The FALL 2017 Knight Letter A Publication for the Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA • ANNUAL REPORT EDITION LeBron James visits Notre Dame High School The Knight Letter is published by the Alumni/Advancement Office of Notre Dame High School for the alumni, parents and friends of the school. EDITOR IN CHIEF Brett A. Lowart, President BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel McCarthy, Chair Jeri Dye Lynch, Vice Chair Mission & Governance Committee Chair Justin Rawlins ’91, Secretary Advancement Committee Chair David Damus ’83, Treasurer Finance Committee Chair Br. Regan Chapman ’67, OFM John Combes Alice Cotti, NDHS Principal What’s Inside Joe Ellias ’75 Br. Joel Giallanza, C.S.C. Brett Lowart, NDHS President Lenny McNeill Anthoney Mudy ’83 This Issue Kathy Nikolai Charlie Perkins ’69 Ron Renaud ’64 1 President’s Message 20 Board Chair Letter Ryan Stromsborg ’93 An update from Brett Lowart, An update from Dan McCarthy, Ronald Viola President of Notre Dame High School Chair of Notre Dame High Jamie Wagenbach ’83 School Board of Directors Fr. Michael Wakefield 2 School News Eileen Wong Exciting things happening 21 Annual Report Julie Zastrow at Notre Dame 2016-2017 financial update ADMINISTRATION Brett A. Lowart, President 9 Sports News 22 Alumni Gifts Alice Cotti, Principal Both ND girls and boys sports We appreciate the generosity Martine Abdaem, Director have had great success of our alumni of Counseling Georgia Capell, Vice Principal of Academic Affairs 12 Alumni News 26 Endowed Scholarships Tom Dill, Dean of Men NDHS alumni information, Hall of Fame Endowed Scholarships make Matt Gocke, Director of Facilities report, and Golf Tournament news it possible for students to Richard Klee, Director of Advancement attend Notre Dame Shannon Kobielusz, Vice Principal of Instruction 14 Class Notes Ann McClung, Dean of Women Admiral Michael Mullen ‘64 wins 28 Donor Categories Terry McGaha, Director of Mission Reagan Award, and class news Notre Dame would not exist without Alec Moss ’00, Director of Admissions the generous gifts of our many donors Randy Narciso, Director of Technology 16 Alumni Feature Kevin Rooney, Director of Athletics “Angels and Scholarships” Robert Thomas, Vice 40 College Matriculation Principal of Student Life The class of 2017 attending Richard Ysasi, Director of Finance 18 Calendar of Events top colleges 2017-2018 events at Notre Dame Notre Dame High School 13645 Riverside Drive 41 2017 “Disco Knights” Gala Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 “Disco Knights”, Saturday, October 21 www.ndhs.org The Knight Letter Fall 2017 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE “In this annual report edition of the Knight Letter we celebrate the unique achievements of the 2016-17 school year and we thank you, our Notre Dame family, for supporting our vital mission of educating hearts and minds.” By Brett Lowart Dear Notre Dame High School Alumni, Programs – The high quality of our aca- Scholarship Fund. It is the backbone and Parents and Friends, demic programs continues to improve. This strength of our institution and is at the year we are launching new Mandarin Chi- core of our mission. The families that have As we begin the 2017-18 school year, I am nese courses and an Engineer Your World created funds (listed in this magazine) are beginning my 35th year in Catholic educa- program. Actor/Director/Producer (and making an enduring commitment. I’d like tion and ninth as president at Notre Dame. former ND parent) Gary Sinise invited U.S. to particularly thank those that established How time flies. It is also amazing how no History teachers to participate in his Soar- funds this year including Linda Gunn two school years are the same. In this an- ing Valor Program that connects teachers (Linda Gunn and Allen ’94 and Kev in ‘ 98 nual report edition of the Knight Letter we and students with the World War II Muse- Jerkens Fund), Teri Abbott (John “Roger” celebrate the unique achievements of the um in New Orleans and direct contact with Abbott ’51 Fund), Bob Mandeville ’80 and 2016-17 school year and we thank you, our WWII veterans. Carl Reyes ’80 Fund, Dr. and Mrs. Suman Notre Dame family, for supporting our vital Patel (the Patel Family Fund). Last but mission of educating hearts and minds. Facilities & Equipment – Our campus not least, I am grateful to the Holy Cross is undoubtedly one of the most beauti- Brothers. In 1983-84 the Brothers turned Year in Review: ful high school campuses in the country. over operating control of NDHS to a Board Accreditation – Our faculty and staff spent It has been further enhanced this sum- of Directors and entered into a property a large part of the year on our accredita- mer with the replacement of our stadium lease agreement with the school whereby tion renewal. The Ensuring Educational field turf with new and superior synthetic NDHS paid an annual lease to the Brothers Excellence (E3) process was very affirm- turf. Track and field surfacing for high/ to assist in the retirement and elder care ing to all our employees and sends a clear long jumps, pole vault and shot put/discus for Brothers. I am pleased to announce that message to current and prospective parents events will be added this fall. Our exteri- in May the Moreau Province of Holy Cross and students that Notre Dame High School or cafeteria wall and windows have been Brothers amended our property lease (to is operating at an extremely high level. We replaced by a beautiful sliding window $1 per year) for the next 99 years. It is our received the highest possible accreditation door system that allows us to open the full Board’s intent to direct the lease savings and earned praise from our visiting com- length of the wall for pedestrian traffic (more than $17 million over the next cen- mittee for the strength of our learning pro- and transform its use. We also replaced all tury) to the Holy Cross Scholarship Fund gram and school environment as evidenced classroom smart boards with new 70” LED of NDHS to benefit low and middle income by the test scores our students achieve and screens that interact with new large screen families of deserving students. What a fan- the colleges they attend. iPad Pro equipment issued to teachers. A tastic blessing! sand volleyball court was added in De- Matriculation – 99% of the Class of 2017 cember making ND the only high school The 2017-18 school year is a planning year. is now enrolled in college, 92% in four-year in the Valley to have one. I’ll be working closely with our Board of Di- universities and 7% in community colleges. rectors and the school community in creat- 16% are enrolled in University of California Generosity – Over the past five years our ing a strategic vision for the next decade at colleges. For the first time in school history parents, alumni and friends have contrib- Notre Dame. I look forward to sharing the we are seeing most of our graduates (53%) uted in unprecedented fashion to our Light vision with you this year. As always, please attending colleges outside of the state of the Way Campaign and much progress know you are in our prayers. California. Among the colleges our stu- has been made. Even though the cam- dents are attending include Yale, Villanova, paign ended in December 2015, the char- Go Knights! Cornell, Boston College, Boston U., Univer- itable spirit has continued. Those of you sity of Notre Dame and NYU. USC (11) and who know me or have read my letters or the University of Oregon (18) were the most heard me speak know of my conviction Brett A. Lowart popular college destinations for the class. and special emphasis on the ND Endowed President Fall 2017 www.ndhs.org 1 SCHOOL NEWS American Freedom Awards Due to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor Notre Dame High School was able to offer special “American Freedom” scholarships to students with a parent who is currently serving in the military or who has previously served in the military. Families were notified of the scholarship opportunity in March 2017. They submitted applications along with proof of honorable discharge. Ten students were awarded schol- arships of $1,000-$2,000 each. The anonymous donor sent the following to families informing them of their awards: “I want to thank you for your military ser- vice to our country on behalf of my family. You probably don’t receive the appreciation you deserve for the sacrifices you have made. Class of 2017 Baccalaureate You probably don’t seek it either. But your service, and the service of so many others, and Graduation On Friday, May 26, Notre Dame hosted its annual Baccalaureate Mass to celebrate the has made America great and free. Also often graduating Class of 2017. The Most Reverend Joseph Brennan, Auxiliary Bishop of the San overlooked are the sacrifices family mem- Fernando Region who graduated from Notre Dame in 1972, presided. It was a beautiful bers make when loved ones are serving their opportunity to celebrate the students’ time at Notre Dame as well as bless them as they country. I am pleased to thank your family move on to the next chapters of their lives. for their support and devotion. Please accept On Saturday, May 27, Notre Dame celebrated its 67th annual commencement with 263 this Notre Dame High School scholarship graduates and their families. NDHS Board of Directors Chairman Daniel McCarthy gave assistance as a small token of appreciation the welcome address and graduating senior Harrison Bradley provided the graduation from a grateful American and Notre Dame address.