MYA FALGOUT '22 WAS SELECTED AS THE 2022 COR UNUM AWARD RECIPIENT BY THE URSULINE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION.

The award is given to one senior each year. Candidates are judged solely on their love for Ursuline Academy and their honest expression of what the Academy means to them.

What does it mean to you to be in the 295th graduating class of Ursuline Academy of New Orleans?

At only 13 years old, my mother handed me a small letter which I received weeks later than the ones I was seeing my friends receive at the end of 7th grade. After reading the letter, I was distraught by the cold words on the page and felt hopeless for the future that was planned out. Tossing and turning in my bed that night, re-reading the letter over and over, I thought no school would ever be the perfect fit for me. This all changed when I got accepted into Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, and my life hasn’t been the same since. Ursuline Academy saw something in me that I myself had never seen. They saw the potential of a young adolescent who was searching for the perfect family.

Being in the 295th graduating class of Ursuline Academy, I know that the opportunities I have for the future are endless. There are so many aspects to being an Ursuline girl that have forever changed my path in life. An Ursuline girl is easy to spot when you know what to look for; courtesy, loyalty, and courage are all the qualities that an Ursuline girl portrays. They glow from a distance, and you can feel their warm presence anywhere they go. In my graduating class, my sisters beside me glow in many different ways, all portraying these three qualities. The 295th class is not just any class. Sure, maybe I’m biased just because I am a member of this class myself, but I truly feel that my class exudes what it means to be a true Ursuline girl due to our diversity. We lift each other up and empower each other to strive for greatness.

In what ways do you feel your Ursuline education has prepared you for the world in which we live?

One thing I find to be outstanding about Ursuline Academy is how excellent their education department is run. The academics taught at Ursuline Academy are no ordinary textbook learnings. First off, the teachers at Ursuline Academy do a phenomenal job at helping the girls excel in their classes. If an assignment is not understood, every single teacher will go the extra mile to make sure that each and every student understands the material. Ursuline offers help before and after school and even tutoring by the National Honor Society, which I have been gratefully accepted into. One of my favorite things about the education I have received at Ursuline is that it is hands-on. In every assignment I do, I get to incorporate creativity into it. Hands-on learning includes assignments like physical projects, having access to the Smart Lab, and real conversations all while still including the standard formative assessments. All of these aspects have prepared me for the real world that I will experience after May 21st.

Name the most significant value you learned from Ursuline Academy.

The most significant value I have learned from Ursuline Academy is self-improvement while learning the importance of bettering my education and opportunities for myself. I have come a long way since 8th grade and have been more determined every year to better myself with the help of Ursuline Academy. Having the ability to use all my opportunities to their fullest has allowed me to grow and strive as the woman I am today. My classmates empowered me to participate in class and go the extra mile in school activities. I have had the opportunity to take on many leadership roles here at the Academy such as being the Key Club President and the Tennis Captain. Both of these roles at Ursuline have brought out one of my best qualities, leadership. When I joined Key Club sophomore year, I was drawn to the basis of the club. Key Club is a club based on serving others and caring for the environment, which is something I have grown passionate about due to St. Angela's Feast Day. I was determined to be a good club member because I was so passionate about what the club had to offer. My junior year I was asked by the moderator if I was interested in being the president. I was excited to finally lead something at the school I loved the most and went above and beyond to make my club the best it could be. I also decided to pick up tennis that year. Never picking up a racquet before, I was excited to go out of my comfort zone and try something new. I fell in love with the sport and was determined to get better and succeed in something I found true joy in. Two of these actions I took to focus on bettering myself through my education are thanks to Ursuline Academy. Ursuline has given me endless opportunities and instilled in me many values to uphold and take with me for the rest of my life. At Ursuline, you are not looked at as just a number towards enrollment; you are a unique and success-driven woman. I am motivated to make myself better everyday and I know anyone that attends Ursuline Academy will feel the same way.

What one word describes Ursuline and why?

years later, my senior year, I was awarded the position of captain of the tennis team. I dedicated myself to bettering my sport for two years and now I stand here, committed to play tennis for a Division II school. My determination for improving who I am did not stop there. My love for education only grew stronger as the years went on. One class that changed my life was Mr. Ian Graham's U.S. History class my junior year. World History had always been my favorite subject, however, this class flipped a switch for me. In this class, I felt free to ask a ton of questions, trying to better my understanding of our history and the world around us. I became so invested in learning more; I studied the world map over and over, I did more research after I turned in assignments because of how curious I was, and I would even go to Mr. Graham so we could discuss topics we were learning in class. I sparked conversations with the intent of understanding other people's perspectives in class. I took action to relearn ideas I had neglected before. I dove into opportunities that would allow me to grow my leadership skills. All

The one word that shot to my mind right when I read this question is growth. This idea of growing and bettering oneself is a common theme seen throughout my essay. For this reason, I truly believe that growth is the one word I would use to describe Ursuline anytime anyone asks me this question. Oxford Languages describes growth as: “The process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or spiritually.” I firmly believe that anyone who enrolls into Ursuline Academy will not just grow with age, but grow in numerous ways. Ursuline Academy prepares young women to grow their faith and guarantees everyone some type of spiritual formation, regardless of religion or beliefs. All around, Ursuline allows its students to develop themselves as a whole, through community, academics, and uniqueness. If I had not attended Ursuline Academy, I know that I would not be where I am today. I can confidently say I would not have been able to grow and reach my full potential as the woman that I was born to be. I watched my classmates grow as well and finally find their niche and discover their true passions. Every one of my classmates has grown beautifully and I wish I could tell each and every one of them that I notice change in all of them. I won the senior superlative of “Most Changed” this year. Most people would think that this superlative is back-handed, however, I hold this title with pride. I am proud to say that yes, I have changed over the course of my years at the Academy. The amount of change I have experienced as a young woman is phenomenal thanks to the lessons I have learned at Ursuline. Since 1727, Ursuline Academy has grown a little more everyday and continues to change the lives of girls like me who want to make a difference in the world as a trailblazer. Growth has always been important to me in this journey, but the way I define growth is more important to me thanks to Ursuline Academy.

As her mother once stated, “Suzanne Cromiller Thomas lives her life as a true Ursuline graduate.” Suzanne is the daughter of an alumna, Patricia Sutton Cromiller. Her four sisters and two aunts also graduated from Ursuline. Suzanne attended Ursuline from kindergarten through her senior year. She graduated in 1973 and went on to Dominican College where she graduated in 1977. After receiving an MBA from the College of William and Mary in 1980, she embarked upon an almost 40-year career in the commercial banking industry.

She met her future husband, Robert Thomas, the August before her senior year at Ursuline and he first met her parents on the steps of the auditorium after she received her senior ring that September. They have been married 45 years and have two children and two grandchildren.

Suzanne has tried to find time to be an active volunteer. She watched her own mother volunteer when she was growing up, so the example was set early in her life. Serviam has been a guiding principle for her. Her sister, Renee Cromiller Porter, class of 1980, states, “She is someone that the current students of Ursuline Academy should strive to emulate.” One of her earliest forms of service was after Hurricane Betsy when her mom and a number of other Ursuline ladies decided to raise money to replace the roof on the original convent in the French Quarter. Suzanne and her sister Cindy spent many summer days selling tickets for tours in the convent gatehouse on Chartres Street. More recently, she has been a member of the Academy Board of Trustees. During that time, she rewrote the school’s financial and investment policies, and served on both the Finance and Executive Committees. She was Chairman of the Ursuline Academy Foundation from 2018-2022. Her sister, Cynthia Cromiller Connolly, class of 1974, states, “She is always thinking of others and ways that she can help. She is there for you if you need her. I am blessed that I can call her sister.”

Suzanne is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way and is a past board member of the Greater New Orleans United Way. Post-Katrina, she was a board member of Parkway Partners, an organization that planted over 10,000 trees in neighborhoods across the city after the storm destroyed a large portion of the tree canopy. Suzanne is also a past board member and board chair of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. She has been recognized for her service and professional accomplishments over the years. She is a three-time recipient of the CityBusiness Women of the Year award, was named a 2017 New Orleans CityBusiness “Money Maker”, and was selected in 2018 as a Young Leadership Council Role Model. The Academy of the Sacred Heart awarded her with the St. Philippine Duchesne Award in recognition of her service to the school.

Suzanne retired from Hancock Whitney Bank in 2020 as an Executive Vice President. Since then, she has focused on helping her daughter care for her newborn, as well as various volunteer activities. She is currently the President of the Poydras Home Board of Trustees and is a member of the New Orleans Museum of Art Board of Trustees. She is active in her Parish, St. Francis Xavier, and has served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years.

Suzanne is a founding member of the Ursuline Academy Laurel Legacy Guild. When expressing her desire to leave a planned gift, she stated, “One of my earliest Ursuline memories is my kindergarten interview with one of the nuns. We took a walk in the courtyard on a beautiful day and chatted. My mom was told that I had no separation anxiety. Even at 5 years old, Ursuline felt like a nurturing and supportive place. When I reflect on what helped me achieve success, after acknowledging the gifts that God has given me, as well as the support of my parents and husband, I can’t help but think about Ursuline Academy and my years on State Street. It is only natural that I would now consider a legacy gift to the school so that its tradition of educating strong and independent women will continue long after I am gone.”

Most recently, she and her sister Renee also established an academic scholarship in memory of their mother, Patricia Sutton Cromiller, class of 1943.

Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is proud to call Suzanne Cromiller Thomas a Distinguished Alumna.