2010
GRADUATION SPECIAL
St. Margaret’s 30th Anniversary BY MARCUS D. HURLBUT, HEADMASTER OF ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
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eflecting on the 2009-2010 highlights of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School inevitably begins with the 95 graduates who received their St. Margaret’s diplomas on June 12, 2010. Members of the Class of 2010 were accepted by 175 colleges and universities. Among those are Barnard College, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Villanova University, and Yale University. The University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern California, New York University, and University of Washington are among those accepting the most St. Margaret’s 2010 graduates. Tartan Athletics well represented San Juan Capistrano by winning three CIF Championships. The Girls’ Tennis team won a second consecutive CIF Championship by completing its consecutive undefeated season. During a school-wide celebration, American tennis legend Lindsay Davenport visited the school and praised the team. The Tartans’ Football team became the first in Orange County history to win four straight CIF Football Championships. The team joins only two others that have won four straight championships in the history of California. The Tartans already hold the record for the longest football winning streak in the history of Orange County. In May, the Boys’ Volleyball team won a second CIF Championship in St. Margaret’s history, reaching the finals without dropping a game during the playoffs. St. Margaret’s Arts programs thrived this year. The Upper School production of Children of a Lesser God won the 2010 Best Play Cappies Award, and senior Rebecca Miller won Best Actress in a Play. Artwork by junior Adam Holden was juried into the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition, and eighth-grade students performed in the State Honor Band. In academic highlights, San Juan resident Kenley Farace, grade 7, won the Orange County Spelling Bee and competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Seventh-graders won second place in the QuikSCience Challenge, and five Tartans won writing awards in the 2010 California Scholastic Writing Awards Contest. Two St. Margaret’s teams, grades 4 – 6, won first and fourth places in the Orange County Battle of the Books. Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth recognized St. Margaret’s as a “Top School” in the State of California, and seven juniors and 14 seniors were inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society. St. Margaret’s led a school-wide community service effort to commemorate our commitment to service, community and 30th anniversary. Over 20,000 hours of service have been donated through this effort so far. Students created and led a community relief effort in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Lemon-Aid, raised more than $20,000 for Haiti relief, culminating with a community fair and concert that drew local vendors including zpizza, Billabong and Hot Dog on a Stick, raising more than $11,000 in one day. Service to our San Juan community is a long-established commitment of St. Margaret’s.
Courtesy photo
Breakthrough SJC began its fifth year serving high-potential, low-income middle school students from San Juan to prepare for college-track academics in high school. Fifty students in grades 7 and 8 are currently attending Breakthrough summer session. We were thrilled to participate again in the time-honored Celebration of the Swallows. St. Margaret’s has participated for more than 20 years in the Swallows’ Day Parade and has sponsored the parade for more than 10 years. The Upper School guitar ensemble performed at the 2010 State of the City Breakfast by special invitation from the Mayor, Dr. Londres Uso. We continued our ongoing support of Father Serra’s Pantry by donating more than 1,850 hand-packaged bags of beans and rice and 962 toiletry packs in September, 75 batches of handmade cookie dough during the holidays, and leading a school-wide food drive in spring. In March, we received unanimous approval from the San Juan Capistrano City Council to move forward with campus development plans, including a new middle school and performing arts center, which we plan to begin building this fall. These new, state-of-the-art facilities will support our superior academics and flourishing performing arts programs for future generations of students. The unanimous support and praise from City Council members was a significant highpoint of the year and an important moment in our history. We have worked very hard to be conscientious and contributing citizens and to ensure that our plans and school operations are responsive to the larger community. The positive relations and 30-year roots we have built with our leaders and neighbors in San Juan Capistrano mean a great deal to us, and we thank our beloved San Juan for the years of partnership and support. Finally, with deep sorrow and fond memories we said goodbye to the founder of St. Margaret’s, The Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers, who passed away on October 15, 2009. In a beautiful celebration at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, we came together as a school and church community to honor Father Sillers’ lifelong commitment to service and education. In honor of Father Sillers’ life’s work and important legacy, we look toward the future of our school, ever mindful of the profound responsibility we hold to carry forward his vision and uphold our mission. Nick Stropko became the second JSerra graduate to earn a prestigious National Merit Scholarship. Berkeley-bound high-jumper, Harrison Steed, was ranked among the best in the nation. Our boys’ soccer team won our first CIF championship.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Graduates Christopher Adams Natasha Afshar Ivory Agan Fernando Almejo Jeffrey Askin Diana Barriga Sahar Bayat Taylor Bayles Ashley Bean Alexandra Blett Sean Burke John Carpenter Brian Chang Hikmat Chehabi Justin Cheng Spencer Corwin
Erin Desmond Sourabh Dhillon Haley Dotson Jonathan Dreyer William Findiesen Alexander Fragapane Brent Freese Paige Gammell Leonardo Garcia Garrett Giacopelli Jennifer Gonzalez Hunter Graham Jacob Graham Amy Gutierrez Alexander Hanna Christina Hart
Matthew Henderson Melody Hernandez Melanie Hess Wade Holmes Savannah Holte Alexander Hope Jordan Hopper Elizabeth (Claire) Hosinski Hanna Hurr Kyle Jones Kasey Jong Marisa Jue Jeffrey Jung Spencer Keane Robert (Bobby) Keith Patricia Kharazmi
Kory Kiraly Kelly Knutson David Kushner Andrew Lind Kevin Liu Cameron Lukos Tyler (T.J.) Marano Ryan Marean Christina (Chrissie) Massrey Kyle McArthur Keaton McCalla Connor McClure Asako Mikumo Hayley Miller Rebecca Miller Nohemi (Mimi) Moctezuma
Alexis-Jean (Lexi) Moore Kayla Moritzky John Murayama Andrew Pak Cloe Peralez Carina Prynn Daniel (Woody) Quinn Christine Reid Antigone Robinson Rachel Rohrer Sanam Saghafi Kiyana Salkeld Stacy Sanderson Henry (Callan) Saunders Evan Skenderian Beatriz Stambuk
Harrison Stern John Swanson Celine Toubia James Travis Robert (Will) Travis Jeffrey Tung Alfredo (Freddy) Valencia Farida (Fari) Valji Catherine (Catie) Verano Simran (Sim) Virk John (Luke) Wagner Katherine (Kate) Walters Kevin Wang Christopher Wilkins Trevor Yorke