Our own Valley Catholic alum, Charlie Wilson ‘04 will star in a local area production of “A Chorus Line.” Perhaps first inspired by his younger sister Katie Wilson’07 and her dancing pursuits, Charlie began a career on the stage and in musical theater while a freshman at Valley Catholic. He performed in VCS productions throughout high school including Aladdin, Honk!, Damn Yankees, Annie and South Pacific. Post graduation, Charlie spent four years touring with The Young Americans, a group that later would bring him right back to our campus! (Read more about The Young Americans visit to Valley Catholic in 2009.)

A colleague of his sister’s, Amy Palamino (whose résumé includes touring with Cats, 42nd Street and Cabaret), invited Charlie to audition for the Broadway Rose Theater Company production of A Chorus Line. Charlie landed the role of Italian Mike Costa, who, like Charlie, begins a dancing career after following his sister to dance school. A Chorus Line runs Aug. 4-22. To learn more about the production and to purchase your tickets, visit Tigard’s Broadway Rose Theater Company. 

The Young Americans were founded almost 50 years ago in Hollywood, Calif. to provide our talented Young American student performers (15-21 years of age) with education in music, dance, performance and teaching, and to use this training, and the good will and optimism of these young people to support music in schools and its inherent benefits through conducting International Music Outreach Workshops in educational facilities of all types throughout the world.

Two-time Olympic gold medal saber fencer, Mariel Zagunis ’03 won the World Cup in New York City the evening of Saturday, June 19.  After defeating fellow American Ibtihaj Muhammad (Maplewood, N.J.) in the quarterfinals, Mariel secured the title with a win over Reka Benko of Hungary, 15-13.

The World Cup marks the first international competition in New York City since 2004. The fencers will look to reach their peak in Brooklyn as it is one of the last international events before the World Championships in Paris, Nov. 4-13.

To read the full story click here.

After graduation from Valley Catholic last year, Chris Kiefer ‘09 decided to attend Carroll College in Montana. Already in his freshman year, Carroll presented him with an award for the Outstanding Freshman in Math, Engineering and Science. This award is given out to the top students of each level and is based on overall GPA, faculty perception of the student, and performance in math, engineering and computer science classes.

Dr. Holly Zullo, one of Chris’ professors describes him as “a delight to have in class.” Way to go, Chris!

Reunion Day is a new celebration for all alumni, highlighting specific class years. While we are honoring reunion classes, all alumni of St. Mary of the Valley & Valley Catholic School are invited. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!

Reunion Day 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Valley Catholic High School
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

R.S.V.P. required. Details coming soon.

Are you considered missing? Check our Missing Alumni List to make sure you receive invitations and information from your Alumni Relations Office.

The Golden Reunion Dinner honors alumnae celebrating their 50th reunion and every five years prior. This year’s event will honor the classes of ’55, ’50, ’45 & ’40.

Friday, June 11, 2010
Prayer Service
5:15 p.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel
SSMO Convent

Golden Reunion Dinner
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
SSMO Convent Dining Room

Are you considered missing? Check our Missing Alumni List to make sure you receive invitations and information from your Alumni Relations Office.

Students organize first ever school-sponsored community concert May 15 to help ‘08 alum with cancer treatments

Danny Keagbine '08

Valley Catholic students are joining forces with bands from around the Portland area to put on an outdoor public concert on the school’s soccer field Saturday, May 15.

While a good time is sure to be had by all in this unique show featuring local bands and young Portland talent, the energy to organize the production is driven by one thing only. Valley Catholic students are doing whatever they can to raise money for their friend and 2008 alum Danny Keagbine who is battling cancer.

Keagbine has been undergoing extensive treatment for Ewing Sarcoma since August 2009. Organizers of the concert, hope to make a significant difference by raising thousands of dollars to help defray Keagbine’s medical costs. The “Groovin’ for a Cure” concert promises something for everyone, including reggae, blues and funk. Local bands Waiting in Vain, Daniel Bedlam, Pseudophilis, Tijuana Poop Smugglers, and Speakeasy have been handpicked by a senior and bass player at Valley Catholic. Read the rest of this entry »

Sister M. Callista (Geraldine) O’Connor was born on May 5, 1927 in Washburn, Iowa. She attended elementary school for grades 1–7 in Rapidan, Minnesota before her family moved to Stayton, Ore. where she graduated from St. Mary’s Elementary School. She graduated from St. Mary of the Valley High School (now known as Valley Catholic).

Sister was received as a novice by the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon in 1943 and became known as Sister M. Callista. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisc. in 1962, a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Portland in 1969.

Music coursed her veins and energized Sr. Callista throughout her life. She could play the theme of the “Magificent Seven” as a waltz, polka or a march! Sister Callista had a zest for life and believed in possibilities while thinking outside the box.

Sister’s teaching career began in 1945 at St. Mary of the Valley. In the years that followed, when not a student at Alverno College, she taught music, served as head of the Music Department, or as Music Coordinator for the Community in these schools: Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Agatha, Holy Cross in Portland; St. John the Baptist and Christ the King in Milwaukie; St. Boniface in Sublimity; St. Mary’s in Stayton; Sacred Heart in Tillamook, St. Francis in Roy; Visitation in Verboort; St. Matthew in Hillsboro; and St. Cecilia in Beaverton. Her last teaching assignment was at St. Lucy School in Long Beach, Calif. where she taught while also serving as the caregiver for her mother.

Even when she retired in 1991 she continued to share her love for music with Valley Catholic School 7th graders who visited with her as part of their Middle School program. Sister Callista was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but continued to exercise by swimming until recent months. Sister died at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on March 14. May she rest in peace.

Memorial offerings may be directed to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Retirement Fund.

May she rest in God’s embrace!

Nearly 125 alumni from the classes of 1943-2009 and their guests turned out the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 28 for the 5th Annual Alumni Reception and Valley Catholic musical performance: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With more than double the attendance this event has seen in previous years, the afternoon was lively and full of laughter, colorful desserts and guests from all ages!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, hailed one of the world’s most popular musicals and the biggest production in campus history, brought together the entire K-12 school in a fresh and exciting production. As one alumna said, “The performance was energizing and highly entertaining! We appreciated the opportunity to see how our school has changed and grown since [my sister and I] were students there. Thanks again for this opportunity.”

On behalf of Valley Catholic students of all ages, a warm “thank you” for making this performance special through your support and attendance. We hope to see you back on campus soon!

Sr. Adele Marie shows some Alum Kids around the refreshment table	Guests enjoy refreshments far right: Miyuki Michelle Yoshida '85
Carol Spiering '60 (left) and her older sister, Sr. Joan Spiering, RGS '58 (right) share an afternoon out with friend Sr. Elizabeth Schille, RGS (center)

Two-time Olympic gold medalist, Mariel Zagunis ’03, was honored Sunday, Jan. 31 at The 58th Annual Oregon Sports Awards at the Nike World Campus in Beaverton. Mariel, who won gold in women’s saber fencing at the Athens Olympics in 2006 and at Beijing in 2010, took home Harry Glickman Professional Athlete of the Year award for women at the sold-out event.

Trail Blazers guard Roy took the Harry Glickman professional athlete honor for men for the third consecutive year. Other winners included Heisman Trophy finalist and Ndamukong Suh who won the Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete award for men, and Paul Allen, who is in his 21st year as owner of the Trail Blazers, who won the Merit award for longtime service.

The two-hour event at the Tiger Woods Center honors the Oregon’s top athletes, coaches and teams for their performances in 2009 or lifetime achievements. Bill Schonely, the Portland Trail Blazers’ founding broadcaster/ambassador, served as show ambassador.
Featured categories include the Bill Hayward Amateur Athletes of the Year (male and female), the Harry Glickman Professional Athletes of the Year (male and female) and the Slats Gill Sportsperson of the Year.

The Oregon Sports Awards began in 1948 as the Hayward Banquet of Champions. The event was discontinued after 1996 but returned in 2002 and has been held as the Oregon Sports Awards for the past nine years, with a new, stage-show format and many added award categories. The event is sponsored by Nike, the Portland Tribune, Comcast SportsNet, Les Schwab Tires, Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors, Portland Trail Blazers, Dick’s Sporting Goods and SportsOne.

Nicole Krieger Libal ‘97, a senior research assistant in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (APOM) laboratories, was recently honored as “Technician of the Year” by the Oregon branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (OAALAS). The annual award recognizes a technician from Oregon for “leadership, showing initiative, having good problem-solving skills, being a reliable and hard worker, going above and beyond his or her duties, being mature, trusted and well-liked as well as being a good team player.”

As a senior research assistant in APOM for over three years, Nicole (pictured at left in her senior yearbook) manages the department’s mouse breeding colonies and provides surgical and technical support for ongoing pre-clinical research. Investigators regularly comment on her “professionalism, productivity, communication and [her] sensitivity to their research needs.” Her research and work have resulted in system changes that have improved efficiency and information and protocols for grants. According to her nomination form, “Nicole learns and applies technical skills while subsequently improving animal care and research outcomes.”

Nicole was also awarded the Dan Wilkins Travel Award at the annual OAALAS banquet on Jan. 22. The travel award covers expenses for her to attend the District 8 AALAS meeting in Arizona this May.

Prior to coming to APOM, Libal worked at the OHSU-Oregon National Primate Research Center as a laboratory animal research technician II. She has a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in animal sciences.

OAALAS is one of nearly 50 regional and branch groups of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). AALAS is the premier forum for the exchange of information and expertise in the care and use of laboratory animals. Since 1950, the organization has been dedicated to the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals and the quality research that leads to scientific gains that benefit people and animals.