FALL 2018 VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 1 ANNUAL REPORT EDITION Graduating Young Women Who Change the World. IN THIS ISSUE 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 6 CLASS OF 2018 GRADUATION FEATURE 18 ANNUAL REPORT OF DONORS 40 “GOLDEN GIRLS” LEAD GRADUATE PROCESSION 43 HONORING MR. CHARLIE SCHWING PRESIDENT 45 ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME Theresa Rodgers 46 CALENDAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES 47 IN MEMORIAM Roxanne Elliott ’94, Chair 48 “THANKFUL THURSDAY” DAY OF GIVING Most Reverend Bishop Jaime Soto, Ex Officio Kathleen Deeringer Dr. Pam DiTomasso ’72 ON THE COVER Alison Morr ’89 The Class of 2018 at the Commencement Ceremony on May 23, 2018 Mary Norris at Memorial Auditorium. This photo and many others throughout this Helen Manfredi Pierson ’74 publication courtesy of Phil Roina, www.roinaphotography.com. Celia Puff Lincoln Snyder, Director of Catholic Schools, Ex Officio CORRECTION: Our story on page 15 in the last issue incorrectly stated Eleni Kounalakis ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT debated the role of Walter Mondale during the 1984 campus election. Eleni has since corrected Mary Anne Kelly this, as she played the role of a fictional Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, and regrets any confusion caused by her somewhat hazy 30-year old memory. Director of Advancement Leigh Hiers ’96 Assistant Director of Advancement, Communications Christina Canaday Evey ’05 Advancement Services Associate Ann Moritz Gregory ’89 ThePax et Bonum magazine seeks to share with the reader the spirit of Advancement Associate St. Francis Catholic High School. Stories and pictures of the activities and accomplishments of students, alumnae, parents, and staff provide glimpses into the ways in which the school’s mission is carried out and its legacy continued. St. Francis Raquel Namba benefactors are gratefully acknowledged in the Annual Report of Donors. Communications & Social Media Associate St. Francis Catholic High School 5900 Elvas Avenue • Sacramento, CA 95819 Mari Parisi ’00 Phone: 916.452.3461 • Fax: 916.452.1591 Special Events Associate www.stfrancishs.org Dawn Winston ’91 St. Francis Catholic High School is fully accredited by the Alumnae & Constituent Relations Associate Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC.) 533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200 • Burlingame, CA 94010 • www.acswasc.org THE SUN SETS ON THE CLASS OF 2018 On May 21st the Class of 2018 gathered for Senior Sunset, the tradition closing out their senior year watching their final sunset over the SFHS campus. SPRING 2018 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE DEAR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, The 2018-19 school year launched a month ago with tremendous energy and enthusiasm as we wel- comed 1,080 Troubies to campus – one of our highest enrollment numbers in recent history. We feel God’s presence all over this bustling campus. In this issue, we acknowledge those who have helped put us in the excellent position that we are in to- day and who make our mission a reality for future generations of Troubies. We list our donors, not just for the 2017-18 year, but those who have given substantial gifts over their lifetime or through legacy gifts. We are humbled and grateful for all who have shared their time, talent and treasure to continue our tradition of educating women to change the world. We are excited to share photos from the Class of 2018 Commencement Ceremony and highlight the recipients of the highest awards we give. I know you will be impressed with these amazing young women who have been formed into models of “Pax et Bonum” during their time here. We are so proud of each and every student who walks our halls and discovers her own God-given gifts and talents. Indeed, the Class of 2018 was an outstanding group of young women who influenced our school, lifted each other up, and left an indelible mark on our community. As the Class of 2018 departed for new adventures, we welcomed the Class of 2022 (“Winnie the Pooh”), comprised of 290 young women eager to experience the Troubie sisterhood. A St. Francis tradition begins and ends each year with the song, At the Beginning, which reminds us, “We were strangers, starting out on a journey; Never dreaming, what we’d have to go through; Now here we are, I’m suddenly standing; At the beginning with you.” We’re thrilled to begin this adventure with our newest Troubies. This fall we launch our inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing and honoring those individuals who have made a significant impact on the community through their athletic achievements or outstanding service to our Athletic Department. We will induct five individual athletes, one team, one coach and one outstanding contributor (see page 45). We hope you will join us on Saturday, November 17, when we cele- brate these individuals and reflect on the proud history of our school. Earlier this year, we brought together a group of women – alumnae, current and past parents, and com- munity members – to develop a platform to bring women of all ages together to inspire, network, and foster connection, extending the spirit of sisterhood for which St. Francis is known. We’re excited to see this vision come to fruition with the introduction of our first “SELFe event” with keynote speaker Rachel Hollis (see opposite page). The “SELF” acronym is based on a rearrangement of the four St. Francis pillars; it is also meant to encompass the message of the permanency of self-worth and the journey to self-improvement. We are looking forward to seeing you at this event on October 28th. Thank you for your continued support of our young women. As you will see in the following pages, we are a vibrant community of faith, excellence, leadership, and service made possible by generous gifts from all of you who believe in our mission. I look forward to another great year and witnessing all the exciting things God will do in us and through us this year! In the spirit of Pax et Bonum, Theresa Rodgers 4 ST. FRANCIS ANNOUNCES A NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR ROXANNE ELLIOTT ’94 Roxanne Elliott, a graduate of the Class of 1994, works for Folsom-based homebuilder Elliott Homes. With four siblings who are also alumni of local Catholic high schools, she continues her family’s tradition of supporting and valuing Catholic education. Bishop Soto selected Roxanne to serve on the Board of Trustees in 2014. Roxanne is a parishioner at St. Ignatius Loyola in Sacramento, where she serves in various educational ministries. We are grateful for Mrs. Kathleen Deeringer’s work with the Board of Trustees in serving as Board Chair for the past two years. In all her interactions and decisions, her love of education, passion for the school, and commitment to our mission were foremost in her mind. Mrs. Deeringer will continue to serve as a Board of Trustee but will pass the leadership of the Board to the new Chair, Roxanne Elliott ’94. As a St. Francis graduate, Roxanne says, “Being an SFHS Board Member is an opportunity to give back to a school that provided me with a solid and enduring spiritual and academic foundation. Much of what I do professionally I learned at SFHS - social justice and responsible citizenship. I now work for a non-profit organization that supports programs for healthcare, education, affordable housing, the environment, and the poor and vulnerable. I have continued to volunteer for many of the organizations, communities, and people I was first introduced to as a student at St. Francis.” SMILE, IT’S TIME FOR A REAL SELFe! With St. Francis’ rich legacy of raising up women and reminding them that they were “made for more,” we are thrilled to launch our first “SELFe” event. This is a unique opportunity for students, moms, grandmas, alumnae and women of all ages to gather and share their hearts and stories while lifting each other up. We are pleased to host Rachel Hollis, NY Times’ best-selling author of Girl, Wash Your Face, mother of four, and CEO/founder of the popular The Chic Site blog as our inaugural speaker on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Ladies, you won’t want to miss this event! Watch the St. Francis website as more information will be coming soon. SAVE THE DATE: RACHEL HOLLIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28TH 12:30-4:30 PM SPRING 2018 5 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2018 Grace Abshear • Kaleigh Adams • Kathryn Agustin • Nadia Aimufua • Lindsay Alhady • Lauren Allen • Alexis Areias • Carina Arroyo • Reesa Artz • Alexis Assad Mary Alexus Baccay • Sydney Baichtal • Nikola Barnes • Kristen Bartow • Emily Bartylla • Nicole Beigh • Priscilla Belisario • Sophia Bellinoff • Madeleine Bisi • Julia Boston Anna Veronica Bourke • Lauren Brothers • Madeline Brown • Mary Catherine Burky • Loren Bykowski • Audrey Camarillo • Alanna Carlin • Kendall Carlsen Kobe Carpenter • Victoria Castillon • Lennea Castro • Emily Cates • Caitlynn Chang • Victoria Cimino • Allison Cloninger • Hannah Clouser • Sidney Clymer-Engelhart Holly Coffman • Hannah Isabelle Cole • Jocelynn Coleman • Grace Conlin • Anna Cooper-Huber • Rachel Cooper-Huber • Julia Coss • Erica Cradeur • Nicole Cronin Emily Cunanan • Julionah Dahdouh • Nicole Danuwidjaja • Lauren Dodier • Melia Dowd • Allison Dowdell • San Du • Yahsmeene Duffey • Liliana Eilhardt Julia Endicott • Madison Enos • Abigail Erckenbrack • Bianca Escoto • Marisa Fat • Katarina Fernandez • Nora Fluetsch • Stephanie Fong • Jacqueline Foran Nicole Frank • Jacqueline Free • Lia French • Alexandra Freund • Emma Fries • Olivia Fu • Savannah Gagnon • Samantha Garaygay • Azalea Garcia • Jennifer Gilbert Grace Gillis • Chiara Giordani • Mayrin Gonzalez • Mary Louise Goodwin • Adrienne Graybill