View from the Cupola - Graduation 2020

Cupola VIE W F RO M TH E

Mount de Sales Academy

Graduation 2020

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Brian P. MacLean P’14 | President Sister Mary Raymond Thye, O.P. | Principal Thomas Campbell P’14 | Vice President Kate Ohlmacher McAuliffe ‘02 | Treasurer Elizabeth Gibbons Jennings ‘80 P’12 ‘19 | Secretary

GENERAL BOARD Thomas Brinker P’16 ‘20 '22 Christopher E. Brown P'04 '08 Larraine Clark P’02 Father Michael DeAscanis Ronald C. Diegelman P’00 Timothy Dignan P’12 ‘14 Paul M. Finamore P’11 ‘16 William Glover P’15 Kim Martel P’00 ‘02 ‘08 ‘15 Lynda Geier Mules ‘77 P’05 ‘13 Peggy Stromberg Pasquarella ‘81 Jackie Seboda Pfeiler ‘86 P’23 Reverend Michael J.P. Roach John Teixeira James Zalucki, M.D. P’12 ‘15 '20

ADVANCEMENT TEAM Elizabeth Saverino ’87 | Director of Advancement Karen von Lange P’09 ’16 | Director of Communications Claire M. Cohagan ’78 P’07 ’11 | Director of Development Virginia Shenk | Development Coordinator Denise Zambotti P’15 ’17 ’19 | Development Assistant Elizabeth Mahon ’07 | Director of Alumnae Relations Kim Dignan P’12 ’14 | Volunteer Coordinator Rachel Sweeney | Graphic Designer Madison Auer ’16 | Content Contributor

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION BOARD Megan McCawley ’10 | President Carol Nettina Dygert ’08 | Vice President Jeanne Schaible Langeluttig ’84 | Treasurer Danielle Wilson ’11 | Secretary

Front Cover: Mary Kate Allen '20, Sara Aviles '20, Mackenzie Bell '20

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Back Cover: Maria Ramos '20

Greetings

From the Principal Dear Friends of Mount de Sales, When we selected "I came that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly," (Jn 10:10) for the 2019-2020 theme, we never imagined what 2020 would bring! Jesus came to bring us life, even amid tribulation, and this year our school community rose to the occasion with courage and compassion.

Mount de Sales launched a thriving eLearning environment on March 17, 2020. Our team prepared teachers to successfully transition to online education. While so much was not normal, our students had structure for their rigorous education that stayed true to MDSA's mission.

We began and ended each day with prayer, asking God to bless our community and all those affected by COVID-19; we turned to God for His strength and grace, that He might give us life amidst this trial.

Providentially, our Middle States Colloquium culminates years of studying how to incorporate 1:1 technology without adversely affecting relationships. This work uniquely poised us for our eLearning goal to reach through the screens, connect with our students, and provide opportunities for the students to connect with each other.

Though successful, this eLearning experience made it clear that the social aspect of high school cannot be simulated and was greatly missed. Therefore, the faculty, staff, volunteers, and alumnae set out to provide safe, in-person experiences for our students. In turn, our recently graduated Class of 2020 rallied in an admirably mature way that we will remember forever. At Baccalaureate, I reflected to these young women that we often do not know what we are made of until we experience tribulation. While we would never have wished this for them, they gained something positive

and lasting as part of their character from this experience.

The Class of 2020 graduates are ready for the world with admirable skills as a firm foundation.

While we say farewell to our Class of 2020, we are excited to welcome the Class of 2024 and 21 new students from the Institute of Notre Dame (IND). We hope Mount de Sales will soon feel like home to our new Sailors.

As an educational and spiritual home, Mount de Sales underscores the dignity of the human person. In our philosophy program, we emphasize and believe wholeheartedly that each person has an innate dignity that should be treated with respect from conception to natural death. The death of George Floyd raises the ante for each of us to take responsibility to reach out to our neighbor with kindness, care, fairness, and charity. We can never rest on our laurels in the effort to pursue justice. We are committed to continue growing and examining ways to ensure each Sailor can thrive and flourish. May "I came that they might have life‌" always ring within the lived experience at Mount de Sales Academy.

As we move into a new school year with many unknowns, we stay true to our mission of providing a learning environment, regardless of the platform, that nourishes our students spiritually, academically, and socially. These months have been challenging for all, and we pray our students can have an ordinary high school experience soon. May we appreciate and learn from our time in quarantine. It is better to light a candle than to sit and curse the darkness. Whatever may come, we are committed to your daughters' continual educational and spiritual growth, that she may have life, and have it more abundantly.

Sincerely in Christ,

Sister Mary Raymond, O.P.

Top AP Scores

This past May, 127 students took 226 AP Exams. 88% of these students received a score of 3 or higher on at least one exam, which is Mount de Sales’ highest percentage in five years. Our students scored more 5s (80 tests) than any other possible score. Impressive work, Sailors!

Mount de Sales Academy | 700 Academy Road | Catonsville, MD 21228 | 410.744.8498 | mountdesales.org

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eLearning at Mount de Sales A Graceful Transition In early March, as the country witnessed the spread of COVID-19, Mount de Sales Academy anticipated Maryland schools would need to close by the end of the month. Together with the administration, our former Director of Professional Development Mrs. Lindsey Murphy had the foresight to recommend training and testing of the Canvas learning management system (LMS) web-conferencing tools.

This provided teachers and students familiarity with a method for holding live online classes through a secure platform.

in 2015, provided a seamless transition.

In fact, students were familiar with virtual lessons. Since the winter of 2018, faculty have published lessons and homework on snowdays, fondly known as a “Blizzard Bag,” for their classes on the Canvas LMS. Now, during a pandemic, teachers were challenged to hold live classes online for the remainder of the school year without compromising academic standards.

Fortunately, Mrs. Murphy had inspired teachers to build their digital toolkits throughout her years as MDSA's director of professional development.

By March 4, Mount de Sales was indeed marching forth with a set of technology guidelines, and Mrs. Murphy rapidly provided faculty with a wealth of instructions and best practice tips in her online tech resource notebook. When Governor Hogan announced the closing of Maryland schools effective March 16, Mount de Sales had an eLearning plan in place.

From March 17 through May 29, Mount de Sales successfully held classes online as teachers revised lesson plans to fit the new mode of delivery. They also chose to follow tried and true class routines whenever possible. Classes featuring student participation via webcam and/or microphone were favorites among the girls. Junior Greta Lacey stated, “In my English class, we were still able to have our normal book discussions and ask questions as we always did. It added a sense of normalcy

While full-time virtual learning was a new journey, students' experience with 1:1 technology, which was implemented

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to all this!”

As teachers continued to expand their repertoire of digital tools, students were not simply mastering subject content. When surveyed, many students wrote that they learned to take the initiative and ask questions, to manage their time responsibly, to adapt to unexpected changes, and to appreciate others more fully. Sophomore Marina Fassolakis reflected, “I have learned the importance of diligence and organization that students must have.

The eLearning experience changed my perspective by making me realize how lucky the Mount de Sales school community is to have such encouraging and supportive faculty and staff.”

By: Helen Hufford P’13 English Department Chair

Budding Storytellers at MDSA Every year at MDSA, the two of us have been in the same English class. Sophomore year, Mrs. Ziff assigned us into the same research project group. While writing the paper, we discovered that our writing styles complemented well, and ever since we’ve edited our essays together. We got to know each other better while working on the research project, but through editing each other’s papers we became close friends.

“Illustrating Luna’s Magical Trip to the Moon was as much of an adventure as the story itself! I learned how to transform words on a page into colorful images, from sketching the initial character designs to painting each page in watercolor, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so.”

Grace Gunther '21

After joking about writing a book together junior year, we decided to actually write one. It turned into a huge project, spanning several months, and we enlisted other Mount de Sales girls to create bilingual versions as well.

Emily Kosloski '21 translated the story to Spanish, Julia Ribblett '21 and Chidinma Onukwugha '21 translated it to French, and we translated it to Latin.

We’re happy to announce that all proceeds from the bilingual books go to Task-Terea, a nonprofit that empowers girls in the Mayan villages of Guatemala through education.

By: Carolyn Cooney '21 and Abby Komiske '21

L to R: Authors Carolyn Cooney and Abby Komiske *To order Luna's Magical trip to the Moon, visit Amazon.com

Carolyn Cooney reads to Christopher, her younger brother.

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“I loved the virtual G.I.R.L. Club meeting! It allowed me to see the girls and catch up, although it was through a screen. We still had a great time appreciating women that are well-known to the public or personally, and of course we laughed and had fun playing Bingo!”

Paige ‘20

Staying Together, Apart Our students’ educational, spiritual, and physical well-being is always at the forefront, even when we can’t be with them. During the COVID-19 crisis, the following are some of the enrichment activities Mount de Sales has implemented to serve our Sailors.

• Weekly Bible Study • Conversations in Spanish • Life in Christ/Christian Living Small Group • Virtual Club Meetings • Class Small Groups • Health and Wellness Webinars • Athletic Team Meetings • Sacred Heart Group Meetings • Daily Rosary with the Dominican Sisters • Global Outreach Prayer Meetings • Virtual Career Day • Divine Mercy Chaplet (for George Floyd and those affected by racism)

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Middle States Sustaining Excellence Colloquium Where Did the Conversation Go? Encouraging Face-to-Face Interaction While Utilizing Classroom Technology Since fall 2015, as part of the Middle States Association’s Sustaining Excellence re-accreditation project, Mount de Sales Academy has studied and implemented ways to ensure we utilize educational technology effectively while still fostering development of our students’ in-person communication skills.

On March 30, 2020, Mount de Sales was scheduled to host the culminating event of this project, an educational colloquium titled, “Where Did the Conversation Go? Encouraging Face-to-Face Interaction While Utilizing Classroom Technology.” Ironically, instead we were two weeks into full online learning, which continued through the end of the school year. MDSA successfully adapted quickly and creatively to a digital classroom environment. To ensure the safety of colloquium participants, we applied our newly tested skills and knowledge to modify the event format.

On October 7, 2020, Mount de Sales Academy will host a redesigned colloquium online. The administration, faculty, and staff will share a combination of pre-recorded and live sessions on the topics of digital and face-to-face communication and educational technology.

By: Liz Johnson ‘95 | Colloquium Co-chair

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Charlotte Lacey '21

Anna Ptak '20

Courage in Color Who knew that social distancing would become the new buzzword of 2020! So much so, that the Portfolio students were able to pull off a beautiful, funny, honest, and poignant reflection on what social distancing meant to them personally.

When I assigned this project, I was not sure how the girls would feel about it, but it became apparent very quickly that it meant many things, both positive and negative, to them. In the beginning the girls would, more often than not, express how this new norm was just so darn inconvenient, but as time went on I noticed a maturity set in as they reflected on how COVID-19 had impacted others more than themselves.

As this terrible disease hit closer to home and they heard that classmates had lost grandparents, aunts, and uncles, I think they grew to understand that being a teenager in 2020 requires much more of them. It requires courage, perseverance, empathy, a sense of humor, but most of all, love in a time of sacrifice and uncertainty never witnessed before.

By: Eileen Clements | Fine Arts Department Chair 2005-2020

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Kylie Beer '21

Suzanne Martin '21

Lindsay Small '22

Grace Gunther '21

Anna Scheffel '20

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Thirty-Five Years of the Dominican Difference The arrival of the Dominican Sisters in 1985 changed the course of history for Mount de Sales Academy. The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (V.H.M.) founded Mount de Sales in 1852 and administered the school until 1979 when they were no longer able to continue operation due to declining vocations and increasing age of the Sisters.

Anticipating the departure of the Visitandines, as the Visitation nuns were known, a lay Board of Trustees was formed prior to their departure.

This forward thinking by the Board of Trustees engaged MDSA’s first and only lay principal, Ann Cichowicz P’77 ’79 ’81 ’85 who agreed to run the school for five years as they attempted to bring in

a religious order to administer MDSA. Chris Cuddeback, the then president of the board of trustees, set out on a quest.

Through a letter and audio recording to Mother Assumpta Long, O.P., then Prioress General of the Dominican Congregation of St. Cecilia of Nashville, TN, Mr. Cuddeback told the story of Mount de Sales and explained the need for Sisters to administer the school.

The story goes that Mother Assumpta wrote a letter declining the invitation, as she had turned down many similar requests. The letter was placed on her desk to be sent the following day, and then Mother Assumpta retired to bed.

That night, Mother woke up every hour on the hour by the persistent urge to go

L to R: 1985 Pioneer Team: Sr. Mary Gabriel, O.P., Sr. Philip Joseph, O.P., and Sr. Mary Rebecca O.P.

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and see Mount de Sales. Upon arriving at Mount de Sales in the spring of 1985, Mother Assumpta was taken aback by the physical and historical similarities to St. Cecilia Academy, the Sisters' first school in Nashville, TN. This, along with God’s Grace and the faithful and committed MDSA community, convinced Mother and her Council to commit to sending Sisters in the fall.

The Dominican Sisters' fiat to MDSA began what Trustee and MDSA Historian Father Michael J.P. Roach terms the Dominican Renaissance.

Now, we are blessed to live the Dominican Difference.

By: Elizabeth Saverino '87 Director of Advancement

The Sisters’ daily communal prayer has supported the life of Mount de Sales Academy for 35 years.

Our Traditions Carry On

Despite the campus closure, we celebrated our time-honored MDSA tradition: the May Crowning.

On May 8, 2020, the small ceremony began with the recitation of the Rosary, led by the Dominican Sisters, and then Mount de Sales Girl Libby McGuire '20 crowned both the Blessed Mother statues in the Chapel of St. Francis de Sales as well as outside. This year our outdoor statue was crowned in the class color of our 2020 graduates.

This beautiful statue was provided by our first Sodality in 1852.

Thank you to all those who helped make this beautiful tradition a reality this year!

Daily Rosary with the Dominican Sisters Beginning on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, through May 29, our Dominican Sisters prayed a daily rosary in the Chapel of St. Francis de Sales. This beautiful act brought our community together via livestream as we prayed for those affected by COVID-19.

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Tea for Two Each year following the May Procession, seniors and their mothers gather for the Mother-Daughter Tea. Despite quarantine, this lovely tradition was still held.

Seniors and their mothers beautifully set up their own celebrations at home, complete with pastries, small bites, and tea, of course!

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Class Masses: A Time for Unity During the week of June 8, we welcomed students back to campus to celebrate Mass as a class and offer closure on the school year. Principal Sister Mary Raymond, O.P., shares, “Not only did the students enjoy seeing their friends, but it was also heartening to feel normalcy in some form and see our students smiling and laughing. I hope we never take being together for granted after this pandemic.�

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Wishing a Rewarding Retirement to Eileen Clements and Jerry Reddy!

A Combined 80 Years in Education!

After 30 years of teaching, 15 spent at Mount de Sales Academy, Mrs. Eileen Clements is retiring to her “happy place” on the Eastern Shore. Serving her last years at Mount de Sales as the Fine Arts Department Chair, she made a lasting impact on her students, colleagues, and the school. She led by example, helping students uncover their talent and igniting a passion for art. She is kind, caring, dedicated, and one of the most selfless humans you will ever be blessed to meet.

To her students, and even those she didn’t teach, she is a favorite. She always brings a spirit of optimism, especially when students need it most. Mrs. Clements often said that the art room was the oasis of Mount de Sales Academy, the breath of fresh air in the middle of a rigorous academic schedule. She inspired the best from her students, encouraging high expectations and providing grace when needed. To her colleagues she is a leader, mentor, advocate, encourager, and your biggest supporter. She is family. It is hard, nearly impossible, to imagine the Fine Arts world at Mount de Sales without Eileen at the helm. She provided the best possible example of how to lead: selflessly, graciously, and always with a good cup of tea and a slice of coffee cake.

By: Elissa Dubyoski ’09 | Visual Arts Department Chair

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After retiring from Baltimore City schools, where he taught for 30 years, Mr. Jerry Reddy came to MDSA to teach part-time in October 2000. What a blessing he has been to his colleagues and his students!

Mr. Reddy primarily taught seniors British Literature and juniors American Literature. I was fortunate enough to teach across the hall from him for 15 years and never knew exactly when we would hear his famous theatrical sounds. Early in the year, it was Jerry’s rendition of Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Beowolf’s Grendel screaming. Later it would be Walt Whitman’s barbaric yawps. Jerry was the English Department’s grammar expert; he could answer any of our usage or punctuation questions. He also encouraged us to include the fabulous Their Eyes Are Watching God by African American author Zora Neale Hurston in our junior curriculum.

Jerry, we will all miss you so much, but we know you will enjoy your retirement spending time with your grandchildren and traveling. You are the model of a lifelong learner, so we know you will stay very busy!

By: Pat Marlatt | English Teacher

Sprinting to Success Bella Whittaker '20 truly had a breakout year in Indoor and Outdoor Track, despite the pandemic altering so many things.

She earned the following career highlights: she is the Maryland State Indoor Record Holder for 300 meters: 37.76 seconds. At the 2020 Hispanic Games she took first place in 200 and 400 meters. At the 2020 NYRR Millrose Games she placed second at 300 meters, where in 2019 she helped the 4x800 relay team to a second-place finish and the 4th fastest time ever run at Millrose. She is a 17-time IAAM All Conference Champion. She finished the indoor season ranked in the top eight nationally in five separate events and ranked number one nationally in the sprint medley relay with teammates Grace Flynn '20, Claire Nilan '20, and sister Juliette '22.

Bella was named the 2019-2020 All Metro Indoor Track Athlete of the Year by The Baltimore Sun, was twice named the Mount de Sales Sailor Athlete of the Year (2018 and 2020), and is a fivetime All American in Track and Field.

Bella's sister Juliette '22 has achieved national recognition as a distance runner, and Bella has now achieved that level of national recognition as a sprinter, effective from 100 meters through 500 meters.

As Bella explained to assistant track coach Matt Riggins, she is particularly proud of her membership in the Dream Club, a multicultural club at Mount de Sales which encourages cultural diversity and focuses on bringing about awareness of social and political matters that minorities encounter.

Bella will attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall and plans to study engineering while competing on the national stage for their track program.

By: Coach Steve Weber

Athlete Recognition Event On March 4, 2020, Mount de Sales celebrated the seniors who will play collegiate sports at the Athlete Recognition Event. We are proud of our Sailor athletes and all their accomplishments.

The Athlete Recognition Event was held in the Constance and Samuel Pistorio Sports Complex on the Mount de Sales Academy campus. Student athletes were joined by their parents, coaches, members of the MDSA administration, faculty, and staff, as well as their peers. A brief reception followed.

L to R: Elodie Scala, Laurna Heathcott, Morgan Yandow Harding, Meaghan Slattery, Megan Matsko, Anna Schipske

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Class of 2020 Collegiate Athletes

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Mary Catherine Allen MERCER UNIVERSITY Lacrosse

Mackenzie Bell ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY Lacrosse

Grace Flynn UNITED STATES COAST GUARD Soccer/Track

Laurna Heathcott IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY Softball

Hope Keller ROANOKE COLLEGE Field Hockey

Anna Kidd ST. MARY’S COLLEGE Swimming

Megan Matsko CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Basketball

Kathryn Ringstad MERCY COLLEGE Field Hockey

Elodie Scala ST. MARY’S COLLEGE Lacrosse

Anna Schipske HOOD COLLEGE Softball

Sloane Skalstad FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY Lacrosse

Meaghan Slattery HOOD COLLEGE Soccer

Ella Spears MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY Lacrosse

Isabella Whittaker UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Track and Field

Morgan Yandow Harding HAMILTON COLLEGE Field Hockey

Alumnae Congratulate the Class of 2020 The bond of Mount de Sales girls is strong, no matter the generation! During the quarantine, MDSA alumnae came together in amazing ways to support the Class of 2020.

Jacqui Magnes ’86 P ’18 ’20 spearheaded the effort to deliver quarantine care packages to the yellow class, complete with custom yard signs and homemade brownies courtesy of Michelle Cascio Zalucki ’84 P ’12 ’15 ’20. Members of the Alumnae Association rallied together to personally deliver the packages to the seniors on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19.

In May, when the 168th commencement was postponed due to COVID-19, members of the Alumnae Association and some of the Dominican Sisters distributed red roses tied with a yellow ribbon to the home of every senior, bringing a little piece of graduation tradition to them. The President of the Alumnae Association Megan McCawley ’10 also signed letters to each girl as a way to formally recognize the newest members of the Mount de Sales alumnae family.

Graduation

THE YELLOW CLASS

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L to R: Sloane Skalstad, Kylie Swan, Aimee Trehey, Isabella Whittaker, Maria Kolb

Accomplishments OF THE CLASS OF 2020 HEADING TO

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MATRICULATING AT

76

colleges and universities

99.5%

attending a four % 91 year school

COLLEGE APPLICATION AND

acceptance

38%

ATTENDING in

6

Maryland

athletes playing at NCAA DIVISION I and II schools

15 $

scholarships total MILLION

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states across the U.S. (and Hungary!)

DOLLARS

62%

ATHLETES playing

at the collegiate

ATTENDING

15

Catholic universities

TRAVELING

out of state

level

$

90%

2

ACCEPTED TO UNITED STATES

military preparatory school

WERE OFFERED merit scholarships

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Going Forth

with MDSA Confidence Valedictorian, Grace Wallace

If Mount de Sales has taught me anything, it is the resilience and strength of my classmates. Each one of you impresses me. You astound me with your intelligence, compassion, and bravery, which is why I am not nervous but excited to assert that the future now rests in our hands. What will become of our world in the next year, the next decade and the next hundred years depends heavily on us. The future depends on each one of us becoming all that God intends for us to be.

Therefore, it is time for us to face the uncertainty of our futures with courage and confidence. Confidence that no matter what challenges we may encounter, we can overcome them.

Salutatorian, Maria Kolb

We were prepared throughout our four years here at Mount de Sales, even if we did not realize it in the moment, for the events of the last few months. Year by year, we learned from our experiences how to be flexible and patient. We learned to adjust to new circumstances and to make the most out of a situation. We were prepared for the real world, and we have survived. We are an extremely special class and an extremely awesome group of young women. We will always remember our time here at MDSA, and we will always be remembered. We are the class who wore any shoes to graduation. We are the class that survived a global pandemic. We are the class who made every day our own, who persevered with smiles on our faces.

We are the class who was blessed extraordinarily with gifts from God and with amazing people who walked our high school journey by our side. We are the Class of 2020, and we are special.

Mount de Sales Girl, Libby McGuire

As Mount de Sales girls, we understand that we have dignity and purpose.

As Mother Teresa, known for her charitable work to the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India, once said, “One of the greatest diseases is being nobody to anybody.� This school has given us the tools to realize that we are not mere accidents, but rather each one of us exists because God has intentionally breathed life into us and made us in His Image and His Likeness (Genesis 1:26-31). Therefore, our dignity is founded in God, Himself, which means that each of us is, in our very states of being, incomprehensibly and incomparably valuable. Our time at Mount de Sales has laid this foundational understanding of ourselves and, further, has opened us up to the truth that each of our lives has unique purpose. We exist for a reason.

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Accepted Colleges

of the Class of 2020 Alfred University American University American University of Paris Anne Arundel Community College Appalachian State University Arcadia University Auburn University Ave Maria University Belmont University

Franciscan University of Steubenville Frostburg State University George Mason University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University Gettysburg College Goucher College Grove City College

North Carolina State University

The University of Tennessee

Northeastern University

The University of Vermont

Ohio Wesleyan University

Towson University

Pace University

United States Coast Guard Academy

Palm Beach Atlantic University Pennsylvania State University

University at Buffalo

Plymouth State University

University of Colorado Boulder

Providence College

University of Connecticut

Purdue University

University of Dayton

Bethany College

Hamilton College

Binghamton University

Hartwick College

Radford University

University of Georgia

Boston University

Hawaii Pacific University

Rhodes College

University of Kentucky

Roanoke College

University of Lynchburg

Bridgewater College

High Point University

Bucknell University

Hofstra University

Cabrini University California State University, Fresno Calvin University Carnegie Mellon University

Hood College Howard Community College Illinois Institute of Technology Immaculata University

Quinnipiac University

Robert Morris University Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Francis University Saint Joseph’s University Saint Leo University

University of Delaware

University of Maine University of Mary Washington University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Maryland, College Park

Indiana University

Saint Mary’s College

Catawba College

Iona College

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Chestnut Hill College

Ithaca College

Saint Vincent College Salisbury University

University of Miami

Christendom College

Jacksonville University

Carroll Community College

Clemson University

James Madison University

Savannah College of Art & Design Seton Hall University

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Seton Hill University

La Salle University

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Shenandoah University

University of Notre Dame

College of Charleston

Lebanon Valley College

Shepherd University

Longwood University

University of Pennsylvania

Columbia College Chicago

Spelman College

University of Pittsburgh

Cleveland Institute of Art

Johns Hopkins University

Coastal Carolina University

Community College of Baltimore County

Louisiana State University

Denison University

Loyola University, Maryland

DePaul University

Manhattan College

DeSales University

Marist College

Dickinson College

Marquette University

Drexel University

Maryland Institute College of Art

Duquesne University

Marywood University

East Carolina University

McDaniel College, Budapest

Eastern Michigan University

Mercer University

Eckerd College

Mercy College

Elizabethtown College

Merrimack College

Elon University

Loyola University, Chicago

St. John’s College St. John’s University St. Mary’s College of Maryland Stetson University Stevenson University

University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of South Carolina Ursinus College Villanova University

Stonehill College

Virginia Commonwealth University

Susquehanna University

Virginia State University

Temple University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

The Catholic University of America The Citadel

Wake Forest University

The Ohio State University

Washington College

The United States Military Academy West Point

West Chester University

Messiah College

Fairfield University

Michigan State University

The University of Alabama

Wheaton College

Florida Atlantic University

Millersville University

The University of Arizona

Wingate University

Florida Institute of Technology

Misericordia University

The University of Mississippi

Florida Southern College

Monmouth University

York College of Pennsylvania

Florida State University

Montclair State University

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Fordham University

Mount St. Mary’s University Muhlenberg College

The University of Scranton The University of Tampa

West Virginia University

*Colleges attending are in yellow and bold

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Class of 2020 Hally Grace Aldave Lillian Paige Aliff Mary Catherine Allen Brianna Nicole Allender Paige Elizabeth Andrus Claire Elizabeth Arnold Sara Ann Tamara Aviles Therese Marie Bailey Mary Elizabeth Bannister Olivia Katherine Beissel Mackenzie Erin Bell MaryMargaret Kathrine Berkey Gabrielle Anne Berryman Bridgette Keegan Bonsby Samantha Marie Bonsby Kayla Nicole Boykin Naomi Elizabeth Brinker Chloe Lorraine Brinkley Elisabeth Louise Burns Shanna Claire Callahan Cecilia Bonnie Canan Elizabeth Grace Chirozzi Julie Anne Claycomb Anna Jane Coakley Mary Elizabeth Coale Fiona Elizabeth Cole

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Emily Rose Collins Danielle Caitlin Collman Moira Elizabeth Connelly Maura Brigid Cusick Allison Jane Daly Hannah Margaret Darrow Sophia Elizabeth DeGasparre Isabella Marie DeGeorge Audrey Lynn DeGroote Hailey Nichole Drechsler Margaret Ann Dressman Abbygale Rose Duffy Nnenna Tochi Ejikeme Elise Lorelei Embree Katherine Elizabeth Ennis Grace Elizabeth Fink Mary Elaine Fletcher Grace Elizabeth Flynn Samantha Lauren Frederick Gabriella Marie Galoppo Mackenzie Jane Garino Emily Lynn Gates Chloe Madison Gentile Anna Elizabeth Gibbons Gabriela Kebin Zhao Gimpel Abigail Marie Goodman

Grace Kathleen Gower Lydia Joy Greene Dalila Daley Hannibal Natalie Ruth Angeline Hartman Laurna Marie Heathcott Claire Marie Hershey Alyssa Louise Higgins Rachael Anne Hlavin Riley Magnes Howard Sophia Elizabeth Kelly Hrabinski Christa Flora Karelis Hope Victoria Keller Lauren Charlene Keller Anna Beatrice Kidd Theresa Marie Kirby Maria Victoria Kolb Julianna Joy Kotwicki Abigail Rose Lamm Sydney Regina Lauria Ava Susanna Lauterbach Eva Elizabeth Leimbach Rayvyn Danielle Lewis Isabella Faith Liberto Katherine Emily Maltby Julianna Maree Mannarelli Megan Elizabeth Matsko

Kerri Annalise McElroy Libby Ann McGuire Melle Rose McKinnon Molly Rae McNair Mariana Grace Meade Maya Grace Nellum Claire Kathleen Nilan Amini Lucie Nkere Anabella Elizabeth Nosel Anastasia Hope Novotny Gabrielle Noel Oakes Megan Grace O’Ferrall Ellen Marie Ortel Lauren Colleen Pallozzi Anna Marina Ptak Kara Ann Queensberry Maria Jose Ramos Grace Rose Rattenbury Casey Anne Reed Olivia Marie Rees Jada Rashal Richards Kathryn Anne Ringstad Paige Alexis Rivers Lucie Megan Rutkowski Elodie Rose Scala Anna Grace Scheffel

Anna Elise Schipske Samantha Elizabeth Shockey Sloane Victoria Skalstad Meaghan Marie Slattery Ella Grace Spears Chloe Elise Steer Kira Lynn Stocksdale Kylie Ann Swann Reagan Margaret Taylor Kendra Rose Mee Thomas Alyssa Mae Tompkins Aimee Melissa Trehey Helen Frances Trimble Morgan Ann Trumbull Alina Grace Tully Cynthia Michelle Vazquez Grace Marie Wallace Isabella Marie Whittaker Sophie Elizabeth Wolf Morgan Taylor Yandow Harding Samantha Elizabeth Zalucki Abigail Nicole Zeigler

This year due to the pandemic, the Class of 2020 celebrated graduation at three separate ceremonies. Two were held on July 11 and one on July 25.

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Teacher of the Year

Sister Mary Madeline, O.P. '90 Who would have thought that a teacher in her first year at Mount de Sales would be selected as Teacher of the Year? Yet that recognition is exactly what Sister Mary Madeline achieved.

Immediately, Sister Mary Madeline stood out when the school announced in 2019 that she would be joining us as the first of our Dominican Sisters to also be a MDSA alumna. That fact alone provides a unique connection with the students she teaches in philosophy and senior religion classes; she knows exactly what we experience as Mount de Sales students.

As a junior, I was fortunate to be in Sister Mary Madeline’s philosophy class first semester. The philosophy program was new, and many students were wary of the subject and not too keen on taking the class. Sister Mary Madeline was very aware of the students’ attitudes, but the lack of enthusiasm from many girls in the beginning did not stop her from sharing her wealth of knowledge and love of the subject. She told stories of her many life experiences and taught through discussion.

She allowed our questions to sometimes lead to tangents not necessarily in the lesson plan, but recognizing their importance nonetheless. As the course progressed, I found that I enjoyed the subject more than I thought I would, and perhaps my classmates did, too; they asked questions and shared their thoughts more willingly.

What touched me most was Sister Mary Madeline’s genuine care for each of her students. She took the time to ask about our lives, and she got to know us better in a semester than some teachers are able to do in a year. Philosophy helps us recognize the uniqueness and worthiness of every human being, and Sister Mary Madeline preaches that through her words and actions every day.

By: Julianna Bibbo ‘21

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2020 Sailor Showcase Danielle Collman ‘20 Danielle will attend the University of Delaware and plans to major in pre-veterinary medicine.

“Ever since I was a little girl, my dream was to work with animals. I understand how much animals mean to people and how beneficial they are for the environment.

I want to dedicate my career to preserving that value. My plans for the future, long after graduation, are to work with exotic animals at a zoo or aquarium. It is my hope to eventually work closely with specialists to conserve wild and extinct species. I am excited to be going to the University of Delaware in the fall and can’t wait for my career in veterinary medicine to unfold!”

Anna Ptak ‘20 Anna will attend the University of Richmond to study computer science.

"I am planning to major in computer science and likely minor in art at the University of Richmond! I was drawn to UR because of their small class sizes, accessible teachers, welcoming environment, and fantastic liberal arts curriculum. I have been interested in computer science since I began to compete in CyberPatriot competitions during my freshman year at Mount de Sales. I hope that I can use what I will learn at UR to pursue a career in cybersecurity, game design, or animation. In college, I am also planning to continue my study of foreign languages, especially Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. I am going to get involved in lots of clubs and join the crew team. I cannot wait to meet new people, try new things, learn a lot, and especially study abroad!"

Grace Flynn ‘20 Grace Flynn reported to New London, Connecticut, on July 13 to begin her United States Coast Guard Academy journey.

“I’m so excited for this next journey! The summer will include an indoctrination period, during which time I will learn about the Coast Guard way of life and gain an understanding of what is expected of me. As a cadet, I plan to major in Marine and Environmental Sciences. I will also play Women’s Varsity Soccer and run on the Women’s Varsity Indoor & Outdoor Track team. Service has always been important to me and I view this opportunity as a way to do just that—serve.”

Isabella Whittaker ‘20 Bella will attend the University of Pennsylvania to study engineering.

“I chose to pursue track and field and my academic studies at the University of Pennsylvania because I wanted to find a place that was equally athletically and academically rigorous.

Not only that, but, as is the goal of many seniors, I also wanted to find a college that could be a second home to me. UPenn provides me with many opportunities to challenge myself in a variety of ways.

I am beyond excited to see what is in store for me on and off the track in my collegiate career. I am looking forward to exploring the endless possibilities of career paths available. I feel honored to soon be part of a track program that is filled with countless coaches and teammates who opened their arms wide to welcome me as part of their family!”

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Updates

From the President Dear Community of Mount de Sales, On behalf of the Board of Trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2020! Your resilience, fortitude, and good spirits will go down in Mount de Sales Academy history. These qualities were modeled by our exemplary faculty and staff who provided a seamless transition to eLearning for our students, all of whom did an amazing job and deserve great credit for their continued dedication to their studies.

In the midst of adversity, we are especially grateful for the Mount de Sales Academy community that is always there to offer help. You help us with the three gifts that are critical for our success: generosity of time, talent, and treasure.

The Board of Trustees, has the privilege of witnessing these gifts in action for our students.

As you will read on page 30, our first Heritage with Heart Day of Giving was a tremendous success that reached 150% of our goal on June 23. The generosity did not end there as gifts continued after the Day of Giving concluded. The total impact for the need-based St. Dominic Scholarship was $54,600! Thank you for responding to the call to help families financially impacted by COVID-19. You helped us achieve what many would consider unthinkable during this time: exceeding our Annual Giving goal for the 2019-2020 school year!

We are also grateful to the many donors who, despite these uncertain times, continue to fulfill their pledge payments to the Center for Performing Arts and Student

Life (CPASL). If a picture is worth a thousand words, you only need to look below to see our long-held dream of the CPASL taking form. For some, it might feel daunting to execute a massive undertaking in the midst of a pandemic, but, as is demonstrated repeatedly at MDSA, our community steps up when needed.

Your support of the CPASL is more important than ever and a true testament to your belief in our mission. Please, continue to show your belief in our mission by supporting this crown jewel in the ten-year capital growth of Mount de Sales Academy. We are so grateful that the Dominican Sisters said “yes” to MDSA in 1985, and we hope that 35 years later you will say “yes” to supporting this dream of the Dominicans.

It is appropriate to close my letter of appreciation for time, talent, and treasure by recognizing Chris Brown P’04, ’08.

If you have been on campus for an event in the last 20 years, then you have been around Chris and probably benefitted from his generous spirit. Fellow Trustee Larraine Clark P’02 celebrates Chris’ countless contributions on the next page. Thank you, Chris, for your joyful and faithful service to Mount de Sales Academy. Next time you are on campus for an event, maybe visiting the Christmas Bazaar White Reindeer table, please thank Chris and Holly for being unsung heroes who have helped usher in a promising new century of potential and progress for our students.

Sincerely, $6 MILLION

Brian MacLean P’14 President, Board of Trustees

$5.45M $5 MILLION

Capital Campaign

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As of September 1, 2020

Farewell to Chris Brown Chris Brown P’04 ’08 has been committed to Mount de Sales for decades. He has had many roles over the years, from Board of Trustees leadership, to development leader, to teacher, to Spaghetti Dinner and Baccalaureate Mass reception volunteer, just to mention a few. His support, in its many manifestations, has enhanced Mount de Sales Academy activities and traditions for the benefit of the entire Mount de Sales family.

I have known Chris Brown for over two decades. His energy, dedication, and knowledge have flourished at MDSA; through his diligence, many beautiful programs, events, and campus improvements have occurred. He exemplifies the spirit of Mount de Sales, and his desire to become involved even led him to take a sabbatical from his law practice to become an MDSA English teacher. Thankfully,

I, too, was part of the MDSA organization and witnessed the energy and positive influence he had on all the students. I remember him saying that those two years teaching English were the hardest he ever worked in his life.

Chris will be missed on the Board of Trustees, but he will not be missing from the activities and events that he and his wife Holly Getka Brown ’76 support. His embodiment of Catholic values provides true leadership and example to everyone that has the honor to know him. I am grateful to know him and appreciate his gifts that he so freely shares with the MDSA family. He will truly be missed but not forgotten. Thank you, Chris!

By: Larraine Clark P’02 MDSA Board Member

Top: Holly Getka Brown ’76, Chris Brown, Alex Brown-Breslin ’04, Aspen Mae Breslin Bottom left: Erica Brown ‘08 on the Brown's annual fishing trip Bottom right: Griffin Leif Breslin born on August 3, 2020

Annual Report of Donors

Look for the ANNUAL REPORT in Your In-Box!

2018-2019

As we consistently strive to use resources efficiently, we are pleased to inform you that the 2019-2020 Annual Report of Donors, which reflects the philanthropic support of our mission and the impact that it has on our Sailors, will be hosted online in the fall of 2020. Please visit our website at mountdesales.org/giving for further details.

Annual Report July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019 | 1

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From top left to bottom right: Sr. Victoria Marie, O.P., Brigadier General Joe Nattans Valerie and Ken Queensberry P’20, Virginia Shenk, Kim Dignan P’12 ‘14 Susanne and Joe Gibbons P’20, Marty and Beth Collins P’20 Nancy ‘79 and Michael Spicer

From top left to bottom right: Isabel Penafiel ’23 and Anna Dang ‘23 Dan and Elissa Dubyoski ‘09 Emily Targonski Leaf '10 Tom Cynkar P’12, Sr. Janet Mary, O.P., Rhonda Cynkar P‘12

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Celebrating at the Sailor Soiree While the humble benefactors of Mount de Sales Academy are great examples of Jesus’ teaching, “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing” (Matt 6:3), we believe that, “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). Much has been given to Mount de Sales Academy!

The Sailor Soiree is our opportunity to show our benefactors the impact of their generosity and express our appreciation. Generosity is essential to fulfilling our mission through scholarships, capital projects, and annual giving funds that help maintain our campus.

On February 21, 2020, over 100 benefactors gathered at the Sailor

Soiree. This year the Mardi Gras themed party had a special focus on the arts in anticipation of the upcoming Center for Performing Arts and Student Life. As guests enjoyed each other’s company, the food was plentiful, the hosts couldn’t stop saying thank you, and our MDSA friends didn’t want the evening to end! A special thank you to Catering by Uptown, owned by Rob and Maureen Goyena P’16 ’21, for catering and to pianist Emily Targonski Leaf ’10 for treating everyone to beautiful piano music!

Fine Arts Department Chair Eileen Clements, Trustee Bill Glover P’15, and Principal Sister Mary Raymond, O.P., extended their gratitude to all in attendance, and guests received a very special thank you from senior

Chloe Steer ‘20. Her speech culminated with a moving thank you: “Because of Mount de Sales, I hold my head up high and I look upwards,” Chloe shared. “I know who I am. I know I have purpose, and I will take the beauty I have found here and spread it as far as I can… You are making the love and beauty that comes from Mount de Sales possible. You are taking part in the conversion of hearts. You spread beauty.”

To all our benefactors, thank you.

Your investment in MDSA makes a difference in the life of each and every student and has impact beyond what is tangible.

From top left to bottom right: Jackie Pfeiler ’86 P’23, Liz Jennings ’80 P’12 ‘19 Ron Diegelman P’00, Kim Martel P’00 ’02 ’08 ‘15, Brian MacLean P’14, Carol Diegelman P’00, Maureen MacLean P’14 Angie ’94 and Jim Romeo P’18, Michelle and Mike Burke P’93 ’94 GP’18 Kelly Cardall ‘93, Colleen and Wayne McDowell P’01, Eileen Clements, Sr. Marie Genevieve O.P.

Inaugural Day of Giving Exceeds Expectations

Donors by Constituency 37% Alumnae 35% Current Parents 12% Past Parents 5% Faculty/Staff 2% Grandparents 9% Other

More Giving Day Stats 10% of Giving Day donors made their first donation ever.

19% of donors were under the age of 30.

46 Alumnae from 25 different classes ranging from 1966-2021 made donations.

Class of 2007 made the largest donation.

60% of donations were given by women.

22% of donations came from social media click-throughs.

L to R: Elizabeth Mahon '07 and Claire Cohagan '78

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As our community faced the COVID-19 pandemic, the Business Office began receiving calls from families suffering from the financial impact. To help meet these needs, we launched an online Heritage with Heart Day of Giving on June 23 to grow the need-based St. Dominic Scholarship Fund.

Using social media platforms and emails, we set out to engage the Mount de Sales family with interactive activities, student videos and much more! The response was beyond our expectations. Not only did 4,600 people take part in our social media that day, we also exceeded our goal of raising $10,000 by 150%. People have continued stepping forward to

support MDSA families impacted by this pandemic, bringing our total $54,600, with special thanks to the Parents’ Club for their $11,000 donation! You all have the biggest hearts! You can still access Heritage with Heart videos and activities and support the St. Dominic Scholarship Fund by visiting our web page: mountdesalesacademy.org/giving/ heritage-with-heart.

This year’s Day of Giving was just the beginning! Stay better connected by following our social media and sending us your current email address at vshenk@mountdesales. org. Plans for our next Heritage with Heart Day of Giving are underway, and we invite you to join us for the fun!

Going Social on the Day of Giving MDSA went social on the Heritage with Heart Day of Giving!

Our community followed us on Facebook and Instagram all day through stories, videos, trivia quizzes and more. Here are a few of the most popular activities.

If You Know, You Know!

It can sometimes be difficult to describe the intangible Mount de Sales experience to people who are not familiar with it. However, if you are part of our community, then you understand! Throughout the spring Director of Alumnae Relations Elizabeth Binette Mahon ’07 shared photos that gave insight to the truly unique aspects of Mount de Sales Academy as a part of #iykyk (if you know, you know).

This series culminated on the Day of Giving with a Kahoot IYKYK Trivia Competition. Over 300 alumnae, parents, and friends competed in this and the MDSA History Quizzes!

Behind the Scenes at Mount de Sales As part of our Heritage with Heart Day of Giving on Tuesday, June 23, Director of Development Claire Middleton Cohagan ’78 and Director of Alumnae Relations Elizabeth Binette Mahon ’07 took our community on virtual behindthe-scenes tours of Mount de Sales Academy, complete with endless fun facts about our rich history! You can view the videos on our website: mountdesalesacademy.org/giving/ heritage-with-heart

Alumnae Spotlight

Joan Miceli Robinson ‘90

children in dire situations, to a stay-at-home-mom, where I instilled the need to have compassion for others in my children. From there I became a professional organizer, helping others declutter their lives. I am currently a partner opening the Culinary Craft Workshop (CCW), a recreational cooking school in downtown Catonsville.

Mount de Sales is and always will be the touchstone which formed the foundation of my life. The education I received at MDSA gave me the skills, empathy, and compassion to be the person I am today. My greatest accomplishment is being a mother to three amazing children: Julia, Caroline, and Andrew. My oldest, Julia De Sales Robinson, carries the name of my alma mater, while my younger daughter Caroline is a senior at MDSA and walks the same halls I did 30 years ago. My youngest, Andrew, while unable to become a Sailor, has always volunteered to help at many of our events.

Staying connected to MDSA has been an extremely important part of my life. As an active member of the Alumnae Association, I help plan and execute our events and fundraisers. Words cannot express how much joy I receive from this involvement. Some of my MDSA classmates are my oldest and closest friends. I have also established many new friendships with other Sailor sisters along the way. The relationships I formed at MDSA will last a lifetime; it truly is a sisterhood.

My deep need to help others, which I first acquired at MDSA, set me on a path to serve the community. My journey has taken me from being a social worker, where I protected

I have a passion for cooking that has always been an integral part of my life. My love of cooking opened the doors and allowed me to become a partner in CCW, set to open later this fall. Our goal is to give people the skills needed to expand their culinary horizon and enrich their lives.

The Culinary Craft Workshop of Catonsville is designed as a teaching kitchen and cooking workshop where people of all culinary skill levels come together to work with professional chefs in a relaxed setting. Students will experience both hands-on learning and chef-led demonstration classes in everything from basic skills and techniques to creating delicious gourmet meals. CCW will offer a variety of cooking classes designed for both individuals and groups.

Additionally, Culinary Craft Workshop will offer fun and instructional programs for kids and teens with a passion for food as part of a ‘Junior Chefs’ program.

The mission of CCW is to offer guests something more than just going out to eat. It is about the enjoyment of preparing a meal while acquiring new culinary skills.

It is exciting to me that CCW will open in Catonsville as I call this community home. My time at Mount de Sales prepared me for several fulfilling careers, to raising a family in 21228, to now opening this business. I am grateful for Mount de Sales and truly believe that my time there was the launching point to a satisfying life!

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Salute to Sailors in Service Mount de Sales would like to salute all our Sailors, those pictured and the countless who are not, who serve as essential workers during this global pandemic. They are the nurses, social workers, emergency medical technicians, grocery store employees, airline attendants, paramedics, firefighters, and so many more important people who step up in times of need. The work that our alumnae Sailors do in their communities is extraordinary! We are proud to highlight our alumnae who make sacrifices to keep us healthy and safe. Thank you!

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Class of 1970 Celebrates 50 Years It is tradition at Mount de Sales that the class celebrating their 50th reunion year is invited to the graduation ceremony as honored guests. Unfortunately, changes made to graduation due to the pandemic did not allow for the members of the Class of 1970 to join the Class of 2020 in the Music Hall this year. Still connecting with the graduates from afar and fifty years out, the 1970 Sailors have some words of wisdom for the Class of 2020: “Begin your day with gratitude. If you can anchor your day with gratitude, you will be on the right path for happiness and success!

Congratulations, Class of 2020!” -Sandy Roth Burgamy ’70 “Follow the path of Our Lord in all of your decisions. Follow your dreams and pursue what makes you happiest. Voice your opinions gently!” –Carol J. Tamburo '70 “Work towards what you are passionate about. Don’t give up if you don’t achieve your goal the first time around. There is always a second chance.” -Laurie Kurtz Goldman '70

"St. Francis de Sales always suggested that we have an equanimity of spirit…not letting our highs be too high or our lows be too low. If you follow that, and cultivate your faith, you will be able to withstand any adversity." -Nora Reiter '70 "Faith, Family, Work, Community! While life has its up and downs, always remember that these are always changing, bringing new opportunities to grow and new joys to sustain you.

Be sure to make time for yourself and that which stimulates you most. Don’t forget to give back to others, whether it be financial or by sharing yourself with those in need of your talents. Enjoy!”

-Victoria Fields Keller '70 “An Irish Prayer: May God give you for every storm a rainbow, for every tear, a smile. For every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share.

For every sign, a sweet song, add an answer for each prayer.

Always remember your years at MDSA!” –Marie McGinn '70

Legacy in the Class of 2020 Graduate: Lucie Rutkowski ’20 Mother: Joanna Finnel Rutkowski ‘87 P'20 Graduate: Riley Howard ’20 Mother: Jacqui Magnes‘86 P'18 '20 Graduate: Samantha Zalucki ‘20 Mother: Michelle Cascio Zalucki ‘84 P'12 '15 '20

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Alumnae Profile: Four Years Out Veronica Balick ‘16

For the past four years Veronica, Mount de Sales' 2016 Salutatorian, studied for her undergraduate degree at Mount St. Mary’s University (MSM), where she majored in biochemistry and biology. Now she is off to study cancer immunology and biotechnology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.

In her words: “During my time at Mount St. Mary’s, I discovered a passion for cancer research. Through my classes and several summer research experiences, I decided that I wanted to attend graduate school after college to study this field in depth. Additionally, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in the Czech Republic. This amazing experience led me to explore graduate school opportunities abroad. I was honored to have the support of several faculty members at MSM when I decided to apply for a Fulbright Study Research Award to the United Kingdom. By God’s grace, I received the grant and will be pursuing my master’s degree in cancer immunology and biotechnology at the University of Nottingham next year, coronavirus permitting. I will study the exciting field of immunotherapy, which explores the relationship between cancer and the immune system and attempts to stimulate an immune response to cancer. I am so thankful to Mount de Sales for initially sparking my passion for science, and I am excited to see where the next few years will take me!”

Mother: Allison Steer ‘91 P'20 Graduate: Chloe Steer ‘20 Grandmother: Rose Marie Iampieri Steer ‘61 P'86 '91 GP'15 '18 '20 Mother: Mimi Woods Ringstad ‘84 P'20 '22 Graduate: Kathryn Ringstad ‘20 NOT PICTURED: Graduate: Anna Ptak ‘20 Grandmother: Mary Katharyn Feeley Cassady ‘51 GP'20

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Alumnae Updates Two years ago, Alicia Cignatta ’93 lost her battle to cancer. Before her passing, Alicia was the longestserving employee at The Brain Injury Association of Maryland. Her coworkers miss her daily and remember her as one of the most dedicated people they knew. To honor her legacy, the Brain Injury Association of Maryland is proud to rededicate their yearly Spirit of Independence awards to honor Alicia, as they recently renamed them the “Alicia Cignatta Spirit of Independence Awards.”

Currently serving as the Director of Marketing at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in the Division of Professional Studies, Julie Simon Gilless ’94 earned her Master of Science in Management & Marketing from the University of Maryland, Global Campus, with a perfect 4.0 GPA! Harrison Russell Guest was born into the Guest family on November 10, 2019, at 10:20 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. He joins Jordan Hartzell Guest ’01, dad, and big brother Hudson, currently six years old. They live on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.

Jennifer Smith ’03 is currently a physician in emergency medicine at Langley Air Force Base. She was recently promoted to Major in the United States Air Force. Jennifer married her husband Clif on February 17, 2020, and they currently reside in Virginia with their four dogs.

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Katerina Dudley '09 graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Saint Mary’s College of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In July 2017, she married her college sweetheart, David Gainey.

Katerina recently received her Doctoral PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her clinical internship at Children’s National Medical Center in DC. Katerina is now finishing her post-doctoral fellowship training at the clinical practice of The Center for Assessment and Treatment in Chevy Chase, MD, which is led by Dr. David Black, a nationally and internationally recognized pediatric neuropsychologist and scientist who is an expert in autism spectrum and related disorders.

Katerina’s 2018 publication, "Understanding Service Usage and Needs for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Importance of a Living Situation," was named as one of the top journal articles in the autism field by the NIH Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and is listed in the US National Library of Medicine. She also co-authored the chapter on Autism Spectrum Disorder in the course textbook and medical practitioner reference: Treatment of Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, 2019.

Katerina is grateful that now she can give back to her community and serve others by providing psychotherapy and assessments, focusing on diagnostic clarity and learning disabilities. She provides targeted interventions for autism disorder, emotion regulation difficulties, executive function, and social skills using both dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapies. It is her belief that the academic and spiritual formation that Mount de Sales instills in its students of “academic excellence, lifelong learning, moral responsibility, service to others, and understanding of the dignity of the human person” helped form the person she is today.

Congratulations to Maura Duffy ’09 who was recently awarded the Youth Environmental Science (YES) Medal from Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists (YLACES). She received this award at the annual Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Educators Conference in Ocean City in February of this year. Maura has worked at the National Aquarium in Baltimore for the past five years where she supports various efforts, including the Masonville Cove BioBlitz, Baltimore City’s Nature Challenge, and the Aquarium’s Summer Citizen Science Programming. Upon receiving this award, Maura will earn a $10,000 grant for the National Aquarium. They will use the funds to expand the citizen science and communitybased habitat restoration program over the coming year.

Way to go, Maura!

Kasey Mercier Wolfe ’09 and her husband Bryan are thrilled to announce that Madeline Rose Wolfe was born right on her due date, May 25, at 4:05 a.m. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Madeline is excited to be a Sailor one day as a future member of the Class of 2038!

Katherine Oursler ’11 graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education with a Master’s Degree in Applied Developmental Psychology with a concentration in Child Life on April 26, 2020. She will be helping children and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of hospitalization as a Child Life Specialist.

In Memoriam Mary Ann Ritter Roth '43 P'65 '70 Eileen Holthaus Brady ‘44 Rosemary Temmink Peacock ‘44 Mary Buser Kane ‘49 Mary Federline Tolentino ’63 Barbara Degele Yargar '66

In May 2020, Caitlin Soto ’12 earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She is thrilled to have matched to her first-choice pharmacy residency program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Soto hopes to pursue further training in either infectious diseases or pediatrics after her first year of residency.

Kaitlyn Bolesta Lohrmann ’12 and her husband James welcomed their first baby boy, Ezekiel “Zeke” James, on February 11, 2020.

Lt.j.g. Karida Harris '14 took command of the Coast Guard Cutter Ibis, homeported in Fort Pierce, Florida. Karida is a 2018 graduate from the Coast Guard Academy and she is only the second AfricanAmerican woman to take command of Coast Guard cutter!

Maria Vikander ’15 and her husband Jack married on June 13, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. They had an intimate ceremony with their parents and his brother at their parish church. Although their original plans completely changed, the couple believes that was a blessing in disguise! After graduating from Ave Maria University last May, they moved to Sarasota, Florida.

Maria has been working full-time as a Marketing Executive and Jack is a Construction Manager.

If you know of any alumnae from Mount de Sales Academy who have passed away in the last year, please inform Elizabeth Mahon ’07 at emahon@mountdesales.org or 410.744.8498 x265 so that they may be remembered in our Annual Alumnae Memorial Mass in November. Thank you.

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Warmly Welcoming

The Next Generation of Sailors Dear Sailor Family, The world we once knew was forever changed in March of 2020. The virus left a global impact, leading us to wonder what the future would look like. Students, families, faculty, and staff experienced many curveballs. We would soon live through one of several major quandaries of our time. The schools of our nation were asked to implement an eLearning platform on a dime. While no one person, place, or thing is perfect, Mount de Sales persevered through uncharted waters with great poise.

As a community, we found new ways to continue old traditions with safety measures in place. Our school ventured across new paths with devotion. We conquered our eLearning platform, prayed virtual rosaries and novenas,

ADMISSIONS Want to learn more about how to apply to Mount de Sales?

The application process for eighthgrade applicants occurs each fall and winter.

Access details about the application process, visits, events, and more at mountdesales.org/admissions.

Email the Admissions Office at admissions@mountdesales.org.

Assistant Director of Admissions Jennifer Blake '15 jblake@mountdesales.org

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hosted virtual high school fairs, held “Class Masses” on our turf field, and welcomed 21 new students from the Institute of Notre Dame into our sisterhood.

As the school year closed and summer approached, dates for end-of-year events changed, but traditions remained the same. Small-group senior picnics, Baccalaureate Mass, and three 168th Graduation ceremonies still took place!

While we executed an abundance of “newness” in a short timeframe, one truth prevailed: our students' educational, spiritual, and physical well-being remained our top priority.

The photographs captured from the joyous end-of-year events will fuel the stories we share with future generations.

Stories of love and dedication amidst great hardship. Though times are unprecedented, our girls have shown us that there are always Sailors with smiles behind their face masks.

Allie Sapienza ‘11 Director of Admissions

Class of 2024 Scholarship Recipients ST. FRANCIS DE SALES SCHOLARSHIP

ST. CECILIA MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES SCHOLARSHIP

Emaan Ali Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Sydney Andrus School of the Incarnation

Leah Howard Resurrection/St. Paul School

Corinne Carpenter Our Lady of Victory

Abigail Burke St. John the Evangelist

Maryangeles Vasquez St. John Westminster

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SCHOLARSHIP

Hailey Clark St. Augustine

SERVICE LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

Amy Halligan School of the Incarnation

FRA ANGELICO ART SCHOLARSHIP

Janie Batchelor Monsignor Slade

Ana Hauge St. Peter’s Catholic School

Reese Woody Catonsville Middle School

Kateri Beach Homeschool

Madison Keys St. Philip-Neri School

SEMPER FI SCHOLARSHIP

Samantha Brown St. Augustine School

Anna Kosloski Catonsville Middle School Kirsten Reed St. Louis School

Genevieve Birrane St. Louis School Samantha Brown St. Augustine School

GOLDEN COUNSEL SCHOLARSHIP

Corinne Carpenter Our Lady of Victory

Samantha Brown St. Augustine School

Morgan Depp St. Louis School

Hailey Clark St. Augustine School

Abigail Nelson Resurrection/St. Paul School

Lillian Cochran Archbishop Borders School

Cecilia Pham Southwest Academy

Meghan Hanley St. John Regional Catholic School

Mary Cate Rehkemper St. Mark School

Morgen Heidebrecht Sacred Heart School of Glyndon

Sarah Shumaker Our Lady of Victory

Cate Matthews St. Mary’s Elementary School

Mary Sitzwohl St. Thomas Aquinas Tutorial

Audrey Mima St. Mary of the Mills

ST. DOMINIC SCHOLARSHIP

Sarah Shumaker Our Lady of Victory Maureen Smith Immaculate Conception School Molly Sullivan St. John the Evangelist Maryangeles Vasquez St. John Westminster

Brooke Frederick St. Mary of the Mills Clara Gaigler Homeschool Maura West Catonsville Middle School

Tayler Darcey St. Mark School Meghan Hanley St. John Regional Catholic School Ashley Hawkins Monsignor Slade Leah Howard Resurrection/St. Paul School Madison Keys St. Philip Neri Anna Kosloski Catonsville Middle School Audrey Mima St. Mary of the Mills Abigail Nelson Resurrection/St. Paul School Ava Remesch Arbutus Middle School Elizabeth Seeley Homeschool Sarah Shumaker Our Lady of Victory Grace Small Our Lady of Perpetual Help GUARDIANS OF LIFE SCHOLARSHIP Chase Toler Resurrection/St. Paul School

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Mount de Sales Academy 700 Academy Road Catonsville, MD 21228

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Baltimore, MD Permit No. 6341