May 28, 2026

DM Express

Here is the latest from DeMatha:

• DeMatha’s Wind Ensemble and Sinfonia received top national honors last Friday in judging by the National Catholic Band Association. See the epilogue for more on these achievements.

• DeMatha musicians were offered more than $10 million in college academic scholarships. More info from DeMatha Music Awards Night.

• Graduation is at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Friday June 5. DeMatha will add 182 young men to its over 11,000 alumni.

• Derek Santos will be included among those graduates before heading to the Naval Academy. The Catholic Standard featured Derek's journey from Mexico to 4.0 student, as well as his plans for the future. Link

• Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington celebrated our End of School Year Mass last Friday and excited everyone when he donned a DeMatha hat. Seventeen students received sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church. Photos / Replay

• Toward the end of Mass, Cardinal McElroy recognized his "right-hand man," chancellor Terry Farrell '83. Video

• Neal Murphy taught his final math class Friday after 41 years at DeMatha. His students and several teachers were on hand to celebrate with him. Video

In Memoriam:

• Anne Gallagher, mother of Jim '74, Jack '81 and Rob '85. Mrs. Gallagher taught typing at DeMatha in the 1970s and was very active here. Obituary

• Helen Piccirilli, mother of Anthony ’77 and John (former student). Grandmother of Vincent Bury ’07. Aunt of Mark Piccirilli ’83 and Vincent Piccirilli ‘86.Grandmother-in-law of Phil Poe ‘10. Obituary

Stag Store Item of the Week:

• Check out this cool GameChanger Diamond Mesh DeMatha baseball cap. Available in three stretch sizes: S, M & L. $20. Perfect for spring or summer. Get yours today!

Athletics:

• The rowing team concluded its finest season ever with its Junior 4+ team placing fifth in the nation in the SRAA Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Stags' Senior 4+ also made the finals and finished 12th. More Info

• The Senior 4+ squad, racing with a different lineup the week before, won the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia for the first rowing national championship in school history. Story

• Some members of the track team will compete in last-chance meets at Bishop McNamara on Saturday and Elizabeth Seton on June 6 prior to the New Balance Nationals on June 18-21. Schedule

Alumni:

• Dr. Wayne Cascio '73 retired in January from the Environmental Protection Agency. He will continue to serve the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine as clinical professor of medicine and assist early faculty and fellows in cardiology, as well as students with their research projects.

• Vince Gregory '92, head softball coach at Northern High School, led the Patriots to the Maryland 3A softball championship on Monday. Northern, which features twins Brooke and Delaney MacAulay (daughters of DeMatha assistant athletic director and hockey coach Tony), rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 8-7 over Chesapeake in extra innings. Photo / Feature Story

• Kaleb MacAulay '23, Marvin Brown '98 and Chris Devine '92 also attended the game at the University of Maryland. Coach Gregory and Chris were baseball teammates at DeMatha. In 1992, they helped the Stags go 23-3, including a perfect 19-0 in the WMAC.

• See what local graduation brought Elijah Brooks '02 and James Brown '69 together Tuesday.

• Billy Looney '02 and Paul Rabil '04 were on national TV on Memorial Day discussing the legacy of the late Brendan Looney '99, who was killed on a combat mission in Afghanistan the day before he was set to return home. Screenshot

• Burhan Kmt '20, graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S. in civil engineering and a B.S. from Morehouse College as part of the school's dual degree engineering program. He will return to the area in the fall as a field engineer for Hansel Phelps. Photo

• Morehouse College awarded a a posthumous degree to the family of Omar Cheesboro '21. Prior to his passing in late March, Omar had completed all requirements to graduate with a bachelor's in business administration. Video

• 2nd Lt. Saddique Stephens '21 graduated from the Naval Academy. See which DeMatha classmate was on hand to support him.

• Josh Young '22 graduated from Yale University with a B.S./M.S. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He was part of Yale's 325th graduating class. Photo

• Attention all 2023 and '24 grads: If you would like a copy of your yearbook, this is your last chance. Please contact Barbara Coyle (bcoyle@dematha.org) and make arrangements to pick one up at DeMatha by June 1.

Events & Miscellaneous Information:

• Are you interested in touring Ireland? Charlie Kenny '68 and Tim O'Brien '77 are planning a trip to the Emerald Isle in September and would enjoy having you accompany them. The deadline to sign up is Monday June 1. For more information, use this link and password Ireland2026.

• If you would like to see Premier Lacrosse League and Women's Lacrosse League action in Baltimore this weekend, you can receive up to four complimentary tickets by clicking here and choosing your games (password 26DEMATHA). The tickets are courtesy of PLL co-founder Paul Rabil '04.

• Markelle Fultz '16 will host his Faithful 2 the Grind Basketball Camp at DeMatha, July 27-31. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or a seasoned player striving to enhance your skills, this camp is ideal for you. Our experienced coaches will lead drills, games and scrimmages to help you improve your game. Make new friends, challenge yourself and have a blast on and off the court. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your basketball skills to the next level. Sign up now and get ready to hoop!

• Markelle will be here each day to interact with and instruct campers. He'll happily recall his All-America days at DeMatha and the University of Washington, being the top overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft and having just completed his ninth year in the NBA.

That is all.

Thomas Ponton '78

Executive Director of Advancement

tponton@dematha.org

240-764-2222

Postscript from the Office of Advancement:

By Chris McManes

DeMatha Communications Manager

DeMatha’s Wind Ensemble was honored last week for the second consecutive year – and 20th time overall – as the top Catholic high school concert band in the nation.

And not to be outdone, DeMatha’s Sinfonia took top honors as the nation’s finest Catholic high school orchestra.

“To earn both national honors in the same year is an incredible achievement and a testament to the tradition of excellence within DeMatha Music,” said Music Department Chair Dr. Michael Gatti. “I would like to congratulate all of our musicians and directors on this outstanding accomplishment.”

The awards came after being judged by the National Catholic Band Association. The orchestra category was new to the competition this year.

DeMatha competed by submitting live performance videos of Sinfonia and Wind Ensemble. Anything that would have identified the school had to be removed from the submission.

Carlos Castrillon ’95 directs the Wind Ensemble as the school’s director of bands. Matt Bickel ’95, as director of instrumental music, guides Sinfonia.

“People who know DeMatha through our Music Department see us at our best: great teachers with wonderful students, all supported by terrific parents,” DeMatha Principal Dr. Dan McMahon ’76 said. “I encourage people to come listen to us play. I think you’ll be amazed at how talented our student musicians are.”

For more on DeMatha Music, click here.

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