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

Finding God in All Things
January 2020
O'DOWD RECEIVES LARGEST INDIVIDUAL GIFT IN SCHOOL HISTORY: ALUMNUS JIM BILL '55 PROVIDES $5 MILLION FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE
On January 15, O'Dowd welcomed family, friends, and former classmates of Jim Bill '55 to campus as the theater was dedicated in his honor. Jim, who passed last year, left $5 million to O'Dowd in his estate plan, endowed funds designated to support tuition assistance for future Dragons. Jim's gift is the largest single gift received in O'Dowd's history. O'Dowd was happy to see so many members of the Class of '55, and to welcome Bishop Cummins back to campus to bless the dedication plaque and offer important words on the value and spirit of Catholic education. Read the full story and view photo gallery
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE STUDENT IN A COMMUNITY OF CARE President J.D. Childs is authoring a series of thought papers addressing important areas of student life and experience at O'Dowd. The first of these focuses on developing the whole student in a community of care. We invite you to read this insightful piece, focused on how students experience learning, belonging, and growth through O'Dowd's diverse array of co-curricular programs. The paper also discusses plans for the O'Dowd Center, a new facility that will transform our campus and our students' experience. Read more
35 NEW TREES FOR O'DOWD: ANNA COSTA '90 MEMORIAL TREE PLANTING EVENT
Current and alumni families came to the Living Lab January 12 for this special tradition that honors families' deceased loved ones by planting 35 memorial trees in the Living Lab. In addition to a ceremony honoring people's loved ones who had passed, Joe Sweeney '20 and Shuming Xu '20, were recognized as recipients of the Anna Costa Scholarship, awarded to juniors who exemplify stewardship of the Living Lab. This year's planting marked the 30th anniversary of the Costa family gathering in the Living Lab to plant trees in Anna's honor. Read story and view photo gallery
U.C. BERKELEY PROFESSOR BRANDI THOMPSON SUMMERS '95 - GUEST LECTURE AT O'DOWD This semester, students in the Black Nationalism class are studying the history of this movement. Alumna Brandi Thompson Summers '95, Ph.D., pictured here with teacher Tony Green, is Assistant Professor of Geography and Global Metropolitan Studies at U.C. Berkeley. She visited the class to share her expertise about how economic and racial forces change U.S. urban landscapes and communities, adversely affecting people of color and the poor.
ADAM BUTTERFIELD '08 MAKES FORBES 30 UNDER 30
Adam Butterfield '08 is a Senior Programming Producer at Snap. Butterfield's responsibilities at Snapchat include pitching, developing and programming content. In 2018, he launched Snapchat's syndicated Shows, which include popular internet titles like Complex's "Hot Ones" and BuzzFeed's "Worth It." Previously, he developed Snapchat's first daily news show, "Stay Tuned," in partnership with NBC News. View the 30 Under 30 in Media List
Campus News
Kayla Hankins '20 Receives DAR Awards for Citizenship Kayla '20 received the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizenship Award AND won a competitive essay contest related to the theme as well. Both of these honors included scholarship awards and the essay contest has qualified her to be considered for the DAR's national competition. She is pictured here with her mother Tera Stokes-Hankins, counselor Meredith Parry, and representatives from the DAR.
2019 O'Dowd Football Earns North Coast Section Scholastic Championship Team Award O'Dowd's Varsity Football team attained, according to Pat Cruickshank, NCS's Commissioner of Athletics, "the highest goal of educational athletics, combining outstanding academic performance with interscholastic athletic participation." The award is presented to the top 3 NCS varsity teams in each division or classification in each sport with the highest composite GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) or above. With 179 schools in the NCS, this is indeed an outstanding achievement. Go Dragons!
All Female Signing Ceremony for O'Dowd Athletes
 At O'Dowd's 2nd signing ceremony this year, the five athletes were all young women! Associate Athletic Director and Varsity Cross Country Coach Hillary Kigar shared inspiring words about Title IX and the value of young women building their community in and beyond O'Dowd. Congratulations to Alexandra Hoglund - Volleyball, University of San Diego; Michelle Ohwobete - Volleyball, UC Santa Barbara; Annabella Pirrotta - Volleyball, Loyola Marymount; Grace Maclean - Lightweight Rowing, Boston University; and Tia Ravarra - Gymnastics, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
MLK Day of Service: Dragon Teams Lead through Service Dragons' Women's Varsity Soccer and members of Track & Field celebrated MLK Day of Service by giving back to the community. Soccer team members did a complete patio renovation at West Oakland's Serenity House. Track & Field athletes participated in improvements at Sobrante Park in East Oakland. Go Dragons!
Alumni News
Tim McGallian '99 was recently appointed Mayor of Concord for 2020 by the Concord City Council. McGallian previously served as Vice Mayor before the appointment.
Katie Hawkins '07 married married Josh Braverman in August 2019 at the Evergreen Lodge near Yosemite. The O'Dowd Class of 2007 was well represented. Pictured here are Andrew Kurtz '07, Jake Lampenfeld '07, Katie and Josh, Eileen Clapp '07 and Tory Levine-Hall '07.
Hedda Nguyen ‘13 is pursuing her Master's in public health at Columbia University, studying racial disparities in the healthcare system. She recently earned a fellowship to study and research in Puerto Rico. Hedda visited campus and reconnected with O'Dowd Coach Lou Richie '89, who taught her in middle school, and her O'Dowd counselor Pat Cross.  Connect with Hedda
Aerial Chavarin '16 Earns Spot in National Women's Soccer League Aerial has been a superstar on the field and in the classroom at Yale. She was named 2019 Ivy League All-Academic team, Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year at Yale, and Women's Soccer All-American 2nd Team on the eve of the College Cup semifinals. While those honors in and of themselves are impressive achievements, Aerial has now been recruited to play in the National Women's Soccer League for the Chicago Red Stars! Read more
In 2019, O'Dowd was voted Best Private High School in Oakland. Let's kick off the new decade right! Help get O'Dowd nominated for best private high school in 2020--let's win again this year!

Nominate now Go Dragons!
Upcoming Events
January 24-26 Winter Musical Cabaret - Come This Weekend for Final Performances Come watch a dream-like romance set in the midst of political upheaval experienced by Berlin’s natives and expatriates in the 1930s. This classic musical reminds us what horrors humans are capable of, lest we ever forget. Directed by Associate Directors Amiee Peri '95 (go Dragons!) and Brad Crooker. Friday, Saturday performance 7:30pm, Sunday performance 2:00pm. Download the ticket form
February 1 Crab Feed SOLD OUT The event may be sold out but you can still take part in the fun through volunteering to support student co-curricular programs.   Volunteer Today Questions? Contact Elaine Connolly (Colm ’19 and Cahal ’22) or 510-882-8175.  

Watch for our Online Auction, February 4-13 -- stay tuned for launch on website or O'Dowd's Facebook page.
March 28 Dragon Hoops Book Release, 4:00pm Join us for an evening with New York Times bestselling author, former O'Dowd teacher, and MacArthur Fellow Gene Luen Yang. Yang, O'Dowd basketball coach Lou Richie '89 and art teacher Thien Pham will discuss Dragon Hoops, Yang's newest graphic novel about friendship, family, and O'Dowd's extraordinary 2015-2016 basketball team and season. Book purchase and signing at event (or pre-order your book with your RSVP). RSVP Today!
SAVE THE DATE
May 1 Alumni Night at the Theater
May 1-3, 8-10 Spring Musical
May 16, 2020 Grand Reunion : Celebrating Classes of '55,'60,'65, '70, '75, '80, '85, '90, '95, '00, '05, '10, '15