News for O'Dowd alumni, parents, and friends
Finding God in All Things
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THE SEASON OF HOPE
Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Each week, we light a candle, representing hope, peace, joy and love. This month, our Campus Ministry Team and Fr. Jim Sullivan led an Advent-Christmas Liturgy, calling our community to a time of awe and wonder in the holy darkness of the season.
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REMARKABLE ADVOCACY
Regina Evans ’79 has been honored with Multiplying Good’s Jefferson Award for her extraordinary work fighting human trafficking of minors - “She doesn’t just think outside the box, she thinks without a box.” Regina’s classmates, Jack and Jodi Russi ’79, nominated her. Jack serves on Multiplying Good’s board.
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A COMMUNITY OF GENEROSITY
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HEALING THE MIND
Alexi Pappas ’08, Olympian, filmmaker, actor, and writer, is standing up for mental health. When Alexi was diagnosed with clinical depression, it pushed her to dedicate the same effort into healing her mind as she would healing a sports injury. Now she’s calling on the sports community, and society, to treat mental health the same as physical health.
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INVESTING IN STUDENTS
Kevin Kelly, O’Dowd’s Board Chair and parent to Cormac ’16, Maeve ’18, and Fiona ’21, credits Catholic education with helping him rise in the world. Now he’s committed to making sure the future leaders of Oakland and the East Bay have the education to help them rise, too. We interviewed Kevin this month about his family story and his leadership at O’Dowd. Read more!
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ONE HEART: O'DOWD CENTER
BUILDS LASTING COMMUNITY
At O’Dowd, we invest in community building because we know the bonds our students and families form will sustain them for a lifetime.
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When Peter graduated from O’Dowd, he and a close-knit group of friends continued on to Morehouse together. “My closest friends to this day are from O’Dowd,” Peter notes. They’ve been in each other’s weddings, serve as godfathers to each other’s children, and look out for each other over the years. “I tell Jacob, the friends you make today are the friends you’ll know for a lifetime,” Peter declares. He looks forward to his younger son, Noah, attending O’Dowd and enjoying community activities at the new Center. “High school is such an important time,” Peter contemplates. “Gathering together on-campus gives us a chance to share and laugh. And those opportunities to build relationships between families keep our community strong.”
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The O’Dowd Drama Department premiered a new show: “We Were There: A Crisis Reflected” responding to both living through a global pandemic, and the heightened social, political, and cultural crisis to address institutionalized racism in our country. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 now!
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Harrison Jenkins ’21 won the Heisman High School Scholarship, awarded to our nation's most esteemed high school seniors. Harrison is a remarkable young leader who makes a game-changing difference every day. Way to go, Harrison!
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Rejai Palmore ’21 - scholar and athlete - gave a moving speech at BayScholars' 7th Annual "Giving Thanks and Giving Back" event. Thank you, Rejai, for inspiring others, for your gratitude, and for being a role model in our community and beyond.
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Our students, faculty and staff joined together in an amazing outpouring of generosity for the children and families of St. Vincent's Day Home. Together, we raised over $23,000!
We are happy to spread JOY, especially to children whose families are facing economic hardship this holiday season.
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The show must go on! Check out our awesome winter concert, directed by the brilliant Fred Randolph, starring our extra talented students, who have all figured out how to make music, together/apart. Play this on surround sound and have yourself a merry little holiday season. 🎶 🎶
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Alter Ego magazine published a profile celebrating REV. MIKE FRIEDRICH ’67 for his 35 years as a comic book writer. Little known fact: Mike sold his first story to DC Comics a month before he graduated from O’Dowd. Read more!
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Congratulations to CONNOR THOMAS ’17! A rising senior at Santa Clara University, Connor recently received the Vicik Memorial Endowed Scholarship, recognizing his promise for a successful career as a civil engineer.
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Attorney, activist, and author MEENA HARRIS ’02 published a story in Elle Magazine about her aunt, Kamala Harris, making history as U.S. Vice President-Elect. Meena’s most recent children’s book, Ambitious Girl, is “dedicated to girls who’ve been told they’re ‘too much.’”
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