Serra Catholic High School - Spring 2012 Newsletter by Jennifer Salvador

Siempre Adelante Serra Catholic High School Alumni Newsletter Also for the graduates of St. Peter High School, Divine Redeemer Academy and Mon Yough High School V O L U M E

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Serra Catholic Welcomes Mr. Edward Deenihan: 2012 Commencement Speaker

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:  Serra alumni reunite  Read about Serra’s Featured Alumni  Get your own Junipero Serra Ornament!  Serra’s Past, Present, and Future

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Edward Deenihan, Class of ‘69

We are pleased to announce that Ed Deenihan, 1969 Serra alum and Executive Vice President of NetApp, addressed this year’s graduating class at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Our ceremony took place on Thursday, May 31, 2012. Serra is fortunate that Ed has been an active participant in our mission to ensure a bright and successful future. We welcomed Ed back to Serra to share his experience and wisdom with our students, families, and friends.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: “Gelati in Rome and other Overseas Delights”

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WIN a Piece of the Civic Arena

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“Building for the Future” __________________________________ Campaign Tri-Chairs

Sister Bernadette Pg. 6 Nominate a Distinguished Alum

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A Day at Serra in 2012

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Basketball at Serra

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Coach Cleary Wins 500 Games

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Serra Students Market Study Wendy’s

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Jeffrey Kelly, ‘65 CEO Hamill Manufacturing

Michael Linn, ‘70 Founder and Director LINN Energy

Bernard Picchi, ‘67 Portfolio Manager Palisade Capital Management

To support Serra Catholic High School’s “Building for the Future” Campaign, please contact Diane DiNardi (Serra President) at 412-751-2020 ext 102

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From the President This spring, our entire community is awash with optimism as we begin a campaign to ensure our future. I am pleased to announce the dedicated leadership of our Tri-Chairs, Jeﬀrey Kelly, Michael Linn, and Bernard Picchi. Through their guidance and support, “Building for the Future!” is sure to be a success.

Siempre Adelante is published semi-annually by the: Development Office Serra Catholic High School 200 Hershey Drive McKeesport, PA 15132 Phone: 412-751-2020 ext 132 Websites: www.serrahs.org

In 2007, Serra became an independent, non-profit corporation charged with providing a Catholic, Franciscan-inspired education to our students. We continue to fulfill our mission under the direction of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; however, we are completely responsible for our own financial security. Thus, it is imperative that we establish and grow an endowment for scholarships. Our initial goal is to raise at least one million dollars. In addition, we must be able to provide a safe, eﬀective, appropriate environment to accompany our outstanding education. We cannot have one without the other. We are continuously reviewing and improving our educational oﬀerings, and we must do the same for our infrastructure. We have created a plan for Serra’s future, and we welcome your ideas and your input. To view our proposal, please visit our website and click the “Campaign for the Future” link under “About Serra.” Please join with me, our board, and our benefactors as we rebuild our school and create an endowment to provide scholarship funds for years to come. Together we can move Serra “Always Forward!” Enjoy this issue of Siempre Adelante. It is filled with articles about life at Serra and students past and present. As always, be sure to visit us online for the most up-to-date information and to join us in our mission. May God bless you and your family,

www.serragrandreunion.com Christine DeLeonardis Development Director

Diane DiNardi

Editor Sandra Barbieri

President

Development Coordinator, Contributing Editor

Serra Catholic High School Board of Directors Board of Members:

Most Rev. David A. Zubik, DD Very Rev. Ronald P. Lengwin, VG, MDiv Rev. Kris D. Stubna, S.T.D.

Serra's Board: Patricia McGrail, Chair James Campagna, Vice-Chair Wendy Staso, Secretary Dawn Sauter, Treasurer

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Gary Antonella Ronald Bowes Jennifer Cairns Timothy Chirdon Diane DiNardi Matthew Franckiewicz

Charles Gala Fr. Joseph Grosko Rita Joyce Jeffrey Kelly Maureen Vissat

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“Gelati in Rome and other Overseas Delights” By: Taylor Barbieri, Class of ‘11

This past summer, as he has for the past thirty years, Mr. Michael Doyle led a group of Serra students and family members on a trip abroad. His travels have taken students to Spain, France, the British Isles, Germany, and even the former U.S.S.R. This year, however, his travels took him to Italy and Greece – the best trip ever, in the opinion of his student travelers. It all began on Monday, June 23rd. We gathered at the Pittsburgh International Airport, jittery with excitement, and anxie‐ ty over our first trip on an airplane. We headed to O’Hare airport in Chicago, then overseas to a layover in Frankfurt. Finally we were awakened by the smell of complimentary breakfast wraps filled with mystery meat and the jovial voice of the co‐pilot: “Benevuti, signore e signori. Siamo arrivati a Roma. Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have just arrived in Rome.” From there we headed toward Hotel La Meridienne, our humble abode for three days about an hour outside of Rome. It was just the serene, secluded environment that we weary travelers longed for, enveloped in quiet mountains blanketed in pines, and a sight of a small village when

we stepped onto our individual patios. If one finished dinner early and made it back to the room at just the right moment, she would view a most gorgeous tange‐ rine and lilac sunset tickled by the tips of the mountain pines.

All Photos from Europe provided by Taylor Barbieri, Class of ‘11

(Article continued on Page 15)

Greg Hanratty-Contributing Editor We thank Mr. Greg Hanratty, 1966 Serra alum, for oﬀering his time and talent to Serra’s newsletter. Mr. Hanratty has graciously contributed his writing and editing skills to the Siempre Adelante. We salute the wonderful way Greg has shared his God‐given talents with our entire Serra community!

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2011 Alumni Fun! By: Christine DeLeonardis, Development Director

Alumni Chili Cook-Off

Adam Mulac (‘86), Victoria Erkman (’88), and Patrick Bendel (’84).

On Friday, October 7, 2011, alumni gathered in Serra’s Friary for a chili cook‐oﬀ in celebration of homecoming weekend. Many of the attendees entered a pot of homemade chili in hopes of win‐ ning first place! After much test‐ ing, it was a diﬃcult decision, but

Elizabeth Bendel’s entry took first place. Adam Mulac, a 1986 Serra grad, came in a close second, followed by Victoria Erkman, class of 1988, who took third place. Attendees received complimentary tickets to the homecoming football game, where the Eagles played against Fort Cherry.

Networking Breakfast Serra alumni from the dec‐ ades gathered for a Net‐ working Breakfast at Eat ‘N Park in the Waterfront on Friday, November 18, 2011. The breakfast meet‐ ing provided a wonderful

opportunity for the alums to mingle and share their professional knowledge and business cards. Everyone enjoyed the event, the opportunity to network, the delicious food and the awesome door prizes!

Breakfast Photos Mrs, Diane DiNardi (President), Sara Leonatti (‘07), Zac Allan (’07), Christine Stinson (’84), Adam Mulac (‘86)

Kennywood Over the Holidays On Saturday, December 10, Claus, former classmates 2011, Serra alumni gathered celebrated the Christmas at Kennywood Park to enjoy season together! “Kennywood over the holi‐ days.” With Christmas lights, cookie decorating, a train display, and Santa

Anthony Marino (’90) and Family

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Attention Alumni Share your contact information with Serra... And Enter for a Chance to WIN a Piece of the Civic Arena! Do you have updated contact information?? Serra’s Development Oﬃce would love to hear from you. Complete the form below and become eligible for a chance to WIN a piece of Pittburgh’s Civic Arena! This ornament was crafted by Wendell August Forge, exhibits the Ig‐ loo and the city of Pittsburgh, and is made with an authentic piece of the Civic Arena’s roof. To hold onto the memory of the Civic Arena, from Stanley Cup win‐ nings, to boxing matches and concerts, enter today for your chance to WIN this limited edition collector’s item!

Drawing Will Take Place Summer 2012

Please mail contact information to: Serra Catholic High School Development Oﬃce 200 Hershey Drive McKeesport, PA 15132 Or email: deleonardisc@serrahs.org Or call: Christine DeLeonardis at: 412‐751‐2020 x132 Limited Edition Collectors Item!

Name: _______________________________________________________________ Class of _______________ Present Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: __________________ Business Phone: _____________________ Cell Phone: ___________________ Email Address: _______________________________________________________________ Martial Status: Married _____ Single _____ Widowed ______ Divorced _______ Spouse’s Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ No. of Children: _______ Please list names and ages of children: ____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Education—College: _______________________ Degree: __________________ Occupation: _____________________

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Sister Bernadette

By: Christine DeLeonardis, Development Director

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sister Bernadette, also known as “Sister B,” a former Serra Catholic biology teacher. In 1958, Sister Bernadette decided to join the sister‐ hood and was professed shortly after. While living in the convent, Sister B was a cook—a job she was given because, “They did not know what to do with me!” Over time, she thought extensively about what she wanted to Sister Bernadette Washy, 1978 accomplish in her lifetime. Sister B decided that she would take classes at Duquesne University on weekends and through the summer to earn her teaching degree – as she sensed that teaching was her passion. “I always liked kids,” she quoted, “and I was given the gift of being a teacher.” Sister Bernadette began her career at Serra Catholic in 1975, creating wonderful memories until her retire‐ ment in 1990. Over the years, Sister always wanted to make education more interesting for her students; she made it her mission to make learning fun and stimulat‐

First Class of 1965

Serra Catholic 2012 SIEMPRE

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ing. In doing so, she developed a new way of teaching to actively engage her students. Sister B willingly ac‐ cepted considerably large class sessions, comparable to those one would find at a college or university. The sessions took place one day a week, and during that time Sister Bernadette would teach 50‐60 students. “That type of classroom environment allowed the stu‐ dents to connect with one another,” she stated. Sister B, along with her students, won many science competitions some of which were International! Sister’s students always “came out on top,” she noted. The stu‐ dents did so well that competitors would say, “When is that Nun going to retire?” It was all in good‐humor, with the other teachers turning the competition into a rivalry with Sister B. She considered all of the students at Serra Catholic her children and has many warmhearted memories. Even though she is no longer teaching at the school, Sister feels as if she never left and would love the legacy of Serra’s quality education to live on forever. “It is all about the kids. The purpose is to not always to get A’s and B’s, we are preparing them for life.” Sister Berna‐ dette concluded our lovely chat with a few words for all of Serra’s alumni, “I am extremely proud of your accom‐ plishments. I am praying for all of you. Hang in there!”

Serra’s Past, Present, and Future

Serra’s NEW Physics Lab

The Future North Wing

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Chinese Culture Week

Miss Wu’s classes gathered to enjoy artwork, dancing, and traditions from the Chinese Culture.

“Serra Serves” Students Respond This past fall, nine members of Serra Serves and Interact par‐ ticipated in a community clean‐up to enhance the appearance of the island at the top of Pinoak Drive (Renzie Hill) in Haler Heights. The students were responding to a Daily News edito‐ rial concerning the neglect in that section of McKeesport. Members of the organizations pictured in the Daily News per‐ forming their volunteer service were Maddie Clark, Anna Mandak, teacher/advisor Casey Stapleton, and Nicole Pero.

Photo Courtesy of the Daily News.

The White Oak Rotary: This Spring, members of the White Oak Rotary will be working alongside students from the Serra Interact Club to finish the last seven stations of the fitness trail on campus. Two of our Serra students, Anna Mandak and Christina Pici, will be at‐ tending a prestigious leadership week, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), at LaRoche College. They will attend workshops which will address leadership and team‐building skills. Thank you to the White Oak Rotary for your support ! The White Oak Rotary, Courtesy of the Daily News

Where Are Our Serra Grads Now?? Carnegie Mellon University—Alexandra Doonan (‘08) DePaul University—Andrew Shere (‘08) Notre Dame University—Lauren Ruhling (‘08) Villanova University—Gabriel Neuman (‘08) Drexel University—Stephanie Oleyar (‘09) Temple University—Soo Byung Lee (‘09) University of Dayton—Carly Gross (‘10) Catholic University—Carissa Stinson (‘11) Providence College—Alexis Tobias (‘11) Rochester Institute of Technology—Alexandra Shaver (‘11) University of Pittsburgh—Taylor Barbieri (‘11), Eric Walker (‘11), Joe Malley (‘11) Penn State University Park—Samantha Boettner (‘11), Asia Harris (‘11), Taylor Marino (‘11), Joe Penzelik (‘11), Mark Shively (‘11), John Spirnak (‘11), John Waiter (‘11)

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Mr. John Daugherty: Class of 1978

By: Nick Astle, Current Serra Student

Mr. John Daugherty, Class of ‘78

This past February, I was hon‐ ored to speak to Mr. John Daugh‐ erty, a pe‐ troleum engineer and 1978 graduate of Serra. After high school, Mr. Daugherty attended Penn State University for Petroleum Engineering. He has worked in many areas of the energy industry over the last 25 years, and is most well‐ known for his company, Pentex Advisory Services, LLC. He has served as the president for mul‐ tiple non‐profit organizations, including the Natural Gas and Electric Power Society of North Texas. Mr. Daugherty is currently serving the city of Murphy, Texas as its Mayor Pro Tem. It is obvious that Mr. Daugherty has found great success, and he attributes it to the education he received at Serra. He began by describing one of his fondest memories from his time at Serra – participating in a theatrical production in his junior year. He said that until that point, he had been shy; but participating in the play al‐ lowed him to “come out of his shell” and start becoming more personable. Unlike most high school productions, this play was completely original. In fact, the script was written by one of Serra’s teachers, Christine Frez‐ zi. Coincidently, it was Ms. Frezzi that he says had the SIEMPRE

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greatest influence on him. Alt‐ hough he only had her for two years, Mr. Daugherty claimed that she was largely responsible for the “turning point” in his junior year. He did note, how‐ ever, that every teacher at Serra influenced him in one way or another. He related to me sto‐ ries of Jim Jackson, who suc‐ ceeded Father Benedict as the Dean of Students. Mr. Jackson was responsible for discipline at Serra, and Mr. Daugherty said that Mr. Jackson “was definitely a no‐nonsense guy.” Mr. Daugherty remem‐ bered his favorite classes in high school, advanced chemis‐ try and U.S. History. He recalls that his chemistry class was a small but dedicated group of students, and their teacher used the class size to present unique experiments. Mr. Daugherty told me of how his teacher demonstrated alcohol – by instructing the entire class of eight to build a working still with their partners. His other favorite subject, U.S. History, was largely due to his teacher, John Mamajeck. A passionate historian, Mr. Daugherty said that Mr. Mamajeck had a special inter‐ est in World War II, and could make the events “come alive.” He related one episode of his junior year, in which the energy crisis of the late 1970’s closed Serra for several weeks. Even when they were able to return, the price of oil meant that only the classrooms could be heated. The hallways were so cold that students had to wear winter coats between classes. After high school, Mr. Daugherty went on to work in

the petroleum engineering field. His experience on both the factory and the business side made him extremely versa‐ tile, and he encourages today’s students to make themselves marketable. “When you’re look‐ ing between something like Liberal Arts and Engineering/ Science, the companies nowa‐ days are looking for good math and science backgrounds. When you choose your major, choose very carefully. Also, get as much experience as you can. Even if it’s working a cash reg‐ ister, get as much work experi‐ ence as possible.” Mr. Daugherty is an excel‐ lent example of the success that can be found when armed with a Serra education. He said that Serra opened doors for him not only in the college search but when looking for a job as well. He said that people who are familiar with Serra are more likely to hire alumni, as they can be certain that they are well‐educated. He is grateful that he was able to attend Serra, because “[he’d] have nev‐ er got this education at a public school.” Mr. Daugherty praised Serra’s teachers, as they “demand excellence” and will not tolerate any lack of eﬀort. He emphasized that his education at Serra was not merely knowledge, but a strong encouragement of critical thinking as well. When com‐ paring his time at Serra with any other learning establish‐ ment, it became clear to John Daugherty that at Serra, “there is a diﬀerence.”

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Alumni News, Notes, and Updates Matt Mendicino’s Wedding:

This past Octo-

ber, Serra graduate, Michael Mendicino (2002) of Elizabeth Township, married Renee Nicole Sowinski of McCandless in St. James Catholic Church. After a honeymoon to Hawaii, the couple now resides in Wexford

Ashley Kotun Manning and Joseph Manning: 2005 Serra graduates and proud parents of

Look Who’s engaged!

Serra Graduates Lauren Ziegler (2008) and Gregory Wilson (2006) announced their engagement and wedding plans for September 2013. Ms Zeigler will graduate in May of 2012 from Point Park University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She currently works for the Eat n’ Park corporate support center. Mr. Wilson graduated cum laude from Duquesne University with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and works in the neuro-trauma ICU of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

Logan Arthur Manning, born on December 19, 2011. Congratulations!

EITC Send your Tax Dollars to Serra!

Serra’s Robotics Club

Make Donations Online! You can now make an online donation to Serra Catholic High School by using Pay‐ pal’s secure services. Visit Serra’s website at www.serrahs.org and click the “Donate” button located at the bottom of the homep‐ age. Please contact the Development Oﬃce with questions: (412)751‐2020 ext 112

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allows your company to send its state taxes to Serra Catholic High School instead of Harrisburg. All of the funds received from this program go direct‐ ly toward tuition assistance. Through this program, an eligible Pennsylvania business may receive a tax credit of up to 90% of the contribution. Next year, EITC will provide over $187,000 in tuition assistance for our families! Please contact Christine DeLeonardis at 412‐ 751‐2020, or through email at delonardisc@serrahs.org to discuss how eas‐ ily you may participate in this program. With EITC, everyone wins!

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Serra’s February 2012 Networking Event! On Thursday, February 16, 2012, Serra alumni socialized at the River City Inn – PPG Place. This was a great time for former classmates to network and share their business and personal successes since their time at Serra High School. The crowd was honored to welcome Father Alexis and Broth‐ er John to the event. Everyone shared memories of Serra and expressed their excitement in coming together again while encouraging others to join them! Mrs. Diane DiNardi (Serra President) and Craig Baum (‘81)

Serra’s Distinguished Alumni Celebration Saturday, September 22, 2012 Pittburgh’s Sheraton Station Square For more details, please call the Development Oﬃce at: 412‐751‐2020 ext 132 Or email deleonardisc@serrahs.org

Thank You to Our Current EITC Companies: Hamill Manufacturing L&S Machine Co, LLC Mistick Construction Maher Duessel Accounting Natale Sporting Goods OSPTA, Inc. OSPTA @ Home, LLC Synergy Staﬃng, Inc. Workscape, Inc.

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2011 Distinguished Alumni (not pictured—Mr. Michael Linn ‘70)

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Serra Women Honored at Medallion Ball In the Fall of 2011, three seniors from Serra Catholic High School received the Joan of Arc Medallion from Bishop David Zubik at the Wyndam Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh for their volun‐ teer community service and other activities. The seniors who were honored at the 2011 Medallion Ball are Kimberly Hopkins from Glassport, and Emily Ms. Kimberly Hopkins, Ms. Ruhe and Megan Sayles both Megan Sayles, and Ms. Emily from Elizabeth. To qualify for Ruhe—Current Serra Students the award, administered by St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind, a young lady must perform at least 150 hours of volunteer work during their high school years to charities of their choice. Kimberly is a member of the National, Quill and Scroll, and French Honor Societies, vice president of the Interact Club, school yearbook business manag‐ er and photographer for the yearbook and school web‐ site, member of the Future Business Leaders, Pro‐Life Club and Prom Committee. Kimberly was the 2011 Knights of Columbus Queen in the Salute to Santa parade in McKeesport. Among Ms. Hopkins’ services are Teen Aide at UPMC McKeesport, Toys for Tots, Buckets for Haiti, the St. Anthony Program, Interact

Congrats to Serra Students: “My Climb Heart Health” Contest Winners

Club, and Salvation Army with the St. Mark Youth Group. Ms Hopkins is a member of St. Mark’s Parish and plans to major in business marketing and account‐ ing in college. Emily Ruhe’s high school memberships in‐ clude the National, French, and Science Honor Societies, the Prom Committee, Yearbook staﬀ, Junior Achievement, and Serra Serves. Emily played on the Serra girls’ soccer team that won section champion‐ ships in 2010 and 2011, and was statistician for the boys’ basketball team. She volunteered as a Teen Aide for UPMC McKeesport and belongs to St. Michael’s Church in Elizabeth. Megan’s volunteer activities were as Teen‐Aide at UPMC McKeesport, at St. Joseph Regional School, Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport, and other community services. Emily was president of both the National and Spanish Honor Societies, and a member of the Science Honor Society, Circle of Friends: Serra Catholic, and Future Business Leaders of America. She lettered four years on the Serra soccer team, played three years on the basketball team, and participated in the Inclusive Games for Special Olympics. Megan is Serra’s current Homecoming Queen. Ms. Sayles is a member of Queen of the Rosary Parish in Glassport and plans to attend either Duquesne University or the University of Pittsburgh with an interest in medicine.

around us and making positive choices that make a diﬀerence in the lives of others. Both students agreed that the recording process was a ton of work—they were in the studio until midnight—but it was also a By: Christine DeLeonardis, Development Director stimulating experience. On the second and third days of the trip, Leah and Michael had a once‐in‐a‐lifetime Serra students, Leah Gogniat and Michael chance to shoot the music video in New York City’s Weidman, individually entered their song lyrics in a China Town. Reflecting on the experience, Leah re‐ “My Climb for Heart Health” contest last year. They marked, “Music is what I love. This opportunity was a were awarded a recording opportunity with Emmy award‐winning producer and songwriter, David Muis‐ great professional experience and it really helped me cal. Mr. Muiscal is well‐known for his work with moti‐ see how things work in the music industry. It was also important to me because it was for a good cause.” Mi‐ vational and inspiring music. Leah and Michael spent three exhilarating and ex‐ chael also was grateful for the incredible opportunity citing days in New York City. On the first day of their and stated, “Recording was a lot of fun! I really appre‐ trip, the students had the opportunity to tour the stu‐ ciated the chance to go to New York and record such a catchy song.” Congrats to these students for their dio where they would soon be recording. Both were thrilled to learn that it was the same studio where the hard work! Thank you for sharing your talent! To see famous hip‐hop artist, Trey Songz, previously record‐ the release of “LIVIN,” please visit http:// www.studenthealthforce.com/featured/featured‐ ed his album. Also, during the first day in New York, student‐shf2011.php. Leah and Michael began writing their song “LIVIN.” The song is about recognizing the opportunities

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Dr. Joseph Grice - Class of 1982

Dr. Joseph Grice, Class of ‘82

Dr. Grice and His Family

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Dr. Joseph Grice, a Pittsburgh chiropractor and a Serra Cath‐ olic graduate of 1982, graced me with his time and the hon‐ or of an interview. We dis‐ cussed various topics ranging from his time at Serra to his pursuit of becoming a chiro‐ practor. Dr. Grice even gave me insight on the meaning and value of a Catholic educa‐ tion from Serra Catholic as well as some thoughtful words for current students attending his alma mater. Dr. Grice and his five other siblings were raised in the city of Duquesne by his fa‐ ther, who worked in the mills, and his mother, who was a cash‐ ier at a grocery. Duquesne, Dr. Grice described, was much more impoverished and depressed than today’s McKeesport. He even recalls when a friend of his “became rich” just because the family moved up four streets in Duquesne. When the mills closed their doors, Dr. Grice’s fa‐ ther and his family were left without im‐ portant insurances that were previously included with his job in the mill. His father proceeded to work odd jobs in an attempt to compensate for the wages he would have received at his previ‐ ous job. When the schools in Duquesne became so poor that they were no longer eﬀective for education and all around dan‐ gerous, they began to close. Dr. Grice’s parents sent him and four of his five siblings to Serra Catholic; the eldest sibling re‐ mained in public school. This created anxiety for him as he was jumping from the poor state of Duquesne to “pill hill,” the home of Serra Catholic High School as well as many local

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By: Mitchell Magiera, Current Serra Student

doctors, hence the name. Dr. Grice had his worries relieved when he arrived at Serra to find the school environment com‐ fortable and the students and faculty welcoming. Dr. Grice recalled his favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite subjects were the sciences and history. His two favorite teachers were Sister Bernadette and Father Alexis. Father Alexis taught chemistry, one of Dr. Grice’s favorite areas of study. Sister Bernadette taught A.P. Biology. He told me how her class resembled a col‐ lege class. She engaged the stu‐ dents with projects, assignments that involved public speaking, and anything to encourage in‐ teraction between teacher and student. Dr. Grice best de‐ scribed her class as “give and take.” While at Serra, Dr. Grice played football and bas‐ ketball and ran track, His fond‐ est memory was the success of the football team when they went undefeated. Dr. Grice struggled with his fondest memory of his time with the class of 1982. He explained how his class was tight, how every‐ body got along. There was not one shining, prominent moment with his class, but instead the down time they had in the cafe‐ teria, the gym, or wherever as long as they were enjoying each other’s company. After graduating from Serra, Dr. Grice decided to at‐ tend Indiana University of Pennsylvania to study Pre‐Med. He had visions of becoming a “real doctor,” he mused. Dr. Grice was not very clear on what field of medicine he wanted to fully pursue until one day when his father told him how he did manual labor for a neighbor, a chiropractor, as a form of pay‐ ment because he had no insur‐ ance to cover the expenses. This

was the inspiration Dr. Grice needed and further pursued this branch of medicine. The next step was attending the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Dav‐ enport, Iowa, class of 1988. In recent years, Dr. Grice has seen success in his appointment to the State Board of Chiropractic by the Governor in 2007 and currently serves as Vice‐chairman. He is also a del‐ egate of the Federation of Chiro‐ practic Licensing Boards and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Dr. Grice made a large stride in chiropractic treat‐ ment when he was the first in the United States to purchase the Pro‐Adjuster system, a piece of equipment that uses NASA technology to evaluate and treat patients without the common twisting and cracking. In conclusion, Dr. Grice told me that Serra Catho‐ lic had the biggest influence on him, his career, and his success. The education he received at Serra prepared him to be suc‐ cessful. He also told me that current students should be aware that someone made a sacrifice for them to be there, no matter how small. He forewarns that the road to a Catholic edu‐ cation is not an easy road to take, but in the end is worth the hard work and dedication. He reminds current students to appreciate this education and those who are making the sacri‐ fice for you to receive it; never take that for granted. All in all, Dr. Grice stated, “do it for your‐ self.”

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Serra Catholic High School Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination Form The Distinguished Alumni Award is meant to honor excellence in one’s profession, community, church or dedication to Serra Catholic.

Nominee __________________________________________________________________ Address

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ Home Phone

______________________________

Cell Phone _______________________

Class Year ________________ E‐mail_________________________________________

School (please circle one): Serra Catholic

St. Peter’s High School

Mon Yough Catholic

Divine Redeemer Academy

Please send this form along with a detailed letter and other information highlighting the individual’s achievements in the following areas:

Student achievements (high school, college, graduate, academic, athletic, service)

Career achievements

Service to the community (Dates, time, length of service, and specific details regarding the nominee’s accomplishments are necessary for consideration by the Alumni/Alumnae Advisory Committee. List references that can provide additional information about the nominee (include address and phone information)

______________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by:_________________________________________ Class of_________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________ State:_________ Zip:__________________________ Home Phone_________________________________ Cell Phone_______________________________ Business Phone:_______________________________ E‐mail: _________________________________ Return nomination form to: Development Oﬃce Serra Catholic High School 200 Hershey Drive McKeesport, PA 15132

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Serra’s Legacy Society Serra Catholic High School is establishing a Legacy Society consisting of both alumni and friends of the Serra community who have included Serra in their will. We would like to identify those who have been kind enough to do so and encourage others to do the same. If you have included Serra Catholic in your will, we would love to recognize your generosity by including you in Serra’s Legacy Society. All members of Serra’s Legacy Society will be recognized on a plaque, which will be prominently displayed in our school. To become an active member of the Legacy Society, please contact: Christine DeLeonardis @ 412-751-2020 Ext 132 or deleonardisc@serrahs.org

A Campaign for Serra Catholic High School: “Building for the Future” “Serra is a welcoming community dedicated to fostering the educational, emotional, ethical, and

spiritual growth of our students to prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders. They will follow in the footsteps of our dedicated alumni—men and women who have made tremendous contributions to our society. By creating an endowment for scholarships and improving our facilities we will continue our mission for our students, our families, and our communities.” - Diane DiNardi, President

North Wing Expansion

Siempre Adelente Library

Please visit our website and click on “Campaign for the Future” under the “About Serra” tab to learn more about the campaign, or contact Diane DiNardi at 412-751-2020.

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(Continued from page 3) Then the fun began. On our second day we headed to the Coliseum and absorbed the tre‐ mendous innovation of the ancient Romans (as well as a photo or two with the gladiators out front) . The history contained within this struc‐ ture – indeed, the thousands of histories of every individual who had ever sat in that arena to wit‐ ness a gladiator fight – were simultaneously fasci‐ nating and humbling. Later on, we entered the Vatican. We spoke in whispers, awed by the spir‐ itual and aesthetic magnificence surrounding us in St. Peter’s Basilica. Moreover, Father Tim, a priest who was a member of our group, once worked in the Vatican under Pope John Paul II, giving tours to visiting dignitaries. The following day, Father Tim was having a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI, and generously oﬀered to have the rosaries which we had purchased per‐ sonally blessed by the Holy Father. Then came day three, a free day in Rome. The first order of business: to see just how much shopping and sightseeing one could do in just a few hours time in a city rich in history and de‐ signer boutiques, and, of course, to eat as much gelati as possible. Some of us headed oﬀ to the Trevi Fountain – which is far more beautiful than any photograph – and tossed in coins to encour‐ age luck in love and wealth. After visiting the Dior and Versace boutiques, others reclined on the Spanish Steps, and were able to witness an outdoor wedding on the Steps, too. Still others chose to pack away our tourist guides and ex‐ plore the more peaceful back‐ streets of Rome, perhaps to stop by and watch a painter create Bakery in Europe, Courtesy of Taylor Barbieri miniature trip‐ tychs of the Vatican or Roman ruins. In the side street you could escape the persistent Italian sun

underneath a café’s linen umbrella, and enjoy a bottle of wine and genu‐ ine ravioli or gnocchi, gazing out onto the pi‐ azza between two centu‐ ries old buildings. The fourth day we spent in Capri, a small moun‐ tainous island whose beauty far surpasses its size. We rode a shaky Taylor Barbieri and incline to the top of the moun‐ Francesco tain – the view was indescribably breathtaking. From any angle one was able to behold the turquoise colored water, and the wild garden of vibrant flowers that blanketed the mountain. Here again we spent a relaxing day sightseeing, getting plump on Nutella‐flared gelati, and absorbing the atmosphere. Days five and six we spent driving around the countryside, visiting catacombs, and lounging on a boat to Greece. In the afternoon on our seventh day abroad, we arrived in Delphi, where we spent two days. Several of us went to the Apollo Bakery on a crisp Sunday morning – we each got a dozen cookies and liter of water for 2 Euros, and spent the morning walking along the one road in and out of the town, looking at the various icon boxes devoted to saints. Days 9 and 10 we spent in Ath‐ ens, dominated by the Acropolis and the majectic ruins of the Parthenon. The trip was a great success, as it has been every year for Mr. Doyle. Friends were made, diets were broken, closets were expanded tenfold, and our brains were saturated with the fascinating history and culture of our Italian and Greek companions. Of course, the trip would have been incomplete had we not all fallen in love, no matter how briefly, with our bus driver, Francesco, who could fit us through any roadway with just a quarter of an inch to spare on either side and whose sparkling blue eyes made us melt.

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Serra Scout Honored By: Greg Hanratty, Class of ‘66

Dylan Donnelly, a junior at Serra Catholic High School, has now reached the rank of Eagle Scout. Elizabeth council Vice President, Robin Miller, presented Dylan with a letter of thanks. Dylan completed restorative work at the Duke Park gazebo as part of his scouting project.

Dylan Donnelly and Robin Miller, Courtesy of the Daily News

Ms. Jennifer Cairns, Class of ‘94

Attorney Jennifer Cairns—Class of 1994 By: Mr. Ryan Raible, History/Government Teacher

On March 2, 2012, students in Mr. Raible’s pre‐law class were treated to a discussion with Attorney Jennifer Cairns, Partner at McGuire Woods and Serra alum (‘94). Ms. Cairns discussed a wide variety of topics, including her reasons for becoming an attorney, the challenges of her career, her job duties, and her experiences as a member of the Pittsburgh Passion women’s professional football team. As one student commented, “Ms. Cairns provided much insight by sharing her first‐hand experiences of being a lawyer with the pre‐law class. The educational decisions and emotional aspects of the law and the discipline it takes to balance not only a successful career, but also a successful football team, truly make Ms. Cairns an inspiration.”

Free Serra Ornament! Serra Catholic celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. In honor of the joyous occasion, we commissioned Wendell August Forge to create a beautiful Junipero Serra Ornament. You will receive one of these beautiful ornaments as our gift to you for an annual fund donation of $100 or more.

Get Yours Today While Supplies Last! To make a donation, please make check payable to Serra Catholic High School Mail to: Serra Catholic High School 200 Hershey Drive McKeesport, PA 15132

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A Day at Serra in 2012 Serra’s Art Department By: Ms. Heather Momich, Art Teacher

The Art 3 and 4 art classes put their arƟsƟc skills to good use throughout January 2012 by restoring the school’s NaƟvity scene set. The almost life-size figures are used every year as decoraƟon in front of the Friary during Christmas, but all of those years outside in the harsh winter weather took a toll. Thanks to the Art 3 and 4 classes, the NaƟvity set has been brought back to life!

Serra’s Got Talent! By: Mrs. Carole Koval, Business Teacher

The third annual “Serra’s Got Talent” talent competition was held during Catholic Schools Week, Jan‐ uary 20, 2012—February 3, 2012. The talent show consisted of ten acts, ranging from a karate demon‐ stration to a barber shop quartet. Other acts included a singing duet, several solo acts, and several bands. The first place winner was the Barbershop Quartet made up of Mitch Oeler, Craig Bittner, Matt Julian, and Tim Ragan. They sang “Beautiful Girl” and won the hearts of the audience and the judges!

“Serra’s MOCK Bus Crash” By: Ms. Stefanie Cochoran, Chemistry Teacher

At 6:02 a.m. police and medical examiners were found at the scene of a bus crash with evidence of a precrash explosion. The mangled passengers were found in and around the crash. They were identified by the substances found in their belongings or their bodies, since they were not recognizable and their dental records were not available. Upon further investiga‐ tion one passenger may have been murdered before the crash: the time of death was approximated by the Coroner at one hour prior to the crash. It was the job of the police (Geometry class), crime scene investigators (Forensice Science class), bomb squad (Physics class), the medical examiners

(Anatomy class), and the forensic investigators (Chemistry class) to work together to find the mur‐ derer. Once all the information was gathered and evidence was used to pinpoint the murder suspect, the lawyers (Law class) put on a fair trial to convict the mur‐ derer.

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From the Eagle Bench

Congratulations to Serra’s Hockey Team…. Serra’s Hockey team won the first round of playoﬀs!

Great Job to Serra Girls Bowling Team…. The girls bowling team won their section undefeated! Hannah Schorr competed indi‐ vidually in the state championships!

The Winner of Serra’s Swimming Championships…. Serra Hockey Players

Anita Onufer was a medalist in the PIAA Swimming Championships in the 100 meter butterfly! Congratulations!

Serra’s Track Champions By: Mr. Casey Stapleton, Religion Teacher and Track Coach

This year, Serra had the largest Track team in recent memory. A remarkable 45 stu‐ dents turned out, making it the largest athletic team at Serra Catholic. The season started well as several students came in first place at their very first meet, including a first‐place finish by the women's 4x100 relay team. Coaches Ryan Smith, Tom Smith, and Casey Stapleton are pleased with the success of their athletes. A Member of Serra’s Track Team

Serra Alums Meet on College Team By: Greg Hanratty, Class of ‘66

Serra graduates, Pat Grubbs (2008) and Mark Rozanski (2007), are teammates again; this time on the University of Pittsburgh‐Johnstown basketball team. While at Serra, Pat was Class A first‐team all‐state, finishing with 1,100 points and 810 rebounds for his career. Mark had 895 career points, 275 rebounds, and was named Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year by the Daily News. The pair led Serra to two WPIAL semifinal appearances. Rozanski began his college years at Seton Hill, and was then oﬀered a scholarship to Ave Maria in Florida. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in communications, he transferred to Pitt‐Johnstown to play with his former teammate, Pat Grubbs. Grubbs is sixth in UPJ’s all‐time scoring with 1,500 points, and third in the school’s career rebounding with 849. Their coach, 23‐year veteran, Bob Rukavina, says the two “have a chemistry together…having played together for four years” at Serra. Pat Grubs hopes to go on a second‐half run and make it to the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athlet‐ ic Conference finals.

Take One Last Look at…. Serra’s Boys and Girls Locker Rooms! On April 2, 2012, the renovation of the boy’s and girl’s locker rooms began! They will be fully renovated – from ceiling to floor, from wall to wall! Serra’s current students and past alums’ visions and memories of the locker rooms are being trans‐ formed at this very moment. Thank you to all who are supporting this wonderful advancement at Serra Catholic. Take one last look at Serra’s past and embrace the new and exciting changes planned for Serra’s future! SIEMPRE

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“My Time at Serra”

Four years ago, when I walked through the doors of Serra on the first day of my freshman year, I was nervous. I was full of optimism, anticipation, and excitement; but I was nervous. I was surrounded by a hundred of my new classmates, most of whom I’d never seen before. Some of them seemed more nervous than Nick Astle, Current Serra Student others, but to me it seemed Nick Astle, Senior at Serra like everybody knew somebody else. We were ushered into the cafeteria, as most of us experienced the awkward “where should I sit” moment. After we were settled, Mr. Chirdon, principal, told us, “You will remember this day for the rest of your lives. Hopefully you will remember much of your time here at Serra. When you walk out of here four years from now, we want you to walk out a better and smarter person. But, above all, we want you to walk out loving God more than you did when you walked in.” I didn’t know it then, but in that brief statement Mr. Chirdon essentially summed-up my time at Serra. I would like to think that I am graduating a better and smarter person. Most importantly, though, I have greatly grown in my faith. Throughout my time at Serra, I would like to say

PAGE By: Nicholas Astle, Current Serra Student

that I’ve changed for the better. I’ve certainly learned a lot academically, but the changes go deeper than that. Through various clubs and extracurricular activities (particularly band), I have met wonderful people and formed close friendships. While every school aims to enrich its students academically, Serra goes beyond that. Serra nourishes the whole person: body, mind and spirit. In other schools, classes are just blocks of time and classmates are just other students who happen to be in the same classes. At Serra, though, our faith fills and unites every moment. Our faith transforms high school from merely an educational institution into a community built on love, fellowship and holistic growth as members of Christ’s Church. This May, when I graduate, I may leave the Serra building; but I know that I will never leave the Serra community. Serra is a college-preparatory school, but I am prepared for much more than the next few years – I have been given what I need to be successful for the rest of my life: knowledge, friends, and most importantly a Catholic, Franciscan faith. I thank God that in His design, my path took me to Serra. I ask Him to bless you and your families, and may tomorrow’s students find at Serra everything I did and more.

FBLA: “We Are Going To States!” By: Mrs. Karen Kolenik, Math/History Teacher

Thirty-two Serra students attended the 2012 Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference April 16-18, 2012, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The students competed with representatives from other Pennsylvania chapters for top honors in over 28 events.

The Following Students Were Successful at the State Competition: Shannon Piplica and Wei Mon Lou—1st Place, Digital Design and Promotion Gina Ross0 –3nd Place, Help Desk Sascha Rojitas—6th Place, Network Design

Ben Ziegler and Mitch Magiera—11th Place, Emerging Business Issues Shannon Kolenik—11th Place, Introduction to Business Communication Clayton Lyons—13th Place, Business Math

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Basketball at Serra Catholic Camic Finally Gets To Play By: Gerg Hanratty, Class of ‘66

Serra senior basketball standout, Brandon Camic, has finally gotten to play after miss‐ ing his junior year because of a transfer dispute. Brandon had to sit out his junior year after transferring from South Allegheny as per a ruling by the local and state sports gov‐ erning bodies. The senior was very disappointed by the ruling but said “I guess the best way to show them is by winning.” Brandon is making good on that promise. The se‐ cond week in January senior Camic pushed his scoring record to over a 1,000 points, scoring 33‐points in a win against Section 4‐A rival Geibel‐‐quite an accomplishment for a shortened 3‐year career.Last year Serra won the Section 4‐A title and qualified for the state playoﬀs at 15‐9. This season the team didn’t return any starters but has plenty of experience with a starting lineup including Shaun Menzies, Max Kaminsky, Mark Matta, and Craig Bittner, along with Camic. Also seeing action from the bench are Tyler Greber, Joe Satira, Trevor Jaworski, Mitch Oeler, Tim Ragen, and Colton Joseph. Brandon Camic, Current Serra Student

Keep Up the Hard Work!... Congratulations to Serra Basketball players Brandon Camic, Shaun Menzies, and Jaime Tedesco who were recently selected to the Daily News Fabulous 15 basketball team. Both Brandon and Jaime are repeat selects.

Photos Courtesy of Serra Catholic

Photo Courtesy of the Daily News SIEMPRE

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Coach Cleary Wins his 500th Game! Coach Cleary, as Girls Basket‐ ball Coach, you have a 500‐142 record‐‐reaching the 500‐win mark this season‐‐five 20‐win seasons, 11 section titles, 4 WPIAL titles and a state title. That is an impressive record; to what do you attribute your success? “I’ve been blessed over the years with really good play‐ ers; I’ve coached with some great people, and I have a very sup‐ portive administration. You Mr. William Cleary, Serra need all of these things to be Coach / Phys. Ed Teacher successful.” Can you characterize the 2011‐12 season? “I knew we were very young on opening night when we were introducing the starting lineup and the kids asked me ‘what do we do here?’ It was a new experience for them. We started four new girls and had an inconsistent year. We were better than our record indicated, but our youth showed through on a lot of occasions. With a little more experience we could have pulled ourselves out of some fires. But the girls got their feet wet this year and we’ll see what happens next year.”

By: Greg Hanratty, Class of ‘66

What about your family, are they into sports? “I’ve been happily married to my wife Maureen for 32 years and have 2 sons. Both my sons are Serra graduates. My son Brandon is 28 and lives in Brooklyn, and Jordan is 24, lives here at home and is going to grad school. It’s really great because he is my assistant coach here at Serra. We have a grandson, Riley, two years old who is our pride and joy. It’s amazing how a grandson changes your life. The wisdom you have now you wish you would have had then.” In sports there are 2 well‐known sayings. One from a sports writer that says “its not that you won or lost but how you played the game,” and another from Vince Lom‐ bardi, “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” How do you reconcile those competing philosophies? “As a coach you always prepare a team to win, but the ultimate goal I suppose is a hybrid of those two philosophies. Winning is important but so is how you play the game because you learn lessons that you take with you all your life. That’s what I want to do with my athletes and students to have them grow to be responsible and dependable adults. What kind of a parent, employee or employer you become is important. That is our ultimate goal and what you can get from sports.”

What is your definition of success? “Here’s what I try to pass on to my children and what I always tell my students‐‐as you move into the world as a work‐ What does next season look like? ing adult and you have to give the best years of your life to your “I’m pretty excited that we have so many returning letter family and career‐‐are you comfortable and happy with the winners that have played a lot and got better as the season went career path you’ve chosen. Do you like to get up in the morning on. The girls seem to be committed to improving and getting and meet the challenges of the day? It’s not necessarily how better.” much money you make. It’s more like are you doing what your What Serra teams are moving up to AA and can they com‐ talents fit.. I was always amazed in graduate school when some pete at that level? professors who were making a fraction of what they were mak‐ “The only Serra team to move up to AA will be the boys ing as former CEOs but were much happier in front of a colle‐ basketball team. The section they will be in is highly competi‐ giate class. Being happy in what you do puts you on the path to tive, but in terms of the WPIAL tournament there should be success. I’ve been very fortunate and blessed with this career very little diﬀerence between A and AA. Both of these classes because I love coming to work every day.” have good teams and I feel Serra should be one of them.” What question do you get asked the most? Most of your college experience is in playing baseball. “People ask me and a lot of my students come back and Ever regret not having a career coaching baseball? ask how long are you going to coach. It’s a year by year thing “I started baseball here in 1985. I was the athletic director with me but I still enjoy getting prepared for a season, being in at the time and I spearheaded a campaign along with Fr. Ronald the gym. I still have the same fire now at 58, that’s never left. I to bring baseball back. That is a program that has really flour‐ love coming to work every day. It’s pretty fun.” ished. They have had three straight state playoﬀ appearances and won the state title last year. I did coach baseball for 10 Maybe that’s another big reason for Bill Cleary’s success seasons and I miss it and going to the ballpark, but with my as a coach and teacher; that while imparting the dedica‐ other duties here teaching, coaching basketball, and being ath‐ tion and work necessary to be successful to his athletes letic director I just didn’t have the time to coach baseball. But and students, he makes it fun. we left the program in great hands with coach Brian Dzurenda who has taken the team even further. So I have no regrets though once and a while I’d like to go back to the baselines and coach.”

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Mr. Robert Matwick-Class of 1975 By: Patrick Sullivan, Current Serra Student

On Friday,

Mr. Robert Matwick, Class of ‘75

March 2, 2012, I was privileged to interview a remarkable Serra alum, Mr. Robert Matwick. Mr. Matwick, a graduate of the Class of 1975, now lives in Texas, where he is the Executive Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Texas Rangers baseball organization. While Mr. Matwick and I discussed how the education at Serra Catholic influenced his post-secondary education and career, he recalled a variety of memories from high school. Mr. Matwick’s interest in sports, which now influences his daily life as an executive in the Major League Baseball, began very early in his life. He recalled learning how to read the sports section of the newspaper from his father during his childhood, which grew his passion for sports. Matwick found that many people in Western Pennsylvania followed a variety of sports, and he began to track sports statistics as well, especially for Penn State and Pitt. Growing up as a teenager in Western Pennsylvania, Matwick found that sports were infused in the lives of so many people in this region. SIEMPRE

Mr. Matwick noted that there were two events that he recalls the most when reminiscing his high school days: basketball and his high school graduation. While a student at Serra, Matwick played on the boy’s basketball team, where he was able to spend time with his friends while learning to work with other people. Involvement in high school athletics, Matwick stated, helped him build camaraderie with Serra students, while learning to compete against other teams. High school graduation, Mr. Matwick said, was a very fond memory for him because graduation is a symbol of relief and accomplishment. Graduation allowed Matwick to recall his time around the Serra campus and friendships that he made during his years at Serra. While we discussed graduation, Matwick recalled two teachers that he felt influenced his post-secondary education the most: Father Joe and Sister Roberta Sinclair. Father Joe, who was a teacher in Serra’s English department, influenced Matwick’s decision to declare an English major in college. Sister Roberta Sinclair, who taught World Religion, opened Matwick’s eyes to the many other

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religions in the world aside from Catholicism. After graduating from Serra, Matwick attended the University of South Carolina Aiken where, in 1980, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Shortly after graduation, Matwick decided to continue his education, later attaining a Master of Mass Communication degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. While attending college, Matwick worked in the sports information office at the University of South Carolina, where he gained additional experience in sports. One night in September 1985, Mr. Matwick received a call at his home, from a man unbeknownst to him. The man identified himself as Dick Wagner, General Manager of the Houston Astros baseball organization. Wagner presented a career opportunity to him for which he could interview: Director of Media Communications. One month later, Matwick went to Chicago, where he interviewed for, and was offered, the position which would launch his career in Major League Baseball. Mr. Matwick spent more than twenty-one years working for the Houston Astros, serving in a variety of roles including the Senior Vice

President of Ballpark Operations and Customer Service. He also served as the Vice President of Communications for the Detroit Tigers, before being appointed as the Executive Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Texas Rangers in 2008, the position that he still holds today. While working in Major League Baseball, Matwick has received the Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence and, in 2005, he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. I completed my interview with Mr. Matwick by revisiting his time spent at Serra Catholic and, now looking back, how he felt that it influenced his life. Matwick stated that Serra set the foundation for his life in a variety of ways. At Serra, there were many people who expressed an interest in helping him succeed in his education and in his life, Matwick said. He felt that because of the small class sizes that Serra offered, each student was able to receive individual attention in a well-structured environment. Being able to learn in a Catholic setting, Matwick recalled, allowed him to practice his faith around his peers, and this brought all of the students together with a shared interest.

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Always Forward In order to keep Serra Catholic High School alive and moving forward in the future, we must act now! Please consider supporting Serra so that we can continue to provide an outstanding Catholic education for our students!

2011-2012 Annual Fund Donations Are Always Accepted You may donate online at www.serrahs.org, or with the appeal envelope attached to this newsletter. If you have any questions about the Annual Fund, please contact the Development Oﬃce at development@serrahs.org, or call 412‐751‐2020 ext 132.

Matching Gifts Double your donations to Serra Catholic with the help of your employer! Please call Sandra Barbieri at 412‐751‐2020 ext 112 to get started. Thank you to our Current Participants: PNC Bank Bank of New York Mellon Emerson Genex Services, Inc. Merck Partnership for Giving Conoco Phillips People’s Natural Gas

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Dr. Adam Mulac: Class of 1986 By: Christine DeLeonardis, Development Director

Dr. Adam Mulac, Class of ‘86

Dr. Adam Mulac with his Wife Maureen and Son Noah

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Adam Mulac is an optome‐ trist in White Oak, Pennsyl‐ vania. As a 1986 Serra gradu‐ ate, Dr. Mulac has great memories of his alma mater. He believes that his time at Serra Catholic has given him a great advantage throughout life Besides the door of oppor‐ tunity Serra provided, Dr. Mulac has many fond memo‐ ries of his high school years. He remembers a basketball game on March 20, 1985. Serra Catholic beat Washing‐ ton High School which, at the time, had a 56 game winning streak. “We beat Washington High School 56 to 51. It was such an exciting game,” shared Mulac. Another one of his most memorable times at Serra was spent with other 1986 graduates. 25 years ago Dr. Mulac and his classmates buried a time capsule, which they planned to uncover on their class’s 25th anniversary. In August of 2011, Mulac and his class‐ mates exca‐ vated the time capsule during their 25th reunion weekend. “It was sad to see

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that the contents inside had been damaged by weather and water, but it brought back many memories of Ser‐ ra.” Involved in many extracur‐ ricular activities at Serra, Mulac was the manager for the basketball team; a mem‐ ber of student government, the National Honor Society, and the Spanish Club; and ran cross country. Academi‐ cally, Adam’s most enjoyable class was U.S. History, with his favorite teacher, Mr. Mamajek. “Mr. Mamajek was a straight forward, no‐ nonsense, outspoken, set‐in‐ his‐ways kind of a guy. I ad‐ mired him for that. He changed my perspective of U.S. History and it soon be‐ came my favorite class. I also enjoyed freshman classes with Sister Bernadette, Mr. Rozanski, Mr. Cleary, Miss Sinclair, and many other teachers at Serra.” After graduating from Serra, Adam attended The University of Notre Dame, where he studied both pre‐ med and Theology. Through‐ out his time at Notre Dame, Dr. Mulac considered a de‐ gree in optometry, and when graduation time arrived, Mu‐ lac graduated with a Bachelor of

Arts degree. Located in Phil‐ adelphia, Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania College of Op‐ tometry accepted him into the program and he began his career path of optometry. Adam Mulac currently resides in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. His wife, Maureen, is also an Optome‐ trist. She graduated from East Allegheny High School and moved on to the Univer‐ sity of Pittsburgh, where she earned her Biology degree. After her graduation from Pitt, she attended Indiana University, located in Bloom‐ ington, Indiana, for her de‐ gree in Optometry. Adam and Maureen met through their profession, and have been married for 8 years. The couple has a 6 year old son, Noah, who is currently in Kindergarten. Time will tell if Noah will be a Serra gradu‐ ate like his father. Dr. Mulac has a final thought for cur‐ rent students at Serra Catho‐ lic, “Have a goal and follow a dream. Don’t go to school for the sake of going.” Adam encourages all Serra gradu‐ ates to use their alma mater to their advantage and “make the most of your time spent at Serra. It will be gone be‐ fore you know it, but make the memories last a lifetime.”

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Serra’s Economics Market Study: Wendy’s – White Oak, PA By: Christine DeLeonardis, Development Director

Mrs. Koval’s third and fourth period senior Eco‐ nomics classes conducted a market research study shortly after completion of the renovation of Wendy’s restaurant, in White Oak. The students performed their research to help answer some of their questions related to the ma‐ jor renovation. They were in‐ trigued by the changes and curious Serra Students at why they were made and Wendy’s, White Oak, PA how the changes impacted Wendy’s bottom line. The study was a great opportunity for the economic stu‐ dents to learn about supply, demand and economic growth, while gathering information about a local business everyone visits! Serra’s Economic Students’ Market Study Results: 89% of the students who were surveyed visited the new Wendy’s prior to the study. 89% of the students felt that the reason Wendy’s was remodeled with this new look was to gain more customers. An additional 39% believed that Wendy’s was trying to remain competitive. When asked what the students would change in the new Wendy’s, 54% responded by say‐ ing that they would add additional seating to the restaurant. 48% of the students felt that the soda machine was the number one aspect of the new Wen‐ dy’s that exceeded their expectations. Some disappointing Patrick Sullivan, aspects of the renovation: Current Serra Student

insufficient seating, long lines with long wait times, the menu selection did not change substantially, no carpeting in the restaurant, and the increased prices. These negative reviews, however, represented just a small percentage of the total surveyed. In answer to the final question: “Will you go back to the new Wendy’s within the next week or two?” 80% said that they would go back, 17% were unsure, and 2% said no. From “Fast Food” to “Quick Casual” On , February 1st and 2nd, 2012, the students visited the newly renovated Wendy’s to present the results of their market study to Mike, the General Manager. After a complimentary breakfast and upon conclu‐ sion of their presentation, our students had an op‐ portunity to participate in a question and answer ses‐ sion. They learned about the corporate strategy be‐ hind the new restaurant layout as well as Wendy’s marketing plans for the future. The only other Wendy’s in Pittsburgh with the new layout is located in West Liberty. In fact, only eight stores in the entire country have been renovat‐ ed in the new style. White Oak was chosen one of the innovative restaurants because of the age of the building and also because it is such a high‐traffic ar‐ ea. The location was an excellent choice because the restaurant has experienced a huge increase in sales! With the new layout, Wendy’s is trying to cater to a younger crowd, hence the state‐of‐the art soda ma‐ chine. Although it is a test item in Pittsburgh, the new soda machine in very popular in the South. It offers over 100 different soda options, and the touch screen display is extremely appealing to the teenage crowd. The concept of “fast food” is no longer, and “quick and casual” has become the new trend.. All of the White Oak Wendy’s customers can look forward to new and exciting menu items in 2012, sweet pota‐ toes and macaroni and cheese to name a few!

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Laureen Costa– Class of 1986

By: Ms. Olivia Vissat ‘10 and Mr. S, English Teacher

Who is 1986 alumna Laureen Costa who boasts that the single most important thing Serra gaver her was the Speech Team? How is it that high school Foren‐ sics has allowed her always to speak persuasively with her colleagues and has shaped every success of her career? As assistant speech coach, I can remember watching Laureen’s long hours of practice and am, consequently not surprised with her present status and stature. The following question and answer ses‐ sion will help acquaint you with one of J.P Morgan’s true assets. Mrs. Laureen Costa, Class of ‘86

What is your favorite Serra Catholic memory? Hanging out with my friends in the cafeteria. I have so many happy memories, but being with my friends laughing in the cafeteria was the first thing that popped into my head and is such a strong memory. Other fond memories include Mr Mamajack coaching us in powder puﬀ foot‐ ball, rehearsals for the various school musicals, going to speech (forensics) tournaments, cheer‐ leading, prom.

Miss Sinclair. I spent a lot of time with Miss Lloyd (Mrs McManus) and Mr. S for our speech team. They helped hone my writing and speaking skills. Mrs. Wise and Miss Sinclair were favorite teach‐ ers because I loved math – and working in fi‐ nance today, some of their influence certainly impacted why I chose this profession.

What made you decide to pursue a career in business? When I was applying to college, I thought What activities/clubs/sports did you partici‐ about majoring in engineering because of my pate in while you were in high school? Speech, cheerleading, math league, and mu‐ interest in math. However, my brother already was an engineer and he laughed when I suggest‐ sicals. ed it. He said I didn’t have the personality for it (I was too outgoing). I’m not sure this is fair to What was your favorite subject in high engineers, but it made me pause. I thought school? about other ways to use my math skills and dis‐ Math covered finance. How did your Serra Catholic education pre‐ Did you have any mentors as you made your pare you for college as well as becoming a way up the corporate ladder? Were men and portfolio manager for JP Morgan? women equally supportive/helpful? Being involved in the speech club and com‐ I never set out looking for a mentor, but peting in the forensics tournaments is the single plenty of people influenced me. For example, biggest advantage Serra gave me. I still use my manager at my first summer internship in those skills every day. But other classes also New York City wanted me to get the most out of heavily influenced me. For example, in our my experience – he made sure I visited art mu‐ Marriage class we learned about how the only thing we bring to a relationship is ourselves. So seums and ice cream stands, not just worked all day. He taught me how important my co‐ we should not try to change ourselves or our workers are to having a happy and successful partner because that is what is special. I career. My current colleagues are a motley thought about that lesson a lot through the group, but that’s what makes us special. We years and was fortunate to find my incredible can argue and disagree, but we can do it with husband. respect. We function well as a team because we Was there a Serra teacher or staﬀ member can challenge each other and not take disagree‐ who was instrumental in helping you ment personally. choose your career path or who made a pro‐ found impact in your life? (Continued on Page 27) Viv Lloyd McManus, Mr. S, Mrs. Wise, and

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(Costa Continued) As many know, college freshmen are indecisive about their majors and often are unsure what path to take in terms of profession, especially business majors since the field is quite broad. Did you know from the start that you wanted to focus on finance in college? How did you know/choose it and why? I thought about becoming an engineer. In addition to my brother not approving, I loved math but did not enjoy science. So I thought about being a math major, but the job options were too limited. I considered accounting, but it seemed too rote. I settled on economics, with a minor in math.

knowledge, my business school gave my resume to the pension fund at AT&T. They called me, I interviewed (not knowing what I was interviewing for) and the rest is history!

I understand that the business world requires stami‐ na and determination in order to achieve great ac‐ complishments; what advice and/or encouragement can you provide to current students who wish to pur‐ sue a career in the business world? Talk to a lot of people about what they do. I work at JPMorgan in the Asset Management division. But my job is very specialized – I invest in private equity, venture capital, and distressed debt. This is such a niche area. I have almost no exposure to other asset classes in Asset ManDid you always see yourself working in an interna‐ tionally recognized company? Were their any activi‐ agement. I have no exposure to JPMorgan’s investment bank or the Chase retail bank. There are so many options ties/ internships that helped you in securing your and positions for a career – talk to as many people as you present position at JP Morgan? I “fell” into this job, and 17 years later I am still doing it can. Additionally, keep an open mind. Even if you are not interested in finance, JPMorgan has a huge tech with people I like working with. After college, I worked group, a strategy group, marketing groups, art design, and for two years then went to Dartmouth to get my MBA. so on. You don’t have to love finance to work at JPM. When I graduated I was looking at positions in corporations that had treasury functions. Without my Finally, something near and deal to Laureen’s heart may be found on the Bucknell University website: The Edward Leptinsky Scholarship was established in 2011 by Michael J. and Laureen R. Costa, Bucknell classes of 1991 and 1990 respectively, With funding from the Houston Endowment, their intention is to honor Mr. Leptinsky who was first in his family to attend college and appreciated the importance of access to educational opportunities. The scholarship shall be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, with preference for students from Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, or Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

...Thanks to Highmark! Serra Catholic High School “Grows” Green! Serra Catholic has received a grant from the Highmark Foundation to establish a brand new greenhouse for students and the Serra community! Recently, with funds received in the first year of the grant, Serra partnered with members of the White Oak Rotary to create a healthier environment for students through the installation of a Fitness Trail which is now open to the entire community. Serra will continue to bring about healthy improvements by building an innovative greenhouse on our campus. If you are an experienced gardener willing to share your “green thumb,” your love of nature, and your knowledge, Serra would like to hear from you! This is a remarkable opportunity to support the students at Serra Catholic, while sharing your expertise and skills with the community. Please contact Christine DeLeonardis in the Development Oﬃce at (412) 751-2020 ext 132 or email deleonardisc@serrahs.org to get involved!

Check out Serra’s NEW Fitness Trail! Serra students enthusiastically use our new Fitness Trial equipment. What a wonderful way to have fun and get fit! When completed, the trail will have a total of 12 stations to work all the major muscle groups. Serra thanks the members of the White Oak Rotary, our own Interact students and Mr. Stapleton, and the Highmark Foundation for making this wonderful addition to our campus a reality.

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Serra Catholic High School 200 Hershey Drive McKeesport, PA 15132 Phone: 412-751-2020 Fax: 412-751-3488 E-mail: development@serrahs.org

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Want to Know More? For upcoming alumni events, important dates, or to rekindle a friendship with a former classmate, visit Serra online! www.serragrandreunion.com