Santa Margarita Catholic High School

WINGS | 2009
Principal Ray
Dunne Named
2009 Man of
Character
Be honest, upfront and true to yourself.
This is how Ray Dunne, principal of
Santa Margarita Catholic High School,
lives his life.
“What you see is what you get,” Dunne
said. “I don’t try to falsify anything.”
Being a man of good character is
something that comes naturally, Dunne
said. He credits his parents for instilling
values in him at a young age.
So when Dunne was selected as
a 2009 “Man of Character” by the
Orange County Council of the Boy
Scouts of America he was both
honored and humbled.
“I just do what I do,” said Dunne, who
was once a Boy Scout himself. “I never
thought I would be recognized for it.”
A color guard of about 50 Boy Scouts
surprised Dunne with the award in
front of hundreds during the school’s
half-time football game against Servite
High School in October. SMCHS
parent and Boy Scouts Board Member
Ralph Linzmeier and Manny Montanez,
a previous recipient of the Man of
Character honor, presented the award.
“There is something so special about
Ray,” Linzmeier said. “He genuinely
cares for the students and exemplifies
the traits of a Boy Scout.”
Each year, the Orange County Council
of the Boy Scouts of America conducts
a countywide search for eight “Men
of Character.” The men are chosen
because of their profound influence in
the community and for demonstrating
the values Scouting strives to develop
in young men.
Before being named principal at
SMCHS in 2007, Dunne provided
leadership at Servite High School in
Anaheim for 16 years where he served
as both a principal and a teacher,
preceded by 17 years of administrative
and teaching experience at Anaheim’s
Canyon High School in the Orange
Unified School District.
He is active in his parish, San Antonio
Catholic Church, where he serves
as a Eucharistic minister, is involved
in the family assistance and youth
ministry programs and stewardship
committee. Dunne is also a member of
the Equestrian Order of the Knights of
the Holy Sepulcher, a Catholic chivalric
order marked by honour, generosity
and spiritual and religious pursuit.
SM Students
Experience
History
Thirty-one SMCHS seniors witnessed
history in January when they stood
on the National Mall and watched
the inauguration of the first African
American president.
“I am really happy we have finally
reached this point,” said senior Kelsey
Jezierski. “It’s been a long time coming.
This is something I will one day tell my
grandchildren about.”
(Continued on page 8)
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