2023-2024 US Wrap Up - Commencement & Spring Athletic Highlights
![commencement speaker and graduates]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1718743058/stmonicachsorg/dcdnyzdxotmi48tgfhxg/e4.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1718743058/stmonicachsorg/dcdnyzdxotmi48tgfhxg/e4.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1718743058/stmonicachsorg/dcdnyzdxotmi48tgfhxg/e4.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1718743058/stmonicachsorg/dcdnyzdxotmi48tgfhxg/e4.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1718743058/stmonicachsorg/dcdnyzdxotmi48tgfhxg/e4.jpg","width":1280}])
2023-2024 US Wrap Up - Commencement & Spring Athletic Highlights
Saint Monica Preparatory welcomed back one of our own esteemed alumni, Blake Van Putten '12 as the speaker at the 86th Annual Commencement for the Class of 2024. Van Putten is the CEO and Founder of CISE, a clothing and accessories brand based in Los Angeles with a mission to create apparel for those who are typically ignored. He was recognized by Forbes last year as a member of its 2023 30 Under 30 for Retail and Ecommerce.
Van Putten reflected on his own graduation from Saint Monica, sharing, "I had big dreams but was unsure how to achieve them. I was filled with questions about my purpose and how I could change and make a difference. I wondered how I could navigate the challenges ahead and what role I would play in the broader world." He challenged the Class of 2024 to remember the power of community: "You all have a responsibility. Embrace your responsibility to that community. Your commitment may look different than mine, right? So whether you become a teacher, an engineer, an artist, an entrepreneur, your impact matters. In a world that often seems divided, your actions can bridge gaps and bring people together." St. Monica, pray for our Class of 2024 during this exciting next chapter in their lives.
SMPREP also celebrated three more of its athletes continuing their athletic careers at the college level this fall in a special spring signing ceremony. Congratulations to Carolina Calzada headed to King University for Golf, Shadel Ffrench headed to Glendale College for Basketball and Kaya Ghobrial headed to Loyola Chicago University for Basketball. Shoutouts also go to Boys and Girls Track & Field for breaking four all-time school records this season for Boys 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay and 400M and Girls 100M. Meanwhile, Mariner Boys Golf led by Head Coach Charles Womack Jr., PGA, shot a personal best 192 this season - an impressive score unmatched by most programs in the country! Well done Mariners.
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![A Big Week for Mariner Athletics: National Headlines and League Titles]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory athletes were in the spotlight this week, earning recognition both locally and nationally. Both the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Los Angeles Times featured Kyle Williams ’20 as he prepares to take the Super Bowl LX stage with the New England Patriots in his rookie season.
On campus, Mariner teams delivered championship performances. Both Girls Varsity Soccer, with an undefeated season, and Boys Varsity Soccer, the reigning CIF Champions, are Camino Real League Champions! 8th Grade Girls Basketball captured its second consecutive league title, capping a standout week for SMPREP Athletics. All three teams will advance to the playoffs. Go, Mariners!
![How SMPREP Students Serve With Purpose]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":1280}])
Service to others is at the heart of Saint Monica Preparatory’s mission and our call to live faith in action. Throughout the year, SMPREP students actively serve our local community through meaningful, student-led initiatives that reflect compassion, leadership and responsibility for others.
"It’s powerful to witness how a single day of service can make such a meaningful difference for so many people.” - Allison Griffin '26
This fall, our school partnered with the parish’s annual Thanksgiving Feast, where more than 40 students volunteered their time to help serve over 1,000 meals. Students also hosted a Fall Blood Drive with the American Red Cross that helped save more than 150 lives, organized a Christmas toy drive benefiting the Joy Jewels of Youth Foundation, and assembled toiletry kits for the St. Robert’s Center during this week’s Catholic Schools Week.
![From Campus to College Success: SMPREP Students and Alumni Shine]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory students continue to thrive. We welcomed back alumni Cassidy Hart ’25 and Daniel Dyaz ’25, who spoke about their transition from SMPREP to Boston College and the University of Southern California, respectively. President Dr. Luby also connected with four Notre Dame students during a leadership conference at the University of Notre Dame, where they reflected on how their Mariner experiences laid the foundation for leadership roles in college.
As for our Class of 2026, Maile Ordonez was named a 2025 QuestBridge National College Match Scholar and matched with Emory University on a full four-year scholarship covering tuition, housing, meals and even travel back home to California! Both Valentina Chavarry and Tomas Officer earned early admission to the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the top-ranked film school in the country.