Connections Magazine - 2024 Edition

Connections

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ST. MARY’S RYKEN COMMUNITY

catholic school in the xaverian brothers tradition

A Cherished Family Tradition Continues as Four Generations of

p6: St. Mary’s Ryken Is the Only Southern Maryland High School to Earn AP Gold Recognition!

p17: From High School Honors to Community Pillar: The Inspiring Journey of Susan Lawrence Dyer ’74

p40: 40th Anniversary of “Godspell” Is Celebrated!

p4: Renovation Breathes New Life Into Chapel of Charity

Dear Alumni and Friends,

One of the most beautiful aspects of serving God is that it naturally extends to serving others. The teachings of our faith call us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to extend kindness to those in need, and to work toward justice and peace.

Each year, I witness the transformative power of this service — not just in the lives of those we help, but in our own hearts. As a result, I am humbled by the number of alumni who choose pathways to service in their professional and personal lives.

As graduates of St. Mary’s Academy, Ryken High School and St. Mary’s Ryken, you received an education that equipped you with exceptional professional skills, as well as with strong values and principles to guide your moral compass. These principles have helped you to look beyond yourselves, to see the face of Christ in others, and to act with compassion and integrity.

In this issue of Connections, we highlight more than a dozen alumni who see their life’s work as serving others and the greater good of our world. While catching up on

Connections Magazine 2024

mission statement

St. Mary’s Ryken is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school community operated under the Xaverian Brothers’ sponsorship dedicated to academic excellence and individualized student growth.

smrhs.org

Please send alumni news, updated contact information and corrections to advancement@smrhs.org or call 301-373-4162.

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

22600 Camp Calvert Road Leonardtown, MD 20650

the state of the school through various accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff, you will read about impressive transformational contributions locally and globally through diverse career paths and admirable personal investments.

Let us also remember the words of St. Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world.” May these words remind us of the profound responsibility and privilege we have in being Christ’s presence in the world.

As alumni, you are also called to be witnesses to the next generation and be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs His love shown through active engagement. Share your experiences, mentor those who are just beginning their journey, and support our school and community with your gifts and talents. Your example will inspire others to seek a deeper relationship with God and to find their own calling in

His service. In doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also become beacons of light and hope in our communities. Please reach out to share your stories with us. We love to hear them and to connect with graduates from all generations.

Living the mission as alumni of SMA, Ryken or SMR is an ongoing journey of faith, service and community engagement. The education and experiences are not just memories of the past but are living principles that guide the present and future. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and your inspiring witness. Thank you for being a part of this journey and for the contributions you continue to make in various spheres of life. May your hearts be filled with the love and peace that come from serving God.

In Christ,

Dr. Rick Wood President and CEO

president and ceo

Dr. Rick Wood

principal

Dr. Catherine Bowes

managing editor

Betsy Haley P ’24, ’26

Director of Communications and Marketing

editors and contributors

Genna Bucklew ’24

Michele Minicozzi

Director of Development

Allie Schepis

Laurie Vergott

design

Ideal Design Co.

photography

Betsy Haley P ’24, ’26

HD Photography

Kyle Weaver Photography

Legacy Studios

Michele Minicozzi

Chris Palombi

Webmaster

Cover photos (top): Loretta “Tiny” Taylor, Class of 1942, joined her great-granddaughter, Olivia, on her registration day. Along with them are Olivia’s parents, Karen and Scott ’98, and grandparents Frank ’67 and Sue. (Bottom, from left): Oil paintings above altar of Christ the Teacher, St. Francis Xavier, Theodore Ryken, Mother Catherine Spalding and St. Therese of Lisieux / Math and Special Programs teacher Jen Baker with Tamari Harley ’27 /

Susan Lawrence Dyer ’74 during high school at St. Mary’s Academy / Former band/theatre director Harry Hafer visits campus for the 40th anniversary of “Godspell.”

Taylor Ingram with her parents, Richard and Robin

Highlights of the 2023-24 School Year

Annually, the St. Mary’s Ryken Christmas Child program Christmas season for families in our community. Items from the children’s wish lists and other surprises are donated by students, faculty and staff. This year 17 families and 60 children received gifts to open on Christmas morning.

Coach Chris Palombi was awarded Coach of the Year for the third time during his tenure as boys and girls ice hockey coach at St. Mary’s Ryken. This year he won for his dedication to the boys ice hockey team.

parents,

St. Mary’s Ryken Productions garnered standing ovations following their performances of “Godspell” and “The Old Man and the Old Moon.”

Welcome to 175 Knights in the SMR Class of 2028! See details on page 10.

St. Mary’s Ryken was the only Southern Maryland high school to earn AP Gold recognition. See page 06.

Dr. Aaron Percich and Clara Hayward were named Archdiocese of Washington Teachers of the Year.

See page 14.

Congratulations to the 149 graduates of the SMR Class of 2024!

Together, they contributed over 12,000 service hours and earned over $23,000,000 in college scholarships.

Triplets Joshua, John and Mark Sabado with their

Reynante and Heidi

David “DK” Kane, supervisor of maintenance and grounds, celebrated 30 years of service at St.

Annika Feil ’25 won the WCAC girls tennis championship for the first time in SMR history.

Dominic Dorwart ’24 and Eric Chen ’25 received the sacraments of baptism

With help from students, faculty, staff and community members, the Caritas Resource Center assisted 42 families move from homelessness to

Brad Chamberlain and Diane Kestler were presented with the prestigious Theodore James Ryken Award. See page 12.

SMR students and staff raised $12,500 during Wish Week to benefit a critically ill child.

24 student-athletes

from the Class of 2024 have committed to pursuing their athletic passions at the collegiate level. Go Knights!

Mary’s Ryken.

The St. Mary’s Ryken football team won the WCAC Metro Division championship.

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

Nurturing Hearts: Chapel of Charity

If you visit St. Mary’s Ryken around noon on any school day, you’ll find about 60 students, faculty and staff gathered for daily Mass in the beautifully renovated Chapel of Charity.

This sacred place of worship began as the Sacred Heart Novitiate, now known as the Chapel of Charity. It operated from 1959 to 1968, offering education and training to prepare young men to become Xaverian Brothers. In the 1970s, the Novitiate building was renamed Rupert Hall and repurposed for classrooms for Ryken High School, while the chapel became a library. In 1981, Ryken High School and St. Mary’s Academy merged to form St. Mary’s Ryken. After Romuald Hall was constructed in 2001, the chapel was restored and rededicated in 2002 in honor of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and is in memory of Sister Sara Ann Abell, Sister Alberta Abell and Sister Pauline Abell. After a comprehensive year-long renovation, the Chapel of Charity reopened in early 2024. The redesign embraces the school’s heritage by displaying symbols

of the Sisters of Charity and the Xaverian Brothers, highlighting the school’s historical and spiritual foundations. The classical, simple aesthetic is ideal for worship, prayer and private meditation. Enhancements include professional oil paintings above the new altar of Christ the Teacher, St. Francis Xavier, Theodore Ryken, Mother Catherine Spalding and St. Therese of Lisieux; a new altar of repose; ambo; crucifix; statues; tabernacle; entry and sacristy doors; lighting; tile flooring; and choir loft railing. Two confessionals were added in the back of the chapel.

Over the past year, nearly 50 major supporters, along with countless other donors, contributed through events such as the Knight Gala, Knight Raffle, and golf tournament. These efforts have

profoundly impacted the most cherished space on the SMR campus.

The renovations pay homage to the enduring legacies of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the Xaverian Brothers, offering a welcoming and spiritual environment for daily Mass, spiritual direction and confessions and ensuring the sacristy is more serviceable.

A formal dedication Mass was hosted in June with donors, faculty, staff and friends of SMR to celebrate the new chapel. Wilton Cardinal Gregory celebrated Mass with other local clergy. A reception in Romuald Hall followed.

We warmly invite our alumni to join us for daily Mass. To attend, please email advancement@smrhs.org with your preferred date.

Father Ryan Braam ’14 and Deacon Ken Scheiber offer Mass for students, faculty and staff at the renovated Chapel of Charity, which features oil paintings above the altar of Christ the Teacher, St. Francis Xavier, Theodore Ryken, Mother Catherine Spalding and St. Therese of Lisieux.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the following donors, whose exceptional generosity helped transform the Chapel of Charity into the magnificent space it is today:

AIRTec Inc

Anonymous Anonymous

Anonymous

Armitage & Armitage, P.A.

Mr. Philip Armsworthy and Mrs. Elizabeth Armsworthy ’68, P ’91, ’98, ’02

Mrs. Deborah Bellevou ’72

Bob Taylor Engineering

Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A.

Mr. William Bubb and Ms. Enid M. Sanchez-Bubb P ’21, ’23

Mr. William Bullock and Mrs. Dina Bullock P ’15

Mr. David Burgess and Mrs. Kathleen Burgess P ’99, ’01

Mr. Thomas Burke and Mrs. Jane Burke P ’09, ’12, ’17

C3 Innovations Inc

Carruth & Son Inc

St. Mary’s Academy and Ryken High School Class of 1973

Mr. Joseph Combs ’56

Community Bank of the Chesapeake

Mrs. Linda Dean ’64, P ’87, ’88, ’91

Mr. Perry Depperschmidt and Mrs. JoAnn Depperschmidt P ’08, ’10, ’13

Ms. Mary Rose Depperschmidt ’10

Mr. Anthony DeStefano and Mrs. Terri DeStefano

Mrs. Rosine Downs Dugan, McKissick & Longmore LLC

Mr. Michael Eckman and Mrs. Rose Eckman P ’88, ’93, ’97

Mr. Jay Farr and Mrs. Rita Farr ’67, P ’87

Mr. Robert Farrell and Mrs. Elizabeth Farrell ’88, P ’19, ’24

Dr. Gregg Ferrero and Mrs. Julie Ferrero ’87, P ’18, ’20, ’22

Mr. Larry Forte and Mrs. Gabrielle A. Forte P ’12, ’15

Mr. Scott Fowler and Mrs. Francesca Fowler P ’25

Mr. Harry Frauenfelder IV and Mrs. Mary Frauenfelder ’78, P ’00, ’03

Mrs. Inez Frazier ’65

Mr. Mark A. Guadagnoli and Mrs. Wendy M. Guadagnoli P ’19, ’19, ’20, ’24

Mr. James P. Haley II ’99 and Mrs. Kristen Haley

Reverend Edward Hegnauer

Mr. Charles Himmelheber Jr. ’55 and Mrs. Linda Himmelheber

Brother Cornelius Hubbuch CFX

HWP Insurance

Capt. Glen R. Ives USN, Ret. and Mrs. Barbara A. Ives P ’04, ’05, ’06

J.F. Taylor

Mr. Craig Jewett and Mrs. Christine Jewett P ’25

Mr. Mark Kestler and Mrs. Diane Kestler P ’18, ’18

Knights of Columbus -

St. Mary’s Council #1470

Ms. Suzanne Lee P ’99, ’02, ’05, ’08, ’13

The Leonardtown Group LLC

Dr. Jojo Arroll Manato and Mrs. Maribel Manato P ’24

Mr. Michael Mattingly ’55

Maurice I. Long, Jr. Family Foundation Inc

Mr. Alan Mazuc and Mrs. Christine Mazuc P ’20

Mr. Louis Mercorella ’58

MIL Corporation

Mrs. Carol Moody NFP

Mr. Brian K. Norris ’84 and Mrs. Kim Norris P ’08, ’10, ’16

Mr. James D. Norris ’57 and Mrs. Mary Norris

Mr. Gary Oliver ’82 and Mrs. Kimberly Oliver ’84, P ’12, ’17

Dr. Michael Perraut and Mrs. Wendy Perraut P ’23, ’26

Personalized Therapy LLC

Mr. James Pilkerton and Mrs. Jodi Pilkerton P ’17, ’20

Mr. William C. Reuter Jr. and Mrs. Lucille A. Reuter P ’05

Mr. Christopher Romano ’69

Reverend Jeffery Samaha

Schneider Orthodontics

ShadowObjects LLC

Mr. Charles Somers and Mrs. Tirzah Somers P ’23, ’25

St. John Francis Regis Catholic Parish

St. Peter’s Church

State Farm InsurancePhilip Watson

Mr. Joseph Stone Jr. and Mrs. Mary Lynn Stone P ’06, ’08

Taylor Gas Company Inc

Mr. Bernard A. Taylor ’78

Mr. Francis E. Taylor Jr. ’67 and Mrs. Susan Taylor P ’98, ’00, GP ’28

Mr. John Taylor Jr. ’79, P ’02, ’04, ’05, ’07

Mr. John F. Taylor Sr. and Mrs. Helen Taylor P ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’86, GP ’02, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’07, ’11, ’13, ’14, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’25

Mrs. Loretta “Tiny” Abell Taylor ’42, P ’67, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’75, ’78, GP ’98, ’00, ’04, ’04, ’04, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’14, ’28

Mr. Robert Taylor ’68 and Mrs. Linda Taylor P ’04, ’08

Mr. Patrick N. Tennyson and Mrs. Eleanor L. Tennyson P ’13, ’15, ’18, ’20

Mr. Martin Thomas ’84

Mr. G. Michael Thompson ’62 and Mrs. Barbara Thompson P ’89, ’91, ’94, ’97

T.N. Bowes Heating & Air Conditioning Inc

Mr. John David Wenrich and Mrs. Pauline Wenrich P ’27 WesBanco

During the Chapel of Charity Altar Dedication in June, we were blessed to have the following religious members celebrate Mass. From left: Fr. Scott Woods, Fr. Scott Holmer, Fr. Paul Nguyen, Fr. Ryan Braam ’14, Deacon Ken Scheiber, Deacon Chris Feist ’16, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Deacon John Winslow ’15, Fr. Gregory Coan, Fr. David Beaubien, Fr. Raymond Schmidt

St. Mary’s Ryken Is the Only Southern Maryland High School to Earn AP Gold Recognition!

The College Board’s prestigious AP School Honor Roll recognizes SMR’s exceptional commitment to preparing students for college.

St. Mary’s Ryken is the only high school in Southern Maryland with the Gold distinction and is in the top 6% of all schools in the nation that received AP School Honor Roll Gold recognition. Additionally, among the 18 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington, St. Mary’s Ryken is the only high school to attain Gold status.

In 2022-23, 70 percent of enrolled students took at least one AP exam.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools “whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.” The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

“St. Mary’s Ryken’s achievement not only reflects its dedication to academic excellence but also positions it as a leader in advancing college readiness and educational opportunities for its students,” said St. Mary’s Ryken Principal Catherine Bowes. “We are especially proud of our ability to provide each child with the care it takes to move them to their full potential.”

For a school to be recognized on the AP School Honor Roll in a given year, it must meet each of the following criteria for their students in the most recent graduating

the 18

class; these criteria are anchored in research-based relationships between AP and college outcomes:

College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating cohort took at least one AP exam during high school.

College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school.

College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort took five or more AP exams during high school. At least one of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade, so that students are spreading their AP experience across grades rather than feeling disproportionate pressure in any single year.

In 2022-23, 70 percent of enrolled students took at least one AP exam.

Among

Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Washington, SMR is the only high school to attain Gold status.

St. Mary’s Ryken Flight Academy Offers FAA Certification Opportunity

The St. Mary’s Ryken Flight Academy is a four-year track that will prepare students to be pilots and leaders in the aerospace community. The program will provide students the opportunity to obtain their private pilot’s or Unmanned Air System operator’s knowledge check with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by their junior year. “This robust curriculum will provide SMR students an opportunity to develop aviation skills and critical thinking abilities in an academic and flight simulation environment,” said Flight Academy instructor Gerald Swift.

St. Mary’s Ryken has teamed up with the Airline Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to implement a national high school aviation curriculum that is in more

than 400 high schools across the country, is STEM accredited, and is recognized by the FAA. “The first-class offerings in 2024-25 will include freshman and sophomore classes as part of a four-year track, plus a Private Pilot Ground School for upperclassmen,” Mr. Swift said.

St. Mary’s Ryken is pleased to offer this curriculum to the Southern Maryland community thanks to the generosity of The Patuxent Partnership, which helped bring 24 flight simulators to SMR in May 2022. The Flight Academy Simulation Laboratory will be an experiential backbone

for the new AOPA aviation curriculum, providing a rich experience to the students completing the track. In addition, SMR is exploring partnerships with local flight schools to help bridge the journey from the academic/simulation environment into the actual cockpit by a student’s senior year.

Mr. Swift welcomes local businesses who want to become involved by sponsoring students’ in-person flight instruction, by offering internship and mentorship opportunities, and by helping with student projects.

For more information and to view the course descriptions, visit www. smrhs.org/flightacademy or contact Mr. Swift at gerald.swift@smrhs.org.

The Flight Academy program provides students the opportunity to obtain their private pilot’s or Unmanned Air System operator’s knowledge check.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE ST. MARY’S RYKEN CLASS OF 2024!

The St. Mary’s Ryken community applauds your spiritual growth, dedication to serving others, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence.

Samuel Adams

Lawrence Peter Annulis

Jaden Bernard Arnold

Dean Atlas

Arjun S. Bains-Shepard

Josie Gabrielle Barford

John William Betz III

Dakota F. Bierbaum

Dayton C. Bishop

Maggie McKay Bowes

Kristina Theresa A. Brillantes

Brendon Alexander Broughton

Madison Nicole Brouillette

Nicholas Alexander Brouillette

Christian Marie Brown

Colby Scott Brown

Drew Harrison Brown

Genna Carmela Bucklew

Gregoryanna Allena Bucklew

Audrey Burfield

Shannon Elizabeth Cain

Samuel Edward Canady

Joaquim Padua Cariaso

Adam Cecil

Allyson Marie Clare

Mikayla Cole

Hannah Elizabeth Collins

Beatrix Cooley

Matthew Robert Cosgrove

Jordan Lee Cozart

Mae Maria Culbreth

Taylor Grace Cunningham

Michael L. Davenport

Ethan DePaola

Sarah Walsh Devine

Adonis Jelani Dixon

John Edward Dixon

Dominic K. Dorwart

Michael Edelen

Jasemine Marie Edison

Jonathan Edward Ehrmantraut

James Alexander Ervin

Emily Grace Farrell

Kyle James Ganley

Tanner Evan George

Christian Michael Giovacchini

Mackenzie Alyssa Gorczyca

Joni Monet Gordon

Madeleine Goul

Dorian Dwight Grubb

Giovanni Guadagnoli

Chloë Elisabeth Guerre

Liam James Haley

Nina Betty Hardy

Marcus Joel Hargrove

Alex Lorraine Hayes

Matthew Stuart Herbert

Caroline Maria Herdlick

Daniel Joseph Herdlick

Ashley Sabrina Holmes

Natalie Grace Holson

Robert Howard III

Garret James Hudson

Cydnei Simone Ivory

Brandon Miles Jefferson

Teodora Jeremic

Breanna Grace Johnson

Sydney Dione Johnson

Cameron Amaré Jones

Madisyn Blair Jones

Elle Jubeck

Emma A. Kelley

Timothy Breandan Kelly

Zaid Khan

Cole Patrick Vincent Kingsbury

Christian Isaiah Levy

Kendall Alexander Liverpool

Isabella Rose Longmore

Eduardo López López

April Lee Luzano

Giselle Kathleen Maldonado

John Michael F. Manato

Beth A. Mancini

Victor J. Mancini Jr.

Suri Gizelle Martinez Gallegos

Xavier Andre McKinney

Kaleb Tsegaye Mehari

Taylor Christina Mills

Adam John Mittelstaedt

Colton James Moffitt

Julian Alexander Moore

Matthew Eric Morris

James Maurice Morton III

Michael Damian Motisko

John P. Mullery

Michael Charles Nadzadi

Mekhi Alexander Neal

Garrett Ryan Nelson

Natalie Christine Nichols

Aimilia Ntara

Nasir Aniedi Ntewo

Emmanuel Oyewale Obe Jr.

James Eamon O’Hara

Adeyemi Jaden

Olawande Ojomo II

Junyan Ou

Brigid Faye Parkinson

Camden Alexis Parlett

Paige E. Parquette

Dillon Michael Peed

Nathan Anthony Penn II

Catherine Marie Pensenstadler

Clara Phuong Pham

Jameson Thomas Pierpont

Lyndon Charlie Porter

Reagan Pyles

Joseph L. Raddatz

Sarah Elizabeth Redding

Jaxon L. Rhea

Jayla Renee Ring

Hannah Paige Rison

Noah Aaron Rogers

Samantha Peyton Rutherford

Nathan Joseph Schiavoni

Maura Schmeiser

Olivia Marie Schreyer

Matthew Thomas Seep

Jesse Matthew Simmons

Noel Summer Simmons

Harris Jacqueline Smith

Kadan Leo Smith

Jacob William Spence

Zachary Charles Stickney

Joshua Strong

Patrick Joseph Surfus

Alina Rose Sweeney

Petr Ivan Theriault

Mallory Evelyn Thompson

Naterrah P. Tyson

Marissa Van Meter

Sophia Elizabeth Vignola

Luke Okeimute

Norbert Weilke

Margaret Suzanne Williams

Caitlyn Francilia Wirth

Elizabeth Anne Wood

Tyler Keith Wood

Andrew Woodland-Baer

Elijah Wynn

Isaiah Wynn

Kyia Kaye Young

18 St. Mary’s Ryken Class of 2024 graduates have parents who are SMR Alumni. Thank you for continuing the legacy of Catholic education!

Top row from left: Paul Haley ’94, Liam Haley ’24, Betsy Stabler Farrell ’88, Emily Farrell ’24, Sarah Redding ’24, James Redding ’95, Isabella Longmore ’24, Chris Longmore ’89 / 3rd row from left: Charlotte Greer Broughton ’88, Brendon Broughton ’24, Jaden Arnold ’24, Jesse Simmons ’24, Mary Hall Simmons ’83, Brigid Parkinson ’24, Tracey Cullins Jubeck ’88 / 2nd row from left: Sandy Kolwey Adams ’86, Bridget Wunder Arnold ’94, Christa Cronan Hayes ’93, Christopher Williams ’86, Jon Spence ’94, Jacob Spence ’24, Scott Parkinson ’86, Elle Jubeck ’24 / 1st row from left: Susan Biscoe Parlett ’96, Camden Parlett ’24, Samuel Adams ’24, Alex Hayes ’24, Margaret Williams ’24, Hannah Rison ’24, William Rison ’84, Amanda Guy Schiavoni ’93, Nathan Schiavoni ’24, Neil Jubek ’84

Welcome to the Class of 2028!

HouseOpen

Presidential

Jacob Crane

Zachary Greer

Luke Harms

Haley Hermann

Paul Savvas

Tejas Suri

Dylan Wilkinson

Kaleb Wingenter

Principal

Cameron Bowles

Jeremiah Douglas

Helen Geary

Karl Grey

Jayden Harris

Mark Ryan Sabado

Henry Selwood

Anna Tritschler

Thomas Weaver

Amelia Wiesert

Christopher Williams

Leadership

Sepporah Amanuel

Evan Chadwick

Nathanael Corbin

Jacob Crane

Zachary Greer

Chase Hayden

Emma Mabrey

Cora Pilkerton

Samantha Ramthun

Zoe Romero

Aubrey Rossignol

Paul Savvas

Evan Sola

Charles Steele

Natalie Stevens

Anna Tritschler

Kaleb Wingenter

Instrumental

Morgan Barnes

Anthony Ching

Riley Cumberlander

Finley Downey

Grace Hankinson

Taylor Ingram

Elise McDonald

Madison Rueda

Joshua Rhei Sabado

Mark Ryan Sabado

Paul Savvas

Kallie Shlagel

Christopher Williams

Piano

Karlei Shae Carlos

Nathanael Corbin

Theatre

Grace Hankinson

Haley Hermann

Emma Mabrey

Elise McDonald

Zoe Romero

Visual Art

Abigail Frantom

Sadie Posey

Samantha Ramthun

Amelia Wiesert

Ocean Williams

Vocal

Haley Hermann

Emma Mabrey

Zoe Romero

Blaine Whorl

Memorial Scholarship

Evan Chadwick

Joseph Donald

Emma Willmore

Community Service

Samuel Armsworthy

Emma Mabrey

Samantha Ramthun

Charles Steele

Natalie Stevens

Anna Tritschler

Emma Willmore

Laurie Collins

Memorial Scholarship

Brandon Aguila

Sepporah Amanuel

St. Thérèse

Brandon Aguila

Angela Eddy

Henry Selwood

Henry Selwood with his parents, Jennifer and Simon, and future Knight siblings, Elizabeth and George

SMR by the Numbers

INTERSTATE

2,687

miles from SMR is the farthest a 2024 graduate will go to attend college (Santa Monica College, CA)

$1,596,312 the highest amount of scholarship dollars offered to a 2024 graduate

18 Class of 2024 graduates are children of alumni

11 SMR employees are also SMR alumni

155 students had a sibling attending SMR in 2023-24

In March, the 2nd annual Athletics Give Day raised more than $70,000 from 600 gifts to support the studentathlete experience

2,009 donations to SMR by 979 donors in 2023-24

24 alumni presenters participated in the SMR Student Career Day in February

77 current parents are SMR alumni

1,500 delicious chocolate chip cookies are baked and served monthly in the Campus Cafe (which is balanced out by 1,000 cups of fresh fruit!)

84 families had two or more children attend SMR in 2023-24

Two Honorees Presented With Prestigious Theodore Ryken Award

Diane Kestler and Brad Chamberlain were recognized at a schoolwide Mass for their dedication to the Xaverian mission.

The Theodore James Ryken Award recognizes an adult member of the school community who, by their commitment and dedication, lives the mission of the Xaverian charism of education and strives:

To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to participate in the school’s community of faith and to nurture members of the community, to be committed to academic excellence and to recognize the talents of individuals, to recognize the importance of educating the whole person, to fulfill the Gospel call to peace and justice.

Diane Kestler

Diane has served the St. Mary’s Ryken community for over 16 years as our chief financial officer. Before SMR, she served in the banking industry for 20 years. Notably, she was the CFO of Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, where she orchestrated the merger of three banks without affecting daily business operations and managed investment portfolios, budgeting, audits, and financial forecasting. Diane is well respected in the St. Mary’s Ryken community and exemplifies our values as a Xaverian Sponsored School.

Sharon Mattingly, who has worked with Diane for over 20 years, says she “is the most compassionate person I know. She goes to great lengths to support her staff and our parents with compassion, zeal, trust and simplicity. Diane lives these values daily in her personal as well as her professional life.”

Leisa Barrett, who has worked with Diane for 11 years, says she “embodies the best characteristics of a leader. In addition to her exceptional work ethic, she is humble, patient, supportive, generous and compassionate.”

President Emeritus Mary Joy Hurlburt said, “Diane was instrumental in helping to lay the groundwork for us to secure financial funding. Diane did incredible work in financial projections, data analysis and complex financial readiness for our transactions for the major campus revisions that were part of our strategic campus master plan. This work spanned from the

MIL Family field stadium, Paschal Hall STEM renovations, and upgrades in Romuald Hall, Rupert Hall and Xavier Hall. She once again was back to the spreadsheets in making the Donnie Williams Center a reality. This work could not have been accomplished without her leadership.”

“Diane is a faith-centered person who has a heartbeat for the success of St. Mary’s Ryken. She is someone that I have the utmost faith in making the right decisions for SMR,” said SMR President Rick Wood. “Faith is the highest form of trust, and I have always put faith in Diane Kestler to steer the financial ship of St. Mary’s Ryken.”

From left: Principal Catherine Bowes ’81, Brad Chamberlain, Diane Kestler and President Rick Wood

Diane Kestler with her husband Mark

Brad Chamberlain

Brad has served the St. Mary’s Ryken community for over eight years as the dean of academics. “Compassion, humility, simplicity, trust, zeal are our lived Xaverian values,” said Principal Catherine Bowes. “In talking about one of our two Theodore James Ryken Award winners, I’m going to propose, that in his honor, we pencil in a sixth value — keep reading to learn what it is later on!”

Student Cydnei Ivory said, “Dean Chamberlain was one of the most influential adults in my life during high school. He believed in me and always pushed me to do my best.”

Brian Loewe, director of Facilities Rentals and Intramural Sports, said, “Brad is a true professional in his role as dean of academics. He is motivated daily by the academic challenges and successes of SMR students.”

Math chairwoman Stephanie Robey said, “It has been a great comfort to know that

he has my back and will offer every support he can to find solutions to myriad issues.”

School counseling chairwoman Christine Jaffurs described him as fair, professional, kind and compassionate.

School counselor David “Butch” Hamilton noted, “He can blend accountability and

compassion that very few people can do and do authentically.”

Jason DeLucco, dean of faculty and student development, said, “He always makes you feel comfortable and at ease in any professional setting, but always maintains such a high level of professionalism while doing it.”

In discussions regarding the incorporation of a sixth value, Brad’s sense of humor emerged prominently. During interviews, individuals often highlighted his comedic nature, labeling him as “hilarious” and “entertaining,” and even likened him to a stand-up comic. Butch went as far as to suggest that meetings served as a platform for Brad to test his jokes on the attendees.

Considering the Xaverian Brothers’ profound understanding of the daily triumphs and tribulations of human existence, and their reverence for the ordinary rhythm of everyday life, some propose the inclusion of “humor” as our sixth value. This proposition is a tribute to Dean Chamberlain’s legacy and his embodiment of this quality.

Ms. Holly Kaufmann, together with her students, were surprised by a visit from members of the leadership of the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools office. Ms. Kaufmann was awarded the Golden Apple for excellence in teaching religion.

Congratulations, Ms. Kaufmann! Two other SMR alumnae were also presented Golden Apple awards. Congratulations to Allie Harper ‘13, a fifth-grade teacher at St. John’s School and Josephine McFillin Keeton ‘02, a second-grade teacher at Little Flower School.

Brad Chamberlain with his daughters Sydney ’21 and Eleanor and wife Melanie

Congratulations to Aaron Percich and Clara Hayward, 2024 Archdiocese of Washington Teachers of the Year

Dr. Aaron Percich is Veteran Teacher of the Year.

Aaron is a graduate of Villanova University, where he earned his M.S. in Liberal Studies, and West Virginia University, where he earned his Ph.D. in English. He is in his fifth year teaching at SMR, teaching African American Literature and Medieval and Modern Humanities. In addition to his faculty position in the SMR English department, Aaron previously led our theology courses, teaching Moral Theology and Social Ethics.

Aaron leads discussion-based classes that encourage students to engage with the text to uncover the author’s meaning. Aaron collaborates yearly with an SMR colleague to provide adult education courses open to the greater community as well as the SMR community. Topics like “Being Human” and “Why Beauty Matters” provide an opportunity for fellowship around Catholic thought.

Aaron leads SMR’s Knights for Life organization.

The group supports local organizations supporting the choice of life and participates in the annual March for Life.

“…the students genuinely care about each other, and that feeds into the classroom, where their dedication and openness to each other allow for authentic engagement…”

Of his work, Aaron says, “I feel incredibly blessed to work at St. Mary’s Ryken as an English Literature teacher. I have a reputation for teaching difficult literary works, yet that does not deter students from taking my classes. On a near daily basis, I am truly and pleasantly taken aback by just how many students can work

through the difficulty to offer truly thoughtful and incisive comments about the literature. In addition, the students genuinely care about each other, and that feeds into the classroom, where their dedication and openness to each other allow for an authentic engagement with education, literature, and the ideas that matter most. They also involve me as the teacher in that care, and what comes out is a very Catholic environment in which the intellectual, social, and essentially human can develop and truly flourish. I not only get to teach great literature at St. Mary’s Ryken, but I do so with a truly great group of young men and women that is unlike any other school I have been at before.”

Clara Hayward is Novice Teacher of the Year.

In only her third year, Clara has contributed to doubled enrollment in our fine arts courses, advocated for the enhancement of our ceramics space and equipment, begun the SMR chapter of the National Art Honor Society, and stewarded our fine arts students to giving their time and talents to the larger community, in activities such as Leonardtown’s First Fridays and art installations to honor Leonardtown lynching victim Benjamin Hance. She has introduced our students to plein-air painting, and her painting classes can often be found outside of her classroom on a hill overlooking the lower fields and Breton Bay.

Clara is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts/ Painting and Printmaking. She is currently pursuing teacher certification through Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is a skilled artist, working in ceramics, drawing with dry materials, watercolor, plein-air acrylic painting, abstract

collage, and creating art with found materials. Clara’s art has been shown at the North End Gallery in Leonardtown.

Clara believes that “self-expression is a vital aspect of the personal growth of young people.” I encourage students to channel unwanted emotions

“Self-expression is a vital aspect of the personal growth of young people.”

into cathartic works of art. I work with students to achieve present-moment awareness to reduce anxiety and improve their artistic skills via specific art processes and breathing techniques.”

Of her membership on the faculty of SMR, Clara says “I have reconnected with my Catholic heritage.”

Thomas Loker ’73: Pioneering Innovation in Business and Healthcare

He is a global business consultant, entrepreneur and author who has never lost sight that human beings, not businesses, are what matters.

Back at Ryken High School in the 1970s, Thomas developed a passion for science under the mentorship of Brothers Philip Spoelker and Romuald Steudle. “These mentors did more than just teach me scientific concepts; they ignited in me a lifelong desire to learn, comprehend and utilize my knowledge for greater purposes,” Thomas said. “This desire has been a guiding force in my life, pushing me to not only better myself but also to contribute positively to the world around me.”

After initial successes in the tech field with Epson, ComputerLand and others, Thomas co-founded a consulting firm to guide entrepreneurs from around the world across a multitude of industries.

Later, as the chief operating officer of healthcare management company Ramsell Corp., which manages public-funded healthcare benefits for low-income and underserved populations, Thomas was deeply involved in helping to improve the lives of HIV/AIDS patients. “The healthcare industry’s claim of ‘patientcentered’ care was far from reality,” he said, so he spearheaded an initiative to change that.

“We developed a system that not only centered on the patient but also streamlined care coordination and benefits across various sources,” he said. “This approach effectively reduced duplicate payments, fraud and system abuse, while establishing a central communication hub for patients, providers, payers and facilitators. This hub significantly cut costs and enhanced care efficiency.”

He wrote a book on the subject, available on Amazon.com: “The History and Evolution of Healthcare in America: The Untold Backstory of Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Why Healthcare Needs Reform.”

The Ramsell initiative planted the seed for his current project, Individual Centricity Corp., or IC-Corp. But that was put on hold when, in June 2018, he suffered a catastrophic heart attack. Doctors were writing down his time of death when his heart spontaneously started to beat again. The near-death experience led him to consider the legacy he wanted to build with his second shot at life.

He put his efforts into Individual Centricity, which, as the name implies, aims to place individuals, not enterprises, at the center of digital transactions. Thomas is the founder and CEO of the California-based startup. At the heart of IC-Corp. is an innovation called 1TrueU, which blends biometric, behavioral and environmental data through a smartphone app to generate a “confidence index” that ensures security and ease of use for individual users.

“I strongly advocate for the idea that individuals should own their data,” Thomas said. “In the digital world we are building with IC-Corp., users have the power to control access to their data, challenging the traditional dynamics where tech giants primarily benefit from user information.” By avoiding central storage of personal information and relying on contextually aware behavior for user identification, IC-Corp. aims to drastically reduce data breach risks.

He sees IC-Corp.’s technologies having a broad impact across healthcare, retail, finance and government sectors, bringing about more secure, efficient and personalized digital interactions in each.

Throughout his varied career, Thomas said, “there has not been one instance, one event, where the things I learned in St. Mary’s County and Ryken High School did not become a key part of my path. My skills, ability to apply myself in almost any situation, my fortitude, faith and strength are all directly attributable to what I learned in these halls, rivers, bays and woods.”

“In every major role I have assumed in various companies, I have endeavored to weave the values and principles I absorbed at Ryken into the fabric of each organization’s culture. The impact of Ryken on my life is profound and enduring, guiding my actions and decisions in a multitude of ways.”

From High School Honors to Community Pillar: The Inspiring Journey of Susan Lawrence Dyer ’74

Once upon a time … in 1974, a St. Mary’s Academy student named Susan Lawrence was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” This graduation designation was grounded in her tenure as an honors student, member of the National Honor Society and Student Government, actor, Glee Club member, and ultimately, Class of 1974 valedictorian.

At SMA, Susan was co-editor of the school paper with Cathy Longobardi Williams ’74. This job was her first experience in managing processes and deadlines and bringing together people with diverse skill sets to do great things. “I received a great education at St. Mary’s Academy, giving me a solid foundation for what was to come next.”

Susan is the oldest of six children who attended St. Mary’s Academy, Ryken High School or St. Mary’s Ryken in the 1970s and 1980s. She credits her family, her Academy family and the Leonardtown community with supporting her adventurous spirit and fostering a strong sense of belonging and connection. With that came a sense of accountability and responsibility to achieve, but also to give back.

Susan attended Towson University, majoring in mathematics and taking an abundance of computer science classes. Through this coursework, she developed a keen interest in being part of the coming IT revolution, leveraging technology to accomplish things previously thought impossible.

After college, Susan began working at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, a part of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). NAVAIR is a leader in innovation for naval aviation. NAVAIR provides the Navy and Marines with capabilities they need to accomplish missions and return home safely. This role gave Susan the sense that she was doing something for the greater good.

Her impressive career with the Navy spanned more than three decades working locally, as well as across the country in Rhode Island, California, Hawaii, Virginia and Texas. Throughout this time, Susan managed evolutionary industry changes, making strides for the advancement of technology within the Navy. In her many roles, she worked with such industry leaders as Apple, Microsoft, Oracle and Cisco to leverage their technologies on behalf of the Navy.

Susan served in many positions, including as chief information officer of the Naval Air Systems Command and the Navy’s technical director of Navy Enterprise Resource Planning, where she led a 600-person team of engineers, technologists and business professionals to deliver a Navy-wide integrated financial, logistics, supply, human resources and project management system.

Susan spent 10 years of her 34-year career as a member of the Navy’s Senior Executive Service. She says, “It was an honor to be a part of the Navy’s tremendously diverse and important mission.” Among her most prestigious awards and recognitions are the Navy’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and the Government Computer News “Woman of the Year in Technology.”

With their retirement from the Navy came careful consideration about where she and her husband, Vice Adm. Joseph W. Dyer, would live. They ultimately decided to return to Leonardtown simply because “it has always felt like home.”

With a passion for enabling an exceptional education for all students that started at SMA, Susan now serves as chair of the Board of Trustees for St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Since 2013, Susan has served as a board director for the St. Mary’s County Historical Society. “Understanding our past so that we better understand our world today is an important part of our mission,” she said.

Several years ago, Susan and husband Joe partnered with friends to buy a building on the Square in downtown Leonardtown. One of the partners is SMA classmate and friend Debbie Breck Mummaugh ’74 and her husband Mike. Together, the friends opened Sweetbay Restaurant & Bar. Susan says, “I never thought I would be a restaurant owner.” Four years later, she credits Sweetbay’s success to the community who supported the restaurant through the pandemic that hit just after it opened. “To contribute to the revitalization of our wonderful small town is so rewarding. We love being part of this community.”

What started with a yearbook superlative fitting only of a fairy tale, ends just a few miles away in St. Mary’s County with a happily ever after for Susan, Joe and the Leonardtown community. St. Mary’s

Michelle Radez ’91: Embracing Heritage, History and Entrepreneurship Through The Vintage Source

With deep roots in the Southern Maryland community that span nearly four centuries, Michelle Radez is no stranger to the beauty found in history. Michelle is part of a long legacy at St. Mary’s Ryken. Her father and uncles graduated from Ryken High School, and her aunt attended St. Mary’s Academy. Michelle and her five brothers’ tenure at SMR spanned nearly a decade in the 1980s-’90s.

Michelle was a three-sport studentathlete. She remembers clearly how SMR encouraged students to manage their schedules, schoolwork, extracurricular activities and free time, and attributes this environment to her success in college, as well as to navigating her winding life path.

Throughout her childhood and teen years, Michelle spent summers with her mother traveling around to various antique stores developing an eye for finding the beauty in items that were once important to people. Ultimately, as a high school student, Michelle took a part-time job at Traditions of Loveville, the area’s local antique shop at the time. At St. Mary’s Ryken, she took as many art classes as she could. She recalls, “I wasn’t adept at all types of art, but I liked the freedom, and really, each class just opens your mind up to new ideas, which in turn helps provide future direction and the courage to try new things and have new experiences.”

After SMR, Michelle majored in elementary education with a biology minor at Salisbury University. Even in college, she continued her hobby, riding eight miles on her bicycle to the nearest antique store. After graduating, Michelle taught fourth grade on an Indian reservation in Montana, ultimately landing a position closer to home teaching environmental education to elementary

and middle school students on a working farm in Accokeek, Maryland.

Her time on the farm required Michelle to attend auctions to buy supplies for the farm. It seemed like her life, at every turn, revolved around her passion for antiques and vintage items.

Marriage and motherhood brought Michelle back to her father’s construction business. She continued her love for reclaiming vintage items as a hobby, and after some time, felt empowered to take this passion to the next level, embarking on a journey to breathe life into her passion for the past. With a heart full of dreams and a keen eye for timeless treasures, she opened her very own vintage shop on the same road where she grew up. The Vintage Source is an enchanting haven for those who, like her, find solace in the stories woven into the fabric of yesteryear and the intricate craftsmanship of bygone eras.

Just like the unique Southern Maryland community it serves, The Vintage Source is different from traditional antique shops. Michelle invites local vendors to sell their treasures at her location. With four permanent vendors, five rotating vendors and being open just one weekend each month, The Vintage Source is a store and a social experience. Visitors can find beautifully refurbished antiques, handcrafted holiday decorations and even home-made baked goods, along with friendly faces of the proud designers and other lovers of beautiful things.

For Michelle, The Vintage Source provides an opportunity to combine artistic vision with physical labor. She says, “I learned growing up the importance of how a home feels. My parents raised us with a sense of pride in our home. I strive to provide the local community an affordable way to make their homes look and feel beautiful while also revitalizing pieces that were once valued by someone else.” In her own home, she chooses mostly vintage items: sofas, chairs, rugs, dishes, art, and more. She understands this style is not for everyone. “Having a few vintage pieces, mixed in with traditional retail purchases, fills a space with personality, your personality.”

Recently, her entrepreneurial spirit took hold again when Michelle and her husband made a big lifestyle change in order to turn another dream into reality. They sold their home and purchased an 1840s property in downtown Leonardtown that had been turned into residential and retail units. Together, they rehabbed the apartments and started a brewery in this same building. Everyday Saint Brewhouse beers are currently at eight bars locally. They are now working on their taproom at that location.

Michelle at The Vintage Source, Compton, MD

From Piano Passion to International Music Expert: The Musical Journey of Jamie Bullock ’93

The Class of 1993 may know Jamie Bullock as the guy who was always behind the piano. In music homeroom freshman year, he serenaded the girls every morning on Mr. Romano’s grand piano. He was often asked to play at the talent shows, at Mass, and wherever else he was needed. He played other instruments, too — Mr. Romano cajoled him into picking up the French horn for the band ensemble, and he ended up playing it all four years at SMR; he taught himself the keyboard, as well as acoustic and electric guitar; and he sings. But piano is where his heart is.

Jamie grew up in a musical family and has been playing piano since age 7. His father, Jerry “Byx” Bullock, owned Bullock’s Music and crossed paths with just about every musician in Southern Maryland at some point in the 50 years he owned it.

After graduating high school, Jamie studied music at Virginia Tech. That’s where his interest in music became a career choice. Along with a friend, he formed a funk rock band called FunkyP and played all over town. “After the first gig with them,” Jamie said, “my whole outlook changed, and I knew I wanted to be in music forever.”

After college, he moved to Los Angeles for 12 years, where he collaborated with several other bands, recording albums and racking up music awards. He even dabbled in TV for a minute (acting, co-writing and producing TV pilots), and he composed music for commercials, music videos and short films.

Then his career hopped the pond to London, where he used his keyboarding expertise to help the Rhodes music company redesign and market its groundbreaking electric piano. As anyone in music knows, the Rhodes piano was responsible for the

revolutionary sound of so many artists in the 1970s and beyond.

The redesigned Mark 7 piano “is an amazing invention with very specific electromechanical nuances,” including USB MIDI capabilities, Jamie said. “This had never been done before, and it was awesome!” However, it had some kinks, so Jamie and his team set to work on the next generation, the Mark 8. “The Mark 8 is the highest level of electromechanical piano ever invented. I absolutely love it and am very proud of what it sounds like and what it can do.”

While promoting the Rhodes piano, he says he has “spent the last two years meeting some of the greatest keyboardists and musicians of our time from all over the world.”

One of his favorite anecdotes is from when he was staffing the Rhodes sales booth at a major music trade show in California. Stevie Wonder, the Motown singer-songwriterproducer, is a regular at this annual convention and usually sets up 5-minute appointments with certain vendors; Rhodes wasn’t one of them. But when Jamie saw him and his entourage, Jamie ran through the crowd and convinced Stevie to give the Rhodes Mark 7 a try. After all, Stevie had used the earlier Rhodes models.

“Much to my delight, he came over, and I actually held his hands to show him where all the new controls were. He then ripped into many of his famous tunes. Instead of 5 minutes, he stayed for 40 minutes. The crowd went nuts. It was a great day. He has since come back 10 years later and played in our booth on the Mark 8 as well!”

Jamie has also worked with jazz musician Herbie Hancock and other giants in the music industry. As if that’s not enough of a

perk, Jamie is making the most of living in Europe with his wife Lara Beers (a singer), son Jackson and daughter Lola. “London is a vibrant city, and it is impossible to get bored,” he said. “I read there are an average of 17,000 shows a year in London. That’s like 46 shows a night.”

Indeed, Jamie says that musicians have to wear many hats. “You can no longer just focus on your craft. You have to be able to advertise yourself, promote, schedule, perform, account balance, work with venues, sound engineers, fans, create content, know computers, learn sound engineering, invest in gear, and oftentimes supplement your income in other areas. It never ends.”

To that end, he wants to encourage everyone to support local music. “Go to shows, buy the records and the merch,” he said. “A little goes a long way.”

Jamie at The Royal Albert Hall in London after setting up a Rhodes Mark 8 for the band Ezra Collective

Ryan Crecelius ’01 Found His Rhythm

For Ryan Crecelius, slow and steady wins the race. When he started his first real estate brokerage company at age 27, he had no outside help or investors. He learned the business (right after college) one deal at a time, sought advice and went for it.

“Each dollar spent had to be stretched, especially in the early stages,” said the SMR Class of 2001 graduate. “However, as an entrepreneur, I’m pretty comfortable taking certain risks to grow the company — but they have to be calculated risks.”

In 2014, he started a new venture, Nest Realty, with three locations in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area. Last year Nest Wilmington did more than $300 million in sales with a team of about 50 brokers.

“I have two basic philosophies: 1) Your reputation is something you can never buy back. When it’s gone, it’s gone. So, I protect mine by doing right by the people I do business with. 2) While it’s not a catchy buzzword nowadays, ‘consistency’ is crucial. It shows people you are dedicated. Find something you are interested in, stick with it, and build it up. People will notice, and word will spread.”

What sets his company apart, Ryan says, is that he views Nest as a marketing firm that specializes in real estate. “We’re not just a sales organization. We spend a tremendous amount of time creating highly professional and creative marketing to not only promote our properties but also our brokers.” For example, Nest just launched

a “Find Your Rhythm” ad campaign that highlights its brokers in a unique way. (Visit www.nesthasrhythm.com for a peek.)

“Hiring quality staff and managers has also been an important part of that growth. When brokers — and clients — hear you have a well-run organization, it attracts people,” he said.

Ryan’s grandfather, an accomplished businessman who invested wisely in real estate through the course of his lifetime, was a big influence on his career choice. Ryan remembers riding around with him when he was young and visiting commercial properties he owned or was building. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever — taking something from the ground up. Additionally, there was a sense of pride in ownership he had that I would later learn to be a big driver for me.”

Ryan bought his first investment property while still in college. He’s glad he started so young because he feels like he’s gained “a lifetime of knowledge, which I intend to keep building on.”

The real estate industry is “probably one of the most dynamic — and important — industries out there. So many facets go into a transaction — construction, finance, law, insurance, negotiations, technology,” he said. “It certainly has its challenges, though. … As they say, it’s not a done deal until it’s done.”

He says he has “a thousand favorite memories” at St. Mary’s Ryken, but a few that come to mind was time spent with his brother Daniel, who was a year younger, and his wrestling coach (now SMR president), Rick Wood. Being at SMR, which was not too small and not too large — “It felt just right” — “helped me be around a variety of people, many of whom I’m still good friends with today. I believe the SMR environment helped keep me well-rounded, which was essential in my career path.”

President Rick Wood with Ryan at Nest Realty in Wilmington, N.C.

Katrina Ablen ’06: From Navy Service to Global Diplomacy

Through the U.S. Navy, Katrina Ablen ’06 has been able to see the world and learn invaluable skills, but she was indebted to the service long before she joined.

Her father, a Filipino national, joined the Navy under the Military Bases Agreement of 1947, which allowed him and his wife to immigrate to the United States and start a family. He served a full career in the Navy. “If it wasn’t for my parents’ sacrifices, my siblings and I may not have had the opportunities and privileges we were afforded,” Katrina said. “I believed it was my duty to give back, which is how I followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy.”

Katrina was commissioned as a surface warfare officer via the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and served on two guided missile destroyers. She completed tours in South Korea and Japan as well as deploying to the Middle East. She found the job very demanding but “incredibly rewarding to learn that I can overcome what I thought were personal and professional limitations and excel,” she said. She is proud of being able to work with her peers to solve problems and “to direct cross-functional teams to drive a warship and navigate competing demands to safely and effectively accomplish a mission.”

One of the best perks of the job was having an amazing view of the stars, and the sunrises and sunsets over the ocean. She said “it is the wonder of nature at its finest.”

In 2017, Katrina transitioned from active duty to the Reserves and is now working as a liaison officer to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on behalf of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet based in Japan.

Her husband, Tim, is also a surface warfare officer, and they moved to Japan almost five years ago when he received orders there.

They expect to be relocated in 2025 to an undetermined duty station.

As a liaison officer, she focuses on overcoming institutional, cultural and social barriers to increase interoperability between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF. She was once asked by the Japan Ministry of Defense to be a guest speaker in a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) webinar about her experiences as a female Asian-American in the U.S. Navy. It was the first time they had asked a foreign officer to participate in such a forum.

Despite missing family and friends in the States — she has not been able to visit in more than four years — Katrina loves living in Japan. The vast transportation network makes it easy to explore the country, and she particularly loves the culture of drinking tea.

Her mentor at St. Mary’s Ryken, theology teacher Patrick Farrell, introduced her to international relations when they attended a School Connectivity Project conference in Macedonia. “It was an incredible experience and included many firsts — my first time in Europe, first international trip without my parents, first academic-related travel,” she said. “I felt privileged to represent the U.S. but also to have learned about a part of the world that seemed to only have fleeting coverage in high school textbooks.”

“Although the new generation of SMR graduates have not been blessed with knowing him, I am certain that Mr. Farrell continues to watch over the school and the students from above,” she said. (Mr. Farrell passed away in 2012.)

Katrina says two main things at St. Mary’s Ryken helped prepare her for her career: the classes and the people. “I think the relatively small student size per class was an important contributor to the quality of my education,” she said. “My teachers also pushed me to do my best and demanded quality work, which are two things I continue to try to deliver as I move through my career.”

She says she was also lucky to have had a core group of friends, with whom she remains close today. “Together we tackled the material and leaned on and supported each other as we advanced. No matter the stage in life, the people I surround myself with remain a prerequisite for success.”

Katrina is pictured with colleagues from the Japan Maritime SelfDefense Force. She is currently serving as a liaison officer to the force’s fleet headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan.

Mary’s Ryken

Daniele McGraw’s Journey as Caregiver and Fairy Godmother Advocate

The 2007 SMR grad’s life changed in April 2020 when her 3-year-old son Grady was diagnosed with leukemia.

“Receiving the news that your child has cancer is life-altering. The person you were before that day no longer exists,” Daniele said. She immediately had to figure out how to navigate hospital stays, traveling to clinics, administering chemotherapy and medications at home, all while trying to focus on their sick child.

Eight days after receiving Grady’s diagnosis, a fairy godmother arrived. Actually, it was a call from the executive director of the Fairy Godmother Project (FGP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to easing the burden of day-to-day life for families facing pediatric cancer.

Daniele learned that FGP would be sending her family gas and grocery gift cards; craft activities and snack bags for

Grady; support services like house cleaning, lawn care and meals; and financial assistance for the duration of Grady’s treatment. What sets the Fairy Godmother Project apart from other cancer-related nonprofits is that the program focuses on the well-being of the caregivers. With that in mind, they offer monthly support groups and weekend retreats for caregivers, mentor connections and volunteers who check in monthly, in addition to the financial assistance.

“Naturally, caregivers get lost in caring for their child and forget to care for themselves,” Daniele said. “FGP understands this. It was FGP that helped me feel grounded in this new life I was living.”

Daniele’s fairy tale brought a happy ending. On July 2, 2022, 793 days after his diagnosis, Grady took his last dose of chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free. He continues to get checked every other month, but he is a healthy, happy and active child.

To learn more about the Fairy Godmother Project and how you can support, visit fgpinfo.org

The Fairy Godmother Project carried her through her son’s cancer journey, Daniele said, and “today I support them in any way that I am able.” She attends their “remission mom retreats” and provides support to active treatment moms. Grady is involved in their annual art project that is an auction item at their annual fundraising event. In September 2023, she was the guest speaker at their main fundraising event, the Stardust Ball, where they raised over $200,000 to support pediatric cancer families. “I’m not sure where we would have been without FGP’s support,” Daniele said, “so anytime they ask anything of me, my answer is always yes.”

Daniele has had a successful career in the insurance industry for 12 years, but she dreams of becoming a fairy godmother herself for FGP or owning her own nonprofit.

St. Mary’s Ryken taught her about the importance of building connections. “Our school was small, our graduating class was even smaller, and everyone knew one another,” the Class of 2007 alum said. “I’ve carried this small-town feel with me in my professional and personal life.” She and her partner, Patrick, live with Grady and their daughter, Sunnie, in a tiny Virginia town.

In September 2023, Daniele was the guest speaker at the main Fairy Godmother Project fundraising event, the Stardust Ball, where they raised over $200,000 to support pediatric cancer families.

Jennifer Pietsch Vick ’12, an Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist

After graduating from SMR, Jennifer attended The Ohio State University, where she studied animal science with minors in equine science and disability studies. She also was on the horse judging and western equestrian teams. (They were the national champions in 2014!)

After college, she was certified as a therapeutic riding instructor and began teaching individuals with a variety of developmental and/or physical disabilities at a therapeutic riding center. Jennifer also worked as the center’s barn manager,

overseeing the care and management of about 30 horses, worked with a vocational training program for at-risk youth from the local high school, and helped develop and implement an equine-assisted services program for military members and veterans.

Concurrently, she worked on her master’s degree in social work at Ohio State.

In 2018, she was certified by Eagala, the Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association, to provide equine-assisted psychotherapy. “I completed my Master of Social Work degree in 2019, became a licensed social worker, and transitioned

into a role as a mental health therapist and equine specialist, providing ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy.” She has worked with individuals of all ages as well as school groups, substance abuse groups, and veterans groups. She worked extensively with Save a Warrior, an intensive program for veterans and first responders with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and in 2021 she was designated a military services provider through Eagala. Jennifer recently obtained full licensure as an independent social worker in Ohio. She lives in central Ohio with her husband, James, and their corgis, Luke and Leia.

Jennifer with her husband, James

Pastor and Psychotherapist Nicholas Young ’13 Is Empowering Minds and Hearts

Nicholas Young’s zest for empathy and compassion has led him down varied career paths since graduating from St. Mary’s Ryken in 2013, all with the same goal of offering mental and spiritual support to those in need. He has become a pastor, a psychotherapist and a military chaplain, and has just published a book that helps young children navigate their emotions.

In all these different roles, he can guide others through rough patches, as his mentors once did for him.

At SMR, when he was struggling in AP Literature, teacher Kathy Barnes’ “kindness, patience, and belief in my potential were pivotal,” Nicholas said. “It was a moment of true educational compassion that underscored the supportive nature of the SMR community. This experience not only helped me graduate but also left a lasting impression on the importance of empathetic teaching and personal investment in students’ success.”

John Olon’s “inspiring faith and unwavering righteousness had a profound impact on me” as well, Nicholas said of his philosophy and religion teacher. “His guidance during my journey from adolescence to young adulthood, especially as I navigated personal issues and was confirmed into the Catholic faith, was invaluable. Though I am Baptist now, his teachings have stuck with me, echoing in my sermons and in my ministry. He — along with Father Scott (Woods), Mr. Luke Young, Mrs. LeeAnne Carr, Mrs. Angie Thompson, and Deacon Ken Scheiber — played a critical role in shaping my life’s path.”

After graduating from Morehouse College with honors, Nicholas earned a master’s degree in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he researched suicide among black youth. Concurrently, he pursued another master’s in clinical social

work at Rutgers University, focusing on child welfare and well-being.

“These experiences enriched my understanding of complex social issues and honed my skills in pastoral care and social work,” Nicholas said.

He served as a youth pastor for two years in Maryland before being elected assistant pastor of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist church in Washington, D.C. He is the youngest to have ever served as a pastor there. In April, Nick accepted a position as the associate pastor of St. Paul A.U.M.P. Church. It is a historic church located in Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

“Being a young pastor has allowed me to connect with my church community in dynamic and relatable ways,” he said. “My youth helps bridge generational gaps, bringing fresh perspectives to traditional teachings. I find that it encourages younger members to engage more actively, seeing a part of themselves reflected in church leadership. It also inspires open dialogues on contemporary issues, fostering a more inclusive and understanding community.”

In recognition of his pastoral work, he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers & Laity at Morehouse College in April.

Nicholas extended his role as a pastoral caregiver by joining the D.C. Army National Guard in 2022 as a chaplain. “The ethos of the Army Chaplain Corps, which emphasizes serving anyone, anywhere, regardless of the challenges, has deeply influenced me,” Nicholas said. “This principle of putting the call before comfort has guided my roles as a psychotherapist and pastor, instilling resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to selfless service.”

That same year Nicholas became licensed in Maryland to practice psychotherapy. He founded Black Boy Therapy LLC, which offers mental health support to individuals, couples and families, particularly in underserved communities, through online sessions.

He self-published a book last year that “demystifies therapy for young minds, making it accessible and relatable,” he said. “Kerry the Caring Koala: Where Feelings Find a Friend: A Child’s Guide to Therapy” is designed to “help children understand and articulate their feelings, introducing the concept of therapy as a friendly and supportive journey. It’s about normalizing mental health care from a young age and offering a resource that children, parents, and educators can turn to.”

“As a therapist, I’ve always believed in the power of understanding and expressing our feelings, especially for young minds. I wanted to create a resource that parents, educators and therapists could use to help children navigate their emotional world.”

“Kerry the Caring Koala” is available on Amazon. For more about Nicholas’ therapy services, visit psychologytoday.com/us/ therapists/nicholas-k-young-bethesdamd/878741.

Nick with Father Scott Woods

From Student Manager to Director of Operations: Alex O’Neill ’16 Leads NIL for Terps Men’s Basketball

In the spring of 2021, when the Supreme Court ruled that NCAA athletes could profit from their names, image and likeness (NIL), the college sporting world had to pivot. The court did not provide a roadmap for how to proceed.

Like most major colleges, the University of Maryland decided to form collectives that pool money from alumni and boosters and funnel it to student-athletes. Maryland created three collectives, including Turtle NIL, which works exclusively with the men’s basketball team.

Alex O’Neill, an SMR graduate from the Class of 2016, is the director of operations for Turtle NIL.

Alex was already well acquainted with the team. In the five years he studied at Maryland to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, he worked as a student manager, head manager and finally as a graduate assistant.

The Supreme Court ruling came down while he was working as a graduate assistant, and he transitioned over to Turtle NIL.

As COO, Alex runs the day-to-day operations of the collective and acts as a liaison between the players and sponsors. Fundraising is a big part of the job. In addition to seeking sponsorships and managing finances, he created a subscription club in which members get special benefits, exclusive content and memorabilia for a monthly fee. He also coordinates fundraising events, autograph sessions, and meet-and-greets.

“With the current state of college athletics, fundraising is more important than ever. Strong NIL collectives are now the backbone of collegiate athletic programs,” he said.

Alex said he’s honored to be a part of these athletes’ journey to success. “Now that college athletes are allowed to profit for who they are, it gives them tremendous opportunity. In terms of future success, it gives athletes an

understanding of the business world — how to negotiate, financial literacy, etc. But NIL also gives college athletes a platform to stand by who they are as a person, what brands they align with and could potentially enter into an NIL deal with.”

Over the years, Alex has made lasting bonds with some of the players, which makes the job that much more rewarding. “All of these players have a vision and overall goal, or they wouldn’t be here. I have so much enjoyed being a part in their journey and seeing their hard work pay off. Whether it is the NBA, playing professionally, or winning a Big Ten Championship — I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the journey in all those aspirations.”

His career at Maryland has been filled with “unforgettable memories,” and he credits St. Mary’s Ryken basketball coach Pat Behan with making it happen. In his senior year at SMR, Alex was Coach Pat’s team manager. When he told Coach he was going to Maryland, Coach used his connections to set him up with the Maryland team. “I am forever indebted to Coach Pat,” he said.

Golf coach Jason Early was another mentor “in and out of the classroom,” Alex said. “Not only did the sport of golf teach me many valuable lessons, Coach Early taught me how to be competitive and how to be a team player.”

After the 2023-24 season, Maryland will pivot again as individual collectives are consolidated under one umbrella, the One Maryland Collective. “I am continuing with the One Maryland NIL Collective as the two collectives merge,” said Alex. “I will continue as the Director of Operations for Men’s Basketball NIL efforts.”

King Sandoval ’18 Continues His Passion for Wrestling

As a 92-pound incoming high school freshman, King Sandoval was not a highly sought-after wrestling recruit. But St. Mary’s Ryken welcomed him with open arms — and he went on to win the state title his freshman year. Now the Class of 2018 alum is competing in the World Team Trials.

King was a standout wrestler at St. Mary’s Ryken, going 233-29 with 144 pins. During his days with the Knights, he was a four-time National Prep All-American, a four-time state finalist and a four-time Washington Catholic Athletic Conference finalist, recording three championship victories, according to the Southern Maryland News. He went on to wrestle at the University of Maryland, where at one point he held the record for most pins in the shortest amount of time for the regular season in all of Division 1 NCAA wrestling. “One of my favorite highlights in my time here was during my 2021-22 season, where I pinned the No. 20-ranked guy in the country in our duel against Columbia,” he said. “It just so happened that this was Senior Night, and this pin would eventually propel us to a team victory as well.”

“Being able to represent my home state is the greatest source of pride I could ever have in my career.”

ended the season with many ranked wins over opponents across the country.

“Being able to represent my home state is the greatest source of pride I could ever have in my career,” King said.

King graduated in 2022 with a dual degree in architecture and real estate in the built environment.

After a year of working full time, he headed back to Maryland as a postbaccalaureate student and, with two years of eligibility left, went back into the gym for another shot on the mats. Just three weeks into his training, he was back in competition. He

“Everyone always thought that Maryland, as a state, wasn’t great at wrestling. This kept a huge chip on my shoulder. I wanted to prove this was not true, and that with hard work and determination, true talent could arise from this state.”

This summer, King will wrestle in the U23 World Team Trials in Ohio.

The Waldorf, Maryland, resident credits St. Mary’s Ryken with preparing him for the challenges of college and life in general. “My teachers, coaches and friends really

allowed me to grow as a person throughout my time there,” he added. “I have nothing but love for the school, and I am so happy with how far I’ve come, thanks to them. The best is yet to come.”

Tyrik Pierre ’19 Is a Beacon of Leadership and Community Engagement

He was honored with Coastal Carolina University’s highest award for service in a spring 2023 ceremony.

Tyrik, who graduated from CCU in December 2023 with a degree in marketing, received the Ronald D. Lackey Service Award for his exceptional leadership and involvement in the campus community and beyond.

He served on the leadership board for the African American Initiative for Men, which is a retention-based initiative that focuses on supporting men of color on campus; was president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; was CCU’s student representative on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Student Advisory Council; co-chaired the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Task Force; was a tour guide and then Leadership Council/peer supervisor for the Teal Trailblazer tour guide program; and became a global ambassador and an Education Abroad ambassador after studying in Paris for a semester.

In May, Tyrik started a new position as an analyst with the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance of the Obama Foundation. In this role, he offers project management and administrative support to the MBK Strategy and Operations Team.

He is also pursuing an advanced degree in consulting, and he plans to obtain a project management certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

As the Lackey Service Award winner, Tyrik was invited to speak at commencement. “My message was directed to all graduates of the Class of 2023 but was also a general message for all in attendance,” he said. “I wanted to keep it simple. With being a graduate, I know the struggles that we face with graduation and fears of ‘what’s next’ — and we get caught up in ‘what’s next’ and also ‘what could’ve been’ — so my message was to be present in the now: There will always be another next, there will never be another now. Celebrate this moment. Celebrate you.”

His motivation to be a leader on campus came from several sources. First was his mother, who “supported me in everything, even though she wished every day that I would rest more.” Second was the accountability factor. Being involved was a way of balancing “having to be in school and wanting to do my own thing,” he said. But in order to be allowed to participate in certain activities, you have to have good grades.

His biggest motivation came from a desire to mentor other students. “I wanted them to find a home in Coastal the same way I did, so I was motivated by the idea of knocking down doors, knocking down barriers, and bringing seats to the table for all students and creating opportunities … that they may not have known existed or not have seen as possible.”

Tyrik learned the importance of a support system at St. Mary’s Ryken. He struggled through his first semesters due to external

factors, but everything changed once he learned to accept help. “This is the lesson that got me through college the most,” he said.

“I would like to thank the many people at SMR who supported me while I was at the school as well as those who continued to support me through my college journey as well. There were many people that I was able to keep in contact with and that reached out to me to stay updated with my journey, and that truly, truly means a lot.”

Tyrik speaking during the Coastal Carolina University commencement ceremony

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

During a ceremony in the Donnie Williams Center as part of homecoming week festivities, St. Mary’s Ryken inducted 11 alumni into the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame.

Stephanie Dameron Bolin ’10, Softball

John Flowers ’07, Basketball

Reed Sothoron ’00, Lacrosse

Tyler Smith ’12, Basketball

John Gretz, Cross Country & Track and Field Coach (1973–77)

Joe Hatcher ’76, Cross Country & Track

Tim O’Connor ’76, Cross Country & Track

Tom Offenbacher ’74, Cross Country & Track

Roman Pausch ’77, Cross Country & Track

Fred Spalding ’78, Cross Country & Track

Tom Spalding ’77, Cross Country & Track

The St. Mary’s Ryken Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to honor alumni, coaches and administrators who achieved excellence and distinguished themselves in the schools, athletic programs. Inductees are selected through a nomination process overseen by the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and honored during homecoming weekend.

Save the Date for the 2024 Induction Ceremony

All are welcome to attend the ceremony on Oct. 18. Please visit www.smrhs.org/ athletichalloffame to RSVP.

20 24

From left: Athletic Director Jon Lombardo, Roman Pausch ’77, John Flowers ’07, Stephanie Bolin ’10, John Gretz, Tom Spalding ’77, Tim O’Connor ’76, Tyler Smith ’12, Tom Offenbacher ’74, Fred Spalding ’78, Reed Sothoron ’00, Joe Hatcher ’76 and President Rick Wood

Stephanie Dameron Bolin ’10

Stephanie Bolin’s experience as pitcher of the softball team has taught her that the world is full of opportunity, and when focused on doing God’s will and using the gifts God has given her to glorify Him, she can have an impact on others. Stephanie was a three-time selection for the Southern Maryland Enterprise All-County First Team; Washington Post All-Met Second Team (2010) and Honorable Mention (2009); four-time WCAC All-Conference Team, including First Team in 2010; SMR 2010 Softball MVP; and Most Promising Athlete 2007. Her favorite memory from high school took place her senior year when she had the opportunity to pitch to a few SMR faculty members, Jason DeLucco and Jeff Shaw, during homecoming week.

Mr. DeLucco and Mr. Shaw had been bragging that they could hit her fastball out of the park all year. The day of the challenge, all of Paschal Hall came out to watch the showdown. Although they both did foul off some pitches, she eventually struck them both out. She recalls, “I loved the camaraderie with my peers while being able to showcase my talents.”

After graduating from SMR Stephanie attended Radford University, where she

continued her softball career and earned her Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in English and special education. She was named the softball team’s Freshman of the Year, was team captain sophomore through senior years, and has a few records in the Radford record books. She was second in NCAA Division I for the lowest number of walks in a season (14) in 2011, and she made Second Team All-Conference (Big South) and Virginia Sports Information Directors Association All-State Honors.

Stephanie is married to William Bolin, a theology teacher at SMR, and they have two boys, Joseph and Daniel. SMR has been a part of Stephanie’s family for generations; her grandfather, dad, aunts, uncle, and five

of her siblings are alumni, and her youngest brother is a rising senior.

John Flowers ’07

John Flowers ’07 was a star basketball player during his time at St. Mary’s Ryken. He appreciated his time devoted to basketball because of how much it taught him. “Basketball built character and a competitiveness that you can’t teach,” he says. One of his favorite things about SMR is that, as a student, he felt like he was treated like an adult. He appreciated the mutual respect between the staff and the students. One of his favorite memories is when the team played against an SMR rival, Our Lady of Good Counsel, at Good

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees (continued)

Counsel. The head coach of the University of Maryland, Gary Williams, came to see John play because he was recruiting him. The team was down 20 points in the first half, and John felt like he was playing badly. Coach Williams left during halftime and missed seeing John score 30 points and the team won the game in overtime.

After graduating, John went on to West Virginia University on a full athletic scholarship. He was a college defensive all-American, Big East champion, and made the Final Four in 2010.

John has been playing professionally for 12 years overseas, including in Japan, France, Germany, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina and Mexico. His team won championships in Mexico and France. John says he was “blessed to be able to use basketball as a tool to help me get an education for free and travel across America and the world for free. I was able to make a living playing the game that I love. Basketball allowed me to experience different cultures and learn about life.”

Since graduating, John has kept Morgantown, West Virginia, his home base. While at WVU, John met his wife, Jessica. They have three daughters. John continues playing overseas and is also beginning his next chapter as a businessman. He credits his mother for introducing him to the game of basketball; she was a three-time AllAmerican at Louisiana Tech. He also credits his father for instilling a strong work ethic and a hustler’s mentality in him.

Tyler Smith ’12

The rise of girls’ basketball at St. Mary’s Ryken coincided with the arrival of senior Tyler Smith in 2012. She became an instant leader and was named captain in her first and only season. She credits her faith with

defining her and giving her purpose and credits her family as the backbone and heart of everything she does. After that, athletics is a vital contributor to who Tyler is today. She says, “Sports are important because they teach you the value of healthy living, discipline, strong work ethic, teamwork and commitment. … It is an empowering and priceless experience that I hold of extreme value, even now.”

Her favorite memories from high school are simply having the opportunities to play with her sisters. “Through my sports journey, I was not only able to compete with my biological sisters, but I had the opportunity to meet and play with some of my best friends to this day. I have built relationships that will last a lifetime, with people who are just as strong, resilient, and motivated to be the best they can be each day. They are the iron that sharpens me, and I am so grateful for all the battle scars and stories we share.”

After graduating from SMR, Tyler went on to the University of North Carolina Asheville and continued playing basketball.

During her college career, the team’s record went from 2-28 in her freshman year to 26-7 in her senior year. In 2015-16, she was a Big South regular season champion and a Big South Tournament champion. Currently, Tyler works for Crowe, a public accounting, consulting and technology firm in Washington. She has coached basketball for Western Carolina University, Queens University of Charlotte and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Reed Sothoron ’00

During his senior year of high school, Reed Sothoron was named a lacrosse All-American. His favorite memories from high school are beating St. Albans and Georgetown Prep in the same week. SMR had never beaten either of these teams, and beating both in the same season was special. He fondly remembers celebrating these wins with his father, John Sothoron, who was also the head boys lacrosse coach.

After SMR, Reed played lacrosse for

Towson University. The team went 38-21, a record that included three Colonial Athletic Association titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He was chosen for the First Team All-CAA twice and Second Team once, was a twotime Honorable Mention All-American and was one of five Towson Tigers selected to the CAA’s 25th Anniversary Team.

As a captain in 2005, Reed was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List. Reed’s .608 save percentage in 2005 remains a singleseason program record. His 578 career saves at Towson rank him in a tie for third with who else, but his dad, John. His career goalkeeper save percentage of .561 remains second on the all-time career list. Reed went on to play three years of pro lacrosse for the San Francisco Dragons, the Denver Outlaws and the Baltimore Bayhawks.

Reed lives in Catonsville, Maryland, with his wife Liz and two kids, Scarlett, 8, and Keller, 6. Reed works in Outside Sales for Clark Machine. He has continued to be involved in athletics by coaching high school lacrosse for over 10 years and competing in marathons and triathlons.

John Gretz, Coach (1973-77)

John Gretz was the Ryken High School cross country coach from 1973-77 and was the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC) Coach of the Year for three of those years. He says that every minute

of his coaching experience at Ryken is his favorite memory because he got to work with talented and dedicated athletes who inspired him.

At the time, Ryken High School was the only private school competing in the SMAC, which consisted of eight schools at the time. While John was the coach, the cross country and track team had very successful seasons.

Some of their accomplishments include SMAC cross country team champions (1973, 1975, 1976), St. Mary’s County cross country team champions four years in a row (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976), cross country Mattapany relay team champions four years in a row (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976), 12 First Team All-SMAC runners and eight Second Team All-SMAC runners in cross country, St. Mary’s County track team champions (1976, 1977), and 10 First Team All-SMAC performers in track.

John was a teacher and coach for more

than 30 years. After his tenure at Ryken, he coached for five years at the University of Maryland, where he was named Maryland state chairman of indoor track. He has presented educational seminars at national conferences and workshops in multiple states. In 2015, John was also appointed by Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner to serve on the Educational Leadership Team helping to plan countywide initiatives and programs. Appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan to serve on the Maryland State Commission on Disabilities from 2018-20, John helped establish regulations and programs designed to assist individuals with a wide range of disabilities. In 2019 John was inducted into the Prince George’s County Coaches and Friends Association Hall of Fame.

John has been married to his wife KuangTzu for 32 years. He credits her for being extremely understanding and supportive while he devoted many thousands of hours to teaching, coaching and umpiring.

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees (continued)

Joe Hatcher ’76

Joe Hatcher ’76 had a wonderful experience at Ryken High School. He fondly remembers the Xaverian Brothers who taught him and seeing Brother Thomas Crane riding his motorcycle from one end of the campus to the other. However, what stood out to Joe the most was his cross-country coach, John Gretz. “He made us into a solid group of young student-athletes to push ourselves and constantly encouraged us to strive to be better as athletes and most importantly as students.” Joe was on the cross-country All-SMAC Team his sophomore and junior years. He also was the recipient of the Brother Herbert Award in cross country and track.

Athletics helped him learn self-discipline, self-control, and how to work with others. Joe says his athletics experience was very formative.

“It changed my life,” he says. “I wanted to be a part of something. It helped me stay focused in school, it helped me in making choices on what path I would take in life. Athletics was the impetus for me to succeed in high school and later in life.”

After graduating from RHS, Joe joined the Navy. While attending boot camp, he was selected as Company Honor Man and promoted to the next rank. He went on to attend Hospital Corpsman School, and at the U.S. Naval Academy, he was selected as Sailor of the Quarter. When his obligation of four years was completed, he enlisted in the active Reserves and retired after 26 years.

Joe then became a police officer in Anne Arundel County. During his career as a police officer, he was selected as Policeman of the Year for the Anne Arundel County 100 Club and was nominated twice for the Baltimore Sun newspaper Police Officer of the Year. After 22 years as an officer, Joe worked in the Comptroller of Maryland Office as a field enforcement agent, where he was promoted to division administrator and eventually retired after 38 years in law enforcement. During his time in law enforcement, he was still able to nurture his love of athletics by coaching a cross-country and track team.

Tim O’Connor ’76

Tim O’Connor ’76 was a member of the cross country and track team.

Ryken High School introduced him to a love of running, which he says has enhanced his life. “The introduction to long-distance running and the great coaching I received in high school laid a foundation for athletic activity I’ve been able to enjoy over the years,” he says. Since high school, Tim has completed several 10ks and the Marine Corps Marathon. Running has brought Tim a lot of peace, he says. “If you can run three miles in under 20 minutes, life’s obstacles are surmountable.”

After high school, Tim went to Towson University and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. Then, he went to Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School and ultimately became an E-2C naval flight officer. He served eight years on active duty in the Navy before joining the Naval Reserves, completing 20 years of total service.

Following active duty service, he joined the Naval Air Systems Command as a civil servant and completed 25 years as a logistician supporting numerous naval aviation programs, which included six years as lead logistician for the F/A-18 program. In 2022, Tim retired from government service and now works as a senior logistics consultant for Sierra Technologies.

When Tim moved back to Southern Maryland in the late 1990s, he met his wife, Sandra ’79, who is a St. Mary’s Academy alumnus.

Tom Offenbacher ’74

Tom Offenbacher ’74 competed in varsity cross country and track all four years of high school. In his junior and senior years, he was the SMAC cross-country champion. At graduation, he was awarded the StudentAthlete Award.

Tom’s favorite memory from high school is Competition Day in 1973 when his junior class beat the senior class (it was said to be the first time that had happened). He specifically remembers the tug-of-war contest, where the junior team struggled for 10 seconds and then the senior team collapsed and was dragged speedily through the mud.

Tom returned to competitive running at the age of 37. In his 50s, he placed in the top 20 in four national cross-country meets and won the Montgomery County (Maryland) Road Running Club championship series for his age group three times in his 50s and 60s. He was also the Montgomery County Grand Master Runner of the Year in 2019.

Tom has three adult children that he raised in Boston while having a career in biotechnology and is currently raising his 14-year-old son in Montgomery County, though they spend a lot of time in their

St. Mary’s County home playing on the Potomac River. Currently, Tom works in biotech manufacturing and became senior vice president of operations for Genzyme Corp. He has always felt that, through his athletic pursuits, he was modeling good habits and lifestyle for his children and nephews/nieces (and now his grandchildren and grandnephews/nieces). “When I think of vacation or recreation, I think ‘athletics,’ ” said Tom. “Throughout my life, I have avidly participated in competitive running, snow skiing, waterskiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and scuba diving. This is what I do when I have spare time; it’s what I create space in my days for.”

Roman Pausch ’77

Roman Pausch graduated in 1977 from Ryken High School, where he ran cross country. He credits the athletics department with the ability to create and build lasting friendships as well as maintain his health. Roman has fond memories of jumping into the pool with his teammates after crosscountry practice.

After high school Roman went on to West Virginia University to earn his bachelor’s degree in forest resource management, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in crop physiology at the University of Maryland.

Roman has had a very diverse and interesting career path. For eight years, he was a plant physiologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He then worked at Cornell University as a research and lab manager before becoming an innkeeper in New York for over 17 years. He moved back to research and crop specialization work from 1999-2014. Roman is currently a carpenter and stoneworker, as well as a gas specialist with Cipher Consulting.

Fred Spalding ’78

Fred Spalding graduated from Ryken High School in 1978. He was on the track and cross-country teams all four years of high school. His commitment to athletics paid off, and in his senior year, he received the award for Student Athlete of the Year.

His dedication to athletics taught him to work hard and never give up. Fred notes, “Athletics are very important to a young person. It encourages and promotes attributes that are important for a productive full life.” Fred took these lessons and continued to apply it to his life, knowing that hard work was the answer to making progress.

Tom Spalding ’77

Tom Spalding was on the track and cross-country teams for three years. He appreciated his time at Ryken High School and his class of 76 students. The other students were an inspiration; he especially remembers admiring Joe Hatcher and Jerry Beason.

“Athletics are very important to a young person. It encourages and promotes attributes that are important for a productive full life.”

–Fred

Athletics has always been a good choice for Tom because “I have always been an active person; I am not a couch potato.” While running for RHS, Tom was always determined to win, whether it was a quarter-mile, halfmile, or 1-mile, or one of many relays.

Spalding ’78

After his time at Ryken, Tom continued to seek out action. He became a firefighter, an EMT, and worked on the medical unit for roughly 10 years.

After graduating from RHS, Fred earned his stationary engineers license. He has been employed by two Southern Maryland hospitals for nearly 40 years.

He purchased some land in Leonardtown to build his own home, and he made sure to include space for a garden. Fred loves to garden, hunt, fish, and go to church on Sundays. He has committed his life to Jesus and, in reflection, notes, “My life is full, and I am living the dream.”

In the early 1990s, he received his captain’s license. After that, Tom was employed in maintenance management for 35 years. Now he teaches at the College of Southern Maryland and Maryland Center for Environmental Training.

Tom has been blessed with four daughters, twins Mikaela and Tiara born in 1989, Molly born in 1995, and Ashley born in 2000. Tom notes how grateful he is for his wonderful life and how full it is.

Congratulations to the St. Francis Xaverian Society

Pillars of the Community

Pillars of the Community are friends and benefactors of St. Mary’s Ryken. They are committed to the same philosophies and ideals as our founders and, through their wisdom and generosity, seek to ensure that the highest quality of education will be available for future generations.

“The entire St. Mary’s Ryken community is grateful for their vision, leadership, and dedicated service to our students, faculty, and staff, and all the lives they have touched,” said President Rick Wood.

Sue Ann ’83 and Dan ’82 Armitage

Sue Ann ’83 and Dan ’82 Armitage grew up in St. Mary’s County. As alumni and parents of Sydney, a 2016 SMR graduate, the Armitages are recognized for their commitment to SMR, as well as to the community at large, dedicating decades of professional leadership, community service, and genuine friendship that have made our community a better place in which to live and learn.

The couple attended St. Mary’s Ryken at a pivotal time in the school’s history as St. Mary’s Academy and Ryken High School

merged to create a co-educational Catholic high school to address declining enrollments at each of the schools. They embraced monumental change and continue to support the school’s efforts to provide a values-based, co-educational Catholic education for our exceptional students. After Dan and Sue Ann attended college, they returned home to St. Mary’s County to start their careers.

Dan worked for a local newspaper called The St. Mary’s Tide. He then enrolled in law school and clerked for the local firm of Kenney, Kaminetz & Lacer while completing his studies. Dan ultimately went into private practice in Leonardtown. Throughout his career, he has handled a variety of cases including personal injury claims, family law matters, and business planning. For 23 years, Dan has dedicated

most of his time to representing the St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services, where he works on court cases for children in foster care. Through this work, he has helped more than 700 local children move out of the foster care system and into permanent homes, either through a safe return to family members or through adoption by foster parents.

Sue Ann (nee Lewis) started her law practice in St. Mary’s County in 1992. Throughout her career, she has worked in various legal arenas, gaining expertise in family law, traffic and criminal law, wills and estates, business matters, worker’s compensation, and personal injury claims. Her specialization in family law aligns with the majority of the Circuit Court landscape, where nearly 70 percent of cases involve family matters. Sue Ann also served as an

Brian ’84 and Kim Norris, Dan ’82 and Sue Ann ’83 Armitage, Paula Wood and President Rick Wood

St. Francis Xavier Society

The St. Francis Xavier Society honors generous benefactors who demonstrate a major commitment to the ideals and mission of St. Mary’s Ryken with an annual donation of $1,000 or more to the Knight Fund. This society is critical to funding SMR’s exceptional, valuesbased Catholic education. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the unwavering commitment of the St. Francis Xavier Society each year.

Tuition alone does not cover how much we spend on each student.

Gifts to the Knight Fund help to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and operating expenses each year. St. Mary’s Ryken also relies on private philanthropy to fund many of the programs and facilities that elevate the school’s academics, athletics, fine arts and service experiences for its students.

adjunct professor at St. Mary’s College, teaching business law until the birth of her daughter.

In 1995, the couple married and merged their law practices, creating the firm of Armitage & Armitage, PA. Since graduating, Sue Ann and Dan have served the residents of our community for more than three decades.

Dan was selected to participate in the Maryland Bar Association’s Leadership Academy and its Mentorship Program, guiding younger lawyers in this community. He drafted the initial corporate charter for Three Oaks Center, and he has provided reduced-fee legal services to our county’s Housing Authority for more than 20 years. He served on the Board of Directors for Father Andrew White, S.J. School. Dan currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Court Appointed Special Advocates

of Southern Maryland and for the Circuit Court’s Family Recovery Court.

Sue Ann’s commitment to the community is evident in her professional affiliations. She is completing her seventh year on the Board of Directors of St. Mary’s Ryken, where she serves on the Advancement Committee. She is a staunch supporter of SMR, showing up in truly meaningful ways for fundraising events, career days, and volunteer opportunities — to name a few.

She has also served on the board of the St. Mary’s County Bar Association and Bay Montessori School. She was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission in 1995 and was elevated to chairwoman in 2007. She headed this commission, which played an important role in choosing judges, until 2015. She is the vice president of the Southern Maryland Chapter for the Inns of Court, providing education and mentorship

Your support is vital to what makes St. Mary’s Ryken High School extraordinary. It provides the resources our students need to ensure success while growing in their faith life and becoming more compassionate and caring young adults.

Private philanthropy not only helps to fund operations and critical programs, it also validates St. Mary’s Ryken’s mission to external funders, including corporations and foundations that have the capacity to make large grants. External funders know that when our community chooses to support the school, SMR is worth their investment.

To this end, in February, we celebrated friends of SMR who provide youth across Southern Maryland with an opportunity to thrive in academics, their faith life, the arts, athletics and prepare them for happy, successful futures.

To learn more about giving to St. Mary’s Ryken, visit www.smrhs.org/support.

Sue Ann Lewis ’83 Armitage and Dan ’82 Armitage with their daughter, Sydney ’16

Pillars of the Community (continued)

for lawyers, and connecting new practitioners with more experienced peers.

Through Armitage & Armitage, Sue Ann and Dan provide free wills and powers of attorney for military personnel at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. This continued dedication to service has earned them the Maryland State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Service Award.

Most recently, Sue Ann was named by The Daily Record newspaper in a Power List of family law attorneys and Maryland’s Top 100 Women, which represents “the most influential figures in law, higher education, health care, business, financial services, and other fields.” Recipients in the legal category are recognized as “the finest practitioners in this complex legal field in Maryland.”

Brian ’84 and Kim Norris

Brian ’84 and Kim Norris have been key in growing and maintaining the amazing experience SMR provides to its students.

Brian and Kim have been ingrained in the fiber of St. Mary’s Ryken and the Southern Maryland community. Their deep-seated commitment to improving the lives of the people of St. Mary’s County reaches beyond the SMR campus in many ways.

After graduating from SMR, Brian served the community through roles in the building industry working to revitalize underserved communities through affordable housing while promoting historic preservation throughout Southern Maryland. He has also held important positions including past president and board member of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, member of the Baltimore Urban Land Institute, past chairman of the St. Mary’s Community Development Corporation, and member of the Hilton Hotels Owners Advisory Council.

Brian ’84 and Kim Norris P ’08, ’10, ’16

His dedication and professional acumen led to his appointment as president and CEO of The Cherry Cove Group, where he led the development of numerous significant community establishments, including the Veterans Administration Clinic, East Run Medical Center, and numerous hotels that have bolstered the hospitality industry in the St. Mary’s community.

For nearly a decade, Brian has served SMR as an active trustee on the board’s Facilities Committee and leading critical projects on campus, including the development of the Donnie Williams Center. Our community is touched consistently by the impact Brian has made in nearly every corner of our campus.

Kim Norris has served as choir teacher and Fine Arts Department chair at St. Mary’s Ryken for nearly 14 years. As the recipient of the prestigious Theodore James Ryken Award, the highest award in the Xaverian Brothers school community, Kim has

demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to academic excellence while recognizing the talents of individuals and the importance of educating the whole person, as well as fulfilling the Gospel call to peace and justice.

Kim studied music education at St. Mary’s College and piano performance under the direction of Brian Ganz. She studied choral conducting at Shenandoah University Conservatory. She is a life-long resident of St. Mary’s County and has taught music and art for K–8th grade at St. Michael’s School, where she was also a substitute teacher and kindergarten classroom aide. Over the past 24 years, Kim has served as a piano and organ accompanist for many churches in the county for Masses, funerals, and weddings and has taught private piano lessons to children and adults.

At SMR, Kim created the Youth Honors Chorus, Concert Cafes, the SMR show choir, and the Knight-n-Gales (an elite

women’s choir). She has served on dozens of school committees, including the Tri-M National Music Honor Society moderator for the last four years. She continually inspires others to live a life of faith through her example in and out of the classroom. She has produced professional DVD videos and CD recordings of these groups that were distributed to our larger community. She constantly seeks ways to showcase student talents through community performances and state and regional competitions. Her preparation of the

students for school Masses transforms the faith experience for our school community. Organizing bi-yearly trips to New York, Philadelphia, and Disney World expands the fine arts experience so that our students will have lifelong memories. She has redesigned and refined concerts, productions, and performances to ensure they are high quality and professional. Most notably, Kim has served as music director for SMR’s school musicals, including “High School Musical,” “Into the Woods,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Seussical,” “Thoroughly Modern

Millie,” “Hello Dolly,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Sound of Music” and, most recently, the 40th anniversary of “Godspell.”

Brian and Kim’s contributions to the St. Mary’s Ryken community are immeasurable as they impact our students in so many meaningful ways through arts programming that shapes young hearts and minds to practical and safe facilities for our entire community. The Norrises quietly support every endeavor at SMR, and every effort is better because they are involved.

Faith in Every Future: The Impact of Planned Giving at St. Mary’s Ryken

Consider the impact you can have on the world. It’s often thought that only the very wealthy, powerful or intelligent can make a significant difference. However, everyone has the potential to profoundly enhance their communities.

At St. Mary’s Ryken, we nurture individuals who aim to make a meaningful difference. Our students embark on a four-year journey in an environment that promotes rigorous academics, competitive sports, outstanding arts, and strong values in faith, community service, and leadership. Our diverse alumni share a belief in their potential to achieve great things.

For over 140 years, donor generosity has been vital to sustaining and enhancing our dynamic programs. Contributions to the Knight Fund keep our doors open, but

planned gifts offer more significant impact. Surprisingly, planned gifts account for 80% of charitable donation funds, yet few donors utilize these strategies. Regardless of financial status, every donor can make a substantial contribution through planned giving, which may include stocks, life insurance, real estate, personal property or cash, and it often offers significant tax benefits.

Consider establishing an endowed fund or designating a portion of your estate to St. Mary’s Ryken through your will — actions that incur no lifetime cost but have an incredible lasting impact. By understanding planned giving options, you can choose the best way to ensure your legacy and and control the impact of your generosity.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

—Nelson

Henderson

The question isn’t whether you can change the world, but how you will. Are you ready to explore the possibilities? Learn more about planned giving at www.smrhs.org/plannedgift or by contacting Michele Minicozzi, our director of development at michele.minicozzi@smrhs.org. Your attorney or financial adviser can also guide you. Start today and shape a better tomorrow.

St. Mary’s Ryken

Events Recap

Golf Outing

On a frightfully fun Friday, Oct. 13, 143 golfers packed the Breton Bay Golf Club for an incredible day on the links. The event raised $23,426 to help fund the stadium renovation project at St. Mary’s Ryken. The winning foursome (pictured above with Dr. Rick Wood, SMR president) was the team of Kevin Ferris (not pictured), William Winters, Scott Hite and Cory Yager. Each year, this event brings together alumni, parents and the community to support important projects at our school. The next golf fundraiser is Oct. 4, 2024.

Grandparents Day

A grand event last November hosted 151 grandparents and special friends of freshmen. Nearly half of our first-year students participated with their “grands” at Mass, followed by lunch in the Donnie Williams Center.

Scholarship Luncheon

A scholarship luncheon was held in December to honor generous benefactors who have supported scholarships that our students have received this school year. Nearly $350,000 in gifted scholarship funding was awarded this year to 133 qualifying students. This represents 13% of the need-based and merit scholarships awarded this year. If you are interested in learning more about the need for scholarship dollars and how you might be able to help, please visit www.smrhs.org/support.

Career Day

More than 20 alumni were among 35 presenters who visited campus on Career Day this February. Students learned about careers in various fields from people who once sat where they sit today. It was an amazing opportunity to hear from movie/ television producer Al Gough ’85, as well as to learn what it takes to be successful in careers such as law enforcement, engineering, health care and finance. The campus also welcomed a search-and-rescue helicopter,

Scholarship luncheon attendees: Catherine Long, Megan Sappington ’98 and her daughter with recipients of the MIL Family Scholarship, Jennifer C. Long Legacy Scholarship and the Long Family Foundation Scholarship.

Janna Hall and Jennifer Benner Tennyson ’03, P ’27 with Cali from Personalized Therapy and Amy Cricchi, SMR director of Enrollment Management during Career Day.

Wrestling alumni and coaches, from left: Brian Cedar P ’11, ’13; Gary Willis P ’07, ’10, ’12, ’15; Rick Wood P ’16, ’19, ’22; Alejandro “Alex” Figueiras ’19; Anthony Stefko ’95, P ’25, ’27; Edward “Stew” Houser ’03; Tom Raley ’03; Ben Raley ’12; Vince Whittles P ’13, ’15, ’20; Dustin Whittles ’13; Ernest Sigmon ’18; Steve Simpson ’15; Dylan Whittles ’15; Brandon Cedar ’11; Derek Willis ’15; Brady Lemmon ’15; Tim O’Connor ’76; Clayton Gabrielson ’23; Anthony Oquendo ’23

police car and the FabLab, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s mobile suite of digital fabrication and rapid prototyping machines. Alumni gathered for lunch in the Donnie Williams Center prior to three sessions of presentations.

Alumni Socials

SMR Wrestling Senior Knight in January was an extraordinary night of fun with 40 alumni, joined by former coaches Vince Whittles and Gary Willis. Graduates spanning more than 60 years gathered together to cheer on the Knights from the Alumni Room of the Donnie Williams Center.

SMR basketball fans from the classes of 1959–2013 gathered at Brudergarten in downtown Leonardtown in early February to tailgate before the Knights faced fierce opponent DeMatha High School. The group enjoyed German-themed fare and local beers coordinated by SMR graduate and Brudergarten manager Dawn Campbell ’85.

SMR lacrosse alumni and fans came together for a tailgate event to honor the legendary former boys lacrosse coach John Sothoron. Boys lacrosse alumni from the classes of 1991 to 2023 attended the gathering, where they enjoyed reconnecting with one another as well as with SMR teachers.

It was also SMR Lacrosse Senior Knight, and the team played Mount Hebron. Mount Hebron is coached by SMR graduate Matt Haley ’97, whose brother, Pat Haley ’99, is an assistant boys lacrosse coach at SMR. Their nephews, Liam ’24 and Nigel ’26, played on the team.

Paul Haley ’94 P ’24, ’26, Pat Haley ’99, Nigel Haley ’26, Matt Haley ’97 and Liam Haley ’24

Events Recap (continued)

40th Anniversary of “Godspell”

SMR celebrated the 40th anniversary of its original performance of the musical “Godspell” this spring with a pre-show Red Carpet Social. About three dozen alumni, many of whom attended the original performance in 1984, attended the new “Godspell” production, including former band/theatre director Harry Hafer and Tim Weigand ’84, who played Jesus in the original show. To commemorate his directing debut, Al Gough ’85 surprised the cast and crew with a barbeque food truck on opening night.

Knights Under the Lights Gala

The Knights Under the Lights Gala was a memorable evening where families bonded, alumni reconnected, and local businesses engaged with employees and clients. Attendees savored a delicious meal from Ken’s Creative Kitchen and enjoyed casino games, basket raffles, and a silent auction. The night culminated with the thrilling $10,000 Knight Raffle. Thank you to all the sponsors, guests, faculty, and staff for making the event a success.

Wendy and Mark Guadagnoli P ’19, ’19, ’20, ’24

Brian and Manjot Shepherd P ’24 and Amparito and John Mullery P ’22, ’24

Allan Encarnacion ’25 and Tim Weigand ’84, who played the role of Jesus in “Godspell” 40 years apart.

Back row, from left: Stewart and Lauren Peterson P ’27, Valerie and Neil Lobeda P ’27, Drs. Margot and Daniel Geary P ’22, ’23, ’27, ’28, Jonathan ‘95 and Roberta Sola P ’26, ’28, Pauline and David Wenrich P ’27, Lindsey and Robert Frazier ’97, P ’28. Front row, from left: Angie DeBevoise P ’27, Jessica and Rich Zellner P ’27

Golden Gathering

Each year, the Golden Gathering brings together graduates from the classes of 1942-1973 who enjoy reminiscing about their high school years at Ryken High School and St. Mary’s Academy.

It’s always a family affair at SMR events. From left, standing: Marie Taylor Tarleton ’71, P ’10, ’11, Leslie Wathen Roberts ’71, Diane Abell Delahay ’63, Faye Abell Reid ’68 and Bertie Taylor Birch ’74, P ’04. Sitting: Loretta “Tiny” Abell Taylor ’42, P ’67, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’75, ’78, GP ’98, ’00, ’04, ’04, ’04, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’14, ’28

The Class of 1971 had the greatest number in attendance at the 2024 Golden Gathering. From left: Georgia Hurry Harvey ’71, Leslie Wathen Roberts ’71, Joseph Russell ’71, P ’99, ’03, Marie Taylor Tarleton ’71, P ’10, ’11 and Rose Hewitt Guyther ’71, P ’96, GP ’23, ’26

Camaraderie abounds across generations as everyone enjoys reminiscing about “their times” at “The Academy” and “Ryken.” From left: Sandra Buckler ’65, Lynn Delahay ’67, and Mary Burch Candela ’52, P ’75, ’83, GP ’12, ’16 celebrate the ’50s and ’60s.

Gold and Silver Graduates

During the Class of 2024 commencement ceremony, alumni from the classes of 1974 and 1999 were presented with honorary diplomas.

St. Mary’s Academy Class of 1974 / Back row from left: Nancy Colonna Hayden, Karen Jameson White, Patricia Abell Tennyson, Deborah Pierotti Hammett, Bertie Taylor Birch P ’04 / Front row from left: Faye Morgan Graves, Sandra Johnson and Amy Raley Warren

Ryken High School Class of 1974 / Back row from left: Leonard Raley, Francis Davis, Michael Churilla, Jr., Tommy McKay P ’07 / Front row from left: George Hayden, George Hall P ’96, GP ’21, Robert Baker and George Choporis

St. Mary’s Ryken Class of 1999 / From left: Derek and Linda Stefko Greer P ’25, ’28, Dr. Sarah Russell Johnson P ’27 and James Patrick Haley II

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

Thank You to Our Corporate Sponsors for Your Generous Support!

Armitage & Armitage, P.A.

Bob Taylor Engineering

Boothe’s Heating, Air, Plumbing, Drains & Electrical

Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.

Burch Oil Co. Inc.

C3 Innovations Inc.

Carahsoft Charitable Fund

Carruth & Son Inc.

David S Cammack Private Foundation

Century21 New Millennium

Christmas Decor of SOMD

Crabknockers Seafood

Dugan, McKissick & Longmore LLC

Dunkin’ Donuts

Edward Jones InvestmentsDavid McDonough

ExteriorPros

The John F. Fenwick and Elizabeth C. Fenwick

Family Trust

ForeverLawn by the Bay

Halo Hair Care

Harris Teeter LLC

HWP Insurance

J.F. Taylor

John L. Sprague

Insurance Agency Inc.

Kairos

Ken’s Creative Kitchen

Knights Fine Arts Alliance

Maurice I. Long, Jr.

Family Foundation Inc.

MIL Corporation

Modern Door

NFP

OakPoint Insurance

The Patuxent Partnership Inc.

Personalized Therapy LLC

Rainbow Construction Corp.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation

St. Mary’s Ryken Athletic Boosters

St. Peter’s Church

Schneider Orthodontics

Servpro of St. Mary’s County

The Shepherd Foundation

Slim Chicken Lexington Park

SMECO

Southern Maryland Society

State Farm InsurancePhilip Watson

T. N. Bowes Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Taylor Gas Heating Air

Tennyson Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

Travel Leaders/ Action Travel Tours

United Way of Charles County Inc.

University System of Maryland Foundation

WesBanco

Winters HVAC

Woodlawn Lawn Care Services LLC

Class Notes

Front row, from left: Misty Bell ’16, Anne Taylor ’81, Joe Dameron ’20, Wayne Taylor ’82, Kim Beachy ’04, Kevin Hughes ’04, Lorraine Hughes ’06, Alex Ragland ’13, David Bowes ’88, Gary Patterson ’05 / Back row, from left: Jenna Boothe ’13, Mark Taylor ’80, Mary Taylor ’80, Chris Sydnor ’14, Joe Hughes ’00, John Taylor Jr. ’79, Rob Bailey ’07, Dave Sydnor ’78 / Not Pictured: Tom Baker ’79, Lynn Lowe ’83, Jeff Taylor ’86, Lisa Pahel ’01, Alan Taylor ’04, Sarah Taylor ’05, Chelsea Gorman ’09

Thank You to John and Helen Taylor and the JF Taylor Family!

JF Taylor employs 25 SMR alumni, some of whom are long-term employees in positions of management and technical leadership. “We value the contributions they all make to our success and recognize that their education and character development from SMR are no small part of the value they bring to this enterprise.” In recognition, JF Taylor donated $25,000 to SMR!

Additionally, in memory of retired Navy Capt. Felix “Pat” Gigliotti, a strong supporter of SMR and a former JF Taylor employee, JF Taylor donated $5,000 to SMR. Pat’s children are SMR alumni: Kenneth ’74, James ’75, Mary ’77, Patricia ’78, William ’81, and Karen ’82. He also has five grandchildren who call themselves Knights: Mary ’00, Leslie ’02, Kaitlin ’09, Sean ’10 and Ryan ’14.

Thank you, JF Taylor and John and Helen Taylor!

Class of 1966

A Knight shout-out to Billy Cusic, who was inducted into the St. Mary’s County Softball Hall of Fame on Sept. 16, 2023! Billy also participated in the SMR Golf Classic in October. His team came in 2nd out of 36 teams. Great job, Knights!

Billy is pictured here with Kyle Carranza, Chip Gateau ’66, SMR President Rick Wood and Jason Ford ’66.

Class of 1971

Thomas O’Shea was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame for his seasons at East Carolina University and his contributions as a player, coach and organizer. Thomas credits Brother Romuald Stuedle for shaping his life as a person and an athlete.

Class of 1973

Bill Johnson and George Choporis ’74 met up in Flagstaff, Arizona, at Walnut Canyon National Monument, where Bill volunteers. Bill has been working as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University.

Class of 1980

Mike Emerson is finishing his 10th year of government service as a senior executive at Coast Guard Headquarters. He is the director for marine navigation, waterways management, bridge permitting, and Arctic programs, and was recently promoted to grandfather!

Class of 1983

Sue Ann Armitage is an attorney and managing partner with Armitage & Armitage. She was listed in the Top 100 Women in Maryland and Top 25 Family Lawyers for the State of Maryland by the Maryland Daily Record. See the article on page 34.

Class of 1994

Dr. Virginia Thompson Guidry was recently recognized for her exemplary accomplishments with the Ron H. Levine Public Health Award at the annual North Carolina Public Health Leaders’ Conference in Raleigh.

Dr. Guidry leads the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch within NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health. She also serves as an adjunct associate professor in UNC’s Department

Knights hit the ice in December for the annual Alumni Ice Hockey Game!

of Epidemiology and provides expertise on applied epidemiology projects such as wastewater surveillance, occupational health and climate change. Her career is marked by a profound dedication to understanding and meeting the needs of communities, particularly in environmental health.

Under Dr. Guidry’s guidance, public health initiatives have helped make significant strides in integrating environmental justice principles into community assessments across several counties, promoting equity and addressing the concerns of impacted communities. Her efforts have led to the development of health guidance on issues ranging from water filtration and testing to the consumption of fish. Her leadership was especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she played a key role in establishing North Carolina as one of eight initial states to implement a comprehensive wastewater surveillance system.

Dr. Guidry received her master’s in public health and Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the University of Delaware.

Girls Ice Hockey Alumni

Boys Ice Hockey Alumni

Class of 1997

Andrew Fitzgerald is the president and founder of the Nine 30 Consulting company, which contracts and consults with the Department of Defense. His company provides financial management, project management, acquisition and data analytics to support Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. (Andrew is pictured here with Emilie Garrabrant ’25 during Career Day.)

Sara Alvey Pilkerton received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently a small-animal veterinarian and co-medical director at VCA Three Notch Animal Hospital in Hollywood, Maryland. Sara is happily married to Lee Pilkerton, and they have two children, Carson and Cora. Cora is a rising 9th grader at SMR.

Class of 2007

Brandon Cullins and his horse, MJ Segers Fast Lane, won the American Rodeo Barrel Racing championship in March in Arlington, Texas. Brandon is engaged to be married to Emily Efurd.

Class of 2009

Danielle Guy Taylor is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist with the Center for Advanced Orthopedics in California, Maryland. Danielle graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and aquatic therapy. She then graduated from George Washington University in 2017 with a doctorate in physical therapy. Danielle works with patients and athletes in the community to develop customized rehabilitation programs to help patients achieve their goals. Danielle and Joe Taylor ’08 were married in September 2019 and enjoy living and serving the Southern Maryland community. (Danielle is pictured here with Dakota Bierbaum ’24 during Career Day.)

Class of 2010

Sarah Muth married Geoff Graf on May 12, 2023. Sarah and Geoff honeymooned in Japan and have a business together where they spend several weeks a year in Hong Kong. Sarah participated in theatre at SMR and now volunteers as a Disney character for children with illnesses and disabilities.

Class of 2012

Angelica Brown is a loan officer with Movement Mortgage. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice and was accepted to the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law before making a career change to mortgage loans. In January, Angelica married Cody Heath in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Class of 2013

Nick Stellway works with O’Brien Realty as a commercial real estate agent. He returned to St. Mary’s County after attending Loyola University Maryland. Nick obtained the CCIM designation and is an associate broker. Meeting local business owners, navigating tricky real estate transactions, and seeing his clients through to success are the best parts of his job. Many of his SMR classmates are still his closest friends. Nick and Alex Bell ’15 are engaged and are busy raising their Chesapeake Bay retriever, Goose!

Class of 2014

Dakota Allen is a lieutenant in the Navy and is stationed at the Pentagon. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2018 and went on to obtain his master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dakota is engaged to be married in September 2024.

Class of 2014 (continued)

Aleksey Dabbs is an associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. She advises government contractors across a wide spectrum of legal issues, including bid protests, mergers, and acquisitions and compliance matters. After graduating from SMR in 2014, Aleksey went on to the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and graduated with a degree in supply chain management and international business in 2018. She then went on to The George Washington University Law School, where she graduated with her J.D. with a concentration in government procurement law. In 2022, Aleksey married fellow SMR alumnus Preston Dabbs ’12

Carlee Joseph was inducted into the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame for her lacrosse career at Meredith College. Currently, Carlee lives in Concord, New Hampshire, and works as a manufacturing engineer for GE Aviation.

Class of 2015

In 2024, Katie Pappas joined the St. Mary’s Ryken athletics staff as the new girls lacrosse head coach.

Chandler Smith is an associate at Perkins Coie in the law firm’s business litigation practice. She has experience researching and analyzing environmental issues, employment issues, contract disputes, and other business litigation matters.

Chandler maintains a robust pro bono practice and was one of the inaugural Perkins Coie Pro Bono Racial Justice fellows. As such, she was seconded to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for the 2022-23 fellowship year. Chandler was also a summer associate at Perkins Coie in 2020 and 2021. She is a graduate of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she was the Arizona issue and symposium editor on the Arizona State Law Journal. She also served as the president of the John P. Morris Black Law Students Association. In college, Chandler earned a full athletic scholarship from William & Mary, where she was a member of the school’s Division I women’s basketball team.

Class of 2016

Molly Abell is a naturopathic and integrative nurse with the Holistic Healing Arts Clinic. She focuses on treating chronic illnesses by analyzing their root cause and providing means for natural interventions. She is engaged to fellow SMR alumnus Duncan Biggerstaff ’16

Chris Feist, a deacon in the Archdiocese of Washington, served Mass alongside Father Scott Woods for SMR students in December 2023. Chris will be ordained as a priest in June 2024 along with fellow alumni Deacons Joseph Heisey ’13 and John Winslow ’15.

Hazel Ptack is a Charles County police officer after completing two internships with different sheriff’s offices. She graduated from Liberty University in 2020.

Class of 2017

Makenna Brinsfield and her husband, Frank Tydings, had a daughter on July 27, 2023, and named her Melie Jensyn Tydings.

Alison Johnson is joining the St. Mary’s Ryken faculty in August as the band and orchestra director. After graduating from SMR in 2017, she studied music and education at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and obtained her master’s degree in educational leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Taylor Latham married Jordon Gandee on Sept. 2, 2023, at St. Ignatius Church - Chapel Point in Port Tobacco, Maryland. A reception followed at The Pavilion at Weatherly in Newburg. Taylor recently took ownership of Centerpiece Boutique, a women’s clothing and gift boutique in La Plata, Maryland, on April 1, 2023.

“It was a dream of mine to own my own storefront where I could display and offer trendy pieces, closet staples, and unique gifts for women. My favorite things about owning Centerpiece are the relationships I have made with my customers and the gift of making them feel confident in what they are wearing; there is no better feeling!”

Adam Ptack ’90, Hazel Ptack ’16, Gracen Ptack ’19 and President Rick Wood during Career Day

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

Class of 2017 (continued)

Jacob O’Hara is a second-year medical student at Drexel University’s College of Medicine. After graduating from SMR in 2017, he attended the University of Notre Dame and majored in sciencebusiness. Jake worked as an emergency room scribe before starting at Drexel University and developed an interest in functional neurosurgery. Jake presented two original research posters in that field at the annual North American Neuromodulation Society conference in Las Vegas in January and was accepted to present research in the field of neurocritical care in May at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons conference in Chicago.

Carmen Schrodel graduated from The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She earned her Master of Public Health and will be pursuing a career in health care administration.

Class of 2018

Cameron Barford was recently named director of sports performance at Ave Maria University. He graduated from Ave Maria in 2022 with a degree in exercise science.

Brett Blandford graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a master’s degree in critical game design and a bachelor’s in electronic arts. While in school, he co-founded an indie game studio Aestronauts, who published their first game, Tempo, in 2021, which now has 90,000+ downloads on Steam. After moving back into the area he has started his own small business for drone services while working as a freelance video editor and continues to develop games for Aestronauts.

Tanasia Miles, a Wilmington University student-athlete, earned a bachelor’s degree in science management with a sports management concentration. She graduated in June 2024 with a master’s degree in science management with a focus in sports management. Tanasia plans to pursue a profession in advertising and marketing. She’s engaged as well!

Class of 2019

Upon graduating from the University of South Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and a minor in naval science, Judge Aldridge was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the United States Marine Corps. He is currently stationed at Quantico, Virginia completing The Basic School. Then he will attend the Infantry Officer Course as his Military Occupational Specialty school to continue training. Upon completion, Judge has requested to be stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, to serve as an infantry officer.

In May 2023, Trisha Bowes graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal and dairy sciences and a minor in business administration. She is now enrolled in her first year in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Mississippi State.

Thank you to Amanda Long for visiting SMR aerospace engineering classes in the fall! Amanda is enrolled at The George Washington University as a master’s student in mechanical engineering (with a concentration in Fluids, Energy and Thermal Sciences). She recently completed her B.S. in mechanical engineering with an aerospace concentration. Amanda is also a graduate researcher in the LeBlanc Lab.

Abigail Halterman graduated from Saint Anselm College in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and will graduate from Northeastern University in December 2024 with her master’s degree in marine biology. Throughout her college career, she has worked in Dr. Shannon O’Leary’s molecular biology lab and has completed three research projects. She will soon be completing a six-month internship for her master’s degree while driving the same 2002 Jeep that she drove to St. Mary’s Ryken every day.

Gracen Ptack is a fourth-year apprentice with The Plumbers & Gasfitters of Local 5 Washington, D.C. She is currently working in Washington on new commercial buildings.

Class of 2020

In April, Patricia Cain was awarded the Monsignor Bradley Memorial Prize at the Mount St. Mary’s University Academic Awards Ceremony for achieving the highest scholastic average throughout her four-year business marketing undergraduate degree program.

Class of 2020 (continued)

Morgan Floehr married Dillon Miller ’20 on June 8, 2024, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pomfret, Maryland. Morgan works with the Charles County government and will finish her bachelor’s degree in communications from Arizona State online in August. Dillon graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May, and they will soon move to Pensacola, Florida, for Dillon to complete naval aviation flight school.

Hope Garland graduated a semester early in December 2023 with a degree in elementary education from Flagler College. “I loved living in St. Augustine and thoroughly enjoyed my time at Flagler College. My SMR high school career prepared me well for my introduction to college, and my college experience provided me with personal growth, amazing experiences, and a new outlook on life!”

Demetri Poole graduated from Johns Hopkins University in May 2024 with a degree in neuroscience. Following graduation, he will continue his studies at Duke University School of Medicine in the Master of Biomedical Sciences program. While a student at JHU, he was in the neuroscience honor society, was a research assistant at the School of Medicine Department of Pathology, was a tutor in Baltimore City primary schools, and was a volunteer with KEEN (a group that provides exercise and sports experience for children with neurological diseases).

Jared Riley is a certified flight instructor at Eagle’s Nest Flight Services in Waynesboro, Virginia, home of Virginia’s shortest paved runway. He is also a pilot for PSA Airlines. Jared graduated from Liberty University one semester early in the fall of 2023 with a degree in Aeronautics: Commercial/Corporate.

Class of 2021

After winning a TikTok contest, Katelyn Kovach had the opportunity to serve as a social media correspondent and film behind-the-scenes TikToks with Michael Bublé at the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors for its official TikTok account in December 2023. She aspires to pursue the performing arts full time once she graduates from The George Washington University in 2025. (Katelyn is pictured on the left below.)

Class of 2022

Congratulations to Carley Tepel for being named a USA Lacrosse Magazine Division II Player of the Week during her 2023 season at Flagler College. USA Lacrosse said, “Tepel, a sophomore, continued her torrid scoring last Saturday, tallying eight goals and one assist to help No. 11 Flagler stay undefeated in the Gulf South Conference with an 18-8 win over AlabamaHuntsville. Tepel has 21 goals in the past three games and leads the GSC with 52 goals.”

In Loving Memory

Book of Intentions

Throughout the year during daily Mass, we remember the family and friends of our community who have passed away. To submit a loved one’s name into our Book of Intentions, please complete the online form at www.smrhs.org/prayerrequest or contact the Development Department at 301-373-4162.

05/20/2023

Mrs. Dorothy Moore ’49

05/28/2023 Ms. Mary Norris ’50

06/11/2023

06/18/2023

06/19/2023

Mr. Vincent Merz

Mr. Robert Cross ’64

Ms. Donna DeMarr

06/26/2023 Mrs. Ella May Russell P ’84, ’85, ’89, GP ’20, ’25, ’27, Alumnus Spouse ’57

06/28/2023 Mr. Charles Jewell GP ’10

07/01/2023 Mrs. Diane Cook P ’11

07/01/2023

07/12/2023

07/28/2023

Mrs. Linda Maloney P ’93, ’00, GP ’25

Mrs. Katherine Oliver ’75

Mr. Douglas Padgett ’70

08/08/2023 Mr. Joseph Roberts Sr.

08/08/2023 Mr. Leonard Hampton P ’77, GP ’13

08/22/2023

08/28/2023

Mr. James Long ’84

Mr. Claude Brooke Jr. GP ’26

09/08/2023 Mr. Thomas Watts

09/16/2023 Mr. John Posey

09/26/2023

Mr. Thomas Rivenburgh P ’12, ’13

10/09/2023 Mr. Anthony DeStefano

10/10/2023

Mr. Phil Burroughs

10/11/2023 Mrs. Mary Bohanan, Alumnus Spouse ’76

10/14/2023 Mrs. Doris Shorback P ’90

10/23/2023 Mrs. CL Porter P ’07

10/25/2023 Mr. Christopher Buckler ’81

10/29/2023 Mrs. Jo Choporis ’48, P ’69, ’72, ’73, ’74, GP ’07

11/03/2023 Mr. Robert Davis

11/04/2023 Mr. Oliver Kangas P ’83

11/11/2023 Mr. Kelley Letcher P ’12

11/20/2023 Ms. Erin Burch ’75

11/24/2023 Mr. Jerry Callander

12/02/2023 Brother Cornelius Hubbuch, CFX

12/05/2023 Mr. Donald Tompkins P ’88

12/05/2023 Mrs. Janice Long

12/07/2023 Ms. Mollie McKay P ’68, ’69, ’71

12/10/2023 Ms. Priscilla Mays GP ’13, ’16, ’20

12/18/2023 Mr. Jason Theriault P ’24

12/19/2023 Mrs. Sophie Zimmerman ’55, GP ’11

12/21/2023 Mr. Michael Grimm P ’10

12/22/2023 Ms. Joan O’Dell ’65

12/23/2023 Ms. Michelle Braam

01/01/2024 Dr. John Weir P ’95

01/09/2024 Mr. John Slattery ’64

01/10/2024 Mrs. Mary Lillian Hewitt ’49, P ’70, ’72, ’73, GP ’95, ’98, ’99

01/11/2024 Mr. Roy Maier P ’86, ’88, ’90, ’92

01/17/2024 Mrs. Lois Franks

01/18/2024 Mrs. Mary Hayden ’52

01/26/2024 Ms. Elizabeth Passarelli ’64

02/03/2024 Ms. Joan Frye GP ’10, ’12, ’16, ’18

02/05/2024 Mrs. Margaret Hampton P ’77, GP ’13

02/06/2024 Mr. Neil Myers Sr. P ’81, GP ’22

02/22/2024 Mr. Wallace Clifton P ’97, ’99

02/29/2024 Mr. Matthew Simpson ’02

03/04/2024 Mrs. Jo Ann Jenkins P ’85, ’90, GP ’17

03/07/2024 Mr. John Francis Redding P ’95, ’96, GP ’19, ’20, ’24

03/07/2024 Mr. Gary Weightman

03/10/2024 Mr. Dennis Stoudt P ’07

03/17/2024 Mr. Joseph Guy Tippett ’64, GP ’14

Brother Cornelius Hubbuch, CFX served as principal of Ryken High School from 1968-76. He was instrumental in the merger between St. Mary’s Academy and Ryken High School to form St. Mary’s Ryken in 1981.

04/09/2024 Mr. John Candela ’52, P ’75, ’83

04/17/2024 Mrs. Mary Catherine “Billie” O’Connell Mattingly P ’66, ’67, ’68, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’77, ’78, ’80

04/18/2024 Anna Grace Robey

04/27/2024 Brother James P. Eckert, CFX

05/02/2024 Mr. Steve Kupka

05/12/2024 Mrs. Jane Connelly

04/17/2024 Mrs. Catherine Davis Fowler ’54, P ’78, ’79, ’82

05/12/2024 Mr. Lawrence Forte P ’12, ’15

P = parent of alum GP = grandparent of alum

Mary’s Ryken

St. Mary’s Ryken

A College Preparatory Catholic High School

22600 Camp Calvert Road

Leonardtown, MD 20650

Friday, Oct. 4

Homecoming game: SMR vs. Bishop O’Connell Mark

Annual SMR Golf Tournament at Breton Bay Golf and Country Club, Leonardtown, MD

Friday, Oct. 18 Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony All are welcome!

RSVP: www.smrhs.org/ athleticshalloffame

Friday, Oct. 18 Alumni tailgate before the homecoming game

Friday, Oct. 18 7 p.m.