The Marymount Magazine, Spring 2023

THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE

Winter/Spring 2023

EDITOR

Shannon Zirkle

Director of Marketing & Communications

ILLUSTRATOR

Deepa Vijo

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sr. Margaret McKenna, RSHM

Genevieve Whittell ‘17

Shannon Zirkle-Prabhakar

CONTRIBUTORS

Jacqueline L. Landry

Head of School

Rachel Grella-Harding

Director of Development & Foundation Giving

Micaela Plummer

Director of Campus Ministry

Charlien Church

Director of Annual Giving

Hillary Brademan Del Regno ‘90

Development Associate:

Alumnae Relations & Constituent Events

Genevieve Whittell ‘17

Advancement Associate:

Photography & Special Projects

Amanda Jones

Development Associate:

Database Manager

PRINTER

Colornet Press

M , The Marymount Magazine is produced by the Marketing & Communications Office at Marymount High School, 10643 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90077.

Parents and Family of Alumnae: if the graduate to whom this magazine is addressed no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the school at alumnae@mhs-la.org. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. If we have made an error or you would like additional copies of this magazine, please contact the Marketing & Communications Office.

Marymount website: www.mhs-la.org

Email: communications@mhs-la.org

Head of School’s Reading List

Jacqueline L. Landry’s winter reading provides information that informs and inspires.

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

James Nestor

Journalist James Nestor travels the world exploring the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices, and teams up with pulmonary experts to scientifically test long-held beliefs about how we breathe.

Girls on the Brink

Donna Jackson Nakazawa

Today’s girls are more anxious and prone to depression than ever. Award-winning writer

Donna Jackson Nakazawa deftly explores new findings and offers strategies to help teenage girls thrive.

The Three Mothers

Anna Malaika Tubbs

This celebration and exploration of black motherhood tells the story of the three extraordinary women who raised and shaped James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.

Proust and the Squid

Maryanne Wolf

A history of the evolution of reading and writing that examines how the brain developed to learn what it was “never supposed to do.”

FEATURES

12

Unity Through Diversity

Marymount’s Director of Campus Ministry focuses this year on creating unity through diversity in the intersection of faith and justice.

14

Celebrating our Centenary Objectives

Read about some of the exciting projects and objectives that position the School for the future.

16

New Spaces, New Beginnings

The Visual Arts Studios and Life Sciences Labs have moved to new locations with dynamic new looks.

20

An Enduring Endowment

Marymount’s endowment ensures that the School will continue to grow and flourish for generations of students to come.

24

100 Years of Making History

Now is the time to make your mark. Learn what you can do to leave your mark on Marymount’s historic campus.

ON CAMPUS

04 Letter from the Head of School

05 Inside the Gateway

28 Athletics

34 Performing Arts

40 Visual Arts

ALUMNAE

Alumnae Spotlights

10 Kristen McCannon ‘86

13 Carmen Voskuhl ‘17

44 Kristi Rosso Spence ‘97

45 Alumnae & Les Anges Events

46 Class Notes & Transitions

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

To be a school that has been at the forefront of educating girls for a century is extraordinaryespecially in Los Angeles, where so often it is that which is new that is most celebrated. To put it into perspective, when Marymount was founded in 1923, it was two years before UCLA graduated its first class of 300 students, two years after the Hollywood Bowl was built, and the same year that the now iconic Hollywood sign was installed.

In recent history, it was almost 30 years ago that the Northridge earthquake wreaked havoc and destruction across the Southland. It was just over twenty years ago that the whole world was celebrating coming into a new century with excitement and trepidation. Would the internet still work? Would technology be able to handle the turning over of an era?

As we anticipate the 100th anniversary of our wonderful School on September 23, 2023, we are proud to be moving into a new century as Marymount students, faculty, families, and friends, and we look to the next 100 years with excitement and joyful anticipation of a future abundant with opportunities and promise. We are honored to be stewards of the remarkable legacy of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and of the thousands of Sisters, students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators who came before us.

100 years ago, though we would not have used phrases such as “girl power” and “lead-her-ship,” we still sought to grow those qualities in the hearts and minds of our students, to lift up their voices, and to educate women to be agents of change in the world. The pages ahead celebrate the many ways in which the Marymount mission endures and inspires the students of yesterday, today and tomorrow to live lives of consequence and service in making the world a better place so that all may have life. As we chart our course to 100, I invite you to join us at one of our centenary events and to consider the ways in which each of us can continue to play a vital role in our lived history.

With gratitude,

Jacqueline L. Landry Head of School

We look to the next 100 years with excitement, for we know that our community and School have been continually progressing, while still firmly rooted in our foundational base.

“ “

INSIDE THE GATEWAY

MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a beloved staple at the beginning of each academic year, and is celebrated at Catholic Schools throughout the city. At Marymount, this special Mass unites our community in song and prayer, and inspires our students for the year ahead.

FRIENDSGIVING

On the last day before the Thanksgiving break, students and faculty were treated to a Thanksgiving feast provided by Marymount’s own Sage Dining. Before enjoying the delicious meal, the community came together to bless the food and to give thanks for all the joys and friendships they experience daily.

COOKIES & COCOA

The entire School community was treated to a special performance of classic and contemporary carols by the Citrus Singers of Citrus College in Glendora, followed by holiday cookies and a hot cocoa station courtesy of Ms. Landry.

MOTHERS CLUB: MOMS NIGHT OUT

Marymount moms of all grade levels bonded over a totally tubular 80’s spread complete with Hot Dog on a Stick, a french fry bar, and other fab foods from the 80’s at the annual Moms Night Out.

FATHERS CLUB: BARBEQUE

Marymount dads came to campus for an evening of conversation, comradery, and delicious BBQ from Lucille’s at the first Fathers Club event of the year.

HALLOWEEN

A thematic performance by the choir and CAP dance set the stage for our annual Halloween costume contest. Ghouls and Minions were among the wide variety of competing costumes to claim the top prize of free dress for a day.

ALL SAINTS DAY MASS / ALL SOULS DAY

The Campus Ministry Team planned a beautiful All Saints Day/All Souls Day Mass. This poignant celebration also incorporated Dia de Los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead, with an ofrenda beside the altar and breathtaking instrumental, choral, and liturgical dance pieces.

FATHER-DAUGHTER DINNER DANCE

Students and their dads danced the night away at the annual Father-Daughter

Dinner Dance. Senior Keira Courtney ‘23 and her father took home the top prize as overall dance contest winners.

MARYMOUNT MASQUERADE BALL

Sailors and their guests came to campus for a spectacular one-night engagement in the form of a Masquerade Ball.

MASS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Our Marymount community celebrated the Mass of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The beautiful Mass featured a poignant homily led by Fr. David Romero and wonderful music sung by a combined Faculty, Staff, and Student Choir.

CAPPING AND PINNING

Students gathered for the beloved Capping and Pinning Ceremony, at which alumna faculty member Dr. Laura Tokuza Arenstein ‘01 shared about her time as a Marymount student and the importance of the lifelong relationships that she has maintained with her fellow Sailors. The freshmen were formally inaugurated into the Marymount community as they received sailor caps from their Big Sisters. The sophomores received their blazer pins as a treasured reminder of their final year as underclasswomen.

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

How did you come to pursue your profession as a Public Defender?

While attending law school, I enjoyed constitutional law, and criminal procedure classes. As a result of reading case law, I began to see a pattern of indigent people being negatively affected by the rule of law. After my second year of law school, I worked at the Berkeley Community Law Center assisting indigent clients, who had contracted HIV and were suffering from AIDS, with obtaining Social Security Benefits, writing their wills, and drafting Power of Attorney documents. As I approached graduation, it was clear to me that I gravitated towards helping the indigent. This was based on my experiences in law school, and my Marymount education and religious instruction, which focused on forgiveness and treating others with kindness and compassion.

What advice would you give those wanting to follow in your professional footsteps?

I would advise them to work as hard as they possibly can in college and in law school. Being a lawyer requires long hours, continuing education, and dedication to clients. In addition, it is important to exercise self-care, have outside interests, and have a support network. Practicing law can be extremely stressful, and it is difficult to help others if you do not take care of yourself.

How has your Marymount education inspired you?

I credit my Marymount education with inspiring me to help others. I believe that as a public defender/trial lawyer I can have a positive effect on the judicial system. It is my job to ensure that my clients receive zealous advocacy, and that their constitutional rights are not violated.

What advice do you have for current students at Marymount and those just starting their college journeys?

The best advice I can give is to keep an open mind about what you want to do in the future. High school students should not be so quick to decide their majors or what their careers will be.

I would encourage them to think about what they are good at, what their real interests are, and to try, if possible, not to be swayed by what others think they should do. It is always good to get advice and consider the pros and cons of going down a particular path, but it is also important to live the life you want to live rather than how others want you to live it.

Has the Marymount Community impacted you in your postgrad life and, if so, how?

Recently, I have become re-engaged with the Marymount Community. During the pandemic, I participated in Zoom

meetings regarding racial diversity, connected with current students and recent graduates of Marymount, and I was interviewed by a current 9th grader. It is wonderful to see that Marymount continues to produce very smart and accomplished young women who will work hard to make this planet a better place.

Is there a particular teacher or adviser at Marymount who inspired you?

Sister Charles was my favorite teacher. Sr. Charles was a very warm and kind person, whom I can still picture to this day. She was the teacher who instilled in me the desire to be kind and to do my utmost to ensure that all people, regardless of their circumstances, are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Juris Doctor

University of California, Berkeley Biological Sciences Bachelor of Arts

Kristen McCannon ‘86

ATTORNEY/DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

STUDENT REFLECTIONS

Students reflect on how attending Marymount has informed the way they understand community, collaboration, friendship, and themselves through the lens of the RSHM Mission to be of service to others so that all may have life.

“Marymount has provided the opportunity for different mindsets and individuals from different backgrounds to come together and combine thunderstorms of ideas into one collaborative and unique product. Our shared experiences of growth, reflection, and development have provided each and every student with a unique experience, each deeply understood and accepted by her peers.”

Lucia Sun ‘25

“During times of difficulty, we are encouraged to rely on each other for strength and guidance. Every student truly wants to help those around them succeed. The Marymount experience is defined by our sense of sisterhood that radiates through every minute we spend together.”

Katie Bauer ‘23

“Through the service opportunities at Marymount, I can look at the world as a glass that is half full, not half empty. By collaborating with my classmates during times like retreat, I learn not to take anything for granted and to cherish even the small moments in life.”

Margaux Elizalde ‘25

“The creative liberty in every aspect at Marymount gave me the platform to discover my voice. All the extracurricular programs, specifically the clubs and the alliance program, have lead me to a life of activism, not only in the classroom, but in my personal life as well. In being the leader of Feminists For Change and as the communications chair for the Abilities Alliance, I have found my passion for creating change and promoting awareness. Having found my voice from the various programs and support I have received at Marymount, I was able to help institute a school policy to provide free feminine products to our community.”

Isabella Sullivan ‘24

“Marymount places equal value on our academic studies, our personal growth, our spiritual development, and our athletic programs while leaving time for us to make lasting relationships with our teachers and friends.”

Margaux Curtes ‘26

UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY

By Micaela Plummer Director of Campus Ministry

As the newly appointed Director of Campus Ministry, I have been struck by the welcoming warmth of the Marymount community, and by the School’s distinct heritage and mission that have played such a significant role in the lives of so many girls and their families since 1923. I am honored to highlight and continue the legacy of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary that has remained at the forefront of the School’s lived history and mission.

The Marymount mission is a call to action that is deeply ingrained in all that we do, and is a palpable undercurrent throughout the School. It shows in the way a student comforts an anxious friend, how teachers meet students where they are and provide individualized support, and in class discussions centered around themes of social justice and actions. Every day, our community is working so that those whom we hold dear, as well as those whom we do not know, may have the most fulfilling of lives in affirmation of our Catholic values and the values of all religious traditions represented at our School.

The RSHM mission and charism find expression in shared Goals & Criteria that are implemented by all of the schools within the RSHM Global Network. Each academic year at

Marymount Los Angeles, we select one aspect of mission upon which to focus.

This academic year, our school-wide retreat focused on creating unity through diversity in the intersection of faith and justice. Our Campus Ministry students and the Student Diversity Awareness Board (SDAB) collaborated to plan and facilitate various activities, along with presentations and reflection. This gave students a tangible way to see how the RSHM mission calls them to action –inclusive of their own faiths – as well as the ways in which they have been living this mission already.

As a Campus Minister, I have also been excited to work with Marymount’s Student Service Board to provide opportunities through which students can discover what spirituality means to them as individuals. Whether it is at our monthly student-organized and student-run Masses, during class retreats where the emphasis is on growing the bonds of Sailor Sisterhood, or through ongoing work with marginalized communities, Marymount consistently provides students with the space and time to connect with God, with each other, and with themselves.

I am honored to have the opportunity to meet our students where they are on their spiritual journeys and to accompany them as they continue to deepen their faith in meaningful ways that will buoy and sustain them throughout their lives.

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

How did you come to pursue a career in opera?

I never thought I would pursue music. For a long time, my plan was to play basketball in college, and then to get a degree in mechanical engineering. I began to take music seriously when I started entering singing competitions, and when I joined Marymount’s performing arts ensembles. Eventually, I had to make a choice: what thing could I not live without, music or engineering? I chose music, and embarked upon a degree in music at UCLA.

What advice would you give those wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I have learned that while talent gets you in the door, it is hard work, consistency, and kindness that keeps you in the room. I know people who are incredibly talented, but who refuse to put time and effort into their craft and have, thus, fallen behind. Hard work will enhance your natural abilities and help you live up to your full potential.

Has the Marymount Community impacted you in your postgrad life and if so, how?

The Marymount community has been incredibly supportive of me as a student, an alumna, and during my short time as a Marymount faculty member. They believed in me way before I ever believed in myself. Some of my greatest friends are from my graduating class.

After I graduated from college, my burnout peaked. I doubted whether I wanted to continue singing, and I was lost in not knowing what my next step would be. I decided to take a gap year before starting graduate school. Taking a job at Marymount as a substitute math teacher, I noticed similarities between performing

Carmen Voskuhl ‘17

Grammy Award Winner for “The Passion of Yeshua” with the UCLA Chamber Singers University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Major: Music-Vocal Performance, Minor: Mathematics

on stage and teaching math. During that time, I also had the opportunity to work with choreographer and former Marymount mom, Laurie Sefton, in her experimental dance showcase, The Mythology of Self, in which a composer wrote a piece specifically for my voice. It was this journey out of my comfort zone that allowed me to explore things I would have otherwise never experienced, to see my own strengths and aspirations, and to feel myself become passionate about music again.

What advice do you have for current students at Marymount?

I believe there is too much pressure to have your path figured out by the time you leave high school. In reality, I think it is very unusual to have a clear idea of what your future will be at that age and take that exact path according to plan. It took me a while to realize that you do not need to be absolutely certain that each step is the “correct” step. If you don’t like the direction you are going, you can adjust. Trust your gut, do what you enjoy, and take your time. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

MEZZO-SOPRANO OPERA SINGER

CELEBRATING OUR Centenary Accomplishments

This is a momentous time in the history of Marymount High School as we enthusiastically anticipate the centennial anniversary of our School on September 23, 2023.

From Marymount’s founding by five pioneering Sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) to the present day, the School has remained centered on its mission and evolved to keep pace with the needs of students in our rapidly changing world.

At this significant juncture in our institutional history, we are excited to have completed several key objectives which position Marymount for the next hundred years and beyond.

They are:

• Bringing the School’s total endowment to $23,000,000 by 2023 in conjunction with the School’s Centennial Anniversary.

• Relocating, remodeling, and revitalizing newly defined spaces for the Life Science Labs and Visual Arts Studios.

The following pages illustrate the transformative impact of these extraordinary objectives within the life of our School.

Marymount is blessed by foundations, benefactors, and friends who have helped to make these objectives a reality. We would like to particularly express our gratitude to those lead donors whose early involvement secured and ensured the success of this project. They are:

• The Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation

• The Ahmanson Foundation

• The KLM Foundation

• The William Randolph Hearst Foundation

• The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary

• The Leonetti / O’Connell Family Foundation

• The Christian Stracke Family

• Mary and Jay Flaherty

• Rita Tuzon and Rick Smith

• The Vin DiBona Family

A comprehensive list recognizing and thanking all donors whose gifts supported these broad objectives will be published in the fall issue of M, The Marymount Magazine.

NEW SPACES New Beginnings

The relocation and redesign of Marymount’s Science Labs and Visual Arts Studios was one of the largest renovation projects ever undertaken on our historic campus, and the students and faculty are enthusiastic in their praise as they have begun to access the new spaces this semester.

Equally as transformative for both the life science curriculum and the visual arts program, the innovative spaces have replaced outdated classrooms, allowing for both collaborative and independent learning, and providing flexibility for future programmatic growth within each of these disciplines.

With the Visual Arts Studios now on the first level of Cantwell Hall, and the Science Labs now on the first level of Butler Hall, the defined spaces better support Marymount’s dynamic and forward-thinking curriculum. Additionally, the comprehensive renovation of both buildings has enabled state-of-the-art air flow and filtration systems, and ductless heat and air conditioning. In Butler Hall, triple-paned windows have greatly reduced the noise level from Sunset Boulevard, and a new ADA compliant elevator has been added to ensure access to all levels of the building.

VISUAL ARTS

The arts provide an avenue for personal expression and articulation of purpose, animate and fuel a sense of being, and provide a means to connect and to inspire. The relocation of the visual arts program to Cantwell Hall appropriately brings the arts - both visual and performing - together in a centralized location with adjacent access to the School’s Digital Media Resource Center and M3 Design Studio.

Along with combined art studios and classrooms that provide ample work and lecture spaces, the newly configured spaces feature a dedicated ceramics studio, an enlarged and modernized photography lab and darkroom, and a permanent gallery space to display student work and to develop curatorial skills. The intentional configuration of the spaces allows the students to more easily observe each others’ creative processes and to develop and hone their own.

The new studios provide an environment where our students come in excited and ready to work with serious intention. We are thrilled to be next door to the Makerspace and Performing Arts, creating a dynamic hub on campus where Marymount students can realize their creative abilities and power.

Ceres Madoo Visual Arts Department Chair

LIFE SCIENCES

Marymount’s Science Labs had initially been created for a 1936 science program housed within Cantwell Hall. The designers of that historic building could not have envisioned the current educational challenges that nine decades would bring in scientific and technological advancements.

Though the biology, chemistry, and physical Science Labs had been updated nominally over the years, the space was not adequate to meet the needs of Marymount’s current comprehensive life sciences program, or the volume of students taking those courses. The number of courses offered in the sciences has grown exponentially as approximately 90% of our students currently take one extra year of science beyond what is required to graduate.

The relocation of the life sciences program to Butler Hall has allowed the School to renovate and create four large and fully-equipped mixed-use lab-and-classroom spaces for hands-on experimentation and analysis, along with sufficient ancillary spaces that fully support classroom needs, laboratory requirements, independent learning, and safe, well-ventilated storage spaces.

The arts and sciences are essential to promoting a society that is capable and creative, and we know that dynamic teaching in these disciplines inspires students to invent, create, problem solve, and dream.

Jacqueline L. Landry Head of School

I am excited about the design of the new labs and classrooms, which allows infinite options as science education continues to evolve. It is exciting to envision all that our students will be able to do, and the opportunities they will have for large-scale experiments and exploration.

Jordan Wang Science Department Chair

AN ENDURING Endowment

Marymount’s endowment plays an essential role in supporting the School’s mission and work, and in ensuring the School’s relevance in our evolving and increasingly complex world. The endowment is designed to provide future stability as a source of income from which to plan for current and future needs.

As Marymount anticipates its 100th year, the Centennial Objective to expand our School endowment to $23,000,000 encompasses several distinct mission-aligned pillars:

• FINANCIAL AID

Ensures that the financial aid program will remain broad in scope, serving students from households throughout our city.

• FACULTY & STAFF

Assists in attracting and retaining excellent faculty through professional development opportunities, competitive salaries, and abundant classroom resources.

• ACADEMIC & CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS

Provides operational funds for new and innovative curriculum and programs.

MARGO LEONETTI O’CONNELL ‘60 SAILL PROGRAM

Marymount is honored to have received a generous gift from the Leonetti / O’Connell Family Foundation to fully endow the Margo Leonetti O’Connell ‘60 SAILL Program (Students Advancing in Internship Leadership and Learning). This visionary gift ensures that Marymount’s internship program will continue to grow and flourish for generations of students to come.

A beloved alumna from the Marymount Class of 1960, Margo Leonetti O’Connell is well known for her advocacy and support of initiatives that benefit Los Angeles and improve the wellbeing of communities throughout our city.

The SAILL program at Marymount is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and provides students with the opportunity to work with extraordinary mentors who are not only role models, but who have made important contributions within their chosen fields.

The SAILL program has rapidly grown from fewer than five students a decade ago to more than 60 student interns each summer. This signature program fosters personal, educational, and professional growth as students become involved with a community of scholars and leaders outside of Marymount, while also learning the technicalities of various professions within some of the most renowned organizations in Los Angeles.

Milania Agajanian ‘23 (left) and Gaby Abraham ‘23 interned with the UCLA CASIT (Center for Advanced Surgical & Interventional Technology) program.

Students thank their Mentors at the annual Mentor Appreciation Dinner.

Jacqueline L. Landry, Head of School and Margo Leonetti O’Connell ‘60

The celebration of our Centenary Year is the celebration of the thousands of people, Religious and laity, who joined together to form a special kind of community, the purpose of which was - and is - to be life-giving to students and to one another.

This mission has endured throughout the various movements and moments that shaped our collective history as a nation, and shaped in a particular way the history of Los Angeles.

As we embark upon this milestone year, we celebrate and honor those who came before us, and we applaud the administrators, faculty, and students of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, who carry on the extraordinary vocation of inspiring lifelong-learners, ethical leaders, and global advocates.

MARGARET MCKENNA, RSHM Desktop Publishing/Yearbook Visual Arts Department

As a part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Marymount’s founding, we are excited to create a commemorative Centennial Courtyard, through which donors of $3,000 and above have the opportunity to make their mark on campus with a personalized paver.

Gifts can be made online at www.mhs-la.org/giving. All donors who have made an eligible gift during this fiscal year (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023) will be contacted by the Development Office in the spring with details regarding how to customize the text for their paver.

The Centennial Courtyard will be installed in Summer of 2023 as a lasting testament of this unique time in our School’s history.

CENTENARY Celebrations & Activities

The 2023-2024 academic year will be rich with activities and events that commemorate Marymount’s founding and honor our Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary roots, including:

CONSTITUENT EVENTS

September 23, 2023

Centennial Mass & Evening Reception

A beautiful evening Mass and Cocktail Reception are planned for this special day, which falls upon the actual date of the founding of our School.

December 02, 2023

Home for the Holidays

This festive event is for alumnae and alumnae parents and (in this anniversary year) will feature special touches evocative of Christmas in Killarney.

April 19-20, 2024

Reunion Weekend

Honoring all alumnae, and celebrating, in a special way, alumnae from classes ending in 4 and 9. The weekend festivities will include Classroom Visits, a Co-Ed Cocktail Party on Senior Lawn, Mass, and a Ladies Brunch.

A SAMPLING OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

• Uniform Fashion Show

• Mass of the Holy Spirit & Legacy Tea

• Spirit Week & Song Contest Tribute

• Founders Day

• John 10:10 Project - 100 Years of Service to Los Angeles

PUBLICATIONS AND MERCHANDISE

• Commemorative Banners along Sunset Boulevard

• Launch of the Digital Archives and Interactive Digital History Book (Fall 2023)

• Commemorative 100th Anniversary sweatshirts and other merchandise

ATHLETICS

VOLLEYBALL

All three Marymount Volleyball teams ended the season as co-champions or champions of the Mission League. Frosh/Soph Volleyball went 9-1 in the league, while JV Volleyball impressively went undefeated in league play. Varsity advanced to the first round of the CIF Open Division Regional playoffs before falling to league rival Sierra Canyon in a close five-set match.

SOCCER (previous page)

JV Soccer was undefeated at home against Mission League opponents.

Varsity Soccer finished the season with a record of 4-4-2. Led by eight seniors, the team won their final three games of the season at home.

GOLF

Sailor Golf fielded a strong program of 21 golfers this season and performed well in the Angelus League, landing in third place. The season’s highlight was a close match against Crossroads that Marymount won by three strokes. The team is poised for an even stronger season next year.

TENNIS

Competing in the Angelus League, the JV Tennis team went undefeated. Varsity Tennis also captured the league title as co-champions of the Angelus League. The team advanced to CIF playoffs, but fell in the first round to Oxford Academy. Doubles pair Keira Lavelle ‘23 and Quincy Plotts ‘23 won the Angelus League Individual Tournament and competed in the CIF Division III Sectionals as the top-seeded team before ultimately falling to Brentwood in the semifinals.

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING DAY

The following students commited to play volleyball at the collegiate level. Their hard work has paid off, and we are incredibly proud that Marymount was a part of their journey:

Lauren Brooker ‘23 - Volleyball

University of California, San Diego

Julia Capps ‘23 - Beach Volleyball

University of California, Berkeley

Dior Charles ‘23 - Volleyball

Wake Forest University

Catherine Maffei ‘23 - Volleyball

New York University

Torrey Stafford ‘23 - Volleyball

University of Pittsburgh

Lexi Trapani ‘23 - Volleyball

Santa Clara University

WATER POLO

Water Polo competed at a heightened level this season. The team weathered cold morning laps and multiple games in the pouring rain to hold their own against opponents across Southern California. Anchored by an enthusiastic group of ninth and tenth graders, the program has a bright future ahead.

BASKETBALL

Varsity Basketball brought boundless energy to the court this fall, overcoming some difficult losses to end the season with a winning record of 12-10. JV Basketball, with seven freshmen on the team, finished third in the Angelus League.

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country endured heat waves and weathered injuries in a rebuilding year. Led by a strong and motivated class of newcomers, the team ultimately placed fifth overall in the competitive Mission League.

PERFORMING ARTS

Fall Festival

This year’s Fall Festival showcased our CAP students’ artistic talents with performances from the Marymount Singers, Orchestra, and Dance. The evening featured a variety of classic and contemporary vocal numbers, as well as a cross collaboration between all three disciplines. It was a joyous celebration of the performing arts at Marymount!

A Christmas Carol

In December, The Marymount Players brought the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” to Cantwell Hall Auditorium. The production was wholly immersive with the audience seated on three sides of the stage, and featured spectacular performances and technical wizardry by the cast and crew.

VISUAL ARTS

Cece Nugent ‘23

Vanitias, 2022

Oil on canvas

Created in: AP Studio Art

Bella Karkus ‘25

Fall Painting, 2022

Acrylic paint on canvas

Created in: Studio Art 1

Marlee Porter ‘24 Roar, 2022

Talia Angles ‘25

India Richmond ‘24 Post Modern Composition, 2022

Mixed media on canvas board

Created in: Advanced Studio Arts

Colleen Kutsenda ‘24 Abstraction, 2022

Acrylic paint on canvas Created in: Advanced Studio Arts

Hayden Hobson ‘23

Architecture, 2022 Paper, wood, concrete Created in: AP Studio Art

Jaimie Choi ‘24

Hybrid Creature, 2022

Glazed ceramic

Created in: Advanced Studio Arts

Camille Campain ‘23

Lungs with Coral, 2022

Paper mache, wire, paper clay, wood

Created in: AP Studio Art

Kamilah Shahabi ‘26

Headwear Project, 2022

EVA foam manipulation with heat gun and remel rotary tool

Created in: Maker I

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

Can you share about your career trajectory?

My career path was not linear, it’s been circuitous. I started out thinking I wanted to be a doctor, as I’ve always really liked science. Once in college, I found myself gravitating to classes in humanities and religion. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with a degree in Religion, but I felt it would provide me with a foundation to go into any number of career options. After college I had a number of different experiences: teaching English in Nepal, teaching seventh grade at my old elementary school (Saint Anastasia), working at my dad’s business in marketing and sales, and working as a flight analyst. I even considered becoming a commercial pilot. It was saying “yes” to trying a variety of different things that helped me rule out what I didn’t want to do.

In college, I was a cross-country and track & field athlete, and I came to realize that there was more to be done to help young women who are grappling with understanding their physiques and body composition. When a job at the Dairy Council opened up, I realized this would be the way for me to educate others about where food comes from, and to help people make connections between food and fueling their bodies. Later, when an opening came up at The University of Utah to teach a nutrition communications course, I was able to craft that course based on concepts and people whom I’ve met over the course of my career, and to bridge that work with my role at the Dairy Council.

What inspired you to found Athletics United?

Running has always played a huge role in my life. I met my husband, Mike, when we were both on the cross country team at Princeton. Even after our son was born, we still really enjoyed running and wanted to use that passion to give back to the community. As we watched the events of the world unfold in 2016, we wanted to assist the growing refugee population. Mike and I approached a local non-profit that had been working with refugee families to ask if there would be an interest in forming a running club with their clients to help build community through sport. In 2018, we formally incorporated and created a nonprofit called Athletics United.

What advice would you give those who are seeking to find a meaningful career?

I think I’d say three things: The first is to explore what interests you. I switched from thinking I was going to be a biology major, which felt very practical and had job prospects, to studying Religion. This made me a lot more open to saying “yes” to opportunities. The second is to know that you’re not alone. People are willing to share what they are good at and can help you navigate until you ultimately figure it out for yourself. The last thing is to have the confidence to do the things that are hard. In my own life, Marymount prepared me to be a confident, strong woman, who doesn’t shy away from challenges.

What is the accomplishment of which you are most proud?

I’m proud that I became a pilot when I was seventeen years old. I’m proud that I qualified for the Olympic trials in the marathon, and that I completed a 100 mile bike race this past summer. But the thing that I am most proud of is founding Athletics United with my husband, and making the decision to do something that was difficult without knowing the outcome. My hope is that these experiences impact my two young boys’ lives and help them grow into kind, grateful humans who believe in themselves. I am grateful to Marymount for preparing me to believe that I could do anything. The teachers I had, the friends I made at Marymount, all instilled that sense of confidence.

University of Utah, Master of Science - Nutrition Princeton University, Artium Baccalaureus - Religion

Kristi Rosso Spence ‘97

SR. VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, DAIRY WEST

LEGACY TEA

Marymount was honored to welcome alumnae mothers, aunts, and grandmothers of current students to the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit and Legacy Tea. Sailor Sisters of all ages enjoyed visiting with their Marymount students and reconnecting with one another.

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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Alumnae were thrilled to return to campus for a meaningful Advent Mass in the Chapel, followed by brunch in the beautifully decorated Dining Room.

COLLEGE-AGE ALUMNAE EVENT

Faculty, Staff, and members of the Class of 2023 were excited to catch up with college-age alumnae from the classes of 2019-2022 at this informal on-campus event. Alumnae were interested to see the construction on campus, and to hear about some of the things being planned for the centenary year.

NYC BRUNCH

Head of School, Jacqueline L. Landry, hosted a special brunch at ABC Kitchen for New York alumnae of all ages. Both longtime residents and new transplants to the city agreed that it was great for fellow Sailors to be brought together, and to make new friends.

1960s

Susan Wright Strader ‘61 writes, “My husband (Tim) and I visited London on an arts trip and had lunch with Angela Phillips Aylwin ‘61 and her husband, John. Angela and I feel fortunate to see each other regularly whether in London, Spain, or Orange County! Joyce DeHardt Humboldt ‘61 and her husband, Bob, visited Orange County from their dual homes in Minneapolis and Florida. They spent a day with Tim and me touring the magnificent Christ Cathedral.

Tim and I were honored to have led the fundraising campaign to convert the former evangelical Crystal Cathedral into a Catholic worship space for the Diocese of Orange. Seven buildings on 34 acres became the seat of liturgical life and all the programs and ministries supporting parishes, Catholic schools, seminarians and retired priests and religious.

Sadly, our beloved teacher and friend, Sister Maureen (Bonaventure) Murray, RSHM passed away. Tim and I attended a beautiful celebration of her life with Mass, remembrances, and a reception at the RSHM Provincial Center in Montebello. She was a remarkable woman, having held many positions of leadership within the RSHM community.”

1990s

Erin Hellige George ‘96 wrote to share a job update, “I am a Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where I have worked for the past 17 years, having served as the BCG Dallas Office Leader for the past four years. As of October 1, 2022, I now lead the BCG Southwest Region, including Houston, Dallas, Austin and the surrounding states.

I am the first woman to run one of our major regions at BCG in North America, and Marymount prepared me so well to have the confidence to continue to jump into these new roles! Thank you Marymount!”

2010s

Alexandra Zimnoch ‘10 shared, “I got married this May to Stephen Ambrose III in Vero Beach, FL. Adrienne Zubia Doherty ‘10 and Cassandra Zimnoch ‘13 were bridesmaids. Kyra Richardson ‘10 also attended!”

Marriage

Alexandra Zimnoch ‘10 married Stephen Ambrose, III

Births

Luca Hagop to Aline Khatchadourian Antreasyan ‘01 and Dan Antreasyan (12/01/22)

Henry Edward V to Leslie Wiggins Bedford ‘03 and Hank Bedford (1/18/23)

Blakely Lynn to Jennifer Schmidt Garner ‘01 and Sean Garner (10/24/22)

Meyer Henry to Alexandra Bartholomew Michaelson ‘06 and Jonathan Michaelson (07/26/22)

Everson Desrochers to Juliette Spinner Pearse ‘07 and Luke Pearse (11/23/22)

Molly Ann to Lisa Schmidt Olin ‘03 and Adam Olin (2/02/23)

Libby Jane to Alexis Sherman ‘04 and Sam Zeanah (09/24/22)

Alexandra “Alley” Bartholomew Michaelson ‘06 and Jonathan Michaelson welcome baby Meyer Henry.

Alexis Sherman ‘04 and Sam Zeanah welcome baby Libby Jane.

In Memoriam

Carolyn Breslin Brown ‘57, sister of Eileen Breslin Hoffman ‘53 and †Barbara Breslin Watson ‘49 (2022)

Chuck Burnett, grandfather of Allison Sison ‘24 and Rachel Sison ‘20 (09/22)

Marilyn “Mimsie” Monia Gaston ‘57 (2022)

Esther Baden Jacobs ‘38 (01/20/23)

Margaret Gunn Kahn ‘48 (09/18/22)

Shirley Shrader Laugharn ‘43 , grandmother of Allison Hinds ‘11 (08/08/22)

Jill Murphy, mother of Sharon O’Mahony ‘85 (12/01/22)

Jeanette Melbourne O’Leary ‘48 (2019)

Sister Maureen Murray (Mother Bonaventure), RSHM (09/25/22)

Carol D. Olivier, mother of Lisa Olivier Galleguillos ‘85 and Kristin Olivier Romo ‘89 (03/19/2022)

Kenneth S. Olivier, Jr., father of Lisa Olivier Galleguillos ‘85 and Kristin Olivier Romo ‘89 (02/20/22)

Holly Boehme Schollhammer ‘63 (06/10/22)

Claire Marie Smurda ‘70, sister of Colleen Smurda Johnson ‘74 and † Martha Smurda Nimoy ‘75 (01/22)

Joyce Solodovnikov, mother of Cindy Solodovnikov Hann ‘85 (03/09/22)

Marianne Bivens Thurtle ‘49, mother of Allison Babcock Markor ‘73 (07/9/21)

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