News for O'Dowd alumni, parents, and friends
Finding God in All Things
| |
O’DOWD’S 31ST CLOSE UP TRIP
This year marks O’Dowd’s 31st trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in Close Up, a non-partisan, education event that inspires youth to participate in the democratic process. Since 1991, over 1,000 O’Dowd students have explored the nation’s capital and participated in a Mock Congress. This program, along with Mock Trial and our Holocaust Immersion, was introduced to O’Dowd by longtime educator Bonnie Sussman. “Close Up is transformational,” shares Bonnie. “Our students leave the program committed to being life-long active citizens.” Read more.
| |  |
CRAB FEED TICKETS ON SALE
We are excited to welcome parents, alumni, and friends of O’Dowd to the 2023 Crab Feed. Come celebrate our community, support our co-curricular programs, and show off your Dragon Pride. “The Crab Feed is an amazing party,” says co-chair Jim Macksood. “It's the most fun you'll have supporting the clubs, sports, and teachers that make O'Dowd so special.” The evening includes a silent auction, games, raffles, all-you-can-eat crab, a live auction, and paddle raise! Tickets always sell out quickly! Don’t wait and purchase your tickets today!
| | |
ALUM FEATURED IN EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE ARTICLE
Dante Rodriguez ’84 was recently featured in the Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s publication Report to Stakeholders, sharing his early interest in engineering. "I had become interested in the subject at a high school career day," Rodriguez said. After graduating from O’Dowd, Dante went to Stanford University and has worked as an EPA Superfund Remedial Project Manager for 25 years. He is currently working on the Anaconda Copper Mine in Yerington, Nevada.
| | |
CELEBRATING THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT
Thanks to you, O’Dowd teachers are midway through a multi-year salary increase, the school’s endowment grew steadily, and we celebrated the opening of the Bishop John Cummins Center. This year’s applications for enrollment are strong, and we continue to provide approximately 30% of our students with tuition assistance. Your generous support helps to define who we are and what we have accomplished. Check out the Impact Report.
| | |
BISHOP CUMMINS’ 70TH ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY
On January 24, Bishop Emeritus John Cummins will celebrate his 70th Ordination Anniversary. Prior to becoming the Bishop of the Oakland Diocese for 26 years, Bishop Cummins taught at O’Dowd from 1957-1962. Last year, we were honored to name our new Cummins Center after him.
Lord, we ask you to shepherd all those in our community yearning to choose the path of vocation. May Bishop Cummins be a light of inspiration as they discern.
| | |
|
GIRLS BASKETBALL REACHES BEYOND THE COURT
Our girls Varsity Basketball team is ready to make their mark this season. “This team feels like they have been passed the baton from all the previous O’Dowd basketball alumnae,” reflects Head Coach Malik McCord. “They are setting their sights to play and win a state championship.” Last weekend they hosted 24 California teams for O’Dowd’s fifth annual MLK Classic. The weekend was filled with spoken word, celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., and a competitive showing of girls basketball.
| | |
REMINDER: PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH SURVEY
Our Search Committee has launched efforts to find O’Dowd’s next president. As the alumni, parents, alumni parents, extended family and friends who have made O’Dowd what it is today, we ask for your input. Our community survey is an opportunity for you to share suggestions about the skills and qualifications O'Dowd's next president should possess. Click here for more information about our search. Please complete the survey by Friday, January 20. | |
3 -2 -1 BLAST OFF!
Last semester, our Engineering Physics class took to the lower field to test out the rockets they designed. As an inquiry-based course, students used their knowledge of motion, velocity, acceleration, and gravity to experiment with optimizing a 2-liter soda bottle for projectile flight.
| |
E-WASTE DRIVE
As part of our commitment to kinship with creation, our Eco Leaders and Creation Care Team hosted the eighth annual E-Waste Drive. Our community dropped off over 1,500 pounds of e-waste items which will be properly recycled by Tri-Valley Recycling.
| |
CUDDLE UP WITH A GREAT BOOK…BY AN O’DOWD AUTHOR!
Be on the lookout for books by our fantastic teachers:
- Journalism Teacher and Peer Tutoring Coordinator Damian Barnes released his first novel Melton and the Hereafter.
- Art Department Chair Briana Loewinsohn’s Ephemera will be released in March.
- Visual Arts Teacher Thien Pham’s Family Style will be released this June.
| |
MARION JOHNSTON EKPUK ’78 is back in the United States after serving three years at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. She recently started as an Associate Dean at the Foreign Service Institute's Leadership and Management School in Virginia.
| |
NICOLE JESSE YOUNG ’01 is proud to serve as Vice Principal at Bethany Elementary. She has been teaching for nine years at Bethany Elementary school, with 16 years of teaching total. | |
ALEX BALANZA ‘07 is Senior Account Director of Agency Development at Magnite, and was recently featured in the company’s “Day in the Life” series. In the segment, Alex shared experiences throughout his career. | |
JANUARY
20 Deadline to Complete Presidential Survey
MARCH
| | | | |
