Alumni Stories
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6
Anthony Fitzgerald (Class of 2020): From Saints Swim to USC, A Journey of Perseverance and Purpose
After graduating summa cum laude from Wheaton College, where he served as co-class president and competed all four years on the swim team, Anthony continued his academic and athletic journey at the University of Southern California. Now in his fifth year of eligibility due to COVID accommodations, he is completing a master’s degree in Public Diplomacy and will graduate this December.
While at Wheaton, Anthony qualified for the NCAA Championships every year, and in his final two years, he earned top-10 finishes at the Division III national level in his breaststroke events. In 2023, he placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:56.83, marking the 11th-fastest performance in Division III history.
At USC, Anthony transitioned to Division I competition and rose to the challenge, finishing 11th on the men’s team and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100 breaststroke. At the team banquet, he was honored with the USC Swimming & Diving “Unsung Hero” award, recognizing his quiet leadership, relentless work ethic, and selfless contributions to team culture.
Anthony and his brother Tate, also a Crean Lutheran graduate, speak often of the firm foundation that Crean Lutheran provided—spiritually, academically, and athletically. Their family credits the Christ-centered environment at Crean Lutheran as a springboard for both of their continued growth and success in service to God’s kingdom.
As Anthony looks ahead to future opportunities in diplomacy, public service, or international advocacy, he remains rooted in the values that first shaped him as a Saint. His story is a testament to what’s possible when faith, perseverance, and purpose align.
Jacqueline Orr (Class of 2014): From Crean Lutheran to the Army to MIT, A Journey of Service and Innovation
Jacqueline Orr, Crean Lutheran High School Class of 2014, exemplifies the school’s core learning outcomes: I am a Christian; I am a Learner; I am a Servant. These traits, grounded in her faith and a Biblical worldview, have been the foundation of her success—whether in high school, college, or life beyond.
After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Jacqueline served for six years with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy—a unit renowned for its combat readiness and NATO integration. Reflecting on her time in the Army, Jacqueline shared, “Airborne units require overcoming an additional litmus test—conquering the fear of jumping from high-performance aircraft, hundreds of feet above the ground.”
While her time in the Army was both challenging and rewarding, Jacqueline’s passion for learning and her servant-hearted approach led her to pursue advanced studies in structural engineering at MIT. Inspired by her senior design project at West Point, she became fascinated with modeling structures and analyzing their behavior under various forces. This curiosity and desire to innovate motivated her to explore topology optimization—a cutting-edge field in engineering.
Jacqueline was awarded the prestigious Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship, allowing her to join the Carstensen Lab at MIT. Under the guidance of Professor Josephine Carstensen, she is exploring ways to optimize structures for strength and efficiency. Jacqueline is grateful for the opportunity to study at MIT, where, she says, “The expertise and innovative research have made this an amazing experience.”
Looking to the future, Jacqueline plans to apply her knowledge in a research-oriented career as part of her DoD service commitment. Her journey serves as an inspiring example of how faith, determination, and a passion for learning can lead to extraordinary opportunities. As a true Saint, Jacqueline continues to live out the principles of being a Christian, a Learner, and a Servant in all she does.
Michael Hammerle ('14)Crean Lutheran High School Alumni Michael Hammerle is currently on the Advancement Cabinet at Crean Lutheran High School and Press On Campaign participant.
Jackie Lari ('18)Received 'Goalie of the Week" from Mia Nation Sports League in September 2019.
Forrest Case ('15) Alumni Forrest Case has been voted Point Loma Nazarene University's Associated Student Body President.
Kyle Betz ('17) San Diego State's Daily Aztec Sports featured Crean Lutheran Alumni Kyle Betz (Class of 2017) on their spring sports game segment called 'In the Hoop'.
Cooper McCoy ('15)Crean Lutheran High School Alumni Cooper McCoy ('15) was featured on Spokane Public Radio and Good Day Spokane for his role in Gonzaga University's original play Coming Home: A Soldiers' Project. (2/2/18)
Tae Hyeon Kim ('13)CLHS Graduate Interprets for Trump (11/8/17)
William Perry ('17)Crean Lutheran Alumnus William Perry ('17) who is attending Bucknell University had a recent scare after contracting the virulent meningitis B strain. By the Grace of God, he has made a full recovery. The Perry family desires to share what they have learned. Click here to read more.
Jacqueline Orr ('14)Jacqueline is currently attending West Point - The U.S. Military Academy where she and her teammate won first place in the 15th Annual MIT Soldier Design Competition!
Hilary Beall ('17)Graduate Hillary Beall '17 has been named to the US 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup roster. Hillary plays soccer at the University of Michigan.
Ella Eastin ('15)Crean Lutheran graduate Ella Eastin overcomes illness at Phillips 66 Nationals to qualify for Pan Pacs team in Tokyo.
Danielle Liu ('17)Crean Lutheran High School Alumni talks about landing a research position in her first term at Chapman University.
Jackie Lari ('18)Alumna Jackie Lari was named the Heartland Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on September 3, 2018.
Anna Ellwein ('18)Crean Lutheran High School Alumni competed with GCU collegiate dance team for their first time in division 1 in “game day” against 7 other schools placing 1st. They competed in division 1 in “Jazz” in the semis on against 21 schools and placed 2nd overall.
Keenan Pasztor ('16)Crean Lutheran Alumni Keenan Pasztor was crowned Miss Tustin. Keennan is 20-years old and currently attends Chapman University Majoring in Sociology and Minoring in Dance.
Kara Peak ('16)Crean Lutheran High School Alumni won the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Organization Award for being the Stage Manager for John Brown University's production of Sense & Sensibility. She will be presented with the award at their annual banquet and will be invited to a conference in 2020 to receive a possible scholarship.