Past Notes of Interest:  2008-09 ... 2007-08 ... 2006-07 ... 2005-06

Notes of Interest  2008-09

05/31 :: Michael Cryor presents keynote address to SFA graduates

Michael E. Cryor is the 2009 St. Frances Academy keynote graduation speaker Sunday, May 31st, 2009 @ 4pm St. Matthew's Catholic Church 5401 Loch Raven Blvd., 21239

Michael E. Cryor led Maryland to victory in the 2008 Presidential campaign season and set new performance records in virtually every category. As Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, he was the only African American to head a state Party, Democrat or Republican in the 50 states. Under his leadership, Maryland had the sixth largest increase (4.9%) in increased voter turnout to an estimated 67.8%. As well, Maryland organized more volunteers per capita than any other state in the nation, increased new voter registration by nearly 250,000, made more than 2.5 million telephone canvas calls into Virginia alone and increased fundraising to the highest totals in state Party history.

 

Cryor began his formal political career under the direction of the late Parren J. Mitchell, MD., Congressman from the 7th Congressional district, in the early 1980’s. He later served as campaign manager for former Congressman Michael D. Barnes in his bid for a 1986 Senate seat. This was followed by selection as a Deputy Campaign manager for then Senator Joseph Biden’s 1988 presidential effort. And in 2006, he was declared a key general in the gubernatorial victory of Governor Martin O’Malley. In addition to his campaign leadership experience, Cryor is a trusted advisor and confidant to many elected officials at all levels of government.

 

In the corporate world, he heads The Cryor Group, LLC, a business facilitation consulting firm located in Baltimore, Maryland and has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. An advisor to some of the nation’s leading corporate and non-profit organizations, he specializes in urban policy, health care and technology-based initiatives. Increasingly, his counsel has been sought by corporate clients who seek to do business with local and state governments. Now, many of those clients are seeking his counsel to build relationships with the new Executive administration. His clients include Northrop Grumman, Forest City, MWH America, Gantech, Johnson Controls, the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine, The Baltimore City School System, The International Oncology Network, CareFirst, Magna Entertainment, Colliers Pinkard and a number of state and local governments. 

 

Prior to forming the Cryor Group, he served as Executive Vice President for Susan Davis International; a well-known public affairs firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. and represented some of the nation’s best known corporations and public interest projects.

 

Cryor was also a well-known on-air television personality, hosting one of the Baltimore region’s longest running public affairs programs. For nearly ten years he co-hosted WJZ-TV’s On Time, a talk show devoted to in-depth discussions of urban and related issues.

 

Much earlier in his career, he was a psychologist and served as Director of the Department of Education and Consultation for a community mental health center affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

 

In addition to his more recent position as Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, Mr. Cryor's current and past board affiliations also include Chair of the Board of the Associated Black Charities of Maryland, Vice-Chair, Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Co-Chair, the Baltimore Believe Campaign, The Hippodrome Foundation, The Baltimore Community Foundation, The Enoch Pratt Free Library, The Constellation Foundation, The Baltimore Museum of Art and the Afro American Newspapers.

 

Mr. Cryor earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Psychology from Morgan State University and Montclair State University, respectively. Also, he is has done extensive work toward a PhD in Environmental Psychology from the City University of New York.

 

He and his wife, Erica, the Director of Development at Morgan State University, are residents of Baltimore City. They have one daughter, an international trade attorney with the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC assigned to trade compliance issues with China.

5/19 :: SFA Baseball team wins MIAA "C" conference championship.

05/19 :: Holocaust survivor Morris Rosen speaks to SFA students.

Morris Rosen

Holocaust Survivor to speak at SFA on Tuesday, May 19th at 12:30pm

On Tuesday May 19th at 12:30:00 pm, Holocaust survivor, Mr. Morris Rosen, will be speaking to over 220 St. Frances Academy students about his experience with the severe discrimination and oppression of the Nazis.  Saint Frances is a different kind of Catholic high school.  Everyday the Juniors walk into their religion class and sit down surrounded by maps of Israel and look up at the board where they are greeted everyday by a sign that reads "SHALOM".  They are in the Jewish Studies room at St. Frances. 

With a quick "Boker Tov!" (Good morning in Hebrew) to their teacher, Ms. Quabili (formerly August), they continue in their studies of the Jewish religion, Hebrew scriptures, and the Holocaust.    The Holocaust occurred between 1938 and 1945.  Precious few survivors are still alive today to tell their stories first hand.  Now 86 years old, Mr. Rosen survived the slow deterioration and ultimate annihilation of human rights and needs.  He survived a ghetto, four concentration camps, and a death march.  Every time a survivor tells their story, they are forced to relive those memories.  A few weeks ago, Mr. Rosen was honored in sharing his story of survival in front of President Barak Obama and his staff.  Mr. Rosen persists in sharing his story to send a message to future generations about tolerance and the need for peace in our communities and in our world.  Please join us in welcoming Mr. Rosen to SFA.    

04/09 :: SFA grad Angel McCoughtry ('04) selected #1 in the WNBA draft.

03/31 :: "Keeping Faith"... SFa play hosted by St. Matthew's Church, 5401 Loch Raven, 21239
03/21 :: Successful Basketball Seasons for all four teams:

• Boys Varsity Basketball team wins MIAA & BCL championships, runner-up at Alhambra.
• Boys JV Basketball team wins MIAA & BCL championships with an undefeated season.
• Boys Fresh/Soph lose in championship game.
• Girls Varsity has undefeated regular season, loses in championship game.

01/29 ::  SFA boys varsity defeats Calvert Hall in triple overtime

01/27 & 28 :: SFA closes due to hazardous weather conditions

01/19 :: SFA hosts 7th annual MLK Job Fair ... see The Catholic Review article

11/17 :: Oblate Sisters of Providence featured in most recent Ebony magazine

11/15 :: SFA grad Angel McCoughtry becomes all-time leading scorer for Louisville women

11/14 :: Milton Kent covers SFA Football.  His latest article is featured on SportsIllustrated.com

11/13 :: Eight of eleven SFA boys varsity basketball players earn 1st quarter academic honors.

07/07 :: Mr. Will Daniels (brother of the late Buddy Daniels) accepts role of SFA Facilities Manager

07/02 :: Roger Parent and Francis X. "Biff" Poggi named to the SFA Board of Advisors

Past Notes of Interest:  2008-09 ... 2007-08 ... 2006-07 ... 2005-06