MAY 2012

CRUSADER ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 

Dear Crusaders,

Hope all of you had a wonderful Easter. May is now upon us and there are numerous projects and events you should know about.

BIG BASH ONLINE AUCTION The Big Bash 2012 is still open. The auction will run until May 11, 2012, with proceeds going to Mater Dei Catholic High School in order to support our scholarship program. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. Tell your friends, family, and the community. Let’s go online and make a bid!

CRUSADER SPORTS HALL OF FAME

We are looking for nominations for the next class of inductees to our Crusader Sports Hall of Fame. The next induction will be on Thursday, Oct 4, the evening before this year’s homecoming football game against San Ysidro High School. If you go the following link: http://materdeicatholic.org/index.php/2011-08-30-22-10-42/crusader-hall-of-fame you can review the by-laws for nominating an individual or team to the hall of fame. You can download the nomination forms. If you feel there is someone or a team deserving to be inducted please fill out a nomination and forward it to the school and Bill Gerken either by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail to the school. Let’s get involved and nominate those Crusader athletes and teams deserving of this great honor.

ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

The Crusader Alumni Association is considering organizing Alumni Sports Tournaments.  The first of these is an Alumni Basketball Tournament. The ideas has sparked interest and alumni are thinking about their potential teams. The Class of ’89 has organized their team and are prepared to go undefeated! If you would like to put together a team of Alumni or would like to be placed on a team, let us know. Please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

YOUNG CRUSADERS ALUMNI GROUP

The Alumni Association is interested in starting a social group for young alumni. This group would be a social group with the intent of allowing you to network in a social environment with networking cocktail (Happy Hours) or luncheons. The group would meet on a monthly or quarterly basis to renew friendships, make new friends, network about possible job opportunities, et. The idea is to keep those Crusader connections fresh and helpful to you as young Crusader graduates in the San Diego area.  If any of you are interested in being part of this group and would help get this off the ground, please contact our Director of Alumni Services, Bill Gerken at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• April 30 – May 11, 2012 – Big Bash Online Auction – if you can make a donation to the auction please contact Karen Chudy ’68 at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Friday, June 8, 2012 – Graduation of the Crusader Class of 2012 – The Class of 1967 is invited to sit on the Dias with the Class of 2012 in celebration of the Class of 1967’s 45th Anniversary of their graduation from Marian.  
• Saturday, August 25, 2012 – Crusader Memorial Mass and Blessing of the Pavers. 10 AM in the Marian Chapel at MDCHS
• Thursday, Oct 4, 2012 – Crusader Sports Hall of Fame Induction –You can download a nomination form by going to the link: http://materdeicatholic.org/index.php/2011-08-30-22-10-42/crusader-hall-of-fame
• Friday, Oct 5, 2012 – Homecoming 2012 – San Ysidro vs. Crusaders in Football at 7 PM followed by Alumni Post Game Party in the gym
• Sunday, Oct 21, 2012  – 36^th Annual Crusader Golf Tournament
• Friday, March 15, 2013 – Distinguished Crusader Award Presentation – nominations are being accepted. You can download a nomination form by going to the link: http://materdeicatholic.org/index.php/2011-08-30-22-10-42/distinguished-alumni

I have been asked by Bishop Brom to become a member of the Board of Directors of Mater Dei Catholic High School. This will be my last newsletter as the President of the Crusader Alumni Association. We are in the process of looking for someone to take over the reigns as President. If you are interested in the position, please contact me. It’s been an honor to serve as President of the Association. My involvement with the school has been a wonderful and gratifying experience. I hope many of you will get involved as well. Whether we donate some of our time, show up to events, or provide financial support, it all makes a big difference!

Let me know what we can do to help the association be more supportive of Crusaders. Remember, if you are interested in getting more involved with your fellow Crusaders and would like to be part of the Crusader Alumni Board, please contact me at my email address below.

Sincerely,

Carlos Varela ‘89
Crusader Alumni Association, President
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.