Bishop O’Dowd High School Magazine D R A G A Culture of Connection O FALL/WINTER 2019 N INCLUDING 2018 - 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Thank you for your support “I love being a Dragon. I am so blessed that O’Dowd teachers and coaches gave me their time and energy, and educated me to improve my life, my family’s life, and communities around me. I will continue to do everything I can to help.” -Garry Hill-Thomas ‘00 O’DOWD’S ANNUAL FUND ENSURES THAT EVERY STUDENT AT O’DOWD FINDS OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE THE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF THEIR TALENTS AND CURIOSITY. EVERY GIFT CONTRIBUTES TO ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF O’DOWD STUDENTS’ LIVES AND LEARNING. Make your gift today at www.bishopodowd.org/give TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2019 10 21 39 A CULTURE OF CONNECTION: READY OR NOT, HERE’S MATT Alumni News FOSTERING BELONGING FOR BETTINELLI-OLPIN ‘96 STUDENT SUCCESS 44 23 In Memoriam LANDMARK GENEROSITY: LARGEST AND FIRST FAMILY GIFTS TO THE O’DOWD CENTER 26 18 Annual Report 45 ILLUMINATING BEAUTY AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS LIGHTING THE WAY FOR OTHERS: JOSH STAUB ‘93 Write us! The Dragon is published twice a year for alumni, parents, and friends of Bishop O’Dowd High School. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and address changes at [email protected] or by mail to: Dragon Magazine 9500 Stearns Ave. Oakland, CA 94605 Charism Finding God in all things calls us to: Community in Diversity Strength of Character Academic Excellence Kinship with Creation Social Justice From the Joy PRESIDENT Greetings Dragon Alumni, Parents, and Friends, LEADERSHIP James Childs, MA, MEd As the 2019-2020 academic year began, I felt the same excitement I do every President year at the start of school. Students return and fill our campus with good spirit Christopher Smart, Ed.D. and friendship. Colleagues catch up with one another on summer adventures. Principal Orientations and retreats that prepare teachers and students for our shared Rebecca Bischoff work go off without a hitch, and just like that we are launched into another year Chief Development Officer of teaching, learning, and collective growth as a community. In a familiar refrain, Shannon Cabral Senior Director of Marketing and I’m confident our best days are ahead! Communications Christine Garavaglia, CPA I am pleased to welcome new leaders and teachers, some of whom are featured in Chief Financial and Administrative Officer this issue. Our new Principal, Dr. Christopher Smart, is now immersed in the year Brian Judd, MS with our families, students, teachers, and his strong team of Associate Principals. Associate Principal of Activities and Campus Ministry Together, these leaders have brought a level of energy and enthusiasm that matches Kerryn Pincus the positive vibrancy of our students and that point to excellence and innovation. Director of Enrollment Management Tanya Susoev, Ed.D. Our charism and values are coming to life in new ways as well this year. Associate Principal of Academics We are deepening our attention to “Community in Diversity,” a charism value Jase Turner, MA Associate Principal of Student Life that calls us to celebrate and honor who we are individually and collectively in ways that uplift our entire community, increasing belonging, joy, and learning. Kim Walsh Project Executive, President Emeritus Our efforts to strengthen how we enact this value through our classrooms and teaching is led by our new Associate Principal of Academics, Dr. Tanya Susoev, BOARD OF REGENTS and Academic Dean, Patrice Wakeley ‘01. Their work to enhance learning, in Kevin Kelly partnership with teachers, students, and leaders, is informed by what educators Chairperson know and research affirms: that belonging is the gateway to both personal and Shana Daum Vice Chairperson academic growth for students. I encourage you to read more about Tanya and Kerwin Allen Patrice and their approach to building inclusive learning in this issue. Tracey Borst Krystal Bowen Also included is our 2018-2019 Annual Report, including stories about the Steve Callaway ‘80 generosity of our Dragon families and friends–a generosity likewise inspired Kevin Coldiron by belonging to a school community rooted in its values and contributing to the Katherine Earhart Fr. Leo Edgerly common good. Melinda Eisenhut-Dunn ’74 Michael Haas John Heagerty ’60 Kevin Hester ’88 Marietta Hickey “We are deepening our attention to “Community in Christopher Johnson Fr. Brandon Macadaeg Diversity,” a charism value that calls us to celebrate Monica Marcone and honor who we are individually and collectively Alan McIntosh Kristine Mechem in ways that uplift our entire community, increasing Glenele Oberrich belonging, joy, and learning.” Kathleen Radecke Robert J. Ravano ’58 Michael Robarts Leslie Sims Robertson ’81 Roderick Roche ’81 Kim Walsh 2 DRAGON “We are deeply grateful for a year marked by unprecedented giving of time and treasure from alumni, parents of alumni, current parents, and friends.” Every gift supports tuition assistance, campus development, and professional development opportunities that ensure O’Dowd remains a relevant, bright presence in the Bay Area and beyond. Our culture of philanthropy propels us forward in new ways, filling our sails! When you receive this we will have just celebrated Spirit Week, including the Night Rally for students, Alumni Beer Garden, and Friday night football game that is among the most robustly attended games of the year. Our first theater production of the year, Godspell, will likely be having its opening weekend, to be followed by two more productions this year, including Cabaret in January and another this spring. On behalf of our Board of Regents and our entire community, thank you for the many ways you come back, give back, and help us to ensure that the joy and generous spirit of Dragons remains present in countless ways. In partnership with you, we are seizing our compelling future with bright hope! With gratitude, James Childs, MA, MEd Thank you Thanks to the many generous supporters who sponsored and joined us for O’Dowd’s Fifth Annual Transforming Lives event. Special thanks to our student speakers, Chisomaga “Chisom” Nlemigbo ’21 and Natalie Gutierrez Morales ’21, who shared their educational journeys at O’Dowd and their gratitude for all who contribute to support tuition assistance. Keynote speaker, Gene Yang, former O’Dowd math and computer science teacher of 17 years, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and graphic novelist, spoke to supporters about teaching, the strength of community, and the importance of co-curriculars at O’Dowd. FALL/WINTER MAGAZINE 2019 3 CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2019 to the future The class of 2019 earned admission to more than 200 colleges and universities. One hundred percent of students who applied to four-year colleges were accepted, with 33% attending private colleges and universities, 20% attending UC schools, and 20% choosing out of state colleges and universities. Allegheny College Bethune-Cookman University California Polytechnic State University, Chabot College* American River College Biola University San Luis Obispo* Champlain College American University Boston College California State Polytechnic University, Chapman University* Pomona Arizona State University Boston University Claremont McKenna College California State University: Azusa Pacific University Brigham Young University Channel Islands, Chico, Dominguez Hills, East Clark Atlanta University* Barnard College Brown University Bay, Fullerton, Humboldt, Northridge, Sacra- Clark University mento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose* Barrett, The Honors College Bucknell University Clemson University Case Western Reserve University Belmont University California College of the Arts, San Francisco* Colgate University Central Washington University Bennett College California Lutheran University College of Charleston 4 DRAGONCLASS OF 2019 Colorado School of Mines Merritt College* Scripps College University of Hawaii at Manoa Colorado State University Miami University, Oxford* Seton Hall University* University of Idaho Columbia College Chicago Michigan State University Sonoma State University* University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign* Columbia University Mills College Southern Methodist University* University of Massachusetts, Amherst Concordia University - Irvine Molloy College* Southern Oregon University* University of Miami Cornell University* Montana State University, Bozeman Spelman College* University of Michigan* DePaul University Monterey Peninsula College* St. Edward’s University* University of Minnesota, Twin Cities DeSales University Morehouse College St. John’s University University of Nebraska at Lincoln Diablo Valley College* Mount Saint Mary’s University, Stanford University* University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dickinson College* Los Angeles* SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry University of Nevada, Reno Dillard University Muhlenberg College Syracuse University* University of Oregon* Dominican University of California New England College* New York University* Temple University University of Oregon - Clark Honors Drew University College* Northeastern University* Texas A&M University* Drexel University* University of Pennsylvania Northern Arizona University* Texas Christian University Eckerd College University of Portland* Northumbria University* The American University of Paris Emerson College* University of Puget Sound Northwestern University The College of Saint Rose Fisk University University of Redlands The Cooper Union for the Advancement Fordham University Nova Southeastern