DC Alumni Gather for Gonzaga DC Classic
Over the past several years, Archbishop Molloy High School has been expanding its professional networks in law, finance and public service with designs for healthcare and more. While this helps bring like-minded alumni together in the business world, it may not necessarily bridge the gap in terms of geography. Molloy is fortunate to have many alumni living and working in and around the New York City metropolitan area, and we enjoy seeing them throughout the year at our alumni events. There are, however, a large number of alumni living and working in all corners of the nation who do not have consistent access to alumni events. With this in mind, Molloy has begun bringing events to alumni outside of New York.
In December 2012, Coach Jack Curran and the Varsity boys basketball team made the trek to Washington D.C. for the prestigious Gonzaga DC Classic, a highly competitive basketball tournament featuring eight of the toughest high school teams in the northeastern United States. What better way to bring Stanners together than to cheer on fellow Stanners? President Richard Karsten ’81 and Alumni Development Director Craig Katinas ’93 accompanied the Varsity team to DC and invited alumni from the DC metro area to attend the tournament, see Coach Curran, and attend special alumni receptions in downtown DC. The gathering was a rousing success, with many alumni later coming to cherish their last moments spent with Coach Curran. “Feedback was extremely positive following our initial DC event last year,” said President Karsten. “Alumni were eager for more gatherings. We were later contacted by representatives of the Gonzaga DC Classic and informed that Coach Curran would be honored during the 2013 tournament in recognition of his passing. We felt this would be something our DC alumni would want to be a part of.”
On December 13th, 2013, President Karsten and Craig once again accompanied the Varsity boys down to DC, this time with new head coach Mike McCleary. The team was eager to play hard for their new coach, and for the memory of Coach Curran, who inspired them in so many ways. Molloy was joined in the tournament by Calvin Coolidge HS (DC), Cesar Chavez HS (DC), Herndon HS (VA), John Carrol School (MD), Lafayette HS (KY), Mount St. Joseph HS (MD), and Gonzaga College HS (DC). Molloy began the tournament facing off against Calvin Coolidge HS. The game was close for the first two quarters, but Molloy pulled away by 16 points late in the third. Strong defense and quick passes fueled an offense that secured a convincing 69-48 victory. Molloy alumni were along for the ride, cheering from the stands, making new friends, and reminiscing about their high school days back on Manton Street. Some had even played varsity ball back in the day, and their cheers were a bit louder than most, exalted a triumphant cheer as the final buzzer sounded. Following the game, alumni made their way to the nearby Dubliner Restaurant for a reception hosted by President Karsten and Craig on behalf of the Stanner Alumni Center. This was a great opportunity for alumni to further connect with others located in the DC metro area (including DC, Maryland, and Virginia), some of whom did not know there were this many fellow Stanners so close in proximity throughout the region. The reception served as a reminder that Stanners are indeed everywhere you look, and a great evening is just a simple phone call, email, or tweet away.
On December 14th, alumni gathered once again to cheer on Molloy’s Varsity team. This time, Molloy faced off against Mount St. Joseph out of Baltimore. The defending champions, Mount St. Joseph put up a fight throughout four quarters of competitive play. While Molloy led for much of the game, including 22 points by senior guard Gabriel Kilpatrick, the Stanners fell victim to a late game surge by Mount St. Joseph, falling 63-60 in the final minutes. Though Molloy lost a hard fought game, Coach McCleary and the Varsity team would rebound on December 15th to close out the tournament. Facing Lafayette, Molloy put up an impressive 84 points, taking the contest by nearly 30. The win placed Molloy third in the winner’s bracket, besting last year’s performance in the tournament. Alumni who attended all three games were excited by the team’s play, and happy to see that the strong tradition of athletics continues at Molloy.
“Overall, the DC alumni weekend was a complete success,” said President Karsten. “We had a great turnout for the games as well as our reception. I am thrilled that we have been able to engage our alumni in the DC metro area and look forward to their continued participation in future events.” If you would like to find out more about the DC alumni chapter, or working with other alumni to start a new chapter in your region, please contact the Stanner Alumni Center at (718) 441-9210. The Stanner Alumni Center has reached out to alumni in Chicago in the recent past, and would love for others in the area to get involved! For more information on the Gonzaga DC Classic visit http://www.gonzagadcclassic.org/. View more photos from the weekend below.
Around the School
Molloy’s Annual Christmas Concert Series
On December 11th and 12th, Molloy welcomed parents, students and friends to the Jack Curran Gymnasium for the school’s annual Christmas Concert series. During these performances, Molloy’s talented singers and musicians are given their chance to shine in the spotlight after months of preparation. From basses to sopranos, violinists to trumpet players, drummers to flutists, each chorus and band member plays a vital role in providing stirring renditions of the classics. Songs featured during the concerts included Joy to the World, For Unto Us a Child is Given, Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Angels We Have Heard On High, O Holy Night, and many more. “I was delighted with the concerts,” said long-time chorus moderator Jim Sheehan ’75. “The evening tapped into so much that’s Molloy at its best: hard-working, enthusiastic, talented kids; a supportive, eager audience of students, parents and other members of the Stanner community; a spirit of hopefulness and cooperation–all resonating in joyous music.” You can listen to a sampling of the songs performed during the concert series in the video below.
125 College-Bound Seniors Offered Merit Scholarships
Br. Thomas Schady and Molloy’s College Guidance staff recently shared exciting news with the Molloy community. During a recent “instant decision” visit by counselors representing St. John’s University, 125 Stanners were admitted to the nearby institution on the spot. These students were also offered over a combined $2,353,000 in merit scholarships as a result of their strong applications. St. John’s University is one of several different colleges that offer instant decision opportunities to local high schools of distinction. Based on their strong, long-standing relationships with Molloy, these schools offer this opportunity to streamline the process for the large number of applicants they have come to expect from Stanners. When meeting with counselors, students provide their transcript, their college board scores, and a face to face interview. The application during instant decision is free, and while students are admitted instantly, the process remains non-committal. In the end it is a great opportunity for students to get a leg up on the college application process and have perhaps their strongest choice already under their belt. “These schools offer instant decision because they know the quality of Molloy’s students,” said college guidance counselor Mr. Ted McGuinness ’81. “These schools are also competitive among themselves, and their determination helps them fill their enrollment faster and with stronger applicants, in turn benefiting our students.”
Solidarity Sleep Out
During the Christmas season, and as we head deeper into the cold winter months, it is important to remember those less fortunate in our community. Through six degrees of separation, it would not be a surprise if many of us knew someone who has experienced homelessness. It is a very real issue here in New York City, and while we will certainly be thankful to be with our families and friends this Christmas, we must remember that others may not have that privilege. As Marists we are taught to put the needs of others before our own and help the weak through their times of difficulty. While we do what we can for these individuals, we also try to understand their plight. This is an important step in providing help to those who need it most. In this way, a group of interested students recently participated in a Solidarity Sleep Out designed to simulate what those who are homeless might face during winter. Students engaged in various learning activities and even slept at Molloy overnight with minimal distractions from phones or electronic games. While much of the sleep out occurred indoors due to safety precautions, students who slept in the gym still experienced the cold winds from the open windows. These winds, in addition to being without the luxuries they have grown so accustomed to in their everyday lives, helped our students to better understand the struggles that homeless individuals face daily. “The overall reaction from the students was positive,” said Ms. Daniela Jelcic, moderator of the sleep out. “I think they all took something special away from the experience. Hopefully they will begin to see this real problem in a different way, and do their part to help those in need.” Ms. Jelcic also expressed thanks to all the faculty volunteers who helped chaperone the sleep out. (Photo by Jordi Seville ’15)
Outstanding Stanner Athletes
Molloy is very proud of senior Niamani Morrison ’14 after the talented student-athlete broke the school’s all-time long jump record. Niamani jumped 18 feet 9.25 inches over the weekend at the CHSAA Relay Carnival, cementing her performance as one of the greatest in Stanner history. “Niamani’s record is hopefully the first of several school records that may go this season,” said Coach AJ Power ’84. Congratulations to Niamani on this wonderful achievement! Already being ranked #1 for the long jump in NY state by a wide margin, we expect Niamani’s success to continue in 2014. In addition, it was announced earlier this month that Varsity basketball star CJ Davis ’14 has been nominated to play in the 2014 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game on April 2nd. The game, to be hosted in Chicago, features some of the best and most highly recruited high school players in the country. CJ has already committed to playing ball at Columbia University. We extend congratulations to CJ on earning this tremendous honor and support his continued success this season for our Stanners. (Photo of CJ Davis courtesy of the Yearbook Staff)
Col. Richard Ricciardi, PhD, NP ’74 recently shared the exciting news that he was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. The photo to the right was taken during his induction. Congratulations, Colonel!
John Plump ’49 sent us the following note: “My wife and I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. On top of that I just started a new job working for a software company. In my spare time I race on a sailboat. One of the crew is the owner of the software company and said he needed help in the office. I was available! Thanks for sending The Beehive. I do enjoy reading the latest.” Thanks John! Good luck in your newest endeavor.
We are saddened to share news of the passing of Edward Flaherty ’66. A resident of Lake Ridge, Virginia, Edward is survived by his wife Helen and two children Matthew and Daniel. According to friend and classmate Richard Mendelson ’66, “Ed was a lifelong Stanner with many Stanner friends. He will be missed greatly.” We ask that you please keep Edward and the Flaherty family in your prayers.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mr. Mani Jambukeswaran, father of Arasu ’92 and Fred. Mr. Jambukeswaran passed away early last week. We ask that you keep the Jambukeswaran family in your thoughts and prayers.