162Nd Commencement
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Summer 2014 162nd Commencement Also in this issue: • Loyola Names New Principal • Five Questions with Tim Porter ’64 • 2014 Blue & Gold Auction Sets New Records Message from the President Dear Friends, As I reflect back on my first full academic year as President, I’m amazed at how quickly the weeks and months have passed. This is largely due to the fact that our year has been filled with action and liveliness — action on behalf of our mission and liveliness evident in the daily work being performed both on and off of our campus. Throughout it all, our focus has remained solely upon the enhanced formation of our Dons so that they may develop their mind, body and spirit in ways that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. It is this formation that members of the Loyola Blakefield community so often talk to me about. When I meet alumni for the first time, they often share memories of their years at Loyola and express to me how grateful they are for their experiences. They acknowledge their college studies and their own determination to succeed, but they credit their formative experience at Loyola for providing the groundwork for their intellectual prosperity, instinctive desire to think of others before themselves and a burning passion for seeking social justice. Their testimony to our mission inspires us all to continue to invest in Loyola Blakefield so that our efforts today provide the same results that so many of our graduates have enjoyed. To that end, I’ve spent much of my time engaging members of the extended Loyola community in ways that matter most to them. Our aim is to make sure that many voices are heard and that collaboration between all of our constituents is taking place. Sometimes this means traveling to visit our alumni across the country or facilitating dialogue here on campus. “Our aim is to make sure that many As we continue to invest in our mission and challenge ourselves to adapt and grow, I look forward to connecting with those willing to partner with voices are heard and us to meet the needs of our Dons. In the year ahead, I’ll be traveling across the country and hopefully meeting with many of you face-to-face. Be on the that collaboration lookout for an invitation to join us on campus or within your local region. Until then — Roll Dons Roll! between all of our God bless you, your family and our beloved Loyola Blakefield. constituents is taking place.” Mr. Anthony I. Day President 2 Message from the Principal Dear Blakefield Community, This summer, I am reminded of one of the principles at the heart of Ignatian Pedagogy: reflection. Whether we find some peace and quiet while children are at camp, during a lunch break at a summer job, in the car during a commute or hopefully while dipping toes into the surf, we may be able to find an extra moment or two over the course of our summer days to reflect. However, finding the time is only part of the challenge. The next step is deciding what to reflect upon. One of the many aspects I appreciate about life at Loyola is the Daily Examen. Everything stops, and for several minutes, the community takes part in a guided reflection period. However, when left to our own devices, how do we focus our periods of reflection? Looking to the Ignatian model of education again, the focus prior to reflection is experience. We are called not just to find time when we are willing to stop and clear our minds, which in itself is a valuable exercise of meditation, but we are also challenged to focus that time on examining a specific experience and questioning it. How did the experience impact me? How did I impact it? What could have been done differently? What can I do differently? Where did I find joy? When did I do well? When should I have, but didn’t? I encourage you to reflect upon your experience with Loyola. Whether you have just enrolled or graduated decades ago. Whether you are a parent, a veteran employee or, like me, brand-new to the community, “As you examine your think upon your experience. Question your role in the life of the relationship with institution and the institution’s role in your life. Loyola, I invite you to If we continue to follow the Ignatian Pedagogical model, the next step is action. It is up to you what that action looks like, but I encourage you to share your experiences, look to the school’s mission for guidance. As I reflect upon my arrival at Loyola, my actions are beginning to take shape: to look, to listen and to reflections, and learn. As you examine your relationship with Loyola, I invite you to share your experiences, reflections and thoughts about your actions with me. I thoughts about your look forward to hearing from you. actions with me.” Sincerely, John F. Marinacci Principal 3 Contents Alumni Events 5 162nd Commencement 6 New Principal 8 Tribute to Frank Fischer 10 Blue & Gold Auction 12 Greater Glory Scholarships 14 Million Dollar Donor 16 Hargaden Field 17 Writing Workshop 18 My Summer Service 19 Forensics Update 20 Athletics Recap 21 5 Questions 24 Robotics Update 25 Cyber Security 26 Campus News 27 Class Notes 30 Staff Editor Robert J. Robinson, M.S. Director of Marketing & Communications Associate Editor Michael J. Nitti Marketing Coordinator Creative Director Fay Cofrancesco, MBA Web Content Editor Photography Michael J. Nitti Fr. Joe Machini, S.J. James Berglie John Coyle ’84 Design Inkwell Communications, LTD Printing Printing Images, Inc. 4 Celebrating a reunion in 2014–15, looking to reconnect with your fellow Dons or haven’t visited campus in a while? Be sure to stay on top of our full event offerings for the upcoming school year. Both on and off Alumni Events @ Blakefield campus, we offer something for everyone. Whether you are a parent (past or present), alumnus or friend of Loyola, we hope you’ll join us! Just the tip of the iceberg, these are some of the events that loyolablakefield.org/events took place over the course of the second half of the year. Blakefest Hundreds of alumni, parents, students and friends joined us for Blakefest in April. The day featured fun for the whole family, including carnival games, a car show, concessions and more. The day also featured a rematch of the 2013 MIAA ‘A’ Conference Lacrosse Championship as the Dons took on Boys’ Latin. Additionally, alumni came together for the annual John H. Price ‘97 Alumni Lacrosse Game. 50th Reunion The Class of 1964 celebrated their 50th reunion with festivities on campus that culminated in the traditional march across the Hollow with the Class of 2014. 60th Reunion Members of the Class of 1954 gathered for their 60th reunion celebration. Kelley Medal Breakfast Alumni & Family Service Day The Honorable Albert Matricciani ’65 was In July, a large group of alumni and their families came announced as the 2014 Rev. Joseph M. Kelley, out to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Fells Point to help S.J. Medal recipient and was honored at this renovate the campus as part of the Loyola Blakefield year’s Kelley Medal Breakfast held on April 2. Alumni Association’s 5th Annual Summer Service Project. Judge Matricciani’s career has been defined by his commitment to helping those less fortunate by handling a steady caseload of pro bono publico referrals prior to taking his seat on the bench. Additionally, he has devoted countless hours to training and mentoring young lawyers and is the embodiment of the “Men-for-Others” ideal. The Kelley Medal is regarded as the highest form of recognition given to a Loyola alumnus. Named in honor of Rev. Joseph M. Kelley, S.J., the Kelley Medal recognizes his dedication and commitment to educating Loyola students in physics and mathematics for nearly 40 years. 5 162ND COMMENCEMENT Loyola Blakefield graduated 181 students from the Class of 2014 on June 1, 2014. Graduates will attend distinguished colleges and universities across the country, with the top 25% set to attend the following: • College of the Holy Cross • College of William & Mary • Purdue University • University of Maryland, College Park • University of South Carolina • Boston College • Brown University • Carnegie Mellon University • Case Western Reserve University • Clemson University • Cornell University • Georgetown University • Hamilton College • Harvard College • Loyola University Maryland • Northeastern University • Temple University • Tulane University • University of Delaware • University of Georgia • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • University of Southern California • University of Virginia • Vanderbilt University • Virginia Tech Visit loyolablakefield.org/graduation to see more highlights from Loyola Blakefield’s 162nd Commencement. 6 162ND COMMENCEMENT “Others have been for us all our lives. All those people who’ve brought us here, to graduate from high school in a beautiful meadow among friends, those are the others who are for you. Now, here you are – here we are – with the chance to be for others. The chance to be Men for Others for the rest of our lives. Take that chance.” – Excerpt from Student Commencement Address by Daniel O’Neill ’14 7 Mr. John F. Marinacci Named New Principal In April 2014, Mr. John F. Marinacci was named Principal of Loyola Blakefield and began his new role on July 1. We caught up with Mr. Marinacci to learn more about his perspective on our mission, early observations on life at Blakefield and to discuss how our Ignatian education model suits boys in grades six through 12.