Dowling Catholic High School Alumni

What an incredible day yesterday celebrating our Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni! ✨

We were honored to recognize Mike McCoy '81, Dave Marcouiller '71 and Joseph Nelson '12, this year's recipients for their outstanding achievements, leadership, service, and lasting impact on our community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to make the day so special.

These remarkable alumni continue to inspire current and future generations of Dowling Catholic High School students.

Missed the ceremony or want to watch again?
View the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eJLJCxj2Hn0?si=qgQ7tT7ivtJ5Gpya
🎥 Distinguished Alumni honoree remarks begin around the 26-minute mark of the video.

We are proud to recognize Joseph Nelson ’12 as a 2026 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient.

Joseph is the cofounder and CEO of Roboflow, a leading platform making visual AI accessible to more than one million developers and over half of the Fortune 100. Roboflow’s technology is helping accelerate cancer research, improve rail safety, and power manufacturing worldwide.

Before Roboflow, Joseph cofounded Represently, worked at Facebook, and taught at General Assembly. A graduate of George Washington University, Joseph was also an accomplished member of Dowling Catholic’s state-winning debate and soccer teams.

Joseph’s achievements, leadership, and innovation reflect the values of Dowling Catholic High School and inspire the next generation of Maroons.

Congratulations, Joseph! 👏

We are proud to recognize Mike McCoy '81, as a 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Mike has built an outstanding professional career with Gallagher, qualifying for the company’s prestigious President’s Club for sales achievement 24 consecutive years and currently serving as Area President for Iowa.

An accomplished amateur golfer, Mike has been named Iowa Golfer of the Year a record 11 times and was inducted into both the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame and the National Senior Golf Hall of Fame. His remarkable golf career includes winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, competing in the Masters Tournament, winning the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, serving on the United States Walker Cup Team, and captaining the team in 2023.

Congratulations, Mike, on this well-deserved honor! 👏

Each year, Dowling Catholic High School proudly honors deserving alumni of St. Joseph Academy and Dowling Catholic with Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni awards.

We are honored to recognize our 2026 recipients: Dave Marcouiller '71, Mike McCoy '81, and Joseph Nelson '12.

Dave Marcouiller '71, has dedicated more than five decades to the Dowling Catholic community as a student, teacher, coach, administrator, parent, grandparent, and broadcaster.

A lifelong supporter who truly “bleeds maroon,” Dave has impacted countless students through his leadership, faith, and commitment to Catholic education.

His legacy of service continues to inspire generations of Maroons. 👏

Congratulations Dave!

Tomorrow is the day! 👏

We will officially be honoring our 2026 Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni honorees from Dowling Catholic High School.

Each year, Dowling Catholic High School proudly honors deserving alumni of St. Joseph Academy and Dowling Catholic with Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni awards.

These remarkable alumni represent the very best of the Maroon tradition through their leadership, service, and accomplishments.

Be sure to follow along tomorrow as we celebrate their stories and honor their impact!

THANK YOU for making Bash on Buffalo: Rewind—Back to the ’80s such an unforgettable night! 💜✨

Because of your incredible support, energy, and generosity, this year’s Bash was truly “totally awesome.” From the exciting auctions and raffle to the great food, cocktails, and all the neon fun, the evening was a celebration in every sense of the word.

As we marked the 42nd anniversary of the Bash, we were reminded just how powerful this community is. Your support directly impacts the Career Academy Endowment—helping students discover their passions, gain hands-on experience, and build bright futures.

We are so grateful to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and supported this special event. You make a lasting difference in the lives of our students.

Thank you for being part of something so meaningful—we can’t wait to see you next year!

We are incredibly grateful to celebrate five long-term faculty members who will be retiring at the end of this school year.

Their dedication, passion, and impact on generations of students have been truly extraordinary, and they will be greatly missed.

We invite our alumni to share a brief message of thanks, memories, or well wishes as they begin this next chapter.
Please use the links below to leave a message:

Mr. Mike Rolf, German teacher
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegto4gDraQTxb_eAQSj1TshT6nPDtk27OEr4XrcbTkRBhSkA/viewform

Mr. Marshall Pauly, Science teacher
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeV3KiQFE2L1SG7Fes86yXuKOlw4FNgMWTtqEV9TyOWgfIWw/viewform

Mrs. Becky Cunningham, Spanish teacher
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoyzf1bBfoprTORvHCOINE0G5GnCSPOS16X0HoOmkrz1934w/viewform

Mrs. Lauri Stilwill, school counselor
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSex9fv11wCwJ3c-OSl-Yj0DtFQALkQONwuZ3pQwCEzX_uu1RQ/viewform

Mr. Del Lark, head athletic trainer & retired DCHS teacher
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4DbYUVwhgJOWm9vntp7U-eAERPSz8LOKlRI6vT8G-dtiWxA/viewform

Let’s come together to show them just how much they mean to our Dowling Catholic High School community!

Maroon Monday Shout-Out!

We were proud to welcome alumna Deanna Strable ’86, Chair, President, and CEO of Principal Financial Group, to speak with 50 of our female Career Academy students.

Deanna shared her journey from Dowling Catholic to Northwestern University and her impressive 35-year career at Principal, offering valuable insight on leadership, career growth, and life beyond the classroom.

Her commitment to service, passion for developing talent, and focus on innovation truly inspired our students—and it was so special to have her back at her alma mater!

Good news—Bash on Buffalo bidding is now OPEN! 🎉

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement! Even if you can’t attend the event, you can still join the fun and support a great cause.

Grab a Bid Only ticket and start bidding before your favorite items are gone!

🎟️ Get your Bid Only ticket here:
https://www.dowlingcatholic.org/bash-on-buffalo

It’s another Maroon Monday Shout-out! 🎉

We love when alumni return to share their journeys and inspire our students. Recently, Marena Bonanno ’18 returned to Dowling Catholic High School to speak with our Foundations of Education class—juniors and seniors who are exploring careers in teaching.

Marena is currently a special education teacher in the Ankeny Community School District and recently earned the Golden Apple Award for her outstanding work in education!

Thank you, Marena, for giving back and showing our students what it means to lead with purpose and passion.

🏀 The annual alumni basketball tournament brought the energy this weekend!

Nine teams returned to the court, but it was the Class of 2024 who came away with the championship trophy 🏆

Even better than the competition? Seeing alumni reconnect, share laughs, and relive their playing days back at Dowling Catholic High School.

Thanks to everyone who came back to make it such a fun and memorable event—we’ll see you next year!

📸Earl Hulst