Alumnae
Alumnae Induction
On Thursday, May 15, the members of the Class of 2014 were inducted into the MSJA Alumnae Association. This special day allows us to celebrate our new Alumnae Association members, as well as recognize the generational legacy that is ever-present at the Mount! In this photograph, members of the Class of 2014 are in front and behind their mothers or grandmothers. First and second row, left to right, girls kneeling, relative sitting behind): Christina Black, Mary Kate Haber Black ’80, Alexandra Catanzariti, Dr. Annette Colavita ’84, Caroline Gannon, Carol Swanson Gannon ’82, Kelly Kowalski, Mary Hyslop Kowalski ’78, Hannah Lebiedzinski, Jill Lebiedzinski ’94, Anita Kruse, Rosemary Kenny Kruse ’75, Eleanor McGlynn, Naomi Torchiana McGlynn ’80, Jennifer Lawlor, Dolores Bobrowski Bowes ’45, Meg Ann Liebsch, Kristen Kelly Liebsch ’ 87, Caroline Zakrzewski, Chyllene Waters Zakrzewski ’80, Elizabeth Zakrzeswski and Chyllene Quinn Waters ’56 (grandmother). (Third and fourth row, left to right, relative standing, girls behind): Erin McClafferty Erfle ’96 (Alumnae Association Networking Chair), Deanna DeZorzi Marrone ’85, Alicia Marrone, Sheila Kropp McLaughlin ’84, Sheila McLaughlin, Judith Wiesenhutter Morsch ’85, Kaitlin Hughes, Susan Doney Leonard ’80, Hanna Leonard, Andrea Pie-Christy ’93, Claudia Kuneck, Donna Perkinson Ramos ’82, Leah Ramos, Marie Bolger Sottile ’83, Caitlyn Sottile, Mary Beth Morrissey Stefanowicz ’84, Millicent Stefanowicz, Michelle Morris Woodrow ’81, Lauren Woodrow, Patricia Morrissey Walters ’81, Molly Walters, Dana Flaherty Worthington ’85, Elizabeth Worthington and Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, President of Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
Lab Table Dedication Kathleen Kolsun-Riggs, MD ’89
Following the Mass and Awards Ceremony on Alumnae Day, members of the Class of 1989 and friends and family of Kathleen Kolsun-Riggs, MD ’89 gathered to remember this very special woman who passed away in 2010. They gathered in one of the newly-renovated science labs to dedicate a lab table in her memory. Kathleen was remembered for her love of life and her continued pursuit of knowledge. Many thanks to her classmate, Charlene Keller Fullmer ’89, and her friend Angel Stout ’83, who helped organize this beautiful tribute.
A Small Book
Alumnae
From a Big Heart by: noelle buoncristiano mcnesby ’94
Pictured above: Kristin Definis Arniotis ’93 being interviewed about her book on 95.7 BEN FM.
Mount alumnae Kristin Definis Arniotis ’93 has
recently been garnering attention for the publication of her book, “I Have Autism … and That’s OK!”. What makes the attention significant is that the book was written about her 8-year-old son, Billy, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. To make it a family affair, Kristin’s husband, John Arniotis, employed his inner artist and illustrated the book. Kristin and John met through mutual friends in 2000. Fast forward several years and they now are the parents of four boys. Billy’s brother Nick was born three years after him. Twin brothers, Anthony and Jake, completed their family in 2011. The idea to write a book came to Kristin nonchalantly during a typical day at home with Billy and Nick. Billy had a variety of “quirky” behaviors that included running, looking at objects closely and memorizing heaps of facts. “Every time we saw those behaviors we played along with him to make them positive. We never thought of them as a bad thing,” Kristin said of herself and John. “So we decided to put an encouraging spin on things for him and I began to write down the behaviors. That way, when he became older he could read about himself to realize his potential … to see all of the things that he could be. All of these “quirky” behaviors could result in a positive and influential person.”
Soon after Kristin began her documentation, John looked at the beginning drafts of the book and offered to add illustrations. “The whole process was low key,” adds Kristin. “We actually put it aside for a while.” At Billy’s next appointment, they shared the drafts to his developmental pediatrician, who suggested that they try to publish the book. She subsequently referred them to a publisher, who turned them down. Once again, they set the book aside until Summerland Publishing was suggested to them last summer. Since then, “I Have Autism … and That’s OK!” has been available on Amazon.com inc. and Barnes & Noble as well as on its own website: www.ihaveautismbook. com. “The entire premise of the book is acceptance, awareness and anti-bullying,” Kristin explained. Billy will enter second grade in September and has been in a typical classroom since kindergarten, although Kristin and John didn’t come to this decision easily. “Before kindergarten, Billy had been reevaluated and I personally thought he needed a full-time aid,” Kristin explained. “We knew he was smart and capable but, we thought he would need small breaks. When he was home with me, he ran at all times. But when I took Billy to the meeting, his team suggested that they try a regular classroom.” An educational aide was present in his first grade
“He’s perfect the way he is. I just want people to love him and accept him the way that we do.”
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