DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART — OMAHA | FALL 2024
3601 Burt Street Omaha, NE 68131
402-558-3800 duchesneacademy.org
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic collegepreparatory independent 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
Editors
Margo O’Connor Bieker A’71
Hannah Miller
Copy Editors
Julie Dineen Swartz A’91
Margaret Schropp Schroeder A’06
Layout Designer
Josiah Hazel
Photography
Hannah Miller
Julianne Marie Photography
Student Photography
Adriana Olvera A’26
Kailey Hennesy A’27
Elizabeth Grenier A’27
Olivia Macias A’27
Contributors
Katie Risch Bakhit A’94
Margo O’Connor Bieker A’71
Meg Huerter Brudney A’83
Kay Doyle
Laura McKee Hickman, Ed.D. A’85
Trisha Clark Meehan A’04
Hannah Miller
Printer PrintCo
On the Cover Academy and Preschool students assist in a special groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate construction on the new commons and athletic complex.
Inside Cover
Ava Owen A’27
Ailea Barrera A’27
Olivia Macias A’27
2024-2025
School Year Theme
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Give me a heart like Yours: Humble, gentle, loving, and pure. Help me to lead with your love. Amen.
LEADING WITH LOVE
Dear Duchesne Community,
As I walk through Duchesne’s beautiful building decorated with Christmas cheer, I am flooded with memories fromthe past year.
This summer,I traveled to Mexico City toattend the first meeting of the Sacred HeartNetwork fromtheUnited States, Canada, and Mexico. While there,I had the incredible opportunity to visit with students fromtheSacred Heart SchoolinMexico City. When I asked the young women to describe their school,the word they used was“apapacho”,an indigenous Mexican word meaning “a loving soulhug”.Some words are difficult to fully translate into English, but when I heard the students’ definition of“apapacho”, I knew it was the same feeling one feels when they walk into Duchesne.
This sentiment stayedwith me during the trip,and today,as Iwalk the halls of our beloved Duchesne Academy. As we embrace a new era with theconstructionofour athletic complex and commons, I want our historic building to remaina place of loving acceptance, a warm “hug” for our students, faculty, staff, and alumnae.
I hope you enjoy this issue of DuchesneToday.Our goal is to share the exciting events happening around our campuswith our alumnae around the world, as well astake you back in time to remember Duchesne as you experienced it.I hope you feel an “apapacho” as you flip through these pages.
Sincerely,
Meg Huerter Brudney A'83 Head of School
Picturedright:HopeHertzelA’26,MaggieCarterA’26,
On Burt Street
Madeleine Sophie Barat, at the young age of 20 years old, had a passion for both education and her faith. When I think of her founding a school for girls in 1800 with the mission of spreading the love of the Heart of Jesus, I see it as a profoundly courageous act of justice. Her vision was ahead of her time, and her dedication to spreading God’s love in the time of Jansenism, and her commitment to empowering young women through education, remains an inspiration today.
It is fitting that more than 200 years later, the Sacred Heart Network hosted a conference themed "Hearts Rooted in Change" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United States Network of Sacred Heart Schools. This summit aimed to deepen our commitment to being agents of change, serving the common good, and honoring human dignity on a global scale, all within a framework of compassion, hope, justice, and solidarity.
Duchesne Academy brought twelve students and seven adults— Laura McKee Hickman A’85, Katrina Pierce, Katie Grudle, Scott Quinn, TJ Mullaney, Sara McConnell, and me, to the conference in Chicago. We joined 518 Sacred Heart attendees, including 216 students from 28 Sacred Heart schools and 9 countries, 35 RSCJ, and 100 presenters. Katrina was invited to co-direct the 40-person choir, and our Theology Department led a session called,“How we systemize service, justice, and immersion at Sacred Heart schools”.
The conference was a truly inspiring experience, igniting a passion for justice in all of us, but especially in our girls. At the end of the three days, the students were challenged to develop an action plan to enact their learnings. Our Duchesne students plan to launch a community project to collect menstruation supplies and create period kits for refugees in Omaha.
On the final day, Imma De Stefanis, RSCJ, delivered a powerful closing talk that wove together the conference's central themes. Her message was inspiring and thought-provoking: If we want to change the world, we must, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, clearly define our values and use them to shape our purpose. She emphasized the importance of leveraging our privileges to combat injustices. Her message left a lasting impression on all of us.
Some child psychologists have dubbed this generation of high school students “iGen”. The teenage brain has been re-wired in ways that offer new challenges to teachers and schools: more isolated, and more insecure, anxious, and depressed, more connected to the online world than real life, and growing up more slowly than previous generations. In schools this has translated to lost engagement in learning and less focused learners. How we teach is therefore changing.
by Laura McKee Hickman, Ed.D A’85
Duchesne teachers have faced the new challenges by educating ourselves with new ways of reaching our students and incorporating scaffold learning. Scaffolding is a term used to describe the process of making learning less intuitive and more intentional. Teachers use techniques such as “think-alouds” to model and coach the behaviors and skills that good learners should have—how to read closely with annotation, how to problem solve and how to write a well-structured paragraph.
Students on the rise
In the past three years, every member of the faculty has completed a Harvard Graduate School of Education class on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) paradigm. This course helps teachers identify the barriers to student learning and create new access points for all learners in every classroom. Complementing the UDL concept, every teacher has also completed the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework training. This framework is based on lesson plans that teach students to take responsibility for their own learning through various phases of modeling, collaboration, guided instruction, and individual work. Each phase passes more of the intellectual work to the student as she gauges her learning goals against her own progress. Preschool Director Sara Wachter is also pursuing an 18month program through Harvard University to attain a Certificate in Early Educational Leadership (CEEL). Participants in the interactive CEEL program are worldwide and join discussions online with other educators from around the globe.
Forming women who are intellectually curious and lifelong learners has always been a goal of Sacred Heart education. As the world has changed, we have changed with it to ensure that goal is alive and well at Duchesne.
Picturedabove:MegCordesA’25,SarahRomeroA’25
Two Duchesne sophomores are leading the way for young female professionals. A’27 students Am’Agyn Spencer and Vida Harper participated in a 10-week entrepreneurship class and workshop that teaches entrepreneurial skills to high school and college-age students. “Rising CEOs” is hosted by the Midlands African Chamber.
Spencer and Harper competed in a Pitch Deck competition where they presented their businesses to distinguished investors for a cash prize. Spencer took home 1st place with her startup LLC, Neighborhood Nannies. Harper won 3rd place with her pitch — Vida’s E-Con.
Citizenship Certificate Global
Duchesne Academy students can receive a unique global education thanks to a new certification track.
Guided by the global vision of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, students will deepen their understanding of the world through the Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC). Those who adhere to the requirements will be recognized at graduation, and can include it on their resumé.
Students will discover and explore the complexities of the world, historical connections, and current issues including political, environmental, spiritual, and economic issues. Twenty-two sophomores and juniors are pursuing their Global Citizenship Certificate.
This is the first year the GCC track has been available at Duchesne. For the inaugural year, the track was offered to A’26 and A’27 students. Sophomore Am’Agyn Spencer said she couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
“I have a strong passion for social justice-related issues and an unwavering commitment to doing my due diligence to advancing society’s human relations,” she said. “I’m hoping this will further equip me with the tools necessary to be a significant contributor to society.”
The GCC track features required courses, field trips within the Omaha area, and an emphasis on service hours in direct contact with refugee groups and other cross-cultural organizations. Students will also engage in a cultural immersion experience which can include domestic or international exchange at schools within the Sacred Heart network, or a virtual exchange with other Sacred Heart students around the world.
“I am so excited to have found a way to deepen my understanding of the Sacred Heart Goals through an avenue that speaks to me,” Sophomore Camila Castro said.
Students must take at least one language for four years to receive the Certificate. Castro is taking both French and Spanish.
“I have always been told that language is like a pathway,” Castro said. “I am extremely grateful to have Spanish as my first language, so I thought ‘why not open another door by learning French?’”.
At the end of their GCC track, students must complete a capstone project that encompasses their educational experience. The first class to graduate with a Global Citizenship Certificate will be in 2026.
Unique courses that qualify for Global Citizenship Certification
STEAM ACADEMY
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Academy is a one-year course in which students explore the use of Design Thinking through individual team projects. This course focuses on elements that contribute to creativity and innovation.
Am’Agyn Spencer A’27 is pursuing her Global Citizenship Certification. Here is how the STEAM Academy fits in her GCC track:
“In STEAM Academy, taught by Mrs. Proulx-Herron, we create various different projects, using our school’s wide range of machinery (e.g. 3D-printer, Glowforge, and Cricut). We are prompted with a problem and we solve it with whatever we create. To cater this class to the Global Citizenship program, we are going to be prompted with global issues, and our projects will solve them.”
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE
AP Computer Science is a year-long course designed to help students master the basics of Java. The course, taught by Sarah Stratman A’95, introduces fundamental topics that include problem-solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data, approaches to processing data, analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing.
Amelia Aspen A’27 is using this course for her GCC track this year.
“AI is a big upcoming product that will soon become extremely relevant throughout the world. I think learning about AI is a way to connect with other cultures. The internet is the single element that connects us to the rest of the world. We can learn so much about past events in different cultures through the internet.”
WORLD DRUMMING
One of Duchesne’s unique classes is a popular pick for students pursuing the Global Citizenship Certification. Taught by Katrina Pierce, World Drumming is a semester-long course for students in grades 10-12. World Drumming explores rhythmic motives from different cultures rich in percussion music: Africa, Latin, and the Caribbean. Students learn the history of the instruments and how they are infused within each culture.
In addition to percussion studies, students are introduced to necessary music theory concepts, performance standards, composition techniques, and critical listening/evaluation analysis. Students do not have to have a music background to take this course.
Duchesne Academy is the only high school in Omaha with a World Drumming course.
STRINGS
Duchesne Academy is one of the few Catholic high schools in Omaha with a full strings ensemble. Taught by Music Director Katrina Pierce, the class builds foundational skills such as tone production, instrumental proficiency, and music reading, while focusing on many styles of music.
Camila Castro A’27 plays the violin. She said she’s excited to connect the GCC track with something she loves.
“I have played the violin ever since preschool, so combining culture, an aspect I care so much about, with another passion of mine, was perfect for me. I know I can connect these two concepts because music is a significantpart of culture, and I know I can personally connect to my heritage through music.”
across
DASH the world!
Several students and faculty traveled around the globe this summer. See where in the world DASH explored!
Clara Welch A’25 went on exchange to the Sacred Heart School in Vienna, Austria. While attending Sacre Coeur Wien, she visited Salzburg, Austria, and Bratislava, Slovakia.
“I learned the Sacred Heart Network is a close, but global community. All Sacred Heart students have a unique opportunity with the Network to travel abroad.”
Bridget Russell A’25 had the unique opportunity to go on exchange in Amiens, France, home to the first Sacred Heart school. Pictured here with her French exchange student, Eloïse, Russell attended the Lyceés Sacré Coeur, which was founded by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1666. Another Duchesne Academy student, Grace Leininger, also attended Lyceés Sacré Coeur on exchange. She is pictured with her French exchange host, Ema Adam.
Sixteen Duchesne students traveled to Spain in June 2024.
Accompanied by Counselor Krissy Walsh A’05 and Spanish teacher Michelle Goliber, the group visited the Sacred Heart School in Madrid. While abroad, the students also took ceramics and cooking classes.
Ava McCarthy A’25 went on exchange to the Stuartholme School in Brisbane, Australia. Ava said she had a great experience meeting fellow exchange students and friends from across the Sacred Heart Network. Some of the interesting places she visited were Goondiwindi, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, and the Australia Zoo.
“I learned all schools have different uniforms that they wear, some being dresses, other skirts and a polo. Some schools don’t even wear uniforms.”
Australia.
Maggie Lickteig traveled across the globe on exchange to Sacré Coeur in Melbourne,
AnAct Love of
Elizabeth Wellendorf A’14 loves to serve. As a student at Duchesne, she volunteered for numerous events around campus and after school in her mother’s special education classroom.
“Goal 3: A social awareness which impels to action was one of my favorite Goals,” she explained. “I always saw people and wanted to help them. First, we serve God, then we serve others, was an important concept to me.”
Now, Wellendorf is communicating via Zoom from an office in Bethlehem. Evening prayers from a nearby mosque echo as she sits in her pink medical scrubs, reflecting on a long day of volunteering at the Hogar Nino Dios Home of the Child God— a center for children with severe mental and physical disabilities.
Wellendorf’s journey to the Holy Land started with a trip to check off her bucket list. She went on a pilgrimage in June 2022, visiting Galilee, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. On her birthday, she took a tour of the Church of the Nativity and found a small star in the grotto symbolizing Jesus’s birthplace.
“I kissed it, and God spoke to me,” she said. “I could hear Him clear as day. He said, ‘Happy Birthday Elizabeth, welcome home.’”
Wellendorf said her life changed in that moment. Prior to her pilgrimage, she worked as a traveling nurse. Stationed in states like Louisiana and Hawaii, Wellendorf saved her money so she could travel and give to meaningful causes. She curated enough money to take off a substantial amount of time.
As she researched ways to stay in the Holy Lands, she discovered “Select to Give”, a charity which raises money for Christian organizations in the Holy Lands. There, she found a home for special needs children run by Sisters of the Incarnate Word who needed volunteers.
Wellendorf connected with the Mother Superior at Hogar Nino Dios Home of the Child God and booked her next flight to Bethlehem for December 2022.
“God blessed me,” she said. “I had all of these opportunities given to me, and giving money didn’t fill me the way that I needed.”
Now, she’s giving 100% of her time to children who need her. Wellendorf’s visa prohibits her from earning an income while in Bethlehem. Generous friends and family have offered to give her money while serving, but she doesn’t use it for herself.
“I paid for a kid’s surgery with one donation, and I bought another girl ankle-foot orthoses,”she said. “Tomorrow’s not certain, and by really serving people, you get so much back.”
When she’s not working with children, Wellendorf attends morning Mass in the grotto of the Nativity or spends time in her community. Though this is meaningful to Wellendorf, life is not easy in Palestine.
October 7, 2023
“I was walking to church, and I heard sirens,” Wellendorf remembered. “They sounded like tornado sirens. I looked up, and Gaza had sent missiles toward Jerusalem. They blew up overhead.”
Bethlehem is in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine. It’s located about six miles south of Jerusalem. On October 7, 2023, Gaza militants launched a surprise attack by firing thousands of rockets and entered Israel by land, sea, and air. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war after the attack.
“I remember thinking ‘what does this mean for us?’,” Wellendorf said.
It means fewer tourists and donations, and more poverty and fear. Wellendorf said while they are safe most of the time, raids in surrounding refugee camps are concerning. She recalls waiting to take a 13-year-old Palestinian student to school one morning.
“The girl was late, and I was frustrated,” Wellendorf said. “Come to find out, the young girl was hiding in her home because a raid was taking place. If she stepped outside, she would be killed.”
Hogar Nino Dios Home has had to make many adjustments. For instance, Israel began cutting power during the war. The Sisters and volunteers purchased a generator so they can help the 38 kids in the home use the elevator or provide oxygen if needed.
When Israel cut off Palestine’s water, the Sisters encouraged the children to “Pray the Rosary for water”.
“It’s very humbling because there was never a question if I’d have water back home,” Wellendorf said.
An Education in Tolerance
Wellendorf’s exposure to cultures in both Israel and Palestine have given her a perspective on the conflict. She said it’s a complicated political situation that can sound like ‘I hate you because you hate me’.
“People in the United States don’t quite understand what life is like without tolerance,” she explained. “Because here, there are extremists on both sides who will shoot you.”
Wellendorf said the fear comes from both sides of the wall separating Israel and Palestine. Both sides are welcoming to her, but not to each other.
“The people here [Palestine] just want to live, they want to work, they want to have their land,” she explained. “And on the other side, they’re the same. They just want to live, they just want to work, they want to have their land.”
Hope from home
During the 2023 Alumnae Holiday Mass, Duchesne collected donations to send to the Hogar Nino Dios Home. Wellendorf said she was able to buy Christmas presents for the kids, which added to the beauty of Christmas in the Holy Land. The Duchesne Alumnae Board announced they plan to donate to the home again during Holiday Mass this year.
This act of love aligns perfectly with Duchesne’s 202425 school year theme: Lead with Love.
In the summer of 2024, the Duchesne community read “The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East” by Sandy Tolan. The nonfiction story shares the intertwined histories of two families, one Palestinian and one Jewish, who each lived in the same house in Ramallah, Israel. Educators chose this book because of the friendship between the Palestinian man and Jewish woman, and how it developed despite their differing views.
Wellendorf said she was proud to see “The Lemon Tree” as the all-school read.
“There was a part of my heart that thought ‘Yup, that’s Duchesne’,” she laughed. “Let’s not make assumptions, let’s learn about it.”
What I’ve learned from Duchesne is, anything you can do, just do it as an act of love, You give what you have, and it’s returned ten-fold.
—Elizabeth Wellendorf A’14
“
Alumnae Book Club
The Alumnae Board hosted a virtual book club to also participate in the all-school read. On the evening of October 24, 2024, Dr. Laura McKee Hickman A’85 kicked off the virtual book club by introducing the concept of the all-school read and discussing why this book was chosen this year. Alumnae from across the world, including Elizabeth Wellendorf A’14, then discussed the book.
In continuation of Duchesne Academy’s emphasis on personal understanding, a group of school leaders chose “Lead with Love” as the 2024-25 school-year theme.
In August, Annette Schmeling, RSCJ visited Duchesne students to help update the Academy’s Communication Standards. The Standards were originally created in 2017 to serve as a guide for students to navigate differences with love, not anger.
Student leaders who were nominated by their peers met with Sister Schmeling to develop the 2024 updates. During that meeting, student leaders suggested the Academy change the name from “Communication Standards” to a softer “Sacred Heart Foundations” to encourage a sense of community, rather than a set of rules.
The Foundations will continue to be utilized around the Duchesne campus. Students will lead in-depth discussions for deeper understanding each week during advisory meetings. The 2024 Sacred Heart Foundations are as follows:
Kindness
Practice unconditional love to respond to adversity in a patient and productive way.
Understanding
Practice conversation rooted in an openness to growth.
Intentionality
Practice entering conversation with both good intent and the belief that others will do the same.
Equality
Acknowledge the dignity of each person while respecting the value and importance of differences.
Empathy
Practice recognizing that worldviews differ based on personal experience, to foster genuine connections and compassionate interactions.
Right:AnnetteSchmeling,RSCJ
Below:ShaiYarbroA’26
Outstanding Young American
It’s 1998— five-year-old Noni Williams is pouring over an old college textbook learning the complexities of algebra. Soon, she will teach her siblings how to solve basic equations and write them report cards based on their work.
Fast forward to 2024, Williams A’10 is sitting in front of a computer in her north Omaha home. At 31-years-old, she is a Senior Cloud Data Engineer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, a published poet, mentor, coach, member of the Duchesne Board of Trustees, a 2024 Ten Outstanding Young Omahan (TOYO), and one of the 2024 Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA).
As Williams sits on her couch, she can see her shiny TOYA award on her bookshelf. She smiles humbly as she thinks back to the ceremony in Ohio this fall, honoring her and nine other young professionals from across the country. At the conference, she spoke about artificial intelligence through a nonprofit lens and presented about worklife-balance.
“When I first heard about the award, I thought ‘there are so many other people in my community who do impactful things,’” she said. “I had to remind myself that ‘yes, that’s true, and also, right now is my time to celebrate the work that I do. My winning doesn’t take away from the work other people do.’”
Williams’ work stems back to her passion for learning that took root at just five-years-old. While studying at Duchesne, Williams fondly recalls competing on the Math team along with other extracurriculars like robotics, chess, and athletics. She also submitted a poem to the Academy’s literary magazine.
“It felt so vulnerable. I was nervous to let people know I was writing poetry,” she said.
Williams’ love for words began at the same time as her passion for math. She remembers writing poems in her siblings’ birthday cards. Her poetry began to evolve as a way for Williams to express herself privately.
After graduating from Duchesne in 2010 at the young age of 16, Williams studied Mathematics at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She started attending poetry slams, and eventually her two loves collided.
“Poetry and math are both storytelling,” she explained. “Math, once we get past the application, is a philosophy of how we experience the world. Poetry is storytelling of how I’m experiencing the world.”
Now, Williams performs her math-themed poetry all over Omaha. Since 2015, she has served as Duchesne’s Slam Poetry coach, leading students to receive many awards throughout the years. She also teaches through the Nebraska Writers Collective, facilitating workshops in libraries, classrooms, and detention facilities.
“Noni is a wonderful leader for our slam poetry students,” Duchesne English teacher Emily Schulte Berigan A’06 said. “She demonstrates passion, professionalism, and empathy to them every week and inspires them to believe in themselves and their voices.”
Incorporating her love of math, Williams uses her technical skills to be a champion for STEM education. She helped start the AP Computer Science program at Duchesne, and in 2023, two of those AP classes earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding access for women in computer science. The classes, Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles, have earned this award for three consecutive years.
“We all have the capacity to make an impact in our communities in different ways,” she said.
Williams smiles as she thinks back to her fiveyear-old self, reading algebra textbooks and writing poems in her siblings’ birthday cards. As a young woman, Williams said she would shrink down to not take up space. Now, as one of Ten Outstanding Young American recipients, she stands tall.
“Don’t be afraid to take up as much space as you want to physically or with your voice,” she said. “Everyone deserve to feel like their voice matters and deserve to have a space that allows thoughtful expression, and to be met with care.”
Sports
FIRST ATHLETIC DIRECTORDUCHESNE’S
When Maureen Ries graduated from Duchesne Academy in 1974, she remembered athletics playing a smaller role in her high school experience. At her 50-year reunion in September, Ries said she was impressed by the growth from her experience in the 1970’s to the planned improvements for Duchesne Athletics — a larger gym, updated locker rooms, expanded weight room, and a turf soccer field.
All of this was made possible by Ries— Duchesne’s first Athletic Director.
In the late 1970’s, students played in an 85 x 40-foot gym with a 19-foot ceiling. Duchesne Academy had four athletic teams: basketball, volleyball, golf, and tennis. The golf and tennis teams were major competitors, earning state champion or runner-up titles from 19751985. Meanwhile, volleyball and basketball were not seriously competitive.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law, ensuring that male and female students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. Ries said she could feel culture begin to shift from that point.
“While reflecting over the last 50 years, I’m happy to see the vast improvements and increase in student involvement in athletics at Duchesne,” she said.
After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ries pursued a career as a physical education teacher. She got her big break after attending Duchesne’s Christmas Mass in 1978. Shirley Miller C’63, RSCJ was the principal at the time.
“I was talking to a few friends when Shirley Miller said, ‘I’m going to hire a PE teacher in May, if you know anyone,’” Ries said. “I thought ‘why not?’”
That’s how Ries started her 10-year career at Duchesne Academy.
In the beginning, Ries spent most of her time teaching PE and coaching all four athletic teams. She said when they would play the neighboring schools, she felt like everyone was a step ahead of Duchesne. At that time, discussions to increase funding for athletics began. Sister Miller approved the effort.
“She said ‘Go ahead! Raise some money!’” Ries laughed.
Fathers of several students were motivated to assist with the students’ progress, so they worked with Ries to raise money for uniforms and coaches. They called themselves the Duchesne Academy Dads for Sports or “Duchesne DADS”.
Today, this group is known as the “Booster Club”. Former Creighton Basketball Coach Tom Brosnihan agreed to coach the Cardinals’ basketball team while Ries continued to coach volleyball and tennis. She was also able to find a few teachers to help coach golf and JV teams. Ries called schools in the area and around Nebraska to invite them to compete. Her family even donated their van to help transport students to games.
“We never had to recruit people to play, the students were excited” she explained. “We just had to show everyone else that we took athletics seriously.”
As more and more girls continued to sign up for sports, the Cardinals added softball, track, and soccer to the list. The program expanded, DADS grew, and in 1983, it was finally time for Duchesne to break ground on a new gymnasium.
“That was really big,” Ries said. “Once we had our gym, participation increased, and we had fans coming to events.”
Ries recalls her most memorable game while at Duchesne in 1983.
After a long night of penalties in a basketball game against Brownell-Talbot, the Cardinals were down to three players on the court with two minutes left. BT was at full force with five athletes and was able to tie up the game.
The gym opened in 1984, which allowed Duchesne to host games, tournaments for grade school athletes, and Sacred Heart events.
In 1990, Ries left Duchesne to pursue a master’s in physical therapy and began her 25-year career in outpatient orthopedics. A born educator, she spent her time teaching patients how to maximize their function and control pain.
Thanks to Ries’ leadership, Duchesne Athletics continued to grow even after she left. Now, 75% of Duchesne students play at least one sport, and the program has grown from four sports to 16.
“I’m proud to be a part of Duchesne and the progress the Academy has made,” she said. “I hope the enthusiasm continues to grow with the construction of the new athletic complex.”
For a look at the future of Duchesne Athletics, please visit bold.duchesneacademy.org
In overtime, the Cardinals kept sinking shots, but then fouling out.
Then, with 19 seconds left, Cardinals get another foul and are down to one player against five.
That player— Margy Lindsay Ford A’84, current Duchesne teacher.
BT scored two baskets at the foul line and Duchesne lost 50-51.
“Those girls played their hearts out,” Ries said. “I was in shell shock after that.”
That’s not where the story ends.
Soon after, Kim Drahota Grady A’83, Ford, and Ries were flown to New York City to share their story on Good Morning America. Ries received letters from people all over the country applauding the team on a job well done.
Margy Lindsay Ford A’84, Maureen Ries A’74, Kim Drahota Grady A’83
Duchesne Athletics celebrated a big achievement this fall, earning the Safe Sports School Award. Duchesne is currently the only school in Omaha with the 1st Team designation.
Given by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, the Safe Sports School Award recognizes secondary schools around the country that take crucial steps to keep their athletes free from injuries. Duchesne’s Athletic Trainer Catherine Lewis said she has been working on this application for over a year.
“This is a promise to our student-athletes and their parents that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe, healthy, and injury-free, to the best of our ability,” she said.
Duchesne’s Board of Trustees mapped out a set of strategic directives to complete between 2024 and 2026. One of those directives is to amplify athletics to empower girls. Lewis was tasked with applying for the Safe Sports School Award.
“Amplifying athletics is more than just getting more prospective and current students into sports,” explained Board of Trustees member and strategic initiative leader, Bob Kula. “It’s about making sure Duchesne is known for providing the most-well-rounded, developmentfocused athletic experience for young women in Omaha. We’re on a great path to do that.”
The award is broken up into two designations. Duchesne earned 1st Team designation, which includes a comprehensive application with questions in 10 safety categories. 2nd Team designation is not as detailed.
“As the dad of a Duchesne athlete, I’ve always appreciated and seen the focus our coaches and training staff have put on my daughter’s –and her teammates – safety and development,” Kula said. “What’s exciting to see now is even more rigor and attention to player safety, from new ways to train to prevent injuries, to how our athletic staff addresses injuries when they happen. It’s great to see the recognition and certification our athletic staff is getting for athlete safety.”
Lewis said she plans to reapply when the award expires in 2027.
Academics and athletics are not competing features on Duchesne’s campus. That’s why this fall, faculty members began partnering with coaches to relay important information that may affect an athlete’s game.
Katie Grudle is a Theology teacher and she is also the Dance Team partner. She regularly checks in with the Dance coach to share important dates for tests or retreats. She said she wants to be there to encourage the girls as they compete.
“I think that it is wonderful for the girls to see their teachers supporting them in their endeavors outside of the classroom,” Grudle explained. “This partnership just reaffirms our staff’s support of the students’ activities.”
Teacher partners help bridge the connection to the school for coaches. They do that by alerting coaches of any issues or concerns academically, and sharing the team’s successes with the Duchesne community. They are also required to attend three sporting events.
Math teacher Jacob Moore is the Cross Country team partner. As the soccer assistant coach, he said he was excited to get involved with a sport he doesn’t know a lot about.
“The students were really excited to see me there cheering them on,” he said.
Duchesne Athletics just completed its first sports season with teacher partners.
FALL SPORTS RECAP
GOLF
The Cardinals celebrated a 3-peat victory at the NSAA Class B State Golf Championship.
In atight match against Elkhorn North, the Cardinals pulled out a victory with a score of 704, beating the Wolves' 705.
Whitney Dahir A'26 came out on top after placing second in round one. With a score of 75, she dominated round 2, bringing home a first place medal and the trophy for her team. Dahir's overall score was 157.
Kasha Stolberg A'27 also medaled with an overall score of 170, landing her in fifth place.
This is Duchesne's 11th State Golf Championship title, the 7th for Golf Coach Jeff Nielsen, and first for assistant coach Maggie Vazquez A’17. Members of the 2024 State Golf Championship team were Whitney Dahir A'26, Martha Mullen A'26, Kasha Stolberg A'27, Ellie Jung A'27, and Lucille McDevitt A'28.
SOFTBALL
Cardinal Pride brought home some hardware as the 2024 River Cities Conference (RCC) Runner-Up Champions. The Roncalli-Duchesne co-op team pulled out a 13-1 victory against Gross Catholic. In the RCC Championship, Cardinal Pride fell to Skutt Catholic.
CROSS COUNTRY
Duchesne dominated Cross Country in both skill and numbers this year. With 98 students on the team, the Cardinals brought a huge cheering section to each meet.
The Cardinals earned a first place win in the River Cities Conference Championship. CeCe Kramper A’27 took home the gold for Varsity, while Evelyn Jeffreys A’26 earned first place for Junior Varsity.
At the State Championship in Kearney, Kramper placed 6th, breaking the school record with a time of 19:08.58. As a team, Duchesne placed 6th overall in Class B. Kramper’s performance earned her a spot on the Nebraska Coaches Association Super-State Team.
VOLLEYBALL
A month into the season, the Varsity switched leadership with a new coach. DJ Layson joined the team, leading the Cardinals to victory in the River Cities Conference Championship. In Sub-Districts, Duchesne faced off against Gross and came out victorious, earning the title of Class B Sub-District Champions. Ava McCarthy A’25, Liz Layson A’25, and Kaitlyn Bodnar A’26 celebrated career milestones. McCarthy hit 1000 career digs, and Layson and Bodnar each surpassed 1000 kills.
CLASS B DIVISION I to
Two Cardinal athletes announced they will play Division I volleyball after graduation.
Liz Layson A’25 (pictured right), an outside hitter for the Cardinals, will attend Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Queens is currently transitioning from Division II and will officially be a NCAA Division I school during the 2026-2027 season.
Layson started playing volleyball when she was five-years-old. She competed on her first national team at nineyears-old. She will receive a full scholarship to play volleyball at Queens.
“The coaches are the most kind and wonderful people,” she said. “When they called with the offer, I was so relieved.”
Layson plans to study along the business track while playing the sport she loves. Other than calling Queens’ stunning campus home, she’s excited to be exposed to unique opportunities the school provides.
“The Queens business program requires two internships at large companies,” she explained. “They help prepare you for the future, which is huge.”
Kaitlyn Bodnar A’26 (pictured left), a setter for the Cardinals, will take her talents to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Bodnar said her dream has been to play for a Big Ten school
“I think every aspect of Northwestern is perfect,” she explained. “They’re the 9th school in the nation academically, and I’m going to play at the highest level possible.”
Bodnar plans to study biology or chemistry to become a radiologist. Though she has officially committed to Northwestern, she still has to continue to work hard academically while at Duchesne. She will officially sign with the Wildcats in the winter of her senior year.
Both Layson and Bodnar said they had to pound the pavement to get noticed by their schools. Bodnar said she spent at least 20 hours sending personal emails to collegiate coaching staffs. The messages included film from her games, statistics, and information about her as a teammate. In one email, she sent cards given to her from her club coaches. She said the cards represented who she was as a person. Soon after, she received a call.
“The Northwestern coach reached out and said ‘we want to get on the phone with you’”, Bodnar said.
After that, Bodnar visited Northwestern to play in one of their camps.
“I walked in and all of the coaches knew who I was,” she laughed. “I thought ‘This is crazy!’”.
A few weeks later, she received an offer from her dream school.
“My jaw dropped— I said yes on the spot!” Bodnar said.
Bodnar and Layson were co-captains for Duchesne’s Varsity Volleyball team. This fall, both Bodnar and Layson celebrated the 1000 kills milestone. Layson also broke the school record for kills in a single game with 32 kills against Mercy. The previous record was 27.
In addition to playing for Duchesne, Bodnar plays for VCN 16 Elite Club Volleyball. Layson plays for Nebraska Elite’s club and competed in the Top 17’s team as well as Open Division.
Duchesne Benefits from Generous Bequest
by Katie Risch Bakhit A’94
Duchesne Academy is thriving. The spirit of the Sacred Heart mission and the vision set forth by our foundresses, Saints Madeleine Sophie Barat and Rose Philippine Duchesne are palpable. Interest in enrollment is high. Alumnae engagement continues to climb. And major capital renovations and additions that will transform the campus are on-going. Much of this strength can be attributed to alumnae and friends remembering Duchesne through various charitable gifting strategies including estate planning.
Estate gifts, often referred to as “bequests,” are critical and pivotal for Duchesne to meet needs today and to carry out long term goals. One such gift that Duchesne recently (and unexpectedly) received was a bequest from the estate of Jim and Mary Ann Reinhart Williams. Not a Duchesne alumna, Mary Ann attended a Catholic high school in Humphrey, NE before attending nursing school and eventually becoming a nurse anesthetist. She possessed a strong faith which guided her throughout her life and ultimately led to her decision to include Duchesne, among a few other Catholic organizations, in her estate plans. It was Mary Ann’s deep desire to help provide a Catholic education for young people. Her generosity to Duchesne is doing exactly that.
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
A MESSAGE FROM THE Chair Board Trustees of the of
It is with heartfelt appreciation for your steadfast generosity that we present Duchesne Academy and Preschool’s Annual Report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The funds raised each year help make Duchesne accessible and affordable to more families, supporting Goal Four to “educate to the building of community as a Christian value.” Last year, your combined contributions totaled nearly $2.7 million, an increase of $730,000 year over year, primarily due to endowed campaign gifts, increased funding for annual scholarships, and investment income. Your gifts have enabled the school to meet the growing demand for need-based aid and foster greater socioeconomic diversity.
Your on-going engagement is essential to the success of our mission as a Catholic, independent, Sacred Heart school rooted in faith, intellect, service, community, and wise freedom. This educational experience is characterized by care and unconditional acceptance within a collaborative community that values compassion and justice, enabling each student to recognize the significance of her life as well as those around her. Duchesne graduates are global citizens who imagine realities beyond themselves and are prepared to transform the world as courageous, confident leaders.
We are profoundly grateful for your trust and belief in the power of Sacred Heart education. Thank you. We are truly blessed to carry out St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision of education as Love in Action at Duchesne Academy.
Kay Doyle, Chair, Duchesne Board of Trustees (2024-2026)
The Building Future
Reflection by
Katie
Risch Bakhit A’94
On a beautiful Thursday afternoon in September (September 5 to be exact), Duchesne Academy made history. We broke ground on what will be a $31 million athletic complex. Everything about this historic event was perfect.
As the event began and I sat on the far end of the front row following the carefully planned, timed-to-atee rotation of speakers ensuring we remained on schedule, I was unexpectedly moved. Moved by the generosity of so many loyal supporters and their unwavering support of the Sacred Heart mission and the vision of this specific project. Moved by the friendships I’ve been so privileged to cultivate in the sacred work of my role at Duchesne. And moved that this special day, in all of its glory, had arrived.
Attended by the US Provincial of the Society of the Sacred Heart, past Duchesne administrators, loyal donors, and the faculty and staff, the magnitude of this occasion was huge. The monumental impact that the project will have on our school and the young women of both today and the future is almost unfathomable. I routinely tell long-time supporters that “it’s a new day” in terms of the bold nature with which we solicit and secure charitable gifts. In recent years, we have elevated the way in which we encourage prospective donors to consider their financial support to Duchesne. It wasn’t all that long ago that we strung together modest, à la carte projects as capital and scholarship needs arose, and we often struggled to meet those financial goals.
The recent groundbreaking served not only as evidence of a “new day” for development efforts, but also of the “new day” for our campus and Duchesne athletics. Duchesne took A Bold Step Forward as we ceremonially commenced construction.
PicturedRight:SuzanneCooke,RSCJ,Provincial
Construction is underway at Duchesne Academy. As dump trucks from MCL Construction, excavators, and concrete mixers make their way down Burt Street, the preschool is ready for action.
Duchesne Preschool embraced BobtheBuilderbooks and cartoons for the theme to start the school year, and preschool students are learning about the big machines on Duchesne’s campus and how they work. MCL
Construction is on board with “touch a truck” type experiences for our students when they bring an exciting piece of equipment on campus. Yellow construction hats are a fun addition to the preschool uniform during major campus events like Duchesne’s all-school groundbreaking. In After-Care they are beginning a unit on tools – big and small - and will be experimenting with many of them during the afternoon.
The preschool will be impacted by the construction of Duchesne’s new athletic complex and student commons. For the next two years, preschool students will play outside on the north end of the soccer field. We fully expect to see them sitting up there “supervising” construction from their front row seat to the construction zone.
Preschool Congé
Congé 2024 was held April 5th, 2024, celebrating the 25thanniversary of Duchesne Preschool. Congé chairs and sisters Annie Knowles German A’03, mother of preschool student Hattie, and Megan Knowles McKinzie A’06, mother of preschool student Charlie, led this team to an unprecedented success. The final total for the evening was $185,000, which surpassed our previous high of $79,000! Looking forward to Congé 2025 on April 4th, led by the same dynamic duo!
FineArts
Duchesne Academy thespians had a unique opportunity to perform a thrilling piece of theater created by local playwrights.
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” written by Jill Anderson and Ben Beck tells the tale of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster in the secluded countryside set in 1790. This production was adapted from the 1820 short story by American author Washington Irving. Duchesne’s performance of the piece debuted Oct. 24.
Duchesne’s Theater Director Thomas Becker saw the play at the Blue Barn Theater in Omaha last year. He said it was one of the most creative pieces he’s seen.
“It’s an ensemble piece where every one of the characters, except for Ichabod, plays multiple roles,” Becker explained. “They become parts of scenery, animals, trees, and the majority of sound effects.”
After seeing the show at the Blue Barn Theater, Becker asked Anderson and Beck if Duchesne could use it. The Academy is the first high school to perform this adaption.
“This particular production could end up in Chicago or New York somewhere someday,” Becker explained. “Right now, it’s here and we’re the second group of people who get to work it.”
Anderson and Beck worked with the students to make this ensemble possible. Becker said the playwrights held workshops to help them on the unique acting style needed to portray exaggerated characters.
Caroline Michonski A’25 played the lead, Ichabod Crane. Alongside her were 13 other actors who used their voice and physicality to create the creepy atmosphere of Sleepy Hollow.
“Our ensemble actors played around 10 different items at any given time,” she explained. “We had people who were dirt, the trees, the barnyard animals, the animals in the forest, and then there are other side characters as well.”
The eerie music originally composed for the Blue Barn production also made its way to Duchesne through the musical stylings of Mad Bean A’26. The original composer, Olga Smola, is a violinist and instructor of music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She worked directly with Bean to help set the scene for the performance.
Becker said with the help of these professional artists, the students were able to create a unique piece of art while learning valuable life lessons.
“When you open the door to that kind of creativity, it builds confidence,” he said. “It’s the kind of confidence that will enable them to get up and lead people, and it will also teach them how to be good followers.”
Caroline Michonski A’25 is not a stranger to playing characters outside of her comfort zone. While at Duchesne and in outside projects, she has often been in roles that are typically played by men.
However, she said nothing compares to her most recent persona— Ichabod Crane.
“I like to refer to him as this little, wretched, freaky man,” Michonski laughed.
Ichabod Crane is the main character in the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. However, he is not the protagonist, he is the embodiment of the Seven Deadly Sins.
In an excerpt from Washington Irving’s 1820 original short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, Irving wrote:
“He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together.”
Michonski, a vivacious thespian and dancer, said this character was a stretch from her usual roles.
She said the guidance from playwrights Jill Anderson and Ben Beck were essential to her craft, as well as extensive research on the character. Michonski changed her entire self on stage, altering the way she walks and talks, and her mannerisms.
“In most shows, it is my goal to make people laugh or cry,” she explained. “But with Sleepy Hollow, I just wanted to freak people out!”
As a senior, this was Michonski’s final fall performance at Duchesne Academy. She said the lessons she learned from this type of stylized production will help her as she pursues theater in college.
“The reason I love theater so much is that I truly believe that it is the most aethereal art form,” she explained.
“There is an intimacy between the performers and the audience that you don’t get with any other form of art.”
Alumnae News
Dear Alumnae,
Each year that goes by, I am reminded of how much our alumnae love and support our little school on 36th and Burt. This fall has been busy and the enthusiasm and engagement from our alumnae continues to be second to none. The Alumnae Board has been hard at work this fall with one event after another. We estimate we had more than 350 attendees at our Wine and Cheese party for Reunion this year; it was incredible! The Alumnae Board led by Kristin Stoesz Pratt A’00 as this year’s President, and President-elect Hannah Tjaden A’12, is again filled with dedicated women who step up repeatedly to ensure we can host all these amazing events for our alumnae.
This fall we hosted a rooftop party for A’02 at Duchesne. My colleague, Catherine Foley Wieczorek A’09, had the brilliant idea to raise funds this spring for our students in need of financial assistance to purchase their Duchesne rings, and appropriately named the campaign “Spring for a Ring”. The top prize for the class with the most participation in the campaign was a rooftop party. Shannon Gilroy led the Academy class of 2002 to ensure they clinched the prize. We held the party on a beautiful night in early October, and 22 members of A’02 traveled to Duchesne for this mini reunion. I heard a few attendees joke that Shannon is class president for life; while it is a joke, Shannon inspires me in the ways she beautifully brings her class together year after year. Shannon thinks of every detail to ensure everyone feels included and maintains a strong connection not only each other, but with Duchesne. A’02 is committed to defending their title this year, and I’m excited to watch this spirited competition to benefit our students.
I hope you enjoy this issue of our magazine and continue to be inspired by the students and alumnae we feature, including Elizabeth Wellendorf A’14, Noni Williams A’10, and Maureen Ries A’74. These women have chosen amazing paths in their lives to make the world around them a better place.
Warmly,
Trisha Clark Meehan A’04
Alumnae Relations Director
A’02 Rooftop Party
THE ACROSS COUNTRY
DASH Across the Country continues to hold events to bring alumnae together in many fun ways.
This summer, alumnae in Washington D.C., New York City, and Cincinnati held their inaugural events. The Chicago group met again in August after a great kickoff party in April. Alumna Margot Ricketts A’17 hosted the group for a Cubs game, and it was another joyous evening for Chicago alumnae.
Caroline Bressman A’11 hosted the Washington D.C. area alumnae for a happy hour in her building, inspiring a few other alumnae to offer to host the next gathering.
New York City alumnae met at a wine bar in June and are planning another event this year.
Ellen Gerrity McGoron A’71 leads a small but mighty group of alumnae in Cincinnati. Ellen and two other alumnae took a tour of the Cincinnati Art Museum. Afterward, they met for lunch, and Ellen said they never ran out of things to talk about, even though they had not met before.
New DASH Across the Country committee members are getting started in Denver, Kansas City, San Francisco, and San Diego. If you’d like to host an event in your city, please contact Trisha Clark Meehan A’04 at tmeehan@duchesneacademy.org.
Margaret Mary Miller, also known as “Marg”, attended Holy Name Grade School and High School in Omaha, Nebraska where her love of the Lord and music developed.
In 1947, Marg began at Duchesne College and soon realized she was called to a religious vocation, inspired by the Religious of the Sacred Heart in the college. Mother Vera Rogers, dean of the college at the time, encouraged Marg to finish college before entering the Society, so she graduated in May 1951 with a B.A. in English.
Marg began her long ministerial career in the Society of the Sacred Heart with her first vows in 1951 and she returned to Duchesne Omaha to teach and serve as dean of students.
After receiving her final vows in 1960, she remained in Rome at the Trinita Dei Monti, and served as organist for an international alumnae meeting and she taught English in the school. Her stay was extended for nine months, and she played the Trinita Dei Monti’s large organ which had been modified to add an additional “chiffer” (a chiffer adds a zero to the requested order of 10 into 100.) This made the organ ten times as large and expensive as originally intended. It was said that the organ was so large people doubted if the diminutive Mother Miller could play the instrument. She not only met the challenge, she played the organ perfectly.
While at Duchesne Omaha, Mother Miller served in many roles for the Society. She worked in Provincial administration in 1969 as a member of the Provincial Team and in 1970 as the Provincial of the entire Chicago Province, while being promoted to Superior at Duchesne Academy. Always respected for her keen mind and business acumen, she was an icon in Omaha and the Society.
It was said that Mother Miller’s Rolodex held better connections than those of Warren Buffett. (A Rolodex was a rotation card file device used to store a contact list.) The remarkable Mother Marg Miller was highly intelligent, always respected, and loved by everyone she met.
On Mother Miller’s Feast Day in 1968 the whole academy held balloons symbolizing their individuality, while Mother recited a prayer on the front lawn. As the balloons were released, some flew free while some became tangled in the trees. Mother Miller responded, "You see, children, the Good Lord will always be watching over you, even when some of you face obstacles like the balloons caught in the trees. Listen to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He will guide you."
Mother Miller impacted many students, whether in a small group discussion or an assembly for General Instruction.
“I remember Mother Miller as our kind principal, who made every effort to introduce to us the joys of an interior life of prayer. This may or may not have fallen on overly receptive ears, but nevertheless she tried. I distinctly remember a lecture she gave us on the benefits of having “an attitude of gratitude.” The rhyme did kind of tickle us, but it seems to have stuck with me, and I’m sure with others as well. Lately there have been “new age” proponents of the very same idea, using the very same phrase. Mother Margaret Mary, you were way ahead of your time.”
SubmittedbyMaryKevinFoleyRosenthal,A’70
“As a freshman I recall Mother Miller, (as we called her in 1971) sharing reflections with us following our weekly Primes. I specifically remember one occasion when she eloquently encouraged us to slow down and take the time and attention to appreciate nature, whether a leaf turning color or the sound of the wind. Such a simple thing, but often at stressful times in my life, I remember her voice in my ear and it helps me to follow her wise advice.
One of the many things that impressed me about Mother Miller was her recollection of each one of us. You could not mention a student that she did not remember fondly and in great detail. This is an example of her extraordinary mind and her authentic love for her students. What a gift that was to all of us.”
SubmittedbyPaulaMarchRomanovsky,A’71
In 2005, she was named Director for the Oakwood Community, in Atherton, California, a position she held for two years until she turned eighty. She dearly loved the sisters and the staff, and the feeling was mutual. She officially retired in 2007 and went to Uganda in 2008, where she filled in the mistress of novices for six weeks. Her planned two-year stay in Uganda was cut in half because of a critical health issue. She returned to Oakwood in May of 2009, this time as a resident, but with the courage and faith that had characterized her all her life.
Upon arrival, she stated so eloquently: “Now I do not have any plans of my own. I try to accept God’s loving and forgiving guidance each day and to serve God in whatever way I can, giving glory to the heart of God by being positive and constructive. I am grateful for the extra time of contemplative prayer as well.”
For the next eight years Mother Miller planned the Oakwood Community liturgies, and despite failing eyesight she continued to musically accompany the Masses. Her great heart finally gave out on May 17, 2017, when she met her Heavenly reward.
Class photos will be displayed in our Spring issue.
Reunion Weekend
Class Notes
Sophia Lammers A’22 spent her summer interning as a graphic designer at RDG Planning & Design. Under the mentorship of Bridget Wilwerding Flaherty A’04 and the graphic design team, Sophia worked on a variety of in-house and real-world projects, allowing her to hone her skills and gain valuable experience. She is currently a Junior at Tulane University, and is studying in Copenhagen this fall semester. She is studying Graphic Design and learning a lot from visiting different countries.
Correta Gagnon Koudji A'20 was featured as an Emerging Designer in Omaha Fashion Week, on August 22, 2024, with her fashion line Maison CGK. Her latest collection titled "The Pink Project" explores the effect of the male gaze on the female experience, specifically the internalization of that gaze and the subsequent self-surveillance. This internalization results in a conflict between wanting to be perceived but not misunderstood.
Olivia Stanek A’17 graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in May 2024 and passed the July Bar Exam, she joined Fraser Stryker PC LLO as an Associate Attorney in their Litigation Practice.
Emily Schmidt Childress A’15 graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, in May 2023. Emily is now a licensed attorney in Kentucky and works at the Lexington, KY law firm of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, where she specializes in energy and public utility regulation. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, and riding Icelandic horses at a Kentucky horse farm on the weekends.
Courtney Donahoe Blank A’14 had a daughter, Emersyn Grier. Courtney works at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital with complex oncology patients.
Rachel Romero A’13 welcomed son Caspian Antonio. Rachel stays at home with Caspian and is a social media manager.
Mackenzie Findley Barnard A’10 welcomed son Bennett in early June 2024. He has been a wonderful addition to the Barnard family, and his big brother Louie can’t get enough of him. Since completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree at Creighton University, Mackenzie has worked as a Nurse Practitioner at OneWorld Community Health Centers in Omaha. While at OneWorld, Mackenzie has worked in primary care, urgent care, and adolescent medicine and has enjoyed the variety of experiences and different patient populations in each area.
Dr. Kat Istas A’04 has accepted a new job as Research Scientist at the Saint Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, MO since obtaining her Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) degree with a specialization in public health informatics at the University of Illinois Chicago.
In this role, Kat is co-designing a region-wide intervention in pregnancy induced hypertension using methods from quality improvement and implementation science. Missouri has the 4th highest maternal mortality rate in the country and many of these deaths are preventable. Kat and her team are partnering with community birth centers, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, hospital associations, and professional organizations to improve uptake of evidence-based practices across health systems and the communities they serve.
On August 23, 2024, Dr. Catherine Grace Pope C’70 (playwright) along with her son, Ryan Ravelomanantsoa (cowriter), held a public reading of their play based on Dr. Pope’s book "In Search of the Crown". The story, taken from the book, is about Dr. Pope’s attempt to win the Miss America Pageant during a time of racial turmoil after being the first African American young woman crowned Miss Omaha. The reading was held in Hattox Hall in the world-renowned Old Globe Theater in San Deigo. Dr. Pope was thrilled to see the room fill to standing room only with an overflow crowd filling the halls. Dr. Pope hopes the play will hit the stage soon.
In Memoriam
May 5, 2024 – October 18, 2024
Alumnae Deaths
Elizabeth "Betty" Dingman Anderson C’66
Elizabeth Ann Henry Becker C'60, sister of Jean Henry Seibel A’65/C’69 and Rita Henry A’69; aunt of Meg Costello Andres A’96; great-aunt of Libby Saal A’26
Mary Ellen Higgins Brennan C'50, aunt of Ann Higgins Batchelder A’73 and Sue Higgins
Hughes A’77; great-aunt of Susan Batchelder Kinsky A’97, Anne Batchelder A’99, Liz Hughes A’05, and Abigail Hughes A’11
Joyce Ohlinger Cockson C'69, sister of Rosalee Ohlinger Roberts C’65
Mary Jo Mueller Coffey C'60, mother of Francie Coffey Conrad A’79; grandmother of Kelly Brooks McBride A’14, Maggie Coffey A’20, and Anne Coffey A’22
Florence Mae Davis C’68
Mildred O'Rourke Everroad C'56
Patricia Barmettler Fairchild A'49/C'53, mother of Elizabeth Fairchild Schaben A’91; grandmother of Elise Schaben A’25
Mary Jean Kelly Gunderson C'53
Patricia McGovern Kisicki C'69, sister of Ellen McGovern C’63 and Peggy McGovern C’69
Margaret "Peggy" O'Connell Langdon C'51, aunt of Ellyn Hess Zaia A’70, Sarah Langdon David A’75, Lorraine Langdon Hull A’76, Lisa Langdon Arko A’80, Mary Langdon Stokes A’82, Ann Heaney Lenz A’83; great-aunt of Libby Heaney A’22
Rosemarie “Mitzie” Morbach Mailliard C'53, mother of Kathy Mailliard Longo A’76 and Lisa Mailliard A’82; sister-in-law of Joan Mailliard Dunlap C’52; aunt of Meg Dunlap D’Costa A’79, Suzanne Dunlap Carl A’81, Monica Dunlap Thiel A’83, Amy Dunlap Dickas A’86, and Jennifer Dunlap Livingston A’89; great-aunt of Theresa Thiel A’04, Liz Capadano Pierce A’04, Katherine Capadano Nordhues A’09, Emily Dickas A’13 and Grace Dickas A’16
Julianne Ryan McConville C'57, sister of Mary Pat Ryan RSCJ C’56, Sara Jane Ryan O’Brien Murphy C’60, Margie Ryan Holzfeind C’70; cousin of Ilene Ravlin Bittle C’58
Peggy Olsen C’71
Bonnie Maxwell Pryor C'56, aunt of Mimi Maxwell Reed A’81; great-aunt of Mary Maxwell A’13, Katherine Maxwell A’17, and Anne Maxwell A’23
Betty Fitzgerald Quinn A'56, mother of Colleen Quinn Monsef A’85; grandmother of Jessica Quinn A’19 and Megan Quinn A’21; aunt of Sheila Fitzgerald A’84 and Eileen McKinstra A’89; great-aunt of Quincey Hogue A’15 and Katherine Hogue A’19
Mimi Rogers-Farkas A'81
Marilyn Humpal Schaaf C'55
Joan McLaughlin Thompson C'67
Margaret "Peggy" Quinlan Trout A'57, aunt of Mary Wulff Kinyoun A’09
Rita Waddington Willman C'63
We apologize if there are any omissions or misrepresentations in this memorial list. Please note we include relationships to living alumnae. Thank you for continuing to update and inform Duchesne.
—The Alumnae Office
Friends and Family
Lyle Bauer, grandfather of Meredith Pentzien Waldref A’09
Karen Beda, mother of Nicole Beda Cavanaugh A’91; grandmother of Maeve Cavanaugh A’18
Elaine Cotton, mother of Julie Cotton Sloderbeck A’97 and Lauren Cotton A’03
Bob Deacon, brother of Mary Jo Begley (Duchesne Preschool staff)
Joyce Duffy, grandmother of Moira Niebauer Wiedenman A’04
Mary Anne Dworak, grandmother of Courtney Dworak A’13 and Danielle Dworak A’15
Joseph Engelbert, father of Kimberly Engelbert Gates A’93 and Kelly Engelbert Haskell A’03
Joe Grant, brother of Sue Grant A’70; uncle of Chloe Grant A’15
Judith Harvey, mother of Gayle Harvey Heldridge A’84; grandmother of Lucy Heldridge A’16, Grace Heldridge A’17, and Anne Heldridge A’25
Harold Hollins, father-in-law of Alicia Smith Hollins A’97
Patricia Huber, mother-in-law of Lisa Kara Pavel A’85
Gary Luick, husband of Judy Korth Luick A’60/C’64; great-uncle of Caitrin Shirazi A’05 and Molly Shirazi A’11
Patrick McCahill, husband of Sidney Steele McCahill A’64
Mary Nista, grandmother of Isabella Otepka A’28
James O’Connor, father of Elizabeth O’Connor A’08 and Maggie O’Connor A’10
John Peck, husband of Mary Kay Novak Peck A’57; grandfather of Mary Kelly A’24
James Phalen, father of Ann-Marie Phalen-Hartman A’82, Maureen Phalen A’83, and Mary Phalen A’89
Karen Sall, grandmother of Caroline Sall A’23
Gerald Schmaderer, father-in-law of Lori Kennedy Schmaderer A’90; grandfather of Sarah Schmaderer A’25
Linda Schneider, former Duchesne Preschool staff
David Spicka, father of Mica Spicka A’09; grandfather of Ava Spicka A’26
John Steele, brother of Sidney Steele McCahill A’64
Michael Steigleder, father of Stephanie Steigleder Shearer A’91
Phuoc Tran, grandfather of Lizzie Tran A’26 and Catie Tran A’28
Duane Trouba, grandfather of Maggie Kizer A’26 and Lucy Kizer A’28
Herman Weist, grandfather of Maire Weist A’27
Mary Beth Wicks, daughter of Shirley Kane Wicks C’56
James Woodbury, friend of Duchesne
Patricia Zahm, grandmother of Mikala Rempe A’13 and Brianna Rempe A’20
Upcoming Alumnae Events
Alumnae Holiday Mass
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 11:30 am Register: dashomaha.org/holidaymass
Cardinals in College – Gingerbread Houses and Hot Cocoa
