DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL
| FEBRUARY 2019
|
|
ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
DEAR FELLOW ALUMNI
|
During your years at Damien High School, you were provided with a foundation of values: spiritual, intellectual, physical and social to enable you to properly mature, to become a confident individual able to actively participate and contribute in the life of our world.
We often speak of the proud tradition of Damien High School, proud in every aspect. Each of you in your own special way contributed and have become a part of what is Damien. While your years at Damien rapidly concluded, Spartan pride continues with each of you throughout all aspects of life.
Through our office, it is our hope that the newsletter keeps you informed about the happenings of past Spartans academically, personally, professionally and the activities and accomplishments of current Spartans. If you need help organizing a reunion, attending an event, or simply want to come visit, please feel free to contact me.
|
DANIEL THREADGILL
ALUMNI RELATIONS
909.596.1946 X 285 THREADGILL@DAMIEN-HS.EDU
|
|
|
LA VERNE, CA, (January 8, 2019)
DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL
NAMES MATT BECHTEL
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
|
Damien High School is pleased to announce that Mr. Matt Bechtel has been named the Head Varsity Football Coach of the Spartans.
Coach Bechtel returns to his alma mater (‘92) after establishing his coaching career locally as a head coach at three previous schools, enjoying much success.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Bechtel back to his alma mater,” said athletic director, Jeff Grant. “Matt’s commitment to excellence and his dedication to the student-athletes under his guidance make him a perfect fit. As a graduate of Damien, Matt knows better than most, what it means to be a Damien Spartan, and we are thrilled to have him back on campus as the leader of our program.”
In his 8 years as a head coach, Bechtel has compiled an impressive resume. During Matt’s time as a head coach,
he has led his teams to league championships at every stop. Coach Bechtel has been named as both the Daily Bulletin Coach of the Year (2015) as well as the SGV Coach of the Year (2018). Matt, most recently, led South Hills High School to a perfect 10-0 regular season, CIFSS championship and state bowl game appearance.
“It’s the place, that as a young man, I learned so many of the qualities that have shaped me into who I am today”, Bechtel said of Damien, who was a two-year starting quarterback for coach Dick Larson. “Being a Catholic
myself, I am excited about having the opportunity to develop men of faith, men of character, and men of service as we build a championship culture.”
|
ALUMNI HOMECOMING PRE-GAME TAILGATE 2018
|
|
03.21
OPEN HOUSE FOR
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
(PARENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS)
THURSDAY, MARCH 21,
6:30 –7:45 PM
More information:
outreach@damien-hs.edu
03.28
ALUMNI CONNECTION:
MEET NEW FOOTBALL COACH MATT BECHTEL
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 6-8 PM
HOUSE OF WINGS, LA VERNE
More information:
threadgill@damien-hs.edu
04.13
DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL
FAMILY NIGHT AT THE QUAKES
PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THE CHUCK BALLINGALL FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
GATES OPEN AT 6:05 PM.
FIRST PITCH 7:05 PM
More information:
amrhein@damien-hs.edu
04.25
ALUMNI CONNECTION
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 6-8 PM
HOUSE OF WINGS, LA VERNE
More information:
threadgill@damien-hs.edu
|
|
 |
JAMES E. BLANCARTE
JUDGE
On Dec. 13, 2018 Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Jim Blancarte (’71) to the position of Judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court. Judge Blancarte presides over domestic violence cases at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown LA. Prior to becoming a bench officer, Judge Blancarte earned national and international recognition for handling high profile litigation, sports/entertainment, media, criminal defense cases and international law matters. Judge Blancarte also served as a mediator for the federal courts, and was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HONORS (PRIOR TO BECOMING A BENCH OFFICER)
AV Rated by Martindale Hubbel (AV Rating is the highest rating an attorney can receive);
Mediator- Private mediation and panel mediator for the federal courts of the Central District of California;
Governor’s Appointee to the California State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2008), and the Lawyer Assistance Program (“LAP”) Oversight Committee (2002);
Judge Pro-Tem, Los Angeles County Superior Courts;
Instructor – (2009) UCLA Extension (teaching “Ethics and Legal Issues in Broadcast Journalism”);
Two-term President, Mexican American Bar Association (1983 and 2000;
Vice President, Beverly Hills Bar Association Scholarship Foundation (1984-1985);
Member, American Bar Association;
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association;
Member, Mexican American Bar Association, and Hispanic National Bar Associations;
Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND HONORS
Member, Board of Governors, LA County Museum of Natural History;
Member of the Chancery Club;
Chairman, Board of Governors, City Club on Bunker Hill (2009);
Founding Member, Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce;
Mayor’s Appointee to the Los Angeles Int’l Trade Committee (2003);
Presidential Appointee, Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade (1991);
Two-term President, Los Angeles City Fire Commission (1986, 1991);
Member, Board of Fire Commissioners (1984-1993);
Participant, American Jewish Committee, Hispanic Leadership Mission to Israel (1983);
Named One of 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S. by Hispanic Business Magazine;
Member, “Comic Relief”/HBO Organizing Committee;
Former Board Member, Constitutional Rights Foundation
|
|
|
|
Education:
UCLA School of Law, J.D.
Pomona College of
Claremont Colleges, B.A.
Damien High School
Areas of Prior Law Practice:
Civil Litigation
Sports/Entertainment
International Law
Media/Broadcasting
Criminal Defense
|
|
|
|
DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER & 25TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
|
|
You are cordially invited to the 4th Annual Damien High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and 25th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday,
April 1, 2019.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER
The Dinner will be on the Damien campus in the Travers Cronin Athletic Center from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Tickets are $50 per person. The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor those Spartan athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who excelled in their respective sports or coaching/support roles and who helped to bring honor, recognition, distinction and
excellence to Damien High School by their
conduct in competition and in the classroom
and community.
HALL OF FAME GOLF TOURNAMENT
You are welcome to participate in the 25th Annual Golf Tournament being held at Glendora Country Club. Tee times begin at 7:00 am. The cost is $200 per golfer which includes green fees, cart, range balls, embroidered golf shirt & hat, breakfast, lunch, beverages and entry to the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. The tournament is a best ball scramble with awards for the top three teams, contest winners (longest drive, closest to the hole) and raffle prizes.
For more information, visit:
www.damien-hs.edu/apps/pages/athletichalloffame
|
|
ATHLETES
Brian Dunseth
Class of 1995 – Soccer
Bobby Bellamy
Class of 1993 – Wrestling
1977 CIF Championship
Football Team
COACH
Andrew Gates
Water Polo/Swim
CONTRIBUTOR
Fr. Peter Dennis, SS.CC.
|
|
AMERICAN MOST CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOL
|
|
For five years, the Washington Post has ranked Damien High School as one of the “America’s Most Challenging Schools for 2017” (22,000 high schools in the U.S.). Damien is 3rd overall among California Catholic high schools, 16th overall among all California private high schools and 64th overall among all California public and private high schools.
From 2014-2017, Damien High School’s Robotics Program qualified and competed at the VEX Robotics Competition High School World Championship. In 2017, the Robotics Program ranked in the top 1% of all high school programs in the world.
For the fourth year, the Damien High School Sports Medicine Program finished as one of the best programs in the U.S. The program had four Spartans earn All-America honors at the 2018 American Academic Competition Institute’s (AACI) National High School Sports Medicine Competition Championships.
The Damien High School Debate Team won the national championship in 2009; the national runner-up in 2015 and is a five-time California state champion.
The students of Damien High School are currently engaged in a school-wide competition to design a microgravity experiment that will be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). In 2016, a team of Spartans had their experiment on the effects of tardigrades in a microgravity environment flown on a SpaceX Rocket to
the ISS.
Damien High School has an 18% acceptance rate for Spartans applying to Ivy League schools compared to an 11% national acceptance rate.
Damien High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Damien High School offers a four-year Engineering Program.
Damien High School’s visual performing arts program has 18 courses including classes in art & design, photography, cinematic arts, theater arts and music. The award-winning Spartan Regiment is comprised of a concert band, pep band, jazz ensemble, drum line, and color guard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
