As a graduate, you have committed to living Franciscan virtues and sharing them with your communities. We are not just suggesting your involvement, but mandating your commitment. There's an allegory comparing the difference between involvement and commitment to preparing bacon and eggs. It concludes the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed.

To illustrate what a man committed to Franciscan values looks like, I want you to consider a true Franciscan leader, Mr. Pete Brang. As the last class to graduate on his watch, your exemplary behavior and character are products of that commitment.

You may only know him for inspiring you in AP US History, the agony of a visit to his office, or from serving detention. Some knew him as cross country and track coach, Kairos leader, or driving instructor. There's the whistle that simultaneously paralyzes 600 students and Foothill Blvd. traffic. More have known him for the support he offered when they struggled with a personal problem, failed to fit in, or needed a father figure.

Before meeting the man with the grammatically incorrect name in my first year, I overheard: "Mr. Brang to the office." Brang, I thought? Maybe they are testing me to see if I really have an English degree. I learned quickly that having Mr. Brang's support was essential for survival.

At that time, he was the Dean of Discipline, a title that implied punishment. But, an important connection exists between the secular word "discipline" and the spiritual term "disciple." Its Latin derivation connotes "teaching, learning, and knowledge." These are all elements of Mr. Brang's approach; more have benefited from this wisdom than his lessons on the Constitution, Civil War, or Depression. Those who embraced his discipline became disciples. They discovered what former football coach Bum Phillips advocated: "The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline."

Upon joining the Administration, I observed his ability to make quick decisions, his instincts in influencing different individuals, his belief in "servant leadership," and his concern for each person on this campus. Most important was his tireless commitment to support every St. Francis activity.

You can find examples of all sixteen Franciscan virtues in Mr. Brang's career. Integrity, humility, compassion, simplicity, brotherhood, peace and justice, and service are obvious. But it also encompasses things that may not be as evident-important qualities like joy, generosity, faithfulness, hospitality, charity, goodness, prayer, acceptance, and peacemaking. You can

include traditional values like toughness, fairness, reliability, loyalty, respect, and dedication. Dealing with Mr. Brang is like going to the dentist. It's not the association with pain; it's that you don't appreciate it until later.

He is a long-distance runner whose marathon career is nearing the finish line. The high expectations he placed on himself and others are reminiscent of the words of another legendary runner, Steve Prefontaine: "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." Allow me to deviate from formal grammar to state: day in and day out, for forty-four years, Pete "Brang" it.

You may not have a career like his, but you can model his commitment. As you leave St. Francis, know that you and your brothers, by your character, are his legacy. Any discipline you have learned was his gift. In moments of crisis, pretend he is watching. Live a life committed to Franciscan virtues. Don't just do it for St. Francis. Do it for Pete's sake.

Fr. Harold Snider, OFM Cap., the Provincial of the Western American Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, represented his Excellency Bishop Jos? G?mez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, at the graduation. Fr. Tony Marti, OFM Cap., the school President, Mr. Thomas Moran, the school Principal, and Mr. Mark Heydorff, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, also officiated at the sixty-sixth com?mencement ceremony of the local Catholic, college-preparatory institution. 

Taylor Wayne Hancock led the National Anthem, Andrew Fraser MacKinnon, the Senior Class President, welcomed the crowd, and Valedictorian Arthur Ter-Zakarian gave a formal address to the audience. Ter-Zakarian also received the Capuchin Award and Medal for Scholarship. The program also recognized Co-Salutatorians, William Payton Lombardo and Joseph Peter Reilly, for their exceptional achievement.

Certificates of Excellence were awarded to graduates in the following categories: Computer Science, Alexander Wesley Marshall; English, Andrew Fraser MacKinnon; Fine Arts, Liam Daniel Molina, Matthew Dominic Ursitti; Foreign Language, Liam Thomas Cascelli; Mathematics, Juan David Palomares, William Yusung Shin; Social Studies, Ian Joseph Gordon.

The school faculty also presented Capuchin Medals for excellence in subject areas to the following individuals: Art, Jake Mitchell Masakayan; Athletics, Jeremiah David Martin; Biology, Arthur Ter-Zakarian; Chemistry, William Yusung Shin; Chorus, Taylor Wayne Hancock; Computer Science, Arthur Ter-Zakarian; Drumline, Malcolm Vincent Zeger; Economics, William Payton Lombardo; English, William Payton Lombardo; European History, William Payton Lombardo; Human Geography, Joseph Peter Reilly; Kinesiology, Andrew Joseph Cesta; Latin, Joseph Peter Reilly; Mass Media, Raphael Frost Gonzalez; Mathematics, Jackson Philip Leisure; Physics, Nathaniel Wilson Blakely; Spanish, Andrew Fraser MacKinnon; Theater, Taylor Wayne Hancock; United States Government, John Francis Murray; United States History, Brian Patrick Young.

At the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 22, Community Service Awards were presented to William Payton Lombardo (Pro Deo et Patria for Leadership); Nicholas Alexander Peters (Pro Deo et Ecclesia for Leadership); Nicholas Alexander Peters (Fred Purner Humanitarian Award); Andrew Joseph Cesta (Roger Barkley Award for Outstanding Character); William Payton Lombardo (Archdiocesan Christian Service Award); Jose Ramon Backer, Andrew Joseph Cesta (Medal for Good Citizenship); and Michael Nicholas Horner (Franciscan Spirit and Life Award). In addition, Mrs. Martha Millspaugh, Ms. Dee Seymour, and Mrs. Laura Agakanian were honored for their service to St. Francis with the St. Claire of Assisi Award. Mr. Richard Ursitti and Mr. Armik Agakanian were also recognized for their service to the school as the recipients of the St. Francis of Assisi Award.

The Fr. Lawrence Caruso Memorial College Scholarship was awarded to Jacob Johnathon Lucas.

Thirty-eight graduates received the special St. Francis High School Honors Diploma, an award given for Christian service, high academic achievement, and taking at least one Advanced Placement course during their senior year at the school. Eighteen of the graduating seniors became Life Members in the California Scholarship Federation. The California Scholarship Federation Sealbearer Scholarship was presented to William Payton Lombardo.

The National Merit Program Commended Students are Kaihan Atasoy, Jackson Philip Leisure, William Payton Lombardo, Andrew Fraser MacKinnon, Arthur Ter-Zakarian, Avery Huang Yang, and Albert Yu.

Forty-one students graduated as members of the National Honor Society and nine graduated as Mu Alpha Theta Members. The National Honor Society Certificate of Merit was awarded to Nicholas Alexander Peters and William Yusung Shin. The National Honor Society of Sports Medicine graduated ten members. The National Hispanic Recognition Program recognized Christian Anthony Almeida, Brian Christopher Boyce, and Liam Daniel Molina as Scholars. The National Hispanic Recognition Program also recognized Edgar Ian Mateus and Ryan Leopold Jaurretche Shrager as Honorable Mention.

At the time of graduation, students from St. Francis High School's graduating Class of 2015 have received 305 scholarships and awards to colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Graduation 2015

We hope you can join us for our June 7th Family Liturgy that will celebrate and give thanks to Pete Brang for his 44 years of dedicated service to St. Francis High School. At this Liturgy, we will present Pete with a "book of gratitude/tributes" as a small token of our tremendous appreciation for all he has done for St. Francis over the years.

We would like to encourage you to write a note of thanks to Pete, perhaps include your favorite memory or lesson learned so that we can include this in this gift. We believe you share our thoughts in wishing Pete well in his retirement after committing many years to nurturing and guiding our Golden Knights.

For your convenience, please feel free to either email your tribute to:

[email protected]

Christine Smith at SFHS, 200 Foothill Boulevard, La Canada, CA 91011

Mr. Pete Brang Tribute Video

Early Flubber: During World War II an engineer at General Electric named James Wright was searching for a synthetic rubber substitute. In one of his experiments, he poured boric acid into a test tube filled with silicone oil, and it became a soft, malleable substance.

Imagine his surprise when he dropped a glob of the substance on the floor-and it bounced! With a little more investigation, Wright discovered that the substance could also be stretched, flattened, rolled, and sculpted into many different shapes.

Around the General Electric labs, the substance became something of a novelty. Soon many GE employees were taking some home to show their family and friends.

Unfortunately, the new substance proved to have a rather short shelf life, which made it useless for engineering purposes. It was dismissed by the GE engineers as an interesting, but worthless, discovery.

But a writer named Peter Hodgson became intrigued with the amazing substance after he saw it demonstrated at a party. Hodgson, a copywriter for a toy catalog, had a feeling that the failed rubber substitute would be extremely popular with children, even if it was not useful for engineers.

After testing the material for safety, Hodgson packaged the stuff in plastic eggs and added a name to it. Within months the weird rubber known as Silly Putty became one of the hottest-selling toys in American history.

What looks completely worthless and simple to one person may be extremely valuable to another. It's all a matter of perspective.

For example, others may put you down because you seem worthless to them; however, God has a purpose and plan for your life that no one may be able to see right now.

When Jesus came as Savior of the world, he was rejected by his own people. Even today, people reject him. But as the apostle Paul pointed out, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

What looks overly simple to the world is wisdom to those who can see things from God's perspective.

Eric Davis, the manager for recording artist Pat McGee, recently reached out to notify St. Francis that one of Pat's songs, "We Need Each Other", from his newly released self-titled album is about Mr. O'Connor. Pat saw Mr. O'Connor's story on the CBS News and was immediately inspired to write this song. The lyrics to the song are copied below. Eric and Pat wanted to reach out and let Mr. O'Connor know that he is definitely inspiring people like Pat with all of the good his does.  

You can listen to the song here: http://www.jlsmgmt.com/.../.../12%20We%20Need%20Each%20Other.mp3