News for O'Dowd alumni, parents, and friends
Finding God in All Things
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DRAGON AUTHOR PUBLISHED THIS MARCH
We Kept Our Towns Going by Phyllis Wong ’68 tells the story of how Michigan women in the 1940s stepped into new roles at garment factories to help support their families and keep the local economy afloat at a time when the timber and mining industries were struggling and many men were out of work. Phyllis interviewed over 100 women, now in their 90s. Her book highlights their joys and challenges leading a time of change in America. We Kept Our Towns Going will be published by Michigan State Press.
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STAYING CONNECTED: TEACHERS USE TECHNOLOGY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS
As communication apps and learning technology continue to evolve, O’Dowd teachers are constantly collecting new tools to enhance the classroom experience - especially when remote. "Our teachers use the latest tech tools to help build community among peers, and to offer students more creative avenues to express what they are learning,” reports O’Dowd’s Instructional Technologist Natalie Chilese. Read more!
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LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR: BOUNTY ABOUNDS IN OUR LIVING LAB
Like many of Oakland’s neighborhoods, O’Dowd is in a food desert. “It’s a region where residents don’t have easy access to healthy and affordable food,” explains Griffin Osser ’22, an O’Dowd EcoLeader. “And right in the middle of the community, we have our Living Lab.” From fruit trees to beekeeping, the Living Lab builds connections with our neighbors. Read more.
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O'DOWD ALUM OPENS OAKLAND RESTAURANT
Darrin Ballon ’94 recently celebrated the grand opening of his new restaurant Tribune, located in the iconic Tribune building in downtown Oakland. The restaurant was featured by the San Francisco Chronicle in August, where Ballon said, “It’s our time to show what we’re capable of in Oakland.” He brings years of experience in Michelin-star restaurants to Tribune, and hopes that this will be the first of many restaurants he and his partners at the OJD Group bring to Oakland.
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DRAGONS FOR LIFE: STUDENT VS. ALUMNI ATHLETIC GAMES
Every year during the holiday season, Dragon alumni return to the field, court, and pool for some friendly competition with current students. “The Student vs. Alumni Games bring together players across the years,” says soccer captain Sara Redfield '22. “Our students get an opportunity for insight and mentorship from alumni, while alumni also get to have a mini-reunion with their former teammates.” Read more!
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"AND ALL THAT JAZZ!"
Students took the stage to audition for O’Dowd’s spring musical, the Tony award-winning Chicago, a satire about corruption in the criminal justice system and celebrity criminals. “It's wonderful to see the talent our students bring to performing,” remarks choreographer Charles Peoples ’09. “We’ve been practicing Fosse‘s distinctive style and it’s been fun to see students use it in auditions.” Chicago will open on Friday, April 29.
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MARC DOMINGUEZ HONORED BY ST. MARY’S COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Marc, a counselor at O’Dowd for 16 years, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Signum Fidei Award, which is given to distinguished alumni who are committed to the goals of higher education. We are grateful for everything Mr. Dominguez brings our students!
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"O'DOWD: A DYNASTY FOR GOOD, A CHAMPION FOR HOPE, A LEGEND FOR LOVE."
Dragon parent Marcus Thompson II, father of Sharon Thompson '25, recently donated copies of his book, “Dynasties: 10 G.O.A.T. Teams that Changed the NBA Forever,” to the O’Dowd library. We are grateful for his gift, and for the inspiring inscription he left for readers! Thompson is also the author of another Dragon library favorite: “The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry.”
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E-WASTE DRIVE
Dragons brought their old electronics to campus for our annual E-Waste Drive. "When electronic items are improperly disposed, toxic chemicals leak into soil and groundwater," said Sustainability Programs Manager Isabel Rodriguez-Vega. "It can cause serious health and pollution problems."
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AMAYA BONNER SCORES 1,000TH POINT
Amaya Bonner ’22 finished 2021 with scoring her 1,000th point. “Amaya has been a dedicated student-athlete these last 4 years,” says Coach Malik McCord. “What's even more incredible is that she gained entry to the exclusive 1,000 Point Club in 3 years, since the team didn’t have a true season her junior year. Cal will not only be getting a great player, but an even better person.”
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GREG HERRICK ’71, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at College of the Canyons (CA) recently won his 600th game. To reach the milestone, the Cougars defeated Rio Hondo College, 78-67, in the first round of the Glendale College Crossover on Friday, December 17.
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DAVE WORM ’75, an original member of both Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra and Gimme5, as well as a longtime collaborator of McFerrin, is hosting a singing session full of joy-filled improvised music-making for singers of all levels of experience every Monday in January at noon at the wonderful Freight & Salvage in Berkeley.
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MADISON ORNSTIL ‘09 makes The Athletic’s 40 Under 40! After 10 years with Adidas, Madison now works at Wasserman. She leads talent marketing and client services focusing on the future of women’s basketball.
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ASYA BROWN ’11 works as the Product Inclusion & Equity Program Manager at Google She recently collaborated with Doodle Delight to create an interactive Kwanzaa google doodle. “Share with friends or family to educate and celebrate the beautiful African heritage of unity and culture,” she says.
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JALEN LEWIS ‘23 was featured by The New York Times in an article about Overtime Elite Basketball's unique pipeline to the NBA. Jalen is one of six teenagers who opted for a professional basketball career before finishing high school.
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February
13 - Eva Kastel's Memorial, 1:00pm
March
May
7 - Save the Date! O’Dowd Reunion- All Alumni Welcome, 3:00-7:00pm
Celebrating Milestone Reunion Classes:
1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017
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