MSM Messenger - Spring 2026

The

MESSENGER A publication of Mount St. Mary Academy

SPRING 2026

THERE'S NO OTHER

Like Her M S M S U STA I N S M E R CY LEG ACY FO R 175 Y E A R S PG. 8

HISTORY ON HARDWOOD PG. 2

|

ALL IN THE FAMILY PG. 16

|

ROBIN HOOD DAYS PG. 28

The

MESSENGER A publication of Mount St. Mary Academy

ONLINE ACCESS DIGITAL EDITIONS Want to view The Messenger while on the go? Our digital editions offer the same experience, but you can access them anytime!

MTSTMARY.EDU/MESSENGER

3224 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, AR 72205 501-664-8006 • mtstmary.edu Mount St. Mary Academy is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education.

MISSION Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

VISION Equipped with knowledge, our graduates leave with confidence, courage, motivation and drive. Like Catherine McAuley, they are fierce pioneers, passionate about making a difference in their communities and the world.

2025-2026 MSM Academy Board of Directors

On the cover: Renowned artist John Deering’s donor wall at Mount St. Mary Academy. Created during the school’s 160th anniversary, the mural features a lifesize statue of Catherine McAuley and images depicting Mount’s history.

John is the husband of Kathy Madey Deering ’75 and the father of Liz Deering Morris ’95.

2 | THE MESSENGER

Donna Chachere ’83, Chair Jena Cupples Compton ’91, Vice Chair Deborah Baldwin Ashley Bressinck Cunningham ’88 Joanie Greene Foster ’91 Fr. Stephen Gadberry Jeff Hathaway

Summer Khairi ’12 Sr. Diane Koorie, RSM Mary Logan Edward Oglesby Wallace Smith Sara Jones (ex-officio)

The Messenger Staff Jamie Groat, Editor Dwain Hebda, Contributing Writer Ashlee Nobel, Contributing Designer Lori Sparkman and Nelson Chenault, Contributing Photographers

Printed by Arkansas Graphics The Messenger is produced annually for the alumnae, families and friends of Mount St. Mary Academy. Please report any address changes or corrections to the Advancement Office at 501-476-3375, or email ccole@mtstmary.edu. All other comments should be directed to the publication’s editor at jgroat@mtstmary.edu.

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S MESSAGE

Happy 175 th birthday, Mount St. Mary Academy!

On February 5, 1851, the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Little Rock and established a foundation of faith, excellence and service that continues to shape young women today. As we celebrate this momentous anniversary, we acknowledge that the Mount St. Mary Academy story is not just a collection of dates, but a vibrant tapestry of individual lives and shared triumphs. In this year’s special issue of The Messenger, we look back with fondness at some of the people, traditions and moments that built our unique culture. $W WKH KHDUW RI WKLV UHÁHFWLRQ LV D WULEXWH WR WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ WKHPVHOYHV ² WKH FRXUDJHRXV ZRPHQ ZKRVH YLVLRQDU\ OHDGHUVKLS DQG XQZDYHULQJ GHYRWLRQ ODLG WKH OLWHUDO DQG ÀJXUDWLYH FRUQHUVWRQH RI RXU VFKRRO 7KHLU HQGXULQJ LQÁXHQFH LV WKH WKUHDG WKDW ELQGV RXU \HDUV WRJHWKHU UHPLQGLQJ XV WKDW ZKLOH EXLOGLQJV DQG FXUULFXOXP PD\ HYROYH RXU PLVVLRQ IRUHYHU UHPDLQV URRWHG LQ WKH 0HUF\ YDOXHV :H DOVR ORRN EDFN DW WKH ULFK KLVWRU\ RI 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V DQG WKH SLRQHHULQJ VSLULW RI WKH %DVNHWEDOO %HOOHV 7KHVH OHJDFLHV RI VLVWHUKRRG DQG JULW SDYHG WKH ZD\ IRU WKH PRGHUQ H[FHOOHQFH ZH VHH WRGD\ VXFK DV LQ RXU JROI WHDP·V LQFUHGLEOH WKUHH SHDW VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLS :KHWKHU RQ WKH FRXUW RU WKH FRXUVH LQ WKH FODVVURRP RU VHUYLQJ WKH

FRPPXQLW\ WKH 060 VSLULW LV GHÀQHG E\ D UHOHQWOHVV SXUVXLW RI JUHDWQHVV 7KH VRXO RI 0RXQW LV SHUKDSV EHVW UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH SHUVRQDO VWRULHV RI WKRVH ZKR KDYH FDOOHG LW KRPH :H H[SORUH WKH IRUPDWLYH OLIH RI D ERDUGHU DQG RͿHU DOXPQDH DQG IDFXOW\ SURÀOHV WKDW KLJKOLJKW WKH FRXUDJH OHDGHUVKLS DQG JUDFH ZH VWULYH WR LQVWLOO LQ HYHU\ VWXGHQW 2XU KLVWRU\ LV IXUWKHU DQFKRUHG E\ RXU IDPLO\ OHJDFLHV ZKHUH ZH FHOHEUDWH WKH JHQHUDWLRQV RI ZRPHQ ZKR KDYH IROORZHG LQ RQH DQRWKHU·V IRRWVWHSV :H DUH HVSHFLDOO\ KRQRUHG WR VSRWOLJKW RXU ROGHVW NQRZQ OLYLQJ DOXPQD D ZRPDQ ZKRVH OLIH VHUYHV DV D EHDXWLIXO EULGJH EHWZHHQ RXU KLVWRULF SDVW DQG RXU EULJKW IXWXUH $V \RX UHDG WKURXJK WKHVH VWRULHV DQG UHÁHFW RQ \HDUV RI KLVWRU\ ZH KRSH \RX IHHO WKH HQGXULQJ VWUHQJWK RI WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ DQG DUH UHPLQGHG WKDW RXU OHJDF\ LV QRW KHOG ZLWKLQ WKH ZDOOV RI RXU EXLOGLQJV EXW LQ WKH KHDUWV RI RXU FRPPXQLW\ 7KDQN \RX IRU \RXU VWHDGIDVW VXSSRUW DQG IRU KHOSLQJ XV HQVXUH 0RXQW UHPDLQV D SODFH ZKHUH \RXQJ ZRPHQ DUH HPSRZHUHG WR OHDG ZLWK IDLWK DQG LQWHJULW\ +HUH·V WR \HDUV RI WUDGLWLRQ DQG WR WKH PDQ\ JHQHUDWLRQV RI 0RXQW JLUOV \HW WR FRPH

Sara Jones, Ed.S. Head of School

Mount St. Mary Academy Leadership & Advancement Sara Jones, Ed.S., Head of School / Robin Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Head of School / Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, Chaplain / Susej Burks Thompson ’95, Director of Campus Ministry / Lane Vassar West ’89, Director of Athletics / Kate Schweder, Director of Finance / Mary Catherine Burney, Director of Advancement / Eden Coker, Director of Enrollment / Jamie Groat, Director of Communications & Marketing / Chelle McKenzie McCarroll ’02, Director of Alumnae Relations / Catherine Hickey Cole ’95, Database Administrator SPRING 2026

| 1

History ON HARDWOOD Basketball holds a distinguished place in the history of the Mount

T

HROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY, THE MOUNT HAS SERVED AS A BULWARK AGAINST ATTITUDES AND SOCIAL CONVENTIONS THAT LIMITED WOMEN, AND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD, AS LESS THAN COMPARED TO MALE COUNTERPARTS. PERHAPS NOWHERE IS THAT MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE SCHOOL’S ATTITUDE TOWARD GIRLS’ ATHLETICS, SPECIFICALLY BASKETBALL.

%DVNHWEDOO DW WKH 0RXQW H[LVWHG ZHOO EHIRUH PRVW KLJK VFKRRO JLUOV LQ JHQHUDO ZHUH DOORZHG WR FRPSHWH LQ H[WUDPXUDO VSRUWV URRWHG LQ WKH EHOLHI WKDW D ZHOO URXQGHG HGXFDWLRQ VKRXOG IHHG WKH ERG\ DV ZHOO DV WKH PLQG DQG VSLULW $ SKRWR RI D EDVNHWEDOO WHDP IURP DV HDUO\ DV H[LVWV LQ WKH 0RXQW DUFKLYHV EXW WKH VSRUW ZRXOG UHDOO\ WDNH RͿ D FRXSOH \HDUV ODWHU LQ DIWHU WKH VFKRRO UHORFDWHG IURP GRZQWRZQ /LWWOH 5RFN WR WKH +LOOFUHVW FDPSXV LW QRZ RFFXSLHV 7KH WHDP SUDFWLFHG DQG SOD\HG RQ DQ RXWGRRU FRXUW RQ WKH JURXQGV DV ZHOO DV DW QHDUE\ /LWWOH 5RFN &ROOHJH QRZ &DWKROLF +LJK 6FKRRO IRU %R\V ,QWHUVFKRODVWLF FRPSHWLWLRQ EHJDQ LQ ZLWK WKH DUULYDO RI 0RQVLJQRU 7KRPDV .HDQ\ ORQJWLPH FKDSODLQ DQG EDVNHWEDOO FRDFK DW WKH 0RXQW 6KRUWO\ DIWHUZDUGV LQ WKH VFKRRO JRW D J\P RI LWV RZQ FRPSOHWHG DW

2 | THE MESSENGER

D FRVW RI 7KH VWUXFWXUH PXVW KDYH VHHPHG SDODWLDO DW WKH WLPH FRQVLGHULQJ WKH SULFH WDJ HTXDWHV WR QHDUO\ PLOOLRQ LQ 7KH J\P KDV EHHQ UHQRYDWHG VHYHUDO WLPHV RYHU WKH \HDUV DQG KDV FRPH WR UHSUHVHQW D FHQWHU RI OLIH DW WKH 0RXQW 6RFLHW\ ZRXOG HYHQWXDOO\ FDWFK XS WR WKH IRUZDUG WKLQNLQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ RQ WKH VXEMHFW RI ZRPHQ LQ VSRUWV ,Q -XQH 7LWOH ,; EHFDPH IHGHUDO ODZ SURKLELWLQJ VH[ EDVHG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ LQ DQ\ HGXFDWLRQDO SURJUDP RU DFWLYLW\ UHFHLYLQJ IHGHUDO ÀQDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH $V SXEOLF VFKRRO SURJUDPV VFUDPEOHG WR ÀHOG WHDPV LQ WKH ZDNH RI WKH QHZ ODZ 060·V ORQJ KLVWRU\ LQ WKH JDPH VHUYHG LW ZHOO 7KH %HOOHV JDYH DV JRRG DV WKH\ JRW DJDLQVW FRPSHWLQJ KLJK VFKRROV WKDW RIWHQ WLPHV HQMR\HG EHWWHU IDFLOLWLHV PRUH UHVRXUFHV DQG D GHHSHU SRRO RI DWKOHWHV

$OPRVW \HDUV ODWHU 060 FDQ SRLQW WR HUDV ZKHUH WKH %HOOHV ZHUH GRPLQDQW LQ UHJXODU VHDVRQ DQG FRQIHUHQFH SOD\ VR PXFK VR WKDW DQ DQQXDO WULS WR WKH VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW ZDV D JLYHQ RU DW OHDVW H[SHFWHG +RZHYHU GHVSLWH GHFDGHV RI WDOHQWHG LQGLYLGXDO SOD\HUV DQG WKH RFFDVLRQDO RQFH LQ D JHQHUDWLRQ WHDP WKH XOWLPDWH DFFRPSOLVKPHQW RI D VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLS WLWOH KDV \HW WR FRPH KRPH WR WKH 0RXQW 7KLV IDFW GRHV QRWKLQJ WR GLOXWH RU GLPLQLVK WKH SULGH WKDW \HDUV· ZRUWK RI DWKOHWHV KDYH IHOW LQ UHSUHVHQWLQJ WKH SXUSOH DQG ZKLWH 5HJDUGOHVV RI WKH UHFRUG DW WKH HQG RI HDFK VHDVRQ WKH OHVVRQV RI WHDPZRUN OHDGHUVKLS IDLU SOD\ DQG UHVLOLHQFH ZHUH DOZD\V LPSDUWHG VNLOOV WR EH FDUULHG LQWR WKH QH[W FKDSWHUV RI SOD\HUV· OLYHV :H FDXJKW XS ZLWK WKUHH IRUPHU SOD\HUV HDFK IURP WKHLU RZQ HUD WR OHDUQ KRZ EHLQJ RQ WKH EDVNHWEDOO FRXUW FRQWULEXWHG WR WKHLU HGXFDWLRQDO H[SHULHQFH DQG VHUYHG WKHP LQ WKHLU OLYHV DIWHU KLJK VFKRRO Above: Mount St. Mary Academy’s 1908-09 basketball team, the first at the school’s new location in Pulaski Heights

SPORTS

“ Basketball taught me teamwork, how to depend on your teammates and have them depend on you.

”

- JONI JOHNSTON CALVA ’76

Above: Msgr. Thomas Keany (far left) with his first Mount St. Mary Academy basketball team in 1924-25, the year the school began participating in interscholastic competition

A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME: JONI JOHNSTON CALVA ’76 -RQL -RKQVWRQ &DOYD·V IRXU \HDUV DW 0RXQW VDZ VXFK FKDQJH LQ WKH ÀHOG RI ZRPHQ·V VSRUWV LW ZLOO OLNHO\ QHYHU EH GXSOLFDWHG 7LWOH ,; ZDV UDWLÀHG WKH VXPPHU EHIRUH KHU IUHVKPDQ \HDU DQG LQ WKH \HDUV WR FRPH VKH·G VHH WKH JDPH VKLIW IURP WKH RQ KDOI FRXUW VW\OH WKDW KDG EHHQ UHVHUYHG IRU JLUOV· WHDPV WR WKH VWDQGDUG RQ EUDQG +RZHYHU LW DOPRVW GLGQ·W KDSSHQ IRU WKH VFUDSS\ IRUZDUG DW DOO ´%DVNHWEDOO ZDV WKH RQO\ VSRUW , SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ µ VKH VDLG ´, GLGQ·W VWDUW IUHVKPDQ \HDU EXW , GLG JHW WR SOD\ 6RSKRPRUH \HDU ZDV SUHWW\ WUDJLF IRU PH , GLGQ·W JHW FKRVHQ IRU WKH WHDP EXW D JLUO ZKR ZDV VHOHFWHG GHFLGHG QRW WR SOD\ 6R WKH FRDFK KDG WR FRPH EDFN DQG DVN PH WR EH RQ WKH WHDP µ -RQL PRUH WKDQ PDGH XS IRU WKH VHFRQG FKDQFH VWDUWLQJ IRU WKUHH \HDUV RQ YDUVLW\ 6KH UHPHPEHUV WKH %HOOHV EHLQJ IDLUO\ VXFFHVVIXO GXULQJ KHU WLPH EXW -RQL·V WDOHQW ZDV XQGHQLDEOH $IWHU JUDGXDWLRQ VKH DWWHQGHG WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $UNDQVDV LQ )D\HWWHYLOOH ZKHUH VKH ZDV D PHPEHU RI WKH XQLYHUVLW\·V ÀUVW ZRPHQ·V EDVNHWEDOO WHDP ´%DFN WKHQ \RX KDG WR WU\ RXW IRU WKH ZRPHQ·V EDVNHWEDOO WHDP DW $UNDQVDV VR , WULHG RXW IUHVKPDQ \HDU DQG , GLG PDNH WKH WHDP µ VKH VDLG ´6RSKRPRUH \HDU ,·P SUHWW\ VXUH ZH WULHG RXW DJDLQ DQG , GLG PDNH WKH WHDP DJDLQ %XW , ZDVQ·W , GRQ·W NQRZ KRZ WR VD\ WKLV FRUUHFWO\ , ZDVQ·W JRRG HQRXJK IRU PRUH WKDQ PRS XS GXW\ 6R P\ MXQLRU \HDU , GHFLGHG QRW

WR SOD\ ZKLFK DOORZHG PH WR IRFXV PRUH RQ VFKRRO $OWKRXJK , ZDVQ·W SOD\LQJ IRU WKH 5D]RUEDFNV , GLG KHOS P\ VRURULW\ ZLQ WKH LQWUDPXUDO EDVNHWEDOO FKDPSLRQVKLS µ +HU VHULRXV SOD\LQJ GD\V PD\ KDYH EHHQ RYHU EXW WKH JDPH ZDVQ·W WKURXJK ZLWK KHU \HW ,Q WLPH -RQL ZRXOG FRDFK KHU VRQV LQ PLGGOH VFKRRO OHDJXHV DOPRVW H[FOXVLYHO\ FRDFKLQJ DQG ZLQQLQJ DJDLQVW PHQ 6KH DOVR GXVWHG RͿ KHU VQHDNHUV RQFH KHU JUDQGFKLOGUHQ ² QRZ DQG ² JRW LQWHUHVWHG LQ WKH JDPH ´:HOO \RX NQRZ , JR RXW ERXQFLQJ WKH EDOO RQ WKH GULYHZD\ ZLWK WKHP GRLQJ GULOOV µ VKH VDLG ZLWK SULGH 1RZ UHWLUHG DQG OLYLQJ LQ +RXVWRQ 7H[DV VKH VDLG WKH JDPH JDYH KHU WKHVH JLIWV DQG PRUH

´%DVNHWEDOO WDXJKW PH WHDPZRUN KRZ WR GHSHQG RQ \RXU WHDPPDWHV DQG KDYH WKHP GHSHQG RQ \RX µ VKH VDLG ´, OHDUQHG KRZ WR ZRUN WKURXJK DGYHUVLW\ DW VFKRRO RU DW ZRUN , HQMR\HG SOD\LQJ EDVNHWEDOO ,W ZDV D JRRG H[SHULHQFH µ

Right: Voted “Most Athletic” in the 1976 senior superlatives, Joni Johnston Calva (on right) also served as CHS Pep Squad captain

Above: Joni Johnston Calva (third from right) with the 1975-76 Belles basketball team SPRING 2026

| 3

“ While winning’s the goal, the process of getting there requires a level of resilience that stays with you ... and [it] helped me accomplish the things that I wanted to accomplish in my life.

”

- DEIDRA WILLIAMS MACK ’88

THE DREAM TEAM: DEIDRA WILLIAMS MACK ’88

Above, from top: Deidra Williams Mack (left) and Kendall Mago Dunn ’88 at summer basketball camp Deidra Williams Mack (right) playing at Southern Arkansas University

,Q 060 EDVNHWEDOO ORUH QR WHDPV KDYH D EHWWHU FODLP RQ ´%HVW (YHUµ ODXUHOV WKDQ WKRVH LQ WKH PLG WR ODWH V 'HLGUD :LOOLDPV 0DFN ZDV DW WKH FHQWHU RI WKDW JUHDWQHVV 'HLGUD ZKR SOD\HG SRLQW DQG VKRRWLQJ JXDUG HQWHUHG WKH 0RXQW VXUURXQGHG E\ D VXSSRUWLQJ FDVW WKDW LV DUJXDEO\ WKH EHVW WKH VFKRRO HYHU SURGXFHG ´$ ORW RI P\ WHDPPDWHV DW 0RXQW ZHUH JLUOV , KDG SOD\HG ZLWK VLQFH P\ HOHPHQWDU\ \HDUV $ ORW RI XV SOD\HG $$8 EDVNHWEDOO µ VKH VDLG ´:H ZHUH DOO FORVH :H ZHUH IULHQGV (YHU\ERG\ SXVKHG HDFK RWKHU µ %\ 'HLGUD·V UHFROOHFWLRQ WKH JURXS ZHQW XQGHIHDWHG LQ IUHVKPDQ SOD\ EHIRUH PRYLQJ WR YDUVLW\ DV VRSKRPRUHV ZKHUH WKH\ GRPLQDWHG LQ FRQIHUHQFH DQG FRPSHWHG DW VWDWH VRPHWKLQJ WKH\ UHSHDWHG MXQLRU \HDU 7KHQ WKH\ JRW VRPH VWURQJ KLQWV WKDW VHQLRU \HDU ZRXOG EH VSHFLDO ´7KH VXPPHU EHIRUH VHQLRU \HDU VHYHUDO RI XV SOD\HG RQ DQ $$8 WHDP WKDW ZHQW WR WKH QDWLRQDO WRXUQDPHQW µ 'HLGUD VDLG ´:H FDPH KRPH ZLWK WKH JROG PHGDO µ 7KH 0RXQW JLUOV WXUQHG WKDW H[SHULHQFH LQWR D VHDVRQ WR UHPHPEHU JRLQJ XQGHIHDWHG LQ UHJXODU VHDVRQ DQG FRQIHUHQFH SOD\

´:H ZHUH MXVW VR FRKHVLYH µ VKH VDLG ´:H UHDOO\ FOLFNHG WR WKH SRLQW ZH NQHZ KRZ HDFK RWKHU PRYHG , FRXOG IXQQHO WKH EDOO WR RXU VFRUHUV EHFDXVH , NQHZ WKHP VR ZHOO , NQHZ ZKHUH WKH\ ZHUH JRLQJ WR EH µ 7KH %HOOHV FUXVKHG WKH VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW ÀHOG FUXLVLQJ WR WKH FKDPSLRQVKLS DJDLQVW %U\DQW D WHDP LW KDG EHDWHQ VHYHQ WLPHV WKDW VHDVRQ %XW LW ZDVQ·W PHDQW WR EH DV WKH +RUQHWV EURXJKW WKH PLUDFOH VHDVRQ WR DQ DJRQL]LQJ HQG E\ D PHUH ÀYH SRLQWV 'HLGUD ZKR SOD\HG FROOHJH EDOO DW 6RXWKHUQ $UNDQVDV 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ 0DJQROLD ZRXOG NHHS KHU KDQG LQ WKH JDPH VHUYLQJ DV DWKOHWLF GLUHFWRU DW &KULVW WKH .LQJ &DWKROLF 6FKRRO LQ /LWWOH 5RFN DQG WDNLQJ RQ QXPHURXV FRDFKLQJ JLJV LQ \RXWK DQG MXQLRU KLJK OHDJXHV DV ZHOO DV DQ DVVLVWDQW IRU 060 IURP WR :LWK HYHU\ DVVLJQPHQW VKH VRXJKW WR LPSDUW WKH VDPH OLIH OHVVRQV VKH JDLQHG DV D %HOOH ´/RVLQJ VWDWH ZDV D KHDUWEUHDNHU EXW WKHUH ZDV D ORW WR OHDUQ IURP EHLQJ UXQQHU XS µ VKH VDLG ´:KLOH ZLQQLQJ·V WKH JRDO WKH SURFHVV RI JHWWLQJ WKHUH UHTXLUHV D OHYHO RI UHVLOLHQFH WKDW VWD\V ZLWK \RX 7KDW H[SHULHQFH KDV VWD\HG ZLWK PH WKURXJK P\ FDUHHU DQG KHOSHG PH DFFRPSOLVK WKH WKLQJV WKDW , ZDQWHG WR DFFRPSOLVK LQ P\ OLIH µ

Mascot Milestones: 100 YEARS OF THE BELLES

A

t Mount St. Mary Academy, “Belles” is more than a title – it’s a centurylong legacy perfectly blending the charm of the all-girls school with the symbolic strength of the bell that once called the community to prayer and

study. What started as a moniker for Mount’s earliest sports team is now an established fixture of

Beth Satterfield ’84 embodies the Belle spirit

4 | THE MESSENGER

the school’s overall identity, so much so that many may be surprised to learn its evolution included a brief, spirited detour into the animal kingdom before the mascot was set in stone.

The Belles name officially tipped off in 1925 with the arrival of Msgr. Thomas Keany as basketball coach and the beginning of interscholastic competition. For six years, the name stuck, until 1931 when the team pivoted to a swifter identity: the Gazelles. As reported in the December 17 issue of the Mari-Echoes school newspaper that year, “The name of ‘Gazelles’ has been adopted by the

SPORTS

THE PHENOM: LORIE WHITE ’92 $PRQJ WKH WKRXVDQGV RI VWXGHQW DWKOHWHV ZKR SOD\HG EDVNHWEDOO DW 060 D VHOHFW IHZ HQWHU WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQ DV WKH JUHDWHVW HYHU /RULH :KLWH LV RQH RI WKRVH SHRSOH /RULH OHG WKH %HOOHV WR WKH WKHQ DZDUGHG FLW\ FKDPSLRQVKLS SOXV WRS FRQIHUHQFH KRQRUV DQG UHSHDWHG VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW UXQV $OO WKLV VKH VDLG ZDV ZRQ PRUH RQ KHDUW WKDQ QDWXUDO DWWULEXWHV VSHDNLQJ ERWK RI KHUVHOI DW VPDOO IRUZDUG DQG WKH 060 WHDPV RI KHU GD\ ´)URP D VL]H SHUVSHFWLYH , WKLQN , ZDV WKH WDOOHVW RQH RQ WKH WHDP DQG , GLGQ·W HYHQ SOD\ LQVLGH µ VKH VDLG ´2XU VXFFHVV FHQWHUHG DURXQG KDUG ZRUN DQG GLVFLSOLQH ZH SOD\HG YHU\ IDVW DQG ZH SOD\HG YHU\ GLVFLSOLQHG µ 7KH WRXJKQHVV RI WKH VTXDG ZDV GHYHORSHG QRW RQO\ RQ WKH FRXUW EXW DW WKH VWDUW RI WKH VFKRRO \HDU ´'XULQJ WKDW WLPHIUDPH DOO EDVNHWEDOO SOD\HUV KDG WR UXQ FURVV FRXQWU\ µ VKH VDLG ´<RX KDG WR EH FRPPLWWHG LI \RX ZDQWHG WR SOD\ EDVNHWEDOO µ

“ I think I was the

tallest one on the team, and I didn’t even play inside. Our success centered around hard work and discipline.

”

- LORIE WHITE ’92

Above: Lorie White (left) and Andrea Williams Gonzalez ’92 served as driving forces behind the school’s turnaround season in 1991-92

%\ WKH WLPH ZLQWHU VSRUWV VHDVRQ UROOHG DURXQG WKH %HOOHV ZHUH FRQGLWLRQHG ERWK PHQWDOO\ DQG SK\VLFDOO\ DQG IXHOHG E\ D VLPSOH PDQWUD ´2XU PRWWR DW WKH WLPH ZDV ¶:H %HOLHYH ·µ VDLG /RULH ZKR VWDUWHG IRU KHU IUHVKPDQ VTXDG DQG DOO WKUHH \HDUV RQ YDUVLW\ ´,W ZDV VRPHWKLQJ ZH·G VD\ ZKHQ ZH·G FRPH RXW RI WKH KXGGOH RU DIWHU D WLPHRXW ,Q IDFW LW XVHG WR EH SDLQWHG RQ WKH ZDOO RI WKH J\P ,W ZDV DQ KRQRU WR EH DEOH WR VD\ WKDW µ /RULH DWWHQGHG 0LVVRXUL 6 7 WKHQ NQRZQ DV 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0LVVRXUL 5ROOD RQ DQ DFDGHPLF DQG EDVNHWEDOO VFKRODUVKLS 7KHUH VKH ZDV D PHPEHU RI WKH KLVWRU\ PDNLQJ VTXDG WKDW ODQGHG WKH 0LQHUV· ÀUVW HYHU FRQIHUHQFH WLWOH DQG ÀUVW EHUWK LQ WKH 1&$$ 'LYLVLRQ ,, SRVWVHDVRQ WRXUQDPHQW 6KH DOVR VHUYHG DV VWXGHQW DVVLVWDQW FRDFK GXULQJ KHU ÀIWK \HDU DQG ZDV ODWHU LQGXFWHG LQWR WKH VFKRRO·V DWKOHWLF +DOO RI )DPH

basketball team and seems to be particularly appropriate. The gazelle is a species of antelope noted for its speed, grace and gentle disposition. It inhabits mountainous regions and so is properly associated with Mount St. Mary’s.”

The Gazelle era was short-lived, lasting only until 1936, at which point the school returned to its roots. The basketball teams have been the Belles ever since, a title that eventually grew to encompass the entire student body and many more sports teams at Mount.

For decades, being a Belle was an identity rather than a character; the school didn’t have an official physical mascot. While yearbook archives show students donning DIY bell costumes in the ’80s, a formal face for the Belles didn’t arrive for another 40 years.

In December 2023, Mount introduced Betty Belle, its first official costumed mascot. A clever, bell-shaped nod to the school’s heritage, Betty Belle has brought a new level of school spirit and pride to pep rallies, games and other special events.

From the original team of 1925 to the introduction of an official mascot nearly a century later, the Belles name has remained one of the school’s enduring constants. It is an identity that has outlasted trends and temporary name changes alike. After 100 years, the spirit behind the name continues to ring loud and clear.

7RGD\ /RULH LV D VXFFHVVIXO H[HFXWLYH ZLWK /·2UpDO WKH ZRUOG·V QXPEHU RQH EHDXW\ FRPSDQ\ (YHQ QRZ VKH FDQ GUDZ D VROLG OLQH EHWZHHQ VXFFHVV RQ WKH EDVNHWEDOO FRXUW DQG LQ WKH ERDUGURRP D MRXUQH\ VWDUWLQJ DW 060 ´$V IDU DV ZKDW EDVNHWEDOO WDXJKW PH GLVFLSOLQH DQG UHVLOLHQFH ZHUH ELJ WKLQJV µ VKH VDLG ´,W WDXJKW PH KRZ WR ZLQ EXW , DOVR OHDUQHG KRZ WR UHVSRQG WR D ORVV RU IDLOXUH 7KH DELOLW\ WR ERXQFH EDFN IURP D VHWEDFN KDV EHHQ LQFUHGLEO\ LPSRUWDQW LQ P\ FDUHHU µ

Betty Belle, Mount’s first official costumed mascot SPRING 2026 | 5

HOME,

School HOME FORMER BOARDERS RECALL BYGONE ERA IN MOUNT HISTORY

I

N ADDITION TO THE UNDYING TIES OF SISTERHOOD THAT BIND ALL MOUNT GRADUATES, MICHIE MCHARDY BISSELL ’62 AND JO HALTER PAULUS ’71 SHARE MEMBERSHIP IN A SPECIAL SORORITY. THE TWO ARE AMONG THE LEGIONS OF BOARDERS FOR WHOM MOUNT WAS NOT ONLY A PLACE TO LEARN BUT A PLACE TO LIVE.

Above, from top: Michie McHardy Bissell greets the early morning with a smile from her dorm room A typical bedroom inside the boarding facilities in 1952 Jo Halter Paulus, far left, roots on the Belles as an MSM cheerleader

6 | THE MESSENGER

´, UHDOO\ YDOXHG WKH IULHQGVKLSV DQG WKH ORYLQJ UHODWLRQVKLSV WKDW ZH KDG µ VDLG 0LFKLH ´1RW WKDW ZH GLGQ·W KDYH LW ZLWK WKH GD\ VWXGHQWV EXW ZH GLGQ·W VHH WKHP DV PXFK 7KH ERDUGHUV ZHUH WRJHWKHU D ORW :H VKDUHG PDQ\ PLOHVWRQHV RI JURZLQJ XS WRJHWKHU ² OLNH WKH ÀUVW WLPH ZH HYHU VKDYHG RXU OHJV <RX NQRZ ZH H[SHULHQFHG WKRVH W\SHV RI WKLQJV WRJHWKHU ,W ZDV PRUH OLNH D YHU\ FORVH NQLW IDPLO\ JURXS ZH KDG ZKLFK ZDV YHU\ LPSRUWDQW µ %RDUGLQJ VWXGHQWV EHFDPH SDUW RI 0RXQW·V OHJDF\ LQ ZLWK WKH PRYH IURP GRZQWRZQ /LWWOH 5RFN WR WKH +LOOFUHVW QHLJKERUKRRG 7KH ÀYH VWRU\ ´ROG VFKRROµ LQFOXGHG OLYLQJ TXDUWHUV IRU WKH VWXGHQWV DW WKDW WLPH LQFOXGLQJ HOHPHQWDU\ VFKRROHUV DV ZHOO DV WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ DQG FKDSODLQ 7KH VFKRRO FRQWLQXHG WR ERDUG VWXGHQWV IRU \HDUV XQWLO ERDUGLQJ ZDV GLVFRQWLQXHG LQ GXH WR WKH QHHG WR FRQYHUW GRUPLWRULHV LQWR EDGO\ QHHGHG FODVVURRP VSDFH IRU DQ H[SDQGLQJ KLJK VFKRRO HQUROOPHQW 0LFKLH D 0LVVLVVLSSL QDWLYH DQG -R IURP *RXOG $UNDQVDV VKDUHG WKH VDPH JURZLQJ SDLQV IURP WKH VWDUW ´, ZDV \HDUV ROG DQG VR KRPHVLFN WKDW ÀUVW \HDU µ VDLG -R ´7KHUH ZHUH VHYHUDO RI XV IURP *RXOG DQG ZH DOO ZDQWHG WR JR KRPH HYHU\ ZHHNHQG LQLWLDOO\ 0RWKHU ZRXOG FRPH JHW XV RU VRPHERG\ HOVH ZRXOG FRPH WR /LWWOH 5RFN DQG EULQJ XV KRPH 7KDW ZDV D ORW RI WURXEOH EHFDXVH 0RXQW ZDV DERXW WZR KRXUV DZD\ WKHQ EHIRUH WKH LQWHUVWDWH ZDV ÀQLVKHG µ ´, ZLOO DOZD\V KDYH WKDW YLVLRQ VWXFN LQ P\ EUDLQ RI P\ SDUHQWV GULYLQJ RͿ GRZQ WKDW KLOO , ZDV PLVHUDEOH DW ÀUVW µ VDLG 0LFKLH ZKR DUULYHG DW 0RXQW LQ VHYHQWK JUDGH DW DJH ´, DVNHG RQH RI WKH QXQV ZKDW VKRXOG , GR LI VRPHERG\·V KRPHVLFN DQG VKH WROG PH ¶:HOO MXVW WDON WR KHU DQG NHHS KHU FRPSDQ\ · , ZDONHG DZD\ WKLQNLQJ ¶7KDW·V VWXSLG , FDQ·W WDON WR P\VHOI ·µ

ALUMNAE

“ If you lived in

the dorm, you had something in common.

We all stood in the same line for the same meals, every day.

”

- JO HALTER PAULUS ’71

%RWK ZRPHQ GHVFULEHG WKH OLIH RI D ERDUGHU DV KLJKO\ UHJLPHQWHG 0DVV ZDV KHOG HYHU\ PRUQLQJ IROORZHG E\ EUHDNIDVW DQG VWUDLJKWHQLQJ XS RQH·V URRP EHIRUH FODVVHV VWDUWHG 7KH VWUXFWXUH FRQWLQXHG WKURXJK WKH HYHQLQJ XQWLO OLJKWV RXW ZLWK D OLWWOH IUHH WLPH LQ EHWZHHQ H[WUDFXUULFXODUV VWXG\LQJ DQG WKH HYHQLQJ PHDO ´, WKLQN LW KHOSHG PH EHFDXVH ,·P D UXOH IROORZHU µ -R VDLG ´, QHHGHG WKDW DW WKDW DJH , QHHGHG VRPHERG\ WR WHOO PH ZKDW WR GR DQG ZKHQ WR GR LW 2K , ORYHG WKRVH QXQV 7KH\ ZHUH VR JRRG WR XV 7KH\ ZHUH VR NLQG ,·P VXUH WKH\ JRW WLUHG RI XV EXW WKH\ NQHZ ZH ZHUH \RXQJ JLUOV ZKR ZHUH DZD\ IURP KRPH DQG WKH\ GLG WKHLU EHVW WR NHHS XV RFFXSLHG DQG VWUDLJKWHQHG RXW µ 0LFKLH DOVR UHPHPEHUV WKH UHJLPHQ LQ WKH GRUPV DGPLULQJ WR WKLV GD\ WKH PLOLWDU\ SUHFLVLRQ ZLWK ZKLFK VKH ZDV WDXJKW WR PDNH D EHG 1HYHU RQH WR OHW D WHDFKLQJ PRPHQW JR WR ZDVWH WKH QXQV RSHUDWHG IURP WKH SHUVSHFWLYH WKDW VWULYLQJ IRU SHUIHFWLRQ LQ PXQGDQH WKLQJV WHQGHG WR VHHS RYHU LQWR RWKHU HQGHDYRUV ´6U 6\OYHVWHU ZDV WKH VLVWHU RQ RXU ÁRRU P\ ÀUVW WZR \HDUV WKHUH µ VKH VDLG ´,·OO QHYHU IRUJHW KRZ VKH ZRXOG VSUHDG WKH EHGVSUHDGV ZLWK D ZLUH FRDW KDQJHU DQG WKHQ WXFN WKHP QHDWO\ XQGHU WKH SLOORZV XVLQJ LW , PHDQ LW PDGH D SHUIHFWO\ PDGH EHG µ )DU IURP KRPH WKRXJK VRPH ZHUH WKH ERDUGHUV GHYHORSHG D VHQVH RI IDPLO\ WKDW ULYDOHG DQ\WKLQJ WKH GD\ VWXGHQWV HQMR\HG

LQ WKHLU RZQ KRPHV (YHQ VWXGHQWV ZKR KDG YDVWO\ GLͿHUHQW EDFNJURXQGV FRXOG FODLP FRQQHFWLRQ IRU KDYLQJ OLYHG WRJHWKHU LQ WKH GRUPV -R IRU LQVWDQFH ZDV QRW &DWKROLF DQG WKHUHIRUH KHU DFDGHPLF UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV GLͿHUHG IURP KHU FODVVPDWHV ZKR ZHUH %XW WKH FRPPRQDOLW\ RI D ERDUGHU·V OLIH OLQNHG WKHP LQ ZD\V WKDW WUDQVFHQGHG EDFNJURXQG RU EHOLHI ´,I \RX OLYHG LQ WKH GRUP \RX KDG VRPHWKLQJ LQ FRPPRQ \RX NQRZ"µ VKH VDLG ´:H DOO VWRRG LQ WKH VDPH OLQH IRU WKH VDPH PHDOV HYHU\ GD\ DQG ZH DOO KDG WKH VDPH VFKHGXOH :H VKDUHG VR PXFK :H JUHZ XS WRJHWKHU µ 7KH ERDUGHU·V ERQG VXUYLYHG HYHQ DV -R HQWHUHG KHU VHQLRU \HDU WKH ÀUVW WHUP DIWHU WKH GRUPV ZHUH FORVHG ZKHQ ORFDO SHRSOH RSHQHG WKHLU KRPHV WR WKH GLVSODFHG VWXGHQWV ´:KHQ 6W 0DU\·V GHFLGHG WR FORVH WKH GRUPV WKH\ JDYH XV DVVLVWDQFH WR WU\ DQG NHHS WKH ERDUGHUV ORFDO µ VKH VDLG ´7KHUH ZDV D ZRPDQ , ZLVK , FRXOG UHPHPEHU KHU QDPH ZKR , WKLQN KDG D GDXJKWHU ZKR JUDGXDWHG IURP 6W 0DU\·V 6KH OLYHG RQ /RRNRXW 7KH\ KDG D KXJH KRXVH DQG LW KDG DQ DWWLF 7KDW·V ZKHUH WKH\ VHW XV XS WKH WKUHH RI XV WKDW ZHUH IURP *RXOG ZLWK FRWV LQ WKHLU DWWLF 7KDW ZRQGHUIXO ZRPDQ ZRXOG FRRN EUHDNIDVW IRU XV HDFK PRUQLQJ DQG WKHQ ZH·G KHDG RͿ WR VFKRRO ´8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKDW OLYLQJ VLWXDWLRQ GLGQ·W ZRUN RXW , OHIW DURXQG 7KDQNVJLYLQJ EUHDN LQ µ -R VDLG ´,·G UHDOO\ HQMR\HG WKDW DWPRVSKHUH DW 6W 0DU\·V LW ZDV IXQ IRU PH RQFH , JRW XVHG WR LW , ZDV ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR JUDGXDWLQJ DQG ZDV VDG , FRXOGQ·W 7HFKQLFDOO\ , JUDGXDWHG IURP 6WDU &LW\ +LJK 6FKRRO ZKHUH P\ PRWKHU WDXJKW EXW 6W 0DU\·V ZLOO DOZD\V EH P\ JURXS 7KDW·V P\ KLJK VFKRRO DV IDU DV ,·P FRQFHUQHG µ 0LFKLH DOVR XOWLPDWHO\ WUDGHG LQLWLDO KRPHVLFNQHVV IRU LQYROYHPHQW DQG VLVWHUKRRG $OWKRXJK VKH DGPLWV VKH QHYHU UHDOO\ OLNHG VFKRRO WKDW PXFK VKH UHYHOHG LQ WKH IULHQGVKLSV VKH PDGH DW 0RXQW PDQ\ RI ZKLFK ZHUH PROGHG DQG VROLGLÀHG GXULQJ KHU WLPH LQ WKH GRUPV 7RGD\ VKH HQMR\V UHWXUQLQJ WR WKH VSRW WKDW JLIWHG KHU VR PDQ\ IRQG PHPRULHV QRW WR PHQWLRQ DW OHDVW RQH SULFHOHVV DUWLIDFW ´, XVXDOO\ JR EDFN IRU P\ FODVV UHXQLRQV , UHPHPEHU QRW VHHLQJ WKH JUHDW ELJ EXLOGLQJ IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH DQG KRZ WKH ODQGVFDSH RI WKH VFKRRO KDG FKDQJHG µ 0LFKLH VDLG ´2I FRXUVH , KDG WR ÀQG P\ EULFN $QRWKHU WKLQJ , ORYHG VHHLQJ ZDV WKH

“ We shared many

milestones of growing up together. It was more like a very closeknit family group.

”

- MICHIE MCHARDY BISSELL ’62

ROG EHOO LQ WKH FXUUHQW HQWU\ZD\ WKH VDPH EHOO P\ IULHQG 5HJLQD %LVKRS DQG , ZURWH RXU QDPHV LQVLGH ULJKW EHIRUH JUDGXDWLRQ ´0RXQW ZDV VR PXFK RI P\ OLIH P\ IRUPDWLYH OLIH DQG ,·P YHU\ JUDWHIXO IRU LW $QG \RX NQRZ ZKDW" :KHQ WKH\ ZHUH WHDULQJ WKH ROG EXLOGLQJ GRZQ , KDSSHQHG WR EH XS WKHUH DQG JRW WKH GRRUNQRE IURP P\ ROG URRP :KHQ , GLH P\ NLGV ZLOO SUREDEO\ VD\ ¶:KDW LV WKLV" :KHUH GLG WKLV FRPH IURP"· ,·OO KDYH WR UHPHPEHU WR WHOO WKHP ¶7KDW·V P\ GRRUNQRE IURP WKH 0RXQW ·µ

Above: In the dorm, Michie McHardy Bissell (top right) and friends play beautician for several grade school boarders

SPRING 2026

| 7

Shining LAMPS

SISTERS OF MERCY REPRESENT THE CORE OF MOUNT ST. MARY

M

OUNT ST. MARY ACADEMY HAS THRIVED FOR 175 YEARS THANKS TO SEVERAL CORE TENETS THAT HAVE UNDERGIRDED THE INSTITUTION THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD. PRIMARY AMONG THEM ARE THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WHOSE COURAGE AND FAITH NURTURED A FLEDGLING INSTITUTION AND INVESTED IT WITH GRACE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN IT EVEN AFTER MOST OF THE SISTERS MOVED ON OR WENT HOME TO THEIR HEAVENLY REWARD.

7KH WDOH RI WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ LQ $UNDQVDV LV D FKHULVKHG DQG IDPLOLDU SDUW RI 060 ORUH 'XEOLQHU &DWKHULQH 0F$XOH\ GHGLFDWHG KHU OLIH WR VHUYLQJ WKH ORFDO VLFN SRRU DQG XQHGXFDWHG GHYRWLQJ KHU LQKHULWDQFH WR WKH IRUPDWLRQ RI WKH +RXVH RI 0HUF\ (VWDEOLVKHG RQ 6HSWHPEHU WKH RUGHU DQG LWV IRXQGDWLRQDO 0HUF\ YDOXHV ZHUH WKH DFFRPSOLVKPHQWV WKDW VHUYH DV 0F$XOH\·V PRVW ODVWLQJ OHJDF\ 7KH VLVWHUV· HVWDEOLVKPHQW RI 060 EHJDQ ZLWK D YLVLW IURP $UNDQVDV· ÀUVW &DWKROLF ELVKRS $QGUHZ %\UQH ZKR FDPH WR ,UHODQG WR SHUVXDGH WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ WR VHQG IRXU VLVWHUV DQG ÀYH SRVWXODQWV WR WKH QHZO\ IRUPHG 'LRFHVH RI /LWWOH 5RFN 7KH JURXS VRPH RI ZKRP ZHUH WKH DJH RI WKH JHQHUDWLRQV RI KLJK VFKRRO JLUOV WR IROORZ PDGH WKH WUHDFKHURXV MRXUQH\ E\ VKLS WR WKH 3RUW RI 1HZ 2UOHDQV WKHQ FDPH XS WKH 0LVVLVVLSSL 5LYHU DQG À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

7KH QDPHV FKDQJHG RYHU WKH \HDUV EXW WKH PLVVLRQ UHPDLQHG FRPIRUWLQJO\ VWHDG\ WR GHYHORS \RXQJ ZRPHQ RI FKDUDFWHU DQG LQWHOOHFW WR GUHDP ELJ GUHDPV DQG WDNH WKHLU SODFH LQ WKH ZRUOG DV WKH $OPLJKW\ VDZ ÀW WR GLUHFW :KDW IROORZV LV D IHZ VWRULHV RI OLYHV ZHOO OLYHG ERWK WKHLU RZQ DQG WKH WKRXVDQGV RI 0RXQW JLUOV ZKR SDVVHG WKURXJK WKH KDOOZD\V

The nuns represented a unique duality, one part mentor and one part mother.

8 | THE MESSENGER

Sr. Mary Frances Coutlee '21 with a student in Marian Hall in 1969

FEATURE STORY

“ What pleases me most is that the service element hasn’t changed...

It’s an overlay of giving back.”

- SR. JOAN PFAUSER ’64 From left: Sr. Deborah Troillett and Sr. Joan Pfauser

SR. JOAN PFAUSER ’64 YEARS OF MSM SERVICE: 41

Sr. Joan Pfauser serving in the guidance office in 1990

*URZLQJ XS LQ /LWWOH 5RFN LQ 6W (GZDUG·V 3DULVK 6U -RDQ 3IDXVHU QHYHU WKRXJKW WZLFH DERXW ZKHUH VKH ZRXOG DWWHQG KLJK VFKRRO ´,W ZDV NQRZQ DV D YHU\ JRRG VFKRRO HGXFDWLRQDOO\ DQG WKH &DWKROLF IDLWK SOD\HG D ELJ SDUW LQ WKDW DOVR µ VKH VDLG ´,W ZDV SUHWW\ PXFK D JLYHQ ,·G JR WKHUH , WKLQN DW WKDW SRLQW PRVW &DWKROLF JLUOV IURP WKH SDULVKHV ZHQW WKHUH , GRQ·W WKLQN , HYHU WKRXJKW DERXW JRLQJ DQ\ZKHUH HOVH µ 3ULRU WR JUDGXDWLRQ LQ 6U -RDQ PD\ QRW KDYH LPDJLQHG WKH SODFH ZRXOG EH KHU KRPH IRU PRUH WKDQ IRXU GHFDGHV RI KHU OLIH LQ YRFDWLRQV EXW LW ZDVQ·W WKDW IDU IHWFKHG RI DQ LGHD HLWKHU HYHQ EDFN WKHQ ´, KDG JUHDW DGPLUDWLRQ IRU P\ WHDFKHUV DQG WKDW LV ZKHUH LW VWDUWHG µ VKH VDLG RI KHU YRFDWLRQ ´7KH WKLQJ , UHPHPEHU PRVW DERXW EHLQJ D KLJK VFKRRO VWXGHQW WKHUH LV WKDW ZH ZHUH YHU\ PXFK FDUHG IRU DQG QRW MXVW RXU HGXFDWLRQ EXW WKH\ ZHUH YHU\ LQWHUHVWHG LQ RXU OLYHV WKDW RXU OLYHV ZHUH VHW RQ D JRRG SDWWHUQ , FDQ UHPHPEHU IHHOLQJ WKDW HYHQ DV D WHHQDJHU DQG , WKLQN , MXVW ZDQWHG WR FRQWLQXH WKDW µ 7KLV GHVLUH WR UHOD\ WR RWKHUV ZKDW WKH VLVWHUV KDG SRXUHG LQWR KHU OHG KHU WR WKH OLIH RI DQ HGXFDWRU ,Q WKH GHFDGHV WKDW IROORZHG RYHU D FDUHHU WKDW ZRXOG HYHQWXDOO\ DQRLQW KHU SPRING 2026

| 9

DV WKH ODVW VLVWHU RQ VWDͿ 6U -RDQ VHUYHG LQ VHYHUDO FDSDFLWLHV 6KH EHOLHYHV WKH ELJJHVW FKDQJH WKH VFKRRO KDV IDFHG WKURXJK WKH \HDUV KDV EHHQ NHHSLQJ XS ZLWK VXEMHFW PDWWHU DQG WHDFKLQJ SHGDJRJ\ ´, WKLQN ZKDW KDV FKDQJHG WKH PRVW LV NHHSLQJ WKH FXUULFXOXP UHOHYDQW WR WKH WLPHV :H KDYH EHHQ DEOH WR SUHVHUYH WKH FODVVLF HOHPHQWV RI HGXFDWLRQ ZKLOH NHHSLQJ XS ZLWK WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI WRGD\ µ VKH VDLG ´:KDW SOHDVHV PH PRVW LV WKDW WKH VHUYLFH HOHPHQW KDVQ·W FKDQJHG DOWKRXJK RYHU P\ \HDUV KHUH LW·V EHHQ PDGH PRUH IRUPDO ,W·V NLQG RI DQ RYHUOD\ RI JLYLQJ EDFN WKDW VHUYLFH LV H[WUHPHO\ LPSRUWDQW ´7KH VHUYLFH OHDUQLQJ SURJUDP LV SUREDEO\ RQH RI WKH EHVW WKLQJV ZH·YH HYHU GRQH EXW LW·V QRW MXVW WKDW 0DQ\ RI WKH FOXEV UHTXLUH VHUYLFH D ORW RI RXU DFWLYLWLHV UHTXLUH VHUYLFH 7KHUH·V D VHQVH RI JLYLQJ EDFN IURP ZKDW \RX KDYH UHFHLYHG WKDW·V EHHQ PDGH PRUH IRUPDO DV \HDUV KDYH JRQH E\ , UHDOO\ OLNH WKDW µ $V IRU KHU RZQ VHUYLFH 6U -RDQ LV SURXG WKDW HYHQ DV WLPH DQG DJH KDYH WDNHQ VRPH WKLQJV IURP KHU VXFK DV HDVH RI PRELOLW\ VKH·V VWLOO IRXQG ZD\V WR FRQWULEXWH WR WKH 060 H[SHULHQFH ´, GRQ·W GR DQ\WKLQJ IRUPDO ,·P SK\VLFDOO\ KDQGLFDSSHG DV IDU DV WKDW·V FRQFHUQHG EXW , WU\ WR EH D OLVWHQLQJ SUHVHQFH µ VKH VDLG ´7KHUH·V D JUHDW SRZHU LQ OLVWHQLQJ DQG IURP WKDW \RX FDQ JR WR KHOSLQJ SHRSOH 6RPHWLPHV WKH\ GRQ·W HYHQ NQRZ ZKDW WKH\ QHHG EXW LI WKH\ WDON WR \RX WKH\ FDQ ÀJXUH LW RXW , DOZD\V IHOW WKH SRZHU RI SUHVHQFH ZDV WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW WKLQJ WKDW , KDG WR GR µ

Above: Sisters of Mercy at the entrance of Mount St. Mary’s new school building in 1909

Below: Sr. Mary Declan Conway teaching a science class in 1966

M O U N T ST. M A RY ACA D E M Y ’ S

Founding Sisters I

n 1851, a courageous group of women known as the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Little Rock with a profound mission: to provide education and compassionate service to a frontier community. Led by Mother Mary Teresa Farrell, these pioneers journeyed from Naas, Ireland, braving the unknown to establish what would eventually become Mount St. Mary Academy. Their unwavering dedication to the values of Catherine McAuley – mercy, justice, hospitality and excellence – laid the cornerstone for the oldest continuously operated educational institution in Arkansas. We hold a special place of reverence for our founding sisters and their enduring legacy, which continues to shape the lives of young women today.

Four Professed Sisters

Five Postulants

Mother Mary Teresa Farrell Sr. Mary Stanislaus Farrell Sr. Mary Agnes Greene Sr. Mary de Sales Keefe

Alicia Carton, who became Mother Mary Alphonsus Carton Mary Farrell, who became Mother Mary Baptist Farrell Anne Healy, who became Sr. Mary Vincent Healy Charlotte Nolan, who became Sr. Mary Ignatius Nolan Jane Nolan, who became Sr. Mary Xavier Nolan

10 | THE MESSENGER

FEATURE STORY

Sr. Richard Mary Burke during her first year as principal in 1981

SR. RICHARD MARY BURKE YEARS OF MSM SERVICE: 14 (YHU\ VLVWHU ZKR VHUYHG DW 060 WKURXJK WKH \HDUV OHIW WKHLU PDUN RQ WKH KDOORZHG DFDGHP\ EXW QRQH TXLWH DV WUDQVIRUPDWLYH DV WKDW RI 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ %XUNH 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ ZKR VHUYHG DV WHDFKHU SULQFLSDO DQG VHFRQGDU\ SUHVLGHQW GXULQJ KHU WHQXUH SUHVLGHG RYHU RQH RI WKH PRVW GL΀FXOW FKDSWHUV LQ VFKRRO KLVWRU\ WKH GHPROLWLRQ RI WKH RULJLQDO FRQYHQW DQG DFDGHP\ EXLOGLQJV LQ ´6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ OHDGHUVKLS LQ 6W /RXLV ZHUH LQ WKH SURFHVV RI GRLQJ DQ XSGDWH WR 060 DQG WKH\ QHHGHG GUDVWLF FKDQJH WR GR WKDW µ VKH VDLG ´,·G EHHQ LQWHULP SULQFLSDO IRU RQO\ VL[ ZHHNV LQ ZKHQ P\ DVVLVWDQW SULQFLSDO 6U 3DWULFN 0DU\ DQG , ZHUH FDOOHG WR 6W /RXLV WR GLVFXVV LW :H VDW WKHUH LQ D URRP ZLWK WKH OHDGHUVKLS WHDP DQG ,·YH QHYHU EHHQ LQ VXFK D SDQLF LQ P\ OLIH µ 'HVSLWH KDYLQJ QRW JURZQ XS LQ /LWWOH 5RFN 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ XQGHUVWRRG WKH HPRWLRQDO HOHPHQWV DW ZRUN %RUQ LQWR WKH ,ULVK &KDQQHO VHFWLRQ RI 1HZ 2UOHDQV VKH ZDV HGXFDWHG DW 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ VFKRROV DQG WKDW FRPELQHG ZLWK KHU WHQXUH ZRUNLQJ DW 060 JDYH KHU PXFK HPSDWK\ IRU ZKDW WKH FRPPXQLW\ ZDV IHHOLQJ ´7KH 0RXQW DOXPQDH ZHUH RQH RI WKH ODUJHVW JURXSV RI VWDNHKROGHUV ZLWK ZKRP ,·YH HYHU ZRUNHG µ VKH VDLG ´+DOI RI WKHP DW WKDW WLPH KDG OLYHG WKHUH OLWHUDOO\ OLYHG WKHUH DV ERDUGLQJ VWXGHQWV 6R WKHLU SDVVLRQ DERXW ¶P\ 0RXQW· ZDV QRW MXVW DERXW D VFKRRO LW ZDV DERXW D KRPH ´7KH FRQYHQW ZDV DOVR LPSRUWDQW WR WKH KLVWRU\ RI WKH 0RXQW :KHQ ZH JRW WKH

Right: Sr. Richard Mary Burke

Sr. Richard Mary presided over one of the most difficult chapters in school history, the demolition of the original convent and academy buildings in 1982.

UHSRUW RQ WKH EXLOGLQJ ² WKH SOXPELQJ WKH ZLULQJ ² ,·OO QHYHU IRUJHW WKH ZRUG WKH PDQ XVHG ZDV ¶H[WLQFW · :KHQ KH VDLG ¶6LVWHUV , QHHG WR WHOO \RX WKH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ ZKLFK KDV EHHQ DSSURYHG E\ \RXU OHDGHUVKLS WHDP LV WRWDO GHPROLWLRQ · , MXVW VWDUWHG WR FU\ µ $V WUDXPDWLF DV WKH QHFHVVDU\ SXUJLQJ RI WKH ROG EXLOGLQJ ZDV 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\·V ODVWLQJ PHPRU\ RI WKH HYHQW ZDV D SRVLWLYH RQH VRPHWKLQJ RXW RI WKH PRXWK RI RQH RI WKH VWXGHQWV LQWHUYLHZHG E\ D ORFDO FDPHUD FUHZ VKRUWO\ EHIRUH WKH EXLOGLQJ FDPH GRZQ :LWQHVVLQJ WKH H[FKDQJH 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ JDLQHG QHZ SHUVSHFWLYH DQG KHU VRXO ZDV VRRWKHG WKDW WKH VSLULW RI WKH SODFH ZRXOG FRQWLQXH XQDEDWHG ´5LJKW DURXQG WKH GHPROLWLRQ WLPH ZH KDG 79 DQG HYHU\ERG\ RXW WKHUH EODK EODK EODK LQWHUYLHZLQJ WKH VWXGHQWV µ VKH VDLG ´)RU WKH OLIH RI PH , FDQQRW UHFDOO WKH VWXGHQW FRXQFLO SUHVLGHQW·V QDPH EDFN WKHQ EXW , ZLVK , KDG FORQHG KHU OLWWOH WKLQJ MXVW SUHFLRXV , ZDV VWDQGLQJ DERXW IHHW IURP KHU ZKHQ VKH ZDV EHLQJ LQWHUYLHZHG RQ WKH VWHSV RXWVLGH WKH FDIHWHULD 7KH ZRPDQ DVNHG KHU ¶+RZ GR \RX IHHO DERXW \RXU EHORYHG 0RXQW 6W 0DU\·V EHLQJ WDNHQ GRZQ"· ´:LWK DOO WKH SRLVH LQ WKH ZRUOG VKH VDLG ¶:LWK DOO GXH UHVSHFW RXU VFKRRO LV QRW JRLQJ DQ\ZKHUH 2XU VFKRRO LV QRW LQ ZDOOV DQG EXLOGLQJV RXU WHDFKHUV DQG RXU OHDGHUV KHUH KDYH WDXJKW XV 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ $FDGHP\ UHVLGHV LQ WKH KHDUWV RI HYHU\ \RXQJ ZRPDQ ZKR KDV HQWHUHG WKHVH KDOOV DQG KDV FRQWULEXWHG WR WKLV OHJDF\ · 7KDW ZDV SXUH ZLVGRP )URP WKDW SRLQW RQ ZH ZHUH DOO DERXW WKH IXWXUH µ SPRING 2026

| 11

Angel of Mercy Sr. Judith Keith ’51

L

ittle Rock native Sr. Judith Keith ’51 lived her vocation through health care, as administrator of then-St. Edward Hospital, now Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. In an era when women weren’t taken seriously, let alone a nun, she stood out for all the right reasons.

“Health care in my day was very much a man’s world. Women weren’t given equal opportunities,” she said. “Mount stood out through the years for standing up for women and teaching them how to equally and fairly assume their rightful position in leadership or whatever it was.”

A four-year letterwinner and captain of the Belles basketball team, Sr. Judith’s mental toughness and sharp elbows on the court proved useful in the business world.

“I tried very hard to engage and not act like I was different as a religious leader, but there wasn’t any free lunch,” she said. “Nothing was given to me, but if they respected you or thought you were pretty smart, then at least they didn’t try to fight you.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Sr. Judith served 24 years as president and CEO of the health system and had such a reputation for astute leadership, she would achieve another milestone, serving as president of the Arkansas Hospital Association. Looking back, she can appreciate the skills her high school years invested in her.

“Mount made me realize I was a unique person, and I had gifts and talents and dignity,” she said. “It also provided competition, and competition is always good, as well as many options for leadership. In a business capacity, you have to make very hard decisions many times a day, and Mount prepared me for that because it grounded me and it freed me to where I could make the tough decisions and be at peace.

“I’m proudest of being able to provide health care in rural communities that otherwise wouldn’t have had it. I very much appreciate having had the opportunity to improve the quality of life of the people the health system served.”

12 | THE MESSENGER

Right: Sr. Lisa Griffith

SR. LISA GRIFFITH YEARS OF MSM SERVICE: 21 1RW XQOLNH WKH RULJLQDO UHOLJLRXV ZKR HVWDEOLVKHG WKH VFKRRO 6U /LVD *UL΀WK DUULYHG LQ /LWWOH 5RFN MXVW D VFDQW IHZ \HDUV ROGHU WKDQ WKH VWXGHQWV 7KLV JDYH KHU D XQLTXH ZD\ RI FRQQHFWLQJ WR WKH 0RXQW JLUOV DV VKH EHJDQ D PLQLVWU\ WKDW FRYHUHG PRUH WKDQ WZR GHFDGHV ´, KDG KHDUG RI 060 EHFDXVH 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ ZDV JRRG IULHQGV ZLWK WKH VLVWHUV LQ 0HULGLDQ 0LVVLVVLSSL ZKHUH , JUHZ XS µ VKH VDLG ´3DUW RI WKRVH ÀUVW WZR \HDUV LQ YRFDWLRQV LV UHDOO\ JHWWLQJ WKH H[SHULHQFH RI FRPPXQLW\ OLIH ² DVNLQJ ZKHUH FDQ ZH VHQG \RX WR JHW WKH JURZWK DQG Sr. Lisa Griffith at a PTO Bingo H[SHULHQFH DQG WKH PHQWRUVKLS DURXQG fundraiser in 2010 FRPPXQLW\ OLIH"µ +DYLQJ QRW \HW FRPSOHWHG KHU GHJUHH KHU ÀUVW PLQLVWU\ WR 0RXQW ZDV DV DGPLQLVWUDWLYH KHOS EXW HYHQ WKH URXWLQH ZRUN LQ WKH DWWHQGDQFH R΀FH IHOW OLNH *RG·V ZRUN 6KH IHOW DGGLWLRQDO NLQVKLS ZLWK WKH JLUOV DV ERWK VKH DQG WKH\ ZHUH LQ VWDJHV RI ÀJXULQJ RXW WKLQJV LQ OLIH GLVFRYHULHV QXUWXUHG E\ WKH VSHFLDO HQYLURQPHQW DW WKH VFKRRO ´, ZDV SUREDEO\ ZKHQ , FDPH KHUH WKH ÀUVW WLPH , ZDV MXVW D IHZ \HDUV ROGHU WKDQ WKH VHQLRUV µ VKH VDLG ´%HLQJ ZLWK WKH JURXS RI VLVWHUV WKHUH PDGH D KXJH LPSDFW RQ P\ RZQ IRUPDWLRQ , WKLQN LW ZDV UHDOO\ WKDW LQWHJUDWLRQ RI WKH FRPPXQLW\ VWLOO EHLQJ YHU\ DFWLYH LQ WKH VFKRRO /LYLQJ WKDW ZD\ ZKHUH RXU OLIH LQ WKH FRQYHQW DQG RXU OLIH LQ RXU PLQLVWU\ ZHUH VHDPOHVV ÁRZHG VR QDWXUDOO\ µ

FEATURE STORY 2YHU WKUHH VHSDUDWH DVVLJQPHQWV DW WKH VFKRRO 6U /LVD VHUYHG DV WHDFKHU FRXQVHORU GHDQ RI DFDGHPLFV DQG DVVLVWDQW SULQFLSDO 6KH ZRXOG DOVR ODWHU VHUYH DV H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU RI 0HUF\ (GXFDWLRQ IURP LWV IRXQGLQJ LQ D PLQLVWU\ VKH FRQWLQXHV WR VHUYH LQ WRGD\ 0HUF\ (GXFDWLRQ HVWDEOLVKHG E\ WKH 6LVWHUV RI 0HUF\ HQVXUHV WKH &DWKROLF LGHQWLW\ XSRQ ZKLFK 0HUF\ VFKRROV ZHUH IRXQGHG UHPDLQV D FRQVWDQW 7RGD\ VKH·V SOHDVHG WR VHH KRZ WKH 0HUF\ YDOXHV FRQWLQXH DV VWURQJ DV HYHU LQ VKDSLQJ WKH FKDUDFWHU RI WKH 0RXQW FDUULHG IRUWK IURP WKH VLVWHUV E\ OD\ WHDFKHUV ´:KHQ WKH VFKRRO KDG SUHGRPLQDQWO\ VLVWHUV WHDFKLQJ VWXGHQWV SLFNHG XS WKH 0HUF\ WUDGLWLRQ DQG FKDULVP MXVW EHFDXVH RI WKH ZD\ WKH VLVWHUV OHG WKHLU OLYHV µ VKH VDLG ´2YHU WKHVH ODVW \HDUV WKDW ,·YH EHHQ D 6LVWHU RI 0HUF\ ,·YH VHHQ WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI WKH ODLW\ LQ FDUU\LQJ LW IRUZDUG :KDW XVHG WR KDSSHQ E\ ¶RVPRVLV · DV SHRSOH ZRXOG VD\ ZH QRZ KDYH WR EH LQWHQWLRQDO DERXW ´(YHU\ SHUVRQ LQ WKH VFKRRO IURP WKH ERDUG WR WKH OHDGHUV WR WKH WHDFKHUV QHHG WR EH FRQVLVWHQW LQ KRZ ZH WDON DERXW RXU &DWKROLF LGHQWLW\ RXU WUDGLWLRQ LQ 0HUF\ DQG RXU PLVVLRQ IURP &DWKHULQH 0F$XOH\ WR DGGUHVV WKH QHHGV RI WKH ZRUOG 7KDW WDNHV ZRUN DQG LW WDNHV HͿRUW 7KH 0HUF\ YDOXHV DUH ZKDW VHW WKH 0RXQW DSDUW IURP RWKHU SULYDWH VFKRROV DQG , WUXO\ EHOLHYH WKH\ DUH H[DFWO\ ZKDW RXU ZRUOG QHHGV WRGD\ µ

“ Over these last 40 years, I’ve seen

the importance of the laity in carrying it forward. What used to happen by ‘osmosis,’ we now have to be intentional about.

”

Above: Coaches Sr. Lisa Griffith (far left) and Sr. Joan Pfauser (far right) with members of Mount St. Mary Academy’s inaugural bowling team in 2004-05

- SR. LISA GRIFFITH

Students TO8NxJWX

FROM

GRADUATES WHO ANSWERED THE CALL

B

eyond the visionary women who founded our school, the legacy of Mount St. Mary Academy is perhaps most beautifully reflected in the students who heard the call to follow in their footsteps. We honor those Mount St. Mary graduates who transitioned from students to Sisters of Mercy, choosing a life defined by the core values of Catherine McAuley. By entering this sacred vocation, these alumnae transformed their education into a lifelong mission of service, ensuring that the flame of Mercy lit in 1851 continues to burn brightly for future generations.

Alumna Name Sr. Delphine DuVal Sr. Frances Coutlee Sr. Pauline Grummer Sr. Yvonne Finley Sr. Vivian McNalley Sr. Quintilla Halter Sr. del Rey Summers Sr. Ricarda McGuire Sr. Jovita Zarnoski Sr. Alice Janesko Sr. John Edna Hilpert

Class Year 1918 1921 1923 1930 1930 1931 1931 1932 1932 1933 1942

Sr. Cyrillus Plafcan Sr. Lucille Sluyter Sr. Maurelia Petrus Sr. Werner Keith Sr. Dorothy Ann Plafcan* Sr. Judith Keith* Sr. Shirley Murphy* Sr. Dianne Ferguson Sr. Mary Ann Hardcastle Sr. Elisa Bauman* Sr. Jolitta Konecny

1942 1942 1943 1944 1949 1951 1952 1954 1954 1955 1955

Sr. Stephanie Miller* 1958 Sr. Noeline Banks* 1959 Sr. Norma Lipsmeyer 1961 Sr. Donald Mary Lynch* 1961 Sr. Kim Marie Lajoie* 1964 Sr. Joan Pfauser* 1964 Sr. Carolyn Zionce* 1964 Sr. Anita DeSalvo* 1965 Sr. Teresa Kelone* 1966 Sr. Virginia Mary Andrews* 1967 Sr. Marie Elizabeth Koehler 1967

Above: Sr. Jolitta Konecny ’55 working in the school office in 1976

Sr. Rose Marie Tresp* 1967 Sr. Kathleen Marie Tinnell* 1970 Sr. Deborah Troillett* 1973 Sr. Francis Fischer† 1870s Sr. Antonio Grumert† 1880s Sr. Xavier Szymanski† 1900s Sr. Mildred Donnelly† 1900s * still living † attended, but no record of graduation SPRING 2026 | 13

Justice Warrior

Sr. Rose Marie Tresp ’67

G

etting to Mount wasn’t easy for Sr. Rose Marie Tresp, a Texan who cleaned classrooms in exchange for tuition and graduated MSM in 1967. The experience, combined with the constant example of a servant life, left a lasting impression on her.

“When I look back on it, I so appreciate that I had an opportunity that I might not have had if the sisters hadn’t made those kinds of arrangements for families like mine, who couldn’t afford to go there,” she said. “It wasn’t a huge amount of work, and it was an opportunity to spend a little time with the sisters.

“By my senior year, the thought came back to me that maybe I might like to join the convent. I told my dad and he said, ‘OK, but remember, you can always come home.’ So I felt free and supported by both my parents in whatever choice I made.”

After graduation, Sr. Rose Marie’s vocation sent her to the MSM classroom just long enough to know she didn’t want to be a teacher.

Instead, her life led to social justice work where she’s spent a lifetime sticking up for immigrants and other disenfranchised populations from St. Louis to the U.S. southern border.

Known for her plainspokenness and fearless demeanor, she’s held her ground on issues she believes in, up to and including being arrested during protests. Looking back, Sr. Rose Marie said she wouldn’t change a thing, her Mount experience included.

“For me, it’s an issue of faithfulness,” she said. “I was in high school during the 1960s. The church was changing then, and everything in society seemed to be going in a way that I would say was more justice oriented. I’ve spent the last year really feeling like everything’s going in the opposite direction. So from that standpoint, do I really feel satisfied with what I’ve done? I’m not sure I do. Have I been faithful to the message of the gospel and have I made a difference? In some important ways, I think I have.”

14 | THE MESSENGER

Right: Sr. Deborah Troillett

SR. DEBORAH TROILLETT ’73 YEARS OF MSM SERVICE: 22 6U 'HERUDK 7URLOOHWW FRPSOHWHG WKH ZRUN VWDUWHG E\ 6U 5LFKDUG 0DU\ WR UHLPDJLQH WKH VFKRRO IRU WKH QHHGV RI WKH PRGHUQ VWXGHQW DQG KHU IDPLO\ $ PHPEHU RI WKH &ODVV RI VKH FDPH DERDUG WKH VWDͿ LQ VHUYLQJ DV D WHDFKHU DQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYH LQWHUQ WKHQ EHFRPLQJ SULQFLSDO LQ +HU ODVW \HDUV DV SUHVLGHQW VDZ VRPH RI WKH PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW FDPSXV LPSURYHPHQWV LQ VFKRRO KLVWRU\ VKDSLQJ WKH FDPSXV WR ZKDW LW LV WRGD\ :KLOH KHU WHQXUH ZDV PDUNHG E\ DQ LQFUHGLEOH OHYHO RI FKDQJH Sr. Deborah Troillett during her first VKH VDLG LW ZDV WKH XQEURNHQ OLQH year as principal in 1991 RI &DWKROLF LQVWUXFWLRQ DQG 0HUF\ YDOXHV IDPLOLDU WR HYHU\ JHQHUDWLRQ RI 0RXQW JLUOV WKDW WUXO\ JXLGHG KHU LQ KHU OHDGHUVKLS UROH ´, DOZD\V JR EDFN WR ZKHQ , ZDV D VWXGHQW WKHUH 2I FRXUVH WKRVH DUH DGROHVFHQW \HDUV DQG \RX·UH WU\LQJ WR OHDUQ ZKR \RX DUH ÀJXUH RXW \RXU JLIWV DQG \RXU LQWHUHVWV \RXU VWUHQJWKV DQG \RXU OLPLWDWLRQV µ VKH VDLG ´, OHDUQHG D JUHDW GHDO DERXW ZKDW LW PHDQW WR EH D OHDGHU EDFN WKHQ WKURXJK WKH FXOWXUH DQG WKH FKDULVP RI 0HUF\ DQG WKDW ZDV VHUYLFH /HDGHUVKLS ZDV VHUYLFH µ 8QGHU 6U 'HERUDK·V ZDWFK VXFFHVVIXO FDSLWDO FDPSDLJQV KHOSHG PRGHUQL]H WKH FDPSXV LQFOXGLQJ WKH DGGLWLRQ RI WKH .DUHQ )ODNH 0DWK DQG 6FLHQFH %XLOGLQJ

FEATURE STORY WKH UHQRYDWLRQ DQG H[SDQVLRQ RI WKH 0F$XOH\ &HQWHU DQG WKH RYHUKDXO RI WKH DQG ZLQJV 6KH VDLG VKH WRRN SHUVRQDO VDWLVIDFWLRQ RYHU VHHLQJ KHU DOPD PDWHU EORRP DQHZ EXW WKDW WKH FKDQJHV DOVR LPSURYHG WKH 0RXQW IURP D FRPSHWLWLYH VWDQGSRLQW D EHQHÀW VWLOO VHHQ WRGD\ ´:KDW·V WUXH DERXW ZKDW KDSSHQHG ZLWK WKRVH HͿRUWV ZDV ZKHQ ZH ZRXOG OLVWHQ WR SHRSOH DQG GR WKRVH LQWHUYLHZV WKHUH ZDV DOZD\V WKH EHOLHI WKDW WKH SURJUDPV ZHUH DOUHDG\ VWURQJ EXW IDFLOLWLHV ZRXOG WDNH WKDW IXUWKHU µ VKH VDLG ´,W ZDV UHDOO\ DERXW SURYLGLQJ WKH OLWHUDO EULFN DQG PRUWDU DURXQG WKH SURJUDPPDWLF SLHFHV LQ D ZD\ WKDW FRXOG FRQWLQXH WR VWUHQJWKHQ WKH VFKRRO 7KHUHIRUH WKRVH EXLOGLQJV VKRXOG EH DV H[FHOOHQW DV SRVVLEOH ´, UHPHPEHU WKH ÀUVW PDMRU FDPSDLJQ ZDV WKH PDWK DQG VFLHQFH EXLOGLQJ DQG WKDW ZDV DQ DUHD ZKHUH ZH ZHUH YXOQHUDEOH 6RPH SHRSOH SHUFHLYHG \RXQJ ZRPHQ DW DOO JLUOV VFKRRO FRXOG QRW EH DV VWURQJ LQ PDWK DQG VFLHQFH VR WKDW EXLOGLQJ ZDV SDUWO\ D OLWHUDO SK\VLFDO VWDWHPHQW RI ¶2K \HV ZH FDQ ·µ 6U 'HERUDK VDLG VKH KDG D ORW RI DVVLVWDQFH RYHU WKH \HDUV IURP ERDUG PHPEHUV ZKR KHOSHG FDUU\ WKH PHVVDJH WR P\ULDG GRQRUV ZKR WRJHWKHU FRQWULEXWHG PLOOLRQV %XW ORRNLQJ EDFN VKH VDLG WKH PRVW FKHULVKHG DQG LQVSLULQJ DOOLHV FDPH IURP ZLWKLQ WKH VWXGHQW ERG\ LWVHOI ´, UHPHPEHU GRLQJ LQWHUYLHZV ZLWK WKH VHQLRUV DQG , ZRXOG SXW WKH 0HUF\ YDOXHV LQ IURQW RI WKHP DQG VD\ ¶:KLFK RQH RI WKHVH KDV KDG WKH PRVW LPSDFW"·µ VKH VDLG ´,W ZDV MXVW EHDXWLIXO WR KHDU WKHLU UHVSRQVHV DQG KRZ WKH\·G LQWHJUDWHG WKRVH YDOXHV ,·P PRVW SURXG WKDW ZKDW ZH GLG QXUWXUHG WKDW LQ HYHU\ ZD\ SRVVLEOH ´1RZ ZKHQ \RX ORRN DW ZKDW·V SRVVLEOH IRU \RXQJ ZRPHQ LQ WKLV ZRUOG RI RXUV WKH JLIWV WKDW WKH\ EULQJ DUH VR QHHGHG DQG MXVW VR LPSRUWDQW , OLNH WR WKLQN ZKDW ZDV GRQH EDFN WKHQ LV VWLOO WRGD\ KHOSLQJ WKH JLUOV GLVFRYHU DQG EHFRPH IXOO\ WKH SHUVRQ *RG FUHDWHG WKHP WR EH µ

Right: Sr. Deborah Troillett assisting the Liturgy Planning team in 2001

Under Sr. Deborah’s watch, successful capital campaigns helped modernize the campus.

A LIVING

Legacy:

SISTERS WHO SERVED

T

hroughout our 175-year history, the many Sisters of Mercy who served as teachers, administrators and staff have helped define the character and mission of Mount St. Mary Academy. Today, we honor those sisters still living – both near and far. Their legacy lives on through our students, and we remain deeply grateful for the grace they continue to share with the Mount family through their prayers and lifelong devotion to the Mercy values.

Sr. Elisa Bauman ’55 Sr. Teresa Bednarz Sr. Mary Corlita Bonnarens Sr. Richard Mary Burke Sr. Teresa Cusack Sr. Sarah Ducey Sr. Betty Elmer Sr. Katherine Glossenger

Sr. Lisa Griffith Sr. Jan Hayes Sr. Jane Hotstream Sr. Jacqueline Howard Sr. Victoria Incrivaglia Sr. Jeanne Marie Keller Sr. Diane Koorie Sr. Lee Ann McNally

Sr. Shirley Murphy ’52 Sr. Joan Pfauser ’64 Sr. Dorothy Ann Plafcan ’49 Sr. Jonella Rhoda Sr. Carolyn Stoutz Sr. Rose Marie Tresp ’67 Sr. Deborah Troillett ’73 Sr. Claudia Ward

Above: Sr. Sarah Ducey (left) and Sr. Elisa Bauman ’55, longtime MSM principal, in 1976 SPRING 2026 | 15

Family

THE

TREE

A

SK 100 MOUNT GIRLS, PAST OR PRESENT, TO SUM UP MOUNT ST. MARY ACADEMY IN A SINGLE WORD AND IT IS A RELATIVELY SAFE BET THAT “SISTERHOOD” WOULD BE UTTERED MOST OFTEN. THIS SHOULDN’T SURPRISE ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT TIME AT MOUNT, AS THE FOUNDATIONAL BONDS THAT TIE ONE GENERATION OF CLASSES TO THE NEXT HAVE REMAINED UNBROKEN AND UNDIMMED FOR MORE THAN 17 DECADES.

7DNHQ LQ WKH ÀJXUDWLYH VHQVH WKH WHUP UHIHUV WR VKDUHG H[SHULHQFHV FRPPRQ WUDGLWLRQV DQG ORQJ KHOG YDOXHV EXW IRU D JRRG QXPEHU RI PXOWLJHQHUDWLRQDO 0RXQW IDPLOLHV ´VLVWHUKRRGµ WDNHV RQ D GHHSHU KXH ´0RVW NLGV KHDU VWRULHV IURP WKHLU SDUHQWV DERXW WKHLU FKLOGKRRG DQG KRZ WKH\ JUHZ XS DQG WKDW EHFRPHV SDUW RI \RXU ORUH \RXU KLVWRU\ µ VDLG 6XPPHU 6WXGGDUG .HUVH\ · ZKRVH 0RXQW OLQHDJH LQFOXGHV KHU ODWH PRWKHU 'RURWK\ /R\G 6WXGGDUG · SOXV WKUHH DXQWV D VLVWHU WZR GDXJKWHUV DQG VHYHUDO FRXVLQV ´$V IDU DV WKH 0RXQW ZDV FRQFHUQHG P\ PRWKHU ZDV DOZD\V WHOOLQJ VWRULHV DERXW JRLQJ WR VFKRRO WKHUH 7KH\ ZHUH D ZRUNLQJ FODVV IDPLO\ ZKR KDG WR ZRUN KDUG WR SXW IRXU JLUOV WKURXJK 0RXQW 6W 0DU\·V 2QH RI WKH HDUOLHVW WKLQJV , FDQ UHPHPEHU LV P\ PRP WHOOLQJ VWRULHV DERXW KRZ VKH DQG P\ DXQWV URGH WKH FLW\ EXV KRPH IURP VFKRRO EHFDXVH WKH\·G VWD\ ODWH WR FOHDQ WKH FODVVURRPV WR KHOS ZLWK WXLWLRQ µ 6XPPHU VDLG WKH WDOHV QDUURZHG WKH JHQHUDWLRQ JDS JURZLQJ XS DQG KDYLQJ WKH 0RXQW DV FRPPRQ JURXQG KHOSHG KHU EHWWHU XQGHUVWDQG KHU PRWKHU DV D SHUVRQ ´)URP WKRVH VWRULHV , OHDUQHG KRZ P\ PRP ZDV WKH PLVFKLHYRXV RQH HVSHFLDOO\ ZKHQ ,·G DVN KHU VLVWHUV µ VKH VDLG ´,W

16 | THE MESSENGER

Above (from left): Stacey Studdard ’97, Susie Stull Williams ’89, Addison Williams ’30, Debbie Loyd Stull ’67, Olivia Kersey ’28, Sydney Kersey ’26 and Summer Studdard Kersey ’95

Below: The Loyd sisters (center four, from left), Dorothy Loyd Studdard ’73, Betty Loyd Carll ’71, Debbie Loyd Stull ’67 and Patricia Loyd Mahan ’65, pictured with their brother and mother circa 1966

ALUMNAE

“ Every time I go to

Mount, walking with my granddaughter through the buildings, I have lots of fond memories of that place. It still feels very much like home.

”

- MISSY WORLEY SOLOMON ’69

ZDVQ·W DQ\WKLQJ UHDOO\ EDG VKH ZRXOG VQHDN RXW DW OXQFK WR JR WR DQ RͿ OLPLWV SDUW RI FDPSXV WR HDW RU ORFN SHRSOH LQ D FORVHW 6KH OLNHG WR KDYH D JRRG WLPH µ 'RURWK\·V ROGHU VLVWHU 'HEELH /R\G 6WXOO · ZDV RQH RI D VSHFLDO FRKRUW RI OHJDFLHV WKDW QRW RQO\ H[SUHVVHG VLVWHUKRRG WKURXJK KHU FODVVPDWHV DQG EORRG UHODWLYHV EXW UHWXUQHG DV D IDFXOW\ PHPEHU LQ WKH UHOLJLRQ GHSDUWPHQW IRU PDQ\ \HDUV +HU UROH DV D WHDFKHU OHQW DQRWKHU IDFHW WR WKH IDPLOLDO DVSHFWV RI KHU OLIH DQG FDUHHU DW 060 ´,·P YHU\ SURXG RI WKH FRQQHFWLRQV , PDGH WKURXJK WKH \HDUV µ VKH VDLG ´, WDXJKW WKH IUHVKPHQ DQG , JUHDWO\ HQMR\HG LW ² ZDWFKLQJ WKHP JURZ DQG OHDUQ EH FKDOOHQJHG VRPHWLPHV GLVDJUHH 7RGD\ , ORYH UXQQLQJ LQWR WKRVH IRUPHU VWXGHQWV ,·OO VHH WKHP DW WKH JURFHU\ VWRUH DQG WKH\ ZLOO FRPH XS DQG VD\ KHOOR 7KH\ QRZ KDYH IDPLOLHV RI WKHLU RZQ DQG LW GHOLJKWV PH WR VHH WKHP DQG WR KHDU WKH WKLQJV WKH\·YH GRQH LQ WKHLU FDUHHUV DQG LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ 7KH VSLGHUZHE RI P\ 0RXQW FRQQHFWLRQV LV YHU\ H[WHQVLYH µ 7UDFLQJ WKH 060 OLQHDJH WKURXJK WKH JHQHUDWLRQV FDQ EH GDXQWLQJ LQ VRPH FDVHV 1RW RQO\ GR WKH URRWV RI VRPH IDPLO\ WUHHV JR GRZQ GHFDGHV GHHS DQG VSUHDG D EURDG FDQRS\ RI FRXVLQV DQG VHFRQG FRXVLQV EXW 0RXQW JLUOV ZKR JURZ XS DQG PDUU\ LQWR RWKHU OHJDF\ IDPLOLHV EHFRPH D ÀEHU RI D PXFK ODUJHU WDSHVWU\ 7KH KLVWRU\ RI WKH :RUOH\ 6RORPRQ 3DUULVK OLQH LV D SDUWLFXODUO\ ORQJ RQH FRPPHQFLQJ ZLWK 'HOLODK 'XFKDUPH 0DKRQH\ D ERDUGLQJ VWXGHQW ZKR JUDGXDWHG 0RXQW LQ 7ZHQW\ WZR \HDUV ODWHU KHU QLHFH 0LPL %DOGZLQ :RUOH\ · JUDGXDWHG 060 DQG KHU SURJHQ\ KDV FRQWLQXHG DW WKH VFKRRO WKURXJK SUHVHQW GD\ :KHQ WKH FXUUHQW \RXQJHVW LQ OLQH JUDGXDWHV LQ WKH IDPLO\ ZLOO KDYH VSDQQHG D WRWDO RI \HDUV IURP 'HOLODK 0LVV\ :RUOH\ 6RORPRQ · DQG KHU GDXJKWHU 0LPL 6RORPRQ 3DUULVK · QRW RQO\ VKDUHG H[WUDFXUULFXODUV DQG HYHQW H[SHULHQFHV DFURVV GLͿHUHQW HUDV EXW JUDGXDWHG GXULQJ SHULRGV RI UHQHZDO DQG FKDQJH IRU WKH VFKRRO 0LVV\ JUDGXDWHG MXVW DV 0RXQW ZDV DERXW WR GLVFRQWLQXH ERDUGLQJ VWXGHQWV DQG 0LPL ZKR ZRXOG WHDFK DUW RQ FDPSXV GXULQJ WKH VFKRRO \HDU ZDV DPRQJ WKH ÀUVW VWXGHQWV WR HQMR\ WKH UHQRYDWHG 0F$XOH\ &HQWHU DQG QHZ PDWK DQG VFLHQFH DGGLWLRQ

Above (from left): Mimi Solomon Parrish ’01, Margaret Alice Parrish ’29, Hattie Solomon ’30, Mary Alice Biedron, Missy Worley Solomon ’69, Miriam Parrish, Rachel Jones Biedron ’05, Ellie Biedron and Alice Worley Jones ’73 Below: Representing three generations of Mount girls, Mimi Baldwin Worley (far left) smiles alongside her daughters and granddaughters (from left), Missy, Mimi, Rachel and Alice, in 2001

´(YHU\ WLPH , JR WR 0RXQW ZDONLQJ ZLWK P\ JUDQGGDXJKWHU WKURXJK WKH EXLOGLQJV , KDYH ORWV RI IRQG PHPRULHV RI WKDW SODFH µ 0LVV\ VDLG ´,W VWLOO IHHOV YHU\ PXFK OLNH KRPH µ (YHQ WRGD\ WKH SK\VLFDO ODQGPDUNV DUH DV LPSRUWDQW D WRXFKVWRQH IRU ERWK PRWKHU DQG GDXJKWHU VXFK DV UHPLQLVFLQJ DERXW ERWK VZLPPLQJ LQ WKH SRRO WKDW XVHG WR H[LVW XQGHU WKH J\P 0LPL UHYHOV LQ VXFK FRQYHUVDWLRQV RI VKDULQJ H[SHULHQFHV DQG PHPHQWRV RI KHU ORQJ IDPLO\ OLQH ´0\ PRP DQG , ERWK ZRUNHG RQ \HDUERRN VWDͿ $XQW $OLFH ZDV WKH 0RXQW OLEUDULDQ IRU \HDUV , ZRUH P\ JUDQGPRWKHU·V VHQLRU ULQJ µ VKH VDLG ´7KHUH DUH MXVW D ORW RI WKLQJV \RX JHW WR GR WKDW DUH H[WUD PHDQLQJIXO ZKHQ \RX KDYH IDPLO\ WKHUH µ SPRING 2026

| 17

FOLLOWING THE BOYS: A Family Footprint Nearly as Old as Mount

A

mong the many family legacies at Mount St. Mary Academy, Barbara Darter Nelson claims a distinction that is likely hers alone.

While the school is celebrated today as an all-girls institution, Barbara’s lineage traces back to a time before that tradition began – specifically to her great-great-grandfather, Michael Catherina, who was enrolled as a student in 1853. Her great-grandfather, Ben Catherina, attended, as well, before Mount's 1908 transition into an all-girls academy.

Barbara would walk in her ancestors’ footsteps, but only for a short while. After sixth grade, her family moved to Texas, where she ultimately graduated from Mount Carmel Academy in Forth Worth, married, raised four children, and built a successful career in banking. Today, at age 87, Barbara represents the last remaining Mount connection in a family tradition five generations strong.

Feasibly the only living former student who can point to male ancestors in her Mount roots, she also serves as a unique bridge to the school’s earliest co-educational days.

Above: Barbara Darter Nelson (right) and her younger sister, Diane, as grade school students at Mount St. Mary Academy in 1951

18 | THE MESSENGER

“ It was so exciting for me to attend Mount

like my mom and my aunt and my cousins.

I was like, ‘I get to be a part of this tradition.’

Now I get to share all of it with Liv.

”

- ERICA HENRY ERCK ’92

$V SURXG DV 0RXQW JLUOV FDQ EH RI KDYLQJ PXOWLSOH JHQHUDWLRQV DWWHQG WKH VFKRRO VXFK OLQHDJH FDQ EH IUDJLOH 7UHQGV WRZDUG VPDOOHU IDPLOLHV DQG DQ LQFUHDVLQJO\ PRELOH VRFLHW\ RIWHQ OHDG D JHQHUDWLRQ DZD\ IURP /LWWOH 5RFN LQWHUUXSWLQJ DQG HYHQ HQGLQJ D ORQJVWDQGLQJ IDPLO\ OHJDF\ (ULFD +HQU\ (UFN · FDQ WUDFH KHU 0RXQW IDPLO\ WUHH WR KHU JUHDW JUDQGPRWKHU &ODUD /RXLVH 6FKRHQZDQGW &ODUD ZDV JLYHQ XS E\ KHU 6W /RXLV ELUWK SDUHQWV DQG DGRSWHG E\ WKH 6FKRHQZDQGW IDPLO\ ZKR EURXJKW KHU WR /LWWOH 5RFN ZKHUH VKH ZDV HYHQWXDOO\ D ERDUGLQJ VWXGHQW FLUFD (ULFD V PRWKHU 0DU\ /X 3DELDQ · DQG DQ DXQW DQG VHYHUDO RI WKHLU ROGHU FRXVLQV SUHFHGHG (ULFD DQG KHU VLVWHU .DWLH +HQU\ &KDVH · DQG WKUHH PRUH RI WKHLU 3DELDQ FRXVLQV LQ ZHDULQJ WKH KRXQGVWRRWK (ULFD KDG HYHU\ LQWHQWLRQ IRU KHU WKUHH FKLOGUHQ WR DWWHQG &DWKROLF VFKRROV DQG IROORZ LQ KHU IRRWVWHSV ² VKH HYHQ ZRUNHG IRU 0RXQW LQ D GHYHORSPHQW FDSDFLW\ IRU D VKRUW WLPH DIWHU FROOHJH ² EXW PDUULDJH DQG FDUHHU IRXQG WKH IDPLO\ LQ QRUWKZHVW

Above (from left): Erica Henry Erck ’92, Mary Lu Pabian ’68, and Liv Erck ’28 Below: Erica (holding her son, Jack) stands proudly with her sister, Katie Henry Chase ’04, and mother, Mary Lu, during Katie’s senior year

ALUMNAE

Erica Henry Erck can trace her Mount family tree to her greatgrandmother, Clara Louise Schoenwandt … a boarding student circa 1904. $UNDQVDV DQG WKH HQG RI WKH &DWKROLF KLJK VFKRRO OHJDF\ DSSHDUHG WR KDYH DUULYHG %XW ZKHQ (ULFD DWWHQGHG DQ HYHQW LQ KRQRULQJ KHU IRUPHU ERVV 6U 'HERUDK 7URLOOHWW VRPHWKLQJ VWLUUHG LQ KHU WKDW ZRXOGQ·W TXLHW GRZQ HYHQ DV VKH WROG KHUVHOI KRZ XQOLNHO\ LW ZRXOG EH IRU KHU \RXQJHVW GDXJKWHU /LY E\ WKHQ D KLJK VFKRROHU WR HYHU DWWHQG WKHUH +RZHYHU WKLQJV EHJDQ WR IDOO LQWR SODFH LQ ZD\V VKH FRXOGQ·W KDYH SODQQHG 7KH IDPLO\ ZDV GLVVDWLVÀHG ZLWK /LY·V KLJK VFKRRO H[SHULHQFH DW WKH WLPH RSHQLQJ WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI D FKDQJH (ULFD·V KXVEDQG -RKQ KDG EHHQ FRPPXWLQJ WR /LWWOH 5RFN IRU KLV MRE ZKLFK ZDV KDUG RQ WKH IDPLO\ DQG ZKHQ VKH LQTXLUHG ZLWK 0RXQW WKHUH ZDV RQH R΀FLDO VFKRRO WRXU GDWH WKDW FRLQFLGHG ZLWK DQ H[LVWLQJ DSSRLQWPHQW (ULFD DQG -RKQ KDG LQ /LWWOH 5RFN $W WKH HQG RI D ZKLUOZLQG IHZ ZHHNV /LY ZDV VLJQHG WR WDNH KHU SODFH LQ WKH 060 &ODVV RI D 0RXQW JLUO DORQJVLGH KHU FRXVLQV (PPD *LGGLQJV · DQG (OOLH *LGGLQJV · ´,W ZDV VR H[FLWLQJ IRU PH WR DWWHQG 0RXQW OLNH P\ PRP DQG P\ DXQW DQG P\ FRXVLQV , ZDV OLNH ¶, JHW WR EH D SDUW RI WKLV WUDGLWLRQ ·µ (ULFD VDLG ´1RZ , JHW WR VKDUH DOO RI LW ZLWK /LY DQG ZDWFK KHU H[SHULHQFH DOO WKDW 0RXQW RͿHUV DQG PDNH KHU RZQ OHJDF\ ´7KH UHDOO\ XQEHOLHYDEOH SDUW LV QR PDWWHU ZKDW HYHQW , DWWHQG RU ZKDW QHZ JURXS RU WHDP /LY MRLQV , VHH WKH IDFH RI VRPHRQH WKDW ,·P OLNH ¶RK P\ JRVK ZH KDYHQ·W VHHQ HDFK RWKHU VLQFH KLJK VFKRRO · ,W·V EHHQ DPD]LQJ WR UHFRQQHFW DQG WKHQ ÀQG RXW WKHLU NLGV DUH DW 0RXQW WRR 6LQFH , KDYHQ·W OLYHG LQ /LWWOH 5RFN IRU \HDUV LW·V DOO QHZ LQ WKDW VHQVH <HW LW·V FRPIRUWLQJ WR EH KHUH , JHW WHDUV WKLQNLQJ DERXW LW EHLQJ KHUH JLYHV PH VR PXFK SHDFH µ

NO OTHER

Like Her S

tella Ann Chudy Cothran ’40 sits quietly in a chair, her eyes taking in the world as they have done for more than a century. At 102, she spends her days being cared for and loved by the staff at Briarwood Nursing Home in Little Rock. And while living past the century mark has taken its share from Stella, as one might expect, the memories of her beloved alma mater are never far away.

Stella, Mount St. Mary Academy’s oldest known living graduate, has lived a life surrounded by love, a love often emanating directly or indirectly from MSM. A grade school graduate of St. Mary’s School in North Little Rock where she’s a life member of the parish, Stella didn’t recall any debate at the time over where she would live out the next phase of her education.

“It was just assumed that Mount St. Mary’s was where I would go for high school,” she said through her daughter, Cathy Cothran Fox ’76. “I was a day student commuting by bus to Little Rock and then by streetcar to MSM. “One of my favorite teachers was Sr. Mary Frances who taught English and French.

I was also a member of Sodality, Le Cercle Francais, and the Commercial Club during high school there.”

Looking through Stella’s senior yearbook at her mother’s side, Cathy feels the love that was shared between classmates when the world was new and full of possibilities.

“One of her classmates wrote, ‘Her laugh will never grow old, and she has a heart as pure as gold,’” Cathy said. “This is still true today.”

Stella – whose senior quote was “To be good is to be happy” – went to work at Vestal Nurseries after graduation, serving as secretary to the company president. In 1949, she expressed her love differently, this time to the handsome Herman Cothran, in a marriage that would produce three children. Her devout Catholic faith repeated for them what her parents provided for her, and all three of the Cothran kids were educated stem to stern in the parochial system.

Like her mom, Cathy recalled no debate whatsoever when it came her time to attend high school.

“I always loved seeing my mom’s Class of 1940 picture in the hallway at Mount,” she said.

Today, in her mother’s twilight years, Cathy cherishes the ability to share the Mount legacy with her, a legacy that has since come to include Cathy’s daughter, Caitlin Fox Ewing ’07, and Stella’s great-granddaughter, Lyla Tong ’24.

“I have always felt a special bond with mom as a Mount grad, and it’s special to share that bond with my daughter and great niece, as well,” she said. “The school has changed so much since mom attended, but so much is still the same. It’s a great history that we are so blessed to have had a small part in. I love that so many generations of young women are part of the sisterhood, and I know she feels the same way.”

Right: Stella Ann Chudy Cothran (far right) celebrates her 101st birthday with (from left) greatgranddaughter Blair Ewing, daughter Cathy Cothran Fox, and granddaughter Caitlin Fox Ewing

SPRING 2026

| 19

Breaking Seal THE

W

ALKING THROUGH THE HALLS OF MOUNT ST. MARY ACADEMY IS A STUDENT BODY THAT MIRRORS HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY, STATE AND NATION. 060 FRPHV LQ P\ULDG VNLQ WRQHV KDLUVW\OHV DQG IDFLDO IHDWXUHV ELOLQJXDO DQG EL UDFLDO FRQVHUYDWLYH DQG SURJUHVVLYH &DWKROLF 3URWHVWDQW -HZLVK RU QR IRUPDO FKXUFK DW DOO :HUH LW QRW IRU WKH KRXQGVWRRWK WKHUH ZRXOG EH OLWWOH WR QRWKLQJ WKDW DQ\ JLYHQ FODVV FRXOG KROG LQ FRPPRQ IURP HWKQLF SKLORVRSKLFDO RU LGHRORJLFDO SRVWXUHV DQG WKDW VWDQGV DV D SRVLWLYH :KLOH QR V\VWHP RU LQVWLWXWLRQ LV SHUIHFW DQG WKHUH LV PXFK ZRUN OHIW WR EH GRQH DQ\ 060 VFKRRO FRPSRVLWH UHÁHFWV D WUXHU SLFWXUH RI WKH FRPPXQLW\ WRGD\ WKDQ LW HYHU KDV 6XFK DQ HQYLURQPHQW KDV EHHQ D ORQJ WLPH LQ WKH PDNLQJ \HDUV WR EH SUHFLVH ,Q WKH IDOO RI WZR VWXGHQWV DUULYHG RQ FDPSXV WKH ÀUVW %ODFN HQUROOHHV DW 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ $FDGHP\ 2QO\ RQH RI WKH WZR &DURO $QQ %ORZ · VWXFN LW RXW WR JUDGXDWLRQ E\ ZKLFK WLPH VHYHUDO RWKHU VWXGHQWV RI FRORU KDG DUULYHG ZDONLQJ LQ KHU IRRWVWHSV &DURO $QQ QRZ YLHZV WKH H[SHULHQFH RI EHLQJ WKH ÀUVW %ODFN VWXGHQW IRU ZKDW LW ZDV FRPSOLFDWHG GL΀FXOW HGLI\LQJ LQ SODFHV DQG DOWRJHWKHU QHFHVVDU\ IRU ZKDW VKH VHHV DV *RG·V SODQ IRU KHU OLIH ´,W VWLQJV WR WKLQN EDFN RQ VRPH RI WKDW µ VKH VDLG SODLQO\ ´%XW LI , KDG QRW JRQH WKURXJK WKDW , ZRXOG QRW EH WKH SHUVRQ , DP WRGD\ µ &DURO $QQ·V SDWK WR WKH JDWHV RI 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ EHJDQ DW 6W %DUWKRORPHZ &KXUFK LQ /LWWOH 5RFN ZKHUH VKH ZDV VR FDSWLYDWHG E\ WKH 0DVV VKH·G SOD\DFW LW DV D FKLOG +HU UHOLJLRXV XSEULQJLQJ ZDV DQRWKHU HOHPHQW RI EHLQJ WKH RXWVLGHU WKDW &DURO $QQ DQ RQO\ FKLOG ZRXOG FDUU\ WKURXJKRXW KHU OLIH 7KH FRUQHUVWRQH RI KHU SUHGRPLQDQWO\ %ODFN QHLJKERUKRRG ZDV )LUVW %DSWLVW &KXUFK QRW WLQ\ 6W %DUWKRORPHZ DQG ZKLOH VKH ZRXOG DWWHQG WKH %DSWLVW YDFDWLRQ

20 | THE MESSENGER

ALUMNAE

In the fall of 1962, two students arrived on campus, the first Black enrollees at Mount St. Mary Academy.

Above: Vice president Carol-Ann Blow (back middle) with other Glee Club officers during her senior year

%LEOH VFKRRO EHLQJ GLͿHUHQW ZDV QHYHU IDU IURP KHU PLQG %\ LQWHJUDWLRQ KDG FRPH WR /LWWOH 5RFN E\ ZD\ RI WKH YHU\ SXEOLF GHVHJUHJDWLRQ FULVLV DW &HQWUDO +LJK 6FKRRO ZKDW PDQ\ KLVWRULDQV FRQVLGHU D ODQGPDUN HYHQW RI WKH ODUJHU FLYLO ULJKWV PRYHPHQW &RPLQJ MXVW WKUHH \HDUV DIWHU WKH 8 6 6XSUHPH &RXUW·V Brown v. Board of Education GHFLVLRQ /LWWOH 5RFN·V FKDRWLF H[SHULHQFH ZDV VHHQ RQ WHOHYLVLRQV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ DQG XOWLPDWHO\ FUDFNHG WKH IRXQGDWLRQ RI RWKHU 6RXWKHUQ VHJUHJDWLRQ VWURQJKROGV -XVW ÀYH \HDUV ODWHU 060 ZRXOG XVKHU LQ D UHYROXWLRQDU\ QHZ HUD LQ LWV KLVWRU\ 8QOLNH &HQWUDO +LJK QR VFUHDPLQJ PREV ZHUH SUHVHQW DQG QR RQH WULHG WR EORFN KHU HQWU\ 1HYHUWKHOHVV &DURO $QQ UHPHPEHUV WKH IHDU VKH IHOW WKDW ÀUVW GD\ RI FODVVHV DQ H[SHULHQFH VKH ZURWH DERXW LQ D VHUPRQ ODWHU LQ OLIH DW 6U 7KHD %RZPDQ ,QFOXVLYH &DWKROLF &KXUFK ´$W WKH WRS RI WKH KLOO , VDZ SHRSOH WKDW , NQHZ DQG KDG PHW EHIRUH ,W ZDV -XGJH +HQU\ :RRGV DQG SHRSOH ZKR ZHUH IURP WKH &DWKROLF ,QWHUUDFLDO &RXQFLO WKDW VXSSRUWHG WKLV HQGHDYRU µ VKH VDLG ´7KH\ VPLOHG DQG DVNHG KRZ ZH ZHUH GRLQJ $OO , FRXOG GR ZDV VPLOH DQG OHW RXW D ZHDN ¶RND\ ·µ &DURO $QQ VDLG WKH FKDOOHQJHV RI WKH ÀUVW GD\ ² D GHURJDWRU\ UHPDUN KHUH DQ DQRQ\PRXV SXVK LQ WKH KDOOZD\ WKHUH ² DQG WKH DFFRPSDQ\LQJ IHDU RI EHLQJ LQ D JURXS RI RQH ZRXOG WDNH WLPH WR GLPLQLVK

%\ WK JUDGH VKH EHJDQ WR ÀQG KHU IRRWLQJ DW VFKRRO DQG ZKLOH VKH VDLG PDWWHU RI IDFWO\ WKDW VKH QHYHU UHDOO\ IHOW OLNH VKH ÀW LQ DW 0RXQW WKH LURQ\ ZDV WKDW WKH VDPH FRXOG EH VDLG IRU KHU RZQ FRPPXQLW\ ´, NQHZ , ZDV UDLVHG LQ WKH ·KRRG DQG WKHUH ZDV WKLV VRFLDO FKDQJH JRLQJ RQ EXW , ZRXOG FRPH WR VFKRRO DQG EHFDXVH WKHUH ZDV D GUHVV FRGH , FRXOG QRW ZHDU DQ DIUR DQG WKH FORWKHV RI WKH · V µ VKH VDLG ´$W WKH VDPH WLPH JRLQJ WR 0RXQW P\ ODQJXDJH FKDQJHG QRW QHFHVVDULO\ IURP EHLQJ D ¶%ODFN· ODQJXDJH ² ZH VSRNH FRUUHFWO\ ² EXW LW KDG FKDQJHG ,·G FRPH EDFN KRPH DQG P\ SHHUV ZRXOG WHOO PH , DFWHG DQG VRXQGHG ZKLWH ´, IRXQG RXW RK P\ *RG , UHDOO\ GRQ·W ÀW LQ DQ\ZKHUH 7KDW ZDV D FKDOOHQJH IRU PH WR WU\ WR ÀQG P\ SODFH LQ OLIH HYHQ DIWHU , JUDGXDWHG :DV , JRLQJ WR EH EODFN SRZHU" :DV , JRLQJ WR EH WKLV SDVVLYH VRFLDO MXVWLFH 6W )UDQFLV NLQG RI WKLQJ JRLQJ RQ" , KDG WR SUD\ D ORW DERXW WKDW µ 0XVLF ZKLFK &DURO $QQ GHVFULEHG DV KHU SDVVLRQ ZDV KHU IRRWKROG DQG D ZD\ OLIH DW VFKRRO IHOW QRUPDO DV GLG KHU RZQ DWWLWXGH RI ZDQWLQJ WR FRQQHFW ZLWK FODVVPDWHV WKDW ZDV LQ WLPH UHFLSURFDWHG ´$IWHU QLQWK JUDGH WKHUH ZHUH JLUOV ZKR ZHUH IULHQGO\ DQG ZH ZRXOG WDON µ VKH VDLG ´,·P QRW VXUH , FRXOG WHOO \RX , ÀW LQ ZLWK WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQV , PHDQ WKH\ ZHUH 3HWHU 3DXO DQG 0DU\ DQG , ZDV %ODFN VRXO PXVLF DQG RWKHU JHQUHV RND\" 6R , FURVVHG RYHU WR 3HWHU 3DXO DQG 0DU\ OHDUQHG WR SOD\ WKH JXLWDU DQG , FRXOG GR WKDW IDLUO\ ZHOO µ %\ WKH WLPH VKH ZDV DQ XSSHUFODVVPDQ VHYHUDO RWKHU %ODFN VWXGHQWV KDG HQWHUHG WKH 0RXQW &DURO $QQ UHPHPEHUV WHDFKHUV DVNLQJ ZK\ VKH GLGQ·W JR RXW RI KHU ZD\ WR VKHSKHUG WKH QHZ NLGV VRPHWKLQJ VKH VDLG KDG OHVV WR GR ZLWK UDFLDO LGHQWLW\ WKDQ D

Above: Carol-Ann Blow’s 1966 senior portrait

MXQLRU QRW ZDQWLQJ WR PRWKHU KHQ D JDJJOH RI IUHVKPHQ 6KH GRHV UHPHPEHU KRZHYHU KDYLQJ PHWHG RXW VRPH XQYDUQLVKHG UHDO ZRUOG DGYLFH WR WKH \RXQJVWHUV ´7KHUH ZHUH D FRXSOH RI JLUOV ZKR ZHUH KDYLQJ VRPH SUREOHPV DW WKH 0RXQW DQG WKH\ ZHUH WHOOLQJ PH WKHVH WKLQJV WKDW ZHUH KDSSHQLQJ µ VKH VDLG ´, ORRNHG DW WKHP DQG , VDLG ¶7KDW·V HDV\ SHDV\ KRQH\ ,I \RX FDQ·W FXW LW WKURXJK WKDW WKHQ \RX QHHG WR OHDYH -XVW EHFDXVH VRPH OLWWOH ZKLWH JLUO FDOOHG \RX D QDPH \RX FDQ·W WDNH WKDW SHUVRQDOO\ · ´, PHDQ WKDW·V WKH UHDO ZRUOG RND\" <RX·UH JRLQJ WR ÀQG WKHVH SUREOHPV LQ ELJ FRUSRUDWLRQV \RX·UH JRLQJ WR ÀQG WKHVH SUREOHPV DW FROOHJH DQG \RX FDQ·W WDNH LW KHUH LQ KLJK VFKRRO" &RPH RQ \RX JRWWD FRQVLGHU WKH VRXUFH DQG GLJ LQ DQG QRW TXLW µ &DURO $QQ·V FDUHHU HYHQWXDOO\ WRRN URRW LQ PLQLVWU\ DQG WRGD\ VKH LV D SDVWRU DQG SURYLGHV PXVLF IRU KHU RZQ FKXUFK DV ZHOO DV WKUHH RWKHUV 6KH DOVR DGRSWHG DQG UDLVHG IRXU FKLOGUHQ DV D VLQJOH PRWKHU $QG VKH·V PDGH SHDFH ZLWK WKH GL΀FXOWLHV WKDW FDPH ZLWK EHLQJ 0RXQW·V ÀUVW %ODFN VWXGHQW HQRXJK WR EH SOHDVHG ZLWK KHU SODFH LQ WKH KLVWRU\ RI WKH VFKRRO ´7KDW JLYHV PH D UHDO VHQVH RI SULGH WKDW , FDQ WHOO VRPHRQH , JUDGXDWHG IURP 0RXQW 6W 0DU\·V DQG DV WKH ÀUVW %ODFN LI WKH\ ZDQQD NQRZ µ VKH VDLG ´, MXVW KDG WKDW VXUYLYDO LQVWLQFW LQ PH , JXHVV , PDGH LW DQG ,·P KDSS\ WKDW , ZDV WKH RQH ZKR PDGH LW 7KHUH·V D ORW RI MR\ LQ WKDW DFFRPSOLVKPHQW µ

“ It stings to think back on some of that. But if I had not gone through that, I would not be the person I am today.”

- CAROL-ANN BLOW ’66 SPRING 2026

| 21

Belle Team

A

Front Row: (from left) Ana Bella Gutierrez ’26, Maria Ezzi ’26 and Chloe Freville ’26 Back Row: (from left) Maddie Hernandez ’27, Lillie York ’27, Amelia Green ’28 and Liv Erck ’28

22 | THE MESSENGER

OF A

SPORTS

Left: The Golf Belles’ 2025, 2024 and 2023 championship rings, symbolizing an era of competitive dominance on the state’s biggest stage

THREE SENIORS CONTRIBUTE TO HISTORIC RUN FOR MSM GOLF PROGRAM

RQ WKH VFKRRO·V IRXU VWDWH WHDP WLWOHV ZDV HYHQ WKLFNHU GDWLQJ EDFN WR 7R VD\ WKH %HOOHV ZHUH ORQJ RYHUGXH LV D SDU VL]HG XQGHUVWDWHPHQW EXW LW ZRXOG WDNH D VSHFLDO FRPELQDWLRQ RI DWKOHWLF WDOHQW DQG PHQWDO WRXJKQHVV WR ÀQDOO\ JHW EDFN RYHU WKH KXPS (QWHU 7KH 7ULSOHWV ² D WULR RI WDOHQWHG WKHQ VRSKRPRUHV ZKR JRW WKH 0RXQW EDFN

DWRS WKH OHDGHUERDUG DW WKH KLJKHVW OHYHO RI JLUOV· KLJK VFKRRO JROI 3HUKDSV WRR \RXQJ WR DSSUHFLDWH WKH VFKRRO·V ORQJ H[HUFLVH LQ JROI IXWLOLW\ RU SHUKDSV WRR WDOHQWHG WR FDUH WKH WKUHHVRPH 0DULD (]]L &KORH )UHYLOOH DQG $QD %HOOD *XWLHUUH] ODLG WKH IRXQGDWLRQ IRU RQH RI WKH PRUH UHPDUNDEOH UXQV LQ VFKRRO KLVWRU\ 7KH WULR KDV DQFKRUHG VTXDGV WKDW EURXJKW KRPH WKUHH $ WHDP WLWOHV ² RQH VK\ RI GRXEOLQJ WKH VFKRRO·V QXPEHU RI JROI VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLSV LQ LWV KLVWRU\ ² DQG QLQH WRS SODFHPHQWV RYHU WKUHH VHDVRQV ,W DOVR ERDVWHG WKUHH %HOOHV ZLWK

Each year brought some element of surprise. In 2023 the Belles … were up by just one stroke as the final foursome, containing Chloe, approached the 17th tee box.

Right: (from left) 2023 State Champions Savvy Straessle ’24, Maria Ezzi ’26, Lillie York ’27, Kennedy Griffin ’24, Chloe Freville ’26, Ana Bella Gutierrez ’26 and Bella Craiglow ’25

I

N SEPTEMBER 2023, MOUNT ST. MARY WAS SUFFERING THROUGH A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT – IN ATHLETICS OF ANY KIND – THAT STRETCHED TO 2008. ,Q JROI WKH GXVW

$OO 6WDWH KRQRUV HDFK RI WKRVH \HDUV LQ &KORH $QD %HOOD DQG /LOOLH <RUN RQH \HDU WKH 7ULSOHWV· MXQLRU DV ZHOO DV PXOWLSOH $OO &RQIHUHQFH KRQRUV 7KLQNLQJ EDFN RQ WKH UXQ SOD\HUV UHPHPEHU ZKDW LW ZDV OLNH WR JR IURP XSVWDUW ZLQQHU WR KDYLQJ D WDUJHW RQ WKHLU EDFNV WR MXJJHUQDXW DOO ZKLOH IDFLQJ WKH SUHVVXUH RI FKDVLQJ D KLVWRULF WKUHHSHDW ´,W GLG UHDOO\ IHHO GLͿHUHQW HDFK WLPH µ VDLG 0DULD ´:H KDG D KXQFK DERXW ZLQQLQJ VWDWH WKH ÀUVW WLPH DQG , WKLQN LW ZDV HDVLHU EHFDXVH LW NLQG RI MXVW KDSSHQHG ,W ZDV DOO OLNH D JUHDW VXUSULVH WKDW ZDV DZHVRPH :KHQHYHU ZH KDG WR JR EDFN DW LW ZH VWDUWHG WKLQNLQJ ZHOO ZH ZRQ ODVW \HDU DQG ZH KDYH SHRSOH WKLQNLQJ WKDW ZH·UH JRLQJ WR GR LW DJDLQ ,W ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ D OLWWOH ELW PRUH VWUHVVIXO µ (DFK \HDU EURXJKW VRPH HOHPHQW RI GUDPD ,Q WKH %HOOHV EOHZ D OHDG GRZQ WKH WRXUQDPHQW VWUHWFK DQG ZHUH XS E\ MXVW RQH VWURNH DV WKH ÀQDO IRXUVRPH FRQWDLQLQJ &KORH DSSURDFKHG WKH WK WHH ER[ :LWK WKH VWDWH WLWOH RQ WKH OLQH DQG SRZHUKRXVH &RQZD\ EUHDWKLQJ GRZQ KHU QHFN &KORH GURSSHG KHU GULYH WKURXJK D FURVVZLQG WR ZLWKLQ WZR IHHW RI WKH SLQ 7DSSLQJ LQ VKH URGH D WZR VWURNH OHDG WR WKH ÀQDO KROH VHDOLQJ WKH WHDP·V YLFWRU\ ´, ZDV QHUYRXV D OLWWOH ELW EXW RQ WKDW VHFRQG WR ODVW KROH , UHDOO\ KDG QR LGHD

SPRING 2026

| 23

Game Changer DAWN BARLOW DARTER BROKE NEW GROUND FOR WOMEN’S GOLF IN ARKANSAS

R

aised in a home that backed up to the sixth fairway of The Greens in Sherwood, Dawn Barlow Darter ’77 literally lived on the golf course. Urged to take up the game by her father as a child, she was so accomplished by the time she was a teenager that her choice to attend Mount St. Mary Academy appeared odd to outside observers given the school didn’t have a golf team at the time.

Dawn enrolled in the school due to her family’s deep Catholic faith. The Mount administration, recognizing her abundant talent, did the rest.

“Joy Rundell was the P.E. director at that time, and she put a team together my junior year,” Dawn said. “The other girls, they didn’t know how to play, they all shot scores over 100, and they weren’t used to carrying this heavy bag around in the heat, but they fought their hearts out and did what they had to for me to be able to play in the state tournament.”

Dawn made good on her teammates’ sacrifices and then some, winning the individual title the two years she competed at state after the team was formed. During her high school years, she also dominated junior amateur tournaments, medaling at age 16 in the state women’s amateur tournament. After graduating MSM, she became the first out-of-state Title IX athlete at the University of Oklahoma, where the women’s golf team won the Big Eight Championship – its first-ever conference team title – her freshman season. That same year Dawn shot the lowest score for the team in six of its 10 tournaments and tied for 33rd among college players at the 1978 AIAW national championship.

A year later she turned pro, but the life of a traveling golf professional didn’t agree with her, especially after she married her husband, Gary. Deciding to become a club pro, Dawn apprenticed at The Greens in 1981 before serving at Foxwood Country Club in Jacksonville as well as clubs in Blytheville and Henderson, Nevada.

Hearing of efforts to renovate and revive The Greens, which had played such a huge role in her life, she came back to the club in 2010.

Dawn’s involvement with Arkansas’ golf community since then has been well-decorated. As a regional junior golf director for the Arkansas Chapter of the South Central Professional Golf Association, she won her chapter’s Player Development Award three times, her chapter’s Youth Player Development Award eight times, and the South Central PGA Youth Player Development Award in 2018. She was selected for the South Central PGA’s highest honor, the 2019 Golf Professional of the Year, on the heels of her 2018 induction into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame. In 2023, Dawn was also inducted into the South Central PGA Hall of Fame.

“My experience at the Mount was very spiritual for me,” she said.

“Golf was a great experience because I had very good mentors and golf pros who took really good care of me. What I learned at the Mount is the sacrifice that people in vocations make and the meaning of the church. It isn’t playing golf that I remember most about those days, it’s what people did for me and the things they did for students that they didn’t have to.”

24 | THE MESSENGER

ZKHUH , ZDV RQ WKH VFRUHERDUG DW DOO µ VKH VDLG ´0\ FRDFK MXVW WROG PH ¶&KORH MXVW NHHS GRLQJ ZKDW \RX·UH GRLQJ <RX·UH GRLQJ JUHDW <RX JRW WKLV · 7KDW JDYH PH D OLWWOH SHDFH RI PLQG RQ WKDW ODVW SDU WKUHH , KLW D JUHDW VKRW DQG , MXVW UHPHPEHU LW EHLQJ VR H[KLODUDWLQJ FRPLQJ LQ DQG KDYLQJ P\ WHDPPDWHV ZDLWLQJ IRU PH ,W·V VXFK D VXUUHDO DQG DZHVRPH PHPRU\ µ *LYHQ WKDW ÀQLVK LW·V XQGHUVWDQGDEOH WKDW &KORH VDLG WKH VWUHVV OHVVHQHG RYHU WKH QH[W WZR VHDVRQV DQG WKH WHDP SOD\HG OLNH LW ,Q WKH WHDP KDG D QHZ FRDFK EXW D IDPLOLDU UHVXOW OD\LQJ ZDVWH WR WKH VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLS ÀHOG LQ D PDQQHU WKDW ZDV VKRUW RQ VXVSHQVH DV WKH %HOOHV VWHDPUROOHG WKHLU ZD\ WR D VHFRQG WLWOH E\ VWURNHV ,Q WKH WHDP DJDLQ KLW RQ DOO F\OLQGHUV FUXLVLQJ WR WKH $ WHDP WLWOH DQG VROLGLI\LQJ LWVHOI LQ VFKRRO ORUH &KORH VDLG LQ IDFW WKDW DV VHQLRUV WKH HPRWLRQV RͿ WKH FRXUVH ZHUH D ELJJHU LPSHGLPHQW WKDQ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH OLQHV ´, PHDQ REYLRXVO\ LW·V DOZD\V JRLQJ WR EH D JUHDW H[SHULHQFH EHLQJ ZLWK \RXU WHDP DQG ZLQQLQJ D VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW µ VKH VDLG ´7KH WKLUG FKDPSLRQVKLS ZDV IXQ EXW LW ZDV DOVR VDG DW WKH VDPH WLPH NQRZLQJ WKDW ZDV RXU ÀQDO KLJK VFKRRO WRXUQDPHQW WRJHWKHU IRU $QD %HOOD /LOOLH 0DULD DQG PH , KRQHVWO\ FULHG D ORW DIWHU WKDW ODVW RQH µ 7KH RQO\ GUDPD WR HPHUJH LQ WKRVH ODVW WZR VWDWH WLWOH UXQV FDPH LQ FRXUWHV\ RI $QD %HOOD ZKR SXOOHG VRPH ODWH URXQG KHURLFV E\ SOD\LQJ KHU ZD\ LQWR D WKUHH ZD\ WLH IRU WKLUG ZLWK D VSRW LQ WKH RYHUDOO WRXUQH\ DW VWDNH $QD %HOOD GULOOHG D ELUGLH SXWW RQ WKH ÀUVW H[WUD KROH WR SXQFK KHU WLFNHW WR WKH RYHUDOO WRXUQDPHQW WKDW KRVWHG WRS ÀQLVKLQJ JROIHUV DFURVV DOO FODVVLÀFDWLRQV ,W ZDV D PRPHQW VKH FKHULVKHV DV D SHUVRQDO DFFRPSOLVKPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ WR WKH WHDP·V SHUIRUPDQFH ´7KDW ZDV YHU\ VSHFLDO IRU PH WR SODFH WKLUG RYHUDOO µ VKH VDLG ´, GLGQ·W UHDOO\ NQRZ ZKHUH , ZDV SODFLQJ XQWLO WKH HQG RI P\ URXQG EHFDXVH , GRQ·W OLNH WR ORRN DW P\ VFRUHV RU ZKR·V RQ WKH OHDGHUERDUG EHFDXVH LW PHVVHV ZLWK WKH JDPH 7KHQ , SXW DOO P\ IRFXV DQG DOO P\ VWUHQJWK DQG ZDV DEOH WR ELUGLH WKDW KROH IURP , ZDQW WR VD\ IHHW ,W ZDV MXVW DQ HFVWDWLF IHHOLQJ P\ JRDO IRU WKH \HDU ZDV WR PDNH LW WR WKH RYHUDOO FKDPSLRQVKLS DQG VR , ZDV YHU\ SURXG RI P\VHOI WR DFKLHYH WKDW DV ZHOO DV WKH WHDP JRDO µ $V WKH WKUHH DWKOHWHV DSSURDFK JUDGXDWLRQ WKH\ DOO ORRN IRUZDUG WR FRQWLQXLQJ WR SOD\ DW WKH QH[W OHYHO &KORH LV KHDGHG IRU $UNDQVDV 7HFK 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ 5XVVHOOYLOOH $QD %HOOD KDV VLJQHG

From Left: Lillie York ’27, Chloe Freville ’26, Ana Bella Gutierrez ’26 and Maria Ezzi ’26 at the 2025 PGA High School Golf National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina

SPORTS

ZLWK +HQGHUVRQ 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ $UNDGHOSKLD DQG 0DULD LV KHDGHG QRUWK WR &ROOHJH RI 6DLQW 0DU\ LQ 2PDKD (DFK H[SUHVVHG JUDWLWXGH IRU WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV DW WKH 0RXQW DQG KRZ WKDW KHOSHG SUHSDUH WKHP IRU WKHLU QH[W FKDSWHU LQ OLIH ´,·YH GHÀQLWHO\ FKDQJHG D ORW µ &KORH VDLG ´, ZDV VXSHU LQWURYHUWHG JRLQJ LQWR P\ IUHVKPDQ \HDU , XVHG WR EH UHDOO\ VK\ DQG ,·G MXVW NLQG RI VWDQG LQ WKH FRUQHU DQG QRW VD\ DQ\WKLQJ 1RZ , NQRZ , FDQ JR XS WR VRPHERG\ DQG EH FRQÀGHQW

Left: (from left) 2024 State Champions Amelia Green ’28, Bella Craiglow ’25, Ana Bella Gutierrez ’26, Lillie York ’27, Chloe Freville ’26, Maria Ezzi ’26 and Maddie Hernandez ’27

In 2024, the team had a new coach but a familiar result, laying waste to the state championship field ... as the Belles steamrolled their way to a second title by 20 strokes.

HQRXJK WR VSHDN WR WKHP 0\ IRXU \HDUV DW 0RXQW KDYH GHÀQLWHO\ EURXJKW RXW D PRUH RXWJRLQJ VLGH RI PH µ ´%HLQJ RQ WKH JROI FRXUVH IRU WKUHH KRXUV LQ WKLV JUXHOLQJ VSRUW ,·YH GHÀQLWHO\ JRWWHQ EHWWHU DW P\ VRFLDO VNLOOV OLJKWHQLQJ WKH PRRG DQG WU\LQJ WR EHFRPH IULHQGV ZLWK SHRSOH , WKLQN OHDUQLQJ KRZ WR HQMR\ JHWWLQJ WR NQRZ SHRSOH KDV GHÀQLWHO\ KHOSHG PDQDJH DQ[LHW\ µ 0DULD VDLG ´,·YH DOVR ORYHG EHLQJ DW DQ DOO JLUOV VFKRRO EHFDXVH , UHDOO\ IHHO OLNH , FDQ

MXVW EH P\VHOI DQG KDYH UHIUHVKLQJ UHDO FRQYHUVDWLRQV ZLWK RWKHUV 0RXQW KHOSHG PH D ORW ZLWK WKDW µ ´7KH 0RXQW KDV JLYHQ PH RSSRUWXQLWLHV IULHQGV HGXFDWLRQ DQG DFWV RI VHUYLFH µ $QD %HOOD VDLG ´EXW LW·V WKH VLVWHUKRRG WKDW PHDQV WKH PRVW WR PH KRQHVWO\ 1RW RQO\ ZDV LW WKHUH IRU DWKOHWLFV LW ZDV HYHU\ZKHUH ,·YH EHHQ YHU\ EOHVVHG DQG YHU\ KRQRUHG WR EH DEOH WR JR WR 0RXQW DQG WR H[SHULHQFH WKH VLVWHUKRRG DQG WR GR DOO WKH WKLQJV DV D 0RXQW JLUO µ

The Long Game ASHLEY JONES AND GOLF ENJOY A LIFELONG PARTNERSHIP

A

shley Jones ’06 was anointed to play golf by her late father, who bought a set of clubs in the hopes she would one day grow into them as well as a love for the game. She was two when he died and took her first swing at about age four.

“Dad had bought a set of golf clubs from a yard sale or an estate sale, I think. My mom still has them in the house,” she said. “My mother’s best friend was kind of like a semi-professional golfer back in the 1980s and early ’90s in Little Rock. He got me involved with the sport.”

Ashley had an off-again, on-again relationship with the sport during her formative years. She dropped the game entirely for a while after she discovered and pursued basketball, coming back to the links in middle school.

She arrived at Mount St. Mary the way a lot of Mount girls do, thanks to her religious heritage and an appreciation for the school’s reputation for excellence.

“I was born and raised Catholic. I went to a parochial school at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Little Rock,” she said. “Back then, you went from parochial school straight to Mount or Catholic, you know? That was the path. I knew I didn’t really have a choice; it was going to be Mount St. Mary’s.”

Ashley graduated from MSM in 2006 having made lifelong friendships and developed leadership and academic skills. However, ironically, she did not play one hole of golf as a Belle. A dominant player in the junior golf ranks during high school, she never played for the school team.

“I remember, I’d talk to golf coaches at different schools and they would tell me, ‘Hey, I’ve got a spot for you on our team,’” Ashley said. “I’d go back and tell my mom about it and she was like, ‘I’m not pulling you out of Mount,’ and that was it. To me, it was for the better.”

Ashley graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2011 with a degree in business administration and served as a volunteer coach to the Razorback women’s golf team while on the Hill. Throughout her professional career she’s advanced the game of golf as a PGA Professional, private golf coach, and in helping run prestigious LPGA, PGA, All Pro and IMG Junior World golf events. Today, she is based in Chicago where she serves as vice president of business development for Women's Elite Rugby, the first professional women's rugby league in the United States.

“The Mount, to me, was about friendships and it was also about the education,” she said. “MSM has a very prestigious reputation, and while I admit I was not the best student, I still learned so much that I use to this day.

“Going to the Mount also broke me out of my shell a little bit. I was actually a pretty shy kid, although you would not have known that when I was out on the golf course. Mount built me into who I am in character and leadership.”

SPRING 2026 | 25

'Jx DEE DEE SPRICK TAUGHT GENERATIONS OF MOUNT GIRLS OVER 40 YEARS

T

O SURVIVE IN ANY CAREER FOR FOUR DECADES TAKES SKILL AND TO MAKE IT THAT LONG TEACHING HIGH SCHOOLERS, EVEN THE COMPARABLY ANGELIC MOUNT GIRLS, REQUIRES A SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON.

'HH 'HH 6SULFN VRFLDO VWXGLHV WHDFKHU NQRZV WKLV WUXWK WR EH VHOI HYLGHQW 'HH 'HH ZDONHG RQWR FDPSXV LQ QHYHU WDXJKW DQ\ZKHUH HOVH DQG LV SUHSDULQJ WR HQWHU UHWLUHPHQW DW WKH HQG RI WKH VFKRRO \HDU *HWWLQJ KHU WKHUH KDV EHHQ D ERQH GHHS ORYH RI ZKDW VKH GRHV D *RG JLYHQ DELOLW\ WR FRQQHFW ZLWK VWXGHQWV DQG PRVW RI DOO D VHQVH RI KXPRU WKDW KDV QHYHU IDLOHG KHU ´:KHQ , JUDGXDWHG IURP FROOHJH , KDG D OLWWOH ELW RI WURXEOH ÀQGLQJ D WHDFKLQJ MRE µ VKH VDLG ´)RU WZR \HDUV , ZRUNHG DW 'RFWRU·V +RVSLWDO , ZDV WKH QDUFRWLFV WHFKQLFLDQ RU DV ,·G WHOO SHRSOH , ZDV SXVKLQJ GUXJV ´$FWXDOO\ LW·V IXQQLHU WKDQ WKDW ,·G ZRUNHG LQ D SKDUPDF\ DW :DOPDUW ZKLOH JRLQJ WR VFKRRO LQ )D\HWWHYLOOH DQG P\ KXVEDQG ZRUNHG DW %LOO DQG 7RQ\·V ZKLFK ZDV D SUHWW\ HVWDEOLVKHG OLTXRU VWRUH IRU PDQ\ \HDUV 6R KH ZDV LQ DOFRKRO , ZDV LQ GUXJV µ 'HH 'HH FKXFNOHV DW WKH OLQH RQH VKH·V UXQ WKH WUHDGV RͿ RI WKURXJK WKH \HDUV DOZD\V JRRG QDWXUHGO\ DQG DOZD\V JHWWLQJ D ODXJK /DXJKWHU FRPHV IURP *RG DQG VR GRHV KHU YRFDWLRQ WR WHDFK VKH·V FRQYLQFHG DQG VKH·V QHYHU EHHQ VK\ DERXW LQIXVLQJ RQH ZLWK WKH RWKHU WR JHW KHU SRLQW DFURVV RU WR OHDG VWXGHQWV WR D JUHDWHU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH ZRUOG DURXQG WKHP ´, WHDFK PRVWO\ MXQLRUV DQG VHQLRUV DQG VWXGHQWV JURZ XS D ORW EHWZHHQ VRSKRPRUH DQG MXQLRU \HDU µ VKH VDLG ´7KH\·UH WKHVH OLWWOH DGXOWV ZLWK D SOD\IXO VLGH DQG , ORYH WKDW ,W·V YHU\ UHZDUGLQJ WR ZDWFK WKHP FRPH LQWR WKHLU RZQ DQG GHYHORS µ 'HH 'HH ZDV ERUQ LQ 2]DUN DQG UDLVHG LQ 3DULV $UNDQVDV OHVV WKDQ D VWRQH·V WKURZ IURP 6XELDFR

26 | THE MESSENGER

in School History

FACULTY & STAFF

“ History is being made every day and Dee Dee walked onto campus in 1986 ... and is preparing to enter retirement at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

students need to be able to recognize the interconnectedness of current events and the lessons of the past.

”

- DEE DEE SPRICK

$EEH\ DQG $FDGHP\ 6KH MRNHV KHU JLYHQ QDPH /D1LWD ZDV KHU PRP·V GRLQJ ´0\ PRP ZDV JHWWLQJ IDQF\ RQ WKDW µ VKH VDLG ´6KH WHOOV PH WKDW WKHUH ZDV D FODVVPDWH D \HDU DKHDG RI KHU DQG , JXHVV VKH MXVW OLNHG WKH QDPH µ $IWHU WZR \HDUV DW D OLEHUDO DUWV %LEOH FROOHJH LQ 6SULQJÀHOG 0LVVRXUL 'HH 'HH WUDQVIHUUHG WR WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $UNDQVDV LQ )D\HWWHYLOOH 'XULQJ KHU WLPH WKHUH VKH PDUULHG KHU KXVEDQG :DOOLH KHU KLJK VFKRRO VZHHWKHDUW IURP EDFN KRPH QRZ D ORQJWLPH DUFKLWHFW $IWHU JUDGXDWLRQ DQG D FRXSOH RI \HDUV LQ WKH KHDOWK FDUH ÀHOG 'HH 'HH JRW DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK 6LVWHU 5LFKDUG 0DU\ D IDWHIXO PHHWLQJ WKDW ZRXOG ODXQFK D \HDU FDUHHU LQ WKH FODVVURRP ´6LVWHU ZDV LQFUHGLEOH µ VKH VDLG ´, ÀQDOO\ JRW DQ LQWHUYLHZ DQG , WKLQN , VDLG PD\EH D KDQGIXO RI ZRUGV , ZDV D GHHU LQ WKH KHDGOLJKWV 6KH WDONHG WKH ZKROH WLPH ´2Q WKH ZD\ RXW WKH GRRU VKH KDG WKLV ZD\ RI SDWWLQJ \RXU EDFN DV \RX·UH ZDONLQJ RXW DQG ,·P VXUH ,·P GRQH ¶2. ZHOO ,·OO NHHS WU\LQJ · \RX NQRZ" $QG VKH VD\V ¶:HOO ,·G UHDOO\ OLNH WR KDYH \RX KHUH · $QG , ZDV OLNH ¶2K ZRZ , JRW KLUHG" :RZ ·µ 'HH 'HH VWDUWHG SDUW WLPH KHU ÀUVW VHPHVWHU DQG WKHQ WRRN D IXOO WLPH SRVLWLRQ WKDW RSHQHG XS VHFRQG VHPHVWHU DQG VKH·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´7KHUH·V KDUGO\ D GD\ WKDW JRHV E\ WKDW , GRQ·W LQFRUSRUDWH VRPHWKLQJ WKDW·V KDSSHQLQJ LQ WKH ZRUOG WRGD\ ZLWK ZKDWHYHU KLVWRULFDO UHIHUHQFH µ VKH VDLG ´7KHUH·V DOZD\V VRPHWKLQJ WKDW ZH FDQ FRQQHFW ZLWK WRGD\ 7KH ZD\ , WHOO KLVWRU\ LW·V PRUH SHRSOH FHQWHUHG , ZRXOG VD\ 6XUH , JLYH WKH KLVWRU\ DQG GDWHV DQG WKH IDFWV

Right: Yearbook photo from Dee Dee’s first year teaching in 1986-87

RI LW DQG WKDW VRUW RI WKLQJ EXW , FDQ DOVR SXOO RXW WKHVH OLWWOH QXJJHWV 7KRVH VWRULHV DUH WKH WKLQJV WKDW , ÀQG LQWHUHVWLQJ DQG PRVW RIWHQ , ÀQG WKDW WKH NLGV DUH LQWHUHVWHG LQ WKDW WRR µ +HOSLQJ VWXGHQWV SXW FXUUHQW HYHQWV LQWR FRQWH[W LV PRUH WKDQ DQ DFDGHPLF H[HUFLVH 'HH 'HH VDLG E\ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKHUH·V OLWWOH WKDW KXPDQLW\ DQG VRFLHW\ KDYHQ·W VHHQ EHIRUH WKHUH·V DOVR WKH FKDQFH IRU D QHZ JHQHUDWLRQ WR DGGUHVV WKLQJV EHWWHU WRGD\ WKDQ SUHYLRXV RQHV GLG ZKLFK LV KRZ ODVWLQJ FKDQJH KDSSHQV ´7KHUH·V DQ H[SUHVVLRQ WKDW VD\V ¶+LVWRU\ GRHVQ·W UHSHDW LWVHOI EXW LW RIWHQ UK\PHV ·µ VKH VDLG ´, WKLQN LW·V LPSRUWDQW WKDW , JLYH VWXGHQWV WKDW UHIHUHQFH DQG OHW WKHP NQRZ WKHUH·V VR PDQ\ VLPLODULWLHV EHWZHHQ WKH SUHVHQW DQG WKH SDVW ZKHWKHU \RX·UH WDONLQJ DERXW SULPLWLYH FXOWXUHV FODVVLFDO FXOWXUHV RI *UHHFH 5RPH RU ZKDWQRW :H·UH VWLOO GHDOLQJ ZLWK SHRSOH DQG WKHLU HPRWLRQV DQG WKHLU WKRXJKW SDWWHUQV , WU\ WR JHW VWXGHQWV WR VHH LW IURP WKH KXPDQ SRLQW RI YLHZ µ 'HH 'HH VDLG VKH LV DLGHG LQ WKLV PLVVLRQ E\ WKH VFKRRO·V XQLTXH PDNHXS ZKLFK FUHDWHV DQ HQYLURQPHQW WKDW HQFRXUDJHV GHHSHU FRQYHUVDWLRQV E\ PDNLQJ LW VDIH WR DVN GL΀FXOW TXHVWLRQV RU H[SUHVV DOWHUQDWH YLHZSRLQWV 7KDW VKH VDLG LV ZKDW VKH ZLOO PLVV PRVW ´<RX NQRZ WKH RQH TXDOLW\ WKDW 0RXQW KDV DOZD\V KDG JRLQJ IRU LW ZDV WKDW VLQJOH VH[ HGXFDWLRQ µ VKH VDLG ´7KDW KDV EHHQ MXVW SKHQRPHQDO 7KH JLUOV WDON DOO WKH WLPH DERXW WKH VLVWHUKRRG DW 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ DQG LW WUXO\ LV $QG MXVW OLNH LQ IDPLOLHV WKHUH·V VRPH VTXDEEOHV DW WLPHV EXW WKHUH·V DOZD\V WKDW GHHS DELGLQJ ORYH DQG UHVSHFW WKDW JRHV ERWK ZD\V ´7KDW·V WKH WKLQJ WKDW UHDOO\ VSHDNV WR PH DW 0RXQW DQG LW·V JRLQJ WR EH VR VDG IRU PH ZKHQ , OHDYH 7KLV SODFH KDV OHIW D PDUN RQ PH , NQRZ ,·YH EHFRPH D OLWWOH ELW PRUH SDWLHQW KDYLQJ WR GHDO ZLWK WKH WKRXVDQGV RI VWXGHQWV , KDYH WKURXJK WKH \HDUV , KRSH ,·YH EHFRPH D EHWWHU SHUVRQ IRU LW WRR µ SPRING 2026

| 27

Feed Sheep MY

E

LLEN BRADY’S MOUNT ST. MARY EXPERIENCE WAS NOTABLE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. )LUVW

DV D PHPEHU RI WKH &ODVV RI VKH ZDV RQH RI WKH FODVVHV WKDW HQGXUHG WKH UHVWULFWLRQV DQG DQ[LHW\ RI WKH SHDN RI WKH &29,' RXWEUHDN 6HFRQG XQGHU KHU OHDGHUVKLS DV VWXGHQW ERG\ SUHVLGHQW KHU VHQLRU \HDU WKH VFKRRO VHW WKH DOO WLPH UHFRUG IRU 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V EULQJLQJ LQ D ZKRSSLQJ FDQV DQG FDVK HTXLYDOHQW 7KH LPSUHVVLYH WRWDO VKDWWHUHG WKH SUHYLRXV UHFRUG VHW D FRXSOH \HDUV SULRU E\ QHDUO\ FDQV

28 | THE MESSENGER

FOR FIVE DECADES, ROBIN HOOD DAYS HAS DEMONSTRATED MERCY VALUES IN THE COMMUNITY

%RWK H[SHULHQFHV OHIW DQ LQGHOLEOH LPSUHVVLRQ RQ (OOHQ ZKR QRZ OLYHV LQ 1HZ <RUN DQG ZRUNV LQ WKH PXVLF LQGXVWU\ ´, WKLQN WKDW LW ZDV YHU\ PXFK D FUDYLQJ IRU QRUPDOF\ :H KDG PLVVHG WKH WUDGLWLRQV WKDW PDGH 0RXQW ZKDW LW LV DQG 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V LV REYLRXVO\ RQH RI WKRVH µ VKH VDLG RI WKH UHFRUG VHWWLQJ FDPSDLJQ ´, DOVR WKLQN LW UHDFKHG D QHZ OHYHO RI FRPSHWLWLRQ HVSHFLDOO\ EHWZHHQ WKH VHQLRUV DQG WKH MXQLRUV $V VWXGHQW ERG\ SUHVLGHQW , XQGHUVWRRG WKDW FRPSHWLWLRQ FDQ JHW LQWHQVH EXW , ZDV OLNH LI IHHGLQJ IDPLOLHV LV WKH RXWFRPH RI VRPH IULHQGO\ FRPSHWLWLRQ

Above: 2025-26 Student Council leaders (front row, from left) Molly Ross ’28, Julia Brown ’26, Josie Wrape ’26, Laurel Price ’29, (back row, from left) Miriam Cortes ’27, Lydia Tumlison ’29, Annie Burkhead ’26, Josie Guapo ’28 and Emerson Chambers ’27 WKHQ LW·V WRWDOO\ ZRUWK LW EHFDXVH WKH UHVXOWV ZHUH VR JUDQG LQ RXU FRPPXQLW\ ´, ZRXOGQ·W VD\ IURP WKH EHJLQQLQJ LW ZDV OLNH ¶:H ZDQW WR PDNH WKLV WKH ELJJHVW \HDU HYHU · , GRQ·W WKLQN WKDW ZDV HYHU RXU WKRXJKW SURFHVV , WKLQN SHRSOH MXVW SLFNHG XS RQ WKH PRPHQWXP DV WKH\ VDZ WKH ROGHU JLUOV UHDOO\ JHWWLQJ LQWR LW DQG WKDW

HQFRXUDJHG WKH \RXQJHU JLUOV WR WUHDW LW DV VXFK DQ H[FLWLQJ WUDGLWLRQ µ 0DQ\ RI 0RXQW·V WUDGLWLRQV DUH DSSUHFLDWHG EHVW RQO\ E\ WKRVH ZKR DWWHQGHG WKHUH EXW 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V LV RQH RI WKH UDUH H[FHSWLRQV DQG DUJXDEO\ WKH EHVW NQRZQ RQH 7KH DQQXDO FDQQHG IRRG DQG FDVK GULYH UHDFKHV ZHOO RXWVLGH WKH FLUFOH RI WKH VFKRRO·V IDPLOLHV DV VWXGHQWV UHDFK RXW WR QHLJKERUV IULHQGV DQG HYHQ UHODWLYH VWUDQJHUV LQ DQ HͿRUW WR IHHG WKH KXQJU\ RI /LWWOH 5RFN &KHUL %RQQHU 0DUWLQND · KDV VHHQ ERWK HQGV RI WKH DFWLYLW\ DV D VWXGHQW DQG IRU D QXPEHU RI \HDUV DV VWXGHQW FRXQFLO VSRQVRU GXULQJ D \HDU WHDFKLQJ FDUHHU 6KH VDLG WKH HYROXWLRQ RI 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V GXULQJ WKDW SHULRG KDV EHHQ UHPDUNDEOH ´%DFN LQ LW ZDV SXUHO\ D FROOHFWLRQ RI IRRG SURGXFWV ZKHUHDV QRZ LW·V WKH PRQH\ WKDW UHDOO\ LV WKH WKLQJ µ VKH VDLG ´, GRQ·W UHPHPEHU DV PXFK FDOOLQJ LW 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V EXW , GR UHPHPEHU HYHQ EDFN WKHQ KRZ FRPSHWLWLYH LW ZDV :H GLGQ·W FROOHFW QHDU WKH QXPEHU RI FDQV WKDW WKH VWXGHQWV KDYH LQ PRUH PRGHUQ WLPHV EXW LW ZDV VWLOO YHU\ FRPSHWLWLYH µ $ À[WXUH RQ WKH 0RXQW FDOHQGDU IRU VRPH ÀYH GHFDGHV 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V SLWV JUDGHV DJDLQVW HDFK RWKHU WR VHH ZKLFK FDQ EULQJ LQ WKH PRVW FDQQHG IRRG DQG PRQHWDU\ GRQDWLRQV 7KH HIIRUW QRZ \LHOGV VRPH FDQV DQG FDVK HTXLYDOHQW DQQXDOO\ 1RsO *LHULQJHU · LV DQRWKHU IRUPHU VWXGHQW ZKR OLNH (OOHQ VHUYHG DV VWXGHQW ERG\ SUHVLGHQW DQG OLNH &KHUL UHWXUQHG WR WHDFK DW 0RXQW DQG VSRQVRU VWXGHQW FRXQFLO WKH VWXGHQW RUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW VSHDUKHDGV WKH GULYH 6KH VDLG VKH YLHZHG 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V DV PXFK IRU KRZ LW XQLWHG WKH VFKRRO DURXQG D FDXVH DV IRU WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ ´2I FRXUVH LW·V DQ HͿRUW WR EHQHÀW RXU FRPPXQLW\ DQG LW·V DQ HͿRUW WR XQLWH HDFK JUDGH OHYHO DV WKH\ FRPSHWH WR ZLQ DQG KDYH WKH PRVW FDQV µ VKH VDLG ´EXW LW·V DOVR D JUHDW FKDOOHQJH IRU OHDGHUVKLS DQG FUHDWLYLW\ DPRQJ WKH VWXGHQW FRXQFLO PHPEHUV ,Q WKH WLPH EHWZHHQ ZKHQ , ZDV LQ KLJK VFKRRO DQG ZKHQ , FDPH EDFN DV D WHDFKHU ZKHQ &KHUL 0DUWLQND ZDV WKH VSRQVRU WKH\ KDG VWDUWHG GRLQJ D 3L]]D RQ WKH 3OD]D OXQFK HYHQW ZKHUH VWXGHQWV FRXOG EX\ D WLFNHW DQG JHW OXQFK DQG DOO WKH SURFHHGV ZHQW WRZDUGV 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V IRU WKHLU JUDGH OHYHO ´7KDW PDGH LW D FRPPXQLW\ HYHQW IRU WKH VFKRRO EXLOGLQJ WLPH WRJHWKHU KDYLQJ IXQ DQG DOVR UDLVLQJ VRPH RI WKDW PRQH\ ,W MXVW FRQQHFWV EDFN WR WKH ELJJHU SXUSRVH WKDW LW·V QRW MXVW FRPSHWLWLRQ EXW WKDW WKLV LV

SERVICE

Freshmen and so phomores RII WKHLU FDQV LQ show

recap of the The school newspaper’s LQ \V 'D RRG Q + REL ÀUVW 5

Juniors proudly pose by the boat full of cans their class collected in 199 3

’96 and Katherine Kell Mason od Days Ho bin Ro her dad at the e in 1995 nc da ter gh au r-d fathe

“ It’s not just competition ... this is

showing our gratitude for what we do have and what we can share with members of our community.

”

- NOËL GIERINGER ’06 SPRING 2026

| 29

e Harrell ’01 and Theresa Lincicom ’01 add bags of om Id Kimberly s’ stash in 1999 cans to the junior

XQFLO RIÀFHUV )UHVKPDQ 6WXGHQW &R haul for the ir the e sid grin along 2015 Arkansas Foodbank in

0HPEHUV RI WKH &DQ &RXQFLO SUHSDUH WR ÀOO WKH KDOOZD\V ZLWK Robin Hood Days chants

6HQLRUV DQG MXQLRUV À OO WKH EHG RI a truck with cans for Th e Helping Hand in 2021

“ Mount is a school that is based primarily on service and helping others, and Robin Hood Days is the biggest outward example of that.”

- JOSIE WRAPE ’26

VKRZLQJ RXU JUDWLWXGH IRU ZKDW ZH GR KDYH DQG ZKDW ZH FDQ VKDUH ZLWK PHPEHUV RI RXU FRPPXQLW\ ZKLFK LV VR LPSRUWDQW WR OHDUQ LQ FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK WKH 0HUF\ 9DOXHV µ %RQQLH 5REHUWVRQ ZKR WDXJKW DW 0RXQW IRU \HDUV DQG VHUYHG DV VWXGHQW FRXQFLO VSRQVRU IRU PRVW RI WKHP VDLG WKH DFWLYLW\ DOVR WDXJKW WKH JLUOV SUDFWLFDO OHVVRQV WKDW FRXOG EH ODWHU DSSOLHG LQ WKHLU SURIHVVLRQDO OLYHV ´7KH IDFW WKDW WKH VWXGHQW FRXQFLO PHPEHUV KDG WR VWRS DQG RUJDQL]H DQG WKLQN DERXW ¶2ND\ KRZ DUH ZH JRLQJ WR JR DERXW GRLQJ WKLV" $UH ZH JRLQJ WR JR GRRU

30 | THE MESSENGER

WR GRRU" $UH ZH JRLQJ WR JR WR VRPH RI WKH JURFHU\ VWRUHV DQG DVN IRU FRQWULEXWLRQV"·µ VKH VDLG ´7KH\ ZRXOG JHW WRJHWKHU DQG WDON DERXW LW DQG WKHQ VWUDWHJLFDOO\ JR EDFN WR WKHLU RZQ FODVVHV DQG VD\ ¶2ND\ ZH QHHG WR GR WKLV WKLV DQG WKLV · ,W UHDOO\ PDGH WKHP WKLQN DQG RUJDQL]H DQG OHDG µ 6LQFH LWV LQDXJXUDO HYHQW LQ 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V LV HVWLPDWHG WR KDYH GRQDWHG D FROOHFWLYH WRWDO RI PRUH WKDQ RQH PLOOLRQ FDQQHG IRRG LWHPV WR ORFDO RUJDQL]DWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ WKH $UNDQVDV )RRGEDQN DQG WKH +HOSLQJ +DQG RI *UHDWHU /LWWOH 5RFN

0DUJDUHW 'RXJODV +HOSLQJ +DQG H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU DQG PRWKHU RI 060 DOXPQD /LOOLDQ 'RXJODV /HZLV · KDV VHHQ WKH GLUHFW LPSDFW RI WKH VFKRRO·V HͿRUWV RQ WKH OLYHV RI WKH FLW\·V KXQJU\ ´,W PDNHV WKH GLͿHUHQFH LQ D FKLOG JRLQJ WR EHG KXQJU\ RU ZDNLQJ XS KXQJU\ µ VKH VDLG RI WKH GRQDWLRQV ´:H·UH DEOH WR VXSSO\ WKH FDQQHG JRRGV WKDW WKH \RXQJ ODGLHV FROOHFW IRU XV WR JLYH IDPLOLHV VRPH QRXULVKPHQW DW QLJKW :H DOVR UHFHLYH GU\ JRRGV OLNH FHUHDO WKDW JLYHV WKHP VRPHWKLQJ WR JHW WKHP UHDG\ WR JR RXW DQG WR JR WR VFKRRO WKH QH[W PRUQLQJ 7KDW PDNHV DOO WKH GLͿHUHQFH LQ WKH ZRUOG µ 0DUJDUHW VDLG WKH WUXH PHDVXUH RI WKH 0RXQW JLUOV· GHYRWLRQ WR WKH FDXVH FDQ EH VHHQ LQ KRZ WKH VFKRRO UHVSRQGHG GXULQJ SHULRGV WKDW EXPSHG XS GHPDQG IRU IRRG ´/HW PH WHOO \RX HYHQ GXULQJ &29,' WKH\ VWLOO UHDFKHG RXW WR XV ZH VWLOO UHFHLYHG VXSSRUW IURP 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ µ VKH VDLG ´7KH\ IRFXVHG PRUH ODVW \HDU ZKHQ ZH KDG WKH FULVLV ZLWK WKH JRYHUQPHQW VKXWGRZQ 7KH\ LQFUHDVHG WKHLU GRQDWLRQV DV IDU DV FDQQHG JRRG LWHPV WKDW ZH UHFHLYHG DQG ZH DOVR UHFHLYHG D FDVK GRQDWLRQ 7KDW PDNHV D GLͿHUHQFH EHFDXVH ZH KDG D ORW RI IXQGLQJ FXWV DQG ZH KDG PRUH SHRSOH FRPLQJ LQ ZKR ZHUH QRW VXUH RI KRZ WKH\ ZHUH JRLQJ WR IHHG WKHLU IDPLOLHV 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ ZDV WKHUH WR SURYLGH IRU XV µ 6HQLRU -RVLH :UDSH LV WKH ODWHVW LQ D ORQJ OLQH RI 0RXQW JLUOV WR OHDG WKH VFKRRO LQ WKH 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V HͿRUW $V WKLV \HDU·V VWXGHQW ERG\ SUHVLGHQW VKH VDLG VKH IHOW WKH ZHLJKW RI KLVWRU\ RQ KHU WR XSKROG WKH WUDGLWLRQ RI WKH HYHQW ZKLFK LV WR VHUYH WKH PRVW SHRSOH SRVVLEOH ´0RXQW LV D VFKRRO WKDW LV EDVHG SULPDULO\ RQ VHUYLFH DQG KHOSLQJ RWKHUV DQG , WKLQN WKDW 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V LV WKH ELJJHVW RXWZDUG H[DPSOH RI WKDW µ VKH VDLG ´)UHVKPDQ \HDU LW VSDUNHG P\ ORYH RI VHUYLQJ RWKHUV DQG LW LV VRPHWKLQJ , KDYH ORYHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ HYHU\ \HDU VLQFH (YHQ WKH VPDOOHVW GRQDWLRQ RI D FDQ RU LV UHDOO\ KHOSLQJ SHRSOH ´, DOVR ORYH WKDW VWXGHQW FRXQFLO VSHFLÀFDOO\ KDV WKDW OHDGHUVKLS UROH 5RELQ +RRG 'D\V LV UHDOO\ UXQ E\ VWXGHQWV DQG , ORYH WKDW EHFDXVH LW JLYHV XV LQLWLDWLYH DQG LW JLYHV XV GULYH DQG D WUXH ZDQW QRW OLNH D IRUFHG ZDQW WR KHOS SHRSOH , WKLQN WKDW LV D ELJ UHDVRQ ZK\ LW·V VXFK D ELJ GHDO EHFDXVH LW·V QRW DGXOWV IRUFLQJ NLGV WR FDUH :H FDUH RQ RXU RZQ DQG ZH UHDOO\ GR ZDQW WR KHOS WKH FRPPXQLW\ , WKLQN WKDW LV ZK\ , ORYH LW VR PXFK µ

TRIVIA

Know It All T E S T YO U R M S M I Q

ARE THESE TALES ABOUT MOUNT ST. MARY ACADEMY FACT OR FICTION? SEE HOW WELL YOU KNOW THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Boys once attended Mount St. Mary as students.

TRUE | FALSE

The school has always been located at 3224 Kavanaugh Boulevard.

TRUE | FALSE

Mount St. Mary Academy’s graduation ceremony used to take place in the school’s gymnasium.

TRUE | FALSE

The Mercian has always been the name of Mount St. Mary Academy’s yearbook.

TRUE | FALSE

Our Alma Mater is sung to the tune of a popular song recorded by Bing Crosby.

TRUE | FALSE

There has never been more than one queen selected during Catholic High’s football Homecoming.

TRUE | FALSE

There was once a swimming pool in the basement of the McAuley Center gymnasium.

TRUE | FALSE

The Sisters of Mercy and Mount St. Mary Academy students contributed to the war efforts during both the Civil War and World War II.

TRUE | FALSE

The Rockettes dance team were named after the famous New York City Rockettes because of the kickline they still perform today.

TRUE | FALSE

The original bell from the first school building is still on campus today.

TRUE | FALSE

Mount St. Mary Academy is the only all-girls school in Arkansas.

TRUE | FALSE

The houndstooth skirt has always been part of the student uniform.

TRUE | FALSE SEE NEXT PAGE FOR ANSWERS SPRING 2026

| 31

Know It All THE ANSWERS

5

FACT. Our Alma Mater is sung to the tune of “The Bells of St. Mary’s.” Originally composed

by Emmett Adams and written by Douglas Furber in 1917, the song was revived in 1945 when Bing Crosby recorded it for the year’s topgrossing film of the same name.

6 1

FACT. When the school was founded in 1851, and up until 1908, the Sisters of Mercy educated both boys and girls. You might have heard something like this in those days: “Boys, you must stop dipping the girls’ pigtails into the inkwells!”

FICTION. For several years, Homecoming featured a game between the Catholic High Rockets and the Subiaco Academy Trojans.

Each school selected a queen from Mount St. Mary Academy.

3

FACT. In 1930, the first graduation ceremony was held in the gym. Graduations continued there until 1967, when they were moved to Robinson Auditorium.

4

FICTION. The first yearbook, printed in 1924, was called The Mirror. It was discontinued in 1927. In 1934, publication resumed under a new name: The Mercian.

32 | THE MESSENGER

FICTION. While today’s Rockettes impress crowds with their halftime kicklines, the original group served as the Catholic High Pep Squad. Their name was actually inspired by Catholic High’s mascot, the Rockets, and not the famous New York City Rockettes.

10

FACT. The bell gifted to St. Mary’s by Arkansas’ first Catholic bishop Andrew Byrne at the school’s original location now resides in the foyer. Each year on our birthday, student leaders ring the bell once for every year of Mount’s treasured history.

2

FICTION. The school was originally located at 7th and Louisiana Streets in downtown Little Rock, across the street from the Cathedral of St. Andrew. In 1908, the school moved to its current location atop a hill, prompting a name change to Mount St. Mary Academy to reflect its new home.

9

7

FACT. The McAuley Center gymnasium, completed in 1929, housed the state’s first indoor swimming pool at a school. It was removed during the last gym renovation in 2006. The space now houses a state-of-the-art workout facility for our studentathletes.

8

FACT. During the Civil War, the Sisters of Mercy converted part of the school into a hospital, caring for both Union and Confederate soldiers. During World War II, students supported the war effort by selling war stamps and bonds, and a nursing class was added to the curriculum.

11

FACT. Not only are we the oldest continuously operated school in the state, but we also distinguish ourselves as the only all-female one.

No boys, no problem! Research shows the benefits of an all-girls education include higher academic achievement and greater opportunities to build leadership skills and confidence.

12

FICTION. The houndstooth skirt didn’t become part of the uniform until the late 1960s. Before then, a uniform of navy skirts, white shirts, and navy ties was the norm.

A Moment IN TIME A L U M S TA P P E D FO R S P EC I A L ANNIVERSARY KEEPSAKES

M

ISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA, AND LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, RESIDE 1,600 MILES AND TWO TIME ZONES APART, BUT A PAIR OF ARTISTIC ALUMNAE ARE PROVING TIME AND DISTANCE ARE NO MATCH FOR A SHARED MOUNT PEDIGREE. 0HJ 7D\ORU &KDVH · DQG &DLUD +HVV · ZHUH WDSSHG WR OHQG WKHLU FUHDWLYH WDOHQWV WR WZR VSHFLDO FRPPHPRUDWLYHV PDUNLQJ 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ $FDGHP\·V WK DQQLYHUVDU\ 0HJ ZKR RZQV KHU RZQ MHZHOU\ PDNLQJ EXVLQHVV 0HJ PDGHLW GHVLJQHG DQ DQQLYHUVDU\ EUDFHOHW PDUNLQJ WKH RFFDVLRQ &DLUD D VWXGHQW DW /DJXQD &ROOHJH RI $UW 'HVLJQ FUHDWHG WKH DQQLYHUVDU\ ORJR ´, GR D ORW RI QHFNODFHV DQG D ORW RI EUDFHOHWV µ 0HJ VDLG ´'HQD 'DQLHO UHDFKHG RXW EHFDXVH VKH·V EHHQ D FXVWRPHU RI PLQH DQG DVNHG LI ,·G EH LQWHUHVWHG LQ FRPLQJ XS ZLWK VRPHWKLQJ IRU WKH WK ELUWKGD\ FHOHEUDWLRQ VKH·V FR FKDLULQJ WKLV \HDU , ZDV KRQRUHG DQG WKULOOHG DQG WRRN LW VWUDLJKW WR KHDUW ´, FDPH XS ZLWK WKH EUDFHOHW LGHD ZLWK WKH 5RPDQ QXPHUDOV IRU EHFDXVH LW·V VRPHWKLQJ \RX FDQ ZHDU HYHU\ GD\ $ ORW RI JLUOV ZHDU D VWDFN RI EUDFHOHWV WKHVH GD\V DQG \RX FDQ SDLU WKLV SLHFH ZLWK GLͿHUHQW WKLQJV <RX FDQ LQWHJUDWH LW LQWR ZKDW \RX·UH ZHDULQJ µ 7KH N JROG SODWHG EHDGHG EUDFHOHW LV GHVLJQHG WR EH WLPHOHVV DQG V\PEROL]HV WKH HQGXULQJ VLVWHUKRRG RI 0RXQW WKDW KDV H[LVWHG WKURXJKRXW WKH JHQHUDWLRQV ´,W·V VRPHWKLQJ \RX FDQ FRPELQH ZLWK \RXU GDLO\ MHZHOU\ WR UHPHPEHU WKLV UHDOO\ VSHFLDO \HDU µ 0HJ VDLG ´7R PH LW·V D UHPLQGHU RI ZKHUH , DWWHQGHG VFKRRO ZKHUH P\ IULHQGVKLSV ZHUH PDGH ZKHUH P\ GDXJKWHU ZHQW WR VFKRRO µ &DLUD ZDV DSSURDFKHG DERXW GHVLJQLQJ WKH ORJR ZKLOH VWLOO D VWXGHQW DW 060 ODVW VSULQJ $ VHOI GHVFULEHG ´DUW JLUOµ ZKR FUHGLWV WKH VFKRRO ZLWK UHÀQLQJ KHU WDOHQWV VKH UHDGLO\ DJUHHG WR WDNH RQ WKH FKDOOHQJH ´0UV 8SWLJURYH P\ DUW WHDFKHU SXOOHG PH DVLGH EULHÁ\ RQH GD\ WR WHOO PH WKDW 0RXQW·V WK DQQLYHUVDU\ ZDV FRPLQJ XS DQG DVN LI , ZRXOG EH LQWHUHVWHG LQ GHVLJQLQJ WKH ORJR IRU LW µ VKH VDLG ´2I FRXUVH , LPPHGLDWHO\ VDLG \HV µ :RUNLQJ RYHU WKH VXPPHU IROORZLQJ JUDGXDWLRQ &DLUD FDPH XS ZLWK WKUHH GHVLJQV WKDW LQFRUSRUDWHG WKH HOHPHQWV VFKRRO R΀FLDOV ZDQWHG WR VHH ZKLOH VWLOO DͿRUGLQJ KHU FUHDWLYH ODWLWXGH ´$V , EHJDQ EUDLQVWRUPLQJ , ORRNHG DW VHYHUDO RI 0RXQW·V SDVW DQQLYHUVDU\ ORJRV IRU LQVSLUDWLRQ µ VKH VDLG ´7KH\ ZHUH DOO VR EHDXWLIXOO\ GRQH HVSHFLDOO\ ZLWK WKH VKLHOG DQG WKH FURVV DQG KRZ WKRVH HOHPHQWV ZHUH UHSUHVHQWHG LQ WKH GHVLJQV ,W ZDV UHDOO\ DOO 0RXQW DW LWV FRUH DQG , ZDQWHG WR PDNH VRPHWKLQJ WKDW HQFDSVXODWHG WKDW HVVHQFH RI RXU VFKRRO µ 7ZR RI &DLUD·V GHVLJQV IROORZHG LQ WKH SDVW GHVLJQV· IRRWVWHSV ZKLOH WKH WKLUG RQH ZKLFK ZDV XOWLPDWHO\ VHOHFWHG WRRN WKH SURMHFW LQ D GLͿHUHQW GLUHFWLRQ ´, WKRXJKW VRPHWKLQJ D OLWWOH GLͿHUHQW ZRXOG EH IXQ DQG H[FLWLQJ VR WKDW·V ZKHQ , VWDUWHG D VNHWFK WKDW ZDV D VW\OL]HG WDNH RQ 0RXQW·V JDWH µ VKH VDLG ´7KDW·V WKH JDWH WKDW DOO JUDGXDWLQJ VHQLRUV QRZ ZDON WKURXJK DW WKH \HDU HQG FORVLQJ SUD\HU VHUYLFH $V D IUHVKO\ JUDGXDWHG DOXP , WRRN WKLV DV D KXJH LQVSLUDWLRQ <RX FDQ MXVW IHHO WKH SRZHU DQG WKH ORYH RI WKLV VFKRRO UHSUHVHQWHG LQ WKDW JDWH ,W·V DOZD\V EHHQ WKHUH DQG LW·V VRPHWKLQJ DOO VWXGHQWV VKDUH µ %RWK DUWLVWV H[SUHVVHG JUDWLWXGH IRU EHLQJ DEOH WR SXW WKHLU PDUN RQ D SLHFH RI 0RXQW 6W 0DU\ KLVWRU\

Top: Meg Taylor Chase modeling the bracelet she designed for the school’s 175th anniversary Bottom: Caira Hess at Laguna College of Art + Design in California, where she currently attends college

´,W ZDV D KXJH FRPSOLPHQW DQG ,·P YHU\ YHU\ SURXG RI LW µ 0HJ VDLG ´,·P SURXG WR EH D JUDGXDWH RI 0RXQW 6W 0DU\·V DQG LW ZDV D ELJ KRQRU WR EH VKRZQ WKDW NLQG RI WUXVW µ ´,·P VR JUDWHIXO WKDW 0UV 8SWLJURYH DQG WKH VFKRRO VDZ VRPHWKLQJ LQ PH DQG DVNHG LI ,·G EH LQWHUHVWHG LQ GHVLJQLQJ WKH ORJR IRU WKLV VSHFLDO DQQLYHUVDU\ µ &DLUD VDLG ´,W FDPH DV TXLWH D VKRFN EXW LW ZDV WUXO\ VXFK DQ KRQRU WR EH DVNHG µ

3224 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Little Rock, AR 72205 Parents of MSM alumnae, if your daughter has finished college and you are receiving her Messenger at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of her change of address so the magazine can be sent directly to her in the future. Call 501-476-3375 or email ccole@mtstmary.edu.

On February 6, students filled the foyer for Mount’s first-ever “Nun Run,” a festive dash through campus celebrating the school’s 175th anniversary. Participants donned traditional habits and party hats to honor nearly two centuries of history.

34 | THE MESSENGER