Five hundred career wins! Men’s Basketball Head Coach Randy Bennett celebrates with the team in February 2023 / Photo by Tod Fierner
Saint Mary’s in the News: Highlights from 2023
National headlines—and the power of the Gael community: a month-by-month look at some of the news stories from 2023 that capture milestones and moments of delight at SMC.
The year 2023 got off to a roaring start for the Saint Mary’s community: with the Men’s Basketball team ranked nationally, Coach Randy Bennett racking up his 500th win, and the team returning to in March. Before the year was out, SMC was recognized for the first time as a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institute Leader, with College faculty also securing landmark grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support their teaching and research.
SMC Students earned national headlines and a feature spot on ABC’s “Good Morning America” for their support of Be the Match, a national program for blood marrow donors. You could catch television feature stories on students who beat the odds to attend college—and who caught the attention of the world with a lawsuit with ambitions to save the planet.
The Saint Mary’s Museum of Art made news hosting exhibits by Lisa Congdon ’90 and Corita Kent. Alumni earned recognition in the NBA and women’s basketball in Australia, Major League Baseball and football, documentary film and journalism, education and police work—and so much more.
From “Students as Superheroes” to new tools for NASA, basketball victories to a Latin GRAMMY nomination, here’s how various media sources told Saint Mary’s stories month-by-month. This story is the second of a three-part series. Be sure to check out the first installment, the top stories from Saint Mary’s NewsCenter. And explore a full list of SMC in the News here.
January
Saint Mary's continues to lead the West Coast Conference. They’re the only unbeaten team left in conference play. Take a look at rankings based on metrics of performance on the court and the Gaels are in the Top 10 in the nation.
Remembering Sculptor Bruce Wolfe, Whose First Major Commission Was at Saint Mary’s
The bronze sculpture of Saint John Baptist de la Salle has long held a commanding presence at the heart of the Saint Mary’s campus. That sculpture was created by artist Bruce Wolfe, who died in December 2022 at the age of 81. This heartwarming tribute in the San Francisco Chronicle by writer Sam Whiting traces Wolfe’s life and career: from the striking bronze figure for Saint Mary’s to sculptures of Clint Eastwood, Secretary of State George Shultz, singer Tony Bennett, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
February
SMC Partnership with Be the Match Featured By ABC7 and ‘Good Morning America’
“Students as Superheroes” is the headline used by ABC as the network reported from Saint Mary's on a partnership between the College and Be the Match. The Saint Mary's community has been working to add volunteers to the National Bone Marrow Registry. It's one simple way we can help save lives. Read more and watch the story shared on local news and rebroadcast nationally on Good Morning America.
On the eve of a milestone moment with Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball, Coach Randy Bennett has turned Gaels into a West Coast Conference contender via player relationships and Australia pipeline, writes The Mercury News. With an eye on some of the players leading the team, the San Francisco Chronicle features “Saint Mary’s ‘3 brothers’—Kyle Bowen, Alex Ducas, and Logan Johnson—set for Senior Night.”
March
The Gaels journey to Albany, New York, and best Virginia Commonwealth University in the first round.
KRON-TV also takes a look at how Also check out in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Athletic tells the story of how, in 2021, the SMC star and NBA veteran launched a basketball league to bring the game to those who couldn’t easily access it. His goal: a focus on education, and nurturing a sense of history and identity.
April
SMC is one of few institutions to receive multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Together, the grants will bolster interdisciplinary partnerships and benefit underserved student populations.
Ken Waldichuk, the franchise’s top pitching prospect, got his start on the mound in Moraga.
May
New Presidential Responsibilities for Angélica Garcia ’98 — in California and for the White House
She began serving as president of Santa Rosa Junior College in July. And President Biden announced he would name her to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
The podcast Autism Goes to College follows the path of Tony, a student who navigated his way to the right college when he landed at Saint Mary’s. Things were going so well that he wanted to bring Julie Scaff, Director of Student Disability Services, on the podcast with him to talk about the peer student success mentors, internship opportunities and other support the school offers to students on the spectrum, and others with learning differences.
June
For nearly 50 years, two traditions could be counted on at Saint Mary’s: the church bells ringing on the hour and Brother Camillus Chavez greeting students with a smile wider than the Spanish-style arcades that fold the campus into the hills of Moraga. A remembrance by Sam Whiting for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Valenzuela was SMC’s head baseball coach for six seasons before leaving for Long Beach State. His winning percentage is the highest of any coach in program history, and he led the Gaels to their lone NCAA postseason appearance in 2016. Meanwhile MLB.com offered a rundown of “
The Post announces that Murray takes on the role bringing “a record of running award-winning coverage and a deep understanding of the changing world of sports journalism…He brings a keen appreciation for the power of sports coverage to connect with readers and for the lens it offers into broader issues in our world such as health, equity, race and gender.”
Kian Tanner, one of the young people who successfully sued the state of Montana to take action on climate change, plans to come to Saint Mary’s in the fall. The Scientific American tells the story of the successful suit.
July
The PBS NewsHour talks with Coogler, whose directing credits include Black Panther and Fruitvale Station, and whose journey to filmmaking began at SMC. Also check out .
covered the Bay Area premiere of this groundbreaking work in July 2023, featuring the San Jose-based Mariachi Azteca led by Sixto Montesinos, who heads instrumental studies at Saint Mary’s.
The Washington Post reports on how Maya Alcantara ’22 joined the team for the Philippines as they were on their way to their first appearance in the World Cup. Meanwhile in rugby, the World Rugby U20 competition kicked off—with
The Australian National Basketball League looks at the connections SMC has with hoops play. Also check out this feature on .
After two years serving as President of Saint Mary’s, Richard Plumb announced in March 2023 that he would step down at the end of June 2023. Brother Thomas Jones, FSC, was named as Interim President and stepped into that role in July 2023 while Saint Mary’s began a search.
August
The NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute features work by Jared Ralleta ’24, making sure that a national audience knows about his work—reads the profile written by SMC Staff Writer Hayden Royster.
In the wake of devastating wildfires on Maui, the Men’s Basketball team plays an exhibition game for charity in Hawaii. , , , and other media outlets spread the word.
Pro soccer comes to the SMC Stadium when the Earthquakes II host Austin. Big news comes before the year is out: that The Town FC will play a series of pro soccer games at Saint Mary’s beginning in 2024.
September
At Saint Mary’s, the renowned poet was recognized as Professor of the Year. Her most recent collection earns , as does the latest from SMC . Read Hillman’s .
CBS News Bay Area traces the journey of student Mayra Jiménez, from her arrival in the US to learning English, from working in the fields to studying at Saint Mary’s.
The unique instrumental combo gets a nod in the prestigious awards competition, with the ceremony hosted in Spain for the first time.
A first-generation Mexican American who was raised by parents who always emphasized the importance of education, Annalouisa Gonzalez-Ortega ’96 was a translator for her family at an early age and learned to become her own advocate early in her educational journey. She’s also the first person in her family to apply, be accepted, attend, and graduate (with two bachelor’s degrees) from Saint Mary’s.
Sports Illustrated reports that Sacramento's hometown hero—and a Gael standout on the basketball court—is getting the opportunity to make the Kings roster.
October
Local media including SF/Arts and , as well as national magazines draw attention to the exhibits “Hold It Lightly” by Lisa Congdon and “heroes and sheroes” by Corita Kent at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art. Consider them among
The San Francisco Chronicle profiles new Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jeff Cammon—who has big ambitions for the team.
and shine a spotlight on the Gaels basketball player. The San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at how And , , , and others make their predictions for the 2023–24 season.
Pope Francis released a new Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum, calling urgent attention to the climate crisis and highlighting his “heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home.” Here’s what that means for SMC.
The Berkeley Poetry Slam showcases poets who compete weekly for cash prizes in the longest-running poetry slam on the West Coast, Joanne Furio MFA ’16 writes for Berkeleyside. The winner of the slam on the featured night: Mallory Asis ’27, a first-year student at Saint Mary's.
November
Along with receiving recognition from the U.S. State Department as a Top Fulbright Scholar Producer, Saint Mary’s is for the first time named a .
Marty Kinsey guided the Gaels to their highest WCC Championship finish (3rd) and team score (89) in 32 years. For the first time since 1990, Saint Mary's had three women finish in the top 13.
Recognized earlier in 2023 as a “,” Holly Joshi MA ’16, PhD ’22 takes on a new role with Oakland. Before studying at SMC, she served with the Oakland Police Department.
December
The Associated Press reports on the Gaels’ upset victory over the nationally-ranked Rams on their home court. WCC Sports takes , especially on the heels of the SMC the same week.
The Denver Post serves up a big feature on University of Colorado women’s basketball Head Coach JR Payne ’99 and Toriano Towns ’98, whose careers have been intertwined since they first met as student-athletes at Saint Mary’s. They have used their tried-and-true blueprint to accomplish a major turnaround for the Buffaloes.
Saint Mary’s hosts the Mayor of Moraga for a community update. And it’s official: The Town FC will partner with Saint Mary’s to play pro soccer at the SMC Stadium.
Saint Mary's Sociology Professor Robert Bulman studies the representation of teens and high schools in film and wights in on the discussion in The New York Times.
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