Shades of Green - Stephen T. Badin High School

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6 Dennis Malone ‘69 a lifelong difference-maker Dennis Malone ’69 has spent his life making a difference – and though he has retired from a career in education, no doubt there is much more to come. “I hope if you talk to the people in the buildings (where he was principal), they would feel like I worked in their best interests,” said Malone, who recently stepped down after nine years as principal at Hamilton High School. “I live in the same community, and I want to see the development of all the families. Hopefully you’ve had a part in the development of all of them.” Malone is well respected across all boundaries – at Badin, where he went to school and subsequently taught; in Hamilton, where he was involved in the public schools for nearly 27 years; and in Fairfield, where he lives. “Badin has always been a part of my life,’’ he remarked. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time there as both a student and a teacher. There were some really good people there. I value those relationships. I think when it comes to my sense of responsibility as a person, it comes from my family, and from Badin.” Malone served as an administrator at all three Hamilton junior high schools – Wilson, George Washington and Garfield, before nearly a decade at HHS. He was the principal when major construction projects took place at both Garfield and Hamilton High. “I have a saying – I build ‘em, but I don’t live in ‘em,’’ he laughed about the fact that he left Garfield for HHS after the former project was completed, and just retired at the conclusion of the HHS construction. “That construction was a huge issue for three years at each school,” Malone said. “We basically rebuilt the building while we were still in it. You think of the students, the customers – well, that’s their year. They don’t have a next year. You can’t afford to have a lost year for any group of students. You have to figure out a way to do the activities that need to be done.” A Vietnam veteran, Malone concedes that his one-year tour in Vietnam with the Army in 1971 informs his view of life around him. SHARE YOUR PHOTOS! We want more photos of our alumni in action! Be sure to send them for Shades of Green to advancement@badinhs.org. “It goes to the core of who I am,’’ he nodded. “Growing up in Lindenwald, I was pretty insulated. In the Army, in Vietnam, I was exposed to the thinking of other people, to the experiences of people from all over It was Dennis Malone Day in Hamilton as Malone, right, was honored during Civics Day in 2011. Asked about a picture for this Shades of Green article, this is the one the 1969 Badin High grad wanted to have run – surrounded by family. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton JournalNews. the country. One thing I learned is that we all have a lot more in common than we do different. I wish more people would realize that. “It helped me,’’ he added of the Vietnam experience. “It changed my perception of other people. It made me more open to other points of view. It’s a part of my life that will never go away.” Malone said that as an administrator, he realized the importance of hiring good teachers and keeping them involved in the school. He worked hard to create teacher-student connections that would help students realize that there were people who cared about their success. “In the beginning, it was almost overwhelming (to be the principal of Hamilton High),” Malone said. “You have to rely on the people who have been there before you got there. Over time, you’ve been there and now you start to know what’s coming. Then you can focus on: How can we improve what we do It’s the whole concept of continuous improvement.” He said a dynamic question he continually worked on with student populations was: “How do you offer hope for kids who don’t see hope How do you continue to come back and say education is a way out. You have to continue to keep learning. You can’t see high school as a terminal point in education.” He said dropouts and students with poor attendance “don’t think we’re offering anything that they want. You have to make a better connection with them.” Malone and his wife, Mary McClellan Malone ’69, are the parents of two sons – Mike ‘96, the principal at Talawanda Middle School in Oxford; and Joe ‘98, a major in the United States Army, currently stationed at Fort Knox after combat engineering tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maggie Brennan ’96 keeps hope alive at Children’s Hospital Ask Maggie Brennan ‘96 what she majored in at Miami University and she laughs, “The gift of chat. If you think about it, that’s what I do all day. But the stories I hear are so inspiring.” Brennan weaves those stories into a larger mosaic as the manager of the Champions Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The program allows families to “give back” to the hospital in various ways – and continue to deliver the message of hope to those going through medical difficulties of their own. “This is very much a rewarding position,’’ said Brennan, the daughter of Tim and Debbie Brennan of Ross. “It allows me to keep my life in perspective. I believe I was put in this job for a reason.” Brennan went to work at CCHMC in 2005 as a major gifts fundraiser, and five years ago started the Champions Program. “Our families need the sort of community that this program provides,’’ Brennan said. “People need to know that there are other families out there that have been through or are going through the same thing they are.” Brennan’s program has connected with at least two Badin families – Kyle Bergen ’14, who defeated lymphoma as a freshman; and Mrs. Kelli Verdin Kurtz ’88, Badin’s executive director of institutional advancement whose family is an active supporter of her efforts. “Somebody asked me if I heard only the good stories,” Brennan said. “Believe me, I hear everything – the good, the bad and the ugly. I wear a lot of hats.” Brennan was featured in a recent issue of Cincinnati Magazine, which pointed out that some 700 patients and their families volunteer their time through the Champions Program, speaking, mentoring, advocating and fundraising. “Naturally, I love to network, and I love to help others network,’’ said Brennan, who actually majored in speech communications and public relations at Miami. “You get to connect all the dots with people. You get to connect with the community.” Brennan noted that some 30 families involved with the Champions Program have lost children but remain involved. “Our slogan is ‘Change the Outcome,’” she said, “and one mother whose terminally ill child passed away said to me, ‘You couldn’t change the outcome, but you certainly changed our outlook.’” Brennan helps outcomes and outlooks at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center every day. “It’s the opportunity to give back to the hospital and the community through hope and mentorship,’’ she said. “Being recognized for doing this is an honor.” ALUMNI IN ACTION Schuster Act Badin reunion at KSU Andy Schuster ’88 was a proud big brother after Monica Schuster Scalf ’90 delivered the keynote speech at the annual Greater Hamilton Business Expo at Badin in July. Scalf, a former professor at Xavier University, now runs her own business, The Playground Group, where she does motivational speaking and conducts workshops to enhance business leadership. This was the first year to have a luncheon in conjunction with the event, and Scalf hit a home run with her warm and engaging remarks. Dirk Q. Allen (middle), Badin’s director of admissions and media relations, found his way to Kent State University for a women’s soccer game in late September – where a mini Badin reunion broke out! From left are Theresa Salerno ’12 (Ball State), Lauren Mathews ’12 (Miami), Ashley Mahoney ’12 (Kent State) and Devon Bokeno ’11 (Ohio State). Mathews and Mahoney play soccer for their respective schools, and have seen plenty of playing time as freshmen. On this date, it was a 4-2 Miami victory … and a nice opportunity to renew acquaintances afterwards. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Kerri Mathews. 7
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Shades of Green - Stephen T. Badin High School

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