Summer 2012 - John A. Coleman Catholic High School

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Alumni StoriesDavid KafelColeman Class of 2004“You cannot under estimate us! When you are called an underdog you just want to prove everybody wrong, and I thinkthat is what Coleman did by staying open. You cannot shut us down!”- David Kafel reflects on living through Coleman’s time of transition as a student.David Kafel,Coleman Class of 20044L i k eso manysuccessfulColemangraduates,as we profileDavid Kafelwe hope wesucceed inaccuratelyreflecting theknowledgea n dexperienceof this younggraduate. David’s favorite quote is byrenowned architect David Burnham,“Make no small plans!”, as you will seeDavid is doing just that.Not surprisingly and with much loveDavid starts off his interview creditinghis parents Renee and Al Kafel with hissuccess, “I owe everything I am andwhat I’ve accomplished to my parents.They have always been there for me.They also were instrumental alongwith a lot of other parents who savedColeman from closure.”And there are also Coleman teachersthat he credits with being an importantinfluence on his future. “Mr. Brundagemy art teacher allowed his students tofollow their passion and interests. Itwas in his classroom where I designedand built my first house. He helped methink of architecture as a career for me.”“Mr. Habernig was another positiveinfluence. Through his photographyclasses I learned how to design.”Years later David would exhibit of hisphotography at Cornell Street Studiosfounded by Renee Darmstadt ’03.David also used his photography skillsto create his final thesis in college.David Kafel had the unique perspectiveof being a student when Coleman wasabout to be closed forever. “I caredabout Coleman. I was the last of six(four boys and two girls) in my family togo to Coleman and I wanted to graduatefrom Coleman too. It was a strange timeas we had to simultaneously plan (asa family and a school) for closing andfor staying open.” David remembersthat the parents and teachers “made thetransition smooth” for the students. “Idon’t believe a single day of school waslost. ““I loved golf and played all fouryears while I was at Coleman. I playedbaseball for three years, and basketballin freshman year. Before ColemanI attended St. Joseph’s School and Iloved it as well.” David has remainedfriends with many of his classmatesincluding Dan Reyman ‘04 and KurtHopfenspirger ’04. During collegewhile he was in Italy two of his Colemanclassmates were also there: Erin Ginty‘04 and Danielle Seekamp ’04 and hewas able to spend time with them.So while at Coleman David wasaccepted to several architecturalprograms but chose to attend theRensselaer Polytechnic Institutes (RPI)Professional Bachelor of Architecture5 year program and he minoredin Industrial and OrganizationalPsychology. “I feel fully full-filledwith the education and opportunity thatRPI gave me. It is not for everyone butit offered a lot including the specialPrototype for Heartland Fuels. Vertical Studio, AndrewSauders, 2007.recognition of having a degree froman outstanding college like RPI. Onereason I chose RPI was because of itwas a five year program that gave mea professional bachelor’s degree. AtRPI everyone is brilliant you work withand everyone helps each other. It is suchfun! We do a lot of our work in studiosand we critique ourselves and othersand share ideas.”During his time at RPI he had theopportunity to work closely andbuild life-long relationships with hisclassmates. “It is much more intimatethan you would think. There were 45of us in our program. Like at Colemanwe became very close. David took fulladvantage of the RPI experience forarchitectural students. He was acceptedto the fall 2006 Rome Italy ArchitectureStudy Abroad Program, and the 2009Architecture & Engineering BedfordTraveling Workshop to Spain. He wasa teaching assistant, played intramuralbasketball and soccer, interned at RPI’sPerforming Arts Center, worked on
David Kafel ‘04 accepts the Architecture Faculty Awardin 2009.several committees, and served as a tourguide for prospective students. His finalthesis in 2009 on “Tensegrity- TensionalIntegrity” was nominated for the PeckThesis Award and he was a recipient ofArchitecture Faculty Award.Tensegrity Network as an Organizational+SpatialInfluence. Thesis Final Project, Eric Carver, MarkMistur, Andrew Saunders, 2009.“Sharing ideas is important to me. Iwould like to create an opportunity tomentor and guide high school students.I’d love to start such a program atColeman. It would involve career andpost high school education guidance.I would pair up high school studentsin their junior or senior year with aprofessional in a field of work theymight be interested in or who hasattended a college they are consideringattending. I’d like it to also assist youngentrepreneurs with business ideas- theycould be mentored and steered to theright connections or network to pursuetheir dreams.”David is an entrepreneur at heart andhe likes to be very busy! “I realizedearly that sitting in an office full-timewas not for me. I also wanted to knowhow everything on a site was done. Idid construction as a laborer duringmy college summers. This experiencewas critical to me putting theory intopractice. I came to understand and seethe creation of a project from start tofinish. So when I returned to school inmy third year I could envision muchbetter because of this work.”According to David, many students aresurprised that during the first two yearsof architecture school you mainly learndesign. “The purpose is to open yourmind! One of my architecture professorssaid, “You come to architecture schoolto learn to design and to be a criticalthinker. After architecture school thereare a million places you can move withyour degree. You just apply your designknowledge and your critical thinking towork wherever you go.””David Kafel ‘04 on site for Bryland Incorporated atBloomingrove Village Town Homes.“Today, at Bryland, my title isExecutive Designer, where I amresponsible for field coordination, officemanagement and site construction,among other things but on any givenday I could be digging sewer holesor creating marketing materials. Myexperience has given me much widerknowledge of this business thanks toBrian Smith, the owner of BrylandIncorporated in Albany, New York. Henever really held my hand, and he’d justlet me figure it out and that has beena great opportunity.” As Dave movesforward in his career he envisions usinghis skills more as a developer of projects.As a young man at Coleman he read abook on land development and at homeas a young boy he created little villageswith his family train set. This desireto create communities is still with himtoday. “I believe I am moving towardsbecoming a developer eventually.”Still Dave has another entrepreneurialinterest post college – craft brewing ofbeer. “My brother and I tried it, and Ireally love it! Eventually I want to startmy own brewery but right now I amlearning the business. I know what ittakes to create and distribute beer andthe start-up costs are quite prohibitive.Though contract breweries exist theyare usually offered by large breweries.I’d like to cater to the start-up craftbrewers and create one specifically tomeet their needs.” At this time Dave hasa business called PromoBrew and hecurrently represents two craft brewersto promote and build their business inthe Capital district – the Ithaca BeerCompany and the Adirondack Pub andBrewery. The outgoing and friendly,Dave is the perfect representative forcraft breweries at festivals, stores andother events.With all of these interests and activitiesDave has still found time to fall in love.This spring he became engaged to hiscollege sweetheart, Iliana Rojas whois also a RPI alumnae and an architect.He credits her with his success inmathematics in college (“I would nothave made it through without her help.”,and they share a love of travel.Former classmates, current students,fellow entrepreneurs and architects, andthose that would like to mentor studentsmay all reach Dave at davidskafel@gmail.com.Class of 2004 members Kurt Hopfenspirger, Erin Ginty,Jess Heitzman and David Kafel celebrate their 5th Reunionon the Hudson River.In closing we asked Dave what advicehe would have for current students.“You have to accept failing. You learnmostly by failing. You learn why youdid not succeed, you make adjustments,and eventually you succeed.” Davidthank you for this very wise advice!5
Page 3: Please Welcome Coleman’s New Prin
Page 7 and 8: Annemarie and her husband David enj
Page 9 and 10: High School Class of 2012Respect, R
Page 11 and 12: John A. Coleman Catholic SchoolAnnu
Page 13 and 14: Cardinal Dolan and Sister Catherine
Page 15 and 16: YOUR SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR HELP!Dear Co

Summer 2012 - John A. Coleman Catholic High School

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