JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 
The Padre Whisper

June, 2016-Vol 4, Issue 6
In This Issue
Graduation 2016
Alumni on Campus
Giving
Hall of Fame Nominations
Alumni Spotlight
New Track and Field
New Mural
Sports Update
Serra Social Media
Throwback Thursday Pics
Upcoming Events

June 20, 2016

28th Annual Serra Golf Classic

and Women's Tennis Tournament

 

September 16, 2016
Alumni Father-Son Mass

 

October 14, 2016
Homecoming Night Game


 
October 15, 2016

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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Dear Serra Alumni,

I am looking forward to next week's Serra Golf Classic, which is sold out.  It is gratifying to see so many Serra alumni involved with this event, particularly since proceeds support our Alumni Scholarship Fund.  Our golf tournament is always a fun-filled day interacting with alumni of all generations.  

We are looking forward to a busy summer here at Serra filled with swim lessons, summer camp, summer school and drama camp.  Feel free to stop by if you get a chance and would like a tour of the school. 

Sincerely,
  
Bob Greene, Jr. '85
Alumni Director
Alumni News
Graduation 2016
Welcome to our newest Serra alumni, the Class of 2016! 208 seniors received their diplomas at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on Saturday, May 28. This class received more than $17 million in college scholarships and acceptances include:


 

Boston College

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University

Emory University
Georgia Tech
Santa Clara University
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UC San Diego
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
USC
Villanova University
Yale University
 

Alumni on Campus
Padre alumni continue to give back and serve at Serra, with 23 full-time alumni employees.

In addition, 29 of our extracurricular staff members are alumni. These Padres give their valuable time and expertise to create outstanding programs in areas including performing arts, mock trial and athletics. Approximately 10 percent of current Serra students have fathers who attended Serra. We are proud that so many alumni choose to support Serra's tradition of excellence however they can.  
Support Serra
It's not too late to give to Serra this year.  If you haven't yet had the opportunity, please consider making a gift to Serra. You will be honored in our 2015-2016 Annual Report and your support will directly influence classroom and extracurricular programs here at Serra. Please click here to make a gift before the end of our fiscal year, which is June 30.  
Hall of Fame Nominations
We are currently accepting nominations for the Serra Athletic Hall of Fame. If you would like to nominate a Padre for this award or view past years' recipients, please CLICK HERE.
 
Criteria for nomination include:
  • The nominee must be out of high school for 10 years;
  • The nominee must have graduated from Serra High School;
  • The nominee must have made a significant achievement in his sport. This might have taken place at the high school, collegiate, professional or amateur level;
  • The nominee must exemplify the principles of sportsmanship as expounded in the philosophy and mission of Serra High School.
Alumni Spotlight: Chris Bradley '13 
Serra graduate and water polo player Chris Bradley '13 just became Caltech's first two-time Academic All-American. Caltech is ranked as the number seven academic university in the world in US News' latest rankings. 
From Caltech's press release: 

"Bradley followed up his 2014 program-record 134-goal campaign with an impressive all-around junior season in which he scored another 89 goals, assisted 25, made 30 steals, blocked 26 shots and drew 29 exclusions. He already has totaled an eye-popping 285 goals in his three years as a Beaver."

Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative, non-rounded 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have completed at least one calendar year at the nominating institution and reached at least sophomore athletic standing to be eligible for nomination.
Around the Halls
Field Construction
Construction has begun on a new track and field for Brady Family Stadium. New field turf, including organic fill to replace the old rubber pellets, is being installed next to a new all-weather track. This project will  benefit  our football, soccer,  lacrosse  and track programs. This follows a full renovation of the baseball field last winter.  Work will be completed by mid-July.  Check out our construction webcam at the link below:

Construction Webcam 


2016 Mural
Just outside the Class of '59 Fine Arts Courtyard, a beautiful mural honoring Pope Francis now sits over a narrow pathway. The mural is a tribute to Pope Francis' Year of Mercy. 

Art student Marco Hernandez explained that "The Doors of Mercy" mural was inspired by Serra's Mass of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.

"The Doors of Mercy are symbols of the unconditional and forgiving love that God has for his children," Hernandez said. "The doors are not simply about feeling God's mercy for us, but also showing mercy to others. We are called to open the Doors of Mercy to those who are most vulnerable in our society. Coincidentally, December 8 marked the passing of my grandfather. I recognized this as a direct opening of the Doors of Mercy to my grandfather, a person who suffered in this life. The Doors of Mercy give me faith, hope and guidance-especially for the suffering that we illustrated in the mural."

Hernandez and his fellow Serra artists, Jonathan Garcia, Nathaniel Liganor, Carlo Cardinale, Gianni Cardinale, Jonathan Rabang, Dylan Rojo Cagadoc and Sepehr Pazoki, brought the Doors of Mercy to life.
Hernandez participated in the Serra enrichment trip to Italy during his spring break. After entering the Doors of Mercy at St. Peter's Basilica, he was filled with a sense of community and tranquility.  Hernandez added that the spirituality he felt inside St. Peter's Basilica led him to create the incredible mural at Serra. On the giant wall, Pope Francis is joined by a rabbit, a lamb, fawn, gazelle and two meerkats.
Sports Update
Serra's 4x400m relay team capped a record setting year in the 98th California State Meet held at Buchanan High of Clovis' Veterans Stadium. In the State Trials  on Friday  night, the team of Noriega Moffett, Jeremiah Testa, Scott Fitzpatrick and Armon Plummer won the third heat and obliterated last year's school record of 3:19.43 with their new record of 3:17.96.  Their time was the third fastest qualifying time among the 25 teams in the event.  This is also the third year in a row that Serra's 4x400 team has won the CCS championship .  
  • Pole vaulter Talon Galvez-Bennett also finished first in CCS, clearing a height of 14-6.  Also qualifying for State were Obi Obodozie (third in CCS long jump with 21-11) and the 4x100 relay team (third in CCS with 42.65).  
  • Cornell-bound Alex Kost and Yale-bound Gavin Boyd-Goodrich finished fifth in the nation in the US Rowing Youth National Championships in New Jersey last weekend. A tremendous cap to a great season for Serra crew.
  • Congratulations to our Padre alumni who were drafted by Major League Baseball franchises during last weekend's draft:
Michael Tinsley '13: Cleveland Indians
Hunter Bishop '16: San Diego Padres
Collin Theroux '12: Oakland Athletics
Follow Serra on Social Media


Remember th at you can keep up with what's happening at Serra through social media.  Serra's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Link edIn accounts are updated regularly with school and alumni news.  
Got Photos? Send Us Your Old-School Pics!

Every Thursday on the Serra website, we feature seven "throwback" images. We have received a lot of positive feedback! If you would like to share any old-school photos from any decade, please CLICK HERE to upload. We can't wait to see what you'll dig up!  

Once a Padre, Always a Padre!