September 4, 2025

DM Express

Here is the latest from DeMatha:

• The 2025-26 school year is off to a great start with 871 students. On Tuesday Sept. 9, which commemorates the day DeMatha opened in 1946, we will assemble for our first schoolwide Mass. Afterwards, we'll dedicate the Cross Center for Engineering, Arts & Robotics. Your support helps to make all this possible. Thank you!

• You can see a livestream of the opening Mass here.

Prayers Requested:

• Charles (Bob) Green, father of former longtime staff member Mary Kerley. Father-in-law of Vince Kerley '69. Grandfather of Jim '98, Chris '01, Danny '04 and Stephen '07 Favret.

In Memoriam:

• Mark Rierson '76, father of Eric '13. Mark was a regular at the Ray Smith Golf Classic year in and year out.

• Allen Thomas, father of Hugh '83 and Bob '84 Thomas. Relative of the late Rich Lamont '79, and Jerry '01 and Josh '03 McCauley. Obituary

Athletics:

• The football team maintained its No. 1 ranking in The Washington Post by thumping St. Joseph's Prep of Philadelphia, 45-17. The Stags trailed 10-3 at halftime before scoring 42 points in 24 minutes. Feature story

• DeMatha hosts Imhotep Charter, last year's Pennsylvania 5A state champion, at the P.G. Sports & Learning Center in Landover on Friday at 7 p.m. Here's the streaming link.

• Eight former Stags are currently playing in the NFL: Chase Young (New Orleans), Nick Cross (Indianapolis), Olu Oluwatimi (Seattle), MarShawn Lloyd (Green Bay), Coziah Izzard (Kansas City), Josh Wallace (Los Angeles Rams), DeMarcco Hellams (Atlanta) and K.J. Winston (Tennessee). 

• The soccer team (0-1) lost at Archbishop Curley, 6-2, and plays next at Severn on Tuesday.

• The cross country team, competing in the Trials of Miles XC Opening Night, finished 16th. The Stags will participate in the Bittersweet Invitational in Poolesville, Md., on Saturday

• Senior Shane Ladia has committed to play baseball at Eastern Mennonite University.

Alumni:

• Our first Red & Blue Meet Up of the new school year is at Franklin's Restaurant in Hyattsville on Wednesday Sept. 17, 6-8 p.m. Franklin's will be serving a special brew, Loon-Dawg, in memory of Brendan Looney '99. Free admission, and the first round of Loon-Dawg is courtesy of our sponsors: Steve Greene '61, Charlie Kenny '68, the Troops First Foundation and the Brendan Looney Foundation.

• Registrations are filling up and only a few slots remain. So, if you would like to attend, make sure to register as soon as possible. We will be remembering Brendan just days before the 15th anniversary of his death in Afghanistan.

• Reunions for the classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 will be Saturday Sept. 20, 3-7 p.m. at DeMatha. We're excited to welcome fellow Stags back on campus for a memorable evening. Food, beverages and a T-shirt provided. Register here.

• The late Tim Strachan '94, who graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in communication, was honored at the Terrapins' football game Saturday. Video

• Malakai Anthony '20, a graduate transfer at Bowie State University, is competing to be the Bulldogs' starting quarterback. Anthony Bagley '89 is one of his coaches. Photo

• Jerian Grant '10 had nine points and a team-high seven assists in the USA's 90-85 victory over Canada for the bronze medal of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025. Nate Darling '16 scored two points for the Canadians. Photo

• 2025 graduates Brandon Smoot and Daden Grogan ran their first collegiate cross country races Saturday in Mechanicsville, Va. Brandon runs for St. Mary's (Md.) and Daden for American. Photo

Stag Store Item of the Week:

• Coming in HOT for Fall25 from Under Armour, the Gameday Armourfuse (fully sublimated) 1/4 Zip! This garment is 90% polyester, 10% elastane for a smooth, natural feel. Sizes S-3X $60. Link

Events & Miscellaneous Information:

• The 55th-annual DeMatha Crab Feast, Saturday Sept. 27 (4-7 p.m.) is fast approaching. Sponsored by the Senior Boosters, ticket prices are the same as last year: $85 in advance for adults, $70 for children under 12. Reserve your spot online now or by mailing a check to Tim Miller '80, 6008 43rd Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781. For seating preferences or questions, contact Tim at demathacrabfeast@gmail.com.

• A DeMatha alum looking for a job opportunity in the business (marketing) field. Please contact Ben Fleri '11 at bfleri@dematha.org with any inquiries or questions.

• We will be hosting a ZOOM session with leading talent-attraction consultant and career coach Bill Humbert '67 on Tuesday Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. The session will focus on goal setting and job recruitment and placement. It is geared toward young alumni, but all DeMatha graduates are welcome to participate. If interested, contact Ben Fleri '11 (bfleri@dematha.org) and he will forward you the link.

• Our students are building concrete reef balls on campus to support oyster rehabilitation in the Chesapeake Bay — learning hands-on conservation and creating real environmental impact. We’re raising funds to make this a yearly tradition. If you would like to contribute, please reach out to Ben Fleri ‘11 at bfleri@dematha.org. 

• The Bowie Police Department is accepting applications for its Cadet Program, which helps individuals under 21 prepare for a career in law enforcement. The program gives you hands-on experience, mentorship from officers and the opportunity to take on assignments like traffic control and administrative support. Eligible cadets can also receive up to 66% tuition assistance—with some college classes counting as work hours. Apply today

That is all.

Thomas Ponton '78

Executive Director of Advancement

tponton@dematha.org

240-764-2222

Postscript from the Office of Advancement:

It often takes a while for our students to come to some understanding on what they may do with their adult lives. Then there is junior Devin King.

As it stands now, Devin wants a career in agriculture and has already started on his journey. Working with his dad, Joe, Devin has leased a one-acre farm in Davidsonville, Md., where he grows tomatoes, corn, peppers, green beans and melons.

The effort has been rewarding as Devin also mans a roadside stand near the farm where his efforts have turned a tidy profit. "About four years ago, I was working at a farmer's market in Anne Arundel County," Devin said. "I started talking to a few Amish farmers who were suppliers to that market, and I decided I wanted to get into farming."

With the help of a family friend, Devin and his dad were able to speak with Tim and Jim Hopkins, who own a farm in Davidsonville. "They were happy to find a young man interested in agriculture," Devin said. "They gave us a lease on land."

So, Devin and his father went to work putting down cover crops in the winter, tilling the soil and planting in the spring, then managing the crops until harvest time.

We should note that the King family is a true DeMatha family. Devin's older brother, Hunter '24, was a manager on the football team and is now an assistant coach. His father drives the truck of equipment and supplies to and from football practice and games each season.  

Devin does not play sports but is a member of the mock trial team and carries a 3.2 GPA. To no surprise, he wants to go to college to study agriculture further.

Devin is a huge proponent of natural farm practices and says that one day he just may want to be a soil and conservation activist, much like Steve Groff of Lancaster, Pa., a leader in environmentally healthy farm practices.

Besides the pleasure of reaping a harvest each year, Devin says there is a spiritual component to farming that gives him peace of mind. "It has deepened my faith," he said. "I lost my grandmother in February. She had lived with us my entire life. But working outdoors and working with the land really put my trust in God.

"In a way farming is a way of gambling. You put a lot into it and you can plant and fertilize all you want. But it is God who brings it to full harvest."

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