CONGRATS CLASS OF 2024

Surrounded by family and friends, the Class of 2024 celebrated a joyous commencement on the Lower Field. The ceremony included words of wisdom from this year’s Cor Unum Awardee Alan McIntosh, Valedictorian Elias Grant, and Salutatorian Cocoa Young-Perez. “Graduating means celebrating the people we’ve become and everything we’ve accomplished these past four years,” shared Cocoa. Learn more about the Class of 2024!

THANK YOU DRAGONS

In the excitement after graduation, O’Dowd kicked off our annual Dragon Pride Challenge, with Dragons of all ages contributing to the school’s future. Together, we raised more than $190,000! Thank you, Dragons, for sharing your love of O’Dowd! We appreciate your Dragon Pride and the ways you stay connected with our community.

ALUM NAMED CAO FOR CAL LIBRARY 

Laura Slakey ’85 takes on a new role as the Chief Administrative Officer for the UC Berkeley Library, which is highly respected worldwide as one of the top systems in higher education. "I am deeply grateful for the Catholic education I received at O’Dowd, where I learned more than academics," says Laura. "I was taught to be open-minded, to value and respect different approaches, to listen first, ask questions, and listen some more, to have integrity, work hard, be kind, and be socially responsible."

DEBATE TEAM’S LASTING IMPACT

O’Dowd’s debate team has been a transformative cornerstone in many of our students’ experiences. Meeting each week throughout the year, students form a lasting camaraderie as they prepare for competitions. This year, the team competed in nine tournaments, some running all weekend. These experiences give our students the opportunity to learn new skills, build friendships, and stay on top of current events. Read more.

BRANDON RUSH ’24 WINS CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

A week shy of graduation, Brandon Rush ’24 competed in track and field for the CIF State Championships. Throughout his time at O’Dowd, Brandon has been among the top 20 athletes in California for the triple jump. This year, Brandon earned the title of Triple Jump CIF State Champion. “Brandon is a leader on campus, on the track and field team, and is a gracious student-athlete,” says Athletics Associate Director and Track and Field Assistant Coach Hillary Kiger.

O’DOWD CONFIRMATION

This May, eighteen students participated in O’Dowd’s first Confirmation program - having spent the last year discerning their faith and preparing for this special Sacrament, which is seen as a sign of becoming an adult in the Church. We are incredibly grateful to Campus Ministry, Fr. Jim Sullivan, Fr. Leo Edgerly, and Bishop Barber for supporting this special program, the first in the Diocese of Oakland. “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” - Psalm 117:1,2