Finding God in All Things The Bishop O’Dowd High School Magazine Building on a Legacy of Innovation with President James Childs Page 16 Legacy Starts Alums Share Passion Honor Roll of Donors Fall/Winter at O’Dowd Through Writing page 45 2018 page 2 page 18 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 James Childs, MA, MEd President Greetings Dragon Alumni, Parents and Friends, Kim Walsh President Emeritus I have the pleasure to share with you that O’Dowd is truly thriving ... and that Romeo Baldeviso, MS Chief Information Officer our best days are ahead. Rebecca Bischoff Chief Advancement Officer O’Dowd first opened its doors in 1951 and 67 years later, we owe a debt of Nicole Fernando gratitude to everyone – teachers, staff members, members of the religious Annual Giving Director orders who’ve served here, parents, alumni, volunteers, donors – who has Christine Garavaglia, CPA helped us become the thriving school and community we are today. Chief Financial Officer Michelle Hawkins The last 12 years have been especially transformational under the leader- Senior Director of Development ship of the late Steve Phelps. Today, O’Dowd is at enrollment capacity, has Brian Judd, MS Associate Principal a waitlist for admissions, and features academic and co-curricular programs Briana Loewinsohn, MA that prepare our students for college and beyond, with tuition assistance Graphic Designer and support programs that ensure we can extend our Catholic mission and Lisa Coffey Mahoney ’76 charism-values to as many students as possible. We learned a lot from Steve Director of Communications and have a vision for building on his achievements and taking O’Dowd to LizaDawn Aduviso, MA, CFRE Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy even greater heights. Colette Roche, MA, MS, EdD Associate Principal Our institutional priorities position us boldly for future suc- Jase Turner, MA Associate Principal cess: first, deepening our commitment to our charism and our values-based education; second, driving educational excel- lence and innovation; and third, seizing unprecedented oppor- Board of tunities to optimize our facilities. REGENTS In this magazine, please enjoy the articles that celebrate our life and mission Kevin Kelly Chairperson around these three priorities and note the outstanding financial support we Shana Daum received from our community this past year to further these priorities. The Vice Chairperson work at O’Dowd is animated by the spirituality that flows from the charism, Kerwin Allen thereby expressing our Catholic identity. We are emboldened by pursuing Tracey Borst Kevin Coldiron transformative educational strategies for the growth of our students. O’Dowd Fr. Leo Edgerly will be sustainably modernized to enhance the student experience by plan- Melinda Eisenhut-Dunn ’74 ning, funding and building the first phase of our campus master plan. Michael Haas John Heagerty ’60 Thank you for engaging with us as we continue to celebrate our history and Kevin Hester ’88 build on our solid foundation in order to become the Catholic high school Christopher Johnson Ellie Knauss our students most need for the complex world they boldly face. Toward that Monica Marcone end, I am grateful for your investment in and advocacy on behalf of O’Dowd. Fr. Jay Matthews Alan McIntosh Glenele Oberrich Best, Robert J. Ravano ’58 Mike Robarts Leslie Sims Robertson ’81 Roderick Roche ’81 Kim Walsh James Childs, MA, MEd Table of CONTENTS 02 Legacy Starts at O’Dowd 12 A Thriving O’Dowd 14 O’Dowd’s New President: James Childs 16 Building on a Legacy of Innovation 18 Alums Share Their Passion Through Writing 26 Athletics News 31 Alumni News O’Dowd is Tops 45 Honor Roll of Donors We are proud to announce that Bishop O’Dowd High School 69 In Memoriam won “Best Private High School” in Oakland magazine’s 2018 Best of Oakland and the East Bay annual readers’ poll for the fifth consecutive year! Thanks to all who voted for O’Dowd! Write us! We welcome your letters in response to articles in this maga- zine. Please e-mail submissions to Dragon editor Lisa Coffey Mahoney ’76 at [email protected] or send a letter to: Dragon Magazine 9500 Stearns Ave. Oakland, CA 94605 We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space. Are you interested in being a featured contributor? Please contact Lisa Coffey Mahoney ’76. We reserve the right to make decisions on whether or not to publish submitted contributions Contributed and staff photos are featured in theDragon . based on theme of the issue, available space and the nature of the story. 2 // Dragon Legacy Starts AT O’DOWD 64th Annual Commencement “The greatest use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” -William James O’Dowd Board of Regents member and featured commencement speaker Ellie Knauss used this quote to deliver an inspiring call to action for O’Dowd’s Class of 2018 - your legacy starts now. Don and Ellie Knauss Fall/Winter Magazine 2018 // 3 From left to right: Maia Johnson, Andi Wiley, Kameela Hall, Pablo Samoilys, Sabine Schroepfer and Arden Fortaleza. “No, not the inherit money from your great uncle type of “You are experiencing firsthand, the im- legacy,” she said. “Legacy is something that leaves a conse- quence, has an effect and produces a result. In short, some- pact of legacy. You, O’Dowd’s graduating thing you accomplish in your life that makes a difference. class of 2018, are living the legacy of a Some of you have already begun to form your legacies with what you have done at O’Dowd.” man who has been called a futurist in the field of Catholic education,” Ellie said. Ellie and her husband, Don, were honored at O’Dowd’s 64th annual commencement with the Cor Unum Award. “Of course, I am speaking of Dr. Stephen Named for the school’s motto, “One Heart in Christ,” the Phelps, the president of Bishop O’Dowd Cor Unum Award is Bishop O’Dowd High School’s highest High School for the last 12 years. honor. It is presented each year to select members of the O’Dowd community whose lives and work embody the school’s Mission to create a more just, joyful, and sustain- Dr. Phelps’ job? Mentor, teacher, coach able world. and president. But his legacy? Service to The couple was recognized for their steadfast commitment others focused on developing confident, to providing a Catholic education to as many deserving capable and successful young people – students as possible through transformative gifts in support of financial aid, and service to the mission of Catholic like every graduate in this room!” education. Ellie has been a member of the Board of Regents since 2012 and two of their four children - Alec ’10 and Kara Other commencement speakers included valedictorian ’13 – are alums. Yujia Li and salutatorian Ruby Perez. Class of 2018 Gives Back Inspired by their four transformational years at O’Dowd, members of the Class of 2018 contributed $108,000 to provide the gift of an O’Dowd education to the next gen- eration. Senior Class Philanthropy Officers: Anna Dubon, Jayla Goler, Luke Ditzler, Kameela Hall and Sabine Schroepfer led the effort. 4 // Dragon Leaving an INDELIBLE IMPRESSION Several graduates were recognized with special awards at commencement, affirmations of their efforts to leave a lasting legacy at O’Dowd. Ruby Perez and Connor Tamor Christina Pirrotta and Ryan Allen Demonstrating Exceptional Leadership Personifying Academic and Athletic Excellence (General Activity Award) (Scholar-Athlete Award) Teixeira Cooper and Sabine Schroepfer and Samuel Showalter Chris Lucas Giving of Self Through Service Living O’Dowd’s Mission (Loyalty Award) (Regents’ Award) Fall/Winter Magazine 2018 // 5 ACHIEVING College Acceptance Outcomes AMERICAN UNIVERSITY CHABOT COLLEGE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY MERRITT COLLEGE Fortaleza, Arden Peter Carmody, Liam Li, Xipu Catolos, Melissa Claire Vismonte Grossman, Ethan Rosenthal Cysewski, Joseph La Fave Tallarida, Olivia Tomasina Esaias, Selina Hub, Julia Frances Joseph, Ryan Christopher Evans, Keith Anthony Johnson, Maia Rose Mahoney, Zakiya Lynnee GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Mello, Jovan Da Fonseca Pashman, Ella Rachael Martin, Quante Mayer, Shariyf Aatif Rosario, David Ransom MIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORD ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY GONZAGA UNIVERSITY Ryan, Michael John Caine, Madysen Taelor CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY Herbert, Hank Jackson Gruendl, Dane Stuart Quamina, Matthew Kenrick Kelly, Maeve MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE Torres, Michael Andrew-Jacob Low, Charlotte Anne Glover, Marnae Yvonne CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO ATHENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE Brown, Jason HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, BOZEMAN Nguyen, Gilbert Colbert-Neal, Samantha Marie Moran, Douglas Wagner CLEMSON UNIVERSITY BERKELEY CITY COLLEGE Gillikin, Alexis Nicole HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Roddy, Nicholas Charles Martinez, Ana Patricia Fan, Wenbo COLLEGE OF ALAMEDA Meadows, Elayne Tibayan BOSTON CONSERVATORY Luna-Davila, Carlos Josue NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AT BERKLEE HOWARD UNIVERSITY Collard, Avery Elise Hurley, Nora Joan COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY Awakoaiye, Khukheper Andwele Kahetep Hu, Jingjing Zheng, Ziqian Jack CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS Hatchell, Jenay Denise NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY (SAN FRANCISCO) COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Loggins, Nakya Joi Hall, Kameela Hadda O’Callaghan, Courtney Elizabeth Brinnon, Quinn Taylor Perkins, Maya Janee Hoffman, Francesca Shay Wallace, Thomas Martin Wyatt, Adeya Ase CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY