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Hello Family!
Over the years there has always been a significant level of Alumni involvement at STMC. Our alumni have generously supported numerous fund raising undertakings. We already run the best Alumni Basketball Tournament and Golf Tournament in the province. Our Career Fair is the envy of many schools, and virtually any day you walk the halls of the school, you will encounter an alumnus who is coaching, presenting or just visiting. It is something we should take great pride in. That being said there is also a tremendous opportunity for growth and improvement. There is no doubt in my mind that the unique community spirit that permeates the halls of STMC lives on in the minds and hearts of our grads. A stronger, more well-connected alumni will benefit not only the school but all grads as they move forward in their lives. This newsletter is filled with Alumni related news and opportunities to get involved. Read it and enjoy! Drop by for a visit and see first hand the many impressive changes that are taking place at the school.
 Hank Bouwman
Alumni Relations Officer
(604) 521-1801 ext 435
hank.bouwman@stmc.bc.caPS If you have any information you would like included in the next newsletter feel free to send it in.
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Alumni Association Update
The Call for Class Captains  | Ben Hieltjes ('81)
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 | Cam Sylvester ('76)
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The Alumni Advisory Board has had three meetings to date with another one scheduled for next month. The Board has provided valuable leadership and insight. Several members have also chosen to up their level of involvement by working at events like the Alumni Bball tourney, sitting on the Dinner Auction Committee and volunteering as members of the very important Alumni Capital Campaign Committee. Two Knights of Old have agreed to co-chair this committee: Ben Hieltjes ('81) and Cam Sylvester ('76). Ben and Cam see the need to re-connect with the alumni and build relationships. As a first step in this process, they want to establish Class Captains for each Grad Class dating back to the inaugural class of 1964. The primary role of these individuals would be to update the database and serve as the liaison between their class and STMC. On April 7th at 7:00pm, we will hold a meeting of all those who have agreed to be class captains. At this meeting we will discuss the future direction of the Alumni keeping in mind the realities of the capital campaign and unique spirit that is St. Thomas More. If you would like to be part of this Class Captain group, please feel free to contact us. Ben: hieltjes@shaw.ca or Cam: csylvest@capilanou.ca |
THE ALUMNI NETWORK
One of the cool things about the Alumni is when the Knights of Old make connections to our current students. Here are a few examples.
 Brett Kelly, a current grade 12 student and child star in the classic Christmas film Bad Santa, got a call from Harvard requesting an interview regarding his possible admission to the school. In order to get him some insights on what to say at the interview, I e-mailed Rob Agon ('00) who is a Harvard MBA grad now living and working in Korea. Rob got back to Brett and shared some valuable insights. The Alumni Network is now global. Let's hope Brett makes it!
Paul Furminger ('98) is a director at Goldtooth Creative, a local  firm involved in video game production. Paul has been a frequent presenter at our annual Career Night. Grad of 2008, Kiran Sangherra, heard Paul talk and has pursued a post-secondary career in video editing at Cap. Kiran now works at Goldtooth. Cool!
On February 2nd, 2011 we held a Post-Secondary Information evening for our senior students. Sixteen members of the alumni representing several different programs and educational institutions spoke. Numerous parents and students found the evening very informative. It is yet another way that our alumni can support our current students. The following is a list of the speakers:
Nigel Hole ('07) UBC/Sauder Brock Bradford ('05) Boston College
Ashley Roder ('07) Cap/Bus Laura Bouwman ('06) SFU Science
Laura Luongo ('06) SFU/Arts Jennifer Rubben ('10) Langara / Arts
Jared Power ('04) Trinity/SFU Carina Lazarich ('08) Kwantlen/PR
Carmella Luongo ('10) Arts Cookie Lacson ('08) Kwantlen/PR
Adam Grossi ('06) SFU/Arts Tiff Hill ('08) Corpus Christi/UBC
Mark Bradshaw ('06) SFU/Arts Myriah Purss ('09) Douglas College
Gabbi Dao ('09) Emily Carr Julie Thierman ('10) Art Institute
Laura Thierman ('05) BCIT/Marketing
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The Future of Athletics & Community at STMC (Needs to be updated!)
 | | STMC has a dream to build a new 27,000-square-foot athletic & community centre with a fitness centre and NBA-sized double gym, a lighted turf field and field house |
By now you may have heard that STMC is hoping to start its most ambitious construction project ever: a new Athletics & Community Centre that features an expanded double-gym, full fitness centre and lighted turf field with field house! It is high time the STMC campus had athletic facilities that provide a proper home for our long legacy of athletic excellence.
Fundraising is just beginning, but the early responses have been very promising. The total cost of the new facilities is $8.2 million, and STMC has already secured $3.8 million in early pledges and commitments. Those commitments include a $1.5 million matching gift challenge from the StanJean Foundation, as well as a number of
extraordinary five-year gifts of $10,000 to $200,000 from �ngel funders who stepped forward early.
STMC hopes to find about 50 such Angels to enable the school to start construction on the new Athletic & Community Centre in Spring 2011.
Ultimately, STMC aims to raise $1.5 million from the Alumni community (about 20% of the goal), and will secure the rest of the funding needed from current parents, foundations, corporate supporters and major gifts. Eventually, all alumni will be invited to participate in some way. Stay tuned for more details.
It is indeed an exciting time to be a Knight!
Editor's Note: Details of the campaign provided by
Jen Shelnutt-Jayme
Director of Development and Community Relations
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Career Fair April 28th, 2011 6:30-9:00pm
Remember when you were young and wondering what to do for your career. Well here is your chance to network and help out the current STMC students. Over 30 speakers (mostly alumni) will speak to our students about their respective careers. If you would like to help out with this event by being a presenter or mentoring a current Knight, just contact us.
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12th Annual Greater Knight Open Golf Tourney June 4th, 2011 1:30 Shotgun Start
The tourney is always a hit! It typically sells out early and is a great way to get together with old friends. The GKO is also our major alumni fundraiser. The funds raised go to support many special projects during the year. There are numerous ways to get involved!
1. You can go lf as a foursome or join an existing group.
Download the entry form at XXXXXX
2. You can sponsor a hole and get recognition on the course and in the tourney program. Download the hole sponsorship form at XXXXXXX
3. You can donate a prize. Download a form XXXXXXX If you would like to help us organize the GKO, we would love to have your help. Whether you are working at it, golfing in it or sponsoring it, it is always a great event. |
Quick Sports Wrap Up!
 The Varsity Boys' successful season came to an end at the BC's in Kamloops in March. While it is never a great feeling to lose, the Knights can look back with pride on this season which featured many highlights including winning our own Chancellor, winning the Lower Mainland zones and finishing fourth in the AA provincials. With several returning seniors, next season looks very promising. Coach Mitchell was aided this season by Denis Johnston ('98) and Al Wong (father of Aleisha '05, Jordan '08 and Kristen '12).
The Varsity girls fought hard but lost in the Lower Mainlands after suffering a key injury to senior Lexie Der, who is heading to Boise State next fall. The JV girls, however, qualified for the BCs and finished 12th. Alumnus and coach Joe Thierman was aided by his daughter Laura ('05).
The STMC Boys' Curling team qualified for the BCs and finished 7th in the province making school history in the process. The curling team would not exist without the assistance of a host of alumni coaches. They are Titus Joel, Adam Grossi, Mihai Cirstea and Mark Bradshaw (all of '06) and Alyssa DeSimone, Alexandra Bradshaw, Cayenne Coghlin and Jessica Angulo (All of '10).
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Alumni Tourney: Another Hit
January 27, 28 and 29 STMC and St. Francis de Sales
 The tourney went very well again this year with 14 teams competing in 3 Divisions in 2 different gyms. The winners of the A Division were Super Cheng (Grads of 2001). The winners of the B Division were the FARTS (Grads of 1976 -1983) and Team Vintage (Made up of the Carino and Buchmann Boys and Nathan Nottingham) won the Competitive C Division. With 14 teams there were over 140 "athletes" participating. There were spectators of all ages ranging from grandparents to grand kids. Almost 200 people attended the tourney- ending banquet . At the banquet more awards were presented. Prince Carino ('99) won the Best Offensive player and Holly Tawse ('04) won the Best Defensive Player. The Marshalls won the Spirit Award. When you have a team with 2 bananas and a monkey you have to win something. The Shinning Knight Award winner was Darren McCormick ('90). A special thank you must go out to the host of volunteers who helped to make the event a success.
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Knight Life
MEET A FEW MORE FUTURE KNIGHTS!
Mike Lane ('98) and his wife Laura are pleased to announce the birth of Anna Elizabeth, a little sister for big sister Emily to play with.
Darren McCormick, grad of 1990 and current STMC st aff member, and his wife Dana recently added a brand new baby boy to their growing family. According to the scouting report Owen was born March 9 weighing a power forward like 9.8lbs and 23.75 inches. Older sister Meara is excited to have a baby brother to fuss over.
Editor's Note: If you want a birth announcement acknowledged, send it in!
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More Knight Life
Bill Small, grad of 1987, sent in an update about his career and family. Bill has recently moved from Prince George to Victoria, having recently been appointed to the position of Deputy Provincial Director for BC Corrections, Community Corrections & Corporate Programs Division. After many years as a probation officer and then manager, travelling around northern BC, Bil and his wife, Dianne and their two boys (now 12 and 10) are happy to have packed up the snow shovels and returned to a more temperate climate.
I contacted Pat Griffin, grad of 1997, recently Pat is currently living in Japan with his wife and kids but in an area not directly impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami. We keep the Griffins and all the citizens of Japan in our prayers during this crisis. Pat teaches English there now, but he is hoping to move back to Canada before the end of the year.
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Knights Shine in University Athletics!
STMC's Tyler McNeely ('05) is a member of an exclusive club.
The former Burnaby Express forward scored his 100th career point for the Northeastern University Huskies in a 6-3 loss to the ninth-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats.
McNeely's assist on Wade MacLeod's third period goal made him only the 46th player in Northeastern hockey history to score 100 points. Heading into the Wildcats' season-ending series against Boston University, McNeely has 43 goals and 57 assists in 136 career games. McNeely was also honored by being named as one of the top 50 NCAA players in the country and an early round Hobey Baker Award Nominee.
 | | Leeza Tengco |
 | | Marti Dumas |
Marti Dumas and Leeza Tengco, both from the class of 2008, are playing basketball for the Capilano Blues. The Blues finished first in league play in the BCCAA (British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association). Early in March they won the Provincial title and will represent BC at the National Championships of the CCAA which will take place on March 17-19. You can follow the progress of the Blues and Marti and Leeza on the tourney website http://www.ccaawomensbasketball2011.ca/ . We wish them all the best!
James Delaney ('09) has been named to the 2011 England National Indoor Team. The 23-man roster will represent England at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship from May 21-28, 2011 at Telsa Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.James is currently playing his sophomore season at Seton Hill University (NCAA Div. II) in Greensburg, Pennsylva
nia where he was named a 2011 Pre-Season NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention by Inside Lacrosse (ESPN Affiliate). As a freshman with the Griffins, Delaney scored an impressive 25 goals and 18 assists to help lead Seton Hill to a 10-4 overall record and a 6-4 mark in ECC play.
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Reunions in the works!
 The Class of 1986 is planning at 25th Reunion for some time in 2011; please ensure that we have your correct contact information by emailing us. To assist with the planning or to get more information please contact Trevor Mueckel at his cellular number 604-649-2241, sorry no voice mail, just keep trying, email vega_club@yahoo.com.
Jake Power and Chris Lowe wants to get in touch with all grads of '01. There is a Facebook group you can join or you can contact Jake directly at jakep@powerwood.com or call 778-558-1602. The grads of 2001 have had one early meeting that was well attended; however, Jake and Chris are still very interested in hearing from anyone who wants to lend a hand organizing this event.
The Grads of 1981 are also in the early stages of planning their 30th anniversary event. 1981 grads Ben Hieltjes, Dan Murphy and Mike Kelly have had an initial meeting. Anyone interested in helping this event get off the ground should contact hieltjes@shaw.ca.
The Alumni Office is ready to offer assistance to anyone planning a reunion. How about someone stepping up from the class of '91? It is 20 years for you guys!!!!
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Contact Information for
the Alumni Relations Officer
Hank Bouwman
Phone: 604-521-1801 Ext 435
E-mail: hank.bouwman@stmc.bc.ca
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