On Saturday, January 25, Chaminade proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of four alumni at the annual Alumni Hall of Fame event, held at the Tutor Family Center for the Performing Arts on the West Hills campus. The evening honored Kent Berridge ’75, Lily Nabet ’17, Blake Rutherford ’16, and Sean Walsh ’81 for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
For nearly four decades, Chaminade has honored alumni who exemplify athletic excellence, leadership, and the Marianist values that define the school’s mission. In 2016, the school combined the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame and the Distinguished Alumni Association into the Alumni Hall of Fame, a tradition that continues to grow, recognizing graduates for their professional achievements and service to their communities.
Honorees
Kent Berridge ’75 is a James Olds Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he teaches and runs a research lab examining how dopamine and other brain systems control desire, pleasure, appetite, and addiction. Kent is well-known in the field for being the co-creator of the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction with his colleague Terry Robinson. Honored by the American Psychological Association for his substantial achievements, Kent was a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient. He was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.
Lily Nabet ’17 was the girls’ soccer program captain and MVP for three of her four years at Chaminade and earned All CIF Southern Section and First Team honors in her senior year. After Chaminade, Lily was recruited by Duke University in North Carolina to play soccer, where she majored in sociology. She was a walk on her first year. By senior year, she co-captained the team, and the Blue Devils made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament. With an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Lily earned her master’s at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and again led her team to the NCAA Division I tournament quarterfinals and was named to the 2021 ACC Academic Honor Roll. Lily was drafted in 2022 and plays midfielder in the National Women’s Soccer League for Angel City FC.
Blake Rutherford ’16 played varsity baseball all four years while at Chaminade, hitting .435 with 15 home runs. He earned the recognition of All Mission League three of his four years and was CIF Southern Section Division I Player of the Year and Daily News Player of the Year. He was selected to the 15U National Team in 2012 and the 18U National Team in 2014 and 2015, where his team competed and won gold. He was also chosen to compete in the Under Armor All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago and the Perfect Game All-American Game in San Diego. Right out of high school, Blake was drafted in the first round of the MLB draft by the New York Yankees. He played for Yankee farm teams and finished his first professional season batting .351 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 33 games. Halfway through 2017, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he played through 2021. He had 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, and seven stolen bases this time. He made his MLB debut August 4, 2023 with the Washington Nationals after hitting 330 in AA and AAA.
Sean T. Walsh ’81 is Principal at Wilson Walsh George Ross. He started his path to leadership at Pierce College, where he earned his AA degree and served as student body president. He transferred to UCLA and became involved in an internship program, which led him to the White House, where he interned in the press office of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush in the Reagan White House and traveled with President Reagan in the United States. He was promoted to assistant press secretary, was a presidential spokesman, and traveled worldwide when Bush was elected president. After the White House, Sean returned to California. He was Deputy Chief of Staff and Press Secretary for Governor Pete Wilson and Senior Policy Advisor for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sean continues to run his firm and advises companies and individuals on government, public policy, and crisis management
The Alumni Hall of Fame event was a night of inspiration, reflecting on the impact of Chaminade graduates who have excelled in their professions and continue to embody the school’s values, reinforcing the legacy of excellence that defines Chaminade College Preparatory.
