On Thursday evening, Mar. 26, the Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School community gathered for the annual Sister Dorothy Stang Symposium. This special event celebrates senior students’ efforts in completing their Senior Capstone projects—the culmination of their educational journey at CJ. As servant leaders working for justice, students reflect on the charisms of both the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Society of Marianists, which define our community.
The Sister Dorothy Stang Symposium started with introductions by Molly Bardine, capstone coordinator, and Dan Meixner ‘84, president, and featured Sister Donna Jurick, SNDdeN ’57, a recent recipient of Chaminade Julienne’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, who served as this year’s guest speaker.
Jurick mentioned that Sister Dorothy did not do a capstone project during her time at Julienne High School.
“However, I do believe that Dorothy lived a capstone,” said Jurick. “She lived among her Brazilian neighbors and, through her work in South America, committed herself to defending the rights of people because wealthy landowners were trying to steal their land. And she was devoted to protecting the environment.“
“So I think that she would understand the project that you would have done because she lived for social justice.”
Following the keynote address, attendees were invited to attend three 15-minute breakout sessions where senior capstone groups will present their social justice capstone research and projects.
Forty-four groups of seniors presented this year. They have worked since last fall on a formal proposal, a research inquiry that challenged them to create and implement projects designed to make an impact on their respective social justice issues.
Molly Bardine, senior capstone coordinator, described the symposium by saying, “The evening is a celebration of all their hard work and dedication to making an impact on their community.”
According to Bardine, the Stang Symposium stands as a testament to their faith in action and honors the life and legacy of Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN ’49, whose work among the farmers in Brazil raised awareness of human dignity and justice for the poor, and of the sustaining balance of the rainforest. Sister Dorothy was martyred on February 12, 2005, for her support of the farmers of Anapu, Brazil, and the environment. This year marks the 11th annual symposium.
“It is always wonderful to see the great turnout from the CJ community,” said Bardine. “In many ways, it is the first of many events where we recognize the work of our seniors as they prepare to graduate and find how to put their faith into action.”
Animal Care
- Animal Behavior and Well Being
Gunner Davis, Connor House, John Palmer, Ian Quiros
and Michael Scaccia
Brian Mix, Mentor - Toy Dog Service Project for SISCA
Janae Cain, Vahn Hunt and Mahaliya Hill
Logan Allen and Caroline Meadors, Mentors - For Our Feathered Friends
Clara Arias, Ruby Perez-Mendiola and Cassie Vo
Alan Rozanski, Mentor - Animal Cruelty
Brook Askew, Anna Mlazovsky, Tianna Turner and Aniya Vizcarrondo
Alan Rozanski, Mentor
Childhood Inequity
- Partnership with Shoes4theShoeless and Our Lady of Rosary
In Addressing Childhood Inequity
Egide Bahati, Emmanuel Chol, Julian Duggins and Omar Garcia
Amanda Bertke, Mentor
Disability Mindfulness
- Disability Awareness
Tymesha Farr, Charlotte Greene, Gabby Lewis, Opal Irlbeck
and Leah Thuente
John Gutendorf, Mentor
Educational Needs
- Promoting Fine Motor Skills in Young Elementary Students
Julia Cannon, Mia Di Biase, Olivia Cristiano and Tamryn Papalios
Jenna Legg, Mentor - Working with El Puente: Exploring Partnerships with Other Organizations for School Supplies
Yaindhi Duran, Carlos Minchala Pineda, Jennifer Rodriguez,
Giovanni San Juan and Ashley Veleceia
Claudia Espinoze, Mentor - Reading and Kindness Buddies—Creating a Community of Kindness, Cooperation and Friendship: Partnership with Holy Angels School
Maggie Bush and Caroline Camacho
Logan Allen and Caroline Meadors, Mentors - Literacy for Kids: Book Drive Competition for Our Lady of Rosary School
Quentin Henderson-Jacobs, Zion Juniel, Jennifer Ramos Garduno, Oliver Sugira and Zakiah Burke
John Gutendorf, Mentor - Bible Buddies: Partnership with Immaculate Conception School
Noah Gatchel, Michael Jessup, Penelope Nelson and Owen Shivadecker
Ben Kendricks, Mentor
Elderly Care
- Valentines Project for 10 Wilmington Place: The Impact of Alzheimer’s on the Elderly
Ja’kyia Jackson, Maryionna Jones and Samiya Nelloms
Mary Kate Morber, Mentor
Environmental Causes
- Big Tree Dayton: Deforestation Awareness
Isaac Fairburn, Cairo Murphy, Andrew Pendleton and Joe Sabbagh
Nancy Dever, Mentor - CJ Gardens
Mitchelle Aniebo, Elizabeth Stouder, Johanna Yvette Matota and Alicia Rains
Angela Ruffolo, Mentor - Care for God’s Creation: Partnership with Mission of Mary Farm
Regan Cope, Sofia Gabrielli, Luisa Medina and Caleb Giron Plazas
Marty Bagatti, Mentor - Loss of Habitats for Native Species: Planting a Pollinator Garden
In Partnership with Huber Heights Rotary Club
Isabelle Brinkman, Brynn Good, Paige Harsman, Nate Kargl
and Addie Woessner
Bill Richards, Mentor - River Clean Up: Testing the Water Quality, Sponsoring Clean Ups and Raising Awareness
John Blust, Aidan Kohlbacher, Quinn Koproski and Turner Koproski
Alan Rozanski, Mentor - River Clean Up: Kettering Rotary Club
Alexis Bastida and Zion Jackson
Rachel Osterday, Mentor
Health Issues Support
- Breast Cancer Awareness: Community Involvement
Cara Cross, Ellesse Dancy, Elizabeth Murray and Ava Wade
Jessica Kayden, Mentor
- Gifts of Hope: Donation Drive for Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton
Claire Lawhorn, Maddie Shillito, Avery Theibert and Callie Yunger
Amy O’ Loughlin, Mentor
- Partnership with Ronald McDonald House:
Supporting Patients with Medical Illnesses and Stress
Christian Pullins, Camden Pullins and Armando Soto
Tina Rodriguez, Mentor
Homeless Awareness
- Homelessness in the Dayton Community:
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Haley Johnson, Cora Markiewicz and Halle Newsom
Lauren Tilton, Mentor
Human Trafficking Awareness
- Human Trafficking: SOAP Up Dayton for the First Four NCAA Tournament
Natalya Garcia, Jonathan Loja and Elsie Singizwa
Karen Emmerich, Mentor
Hungry Awareness
- Children’s Hunger: Food Drive at St. Peter’s School During Lent
Adrian Colhoun, Isaac Sullivan, Carter Westendorf and Ethan Wurst
Kasey Boston, Mentor
Mental Health Awareness
- Mental Health and Music Therapy
Leaonna Sanders, Kelly Stewart and Quentin Whitfield
Caitlin Bennett, Mentor - Youth Mental Health and Pickleball – Partnership with St. Peter
William Clark, Ryan Mitchell, Anthony Schneider and Kenneth Stephen
Brian Mix, Mentor - Athletes and Mental Health
Caden Hatcher, Chase Jones, Kha’Mya Little, Deng Majack and Ezekiel Ruiz
Rhine Allen, Mentor - The Effects of Covid 19 on Teen Mental Health
Sarah Volz
Charlie Szabo, Mentor - Social Media and Mental Health in Younger Girls
Heavenly Holston and Jewel Stone Keel
Peyton Keys, Mentor - Mental Health in Girls Sports:
Partnership with Holy Angels School and Girls on the Run
Annabel Herwig, Finley Overholser and Reese Thomas
Bill Richards, Mentor - Mental Health in grades 7-12
Kiania Brown, Vanessa Chukwu, Ah’Rian Cunningham
and Daria Davis-Odom - Addressing Mental Health by Promoting Kindness
Maya Hodge, Madeline Keyes, Zoey Osenbaugh
and Julien Villasenor Millan
Maggie Rosenwald, Mentor
Nonprofit Support
- Letters of Affirmation – Partnership with Nonprofit Organizations
Isaac Abernethy, William Legg-Fritts and William Scott
Nancy Dever, Mentor
Peace Movement
- CJ Peace Ambassadors: Dayton Rotary Club, International Peace Museum and Installation of a Peace Pole on Campus
Latif Anwari, Michael Cartone, Ej Najem and Aiden Spatola
Elise Chandler, Mentor
Poverty
- Examining the impact of Poverty on Children:
Hosting Sports Equipment Drives
Alexis Amburgey, Chaz Cook, Mika Miracle-Josselyn,
Thomas Schilens and Emily Schwartz
Anthony Turner ‘04, Mentor - Sport Equipment Drive: Partnership with Immaculate Conception School
Charlie Lunne, Landon Scott and Jake Whitt
Todd Barhorst, Mentor - Households and Individuals Experiencing Poverty
Eric Daniel, Devan Donelson, Xavier Donnelly-Tomblin,
Ronald Johnson and De’Shawn Tarrant
Marty Bagatti, Mentor - Low-Income Schools and School Supplies
Alafia Awoshakin, Evelyn Barbecho Arpi, Anne Iradukunda and Carmen Ford
Gabe Lawson, Mentor
Youth Support
- Mentoring CJ Middle School Girls in the areas of Self-Esteem, Social Media and Friendships
Lily Bihl, Isla Gilman, Aubrey Kolton, Adriana Perez-Rosa and Evy Powers
Angela Ruffolo, Mentor - Partnership with Dayton Leadership Academy:
Youth Support and Engagement
Ryan Billingsley, Brianna Vineyard and Sincere White
Rhine Allen, Mentor - Partnership with Dayton Leadership Academy:
Youth Support and Engagement
Johnna Dixon, Isaiah Pate and William Ware
Rhine Allen, Mentor - Promoting Body Positivity in 7th and 8th Grade Girls:
Partnership with Bishop Liebold
Iliana Dann, Eva Godbey and Lilly Lastowski
Maura Lemon, Mentor - Greater Moments: Partnership with FLOC, For the Love of Children
Marjorie Ingles, De’Maria Garrett and Jasmine McElrath
Bill Richards, Mentor