ADELANTE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2012

Christopher Columbus News Network Best High School Broadcast Program in Florida

IN THE SPRING 2012 ISSUE: President’s Letter.......................................................2 All Sports Fitness Complex & Wellness Center.....................................................3 Br. Eugene’s Philosophy of Being Course now available in book form..................................4 Tech News.....................................................................5 Why I give to Columbus........................................6 CCNN - The Best High School Broadcast Program in the State .......................8 Basketball Camp Announcement....................10

Run without Limits Camp Announcement.............................................11 Harvard Grads talk about Columbus............. 13 Bell Theater receives new Champagnat Artwork............................................ 15 Fishing Tournament Results............................... 16 Golf Tournament Results..................................... 17 Columbus Lawyers Alumni Society is formed...................................................................... 18 Alumni in the News................................................20 Athletics Corner...................................................... 22 Shingles........................................................................ 26

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President’s Letter

Dear Alumni: I am proud to say that 298 young men have just become your fellow alumni, as the school held its 54th graduation commencement on May 19th. Thirty-four of those graduates are sons of Columbus alumni. These father and sons were recognized with honorary diplomas at our Baccalaureate Mass which was held at Epiphany Catholic Church on May 17th. What pride it gives our school to see the Columbus tradition being followed in so many families. Our best wishes to all the graduates as they prepare for college. We hope and pray that they live by the values that their parents and Columbus have instilled in them. I want to especially thank Tim Plummer, Chair of the Golf Tournament Committee, Hernan Organvidez, Chair of the Fishing Tournament Committee, and the Baretto and Hernandez families, for working so hard to put on these successful events. Together, these events raised over $122,000 for Columbus. We hope that all of you who attended enjoyed your time, while reconnecting with your fellow alumni. As you probably are aware, Mr. Juan Gomez and I are now focusing the majority of our time on raising money to build a new fitness complex and wellness center on campus. Please read about the planned facility on the following page. Demolition of the existing weight room will soon take place. To date we have raised $2.9 million with another $1.3 million in pledges payable over the next four years. We still have to raise another $2.3 million, approximately. We are asking for the help of all of our alumni in this great endeavor. When finished, this facility will benefit all Columbus students, not just those who participate in sports, helping all of them to lead active and healthier lifestyles. We are asking you to PLEASE, make a donation of $100 or more to help us. You can make the donation fast and easy on the Columbus website at columbushs.com on the giving page. Many alumni believe that if it is not in their means to make a large donation that they shouldn’t bother. This is not true. Any donation, no matter the size, will greatly help us and would be much appreciated. Wishing you all a fantastic summer. Please know that the spirit of Columbus is as strong as ever as is the spirit of the old man, yours truly. Ever grateful,

All Sports Fitness Complex and Bernhardt Student Wellness Center

Campaign For the New Fitness Complex & Wellness Center Underway

Help us keep Building healthy minds and bodies What will the new facility be like? • A 2 floor facility located where the current weight room is (next to the football field) • Comprised of 2 buildings adjoined with a lobby at the center • The fitness complex building will house a large weight room on the 1st floor and a shell for a locker room on the 2nd floor • The Wellness Center building will be constructed where the current weight room is and will contain cardiovascular equipment and space for health and nutrition classes • The entire facility will offer new cutting edge equipment Why the need for the facility? • Our current 20 year old weight-room has become too small for the student body and does not feature modern equipment • A new center will allow us to serve the

work-out needs of all our students • With the proper equipment and facilities in place, our students will be taught how to properly work-out, preventing injuries • It will encourage our students to lead an active and healthy lifestyle Tentative Project Details: • Demolition is scheduled to begin in June, 2012 • The entire project is estimated to be completed in March, 2013 • The project is expected to cost approximately $4.5 million with another $2 million needed for equipment and fees • To date the school has raised $2.3 million in pledges • We are asking that all our alumni make an extra effort to help us with this project

Any gift would be most appreciated

How to make a donation? You can make your donation online through the Columbus website at columbushs.com or call the development office at 305-223-5650 x2258.

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Br. Eugene’s PHILOSOPHY OF BEING COURSE Now Available in Book Form The Greatest Discovery in the World - The Being Called “I” Included are all of his challenging concepts and insights.

About the Book The ideas presented in this book are designed to inspire the reader to think, to question, and to consider profound thoughts that have been perplexing man for centuries. The ultimate goal is to search for truth and beauty. Two of Br. Eugene’s former students and CCHS graduates transcribed this book from Br. Eugene’s type-written notes - Nikolai De Leo (‘06) and Andre Grillon (‘07). The notes were used for his “Philosophy of Being” course, his most cherished class which he taught for over 50 years. Br. Eugene, age 83, has now retired from teaching but leaves this beautiful gift to his former students and to those who wanted to take his class but didn’t. If you would like to read some of Br. Eugene’s other enlightening written works, visit the official Noble Mind Project at www.anoblemind.com, also kept by De Leo and Grillon who in their words have learned from a “living Emerson.” Book Cost $10.00 (all proceeds will go towards the Columbus Tuition Assistance Program) How to Purchase You can purchase the book online at columbushs.com or by sending a check for $18.99 (which includes shipping & handling) made payable to “CCHS” and mailing it to Christopher Columbus High School, 3000 SW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33165 - Attn: Br. Eugene. Be sure to include your mailing address. The book will be shipped to you. It is also available in the school store which is open for a short time on school days before and after school.

­­­­Upcoming Events & Reunions August 25

Class of 1972 - 40 Year Reunion (7:00 – 11:00pm, cafeteria)

September 7

8th Annual Columbus vs Belen Football Game & Tailgate

October 6

Class of 1962 - 50 Year Reunion (6:00 - 10:00pm, cafeteria) *Special Invitation to all members of the classes of 1959, 1960, and 1961

October 13

Class of 1982 - 30 Year Reunion (Biscayne Bay Yacht Club)

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Tech News

Columbus featured on NBC’s Education Nation. Columbus was featured in a “Technology in Education” segment of Education Nation, a national effort by NBC network to get communities to dialogue about how to improve education. Included was footage from Mr. Moro’s algebra class as he taught quadratic functions making use of the Smart Board and his “Moro’s Math Corner” which he uploads to YouTube. Here students can watch his lessons anytime on a computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, or smartphone. He already has had over 1200 hits. Technology Director Elena Alvarez was also interviewed discussing trends in technology in the classroom as well as several students. It aired in town hall meetings and live on NBC6 and Telemundo 51. Columbus is the first high school in Miami to offer an iPhone Application. Android and iPad app versions are now available.

Coming Soon A NEW Columbus website! Follow Columbus Online. WEB: www.Columbushs.com

TWITTER: @ccnnlive (Christopher Columbus News Network)

FACEBOOK: Christopher Columbus High School Alumni

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Why I Give to Columbus

Nikolai de Leo (’06)

“

As I look back on my life, a realization jumps out at me. My successes are because of others while my failures are my own. I am who I am today because of the help I have received. Out of the countless individuals who have helped me, one group stands out at the moment. Whether it was the student in the locker next to me, the retreat leader, or Br. Eugene’s Philosophy of Being course, my time at Christopher Columbus High School forever changed me. Ask any alumnus and they’ll immediately begin gushing about their experiences. After doing this a few times, you will notice a trend. The first words out of their mouth will never be about the course work, the athletic program, or the campus (which is more beautiful than ever). They will talk about the bond they developed with their friends, their teachers, and the administration. If you ask them to define Columbus in one word, many will respond with family. Yet not every school shares this unique environment. As our education system has progressed, it has become increasingly focused on standardized test scores and preparing students for the university system. Yet this success metric overlooks that in the long run, the degree on your wall is vastly overshadowed by the person that you are inside. It is the latter aspect that Columbus is focused on developing. My time at Columbus taught me to think, to reflect, and most importantly to love. I may have forgotten the lines of Hamlet and the quadratic equation, but I will never forget the true lessons I learned during my time there. They are ingrained in me forever. So why do I contribute both my time and money to Columbus? I contribute because they go where other schools never venture. They go beyond teaching you facts and proceed to give you the greatest gift anyone can give you. They provide the support and the family to allow you to find your purpose. As I move forward in my life, I feel confident not only because of what Columbus has taught me, but because of the family that is there for me. I consider this the rarest of traits and one that I intend to support for years to come.

”

Mas Scholars – Getting Ready for Summer Internships Professions Includes Law, Engineering, Medicine/ Research & Business/Banking

Students in the Mas Family Scholars Program, Columbus’ accelerated program of studies, have the opportunity to gain valuable experience through special summer internships. All of the internships require the students to complete a minimum of 80 hours over two summers and that they turn in reports and presentations on their experiences. Each student will have a mentor during their internship and their grade will be based on their mentor’s evaluation, as well as for their description paper and presentation. To date over 50 students will be going on internships to several organizations, including MasTec, Inc., TotalBank, University of Miami, Barry University, Fernandez-Fraga, P.E. INITIAC Engineers, Abadin Cook, Attorneys, Gerald Pierre, Esq., Rolando Diaz Esq., and Sterns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff and Sitterson, PA.

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Why I Give to Columbus

Luis de la Aguilera (‘77)

“

I entered Columbus a boy and left a man” – these simple words recall and recap the results of four pivotal years in the lives of countless young men. Over the years I have heard similar words expressed over and over again by many CCHS alumni. Undoubtedly, it is a powerful sentiment many of us share as Explorers. My experience at Columbus started in August 1973, the month I turned 14. Just 12 years before, my mother, sister and I arrived in the United States from Cuba. My father did not. He was a doctor and for many reasons, political and otherwise he never made it out. Still, while our early years in Miami were very challenging, my sister Ana and I never lacked the basics; my mother saw to that. We lived the hard fought “refugee experience” - long on love and hope, anchored in faith and short on everything else. My mother Maria is an incredible woman who instilled in my sister and I the strong values of our Catholic faith. She worked tirelessly to make ends meet and no matter what the challenge, she made an absolute commitment that my sister and I would be educated in Catholic schools. When I was in 6th grade she told me that she had saved enough for me to attend a high school called Christopher Columbus. The school was on the other side of town and none of my grade school friends would be attending. She told me that it was a Marist school and that I had no say in the matter. While at the time this maternal power play sounded heavy handed, it was amongst the greatest gifts she ever gave me. My years at Columbus were an incredible time, where I forged life-long friendships with both teachers and students. While I grew and developed physically my education was in the hands of the Marist Brothers. Their work, guidance and discipline would mold me, define my character and chart my course in life. In short, without their knowing it, the many Marist Brothers and teachers at Columbus became my father figures.

While Brothers Kevin, Eugene and many others challenged me intellectually and guided me spiritually, the entire school – teachers, staff and students became an extended family and support system I will never forget. I am sure that countless students will agree that these men shaped our destinies and today we gratefully stand on their shoulders. After Columbus, my trajectory lead me to graduate from the University of Miami, marry my wife Marisa (an incredibly patient, loving and supportive partner) who blessed me with two daughters – Victoria and Daniela. Professionally, I chose a career in finance. I have been a banker for 30 years and for the past twelve I have been with TotalBank, which today I am honored to lead as president. I have set many goals in my life, but none greater than to guide the path of my daughters to be productive, compassionate and honorable young women dedicated to serve their families and community. Having no sons to share the experiences and gifts of a Marist education, I have focused my energy, commitment and resources to support the young men at Christopher Columbus; as the Marist Brothers and the school at large helped me years ago. As a banker I easily recognize that running CCHS not only takes tremendous work and commitment, but it also takes capital. The work of the Marist Brothers and dedicated teachers at Columbus can only go on through the continued support of many. I have no doubt that in the 4 years I attended Columbus, my life was enriched and changed. I am confident that by supporting our school through my time, talent and treasure, I can contribute to the Marist tradition that has selflessly given so much to others like me.

”

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The Christopher Columbus New Network (CCNN) - The Best High School Broadcast Program in the State The Team Swept the State Journalism Competition, Winning Four 1st Place Awards

At Columbus, students who participate in CCNN are truly getting the hands on experience needed to pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, and television production. For two years in a row, the crew has swept the competition at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s state convention. CCNN once again is considered the most successful high school broadcast program in the state. The team won a total of 4 first place awards, 1 second place award and 1 fourth place award. In addition, senior, Peter Ariz, competed against schools throughout Florida at a St. Thomas University competition and won the best Journalistic Piece Award while junior Cristian Gutierrez was chosen to represent Florida as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2012 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University. As a result of all their successes, the Miami Herald featured CCNN in a story in June, 2012. Their studio is state-of-the-art, offering green screen technology, two teleprompters, several cameras, a DJ and a tri-caster. With the help of students from Mrs. Hidalgo’s Writing for Mass Media class and Mr. Delgado’s TV Production class, CCNN provides new information every day, covering topics from school and national news, to features, weather, entertainment, and sports. And, the crew makes daily announcements and important real time updates on their Twitter and Facebook pages. We are proud to say that this Columbus program is selfsufficient as the students raise money for their equipment and needs by selling commercials to advertisers.

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CCNN Awards from the 2012 FSPA State Convention First Place- Edit to the Beat- Andrew Briz, Alex Etcheverry, David Armas and Henrique Bolivar First Place- News Package- Peter Ariz, Nicolas Ommati, Joseph Piscitelli, Daniel Villanueva, Mario Perez First Place- Show Intro- Andrew Briz First Place- News Anchor- Nicolas Ommati –Nick is now the #1 high school news anchor in the state! Second Place- Sports Package- Peter Ariz, Nicolas Ommati and Alex Etcheverry Fourth Place- Best of Show

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Columbus Basketball Summer Camp Air Conditioned Facility Individual Instruction Outstanding Camp Staff Guest Speakers Competitions/Awards Trips/Activities include: • • • •

museums swimming bowling movies

• miscellaneous sports • arts and crafts • talent show

June 11 - July 27

Half day- Basketball only (8am-12 noon) Full Day-Basketball & other activities (8am-4pm) Week of July 14th & July 18th

6th Year of Rookie Camp for incoming 9th and 10th graders 8am – 12noon

New Low Camp Fees To register please contact Coach Staiano at 305-223-5650 ext. 2254 or visit www.columbushs.com. 10

The longest running basketball camp in Dade County. 38 Years of Summer Basketball Fun. For Boys and Girls ages 6-13 of all abilities.

Run Without Limits XC Camp Extensive Running Camp • Tropical Park, Shelter #10

Session A - June 4 - June 22 Session B - July 9 - July 20 This camp is designed to encourage and challenge each participant to be the best athlete they can be. Daily sessions include warm ups, runs, talks, and interaction with other coaches and athletes from Columbus and form other schools in Miami-Dade County. Runners are categorized into groups based on running ability. Head Coach: Jorge Fleites (’01)

Assistant Coach: Angie Dannenfeldt

- Columbus Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach - Ran for 4 years while attending CCHS and won a Team State Championship, 1997 - Coached 10 1st team All Dade Runners & 14 2nd team All Dade Runners and won: - 5 Conference Championships - 5 District Championships - 5 Regional Championships - 2 Team Championships Runner-ups - 1 Southeast National State Runner-up - 3 Team State Championships - Coach of the Year in Cross Country

- All Orlando Metro Cross Country Coach of the Year, 2008/2009 - Dr. Phillips High School Coach of the Year, 2008/2009 - Coached her teams to Metro, District, and Regional Championships for 2 consecutive years - Coached a 3rd place team in State Championships, 2009 - Placed 2nd in the FHSAA State Championships, 2010 - Coached Killian to its 1st Cross Country State Meet since 2005 in 2010

in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010

For more information and to sign up contact Coach Fleites at [email protected]. The registration form is found online on the Columbus website.

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SEE WHAT SOME HARVARD GRADS SAID ABOUT COLUMBUS We would like to profile Explorers who have graduated from other Ivy League Schools in a similar fashion. If you graduated from an Ivy League school and would like to submit an excerpt about how Columbus prepared you for your college experience, please email Juan Gomez at [email protected]

Jorge Alex Alvarez ‘97 B.A. Biological Sciences “The Phase 4/5 pathway, AP courses, extensive extracurriculars, and highly-involved faculty at Columbus gave me a great introduction to college coursework, as well as, making the most of the college experience. While I had enough AP credits to skip a year, I took full advantage of the 4 year experience at Harvard Ricky Arriola ‘86 M.B.A. “Columbus is a school that effectively combines academics, athletics and service to the community. It tends to graduate students that form the backbone of the Miami community. ” John Barkett ‘00 B.A. Economics “John Roche was my math teacher for four straight years. His classroom, S-24, was so far from the rest of the school it had its own exit out to the football field. I’ll never forget hustling to get to that classroom every single day, just as I’ll never forget the lessons I learned in it. They are what got me through Harvard and Wharton. They guide me in the business world to this day.” 12

Raoul Cantero ‘78 Harvard Law School “My years at Columbus taught me the habit of hard work, the love of learning, and the Catholic values that have allowed me to succeed in college, in law school, and in life, all with a view toward serving my neighbors and my community.” John Couriel ‘96 B.A., Harvard Law School “By the time I got to college, I had a reasonably good feel for who I was and what I wanted to do. I’m indebted to my teachers at Columbus for that, in no small measure.” James Eagan ’95 B.A. English Literature and Language “The academic structure, the breadth of curriculum, the religious context, the Explorer tradition -- Columbus has so much to offer. But to me, its greatest asset is its faculty. Their zeal for scholarship and dedication to their students provided me a lesson on how to approach life which I still draw upon to this day.”

Carlos Famadas ’95 B.A., M.B.A. “Columbus’ wide range of extracurricular activities coupled with its strong academic tradition provided me with the necessary skills to attend and succeed in college and beyond. I encourage students to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow classmates and staff and take full advantage of what Christopher Columbus High School has to offer.” Frank Fernandez ’92 B.A. Philosophy “Columbus provided me with a solid academic foundation and exposed me to wonderful teachers who positively influenced the future direction of my academic studies and professional career.” Mario Garcia-Serra ‘94 B.A. Government/Political Science “My time at Columbus provided me with a great academic foundation and instilled in me a love of learning, both of which enabled me to gain admission to Harvard and to perform very well academically throughout my time there. The only aspect of College life which Columbus did not prepare me for was adapting to a co-ed campus!” Luis Hernandez ’90 Masters in Psychology “My good friend Eddy Arriola once told the incoming freshman class of 1990, “There are two types of people in this world, those who graduate and those who graduate from Columbus.” Regardless of where life has taken me, that statement has proven to be true time and time again.” Adelante!

Mark Lopez ‘94 Harvard Law School “Without the incredible education I received at Columbus, I would not have been able to take advantage of all of the opportunities that became available to me. The care and dedication of Columbus’ teachers and administration truly sets it apart.” Mickey Maspons ‘81 B.A. Sociology “While at Columbus, I was encouraged to strive and challenged to attempt to reach my potential. Although Harvard can be an intimidating place, the work ethic that I was taught at Columbus served me well during my 4 years in college, during law school and throughout my professional life.” Bill O’Dowd ‘87 Harvard Law School “The education I received at Columbus more than prepared me for academic success in college, culminating with a degree from Harvard Law School. And let me tell you, there was nothing about Harvard law that was half as intimidating as Brother Kevin on the basketball court.” Basilio Paneque ‘92 B.A. English and American Literature “Looking back, I can honestly state that some of the best teachers I ever had the pleasure of learning with were those I encountered at Columbus. They, along with my highly intelligent, competitive and driven classmates were the keys to both my admission and academic success at Harvard.” 13

Gerald Pierre ‘81 B.A. Economics “Christopher Columbus High School has provided me with the fundamental academic skills necessary to achieve my life goals

Carlos Rodriguez ‘82 B.A., M.B.A. “The strong academic environment and especially the availability of Advanced Placement classes, prepared me well for college. My thanks to the faculty and administration for helping all of us build a strong foundation before going to college. Rick Suarez ‘91 B.A., M.B.A. “What sets Columbus apart, in my view, was the sense of community. It’s a lot easier to face the challenges of adapting to college life with a strong sense of self, and Columbus encouraged us all to be well-rounded, focused, and actively engaged with each other and our community. In addition, I should mention Bro. Eugene’s work with Erasmus. Few are lucky enough to get such in-depth exposure to the humanities- great preparation for both college and a thinking life in general.” Martin Thiry ‘96 B.A. History Br. Eugene Trzecieski says, “A mind made noble, leads a noble life.” It turns out to be true.

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Enrique Viciana ‘09 Harvard Student “My four years at Columbus have undoubtedly been the most formative years of my life, and not by virtue of them comprising the bulk of my adolescence; Columbus High took me from boy to young man, fostering in me the work ethic, intellect, compassion, and spiritual growth crucial to the success I hope to achieve in life. And no matter where life takes me, I will always think of Columbus as home, and my classmates as family; to this day, my best friends in the world are Columbus ‘09 and I can’t imagine a time when they wouldn’t be.” David Vivero ‘01 B.A., M.B.A. “The personalities, programs, and values at Columbus prepared me well for the undergraduate and MBA programs at Harvard, and still play a huge role in my life. I now live in California, but Columbus friends and I visit with each other and recount old stories about legendary faculty members constantly. My involvement in the nationally competitive Speech and Debate program, especially, paved the way for an entrepreneurial career that relies heavily on public speaking, building quick consensus, and thinking on my feet.” Richard Vivero ‘99 B.A. Biology “I feel that Columbus provided a well-rounded, rigorous academic curriculum that allowed me to succeed in the subsequent chapters of my life. I am forever thankful to Mr. Roche, Mr. Cannella, Br. Sheehan, and all the other great faculty at Columbus. Adelante!”

Lawrence Bell Theater Lobby Receives Customized Champagnat Artwork Thanks to Cesar Santalo (’89)

Artist and CCHS alum from the class of 1989, Cesar Santalo, recently installed his latest masterpiece in the lobby of the Lawrence Bell Theater. This portrait of Marcellin Champagnat is comprised of 77 rectangles that measures 10’x16’ . The large image is printed on PVC material and encased in plexiglass. The collage is comprised of the pictures that he used for the original Champagnat Collage that he created for the 50th anniversary celebration of the school. Cesar is currently Senior Designer for Univision Network and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. He just finished an 8.5’ x 6.5’ collage portrait of Benjamin Leon III, president and CEO of Leon Medical Centers. You can see more of his work online at www.cesarsantalo.com.

Thank you to Navy SEALs Rick Grave de Peralta (’85) and Lane Jackson (’00) and Harvard Graduates John Couriel (’96) and David Vivero (’01) for participating in our last two Columbus Connects Leadership Lecture Series.

Special thanks to the Columbus Connects Leadership Lecture Series Sponsor:

For more information on future events visit: columbushs.com/columbusconnect 15

11th Annual

Cory Barreto & Tommy Hernandez Memorial Dolphin Tournament Held at Key Biscayne Yacht Club on May 12 Raised over $22,000 for Columbus with a participation of 60 boats!

Congratulations to all the Winners! Heaviest Dolphin – Adult Anglers 1. Victor Fernandez (’80) – 36.0 lbs. 2. Brandon Garcia (’14) – 33.8 lbs. 3. Nito Garcia – 31.4 lbs. Junior Angler 1. Jose Fernando Juez – 29.4 lbs. 2. Peter Llorens – 19.8 lbs. 3. David Sosa – 18.0 lbs. Top Female Kelly Valdivia – 28.6 lbs. Heaviest Kingfish Brandon Garcia (’14) – 20.4 lbs. Heaviest Tuna Tristan Rafool – 37.2 lbs. Heaviest Demersal Jorge Sanchez - 36.2 lbs..

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24th Annual Dick Pollock/Tom O’Neil Memorial Golf Tournament Held at the Doral Golf Resort on June 2nd, raised over $120,000 for Columbus and as in years past was sold out.

First Place Winners: Blue Monster 1st Place Tim Plummber (’83) Charles Frazier Robert Cielo Javier Portal (’07) Red Course 1st Place John Adams (‘82) Jorge Sarria (‘86) Octavio Fernandez (‘83) Manny Menendez Congratulations!

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Columbus Lawyers Alumni Society (CLAS) Is Formed

Jorge Piedra presents plaque to Hon. Judge Joe Fernandez.

This organization has been in the works for several months and is now an official organization due mainly to the work of Jorge Piedra, Esq.(‘88) and Hugo V. Alvarez, Esq.(‘91) who sit on the Board of Directors along with Ray Abadin, Esq.(‘77), Raoul Cantero, Esq. (‘78); and Tom Culmo, Esq.(‘80). The organization’s first networking cocktail took place on May 23rd at Tobacco Road to honor Columbus alumni Judge Jose “Joe” Fernandez (‘81) and Judge Tomas “Tom” J. Rebull (‘88). This is the first organization of its kind from Columbus. We ask that you please help spread the word about this exciting new endeavor. To join their mailing, please contact Hugo Alvarez at halvarez@ alvarezbarbara.com or Jorge Piedra at [email protected]

CLAS’ Mission is: 1. To support our Alma mater and the CCHS Alumni Association in their respective missions for the advancement of Christopher Columbus High School; and 2. To provide a forum, events and networking opportunities to assist all Explorer attorneys in the advancement of their professional careers.

Columbus Lawyer Directory This list contains the names that we have on record. If you know of any alumni lawyers that should be included, please let us know by emailing Juan Gomez at [email protected] Ramon Abadin.................... 1977 Pablo Acosta........................1983 Christopher A. Aguirre................................. 2002 Alex Alvarez........................ 1994 Hugo V. Alvarez...................1991 Victor M. Alvarez................1978 Daniel A. Amat.................... 1973 Andres Amoedo, III........... 1990 Luis E. Arritola..................... 1973 Anthony G. Atala.............. 2002 Michael F. Audie.................. 1977 Julio J. Ayala.........................1981 Jose I. Baldor.......................1995 Christopher M. Ballard....................................1999 Henry E. Barnet...................1985 Louis M. Barrios-Balbin.....1991 Enrique N. Bascuas............1989

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Mark A. Basurto..................1986 Jose M. Berenguer............. 1975 Richard M. Bezold.............. 1974 Roberto C. Blanch..............1993 Ramon A. Blanco-Herrera....................1997 Jose A. Bonau...................... 1974 Robert C. Bowling..............1983 Jorge I. Bravo...................... 1984 Robert B. Brown.................1979 Nicholas A. Buoniconti.............................1982 John W. Byrnes...................1988 Robert J. Caminas..............1998 John A. Campbell...............1986 Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul G. Cantero................1978 Jorge L. Carbonell.............1996

Nestor J. Carbonell............1998 Michael Carmona.............. 2003 Giancarlo Casanova...........1996 Carlos B. Castillo................1985 Carlos A. Castro.................. 1973 Robert P. Charbonneau....1982 Douglas J. Chumbley........ 1974 Patrick P. Coll.......................1989 Jeffrey J. Connors..............1966 Gilbert A. Contreras..........1985 Andres Correa.....................1996 John D. Couriel....................1996 Erick Cruz..............................1999 Jorge L. Cruz-Bustillo.......1982 Thomas A. Culmo.............. 1980 Gregory J. DeChurch........1986 Ramon De La Cabada......1983 Orlando Delgado................1989 Nelson D. Diaz.....................1996

Roberto J. Diaz.................. 1990 Rolando A. Diaz................. 1984 Danny Diaz-Balart............ 2003 Albert Diaz-Silveira............1992 Jorge Diaz-Silveira.............1982 Ramon J. Diego..................1996 Arturo Dopazo....................1989 James M. Eckhart...............1962 Santiago Eljaiek, III..............1991 William G. Essig..................1992 Thomas E. Falcon...............1989 Andres A. Fernandez........1992 Arturo J. Fernandez..........1996 Hon. Jose Fernandez.........1981 Robert H. Fernandez.........1988 Enrique Ferrer.....................1997 Simon Ferro, Jr..................... 1971 Pedro P. Forment...............1982 Felipe Frias............................1991 Mario J. Garcia-Serra....... 1994 Joseph P. George............... 1972 Carlos A. Gil..........................1995 Michael A. Gil.......................1998 Alejandro J. Gonzalez.......1993 Alfredo L. Gonzalez............ 1971 Alfredo L. Gonzalez, Jr.....1996 Eusebio Gonzalez..............1988 Michael A. Gonzalez......... 1994 Christopher A. Green....... 1984 John Gregory....................... 1974 William E. Gregory.............1976 Asa B. Groves, III................. 1972 Edward G. Guedes..............1981 Nicolas J. Gutierrez...........1982 Steven M. Harper................1989 David P. Hartnett................1982 David Heffernan................. 1980 Alberto M. Hernandez......1978 Armando De Jesus” Hernandez..............1989 Fernando Hernandez........1983 Jorge L. Herrera..................1989 John W. Keller......................1970 Peter A. Lagonowicz.........1996 Steven M. Lee.......................1981

Robert A. Lesperance........1981 Rodolfo Linares.................. 1984 Elwood T. Lippincott.........1976 Mark A. Lopez.................... 1994 Peter D. Lopez.................... 1994 Christopher J. Lynch......... 1972 Carlos M. Machado............1987 Christopher R. Mank..........1987 Harold R. Mardenborough..................1985 Frederick Martin.......................... Alex A. Martinez.................1992 Juan Carlos Martinez........1988 Edward Martos................... 2001 Miguel A. Maspons..............1981 William D. Matthewman.... 1971 Augusto Maxwell.................1981 William P. McCaughan...... 1972 Frank C. Mena......................1992 Luis Menendez-Aponte.............1995 James A. Minix....................1966 Miguel F. Mirabal.................1988 Andres G. Montero........... 1984 John P. Murray.....................1985 Carlos E. Mustelier............. 1973 Albert Naon......................... 1984 Frank C. Negron..................1979 Michael A. Novo..................1985 Sean P. O’Connor...............1989 James L. O’Leary................1987 William A. O’Leary............ 1980 Kenneth L. Olsen................1963 John D. O’Neill.....................1986 Michael D. O’Neill...............1992 Phillips P. O’Shaughnessy...................1965 Roberto L. Palenzuela.......1981 Paul R. Palmer..................... 1975 Roberto R. Pardo................ 1974 Rafael A. Penalver..............1969 Tom Pennekamp.................1982 Luis J. Perdomo..................1988 Sean P. Perez........................1988 Michael P. Peterson...........1985

Martin Pico............................1987 Jorge L. Piedra....................1988 Gerald W. Pierre...................1981 Jaime A. Pozo..................... 1994 Ricardo Puente...................1988 Jose R. Puig......................... 1984 Jose L Pujol..........................1985 Jose R. Pujols.......................1982 Hon. Thomas J. Rebull......1988 Ibrahim Reyes.......................1981 Kenneth M. Rios..................1989 Richard R. Robles...............1989 Rafael J. Roca......................1979 Mark J. Rodgers.................. 1977 Alberto A. Rodriguez........1982 Francis E. Rodriguez..........1991 Jaime Rodriguez................1992 Javier J. Rodriguez............1982 Lazaro C. Rodriguez........ 1990 Oscar S. Rodriguez............1966 Andre A. Rouviere.............1982 Armando P. Rubio...............1991 Daniel Salas........................ 2003 Henry Salas...........................1982 Raul E. Salas..........................1991 Marco A. Salazar.................1993 Eduardo I. Sanchez............1983 Juancarlos Sanchez...........1997 Andres San Jorge...............1996 Charles J. Seaman.............. 1977 David A. Sierra..................... 1974 Alfred G. Smith.................... 1974 Carlos A. Somoza...............1989 Cesar R. Sordo....................1986 Michael P. Spellman...........1983 John J. Spiegel....................1967 Stephen A. Taylor...............1992 Ayuban A. Tomas.............. 1994 William Trueba Jr..............1986 Christopher M. Uterra..... 2003 Carlos A. Ziegenhirt..........1998

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Alumni in the News:

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1) Juan Cotarelo (’90), a Therapeutic Specialty Representative for Pfizer, has signed on as a Global Health Fellow to volunteer with Project HOPE in India from April – August. He will be working in the areas of non-communicable diseases, working to design lifestyle improvement programs. He is developing communication materials for improved lifestyle behaviors and learning how emerging markets are addressing new challenges such as diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. 2) Eric Evans (’09), a member of CCHS’ 1st Mas Family Scholars Program graduating class and Columbus Scholar Athlete, has enrolled in graduate school at the University of Florida where he will pursue a combined masters degree in Science and Finance. He received his undergraduate degree a year early, this past May, and is scheduled to finish graduate school just four years after graduating from Columbus. The dual enrollment and advance placement curriculum in combination with the effectiveness of his teachers allowed him to complete his college degree requirements so quickly, he said. Eric has completed internships in financial reporting with CBS in New York City and worked last summer in Denmark with OW Bunker, a global oil trading company. He also accepted a summer internship with Weiss MultiStrategy Advisers LLC, a hedge fund in New York City. 3) Warren Lally (‘03) recently graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course 267th Class at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He will be stationed in Florida at Eglin Air Force Base, with the 7th Division. 4) John Lynskey (’78), a CCHS faculty member for 28 years, served as contributing author to My Cross to Bear, musician Gregg Allman’s autobiography, which recently debuted at #2 on the New York Times 20

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best seller list. This is John’s second Allman-related book; he also contributed heavily to Skydog: The Duane Allman Story, a biography of the late guitarist which was released in 2006. John has worked in various capacities for the Allman Brothers Band since 1996. 5) Michael A. Rodriguez (‘90) has been named partner at Blank Rome, LLP. Michael is responsible for managing the Firm’s Consumer Financial Services Litigation practice for Florida out of the Boca Raton office. He represents and counsels residential mortgage loan servicers and lenders in litigation in state and federal courts, handling all phases of litigation, from initial investigation through trial and appeal, including handling a wide variety of claims relating to residential mortgage loan interests, contested foreclosure and servicing issues, including securitization and standing, claims of wrongful foreclosure, violations of TILA, RESPA, FCRA, FDCPA, ECOA and related federal and state consumer protection laws, improper mortgage loan assignment and holder in due course issues, wrongful eviction, loan modifications, lien priority, title claims, fraud, tax sales, and related servicing issues. 6) Christopher Shashaty (’83) was promoted to Vice President, Asia Pacific Business Development at Xerox Corporation. In this role, Chris is responsible for overseeing the company’s industry-leading Managed Print Services business across the Asia Pacific rim in partnership with Fuji Xerox, a $13 billion joint venture. 7) David Vivero (’01) sold his company, RentJuice, for $40M cash to Zillow. RentJuice’s 31 employees will join Zillow once the deal closes in the company’s San Francisco office.

Fernando “Fred” Foyo (’75) has retired from coaching Track and Field at Columbus. Over the last 30 years Fred’s teams and individual athletes had many successes including 11 District Championships, 2 GMAC Championships, 1 Regional Championship, and 2 State Championship runner-ups. He broke 12 of 18 school records and coached many state qualifiers including state champions Michael Putman (2 Shot Put/2 Discus), Pat Lee (Long Jump), Armando Del Valle (1600,3200,4X800), and Michael Montero (Shot Put). He thanks all those who he’s coached and says that he will never forget you. He will continue as a teacher of mathematics at Columbus.

ALUMNI ON REALITY TV

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1) Francisco Arriola (’99) is currently a contestant on the NBC reality TV show “ Love in the Wild”, hosted by actress Jenny McCarthy in the Dominican Republic. The series puts relationships to the test with wild adventures that challenge the participants, both physically and emotionally. The role of Ariolla is “the troublemaker”. He also dabbles in standup comedy, and can often be seen at the Miami Improv. 2) Marcus Lemonis (’91) Chairman and CEO of Camping World, will be featured on an episode in the upcoming season of ABC’s “Secret Millionaire” this summer. He will be working with 3 charity organizations to help provide the resources for them to succeed. This will be Lemonis’ 3rd philanthropic appearance on television in the past year. Lemonis has also appeared on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice”in 2011 and 2012, helping to raise over a million dollars for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

3 3) Jose Mas (’81) was featured in the hit CBS television show “Undercover Boss” which follows executives as they engage in a covert mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. Undercover, Mas installed transformer boxes in Fort Myers, put up turbines in Idaho, and worked on a high-voltage transmission lines and gas lines in Oklahoma and Dallas. At the end he rewarded all the employees that worked with him with thousands of dollars and by taking care of their personal needs. He even provided a $25,000 educational scholarship for the linemen to award in their name to someone in their Ft. Myers community.

To submit any updates to the Alumni in the news section, please e-mail Cristina Cruz at [email protected].

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Athletics Corner CCHS Wins Sunshine Cup All-Sports Award for a 3rd Year For the Best Athletic Program for Boys in the 8A Level in Florida

Congratulations Champion Rowers from Columbus Dominic Prego (Sophomore) Frankie Aguilar (Junior) JP Gutierrez (Senior)

Baseball

These Columbus students are part of the Miami Rowing Club Crew that won this year’s State Championship in the Men’s Varsity Lightweight 8 Category which took place in Sarasota, FL in April. This squad is currently one of the fastest boats in the nation and will compete in the nationals in June in Oak Ridge, TN. They will also be rowing on an elite team this summer, competing at the US Junior Elite Nationals and at the Royal Henley in Canada. - State Champion Runner-Up Team

Volleyball

These boys work especially hard at this incredibly gruelling sport. They practice six times a week, including Saturdays at 7:00am and unbeknown to some of their teachers are off to practice at 5:30am two to three times a week before school.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR TEAMS!

Lacrosse

- Played in the State Semifinals (1st time in the program’s history) - Regional, District, and GMAC Champions - Ranked in National ESPN Fab 50 Poll entire season

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- District Champions

Marist School Ad_Columbus

1/27/09

12:09 PM

Page 1

The Marist Brothers You might have considered it when you were at Christopher Columbus High School... Is now the time to once again consider becoming a Marist Brother? If so, and you are between the ages of 18 and 40, contact Bro. Mike Sheerin, Vocation Director, at [email protected] or (201) 823-1115.

Real brothers. Real stories. A real difference. To explore vocations or learn more about The Marist Brothers visit www.maristbr.com.

1241 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002 (201) 823-1115 • www.maristbr.com

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CCHS

SHINGLES MICHAEL J. MARTINEZ, P.A., GRI, CRS Licensed Real Estate Broker-Associate

C. 305.979.9367 O. 305.760.4151 F. 305.441.6440

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CCHS_Alum_sum09

10/1/09

9:34 PM

Page 20

To advertise in SHINGLES contact Cristina Cruz at [email protected] or call her at 305.223.5650 ext. 2256

Class of 1971

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PUBLIC ADJUSTER

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Commercial/Residential Landscaping Design Installation and Management

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Proudly serving CCHS

the carpet boutique carpet • area rugs • sisals • wood • laminates • vinyl

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