Journeys
Champs!
The Charger Speech Team earned FIRST PLACE in the Christian Interscholastic Speech League (CISL) this school year!
FULL TEAM ROSTER:
Rory Barnawell ‘24
Abby Bollier ‘26
Sophia Flowers ‘26
Audrey Hanny ‘24
Lindsey Hazlip ‘24
Maura Horan ‘26
Campbell Kenny ‘24
Skye Lozano ‘25
Mary McKendry ‘25
Anna Meister ‘24
Amelia Pozzo ‘27
Genevieve Rasure ‘26
Kate Schuler ‘27
Audrey Sherman ‘26
Emily Tran ‘26
IN ADDITION TO THE TEAM VICTORY, THE FOLLOWING CHARGERS PLACED IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES.
Audrey Hanny ‘24 – 1st Place, Radio Speaking
Mary McKendry ‘25 – 1st Place, Storytelling
Rory Barnawell ‘24 – 2nd Place, Extemporaneous Speaking
Kate Schuler ‘27 – 2nd Place, Original Oratory
Emily Tran ‘26 – 2nd Place, Humorous/Serious Interp
Stephanie Dickman ‘27 – 3rd Place, Prose Speaking
PRESIDENT
Sr. Susan Marie Krupp, ASCJ '76
DEAN OF ACADEMICS
Dr. Meghan Bohac
DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE
Ms. Kathleen Wobbe Pottinger '88
ABOUT:
SPIRIT is Cor Jesu Academy’s publication for alumnae, parents, friends and benefactors.
CONTACT:
SPIRIT
Cor Jesu Academy
10230 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO 63123
ngorla@corjesu.org
SUBMISSIONS:
We welcome your story ideas and submissions.
Please contact Natalie Gorla '17 at ngorla@corjesu.org.
THANK YOU
Thank you to CJA alumna Alex Smith Adams ’09, along with Jenny Hudspeth, owner of Jay Ellen Photography, for capturing many of the images of Cor Jesu’s special moments that appear in this publication. And thank you to Stephanie Klinker Howe, owner of Klink Creative, for creatively displaying life at Cor Jesu in this magazine.
corjesu.org @corjesuacademy
President’s Letter
Dear Cor Jesu Community,
Peace! It’s hard to believe we are in the middle of summer vacation and are already planning for the next school year. This past year’s theme of “Spirit” permeated everything we did on campus and my first year as president certainly flew by quickly. And as always, the spring brought a whirlwind of excitement with many milestones and celebrations for our students.
In May, we celebrated the Class of 2024 and their graduation from Cor Jesu. Earlier this spring, the juniors (the Class of 2025), received their class rings – a forever symbol of the bonds they share as Cor Jesu sisters. The Spring Musical –“Freaky Friday” – was a smashing success, and our entire student body enjoyed a spirited (and competitive) Spring Spirit Week (read more on page 27).
The admissions department has been busy both welcoming the Class of 2028 and their families to the community, while also hosting 6th and 7th graders for a variety of events on campus. We were happy to host over 200 visitors on 7th Grade Preview Day! Over Spring Break, CJA took six juniors on an exchange trip to Spain where students lived with host families, immersing themselves in the culture (read more on page 6).
And the fun has not stopped since graduation! The campus is buzzing with grade school students who are joining us for our many summer camps, including the new, all-day “Charger for a Week Camp.” The second year of the RISE program is underway with two classes of students. Plus, our alumnae from the classes ending in 4 and 9, joined us on campus for a beautiful evening of class reunions.
With all the different events, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with so many people in our community – all of whom are at different points in their journeys. Some, quite literally journeyed across the pond. Others journeyed back up Gravois Road for reunions or to excitedly drop their daughter off at her first CJA camp. Our graduates are preparing for the next chapter, away from Cor Jesu; and the incoming freshmen are just beginning to write their CJA stories. And while each person I’ve spoken with is at a different place in her journey, one thing has been present through each conversation: The Charism.
©2024, Cor Jesu Academy. All rights reserved.
Each person, whether celebrating 60 years since receiving her diploma or walking through the doors for the first time, can feel the spirit of Cor Jesu and the love of the Heart of Christ through these hallways. For that, I am so grateful and so proud. Let us look back with gratitude on a wonderful year, filled with Spirit, and look forward with excitement for the journeys we have yet to take – all rooted in Christ.
Blessings,
Sr. Susan Marie Krupp, ASCJ ‘76 Cor Jesu Academy President
Middle schoolers are invited to join the Cor Jesu Chargers at a variety of admissions events this school year! We want to learn how you share your light and help you discover the many ways in which you are brilliant. We hope to see you soon!
Visit Opportunities:
High School Nights (Fall)
Cor Jesu Night (Fall)
8th Grade Shadow Days (Fall)
Open House (Fall)
Middle School Trivia Night (Winter)
7th Grade Preview Day (Spring)
7th Grade Social (Spring)
Cor Jesu Caravans (Spring)
6th Grade Backyard Bash (Spring)
Around the Halls
1 16 CHARGERS ATTENDED THE MISSOURI STATE THESPIAN CONFERENCE IN KANSAS CITY.
At ThesCon, Elena Villaflores ’25 received a perfect score on her costume design and was invited to present her project at the National Thespian Conference this summer.
2 NHS HOSTED A MERCY BLOOD DRIVE, COLLECTING 5 7 UNITS FROM 88 DONORS.
3 Twelve of our Chargers attended the Girls Independent Schools League NGWSD Conference!
Kate Cooper ‘24 won the GISL Sportsmanship Award!
4 9 CHARGER VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS MADE THE ACADEMIC A LL-STATE TEAM!
Malainna Adler ‘24
Maria Cerny ‘25
Saoirse Henderson ‘26
Sammy Hoelscher ‘24
Anna Moore ‘24
Addie Normile ‘24
Lauren Ortwerth ‘26
Maggie Scher ‘24
Hannah Schmitz ‘24
5 Tiffany Ly ’24 was the recipient of the Dr. Martin
6 Young Alumnae from the Class of 2023 came back to CJA to chat with our graduating seniors about navigating the change from high school to college.
7 Students from CJA and SLUH joined forces to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
LET’S CELEBRATE CHARGER ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
8 CJ SWIM AND DIVE EARNED 8 TH PLACE AT THE MSHSAA CL ASS 2 STATE MEET!
Ava Craig '24 – 3RD PLACE, 200 IM + 5 TH PLACE, 100 YD. BREASTROKE
Allie Maloney '24 – 3RD PLACE, 200 FREE + 100 FLY
9 11 SOFTBALL CHARGERS MADE THE ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAM!
Beau Belz ‘27
Aubrey Grimm ‘27
Izzy Hochmuth ‘25
Ruthie LaBarge ‘24
Zoey Mathews ‘26
Amelia Morgan ‘25
Amelia Pozzo ‘27
Grace Rasmussen ‘26
Izzy Rohr ‘26
Mary Tumbarello ‘25
Alice Vogel ‘27
10 PAIGE DOLRENRY ’24 SCORED HER 1,000 TH HIGH SCHOOL C AREER BASKETBALL POINT!
11 The CJA Dance Team finished the season off strong at the State Championship!
1ST PLACE – DIVISION 3, HIGHEST GPA 3.98
3RD PLACE – LYRICAL JAZZ
5 TH PLACE – POM
Luther King Jr., Model of Justice Award!
Lauren Ortwerth ’26 was selected for the 2024 Class 6 MSHSAA All-State Basketball Team and was named District Player of the Year!
13 Sophia Ford ’24 won 1st place in the 2024 Honors Division of the St. Louis Science Fair!
14 Faith Rodriguez ’24 was awarded the Archbishop John L. May Service Award!
15 CJA’S MOCK TRIAL TEAM SECURED A 1ST PLACE FINISH IN THEIR REGULAR SEASON AND 7 TH AT REGIONALS!
16 The CJA community gathered on the front field to watch the solar eclipse
17 CJA’s Robotics Team brought home the FRC Imagery Award at Regionals!
18 The Class of 2027 participated in the Freshman Day of Service, volunteering at various sites around the St. Louis area.
19 Amelia Schwartz ’25 earned a gold medal for her performance at the MSHSAA State Music Festival!
20 6 CHARGERS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THEIR ATHLETIC CAREERS IN COLLEGE!
Malainna Adler
Volleyball at Concordia University Chicago
Olivia Carpenter
Track & Field at MIT
Ava Craig
Swim at the University of San Diego
Lanie Davis
Tennis at Gustavus Adolphus College
Allie Maloney
Swim at the United States Naval Academy
Olivia Pereira
Dance at Judson University
21 CJA’S ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM WON 1 ST PLACE IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT!
22 Lucy Schulte ‘24 brightened our halls with a handpainted mural!
23 Kenzie Van Bree '24 scored her 100th career lacrosse goal and was named All-Conference Player of the Year! Plus, the following Chargers earned Lacrosse honors:
ALL-STATE 1ST TEAM:
Cate Figge ‘26
Mame Slinkard ‘24
Kenzie Van Bree ‘24
ALL-CONFERENCE 1ST TEAM:
Cate Figge ‘26
Caroline May ‘24
Mame Slinkard ‘24
ALL-CONFERENCE 2ND TEAM:
Abby Finnegan ‘25
Ruthie LaBarge ‘24
Jordan Sadler ‘24
Sophie Vergara ‘24
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION:
Madi Beuligmann ‘25
Claire Henderson ‘27
An IMMERSIVE Experience
CJA’S EXCHANGE TRIP to SPAIN
Part of Cor Jesu’s mission is to graduate students who will serve as responsible members of the global community. To achieve this, CJA provides a robust global education program through which students have traveled to various parts of the world each summer. Currently, many students and faculty chaperones are exploring Greece, Italy and Spain. Over spring break, however, Cor Jesu added to this program with a new kind of trip.
“Immersion,” Dean of Student Life, Kathleen Wobbe Pottinger ‘88, said. “We wanted our students to completely immerse themselves in a new culture…to leave the classroom and experience a different community and culture firsthand.”
It started with an invitation. Jack Wilson, Global Reach Coordinator at Chaminade College Preparatory School, called and asked if Cor Jesu wanted to participate in a Spanish exchange program with his students. CJA’s administration was already discussing ways to expand the school’s global education program, and this invitation fit right in.
“It was a win-win,” Kathleen said. “The bones of the trip were already developed, we just had to recruit some students to participate and a faculty member to spearhead it.”
Señora Peggy McGraw, CJA Spanish teacher, was up to the task.
“I was thrilled for this to be an opportunity for our students,” Peggy said. “In class, Cor Jesu students are often worried about getting everything ‘right’ which can make them nervous when speaking a new language. So, I was excited to bring some students to a place where they could use the language purely for communication and see how well they could navigate using Spanish.”
After planning…planning…and more planning, Señora McGraw, Kathleen Pottinger and six Cor Jesu students boarded a flight on March 7.
Next stop – Spain!
The group arrived in Madrid early the next morning and was greeted by each of their host family’s mothers. They spent the first weekend with the host families and the Cor Jesu girls immediately felt at home.
“My family was so welcoming and treated me like another daughter,” Rachel Depke ‘25, a student participant on the
Segovia
Toledo Córdoba
WHO WENT TO SPAIN?
Maria Cerny ‘25
Rachel Depke ‘25
Caroline Pingel ‘25
Grace Shoger ‘25
Gabriella Snyder ‘24
Lillian Snyder ‘26
PICTURED LEFT, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Current Cor Jesu students sightseeing in Madrid; CJA students and their host students say goodbye at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport; Maria Cerny ’25 with preschool students at The Highland School in Madrid; Statue of the Blessed Mother and Jesus in Madrid, Spain; Maria Cerny ’25 and Caroline Pingel ’25 explore Spain: A statue of Don Quijote in the Plaza de Espana; Grace Shoger ’25, Rachel Depke ’25 and Caroline Pingel ’25 at the Alcazar castle in Segovia; The altar of a Catholic church in Madrid, Spain.
trip, said. “We bonded right away and I miss them so much now!”
The rest of the students echoed similar feelings. That first weekend, all six host families got together with their Cor Jesu students for a paella, which our students compared to a family bar-b-que.
“That was definitely my favorite night,” Rachel said. “The best parts of the trip were when we just got to be together with the families, play games and get to know each other.”
In addition to spending time all together, each student also spent days with her own host family, allowing for some more individualized culture experiences. Grace Shoger ‘25, for example, told her family that she really enjoys art and would love to see a soccer game. So, her family took her to the Museo Nacional del Prado – a famous art museum in Madrid. Plus, she and her host student, Cata, got to attend a Real Madrid soccer game.
“It was so much fun and so nice how they catered to the activities I wanted to do,” Grace said. “I know that soccer is so
important in Spain and I wanted to experience that part of the culture. It was so cool! It was the closest I’d ever sat at a sporting event and the energy was unlike anything I’d ever seen before!”
After spending the first weekend with their families, the girls then participated in a variety of activities, including exploring Madrid with Señora McGraw and Ms. Pottinger, as well as attending school at The Highlands School with their host students. The Highlands is a Catholic school for ages 1 to 18. It serves both boys and girls, with co-ed classes through primary school, changing to single sex classes in junior high through high school.
“It was fun to see where my host student went to school and really immerse myself in a typical day in her shoes,” Rachel said. “There were differences and similarities to Cor Jesu, but the best part was experiencing the differences.”
Like the schedule. In Spain, mealtimes are different and the school day lasts longer with more breaks in between. Students didn’t eat lunch until around 2 p.m., and it was during a two-hour break.
“Lots of students would go home for lunch and a nap, or just hang out
ABOVE: Gabriella Snyder ’24 with preschool students from The Highland School in Madrid. LEFT: Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.
at school for a couple hours before their next set of classes,” Grace said. “It felt more like college in that way.”
Students returned home around 5 or 6 p.m., and the families would eat dinner about 10 p.m.
“It took some adjusting,” Rachel said. “The day was longer, but it also felt a little more relaxed, which was cool.”
A few days were spent shadowing their host students during school. Another day, the Cor Jesu students spent time with the preschoolers, who were participating in a special run that day. The Cor Jesu girls helped organize the event and cheer on the kids.
“They (the preschoolers) loved being with us, which was so sweet,” Grace said. “In between the running, we just got to play and interact with the little kids. They loved having us read them books in Spanish and they also liked to read to us.”
The girls even got to teach a lesson to the middle school students… in Spanish!
“We did some worksheets and taught them about latitude and longitude,” Rachel said. “It was a little challenging, but fun to try our Spanish in a setting where we were leading the conversation. They would help us if we needed it!”
On non-school days, the students saw lots of Madrid, visiting many cultural areas of the city such as the
“The consistency of being with their host families, having dinner with them each night and speaking with them in Spanish is what made this trip so special.”
–SEÑORA PEGGY MCGRAW, CJA SPANISH TEACHER
Prado Art Museum, the National Cathedral, the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace of Madrid and more. They also took day trips to Toledo and Segovia where they visited castles, cathedrals, an aqueduct and had the opportunity to explore on their own. These days really allowed the students to use their Spanish in the real world as they had to speak to people to navigate.
“Those were the days when my Spanish improved the most,” Grace said. “When I had free time and could simply talk to shop owners, waitresses and really any person in the community.”
On the days our students weren’t in school, but were exploring the cities with the Cor Jesu group, they still returned each night to their host families.
“The consistency of being with their host families, having dinner
RIGHT: Aqueduct of Segovia. BELOW: Cor Jesu and Chaminade students exploring Toledo.
with them each night and speaking with them in Spanish is what made this trip so special,” Peggy said. “Our students really became part of each family and that’s what gave them this unique, immersive experience.”
The only time the students did not stay the night with their host families was on a weekend trip to Córdoba in Andalucia. Here, they explored the medieval city with narrow winding streets, a palace and gardens, a Roman bridge, an Arabian tower, a synagogue from 1350, and finally, the Great Mosque and Cathedral. Not to mention, the students were captivated by the oranges growing all over the city.
“It was so beautiful,” Grace said. “The architecture, the cobblestone streets, the trees everywhere – the city was gorgeous and so historic.”
Adding some more excitement to the Córdoba trip, Grace even decided to put the bargaining skills she had learned from her host family to the test. She negotiated the price of a poster with a street vendor.
“I was really nervous about it because I had never shopped like that before,” Grace said. “I actually walked away because the price the vendor was asking for was too high, but as I was walking away, the vendor chased after me and offered it to me at the price I wanted. I was very proud!”
After a busy, yet amazing 12 days, it was time for the Chargers to head home. While the trip was quick, the bonds they made with their families were lasting. Not one person could hold back their tears as they said their goodbyes.
“We just all clicked and the experience was so incredible that no one wanted to leave,” Rachel said. “I think each of us really did feel like part of the family. So even though we were excited to go home and see our real families, we were also sad to leave our new families in Spain.”
Lucky for the girls, it won’t be long until their host students make the trip to St. Louis. This fall, the Cor Jesu travelers will become the hosts for the same students they visited, and planning is already underway.
“I absolutely cannot wait for them to get here,” Grace exclaimed. “They shared so much of their lives with us, so we want to return the favor by sharing a piece of our world with them, too.”
The administration and Señora McGraw couldn’t be happier with the outcomes of this experience and can’t wait for more students to be involved with the immersion trip as well as the many other travel opportunities CJA provides.
“I think these students not only grew academically, but also as citizens of the world,” Kathleen said.
“They were challenged to open themselves to new experiences, while also representing Cor Jesu in The Highlands School community and to their Spanish families.”
To learn more about Cor Jesu’s different travel opportunities, visit www.corjesu.org/globaled
TOP: Cathedral of Segovia. LEFT, TOP: Jardines del Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Córdoba. LEFT, BOTTOM: Monumento a Los Enamoradoss, Córdoba. RIGHT: Lillian Snyder ’26, Gabriella Snyder ’24, Caroline Pingel ’25, Rachel Depke ’25, Grace Shoger ’25 and Maria Cerny ’25 in Segovia.
“... these students not only grew academically, but also as citizens of the world.”
– KATHLEEN WOBBE POTTINGER ‘88, DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE
2024 Congratulations,
Cor Jesu Soccer!
Hear from Our Team!
“The CJ Community set our fire and drive in motion. Looking up at the stands, hearing the cheers from the crowd, and seeing students, faculty, alums and families on the sidelines was incredible. The girls wanted to win not just for themselves, but for all of us, for Cor Jesu.”
“I knew this team was a special group of girls, but their championship success is a result of factors that go beyond skill. Their camaraderie off the field translated onto the field, allowing them to anticipate each other’s moves and work seamlessly together. They committed to bringing their best every single day to achieve their clear set goal of winning a State Championship.”
“At the beginning of the season, my fellow captains and I prioritized team bonding outside of practice. This effort created a special team dynamic. Even when we were seen as the ‘underdogs,’ I knew we had something the other teams didn’t: heart. We fought hard for each other, as teammates and as friends. This – winning the State Championship – is what you dream about as a little girl when you first start playing. Now, it’s happened.”
– RACHEL BRCIC ’08, VARSITY HEAD COACH (Top right photo, left)
– EMILY ERBS ’17, ASSISTANT COACH (Top right photo, middle)
–TAYLOR ARNOLD ’24, CO-CAPTAIN (Top left photo)
Have you ever had a full circle moment?
A moment in time when things are the same as they used to be, yet different at the same time. Different, because so much life has happened in between.
How did it feel?
For Colleen Smyth Dean ‘10, it felt…right.
Completing the Circle
Sister Clara Johnson, ASCJ and Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 smile as they set-up for CJA’s Open House.
As a student at Cor Jesu Academy, Colleen was very involved. She joined the golf team, ran track, served as an admissions ambassador and participated in CJA’s Spirit & Life club, which is now called Campus Ministry.
“It was an extremely formative time for me,” she said. “I learned what it means to reach your potential, how to try new things, and also how to respond when things don’t go your way.”
Entering high school, Colleen was set on playing basketball. She thought it would be her main activity until she did not make the team her freshman year. This led her to running track instead.
“I was upset because I had a plan in place – to play basketball,” Colleen said. “But I had to pivot. I loved being part of a team, so I decided to join the track team in the spring and couldn’t be more grateful for that experience and the friendships formed.”
Getting cut from basketball opened new opportunities for Colleen. In addition to golf and track, she got involved with her parish youth group and began to pour herself into CJA’s Spirit & Life club. She quickly became a leader within Spirit & Life by planning liturgies, organizing service opportunities and leading retreats – including Kairos. Spirit & Life was a big part of who she was, and as she got more involved with the group, she became more and more comfortable in CJA’s chapel.
“Going to chapel became routine for me,” she said. “I would go in for a few minutes by myself to calm down before a test or to talk to God about any problems I was having. It was sacred and it was simple – I loved it.”
After Cor Jesu, Colleen attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City. She was attracted to the service-oriented feel of the campus community.
“I visited some Cor Jesu graduates at Rockhurst when I was a senior in high school. While there, I noticed that giving back to the community was a natural part of their days because of the many opportunities Rockhurst provided,” Colleen said. “It was then that I realized I wanted to work with nonprofits and that I wanted to attend Rockhurst.”
She used her freshman and sophomore years to explore different majors – namely education and business – to see how they could fit into the nonprofit world. During sophomore year, Colleen realized that while accounting was her hardest class,
she found it excitingly challenging.
“It honestly brought me back to Physics class at Cor Jesu with Mr. Russell,” she laughed. “It was really hard, but I loved the challenge. It felt like I was really learning and using a side of my brain I hadn’t tapped into before.”
With that spark for accounting and some encouragement from a professor, Colleen officially declared her major: Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. Plus, she’d earn a minor in nonprofit leadership. The plan was set. Colleen would become an accountant who could use her skills to ensure nonprofits have the strong finances required to achieve their missions.
“I thought it was perfect,” she said. “I could provide my heart of mission with my knowledge of accounting and be set.”
Now, she needed to focus on gaining experience. The summer after junior year, Colleen participated in a variety of accounting leadership programs at public accounting firms. By the end of the summer, she received multiple internship offers for the next summer. She accepted one from a Big Four firm, KPMG. After graduating from Rockhurst and completing the internship, she received a job offer.
“It was an odd time in my life,” Colleen said. “I loved my summer with KPMG, but when I received the official job offer, there was an uneasiness that I couldn’t explain.”
Conflicted and confused, Colleen wasn’t sure what to do. She wondered … why am I hesitant?
Is it accounting in general?
Is it because it’s a big firm?
Am I supposed to be doing something else?
The KPMG internship was a great experience, but something wasn’t right. She graciously declined the job offer and began looking at smaller firms, thinking maybe that was the change she needed. In the meantime, she would study for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
To give herself some study breaks, Colleen wanted to find something else to also occupy her time. Cor Jesu came to mind.
She reached out to Liz Biedenstein (CJA’s athletic director) about helping with the golf team. Liz accepted her offer and Colleen became an assistant
golf coach, which helped her fulfill that inherent need for mission-based work while she studied.
“Coaching golf was so important for me as I look back on my journey,” Colleen said. “I didn’t realize how this experience would come into play later. What I did know, however, was that I loved my interactions with the girls, I loved challenging them while also building them up, and I loved simply being part of their high school experience.”
During the golf season, she sat for the various sections of the CPA exam. And after months of studying and testing, Colleen found out that she did not pass.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I was embarrassed. I could still be an accountant, but the plan was to be a CPA, get my experience in public accounting, then go work for a nonprofit.”
She knew she needed some guidance. So, much like her time spent in the chapel at Cor Jesu, she found a church.
“I remember going to St. Joseph’s on Manchester,” she said. “It was empty, so I had an out loud conversation with God about my life and my future. Then I realized – why do I have to wait to work for a nonprofit?”
After declining a different job offer at a smaller accounting firm, she wrote down every nonprofit she could think of – Cor Jesu being one of them. Then, she started networking, because now, she needed a job. Her efforts landed her a temporary position as executive assistant for the President of Catholic Charities of St. Louis.
“It was such a great role for me because I was the right-hand woman of someone really influential in the nonprofit sector of St. Louis,” Colleen said. “I met the leaders of so many Catholic nonprofits in the area and got to learn more about each one. It allowed me to work and gain experience while continuing to explore the field.”
After three months, Colleen was hired as a full-time project assistant with Catholic Charities where she was involved with a variety of projects and initiatives. She started the Catholic Charities Young Professionals Group, worked with volunteer coordinators from each Catholic Charities agency to connect people with service opportunities, was involved with Archdiocesan initiatives and program development, and most notably worked in disaster relief.
Two years into the new role, Colleen started to become restless. She was helping with a variety of projects, but now, she was ready to take more ownership over projects and develop as a leader.
Grateful for her time with Catholic Charities, she was open to a change. She went back to her list of nonprofits and began networking again. All the while,
since reconnecting with CJA through golf, she was attending more of the school’s First Friday liturgies.
“It was always in the back of my mind that maybe I could come back to CJA someday…and maybe I could lead campus ministry,” she said. “I didn’t know if that would ever be possible. What I did know, was that being back at Cor Jesu always felt right.”
And then, one morning, her phone rang.
It was Katie Magee Thiemann ‘81, Cor Jesu Academy’s Director of Advancement at the time, now Director of Leadership Giving. Cor Jesu had an opening for an admissions director and Colleen’s name came up as a potential candidate.
Thinking back to her time as a student admissions ambassador, Colleen was intrigued and excited. She reviewed the job description and decided to apply. Simultaneously, she was applying to a regional admissions position with Rockhurst. She loved her experience at both schools, and wondered what she would do if she received offers from both. But then she attended another Mass at Cor Jesu – it was the liturgy dedicating the new gym, Student Commons and classroom spaces.
“I had this overwhelming feeling of how amazing it would be to work in this place,” she said.
The next week, she had her final interview with Cor Jesu. She gave it all she had, and when she got in her car after, the phone rang again.
It was Rockhurst.
“I didn’t get the job,” Colleen said. “But as I learned in high school, after getting cut from basketball, sometimes when things don’t work out, it’s because there’s a greater plan, so I decided to be patient and trust.”
A few days later – another phone call. This time, Cor Jesu.
“I got the job!” exclaimed Colleen. “I was floored, and I knew this was it. This was where I was meant to be. The uneasiness and restlessness went away the moment I accepted.”
She began in the fall of 2017 – the busiest time of year for admissions.
Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 at a High School Night with Cor Jesu Admissions Team, Student Ambassadors and Molly Grumich.
CJA Director of Campus Ministry
CJA Admissions Director
“It was crazy, but it felt like a homecoming,” she said. “I was super busy, but so excited for this new challenge and new adventure at a place I love.”
She embraced the challenge. For six years, Colleen transformed the admissions department at Cor Jesu. She re-worked the tour route to include the new building, she added employees to the department, she reimagined old events and invented new ones. Colleen was integral in the Cor Jesu rebranding process, and she found creative ways to invite middle schoolers and their families to experience Cor Jesu each year – even during a pandemic. Her passion for Cor Jesu was evident each day to her colleagues, the students, and most importantly, the prospective families she recruited.
“I loved walking with families on their journey and inviting them into something (Cor Jesu) that I whole-
CJA
Graduation 2010
Attending Rockhurst University
Working at Catholic Charities
the plan
LEFT: Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 and Olivia Hanford ’17 with Cor Jesu students before a High School Night. RIGHT: Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 preparing for Admissions events with Cor Jesu students. BELOW: Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 with a group of Cor Jesu students at a Girls on the Run 5K race.
heartedly believe in,” Colleen said. “I know the transition to high school is huge, so to be able to introduce young girls to a place where I could confidently say ‘you belong here, you will grow here and this will become your home’ was a beautiful experience.”
While she walked with prospective families, she was also creating her own.
During her time as admissions director, Colleen got engaged, celebrated her wedding, moved homes and welcomed her daughter, Annie (3), into the world.
“I feel like I lived a lot of life in a short time,” Colleen said with a smile. “It's been all joyful things, but definitely a lot of changes.”
She loved being at Cor Jesu, but it was a new season of life for Colleen, and she began to wonder if the director of admissions role was still the right fit. Then, rather than a phone call, she received an email announcement.
Cor Jesu would be hiring a new Director of Campus Ministry – the position Colleen always had in the back of her mind. After a lot of reflection, and time in the chapel, she decided to apply.
“I was hesitant to leave admissions because I had developed such a strong team and we had found our rhythm both as a team and in running the admissions process,” Colleen said. “But I felt called to apply.”
She went through the application and interview process in the spring semester of 2023. Then, after hosting over 200 seventh graders on 7th Grade Preview Day, she got called into the president’s office and was offered the position.
“I was honored and excited, but sad to leave admissions – all at the same time,” she remembered.
Just after Easter, Colleen accepted the role of Director of Campus Ministry, and the circle was complete.
“I just loved being part of campus ministry so much in high school that it gave me such a feeling of peace to accept this role,” she said. “Campus ministry formed me so much as a person and provided me so many lasting friendships. I want to be part of providing the same outcomes for our current students.”
Colleen left the admissions department in good hands. Olivia Hanford ‘17, who worked as the Admissions Coordinator under Colleen for two years, transitioned into the role of Director of Admissions in July of 2023. And thanks to the foundation Colleen left, coupled with lots of hard work by Olivia and the entire admissions department, CJA was proud to accept the largest class in school history in February 2024!
“I could not have asked for a better role model and mentor than Colleen,” Olivia said. “She was instrumental in helping me become the leader I am today. While working together in admissions, I saw first-hand Colleen’s care for each individual student, dedicated work ethic and heart for service to others. She truly lives out what it means to Share the Love of the Heart of Christ and we are lucky to have her guiding the next generation of young women in faith!”
Meanwhile, Colleen has been busy transforming the campus ministry program – just as she did admissions.
“I recognize that each student is in a different place with prayer and with her relationship with God,” she said. “So, I’ve been working to find new ways to invite students in, assuring them that He is there to meet them where they’re at.”
Much like how service was part of the culture at Rockhurst, Colleen’s goal is simple: For campus ministry not to be viewed as a club or extracurricular at Cor Jesu, but rather for each student to have a place within campus ministry because it’s naturally engrained throughout each school day.
“I’m so blessed to be in this role and so proud to be part of the mission of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart,” she said. “It’s bigger than just my department. It’s all of us investing into the futures of the students we walk alongside and truly believing that the world will be a better place with more Cor Jesu graduates.”
Colleen with daughter Annie at CJA
LEFT: Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 and Father Joe Detwiler. RIGHT: Colleen Smyth Dean ’10 leads Natalie Niemczyk ’25 and other students in Lectio Divina.
Charger Careers
On Wednesday, March 6, Cor Jesu Academy welcomed over 40 alumnae back to campus to participate in our bi-annual Career Day event! Planning for the event started months in advance when students in Mr. Haffner’s business classes collaborated with the Alumnae team to market and connect with panelists as liaisons. On the day of the event alumnae sat on panels, grouped by areas of expertise, and the entire student body had the opportunity to choose a panel session to attend. The alumnae panelists led insightful discussions, highlighting education and career journeys after CJA, while also answering student questions. The morning ended with the panelists and their student liaisons continuing to form relationships over lunch. Thank you to all our alumnae who participated! Your knowledge, experience and expertise are invaluable to our students!
ALUMNAE AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
• Business: Entrepreneurship
• Business: Arts
• Business: Science/Data
• Communications
• Design & Engineering
• Law
• Math & Analytics
• Medical Therapies
• Other Medicines
• Relations & Service
• Science Research
• The Arts
• Traditional Medicine
“In college, I plan to major in business marketing at Mizzou, so on Career Day, I attended the Business Arts session. It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about careers that fit my major. With the help of the panelists, I was able to learn about many professions within my field of study and ultimately get answers to some questions I was struggling with about my future. I even started networking with the panelists and am excited that I got to create those important relationships now!”
– LYLA BOHLER ’24
“Being part of Cor Jesu’s Career Day was such a joy! I loved connecting with old classmates and seeing their brilliance shine so many years later. I loved meeting the students and witnessing their eagerness to understand who they could grow up to be. And I especially loved helping these young ladies realize that they are strong women who can become whomever or whatever they want!”
giving back
– SUSAN VIETH ZEID ‘04
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS
SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO THE TOP 5
RANKING SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2024!
OF 2024!
The Cor Jesu Academy Class of 2024 is a special one. Not only has it been the biggest class in the building for the last four years, but it is also the class that started high school in masks, with a hybrid schedule. For the first year of high school, the Class of 2024 mastered a new building, while only being on campus two or three days a week. They made friends through plexiglass, completed group projects on Zoom and navigated sporadic 14-day quarantines. But above all, they made it through, together. This class learned at a young age that time together is precious and deserves to be cherished. As high school went on, and normalcy returned, they made sure every class period, every First Friday, every dance – all the moments they had together – counted.
In the words of CJA senior class president, Makayla Lawrence ‘24…
“Being part of the Class of 2024 means I’m part of a special family – one that I still got to know, even starting with two years of barriers. At Cor Jesu, I have been able to grow and learn as an individual. I have come to know 149 strong women who are now my sisters forever. I have come to know a building filled with so many other people, outside of my classmates, that I will always have no matter what. Because of Cor Jesu, I have a wonderful family that I will forever cherish and love. I have learned that it’s okay to mess up and learn from your mistakes. I’ve learned that it’s okay to have a rocky start, and that your start doesn’t have to determine how you finish. I have learned to be MaKayla Lawrence and I thank anyone and everyone who has affected me these past 4 years!”
CO-VALEDICTORIANS: Olivia Carpenter and Jordan Sadler
SALUTATORIAN: Allie Maloney
THIRD RANKING: Meghan McLaughlin and Kaitlyn Torack
Congratulations, Class of 2024! You persevered and finished your time at Cor Jesu strong! Thank you for making each moment count not only for you, but for the rest of the school. We can’t wait to see how you seize all the special moments to come in your future!
PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Jordan Sadler, Olivia Carpenter, Allie Maloney, Meghan McLaughlin and Kaitlyn Torack.
Rory’s Reflection – A Charger Journey
*Written by Rory Barnawell '24 April 2024
My first public appearance at Cor Jesu was first semester freshman year on the Christmas Choir Concert video (it was a virtual concert due to Covid) during which I gave a speech about my expectations for the next four years of high school. This much tinier version of me was very excited about future choir concerts and simply having a locker. I wish I could go back in time to tell her that four years later she’d be giving the same kind of speech. This time, however, it would be in front of a live audience, at the Cor Jesu Auction, in a horse costume, talking about accomplishments far beyond getting to use a locker.
Going into Cor Jesu I had no idea what to expect, as I had no family members with the Midwest high school experience. I decided to take in as much as I could from day one. I joined Cultural Diversity Club where I met members of the ultimate frisbee team. They advertised their sport during one meeting and the marketing worked on me. That spring, I was playing a brand-new sport I didn’t even know played competitively in St. Louis until I was on the field. Now, I’ve played for four years and am a co-captain of the team!
I joined MOUSE Crew (the marketing team) for the spring
musical my freshman year and was struck by how much fun the cast members seemed to have on stage. So, I decided to try out for the musical the next year. I had a blast as a dancing knife in “Beauty and The Beast,” and went on to win the “Funniest Cast Member” award my junior year. Speech team had always been in the plans for my high school experience, but never in a million years did I think that improv would be the category in which I competed. Still, it was something new I tried, and I’m so glad I did. I made a best friend for life in my improv partner and even went on to coach some of the best future improvers Cor Jesu has to offer (in my unbiased opinion).
As I reflect on new experiences at CJ, of course, I can’t forget the horse costume – the result of responding to a Google form sent out by Dr. Cowan. I danced to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen while in the Charger suit during my audition and I made the mascot team. As one of the Cor Jesu Academy “Bolts,” for the last two years, I’ve had so much fun at admissions events, sports games and even the Auction!
Rory was chosen as the student speaker during Fund-a-Need at the 2024 Cor Jesu Auction. She shared about her experience at Cor Jesu over the last four years and how it was all made possible because of the financial assistance she and her family received.
LEFT: Rory Barnawell ’24 playing CJA ultimate frisbee. RIGHT: The Cor Jesu Speech Team poses with their awards after a meet. ABOVE: Dean of Student Life, Kathleen Wobbe Pottinger ’88, embraces Rory Barnawell ’24 at the 45th Annual Cor Jesu Auction.
“... new experiences pale in comparison to the lifelong connections you will make in the process.”
As you can tell by now, I’ve taken advantage of what seems like any and every opportunity Cor Jesu has to offer, and I don’t have one regret. However, I don’t think I could have done any of it on my own. Each new feat was inspired by someone who believed I could first. At Cultural Diversity Club, a group of kind seniors introduced me to a sport I’d never tried before. They were so patient when I had no idea what I was doing. Before I joined the spring musical, I had a support system of friends auditioning alongside me. They took the time to get to know me and wrote the sweetest messages in my playbills each year. At speech team practices, my improv partner challenged me and inspired me with her incredible talent. Plus, the underclassmen on the team would always build up our confidence with the kindest compliments after each meet.
As far as being a “Bolt,” I certainly could not do it alone. There is always someone there holding my hand, making sure I don’t run into any doors! Even beyond students, my teachers have always inspired me to try new things. Because of my Latin teacher (Mr. Gioia), I’ve taken four years of a language I’d never touched before freshman year. Because of my musical director
(Mrs. Top), I was a grandma in a jumpsuit hopping around on stage in front of a huge crowd in "Freaky Friday The Musical." And because of the administration and their belief in me, I’ve been given the opportunity to share my story with you!
If there is one lesson I’ve learned from the many things I’ve tried at Cor Jesu, it’s that new experiences pale in comparison to the lifelong connections you will make in the process. I may not be able to continue with Latin, ultimate frisbee, improv and being a mascot all at once during college, but the friends I’ve made and the impact Cor Jesu’s faculty has had on me will last through my next chapter and beyond.
lifelong connections
After a lot of hard work at CJA, Rory’s next chapter will be written at the University of Notre Dame! Go Irish!
LEFT BOTTOM: Brianna Esswein ’24 and Rory Barnawell ’24 on the first day of their senior year. LEFT: Abby Roessler ’24, Brianna Esswein ’24 and Rory Barnawell ’24 performing at the 2024 Spring Choir Concert. BOTTOM: Rory Barnawell ’24 performing in the CJA production of “Freaky Friday.”
The Road to State!
In March, the Cor Jesu Charger Basketball Team traveled up highway 70 to Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. The team made it to the Final Four of the Missouri Class 6 State Championship for the first time since 2015, and only the fifth time in school history. Many fans followed the team along the journey, but one new fan made this season extra special.
One Monday morning in December, CJA Athletic Director Liz Biedenstein, received a voicemail from an unfamiliar number. A woman named Mrs. Carolyn Norton explained that she came to Cor Jesu’s gym that Friday night to watch a basketball game, but the gym was closed. Liz gave her a call and explained that due to a conflict, the game had been rescheduled. Mrs. Norton understood and asked if Liz could send her an updated schedule and keep her informed about any changes.
“Absolutely!” Liz said. And she proceeded to ask what Mrs. Norton’s affiliation was with Cor Jesu. Did she have a family member on the team? Was she an alumna? A parent of an alumna?
“No,” said Mrs. Norton. “I live close by and I like basketball.”
Mrs. Norton further explained that she used to be a regular at the Saint Louis University men’s basketball games. She’s always liked the quick-thinking involved with the sport and the wide variety of possible plays. So, Liz gave her the schedule and made sure to keep her updated. Mrs. Norton came to her first Charger basketball game the next week. The team was victorious and she was hooked.
“They were a fun and refreshing team to watch,” she said. “They played well together and everyone seemed to be doing their best. I got interested in seeing what they would do next.”
Congratulations to the 2023-2024 Cor Jesu Basketball Team on your unforgettable journey to STATE! The CJA community and Mrs. Norton are very proud of you!
2023-2024 CHARGER BASKETBALL
– 4TH PLACE, CLASS 6 MSHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
• Maggie Anstey ‘27
• Grace Bellistri ‘24
• Sophia Bellistri ‘24
• Madi Beuligmann ‘25
• Maddie DiMaria ‘27
• Roslyn Doherty ‘27
• Paige Dolrenry ‘24
• Sydney Gorsuch ‘25
• Lauren Ortwerth ‘26
• Paige Scherrer ‘24
• Makenzie Van Bree ‘24
• Katie West ‘26
• Genevieve Wynne ‘25
COACHING STAFF:
Mary Kaye Banks, Jen Cleary Steinway ‘08, Emily Erbs ‘17, Kristina Schmelter ‘16
2024 Basketball Awards
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
• Sophia Bellistri ‘24
• Paige Dolrenry ‘24
• Lauren Ortwerth ‘26
DISTRICT PLAYER OF THE YEAR + ALL-STATE TEAM:
• Lauren Ortwerth ‘26
ALL-CONFERENCE 1ST TEAM
• Paige Dolrenry ‘24
• Lauren Ortwerth ‘26
ALL-CONFERENCE 2ND TEAM
• Sophie Bellistri ‘24
• Kenzie Van Bree ‘24
ALL-CONFERENCE
HONORABLE MENTION
• Maggie Anstey ‘27
• Grace Bellistri ‘24
– Also earned the Conference Sportsmanship Award!
So, she came back again…and again…and again. Soon enough the players knew where to find their new and unexpected fan – the top left corner of the bleachers – her usual spot.
“It’s the best place to be, a true fan can see,” Mrs. Norton said with a smile.
Recognizing her dedication to the team, the players decided to gift Mrs. Norton with her very own Cor Jesu sweatshirt to wear to games.
“She became like part of the team,” senior basketball captain Paige Dolrenry ‘24, said. “We had to get her some red!”
Mrs. Norton attended almost every home game, and even some away games at the Webster Winter Challenge Tournament and the district tournament at Oakville High School.
“There was no rhyme or reason behind why I chose to come to a Cor Jesu basketball game, other than that it was close to my house,” Mrs. Norton said. “But after being here and experiencing this beautiful, welcoming and friendly community, I’m so glad I did.”
While geographics certainly played a role, there may be something bigger at play. Mrs. Norton attended Holy Redeemer grade school in Webster until her family moved to Detroit after first grade. She went to St. Alfred for grade school there and then Sacred Heart High School.
Imagine that. The proximity to her house may have gotten her to Cor Jesu, but it was the charism that inspired her to keep coming back.
“I felt at home when I came to my first game,” she said.
A longtime educator and believer in Catholic education herself – having obtained bachelor’s degrees from SLU in English and education, as well as a master’s in gifted education from the University of Northern Iowa – Mrs. Norton was not only impressed by the skill of the basketball team, but also by the school’s strong academics and most importantly, the kindness of the community.
“Cor Jesu has come up with an equation that works,” she said. “Keep doing what you’re doing, adding to it and multiplying the outcomes!”
A SPECIAL NOTE…
While Mrs. Norton was not able to make the trip with her beloved Chargers to State, she remained a true fan. In her red sweatshirt and new final four t-shirt, Mrs. Norton watched the live stream of the Charger’s semi-final game with some CJA staff members on campus. She also sent the team off with an original good luck poem. Check out the excerpt here!
Saluting you! Cor Jesu!
The best place to be, a true fan can see.
A team with direction, which changes each half. But your true direction, carries your team toward the best to be had.
The season of supporting you has been a highlight for me.
Hope your season’s experience, has had the best of all aspects for you all to see.
Again, your so thoughtful gifts, I’m blessed to have them. And to have met my favorite team –sincerely and truly!
Rah! Rah! Rah! Cor Jesu!
a true fan
Carolyn Norton with CJA’s Athletic Director, Liz Biedenstein.
SURF’S UP CJ
Despite the wintry chill from February 23 to March 1, Cor Jesu’s campus transformed into a beachy paradise as Penny Queen Week began. The theme –“Surf’s Up, CJ!” – had students, faculty and staff in a sunshine state of mind.
Whether it was the familiar joy of Pet-a-Puppy or the adrenaline rush of the first-ever Fun Run with the Nuns, there was laughter and excitement around every corner. From cupcake decorating to laser tag, and bouquet making to dodgeball, Penny Queen Week had something for everyone. And while the Chargers were having fun, they didn’t lose site of the real meaning of Penny Queen – to make a difference.
In just one week, the Chargers made BIG waves in the community, raising over $30,425 for deserving charities!
Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us Share the Love of the Heart of Christ through Penny Queen.
Special shoutout to the class “Penny Queens” – the student representatives who create, organize and execute the events and fundraising efforts that make PQ Week so successful!
2024 Penny Queens
SENIORS:
• Gwen Hymes
• Bella Pieper
• Chloe Steger
JUNIORS:
• Maggie Alexander
• Fiona Durnil
• Kaitlyn Howenstein
SOPHOMORES:
• Cate Figge
• Kerry Harrington
• Katie Beth Terrill
FRESHMEN:
• Caroline Kelly
• Julia Niemann
• Mary Kate Sotiriou
PENNY QUEEN 2024 PROUDLY SUPPORTED:
• Cure Sanfilippo Foundation
• Laughing Bear Bakery
• Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Missions such as the Clelian Center and Apostle Immigrant Services
• CJA Summer Service Trip to Appalachia
• Cor Jesu Endowment Fund
A Trip Down Memory Lane…
SPIRIT WEEK: Battle of the Classes
The Chargers celebrated the second Spirit Week of the year with the traditional Battle of the Classes! This year’s theme – “You Had to Be There!” – took each Charger on a trip down memory lane with daily themes and challenges that brought our students back to grade school.
MONDAY: “Once Upon a Time”
Students dressed up as beloved storybook characters!
TUESDAY: “On Demand”
Students pushed “rewind,” and brought back their favorite childhood TV shows and movies.
WEDNESDAY: “You Got Any Games?”
The Chargers embraced the best of old school video games like Mario Kart and Oregon Trail.
THURSDAY: “Next Big Thing”
Paying tribute to icons like Justin Bieber, each class dressed as different pop culture stars!
FRIDAY: Battle of the Colors + Field Day!
The week ended with each class dressing out in its assigned color. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather with a BBQ, sponsored by the CJA Father’s Club, and a field day, organized by Student Council. It was an afternoon filled with inflatable bounce houses and obstacles courses, a bubble bus, ice cream truck, classic yard games, and, of course, all-school cheers. At the end of the day, the STUCO Executive Board announced the official winner of Battle of the Classes…
And the winner is… Drumroll… THE CLASS OF 2024!!!
Congratulations, seniors and shoutout to the entire community for joining in on the fun!
WE'VE GOT THIS! WE'VE GOT THIS!
The Cor Jesu Theatre Department brought a FREAKY show to CJA this spring with an incredible production of “Freaky Friday The Musical!” The cast and crew took the audience along the journey of mother-daughter duo, Katherine and Ellie Blake (played by Anna Meister ‘24 and Audrey Strohmeyer ‘26), as they navigate an entire day trapped in each other’s bodies. Not to mention, Katherine is getting married the very next day! With upbeat musical numbers, stellar dance moves and a spectacular set, the audience was captivated from start to finish as they witnessed the beauty of a reconnection between a mother and her daughter. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew!
'Freaky Friday,’ was not only my eighth and final show at Cor Jesu, but also our first show set in the 21st century! There were so many modern and upbeat songs that it was really special to be part of seeing our months of hard work come together. Being part of Cor Jesu theatre has made my high school experience. This community has been there for me through all my ups and downs the last four years and I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had or the friends I’ve made for anything. Because of CJA theatre, I’ll be pursuing a degree in Film and Television at DePaul University next year and am so excited to put what I’ve learn to use and see what the future holds!
– ANNA MANZELLA ‘24, PRODUCTION & STAGE MANAGER
I have looked forward to the musical every year of high school. The community is wonderful and makes everyone feel welcome. You can truly be yourself in CJA’s musical community and it’s where I feel most accepted. Through the musical, I have deepened my connections with my friends and made new ones – of all grade levels! Getting the chance to perform with my friends and work with the amazing directors is so much fun and I would highly recommend joining the cast or crew to all Cor Jesu students.
– ANNA MEISTER ‘24, “KATHERINE BLAKE”
For the third year in a row, the Cor Jesu Marketing and CJTV classes joined forces to promote the Spring Musical with the beloved pep rally event: The Masked Singer, Charger Edition! “Freaky Friday” cast members, along with one staff member, performed their favorite Disney musical songs in full costume. This year was different as it not only featured solo performances, but also one duet – “Cabinet Battle #1” from “Hamilton” – and one trio – “Learn to Do It” from “Anastasia.” Shoutout to all the performers and those who made the event possible!
161 TOTAL ZIP CODES
38
TOTAL STUDENTS
DIFFERENT GRADE SCHOOLS/ MIDDLE SCHOOLS 57
70% STUDENTS ARE THE ONLY ONE ATTENDING CJA FROM THEIR GRADE SCHOOLS 27
• 36 daughters of alumnae
• 1 granddaughter of an alumna
• 12 have a sister who is an alumna
DIFFERENT PARISHES 49 OF STUDENTS HAVE AN ALUMNAE CONNECTION (mom, sister, aunt or cousin attended or is attending CJA)
• 26 have a sister who is a current student
NEW SENDING SCHOOLS TO COR JESU (compared to the last three years)
• Crestview Middle School
• Firm Foundations Christian Academy
• Millstadt Consolidated School
• South City Community School
• St. Louis Language Immersion School
• St. Paul’s Lutheran School
• Word of Life Lutheran School
Our Class of 2028 Chargers!
Ava Airaghi
Isabelle Ambrose
Caprice Aque
Emery Austin
Josephine Bader
Genevieve Barnhart
Addison Barnidge
Harper Bauer
Katelyn Beffa
Natalia Bendaña
Ellie Bickel
Claire Bitney
Sophia Blodgett
Caroline Bohac
Lauren Brandt
Emma Brown
Eiley Brynleifsson
Josephine Cagle
Margaret Carl
Eva Caruso
Charlie Cates
Ava Clark
Caroline Connolly
Corinne Conway
Sofia Cordes
Mia Cotton
Amelia Dalton
Audrey Dame
Kaitlyn Detweiler
Molly DeVaney
Olivia Door
Lillian Dougherty
Hazel Dougherty
Lucille Eikermann
Avery Etling
Cecilia Faber
Madalyn Farley
Ava Fels
Paige Ferris
Isabella Figliola
Ava Fothen
Sarah Hahn
Kayla Hess
Chery Hnem
Cecelia Hof
Bryanna Hong
Dorothy Huber
Lexi Huber
Kendall Hutchens
Melanie Kalinowski
Charlotte Keuss
Kennedy Kinworthy Nealy Kohler
Erin Koscielski
Katherine Kruse
Estella Kyramarios
Gianna Lancia
Jocelyn Legens
Shalie Loerch
Kendall Long
Liliana Lozano
Morgan Lubeley
Anna Lueckenotte
Adysen Lyon
Stella Mabry
Claire Madsen
Samantha Marr
Emma Mastnak
Elise McIntyre
Lucy Mellnick
Lydia Melton Serafina Mete
Mary Mispagel
Sarah Moore Ava Morton Sophia Mosby
Zoe Moyich
Mia Nekic
Katelyn Ngo
Uloma Onanwerhi
Jane Palka
Lillian Paur
Madelyn Pluff
Abigail Podnar
Adeline Pogue
Isabella Pupillo
Elizabeth Rachelski
Emma Raftery
Zoey Rakey
Juliette Rasure Katherine Reh Stella Robben
Rosa Rodriguez Heidi Rolwes
Colleen Ryan Eleanor Scher
Norah Schicker
Addison Schloss
Emery Schmieder
Madelynn Schneeberger
Mary Schoenekase
Taylor Schultz
Lillian Shaw
Malaya Sheevam
Jocelyn Sheldon Emma Shine
Carly Shipp
Mary Ella Shoger
Vienna Sidarous
Molly Siemer
Mariah Smith
Lauren Smith
Claire Spence
Ava Spruell
Margaret Stewart
Molly Stockmann
Sylvia Strohmeyer
Addison Sturm
Wai Su
Maria Sung
Mia Tettamble
Morgan Thoele
Sophia Tomlinson
Ophelia Tully
Alaina Uding
Kallie Unger
Audrey Vancil
Sharon Vargas
Mary Villhard
Anna Visintine
Eloise Wacker
Emilia Wahl
Meredith Walbaum
Catherine Ward
Molly Ward Anna Weable
Tessa Wegman
Claire Weissler
Amelia White
Adair Wickersham
Madison Wismann
Mary Wolf
Jane Zetlmeisl
Olivia Ziegler
Genevieve Zimmerman
As of June 5, 2024
Prom Night!
The Class of 2024 didn’t let a little rain ruin a good time! The seniors kicked off their prom night celebrations with photos inside Cor Jesu, before heading to The Muny to capture more memories before the dance. For the first time, the dance was held at The Chase Park Plaza – a wonderful venue that was filled with laughter, dancing and smiles from very happy Chargers!
“I was part of the planning committee for both our Junior Ring Dance and Prom. Planning both dances was so much fun because we could make the night unique to our class. Prom was extra special, of course, because it was our last dance all together. I was honored to be selected to the committee by my classmates. It meant the world knowing they had faith in me and the other committee members to make our last dance one we would never forget!”
–SOPHIE VERGARA ’24, PROM COMMITTEE MEMBER (LEFT)
DATE: April 26, 2024
LOCATION: The Chase Park Plaza –Starlight & Zodiac Ballroom
PROM COMMITTEE: Melanie Armbrecht, Sophia Frasher-Goetz and Sophie Vergara
“I was SUPER excited to be crowned Prom Queen! I genuinely love each of my classmates so much and it felt so special that they chose me to represent us. And while being named prom queen was fun, the best part of the night was simply spending time with my entire class for one of the last times!”
–COURTNEY
WU ’24, PROM QUEEN
Ring Day!
In March, the members of the Cor Jesu Class of 2025 took part in the treasured tradition of receiving their CJA class rings. The day began with a special Liturgy at Cor Jesu, with the junior class members and their families, followed by a beautiful reception to celebrate the milestone. The day ended with the Junior Ring Dance where the Class of 2025 danced the night away, each showing off their newest (and of course favorite) piece of jewelry!
Junior Class President, Vita Lorms (right), set the tone for this special day in her welcome speech before Mass, stating:
“The ring we receive today is a symbolic reminder of our commitment to Cor Jesu and our individual belonging in this community. Three years ago, we all entered the Common doors, excited and nervous about this new adventure. When Covid struck, we lost the opportunity to experience Cor Jesu in its full glory during shadow days. Nonetheless, each one of us was drawn here for a reason. Whether you found the spirit overpowering, the sisterhood welcoming, or the academics thrillingly challenging, you are where you’re meant to be…” Congratulations, Class of 2025!
DATE: March 23, 2024
LOCATION: Andres West
THEME: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
JUNIOR RING COMMITTEE: Junior Student Council Members
“I still love my class ring! It can be spotted anywhere and instantly connect you to a stranger. Our Cor Jesu ring has so many symbols and represents something different to all of us. Wearing it reminds me of how hard I worked, how much fun I had and how Cor Jesu opened so many doors and opportunities for me. When I think about all of that for my daughters, I am excited for them and even more proud. The best part of it all is that I had the honor of giving each of them their own CJA rings. It brings me closer to each of my daughters, not only as mother and daughter, but also as Cor Jesu girls.”
–CLAIRE SUELMANN KEIFER ‘97, CJA ALUMNA AND PARENT OF ELLIOT KEIFER ‘23 AND WHITNEY KEIFER ‘25
Dear Cor Jesu Alumnae,
Letter from the Director of Alumnae Engagement
It seems like just yesterday I was writing my introduction letter to you all, and now we are in full summer mode here at Cor Jesu Academy. The Class of 2024 has graduated, formally joining our ranks as alumnae with the Alumnae Induction Ceremony in May. And now, we are eagerly awaiting our incoming freshman class to arrive in August.
Our lives have taken many journeys since our Cor Jesu days. I shared a bit of my journey in my last letter. One journey, I hope you all will consider, is your journey back to Cor Jesu. That will likely look different for each of us, but there are so many ways to get back to our alma mater.
The reunion for the classes ending in 4 and 9 took place at the beginning of June and we had an incredibly fun evening – full of spirit! The Preview Night for the spring musical, “Freaky Friday,” brought many alumnae and their children back to Cor Jesu in April. Some of you will return for Open House this fall as you consider where your daughters will attend high school, and others will join us for the Golf and Pickleball Tournament in October. Young alumnae, still in college, can join us in January for our Internship Networking Connections (INC) Event, and we hope you all will join us for our annual Auction in February.
I’d love to invite all of you to come to Cor Jesu for coffee and a tour. Simply send me an email to set up a time. It is one of the biggest pleasures of my role - getting to know more alumnae across the generations, to hear about your journeys, and to learn how we can continue to make Cor Jesu a place you are proud to call home.
Stay curious,
Brittany Peek Seabaugh, ‘04 Director of Alumnae Engagement
Reunions Recap
We were excited to welcome over 430 alumnae back to campus on June 1, 2024. Members of the classes ending in ‘4 and ‘9 celebrated everything from their 5th reunion (Class of 2019) to their 60th reunion (Class of 1964). From Washington to New Jersey, alumnae traveled back to Cor Jesu from all over the country (and St. Louis), some seeing the building for the first time in 50 years. We kicked off the evening with liturgy in the ‘old’ gym and were thrilled to be able to host all classes in the same room, the ‘new’ gym, for cocktail hour and dinner. This gave classes the opportunities to sit together, but also mingle with other classes. We had quite a few legacy mom and daughter duos, along with cousins, sisters and aunts, all able to cheers to CJA together.
Save the Date!
Classes ending in '0 and '5 are invited to celebrate their reunions on June 7, 2025!
Alumnae Traces
1993
Valerie Schremp Hahn became an associate editor with the Catholic Health Association of the United States in June 2023 after working 26 years as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She continues to freelance on the side and her feature stories have been published in thestl.com and The New York Times. Congratulations, Valerie!
1994
Sarah Becan published a new book in May! “Let’s Make Bread!” is Sarah’s third book in a series of comic book cookbooks for the publisher, Ten Speed Graphic. It is co-authored with New York Times bestselling author and accomplished baker, Ken Forkish. It is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as at Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart.
2004
Laura Kohnen LaVigne and her husband, Jeff, welcomed their son, Oliver Leonard LaVigne, on November 30, 2023. CJA faculty member, Mame Blumeyer, is a proud great aunt to Oliver!
2010
Kara Boschert completed LaunchCode’s programming and coding program, allowing her to secure a position as a Business Applications Specialist for Mid-America Carpenters’ Regional Benefit Services.
2018
Taylor Cole, who is working toward her PhD in Chemistry, had her paper entitled, “Bridging the gap: viable reaction pathways from tetrahedrane to benzyne” published in “Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.” Taylor’s area of interest is Theoretical Astro Chemistry. Congrats, Taylor!
If you have exciting news to share about yourself or a fellow CJA alumna, please email Brittany Peek Seabaugh ‘04 Director of Alumnae Engagement, at bseabaugh@corjesu.org.
FALL SEMESTER 2024
Grandparents’ Mass
Sunday, September 22
Cor Jesu Academy
Fall Play – “Steel Magnolias” October 3-5
Cor Jesu Academy
Cor Jesu Golf Tournament
Monday, October 14
Sunset Country Club
Admissions Open House
Sunday, October 27
Cor Jesu Academy
Alumnae Mass of Remembrance
Friday, November 1
Cor Jesu Academy
Giving Tuesday Tuesday, December 3
Christmas Concert
Thursday, December 5
7 p.m.
Chaminade Skip Viragh Center
Winter Instrumental Concert
Tuesday, December 12
7 p.m.
Cor Jesu Academy
In Memoriam
We extend our sincere condolences and prayers to the families of the Cor Jesu community mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Cor Jesu mourns the loss of our alumnae:
Diane Loosmore Gutierrez ‘82
Shirlene Grigaitis
Mother of Gina Grigaitis ‘69, Christina Grigaitis Gorla ‘83, Kim Grigaitis ‘86 and Jennifer Grigaitis Richter ‘89
Grandmother of Amy Grigaitis Slowinski ‘98, Emily Grigaitis Acevedo ‘00, Kelly Grigaitis ‘05, Gina Grigaitis Carroll ‘06, Maggie Grigaitis Palutsis ‘06, Maria Gorla Boyer ‘14 and Natalie Gorla ‘17
Aunt of Maralin Grigaitis Fredericks ‘72
Mary Jane Keane
Mother of Karen Keane Holland ‘69
Amanda Kopff
Sister of Laura Kopff ‘03
Helen Lashley
Grandmother of Michelle Pfaender Johnson ‘03
Melva May
Mother of Shelley May Goeddel ‘78, Laura May Piontek ‘79 and Terri May ‘81
Grandmother of Kristen Piontek Broeder ‘07, Lauren Goeddel Burnworth ‘07, Jessica Piontek ‘09, Jenny Goeddel ‘12 and Abby Piontek ‘21
Great Aunt of Caroline May ‘24
Charles Mispagel
Grandfather of Claire Mispagel Trottier ‘11, Abby Mispagel ‘13, Allison Mispagel ‘17, Maddie Mispagel ‘26 and Molly Mispagel ‘28
Megan Nuelle
Daughter-in-law of Connie VandeVen Nuelle ‘85
Martin Pozzo
Father of Kim Pozzo Ondr ‘89
Grandfather of Emily Pozzo ‘21, Grace Pozzo ‘23, Maggie Pozzo ‘24 and Sophie Pozzo ‘26
Frank Puglessi
Brother-in-law of CJA Staff Member, Sr. Veronica Marinari, ASCJ
Paul Raczkiewicz
Father of Annie Raczkiewicz Bathgate ‘94 and Ellen Raczkiewicz Ziegler ‘02
Marlene Schaetzel
Grandmother of Morgan Schaetzel Skelton ‘11 and Stephanie Schaetzel ‘11
Gloria Suntrup
Mother of Janine Suntrup Hanes ‘83
Donald C. Shea
Father of Joan Shea O’Neal ‘75 and Patricia Shea ‘78
Grandfather of Helena Shea Vitale ’11
Eugene Weckherlin
Grandfather of Ellie Weckherlin ‘23 and Olivia Weckherlin ‘27
