St. Mary’s Alum, Ali Gibson ’11 Shines at OSU

Ali Gibson, Class of 2011, has made an immediate impact on the women’s basketball program at  Oregon State. She has  a team-best 36 3-pointers, despite what many would call an unconventional shot. Gibson has started all 20 games and leads the Beavers in scoring at 12.9 points per game and steals at nearly 2.5 a game.

“She makes every play that you need,” coach Scott Rueck said. “(Saturday) she hit every big shot we needed, she made the hustle plays down the stretch, including the tip ball at the end. The game was probably already over but here she comes with 14 seconds left to tip ball out from behind, a hustle play, an extra-effort play.She’s a glue player. Every teammate loves her, she’s one of those people. She’s a leader and then she plays the way every coach would want their players to play.She’s an incredible example every minute.”

Bryant Ezeji ’06 and Patrick Jemerigbe ’06 Release Album

Bryant Ezeji Duke and Patrick Jemerigbe, both in the Class of 2006,  form an American pop, rock, r&b, funk and hip hop duo  founded in 2006 in Stockton,Ca. They released EP in November, 2011 named Better Late Than Never . Bryant and Patrick describe their music as  Frank Sinatra meets Kanye West”.They trace their musical sounds back to The Roots, Kanye West, Jay-Z,  N.E.R.D , and Train.  Their sound encompasses hip hop , alternative and rock. When asked, these gentleman explain the CommonPrep is more than just music & film, its about the way you carry yourself. It is a lifestyle that bleeds into all aspects of life.  Aspects that include, going to college, speaking properly, putting coasters under glasses, putting on suits and educating yourself.  (1/12)

Doug Martin '07 Named MVP of MAACO Las Vegas Bowl

Doug Martin, Class of 2007 was named MVP of the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl after leading Boise State over Arizona State in a 56-24 victory. Martin was named after setting a school record with 301 all-purpose yards. He had 151 rushing yards, 124 return yards and 26 receiving yards. He opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return and scored again on a 2-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Martin is widely seen as one of the top 10 running backs in this year’s NFL draft. The Sporting News noted that Martin is “rising as an elite prospect,” predicting he would be selected late in the first round or early in the second. (1/12)

Robert Semillo, '93 Selected as Officer of the Year

Robert Semillo was selected to the 2010 Italian Athletic Club Officer of the Year.  He was selected from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department. Along with three fellow deputies, he was selected by the IAC's board of directors as the Officer of the Year along with an Officer from the Stockton Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.  He was selected for his role in investigating a brutal gang rape occurring in East Stockton.  Without his investigative work, timing, and good luck, all three suspects would not have been located.  Along with several other Deputies they were able to solve this crime in a mater of 24 hours.  Along with the other Deputies they were able to piece together the investigation and all three suspects are currently awaiting trial. (12/11)

Rick Paulsen Class of 1977 In Athletic Hall of Fame

Rick Paulsen, ’77, who was a top scorer for St. Mary's High's basketball teams in the 1970 and went on to be a captain at Pacific, helping lead the Tigers to a league title in 1979 has been named as an inductee for the 2011 Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mr. Paulsen led the Rams to three Valley Oak League championships and led the team with a 21-point scoring average. He was honored as a member of the All-Northern California team in his junior and senior season. He was also an All-City pitcher at St. Mary's.(9/11)

Angela Rosenquist ’96 Given 2011 ATHENA Award

Angela Rosenquist Class of 1996 has been named a recipient of the 2011 ATHENA Award. The ATHENA is an award given by the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce to honor women who demonstrate professional excellence, serve the community and are role models.

Rosenquist is a current director of the nonprofit group, TLC, a Stockton school dedicated to keeping homeless children in the classroom. Rosenquist she is also a fundraiser for the University of the Pacific’s athletic and alumni associations. Angela manages to blend work and volunteering despite traveling extensively for Boboli International.

For Rosenquist, it’s simply a matter of giving back to a community she loves.

“I’m a 33-year veteran of Stockton, California, and I’m proud of it,” she said. “You’ve got to do more for the community if you want to make it (9/11)

Staff Sgt. Mark Tagatac '90 Completes Afghan Tour

Staff Sgt. Mark Tagatac, Class of 1990 has just returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq. This was his third combat tour in Iraq. Tagatac (also known as Sergeant Tag) serves as an intelligence analyst with the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colo. Tagatac is nearing retirement with almost 20 years of service. His awards include the Bronze Star. (10/11)

Thomas Ferrari, Sr. '38 Honored at SM Football Game

Thomas Ferrrari, Sr., class of 1938, who was both the student body president and the captain of the football team at St. Mary's was featured during the opening ceremony beginning the October 7, 2011 game against Edison (St. Mary's won in a 40-0 shutout). Mr. Ferrari joined members of the current Ram Squad at the field center for the event.

Mr. Ferrari was a founder of the Brooks Ellis Chevrolet dealership and later was vice-president of the the Brooks Ellis Leasing Company in San Francisco. (10/11)

Johathan Lucas. M.D. '86 Featured in News.

Johathan Lucas, M.D. Class of 1986 , a University of Reno Medical School and UCLA residency graduate was featured in the national press in his role as a deputy medical examiner for San Diego County  looking into the controversial suicide of Rebecca Zahau, the girlfriend of pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai.

Lucas said despite his profession’s often morbid and emotional aspects, he does not let it get him down.

“Being a (medical examiner) can be one of the most emotionally laden fields,” he said. “Every case we take is a tragedy. Someone has always lost a mother, father, brother or sister. But somebody has to see the facts and drill through the emotion.”

A colleague was quoted as saying; “He is wise, and you look at him and the way he acts and talks, it’s as if he is an old soul who has been around for quite a while.He is one of those people who not only has it together, but who will go down in history for the work he has done.” (10/11)

Alumnus Imani Parker-Fong ’11 Shows St. Mary’s Spirit

Imani Parker-Fong, a 2011 graduate of St. Mary’s after volunteering with “A Better Chance for Stockton,” a program for student mentors, Imani began her own group titled Nia, meaning “purpose” in Swahili, after realizing the close link between academic achievement and self-esteem in young students. Nia is a youth service group whose objective is to “strive to serve mentors and role models who instill in youth the importance of education, leadership skills, and morals.” Imani and the other members of Nia, work hard in order to raise money for new supplies, books, and even clothes for the students.

As an example, the group has partnered up with a tie-dye t-shirt business and sold the shirts throughout the community in order to raise money for Nia. Also, the group has organized events such as a book drive, and even generates some of the money to a needy student’s college scholarship.

Imani also volunteers at the Saint Mary’s Homeless Shelter, and participates in a Christmas activity at the Mary Graham Children Center. (9/11)

Margaret Berry '11 Completes Basic Training At West Point

Army Cadet Margaret Berry has completed cadet basic training at the U.S. Military Academy. The six-week training included basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological and chemical training. Berry plans to graduate from West Point in 2015 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor and country. (9/11)

Taylor Setness '10 Gets Naval Academy Water Polo Recognition

Taylor Setness, Class of 2010 had 21 goals as a member of the US Naval Academy Water Polo Squad, the most for a Navy Freshman since 2005. Taylor had a strong freshman season, appearing in 14 games, scoring 21 points ... tallied two points (1 g, 1 a) in first career action against Penn State-Behrend in the season opener ... scored a career-high six points (5 g, 1 a) in a victory over Salem International ... scored twice against both Gannon and Vanguard in the Navy Labor Day Open, then added a pair of goals against Penn State-Behrend in the Bucknell Invite ... had two points (1 g, 1 a) against Mercyhurst (Sept. 5) ... netted two goals against Washington & Jefferson in the CWPA Southern Division Tournament. (9/11)

Imani Paker-Fong ’11 Awarded Humanitarian Youth Award

Imani Parker-Fong, Class of 2011  has been awarded the Sistahs in Harmony’s first humanitarian youth award. The Stanford-bound Parker-Fong, 17, received the honor due to her accomplishments beyond the classroom, which earned her numerous academic scholarships.

Parker-Fong started a nonprofit group, soliciting clothing and money to buy clothes for children she tutored in downtown Stockton on Saturday mornings. The group, called Nia, expanded its focus a year later when she, her parents, both physicians at Kaiser, and young brother planned a mission trip to Guyana. Working with Harmony Masterpieces, a tie-dye shirt company in Modesto, Nia sold shirts and collected donations and raised more than $1,000 for the children's home in which the family stayed in the South American country.

"I really enjoy the relationships you form with the students," Parker-Fong said, "especially at Nightingale. At the beginning of last year, the kids were shy and quiet. As the year went on they could read so much better. They were much more open and you could see they felt a lot more comfortable with all the tutors. They'd give you hugs and you could tell they really enjoyed being with you. "Time really matters to kids. It's not what you say or do, but showing you care." (8/11)

Alumnus Joy Clark  ’11  Wins Best Actress Award from SCT

Joy Clark, Class of 2011, won the lead actress award for “42nd Street” at the Stockton Civic Theatre’s 58th annual Willie Awards ceremony July 31. The major awards went to “Run For Your Wife” and “42nd Street.” SCT is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. (8/11)

Alums McGurk ‘61 and Precessi ’74 Featured in The Record

The Stockton Rowing Club’s master women’s quad of Carol McGurk, Ellen Precissi Class of 1974, Nancy Sage and Kristie Toler won a bronze medal in the Southwest Regional Masters Championships at Lake Merritt in Oakland on July 9, 2011. Coach Tom McGurk, Class of 1961, is on the right of the picture next to his wife Carol. (8/11)