families for this summer and the coming school year • Connect with our innovation director Bill Beasley ’82 at billbeasley@sfhs.com about leading projects with students next school year To sign up for any volunteer opportunities, visit sfhs.ivolunteer.com. For more information on Lancer Family Connection, contact our community and family engagement director Aurea DeFranco ’84 at aureadefranco@sfhs.com.

Our families form connections with small groups based on where they live.

THE POWER OF WELCOME CHRISTY AND RAY TUM, PARENTS OF NATALIE ’25 AND MARISSA ’26

I [Christy] organize incoming freshman families into small groups based on geography. An assigned parent mentor calls them to welcome them to Saint Francis, answers questions and coordinates events before and during the school year to help families connect.

Freshman families have a lot of questions because everything is new to them, but they don’t always know where to find the information they need. I connect them with their mentors, and we break it down for them: This is how you order a liturgy shirt.

This is how you get your books. This is when the CalTrain arrives in Mountain View and when the shuttle picks up students. It’s more than mere information; it’s a way to care for and welcome them into our Lancer community.

The first day of school is for students, but it’s also the first day for parents. When my older daughter was a freshman, Mr. Curtis told us that everyone is welcome, and that is what I hone into.

That’s how people reached out to me, and I want to return that to incoming families. Parents will tell me that I’ve helped them with a particular problem or that they were nervous about an issue. I’ve been there, and I know that feeling. I want parents to feel safe and that they can ask anything.

I have lots of friends whose kids go to different schools, public and private. They’re amazed that I spend so much time at Saint

Francis and ask what I do. We have so many opportunities for parents to get involved, and it’s our leadership that has provided this [framework] for all of us. My kids stopped playing soccer, but tonight I’m going to the girls soccer semifinals because I love the girls on the team, and I love the parents that I met and I will support them because this is a huge game for them.

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THE POWER OF AN INVITATION HOLLIE AND BEN CHANG, PARENTS OF HILLARY ’25 AND BRAXTON ’27

My husband recently said to Mr. Curtis that it is nothing for students on this campus to see parents. They don’t look twice.

I’ve been helping with parent outreach in the Institutional Advancement department during February and March, calling parents. I tell them I’m a mom and that I’m working behind the scenes to extend a personal invitation to parents to get involved with Glitter and Gold [our school fundraiser and community event], and is there anything that they’re interested in? At our first volunteer meeting, a lot of those who came were freshman parents and parents who just needed someone to encourage them to come. Our parent engagement director Aurea DeFranco often says that people just want a friendly person to invite them.

I love it when someone can make a personal connection.

That same personal invitation is for those who are considering becoming a Lancer. At our Lancers After the Bell event [for prospective families to see clubs and team practices held after school], I met a seventh grade family. I took them all around campus and asked them questions. I really want people to feel the welcome that I feel when I’m on campus.

I’ve gained a personal sense of gratitude. I really appreciate what Saint Francis stands for, and I feel being engaged has helped me and my family be better connected to our faith.

When I say I love Saint Francis, I really mean it. I want to be here. I feel very fortunate because our educational leadership is where it should be. There is a committed group of people who work here, and I want to help bring this vision of Lancer Family Connection to life. That’s why I’m very passionate about Saint Francis.

THE POWER OF CONNECTION ALAN AND OLIVIA ABAR, PARENTS OF EDEN ’26, EMMY ’28 AND EASTON

We realize that high school is a blur. It’s a quick four years. First and foremost, my wife and I choose to be engaged because we want to be involved in our children’s high school experience. There are so many opportunities, and it’s pretty easy to get involved. The Saint Francis community is really special and just draws you in. During our first year, we were genuinely happy to be at Saint Francis, and we just want to give that same feeling to incoming parents and make them feel as connected as we did right away.

As parent mentors to freshman families in the East Bay-Milpitas area, we send regular reminders that parents need to know and invite families to different events on campus. We’ve also provided hospitality for school events as volunteers, from Open House to Back to School night and the Mass and barbecue for incoming freshman families. Lastly we are involved in our children’s activities, whether that’s the Filipino Associated Student Union or the theater and getting to know those communities. To contribute to the ASB and student council, which both our daughters are in, we and other parents spent a few hours on campus decorating the hallways during Spirit Week.

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My wife and I feel we’re setting an example for our kids. When they see us sharing our talents and time, they take note of that and emulate that. We have a younger son who is not at Saint Francis, but he has come along to various events. It’s been great to attend events as a family, and it has brought us closer together. We take pride in being Lancers.

Being engaged has also been a great way to connect with other parents. When we come on campus and recognize a familiar face, it’s wonderful to be able to have a conversation with them. It makes you feel a little bit more part of the community.

ALUMNI,

Dear

At Saint Francis,

we believe that learning doesn’t stop when the final bell rings. Some of the most transformative lessons happen beyond the classroom — in a robotics lab, on a stage, at a TEDx event or even on a football field. This issue of Progress is dedicated to exploring these opportunities for experiential learning, where students develop leadership, creativity and real-world skills that will stay with them for life.

Saint Francis alumni continue to be an essential part of this learning journey. Zade Lobo ’19 is giving back by mentoring the robotics team, helping students navigate the complexities of engineering and innovation (see page 11). Zade is just one example of our goal to bring more alumni back to campus to engage with and mentor our students. Whether you return as a guest speaker, a coach/mentor or a supporter of a student program, your experience and insight can have a lasting impact. If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you!

These opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our alumni community.

The Saint Francis Fund provides the resources needed to make immersive experiences like these a reality, from innovation programs to service trips and leadership development.

As we approach our Day of Giving on May 1, we invite you to join us in ensuring that every student continues to benefit from these extraordinary opportunities.

We also look forward to reconnecting with you at upcoming events, including the Lancer Car Show on May 4, and our Grand Reunion on Sept. 13 for all the classes that end in a “5.” Please save the date and let us know if you would like to be a Class Captain.

Reflecting on our own time at Saint Francis, we know that our experiences outside the classroom — as much as those inside it — shaped the people we are today. We are grateful to be part of a school that continues to nurture students in ways that go far beyond academics.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. We hope to see many of you back on campus soon!

Go Lancers!

Greg Calcagno ’83 Alumni Director gregcalcagno@sfhs.com

Kate Lincoln ’16 Alumni Giving Manager katelincoln@sfhs.com

WE’RE PROUD OF OUR ALUMNI’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR DAY OF GIVING ON MAY 1!

saintfrancisalumni

SFHSalumni

Saint Francis High School Alumni

Saint Francis High School (Mountain View) Alumni

SFHS.com/alumni

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Class Notes Maureen Marshall ’75 is happily retired after a long career in medicine and lives in Stinson Beach.

The second novel of Ginny Kubitz Moyer ’91, A Golden Life, has been published. Set in 1938, it’s about a Hollywood secretary who takes a road trip with her producer boss to find a 90-year-old stage actress who objects to the movie they are making about her life. Ginny loved immersing herself in the Golden Age of Hollywood and was thrilled when Kirkus Reviews gave the novel a starred review. She is currently working on edits for her next novel, which will be published in December 2025.

Kort Peterson ’13 married Elizabeth Russell at The Carmel Mission on July 13, 2024.

Stay Connected, Lancers!

Visit sfhs.com/alumniconnect to: • Update your contact info to learn about SFHS alumni activities and opportunities • Submit Class Notes and share your latest news

Oscar Rodas-Falla ’17 serves as assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia. He was admitted into the District of Columbia Bar in November 2024, the same year he graduated from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School.

Monica DeLateur ‘04 married Benjamin Arellano ‘04 on August 26, 2023, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Also in attendance were Michelle DeLateur ‘04, Lindsey Dow ‘04, Andrew Hoag ‘04 and Jim and Lana Hess, parents of Deanna Hess Aguas ‘04. Monica, a criminal law attorney, and Ben, an immunologist, currently reside in Boston.

Kort Peterson ’13 married Elizabeth Russell.

The second novel of Ginny Kubitz Moyer ’91

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Right before student speakers took the stage at this year’s TEDx event, around 50 alumni attended the TEDx reception for alumni to hear Tenley Flahavan ’25 and educator and TEDx moderator Lesley Shortal ’98 share what they love about being involved with this program. The Alumni Office hopes to host future alumni receptions prior to other student events to better connect current Lancers with alumni.

Little Lancers

Alumni, if you are the proud parent of a Little Lancer, please email LittleLancer@sfhs.com to receive a Lancer gift for your baby. Please include your address and the names of all family members.

Bryce, son of Ben ’08 and

Suzanne ’08 Plattner.

Xander, son of Corrin ne Kuehn Lee ‘08 and Stephen Lee, an d the grandson of Lauren Aguiar Kueh n ‘79 and Gary Kueh n.

Wesley, son of Michelle Nguyen ‘09 and Ryan Yamaguchi.

Makenna (left), Lily (middle) and Sierra (right), daughters of Rebecca Sackman Angelo ‘07 and Daniel Angelo ‘07.

In Memory Brian Curley, a Saint Francis educator from 1983 to 2013, died Dec. 8, 2024. He was a gentle soul who taught in the Religious Student department, specializing in world religions and philosophy.

He coached boys tennis and track for brief periods, but the main sport that he coached was cross country. He led Saint Francis to a CCS championship in 1991, the first Lancer team to win this title, and a state championship in 1998.

Mr. Curley was known for his motto of “Community, Commitment and Focus” when coaching, the impact of which is still felt by his former runners who remain friends today.

Aaron Atwater ’88, brother of Garth Atwater ‘82, Matt Atwater ‘83, uncle of Christopher Atwater ‘08, Nicholas Atwater ‘12, Angela Atwater ‘14, Victoria Atwater ‘21

Thomas Calvo ’59, brother of Rosita Calvo ’62 HC, Vic Calvo ’63, Millie Calvo ’65 HC, Annabel Calvo Blanchard ’69 HC

John Scoppettone ’61

Myron Nessan, longtime director of finance at Saint Francis, passed away Oct. 4, 2024. With a reputation for being a strict keeper of the budget, he always had a way of making sure the school was able to purchase what it needed when the time called for it. He came to Saint Francis as a part-time treasurer in 1993 and the following year, he became the full-time director of finance. For several years, he also served as benefits coordinator and facilities administrator; he retired in 2019. Mr. Nessan had a deep love for Saint Francis and the Brothers of Holy Cross and actively supported school programs, especially attending Lancer athletic competitions. He is the father of Micah ’93 and Lisa ’95.

Lou Cerros ‘74, brother of Joseph Cerros ‘77 (RIP) and Annamarie Cerros ‘79, uncle of Paulina Cerros ‘19

John Stahler, father of Kim Stahler Zilliox ’86, David Stahler ’88 and Gregory (RIP)

Ruth Becker, mother of Katherine Becker Hansen ‘82, David Becker ‘86, Carolyn Becker Delaney ‘87, Mike Becker ‘88, grandmother of Ashley Becker ’13, Lauren Becker Loey ’15, Alyssa Becker ’17, Claire Becker ’20, Ryan Becker ’21, Casey Becker ’23, Bailey Becker ’27

Philip Culbertson, father of Philip Culbertson ‘21 Darlene Duggan, wife of Pat Duggan ‘61

Paul Leath ‘86, brother of Christopher Leath ‘88 Nancy Marinchak, mother of Jeff Marinchak ‘79, John Marinchak ‘80, Todd Marinchak ‘85, Mike Marinchak ‘88, grandmother of Maile Marinchak ‘23, Maddox Marinchak ‘26 Bob Mibach, father of Rob Mibach ’97 Jeremy Olden ’94, brother of Matthew Olden ‘87 and Eric Olden ‘90

Joseph Scoppettone ’61

Michael Trollope, father of David Trollope ‘89, Karen Trollope Zlendick ‘90, Wendy Trollope Stonehouse ’93, Debbie Trollope Gillespie ’95

Neil Guiney ‘63, brother of Stephen Guiney ‘65 Wayne Huggins, father of Mike ’84 and Joanne Huggins Hatcher ’87 Sheila Ivers, wife of Barry Ivers ’64, mother of Barry Ivers ’01, Samantha Ivers Kimmel ’95, Dani Ivers Risley, sister-in-law of Patricia Ivers Burney ’61 HC, Michael Ivers ’66 Spring 2025 PROGRESS

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from the archives HANDS-ON LEARNING THROUGH THE YEARS

Our students have been immersing themselves in hands-on experiences outside the classroom throughout the decades, finding opportunities to expand beyond their horizon.

1965

1972

1985

1996

2007

2023

The Mission Club raises money for the “preservation and extension” of Holy Cross missions in South America.

Helena Sandie ’87 helps a resident of Agnews Developmental Center to Mass.

Service Club packs food boxes during the Thanksgiving food drive.

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Holy Cross High School devotes a week to teaching different courses that were not included in the school curriculum, ranging from candle making and self-defense for women to auto mechanics. Here, Lynn Healy ’74 learns the principles of leather craft.

Matt Roomel ’97 and Remy Totah ’97 participate in a trust walk at the junior retreat, appreciating the world without their eyes.

A science class visits the James Lick Observatory in San Jose.

HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR Audrie Naranjo, athletics operations coordinator, coaches students on managing social media for Lancer teams.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO MENTOR STUDENTS ON HOW TO RUN SOCIAL MEDIA? In 2025, social media is where we get the majority of our news, views and information. Everyone is constantly on their phones, no matter what age, seeking the latest information surrounding their personal interests. For those interested in Saint Francis athletics, I believe it is important to share the most recent information on our athletic programs and provide a closer look at the behind-thescenes that go beyond the scoreboard and give our sports a stage to shine on.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT MENTORING STUDENTS? One of the best things is that I see students for their talents, capabilities and creativity as young people and growing individuals. I get to have more relaxed and fun conversations and connections with the students in a different way than a typical classroom teacher would. And they’re learning graphic design, basic video editing, storytelling, time management, communication and networking.

HOW HAS WORKING WITH TEAM MANAGERS ELEVATED LANCER TEAMS’ SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE? Before I spearheaded this program, a lot of our team accounts were run by coaches or assistant coaches who already have so much on their plate as coaching at Saint Francis is a big commitment. I

wanted our teams’ social media presence to be more than the bare minimum of posting game day and final scores, while also reflecting our school’s brand through our tone and visuals. I asked myself “How do we level up?” What better opportunity to present to student team managers than by making creative and engaging content that tells the story of our teams? These student-athletes are not just players at Saint Francis. They’re daughters, sons and peers with different talents and personalities. We want their story and team dynamic to be highlighted in that way.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE TO A STUDENT INTERESTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT? It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s a fun responsibility. You’re the storyteller and get to dictate what story will be remembered. It’s not always about the wins or the losses. It’s also about who the athletes are outside of their team and what it’s like to be a Lancer.

HOW DOES THIS ROLE SHAPE HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A HOLY CROSS EDUCATOR? It allows me to find the balance between being fun and in tune with high schoolers as well as understanding my role to serve as a resource for students. The analogy I use is planting a seed and watching it grow because I get the privilege to see how the basic fundamentals I teach are transformed by our students into something meaningful, creative and amazing!

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Saint Francis High School Saint Francis High School Institutional Advancement Marketing and Communications Department 1885 Miramonte Ave 1885 Miramonte Mountain View Ave. CA 94040-4098 Mountain View, CA 94040-4098

LancersGive

Save the Date

May 1 is our Day of Giving

With your gift, you provide students with the tools to lead, create and inspire. Every dollar you contribute goes directly to supporting their growth and success. sfhs.com/lancersgive