O'Dowd in Brief
News for O'Dowd alumni, parents, and friends

Finding God in All Things
September 2021
TRANSFORMING LIVES DINNER
O’Dowd’s Charism values of academic excellence, community in diversity, social justice, and joy call us to ensure that ALL students have an opportunity to learn at O’Dowd, regardless of their family’s financial means. Join us on November 4 for the virtual Transforming Lives Dinner. Enjoy our student speakers, musical performances, and guest speaker, ERIN DANGERFIELD ’99, Golden State Warriors Senior Vice President People and Culture. Learn more and RSVP today!

O'DOWD FACULTY GAINS NEW CURRICULUM TOOLS
Last month, faculty and staff gathered for an in-depth professional development workshop to test a new Stanford-designed social-emotional learning curriculum called Wayfinder. “We want to create conditions where all students flourish,” declares President J.D. Childs. “When students feel they belong, it gives them a foundation to be vulnerable and experience their edges, which is how the best growth and learning happens.” With Wayfinder, our teachers are better equipped to make the classroom experience even more robust, interactive, and community-oriented. Learn more!
DRAGON ALUM NAMED CONSERVATION SCHOLAR
TRIN COOPER '20 has been named a UCSC Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, a highly selective group focused on giving underrepresented minorities a larger voice in conservation efforts. As a Conservation Scholar, Trin spent the summer completing field research all over California. Trin started as an O’Dowd EcoLeader who helped steward our Living Lab, and is now studying Environmental Science, Biology, and Public Policy at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania.
PATHS BACK TO O'DOWD
For many, the four years spent at O’Dowd inspire the personal and professional paths they take in their lives. For some, that inspiration leads them back to O’Dowd – as faculty or staff. Currently, O’Dowd has 22 faculty and staff who are also Dragon alumni. “I knew many of them as students. It’s a delight to know them as educators, administrators, and support staff today,” shares Fran Warmerdam, Director of Counseling. Check out our Dragon round-up with extra fun Now & Then photos.
THE GRAND TILT-UP: O'DOWD CENTER COMING TO LIFE
This month, the O’Dowd Center walls were installed - known by the construction crew as The Grand Tilt-Up! Over the course of three days, the Center’s exterior walls were raised. Each section weighed over 150 thousand pounds, which meant the crane needed 250 thousand pounds of counterweight to stay balanced. We continue to be grateful for all of the donors and supporters who made this dream a reality! Check out video footage of The Grand Tilt-Up and stay tuned for more updates!
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSITIONAL YOUTH
ELIZABETH BOWLER '05 recently founded Hort | Culture, a creative workforce development program in partnership with Covenant House California. Bowler, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design, is a residential advisor at Covenant House California and founded Hort | Culture to support transitional aged youth facing homelessness build job skills. “O'Dowd influenced my life tremendously,” Bowler shared, “especially by bending my career towards social and environmental justice.”
Campus News
SEASON OF CREATION
Each year from September 1 to October 4, faith communities worldwide unite in prayer, advocacy, and action to protect our common home. “Our student leaders have a deep connection to the natural world, a profound sense of the intersectionality of social and environmental justice issues, and a passionate sense of urgency as they see how climate disruption affects their present and future,” says Michael Downs, Director of Justice and Kinship. Read more about how you can get involved!
EVA ABDUL RAHIM '24 EARNS GIRL SCOUT SILVER AWARD
Eva’s project supports the residents of Oakland Elizabeth House, which offers a residence to women with children who have experienced homelessness, violence, and addiction. With the fantastic help of classmates Jack Gros ’23 and Ava Harrison ’25, Eva made a children’s lending library filled with donated books from Montclair Village’s A Great Good Place for Books.
COACH PERRY HONORED AT 49ERS GAME
Last football season, the 49ers Prep Foundation named O’Dowd’s Head Football Coach, David Perry, an NFL High School Football Coach of the Week. In an August 49ers vs Kansas City Chiefs game, Coach Perry waved from the field during the pre-game ceremony. The foundation awarded $1750 to O’Dowd’s Football program in recognition of Coach Perry’s accomplishments.
MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
This month, our community celebrated the beginning of the school year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit. In the Catholic tradition, we believe that we all have special gifts and talents to share with our communities. These gifts are from the Holy Spirit. “Dive deep into your interests and experience all that O’Dowd has to offer,” encouraged O’Dowd’s chaplain Father Jim Sullivan. “When we ignite the fire within, God transforms all of us into the Dragons we are called to become.”
Alumni News
RON CERRUTI '67 recently retired from the IRS and now works part-time for alliantgroup as a Senior Technical Advisor. He is also the author of five books, including one semi-autobiography and four western fictions.
CORINNE KINCZEL ’90 and BERNADETTE LANOUE’ 90 bring together local entertainers, including actors, dancers, musicians, comedians, and more to Rocky's Brooklyn Basin.
COURTNEY WELCH '05 is currently the Director of Policy and Communications for Bay Area Community Land Trust and is a candidate for Emeryville City Council.
ADAM BUTTERFIELD '08 executive produced the animated film "The Bones," which had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in Italy earlier this month and won Best Short Film!
Upcoming Events

September 
25 - Latinx Family Day, 1:00-3:00pm, RSVP

October 
  2 - Black Family Day, 1:00-3:00pm, RSVP
  6 - Alumni Summit, 6:00pm
16 - Living Lab Service Day, 9:00am - 12:00pm

November
11-13 - Fall Musical: As You Like It, ticketing information coming soon
ALUMNI SUMMIT - OCTOBER 6 at 6:00pm
Are you signed up for the Alumni Summit? O’Dowd alumni share a one-of-a-kind lifelong connection, and are a powerful and integral part of the larger O’Dowd community. Join us on Zoom Wednesday, October 6 at 6:00pm for a fun event and a chance to share your life and career milestones with the O’Dowd community. Sign up now!