2016 Dragon Fall

Stephen Phelps, EdD
President
Board of
REGENTS
Charism
Finding God in all things calls us to:
Community in Diversity
Strength of Character
Academic Excellence
Kinship with Creation
Social Justice
Joy
James (J.D.) Childs, MA, MEd
Principal
Susan Andres
Director of Marketing
Romeo Baldeviso, MS
Chief Information Officer
Rebecca Bischoff
Chief Development Officer
Christine Garavaglia, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Hawkins
Director of Development
Brian Judd, MS
Assistant Principal
Briana Loewinsohn
Graphic Designer
Cathy McFann
Director of Annual Giving and Special Events
Lisa Coffey Mahoney ’76
Director of Communications
LizaDawn Ramirez, MA
Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy
Colette Roche, EdD
Assistant Principal
Jase Turner, MA
Assistant Principal
We welcome your comments, questions, or suggestions!
Please contact Dragon editor, Lisa Coffey Mahoney ’76, at
510.577.9100, ext. 302, or lmahoney@bishopodowd.org.
Kim Walsh
Chairperson
Kevin Kelly
Vice Chairperson
Kerwin Allen
Tracey Borst
Kevin Coldiron
Shana Daum
Jeannette DeLaGarza
Fr. Leo Edgerly
John Heagerty ’60
Glen Hentges
Kevin Hester ’88
Christopher Johnson
Ellie Knauss
Kevin Leader
Fr. Jay Matthews
Alan McIntosh
Glenele Oberrich
Mary O’Connell
Michael Robarts
Leslie Sims Robertson ’81
Roderick Roche ’81
Judith Blout Sanchez ’60
Shonda Scott
James Wolfe
From the
PRESIDENT
This issue provides a joyful and accurate perspective about O’Dowd’s core educational
work. It is fitting that we feature so many extraordinary students, who are
gifts to the future and stand as an antidote to the pessimism so prevalent in this
year’s presidential race.
Since our country’s founding, our political, cultural, and economic leaders have
approached the future with a growth mindset and an optimism that has defined
America and its gifts to the world. Today, a sophisticated, inclusive education and
a growth mindset is required for all to achieve prosperity. Each year, when speaking
with parents of our incoming class, I promise that we will provide the education
their children need for the ever-changing world in which they will live and
work. Of their generation, our freshman and recently graduated seniors personify
that growth mindset; they are among the most intellectually and socially capable
persons of their age group in human history, and the educational experience
O’Dowd provides only makes them more capable.
Beginning on page four are representatives of the Class of 2016 who are passing
the torch to members of the Class of 2020. Reading about these young Dragons
will fill you with hope. Our graduates are academic achievers and Ivy League
scholars, science lovers, leaders, performers and athletic scholarship winners who
are attending many of the top universities in America. They are appreciative of
their families, innovative, incredibly hard working, loving and strong leaders who
display strength of character. They have taken full advantage of their O’Dowd
educations.
A shout out to the 14 members of the Rodriquez family and five members of the
Furino family who are legacy family contest winners. For inspiration check out
stories about alums Chloe Gregori ’12, Adrian Hunter ’03 and Brian Litke ’04, Jennifer
Loh ’98, and Alex Bretow ’10.
In my 12th year as your president, I am filled with gratitude for the more than $3
million you donated in 2015-16 (page 56). Your support has made it possible to educate
the 352 students who are so deserving of financial aid, and to earn our Green
Ribbon Award (page 23) that validates our Kinship with Creation and provides one
of the best high school sustainability programs and facilities in America.
Finally, speaking for all of us as we embark on a new chapter in O’Dowd’s history,
we promise to continue as committed stewards of our school community in partnership
with you. We pray that God will bless you and your families and all with
whom you live, work and play.
Sincerely,
Stephen Phelps, EdD