Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 11. Publication date 1/26/26

Maureen Ritz, Director of Counseling and Guidance, is the Symposium guest. Her near quarter-century of service to DeMatha has seen her lead several safe-school initiatives, counsel hundreds of students, help numerous families, and teach Psychology. A highly respected clinician and diagnostician, Maureen brings a kind of dual expertise that is exceptionally rare in the field of school counseling.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 10. Publication date 1/12/26

Mike and Dan look back at the past semester and look forward to the new. Books and movies get discussed.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 9. Publication date 12/29/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Dave DiLuigi ‘88, former Chair of the Board of Trustees. Dave is Head of US Markets for Wilmington Trust. He joined M&T Bank in 1992, which acquired Wilmington Trust in 2011. During his more than three decades with the institution, Dave has served as the regional president for the Greater Washington/Central Virginia and Greater Baltimore regions of Wilmington Trust and led M&T’s commercial banking operations in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia marketplace, which includes the Government Contracting practice. He also managed retail branches, directed the bank’s retirement plan sales team, and worked on integration related projects for some of M&T’s acquisitions.

Dave holds an MBA from The American University (Washington, DC), a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Mount Saint Mary’s University (Emmitsburg, MD), and completed an executive leadership program at Columbia University. Dave serves as Treasurer of the board of trustees at Mt. St. Mary’s University; is a member of the advisory board for the institution’s Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business; is chairman of the board at Catholic Charities (Archdiocese of Washington, DC); and is a member of the nominating committee at DeMatha Catholic High School. Formerly, Dave chaired the board of directors at DeMatha Catholic High School; was a board member at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington; served on the advisory board for the Honors College at George Mason University; and as a board member for Sport Changes Life.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 8. Publication date 12/15/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Robert Reeser, senior at DeMatha.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 7. Publication date 12/1/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Gordon Johnson, senior at DeMatha.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 6. Publication date 11/17/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Dafydd Evans, former soccer coach and business teacher at DeMatha. Daf discusses his career and the impact that DeMatha had on him. He shares great stories about his teams and assistant coaches and the importance of building trust and community. Daf talks about the National Championship team and the way that coaches adapt their strategy to certain players while retaining a particular philosophical outlook.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 5. Publication date 11/03/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Jim Turk, Director of Vocal Music. Jim talks teaching, music, his journey to DeMatha and shares some of his favorite stories. Jim also talks about his The Ohio State University experience and his composition of DeMatha’s school song. He might teach Mike and Dan to sing.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium (stagsymposium@dematha.org)

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 4. Publication date 10/20/2025

Stag Symposium talks with Mingming Hao about her journey to DeMatha and her love of the Chinese language and culture. She explains how she arranged a trip to China for students this past summer and why she is excited to be teaching a History of China class for those not studying the language. Mingming is DeMatha’s Novice Teacher of the Year and will receive her award at the High School Principals Professional Development Day on Friday, October 24.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year of teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.