JUNE 2024

Two of our talented students, Carrie Truong '25 (left) and Luisa Barrantes '24 (right), have qualified for the National Speech and Debate Championships, a prestigious event that showcases the best young orators and debaters from across the country. This tournament takes place this summer in Des Moines, Iowa from June 15 - June 22. The official competition starts today!

This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only represent our school but to also develop invaluable skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership. However, attending the National Championships comes with significant costs, including travel, accommodation, and registration fees.

Please consider making a donation! Any amount you can contribute will make a meaningful difference. 

Please feel free to spread the word by sharing this message with others who might be interested in supporting our team.

The SJND community celebrated the 142nd Commencement exercises on June 1, the first ceremony to return to the Kelly Gymnasium since the pandemic. The celebration of our 98 graduates included stellar music from Mrs. Cekola and our school band as well as an incredible a cappella rendition of the National Anthem by Samantha Fong '24, Keiko Akima '25, and Kaedn Baquiran '25. 

This year's commencement speaker was Alameda Police Chief, Nishant Joshi, whose son, Jai Joshi '24, was among the graduating class. Chief Joshi delivered an engaging speech filled with heartfelt advice and poignant life stories. Valedictorian Joy Chang '24 spoke about the responsibility of her class of 2024 to provide service to those in need. It was truly a blessed event and a beautiful morning on Chestnut Street.

View photos from graduation here.

Your tax-deductible donation to the Annual Fund plays a crucial role in ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed. While tuition covers a significant portion of the costs associated with an SJND education, it's your contribution that helps bridge the gap and enable us to offer exceptional academic programs, extracurricular activities, and support services.

Whether it's supporting our dedicated teachers, enhancing our academic offerings, or providing opportunities for our students to excel in athletics, arts, languages, and clubs, your gift to the Annual Fund makes a tangible difference in the lives of our students every day.

Watch how your donation makes a difference in this welcome to SJND video on our landing page. which was made by our students.

We missed celebrating your SJND graduation on Chestnut Street! Share your favorite college graduation photos with us and let us know what your post-graduation plans are.

Send an email to Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, Vicki Bargagliotti vbargagliotti@sjnd.org.

Class of 1974 Celebrate their Golden Reunion

The Class of 1974 recently celebrated their 50th high school reunion, bringing together alumni from near and far. The event was filled with nostalgia as old friends reminisced about their shared experiences and rekindled long-lost friendships. Special guests included Mr. Tony Aiello, Phil Gravem, Bob Sickenger '54, and Victor Gerson '67. A heartfelt thank you goes to the reunion committee for their hard work in making this memorable event possible.



The Office of Alumni Relations would love to work with Class Agents to help plan and promote your class reunion. 

The following classes

will be celebrating a milestone:

1949, 1954, 1959, 1964,

1969, 1984, 1994, 1999,

2004, and 2009.

If you are interested in helping to plan your reunion, the Alumni Office

is here and can provide you with a Reunion Planning Kit.

To get your kit, please contact Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

Vicki Bargagliotti, vbargagliotti@sjnd.org.

Plans are underway for your 45th Reunion! Date and time will most likely be in Fall of 2024.  The Reunion Committee consists of Ken Barrow, Henry Call, Rochelle Kealohi and Ana Ruiz Lail.

Discussions about your 35th reunion are taking place! The Alumni Office is

working with Marie Femminis and Mike Martin to plan the date and time.  

Chloe Cunningham has expressed an interest in planning your 10th reunion and she would love your help! If you would like to be on the planning committee, please contact

Vicki Bargagliotti, vbargagliotti@sjnd.org and she can connect you with Chloe.

Hadiya Cain, Adam Campos, Cassandra Hewett, and Mia Leon are

busy planning your 5th Reunion! The Reunion is scheduled on Friday, December 27

at 5:00p.m. at Lemon Drop in Alameda.

Have a new job? Just married or engaged?

Welcomed a baby? Moving?

We are always looking for ways to keep in touch with our beloved alumni family. 

Please fill out our simple online form using the button below so we can share your news!

Pamela Sabbatini Killingsworth '77 (center) earned her Master of Education

in Languages / Multilingual Learners at the College of Charleston.

Pamela is pictured with her son and daughter-in-law.

Kevin Kelly '79, CEO of Emerald Packing, received the Manufacturer of the Year

(mid-size) award by the San Francisco Bay Area's Manufacturing Trade Association.

Sophia Gonzalez Duran '89 received her Master of Science

in Health Informatics from Boston University!

Jason Kidd '92, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, received an extended

multi-year contract with the team. He also led the Mavs to an incredible victory in

the Western Conference where they advanced to the NBA finals! 

Marielle Heller '97 directed a feature film, an adaptation of the novel Nightbitch,

which will star Amy Adams. It is scheduled to debut in theaters December 2024.

Andy Cerio '11 (right) has been busy working in the film industry.

He attended the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in support of the

two films he worked on as a crew member. The films are Freaky Tales, filmed in

Oakland in 2023 and Didi, filmed in Fremont, also in 2023.

 Louis Rodrigues '13 will be back on campus next year as our cross country coach.

As a student at SJND, Louis had a successful running career and we are

excited to lead the next generation of Pilot runners.

 Taylor Griffith '15 presented "Art and Science Collide: Ocean-Inspired Art" at the Next Generation of Exploration Speaker Showcase in San Francisco. Taylor is an award-winning artist, underwater photographer, and cinematographer dedicated to telling stories that examine human relationships with the ocean. Projects Taylor has worked on have been featured across the world including galleries, museums, streaming platforms, The Explorers Club, the United States Congress, and the United Nations. You can see one of Taylor's photographs in the San Jose Band Hallway.

Cooper Teare '17 ran the Olympic standard with a 12:54 5K and ran the 4th fastest time for

an American Runner. Congratulations Cooper and all the best in the upcoming Olympic trials.

 Maia Chareonsuphiphat '20 graduated from the University of San Diego and will continue

her pre-med academic journey at Columbia University to pursue a Masters in Public Health.

Cassandra Deleon '20 was selected as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship

under the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The scholarship will be

used to fund her study abroad trip in Puebla, Mexico where she will be immersing herself

into the Mexican culture, language, and history of pre-colonial indigenous communities.

Elaine Truong '22 (center) was selected as one of five students by the Dean of University of

San Francisco’s School of Nursing and Health Professions to participate in this year's American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)'s Student Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.