Alumni Journal, March 2023

Welcome to Justin-Siena's quarterly newsletter produced exclusively for Braves alumni to celebrate, reminisce, and inform.

UPCOMING CALENDAR

Thurs., 3/30 - Mon., 4/3

Chappellet Flash Wine Sale

Sun., 4/2 - Sat., 4/8

Holy Week

Sun., 4/9 - Sat., 4/15

Easter Week

Sun., 4/16

Relay For Life

Dodd Stadium

Mon., 4/24 - Fri. 4/28

Founders Week

Thurs., 4/27

Founders Liturgy

Fri., 4/28

Founders Day

Sat., 5/6

Spring Music Concert

Thurs., 5/18

Alumni Luncheon

Sat., 5/29

Memorial Day

Wed., 5/31

Baccalaureate

Thurs., 6/1

Graduation

Mon., 6/5

Justin-Siena Golf Classic

Justin-Siena School Calendar

Jennifer's Journal Entry

Justin-Siena Advancement Associate alumna, Jennifer Rasler '86, is on a mission to meet and showcase Justin-Siena alumni to share their stories here. This is "Jennifer's Journal Entry."

Lucio Mondavi '11

I spent a beautiful morning with Lucio Mondavi ‘11 in late December, 2022.

Growing up, Lucio attended Pacific Union College Elementary School in Angwin, CA, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Like many freshmen, he was excited to walk the new and opportunity-filled halls of Justin-Siena. Lucio excelled in his studies. His favorite teachers, who were “always there to help and inspire,” were Mr. McDermott and Mrs. DiGiacomo. He is eternally grateful for their mentorship and wisdom.

Lucio made his closest friends at Justin-Siena, most while playing soccer. His passion for the sport grew throughout his four years of high school play. In 2011, the team made it to the CIF North Coast Section Division II final against Marin Academy. Although unfortunately, Justin-Siena lost 4-0, there was an incredible amount of team pride for reaching the championship game and making Justin-Siena history. Lucio was the first Brave ever to be selected to the All-Marin County Athletic League team.

While athletics was a significant part of his time at Justin, it was the Kairos retreats in Lucio's junior and senior years that helped shape his spiritual life. He was eager to share his excitement about the impact of those experiences.

Lucio believes that Justin-Siena prepared him well for college, and his college resume is indeed impressive. Attending Stanford University for his undergraduate studies, he stayed on to complete a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2015. After lecturing at Stanford for three years, Lucio moved to Italy in 2017, to work for Lamborghini as a research developer. While there, he was accepted to the MBA program at M.I.T., bringing him stateside again.

Today, Lucio has returned to Italy, working for Lamborghini again, now as a vehicle dynamics engineer. He also has joined G4, the 4th generation of the Mondavi family wine business, serving as a Brand Ambassador for CK Mondavi & Family.

Lucio is forever grateful for the lifetime friendships and experiences he had at Justin-Siena High School. It was a true pleasure getting to know Lucio Mondavi. He is definitely #ALLHEART!

The Commons

In record time, Justin-Siena was able to fully fund the perimeter security project, thanks to generous donors and the revenue from Senator Bill Dodd's Annual Holiday Party. The addition of perimeter fencing along Maher Street allows Justin-Siena to recapture an acre of previously unused grounds. Justin-Siena will transform the lawn in front of the Dining Hall into a beautiful outdoor gathering and dining area for Justin-Siena students, to be known as "The Commons." Features of The Commons will include an open layout design with an outdoor dining area for students to enjoy daily. This welcoming space will feature dining tables, adirondack chairs, and a fire pit beneath the natural shade of oak trees that line the Maher Street side of our campus. Creative lighting details will provide ambiance for evening events. The Commons also creates a new space for outside groups to rent, generating funding for campuswide facilities maintenance and expenses.

Make a Gift Today!

Event Highlights

Senator Bill Dodd Holiday Party

In December, Senator Bill Dodd '74 selected Justin-Siena High School to be the recipient of his annual holiday fundraiser. The event, held at the Meritage Resort and Spa, was an incredible success, raising more than $450K toward equitable, quality education for all students, as well as a comprehensive perimeter security initiative. Thank you to Senator Dodd and everyone who made this event so impactful!

Last September, the heat couldn't keep more than 200 attendees from enjoying this year's TASTE of Justin-Siena, our annual culinary tasting event that showcases wine, sprits, brews, and bites from Justin-Siena family businesses. Together, TASTE and ACCESS 707, Justin-Siena's winery partnership initiative, raised more than $40K towards tuition assistance. Businesses that donated to these two signature events and are owned or operated by Justin-Siena alumni include:

August Sebastiani '98 --3Badge Corp.

Don Sebastiani '95 --Flybird

Maureen Savage '93 --Suppertime

Matt Cordeiro '84 --Cordeiro's Steakhouse & The Waterfront Seafood Grill

Matt Buoncristiani ‘90 --Buoncristiani Family Winery

Jeffrey Durham '85 --Gentleman Farmer Wines

Paula Kornell '77 --Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine

Violet Grgich '83 --Grgich Hills Estate

Brett deLeuze ‘83 --ZD Wines

Anthony Baldini '84 --Cliff Lede Vineyards

Michael Sangiacomo ‘87 and Mia Pucci '89 --Sangiacomo Family Vineyards

It was a record-breaking year for CRAB FEST! The popular signature event that raises funds to support Justin-Siena's athletic and co-curricular programs, raised almost $200K! We would like to extend our gratitude to the evening's auctioneer and Justin-Siena alumna, Ellen Toscano '01.

On All Souls' Day, Justin-Siena recognized and celebrated the 50th reunion of the class of 1972 with the Golden Diploma luncheon. The group enjoyed their walk down memory lane and connecting with the current student population at mass.

CALLING ALL GOLFERS!

Justin-Siena's Golf Classic is this June! Secure your foursome today.

Golf Classic Tickets

Athletic Alumni

Julia Sangiacomo '19

According to a recent press release, Julia "was named to the 2023 West Coast Conference Preseason Beach Volleyball Team, and the Santa Clara University beach volleyball team was selected third in the WCC Preseason Coaches' poll, as announced by the conference Tuesday.

Sangiacomo landed on last spring's all-WCC First Team after going an impressive 14-3 at the No. 1 pairs spot with partner Michelle Schaffer. She was also named a "Top Flight" award winner by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association for her dominant record at the 1s spot. She went went 17-11 overall while also playing at the 2s. She won eight in a row at one point and finished the season winning 10 of 12 matches.

Sangiacomo is coming off of a historic indoor volleyball season in which she was named both all-WCC first team and WCC All-Academic first team for the third year in a row. She earned AVCA Pacific North All-Region Honorable Mention accolades while leading the WCC with 475 kills (seventh-most all-time in a single season at Santa Clara) and finishing second with 4.20 kills per set (ninth-best single-season mark at Santa Clara). She moved into third all-time on the Santa Clara career kills list, totaling 1,528 at season's end."

Go BRAVES!

Alumni Serving

Marcus Solis '09

From the Napa County Sheriff's Office:

Risked Their Lives To Save Others

"There's great work...then there's exceptional work. Huge congratulations to Deputy James Hartley, Deputy Marcus Solis '09, and Sergeant Ozzy Hernandez for receiving Sheriff's Lifesaving Medals today! In August of 2022, Deputy Hartley jumped into murky water and saved a man from drowning at Lake Berryessa. Last December, Deputy Solis and Sergeant Hernandez sprinted nearly 250 yards, grabbed a canoe, and saved a woman who jumped from the Maxwell Bridge into the Napa River. We are proud and fortunate to have deputies committed to keeping our community safe!"

Thank you Marcus, for your continued dedication to the Napa Valley community! You embody what it means to Leave to Serve! #ALLHEART

Alumni Portraits: Class of 1995

Keep us up to date on what is new with you! Share your stories and we'll try to include them in The Journal. Have you celebrated any recent milestones or life changes? Send any exciting news to Jennifer Rasler at jrasler@justin-siena.org.

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