Spring is a time of renewal and celebration on the Ursuline Campus. We celebrate the growth of the Ursuline Innovation STEM Center, the amazing gifts celebrating Catholic women’s education brought to us by our alumnae through Alumnae Unite, and the many incredible successes of our students, from the youngest preschoolers to our SHA seniors who are ready to spread their wings and fly into their futures. There are too many accomplishments to list here, but I encourage you to read their stories in this issue of HeartBeat and online.
Daily, I’m inspired by the quest for education, the sisterhood of SHA, and the legacy and support of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. This treasured Ursuline Campus holds so many beautiful stories. I invite you always to visit and see how we grow in God’s love and the Ursuline core values of Reverence, Service, Leadership, and Community. We walk in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, our new Pope Leo XIV and the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville as we celebrate our common home.
Together in Heart, Dr. Karen McNay President, Sacred Heart Schools
From the Principal
Greetings, SHA community, It is hard to fathom that we are rapidly approaching the end of the educational year. It has flown by, and is filled with amazing wins, incredible academic achievements, and a sense of community and sisterhood that is unparalleled. I am so proud of all our young women as they excel in their classes, on the fields and courts, and in the studios and theatres. They are all “Strong women of great faith” and I am proud of each one of them.
For our parents of seniors, we are immersed in a season of celebration that will culminate in graduation. These busy weeks are filled with special moments, and we are honored to walk with your daughters as they close one chapter and prepare to begin the next as SHA alumnae.
May the hope of the spring season continue to lift us all.
With gratitude, Dr. Tim Adams Principal, Sacred Heart Academy
Christie Leigh Mueller Wells ’02
VICE PRESIDENT
Amy Helm Baker ’92
SECRETARY
Lauren Peter ‘10
If you are interested in giving back by joining the SHA Alumnae Board, please contact Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95 at mtheisen@shslou.org or 502.736.6408. To view all Board Members, visit sha.shslou.org/alumnae/
HeartBeat
Congratulations to Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) theology teacher and former Valkyrie softball coach, Bob Wheatley, recipient of the 2024 Francesconi Award for Integrity. This award, the highest honor given by Sacred Heart Schools to an employee each year, recognizes an employee who has demonstrated faithful commitment to the Ursuline Core Values of Community, Reverence, Service, and Leadership through their works both on and off campus.
Happy Summer, Valkyries,
FROM THE
Alumnae Director
Megan Brumleve Theisen ‘95
As we close the chapter on another great school year at SHA, it is my distinct honor to welcome our newest graduates from the class of 2025 into the SHA Alumnae Association. These new alumnae will do such great things - with their servants’ hearts and leadership skills to guide them - and I look forward to keeping up with them as they become the alumnae who will inspire and give back to our students in the years to come.
On behalf of our SHA Alumnae Board, we give a big Valkyrie Thank You to SHA Alumnae Board president, Christie Leigh Mueller Wells ’02, as she finishes three years as president. Christie Leigh’s leadership culminated in our Alumnae Unite win this spring (for the first time since 2019!) among countless other “wins” throughout her term. She has led with a deep sense of purpose and has left our board membership with a clear path forward. Thank you to Christie Leigh and ALL of our 35 members for your commitment to giving back to our alma mater in such meaningful ways.
The pages of this issue are filled with so many examples of community and accomplishment. I’m especially proud of the work that has taken place at SHA with the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute since 2017 when it was announced that Lauren Hitron ’99, would become its first director. The trajectory from Lauren’s leadership alongside the JFLI cabinet - and with the addition of Lauren Coffey to the team - has been meteoric. Lauren has left a remarkable imprint on Sacred Heart Schools, and I am confident her next chapter will be filled with important achievements as she becomes the next president of Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, KY. Lauren, we know you will live out the call by St. Angela to “build community, wherever you go.”
I encourage you all to share photographs of your “heart hands” that we can feature in our magazine and online. Send to mtheisen@ shslou.org, or if you have something else you’d like to share, drop me a line. Don’t forget to join our private SHA Alumnae Facebook group, too. This page serves as a way for you to network directly amongst our strong, intelligent and generous alumnae sisters. Blessings to you for a safe and enjoyable summer. We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon!
Go Valkyries, Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Golf Scramble
July 14, 2025 @ Audubon Country Club
SHA Career Day
September 26, 2025
Class Rep Connect
October 22, 2025
SHA Alumnae Awards
February 5, 2026
Interlude
February 28, 2026
STUDENT & FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to our talented Governor’s School for the Arts, Governor’s Scholars Program, and Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs students. You will represent SHA well this summer!
SHA’s senior class enjoyed the beautiful and unique tradition of senior prom at Christmas.
SHA thespians went “Into The Woods” for the spring SHSA production of this classic tale.
The entire Ursuline Campus – from small to tall – came together to praise spring and celebrate Earth Day.
Junior ring ceremony on a beautiful spring day welcomes the Class of 2026 to their upcoming senior year.
SHA’s amazingly talented senior IB
students displayed their impressive works of multimedia
four years of impressive creative
The stress of mid-term exams was fluffed away by a special visit to SHA by several trained service dogs who put smiles on everyone’s faces.
SHA students and friends opened their hearts for the 29th annual Sr. Brendan Appalachian Gift Drive, which brought toys, toiletries, and Christmas cheer to friends in need in Kermit, West Virginia.
Sacred Heart Schools hosted the U.S. District Court naturalization ceremony for 71 new American citizens in January. The ceremony, organized largely by SHA junior Kate Solon '26, saw men and women from 28 countries take the Oath of Allegiance as they became American citizens.
Twenty-four outstanding SHA student athletes signed letters of intent for their college sports careers during the winter sports signing event. Nine more student athletes put pen to paper in spring. Congratulations, Valkyries!
art
art during the annual art showcase, culminating
expression.
Seniors Adelyn Gee and Charlotte Ridge were named Spectrum News Scholars for their tireless volunteer and nonprofit community efforts. Adelyn will attend Barnard/Columbia and Charlotte will attend the University of Virginia.
STATE CHAMPS – Again!
SHA has won four state titles during the 2024-25 school year. The golf, soccer, basketball, and swim and dive teams have all celebrated championships this school year, and SHA has 115 state championships overall. Additionally, our SHA average GPA for winter sports athletes was a 3.58. Swim and dive had an impressive 3.91 team GPA with 25 swimmers having a perfect 4.00 GPA! Over 200 students participated in winter sports, and 255 participated in fall sports with a 3.88 GPA.
SHA Basketball Wins 5th Consecutive KHSAA State Championship
SHA's basketball team has cemented their dynasty in Kentucky high school athletic history. Our #1-ranked Valkyries defeated George Rogers Clark 65-60 in March to become the first team--boys or girls--to win five state titles in a row. This championship is the ninth for the SHA basketball program overall; they previously won in 1976, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Coach Donna Bender Moir '79 has been a part of each championship team, either as a player (1976) or a coach (2002-2004, 2021-2025).
Senior star ZaKiyah Johnson, the first Valkyrie player to score 3000 points, was named Sweet Sixteen MVP for the fourth consecutive year. She is committed to play at LSU next year. Earlier this season she was named McDonald's All-American and she was later named 2025 Kentucky Miss Basketball, the third player in Sacred Heart history to earn that honor (Crystal Kelly Sigwalt '04 won in 2004 and Carly Ormerod Bell '05 in 2005). Sophomore Tootie Jordan and Senior Morgan Frey were named with Johnson to the All-Tournament team.
SHA AquaValks win the KHSAA swim and dive state championship for the 13th consecutive year!
The title is the 36th in program history. Charlotte Crush won state and school records in the 100 Fly and 100 Backstroke, and was named “Most Outstanding Swimmer” of the meet. Congratulations also to Ara Grazziani (200 Free) and Hannah Schmidt (100 Breaststroke) and relay champions Ara Grazziani, Eli Summa, Sydney Green, and Charlotte Crush (400 Free).
Giving Thanks
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the King Scholars at SHA and the Annual SHA Scholarship Donor Appreciation Breakfast
Over the holidays, SHA celebrated Nick King and the 25th anniversary of the King Scholars. The King Scholars Program, gifted and nurtured by attorney, former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice and philanthropist Nick King, along with his late wife, Carol Zurkuhlen King ’62, established a program geared to assist selected incoming students to Sacred Heart with a simple mission. Nick King helped students thrive in an educational environment that created leaders and learners who all benefited from his wisdom, kindness, and guidance. Nick King often told his scholars, "I am your doorman. I will hold the door open for you, but you have to be the one to walk through." Through their time as King Scholars, they found their strength, poise, and future. They have excelled in becoming physicians, business owners, elite athletes, parents, and honored military officers proudly serving our nation. Sacred Heart Academy is stronger because of their leadership and involvement.
WNBA star and collegiate basketball coach Crystal Kelly Sigwalt ’04 was a King Scholar and said, “As I've gotten older, I understand that the standards that Sacred Heart set have stuck with me and it's helped me to see things differently,” she explains. “You can have challenges or some adversity, but you have to stand up, push through it, and learn from it.”
It was wonderful to have 32 of 68 King Scholars join us, share stories of their high school years, and thank Mr. King. His care and devotion to our King Scholars opened doors for each young woman. His program changed the lives of young women and serves as a true example of our core Ursuline value of service and our mission to build Strong Women of Great Faith.
Recently, SHA parents and students also gathered to thank the generous donors whose gifts endow and support the many scholarships that make the Sacred Hearth Academy experience possible to so many students at SHA. During the annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Breakfast our scholarship donors were invited to meet the parents and daughters whose lives have been forever impacted by the opportunity to receive an Ursuline education at Sacred Heart. The keynote address was given by former King Scholar Isa Cristobal ’22, currently a junior at Bellarmine University.
We are thankful for all our donors, who so generously give of their hearts in honor of Sacred Heart Academy and all the Sacred Heart schools on campus. You ensure our continued success and make immeasurable differences in the lives of our students.
Nick and Mary Ann King with Isa Cristobal ’22 and her mother, Mindy Cristobal
GLOBAL HEARTS TRAVEL PROGRAM
Building Hearts Worldwide
Several SHA students polished off their passports and went abroad this year on special trips to exotic locales as diverse as Belize and Iceland.
Twelve students and two faculty chaperones from SHA spent their Winter Break warming hearts and building character in Central America. The students traveled to Belize with Hand in Hand Ministries for a service immersion trip, where they worked hard to build a home for a deserving family. This is the third group of Valkyries to take this trip in as many years.
The girls dove into the hard work of constructing a new home in just four days. Nicole Burke, SHA Director of Enrollment, participated in the trip as a parent chaperone. “The girls put the notion of “strong women of great faith” into action, by hammering, painting, drilling, and lifting the walls of a new home for someone in need,” she said. The home was the 530th house built through the nonprofit Hand In Hand’s “Building for Change” program.
“This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said SHA junior Lila Burke. “And a trip that will forever change my view on the world around me. The best part was the community we built with the people we were serving.”
Instead of hitting the beaches during spring break, other SHA students joined SHA alumnae teachers Eleanor Cowley Mitchell ’04 and Rachel Walters ’11 as they all headed north to Iceland! Students explored waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, black sand beaches and geothermal greenhouses. It was an unforgettable environmental education experience!
Several students on the international trips were able to participate thanks to the Katy Brown ’83 Endowed Global Hearts Travel Program, which helps develop students into globally minded, compassionate leaders through international travel, education, and service.
The opportunity to travel abroad is a life-changing experience. Nicole Burke added that the students came together for the common good. “It does not matter what sport they play, what grade they are in, or what their ACT score is,” she said. “Our girls came together as a community, learning more about themselves and each other and immersing themselves into a new community.”
Two trips remain for the 2024-25 year for SHA students – a Spanish immersion trip to Costa Rica, and a trip to Greece to discover ancient history. Valkyries are going places!
Girls – Women – Power!
SHA Students Visit the United Nations on International Women’s Day in New York City
On International Women’s Day, six SHA students traveled with the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute (JFLI) Director Lauren Hitron ’99 and Program Manager Lauren Coffey to New York City to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). It was a remarkable experience in international relations and government.
Providing authentic leadership experiences is a central component to JFLI and SHA, and for a few pivotal days in NYC, these students had the opportunity to see the impact of leadership on one of the biggest stages of international relations and government.
Students attended events sponsored by member states' governments on women’s issues such as human trafficking, impacts of technology and the digital world, leadership, political participation, economic empowerment, women’s health, human rights, and more. A highlight was attending a session sponsored by UNICEF POWER4GIRLS: Invest in Girls, Transform the World. Students Katherine Borthwick, Emma Elstner, Catherine Miller, Brigid McConville, Kathryn Fuller, and Arden Garrett also engaged with teen girls from other Ursuline Education Network schools.
Proving that the SHA Sisterhood creates a lifelong bond, and that the SHA alumnae network is a powerful tool both in Louisville and around the country, the students enjoyed breakfast with three alumnae who currently live and work in NYC. Special thanks to Haylen Wehr ’22 (currently attending Northeastern University and is an intern at Hermes), Nora Cummins ’22 (a NYU Economics major and will intern at JP Morgan Chase this summer), and Catherine Kosse Moss ’12 (a Senior Manager with PwC Consulting) for speaking to current students about their college and work experiences and the realities of living in a big city.
The six juniors and seniors navigated most of the trip, choosing which UN sessions to attend and what other NYC landmarks to visit, including the NYC Public Library, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Plaza, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in Central Park, Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a Broadway show, Times Square, and 9/11 Memorial.
Arden Garrett, a junior at SHA, found that the experience helped solidify her perspective on leadership. She reiterated a central theme of Sacred Heart’s JFLI program: Everyone can learn to lead. “I saw that being a leader does not necessarily mean that you are the loudest in the room or the most important, but it means that you have taken steps to fight for a cause that you are passionate about, such as attending the Commission, for the sake of others who cannot,” she explained.
Our students returned to Louisville motivated and empowered to address women’s global issues and implement solutions in their own communities as strong Valkyries always do.
Leading With Heart
Nina Leigh Howard Krueger ’79 Inspires Frazier Fellows students and guests at annual JFLI luncheon
The Jean Frazier Leadership Institute (JFLI) and the SHA Alumnae Office recently hosted the third annual Lead With Heart Luncheon, an unparalleled opportunity for 80 junior Frazier Fellows to network with nearly 65 alumnae and community leaders. Frazier Fellows are students who have committed to completing nearly every program that JFLI offers through the Institute, as well as taking Personal Finance, completing an authentic leadership project, and making a final capstone presentation in the spring of their senior year.
The Lead with Heart event, through the Lucy Lee Helm ’75 Leadership Pillar, brings together generations of Valkyries and Sacred Heart supporters for conversation, connection, and inspiration. This year's keynote speaker, Chief Executive Officer and President of Nestlé Purina PetCare, Nina Leigh Howard Krueger '79, spoke to the audience about her leadership journey. She emphasized to the students: instead of competing for a seat at the table, work together to build a bigger table.
During her high school years at SHA, Nina Leigh balanced academics and athletics. She played tennis, field hockey and basketball and was a member of the National Honor Society, among other activities. She credits her experience at Sacred Heart with helping to set the foundation for her lifelong love of learning and leadership.
Today, Nina Leigh leads a team with more than 11,000 employees across the U.S., Canada and Latin America who develop, market and manufacture some of the world’s most trusted pet food and litter brands, including Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. She serves on multiple non-profit organization boards and is a key member of the JFLI Leadership Cabinet.
The JFLI Leadership Cabinet is led by eight dynamic women who serve as an advisory council to aid in the creation and execution of JFLI’s strategic
vision and objectives. The JFLI Leadership Cabinet members guide JFLI and its students in growing their leadership skills and nurture a powerful coming generation of Valkyrie leaders. We are thrilled to have their guidance: Cabinet Chair Lucy Lee Helm ’75, Executive VP and Chief Partner Officer (Retired) Starbucks, Nina Leigh Howard Krueger ’79, CEO and President, Nestle Purina PetCare, Susan Hanley Duncan ’84 Executive Director of the Kentucky Bar Foundation and Kentucky IOLTA Fund, Alice Biedenbender Fisher ’85, Partner Latham & Watkins LLP, Layla George ’92 Project Executive for the Belvedere, Dr. Karen McNay, President, Sacred Heart Schools, Akure Paradis, Assistant General Counsel, 3M, and Laura Schwab ’91, entrepreneur, Founder of Addition LLC.
We know our students benefitted from the connections they made while networking with these incredible female leaders. #LeadWithHeart #JFLI
VALKYRIES PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL!
SHA choirs perform on stage at New York City’s famed theatre during once-in-a-lifetime trip
The musical prowess of Sacred Heart's choirs is legendary in the Louisville community, but this spring, SHA’s current choir showcased their talents in front of a national audience at Carnegie Hall in New York City! SHA’s nationally-recognized A Capella and Madrigal choirs, under the direction of Jill Schurman, were invited to perform at the 2025 National Honors Choral Festival in March with top high school choirs from across the country. Sacred Heart Academy was the only Kentucky school invited to perform. Schurman was thrilled to lead her choirs through this once-in-a-lifetime performance. “There is nothing like making music with your friends and I hope the students take these musical memories with them always,” she said.
While they were in New York City, the SHA choirs were able to work with conductor Gary Sieghman from Trinity University. Our Valkyrie choirs joined 5 schools and over 165 students in the performance event.
They were also able to pack in a whirlwind tour of NYC that included attending Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where they sang a postlude prayer meditation, and enjoying two Broadway shows. The Valkyrie singers also met up with #ForeverValkyrie alums Sarah Alice Shull ’12 and Erin Reynolds ’13, who generously shared their experience about writing and performing in NYC. Another highlight was singing the iconic and moving "Imagine" at John Lennon’s mosaic in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The SHA students took a big bite out of the Big Apple and made memories to last a lifetime!
Welcome to the Ursuline Innovation STEM Center
First of its kind learning space opens whole new world to students at Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart Model School
Sacred Heart Schools was proud to announce the creation of the 6,000 squarefoot Ursuline Environmental Education Program and Innovation STEM Center in April, initiatives that celebrate our commitment to the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, our Catholic faith, and our International Baccalaureate curriculum.
DIRECTOR
ELEANOR COWLEY MITCHELL ’04
DIRECTOR
stakeholders across campus to ensure the integration of environmental teaching practices and sustainability concepts that prepare students at Sacred Heart Academy, Sacred Heart Model School, and Sacred Heart Preschool for success.
The Ursuline Environmental Education Program will intertwine the Catholic teaching of Laudato Si' (“Care for our Common Home”) and our Ursuline core values into solving problems and being stewards of our environment. The environmental program and the innovation design lab will promote critical thinking and creative problem solving.
“The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville leadership team initiated a conversation with me about our shared commitment to Laudato Si’ and asked me to dream big,” said Dr. Karen McNay, president of Sacred Heart Schools. “Big dreaming and strategic vision have developed into plans to create a transformative new chapter in innovation and environmental stewardship on campus.”
Sacred Heart Model School and Sacred Heart Academy students will benefit greatly from the Ursuline Innovation STEM Center, which will be the first comprehensive facility of its kind in our region. It will encompass the Ursuline Environmental Education Program, a STEM Design Lab, and an Outdoor Classroom and Greenhouse, utilizing renovated and expanded spaces in the historical building that once housed the laundry facilities for the Ursuline Sisters. This represents more than just physical space—it will embody Sacred Heart’s mission to help students grow into their fullest potential and serve others through problem-solving. The programs, each with a dedicated Director, will empower students through opportunities to engage in robotics, engineering, and environmental education projects in a collaborative environment.
SHA Alumna and teacher Eleanor Cowley Mitchell ’04 will be the new Ursuline Environmental Education Program Director, leading and coordinating environmental education initiatives, programs, and curricula. She will collaborate with leadership, educators, and
Mitchell completed her 14th year of teaching science at Sacred Heart Academy this school year and is the campus “Green Team chairperson.” She is SHA’s Varsity Field Hockey Coach, having played at SHA and Davidson, and has coached four state championship teams. She has also worked with students of all ages through campus summer camps.
Dr. Cody Nygard was named the Ursuline Innovation STEM Design Lab Director and will lead and manage the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) lab, education initiatives, programs, and curricula for Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart Model School. He will ensure the curriculum is aligned with our mission, vision, values, and goals and will focus on enhancing student learning, engagement, and achievement.
Dr. Nygard will integrate the International Baccalaureate (IB) design cycle with STEM disciplines, where students will learn to structure their work through inquiry, analysis, idea development, solution creation, and evaluation. Dr. Nygard will oversee the design lab, featuring interactive technology walls, 3D printers, Mac computers with Adobe Creative Cloud, laser cutters, robotics kits, and more. He will also collaborate with the Office of Catholic Identity and Ursuline Charism to intertwine Catholic teachings and service within our STEM curriculum.
Dr. Nygard joins Sacred Heart Schools from the Walden School, where he was the head of the science department, taught life science and environmental studies, and was the nature-based learning coordinator. Previously, he taught senior-level courses in the Interdisciplinary Studies department at Bellarmine University, emphasizing Catholic Social Teaching and environmental ethics.
Renovation of the building will be complete by the autumn and students will dive into the focused new learning environment for the 2025-26 school year.
Given their commitment to Laudato Si’ and excitement for the future of environmental education at Sacred Heart Schools, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville have committed to help endow the Ursuline environmental education program in the Ursuline Innovation STEM Center.
Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, stated, “We are excited that our commitment to Laudato Si’ is becoming a reality with the creation of the Ursuline Environmental Education Program and Innovation STEM Center. It is our hope that this learning facility will prove to be fruitful ground for Sacred Heart students, as they experience first-hand the love of creation as the late Pope Francis envisioned. Our vision is that they in turn share this love of creation with their families and others in ever-expanding circles of connection.”
Do you want to help the STEM Lab come to Life? Contact Tina Kauffmann, Vice President for Advancement at tkauffmann@shslou.org or Karrie Harper, Director of Donor Engagement at kharper@shslou.org
2025 Alumnae Awards
ALUMNA OF THE YEAR
The Honorable Audra J. Eckerle '84
After graduating from Sacred Heart, Judge Audra J. Eckerle ’84 attended the University of California, Davis, where she obtained a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science in 1988. She graduated from law school at the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. She currently serves as a judge in the Kentucky Court of Appeals, following her service for 15 years as a Jefferson (KY) Circuit Court judge.
She has proudly served on the Sacred Heart Schools Board of Trustees and the Alumnae Board and has been a featured speaker at many SHA events, always mentoring Valkyries to use their talents to uphold and embody the Ursuline Core Values. Following an extensive renovation in 2022, the SHA library was renamed the “Judge Audra J. Eckerle ’84 Library” in honor of her unfailing support.
Every February we take time to recognize and celebrate our outstanding Sacred Heart Academy alumnae. Congratulations to our 2025 Honorees who were celebrated at the Alumnae Awards event.
HEART AWARD
Elizabeth Ringo Farley '89
Elizabeth Ringo Farley ’89 has served proudly on the SHA Alumnae Board, as a Class Rep, is an ardent supporter of Annual Fund activities, and is an indispensable volunteer leader for the SHS Interlude fundraiser and gala. A proud SHA alumna and SHS parent, Elizabeth can be found working multiple events year-round on campus. Her energy and excitement for all things related to SHA shows her true and lasting Valkyrie spirit!
Ruth Dilger Kelly '66
At Sacred Heart, Ruth Dilger Kelly ’66 wore many hats throughout her storied career: math teacher, retreat director, campus minister, alumnae director, service coordinator, and admissions director. She is a fervent supporter of SHA athletics and has worked countless student and alumnae events for decades, including accompanying students to West Virgina to distribute toys at Christmas for the Sr. Brendan Appalachian Gift Drive, and leading multiple SHA international trips. As SHA’s first retreat director, she led with compassion, faith, and grace, and became a friend and mentor to students and teachers alike, reminding Valkyries to always "live the fourth." As director of admissions and recruitment for many years, Ruth enthusiastically shared her Valkyrie Pride and helped lead hundreds of students to make the choice to attend SHA.
HONORARY DIPLOMA
Colonel Mike Hardesty
Colonel Michael “Mike” Hardesty (Ret.) served his country in the U.S. Army and then Sacred Heart Academy as Assistant Principal and Dean of Students from 2000-2014. Known as “The Colonel,” he coined the phrase “Valkyrie Pride” as a way of life and he held all SHA students to a high standard. He also had a soft side, throwing himself with gusto into student life and participating in and moderating clubs, activities, retreats, and events. Legions of SHA alumnae stay connected with the Colonel, and he remains one of SHA’s most ardent supporters even in retirement.
Jackie Hafele '10
Jackie Hafele ’10 started as a varsity SHA soccer player all four years, helping the Valkyries win three consecutive state championships. She was named Gatorade Player of the Year, an All-American Athlete, and Miss Kentucky Soccer. Jackie played D-1 soccer at Butler University and was named the Horizon Player of the Year.
Hilary Kargl Pape '11
Hilary Kargl Pape ’11 helped lead the lacrosse team to SHA’s first state championship in lacrosse in 2011 and was named SHA’s first Miss Kentucky Lacrosse. After graduating, Hilary played lacrosse at Augustana College and became one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of D-III lacrosse.
Kristen Henn Parkhurst '09
Kristen Henn Parkhurst ’09 led her field hockey team to three undefeated state championship seasons from 2006-2008 and was named Miss Kentucky Field Hockey in 2008. At Michigan State University, Kristen was a three-year field hockey team captain and was recognized with the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Today, she serves as a D-1 official, coaching and officiating collegiate conference championship games. She also provides virtual mentoring to SHA students through the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute.
Nikki Hafele Shook '10
Nikki Hafele Shook ’10 was a starting varsity soccer player all four years at SHA and as team captain from 2008-2010, helped the Valkyries win three state championships. Nikki scored the winning penalty kick her senior year to win the state championship and was named MVP of the game. She was an All-American Athlete and was named Gatorade Player of the Year. Nikki played D-1 soccer at Butler University but endured a career-ending injury in her sophomore year. She graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina and later received her MBA, CPA, from the University of Louisville.
Please consider an alumna of SHA or someone you believe has impacted our SHA community in positive ways, by nominating them for a 2026 Alumnae Award! Contact Megan Theisen (mtheisen@shslou.org) to learn more.
The Ursuline Connection
“...In
Angela’s Footsteps”
Oceans Apart, Hearts As One
The Ursuline Sisters celebrated Ursuline Sisters Week 2025 with moments of special reflection and a uniquely interactive website tour of the path St. Angela Merici took on her historic Rome pilgrimage 500 years ago. Narrated by Louisville Ursuline Sisters, the video series immersed viewers into the world of St. Angela. (www.ursulinesisterslouisville.org)
Every day we give thanks on our campus for the enormous legacy of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. Their guidance and core values of Community, Reverence, Service, and Leadership guide us in all our work with students, staff, and alumni.
The Ursuline connection and St. Angela’s lasting influence extends worldwide, from our Sacred Heart Schools campus, all the way to an Ursuline sister school in Japan. Sacred Heart Academy’s enrollment grew by eight students and a teacher in March as SHA welcomed eight exchange students from St. Ursula School in Hachinohe, Japan for a two-week cultural immersion visit. Thanks to SHA Assistant Principal and incoming Ursuline Education Network President Carrie Wentzel ’97 for organizing the visit.
The newest Valkyries, who were paired with host students and families from SHA, were eager to share their culture and customs, improve their English language skills, and bond over their shared experiences as students in an Ursuline school.
The students had a busy visit, participating in English conversation classes at SHA, visiting Sacred Heart Model School’s International Day event, helping celebrate SHA’s 5th straight state basketball championship at an all-school pep rally, and seeing some of the amazing art created by SHA’s IB Art students. A few of the students even participated in a detailed dissection lab in science class with their SHA sisters. The students happily ventured off campus as well, and took in a bit of Louisville tourism, with stops at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and the iconic Churchill Downs Derby Museum. They also enjoyed a walk across the bridge to Indiana, and shared family meals, sports, and activities with their host families.
Our Japanese friends shared their cultural traditions as well, including sharing information about tea ceremonies, martial arts, and Japanese pop culture. The Japanese students and their teacher, Ms. Shoko Takahashi, wrapped up their visit with a special farewell pot-luck barbeque dinner at SHA with their American friends. They shared smiles, stories, and a special farewell video from their SHA friends and community. Many memories were made as the two Ursuline schools shared their special bonds.
SHA CLAIMS FIRST ALUMNAE UNITE TITLE SINCE 2019! Thank you!
Each year, Alumnae Unite is a powerful fundraising campaign celebrating and uplifting girls in Catholic education. Sacred Heart joins forces with Assumption, Holy Cross, Presentation, Mercy, and Bethlehem, for a friendly fundraising competition geared to raise overall alumnae participation.
For the first year since 2019, SHA came out on top and took the Alumnae Unite title!
Every gift, no matter how small or large, counts in raising funds to support Catholic education for young women. It’s a fast, 60-hour turnaround challenge, with teams of alumnae volunteers reaching out to their Valkyrie sisters to participate.
Our SHA alumnae showed up and showed their Valkyrie pride in a huge way! During the 60-hour Alumnae Unite competition, more than 100 incredible student and alumnae volunteered, 958 generous donors contributed, and many enthusiastic cheerleaders rallied behind us. Special thanks to our matching gift donors, Sherri Conti Kramer ’80 ($10,000), Elizabeth Wohlieb ’95 ($15,000), and Cindy Hennessy ’75 ($10,000) for their enthusiasm and generous help.
An amazing 13.32% of our Forever Valkyries gave back, raising over $155,000 to support our students at Sacred Heart. Seventy-five classes were represented from 1947-2024 and the class of 1995 led the way in the highest number of donors. SHA alumnae from thirty-seven states, Australia and the UK gave to the Alumnae Unite Challenge.
Overall, SHA led the way in both dollars raised AND alumnae participation in this annual challenge to support Catholic girls’ education in the Archdiocese of Louisville. We are definitely Valkyrie Proud!
We couldn’t have accomplished this without YOU! Your tremendous support and enthusiasm for SHA is a shining example of why Sacred Heart Academy is the best school for young women in Louisville –and beyond!
Welcome Home CLASS OF 2024!
College is certainly fun and exciting, but we know our SHA alums have a special spot in their hearts for Sacred Heart! Each holiday season, we are thrilled to welcome back our recent grads to spend some time celebrating their new adventures, sharing memories and laughs, and reminiscing about their time at SHA.
We were happy to Welcome Home the Class of 2024 just before Christmas for our annual holiday event. In addition to time for catching up with their Valkyrie sisters, the Class of 2024 picked up their yearbooks, IB diplomas and certificates, and had a night full of holiday cheer!
All of our alumnae are always welcome to visit campus and see the amazing things happening at SHA!
Class of 2024 Reps: Audrey Burke, Anna Sugg, Lainey Bayer, Bella DeCamillis, Lila Norris, Molly Connors
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHMS and HOPPY SPRING!
Sacred Heart Model School has been celebrating 100 years of education on the Ursuline Campus all through the school year. SHMS parents, students, faculty and alumni enjoyed a springtime celebration and open house tours in late April. We were thrilled to see so many enjoy a day touring the school, meeting teachers and students and celebrating the amazing milestone birthday. Cheers to another 100 years at SHMS!
And, after the tremendous flooding rain and storms of early spring, the sun came out to welcome dozens of little ones to the annual Forever Valkyries Club Eggstravaganza! We loved seeing our future Valkyries, Sacred Heart Model School, and Preschool kiddos comb the campus to collect colorful eggs, enjoy Easter-themed crafts, tasty treats, and facepainting. A very special appearance was made by the Easter Bunny herself and the SHMS Bear! It was a perfect way to kick off Easter Week!
Interlude All Heart Thank You!
Our 2025 Interlude – All Heart was spectacular! Alumnae, parents, and friends of Sacred Heart Schools glammed up for the 30th anniversary of our Interlude gala in March at the Louisville Marriott Downtown and raised an incredible $770,000 for our students’ education across campus!
THANK YOU to our generous sponsors, donors, and guests as well as Interlude co-chairs and committee members including Elizabeth Ringo Farley '89, Mandy Lynn Jacobs '03, Katy Mackin, Kathleen Smith, Carolyn Hemmer Matula '78, Michele Oberst '80, Joe Aubuchon and all of our many volunteers. We enjoyed celebrating with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, many current and former parents, alumnae, and special guests who joined us in celebrating both the legacy and the future of Catholic Ursuline education at Sacred Heart Academy, Sacred Heart Model School, Sacred Heart Preschool and Sacred Heart School for the Arts.
A wonderful time was had by all to benefit our SHS community!
In loving memory of Dr. Beverly McAuliffe
Sacred Heart Academy is saddened by the passing of our former principal, Dr. Beverly McAuliffe, on April 15, 2025.
Dr. McAuliffe served as the Principal of Sacred Heart Academy from 2001 to 2012 and was the first laywoman to hold the position. She was named an Honorary Alumna of SHA in 2012, and her daughter, Abigail Bisig Gardner, graduated from SHA in 2004. Dr. McAuliffe served as a teacher and administrator in the Archdiocese of Louisville for over 48 years in 11 Catholic schools and served on the faculty at both Bellarmine and Spalding Universities.
Dr. McAuliffe was beloved by all: students, parents, faculty, and staff. She attended everything as principal at SHA, from the arts to athletics. Dr. McAuliffe was known for her weekly Friday talks over the intercom, reminding all Valkyries to respect themselves, their families, and their faith, and not to do anything over the weekend that would harm their body, mind, or soul.
Dr. McAuliffe is responsible for creating the motto that all Valkyries live by. She told her students that Valkyries were warriors, but that they were more than that – they were “STRONG WOMEN OF GREAT FAITH.” And from that day forward, every Valkyrie has striven to live up to those words.
Incoming Archdiocese of Louisville School Superintendent, and former SHA assistant principal and interim principal Amy Nall remembered Dr. McAuliffe fondly, saying, “Beverly was the quintessential Catholic school leader. She was a mentor, a role model and ultimately a dear friend. She inspired me to become an administrator, and I was blessed again to work under her leadership. I wanted to be a leader just like Beverly – one who exuded joy, offered encouragement, and expected excellence. She was a leader who served, whether mopping the floors, washing donated uniforms for those in need, or working the cash register at lunch. Her passion for Catholic education - and especially for all-girls’ education – was unparalleled.” SHA’s Assistant Principal of Ursuline Charism and Faculty Development Carrie Wentzel '97 also said, “Beverly took a chance on me, hiring me as a math teacher with just one year of experience. Her high standards were ones she lived by herself. She saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue school leadership. She believed in me before I believed in myself.”
A Sacred Heart Academy scholarship in Dr. McAuliffe’s name provides tuition support to those qualifying for financial aid who exhibit the core values and mission of Sacred Heart Schools. Dr. McAuliffe left a lasting legacy on the Ursuline Campus and will be missed by all who had the great privilege of knowing her.
Nancy Daugherty Bellamy ’73, daughter of Mary Lou Moreland Daugherty ’51 (dec), sister of Mary Ellen Daugherty Knop ’78 and Margaret Daugherty ’90, died September 24, 2024.
Helen Toller Beyerle ’46, mother of Joan Beyerle ’81 (dec) and Patricia Beyerle Hall ’87, died January 30, 2025.
Martha “Marty” Waltman Bond ’68, died December 6, 2024.
Mary Singhiser Cecil ’55, died February 23, 2025.
Sally Davern Clarke ’52, died October 17, 2024.
Cynthia Scheu Clifford ’66, died February 4, 2025.
IN Memory
Bobbi Dentinger Curtin ’66, daughter of Mary Ritter Dentinger ’40 (dec.), sister of Mitzi Dentinger Strasser ’67 and Joann Dentinger Riggs ’73, died November 3, 2024.
Jennifer Miller Diegel ’84, sister of Pam Miller O’Loughlin ’87, died November 19, 2024.
Mary Sue Mayes Dinsmore ’59, died November 1, 2024.
Sandy Struck Dougherty ’81, daughter of Lolly Thornbury Struck ’57 (dec), mother of Megan Dougherty Goodman ’12 , and sister of Amy Struck Hinkebein ’80, died July 29, 2023.
Alice Hope Dougherty Fitzpatrick ’59, mother of Hope Fitzpatrick Brooks ’85 and Farley Fitzpatrick ’92, died February 18, 2025.
Rosemary Kirchdorfer Dowd ’47, mother of Susan Dowd Jewell ’78, Diane Dowd ’80 and sister of Martha Sue Kirchdorfer Dierker ’56 (dec), died January 25, 2025.
Kathleen Brown Kelley ’62, sister of Janie Brown Abell ’54 (dec) and Mary Ann Brown Quesenberry ’62, died February 10, 2025.
Rita Mudd Lauer ’83, died January 12, 2025.
Linda Wells Medley ’62, sister of Jean Wells Addleton ’65, died December 6, 2024.
Anna Catherine Meyer ’47, sister of Rose Marie Meyer Ratterman ’38 (dec), Jane Meyer Amshoff ’39 (dec), Eileen Meyer ’44 (dec), Alma Meyer Schmitt ’49 (dec) and Imelda Meyer Kargl ’51, died March 25, 2025.
Carol Fraser Morton ’63, died January 20, 2025.
Mildred Gast Sales ’46, died January 20. 2025.
Linda Allen Smart ’66, died February 28, 2025.
Gloria Haddad Taggett ’80, died December 11, 2024.
We continue to honor the lives of those SHA community members who have lost a loved one. Please visit our website via this QR code to view the full listing of Family Memorials.
Sister Antonine Biven
January 27, 1928—December 28, 2024
Ursuline Sister of Louisville Antonine Biven, O.S.U. age 96, died in the 77th year of her religious life on December 28, 2024, at Twinbrook Assisted Living in Louisville. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Mildred Louise (her baptismal name) graduated from the former Ursuline Academy. She entered the Ursulines in 1947 at age 19.
A gifted musician, her high school classmates pooled their money together her senior year to rent Memorial Auditorium so that she could give a piano concert. On the ride home on a city bus, someone noticed her sheet music and asked, “Do you play?” Mildred Louise answered, “A little.” As a postulant, she learned to play everything from a violin to a saxophone, and while practicing the trombone, knocked her bonnet off her head with her slide!
Sister Antonine was a music teacher at St. Raphael, St. Therese, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Helen, St. Francis of Assisi and Sacred Heart Model School in Louisville, as well as St. Mary School in Jackson, Mississippi, and Ursuline High School in Columbia, South Carolina.
Sister also served as pastoral associate and music minister at St. Mary Church in Maryville, Kentucky, pastoral associate of music at St. Helen Church and director of music at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, both in Louisville. She was honored by Our Lady of Lourdes for her years of service in 2023.
Sister Antonine earned a bachelor of arts degree from the former Ursuline College (now Bellarmine University) in Louisville, a master of arts degree in music from Notre Dame University and a master’s degree in religious education from Loyola University New Orleans.
She served on the Ursuline Sisters’ leadership team three times between 1976 and 1992. Sister Antonine also ministered at Project Women (now Family Scholar House) and the former Marian Home on the Ursuline Campus.
Sister Antonine is the daughter of the late Frederick and Lillian Kleier Biven. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
If you would like to make a gift in memory of a classmate, family member or classmate’s family member, please call 502.896.8681.
You may also send a check, payable to “Sacred Heart Academy” to Sacred Heart Schools Office of Institutional Advancement 3115 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206
3175 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206
A member of Sacred Heart Schools Sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville
Sacred Heart Schools is a proud member of the Ursuline Education Network
