Fall 2015 1:1 PILOT PROGRAM Also in this issue: • P.A.K. Student Commons • 2015–2022 Strategic Plan • 2 Philly 4 Francis Pilgrimage Message from the President Dear Friends, The Christmas season is upon us and the hope and renewal of the New Year is just around the corner. As I reflect on 2015, I wonder how we arrived at its end so quickly. I came to Blakefield in 2008 and seven years later, I can say I watched my oldest son, Aaron, progress through grades 6–12, then march across the Hollow last June before heading off to college in August. I’ve seen my younger son, Ethan, proudly become a Don and most recently, begin his freshman year at the same time that my daughter, Olivia, entered 5th grade. As a parent, things really do change in a blink of an eye. Life at Blakefield isn’t so different. Just a few years ago, we had no idea what cyber science looked like in a high school. Now, we have a program recognized nationally that has expanded to our middle school. We have robots in Xavier Hall — a robotics lab to be precise. But imagine that, the oldest building on our campus houses two of our most innovative programs. At the same time, there is an increased interest among our Dons in studying the classical languages — subjects that we’ve been teaching since our founding in 1852. It’s no wonder that the vibrancy that makes a Loyola education so impactful is also what makes it seem to move so quickly. This sort of acceleration seems par for the course in the 21st century. Technology is advancing more rapidly than ever and information is flowing at an incredible rate. So what does that mean for our mission and the tradition of a Jesuit education? In many ways, it’s ideal. The mission of the Society of Jesus has always operated on the front lines. Whether it’s the latest advances in learning, “Whether it’s the latest expanding our role as a center of faith in our region and beyond, or embracing all the benefits of a flipped classroom environment, we will be at the cutting edge. advances in learning, We’ve already begun work to achieve objectives outlined in our Strategic Plan, expanding our role as which guides our efforts through 2022. Our work will result in Loyola Blakefield continuing to distinguish itself as one of the country’s finest Catholic schools a center of faith in our by enriching our Ignatian formational academic and co-curricular programs, region and beyond, constantly pursuing excellence and innovation, and improving affordability, accessibility, and diversity. or embracing all the We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are certainly up for the challenge. benefits of a flipped We hope you are too. classroom environment, Merry Christmas to you and your family and best wishes in the New Year! we will be at the cutting edge.” Mr. Anthony I. Day President 2 Fall 2015 Contents Campus News 4 Alumni Events 6 PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION 8 President’s Reception 8 Strategic Plan 2015–2022 10 P.A.K. Student Commons 11 1:1 Pilot Program 13 2 Philly 4 Francis 16 Class Notes 18 In Memoriam 19 P. A .K . STUDENT COMMONS 11 Staff Editor Michael J. Nitti Marketing Coordinator Photography 16 Michael J. Nitti 2 PHILLY 4 FRANCIS James Berglie Jerry Dzierwinski Design Inkwell Communications, LTD 1:1 PILOT PROGRAM 13 3 CAMPUS NEWS BIAFRA OKORONKWO ’16 NAMED DANIEL W. SALUTE TO SERVICE McNEAL ’90 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT he 14th Annual Daniel W. McNeal ’90 Scholarship was T awarded to Biafra Okoronkwo ’16 during our annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 16. Biafra carries on Dan’s legacy as an exemplary Don in every aspect with his passion for learning and the joy with which he participates in the life of the Loyola community. Biafra is the running back for the varsity football team and runs track in the winter and spring. He also serves as a peer educator, plays in the concert band, participates in the Blakefield Players, and is a member n Saturday, Nov. 7, we celebrated our seniors of the National Honor Society. He was also awarded a scholarship from the and veterans on Hargaden Field at the final National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), sponsored by the U.S. O home football game of the season against Department of State, to travel to Morocco and study Arabic for six weeks this Riverdale Baptist School. The opening ceremony past summer. included an introduction of each senior football player followed by a USMC Color Guard, the national anthem, and the unfurling of a 20-yard American flag on the IGNITE! FRESHMAN RETREAT field. During a special presentation at halftime, the he goal of IGNITE! is to provide freshmen with an opportunity to Loyola Patriots Club awarded its inaugural Patriots spark or reignite their relationship with God and their fellow Dons. Medal to alumnus Larry Watts ‘54 and co-founders T of Mission BBQ, Steve Newton and Bill Kraus (Paul The overnight retreat held on campus Nov. 14–15 offered team building activities, liturgy, time for guided meditation, and opportunities Sattler, Director of Operations for Maryland, accepted to hear from faculty, friends, and Steve Pomplon ‘02, service director at on their behalf), for their outstanding service to our Notre Dame Prep. Freshmen also took part in small group discussions country. All veterans in attendance from the Loyola and activities led by juniors and seniors. Over 100 student and faculty community, Riverdale Baptist community, and volunteers helped make this event a success. the local community were invited to stand and be recognized during the ceremony. CYBER SCIENCE PROGRAM GARNERS LOCAL & NATIONAL RECOGNITION ur cyber science program has been busier than ever in its third year. On Oct. 20, several students attended the Kaspersky Government Security Solutions (KGSS) Conference at Othe Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. One week later, three teams of students competed in the live finals of the Maryland Cyber Challenge as part of the CyberMaryland Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center. For the third consecutive year, Loyola’s Gold Team won the competition, an event that lasted nine hours and was the culmination of several months of qualifying rounds and intense preparation. Also, during the first week of November, the program was in the national spotlight with a standing- room-only crowd of top industry professionals at the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Conference in San Diego, where Mr. Steve Morrill moderated a panel on how Loyola built one of the first cyber high school programs in the country. Owen Haiber ‘16 also joined the panel and provided his perspective as a student. 4 Fall 2015 STUDENTS ATTEND TEACH-IN FOR JUSTICE FORMER U.S. NAVY SEAL JASON rom Nov. 7–9, nine Loyola students accompanied by three REDMAN SPEAKS AT BLAKEFIELD F chaperones joined more than 1,700 students from Jesuit colleges and high schools across the globe at the 18th Annual n Oct. 13, former U.S. Navy SEAL Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. The weekend-long event O lieutenant and author Jason Redman organized by the Ignatian Solidarity Network is an annual spoke to students, staff, and faculty gathering for members of the Ignatian family to come together about his journey to becoming a SEAL and in the context of social justice and solidarity to learn, reflect, the adversity he overcame both before and pray, network, and advocate together. Students from Loyola after he was severely wounded by a near Blakefield and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore also fatal shot to the face on a special ops mission met with Senator Ben Cardin and urged him to continue his work in Iraq in 2007, which resulted in four years of reconstructive in fighting for comprehensive and humane immigration reform. surgery. He urged students to foster principles that make up an “elite performer” including leadership, teamwork, and setting goals for success. As he recalled stories from his SEAL FORMER NBA STAR CHRIS HERREN TALKS and Army Ranger training days, he told students to befriend TO STUDENTS ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION those whom they can depend on and to always stay humble. n Nov. 10, Chris Herren spoke to our students 2015 FALL FOOD DRIVE O in grades 8–12 about drug addiction and shared uring the month of October, students collected over 5,000 his powerful and heartrending story on what led the D nonperishable food items from the Loyola community former basketball star down such a dangerous path for our annual Fall Food Drive. The food items were delivered and how he prevailed. His story has previously been to St. Gregory’s Parish in northwest Baltimore on Oct. 23 and featured on ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series. distributed to families within the parish community. FALL MIAA CHAMPIONS his fall, varsity and JV volleyball, JV water polo, and JV cross T country took home MIAA championships. Both varsity volleyball (18–0) and 8th grade soccer (11–0–1) finished their seasons undefeated. This marks varsity volleyball’s third undefeated season in five years and 7th MIAA championship overall. JOSEPH BRUNE ‘52 HONORED AT NATIONAL SIGNING DAY CONCOURSE DEDICATION CEREMONY n Nov. 11, the following seniors signed their letters O of intent to play DI lacrosse next year: Brendan n Oct. 24, legendary Loyola Blakefield Doyle (Mount St. Mary’s University), Luke Hurley (Drexel O football coach Joseph Brune ‘52 was University), Alex Pfaff (Drexel University), Eric Stout honored before the varsity football game on (Towson University), and Cole Williams (Johns Hopkins Hargaden Field with the dedication of the J.