Arts Recognition Ceremony 2019

St. Francis Catholic High School

Arts Recognition Ceremony

Recognizing St. Francis student graduates of the Class of 2019 who are committed to the Arts by continuing their education and majoring in an Art form.

May 15th, 2019 at 8:00am St. Francis Theatre Stage

St. Francis Catholic High School Visual and Performing Arts Department Arts Administration /Directors Assistant Principal of the Arts...................................................................... Mary Castellano Arts Executive Director/Producer...............Elizabeth Danielson (Sarah Simmons ’05)

Visual Arts Faculty 2018-2019 AP Studio Art/Photography/Visual Arts Chair.............Rosalva Willow ’88 (Maria '20) Art History/AP Studio Art/Film and Animation/Photography..................Adan Romo AP Studio Art/Drawing/Photography...........................................................Melanie Bown AP Studio Art/Photography...................................................................................Rick Siggins Painting/Sculpture/Drawing............................. Mary Stember (Michele Hannigan ’88, Rebecca Honig ’92, Elizabeth Haeling ’94)

Performing Arts Faculty 2018-2019 Dance/Show Choir................................................................................................Agata Grzelak Instrumental Music.............................................................................................Gerald Rheault Performing Arts Chair/Theatre........................ Cheryl Watson (Rebecca Sigl Light ’02) Theatre/Musical Choreographer.....................................Kiera Mickiewicz Anderson ’99 Vocal Music/ Show Choir.............................................................. Tina Harris (Madison ’16)

Faculty in the Past Four Years

Not Listed Above (Fall 2015-Spring 2019) Drawing/Printmaking..................................................................Milan (Marko) Vlaisavjevic Dance.......................................................................Sarah Ainsworth ’12, Chelsea Blake ’97, Christy Costales, Rebecca Henning ’03 Orchestra/Jazz.....................................................................................................Thomas Hicken Piano Accompanist......................................................................... Rachel Kang (Allison ’12) Technical Director.......................................................................................... Catherine Kunkel 3

St. Francis Catholic High School

Arts Recognition Ceremony Opening - Elizabeth Danielson Prayer - Maggie Murray Speakers - Arts Students Laying On of Hands - Maggie Murray Closing - Elizabeth Danielson Reception - Patrons of the Arts Photographs/Interviews

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Arts Recognition Scholars Congratulations to the following students who have committed to the Arts by majoring in a Fine or Performing Art form.

Teresa Alem • Fine Arts Gwendolyn Austin • Dance & Biology Margaret Enriquez • Music Theatre Nicole Mandy • Dance Megan Melavic • Technical Theatre & Sociology Julia Narvaez • Cinematic Arts Film & Television Productions Allesse Patterson • Theatre & English Laura Roberts • Musical Theatre Fiona Ross • Acting Amanda Singh • Music Industries Olivia Sloss • Theatre & Psychology Elana Sogard • Music Business Callista Stanley • Integrated Design & Sociology Meg White • Film 5

Teresa Alem

Folsom Lake College in Folsom, California Major: Fine Art Minor: Psychology Teresa Alem began her first art class in her last year of high school, taking on 4 courses in one year: Painting 1, Drawing 1, Drawing 2, and Honors Art History. She is a self-taught artist who expressed her creativity in middle school through calligraphy and doodles scribbled in the margins of homework. Teresa is inspired by the television media that highlighted her childhood as well as the more pessimistic media she consumes as a teenager, and portrays that combination through a mature yet whimsical style of artistry. Some artists that inspire her are Minnie Smalls, Leigh Ellexson, Tori Anne, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and Romeo Britto.

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Gwendolyn Austin

University of California in Santa Barbara, California Major: Dance and Biology Gwendolyn Austin began her ballet training at the age of five and is currently a principal dancer with the Hawkins Contemporary and Classical Ballet Company. For her first two years at St. Francis, Gwendolyn was part of the St. Francis Dance Company. When not in school she has had the opportunity to spend her summers both in the country and internationally training with the Joffrey Ballet, Complexion Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the University of Utah, Ateneo Danza Della Siena in Italy, Long Beach Ballet, and most recently going on tour with the Guangzhou Ballet in China. Gwendolyn has performed in many ballets including in “The Sleeping Beauty” as Aurora, The Sorceress in “Beauty and the Beast”, Koschei in “The Firebird”, and a Flower in The Sacramento Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker”. She is excited to be attending UC Santa Barbara next year and plans to pursue a double major in Dance and Biology. Gwendolyn would like to say a special thanks to her parents for their support in her endeavors as well her dance teachers Erin Born-Hogan and Deirdre Hawkins for giving her the opportunity to dance.

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Margaret Enriquez

Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin Major: Music Theatre Maggie is ecstatic to be taking her passion for music theatre to a new level. She has performed locally since the age of three in recitals, musicals, and plays. She was honored to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2016. She has been a member of SF Theatre for the entirety of her high school career, including Theatre Arts, SF Players, and Honors SF Players along with several musicals. She owes her successes in part to Maureen Mette, Rhyn Saver, Kiera Anderson, and Cheryl Watson as well as her mom. Her collegiate program is a conservatory style program where she will be one of 14 Music Theatre students in her program. She now joins the Viterbo University Music Theatre Class of 2023. Go V Hawks!

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Nicole Mandy

Hofstra University in Long Island, New York Major: Dance

Minor: Musical Theatre Nicole is beyond excited to continue her love of theatre and dance in New York City this fall. She has been in numerous musicals and ballets since the age of 4, outside of St. Francis High School and years of theatre camps and classes with Ms Cheryl Watson. Some favorites outside of St. Francis are “West Side Story” (Velma, Dance Captain), “Bye Bye Birdie” (Ursula Merkle), “Giselle” (Peasant, Willie), “Les Miserables” (Ensemble), and “Little Women” (Ensemble). Some favorite St. Francis classes are Theatre Arts and SF Players and many years of the Musical Theatre Summer Camp that introduced the performing arts program at St. Francis. Nicole would like to thank Ms Watson for encouraging her over the years and helping her grow more in love with the performing arts.

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Megan Melavic

University of Portland in Portland, Oregon Major: Technical Theatre and Sociology Minor: Fine Arts Megan has been heavily involved in the arts since her freshman year. She has taken art classes such as Drawing 1 and 2, AP Studio Art, Theatre Arts, and Honors Art History and enjoyed every single one of them. She has been involved in the school's Tech Club for the past four years, going into her junior year she became an intern for the production team at California Music Circus and was heavily inspired by her mentors there. She has been Sound Computer Operator, Light Board Operator, Run Crew Chief, Assistant Stage Manager, and Stage Manager. She is presently the Co-President of Tech Club and was the Stage Manager for the past two shows: “Chicago:High School Edition” and “Quilters”. She is very passionate in the arts and wants to pursue it through college.

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Julia Narvaez

University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California Major: Cinematic Arts Film & Television Production Julia found her passion for the arts at a very young age. She began dancing when she was four years old and trained at the School of the Sacramento Ballet. She is currently an active member of St. Francis Dance Company, Show Choir, and Era. At SF, she has performed in multiple shows and recently played the lead in “Gaia's Odyssey” and Mona in “Chicago:High School Edition”. Julia is also a self-taught artist and her work features paintings and drawings, including commissioned pieces for Google and the Sacramento Kings. She hopes to continue to develop her skills in the arts in college.

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Allesse Patterson

Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California Major: Theatre and English Allesse developed her love for art in elementary school and her love for theatre in middle school. She decided to attend St. Francis High School to further pursue her love for the arts. Allesse has been in every fall musical since her freshman year including “Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical”, “Little Women, The Broadway Musical”, “The Boy Friend, The Broadway Musical” and “Chicago: High School Edition”. She’s also been in the One Acts “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”, “What Andy Warhol Never Told Me”, “Dark Road”, and “girl”. She has taken as many Visual and Performing Arts classes as possible and has been able to further develop her skills and grow as an artist. As a senior, she took Show Choir, AP Studio Art, and Honors SF Players. She has attended the Young Actors Theatre Camp and California State Summer School of the Arts while in high school and received many arts scholarships from schools. In college, Allesse hopes to continue to study theatre as a whole and learn more about playwriting, stage combat, and production. She always strives to tell stories through art and will continue to do so with any medium she chooses. Allesse would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for being so supportive of what she loves to do.

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Laura Roberts

Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut

Major: Musical Theatre

Laura has performed in musical theatre shows at various community theatre companies since she was a young girl, and she has continued to be involved with the arts in high school. She was a member of Show Choir for 4 years and was the choreographer since her junior year. She participated in both SF Players and Honors SF Players and had the opportunity to learn many acting techniques as Rudy in “Property Rites” and as an ensemble member in “girl”. She also performed in three musicals in her time at St. Francis: “Little Women, The Broadway Musical”, “The Boyfriend, The Broadway Musical”, and “Chicago: High School Edition”.

In “The Boyfriend”, she played the sassy, French housekeeper, Hortense.

In “Chicago: High School Edition”, she played Velma Kelly, which is her favorite role she has ever had the opportunity to play. She wants to thank Mrs. Watson, Ms. Kiera, Ms. Agata and Mrs. Harris for their never-ending support and advice. Laura learned so much from these wonderful teachers, and they helped shaped her into the performer she is today. Laura is majoring in musical theatre in college and couldn’t be more excited for her future in the theatre world.

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Fiona Ross

Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri Major: Acting Fiona has been an active member of Sacramento Theatre Company's Young Professionals Conservatory for 6 years, ran their 5th annual Curtains Up Fundraiser, and participated in SF Players for the past 3 years. Throughout high school, Fiona has been in multiple productions, including: “As You Like It”, “I Ought To Be In Pictures”, “Twelfth Night”, “Steel Magnolias”, “12 Angry Women”, and many more. She is incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported and encouraged her, especially her family, friends, and the arts educators who have helped her grow.

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Amanda Singh

University of the Pacific in Stockton, California Major: Music Industries Studies Minor: Business Amanda has been extremely involved in the arts since her freshman year as a Techie at the St. Francis theater. She has worked as the Sound Computer Operator for “Mary Poppins, The Broadway Musical� and then as the House Manager for the following three years as a Techie. She has worked eight main productions that the school has put on as well as Dance Concerts, One Acts, and Music Concerts. Amanda has taken art classes such as Sculpting 1 and Sculpting 2, and she received a first-place ribbon award in Sculpting at the State Fair. She is currently the secretary of Tech Club and loves being a part of the club so much! Her love for the arts does not stop at sculpting and theater, she also possesses a deep love for music.

She is extremely passionate about music and has loved it all her life. Music has positively impacted her throughout her life, and she is very excited to pursue music in college. She would like to thank her parents for being so supportive in her four-year journey and her continued pursuit of music.

She would also like to thank the amazing young women that she has been fortunate enough to meet through theater and tech; they have had such an amazing impact on her life.

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Olivia Sloss

University of Portland in Portland, Oregon Major: Theatre and Psychology Olivia has been a part of SF Theatre since her freshman year. She has performed in four productions: “12 Angry Women”, “The Boy Friend, The Broadway Musical”, “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, and “Quilters”. She has also been a member of SF Players for the past three years, performing in “Trojan Women”, “Property Rites”, and “girl”. During high school, Olivia also participated in productions at the Woodland Opera House. She is incredibly thankful for her experience in St. Francis theatre, and for all of the amazing people she has had the pleasure of meeting over the past four years. Olivia would like to thank everyone who has helped her along her theatre journey, especially Ms. Watson, Ms. Kiera, and her family. She is excited to pursue a double major in theatre and psychology.

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Elana Sogard

Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee Major: Music Business Elana Sogard is a singer, songwriter, and touring recording artist who has opened for major label artists and played at music festivals across the country. She sang the National Anthem for numerous NFL, NBA, and MLB games in venues including O.co Coliseum, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, and AT&T Park. Elana grew up in musical theater and has been in two St. Francis musicals as well as SF Players and Show Choir. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her in pursuing her dreams.

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Callista Stanley

The New School at Parsons & Eugene Lang in New York City, New York

Major: Integrated Design & Sociology Minor: Contemporary Music

Callista discovered her love for the arts at a very young age. She began dancing, but quickly found her passion was for visual arts. She is primarily focused in studio arts, i.e. oil painting and drawing, although she hopes to explore other mediums in that realm as well. During her high school career she took several art classes, had two paintings auctioned at revelry and was selected to participate in the Tearing Walls Apart event, an immersive art exhibit in downtown Sacramento. She has drawn inspiration from her favorite artists and musicians along with her father, a late artist himself and she gives tremendous amounts of thanks to them. Callista is excited to grow as an artist at The New School this fall.

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Megan White

University of California in Davis, California Major: Film Meg is excited to continue her artistic journey at UC Davis this fall. She has been in many St. Francis productions, starting her freshman year and has loved being a part of SF Players for the past three years. She is eternally grateful for Ms. Watson and Ms. Anderson for their constant support and encouragement.

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