Women at Archmere
Celebrating 35 Years of Co-education
Mother-Daughter Auks: Archmere Legacy in the Female Line Ten years ago, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of co-education at Archmere, Mary Ann Slowik ’79 and her daughter Courtney ’04 were featured in the 2001 Winter Archmerean as a rare pair – mother and daughter Auks. Mary Ann, a graduate from the first four-year class of women, was the first Archmere alumna to send her daughter to the academy.
“I always wanted her to come here,” says Jill (Nolan) Collins ’85 of her daughter, Ashley ’13. “I was so prepared for college – more than anyone around me – and I wanted to her have the same level of preparation.” Jill Collins’ father and Ashely’s grandfather, John Nolan, also graduated from Archmere in 1953. Of the female students whose mothers attended Archmere, several have legacies that stretch across multiple generations like the Collins family.
“Archmere educates more than just the mind – it’s a tradition and an experience, a lifelong thing that you carry with you – it becomes part of who you are.”
Both of Abby Filliben’s ’13 parents Sean ’85 and Danielle ’86 (Zakielarz), as well as her aunt, her three uncles, and her grandfather Vincent Filliben ’47 attended Archmere. “There’s such a family connection for us here,” says Danielle. “Archmere educates more than just the mind – it’s a tradition and an experience, a lifelong thing that you carry with you – it becomes part of who you are.” Abby, who is now a junior, regularly wears her mom’s class ring.
This past year, as we prepared to celebrate the 35th anniversary of this milestone in Archmere’s history, the count was up to over ten female students from the classes of 2011-2014 with “mother Auks.”
1932 The first Mothers’ Guild was founded. The Mothers’ Guild was the first fundraising group for the school. The first Mothers’ Guild president was Mrs. Frank Garey.
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Looking back at her experiences at Archmere with her daughters Hayley ’11 and Cara ’14, Coleen Nedbalski ’83 says “For myself, Archmere was a stepping stone,
Miss Catherine Pie joined the Archmere staff as the first librarian and first female employee.
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1966 Mrs. Germaine Chagnon joined the language department, serving as the first female teaching faculty member. She taught French.
Several Archmere alumnae and their daughters who were current students at Archmere during the 2010-2011 academic year gathered at the back of the Patio for a group picture. Left to Right (Top): Christina (Small) Nielsen ’86, Coleen (McGonigle) Nedbalski ’83, Jennifer (Reardon) Sullivan ’83, Jill (Nolan) Collins ’85, Donna Hiddemen ’79, Megan (Hazzard) Boswick ’88, Virginia (Shields) Slattery ’86. Left to Right (Bottom): Alexandra Nielson ’14, Hayley Nedbalski ’11, Cara Nedbalski, ’14 Corinne Sullivan ’13, Ashley Collins ’13, Olivia Hiddeman ’14, Shannon Boswick ’13, Caroline “Cricket” Slattery ’12, Heather Slattery ’13.
and not only academically. It taught me responsibility, accountability, and the importance of respect. I feel I would not have had the same opportunities had I gone to another high school.” She shares that her experience and those of her daughters has been similar in some ways – having had the same teachers, classes, and some of the same interests like theatre – but that their individual personalities have made each of their experiences at the academy unique.
On September 4, 1975, Archmere became a co-educational academy when 50 female students – 30 freshmen, 15 sophomores, 4 juniors and one senior – joined the 321 boys.
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Gathering together in The Patio Library for dinner, many of the mother-daughter pairs shared that same sentiment. They talked about the things that have changed – the expanded girls’ athletics program, popular styles and the uniforms, the new classes and the ever-increasing opportunities… And they talked about the things that have remained steadfast – a few favorite faculty members, some classic summer reading selections, the sense of a community on campus, and an education that prepares young women (and men) for excellence in their collegiate careers and beyond.
1975 The first women’s sports were introduced at Archmere – cheerleading, basketball and softball. All three were coached by Mrs. Marcy Aitken.
Geralyn S. Williams became the first alumna of Archmere Academy when she graduated in 1976.
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