SUMMER 2015 | 1

COVER

THE MAGAZINE OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

SUMMER 2015

ONE-TO-ONE LEARNING HAS ARRIVED

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SUMMER 2015 | 3

22 ATHLETICS

AROUND THE NEST

10 EAGLES CREATING CHANGE

Santa Margaritacatholic high school22062 Antonio ParkwayRancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 949-766-6000

Santa Margarita Catholic High School offers a college-preparatory education emphasizing the formation of the entire person. SMCHS strives to develop students who are people of faith, skilled lifelong learners, healthy individuals and involved citizens of our world. Students are empowered to grow spiritually, intellectually, socially and morally.

PRESIDENT J. Andrew Sulick ’91

PRINCIPAL Raymond R. Dunne ALUMNI RELATIONS Lori Gardner

EDITOR Amanda Coronado ’98

ASSISTANT EDITOR Lauren Bordages ’97

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Teri Beauchamp

STAFF WRITERS Amanda Coronado ’98, Lori Gardner, Jaimee Lieske ’08, Sean Zeitler ’01, Chris Popovec ’11

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WINGSSUMMER 2015

20 GRADUATION

15 COVER STORY

ALUMNI ARTISTS26 CLASS NOTES34 FOND FAREWELL38

STUDENT CONTRIBUTORSCarly Desmond ’15, Kiera Makowecki ’15Perla Shaheen ’16

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Russell, Steve Wylie, Oliver Yu ’04, warriors.com

WINGS is published by the Office ofCommunications at Santa Margarita Catholic High School.

CONTACT USFor story ideas email the Office of Communications at pr@smhs.org or call us at 949-766-6000. You can also read more about Santa Margarita Catholic High School at www.smhs.org

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Dear Santa Margarita family and friends,

What a great time to be an Eagle! The 2014-15 academic year continued to build on the great successes of previous years and in many cases, took things to new heights. In the world of academics, we not only had a record 1,587 AP/IB exams administered, five National Merit Finalists,

ranked the 47th best private high school in the nation by the Washington Post, but we sent the Class of 2015 off to great universities and colleges all over the nation, and even outside of the borders of the U.S., including: Notre Dame, Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Oregon, LMU, SMU, TCU, St. Andrew’s (Scotland), USC, NYU, Princeton, and UC Berkeley, just to name a few!

Additions were made to the curriculum with courses in robotics and IB business. The introduction of our One-to-One Tablet PC Program went far smoother than anyone could have hoped for. It was very impressive to see our students and faculty utilize this new form of teaching and learning! Supported by a very responsive Tech Center within our new “21st Century” library, the program is off to a great start with new improvements ahead for 2015-16.

Our arts program continues to grow and flourish. The number of students involved in productions and classes is on the upswing and the band, orchestra, choirs, hand bells, steel drums, dance program, and Talon Theatre continue to shine. Various concerts

and performances showcased the talent of Santa Margarita. In the visual arts program, the annual art show demonstrated the talented artists that are part of our student body.

Athletically, it was a super year with CIF championships in Boys Tennis, Girls’ Swimming, and Girls’ Track along with numerous Trinity League championships. In addition, our Ice Hockey team played in the national championship game in St. Louis and our Pep Squad brought home regional and national honors.

All of the successes noted above rest on the true foundation of SMCHS, our faith life which is solid and vibrant. Retreat programs are bursting at the seams and the senior level Kairos retreats are phenomenally successful in helping students deeper their relationship with our Lord. All four classes are actively involved in service projects ranging from working with Goodwill, Loaves and Fishes (Santa Ana) and Special Olympics, to individualized projects with non-profit organizations throughout the county. The school liturgies are beautiful and moving affirmations of our faith life and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Campus Ministry office.

At the heart of all, is our school charism, Caritas Christi, the love of Christ. Each and every student, staff and faculty member along with our families are called to be the love of Christ to each other and in so doing, change the face of our world. Thank you for your continued support of SMCHS and for being part of the family, where every day is a Great Day to be an Eagle!

Caritas Christi,

Ray Dunne, Principal

LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPALA note from Principal Ray Dunne

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WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR MOST TREASURED MEMORIES AS A STUDENT AT SMCHS?

I have many wonderful memories of Santa Margarita as a student and then as a faculty member and coach. I have met some amazing people in all of the different roles that I have held at SM, and I am blessed because they have made me a better person. However, my most treasured memory is meeting my wife at SM, Julie Savant ’93. That was the life game changer for me. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST LEARNED THAT YOU WOULD SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF SMCHS? I was humbled to be chosen to serve as the president of SMCHS. Santa Margarita is one of the best Catholic high schools in the United States. To have the opportunity to lead my alma mater is a great honor and responsibility. I want to make certain that I do everything that I can to ensure that the school continues to strive for excellence in all areas.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING BACK ON CAMPUS? Many great memories were made here on campus. Some of my mentors taught me and coached me here. Some of my best friends I met here. Some of my favorite students I taught here. When I walk the campus, I think about all of those people and the powerful impact they have made on my life.

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND AS YOU HEAD INTO THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR?

Three things come to mind. 1. Ensuring that all decisions we (administration, teachers, staff, and coaches) make on campus are in the best interest of the families we serve. It sounds straight- forward, however, it is vital to our success and we must always be reminded of why we are here.

2. I want to support all of our students and employees in realizing their God-given potential.

3. I want Eagle alumni on campus as much as possible! SM alumni are doing amazing things all over the world and I want them interacting and mentoring our current students.

IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA HOUR IN THE DAY, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT? The first thing that comes to mind is cleaning up my email inbox! As I think about it a little more, I would like to spend more time with our students. The president’s job is very business oriented, however, I originally entered the education field to work with young people. I miss the daily interaction and energy of teenagers.

Q & A WITH ANDY SULICK ’91 The President of SMCHS

Stop all this talk of what a good man should be and BE ONE successful, happy, good person.” - Andy Sulick ’91, senior quote

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Parade of EaglesFor the first time, Santa Margarita Catholic High School was proud to participate in the annual Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. The parade is one of the largest non-motorized parades in the nation and draws people from throughout the county and beyond. Part of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas, the parade celebrates the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano. The birds make the annual trek from Argentina each spring. Thank you to the Pep Squad, mascot, Eagle Regiment drumline, ASB and student ambassadors for participating.

Jammin’ With Bishop VannSanta Margarita was honored to have Bishop Kevin Vann preside over our all-school Mass of the Resurrection, which took place in the Moiso Family Pavilion on Apr. 14. Family, friends and alumni also joined us for this beautiful celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection. The students received a special surprise when the Bishop hopped on the piano after Mass for a fun jam session with the entire student body. This was the Bishop’s third time presiding over an SMCHS Mass.

The SMCHS Model United Nations program was pleased to welcome Santa

Margarita alumna Maria Voelkel ’99, back on campus for this year’s MUN banquet held in the Moiso Pavilion on May 5. Voelkel was in attendance to present the Richard Voelkel Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship founded in her father’s name. Richard Voelkel was the SMCHS Social Studies department chair and founder of the school’s MUN program, working at SMCHS from 1988 to 1996. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior who has

spent four years in MUN. This year’s

scholarship recipient was Jake Lawicki ’15. The scholarship is funded

by a generous family whose student had

the privilege of having Richard Voelkel as their teacher. “It means so much to my family that one of my father’s students put this scholarship into place,” said Maria Voelkel. “I am always thrilled to hear of how the program continues to grow each year and of the students’ success,” she said. “I know my father would feel the same. In my father’s eyes, the more the MUN program could do, the better, because he knew these kids were going to do great things.” Santa Margarita’s Model UnitedNations program is ranked as one of the top programs in the United States by bestdelegate.com, an education organization dedicated to MUN support.

Through the program, students competeboth close to home and abroad in mock meetings of the United Nations. This past school year, they attended conferences in Panama, the United Kingdom and China as well as conferences at Yale, UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley with similar plans for the upcoming school year.

SMCHS MUN Program Founder Honored

MUN Director John Remmel, Jake Lawicki ’15 and Maria Voelkel ’99

AROUND THE NEST

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Eagles In The Top 10

Recent Santa Margarita graduates Andrea Martinez ’15 and Ryan Melosini ’15 were selected as finalists in the 2015 Orange County Register’s Varsity Arts Artist of the Year Competition. This is the second year the Register has held this competition. Teachers from every Orange County high school were invited to nominate two students in each of the six art disciplines (dance, vocal music, instrumental music, theatre, film, and visual arts) and from there, a panel of judges selected the top 10 students in each area. Martinez was selected as a finalist in the theatre division while Ryan was chosen for vocal music. Andrea Martinez will attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she will study Musical Theatre at the New Studio on Broadway. During her high school years, Martinez participated in every Talon Theatre show including starring as Dolly in “Hello, Dolly!” She has won two Cappie awards, a high school theatre awards program, as well as the top Senior Performance Scholarship at the California State Thespian Festival. “Every time I go on stage it’s a reminder there is nothing else I would rather do with my life,” Martinez said. “I am free from everything else while performing.”

Ryan Melosini will attend Princeton University where he will play Division 1 water polo. He is majoring in international affairs and minoring in vocal performance. At Santa Margarita, Melosini participated in chamber singers and three times performed the lead role in the spring musical. Melosini also excels in the pool. He is a four-year varsity starter for the boys water polo program establishing himself as the school’s best goalie breaking the career saves record with more than 1,000 saves.

Kairos Growing StrongSanta Margarita’s retreat program saw record numbers of students this past school year resulting in an additional senior Kairos retreat. The overnight retreats are a chance to spend time away from the busyness of life and give students the opportunity to grow in their relationship with God, one another and themselves. Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Francis Cabildo, an accomplished musician who seeks to bring people to God through his music oversees the program. “The program is changing student lives – the Holy Spirit is at work”, says Principal Ray Dunne.

Ryan Melosini ’15 Andrea Martinez ’15

MUN Director John Remmel, Jake Lawicki ’15 and Maria Voelkel ’99

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VARSITY CHEERUCA National High School Cheerleading Championships - Large Varsity Division I - 4th placeJAMZ Nationals - 1st place and Grand ChampionsUSA Spirit Nationals - 1st place National Champions

JUNIOR VARSITY CHEERJAMZ Nationals - 1st place National ChampionsUSA Spirit Nationals - 4th place

VARSITY SONGUDA National Dance Team Championships - 3rd place pom and 8th place jazzJAMZ Nationals - 1st place and Grand ChampionsUSA Spirit Nationals - 1st place National Champions

JUNIOR VARISITY SONGJAMZ Nationals - 1st place National ChampionsUSA Spirit Nationals - 2nd place

Congratulations to the SM Pep Squad on an Outstanding Year! Listed below are highlights from their successful season.

FRESHMAN CHEERUSA Spirit Nationals - 2nd placeUSA Game Time Champions

FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE SONGUSA Game Time Champions

The 2014-2015 Orange County Inter-scholastic Equestrian League season concluded with Santa Margarita claiming a majority of the awards. Santa Margarita’s Equestrian team swept the season in the major categories: Freshman High Point School, Novice Division High Point School, Varsity Division High Point Reserve School, Western Novice High Point School

Equestrian Team Sweeps the Season and the biggest award of the night, OCIEL Champion and Overall High Point School. The Interscholastic Equestrian League is a publicly supported non-profit corporation operating exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, to foster regional and national amateur equestrian sports competition. The Eagle’s Equestrian team was named the OCIEL champion through their accumulation of the most points, earned through various competitive events over the course of the season. The girls took home many individual awards, most notably Haley Miller ’17 and Sofie Nickel ’18 who were named champion and reserve champion in the Overall High Point category, respectively.

AROUND THE NEST

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GIVINGBACK

The Eagle Classic Golf Tournament, sponsored by Toshiba, was a great success with 152 golfers teeing off on March 30 at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo. The tournament raised a total of $79,555. This year the tournament took a new approach with all proceeds benefitting the many sports teams and programs on campus. Jim Bastian, Jim Clancy, Gary Williamson and Chris Berry shot a 56, taking top honors. The community-building event was made possible by the many booster parents, families and friends that gave of their time, talent and treasure. With a sellout crowd early on this year, the hope is to open the tournament up to two courses for an even larger event in 2016. Thank you to our sponsors, underwriters, donors and golfers for supporting the students of Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Additional thanks to the many volunteers and staff that worked to make the event a great experience for the golfers. “The best part about today is the building of community,” SMCHS President Andy Sulick told Santa Margarita supporters during an alfresco dinner held after the tournament. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. SMCHS has a wonderful tradition that I not only feel personally responsible to uphold, but to make better, and I need all of you to make that happen.”

GIVINGBACK

Tradition Continues

The

E

AGLE CLASSIC

g

olf tournament

EAGLE CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENTMONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course26772 Avery ParkwayMission Viejo, CA 92692

The best part about today is the building of community.”

– President Andy Sulick ’91

Thank you sponsors: Toshiba

Shulman, Hodges and Bastian LLP

Wendy’s MW Partners

Pacific Party Rentals

“

Looking good Serra Catholic School!

L to R: Jim Bastian, Jim Clancy, Gary Williamson and Chris Berry

L to R: Shawn Higgins, Nannette Higgins, Michelle Halkett and Joe Donohue

L to R: Dave Gleckman, Anna Pellizzon, Jerry Pellizzon, Pam Pellizzon

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WE HAVE A CHOICE IN OUR LIVES. “

CREATINGCHANGE

Living Life Beyond LimitsBONNER PADDOCK ’93Bonner Paddock carried with him a secret – one that weighed on him for 18 long years. Thinking back to high school, he remembers vividly how he was able to “fool” many as he described his limp as a soccer injury, one that would eventually sideline him. Paddock would share in the joy of a CIF championship not as a goalie, but from a different perspective as team manager. Following high school, Paddock continued to guard his secret while attending San Diego State University and into his early career. But secrets can weigh heavily and crush your spirit. The emotional toll of keeping his secret became more and more painful with Paddock feeling prisoned by his unspoken chronic condition, one that caused him to walk “funny” on his tippy-toes with bent knees. Finally, at the age of 29, he began to accept his disability. Paddock had cerebral palsy, a diagnosis he received at age 11 that affects body movement and muscle coordination. Revealing his secret allowed him to focus on living a life without limitations and dedicate himself to helping children with special needs. In 2005 while working with the Anaheim Ducks, Paddock found himself inspired by Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli. The Samuelis were a family that believed in giving back and encouraged all their employees to do the same. Grateful for the push to serve and filled with passion to help others with his condition, Paddock joined the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County and for the first time told his story publically

Paddock formed a special relationship with UCP board member, Steve Robert who shared that his family was so moved by Paddock’s story. It gave them hope for their son Jake who was wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Paddock and Robert teamed up together to run the OC Marathon while raising awareness for CP. It was at the marathon where Paddock met Jake, who Robert carried across the finish line surrounded by tears of joy and an outburst of applause. Four year-old Jake passed away the next day. Paddock was forever changed. The loss of Jake catapulted Paddock’s OM (1 Man, 1 Mission) Foundation, dedicated to supporting centers that provide services to empower children with disabilities and their families to live life beyond limits. The foundation currently has a center in Tanzania, Africa, which houses and provides care for children with disabilities. There are plans to build more centers in Africa and an early-care center in Orange County, providing care for children with and without disabilities and a one-stop shop for comprehensive educational and on-site therapy services. Meeting Jake also inspired Paddock to do something that would push his own limits. In 2008, he spent seven days climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – the tallest freestanding mountain in the world – unassisted becoming the first person with CP to complete the feat. The expedition was documented in the 2010 documentary “Beyond Limits.” The extraordinary achievement helped raise funds for his foundation. This wasn’t enough for Paddock, who in 2011 began to prepare to complete an

“We can be content with where we are, or we can set goals and continue to push ourselves beyond our limits.

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even bigger endurance challenge, the 2012 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, which would require him to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and then run 26.2 miles in under 17 hours. True to his mantra of pushing limits and leaving fear behind, Paddock again found success and became the first person with CP to complete the race. Considered one of the most difficult triathlons in the world, Paddock raised more than $700,000 for the OM Foundation through race sponsorships. Today, you will find the 40-year-old Laguna Beach resident serving as the senior vice president of marketing at Young’s Market Company and running his OM Foundation, which has raised more than $1 million for children with special needs. Having already helped thousands with disabilities, Paddock dreams of helping millions in his lifetime. He also continues to oversee the OM Foundation’s Early Learning Center in Africa, attend speaking engagements, prepare to open a learning center in Orange County and promote his new book “One More Step,” in which Paddock shares his story of human perseverance and adventure, demonstrating we all have a choice: either define our life limitations or discover just how much we can achieve when we push beyond them. “It doesn’t always have to be leaps and bounds,” Paddock says, referring to his memoir. “Sometimes life is about taking each step one at a time.”

The Team Jake Global Challenge is a two-year program that encourages anyone in the world to raise money for the OM Foundation by completing a half marathon in 2015 and a full marathon in 2016 (bikers can register for a metric century or century ride). Santa Margarita Catholic High School students formed a school club to help support the challenge working stations at local races and participating in events to raise money for Team Jake.

Bonner Paddock ’93 will share his inspiring story in person at a special SMCHS student assembly on August 19, 2015 at 1pm in the Moiso Family Pavilion. RSVP to: alumni@smhs.org if you would like to attend.

AUGUST 19, 2015at 1pm in the Moiso Family Pavilion

special EAGLE EVENT

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CALEIGH HABER ’08

“I’ll look back on this life and smile because it was life and I decided to live it.” These are the words of Caleigh Haber ’08, who despite battling for her life against a disease that makes most days difficult to breathe, continues to remain a powerful force of optimism, inspiring thousands through her open and honest communication on social media. Born with cystic fibrosis, with her dreams of being a pastry chef currently on hold, the San Francisco resident is awaiting a double lung transplant to survive on waiting lists at both Stanford Health Care and UC San Diego. Her lungs work at less than 20 percent of the average person’s capacity. Breathing treatments, hospital stays, a supplemental feeding tube, and over 50 pills a day are part of the roller coaster ride. As she fights to breathe, Haber, 25, continues to educate and inspire thousands through her raw, pure writings of her journey of smiles and tears.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE YOUR BATTLE WITH CF PUBLIC?My family raised me to be proud of who I am no matter my circumstances. With my love of social media, it was only natural for me to publicize my battle for new lungs as a way to spread awareness and be a positive face for CF and organ donation.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TELLING YOUR STORY WILL ACHIEVE?My goal, through being vulnerable, truthful and genuine about my life, is to empower people to be the same with theirs. Through reading my blog, I hope I can inspire my followers to love themselves and take pride in who they are. Another major goal is to motivate others to educate themselves on world diseases and their treatments. This involves putting a spotlight on diseases that are lesser known and the procedures needed for their cures, such as organ donation.

HOW DO YOU STAY SO POSITIVE AND REFRESHING ON DAYS WHEN YOU AREN’T FEELING WELL?Staying positive is a constant battle, however, on my worst days, when I am struggling to simply inhale, I close my eyes and visualize all the experiences I still wish to have in my life. Running on the beach with my dog Londy, going to Paris, watching my brother and sister have families, standing beside my parents as they grow old, continuing to build my foundation to one day help others; these are all things I still desire to do.

HOW HAS CF MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE TODAY?My parents raised my siblings and me in the same way: to pursue our passions, follow our hearts and to fight for our beliefs. I have carried this through in my battle with CF and have learned many things along the way. When I am spending endless days in the hospital, I count my blessings. CF has been the biggest motivation for learning responsibility, cherishing relationships and simply breathing.

WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS?Once I graduated from SMCHS, I pursued my passion of the culinary arts. I went to Le Cordon Bleu Institute and graduated with a degree in patisserie and baking. I earned a position as a pastry cook at Gary Danko, one of the highest rated Zagat restaurants in San Francisco. As my disease has progressed, I now channel my creative efforts into my artwork. Painting has provided a way for me to give back to the community. I exhibit my work for awareness events and hope that they bring happiness to others.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 Americans. A defective gene and its protein product, cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down

and absorb food. Info: cff.org

CREATINGCHANGE

HABER VISITS EAGLE PEP SQUADDespite having CF, Haber competed on the varsity pep squad during her four years at SMCHS, tumbling alongside her teammates while remaining a force of positivity with her intoxicating love of life. “All of my favorite memories include being a part of the SM Pep Squad. From practices to games, pizza at Ballpark, Orlando Nationals or spirit fingers, I am grateful for every experience,” she said. This year, Haber paid the SMCHS cheerleading squad a visit to encourage them with her inspiring words. “Remember to live in the moment and live now. Do it for yourself and your friends,” she said.

“And have fun most of all.”

Inspiration

To learn more about Haber’s fight go to: www.fight2breathe.org or follow her on

Instagram@fight2breathe

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LEXI ZINTEL ’15Think back to your favorite childhood activity. Was it football? Theatre? Playing an instrument? Imagine your family not having the money to participate in afterschool programs. Most likely, you wouldn’t be the person you are today. Lexi Zintel ’15 spends her time giving back to children, many who have not had the opportunities she was afforded. Her philanthropic work includes volunteering for organizations including Special Olympics, Boys Town, Laura’s House, Students for Safe Water (which included a trip to Nicaragua to help build water and sanitation systems), and most notably, her on-campus club Heart for Dance and her self-run dance program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley RSM Branch. “At a young age, I learned that serving others is something I love and want to keep doing throughout my life,” she said. Her dance-centered service is an offshoot of Zintel’s passion for dance. She started dancing at three years old with basic lessons and progressed to competitive dancing until she joined the SMCHS dance team her freshman year, serving as captain her senior year. Her passion for dance led her to share it with others, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience this art form, she said. In 2013, Zintel, along with fellow members of the SMCHS dance team, began teaching dance classes at the Rancho Santa Margarita branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs. Through her efforts, children ages 6-12 were able to take dance and participate in performances. “The Boys and Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley teaches members about healthy lifestyle, academic success, good character and leadership skills,” Tyisha Anderson director for the Rancho Santa Margarita branch said in a story that appeared in The Orange County Register. “Lexi came to the club with a program that implemented just that.” Zintel will attend Georgetown University in the fall where she plans to major in international health and pursue a career in public health. Her sister, a sophomore next year at SMCHS, plans to continue some of what Zintel helped establish at the Boys and Girls Club while Zintel hopes to recreate a similar program in college.

DANIEL MITTELSTEIN ’15With so much attention surrounding concussions in sports and their long-term effects, Daniel Mittelstein ’15 is opening people’s eyes to something that is often overlooked: eye protection. After sustaining an eye injury while playing tennis as a freshman, Mittelstein made it his mission to spread the word regarding the prevention of sports-related eye injuries. While playing tennis, an errant ball bounced off the frame of his racket hitting him directly in the eye. The force ruptured the back of his eye, causing internal bleeding behind the retina and leading to a series of doctor visits across the world. Mittelstein had suffered permanent vision loss and would now see the world with one eye and a lack of depth perception. Playing tennis was no longer possible. “Losing part of my eye sight changed my life,” he said. “In a way, I lost myself. I was no longer a tennis player. However, while the accident was devastating, I had a choice to make: either to wallow in self-pity or turn the accident into an opportunity to help others.” Mittelstein chose the latter. What originally started as an on-campus club has now evolved into a nonprofit. Mittelstein serves as president of An Eye for Safety with a team of SMCHS classmates working to raise awareness on preventing sports-related injuries to the eyes. The non-profit provides glasses and goggles, donated or provided at reduced costs by sponsors, to athletes in need, as well as hosts seminars on the threats of eye damage. Mittelstein also spends time coaching young athletes at local tennis clubs while also teaching them about eye safety. He plans to continue to grow the nonprofit as a student at Cal State Long Beach where he will study biomedical engineering with plans to pursue a career in prosthetics. “The best thing that I can hope for is that the kids that I present to understand the dangers of playing sports without eye protection,” he said. “I often wish that I would have protected my vision in the same way, but hope that I can prevent the same vision loss from occurring to others.”For more information, visit www.aneyeforsafety.org

Lexi Zintel ’15

Daniel Mittelstein ’15, middle, pictured with three young athletes wearing eye protection made possible by Mittelstein’s non-profit organization.

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AMY LUSKEY-BARTHFrom the moment she stepped onto Santa Margarita’s campus, Amy Luskey-Barth, director of theatre arts, knew she had found a home at the nest. A veteran theatre director and teacher whose career spans over twenty-five years in educational theatre and includes six M.A.C.Y. Awards for Best Musical, Luskey-Barth founded Tri-School Theatre for Servite, Connelly

and Rosary high schools where she directed more than 100 productions before moving on to Santa Margarita in 2010. Five years and numerous recognitions later, including this year being named one of the Top 25 Teachers in Orange County by Parenting OC magazine, there’s no denying Luskey-Barth’s love and dedication to Talon Theatre. Since her arrival at Santa Margarita, Luskey-Barth has taken the Talon Theatre program to new heights. Her students have won various prestigious awards and have gone on to some of the best college theatre programs in the country. Last year, she led Talon Theatre’s production of “Pippin” to the 2014 M.A.C.Y Award for Best Musical, a first in school history. “I truly feel like Talon Theatre was waiting for me and I was waiting for Talon Theatre,” said Luskey-Barth. Her educational philosophy, Theatre on Purpose, which she developed more than

20 years ago, focuses on using the arts to lead students on a faith-centered journey of self-discovery. Luskey-Barth’s approach encourages the growth and skill development of students through a process that emphasizes integrity, mutual respect, support, and a spirit of gratitude and generosity. Watching her students grow and uncover who God calls them to be has been the highlight of her career. “If I can be a facilitator of their growth in any way possible, then I feel like I’ve done my job,” she said. A product of Catholic education herself, Luskey-Barth strongly believes that it is the spiritual aspect of Catholic institutions that allows her to find continued success in the classroom. “I find myself without language to use when I’m not working in a spiritual setting,” Luskey-Barth said. “It’s completely impartial to who I am and how I teach. I can’t imagine not having that.”

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE Director of Theatre Arts Amy Luskey-Barth and Facilities Day Shift Supervisor Pablo Solis were recognized at the Celebrating Catholic Schools Education Dinner in January. Santa Margarita Catholic High School is blessed to have these two dedicated employees as part of the Eagle family.

CELEBRATINGSERVICE

PABLO SOLIS Whether it’s a theatre rehearsal, a water polo tournament, an after-school study session, school dance, or countless other activities; Santa Margarita never seems to sleep. With that comes round-the-clock maintenance to uphold the beauty of the campus. One man in particular has spent 25 years helping to keep the campus in pristine condition. Facilities Day Shift Supervisor Pablo Solis joined the Santa Margarita facilities department in 1990 and has since become a staple of the Santa Margarita community. Described by his colleagues as hardworking, caring and humble, Solis is always around to lend a helping hand. He goes above and beyond his everyday duties and has even taken to constructing special projects whenever the opportunity arises. Solis has created countless theatre sets, prayer shelves that can be found in every

classroom, and even the metal fencing around the perimeter of the school. Most notably he is responsible for building the beautiful stable that houses the Christmas nativity on campus and the wooden cross that leads the procession for every school Mass. Recently honored by the Diocese of Orange for 25 years of service, Solis has come to consider Santa Margarita as more of a home rather than a job. While getting to work outside and put his woodshop and welding skills to use are some of the job highlights, Solis’ favorite part about working at Santa Margarita is the community. “Everyone is so friendly here,” he said. “It’s a nice environment to work in and I have a lot of great memories with coworkers.”

SUMMER 2015 | 15

Lugging around a heavy backpack and rushing to a locker to quickly exchange textbooks and binders between classes is becoming a thing of the past at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. The school recently completed its inaugural year of the One-to-One Tablet PC Program, a natural extension of the shared laptops and custom learning management system that was already being used. The shift to a more digital environment places a tablet PC in the hands of every student and teacher providing a more student-centered, immersive learning experience. Students can quickly access e-books, take and file notes in digital notebooks, collaborate with their teachers and classmates through shared workspaces and much more all through the use of their tablet. No longer does online research require a trip to the library or a teacher reserving the laptop cart so students can access the Internet. And forget about using the “I left my homework at home excuse.” Nearly all student work and resources can be accessed with a few clicks on the tablet PC. Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s One-to-One Tablet PC Program is more than just a program, but a shift in culture. “We have to continue to update our strategy,” said Scott Bricker, director of educational technology. “It’s a different world and we have to adapt. We are thrilled with the success of the program thus far and want to give our students practical skills and techniques that enhance the curriculum and provide that preparation for the next level.”

ACADEMICS

16 | WINGS MAGAZINE

THEN• During the summer of 2013 Santa Margarita spent $800,000 to update the infrastructure to accommodate the additional student traffic on the campus Wi-Fi.

• In 2010, Santa Margarita rolled out the Learning Portal, a custom learning management system delivering digital content and allowing teachers and students to interact with one another outside the traditional classroom.

• Prior to launching the program, staff positions were added to the faculty to provide vision and support.

• SMCHS first rolled out the program to faculty beginning with the 2013- 2014 school year providing extensive training on the device, related software and how to successfully integrate the technology into curriculum. Faculty worked with tablet PCs for a full school year before students received their computers.

• Following extensive research and analysis from the school’s One-to-One Committee, which included student input, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga tablet PC was selected in the spring of 2014 as the device students would use.

NOW• Santa Margarita recently completed its inaugural year of the One-to-One Tablet PC program, which provides a tablet for every teacher and student to use both at home and at school. The successful launch of the program, earned Santa Margarita the designation of a Microsoft Showcase School. • Updates for the 2015-2016 school year also include the ability for teachers to connect their tablet to a projector giving them more mobility in the classroom. • Four current teachers will also take on the role as Educational Technology Specialists to further support faculty.

“ It’s made me a betterstudent and given me access to somany more resources. If I don’tunderstand something I can go back tomy notes, the book or the Internet all atone time. I feel a lot more organizedhaving everything all together.”

– Eric Renna, ’18

ACADEMICS

“

WHAT’S NEXT• Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, teachers will set up class notebooks, which will include personal workspace for every student, a content library for hand- outs, and a collaboration space for lessons and creative activities.

• The new class notebook feature in Microsoft’s OneNote fosters interconnectivity between teachers and students.The real-time access to student work allows teachers to provide instant feedback.

The tablets have enhanced the learning process in AP Government

because I can have the students

go directly to politics/government

oriented websites in class. This

immediate access to information

has led to more in-depth

discussions.” – Ray Dunne, Principal and AP Government Teacher

SUMMER 2015 | 17

LIGHTER LOAD: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that backpacks should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s body weight. Santa Margarita students report relief from not having to lug around heavy backpacks.

E-BOOKS: Approximately 65 percent of books at SMCHS are now e-books allowing students to access the books on-the-go without having to haul around heavy textbooks.

TEACHERS 2.0: “With information easily accessible at students’ fingertips, teachers no longer have to be the center of knowledge”, said Bricker. “This allows the teacher to focus more on developing critical thinking skills, fostering collaboration and tracking student progress. With the tablet, teachers can present information in ways previously not possible, meeting the needs of both visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.”

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE: In addition to the school’s Internet monitoring programs, teachers can monitor and control student use of the tablet PCs in the classroom through Class Policy. The software allows teachers to prevent students from accessing distracting content and monitor computer use through thumbnail views of student screens ensuring students are on task.

TECH SERVICE CENTER: The school’s Tech Service Center in the Borchard Library provides quick access to spare parts, replacement batteries, power cords, styluses and on-site repairs.

OFFICE 365: Students and teachers have access to all Office programs along with the ability to store and share documents in the cloud.

DIGITAL INK: The Yoga tablets all come with a stylus, a digital pen. Students can take handwritten notes on their tablets and easily switch from using the keyboard to digital ink. The color of the digital pen can quickly be adjusted or switched to a highlighter.

LEONOVO THINKPAD YOGA:The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga tablet PC is a full-functioning computer that combines the power of a PC with the mobility of a tablet. The Windows 8 “ultrabook” features different usage modes: laptop, stand, tent and tablet.

LEARNING PORTAL: Through the Learning Portal students can access posted lecture notes, take quizzes, participate in discussion forums, watch classroom recap videos and much more.

The tablet has made my life so much easier as far as being able to quickly access information. I couldn’t imagine having so many papers. How was I sane?” – Perla Shaheen ’16

“

DIGITAL NOTEBOOK: Organizing notes no longer has to be done in numerous binders with loose leaf handouts that can easily be misplaced. OneNote, Microsoft’s note taking software, allows users to easily organize digital notes and handouts into virtual notebooks which are all searchable and can be shared with classmates and teachers.

18 | WINGS MAGAZINE

ACADEMICS

SMCHS NAMED MICROSOFTSHOWCASE SCHOOL Santa Margarita Catholic High School was selected by Microsoft as a Showcase School for excellence in transforming its learning environment to deliver a more personalized education to students, using mobile and cloud technology to better prepare students for success in the workplace. As a showcase school, SMCHS joins an exclusive community of 150 schools from around the world recognized for their pioneering efforts in rethinking teaching, learning and assessment. “Microsoft Showcase Schools are inspiring examples of how schools are using mobile-first, cloud-first technology to increase students’ productivity and develop the skills needed in the workplace,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president for Worldwide Education at Microsoft. “With an innovative use of technology these schools are transforming learning environments and delivering more personalized education to students, allowing them to do more and achieve more.”

SHOWCASE SCHOOL BENEFITS• Work closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education.• Host and mentor other schools on transformational educational practices. (Educators from SMCHS spoke this year at the California Educational Technology Professionals Association Conference.)• Collaborate with an international group of thought leaders Microsoft IT Academy Membership, providing access to learning tools to help students achieve success• Access to special professional development opportunities

MICROSOFT INNOVATIVE EDUCATORSIn addition to being a showcase school, three Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts and one Trainer Expert were named for their passion in using technology to improve student outcomes. These visionary educators are part of an

exclusive global community of educators worldwide who are paving the way for their peers in sharing ideas, trying new approaches and learning from one another.

Sean Basford: Assistant Principal of Academics and Curriculum

Scott Bricker: Director of Educational Technology

Maria Johnson: Religion Department Chair

Peter Leonard: Director of Information Technology

SUMMER 2015 | 19

New Robotics Class Teaches SMCHS Students Life Skills and Promotes Friendly CompetitionThere’s a new “sport” at Santa Margarita Catholic High School and it isn’t played on the field, court or in the pool. Rather, students are building robots and engaging in friendly robot rivalries among one another and other schools. Equipped with the latest in computer programming and design, Santa Margarita’s new robotics elective allows students to build and program robots and then compete with the devices. The robots are designed to find objects, retrieve them and put them in their place, much of this occurring with the devices roaming the classroom floor controlled by students. Santa Margarita is among a growing number of schools offering robotics classes in an effort to incorporate more STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) into the curriculum. Only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. Classes such as robotics promote STEM education experiences that prioritize hands-on learning to increase student engagement, interest, and achievement in the STEM fields. Santa Margarita robotics teacher, Jason Lawrence, says the class goes beyond teaching robotics, but incorporates life skills such as teamwork, budgeting – students get a budget to build their robots – time management, creative thinking, problem solving, marketing – students have

to convince others to back their team – and much more. “I’m glad the administration chose me to lead this class because it’s very creative,” Lawrence said. “You can’t just memorize facts and regurgitate them. We take knowledge and apply it to a situation while also learning time management and how to get things accomplished.” The students in the class split into six groups, and within these groups they brainstorm and plan the creation of their robots. The “bots” made by each group are called claw robots, which are used in classroom competitions between students. The purpose of each competition can vary — whether it’s robot fighting or picking up cans to put into bins, every battle is a fun rivalry between classmates. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into class competitions because each group has to make modifications of the basic claw bot to be successful,” said Alison Heisler ’15. “The process of building a robot takes a lot of steps including brainstorming ideas, testing your ideas and improving your ideas.” The continuous trial and error may be discouraging sometimes, but Langley Petrie’15 believes that that’s the necessary process for success. “Robotics allows you to bring your ideas to life and it’s fun to implement your skills in different fields like engineering and programming,” Petrie said. “The class enables us to express our intellectual and artistic ideas.”

The rivalry doesn’t end among classmates. This year, SMCHS hosted the inaugural Trinity League Robotics Scrimmage with Santa Margarita, Servite and Rosary participating. The winner was an alliance of Servite robot ‘Meldy’ and ‘Spirit of SM.’ “The competitions promote interscholastic comradery with students from different schools working together,” Lawrence said. Santa Margarita also took second place at the VEX Skyrise Competition held at Orange Lutheran competing against 40 other teams from Southern California. Next year, more competitions are scheduled between the Trinity League schools and beyond. The schools who are successful in these smaller oppositions will have the opportunity to move on to statewide competitions and nationals. “We are teaching skills that students will use far beyond high school,” Lawrence said.

STORY BY SMCHS STUDENT PERLA SHAHEEN ‘16

20 | WINGS MAGAZINE

COMMENCEMENT 2015WELCOME TO THE EAGLE ALUMNI FAMILY CLASS OF 2015

SUMMER 2015 | 21

CLASS OF 2015 BY THE NUMBERS

1706 college acceptances

$30.8 million in scholarship offers

394 members of the class

159 International Baccalaureate Courses graduates

131 colleges and universities that graduates will attend

119 CSF Lifetime Members

100 percent of graduates performed community service 99 percent of graduates continuing their education at the

college level

66 National Honor Society members

60 AP Scholars

35 states where graduates will be attending college

36 International Baccalaureate Full-Diploma graduates

38 student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level

33 student-artists to continue their arts education at the collegiate level

5 National Merit Finalists

2 National Merit Scholars

1 in 4 graduates has a cumulative GPA of a 4.0 and higher

2015 Class Gift

WELCOME TO THE EAGLE ALUMNI FAMILY CLASS OF 2015

CARITAS AWARD RECIPIENT JACK JENNISON – Texas Christian University

The Caritas Award recognizes a student who embodies all that is good about Santa Margarita and who best exemplifies the school charism of “Caritas Christi,” the love of Christ.

TOP OF THE CLASS YVONNE KIM – Valedictorian, 4.92 GPA. Northwestern University

DANIEL SEMENIUTA – Salutatorian, 4.90 GPA. Stanford University

KATIE ROSCHAK – Valedictorian, 4.92 GPA. UCLA

Courtyard Cross, 2015 Class Gift

22 | WINGS MAGAZINE

ATHLETICS

Thompson’s Journey to an NBA Championship Began at SMCHSFrom Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s Moiso Pavilion to Oakland’s Raucous Oracle Arena playing in the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson ’08 has blossomed into an NBA star for the Golden State Warriors. Recently, The Golden State Warriors capped off an incredible 67 win season with a 4-2 series win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

Following a hard loss his sophomore year in the CIF-Southern Section Division III finals, Thompson got serious about basketball. He quit football and baseball while also working with a shooting coach and playing for the So Cal All-Stars, one of the nation’s top Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) programs. The hard work paid off and Thompson helped lead Santa Margarita to a state title his senior year before going on to play at Washington State.

Thompson, an NBA player for the Warriors since 2011, saw his play erupt with success in the 2014-2015 season. The guard’s pivotal play alongside fellow guard Stephen Curry earned the pair the nickname “The Splash Brothers” and was instrumental to their team’s season-long success. In addition to his first NBA All-Star team selection and becoming an NBA champion, Thompson set a record for most points in a single quarter scoring 37 points in the third quarter of a 126-101 win over the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 23.

Last summer, he was also the second-highest scorer for the U.S. men’s basketball team, helping to the lead the team to gold at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Extreme athleticism isn’t anything new for the Thompson family. Mychel Thompson ‘06 plays for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA D-League and Trayce Thompson ‘09 is playing baseball in the Chicago White Sox. Father Mychal was a Los Angeles Lakers legend winning two NBA championships with the Lakers and mother Julie is a former volleyball star at the University of San Francisco.

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SUMMER 2015 | 23

2014-2015 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS Girls Track CIF-SS Division 3 Boys Tennis CIF-SS Division 2 Girls Swim CIF-SS Division 1

2014-2015 COACHES OF THE YEAR Doug Williams, Boys Tennis: OC Register Boys Tennis Coach of the Year

Chuck Morales, Girls Soccer: National Soccer Coaches Association of America Western Region Private School Coach of the Year 2014-2015 ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Katie McLaughlin ’15: OC Register Girls Swimmer of the Year Grant Shoults ’16: OC Register Boys Swimmer of the Year

2014-2015 INDIVIDUAL EVENT CIF CHAMPIONS SWIMMING Katie McLaughlin ’15: Girls 200 Butterfly, 1:43.01 (Orange County record, CIF Division 1 record)

Katie McLaughlin ’15: Girls 100 Butterfly, 51.53 (national record, Orange County record, CIF Division 1 record)

2014-2015 INDIVIDUAL EVENT CIF CHAMPIONS SWIMMING Samantha Shelton ’18, Sydney Franzen ’15, Camryn Barry ’17, Katie McLaughlin ’15: Girls 400 Freestyle Relay, 3:21.04 (Orange County record, CIF Division 1 record)

Grant Shoults ’16: Boys 200 Freestyle, 1:34.54 (national record)

Grant Shoults ’16: Boys 500 Freestyle, 4:15.56 (Orange County record, CIF Division 1 record)

TRACK AND FIELD Kaitlyn Merritt ’15: Girls Pole Vault, 13-00 Sheridan Scifres ’15, Lauren Drysch ’17, Nikki Merritt ’18, Kaitlyn Merritt ’15: Girls 4x400 Relay, 3:52.15

2014-2015 STATE CHAMPIONS Kaitlyn Merritt ’15: CIF State Track and Field Championships, first place, pole vault, 13-03

Kate Thomas ’17: CIF State Track and Field Championships, third place, pole vault, 12-09

TRIPLE CROWN! Spring Sports Season Sees Three CIF TitlesThe 2015 spring sports season did not disappoint, hauling in three CIF team titles and seven individual/relay titles. League championship victories were had, national records set, a state champion crowned and coaches honored this school year. Santa Margarita’s athletic program continues to impress with 47 CIF Players of the Year, 56 CIF championships, 187 league titles, 8 state championships and 73 individual and relay championships.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Katie McLaughlin ’15, Kaitlyn Merritt ’15, Grant Shoults ’16

BELOW: Boys Tennis CIF-SS Division 2 Girls Track CIF-SS Division 3

Girls Swim CIF-SS Division 1

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24 | WINGS MAGAZINE

ATHLETICS

The Eagles’ Nest Spirit Section Ranked No. 2 in the County If you have ever been to an athletic event, you know what an electric environment can provide for a team. The ever-growing popularity of loud and proud student sections in Orange County has reached new levels of creativity. This year, OC Varsity named Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s student fan section, The Eagles’ Nest, the No. 2 student spirit section in the county. “This is a large and ultra-organized group, from the clothing choices to the chants,” said OC Varsity sports reporter and columnist Steve Fryer. “The “Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Positive” motto lives here.” From “white outs” to “blue outs,” where fans are encouraged to drape themselves in the designated color, to Hawaiian nights and the basketball ritual of ‘silent night’ with student fans remaining dead silent until the home team scores their 10th point, the Eagles’ Nest has done a remarkable job filling the stands and cheering on their teams. The student fan section even includes live music from the Eagle Spirit Band to keep the crowd energized. Fueled by the school’s athletic success, the Eagles’ Nest has taken flight landing at sporting events including football, baseball, lacrosse, and even track meets. The good-natured ribbing, clever chants, and support for their fellow classmates in all different athletic arenas has provided a sense of community that makes you proud to call yourself an Eagle.

Carly Desmond ’15 contributed to this story

SUMMER 2015 | 25

It was clear back in the years of 2011 and 2012 that there was a special athlete on the Santa Margarita campus. That became blaringly obvious when we watched him back in 2012 as a 17-year-old on ESPN leading a field of professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Graem McDowell in the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. He would go on to tie for 29th, but Beau Hossler ’13 became a household name in the golf community and a recruiting target for the University of Texas where he is proving himself amongst the best golfers in Division 1. As a freshman at UT, Hossler raked in the accolades including Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and being named an All-Big 12 Team selection. This past year as a sophomore, Hossler had his best season to date earning 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, Southern Golf

Ice Hockey Picks Up A Silver Medal After a one-year absence, the Eagles returned to the USA Hockey National High School Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, March 19-23, after qualifying to represent California in the national tournament. Santa Margarita already owns Bronze (2012) and Gold (2013) medals from nationals and looked to add to the medal count this year. During the National Championship tournament, the Eagles won two out three games to advance to the final game. After a tough battle, SM fell in the final game to Regis Jesuit 3-1. The Eagles came home with a silver medal as the No. 2 team in the nation in Div. 1 high school hockey.

Beau Hossler ’13 Continues His Drive for Success Association’s National Amateur of the Month (March), and was named to the 2015 Ben Hogan Award Watch List given to a player exhibiting excellence in academics as well as college golf. For the second straight year, Hossler led the Longhorns with a scoring average of 70.55. In June, Hossler helped Team USA defeat Europe in the Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The tournament features the top collegiate golfers from the U.S. and Europe. Hossler also competed in the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay outside of Tacoma. This was Hossler’s third Open.

Congratulations Amy Rodriquez ’05 andTeam USA on winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup!

SMCHS EAGLE

ALUMNIARTISTS

SPECIAL FEATURE

Santa Margarita Catholic High

School graduates are making

outstanding contributions in the arts.

Whether portraying Lady Macbeth at

the opera, acting and singing on stage,

creating films or designing dream

weddings, these artists are pursuing

their dreams and bringing their creativity

to life. Exciting, unpredictable and

challenging – absolutely. Rewarding

– completely. Meet some of Santa

Margarita’s finest professional artists

who inspire, create and bring beauty

and purpose to our world.

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

- Thomas Merton, American Catholic Author

26 | WINGS MAGAZINE

Maria Natale ’03

ALUMNIARTISTS

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

- Thomas Merton, American Catholic Author

SUMMER 2015 | 27

Maria Natale ’03 began singing at age 10. Her grandfather, a professional opera singer, would share music and records with her that she would listen to every night. And so began her love of opera. Natale loved being a part of the arts in elementary school at Arroyo Vista Elementary in Rancho Santa Margarita where she starred with alumnus Ryan Eggold ’02, of “The Blacklist,” in “Snow White.” Her passion continued to grow while participating in the Chamber Singers at Santa Margarita Catholic High School under the direction of Francisco Calvo. Natale received her undergraduate degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in music, vocal performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition to her music courses, Natale took acting classes while in college as acting is vital to portraying roles in operas. After college she landed her first professional role with the Knoxville Opera House where she characterized Kate Pinkerton in “Madame Butterfly.” Shortly after her time in Knoxville, Natale moved to New York to continue pursuing her dreams of becoming a professional opera singer.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUTBEING AN OPERA SINGER?There is so much work involved in being an opera singer. I practice every day, even when I am not involved in any performances. It has taken me about 10 years to learn the art, and I am still learning. I love the endorphin rush of being on stage, looking out at the thousands of filled seats, and then using my whole body to communicate the story. I started out in college as a mezzo-soprano and around 22 years old, I began to figure out technique and became a soprano artist.

WHAT IS A PERFORMANCE DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN OPERA SINGER LIKE?I start the day with a workout, which gets the air moving throughout my body. Yoga is a very important part of my exercise regimen. It is important to stay physically active when you sing opera as you use much of your body and need great endurance while performing. Early in the day I look over my music, review language – I sing in Italian, French and German – and review feedback from my previous performance. I then do a light warm-up and make sure I eat a protein-filled meal. My makeup and wig fitting call is usually two hours prior to show time. I drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, as operas are typically three to four hours long.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ROLES?Some of my favorite roles have been Liu from the opera “Turandot” by Giacomo Puccini; Countess Almaviva from “Le nozze di Figaro” by Mozart; and Lady Macbeth from “Macbeth” by Ernest Bloch.

YOU RECENTLY PERFORMED A MASTER CLASS WITH PLACIDO DOMINGO, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?I was invited by “Opera News” (it is the “People” magazine of the opera world) to perform for Placido Domingo in The Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center after the editor heard me sing in “MacBeth.” It was an amazing experience as Placido Domingo is a living legend in the opera world. It was a bit surreal to be on stage with the legend. I gained invaluable wisdom, and with this performance, it puts me on a bigger map. One thing that is so wonderful about Placido Domingo is that he dedicates his time to help emerging artists.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?I am currently preparing for the roles of Marguerite in Gounod’s “Faust,” and Musetta in Puccini’s “La Bohéme.” I will also be singing with the New York City Master Chorale as the soprano soloist and will perform Mozart’s “Requiem” and Dvorak’s “Te Deum.”

IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR MUSIC LIBRARY WHAT WOULD WE FIND?I listen to a lot of opera but will listen to anything. I enjoy records and LPs as they have better sound and higher quality. Today’s music is so “refined” and I don’t enjoy that as much. As far as specific artists, you could find operas from the 1950s golden age, some jazz music and even some Journey.

Maria Natale ’03Freelance Soprano

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WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO GET INTO ACTING? My love for acting began in middle school at St. John’s Episcopal School in Rancho Santa Margarita. Many of my friends were involved in performing arts at school and in the community. As I entered high school, my dream continued to grow. I went to see shows and began taking acting classes. During my sophomore year, the theater group from Santa Margarita went to New York to see a show and I felt this magical sense of home while there and knew I would live in New York one day.WHERE DID YOU STUDY IN COLLEGE/ACTING SCHOOL? I studied Drama at the University of California, Irvine and did the Professional Conservatory at South Coast Repertory. It was awesome to get two different experiences and be around different kinds of people. During my junior year of college, I was able to receive my equity card from SCR which allowed me to go to open auditions. This allowed me to be one step closer to achieving my dream of moving to New York to be on Broadway. I graduated early from UCI after getting the part of Nemo in “Finding Nemo.” I drove across the country with my mom to move to Florida and performed the show at Disney World. It was such a fun experience!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED PURSUING YOUR DREAMS? After performing in “Finding Nemo” for eight months, I moved to NYC. A few weeks after getting to the city, I went to an open call for a workshop of a new musical. I got a call back, but didn’t get the part. The Public Theater called me the next day saying they were at the callback and asked me to audition for the 40th Anniversary Concert of “Hair.” I got the job and from there it went to a full production at Shakespeare in the Park, and then to Broadway where it won the Tony for Best Revival. We even went on to do the show in London. It was amazing and special. I miss it all the time! TV credits include: “Royal Pains”, “Nurse Jackie”, “NYC 22”, “David Letterman” and “Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE YOU OVERCAME TO GET ON BROADWAY? Trusting myself, and having self-confidence. Learning about myself, putting a part of me in everything I did on stage, and trusting that would stand out (along with a lot of hard work, and staying in classes even as I was working!.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL PERFORMANCE DAY LOOK LIKE FOR ALLISON CASE?

Totally depends! If it’s TV/Film it’s usually up early and all day on set. For theater, usually a normal day until I get to the theater. When I get there, maybe catch up with cast friends, listen to music, and get ready for the show! WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? Hopefully doing good work! TV, Film, Theater - whatever is in the cards. I think I will probably still be in NYC, although I miss my family and friends in California all the time! I got married last year, so who knows what adventures lie before us! All I hope is to be healthy and happy- that’s the good stuff!! I have a few projects coming up soon that I am super excited to start.

WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SMCHS MEMORIES? Some of my fondest memories of SMCHS were the all-school assemblies and all-school masses. I loved when the whole school community was together; it was so great to see us as one instead of individual students. Other memories include, English class with Stephanie Greffin, drama classes and shows, leadership class and hosting Eagle TV in the morning! And of course, who doesn’t remember the famous three for $1.00 chocolate chip cookies.

Allison Case ’02

Busy New York actress Allison Case ’02

has her sights set on performing on stage

under the lights in many more Broadway

shows. Case has spent the last decade

starring on and off Broadway in hits

including “Finding Nemo – The Musical,”

the Tony award-winning revival of the

musical “Hair,” “Mamma Mia!” “Hands on

a Hardbody,” and her latest project “Fly

by Night: A New Musical.” In addition to

starring in musicals, Case’s career also

includes performances in concerts, plays

and many workshops both in New York

and abroad.

ALUMNIARTISTS

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SUMMER 2015 | 29

WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR WORK? The best part about this gig is helping our clients to tell their story or get their message out. We are currently working with Orangewood Children’s Foundation on a project that involves sex trafficking and we know that our work will have the potential to change and save lives. Tough to beat that.WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR WORK? The most challenging part of the job is always looking to find new work. “We eat what we kill” so to speak so if we don’t pound the pavement and find the projects, we don’t survive. That’s a tough predicament and no matter how long I do this, that challenge never goes away.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT/FILM YOU PRODUCED? Aside from the admissions film for SMCHS, which was truly rewarding in that we had the opportunity to not only deliver, but really give back to the Alma Mater, I’d have to say that working with a couple of the hockey companies as well as the Anaheim Ducks to create their film for opening night at Honda Center was pretty incredible. That film went on to win 1st place in an industry awards ceremony with 100s of submissions from professional sports teams across the country. Pretty sweet to see that it was so well received by other organizations as well.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS? It’s awesome and awful. The kids at career day always tell me I’m so lucky because I get to set my own schedule and work my own hours....and I tell them they are absolutely right, I get to pick which 18 hours of the day I am going to work. Sure, let’s be honest, being your own boss has it’s perks in that I have the flexibility that is needed to help raise two small kiddos along the way, but I also have employees and their livelihood hinges on my ability to find work for our studio and keep everything running. So, not only do I need to find food for myself to eat, I have other mouths to feed as well. If I went to the pool all day and sipped on those cocktails, as everyone who has never been self-employed thinks it MUST be like, I’d be letting down other people who depend on me as well.

WHAT IS A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE A FUTURE FILMMAKER? This is a tough one. I was never the “film guy.” By that, I mean I never really fit into the culture of the hipster filmmakers who had skinny jeans, an overgrown beard, and spectacles that didn’t even have a prescription to them. Truthfully speaking, I’ve always been an entrepreneur working to make a buck and help people at the same time. It just happened to be that I found out that I was really good at telling stories and you can make a healthy living doing that if you are good. All of this to say that I would tell a future filmmaker to find their voice by just working their butt off to do what they enjoy. Know that this industry is tough and it doesn’t necessarily pay all that well if you go the traditional Hollywood route, so be prepared for that. I spun off into commercial video production and found a way to monetize a craft where many others fail because of multiple reasons. Being a filmmaker and being self-employed are two very different things.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THREADED FILMS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? I see us continuing to tell lots of fun stories on a multitude of levels and always working to push our craft forward. The industry is exciting in that technology is constantly evolving and the ability to squeeze stronger production value out of less equipment is the trend destined to continue. I’d love to see us be a part of a couple projects that gain some larger visibility, not so much for our sake as for the fact that I’m a firm believer that good storytelling can change lives....and I want our studio to be a part of that.

© R

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Steve Luxenberg ’00 Filmmaker

Threaded Films, owned by Steve Luxenberg ’00, is a premiere boutique studio in California with a group of filmmakers dedicated to a simple idea – telling stories through film.

Steve Luxenberg ’00 onlocation with clients.

30 | WINGS MAGAZINE

Art dreamsThe

creating ofChristie Rose Events, owned by Christie Sperry York ’02 assisted by a team of wedding planners including her sisters Katie Sperry ’04 and Michelle Sperry ’08, and Meghan Schinderle Clem ’01 owner of Intertwined Events, are making a name for themselves in the $55 billion industry.

WHAT’S A DAY IN THE LIFE LIKE FOR CHRISTIE ROSE EVENTS?Each and every day is filled with new client consultations, venue walkthroughs, sketching out dream floorplans, designing total sensory experiences where guests’ senses are overwhelmed with elegance and beauty and then hopping around from florists to rental companies to cake tastings and everything in between.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB AND THE MOST CHALLENGING PART?The best part is being trusted with the most significant day in people’s lives and being their confidante and voice of reason. It’s the best feeling in the world when brides come up to you at the end of their wedding and tell you it was the best day of their lives. Nothing beats knowing you’ve helped bring to life something these amazing people have been dreaming of since they were little kids. The worst part is not being able to walk the next day because you are so physically exhausted!

WHAT WAS THE MOST ELABORATE WEDDING YOU HAVE PLANNED?That would have to be planning the wedding of rapper, “The Game,” at a beautiful private location overlooking the ocean in Montecito, California. The floral centerpieces were as tall as I am, the guest list was half celebrities, and the planning was documented by VH1 on a reality show called “Marrying the Game.” All of this was happening while simultaneously planning 20 other weddings!

HOW MANY EAGLE WEDDINGS HAVE YOU HELPED PLAN? We have planned approximately 25 Eagle weddings. They are our favorite weddings to plan because they are so easy to relate to, and they are always a great party.

WHAT ARE SOME WEDDING TRENDS FOR 2015? In Orange County, brides are opting for outdoor wedding venues in beautiful locales as opposed to the traditional ballroom wedding. Out with mason jars and barn tables, our 2015 brides are going back to the classic and elegant wedding style with a modern luxe twist. Balls of flowers are out – brides are choosing

more organic, free-flowing floral but are still filled with soft blooms like peonies, garden roses and dahlias and loving the ombre trend. While brides of 2014 were all about blush, brides of 2015 are deepening the hue a bit and going for a dusty rose color. They are selecting gold over silver for a metallic. We hate to say it, but wedding cakes are on the decline and decadent sweets tables are the apple of every bride’s eye. For wedding invitations, nothing says elegance more than a foil letter-pressed card on 220- pound cardstock. Clear chiavari chairs are on the rise as they reflect the sparkle from the chandeliers above. Regular photo booths are boring and slow motion photo booths are all the rage.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU GIVE BRIDES? The most important thing we always tell our brides is not to get obsessed with the planning of the wedding so much so that they forget about the reason for the wedding. It’s all about the love between two people and that’s more beautiful than any decorations they could ever choose.

CHRISTIE SPERRY YORK ’02 Owner, Founder and Wedding Designer and Expert of Christie Rose Events, Wedding Planning and Design serving Orange County, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

ALUMNIARTISTS

PICTURED L TO R: Michelle Sperry ’04, Christie Sperry York ’02, Katie Sperry ’08 and Keleigh Sperry

SUMMER 2015 | 31

The wedding took on a very romantic and storybook feeling as everyone was sitting together in the rain.

WHAT ARE SOME WEDDING TRENDS FOR 2015?The colors that we are seeing this season are soft and neutral color palettes of blush, ivory and gold. Trends have turned to more black tie formal, classic and timeless events. Many of our events utilize food as an interactive experience, such as themed food to match the event along with many fun food stations for the guests.

HOW MANY EAGLE WEDDINGS HAVE YOU HELPED PLAN?We have helped 10 Santa Margarita Eagles plan their dream come true wedding event.

WHAT WAS THE MOST ELABORATE WEDDING YOU HAVE PLANNED? The most elaborate wedding that we have planned was the wedding of a Santa Margarita graduate. It was a full destination weekend in Palm Springs, CA. The wedding weekend was kicked off on Thursday with a welcome party. The formal wedding was on Friday, where we transformed the ballroom into a Great Gatsby theme. Finally, Saturday was a day of relaxation for the guests where they were treated to golf, spa treatments, and a big pool party. The weekend was perfect!

MEGHAN SCHINDERLE CLEM ’01Co-Founder of Become Intertwined, a full-service promotions company specializing in social media, public relations and events, and Intertwined Events with locations in Los Angeles and Orange County.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?The most rewarding part of my job is that moment when the doors open and someone’s dreams have come to fruition; when you really have brought their vision to life whether it is a gala, special event, birthday party or their special wedding day.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB?One of the biggest challenges when planning a wedding can be the couple’s ability to articulate clearly “their dream” for the event. The couple might have one idea of their special day and have the stress, anxiety and pressure from mom and dad who might have completely different expectations or ideas. I am pleased when I can become the unifier/mediator and take all the stress, anxiety and pressure away.

ON EVENT DAY, WHAT IS THE KEY TO STAYING CALM?The key to staying calm is the idea that everything is “figureoutable!” You need to be resourceful and when you “think calm” then you have the ability to “stay calm.”

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST “SAVE” DURING ONE OF YOUR WEDDINGS/EVENTS?My biggest save was for a celebrity wedding at Pelican Hill. The couple wanted to be married in the outdoor rotunda…rain or shine. The wedding week’s weather report called for rain, so in order to be prepared we found 100 fun umbrellas for the guests. The rain came down during the wedding and everyone took out their umbrellas and the atmosphere changed immediately.

32 | WINGS MAGAZINE

Students started the morning in a one-hour session listening to an alumni speaker who worked in a career they expressed interest in. Following the session, the entire junior class headed to the Moiso Family Pavilion for the keynote speaker. This year’s speaker was Kelly Davies Michelena ’03, who shared her experiences of working in digital media for Facebook and Instagram. Michelena enlightened students on how social media can affect their professional careers and why it’s important to always present yourself in a positive light. She also encouraged students to be open to where their careers lead them as new opportunities present themselves. Following Michelena’s speech, students were given the opportunity to explore the Alumni Career Day college fair. Students spoke with alumni in a one-on-one setting as well as talked with college representatives that were in attendanceThe grads in attendance worked in the following fields: medicine, law, entertainment, sales, marketing, fire safety, digital media, science, advertising, insurance, teaching, engineering, video production, financial investing and physical therapy.

A special thanks to all of the alumni who helped make the sixth annual Alumni Career Day a success: Patrick Keane ’91 (writer/comedy), Sandra Hanna ’93 (chiropractor/acupuncturist), Timothy Morse ’93 (apparel and digital media), Dr. Mike Moodian ’94 (college professor), Kim Farris-Berg ’94 (strategist/author), Michael DeFries ’94 (financial planning and analysis manager), Dr. Carla Mandili ’95 (psychiatrist), Dr. Melissa Gomer Moore ’95 (scientist), Chris Kelishes ’95 (entertainment tech production), Nick Mauro ’97 (import compliant manager), Scott Feyka ’98 (electrical engineer), Diane Panosian ’99 (newspaper editor), Dani DiLoretta Kelly ’00 (teacher/counselor), Steve Luxenberg ’00 (film producer), Chris Rix ’00 (sports broadcaster), Chad Kurthy ’01 (firefighter), Chris Ferraro ‘02 (insurance representative), Case Colaw ’03 (attorney) Kelly Davies Michelena ’03 (manager of broadcast partnerships – Facebook), Beckham Thomas ’03 (investment banker) and Katie McCarthy ’04 (consumer insights analyst).

ALUMNISNAPSHOTS

career day 2015

Twenty-one alumni returned to campus

in January to educate and inspire the Class

of 2016 as part of the sixth annual Alumni

Career Day.

Chris Rix ’00 Kelly Davies Michelena ’03

SUMMER 2015 | 33

Hoops Help Others and Honor Joey Campbell ’01The Sixth Annual 3on3forJoey Tournament was held on May 31. The tournament drew more than 200 players in four divisions who came to play basketball in honor of Santa Margarita Catholic High School alumnus Joey Campbell ’01 who played basketball at SMCHS. Campbell tragically passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. While his family continues to struggle with understanding why he was taken from them at such a young age, they are also trying to find a way to honor his memory and do something positive in his name. Each year, players, volunteers and spectators come together to raise money to support families who have experienced an emotional, physical or financial crisis whether it be a family who has lost a loved one and needs to cover funeral costs or a family struck by sudden tragedy that comes with heavy expenses. To date, the Joseph E. Campbell Fund has supported more than 100 families with financial grants and scholarships. For more information please visit: www.3on3forjoey.org

Four Eagles took home the Blue Devils Division trophy: James Keefe ’06, Dru Bertagni ’06, Kyle Donahue ’04, and Chase Perkowski ’05.

Class

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34 | WINGS MAGAZINE

class notes

MATT DELLER ’91 wrote a movie called “Manhattan Undying” about a vampire who seeks out an artist to paint her a portrait so that she can see her image for the first time. The movie will be released in 2015. When Matt isn’t writing movies, he works on an online screenwriting program he started while at Chapman University. He recently was hired as an assistant professor and would love to get the news out to SMCHS alumni regarding

the class. The class is targeted towards adults looking to write their first or second screenplay under the guidance of a produced screenwriter. The class is online with some classes taking place in the evening.

PAUL FERGUSON ’94 is still living the dream as an active duty officer in the United States Air Force. Paul’s time at the Pentagon is now up. The Ferguson family will move overseas this summer. They are moving to RAF Wyton, UK where Paul will serve as commander of the Defense Contract Management Agency Northern Europe.

LISA ERIN ANSTEAD ’95 completed her third year of teaching in South America at Colegio Nueva Granada in Bogota, Colombia. In July 2015, the family will move to Shanghai, China where Lisa will teach kindergarten at the Shanghai Community International School.

ALISON EDMONDS ALLAIN ’95 married Roy Allain, a carpenter by trade, in February 2003. They married in Tustin, Calif. at Joe’s Garage, a hot rod museum. Currently they reside in the Austin area of Texas with their three children, Christian,16, Dean,10, and Lillian, 6. Alison has enjoyed a career as a hairstylist for 18 years and owns a studio, www.happyhairbeautyparlor.com. Recently, she is taking time off to homeschool their children.

SARA BELL NIEBUHR ’96 recently moved back to Orange County after living in New York, Maui and Seattle since graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 2000. She and her husband, Scott, have a daughter, Natalya, and son, Kellen. Sara is an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Mission Viejo Chapter and enjoys volunteering for anything supporting the U.S. military.

MEGAN STRADER MEIHAUS ’97 and BRIAN MEIHAUS ’96 welcomed their third child, Colin Patrick, on Oct. 27, 2014. Colin joins proud big sister, Erin, 6, and big brother, Sean, 3. The family enjoys living close to the beach in Laguna Niguel, Calif. Colin was born at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center where Megan worked for the past year as a major gift officer in the hospital’s foundation office. Brian still works in commercial real estate and enjoys seeing many fellow Eagle alumni in the industry.

Elated parents Chris and LAUREN HAAG STINE ’97 welcomed a baby girl on June 23, 2014. Christa Marie Stine weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and was 18 inches long. Big sister Caitlyn was so happy that her baby sister finally arrived!

JONAH HOSKINS ’99 married Margeaux Lippman Hoskins in Seattle, Wash. SMCHS alumni ERIC REISING ’99, CLINT WORLEY ’99 and ANDREW JONES ’99 were in attendance. Jonah is currently a software developer in the real estate sector.

Embarcadero California Bistro is George Valdovinos’ and COURTNEY JONES VALDOVINOS’ ’00 newest restaurant located in the El Paseo Plaza in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. The restaurant is reflective of San Francisco and showcases one-of-a-kind photographs taken by DARREN JONES ’91. Embarcadero’s menu features small plates, signature salads, creative sandwiches and entrees with a new twist, while also using sustainable and organic products whenever possible. The restaurant boasts a full bar featuring specialty mojitos, martinis and an extensive wine list. Live entertainment takes place in the bar on most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The

staff at Embarcadero looks forward to welcoming all Eagles in the very near future. Visit the website to learn more www.embarcadero-OC.com. Courtney is pictured with her daughter, Ella, 2.

1990s

2000s

After graduation, JAMES GRIZZLE ’02 worked for GoDaddy.com in Phoenix and then transitioned to FedEx as a dispatcher in Dallas. James has now found his calling and loves working offshore as a safety and training supervisor for an offshore drilling contractor. He works 21 days on and 21 days off in his position.

SUMMER 2015 | 35

KATIE HANKINS ’04 married Jeffrey Neubauer on August 16, 2014. The ceremony took place at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church followed by a reception at the Dana Point Ocean Institute. Santa Margarita alumni in attendance included MELISSA HANKINS DIERDORF ’00, SARAH TILTON ’04, and TRAVIS WHEELER ’01. Following the wedding, Katie and Jeff enjoyed two weeks traveling Australia and Kauai for their honeymoon.

ALEK RAMOSKA ’04 is vice president of sales and part owner of Hope Foods in Boulder, Colo. Alek’s company offers certi-fied organic, gluten-free, GMO-free hummus, spreads and dips. The food is available in health food stores and other retail outlets throughout the United States. The use of the company’s

high pressure processing eliminates preservatives and extends shelf life. Alek is pictured with his fiancé, Jessica Villanueva, from Boulder. They will wed in July 2015.

RYAN EGGOLD ’02 who stars in the very popular NBC hit “The Blacklist” as Tom Keen, is back! “The Blacklist” is a popular crime series that first appeared on NBC in September 2013. Eggold’s character is a fan favorite.

STEPHEN BRITT ’03 graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2011. In 2012, he volunteered for the Mitt Romney election committee and is a member of the California Young Republicans and Federalist Society. When he’s not volunteering or practicing law, he enjoys sports as an avid Los Angeles Kings and Oakland Raiders fan.

KELLY DAVIES MICHELENA ’03 is a two-time Emmy winner and digital television expert currently managing broadcast partnerships for Facebook and Instagram. Prior to her role at Facebook, Kelly oversaw digital/social operations, brand management and web production teams for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Her work at Telepictures also included “Extra” and “Bethenny.” Kelly graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in broadcast journalism and creative writing. She and husband KEVIN MICHELENA ’03 met at SMCHS, and were married in August of 2013 at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, Calif. They currently reside in San Francisco.

SABRINA RICCI KRUGER ’05 married Garret Kruger in October 2014 at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. Sabrina is pictured with her family.

SHANA LAVOIE ’05 and DEVON JORDAN ’05 were married on July 26, 2014 at The Crossing in Carlsbad. Shana and Devon started dating in 2003 as sophomores at Santa Margarita and have been together ever since. Eagle alumna, CARA ZAWACKI ’05, was a bridesmaid in the wedding. Both Shana and Devon graduated from California State University Fullerton and are so grateful for SMCHS for bringing them together!

DETECTIVE PATRICK GENOVESE ’02 was on patrol duty in Isla Vista last year with the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Department during the mass casualty shooting that took place during Memorial Day weekend 2014. This past May, he received the Sheriff’s Lifesaving Award and was honored for coming to the aid of three female victims that had been shot by the suspect at the beginning of the rampage in front of a sorority house. Deputy Genovese performed life-saving measures on the victim who had survived.

MONICA BENNETT ’05 is an Orange County native where she was active with pep squad and theatre. She went on to UCLA where she studied global studies and French. After college, Bennett worked at both startups and larger companies in Los Angeles in marketing and business development before taking an exciting offer as chief bridal stylist at Vow To Be Chic. Monica joined the company in May 2014 as the first full-time employee. After being a bridesmaid herself, she understood both the honor and expense involved. Currently planning her own wedding to a fellow Santa Margarita alumnus CHRIS SAYER ’02, Bennett enjoys being part of Vow To Be Chic’s exciting growth. Vow to be Chic is the first and only company that rents designer bridesmaid dresses and “little white dresses” for the bride to wear from her engagement party to wedding reception - for a fraction of the purchase price. www.stylemepretty.com

36 | WINGS MAGAZINE

MORGAN VIAR ’09 graduated on May 28, 2014 from the United States Air Force Academy and secured a slot for pilot school. Morgan was commissioned as a second lieutenant and will be serving at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas.

CARYN BRENN CASSIDY ’06 graduated cum laude from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in physio- logical science and public health. She then went to medical school at Keck School of Medicine of USC where she obtained her M.D. degree in June 2014 and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She’s currently completing her pediatrics residency training at her first choice program, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Caryn got married in May 2014 to Zane Cassidy,

whom she met six years ago while studying abroad in Spain. Fellow SMCHS alumnus, JAMES KEEFE ’06, was one of the groomsmen.

Proud Eagle alumni MOLLY HAINES ’07 and BILLY HAINES ’14 witnessed history as The Ohio State University won the first College Football National Championship in January 2015 in Dallas. Santa Margarita was well represented at the game with seven members from the class of 2014 celebrating the Buckeye win.

MICHELLE PELLIZZON ’07 recently returned to Southern California to launch Bari Studio in Newport Beach. After living in New York for seven years, she seized the opportunity to open Bari’s flagship West Coast location in her hometown. Named Best Hybrid Workout by New York Magazine, Bari is a full-body cardio method that combines athletic conditioning, trampoline cardio and muscle sculpting for an intense, effective, and fun workout. Michelle is thrilled to introduce Bari’s method to the Newport

Beach community, and she’d love to invite all SMCHS alumni to stop by the studio to experience the best workout of their lives!

ADAM R. LAWICKI ’09, currently holds a leadership role at a tech company in Newport Beach, Calif. He received his Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in business administration emphasizing in accounting as well as organizational behavior/leadership at the University of San Francisco. Adam is now completing his post-grad studies at Harvard University. Adam was recently engaged to KELLIE N. FECAROTTA ’12. Kellie attends the University of Arizona and will receive her bachelor’s degree in 2016.

ALEX COKER ’10 graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2014 as valedictorian of his chemical engineering major.

After graduating from UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in management science and a business minor, BRANDON BLANCHARD ’10 joined his father’s financial practice in Mission Viejo, Calif. As a client associate with Wells Fargo Advisors, Brandon works with a team with over 40 years of industry experience to help individuals and families understand their needs and life goals and develop individual investment plans and investment portfolios.

SONIA RICCI ’10 graduated from UCLA in June 2014 with an anthropology degree. Sonia now works for KPMG.

The 62nd annual Berkeley Model United Nations Conference was held in late February 2015. SMCHS MUN attended the conference and had an excellent showing. The session was particularly

noteworthy because of the Eagle alumni involved in holding the conference. SM grads MEGAN KANG ’10, KATIE HILTON ’11, LIZ ZARKA ’12 and KRISTEN GALLOGLY ’12 all helped run the event. Megan served as the secretary general of the prestigious conference and was in charge of running the entire event. Congratulations to the Eagle MUNers who continue their passion for MUN in college and beyond.

class notesFriends CHRIS BARRY ’06 and BRYAN DAVIS ’05 are pictured on a recent trip to Catalina Island. Chris, who obtained his pilot’s license in January 2012, flew the college friends to the island. Bryan and Chris met by chance while attending Santa Clara University and have become longtime friends. Chris currently works at SMCHS as an assistant to the assistant

principal of faculty and instruction. He coordinates the summer school programs and assists the educational technology department with the One-to-One Tablet PC Program. Chris is a drummer and percussionist in his free time and plays with several ensembles in the Orange County, Calif. area.

ADRIENNE ANDERSON ’12 earned All-MPSF first-team honors and was named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Tournament team while starting all 19 games in defense for the Stanford Cardinals. Adrienne was second on the team with 16 turnovers, and due to her hard work in the classroom, she was named to the MPSF All-Academic Team.

SUMMER 2015 | 37

class notes

Several of our lady water polo alumnae were spotted celebrating together this spring at the NCAA girls water polo championship banquet. The four girls competed at the NCAA Championship Tournament held at the Avery Aquatics center at Stanford University. Girls pictured left to right: HALEY WAN ’14, Princeton; KELLI BAUMGARDNER ’14, UC Davis; EMILY LAUGHLIN ’13, UC Berkeley; KACEY AVALOS ’14, UC Berkeley.

In August 2014, BRAD SMITH ’14 made the Southern Illinois University Precision Flight Team, nicknamed the Flying Salukis. Out of approximately 30 applicants, Brad was selected, along with six others, to join the team as a freshman. The team had previously won the national championship in May 2014 and competed at the regional level in October 2014. Brad’s team won all of their events but one. Brad took fourth place in his event (Aircraft Recognition).

JJ CARR ’14, ALEC MCNIFF ’14, BILLY HAINES ’14, GRIFFIN CANNING ’14 and LAUREN RHORER ’14 enjoyed a mini class reunion when they met up to enjoy some ice cream together in December 2014.

ALEXANDRA EMMA KROGIUS ’14 attends Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with an undeclared major but a keen interest in economics, business and French. Alexandra recently accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She thoroughly enjoyed her freshman year as a student-athlete playing for the Villanova varsity women’s tennis team and was asked to be a

Villanova student ambassador. Kappa Kappa Gamma is her new-found sorority filled with fun and friends.

In Loving Memory“He will raise you up on Eagles Wings” Santa Margarita would like to extend its deepest sympathy

to the family and friends of the following member of the Eagle community. We will always hold you close to our hearts.

.

madison cornwell ’09

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/smchseagles and at facebook.com/smchsgraduates

Follow us on Twitter @SMCHSEagles and @SMCHSAlumni

Join us on Instagram @santamargaritaeagles

Please submit name and address changes as well as Class Notes updates by email to the alumni office at alumni@smhs.org

Calling all Eagle Alumni contributors! Can you offer your writing or photography skills to assist in the publication of this magazine? Contact the editor at alumni@smhs.org

Connect with us onwww.linkedin.com/in/smchs

38 | WINGS MAGAZINE

Teresa Villa Years of service: 17 Science Department Chair and Teacher

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I plan to return to Santa Margarita on a part-time basis to help with the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program and teacher coaching and education. The rest of my time will be spent in Fallbrook, Ca.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? My favorite memories are performing with the teachers at the pep rallies, attending Kairos, chaperoning prom and being with all of the wonderful students!WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? I will miss my SM family, but most importantly, I will miss my time with the students.

LEAVING THE NEST

Susan Bremer Years of service: 24 Attendance and Discipline Secretary

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I’m looking forward to spending more time with my four wonderful little grandchildren. I will also be busy doing a lot traveling with my husband and friends. My first trip will be to Budapest. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? My favorite SM memory was working with all of the students and listening to all of their tardy excuses. They were very creative!WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? I will miss the interaction with everyone on a daily basis. I loved working with the kids, faculty, and staff at Santa Margarita. I had some of the best times of my life here and will always cherish all of the friendships I made.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Tiffany Pizzi Bromm ’98 with daughter Summer Bromm, Brenna Maas and mother Dana Woods Maas ’92.

Dana Woods Maas ’92 Years of service: 23 Pep Squad Director, former SMCHS cheerleader

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I am excited to be able to spend more time with my wonderful husband and three children. My son Dean will attend SMCHS in the fall of 2016 and a new chapter will begin for me at SM. I feel blessed to have been a student, teacher, coach, and soon-to-be parent at SM. I plan to continue to substitute teach in the fall and will always be a supporter of the SM Pep Squad family. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? Beyond the national titles and achievements of coaching one of the highest ranked cheer programs in the country, my personal best memories are the relationships that I have made in the process. WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? During my 23 years of coaching at Santa Margarita, we have built a pep squad program that has allowed me to mentor many amazing Eagles and to work with an exceptional community of educators. I am blessed to have created an environment for students to develop their relationship with God and realize that they are strong women of faith, connected by the sisterhood of Pep Squad.

Carol Smith Years of service: 25 Math Teacher and Former Department Chair

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I will be moving to Louisville, Ky. to be closer to my three kids and my 1 year-old granddaughter. Professionally, I will be teaching and doing research in math education at the university level.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? I don’t have one favorite memory. My best memories of SM are the incredible “glimpses of God’s Love” as Father Craig Butters calls them; the relationships that I experienced with former students that have nothing to do with math, but everything to do with love. I will forever be grateful for those relationships, many of which still exist.WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? For the past 25 years, SM has been my home. I will miss the people, my colleagues that became my family, and of course, I will miss the students who somehow, someway, always managed to make me smile.

SUMMER 2015 | 39

Teresa Villa Years of service: 17 Science Department Chair and Teacher

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I plan to return to Santa Margarita on a part-time basis to help with the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program and teacher coaching and education. The rest of my time will be spent in Fallbrook, Ca.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? My favorite memories are performing with the teachers at the pep rallies, attending Kairos, chaperoning prom and being with all of the wonderful students!WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? I will miss my SM family, but most importantly, I will miss my time with the students.

Susan Bremer Years of service: 24 Attendance and Discipline Secretary

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU LEAVE THE NEST? I’m looking forward to spending more time with my four wonderful little grandchildren. I will also be busy doing a lot traveling with my husband and friends. My first trip will be to Budapest. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANTA MARGARITA MEMORY? My favorite SM memory was working with all of the students and listening to all of their tardy excuses. They were very creative!WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA? I will miss the interaction with everyone on a daily basis. I loved working with the kids, faculty, and staff at Santa Margarita. I had some of the best times of my life here and will always cherish all of the friendships I made.

2015 VARSITY EAGLE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DAY DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Friday 8/28/2015 at Cathedral Catholic (Televised) Cathedral Catholic 8:00 PM

Friday 9/4/2015 at Santiago (Corona) Santiago (Corona) 7:00 PM

Friday 9/11/2015 Dorsey (home) Trabuco Hills 7:00 PM

Friday 9/18/2015 at Westlake Westlake 7:00 PM

Friday 9/25/2015 Martin Luther King (home) Saddleback College 7:00 PM

Friday 10/2/2015 Bye

Friday 10/9/2015 St. John Bosco (home)* Saddleback College 7:00 PM

Friday 10/16/2015 at J Serra at Saddleback College 7:00 PM

Friday 10/23/2015 at Orange Lutheran Orange Coast College 7:00 PM

Friday 10/30/2015 at Servite Cerritos College 7:00 PM

Friday 11/6/2015 Mater Dei (home) Trabuco Hills 7:00 PM

*Homecoming Game

See you there!

40 | WINGS MAGAZINE

For a complete list of event details, visit www.smhs.org/events

AUGUST 2015 8 12th Man Fundraiser & Alumni Night 4:00pm Moiso Family Pavilion

24 New Family Welcome Dinner 5:30pm Moiso Family Pavilion

SEPTEMBER 2015 3 Welcome Mass 8:30am Moiso Family Pavilion

OCTOBER 2015 3 White Rose Gala – 5:00pm SMCHS

9 Homecoming Tailgate Party 5:00pm Saddleback College

OCTOBER 2015 (continued) 16 St. Margaret Mary Mass 8:30am Moiso Family Pavilion

18 Fall Open House – 11:00am SMCHS

24 Class of 2005 10-Year Reunion 6:00pm Dana Point Yacht Club

29 - Talon Theatre Presents: “Museum” 1

NOVEMBER 2015

18 8th Grade Visit Day – 8:45am SMCHS 19 Alumni and Friends Remembrance Mass 8:30am Moiso Family Pavilion

DECEMBER 2015

6 Performing Arts Christmas Production “A Christmas Carol” 3:30pm and 6:30pm Moiso Family Pavilion

8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass 8:30am Moiso Family Pavilion

22 Alumni Athletic Games TBA

For information on sponsorship and underwriting opportunities, please contact the Advancement Office at (949) 766-6080 or email blueandgold@smhs.org Stay tuned at www.smhs.org for ticket information.

DINNER • DANCING • AUCTION

UPCOMING EVENTS

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Parents of Alumni: If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please direct them to update their information at www.smhs.org/alumnidirectory

NON-PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

SANTA MARGARITACATHOLIC HS