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AVID Gives Mrs. Madsen’s Hamilton Middle Schoolers 2 College Tours

chris — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:19:49 +0000

Originally published by a NovatoAVID blog for the Novato Patch. http://novato.patch.com/users/novatoavid/blog_posts

On a beautiful spring Tuesday, Tanya Madsen’s Advance Via Individual Determination (AVID) students from Hamilton Meadow Park School converged on the Saint Mary’s College of California and the University of California at Berkeley campuses.

The importance of first-generation, college-bound youths visiting a college campus during the middle school years might be a catalyst in ”changing the cycle” of poor educational opportunity for students and families. Last week, Ms. Madsen approached North Bay Youth Academy/Novato Chess Club (aka HYA) regarding a tour of Saint Mary’s for her seventh- and eighth-grade AVID students.

HYA met her students at the St. Jean Baptist de La Salle statue on the Moraga campus. In 1863, the college was founded on the the Lasallian, Catholic and liberal arts mission of educating the poor. As a 1983 SMC graduate, we embrace the Lasallian mission of “inclusive education,” so meeting these wonderful young people is fulfilling the mission and faith.

During our two-hour tour, we engaged a diverse group of undergraduates who were more than willing to impart their knowledge, each providing personal reflections on their journey to college. None more poignant than the Remy Smith-Lewis, ’12, who is graduating May, 19. He reflected on his AVID trip as a high school sophomore.

“This is so unique for me to talk with you today, as I remember being a AVID student and making a trip like this, as if it were yesterday,” Remy said. Initially he attended a school in the South then transferred to SMC in his second year of college.

We met SMC basketball star Mitchell Young, ’13, in the dining hall, and he spent 10 minutes addressing the youngsters. Hamilton students never met anyone from Australia, so it was a unique experience for one young man who asked, “Are you from Russia?” It is educational moments like these that are the catalyst to understanding a broader world view. I am sure Ms. Madsen had the map of Australia and Russia ready for them on Wednesday at school.

We visited the library, dining hall, theater, a Socratic classroom, engaging several students who truly represented what the Lasallian mission is all about. As the Hamilton Hawks boarded the bus toward the next stop, UC Berkeley, I was inspired by how a college trip of 30 students can be an unexpected life changing experience for elementary/middle school kids. Many thanks to Ms. Madsen, who understands a classroom education is but a small part of the overall motivation.

By raising the expectation of AVID students; they see themselves in college — college students of the future. However, individual inspirations are a matter of choice.

Read here about my personal life-changing experience and passion in the Saint Mary’s College of California, Alumni Magazine, Cover Story, Autumn 2008, “Paying it Forward, Sharing the Spirit.”

McAfee Was Pioneer Who Too Few Knew, by Monte Poole

admin — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:54:40 +0000

MCAFEE WAS PIONEER WHO TOO FEW KNEWApril 2, 2009

People like Miles McAfee, whose name may not be familiar unless you hold a microscope to local sports history. He was fairly well-known inside baseball circles but relatively anonymous to the general public.The shame of it is these immense contributors to the lives and families of others all too often get overlooked. “I honestly can say Miles was underrated,” Willie McGee, the former major leaguer who grew up in Richmond, said Tuesday. “What he did, what he stood for

LIKE LIFE in general, sport is teeming with accomplished individuals who walk softly, giants whose footprints are best measured not by sheer size but by depth of character and influence. His legacy, it’s all grossly underappreciated.”

McAfee, who died last month at age 76, was a pioneer, a man of sound reason, insistent fairness and unyielding conviction. He stood up for those around him, no matter their age, race or stature.

Which is why a celebration of McAfee’s life held last week in Kensington was attended by a vast assortment of Bay Area baseball figures, from Skip Naler, the former trainer at Saint Mary’s College, to journeyman pitcher Anthony Telford, who spent more time in the minor leagues than the majors, to Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan.

All were honorary members of McAfee’s extended family.

McAfee may or may not be best known for his work at Saint Mary’s, where after 12 years as a Pittsburgh Pirates scout he was head baseball coach from 1973 through 1980. The first African American to become a head baseball coach at the Division I level, he is the Gaels’ all-time winningest coach.

“I had no idea,” McGee said. “He never talked about it.”

McAfee sent five players from Moraga to the majors in eight years; only three have advanced in the following 28. Some of his recruits, like Von Hayes and Tom Candiotti, became All-Stars. Others, like Michael Young and Broderick Perkins, made a distinct impression.

McAfee was committed to youngsters from Bay Area high schools and community colleges, as they made up the vast majority of his rosters.

Fired after the 1980 season, McAfee opened an agency in Oakland. Golden Gate Sports Management represented stars (Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, McGee, Chili Davis, Eric Davis), solid players (Bip Roberts, Gary Pettis, Kevin Bass, Dan Gladden, Marquis Grissom) and journeymen (Johnny Rabb, Scott Bullett and Telford).

“This guy could have done anything in baseball,” McGee said. “He could have been a GM. He had that kind of intellect. If only they had given him a chance.”

Telford, speaking during the memorial service, captured the essence of McAfee, explaining that Miles treated all clients like family. The San Jose State product stated proudly that he and his wife, 20 years later, still use the chicken recipe they borrowed from Miles’ widow, Lynn.

Or maybe it was Chili Davis, who also said a few words, who best described McAfee, speaking of the man’s penchant for direct language and his voice, distinctive for its alternating pitches.

Morgan declined to speak because, he said, he was afraid he’d get too emotional when discussing his friend and former business partner. His eyes grew moist at the thought.

Filling in for Morgan – or anyone else reluctant to address those paying respects – was Chris Major, a former student body president and two-sport star at Moreau Catholic High and the last player McAfee recruited to SMC. Major is committed to having the school properly acknowledge his old coach.

“I want Saint Mary’s to establish a scholarship fund that’s going to support the ideals Miles stood for,” Major, a 1983 SMC graduate, said. “I also think they should retire his uniform, No. 11. I mean, wow, look how many people he affected. Miles symbolized the concept that nobody should have to take a back seat to anyone else.”

In McAfee’s book, “Four Generations of Color,” he expressed disappointment at not being invited back to SMC – not even for a function honoring Hayes and Candiotti in the 1990s.

So McAfee showed up as the guest of an alumnus who recognized him as someone who made a difference in the lives of hundreds of young men. Which is all McAfee ever wanted to do.

Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Magazine “Paying it Forward”

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:29:24 +0000

Saint Mary's College Alumni Magazine, Autumn 2008

When he was at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Christopher Major ’83 accomplished a lot as the football quarterback and a baseball outfielder, along with being the first black class president.

But he didn’t think much about where he would go to college.

“I had a goal for college, but not much of a plan,” he says. “I was just in the moment every day. Until the day Saint Mary’s College gave me a plan.”

That day came when the Moreau baseball team played De La Salle, and then-SMC coach Miles McAfee was in the stands.

The next thing Major knew, he was offered a baseball scholarship at Saint Mary’s. Major’s high school grades weren’t great; he remembers having a 2.6 or 2.7 GPA. But he was accepted into Saint Mary’s High Potential Program, which offers access and support services to students from historically low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Major did well at Saint Mary’s, and after graduating he spent years working in the corporate world as an insurance risk manager, loan officer and insurance agent. He now looks back at the 1980s as a time when financial success and material values were more important than helping others and giving back to the community.

The academy provides comprehensive educational, recreational and support services for youths ages 9 to 15. The program focuses on academics, athletics, life coaching and health and nutrition support. It also provides assistance to families and guardians through community resource information and parenting workshops.

Major, who also works with the YMCA Eden Area and the Treeview Little League in Hawyard, says anyone can make a difference through volunteering with young people.

“The time you spend with kids tells them that they have value,” Major says. “I deal with a lot of wealthy kids whose parents want to write me a check. I say, ‘Write me a check, but also come down here and help the kids.’ When parents and guardians spend time with children, they start to learn more about their own kids’ fears and aspirations.”

Read the Rest on Saint Mary’s…

Saint Mary’s College Alumnae “Paying it Forward”

admin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:48:14 +0000

When he was at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Christopher Major ’83 accomplished a lot as the football quarterback and a baseball outfielder, along with being the first black class president. But he didn’t think much about where he would go to college. “I had a goal for college, but not much of a plan,” he says. “I was just in the moment every day. Until the day Saint Mary’s College of California gave me a plan.” That day came when the Moreau baseball team played De La Salle, and then-SMC coach Miles McAfee was in the stands. The next thing Major knew, he was offered a baseball scholarship at Saint Mary’s. Major’s high school grades weren’t great; he remembers having a 2.6 or 2.7 GPA. But he was accepted into Saint Mary’s High Potential Program, which offers access and support services to students from historically low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds.

In the mid-90s, Major realized that he had “hit the wall” in his career, and he decided that he wanted to work with young people. He received a teacher’s credential and taught special education students. Major dreamed of starting a small nonprofit company for disadvantaged youngsters. In 2005, he started the Hayward Youth Academy, where he is the president. The academy provides comprehensive educational, recreational and support services for youths ages 9 to 15. The program focuses on academics, athletics, life coaching and health and nutrition support. It also provides assistance to families and guardians through community resource information and parenting workshops.

Major, who also works with the YMCA Eden Area and the Treeview Little League in Hawyard, says anyone can make a difference through volunteering with young people. “The time you spend with kids tells them that they have value,” Major says. “I deal with a lot of wealthy kids whose parents want to write me a check. I say, ‘Write me a check, but also come down here and help the kids.’ When parents and guardians spend time with children, they start to learn more about their own kids’ fears and aspirations.”

Read the Rest on Saint Mary’s…