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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
November 19, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
Bellarmine President’s Award Presented to Frank Fanger
in Recognition of 25 Years of Volunteer Service
Bellarmine College Preparatory
held its 41st Annual President’s Award
Dinner the evening of October 29 at the
Samuel A. Liccardo Campus Center.
The donor recognition event, attended
by 250 guests, culminated with the
presentation of the President’s Award,
given each year to those who have
demonstrated support to Bellarmine
in a variety of ways.
This year’s honoree, Frank Fanger,
received the award from Chris Meyer-
cord, president of Bellarmine, in recog-
nition of Fanger’s 25 years of volunteer
service on Bellarmine’s immersion trips
to Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico, during
which houses are constructed by stu-
dents and adult leaders. “Not only has
Frank led the trip every year since 1994,
but he also devotes tremendous energy
to add special touches, for example,
making beautiful hand-crafted crosses
for all the family members with whom
we work,” said Meyercord.
With this background in mind,
Bellarmine student Roberto Davila, a
junior, designed and constructed this
year’s unique award in the shape of a
cross, using a combination of wood
and stone materials. The award was
designed and crafted in Bellarmine’s
Maker Lab under the supervision
of faculty moderator David Dutton.
Another Bellarmine student, senior
Marcus Ponce, shared a reflection about
his two Tijuana Immersion experiences
and thanked benefactors for their sup-
port of the school.
During his acceptance remarks,
Fanger, a carpenter by trade who re-
tired in 2013 after working for Trim
Tech, Inc. for 26 years, thanked the
Bellarmine student Roberto Davila (left) cre-
ated the 2019 President’s Award presented
to Frank Fanger (center) by school president
Chris Meyercord. (Photo by Al Bacosa,).
many people who have journeyed with
him on immersion missions over the
years, and read excerpts from the book,
Lives Built on Hope: Spiritual Insights from
an Unlikely Missionary, written by his
friend Howard Major, who introduced
him to Bellarmine’s Tijuana Immersion
opportunity in the early 1990s.
While a parent at Bellarmine, in ad-
dition to his immersion volunteer work,
Fanger was a member of the Dads’ Club
Board, an entity through which many
current Bellarmine fathers participate
on the Tijuana Immersion trip. Fanger
and his wife, Kathy, have a son, Brian, a
graduate of Bellarmine and Santa Clara
University; and a daughter-in-law,
Yamili, whose family’s house in Mexico
they helped build during a mission
coordinated by another organization
for which they also volunteer.
Bellarmine’s Immersion Program,
which provides students opportunities
for solidarity and service, encompasses
19 trips domestically, nationally, and
globally.
Saint Lucy Eighth Graders Lead School Service Project
Inspiring students to see beyond
themselves and give back to help others
as Jesus teaches us, is part of Saint Lucy
School’s whole child education.
In addition to a core academic focus,
students learn through action that
their ideas can make a difference in
the world.
The annual faith-based school
themes are relatable and help these
concepts come alive. “Faith Plants the
Seed; We Make It Grow!” is the 2019-20
School theme. The concept of working
together to grow our faith and touch
others is woven through the entire cur-
riculum and is explored every month
through the Family Groups Program.
Each Saint Lucy Family Group con-
sists of one eighth grade leader and one
student from each of the other grades.
The leaders focus on Catholic values,
integrity, effective communication, and
desire to learn as they explore a new
topic each month with their younger
group members. They often read a
short story, develop thought questions
and lead peer to peer discussions be-
fore completing a craft together.
This month, the topic was intro-
duced and implemented by the leader-
ship of 8th grader Lilly Tebaldi. Having
been personally touched by cancer
through family friends, Lilly proposed
an idea to support “The Scarlett Fund”
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center that supports and raises aware-
ness for pediatric cancer.
Lilly joined fellow eighth grade lead-
By Coby
ers in working with their Family Groups
to create Thanksgiving cards and letters
for patients at the cancer center. This was
the topic of the Family Group meeting.
Over 250 cards and notes were writ-
ten to 7 young patients at the center.
The mail brought kindness and love
to those who are suffering, from one
child to another. A representative from
the “Scarlett Fund” shared a lovely
thank you, reinforcing the impact of the
simple gesture of a handmade Thanks-
giving card. “...Thank you to everyone
who helped create and deliver these
special packages. Please know that
together we made a difference. Today,
we gave someone hope. And Love.”
Invitation to God
Buckling knees sinful soul I present you.
Uniquely only you know the life I have already in me.
God,
You are my giver of joy and hope
I yearn you to fill me with your peace
And take my struggles for a purpose you have meant for me.
Having you on my side is all I need to know to make it worth it.
Jamming to your bounty happy to feel your presence
Heartily fondly feeling you my true rescue and safety.
Writing Contest Winner
Elise Fowler, a seventh grade student at Resurrection School in Sunnyvale,
was awarded 2nd place in the 2019 Adventure Story Writing Contest sponsored
by Beyond the Box Learning.
(Editor’s Note: Coby is an 11 year-old autistic student in the Faith Formation
Program at Saint Nicholas and Saint William Parish. His love for God truly shows
us all how we can come to God and be open to his love and grace. This is reprinted
with his and his parents’ permission)