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Duchesne Today – Spring 2019

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Duchesne TODAY

DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART–OMAHA SPRING 2019


3601 Burt Street Omaha, NE 68131 402-558-3800 www.duchesneacademy.org

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic college-preparatory high school for girls of all faiths and backgrounds, is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada. The schools of the Sacred Heart Network share five goals which commit them to educate to: · A personal and active faith in God · A deep respect for intellectual values · A social awareness which impels to action · The building of community as a Christian value · Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom

Editor-In-Chief Mary-Ellen Doyle

Publication Designer Maggie Crnkovich VanMoorleghem A06

Contributors Katie Risch Bakhit A94 Margo O'Connor Bieker A71 Meg Huerter Brudney A83 Virginia Snake-Bumann A20 Annlynn Casey A22 Mary-Ellen Doyle Erin Everson A12 Katie Grudle Lena Hansen A19 Laura McKee Hickman A85 Cristina Wilwerding Hiddleston A93 Abigail Justice A14 Eric Krakowski Kim Kreis Trisha Clark Meehan A04 Ben Mihovk Meghan Conway Rowen A97 Shyenne Starks A21 Kevin Van Winkle Sara Wachter A79

Printer Aradius Group


› INSIDE THIS ISSUE ‹ 04 Letter from the Head of School 06 Preschool News 08 The Bicentennial

10

Rethinking Health: A Focus on Wellness

Duchesne takes the health of our young women seriously. See what steps the school is taking to care for students and teach them to care for themselves.

10 School News 22 Alumnae News 30 Giving 34 In Memoriam

18

The Best of Times

The announcement of Mr. Daly's retirement after 19 years at Duchesne truly marks the end of an era at Duchesne.

Front Cover: Beloved British Literature teacher, Mr. Daly, is set to retire this spring. Mr. Daly's impressive teaching career spans 57 years; 19 of which were dedicated to educating young women at Duchesne Academy. Photo credit: Anna Mostek Photography

31

Congé 2019

A recap of the successful event and photos from the evening.

Duchesne Today is a newsletter for the alumnae and friends of Duchesne Academy, Duchesne College and Duchesne Preschool. It is published twice a year. Printed on recycled paper.


A Letter From the Head of School ENOUGH AS WE ARE Dear Alumnae and Friends, During the snowy days of February, I escaped to the RSCJ’s Spiritual Ministry Center in San Diego to make a four-day retreat. I am learning the importance of being quiet with God and leaving the grind of my daily life behind, as I grow in my own faith. It is my hope that our entire community finds ways to strengthen their personal relationships with God, especially in the absence of RSCJs on our campus who have traditionally informed and inspired our faith lives. You can imagine my gratitude, when a donor gifted Duchesne $10,000 to support our adult community on their spiritual journeys. As a result, our faculty and staff can make retreats, buy spiritual books, or meet with a spiritual director at no expense to them. It is a beautiful way to model for our girls the importance of self-care.

2018-2019 School Year Prayer A Prayer of Dedication to Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne - Kim King, RSCJ When we are asked to be bold and courageous, You are our inspiration. When our imaginations dream and see beyond the limits of our sight, You are our hope. When we fail to meet a challenge and need to accept our limitations, You are our model. When we pray with the desire for deep union with God, You are our saint. And with your blessing, to the greater glory of God, we seek to be loving people who live and serve others with your same purpose, vision, and quiet humility. Amen.

Our girls at Duchesne belong to a generation which rewards overachieving and creates incredible pressure to do it all. They have been told they can do anything but believe they have to do everything, which has created a generation of girls experiencing extreme anxiety and depression. Our teachers have seen this in the classroom which led us to take a hard look at how or if we are perpetuating this environment. As a community we read Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives by Rachel Simmons. It validated what we have been seeing and started us on a wonderful journey of promoting wellness. We have researched this topic and have actually surveyed the girls to better understand their reality. We are becoming more aware of the superficial criteria guiding the actions of our girls and are working with them to redefine success in healthier terms. We are encouraging them to reach their goals, without losing their self-worth. Throughout this publication, you will learn about how we are responding to what we have learned. It is our goal to continue educating strong women who will go onto become professionals, civic leaders, and/or dedicated mothers and who will boldly lead the way for the future generations. Ultimately, we want our young women to know God’s love and feel God’s presence in their daily lives, to find joy, discover their own gifts, and enjoy their journey. In gratitude,

Meg Huerter Brudney A83 Head of School 4 DUCHESNE TODAY


Duchesne Preschool Summer Camps 9 201

JUNE 10-JULY 25

1 2 3 4

Session One June 10-13

Session Two June 17-20

Session F Three ULL P M 8-11 July CA

Session FFour ULL P AM 15-18 CJuly

Kindergarten Jump-Start ULL One Week MP FCamp CA July 22 – 25

Download a copy of the summer camp brochure at www.duchesneacademy.org/preschool-summer-camps FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Contact Summer Enrichment Coordinator, Mary Jo Begley at mbegley@duchesneacademy.org

SPRING 2019 5


Preschool News

A

Dog's purpose:

the preschool therapy dog provides stress relief, comfort, and love

W

hen Duchesne Preschool opened in 1999, Preschool Director Sara Wachter knew that a therapy dog would be an integral part of the learning environment. The first therapy dog, Murphy, was with the school from the spring of 1999 until December of 2009, when he passed away unexpectedly. In May 2010, Duffy the therapy dog arrived at Duchesne Preschool. His name was the winning choice of over 300 Academy and Preschool students who voted to name the newest member of our community. From the very beginning, Duffy’s impact was felt in a most positive way! To become a therapy dog, Duffy completed a challenging sixmonth course where he had to learn basic obedience, how to remain calm in a large group of people, how to come when called - negotiating his way through a crowd, and how to leave an object he wants when commanded to “leave it.” His credentials hang inside the Preschool on the wall.

6 DUCHESNE TODAY

At school, Duffy performs several functions. He is a motivator for a reluctant child to get out of the car and come into school. He calms children who are upset, and as they stroke him, their breathing settles down and they become calm again. Duffy is also an expert at snuggling a sick child who is waiting in the office to be picked up to go home. When asked the if they want Duffy to lie down with them, the children always say yes, which makes Duffy very happy. Duffy can often be seen out on the sidewalk at arrival, or running on the soccer field with the extended care children. He loves his daily visits from Frannie, the Academy dog, and sometimes they go for a play date on the soccer field. He always leads the Halloween parade and is very patient as he sits with each class for the school pictures in September. Having a therapy dog at school reduces the stress level for all of us and just makes us SMILE!


Preschool News

Goal 4: Building Community ACADEMY STUDENTS GIVE BACK by sara wachter For many years, the Duchesne Academy girls have immersed themselves in the world of preschool as volunteers. They have been a huge asset to our program, and the little ones look up to them as “rock stars.” Having an older girl to help our preschoolers play, draw, create, and pretend adds a magical dimension to their day. Often the girls volunteer in our before care program which runs from 7:30-9:00 am for children whose parents need to drop them off on their way to work. This is a time of day when some of the children really appreciate a little snuggle, extra hug, or some one-on-one time as they separate from their parents. The preschool extended care program is another prime opportunity for volunteers. It runs from noon to 5:30 every day, and the “big girls” come over to volunteer around 3:30 as the preschool children are waking up from their naps. They help with snacks, creating projects, getting the children involved in play, going to the playground or ballroom, and getting the little ones dressed, buttoned, zipped, and out the door for dismissal.

The “big girls” are impressive with the good communication and sense of responsibility they demonstrate. If they have to miss a volunteer shift or will be late, they always email to let the preschool know. Some of the girls have even reached out to some of the parents of children they really enjoy and have formed relationships which extend beyond the school day including babysitting for preschool families in the evenings and even during the summer as nannies. The volunteer program is a prime example of Goal 4: “Building Community as a Christian Value.”

A FESTIVE MORNING IN SUPPORT OF PRESCHOOL CONGÉ by meghan conway rowen a97 A new Preschool Congé tradition was born over the Christmas holiday. On Saturday, December 15, Duchesne hosted a Christmas Pajama Patron Party in the Academy’s first floor hallway. Christmas donuts from Pettit’s Pastry were served along with spiced tea and mimosas for mamas (and dads). The Christmas tree was the center of this festive event which included writing letters to Santa Claus and mailing them in our North Pole mailbox, and holiday music and story time led by Mrs. Claus. All this was capped off with a “snowball fight” in the dance room. The kids and parents were thrilled by the community building aspect of this new tradition, all in support of Preschool Congé 2019.

SPRING 2019 7


Bicentennial Celebration

Closing the

Bicentennial Year

by katie grudle

O

n November 18, the Sacred Heart community celebrated the feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne and the official end it to the bicentennial celebrations. Many faculty and staff, along with student body president and student representative Grace Hoover A19, traveled to St. Louis to attend this celebration. In the morning, the Network schools gathered for prayer at the Shrine in St. Charles followed by a brunch. Hoover remembered her time at the Shrine and sitting next to Philippine’s final resting place by sharing, “We had some time to ourselves to sit and pray with Philippine. It made me feel extremely grateful for everything she did by laying the foundation for girls like me. In that brief period of time, I felt the most connected to Philippine that I have ever felt.” Then the Duchesne Omaha group traveled to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis where they first went to visit the brand new Philippine statue in the gardens on the Basilica grounds, which depicts Philippine sitting down so one can be eyelevel with her. That day, she even donned a red Sacred Heart scarf just like all of the Religious of the Sacred Heart for the celebrations! Here our group witnessed pilgrims - who walked from Sugar Creek, KS- finish their journey. It was a moving moment to watch them finish their 25-day walk. Robert and Janet Pearl from the Potawatomi Nation led the group in quiet reflection by beating the drum, symbolizing the echo of the heartbeat of God. Robert, who is a chief, and his family have been the Society’s teachers of the tribe and great ambassadors. They have attended many events over the years with the Society.

8 DUCHESNE TODAY

In attendance for Mass were 40 individuals who were all Philippine’s direct descendants. This group started in New Orleans in the beginning of the week, visiting the Rosary and the Ursuline Convent where Philippine stayed once she arrived in the Americas. They also visited Sugar Creek, and then lead the procession into the Basilica. Finally, the last two processional groups entered the Bascilica - the Network schools, where Hoover was Duchesne’s school representative, and then the Religious of the Sacred Heart- proudly wearing their red scarves. The readings were the feast day readings. The music was produced by a composer of liturgical music, Fr. Michael Joncas. One very special part of the liturgy was during the offertory, Lyn Oseik, RSCJ, and current Duchesne board member, and other religious brought up Philippine’s profession cross, divine office, and a ciborium that was gifted from Sophie to Philippine when she started her journey to the New World. Following the mass, the Religious walked out to a roaring applause for these women who gave their life to God and share their vocation with many communities in our Province and around the world. Meghan Conway Rowen A97, director of special events, said this moment “was not only emotional but extremely profound, as I felt they were direct disciples of Rose Philippine Duchesne, and we are the lucky ones who have called them our life teachers.”

Society of the Sacred Heart © Photos by Jerry Naunheim Jr.


Bicentennial Celebration

BICENTENNIAL MASS REFLECTION by Erin Everson A12, Communications Coordinator Society of the Sacred Heart, US/Canada Province

T

he bicentennial Mass was a moving tribute to the history, present moment, and future of the Society of the Sacred Heart, truly an amazing gathering of the international Sacred Heart family. I was particularly struck at one point during the Mass, just after communion. While listening to the choir, orchestra and voices echo throughout the cathedral, I was profoundly moved thinking of the 200 years of history, which in some way had led me, as well as each person around me, to this very moment in time.

With this in mind, I pondered, just as we are called to cross frontiers as a Sacred Heart family, so too are we challenged to cross frontiers as individuals. For everyone gathered for this celebration, I was reminded of the incredible depth and breadth of our Sacred Heart family and the remarkable influence we have and can have in our communities and our world at large. I was enlivened to think, as imperfect as parts of our history as a Society may have been, here we are today, presented with this call, an opportunity and a responsibility, going forward, to confront the social issues that Philippine and her contemporaries may not have had the ability or power to confront in their day.

Society of the Sacred Heart © Photos by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

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This 200-year history was not perfect. I stood in that moment, thankful for the education that I had the privilege to receive because of this history, remembering that the early beginnings of the Society were successful because of Philippine, the RSCJ that came before us and also, in large part, because of contributions of enslaved persons, which sustained the congregations’ presence in the United States during the 19th century. I believe it’s a reality we cannot avoid. The path

to reconciliation is an ongoing effort. Naming and confronting our past is an important part of that.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Perpetual Calendar AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW! $25 + Shipping (if ordered online) Purchase in the Duchesne Bookstore or online at www.orders.duchesneacademy.org

This perpetual calendar was created by Duchesne Academy in Omaha, Nebraska to celebrate the Bicentennial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne’s 1818 arrival in America. Relive Philippine’s remarkable journey of strength and endurance with this unique quote-per-day calendar offering daily excerpts from the pioneer saint’s correspondence. Beautifully designed, this stand-up calendar makes a perfect gift that lasts for years in home or office. A must-have for every child of the Sacred Heart. • $25 +shipping • Avoid shipping costs by purchasing in the bookstore! • Size: 5.5” x 4.5” • Spiral bound • Cover and base are made of heavy card stock


Academy News

Rethinking health:

A Culture of Emotional, Spiritual and Physical Wellness by laura mckee hickman A85 The phrase “wellness” has taken on a cultural significance in the past few years. Many adults agree that in today's fastpaced lifestyle, it is easy to let our own physical, spiritual, and emotional needs be placed on the back burner. The young women in our school are no different. They too feel the pull of academic demands, tight schedules and deadlines, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and the ever-present pull of technology. The administration, faculty, and staff at Duchesne want all of our stakeholders to know that we take our young women’s health (physical, spiritual, and emotional) seriously, and we want them to as well. To that end, several initiatives have begun at Duchesne this school year. Please read more to find out how we are caring for our young women, and, even more importantly, are teaching them to care for themselves.

t

he media tell us that there are growing numbers of students battling serious anxiety, eating disorders, all-tooreal depression, and even suicidal thoughts. At Duchesne, we have been listening to those accounts, as well as obtaining feedback from current and past students, parents, and faculty and staff as to how we can better equip our students to deal with these issues. At the start of the school year, the administration of Duchesne set a goal to make self-care a priority for all students. So many alumnae remember their days at Duchesne with great fondness, and we wanted to ensure that the joy of learning in a Sacred Heart community defined this generation’s school experience the way it had for so many of us. We began the process by surveying students about their habits regarding such varied topics as healthy eating, sleep, social media use, and stress. The world has changed dramatically in a very short time. Extensive research into the issues affecting young women today reveals that we are far from alone in expressing concern toward what appears to be an epidemic in Western society. While school officials and health professionals can all agree that a problem with student wellness exists, there are many theories about the causes and many more about pathways to addressing the problem.


Academy News Rachel Simmons, author of the best-selling book Enough As She Is (see sidebar) and a leading voice on the topic of teen girls’ health, points to the relational aspects of social media, the “college industrial complex,” “stress Olympics,” and a variety of other cultural changes that have dramatically affected how young women navigate a variety of family expectations. This eye-opening book became the focal point of many conversations among Duchesne faculty and administration as we sought ways to most authentically serve our students and meet their ever-changing needs. Many of the messages received by young women tell them that, no matter what they do or achieve, they are “not enough.”

ENOUGH AS SHE IS: A RECOMMENDED READ FOR PARENTS OF TEENAGE GIRLS by Ben Mihovk

As Sacred Heart educators we firmly believe that our students are unique, incredible, intelligent, wonderful young women as they are. Madeleine Sophie felt God’s love so powerfully that she devoted her life to making known that love. Our young women must know that love and feel it deep in their hearts. They must come to realize that they are not defined by test scores or activities or achievements or popularity. They are children of the Sacred Heart, and that, we believe, is enough.

So, what has Duchesne done to start to change the message? • Because we know from our students and from other research that too many girls constantly compare themselves negatively to their peers, we are changing how we recognize accomplishments, most notably at quarterly honors assemblies. We still celebrate the wonderful achievements of our students, but we are trying to diminish a sense of public ranking.

Modern life is replete with challenges for today’s students; there is no question that these challenges are different than the ones adults faced in their youths. Furthermore, female students face a unique set of pressures, obstacles, and double-standards that their male counterparts do not.

• Because lack of sleep has been positively identified with all kinds of mental and physical illnesses, we have created a 8:45 am start time that provides the opportunity for more sleep every day and to get the recommended eight hours of sleep, and are discussing ways to slow down our day with more double blocks and decrease the nightly amount of homework.

The nature of these challenges and their potential impacts on young women is a major focus of Rachel Simmons’ Enough As She Is, which a number of faculty and staff read and discussed this year. Simmons not only navigates the pressures young women face disproportionally to young men, but also helps the reader understand why these pressures exist and how to help mitigate them with mindfulness, reflective thinking, and self-compassion.

• As we explore campus renovations, one of our most important focuses will be to create intimate spaces for quiet meditation and prayer as well as offering spiritual opportunities such as silent retreats to give this generation the experience of the joy and necessity of “unplugging.” • In a world that frequently models poor and ineffective communication, Duchesne students have been working with RSCJ to develop our own standards of communication that rest first on respect for the dignity of the person and her unique perspective. • And most importantly, we are tracking our students’ experiences with the goal of moving the needle toward greater joy, a deeper belief in their own inherent value and self-worth, and the knowledge that they are always loved by a generous, forgiving, and merciful God.

So much of what girls face is unspoken but deeply felt. Without words for what they are going through, they think they are alone; worse, they think that it is their fault. -Rachel Simmons, Enough As She Is

"

Members of faculty and staff met on December 12 to discuss connections between Simmons’ work and our students at Duchesne. They looked at survey data taken from student responses and reflected on how our girls can benefit from the advice Simmons gives to parents in her book. The adult community at Duchesne enthusiastically recommends Enough As She Is to all who care for girls and young women. SPRING 2019 11

"


A Day in the This segment of Duchesne Today takes you to "a day in the life" of Duchesne students. Early morning practices, a day full of classes, mid-day breaks, and after school activities. Experience what it's like to be a Duchesne student in 2019! *These days were a part of our pilot program in February to test late start times.


SHYENNE STARKS SOPHOMORE

Life ANNLYNN CASEY FRESHMAN 3:34 A.M. |

Wake up and fall back asleep

4:41 A.M. |

Wake up and work on Chemistry lab

7:15 A.M. |

Get dressed in school uniform, brush my teeth, do my hair

7:30 A.M. |

Go to school

7:38 A.M. |

Arrive and go to archery club practice (Tuesdays), go to chemistry field day club (Thursdays)

8:22 A.M. |

Rush to get to class on time

Wake up and check my phone

8:24 A.M. |

Arrive on time and out of breath

7:10 A.M. |

Arrive at school

8:25 A.M. |

7:15 A.M. |

Do remaining homework from the night before/ hangout with friends

Morning schedule: AP Modern European History, British Literature, Pascal, Honors Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry

6:30 A.M. |

9 : 52 A . M . | GO TO THE LIBR ARY AND CHECK

7:40A . M . | STR I N G O RCH E STR A 8:25 A.M. |

11:45 P.M. |

( T U E S D AY S A N D T H U R S D AY S ) Class: Spanish 2, World Cultures, World Literature, Algebra/Geometry Honors, Biology Honors, Introduction to Scriptures, P.E. Lunch (mainly consists of hot Cheetos) Sometimes I have class officer meetings. I am class president.

OUT ASTROPHYSICS FOR PEOPLE IN A HURRY BY NEIL DEGR ASSE T YSON

11:18 A.M. |

Advisory

11:40 A.M. |

Lunch (a bag of Sun Chips and two fruit cups)

12:17 P.M. |

Afternoon schedule: Honors Chemistry, French 3, P.E., and free period

1:45 P.M. |

Afternoon break. Talk to friends

1:59 P.M. |

Walk over to gym for P.E.

2:49 P.M. |

Leave school early for allies club meeting at Benson High School (Tuesdays only)

3:32 P.M. |

Leave club and go to my mother’s office (She is a counselor at Benson High)

3:30 P.M. |

Do homework or spend time with friends.

5:00 P.M. |

Musical rehearsal at the Rose Theater

10:30 P.M. |

Dinner

10:50 P.M. |

Do remainder of homework

12:00 A.M. |

Study music or lines of the current musical Get ready for bed: shower, brush teeth, pajamas, take medicine, refill humidifier

4:29 P.M. |

Start homework

5:40 P.M. |

Go to Benson vs. North basketball game

7:32 P.M. |

Arrive home and feed the cats

Lay in bed on my phone Sleep

8:02 P.M. |

Shower

8:37 P.M. |

Get dressed in pj’s

8:53 P.M. |

Eat dinner and watch an episode of The Passage

9:46 P.M. |

Work on homework again

1:30 A.M. |

Sleep

12:30 A.M. | 12:50 A.M. | 1:00 A.M. |

THOUGHTS ON THE NEW LATE START SCHEDULE The new late start and block schedule will be beneficial to me because I always put homework before sleep. The new block classes will help with this because daily homework will be practically cut in half every night. I also will have almost 1-1/2 hours more sleep because of the late start time. WHERE I’M HEADED AND WHY I’ve been participating in the arts for eight years now and when I was younger, my ultimate goal in life was to pursue musical theater, but as I’ve been growing older, my interests have slowly broadened. The only drawback to this is that now I am at a bit of a crossroads of what to pursue. I am lucky enough to have been exposed to many different career paths like working with children, in science, or in the travel industry, but quite frankly, I have no idea where I’m headed yet.

THOUGHTS ON THE NEW LATE START SCHEDULE I will benefit from being able to get more sleep most of all. More time in the morning to pause and breathe before starting another school day will be great to experience. Having time to enjoy my cats and actually eat breakfast in the morning is going to be the cherry on top of this new schedule. WHERE I’M HEADED AND WHY I want to be an astrophysicist, hence me checking out the book today. My dream school is MIT, and Princeton is second. I want to get involved in business, too. I already have bought a couple of stocks. Being the CEO of a large company would be a nice future, as well. SPRING 2019 13


VIRGINIA SNAKE-BUMANN JUNIOR

4:00 A.M. | Wake up and get ready for rowing practice 4:15 A.M.

| Leave with carpool to pick up other rowers

5 : 0 0 A . M . | I A R R I V E AT R O W I N G P R A C T I C E #GRINDTIME 6:00 A.M. | Leave practice to get coffee/breakfast and head to school 6:45 A.M. | Arrive at Duchesne and get ready for school (shower, meetings, studying) 7:55 A.M. | School starts! Morning classes: PE, American Literature, Independent Study of Advanced 2-D Art, Christian Morality

LENA HANSEN SENIOR

7:20 A.M. |

Wake up to my alarm, brush my teeth and wash my face before getting dressed. I grab a banana to eat while driving to school.

7:35 A.M. |

Leave for school and get there in about seven minutes. (It's a good thing I live close!)

7:55 A.M. |

Class schedule: P.E., AP Computer Science, AP Government, Honors Senior Literature

11:03 A.M. |

Time for Mass!

11:55 A.M. |

I have a club meeting during my lunch period, so I multitask eating and discussing politics for thirty minutes.

12:29 P.M. |

Afternoon classes: Precalculus, World Religions, Music in Film.
I have a free during my usual journalism class, so I send the most recent edition of our school newspaper to administration for approval (I'm one of the editors), and I start working on a research paper for my computer science class.

3:30 P.M. |

School is over, but I have a meeting for an environmental council I'm on, so I head over to Blue Line before I have to go to work.

11:55 A.M. | LUNCH! I have a club meeting, I’m co-vice president of our SADD – Students Against Destructive Decisions Club – and also president of Drama Club) 12:30 P.M. | Afternoon classes: Algebra 2, FREE (aka nap time or studying if needed), U.S. History, Physics 3:30 P.M. | End of school; time is reserved for practice, depending on the sport season 6:30 P.M. | This time is usually spent doing homework or taking a nap. If I don’t have a lot to do, I might do a small workout in my room or go for a run.

4 : 1 5 P . M . | I S TA R T M Y F I V E - H O U R S H I F T A S A W A I T R E S S , I ' M A F E W M I N U T E S L AT E , B UT M Y MANAG E R IS CH I LL AN D DOESN'T MIND.

7:00 P.M. | Eat dinner

6:30 P.M. |

I take a break during work to eat dinner and study for my math quiz the next day.

9:20 P.M. |

The drive home from work is only about fifteen minutes, but it always seems so long since I am so tired.

9:40 P.M. |

Get home, pack lunch for the next day, and drink tea while reading the newspaper/looking at social media.

10:30 P.M. |

Take a shower and brush my teeth.

11:00 P.M. |

I'm in bed early! Thankfully I didn't have a lot of homework today.

7:45 P.M. | Homework/procrastination (This time is really hard to describe because anything could happen. If I don’t have anymore homework I might go shopping or hang out with friends; if I do have homework, then I’m usually procrastinating by writing or or drawing) 9:00 P.M. | Get ready for bed. Even if I still have a lot to do, I always try and get ready for the next day and shower/ clean up so that I’m in bed at a reasonable time. 10:00 P.M. | Bedtime!

THOUGHTS ON THE NEW LATE START SCHEDULE Although I do wake up SUPER early the majority of the school year due to my swimming and rowing practice schedules, I think it will be nice to have this extra time in between practice and the start of school. I could use this time to either take a nap or work ahead on assignments. WHERE I'M HEADED AND WHY Now that I am a junior, looking at colleges that I would like to attend is one of my main stressors. I really want to go into the arts and also engineering. The main issue is finding a school that will allow me to follow both of these dreams while also living in an environment that will benefit me.

14 DUCHESNE TODAY

THOUGHTS ON THE NEW LATE START SCHEDULE Even though I will not be at Duchesne to experience the new schedule, the "pilot month" I participated in was extremely beneficial for my health. I loved the feeling of being refreshed and feeling more on top of things throughout the day, and it made me realize I'm definitely going to need to schedule classes after 9 AM in college. WHERE I'M HEADED AND WHY I'm not entirely sure where I'm going for college yet, but I'm hoping to study communications in a big city where there are a lot of concerts and cool coffee shops.


Academy News

DUCHESNE ATHLETICS by kevin van winkle

STATE VOLLEYBALL The volleyball team saw a very successful season come to an end in the State Semifinals against eventual champion, Skutt. The team finished with a 31-7 record and was ranked third in Class B and eighth overall by the Omaha World Herald. Emma Worthington A19 and Mayah DelgadoWalker A20 each received various All-State recognitions. Duchesne Academy earned the NSAA’s Sportsmanship Award sponsored by the Nebraska Coaching Association for the 2018 volleyball playoffs! The award recognizes behavior on the court and in the student section and acknowledges overall team spirit.

SWIMMING AND DIVING WINS 7 STRAIGHT RCC TITLE Duchesne’s swimmers and divers won the conference meet for the seventh consecutive year! The team qualified two divers and eight swimmers for the state meet in Lincoln on February 21-23, where they finished in 14th place overall. There is only one class in swimming and diving, and the girls finished with the secondmost points among Class B schools! Anna Kwong A21 earned the highest individual honor by finishing fourth in diving. TH

SENIORS CONTINUING ATHLETIC CAREERS To date, seven members of A19 have committed to continue their athletic careers in college: 1

REGINA CASEY ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY SPORT: SOCCER

2

LAUREN COLDIRON ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY SPORT: SOCCER

3

SYDNEY KOBS OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE SPORT: SWIMMING

4

KATE KRUEGER CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY SPORT: TENNIS

5

CLARE REINHART WAYNE STATE COLLEGE SPORT: SOFTBALL

6

GRACE WALLRAPP KANSAS UNIVERSITY SPORT: ROWING

7

EMMA WORTHINGTON CORNELL UNIVERSITY SPORT: VOLLEYBALL

2

5 4

1

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View all athletics schedules at rivercitiesconference.org

Follow us on Instagram @DASHAthletics

Find us on Twitter @DuchesneSports

SPRING 2019 15


Academy News

HELPING THE EARTH, ONE BEVERAGE AT A TIME

Sustainability

Duchesne Leads the Way in

by eric krakowski

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n his 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis noted that “education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of acting which directly and significantly affect the world around us.” As the sustainability leader among Omaha’s schools, Duchesne is proud of the progress it has made since 2016 in the areas of waste reduction, development of a sustainable lunch program, inclusion of sustainability topics across the curriculum, and exploration of options to reach “net positive energy” by 2030. We want to share our successes with other schools who wish to take seriously the Church’s call toward environmental stewardship of creation. On Monday, April 1 Duchesne hosted the first ever “Caring for Creation in Catholic Schools Conference.” All schools and parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha were invited to attend. Over 40 people from four high schools, four elementary schools, and representatives from three parishes registered for the conference. Over half of the attendees registered were 16 DUCHESNE TODAY

high school and junior high students eager to see their schools improve recycling, consider composting, reduce overall waste, and construct gardens. The day included a keynote address from Assistant Principal Eric Krakowski who coordinates Duchesne’s sustainability efforts. Duchesne students, faculty, and staff offered breakout sessions on various sustainability topics throughout the day. Lunch was served from “Sophie’s Kitchen,” Duchesne’s new lunch program whose menu emphasizes the use of locally sourced food items. Additionally, seven important business partners who provide sustainability support to Duchesne were on hand to answer questions on composting, recycling, compostable cafeteria items, copy paper reduction, community gardens, solar energy, and sustainability consulting. Duchesne is honored to take this active leadership role among schools in Omaha, and we are excited to see other Catholic schools commit themselves to “caring for creation and future generations.”

by Kim kreis The sustainability club wanted to do something fun for the school but also draw attention to a topic members felt was important. The girls are concerned about the amount of plastic polluting our oceans. As a group, they decided to address single-use plastic straws. Using funds raised through pin sales and a clothing swap held last year, the club purchased 400 bamboo straws so that each student, faculty, and staff in the Academy could have their own reusable straw. We purchased the straws from a company based in Vietnam dedicated to sustainability. The straws are 100% biodegradable (but will last for years!) and organic. Bamboo trees can be grown and harvested every three to five years making this a truly great resource. Follow the link below to view an interesting video that shows how the straws are made.

https://youtu.be/sejKUfTkLnk


Academy News

Community Connection Our Little Free Library

by mary-ellen doyle

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s you make your way through Omaha, you may have noticed wooden cabinets beginning to pop up around town. Some of them are distinct- like the Dr. Who tardis found in midtown or the little schoolhouse outside of an OPS elementary school. And while others are more plainly decorated, they all have something in common: they hold free books, stored there for community borrowing. These Little Free Libraries, as they are called, were started about a decade ago by a man who wanted to honor his recently deceased mother, a school teacher. Since that first box in Wisconsin, the movement has taken off internationally. According to the non-profit Little Free Library website there are now more than 75,000 libraries in 88 countries worldwide. The organization seeks to “inspires a love of reading, builds

Duchesne's Little Free Library will be completed in the spring of 2019. Check Duchesne's social media for the final product!

community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.� (littlefreelibrary.org) Inspired by this grass-roots movement, and seeing this as an opportunity to practice Sacred Heart Goals 3 and 4 ("a social awareness which impels to action" and "the building of community as a Christian value"), the Duchesne student book club wanted to participate. In the fall, a free-dress day was held where girls were encouraged to dress as their favorite book character and donate a dollar. Proceeds were then used to buy supplies to build our own library to place in front of the school. The design of the cabinet is inspired by Duchesne's historic building.

store books for children, young adults, and adults in the neighborhood. The club is hopeful that this community outreach project will encourage those strolling past Circle Drive to stop and grab a book to read or perhaps share a favorite of their own.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Visit www.littlefreelibrary.org to find a library near you or even learn how to start your own library.

The book club will maintain and monitor the library, which hopes to

JOIN US AS WE READ "REFUGEE" Each summer since 2009, Duchesne has engaged in a summer reading project where all members of the community -from adults to students- read the same book then come together as a group to discuss our shared experience of the text. This year, Duchesne has chosen Refugee by Alan Gratz, which will hold the distinction of being the first fiction work selected for this annual event.

Refugee is a young adult novel which spans different time periods focusing on the lives and struggles of three groups of refugees: those in Nazi Germany, Cubans in the 1990s, and the current day plight of Syrian refugees. We encourage you to join us this summer as the community reads this book together, learning more about the struggle that refugees have and continue to face today.

SPRING 2019 17


18 DUCHESNE TODAY


the Best of Times:

mr. daly's retirement marks the end of an era by cristina wilwerding hiddleston A93 Beloved British Literature teacher, Mr. Dan Daly, is set to retire after a remarkable 57 year-long teaching career in Omaha. The indelible mark he has left on Duchesne over the past 19 years will not soon be forgotten.

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any in the Duchesne community enjoy seeing Mr. Daly zipping into his parking place in his snappy sports car and donning his fedora for the walk into school. We look for his seasonally thematic ties and enjoy hearing about what he is teaching, what he is reading for leisure, and stories from his long prodigious career. Mr. Daly has announced his retirement at the end of this school year, so it is truly the end of an era for Duchesne. Dan Daly is a fixture of the Omaha educational community. He taught at Central High School for 37 years, taught English methods at Creighton University for aspiring English teachers, and has been a hugely influential member of the Duchesne community for 19 years. He spent the year between teaching at Central and Duchesne subbing at area high schools and supervising student teachers. It is fair to say there is almost no corner of the Omaha community that Mr. Daly has not touched in some way. His deep love for sonnets and poetry of all kinds has inspired literal generations of Omahans to think differently about literature. He has given life to the witches in Macbeth and navigated the amazing sacrifice of Sydney Carton with students for 57 years. He says that his favorite pieces to teach are the books the students love most. This shows that even more than his love of literature, Mr. Daly has brought his wonderful heart and soul into the classroom for these many years. Colleague Thomas Becker shares, “His love of his profession is infectious. I have never come away from a conversation with Dan without feeling happy or proud to be a teacher.”

While it is wonderful to be respected by colleagues and parents of students, it is the best to hear from the students themselves about the value and beauty a teacher brings to the classroom. Anna Denman A18 had this to say: “Mr. Daly is truly a once in a lifetime educator. I wish I could find the words to articulately describe his teaching style, but honestly, all that matters is the way he makes you feel. He is one of the smartest people I have met, but shares his knowledge without causing you to feel intimidated or ignorant. Wisdom emanates from him in a way that makes you want to spend every second with him to absorb even a fraction of it. He is able to take something so seemingly unapproachable, such as Chaucer, and before you know it, you are reciting the first 18 lines of the prologue to the Canterbury Tales from memory with an impeccable Middle English accent. He is an extraordinary teacher and human being, and anyone who has the opportunity to be his student is forever enlightened. I am a better reader, writer, student of literature, and overall person for knowing him. I consider it an honor and a privilege to call him my mentor and friend. I hope he enjoys his well-deserved retirement. Duchesne is forever touched by his hand. He will be greatly missed.” This quote fully encompasses the gift that is Mr. Dan Daly to the Duchesne community and the Omaha community at large. While we will miss him terribly, we will be forever grateful for his decades of influence, wisdom, and love. Best wishes for a wonderful retirement.

If you would like to contribute to a scholarship fund in Dan Daly’s name, you can donate online at donate.duchesneacademy.org/scholarships/dan-daly-scholarship-fund or send a check to Duchesne Academy, 3601 Burt St, Omaha NE 68131, Attn: Advancement Department. SPRING 2019 19


Academy News

In Brief OPEN WIDE OUR HEARTS: COR UNUM by laura mckee hickman A85

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n February, the Academy staff gathered for a day of retreat that focused on raising awareness of racial disparity in our community. Keynote speaker, Dr. Christopher Whitt of Creighton University, shared his personal story as well as the local Omaha history that has contributed to ongoing inequalities. Reflection and discussion followed his presentation. The retreat takes its name from the recent US Bishop’s document of the same name. The Church leaders and the Religious of the Sacred Heart currently focus on the history of our Church’s role in the evils of racism. Their ongoing program

of racial reconciliation challenges all of us to carry these lessons from the past into our own lives by reflecting on the evils in our modern world that we simply accept and even participate in without challenging them. In the words of Dr. Whitt, “We cannot just pray for the marginalized; we must actively work to change the structures that keep people marginalized.” Duchesne, along with the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, takes this mission seriously and will continue to work and hope to grow in this area. Photo from Creighton.edu.

NEW FACES AT DUCHESNE

SHARI KUEHL,

DAVE WESTRA,

Executive Assistant to Head of School

Director of Finance and Operations

About Me:

• Born and raised in Grimes, Iowa (a suburb of Des Moines). • Married to Kent Kuehl, my grade school boyfriend, for 36 years.

• Two children, Katie and Paul. Katie A03 is married to Alex – they live in Omaha and are proud parents to Myles; Paul lives in Des Moines and is the proud father of Nolan. • I am a graduate of Des Moines Area Community College.

About Me:

• I grew up on a farm in Northwest Iowa. • Received a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and business

administration from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa in 1985. • I married my wife Lisa in 1990. • We have three children: Maren, Jack, and Allison. Hobbies:

Hobbies:

I enjoy shopping for and decorating with antiques, am a lover of music (I play the piano and trumpet), and I cherish my prized collection of cookbooks. Once spring arrives, I devote a great deal of time and attention to my flower gardens. Favorite thing about Duchesne:

It is difficult to pick one thing, so I will share a few. First and foremost, it is such a joy to hear the girls laugh as they walk through the halls of Duchesne each day. It is also rewarding to watching our students grow from young girls into confident, strong, and spiritual women. These all stem from the loving support and dedication of Duchesne’s HoS (Meg) and the genuine and talented faculty and staff who care deeply for the students. 20 DUCHESNE TODAY

My favorite hobbies are boating, golfing, and playing basketball. I enjoy traveling with my family and spending time outdoors. Favorite thing about Duchesne

The Duchesne Community. Everyone I have met has been very friendly and welcoming – the faculty, staff, students, parents, the Board of Trustees and various committees, and everyone else who supports the school. Everyone has a common goal – to promote the mission of Duchesne. It is a fun and rewarding place to work.


DUCHESNE ARCHERY CLUB: TAKING AIM By Abigail Justice A14 The Ballroom is the perfect space for Duchesne's archery club to practice their shooting skills. The club meets once a week for practice in addition to monthly club meetings.

from the archives: Our sacred history

The archery club is thriving at Duchesne Academy. Once a month, a group of students meet in the Ballroom (a space previously known as the small gym), which transforms into an indoor range. “I think archery is very therapeutic for the students. It is a chance for them to do something which doesn't require a lot of thought, so they can clear their minds and relax for a half-hour,” says club moderator Dr. Charlie Collins. Archery fits right into our wellness theme, and according to www. worldarchery.org, the sport has many benefits including exercise, coordination, self-confidence, and patience. Even though the club doesn't compete externally, there doesn't seem to be a lack of enjoyment. Sophomore Bailey Bodner says, “Our archery club has developed a camaraderie over the year. We all especially enjoy the funny email strand within the club. We have a lot of fun shooting together, and archery is also a great stress reliever!"

1939 Archery at Duchesne– Archery practice enjoyed by (L-R) Helen Lahey Fulton C42, Elinor Jarret C41, Grace Marie Myers Goeller C42. From the Bostwick-Frohardt Collections owned by KMTV & on permanent loan to Western Heritage Museum-Omaha, Nebraska.


Alumnae News

CLASS NOTES Judy Enenbach Quest A66, C70 is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from Clowns of America International on May 9, 2019, in Las Vegas. Judy has spent 38 years as a professional clown. Judy says her goal has been to “make people happy and spread God’s love through laughter.” When Judy returned to Duchesne in 1996 as college counselor, she didn’t know if she was going to let the students know about her clown life, but was encouraged to by faculty members. She gave students balloon hats when they got their applications done, and the girls were so proud to receive them! Judy hosted seven summer network service projects in Omaha. The students lived at her house for two weeks, learned to clown, then clowned all over town serving people at nursing homes, hospitals, pre-schools, programs for kids with disabilities, and in parades. Due to Judy’s health, she is not currently clowning, but plays in a ukulele band. Judy encourages anyone interested in clowning or joining her band to reach out!

Sheila Fitzgerald A84 started a new business, appropriately named, A New Leaf. She has worked in the floral industry for over 20 years and, within those years, founded a successful business (Blooms Floral Shop & Studio) while donating 20% of all profits yearly back to the Omaha community. She has since sold the retail part of the business. As an active member of the Society of American Florists and Nebraska Florist Society, her Blooms LLC business continues on now as A New Leaf in a larger studio space which focuses on events & private orders as well as workshops. She also volunteers as director of the art program at Phoenix Academy (nine years) as well as a volunteer at the Hospice House/Methodist Hospital (10 years) among other charitable organizations. Sheila thoughtfully sent a beautiful bouquet of lilies to Duchesne in February for all the teachers and staff to enjoy which were displayed proudly by her alma mater. Thank you, Sheila!

Kim Engelbert Gates A93 was inducted into the Nebraska State Soccer Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 3, 2018, at Creighton. Kim was part of Duchesne’s multiple state title teams, then went on to play (and start) all four years at Marquette. Kim stated the award was a reflection of the 22 DUCHESNE TODAY

Duchesne players and coaches in the 90s. She insisted that she could not have received the award without the talent of all the players that surrounded her on the Duchesne squad. Kim and her husband have five children. She enjoys coaching three of her youngest children and is an active member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Soccer Board.

Anne Batchelder A99 is currently living in Baltimore where she attends graduate school at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Anne is looking forward to her 20th Academy reunion this year and is leading an effort to establish a scholarship in the name of classmates Eddie Garry and Kate Coffey Olechoski who have passed away. She hopes this scholarship will help young women entering Duchesne who have lost a parent at a young age. (https://donate.duchesneacademy.org/scholarships/ class-of-1999-scholarship)

Susan Slattery A04 finished a fellowship and traveled for a month before starting her new job on October 1, 2018, as attending physician at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago and Northwestern Prentice Women's as a neonatologist and pediatric autonomic medicine specialist. Her research involves data analytics and estimating physiologic stability in these patient groups.

Maureen Meyer A04 was married this past October and had many A04 classmates attend her wedding. Back row (left to right): Amari

Cheffer Thomsen, Bridget Wilwerding Flaherty, Megan Place McAfee, Maureen Meyer Raynor, Miranda Siwa, Barbara Cunningham, Abigail Mullen Front row (left to right): Clare Bieker Liston, Sarah Kolb, Elizabeth Kiefer, Emily Siedlik Daly


Alumnae News

CLASS NOTES Eveline Gnabasik Bethune A05 recently celebrated the opening of Coastal Bend Distilling Co in Beeville, Texas, a new business venture with her husband Kenneth. They serve gin, vodka, and whiskey in an attached tasting room, and have built a dance/ event hall space as well.

New York City, where she is a technical designer for Alice & Olivia, a contemporary women’s clothing brand. She continues to be active in sports in New York, where she plays basketball, volleyball, and flag football.

A. Claire Slattery A08 recently accepted a position as digital Lindsay Ducey A06 was recently inducted into the Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame. Lindsay was a three-time first-team NAIA AllAmerican while playing four years for the Broncos and a three-time first-team All-GPAC selection. After being named as a first-team All-American her senior year, her jersey hung that summer in the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was also named the Midlands College Women's Athlete of the Year by The World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star during her career. Lindsay is the all-time leading scorer for the Broncos with 2,084 points. She ranks second in rebounding with 974 and third in blocked shots with 132. She helped lead the Broncos to the NAIA championship game as a junior. She was named first-team Class B after her senior season at Duchesne and in previous years was an honorable mention selection. Lindsay went on to receive her master’s degree in apparel design and now lives in

media & optimization manager for ASU Online at Arizona State University. She has worked in digital marketing for over six years. Slattery is also a DJ and performs several times a month at various venues in the Phoenix Valley.

KEEP US UPDATED! Send news and photos to Alumnae Relations Director, Trisha Clark Meehan A04 at tmeehan@duchesneacademy.org

CAREER DAY AT DUCHESNE

Head of School Meg Huerter Brudney A83 with Kristin Stoesz Pratt A00, Nancy Hankins Stewart A99, Kaitlin Belitz VanOrmer A14, Therese Muelleman Dansby A03, Olivia Klemme A14, Abigail Justice A14, Carrie Lacy A03, Liz Peters A08, Brittney Dorner A08, Jessie Simpson Ness A03, and Alumnae Director, Trisha Clark Meehan A04 (not pictured: Brianne Wyatt A10, Melanie Pflug Anderson A95)

A big thanks to the following alumnae who spoke at Career Day on November 16, 2018: Kristin Stoesz Pratt A00, Olivia Klemme A14, Brittney Dorner A08, Nancy Hankins Stewart A99, Carrie Lacy A03, Brianne Wyatt A10, Melanie Pflug Anderson A95, Abigail Justice A14, Therese Muelleman Dansby A03, Kaitlin Belitz VanOrmer A13, Jessie Simpson Ness A03, and Liz Peters A08. These women all came and spoke to our freshmen and sophomore students about their education and career paths for afternoon breakout sessions. The girls loved hearing from women who were once in their same shoes, and it was an enjoyable opportunity for our alumnae to connect with current students. Our next Career Day will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019. We are looking for alumnae to speak and/or to host seniors to job shadow! Please contact Trisha Clark Meehan if you are interested: tmeehan@duchesneacademy.org

SPRING 2019 23


All-School Reunion Friday, September 13 & Saturday, September 14

2019

Please join us for the College & Academy All-School Reunion this fall!

Friday, September 14 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Complimentary Wine & Cheese Reception at Duchesne. School tours will be provided by Duchesne Student Ambassadors and members of the Students for Alumnae groups

College and Academy classes celebrating milestone years:

1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014

Saturday, September 15 10:00 a.m.

Mass and Awards in Duchesne’s Chapel

11:30 a.m.

Alumnae Luncheon in the Caffrey-Ryan Auditorium

For information about your class coordinator or reunion events, please contact Trisha Clark Meehan at tmeehan@duchesneacademy.org COLLEGE 1965

ALL COLLEGE AND ACADEMY ALUMS ARE WELCOME TO RETURN TO DUCHESNE FOR THIS CELEBRATION!

COLLEGE 1968

Alumnae News

Kathy Maloney Hurley, Mary Lea Honke Hennies, Linda Halloran Vap, Barbara Barrow Manger, Mary Jo Vandevanter Smith, Kenwyn Barclay Hopper, Joan Noonan Liddell, Kathy Fitzgerald Grandsaert, Judy Fox Leise, Colleen Egging Governski, Mary Bradley Burdick, Mary Saigh Greenough, Mary Ellen McCarville O’Keeffe, Sherry Luth Maassen

Back Row: Chris Mori Doud, Marilyn Wolff Rasmussen, JoAnn Hirschfield Taylor, Mary Beth Glode Jellen, Peggy Fachman Loots, Margie Geiger Medel, Sarah Hitchcock Maxwell Middle Row: Sandy Chicoine Brown, Leila Backes Bradley, Mary McCluskey Hendrickson, Jean Fitch Kudelko, Ann Hoarty Swagerty, Sandy Thomsen Rupiper, Sr. Mary Bernstein, RSCJ Front Row: Marty Dvorak Minchow, Jan Lucas Pinaire, Katie Monahan Karrer, Linda Stuifbergen Hammond, Abby Hitchcock Heydman, Sr. Anne Wente, RSCJ


ACADEMY 1968

Back Row: Ann Sewell Moore, Patricia Anderson Hannan, Ann Pattavina Jensen, Pamela Merwald Vranesic, Kathleen Kanouff Brock, Mary Fouts Fitzgibbons Front Row: Janet Hollander Ferlic, Muriel Rada, Sally Fangman Suder, Paula Scalzo Connor, Nance Herman Harris

ACADEMY 1983

Back Row: Colleen Head Biegger, Stacie Fischer Matz, Emily Kemp, Sam Skrupa Hohman, Anne Hotz Moran, Meg Huerter Brudney Third Row: Kelley Lanphier, Lauren Brey-Knoblauch, Mary Kay Maginn Halpin Second Row: Mary Caniglio, Lisa Lindwall Bundrick, Monica Kizer Lanik First Row: Mary Zimmerman Gagliolo, Kathy Brady, Emily Melingagio Zimmerman, Julie Czerwinski Monton

ACADEMY 2003

Back Row: Kate Brownrigg Parker, Pamela Ziegler Langel, Lisa Paladino Nasser, Katie Reed Middle Row: Katy Russell, Meghan Quinn, Kelly Engelbert Haskell, Jessie Simpson Ness, Katie Kuehl Hardt Front Row: Alina Sheffer Borkowski, Annie Knowles German, Emily Kelley Gorden, Brittany Lanoha Kotera

ACADEMY 1978

Front Row: Kay Finocchiaro Lawton, Mary Fahey Krutzsc, Mary Ann Moore Holm, Jane Blodig Pizinger, Margaret Kratochvil Rowe, Katie Meyer, Maureen Glow Fox, Mari Lee, Nannette Cosgrove Second Row: Peggy Wingender, Eileen Harvey Ramsey, Corinne Duffy Dineen, Ellie Hogan Grossman

ACADEMY 1998

Jenni Pick Rudersdorf, Tracy Deras Hall, Jeanne Haske, Vanessa Smith Shipp, Gina Morrison McDevitt, Jessica Ochsner Brady, Jessica Pohren Montrie, Katie Kalhorn Lauer

ACADEMY 2008

Back row: Olivia O'Hara, Emily Thayer Pierce, Kristine Niemann Pinkham, Jessica Jurek Donovan, Jessica Strutzel Spreitzer, Anne Marie Krings Emmerling, Madeleine Moore Next row: Jenna Floreani, Katherine Walters, Emily Rose Reeder, Colleen Patton, Mary Cate Raynor, Amber Leick, Kali Taylor Matz, Chelsea Kenton, Rachel Dunetts, Kael Bessmer Front row: Emily Gerhardt, Megan Furey, Ainsley Thedinger Kumar, Jessica Hoppe Fisher, Katherine Woods Werner, Kayla Heimerman


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A lumnae Weddings 1 Elizabeth Baltzell A04 to Lorenzo Trujillo 2 Maureen Meyer A04 to Jordan Raynor

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3 Megan Place A04 to Peter McAfee 4 Susan Slattery A04 to Michael Chioffe 5 Molly Ryan A05 to Sam Nichols 6 Gianna Howard A06 to Christopher Harris 7 Erin Vannurden A06 to Dustin Smith 8 Mary Evans A07 to Connor Ritzdorf 9 Anne Guenther A08 to Tair Akhmejanov

10 10 Jamie Porter A10 to Cole Keeton 11 Emily O’Donnell A12 to Josh Pazderka 12 Frankie Hamburger A13 to William Stogin

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A lumnae Babies 1 Kristin Stoesz Pratt A00, a daughter, Evelyn Rose Pratt 2 Julie Blum Thornton A01, daughters, Lillian Blum and Roselynn Marie 3 Meghan Sodoro Michelic A02, a daughter, Emiliana Francis Grace

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4 Rene Ervin Smith A02, a daughter, Lucy Marie 5 Kathleen Heck Winkelmann A02, a daughter, Anne Margaret 6 Alison Kunsemiller Bylsma A04, sons, Connor David and William James 7 Kate Camp A04, a son, Luca Camp De Cesare 8 Sara Milbrath Pereira A04, a son, Owen Randy 9 Tanisha Wrather A04, twins, a daughter, Jacey Makai, and a son, John Malik

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10 Lydia Buechler Cruz A05, a daughter, Isabella Frances

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11 12Kiley Clemens Freeman A05, a daughter, Margaux Saoirse, and a son, Dashiell Everett 13 Gina Murante Bartlett A06, a son, Jack James 14 Mary Kable Kriha A06, a daughter, Vivianne Mae 15 Megan Latta Potter A06, a son, Theodore Daniel

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16 Kristi Walag Ward A06, a son, Noah James 17 Kara Kirk Radtke A07, a son, Logan James 18 Chelsea Connelly Young A08, a daughter, Rowan Olivia 19 Mara Clemens McDermott A09, a daughter, Emilia Clare

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Giving

Legacy Gifts Ensure a Sacred Heart Education for the next generation of young women MAKING A LEGACY GIFT TO DUCHESNE IS SIMPLE You can help secure the future of Duchesne Academy for thousands more young women through thoughtful, long-term gift planning. By working with a financial planner, attorney, or tax advisor, you may discover that in addition to ensuring the vitality of the school, many charitable gifting strategies offer valuable financial benefits and tax advantages. Include Duchesne in your will or name Duchesne as a beneficiary of your estate in the following way(s): • Cash bequest • 401(k) or other retirement account • Appreciated stock • Life insurance policy • Real estate

TO MAKE THINGS EASIER You will likely need the information below when making your plans: Our Address 3601 Burt Street Omaha, NE 68131 Our federal tax ID number 47-0376614

If you have already included Duchesne in your estate or gift planning or would like to be referred to a tax advisor, please contact Vice President of Advancement, Katie Risch Bakhit, at 402-810-9989 or kbakhit@duchesneacademy.org 30 DUCHESNE ACADEMY


Congé 2019 AN EVENING FILLED WITH A SHARED LOVE OF THE SACRED HEART by meghan conway rowen a97

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ongé 2019 was an evening to remember! We were proud to celebrate Madeleine Sophie Barat’s birthplace in the theme, “With Love from Joigny.” Saints Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart and through her love, compassion, and determination, decided it was her mission to educate young women and share the Sacred Heart of Jesus with others. Joigny is the place where hundreds of Sacred Heart educators, students and alumni/ae retreat to each year to “draw from the well” and stay in her home, now the Centre Sophie Barat Retreat Center. Duchesne parents Mindy and Bill Geis (parents to Tori A19 and Sophie A21), Catherine and Jeff Mahoney (parents to Kelly A19), and Mindy and Tim Reed (parents to Abby A19) served as co-chairs for this year's Congé and were truly the masterminds behind the Sophie-related theme. The event was held at the downtown Omaha Hilton where Duchesne utilized both the Blackstone and Grand Central ballrooms for silent auction and dining. There were 453 people in attendance and the school raised a gross amount of $530,000. The raise-the-paddle, a direct-contribution to tuition assistance, raised $155,000. The décor mimicked French countryside flair. The tables were adorned with traditional French white table cloths with burlap runners and French toiled napkins

donated by United Rental, fresh flowers designed by the extremely talented Damon Samuel, and pots de cremé au chocolat topped with a colorful macaroon. The stage was highlighted with a photo backdrop of the Barat home in Joigny, France, the very birthplace of Madeleine Sophie. Congé guests enjoyed a delicious meal while watching our Masters of Ceremonies’ – “The Brothers Reed,” Duchesne dads, Tim and Rob Reed, take the stage for the live auction. Auctioneer, Jon Schaben, conducted the live auction, and popular items included an overnight party at Duchesne, seats in the front five pews at the school’s graduation ceremony, trips to Mexico and Idaho, 100 shares of Berkshire Hathaway B stock, club seats at a Minnesota Vikings game next season and a reserved parking space in the Duchesne lot. Following the live auction, Fr. Tom Fangman said Mass for the crowd. Overall, the event had a cozy, home-like feel, with guests staying late to visit and reconnect. Merci Beaucoup to all who attended, supported and enjoyed the event! It was definitely an evening to celebrate Goal 4, the building of a community as a Christian value.

Pictured above are Congé co-chairs Mindy and Bill Geis, Mindy and Tim Reed, and Catherine and Jeff Mahoney

SPRING 2019 31


Giving

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January 26, 2019 Hilton Omaha 32 DUCHESNE ACADEMY

5 Co-chair daughters Abigail Reed A19, Kelly Mahoney A19, Tori Sophie Geis A21

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Giving

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10 6 Lisa and Rob Wellendorf and Todd and Angie Trautman (all current parents) 7 Travis and Amber Rinehart and Kerry and Alexander Bernal (all current parents) 8 Raz Molotiu (faculty) and Heather Porter 9 Erin Leick A05, Eveline Gnabasik Bethune A05, Trisha Clark Meehan A04 (staff), and Maggie Crnkovich VanMoorleghem A06 (staff)

10 Lorenzo Trujillo and Elizabeth Baltzell Trujillo A04, Jay Weingarten and Laura Foley Weingarten A04, and Peter and Jennifer Manhart (current parents)

SPRING 2019 33


In Memoriam ALUMNAE DEATHS

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Ruth Hight Boeka C57

Mary Patricia Case, mother of Mary Kay Case Gamble A73

Phyllis Schum Cetrone C41, mother of Jane Cetrone Monnich A66 and Trish Cetrone Koch A71

Rita Claire Cherek, mother of Kristine Cherek Hacker A84

Peggy McNulty Cundari A69 Mary Fitzpatrick C58 Mary Kalamaja A66, mother of Elizabeth Potter A02 and Anna Potter A07

Donadean Clauff, grandmother of Madeline Clauff A11 and Tylyn Trummer A11 Irene Delehant, mother of Susan Delehant Desautels A68, Connie Delehant Sears A63 and Trish Delehant Lassar A72 Betty Jane Elasser, grandmother of Katie Risch Bakhit A94

Martha Casey Koeppen A57/C61

Jean Fetters, great grandmother of Sophia Drickey A21

Anastasia Bolin Keller C58

Catherine Ann Gentleman, grandmother of Jason Schlesiger (Duchesne faculty)

Ines Rodriguez Lull C39 Jane Hyslop Markel A51, C55, sister of Roseanne Hyslop Olson A61 Maureen Monen A52/C56, mother of Michaela Monen Goerke A77; aunt of Nancy Ries Beckwith A73, Joan Ries Chovanec A76, Ann Monen Kennedy A70, Maureen Ries A74 and Pattie Ries McKinney A87; great-aunt of Liz Beckwith A11, Maggie Jacobs A12 and Sarah Beckwith Helsley A02 Rosanne Kenny O’Harra A45/C49 Rosemary Baudo Pogge A41/C45, mother-in-law of Maureen O’Hearn Pogge A70, mother of Tom Pogge (former Board of Trustee member); grandmother of Katie Pogge Zimmerman A94, Therese Pogge Creswell A96, Melissa Pogge Stanley A98, Carrie Pogge Wortmann A01 and Maggie Pogge Schumacher A01

Crescenciano Guzman, grandfather of Juliana Angel A20 Pauline Himes, aunt of Mitzi Mangiameli (Preschool staff) John Hrupek, husband of Mary Kay Kanouff Hrupek A59 David Jones, father of Norah Jones A08 Betty Kalhorn, grandmother of Katie Kalhorn Lauer A98 and mother-in-law of Michele Tighe Kalhorn A71 James Keene, father of Ruth Ann Keene A87 and Sarah Keene A92 Helen Kenefick, mother of Liz Ryan A70, stepmother of Mary Connor A70 and grandmother of Kathleen Connor A07

Mary Schatz Pomerleau A74, sister of Ann Schatz A75

Josephine Latta, grandmother of Megan Latta Potter A06 and Mary Kate Latta A11

Regina Wolpert Ratino C69

Donald Lovelady Jr, father of Jeff Lovelady (Preschool staff)

Irene Hensing TanCreti C51

Michael Metz, brother of Stephanie Metz O’Keefe A67

Marilyn Spittler A46, aunt of Jami Spittler A81 and Fae Spittler Sterba A80

Catherine Miller, grandmother of Evangeline Mason A20 Julie Moore, aunt of Jacob Moore (Duchesne faculty), Ann Heaston A06, Nora Kovar A08, and Katharine Moore A17 Philip Pogge, father-in-law of Maureen O’Hearn Pogge A70, father of Tom Pogge (former Board of Trustee member); Grandfather of Katie Pogge Zimmerman A94, Therese Pogge Creswell A96, Melissa Pogge Stanley A98, Carrie Pogge Wortmann A01 and Maggie Pogge Schumacher A01

34 DUCHESNE ACADEMY


October 2018 - March 2019

Bernard Popham, grandfather of Maureen Gross A03 and Katie Gross Watts A99 Elizabeth Popham, grandmother of Maureen Gross A03 and Katie Gross Watts A99 Harold Rock, father of Susan Rock Amsden A75 and Michele Rock A78

Joseph Straub, grandfather of Mary Milbrath A20 Alma Jane Veldhuizen, grandmother of Sara McConnell (Duchesne faculty) Rosemary Ford Wiggins, great aunt of Meghan Conway Rowen A97 (Duchesne staff) and Kiki Conway A02

Mark Sampson, husband of Anne Morrow Sampson A74 Christian Schlater, brother of Emily Schlater A04 Skyler Schlater, brother of Emily Schlater A04 Loy Schneider, grandfather of Sarah Schneider A20

We apologize if there are any omissions or misrepresentations in this memorial list. Thank you for continuing to inform and update Duchesne. -The Alumnae Office

Paulette Stanosheck, mother of Amy Stanosheck Woodke A94 and Laura Stanosheck A87

"At the very moment you think yourself overwhelmed by sorrow, H e will lift you up and give you peace." -St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

SPRING 2019 35


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Parents: If this issue is addressed to a daughter whose permanent address is not at your home, please contact the Alumnae Director, Trisha Meehan at 402.810.9960 with her new address.

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