Two Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students
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ongratulations to two seniors named National Merit Commended Students! Hayley Gallo and Melanie Hrbek (sister of Rachel Hrbek ’09) are among a select group. They are in the top 5 percent of the 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test to earn the designation of Commended Student. Hayley is planning to study neuroscience at Wooster College. She is a member of the Academic Jaguars Club, Sursum Libros Book Club, the Chess Club and the Shakespeare Club. Melanie, who L-R: Seniors Melanie Hrbek, Hayley Gallo wants to be a writer, is on the Dance Team and works on Calliope, SJA’s literary magazine. She is an AP Scholar and a Latin Scholar. She is focusing on Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, but also considering several other colleges.
Women’s Leadership Symposium Keynote Speaker, Career Sessions Inspire Students
Keynote speaker Sunniva Sorby with senior Elissa Matthews, who introduced Ms Sorby.
Sunniva Sorby, an adventurer, motivational speaker and educator who shattered gender and physical barriers to achieve feats thought impossible, was the keynote speaker on October 22 at the 9th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium. Petite and vivacious, Ms. Sorby’s inspirational message of true leadership and challenging yourself to follow your dreams resonated with students. Ms. Sorby’s presentation was start of a daylong symposium that provides students with real-world career advice from women leaders who excel and thrive in their chosen professions, opening students’ minds to opportunities available to women. Introduced by senior Elissa Matthews, Ms. Sorby set the tone of the day dedicated to helping students dream big. She recounted how she has lived a lifetime of accepting challenges. Perhaps her biggest adventure was when for two and a half months in the winter 2
Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE
of 1992-93, she and three other women skied across Antarctica. They were the first women to achieve that physical - and mental - feat. “We have to recognize our vulnerabilities and not be afraid to try something and edge out of our comfort zone,” shared the dynamic Ms. Sorby, who battled severe bronchitis, tendonitis, blood blisters and frostbite while trekking against 200 mph winds in minus-89-degree conditions. “Why do you do what you do? I live to be a catalyst for transformational experiences,” added Ms. Sorby, who has since led more than 100 trips to the Antarctic. “The power of paying it forward and global stewardship makes our lives not about us. We become bigger than we are.” Perhaps the biggest lesson, she said, was that she learned “take care of yourself so you can take care of others.” “Don’t forget the purpose of why we do what we do,” added Ms. Sorby. “Our purpose is our gift and it’s our job to find it and unwrap it.” In addition to Ms. Sorby’s keynote address, more than 50 professional women met with students in “Career Breakout Sessions.” Their careers ran the gamut of entrepreneurship, graphic design, education, city planning, banking, health sciences, engineering, marketing, community development and nonprofit enterprises. All were there to help students “find their future.”
44 Students Named AP Scholars! Congratulations to all the students receiving recognition as AP Scholars, including two receiving the top award! Forty-four students were honored in the 2015 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar Awards, which recognizes high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and examinations. Since the results are from the 2014-15 academic year, some of the students graduated in June. Class of 2015 graduates Halle Armstrong (also a 2014 National Merit Commended Scholar) and Cari Milowicki (class Salutatorian and Phi Beta Kappa) each received the honor of being named a National AP Scholar (with an average score of 4.32). Halle took nine AP classes, while Cari was tested in 10 classes.
Here are the other AP Scholars: AP Scholar with Distinction (average score of 3.5 on all AP exams taken), with the number of AP Courses in which they tested: Halle Armstrong ’15 (9); Grace Hendryx ’15 (6); Sarah Johanek ’15 (5); Sarah Kolick ’15 (7); Mary McKenna ’15, class Valedictorian (7); Cari Milowicki ’15 (10); Olivia Ritchie ’15 (7); Julianna Withers ’15 (6). AP Scholar with Honor (average score of 3.25): Amanda Burns ’15 (4); Jessica Calton ’15 (6); Clare Fibbi ’15 (4); Kathleen Loftus ’16 (5); Veronica Martin ’16 (4); Margaret McAfee ’15 (5); Anna McKenna ’16 (4); Charlotte Rouse ’15 (5); Allison Saracina ’15 (4); and Sarah Stottner ’15 (4). AP Scholar (average score of 3.00): Rachel Barendt ’15 (6); Mary Rose Bonifas ’15 (6); Nora Bonifas ’15 (6); Maureen Borden ’15 (5); Abigail Brunori ’15 (4); Sarah Dziak ’15 (3); Hayley Gallo ’16 (5); Jacqueline Harter ’15 (3); Brittany Hegeman ’15 (6); Melanie Hrbek ’16 (3); Kathleen Jones ’15 (6); Mary Beth Keck ’15 (4); Emily Keller ’15 (6); Abbey Keuchel ’15 (3); Sara Koussa ’16 (4); Katherine Medvec ’15 (4); Isabella Morini ’15 (4); Allison Pallotta ’15 (6); Rachel Petrus ’15 (3); Dina Rini ’15 (4); Jennifer Rymont ’16 (3); Shauna Slezak ’15 (7); Jessica Spirnak ’16 (3); Emma Stalder ’16 (4); Maria Tirpak ’15 (4); and Abigail Yarcusko ’15 (6).