2017 Dragon Fall

The Class of 2017 cont.
Nathan played varsity lacrosse for two years, was a member of the
Jazz Band, earned a Sustainability Certificate, and participated in
the Career Partnerships Program - all while taking a number of
challenging AP and Honors courses.
NATHAN
SHEPERD
It wasn’t until he came to O’Dowd and took Tony Green’s African-American
Studies and Black Nationalist Movements courses
that Nathan Shepherd learned about and began to appreciate
the richness of African-American history. “Those two classes
were so interesting and inspiring,” he said. “I know that most
young people don’t have the opportunity to take classes like
that, so I feel very fortunate.”
Nathan thrived in the O’Dowd learning environment, where students
are encouraged in dialogue and inquiry about historical
events and how they relate to current situations. “Anybody can
break out a textbook, study and regurgitate the information,” he
said. “I like the fact that we are encouraged to have discussions
and in depth conversations in class about the subjects we are
studying.”
This fall, Nathan headed to UC Davis on a football scholarship.
He plans to pursue a dual major in business and kinesiology,
and hopes to someday launch a business that incorporates
sports and educational training.
At O’Dowd, Nathan was motivated to strive by his peers. “When
you are surrounded by people who are excelling at a high caliber
it pushes you to reach for higher goals,” he said. “My decision
to come to O’Dowd was life-changing because I’ve had better
opportunities to excel.”
Raised as a Baptist, Nathan enjoyed learning about other religions/beliefs
through O’Dowd’s comprehensive Religious Studies
Department. “Those classes helped give me a more complete
picture of the world,” he said.
In addition to playing football for four years at O’Dowd and
earning a state championship title during his senior season,
Nathan was also encouraged by his counselor, Fran Warmerdam,
to participate in UC Berkeley’s Summer Math and Science
Honors Academy (SMASH), sponsored by the Level Playing Field
Institute, a free of cost, STEM-intensive college preparatory program
for underrepresented high school students of color. During
the five-week, three-year summer, fully residential program,
students take STEM courses, as well as develop critical thinking,
civic awareness, leadership and a sense of social responsibility.
He’s grateful that O’Dowd led him to that opportunity to expand
his horizons.
CHASE
HOLLIMAN
The typical high school student might be inclined to ease up on
his or her academic course schedule second semester of senior
year. But Chase Holliman isn’t typical.
Chase shouldered five AP courses – Comparative Government
& Politics, English Literature, Macroeconomics, Psychology,
and Statistics - in addition to his obligations as a member of the
senior Campus Ministry Team (CMT) and his role as secretary/
treasurer for the senior class.
While he’s always been driven academically, Chase credits the
O’Dowd learning environment for taking him to the next level.
“I found that I like working hard and learning,” he said. “And because
I had teachers who were so engaging and passionate it was
easy for me to get motivated.”
8 // Dragon