Mahopac HS Alumni Newsletter
Spring 2024, Volume 1, Issue 1
Welcome to the First Edition!
It is with great excitement and pride that we unveil the first edition of our Alumni Newsletter. As graduates of Mahopac High School, you are an integral part of our vibrant community, and this newsletter serves as a dedicated platform to keep you connected, informed, and engaged.
As we grow this newsletter, we hope to provide a wealth of content designed to reconnect you with fellow alumni, celebrate achievements, and provide valuable insights into the latest developments within the Mahopac Central School District. From updates on alumni events and accomplishments to profiles of distinguished graduates making a difference in their fields, we aim to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among all members of our alumni family.
As we embark on this journey together, we encourage you to share your stories, accomplishments, and memories with us. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned alum, your contributions are what will make this newsletter truly special.
Thank you for being a vital part of our alumni community. We look forward to staying connected and celebrating our shared experiences in the editions to come.
Alumni Spotlight
David Gordon, Class of 1993
Dave left for Parris Island, SC and entered boot camp for the United States Marines a few days after graduating high school in 1993. He worked as a manager, in finance, and in software design while completing his degree to become a teacher. Dave shared, "After student teaching at the middle school, Mr. Paul Lenci wanted me on staff so badly that he created a position to hold me in the district. It was such a pleasure developing a professional relationship with the man who I knew as a child as an assistant principal."
Dave is currently teaching 8th grade at Mahopac Middle School and is completing his 24th year serving the community in which he grew up. Dave is a union leader and over the past 20+ years has served as the Mahopac Teachers Association President and the Grievance Chairman. During his tenure at Mahopac, he has had the privilege of being selected as a fellow for the National Holocaust Memorial Museum and as the 2021 James Madison Memorial Senior Fellow from New York. In recent years, he has begun teaching other teachers and has helped develop young teachers through mentoring and student teaching roles.
In addition, Dave has published several short stories, a number of editorials, and four fiction novels to date. His first novel, The Outhouse, was awarded best historical fiction by CIPA and also won a Book Excellence Award. He has also been honored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) for his community service work and advocacy on the part of others. Dave writes, "Probably most important of all, I met my wife in Mahopac. She teaches English at the middle school. Together, we volunteered countless hours early in our career to work with the Grace Foundation to teach students to be leaders and celebrated their success with scholarships provided by the foundation."
When asked about his favorite staff member, Dave shared, "While I had the pleasure of having dozens of great teachers, I would have to say that Chris DelCampo stood out as my favorite. Mr. DelCampo had passion and wore it on his sleeve for all to see. He loved what he did and you could feel that as a kid in his class. I had the honor of working with him when I returned to Mahopac as a teacher and still keep in touch with him from time to time to this day. I know that many of my graduating class chose the teaching profession as a career path and that was because we had phenomenal teachers."
Dave and his wife live in LaGrangeville and recently adopted Dino, a Great Dane and adds, "Sharing your home with a large dog is an adventure!"
Holly Block, Class of 2017
Holly Block is a multifaceted artist encompassing roles as a singer, actor, dancer, director, choreographer, songwriter, and scriptwriter. A 2017 graduate of Mahopac High School, Holly actively participated in various productions while balancing her education with performances in off-Broadway shows in Manhattan. She was a key cast member of the Mahopac Drama Company, performing as Sandy in “Grease,” Margot in “Legally Blonde,” Essie in “You Can’t Take It with You,” and a member of the ensemble in “Hairspray” — in addition to being the assistant choreographer for the Drama Company’s production of “Pippin.” Holly also served as president of the Pacappellas, the acapella performing group at MHS.
Following high school, Holly dedicated herself to her passion for musical theater, attending the esteemed Circle in the Square Theater School, a place she dreamed of since she was 12 years old. The school boasts notable alumni like Idina Menzel and Lady Gaga. Holly co-wrote "Safe & Sound: The Musical," an original, award-winning musical that has gained significant attention. "Safe & Sound: The Musical" highlights important themes such as mental health, self-love, toxic masculinity, equality, and kindness. After achieving licensing by NBC, the musical's songs garnered acclaim at the Front Row Fringe Festival, securing 10 out of 12 awards.
Despite struggling with dyslexia from a young age, Holly has consistently overcome challenges in pursuit of her artistic dreams. She leverages her platform to give back through musical theater, producing, directing, and starring in shows that raise funds for various charities. In addition to her theatrical endeavors, Holly has launched a successful 5-star luxury mobile spray tanning business, which is dedicated to promoting confidence, beauty, and body positivity.
Looking ahead, Holly is excited to continue her personal and professional growth, with aspirations to one day start a family and share her love of music in a familial ensemble reminiscent of the Von Trapp family.
For more information about Holly's ongoing projects and personal journey, visit her website at www.holly-block.com.
Joseph Koch, Class of 2023
Joey Koch, MHS '23, is a Freshman at SUNY Albany majoring in Human Development. While at MHS, he was a three sport captain (football, basketball, and baseball) who was a leader on and off the field. "I made lifelong friends and memories at MHS that I'll never forget," said Koch. "I'm proud to tell people I grew up in Mahopac. It's the reason I am who I am today and definitely helped me prepare for the next level where I am playing D1 football at SUNY Albany."
Two of Joey's favorite staff members are Anthony Nappi and Shaun McGee. While Nappi and McGee were two of Joey's teachers, they also coached Joey in baseball. Joey shared, "For my senior year of baseball, I was coached by Mr. Nappi and Mr. McGee. I didn't see them as just some teachers in my school but as people I could go to about anything and know they always had my back."
After college, Joey plans to become a teacher and eventually put his love and aptitude for athletics to work as an Athletic Director in a school district. We wish Joey the best of luck as he completes his first year in college and in the future!
Get in the Spotlight in a Future Newsletter
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School Budget 2024-2025
Do you live in Mahopac? The annual School Budget Vote and Trustee Election is on May 21, 2024 from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. at Mahopac High School. You can find Budget information here.
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