SHC MAGAZINE SUMMER 2026

magazine SUMMER 2026

R O B OT I C S AT W O R L D S | C L A S S N OT E S | S P R I N G S P O RT S R E C A P | C L A S S O F 2 0 2 6

in this issue upcoming events J U N E - J U LY

CLASS OF 2026

SHC Summer Institute

AUGUST

18

ON CAMPUS

First Day of Classes

SEPTEMBER

18

Graduate Profiles College Acceptances Irish Factoids News & Notes Maddan's Corner Farewells

IN DEPTH

8

College Acceptances Map

FEATURES

16

SHC Robotics

SPORTING GREEN

20 24

Spring Sports Recap College-Bound Athletes

SHOWCASE

26

Student Artwork

ALUMNI NEWS

30 34

Class Notes

37 Annual Walkathon Polo Fields

OCTOBER

24

Open House

7

10 11

Distinguished Awards

12 13

th

NOVEMBER

2 4 6

Class of 1976 Gold Diploma & Gold Club Luncheon Sacred Heart Cathedral

11

Called To Serve Mass Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

sacred heart cathedral preparatory Enter to Learn; Leave to Serve Inspired by the Daughters of Charity and the De La Salle Christian Brothers, in partnership with families, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory’s mission is to provide the finest education in an inclusive Catholic community of faith.

We prepare our students to become service-oriented leaders with a commitment to living the Gospel.

Faculty Award Winners

Celebratory Giving

A Message from Dr. Skrade Every ending is a new beginning! In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we joined the world community in making HOPE our year-long theme at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The positive mission impact of Sacred Heart Cathedral community is not the work or achievement of individuals but instead, as Pope Francis reflected, it is the connections between us creating powerful outcomes. The end of our academic year is the time to pause and look back—and it was, indeed, a blessed year, one marked with accomplishments and transitions.

In the fall, the 36th Annual Walkathon in Golden Gate Park resulted in another record-setting amount of $315,000, demonstrating the SHC community’s commitment to the future of our students. We opened the state-of-the-art Abusharkh Family Sports Medicine Center, a space designed to provide the very best in care to our students and athletes. Care and concern is also matched with thanksgiving. In early November, we held the first-ever Called to Serve Mass to honor the first responders in our community at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Assumption, where we also honored Jerry Mahoney ’4 4 and his family.

In spring, a transformational shift was underway with the start of two campus projects that will enhance the student and community experience. The third-floor La Salle Building renovation, scheduled to open in the fall, will serve as a new student-centered environment that will nurture the needs of today’s and future generations of students. We broke ground on the Marchbank Park Field renovation in partnership with Daly City to create a one-of-a-kind multi-sport facility that will support our outdoor athletic teams and the surrounding community.

At this time of year, we also experience sadness and joy. Our faculty and staff play instrumental roles in the development of our students, and when they leave, it reverberates through the entire community. In these pages, we say goodbye and thanks to those who served the mission of Sacred Heart Cathedral and wish them luck on their journeys ahead. The Class of 2026, all of whom we supported for the past four years and have come to know their faces from wide-eyed 9th graders to ready-forthe-world 12th graders, leave SHC prepared to overcome obstacles, face challenges and, ultimately, reach their full potential as service-oriented leaders. We have faith that all will succeed in whatever passions and endeavors they choose to pursue.

We send our blessings to the Class of 2026. We look forward to the Class of 2030!

magazine OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Marcus Tolero ’98

Director of Communications

Mark Pardini ’88 Creative Director

Giselle Palacios-Delmundo ’94

Communications & Marketing Graphic Designer

Lucie Duffort

Communications & Marketing Associate

Thai Chu

Photography Manager

CONTRIBUTORS Victoria Ball ’16; Margi Beima; Thai Chu; Club Soda Productions; Lin Chi Doan ’27; Lucie Duffort; Mona Fowler; Brian Ong; Orange Photography; Heather Maddan ’95; Shawn McGuire ’05; Giselle Palacios-Delmundo ’94; Mark Pardini ’88; Prestige Photography; Charlie Strella ’19; Marcus Tolero ’98; Lauren Wild ’99

FRONT COVER:

Thai Chu

BACK COVER:

Thai Chu

Live Jesus in our Hearts, Forever.

Melinda Lawlor Skrade, PhD President

“Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn't lock itself into darkness, that doesn't dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens onto the future.”

(Pope Francis: The Future You, TED Talk, 2017)

SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL MAGAZINE is a publication of the SHC Office of Communications & Marketing and is published for alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students, investors, parents of alumni and friends.

SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY 1055 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 415.775.6626 • ocm@shcp.edu Do you receive more than one copy of the magazine?

Do you need another copy? Please contact the SHC Office of Advancement at advancement@shcp.edu or 415.775.6626 ext. 564.

ON CAMPUS

class of 2026

LOUIS A. MEYER ’55 GENERAL SCHOLASTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD Ishmael Bolls Zachary Chew Ryan Chow Braden Conte Killian Hourihan Kaitlyn Lam Morgan Lee Chelsea Leung Anna Lloyd Cody Luu Skylla McArthur Gianna Minella Simran Phojanakong Eleanor Prothro Lena Zhang This award, the most distinguished academic award that Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory bestows upon a graduating senior, is presented to students who maintain the highest cumulative grade point average throughout their high school careers. The award’s namesake selflessly served the school for five decades as a student, teacher and assistant principal for academics.

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SUMMER 2026

distinguished awards CARITAS AWARD Thomas Buskey This award is presented annually to the male graduate who has manifested caritas, exemplary Christian love, by giving generously of himself to others.

LEADERSHIP AWARD Josephine Kernisan LABOURÉ AWARD Katherine Worster This award is presented annually to the female graduate who has manifested caritas, exemplary Christian love, by giving generously of herself to others.

ROBERT WEST ’39 LOYALTY AND SERVICE AWARD Thomas Buskey Established by the West family, this award honors Robert D. West ’39, longtime Alumni Association volunteer. By vote of the graduating class, it is presented annually to the graduate who best exemplifies the spirit of loyalty and service to SHC.

BROTHER CONRAD AWARD FOR SCHOOL SPIRIT Charlotte Duncan This award—named in honor of a faculty member who devoted more than 50 years of service to this school—is presented annually to a graduating senior who has exemplified Brother Conrad’s spirit, devotion and commitment.

This award is presented to recognize a student who makes lasting contributions to student life and inspires the school community through leadership, integrity and commitment.

ON CAMPUS

class of 2026 CHARLOTTE DUNCAN Charlotte Duncan chose to stay in California and will attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, next fall. “It was my dream school. I love the academics and the fact that I get the opportunity to explore different majors and learn with the ocean right next to me.” During her time at SHC, she served as the Student Body Officer Spirit Commissioner, Irish for a Day Ambassador and a member of the Student Ambassador Leadership Team.

“I will miss the school spirit and the community I have found there. Our school has such a unique spirit from the chants, rallies, and dance team performances.”

CHELSEA LEUNG Chelsea Leung will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, next year and will major in biochemistry. She chose to attend UCLA because of the university’s environment and the hundreds of student organizations available to its students. Leung was an active member of SHC, where she served as Team Captain of the tennis team, Block Club Leader, President of the Women’s Empowerment Club and the Publicity Officer for the Student Council. “An important lesson I learned at SHC is how to be the bigger person,” Leung said. “Every interaction at SHC has made me a stronger individual, and I constantly think about how lucky I am to have a community I will miss so much.”

CORY WONG Cory Wong is heading to Southern California next fall and will attend Occidental College and compete for the Tigers’ Track & Field Team. Wong also received acceptances to UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and Cal State Fullerton. He competed for Fightin’ Irish on the basketball court and on the track. He was also a member of the Orchestra, Fishing Club and Finance Club.

Outside of SHC, he received a National Abacus Gold Rank. He said the most important lesson he learned at SHC was to treat everyone with kindness. “Each person has their own struggles, and in order to leave to serve, you must first enter to learn.”

VINCENT ROBINSON Vincent Robinson is heading across the bay to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he will major in electrical and computer engineering. “I selected this college because it felt like a dream to be accepted and attend. I really like Berkeley's school spirit and seemingly endless opportunities on and off campus,” he said. Robinson served as the Yearbook Editor in Chief, guitarist for instrumental music and was a California Scholarship Federation Scholar. He said he will miss the community at SHC and the support he received from his teachers and classmates. “I am most looking forward to the unique college experiences that will come in the years that follow,” Robinson said.

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SUMMER 2026

graduate profiles

BRANDON CONTE Brandon Conte will be staying in the Bay Area to attend Stanford University, where he will major in Political Science. He received acceptances to Duke, UC Berkeley, UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania, but he said, “I was drawn to Stanford’s innovative approach to solving the world’s problems. Along with incredible faculty, the political science department studies the politics of the future, not just the past.” Conte was the Student Body President, Speech & Debate Co-Captain, Varsity Swim Team member and a De Paul Scholar. He also ranked 5th in the country in policy debate. “I’ll miss the little moments throughout the day: early morning study sessions, late-night FaceTime, and waving hi to a dozen people in passing periods,” he said. Conte looks forward to meeting all the inspiring and dedicated people from around the world while he is in college.

JOSEPHINE KERNISAN Josephine Kernisan will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, next year and will major in psychology with a minor in math. “I chose UCLA because of many things, including the amazing academic opportunities, professors and resources, but most of all because of how much the community reminded me of SHC.” Kernisan received acceptances from all around the country, including Syracuse, Villanova, and Rutgers. Kernisan was a Student Council SBO Spirit Commissioner, TEDxSHC Youth Speaker, Track & Field member and a Block Club member. “At SHC, I learned how important it is to be an active member in my community. The school has pushed all of us to get involved in the SHC community as well as the greater San Francisco community,” Kernisan said. She plans to travel with friends to Europe during the summer before attending UCLA.

SARA HWANG Sara Hwang will be attending the University of California, Berkeley, next fall. “I loved the location, various majors, and the number of Nobel Laureates who teach there,” she said. Hwang was an active member of the community and served as Student Body Officer Vice President, Managing Editor of the Emerald and Co-Captain of Speech & Debate.

Hwang was also an intern at the UCSF Weill Neuroscience Lab for three years. “I will miss the community the most at SHC. Through Speech & Debate, Orchestra, Student Council and the Emerald, I have met so many like-minded, kind people who make my everyday so much better just by seeing them,” Hwang said. “Now that I’m in college, I can’t wait to see what intriguing and fun classes I will take next year.“

Valedictorian Cory Wong

Salutatorian Veronica Panina

ON CAMPUS

class of 2026: college acceptances 348 colleges across 47 states and the District of Columbia and 9 countries.

Creighton University  • Dalhousie University  • Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University • Alabama State University  • Allegheny College • American University • American University of Paris  • American University of Rome • Andrews University • Anglo-American University • Arizona State University  • Auburn University  • Barnard College • Bates College • Baylor University • Belmont University  • Bentley University  • Berry College Binghamton University • Boise State University  • Boston College Boston University  • Bowdoin College • Brandeis University Brown University • Bucknell University • Butler University California Lutheran University • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo  • California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona  • California State University, East Bay • California State University Maritime Academy • California State University, Bakersfield • California State University, Channel Islands • California State University, Chico  • California State University, Dominguez Hills  • California State University, Fresno  • California State University, Fullerton  California State University, Long Beach • California State University, Los Angeles • California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge  • California State University, Sacramento  • California State University, San Bernardino • California State University, San Marcos • California State University, Stanislaus • Carnegie Mellon University  Case Western Reserve University • Central Washington University • Chapman University  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science • Chinese University of Hong Kong  • Claremont McKenna College  Clark Atlanta University • Clark University • Clarkson University • Clemson University • Coastal Carolina University • Colby College  • College of Charleston  • Colorado College • Colorado Mesa University • Colorado School of Mines • Colorado State University  • Colorado State University Pueblo • Columbia College Chicago • Columbia University • Concordia University Irvine  • Connecticut College • Cornell University  •

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SUMMER 2026

Dartmouth College  • Delaware State University • DePaul University  • Dickinson College • Dillard University • Dominican University of California • Drexel University  • Duke Kunshan University  • Duke University  • Duquesne University • East Texas A&M University • Eastern Oregon University • Eckerd College • EDHEC Business School  • Elon University • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott • Emerson College • Emory University • Fashion Institute of Technology  • Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University • Florida Institute of Technology • Fordham University  • Fort Lewis College • Franklin & Marshall College  • George Washington University  • Georgetown University • Gettysburg College • Golden Gate University • Gonzaga University  • Grinnell College  • Hampton University • Harvard University  • Hawaii Pacific University  • Heriot-Watt University • Hofstra University • Hope International University • Howard University • Illinois Institute of Technology • Indiana University Bloomington  • International Christian University • Ithaca College • Jackson State University • James Madison University • John Cabot University • Kansas State University • Kent State University • Kenyon College • Kettering University • King's College London  • Lafayette College • Lane College Lehigh University • Lewis & Clark College • Lewis University  • Linfield University • Livingstone College • Louisiana State University • Loyola Marymount University  • Loyola University Chicago  • Loyola University New Orleans • Lynn University • Macalester College • Manhattan University • Marquette University  • Marymount University • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • McGill University  • Menlo College • Miami University • Michigan State University • Middle Tennessee State University • Montana State University • Montana State University Billings • Morgan State University • Mount Holyoke College • Mount Saint Mary's University • Muhlenberg College • New York University  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University  • North Carolina Central University • Northeastern University  • Northern Arizona University  • Northwestern University •

Nottingham Trent University • NYU Shanghai • Oberlin College • Occidental College  • Ohio University • Oregon State University  • Pace University  • Pacific Lutheran University • Pacific University • Paine College • Penn State Harrisburg • Penn State University Park • Pepperdine University • Pittsburg State University • Pitzer College  • Pomona College • Portland State University •

University of Illinois Chicago • University of Iowa • University of Kansas •

Pratt Institute • Purdue University • Queen Mary University of London •

University of Kentucky • University of La Verne • University of Leeds •

Queens University of Charlotte • Reed College • Regis College •

University of Maine • University of Manchester •

Regis University  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute •

University of Maryland, College Park • University of Massachusetts Amherst •

Rhode Island School of Design • Rice University •

University of Massachusetts Boston • University of Miami  •

Rochester Institute of Technology  • Rollins College • Rutgers University •

University of Michigan  • University of Minnesota Duluth •

Saint Louis University • Saint Martin's University •

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities  • University of Mississippi  •

Saint Mary’s College of California  • Samford University •

University of Montana • University of Nebraska-Lincoln •

San Diego State University  • San Francisco State University  •

University of Nevada, Las Vegas • University of Nevada, Reno  •

San Jose State University  • Santa Clara University  •

University of New Hampshire • University of New Hampshire •

Sarah Lawrence College  • Savannah College of Art and Design •

University of New Mexico • University of North Dakota  •

School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Scripps College •

University of North Texas • University of Northern Colorado •

Seattle Pacific University • Seattle University  • Seton Hall University •

University of Notre Dame  • University of Oklahoma  •

Simpson University  • SKEMA Business School-Paris • Smith College  •

University of Oregon  • University of Pennsylvania •

Sonoma State University  • Southern Methodist University  •

University of Pittsburgh • University of Portland  •

Southern University and A & M College •

University of Prince Edward Island • University of Puget Sound  •

St. John’s University • St. Lawrence University • Stanford University  •

University of Redlands • University of Rhode Island • University of San Diego •

State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry

University of San Francisco  • University of Southern California  •

Stevens Institute of Technology • Stony Brook University •

University of St Andrews • University of St. Thomas • University of Tampa •

Suffolk University • Syracuse University  • Temple University •

University of Tennessee • University of Texas at Arlington •

Temple University Japan • Texas Christian University • Texas State University •

University of Texas at Austin  • University of the Pacific  •

The New School  • The Ohio State University • Trinity College •

University of Toronto • University of Utah  • University of Vermont  •

Trinity College Dublin • Tufts University • Tulane University  •

University of Virginia • University of Washington  •

Tuskegee University  • Union College • Universiteit Leiden •

University of Wisconsin-Madison  • University of Wyoming •

Universiteit van Amsterdam  • University at Buffalo •

Ursinus College • Utah State University • Vassar College •

University College Dublin  • University College London •

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology • Villanova University •

University of Akron • University of Alabama  •

Virginia State University • Virginia Tech • Warren Wilson College •

University of Alabama in Huntsville • University of Arizona  •

Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies  •

University of Birmingham • University of Brighton •

Washington State University • Weber State University  •

University of British Columbia • University of California, Berkeley  •

Wellesley College • Wentworth Institute of Technology •

University of California, Davis  • University of California, Irvine  •

West Virginia University • Western Michigan University •

University of California, Los Angeles  • University of California, Merced •

Western Oregon University • Western Washington University •

University of California, Riverside  • University of California, San Diego  •

Westmont College • Wheaton College • Whitman College

University of California, Santa Barbara  •

Whittier College  • Willamette University •

University of California, Santa Cruz  • University of Chicago  •

Worcester Polytechnic Institute  • Xavier University •

University of Cincinnati • University of Colorado Boulder  •

Xavier University of Louisiana • Yale University

University of Colorado Colorado Springs • University of Colorado Denver •

 denotes matriculation

University of Connecticut • University of Dayton • University of Denver  • University of Edinburgh • University of Florida  • University of Glasgow • University of Hawaii at Manoa  • University of Hong Kong • University of Idaho • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign •

S A C R E D H E A R T C AT H E D R A L P R E PA R AT O RY M A G A Z I N E

7

IN-DEPTH

class of 2026 breakdown BRITISH COLUMBIA

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

U.C. BERKELEY STANFORD UNIVERSITY

UCLA CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE

XAVIER UNIVERSIT

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO

RICE UNIV

CLASS OF 2026 COLLEGE PLACEMENTS: ACCEPTED MATRICULATING

KINGS COLLEGE

HIGHLY-SELECTIVE PIRO SCHOLAR CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL The Class of 2026 was admitted to 348 colleges around the globe

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS

SMITH COLLEGE HARVARD UNIVERSITY BROWN UNIVERSITY YALE UNIVERSITY VASSAR COLLEGE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

TY

DUKE UNIVERSITY

TULANE UNIVERSITY

EMORY UNIVERSITY

WASEDA UNIVERSITY

VERSITY

CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

ON CAMPUS

irish factoids

Northern California Percussion Alliance Championships took place on April 11 in Stockton, California, at the Adventist Health Arena. The SHC Drumline captured 3rd place in the Percussion Scholastic Concert A division.

Congratulations to these amazing musicians.

Emerald Students visited City Hall in late April for a unique San Francisco high school press forum. Brandon Meis ’27, Siena Larkin ’27, Viveka Seevers ’27 and students from high schools around San Francisco had the opportunity to meet City leaders to ask questions about public transportation, safety and education.

World-renowned artist, David Garibaldi, wowed community members and friends at a special April President’s Luncheon held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.

Garibaldi’s SHC-mission-inspired painting will soon adorn an SHC wall.

The Inquiry & Innovation (i2) Showcase took place on Campus on April 27. Students in the i2 program had an opportunity to present their ideas that integrate STEM, liberal arts and service. We are proud of all of our students who use their talents to create positive change in the world.

Fifteen student writers and photographers will be recognized in DePaul University's Blue Book: Best American High School Writing 2026. These pieces originally appeared in SHC’s Oracle. Published students include Walter Sutton ’28, Vincent Robinson ’26, Valentino Vitolo-Giorni ’26, Julian Coleman ’26, Aurora Chen ’25, and Benji Shoemaker ’25.

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SUMMER 2026

news, notes, etc.

Kate Nakano Named Head Girls Basketball Coach Sacred Heart Cathedral announced the appointment of Kate (Kiki) Nakano as the new Head Girls Basketball Coach.

Nakano comes to SHC from University High School, where she has served as an Assistant Varsity Coach since 2025.

She helped lead University to a Bay Conference Championship and an overall record of 18-11. As the Offensive Coordinator, she played an integral role in the team’s offensive strategy and directed scouting operations, including opponent analysis.

“Throughout my career, I have focused on building competitive, disciplined, and relationship-centered programs that empower young women to grow as leaders both on and off the court. I am eager to contribute to the continued success of SHC Athletics,” she said.

Before University, she was a Basketball Coach at Pinewood School in Los Altos, where she helped capture five WBAL championships and a CCS Open Division Championship and multiple appearances on MaxPreps’ Top 10 in California.

“Grounded by our mission, this appointment, along with our recent head coaching hires in football and basketball, is not only an investment in the continued development of our student-athletes but also an investment in SHC as a premier high school athletic program in the San Francisco Bay Area,” President Melinda Lawlor Skrade said.

Fr. Jerald Geronimo ’11 Becomes First Filipino-American Chaplain for Sheriff’s Department Father Jerald Geronimo ’11 was recently sworn in as chaplain for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office in February, becoming the first Filipino-American Catholic priest chaplain for the Sheriff’s Department in its 176-year history. “I’m deeply honored to bring the presence of Christ into the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department—to stand in solidarity with those who serve our city and remind them that their courage and daily sacrifices are seen by God,” he said.

Growing up, he attended Sunday Mass with his parents at St. Andrew’s Church and was an alumnus of Holy Angels Grammar School in Colma. His calling persisted through his years at Sacred Heart Cathedral, where he served as an altar server. A powerful memory for Geronimo was witnessing joy and peace on the faces of newly ordained priests. Daily prayer also became central to his formation. “Instead of waiting outside for my grandfather after school, I would go into the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption and kneel in front of the tabernacle to pray,” he recalled. “That turned into a daily prayer experience that lasted throughout high school. By the time I graduated, I knew the Lord was calling me to be a priest.”

MADDAN’S CORNER Growing up in a culinary destination has delicious perks.

San Francisco is the land of farm-to-table, food trucks, fast-casual, mom-and-pop restaurants, old-school institutions and Michelin-star fine dining. Students have an appetite for viral trends and braving long lines to try the latest craze first.

Beyond its cafeteria, SHC has a world of flavors within walking distance. Sam’s Donuts in the Tenderloin douses fried dough in sugary glaze. Minnie Bell’s in the Fillmore serves up rosemary chicken and mac and cheese. Japantown is famous for its tonkotsu ramen and handmade udon. On Sutter Street, Limoncello Italian deli wraps up Goodfella and Calabrese sandwiches.

This town has thousands of purveyors to satisfy taste buds. Teenagers can check menus, ratings, and post reviews on locally grown Yelp. Celebrity sightings — recently Adam Sandler at Original Joe’s, Zendaya at Pasta Supply Co. and Pharrell Williams at San Tung — also drive diners. Foodfluencers from former Golden State Warrior Festus Ezeli (@festusfeasts) to Allie Tong (@Allieeats) to Mayor Daniel Lurie (@danielluriesf) pepper their TikTok and Instagram feeds with the latest and greatest in current eats. Are the chicken Caesar wrap at Mama’s Luncheonette or the lacy edges of Maillards Smash Burgers worth the hype?

Kane Fernandez ’28 prefers a cheeseburger at In-NOut. The perk of his family owning a restaurant, The Little Chihuahua? Free food, particularly the carne asada tacos. TLC has four locations including one at SFO. Jaden Lee ’28, of Cafe Bunn Mi, known for their crispy duck sandwiches, agrees. “And I'm able to help my parents work,” he said. They have a second location in South San Francisco.

From savory to sweet — what is the best bite in this city? “The King Henry VIII Cut from House of Prime Rib,” said Lee. Charlie Lyons ’27 chooses the chocolate croissant from Arsicault Bakery.

Heather Maddan-Dowdell ’95 is a fifth-generation San Franciscan. She met her husband, Dan, at a high school party. They have three children — Sicily ’22, Asher ’25, and Jackson ’28.

ON CAMPUS

Year-End Faculty Awards LASALLIAN EDUCATOR: TIV CUMBERBATCH The Lasallian Educator Award is presented annually to an exemplary educator whose work is a sign of faith to all who model the Lasallian charism by touching the hearts and inspiring the minds of students entrusted to his or her care.

Director of Instrumental Music and Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair, Tiv Cumberbatch, joined Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2019. Since his arrival, Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Instrumental Music program has become a shining beacon of excellence and has set the standard for high school instrumental music in the Bay Area.

From school masses and concerts to half-time performances at the Chase Center and Kezar Stadium, Tiv can be seen leading his students to achieve a level of performance akin to professional musicians.

“He holds students to a high level of expectation, and supports them in meeting this expectation with love, care, joy and depths of relationships,” said a colleague.

“Mr. Cumberbatch’s leadership has transformed our music program into a model of creativity, discipline, and Lasallian-Vincentian educational values,” another colleague said.

The most rewarding part of his job is not the performances. It’s the light-bulb moment. “Seeing the look on the kids’ faces when they actually get it—the light bulb moment—there’s nothing like it,” Cumberbatch said.

Congratulations to Tiv Cumberbatch, this year’s Lasallian Educator Awardee.

Tiv Cumberbatch

VINCENTIAN SERVICE AWARD: KIM FREUDENBERG The Vincentian Service Award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member whose work is inspired by the Charity of Christ and who models the Vincentian charism by ministering with compassion, mildness, cordiality, respect and devotion.

Instructor of Science Kim Freudenberg arrived at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2012, and ever since, she continues to demonstrate an unwavering dedication and commitment to her students and their well-being. “This person has done so many things to benefit others that are never spoken of or mentioned. They have never sought any kind of star status, but have always placed themselves and their talents at the disposal of others in and out of the classroom,” said a colleague.

Few truly realize the far-reaching impact Freudenberg has had on the SHC community.

Quietly and without fanfare, she has played a pivotal role in enabling students from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend SHC and flourish. Beyond the boundaries of her professional duties, she has transformed lives, embodying the very spirit and vision of the school’s Founders. The work she has done in Health Classes, service retreats, parent association presentations and in national media to address the problems of youth gambling is a testament to her desire to serve her community.

Congratulations to Kim Freudenberg, this year’s Vincentian Service Awardee.

Kim Freudenberg

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SUMMER 2026

farewells At the close of this academic year, SHC bids farewell to a host of its most beloved faculty and staff members. We acknowledge the following individuals for their many combined years serving Sacred Heart Cathedral and impacting generations of Fightin’ Irish.

BOARD OF REGENTS CHIKARA ABE Chikara Abe, Instructor of Japanese, has officially announced his retirement from teaching, marking the conclusion of an exceptional 26-year tenure at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Throughout more than two decades of service, Abe served as a cornerstone of the school’s World Languages department, dedicating his career to nurturing and expanding the institution's Japanese program.

William D. Rauch, JD Board Chair Miguel Guzman ’91 Board Vice-Chair Kase Abusharkh ’00 Sr. Adella Armentrout, DC Kevin Buckley ’13 Courtney Chin ’03 Br. V. Kenneth, FSC

When Abe first arrived at SHC, the Japanese language program was in its infancy—a “newborn baby,” as he Chikara Abe fondly describes it. Through years of unwavering dedication, patience and affection, he guided the curriculum through its natural growing pains. Under his steady stewardship, the program matured into a robust department, leaving a lasting academic footprint on the community and providing generations of students with vital language skills.

Carol Wicklund Enright

For Abe, the journey was defined as much by personal connections as it was by professional milestones. He started his teaching journey at SHC in the exact same year, 2000, as his close colleague, Martha Melara (see page 34).

Monica Kelly ’06

As he steps away from the classroom, Abe acknowledges that moving on to the next chapter of life brings a natural sense of uncertainty. However, he meets the future with genuine excitement for the new stages of life that lie ahead. The entire SHC community extends its deepest gratitude to Chikara Abe for 26 years of fun, fulfillment and invaluable education.

Sister Frances Meyer, DC

Stefan Gartrell ‘02 Sandra Gulli Francois Hechinger Daniel J. Holland ’79 Janet Holland ’77 William Krueger Thomas P. Mazzucco ’78 Joey Nevin ’01 Margaret O’Driscoll Jeffrey Porter ’72

“The past 26 years have been wonderful. I really appreciate my colleagues. Thank you so much,“ he said.

James Ryan, Jr.

Domo arigato, Abe-sensei, and sayonara.

Ed Wang ’90

Stacie Solt, MD ’99 Harold Wong ’77

THOMAS FARRELL

Tom Farrell

Tom Farrell, School Counselor, began his distinguished career in education at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1989.

Attracted by the school’s co-educational, community-driven environment, Farrell initially served as a science teacher before spending over two decades balancing teaching with academic counseling. In 2018, he transitioned into counseling full-time, dedicating his days to meeting one-on-one with students to support their academic journeys, co-curricular interests, and overall mental health.

Throughout his tenure, Farrell has been a pillar of support, executing a comprehensive three-tiered counseling model. From routine academic check-ins to interventions, he ensured every student feels deeply “seen” and supported. He took immense pride in providing quick, helpful guidance,

EX-OFFICIO Melinda Lawlor Skrade, PhD President Gary Cannon, EdD Principal John Gumina ’91 VP for Advancement, Communications & Enrollment Shani Mahany VP of Finance & Business Operations John M. Vigo ’81 Director of Stewardship & Future Giving

ON CAMPUS

farewells (cont.)

considering the simple act of answering student questions to be the most rewarding aspect of his daily work.

As he prepares for his retirement, Farrell leaves behind a legacy defined by an unwavering dedication to his students and the school’s Lasallian and Vincentian mission.

While he will deeply miss the vibrant SHC community, his post-retirement plans reflect his continuous commitment to service. He intends to expand his volunteer work, bringing Holy Communion to a local senior living facility and the Santa Clara County Jail.

Alongside this meaningful service, he looks forward to traveling during the spring and fall seasons and enjoying his favorite morning ritual: solving crossword puzzles over a fresh cup of coffee. His last words to current staff and faculty and those who will be joining SHC in the future, “SHC is very much a community. I hope you will fully embrace the community as I have tried to do.”

CHRISTOPHER GREEN Christopher Green, a dedicated Instructor of American Sign Language, joined the Sacred Heart Cathedral community in 2010. With a passion for teaching and a deep commitment to student growth, Christopher has spent over a decade inspiring a love of language and communication in his students. His journey to Sacred Heart Cathedral began with a Bachelor of General Studies in Liberal Arts from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne, a foundation that nurtured his broad perspective and appreciation for lifelong learning.

Christopher Green

A colleague said, “Chris, your friendliness and joy toward life and teaching have always inspired. Thank you for inviting our community into the world of sign language. We are better for it. Your work will live on at SHC.” As he retires, Christopher leaves a legacy of dedication, kindness and advocacy for accessible education. The SHC community is grateful for his years of service and the profound impact he has had on students and colleagues alike. We wish him a joyful and fulfilling retirement.

“I hope I am remembered for helping build the ASL program and for inspiring students to learn in an authentic way,” Green said.

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JULIA RINALDI Julia Rinaldi, Instructor of Theology and Instructor of Health, leaves Sacred Heart Cathedral after serving the community for nearly 30 years.

Since 1998, she Julia Rinaldi has guided and connected with countless students inside and outside of the classroom, helping them reach their full potential in academics and faith. She’s held numerous roles at SHC, including Health Instructor, Campus Minister, Theology Instructor and Service Learning Coordinator.

She also planned many student and faculty & staff retreats, creating an environment of faith, mindfulness and reflection.

A recipient of the Vincentian Service Award, Rinaldi also played an instrumental role in partnering with the San Francisco SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy Program to bring certified therapy dogs to campus to help lower student stress, particularly during high-pressure times like finals week.

Antoine Evans

Jorell Chavez

RICH SANSOE ’71 When Richard Sansoe attended Sacred Heart, it was a very different place. “It was the Wild West around here,” he says. He grew with it, taking one of the first mixed-gender classes as a junior, returning in 1981 to coach varsity Football and Track & Field, teaching English before moving into full-time Social Studies. He saw Sacred Heart merge with Cathedral, a softening in teaching methods and fight songs and experienced the shift to Bring Your Own Device and digital learning. He designed and taught four history electives (Civil War, Vietnam, Homefront and Modern AmerRich Sansoe ’71 ica), guided countless students to success on AP tests, and has welcomed children of colleagues and the children of his own former students into his classroom. Colleagues say he pushed students to never settle for mediocrity and always told them they could do better. He put students first, with tough love and care.

Annika Daley ’15

Katie Esling ’09

Now, after an even 50 years of teaching, the legendary straight-talking storytelling social studies teacher is retiring. “And if it weren't for these knees,” he says, “I’d probably keep going.”

Sansoe didn’t expect to go into education. Though he has a deep passion and encyclopedic memory for history in all its colors and anecdotes, he doesn’t consider himself to be a scholar. It took an ultimatum from his father and a round working in his uncle’s steel company—coincidentally on the same steel that would build the foundation of the Cathedral itself— to change his mind and his approach to education. He thinks it’s an important lesson for today’s students. “You’d better learn how to hit the ground,” he says. “You don’t hit the ground; you can’t get up. Churchill said it best, ‘Failure is not complete… You have to learn how to advocate for yourself, and you have to learn how to serve yourself.’”

He reminds teachers to look beyond numeric measures of success. “You can’t lose sight of (students’) basic humanity. They’re kids, but they’re people. Sometimes we forget that. And they’re closer to adulthood than they are to hopscotch. We have to treat them like that.”

Tenaya Fortrell

Fidel Pugh

Even after 50 years, retirement feels like it has come quickly. “It’s like the hourglass.

You know, the last grains are the ones that seem to fall out quicker. But I’ve had a nice ride. If there’s one thing that I'm proud of, I think I was very accessible and very much a student’s teacher. We’re not robots... I like that connection. I’m gonna miss that very much.”

Hector Rosales

Willem Simpson ’13

Caesar Smith ’98

Jason Zachos

FEATURES

take on the world SHC ROBOTICS STEPS INTO THE RING

By Lucie Duffort

T

he 2026 FIRST Robotics World Championship was held in Houston, Texas, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Fifty thousand attendees were present, representing 66 countries.

Nineteen thousand students competed, split into 1,055 teams, 600 of them high school teams. Every high school in San Francisco competed for a spot in this competition. Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory’s Green Machine Robotics Team was the only rookie team from Northern California to earn an invitation.

FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. It is a nonprofit organization that runs competitions for team-based K-12 robotics programs involving challenges that require building robots to perform a task, such as collecting and throwing yellow balls for points at a target. It is the largest and most prestigious high school robotics competition currently in existence.

For SHC Robotics to gain access, they had to build a robot, participate in district-level events, advance to the state championship and win the rookie all-star award for Northern California.

“Every year the competition is completely different in terms of how the game is played,” explains Instructor of Science and Robotics Moderator James Robertson. “The contest details were announced this year on January 10. Teams had roughly six weeks to build their robots before the competitions began. Teams participated in two district-level events, and they can sign up for a variety of locations. We chose the San Francisco event hosted by Saint Ignatius (SI), and one in Contra Costa.”

“There are a few things that do not change, and that includes the size of the arena, and that each round, three high schools form an alliance and battle against three other schools. The first 20 seconds are fully auton-

16

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omous and require the robots to score points using only sensor feedback. After this period, the teams have another two minutes and 40 seconds to drive the robot partially assisted by smart sensors.”

“The events always take place over several days.

Teams arrive and set up their work pits, test the robots and take the robots for inspection. The next day, you have about 10 hours of qualifying matches, where three teams are randomly chosen to go against three other teams. You might have an alliance with a team that you go against in the next round. The next day, teams continue to participate in qualifying matches.

The top eight teams out of 40 then select their alliances, and the eight alliances battle for the winning spot,” Robertson said. “Along with all this, there are panels of judges walking through and interviewing the kids about their robot, the team, and their outreach efforts.”

Attention to detail

At the district competition hosted at SI, our Robotics Team won the Rookie All-Star award, guaranteeing access to the state championship.

At the Contra Costa competition, they were awarded the rarely given Judges Award. They won again at State, competing against all of Northern California’s rookie all-stars, many with budgets and equipment that far surpassed our own, a robotics program that Robertson has been revitalizing in the four years since he arrived at SHC. Robertson teaches two engineering courses: Making, Hacking & Tinkering- an introduction to engineering and autonomous robotics, and a morning Robotics class focused on competition. The courses have evolved over the last four years, and this year there were two competition courses: one taught by Robertson and another led by new Instructor of Math, August Oppenheimer, which focused on the Pioneers in Engineering (PiE) Robotics Competition at UC Berkeley. Students of any level can join, and many find a love of engineering, develop new skills and gain a perspective on the breadth of needs for engineering and innovation.

Linh Chi Doan ’27, who will be president of next year’s FIRST team, said, “I had first joined robotics when I was in Mr. Robertson’s physics class as a freshman. During my sophomore year, we began participating in the (PiE) Robotics Competition, and that was when I began to love robotics. Even though I didn’t know much about engineering, everyone was willing to help and teach me what they knew. By the end of that competition, we had won the Best Mechanical

Crowds thronged to this year's competition

Design Award and were extremely excited to keep on building up a bigger robotics legacy. In 2026, we took a huge leap by participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Since I had already been on the robotics team for two years by then, I was able to work on a bit of the mechanical side, building the chassis for the robot. Although I had remained captain and lead mechanical in the PiE competition, I became lead outreach for the FRC team, organizing STEM workshops for community outreach and planning cleanups for the team to attend.

FRC was the next step in growing the robotics community at SHC, and the community and support that I have found through it have been invaluable to my high school journey.”

Community outreach is a central part of the FIRST competition, and one that aligns beautifully with SHC’s Lasallian Vincentian values.

“FIRST requires teams to engage in a variety of outreach efforts, and we have conducted multiple community cleanups, STEM workshops and robotics demos,” notes Robertson. Doan founded the “First Inventors” program, an

Game faces on

organization that enables members of the robotics team to volunteer, host workshops at local elementary and middle schools as well as libraries and provide mentorship to young students in STEM. The Robotics team believes that education should be a right, not a privilege and has prioritized

FEATURES

underserved students in neighborhoods, beginning with the Tenderloin, to spread their knowledge, and hopefully ignite an interest in engineering. In their experience, simple exposure is often enough, and there are many pathways to access.

Isabel Lapena ’26 uncovered a love for engineering when she had to pivot from other activities on campus and discovered the SHC Robotics Team.

She quickly developed skills and experienced an unexpected passion. “After stopping soccer due to an injury, I found myself with a lot of free time last year and casually joined the internal robotics competition. From there, I became the Lead Project Manager of the SHC Robotics Team, overseeing documentation, the engineering portfolio and game strategy.

Although my robotics journey started casually, I stayed because I found a really strong and welcoming community as well as a new activity to push me out of my comfort zone.”

The battle is joined

The engineering portfolio Lapena mentions is another requirement for presentation at FIRST and represents an enormous amount of collaborative record work—a 56-page document that outlines and summarizes all aspects of the team’s work. It includes an introduction of the team and their mentors, summaries of their outreach, plans, challenges and solutions, mechanical and electrical specificities around their robot, as well as information about coding and programming and specific preparation for the world event. Members of the student team were assigned sections to write, but Lapena herself edited the full document. Heading to Cal Poly for Art & Design in the Fall, she credits her experience with the competition for not only giving her technical knowledge and training but fine-tuning her communication, organization and leadership skills. Her experience speaks to the wide-reaching skills that this competition and SHC Robotics can provide.

Robertson gushes about Lapena and all of his students. This is unsurprising considering the amount of time and care he puts into the program. He prioritizes learning above all else, believing in students taking on leadership roles and learning from successes and failures. “The kids are so impressive in their leadership and have developed a deep understanding of their area. They understand that each person has an area of expertise, and students know who to consult with questions,” he said.

Each decision about the design of the robot, the focus on tasks and use of materials, the build and every aspect of the management of the robot goes to the student team. Robertson has one vote, just like each of the students. Students own the process and the outcome.

It can be difficult for a layperson to understand the expansive work required for this competition. Robertson estimates that his student team leads have put in 550-600 hours each outside of the school day. “This is a very intense experience with moments of lack of sleep and too many energy drinks and pizza dinners.”

In addition to late nights and pepperoni, competing in the World arena brought a sense of perspective and possibility to students. Ryan Fogerty ’26 said, “The first thing that comes to mind is the sheer scale of the FIRST Robotics Competition. I have never been involved in an organization this large or seen robots this large. FRC has scale in two ways: the actual robots are huge (100 lbs is normal), and FRC itself is a global organization.

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Behind the scenes teamwork

When we were at the championship, we were directly across from a team from the UK, and we played with teams from Israel. Politics aside, it was so cool to talk to people from other countries.”

Exchanging with teams from all over the world enables students to overcome differences, to exchange perspectives, and to understand the excitement of working towards a common goal, even in competition. Though technically competing, teams approached, admired and learned from each other. Many SHC students highlighted the fact that more experienced teams came to see them to offer their rookies a helping hand with on-the-spot mechanical concepts, coding challenges and more.

In fact, because they were newcomers to FIRST, SHC’s Robotics Team benefited from quite a bit of support from other schools. Former SHC Mathematics Instructor and Assistant Director of Studies Brian Murphy, currently Robotic Mentor at SI, reached out to provide guidance,

share mentorship and lab tours. Because our team was new, it didn’t have backstock of material from past competitions, which could have derailed their efforts. Murphy facilitated the lending of essential equipment, including Limelight cameras that would function with SHC Robotics’ operating system in order to enable robot movement and targeting. Receiving support and encouragement from a rival school is a wonderful model and lesson for our students.

The world’s competition wrapped up on May 2. SHC Robotics took an admirable 2nd in the Rookie All-Star race. After grueling nights and high levels of adrenaline, they had to return to school with two weeks left to finish the year.

electronics, soldering stations and carefully packed tech gear, in addition to fairy lights, encouraging signs, and student creations hung just out of reach—will include more fabrication tools, a laser cutter and a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine to work with raw materials. With this year’s successes under their belts, they will apply for more grants for their projects.

Robotics is well-positioned to thrive, grow and continue to make the SHC community proud.

Many were reeling from the experience, but virtually all of those interviewed expressed a desire to continue to pursue engineering or engineering-related fields. Recently graduated seniors are attending UCLA, Stanford, Cal Poly, and Santa Clara University, among others, and they are majoring in Computer Science, Engineering, Art & Design. There is a sense of camaraderie and partnership in learning that lasts beyond the competition.

Cillian Bermingham ’26 notes that, though he has personally been involved with Robotics since his freshman year, this competition was an important moment in his high school career. “One of my big hopes was that we would enter FRC before I left the school. I love how professional everything is with the event itself and the other teams competing. Everything appears well managed and well mannered.” He recognizes how this type of competition could affect him down the line: “I believe that being able to connect with people I met over FRC will prove incredibly useful. I also hope to come back at some point to mentor our school’s team.”

Whiteboarding solutions is part of the process

There will be much for Bermingham, other returning students, and adult mentors to do in the years to come. Robertson will be expanding Robotics courses next year to include two levels for experienced students. The club will sponsor a joint team with De Marillac Academy and another with the Chinese Immersion Academy. Robertson hopes to expand materials to include back-stock and enable preparation and troubleshooting. The robotics lab—a workspace in the Student Life Center equipped with

2025-26 SHC Robotics Team

The humble beginnings of the SHC Robotics Lab

19

SPORTING GREEN

SPRING SPORTS

RECAP

By Charlie Strella ’19 boys GOLF The Irish boys golf team competed throughout the WCAL season and highlighted the year with a league victory over Riordan. The team also traveled to the prestigious Monterey Classic, where it finished 27th overall against strong competition from across California. Ryan Butler ’26 played a solid round in Monterey, shooting a 77, which was good for 57th.

He earned a WCAL Honorable Mention for his standout year. Bobby Nelson ’27 also finished the year strong, earning a

Lucas Fung ’26

Jacob Vines ’26 dealing from the bump

BASEBALL The Sacred Heart Cathedral baseball team put together a competitive spring season, finishing 12-16 overall. SHC earned the No. 4 seed in the CCS Division II playoffs and hosted Archbishop Mitty in the opening round, falling in a tightly contested 4-2 game. The Irish also had several student-athletes sign with colleges to continue their baseball careers. Jacob Vines ’26 signed with the University of the Pacific; Alexei Tioupine ’26 and Max Matthews ’26 signed with Puget Sound; and Max Nylander ’26 signed with Whittier. Vines capped off a standout senior season by earning All-WCAL 1st Team honors, while Cooper Rogers Lewis ’26 was named to All-WCAL 2nd Team. Johnny Nepomuceno ’26 and Chase Deninger ’26 also received WCAL Honorable Mention recognition.

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SUMMER 2026

All’s good with Jackson Jeung ’27

Chasin Deninger ’26 goes yard Sean Butler ’26 and teammates

CCS qualification spot after shooting a 76 at the WCAL Tournament. The season provided valuable experience for Sacred Heart Cathedral's golfers as they continued to develop and compete against some of the top programs in Northern California.

boys LACROSSE The SHC boys lacrosse team continued to make program history during the 2026 season. The Irish finished 6-11 overall and posted an impressive record outside league play with wins over Riordan, Dougherty Valley, Sonoma Academy, Hillsdale and College Park. Their lone WCAL win came against Mitty. SHC has achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the CCS playoffs for the first time in the program's sixyear history. Entering the section playoffs as the No. 6 seed, the Irish fell to Live Oak in the first round. Midfielder Jackson Perkins ’27 received All-WCAL 1st Team honors for his outstanding performance throughout the year. Marq McLean ’27, Mateo Norris ’27, Ian Wellbeloved ’27 and Erwan Blanc-Paques ’27 also received Honorable Mention recognition. The team hopes to build on its first postseason qualification and looks forward to making postseason appearances the new norm for the program.

Jackson Perkins ’27

Lucas Esposto ’26 probing the defense

Bonnie Hatch ’28 surveying the field

girls LACROSSE

Mavis Slagle ’28 battling for position

The girls lacrosse team embraced a new challenge this spring after moving up to the middle tier Foothill Division of the WBAL following last year's Alpine Division championship season. Sacred Heart Cathedral picked up victories over Urban, Bentley and league opponent Sequoia while continuing to compete and grow against stronger competition throughout the year.

The Fightin’ Irish gained valuable experience in one of the more competitive leagues while continuing to build the program's foundation. All-league honors include Mavis Slagle ’28 (All-WBAL 1st Team), Margaret Manuel ’27 (All-WBAL 2nd Team) and Simone Myers ’27 and Chelsea Blair ’26 received Honorable Mention.

S A C R E D H E A R T C AT H E D R A L P R E PA R AT O RY M A G A Z I N E

21

SPORTING GREEN

SOFTBALL The Fightin’ Irish softball team showcased an impressive offense throughout the spring season.

Sacred Heart Cathedral recorded victories over Lincoln, Lowell and Urban, including a 23-run output against Lincoln, a 21-run performance against Lowell and a 20-0 victory over Urban. Francesca Moralejo ’27 led the Irish offensively, delivering a standout season with home runs, 31 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Pitcher Kaylen Edora ’27 earned AllWCAL 1st Team honors for her work in the circle, while Moralejo and Lynn Wheeler ’29 were named to the All-WCAL 2nd Team. Delilah Sampior ’27 also earned WCAL Honorable Mention recognition.

SHC 200 meter relay team

SWIMMING Sacred Heart Cathedral swimming put together another strong year, highlighted by several CCS qualifiers and school-record performances. The girls' 200 medley relay team of Ryland Pugh ’28, Isabella Devlin ’27, Berlyn Ring ’27 and Maggie Crehan ’27 qualified for CCS, setting an SHC school record with a time of 3:51.03. Ring also had a standout season, individually qualifying for CCS in both the 50m and 100m freestyle, finishing 34th overall in the 50m freestyle. On the boys' side, Konstantin Kornach ’26 continued to set SHC records, lowering his own school record in the 200m freestyle while also competing in the 100m butterfly at CCS. The Irish showcased the program's impressive depth in the pool, building significant momentum for future seasons.

Dylan John Pacubus ’26

Kingsly Lin ’29 coming up for air

boys TENNIS Kaylen Edora ’27

The SHC boys’ tennis team posted a much-improved record of 8-13 in the 2026 campaign. The Fightin’ Irish earned both of their WCAL victories against Riordan and enjoyed a strong showing at the California Tennis Classic in Fresno, where the program dominated its division with four wins.

Adrian Balsam ’26 was recognized for his strong season with WCAL Honorable Mention honors. With continued development and experience, the Irish took positive steps forward as a program.

Lucas Kwan ’27

Gianna Minella '26 watching it into her glove

Rowan Davin ’27

22

SUMMER 2026

TRACK & FIELD The Sacred Heart Cathedral track and field program delivered another impressive spring season filled with CCS qualifiers, school records and collegiate signings. The Irish qualified several athletes for CCS, including the girls' 4x800 relay team of Veronica Panina ’26, Annabel Chung ’28, Annalisa Covucci ’28 and Maya Pfalzer ’27, the girls' 4x100m relay, Ava Linder ’28 in the 200 and 400, Annalee Nist ’29 in the 400, the girls' 4x400 relay, and Will Lofberg ’27 in the discus. Linder and Nist advanced to CCS Finals in the 400, joined by both girls' relay teams. At WCAL Finals, the 4x800 relay placed second and set a school record with a time of 9:30.32. Linder also set SHC school records in the 100, 200, and 400 on her way to qualifying for the CIF State meet in the 400. Sacred Heart Cathedral also celebrated four seniors continuing their athletic careers: Michael Burns ’26 at Franklin and Marshall, Tessa Wehrle ’26 at Claremont McKenna and Kaitlyn Lam ’26 and Cory Wong ’26 at Occidental.

GET IRISH Eye of the tiger: Josie Kernisan ’26

boys VOLLEYBALL The Fightin’ Irish boys' volleyball team Harrison Van ’27 & Cory Wong ’26 had a solid season, capped off with a CCS postseason berth. SHC secured the No. 3 seed in Division II and hosted matches against Pacific Collegiate and Monterey, sweeping both to advance to the semifinals. Even though the Irish faced a tough loss in their semifinal match against Santa Cruz, the program had a fantastic season overall.

Setter Dylan Yee ’26 was recognized with All-WCAL 2nd Team honors for his exceptional playmaking, while outside hitter Miles Rafloski ’26 received an Honorable Mention from the WCAL.

SHOP NEW SHC APPAREL & MERCHANDISE AT

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Lewis Fannon ’27 goes sky high

Massive block

SPORTING GREEN

college-bound ATHLETES Throughout their time at SHC, the student-athletes of the Class of 2026 have seen one CIF state title, two Northern California titles, one WBAL title and eight CCS titles, and set several school and league records during their four years in green, white and blue. Many will go on to compete in new colors in college, but they’ll always be Fightin’ Irish.

MICHAEL BURNS Franklin and Marshall (Cross Country)

M A X M AT T H E W S Puget Sound (Baseball) MADI MULLINS North Carolina A&T (Volleyball) MAX NYLANDER Whittier (Baseball) T Y J A S TA R K S Alabama State (Football)

K A I T LY N L A M Occidental (Track & Field)

ALEXEI TIOUPINE Puget Sound (Baseball)

ZOE LEE Carnegie Mellon (Volleyball)

JACOB VINES University of the Pacific (Baseball)

TESSA WEHRLE Claremont McKenna (Track & Field) MICKEY WILLIAMS Colorado State (Football) CORY WONG Occidental (Track & Field) LEO SAGOLLA University of Minnesota (Gymnastics)

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SHOWCASE

student artwork: ap studio art As in previous years, SHC Visual Arts students are consistently producing high-level work.

On this spread and the following, we present the summative works of both the AP Studio Art and AP Photography classes this year, led by instructors Brian McHugh and Hannah Donkin, respectively. Great job, Irish Artists!

Daniel Kutner ’26

Isabel Lapena ’26

Christoph Schroeder ’26

Lena Zhang ’26

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SUMMER 2026

Kate Lee ’26

Lena Zhang ’26

Daniel Kutner ’26

Sarah Gantulga ’26

Sofia Diaz ’26 Christoph Schroeder ’26

Lena Zhang ’26

Isabel Lapena ’26

SHOWCASE

student artwork: ap photography

Luka More ’26

Miles Ajoste ’26

Leo Sagolla ’26

Darren Fung ’26 Sasuke Kwan ’26

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SUMMER 2026

Leo Sagolla ’26

Keenan Carper ’26

Sasuke Kwan ’26

Brody O'Sullivan ’26

Anthony McCarthy ’26

Jack Thorpe ’26

Luka More ’26 S A C R E D H E A R T C AT H E D R A L P R E PA R AT O RY M A G A Z I N E

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ALUMNI NEWS 2

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1951

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This past April, Chuck Figone received his SHC senior varsity jacket from John Vigo ’81 and former SHC Board of Regents member, former SHC football coach and current SHC Football supporter, John Kruger.

Congratulations to Mario Balestrieri on being inducted into the Ygnacio Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame. His accolades include Assistant Track Coach from 1972 to 1974 with a record of 34–0, multiple basketball league championships and a North Coast Section championship and leading the U19 USA Basketball team to a 3-0 record versus the People’s Republic of China 3–0.

Additional roles included Athletic Director, League Commissioner, and Athletic Administrator.

6 Steve Krauss ’69 and mem-

Members of the Sacred Heart Class of 1970 gathered together this past March at Rich Azzolino’s restaurant, Sotto Mare in North Beach. Pictured: John Mizera, Kenneth Gandofo, Marty Monfredini, Steven Wiessler

1

1954 2 Doris Grimley attended the

De Marillac Academy Annual Scholarship Benefit this past March at the Westin St. Francis.

She is pictured with Sr. Marianne, DC, and Sr. Catherine, DC.

1965 St. Vincent Class of ’65 3 members Peggy Vorhis Lindstrom, Janet Hart Leone, Carol Morrison Roman, Ana Patterson Jovel, Beverly Estrada Pacheco and Kathy Fields Cendak enjoyed a post-4th Annual Christmas Toy Drive luncheon at Original Joe’s Westlake.

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4

5 Sally and Ken Hogarty took

the opportunity to take a beautiful sunset picture on vacation in Hawaii.

bers of the SH Class of 1968 met in April at Cafe Bellini in Petaluma.

Pictured: Ken Lee, Steve Krauss, Tony Giovanzana, Mike McKay, Bill Barulich, Jules Friedel, John Gallagher, Herb Neves, Terry Casey, Rick Casorla, Mike Beere, Paul Bolton, Chris Callen, Joey Carrillo, George Castagnola, Jim Gilmore Right side (back to front): Larry Chula, Tom Tarantino, Ron Fontana

7

Pictured: Claudio Luporini, Mike Kerns, Don Bottarini, Ed Bourne, Br. Chris Brady, FSC, John Cavallero, Robert Mcmillan, David Barry, Bob Mondin, Greg Baccari, Laurence Urmini, James Mullane, Fred Sanchez, Herman Hernandez, Steve Zahn, Matt Harrington, Rich Azzolino.

1974 8 Members of the SH Class of

1974 met in April at Metro Lafayette for lunch. Pictured: Wynne Lum, John Butler, Chuck Nastari, George Guillory, Albert Miranda, Rob Aveson, Tom Walsh, Peter Sitov, Paul Ortiz, Hector (Pepe) Elizondo, Steve Collins, Dan Solorzano, Tom Santos, Steve Gizzi, Peter Malatesta.

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1975

1978

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1986

9 Thomas Mourgos’ wife,

11 Members of the 1977 and

12 After 32 years, Phil Wing is

15 Ron Nocetti, Executive Director

Nevetta Lynn Mourgos, passed in March after a long battle with cancer. He would like to thank all the SHC Alumni who donated to his wife’s GoFundMe campaign.

1976 10 Alfred Galindo will be seeking a seat on the Jefferson Parish School Board in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. In retirement, he looks forward to continuing to serve his community, as the lessons learned at Sacred Heart have grounded him in service to others.

Good luck, Alfred!

1978 Irish Baseball teams met last November at Firenze By Night restaurant in North Beach. The 1977 team was one win away from winning a WCAL Championship and defeated previously unbeaten, and no. 1 in the country, El Camino High School. The ’77 Irish helped lay the groundwork for the 1978 Irish to win the WCAL and post a record of 25-4 that year. They enjoyed a great meal and shared countless baseball stories.

running again for the California State Assembly. Good luck this election season, Phillip!

Pictured: Dave Bloom, Bob “Big Doc” Baldocchi, Coach Steve Franceschi, Mike Howard ’77, Coach Tad Tassone ’69, Nick Toboni ’77, Lou Pinotti, Ron Stuhler ’77, Joe Carrozzi ’77, Angel Sanchez ’79, Ron Ragusa ’79, Bob “Lil Doc” Baldocchi, Team Manager John DelGrosso, Dennis Rosario ’77, Jeff Lakers ’79, Tony Ventura, Tony Rogers ’79, Ken Viola, Tom White ’77, Matt Gallegos, Bob Bodeker.

game against St. Ignatius at Oracle Park, Stefan Indart ’26 read an inspirational letter written

by Carlos De La Fuente to the Varsity Baseball team.

1982 13 Members of the SH Class

of 1982 in attendance at the Friday the 13th Luncheon at Capurro’s Restaurant.

1985 14 Before the Bruce-Mahoney

17

of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), with Phil Doherty ’95 (pictured left) at the CIF Basketball Championships at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento, California.

1989 16 Craig Giannino helped plan an

SHC Baseball Alumni reunion this past March at Gino and Carlo. A time was had by all, and we can’t wait to see more guys at next year’s reunion.

1991 17 Congratulations to Tracie (Tra’Re-

nee) Herbert Chambers on being announced as the In-Arena Emcee for the Portland Fire, one of the WNBA’s new expansion teams!

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ALUMNI NEWS

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1995

1999

18 Tracy Courtney O’Keefe,

21 Cathy Collette, Regional Vice 23 Dr. Sharon David DiPierro

a SFFD Captain, attended the USF Women’s in Leadership and Philanthropy Symposium this past March at the Olympic Club.

She ran into Shawn McGuire ’05, one of her former SHC freshmen volleyball athletes.

1996 19 Three generations of gradu-

ates, one proud moment. Mia Harsha ’25 pictured on her SHC graduation day outside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption with her mother, Lindsay McGlenon Nieri, and her stepfather, Michael Nieri ’75.

1997 Peter Lunny coaches Track and Field at St. Gabriel. He ran into SHC Track and Field coach Andy Chan at Kezar back in May and exchanged t-shirts.

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2002

2005

President, West Coast Sales for PadSquad, was awarded the She Runs It Working Mother of the Year Award for Established Moms this past February. The organization defines Established Mothers as moms with an oldest child aged 7-17. They thrive in their busy lives and have positively impacted other working mothers with management skills and strategies. Congrats Cathy!

assisted with SHC Sports Medicine on-campus preparticipation physical evaluations in early June. She was a member of the Sports Medicine Club during her time at SHC. She is a pediatrician at the Ravenswood Family Health Center in East Palo Alto, serving mostly underprivileged families, and an Adjunct Clinical Instructor in pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.

2000

24 Annie Scudder Gabillet,

Deputy Director of Communications for Mayor Daniel 22 Jim Moylan’s SF Flame base- Lurie, helped organize a journalism ball teams were invited to Dr. round table at Mayor Lurie’s Office.

Joe Jayme ’01 SHFT Movement’s Students from the SHC Emerald, first night of the Recovery Club. along with moderator Lucie DufThe goal of the Recovery Club is fort and Director of Communicato learn ways to prevent injury and tions, Marcus Tolero ’98, particikeep athletes’ bodies performing at pated in the opportunity. a high level.

Congratulations to Danielle McCray on the birth of her triplets, Amir, Brielle and Aman. They join their older brother, Andre II.

2007 25 Andrew Behti married Evelyn

Reynada-Ortiz on July 5, 2025 at The Ranch at Silver Creek in San Jose. In attendance were fellow SHC alums Marc Macaraeg, Jonathan Omai, Joshua Lopez, Thomas Power and Brendan Dimech ’10.

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2014

2017

2021

2024

26 Sarah Walley, a math teacher

29 Daly City Police Officer

31 Veronica Zeidman recent-

Alex Gilliland is a business and marketing major at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He just accepted an offer to work full-time at SharkNinja, a product design and technology company, from July to December.

Michael Carman was nominated by his patrol sergeants for his outstanding service, dedication and character. Officer Carman also continues a proud family legacy.

Following in his father Robert Carman’s footsteps, a retired Daly City Police sergeant, he carries the Dr. Bruno Valan assisted same badge number and shares 27 with SHC Sports Medicine the same commitment to service on-campus preparticipation physi- and dedication to the community. cal evaluations in early June. Bruno Congratulations, Officer Carman, was a member of the Football and and thank you for your continued Basketball teams while at SHC. He service. started his career as an engineer and eventually went into medicine.

He’s a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine and is com30 Paul O’Driscoll, Jr. proposed to his longtime girlfriend, pleting his first year of orthopedic Alyssa Myers, on February 28 at surgery residency at UCSF. Crissy Fields while their dog, Kiki, looked on. Paul and Alyssa adopted Kiki while they were both underIsabella Cerri-Quiros and grads at the University of Arizona.

28 her husband, Isiah, are Paul was recently accepted to the pictured with their baby boy, Nico. University of Arizona School of They’re loving being new parents Veterinary Medicine. Congrats to and can’t wait to show him all the Paul and Alyssa! beautiful parts of San Francisco! at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI, received Marian High School’s Archdiocese of Detroit Teacher of Excellence award. Congrats Sarah!

2015

2020

2016

ly graduated with an MS in Athletic Training from the University of Pittsburgh. Also, she recently passed the Board of Certification Exam and is officially a Certified Athletic Trainer. She will be moving back to the Bay Area very soon, as she has been named the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Oakland Roots professional soccer team.

2023 32 Saifo Haddad, a finance

major at St. Mary’s College, works at his family’s businesses and recently completed a finance internship at Spacelab Healthcare, a medical device manufacturer in Washington State. He hopes to use his degree to work in finance or real estate.

Char Gilliland, a sophomore at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, will be studying abroad in Siena, Italy, this summer for art history and studio art, and then she’s off to Athens, Greece, in the fall for a semester abroad. She has taken a lot of ancient Greek, so she’s excited to explore the classic ruins.

2025 33 Adriana Giomi and Arden Walsh

were reunited on the softball field when Manhattan College played San Jose State at the Cal Poly tournament in late February.

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CELEBRATORY GIVING

Celebratory Giving Program Listed on the following pages are the names of SHC community members’ family, friends and loved ones who are listed in SHC’s Book of Remembrance. Melinda Lawlor Skrade, PhD, the Christian Brothers and the Daughters of Charity offer prayers and Masses for the special intentions requested in honor of members of our school community each month. Please remember them in your prayers.

This list reflects contributions made from March 7, 2026 through June 3, 2026.

IN HONOR Ken Hogarty ’66 Larry Simi ’66 & Janet Rogers Bill Link Larry Simi ’66 & Janet Rogers Joan O’Neill Ken Hogarty ’66 & Sally Hogarty

WELL WISHES Pete Calabro ’64 Rosie Lawlor Horan ’65 & Jim Horan

IN MEMORY Harvey Anderson ’74 Bob King Winifred Anderson Bob King Patricia King Barsocchini ’54 Doris Grimley ’54 Carol Jones Hupke ’54 & Peter Hupke Jean Baptiste Bidgegaray Mary Curutchet & Sons Christopher Brignetti ’88 Mark Pardini ’88 & Petra Andersson-Pardini Jim Casey Jerry Sobeck ’69 & Susie Sobeck Joseph Castanchoa Mary Curutchet & Sons

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Martha Melara The passing of Martha Melara, a 25-year veteran and Instructor of Spanish at Sacred Heart Cathedral, marks the loss of a cherished member of the school community who served as both a teacher and the Spanish Club Moderator.

Martha joined SHC in 2000, and her long tenure of over two decades established her as a central figure and a cornerstone in the World Languages department, where she positively shaped the educational journey of countless students. Beyond the classroom, her role in the Spanish Club highlighted her commitment to fostering cultural appreciation and student engagement.

Colleagues remember her through these reflections: “Her distinct laughter will forever be missed,” Marie Bernard, World Languages Chair commented.

“Martha was more than an educator; she was a mentor and a true force of wisdom that sparked curiosity and held her colleagues and students to the highest standard of excellence,” reflected Greta Betteo. “She was a loving engine that led our group with integrity and authority.”

“I always admired her commitment to improving her teaching by attending study groups and workshops, learning new instructional methods, and continually refining her approach. Not only was she a good friend of mine, but she was also a model teacher for me,” remarked Chikara Abe. “Martha was a true artist in every sense of the word,” reflected Oscar Miranda.

“Her elegance and colorful style made her a walking masterpiece. She was always ready to strike a pose and share a smile, but what truly set her apart was her boundless willingness to help others. She gave her heart to this school, and her spirit will forever color the halls of our World Language Department."

Martha’s family and colleagues noted her remarkable resilience and grace in dealing with health challenges over the past year. She is remembered for living out Catholic ideals of mercy, charity, and love, drawing daily strength from her faith.

Rest in peace, Martha.

“Do not have any anxiety about the future. Leave George Ducousso ’69 Marie & Linda Ducousso Ronico Egcasenza, Ed.D. ’59 Brother Joseph Grima ’59 Robert Ellis ’55 Pat Ellis ’56 & Diane Ellis Phil Farrelly ’58 Mark Fabbri ’70 Marty Monfredini ’70 & Denise Monfredini J Garvey ’88 Mark Pardini ’88 & Petra Andersson-Pardini Frank Grima ’63 Brother Joseph Grima ’59 George Habeeb Dom Panina ’80 & Colleen Panina Rich Henderson ’63 Jack Driscoll ’66 John McGreevy ’69 & Lori McGreevy Jerry Sobeck ’69 & Susie Sobeck Beverly Reinhard Hendon ’55 Kelly Molloy

everything in God’s hands for

Arthur Huie ’75 Michael Nerney ’75 & Roselle Nerney

he will take care of you.”

Katherine King Bob King

ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

Richard Klein ’70 Patty Shea Diner ’65 & Chris Diner, Sr. ’65 Janet Holland ’77 Marty Monfredini ’70 & Denise Monfredini Jerry Sobeck ’69 & Susie Sobeck Charles Stuber ’70 & Judy Hastings-Stuber

Rose Moisant Carol Jones Hupke ’54 & Peter Hupke

Julian Pardini ’49 Mark Pardini ’88 & Petra Andersson-Pardini

Lynn Mourgos Michael Nerney ’75 & Roselle Nerney

Nancy Singleton Shawn Singleton ’88

Mike Mullan ’66 Francis Maxwell Marty Gent ’66 & Jane Gent

Trudie Lockwood ’73 Grace Rodriguez Nelson ’73 & John Murphy ’55 Barry Nelson Joe & Maggie Murphy Charles Love Dennis O’Keefe ’59 Mark Pardini ’88 & Phil Farrelly ’58 Petra Andersson-Pardini Brother Joseph Grima ’59 George Lynch, Jr. ’67 Sue Lynch Martha Melara Rosie Lawlor Horan ’65 & Jim Horan Michael Nerney ’75 & Roselle Nerney

Pete Pagano Elizabeth Gallegos Glynn Vanguard Properties Samantha Pawlowski Herman Gallegos Matt Gallegos ’78 & Denise Gallegos and Family Ray Leonard

Bradley Thomas ’59 Brother Joseph Grima ’59 Arthur Villegas ’55 Yvette Villegas Steve Wilson Mark Pardini ’88 & Petra Andersson-Pardini

IN REMEMBRANCE Dorothy Armstrong Scott Armstrong ’02 Louise Bacigalupi Dom Panina ’80 & Colleen Panina Laura Leone Rosie Lawlor Horan ’65 & Jim Horan

We remember in our prayers the alumni who have recently passed away.

Patricia King Barsocchini ’54 Joseph Buhagiar ’74 Frank Butler ’37 Steven Chiapelone ’80 Noel DeSouza ’82

Harry Hovan ’52 John Klein ’70 Janice Paganini Lucia ’65 Jon Mitomi ’82 Ray Nann ’51

Chris Phillips ’85 Joan Murphy Purcell ’55 Miguel Talavera ’71 Dave Young ’59

*The alumni acknowledged here are only those for whom we received notification.

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CELEBRATORY GIVING

James Casey A second-generation Irish American, James Casey was born in San Francisco to James and Katherine (Lynch) Casey.

Along with his two sisters, Barbara and Carol, the family settled in the Ingleside District, where he attended St. Emydius School and then Archbishop Riordan High School.

After high school, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed bootcamp in 1962 at Camp Pendleton.

In addition, he attended the University of San Francisco and received a degree in history in 1964.

Jim was known for his generous spirit, strong work ethic, and kind heart. A gifted historian and beloved teacher, he spent many years teaching history at Sacred Heart High School, where he also served passionately as athletic director and football coach. During his time at SH, he touched the lives of countless students and athletes.

Above all, Jim loved his family deeply. He shared 60 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Joyce, and was a devoted father to his daughters, Angela and Gina, and a proud Nonno to three grandsons, Erik ’11, Darius, and Cyrus. Nothing brought him greater joy than watching his grandsons grow into the young men they have become. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

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LEAVE YOUR LEGACY FOR

FUTURE STUDENTS Help us assure the future of our important educational mission.

If you want to have a more lasting impact beyond your lifetime, consider leaving a gift to Sacred Heart Cathedral in your will, trust or by beneficiary designation. Creating your legacy is easy and the gift costs you nothing now. Contact John Vigo ’81 at jvigo@shcp.edu for more information. Moving or changing contact info? Please email advancement@shcp.edu with up-to-date information.

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