SUMMER 2016
Celebrating the Class of 2016!
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CLASS of 2016 and their accomplishments began on June 3, with the Senior Presentation to the Saint Mary’s College High School community. This annual tradition marks the final time the class gathers with the entire student body. On June 4, the Class of 1966, this year’s Golden Grads, joined the graduates at the Baccalaureate Mass, celebrated by Father Jason Landeza, trustee and member of the Class of 1979. A reception for the seniors
and their parents followed at the Cross Plaza, while the Class of 1966 gathered for a reunion dinner in the Shea Center. The class gathered for the final time on June 5 for graduation ceremonies at Zellerbach Hall on the University of California campus. Members of the Class of 1966 who participated in the ceremonies received their golden diploma from their principal, Brother Mel Anderson ’47. The Saint Mary’s tradition remains strong. Saint Mary’s Hail!
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0 Andre Nnebe received the Class of 2016 Male Athlete of the Year Award. The graduate is shown here with his proud family: Mom, Morgan, sister, Sophia ’19, and dad, Emeka.
0 Van Galaxy Naldoza received the Bobby N.
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Sofia Andrade earned the Certificate of Academic Distinction in the field of World Languages, Spanish.
Barrett Award for Music, named in honor of the former teacher who created the Saint Mary’s Fine Arts program and championed a commitment to excellence in the study of music and musical performance.
CLASS OF 2016
Class Awards The following members of the Class of 2016 were honored for their academic and athletic accomplishments and their commitment to service.
The Saint John Baptist De La Salle Certificates Of Academic Distinction English: Jennifer Melissa Chua and Salomé Ragot Spanish: Sofia Isabel Andrade and Roberto Saldana, Jr. French: Margaret Lyons Meade and Elizabeth Sanchez Molina Social Studies: Anna Louise Barcellos and Taryn Shay Kisch Gallagher Religious Studies: Saba Tsehay Kinfe and Tia Monay Williams
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Mathematics: Connor Paul Greene and Salomé Ragot Science: Madalyn Richelle Pahati and Miriam Eleanor Raffel-Smith Philosophy: Joseph Wyman Fong-Lamboy and Christian Joseph Holt Visual Arts: Courtney M. Johnson, Lauren Aiko Lee, and Arabella Elizabeth Wood Drama-Performance: Armando James Byrd Drama-Technical: Lauren Aiko Lee Instrumental Music: Matthew Mendoza Franaszek Choral Music: Anna Louise Barcellos Dance: Julia Meiling Ward
Saint Mary’s Talent And Service Awards Inspirational Athletes of the Year: Layla Ybarra-Harvey and Christian Joseph Holt Athletes of the Year: Kenady Rae Jackson, Andre Nnebe, and Tamarick H. K. Pierce Bobby N. Barrett Award for Music: Van Galaxy Naldoza Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Award for Choral Music: Marcus Joseph Timpane Katherine Dunham Award for Dance: Joseph Wyman Fong-Lamboy
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Julia Ward received the Gaudium et Spes Award for Service, presented to the graduate who best exemplifies Jesus’s call to serve others.
0 Congratulations to Nolan Jacobs-Walker for receiving the General Academic Excellence Award in recognition for having earned the highest four-year grade point average among the Class of 2016. Nolan also earned the Brother Alfred Brousseau, FSC Award in mathematics.
0 Senior members of the men’s varsity track and field team (center-left to right): Luther Jessie, Malik FloydStinson, Cameron James, and Tamarick Pierce. The graduates were among the talented group of Panthers who participated in the CIF State Track and Field Championships on June 3 and 4.
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Celebrating success! Members of the Class of 2016 gather for a photo following their June 5 graduation at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus.
Virginia Woolf Award for Creative Writing: Cian Michael Modena-Hayden Aldus Manutius Award for Journalism – Yearbook: Lee Yep Labov Principal’s Award: Rebecca Diane Torres Salutatorian: Krystal Alvarez Valedictorian: Cian Michael Modena-Hayden
Academic Awards Pablo Picasso Award for Visual Arts: Arville Akili Persons Paul Robeson Award for Performing Arts: Van Galaxy Naldoza
Brother Alfred Brousseau, FSC Award for Mathematics: Nolan David JacobsWalker Dante Alighieri Awards for World Languages, French: Salomé Ragot Dante Alighieri Awards for World Languages, Spanish: Krystal Alvarez John Henry Cardinal Newman Award for English: Van Galaxy Naldoza Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Social Studies: Miriam Eleanor Raffel-Smith De La Salle Award for Religious Studies: Armando James Byrd
Galileo Galiliei Award for Laboratory Science: Salomé Ragot General Academic Excellence Award: Nolan David Jacobs-Walker
Highest School Awards Dei Verbum Award for Faith: Owen Andrew Lojo Gaudium et Spes Award for Service: Julia Meiling Ward Lumen Gentium Award for Community: Jennifer Melissa Chua
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CLASS OF 2016
Valedictory Address Given by Cian Modena-Hayden GOOD MORNING SAINT MARY’S: Board of Trustees, Brother Edmond, administration, faculty, parents, Golden Graduates from the Class of 1966, and the Class of 2016. Nobody can properly measure the impact of a single person, not by any current standard of measurement or any possible invention. And, with all of us here in the Saint Mary’s community, it’s impossible to know how much we all contribute for each other. It would be like trying to count all the waves in the ocean as they were prompted by the moon or crashed on the shores. The impact of other people is still there, even so. The drive of our peers may have motivated us as we shared a common determination and goal. Perhaps they reaffirmed our confidence with kindness and advice, or softened our harsher judgments with a pacifying word, or did us a favor to ease our burdens. In our own ways, we worked to improve ourselves during our time here at Saint Mary’s. The diligence learned by working hard, whether athletically, academically, or artistically, is one of the finest virtues. That was the devotion that fueled the hour you worked after you started getting tired, and that measure of commitment was the beginning of a strong person. We try our best to be kind, to be diligent, to be reliable, to be self-aware, to be confident, but we aren’t always the kind of person we want to be. To match the person to the psalms is a great ambition, but a struggle. The power of the will to achieve is not infinite, and so sometimes we fail to measure up to our ideals. Still, that willpower is renewable, and we may yet find success in the persistence of our efforts. As a result, those efforts, as a community and as individuals, must always continue because of our strengths, and in spite of our limitations. I don’t think I’m letting my optimism get the better of me when I say that the trend line of history has generally been one of improvement. Since the beginning of time, 4
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humans have adapted to their circumstances. It is important to remember that even as society advances, and as we experience things for the first time personally, fear has always weighed us down. I believe that fear is at the root of much suffering, as it feels overwhelming, both in the larger world and on a personal scale. Saint Mary’s is a special place, but it is not isolated from the intimidating issues of the world. It is not in our character to stray from the painful or difficult problems, rather, as John F. Kennedy once said, “We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Saint Mary’s students do not avoid what is strenuous, but recognize what is necessary. We work with great ethics, often altruistically, and care for each other when we are in need. Going forward, I hope we retain and even improve upon that disposition. Events and people and things will arise, new or just foreign, and then the test of our generation, like all others before it, will be our reaction. We can look to those that have been there for advice, but only we can act for ourselves and care for the future that has been entrusted to us. When I see my peers now, I can’t help but remember what they were like when I first met them. While we’re still silly and young, I’ve seen the people around me mature so much from those days just off of orientation. Their company and support has been one of the treasures of my life, and I can only try to repay their generosity. Whenever I’m disappointed in myself, my classmates bring me back up. When I’ve struggled in a class, my teachers have helped me after school to
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Cian Modena-Hayden was the Valedictorian for the Class of 2016. Cian, who also received the Virginia Woolf Award for Creative Writing, is headed to UC Berkeley in the Fall.
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Proud alum dad Dave White ’81 celebrates the Big Day with his daughter and new alum, Georgia ’16.
get the material down. When it’s been a long day for everyone, it’s the team, the cast, the crew, the class, and the club that rallies the individual spirit. Together, we’ve lived and learned to the tune of the bells, and changed before we even realized it. We’re not a final product, of course; so long as we’re alive, I doubt that we’ll ever stop changing and growing as people. I don’t believe that it is in human nature to be still. We, after countless years of continually pushing, feel dissatisfied with stagnation, with breaking from the march of time. For seniors, that inevitable progression means that our time as a class, as students here, is over. We may meet somewhere down the line, but some ties will naturally be broken as we go our separate ways. I have full faith in the classes that we leave behind to preserve the character of Saint Mary’s as we know it, but with their own spin on it. I’m sure the Golden Grads present this morning know that even as Saint Mary’s is continually changing, certain innate and lovely qualities
remain. As we separate, maybe then, we’ll be able to better understand how important someone was to us, or maybe it will fade from our memories. So, today we should commemorate those around us—whether it was enduring or enjoying something together, the full range of expressions shared during those days, weeks, and months we have given to the calendar. We can remember those who are not here today, whether they left or were taken, as we consider our own futures in hopeful anticipation. When we finally find ourselves alone tonight, or even tomorrow, after all the ceremonies and celebrations, how will we feel? What will we be thinking? Looking back on our time here even further in the future, what could our reactions be? Will it be a sigh, a tear, a laugh? I hope that, however we handle the changes in our lives, whatever courses we take in the coming times, we can remember today as a wonderful occasion, and Saint Mary’s as a place of personal growth and great love.
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Lukas Jimenez-Smith enjoys a moment after graduation with his parents, Carmen and Michael.
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Rebecca Torres received the Principal’s Award, presented by Dr. Pete Imperial at the Baccalaureate Mass. Rebecca joins her father, Frank ’78 as a proud Saint Mary’s alum.
2 Carina Upshaw ’16 joins her family after graduation: Dad, Alfonse, brother, Ben ’17, and mom, Balbina.
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Saint Mary’s Trustee Father Jayson Landeza ’79 celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass, held on Saturday, June 4.
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Well done! Armando Byrd accepts his diploma from President Brother Edmond.
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CLASS OF 2016
Salutatorian Address Delivered by Krystal Alvarez at the Baccalaureate Mass GOOD EVENING SAINT MARY’S: Board of Trustees, Brother Edmond, administration, faculty, parents, Golden Graduates from the Class of 1966, and the Class of 2016. Considering our class’s track record of tardiness, I’m glad we could all make it somewhat on time. I am honored to be speaking in front of you all to represent my class one last time, although for much of the audience this is not the first or last salutatory address you all have tried to stay awake for. I started writing this speech a year ago, after the Class of 2015 graduated. It seemed like ages before we would be able to put on our own graduation gowns, but just a short year later, here we are—sitting in the same seats, getting ready to move on to the next stage of our lives. Honestly, I’m not sure
what I feel more: nervousness, excitement, or terror for what lies ahead, and I know I’m not the only one. A lot of us have older siblings, cousins, or friends who we watched undergo the rite of passage that is senior year. We could only dream of the day we all would be in their place. We might have worried about how we would have to work to fill their shoes, or better yet, how we could one-up them just to have those bragging rights. Yet for some, myself included, we’re now the ones paving the way and being looked up to by younger siblings, friends, or relatives. Whatever your situation, I think each one of us has done a pretty amazing job, if I do say so myself. Look around you. See the faces you have grown up with and the teachers that have dedicated themselves to us these past four years. Four years ago, Saint Mary’s welcomed 165 of us to our new home. As we prepared for our first day of high school, some of us were already out of dress code; some late, because they couldn’t find which classroom Ms. Marsella was in for which period; some traumatized by the horrendous smell of the boy’s locker room; and yet others who came close to an emotional breakdown after not being able to open their locker after 15 tries. This was the year we were introduced to the Lasallian Catholic tradition. While we learned about the five core principles in class, it was often outside the classroom or during service-based Lasallian Days where those values
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were demonstrated and felt throughout our community. Despite being called in for weekly class meetings in the auditorium with Mr. Shum to discuss whatever drama had been most recently created, freshman year wasn’t too bad. With events like the Casino Royale Homecoming and those boys and girls talks to distract us, we began to see just how we could fit into the Saint Mary’s community. It seemed like freshman year would never end—that we would be those annoying baby-faced children with no high school privileges forever. Before we knew it, it was the big 150th Anniversary of Saint Mary’s, our Founder’s Day celebration, and we could finally see the light at the end of the freshman-year tunnel. Fortunately, sophomore year came soon enough, and with the help of newfound upperclassmen friends, we were educated a little more in the do’s and don’ts of high school, like finally being able to yell at the freshmen to sit down during the rally. And let’s not forget the incredible job Will did in leading us in our ONE-SIX chant when we couldn’t memorize the cheer that had been made for us. That was only the beginning of a year that brought its own challenges, starting with trying to stay focused in class with the introduction of iPads in the classroom. If you struggled with the homework in health or geography, there was a big chance that taking AP World History was one of the biggest mistakes of your life. Not to mention the challenge many of us took on when deciding to take more honors courses. Most of our very talented athletes finally got the chance to play something other than left bench, and we solidified our individual niche within the school community. Whether we participated in the musical “The Wiz,” ran for LSL, or joined Peace and Justice, all of us had more of an opportunity to shine. Not much more
Class Salutatorian Krystal Alvarez shared her reflections with classmates, administration, faculty and staff, parents, and guests at the Baccalaureate Mass.
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“May we realize the importance of friendship and family...and may we never forget the unique spirit, determination, and verve our class has given Saint Mary’s.” privileged, nor upperclassmen yet, our only bragging right was that at least we weren’t freshmen anymore. We desperately wished for junior year to come around faster. And so it did. Many of us probably realized that we should have been more careful of what we had wished for. I think it’s safe to say not many of us were ready for the amount of work and stress with which junior year so graciously bombarded us. For the past two years, we had been hearing about the commotion and stress that consumes every junior class; we finally understood why. Not only were we exceptionally challenged academically, but emotionally. Never had the meaning of community been more defined than when we lost Mr. Shum and grieved together for a person who had worked tirelessly to unify our class. That year, various sports teams dedicated their seasons to his memory. While his absence greatly affected us, we managed to finish the year stronger as a community, learning to cherish one another. What better place to start than the upperclassmen privileges we could finally enjoy, like our first overnight retreat. Many of us got to experience a different world during Enrichment Week through the immersion trips in El Salvador or Haiti. Others even got the chance to vacation in Morocco, be a science camp leader, or begin touring colleges. Soon after that first week in March came our first prom in May, and finally we got to be participants in the promposals, rather than just spectators. As we watched some of our best friends go through the preparations for college and graduation, we became anxious to take their places and begin the process of choosing our own future. Senior year at last. For a lot of us, senioritis began during junior year, maybe even freshman year in the most extreme cases. (You guys know who you are.) Yet, somehow we balanced family, friends, sports, clubs, homework, endless tests and essays, senior project, and, most importantly, Twitter beef, all while managing to apply to college and get into some amazing schools. Sometimes,
it felt like we were so consumed by the craziness of real life that we might have forgotten to enjoy the first two trimesters of senior year. As we went into our very last trimester of high school, we realized the importance of making those last few moments count: Journey retreat, sporting events, our last Founder’s Day, prom, our many attempted senior pranks, the lunchtime dodge ball matches against the faculty, dance parties by the cross, and Doc’s 15 seconds of fame when he put all of us to shame with his dab. And, of course, for old times sake, we closed the year with a class meeting, this time with Banks, so we could hear one last time just how ridiculous our class can be when we come together. All memorable, but knowing it was a year full of “lasts,” it was quite bittersweet, to say the least. Though we might have had our fair share of rough times and differences with one another, let us remember the times we were unified. May we realize the importance of friendship and family we have all taught each other, and may we never forget the unique spirit, determination, and verve our class has given Saint Mary’s. High school consisted of four years of vulnerability, meeting new people, and defining ourselves; but if you didn’t get a chance to find yourself here or you want the chance to start over, don’t forget to carry a little bit of that crazy Bay Area spirit everywhere you go. Saint Mary’s brought together an amazing group of diverse individuals that allowed us to learn from each other beyond the walls of a classroom. So, as Mark Twain once said, “Never let your schooling get in the way of your education.” If there’s one thing I learned in high school, it is that I regret what I didn’t do when I had the chance, more than what I did try and failed miserably at. Only through trial and error can we shape ourselves, and the future holds many other chances for us to continue to mold ourselves into the most beautiful pieces of art. Every one of us is like a unique masterpiece: intriguing, meaningful, complex, even confusing, but overall
something to to marvel at, to admire, and to appreciate. Someone will always want to change something about you to make you more to their liking, but you are your own artist. Despite the pressures, do not let go of that paintbrush. Remember that when the going gets tough, you have a family, our Saint Mary’s Class of 2016, to turn to for help. May we never forget all the obstacles we were able to overcome in the past four years, so that we may continue to defy the odds in the future. Love yourself and shape your own life, because each of us has an important role to play in this world: whether it’s Kevin, the next NBA star; Nick, the next big innovator; Miriam, the next environmental lawyer, or Naomi, our future children’s pediatrician—I hope every one of you pursues your aspirations. Who knows, maybe one of us will be the Brother Edmond of our class and be the President of Saint Mary’s 50 years from now. Class of 2016, as my final words to you, I’d like to ask you all a favor. When you go down the path you all have chosen for your individual selves, never, ever forget where you came from: the home that nurtured you, the teachers and coaches who guided you, the friends who supported you, the team that motivated you, the moments that almost broke you, and even the people who hurt you. Whether the people and moments you will leave behind taught you lessons or gave you something to smile about, they have shaped you into the person you are this very moment, and all of you should be pretty proud. May we turn out to be the type of person our five-year-old selves would be proud to be. And if you’re ever feeling afraid of the future, I’ll leave you with the same advice my grandma gave me: “With love in your heart, wisdom in your mind, and steady feet in the right direction, you have nothing to fear.” Classmates, have no fear because the future needs us to shape it. The world is waiting, and we have never been more ready. Class of 2016, finally, we have made it. GOOD NEWS FROM PERALTA PARK
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CLASS OF 2016
College And University Acceptances
Private Colleges Academy of Art University Allen University American University Austin College Azusa Pacific University* Beloit College Boston College Boston University* Briar Cliff University Brown University California Lutheran University* Carnegie Mellon University Carroll College Champlain College Chapman University* Claremont McKenna College Clark Atlanta University Clark University Cleveland Institute of Music Cornell College Crown College DePaul University Dominican University of California* Drexel University Earlham College 8
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Emerson College Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising* Fisk University Fordham University George Fox University George Mason University The George Washington University Gonzaga University Grand Canyon University Hamline University Hampton University Hawaii Pacific University* Howard University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Juniata College Kenyon College La Salle University Lesley University Lewis & Clark College Linfield College Loyola Marymount University* Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College
Marist College Mills College Morehouse College* New York University Northeastern University Oberlin Conservatory of Music* Occidental College Otterbein University Pace University, New York City Pacific University Pitzer College* Point Loma Nazarene University* Queens University of Charlotte* Rider University* Rollins College Rutgers University-New Brunswick Saint Mary’s College of California* Saint Mary’s University San Francisco Conservatory of Music Santa Clara University* Scripps College Seattle Pacific University Seattle University* Seton Hall University Southwestern University St. John’s University – Queens*
Suffolk University* Syracuse University Temple University Tulane University* Wagner College University of St. Andrews University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Findlay University of La Verne University of the Pacific University of Portland University of Puget Sound* University of Redlands University of Richmond University of San Diego* University of San Francisco* University of Southern California University of Toledo University of Vermont Whitman College* Whittier College Whitworth University Willamette University* Xavier University of Louisiana
*Attending
University of California Berkeley* Davis* Irvine* Los Angeles* Merced* Riverside* San Diego* Santa Barbara* Santa Cruz* Community Colleges Berkeley City College* Chabot College City College of San Francisco* Contra Costa College* De Anza College Diablo Valley College* Laney College* Los Medanos College* Portland Community College* Santa Barbara City College* Santa Monica College* California State University Bakersfield Cal Poly Pomona* Cal Poly San Luis Obispo* Channel Islands* Chico* Dominguez Hills East Bay Fresno Fullerton Humboldt State University* Long Beach Los Angeles Maritime Monterey Bay* Northridge* Sacramento* San Marcos Stanislaus San Diego State University* San Francisco State University* San Jose State University* Sonoma State University*
*Attending
Public Colleges and Universities in Other States / Countries
 Acadia University Alabama A&M University Arizona State University Bowling Green State University Colorado State University* Eastern Washington University* Indiana University at Bloomington Langston University Lincoln University* McGill University* Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Montana State University, Bozeman Morgan State University North Carolina A&T State University North Dakota State University Northern Arizona University Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon State University Portland State University Southern Oregon University St. Francis Xavier University* Troy University University of Aberdeen University of Arizona University of British Columbia University of Colorado, Boulder University of Northern Colorado University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Massachusetts, Boston University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Nevada, Reno* University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Oregon* University of Victoria University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Washington State University* Western Oregon University Western Washington University
0 Celebrate! Malik Johnson gets a congratulatory hug from his dad, Thomas.
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Jennifer Chua received the Lumen Gentium Award for Community, presented to the graduate who has performed outstanding work in building a Christian community at Saint Mary’s.
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A Saint Mary’s tradition: The 2016 graduation ceremony closed with alumni joining the Class of 2016 in the singing of the school alma mater, “The Bells of Saint Mary’s.”
CLASS OF 2016
Our Newest Alumni!
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Good luck! Eddie De Loa, Jr. and his classmates are well-prepared for the next stage of their journey.
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Christian Wight, who graduated Summa Cum Laude, enjoys a moment with his proud parents.
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Congratulations Lauren Lee, recipient of a Certificate of Academic Distinction in Visual Arts and Drama-Technical.
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A family affair! Graduate Julia Ward leads the way for her two younger sisters Audrey ’19 (left) and Natalie ’19.
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The smile says it all! Alexis Glover pauses for a celebratory picture after graduation.
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Congratulations, graduates! Nyjahl Thompson and Saba Kinfe join their classmates as Saint Mary’s newest alumni.
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Layla Ybarra-Harvey and her parents, Michael and Catherine, were among the graduates and their families celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2016 at the June 5 Commencement Exercises at Zellerbach Hall.
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CLASS OF 1966
Golden Graduates
THE GOLDEN GRADUATES AND THEIR guests began their 50-year reunion celebration by attending the Baccalaureate Mass with the Class of 2016 and their families. In keeping with a time-honored tradition, Jim Wood, Class of 1966 student body president, addressed the graduates on behalf of his classmates. Following the Mass, the Golden Grads gathered in the Shea Center for their reunion dinner. Golden
Grad and Saint Mary’s President Brother Edmond Larouche ’66 offered a prayer for the graduates before the meal and Jim Mullarkey ’66 provided the music – a compilation of recordings from the Saint Mary’s Concert Hall series performed in the 1960’s. The Golden Grads were delighted to be joined by Brother Mel Anderson, the principal of Saint Mary’s in 1966. After dinner, members of the Class
of 1966 took turns at the microphone – sharing memories and updates on their lives since the class last gathered. Many of the classmates joined the Class of 2016 at Zellerbach Hall on June 5 to receive their golden diploma, conferred by Brother Mel. The weekend concluded with a barbeque lunch as Peralta Park, prepared by members of the Class of 1965. Congratulations to the Golden Grads!
0 Back row, left to right: Ed Coughlin, Steve Shepherd, Jim Mullarkey, Rich Thomas, Gianfranco Sciacero, Mark Phillips, Brother Mel Anderson, Brother Edmond Larouche, Keir Taylor, Larry Sterling, Mick Hanlon, Tom Larkin, Bob Modrzejewski, and John Rengel. Front row, left to right: Ernie Lavagetto, Jim Wood, Bob Waller, Jim Guichard, Jack Isola, Don Dickerson, Ken Starkovich, J.T. O’Sullivan, Mark Moyer, and Jim Campi.
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1 Together again! Left to
0 Brother Mel
right, Jim Pavletich, Mick Hanlon, and Bob Modrzejewski celebrate their 50th reunion.
catches up with Steve Shepherd at the reunion dinner.
B A C C A L A U R E AT E A D D R E S S
Jim Wood ’66 Provides the Golden Grad Address
0 Jim Wood ’66 addresses the Class of 2016 at the Baccalaureate Mass.
BROTHER EDMOND, PRESIDENT AND 1966 classmate, Trustees, Principal Imperial, faculty, staff, parents, and especially you, the Class of 2016. On behalf of our half-century-old Class of 1966, I want to express to you what a privilege—yes a bit of a time-lapsed and scary pleasure—it is for each of us to join you in celebrating this day of transition, a day that has been held on campus since 1927. Our classmates come home to Saint Mary’s College High School to celebrate your day and to remember ours. We are here to honor you and your families, as well as to recall those who were in our lives on this campus and who, in innumerable ways, made who we have become today: Brother Mel Anderson, our second principal; each of the more than a dozen Brothers of the Christian schools, who shaped us in a great many ways to grow into and to respect the traditions of the founder Saint John Baptist de LaSalle; the lay faculty and coaches, who in the tradition of Saint LaSalle, guided us to the paths we
have chosen; our parents and families, many of them long gone; and, yes, our classmates, many of whom are here today, likewise to honor you and to remember. And we are not too proud to humbly recognize that this time is about you and not about us. This is your day. So, I will abstain from telling you that we grew up in days without Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and all the technology you have today. We didn’t even have computers or ESPN. How did we survive? I won’t spend another minute detailing the everyday life of living on an all-male campus. (It was a zoo!) Nor how it is that we would scramble to Holy Names High to meet the women who were dismissed 10 minutes later than we were. (Yes, we could get to Oakland in under 10 minutes; Presentation High was a lot easier). I won’t share with you about how much the campus you have come to every day is so unfamiliar to us. But what I will share with you is what is familiar to each of us, the core of what we, from the Class of 1966, have in common with you, the Class of 2016. We began our school day every day, as you have, with the prayer of the Founder: “Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.” Sometimes, when we repeat things every day we begin to take them for granted. We forget what the words really say, what their true meaning is. Stop and think a minute. Pray the words, “Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.” For me, this prayer is a prayer of gratitude. Gratitude that we are in the daily presence of God, a God who is very personal to each of us. I won’t try to explain or define who he is or who she should be. I won’t be so presumptuous. But I will urge you to pray this prayer every day and to be grateful every day for the presence of your God in each of your lives.
I urge you to do this because this prayer of gratitude is also an invitation for each of us to step back and to see who it is that we have taken for granted, what gifts from others we have taken without thanks. The prayer provides other opportunities. For example, in this reflection we remember today Saint LaSalle, who created the foundation for the education each of us has received. We remember, too, the Christian Brothers who, for our class and for you, have brought the life of Saint LaSalle to ours. We recall those teachers, coaches, and staff who every day came to this campus, as yours have, to ensure that each of us would receive the highest quality education. This is a time to remember our classmates and friends who tolerated our foibles and who, whatever the time of day or night, were there for us. And most importantly, we remember to be grateful to our families for the lives they gave us and for the lives they have helped to bring here today. And there is a variation for this prayer, one which makes us mindful of who we are, of where we are, and who we are with. “Let us remember that we are in the presence of . . .” Holy or otherwise. Each person, each place has a gift to give us. All we have to do is to be present, to be here, to humbly accept the gift. This is the gift of Saint LaSalle, the gift of the Brothers, the gift of Saint Mary’s College High School. To today’s graduates: consider, too, the possibility in the next few days of finding a quiet place and writing a letter. Not a text, not a “like,” not an Instagram. Consider writing a letter to someone telling them that you are grateful for what they have given you and why. If the only prayer you say in your whole life is “thank you,” that would suffice. – Meister Eckhart From the Class of 1966 to the Class of 2016: Congratulations to each of you. Each of us is grateful for the opportunity to share this day with you.
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0 John Rengel catches up with classmate Jim Laufenberg at the reunion dinner.
0 Jim Mullarkey ’66 shares some fond memories with his classmates at the annual Golden Grad dinner.
7 Golden grads and their guests celebrate together at the Class of 1966 reunion dinner. Left to right: Linda Skare, Kier Taylor, Marcello Barbero, and Sue and Mark Phillips.
0 Golden grads participated in the Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2016.
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0 Golden Grads (Robert Tafelski, Robert Waller, and James Guichard) joined classmates and guests at the reunion dinner.
2 Don Dickerson, Lynn Isola, and Jack Isola enjoy time together at the reunion dinner.
0 Gianfranco Sciacero and Ken Starkovich walk into the Baccalaureate Mass.
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Calendar of Alumni Events September 12
November 5
32nd Golf Invitational: The Phil Doran Memorial Tournament Mira Vista Golf and Country Club, 7901 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito
Alumni Memorial Mass
October 22 Homecoming Day & Game Ticket includes lunch (noon), entrance to the game, and “Fifth Quarter” social following the game.
November 23 Young Alumni Basketball Game 6 p.m.
December 15 Young Alumni Day Class of ’16, ’15, ’14, and ’13 2:30 p.m.
December 17 Class of ’06, 10th Reunion For additional events, updated information, and online registration, please visit www.saintmaryschs.org/alumni or email Lawrence Puck ’78 at lpuck@stmchs.org
Change Service Requested Saint Mary’s College High School 1294 Albina Avenue Peralta Park Berkeley, CA 94706-2599
Berkeley, CA Permit 1232
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID