THE URSU.LINES THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF URSULINE ACADEMY OF NEW ORLEANS
Fall/Winter 2018
STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS Academy President Dr. Karen Thomas McNay Head of Elementary Shannon Culotta Head of High School Alice Bairnsfather Director of Admissions Becky McLellan Director of Communications Christy Jackson Zurcher ’00 Director of Development Stephanie Davi CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND WRITERS Belinda Baker Jessica Baker ’04 Chad Boykin Sarah Gunn Alina Hernandez Charlotte Kimble ’19 Madisen Suell ’19 Pat Garin Young Leadership Council LAYOUT AND DESIGN Lori Monahan Borden ’88 Lori Monahan Borden Design
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10-11 14-15 16-17 19 President’s Perspective............................................................... 4 On The Cover................................................................................ 5 Faculty Formation........................................................................ 6 Athletics.......................................................................................... 7 Early Childhood............................................................................ 8 Project-Based Learning.............................................................. 9 STEM........................................................................................ 10-11 Service-Learning........................................................................ 12 Camp UAre UA............................................................................ 13 Middle School Cross Country........................................... 14-15 Inside the Museum.............................................................. 16-17
Entrepreneurship....................................................................... 18 Alumna in Action........................................................................ 19 2018 Distinguished Alumna................................................... 20 Miracles......................................................................................... 21 Alumnae Marriages............................................................. 22-23 About Alumnae................................................................... 24-25 In Memoriam.............................................................................. 26 Scholarships............................................................................... 27 Reunions................................................................................ 28-31 2018-19 Ursuline Alumnae Board ....................................... 33 Around State Street............................................................ 34-35
Seventh-graders collaborated to create a wings mural for our elementary hallway. Each student designed two feathers, adorned with intricate patterns and color. They worked together to paint the base structure to support the feathers and Mrs. Rooney assembled it to create the finished design. It was a wonderful way to start the school year – building teamwork and spreading the message to current and prospective students that you can “Spread Your Wings at Ursuline Academy.”
As a parent of three children who were all under the age of five for a brief period, I had several years of consecutive “why” questions. Those preschool years were full of “Why, Mommy? Why? Why do I have to be nice? Why is the sky blue? Why do I have to go to bed? Why can’t we have dessert for breakfast?” I do not think my children stopped asking their favorite question, “Why isn’t life fair?” until they reached adulthood. Life is full of daily “why” questions. Why questions require reflection and understanding, which lead to reason or purpose. An excellent education envelops “why” as students work to answer questions. A student truly understands a concept when she can answer why something occurs. Understanding comes from discovery through experiences. A 2019 Ursuline education draws upon experiences that provide opportunities for our students to discover “why.” This edition of The Ursu.Lines is devoted to the question “why.”
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
The child-led discovery of Reggio Emilia began in Italy. Our Soeur Teresita Rivet, OSU Early Childhood Learning Center embraces an education inspired by Reggio Emilia. ECLC Director Belinda Baker explains why Reggio Emilia and discovery are important to early childhood education and why Ursuline’s program brings a Reggio education to our young girls in Little Minds, Big Discoveries. In past editions, readers found information about our new STEM programs. In this edition of The Ursu.Lines, we share “why” our STEM education initiatives are integral to an Ursuline education and the impact these programs have on our students. On pages 10-11, our students and teachers tell us, first-hand, how STEM has empowered them to think creatively to solve real world problems. At Ursuline, Serviam is a way of life. An Ursuline girl exudes service throughout her life. Serviam is usually the first word uttered when an alumna is asked to describe Ursuline. Our service program is deliberately crafted to instill the call to serve. In Living Life Through Service Learning, you will read why Serviam continues and why our young alumnae return to Ursuline to serve. Why is an Ursuline education unique? Life brings us questions we cannot explain. When “why” cannot be found or understood, we must draw upon our faith and trust in God to sustain us and help us move forward. The formation of faith in God and trust in His love give us hope when “why” cannot be answered. At Ursuline, we educate the whole person. A woman must develop her spirituality to embrace, understand, experience, and reflect on the “why” of our lives. To fully embrace life and make a difference, a woman must thirst for the “why” answers in her home, workplace, community, and world. I invite you to read through this edition of The Ursu.Lines and discover “why” our Ursuline education in 2019 sets the foundation for young women’s lives. In Christ,
Dr. Karen T. McNay URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
The cover of the The Ursu.Lines – Fall/Winter 2018 features our Class of 2019 National Merit Scholars. Not only do these Ursuline girls share the Skip mascot, they are close friends who have shared an awesome global experience. When I applied to take a summer course at Oxford University, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but the experience was better than anything I could have imagined. I studied history, Isabel Frey Ribeiro studied English literature, and Alexandra Sabrio studied critical thinking. However, there were also several minor courses we took throughout the week; one of the shorter classes I took was International Relations. The program welcomes students from all around the world; the history course I was in was relatively small, so I got to know some of the other students very well. I exchanged emails with Xing Xing, a girl from Ningbo, China. One of the best things about studying history at Oxford was the fact that it’s such a historic place in itself. So every day, we would go out on field trips to different sites after discussing a particular topic. When I applied for the history course, I had no idea which time periods we’d be learning about. As it turns out, we covered events ranging from ancient Greek writings to modern-day British politics. One of my favorite excursions was to the Pitt Rivers Museum of Anthropology; it’s in a beautiful Victorian building, and the collection includes over 20,000 artifacts. We also visited Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Not only was the course fascinating, it also offered me a glimpse into what studying history at a college level is really like. Before the program, I was fairly certain I wanted to major in history. After the program, I was sure of it. Besides taking classes, we had the opportunity to take tours of Oxford and to explore the town on our own. Although I spent time with my friends Isabel and Alexandra, we also made several new friends from around the world, including Turkey, Jamaica, Portugal, and India. Isabel wrote of the program: “We didn’t quite know what we were getting into when we were accepted to take a summer course at Corpus Christi, Oxford University. All we knew was that we were excited to have the opportunity to study and stay at one of—if not—the best universities in the world, and in England, no less! Please believe, those classes were rigorous and thought-provoking and incredible; most of our teachers were graduates of the university, and we met students not only from all over the England and the United States, but also from Portugal, Russia, France, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey, to name a few. The experience, however, was even more than just these classes – which only took about four hours of our day. We learned to navigate the town of Oxford, exploring on our downtime with our newfound friends antique print shops and quirky used book stores and museums and meadows with winding streams. We seized the opportunities the course offered us within the university as well—among them, piano concerts in soaring cathedrals, a guest lecture from a journalist at the “Irish Times,” a ghost tour, and a professional (and hilariously-entertaining) production of Shakespeare’s ‘Love’s Labor’s Lost.’” Our time at Oxford was one of the best, most interesting weeks of my life. Before the program, I kept wondering how on earth we were supposed to learn anything in just one week. Somehow, we were actually able to learn a great deal, not just about our respective academic subjects, but about new people from around the world as well. – Charlotte Kimble, Skip of 2019 URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
FACULTY FORMATION
ANSWERING THE CALL OF St. Angela Chad Boykin High School History Teacher
While walking down the halls of Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, it is not difficult to discover history. Whether it is the faces of alumnae lining the corridors or our museum that houses precious artifacts from the school’s storied past, Ursuline has one foot rooted in heritage and another surging towards the future. Such a balanced approach to educating young women is no accident. Rather, this ethos originated with the Ursuline Sisters’ foundress – St. Angela Merici. In response to Angela’s
command that we must “Never cease to cultivate this vine that was entrusted to [us]…,” I and eight other Ursuline faculty and staff members went on the St. Angela Retreat. The retreat took place at the Rosaryville Spirit-Life Center and was led by Sister Diane Fulgenzi, OSU. It is one of several retreats that have taken place over the last few years. All thoughts of papers that needed grading or deadlines to be met were quickly pushed aside as Sister Diane began to expound upon the life of this remarkably holy woman, St. Angela. Born c. 1470 in the Northern Italian town of Desenzano, Angela led a life and a religious order that placed service to God over the contemporary culture’s societal expectations of women. Specifically, Angela insisted that the members of the Order of Saint Ursula not be cloistered, but live in independent apartments to better minister to the sick, destitute, and orphaned in their community. A group of religious women who were neither married nor tucked away in an abbey was certainly the exception to the rule in Renaissance Italy. Similarly today, Ursuline students are implored to use their education and spiritual formation to actively live out the school’s motto of Serviam, “I will serve.” After learning about Angela’s unprecedented approach towards ministry, the retreat delved deeper into her writings. Sister Diane introduced Angela’s Counsels, a sixteenth-century work intended to assist Ursuline leaders in recognizing the unique gifts of each sister. In her Eighth Counsel, Angela encourages any leader who may doubt the spiritual fitness of a sister to “hold them all equally, for it is not up to you to judge the handmaids of God; He well knows what He wants to make of them.” Angela’s words serve as a reminder of our duty as Ursuline educators to minister to each student based on their academic and spiritual needs and not our own expectations. Moreover, in her Sixth Counsel, Angela exhorts religious leaders to “live and behave in such a way that your daughters may see in you a model. And what you want them to do, do it yourselves first.” Again, the foundress provides a simple but crucial reminder that in order to form Ursuline students who understand the value of virtuous-living and service to others, educators must first bear witness to these principles inside and outside the classroom. The St. Angela Retreat provided a personal and transformative experience for each participant. Upon returning to campus, I began walking up the stairs to my classroom. Once I reached the second-floor landing, I was greeted by the school’s illuminated stained-glass window of Angela. At that moment, it became very clear to me that those alumnae photos and museum artifacts are not only history but parts of a vine that began growing in Desenzano, Italy over five-hundred years ago; and we must cultivate it.
ATHLETICS
JAY JAY JUAN
TEACHER, COACH, AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Alina Hernandez Grubb Ursuline Parent
Coach Jay Jay Juan, the winningest volleyball coach in Ursuline history, has one major goal for his athletes. “It may sound cliché, but I want them to have forever memories here,” said Juan who has logged more than 300 wins over the past nine years. Those wins have garnered the school three state Division I championships (2009, 2011, 2012) and six state finals. Now in his 10th year as head coach, his team made the playoffs this year even as they were stymied earlier in the season by injuries. “It’s not just wins over losses; it’s the friendships they make through the years, to be reminded of incredible moments,” said Juan. “I want them to come back years from now and remember those times.” It’s that no-nonsense approach to coaching, and his support of Ursuline’s values and educational strengths that made him the perfect fit to be named the school’s new Athletic Director, overseeing all aspects of its sports programs. Juan, who is modest and unassuming about his record, reached his 600th career win last season and joined the 300/300 Club – 300 wins at two different schools. Juan joins one other coach in Louisiana volleyball history to reach 300 wins at two schools – Brenda LeBlanc, who did it at Episcopal School of Acadiana and St. Joseph’s Academy. “I know it’s a milestone and all of that but, truly to me, it represents that I have good student-athletes to work with,” he said. “I try to preach academics first, family and community, and then a good, aggressive defensive game.” URSULINE ACADEMY
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Juan said he mostly wants to continue the school’s athletic excellence and seek more consistency in sports programs. He is equally comfortable as science teacher (he teaches 8th and 9th grade physical science), head volleyball coach, and Athletic Director, he said. In the classroom, he’s a tough instructor who encourages young women to embrace the sciences. “You want to create free thinkers, and to dispel the idea that science has to be a very difficult subject,” said Juan. “To me, it’s important that they feel they can be outspoken, and take on challenges in the sciences.” Juan’s arrival at Ursuline was, in some ways, meant to be. He was returning home after a three-year stint in Monroe, La., where his wife, a physician, was relocated following Hurricane Katrina. At the same time, Ursuline had suffered the devastating loss of beloved volleyball coach Marta Bott, who passed away from cancer. Bott was Juan’s friend. Ursuline needed an experienced coach to continue the program after that heartbreaking season. At the time, Juan humbly told locals he didn’t see himself as replacing Bott. “This is her program. I’m just kind of along for the ride.” And what a ride it’s been. He appreciates the Ursuline community. “This is where we have roots,” Juan said. “I feel invested at Ursuline, with both the mission of the school and with the overall community.”
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
EARLY CHILDHOOD
LITTLE MINDS,
BIG
Discoveries
The Soeur Teresita Rivet, OSU Early Childhood Learning Center of Ursuline Academy of New Orleans offers a program like no other. This NAEYC-accredited program, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, is based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment. The learning environment, known as the “third teacher,” provides a large variety of both natural and manmade materials for the students to choose from, sparking their intellectual curiosity through a selfguided curriculum. The Center provides a program that is uniquely Ursuline in that it offers The Project Approach with traditional academic structure and timeless values. Based on the belief that children need to naturally know how to work and problem solve together, Ursuline Academy Early Childhood students, Toddler 2 through Kindergarten, are given the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences.
From Early Childhood Director, Belinda Baker: Providing meaningful experiences for our youngest students is important because it sets the stage for future learning. The students are given time to learn how to work together through play, which will prepare them for their academic success at Ursuline. We know that our students also need to think creatively, so we provide materials for them to use to explore in many ways. A variety of natural materials, along with traditional items, provides the children with multiple opportunities for exploration. Projects are another way that the early childhood students are given the opportunity to learn. Through the use of The Project Approach, the
teachers are able to blend academics, creativity, exploration, and discovery together based on the interests of the students. These experiences engage the children and provide them with the opportunity to be an active participant in the learning process.
need by working together to benefit from each other’s strengths. Through their commitment to grow and learn as professionals, Ursuline’s Early Childhood program has become one that inspires children to grow and learn through meaningful experiences.
Before the renovation of the Early Childhood Center was ever completed, the Early Childhood teachers began studying the Reggio Philosophy and The Project Approach. They participated in book studies, attended conferences, and visited schools in other cities. Today, the Early Childhood teachers model what they believe their students
I am honored to be leading such an amazing team of educators at Ursuline. Their dedication and commitment to educating young children is the driving force of the program. I am excited to announce that the program will expand to include a one-year-old program in the 2019-2020 school year.
URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
4TH GRADE AUTHORS It’s not every day a 4th-grader can say she’s a published author. Last year’s 4th grade class shares with us, the fun and exciting process of writing and illustrating – a project that this year’s 4th-graders will experience first-hand.
“Writing my very own book was exciting. It was a long journey but it turned out amazing. While writing, I kept getting ideas. It was so fun.” – Grace Wattigney English Language Arts Teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Ricau, wanted her authors to start with a blank slate and have total creative reign as they began the writing process. Before their creative minds began to work, she enlisted the help of professionals – who also happen to be a part of the Ursuline family. Authors Tatum Gardner, Ursuline parent, and Denise McConduit, parent/ grandparent of Ursuline alumnae and grandmother of an Ursuline student, worked with the girls. Mrs. Gardner taught them about developing a storyline and characters and Mrs. McConduit taught them the writing process. When asked about the experience, Mrs. Gardner responded, “The project was something I was so passionate about. I was honored when Mrs. Ricau reached out and asked me to assist. It is so important to teach kids how to be creative through writing, music, art, etc. The excitement from the 4th grade girls, knowing they were published authors, was amazing. They were so proud of themselves and we were so proud of them. I was so glad I got to experience this.” From start to finish, our authors experienced it all! From basic story elements, to characterization, and illustration – they are well-versed. When it came to illustrating, they even learned basic skills in their art classes. When asked for words of advice for this year’s aspiring authors, Gracee Pressley said, “Try your hardest to write an exciting, fun, and crazy story that the reader will love when they first start to read it. You can make your book about friends, family, and pets – anything that comes to your mind. Brainstorm, take all of the ideas out of your head, and write them down on paper.” Once the books were published, Mrs. Gardner hosted a book release party on campus. Family and friends were invited to attend and the girls showcased their stories! It was a great experience for both students and parents. Parent Amy Lob said, “My daughter, Maggie, had a wonderful time writing and illustrating her book. She loved making up her own story and seeing her book in published form. It was such a great way to encourage creativity – and the books made wonderful gifts for friends and family.” URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
THE STEM PROGRAM AT URSULINE ACADEMY is
designed to empower girls to think creatively to solve real world problems. Our teachers shape hands-on learning experiences with girls’ interests in mind so they stay engaged with challenging concepts, learn to take risks, and wrestle with mistakes to find new solutions. Through generous donations from donors and grant funding, we have had the opportunity to expand our STEM offerings to include extracurricular robotics teams in the middle and high schools, computer science starting in kindergarten and ending at the high school AP level, engineering courses, mentorship opportunities, blended learning in math, and courses in biomedical science.
“I took AP Computer Science because I saw the opportunity for self-development and preparation for what the future may hand me. I feel as though this class has prepared me for the future because one day, coding will be as much of a language as English. Being able to code will also become a necessary skill for career building, and in this sense, I believe that this class has prepared me for my future.”
ursuline academy
- Marlea Maddox ‘18
“In robotics, we get to build and code a robot. We have learned how to work as a team to overcome challenges.” - Caroline Rozands, Mackenzie Stephens, Isabella Roberts, 6th grade
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THE URSU.LINES • 2018-2019
an e
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“In elementary tech class, students h created animation multimedia present written interactive s programmed robots a and practiced their typ It is amazing to wat excited the girls are about and share the th have created using tec
- Emily Pastore elementary technology
“In Web Mastering, we are experiencing what goes on behind the scenes of a website. We are understanding and practicing different techniques of coding, and everything that goes into formatting a workingwebsite. By the end of the year, we will have formatted our own website that will showcase what we’ve learned and why coding is useful.”
ary technology udents have nimations and presentations, ractive stories, obots and games, heir typing skills. g to watch how irls are to talk re the things they sing technology.”
Pastorek, chnology teacher
- Megan Harold ’19
“I am currently taking a course called Human Pathology or the study of injury and its effects on the body. In this course, my classmates and I are in the process of performing a hands-on mock crime scene investigation. Rather than simply learning about what goes on in a crime scene, we are in the process of finding the manner of death through mock blood tests, substance tests, diabetes tests, and fingerprint tests. I am thankful for this class because it has not only offered me an understanding of human pathology, but personal health education as well.” - Madisen Suell ’19
“Seventh grade students have been investigating microscopic disease agents such as; bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They are developing ideas on how these invaders affect the human body and how they should be treated. Students were given a fictitious medical case file and became microbiologists. They diagnosed their patient and tested which antibiotic would be most effective to treatment for their patient’s illness.” - Nicole Williamson, middle school science teacher
“The girls aren’t just adding - they are thinking about why they are adding. They aren’t just memorizing math facts they are understanding the relationships between numbers.” - Jenna Notarianni and Sarah Treadaway ’12, first grade teachers
“ACE stands for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering. It is a program that allows high school students to experience these fields and meet with actual professionals in the field. The professionals come to meet us at school about three times a month. The ACE program has opened many doors for me. I am able to interact with professionals in the field, which is beneficial to me because I have an interest in engineering. I can ask them questions and learn from their experiences. I also got to see what an actual engineering firm looked like, which was interesting because that could be my future.” - Zoe Elam ’19
ursuline academy
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THE URSU.LINES • 2018-2019
SERVICE-LEARNING
LIVING LIFE THROUGH SERVICE-LEARNING Sarah Gunn, High School Theology Teacher As we all know, Ursuline is deeply rooted in both the motto of Serviam and the education of young women. What you may not know is that the Academy combines these two ideals together in the form of service-learning. Service-learning provides students the opportunity to master the learning of educational objectives through real life community service. At Ursuline, we provide service-learning in several courses, including the theology
The junior class, for instance, is studying personal and social morality in their Theology course while completing their service focus on hunger and homelessness. The students partner with Second Harvest Food Bank to learn about food insecurity, why it exists, and how it affects thousands of people in our city every day. Meanwhile in class, they are studying how all people have incalculable human dignity and the major tenets of Catholic Social Teaching rooted in that dignity. After making connections through the joint learning opportunities, the juniors plan and implement two service projects. They host a schoolwide food drive to support Second Harvest, where they teach younger students about food insecurity and why it is important to help. They then collect, sort, and count all of the food collected. On St. Angela’s Feast Day, the juniors partner with several agencies around the city to prepare and distribute meals to the homeless.
course at every high school grade level. Each grade level is assigned a service focus area, designed to take students out of their comfort zones. The focus areas are: 8th - elderly, 9th - children and literacy issues, 10th - people with special needs, 11th - hunger and homelessness, 12th - environmental justice. The service projects follow the path of the Pastoral Circle to deepen student learning. The Pastoral Circle begins with the students learning about an issue - what is happening? They then study the social and theological aspects of the topic - why is this an issue today and what does my faith teach me about this issue? They then plan and implement a service project that meets the needs they learned about in class. Finally, students reflect on and demonstrate what they learned throughout the process. URSULINE ACADEMY
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The conclusion of any good servicelearning project allows students to demonstrate what they learned through the process. The juniors demonstrate their learning by creating a fictitious service agency to meet what they feel are the most pressing needs people in poverty face. They create a website for their agency and write a reflection paper on why these needs are so important. Previous projects have included counseling services for homeless veterans with PTSD, educational centers for children in poverty, and homes for families facing domestic violence. Overall, the students walk away from the course with memorable learning experiences. Any student can define human dignity on a test, but an Ursuline girl desires to live out respect for human dignity in her life because of her servicelearning involvement.
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
CAMP UARE UA:
WELCOMING OUR NEWEST LIONS To say you are a part of a family is one thing – to actually feel like it is a whole other story! At Ursuline, we know that many different people make up our one family. Our Ursuline family is diverse by design and we wouldn’t have it any other way! As new lions join our pride, we feel that it is important to teach them all things Ursuline. With that said, our high school administrators and students created Camp UAre UA – a camp to welcome our newest lions. This brand new week-long camp takes place over the summer and allows new students the chance to not only have fun and meet new people - but familiarize themselves with campus, become proficient in programs they will use, and be ready for the first day of school! All new incoming high school students are invited to attend. Throughout the week,
they enjoyed a special theme each day: Throwback Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Tie Dye Thursday, and UAre UA Friday. Each day began in prayer and was followed by covering many different high school topics. Students earned a “digital driver’s license” – knowledge needed to care for and use their MacBook since Ursuline is 1:1. They participated in community building activities; learned how to read a schedule; met the high school leaders; learned the alma mater, fight song, and other cheers; toured classrooms; learned about the service program and had a jump start on service by going out to serve; painted with Academy President Dr. Karen McNay; participated in a mini Field Day; created a wish list in the bookstore; previewed clubs; and learned all things Rally!
“Camp UAre UA allowed me to become comfortable with the 8th-graders and get their views on what they would like to achieve in the upcoming school year. This camp is important for new 8th-graders to get a feel for school and the process to get involved in clubs. Because of this camp, more students feel comfortable being who they are at Ursuline and more willing to contribute to the community in a positive way.” – Casey Talbot ’19
“Camp UAre UA is a great way for incoming students to get to know their future peers while becoming familiar with Ursuline faculty, current students, and UA as a whole.” – Macallister Davis ’19
“Camp UAre UA was a great opportunity to meet new people before school started. It was also very helpful to learn about high school and our MacBooks.” – Victoria Vandenweghe ’23
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Caydance spoke to the coach during tryouts. She told her she was used to hard physical work – she has had physical therapy since infancy, after all. She asked again after tryouts. She asked and asked. “She really wanted to be on the team,” Boten said.
HEART OF A LION
“Everyone has something, some you can see and some you don’t,” Caydance said, something she has learned from her family over the years. “Practice makes possibilities.” So she waited, patiently. “I told her to come to practices while we made a decision,” said Boten, who is “Coach Macy” to her team.
Alina Hernandez, Ursuline Parent The Ursuline Lions middle school cross country team decided early this season there was one rule they wouldn’t break: No runner would cross the finish line alone.
The rule became a promise when sixth-grade Skip Caydance Anderson joined the team. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, everyone knows Caydance has a fearless streak.
“At first we were surprised,” Caydance’s mom said. “Crosscountry? I wasn’t sure. So I reminded Caydance that she had a busy schedule, thinking she’d put it aside. But she was determined.” Ursuline administrators were open to the idea, and the Andersons supportive – Caydance had been on a soccer team before along with her twin sister, Penelope, also an Ursuline girl (There also is a younger sister, Angelica, Sioux of 2029). They were encouraged she could race, too. Boten was determined to have Caydance on the team. There were natural concerns: Would Caydance be safe? Could her body handle the physical toll of long-distance running? Boten, who had experience through Jo Jo’s Hope, a charity that runs aquatic programs for those with mental and physical challenges, was certain Caydance could do it. While the school agreed, one of her parents had to be with Caydance at all practices and meets.
“She doesn’t let anything stop her. If you tell her not to try something, she’ll do the opposite. She’s always looked at challenges and pushed past them,” said her mother, Candice Anderson, a Merry Mac and Ursuline girl herself, who left the school her senior year for the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. It’s just that despite her lion’s heart, Caydance’s body can’t keep up like everyone else’s. Things take her a little longer, like running. “I didn’t care,” said Lions’ Coach Macy Boten, Skip of 2016. “She was going to be on that team.” URSULINE ACADEMY
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“My husband completely reworked his whole work schedule just so he could be there,” said Anderson. And that was a comfort for Caydance, too, who was a little worried about being alone behind the pack. And that’s when a team full of spirited middle schoolers began running together every day. They were becoming a family. There were times the training was hard. Caydance complained she was tired. But Boten wasn’t having it. “There wasn’t one time when I didn’t push her as hard as I pushed any other girl,” said Boten. “Yes, there were times where she was tired. Yes, it took her a little longer. But she did abs with us, she ran with us, she did drills with us. She’s on the team. She can do it.”
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
And Caydance noticed, too. “It’s been amazing. And I love it.” Her story caught the eye of local TV news media. A video of her finishing a race aired on WGNO-TV's “Friday Night Football” segment. In which a crowd cheers her on. Before she crosses the finish, Caydance stumbles on a muddy patch, someone goes to help – and Boten shoos them away. Caydance has got this. The tiny sixth grader gets up on her own, finishes the race, smiles and high-fives her coach. “She inspires the whole team, and beyond that, she inspires others, too,” Boten said. “She’s the embodiment of Ursuline’s motto, CLC: Courtesy, Loyalty, Courage. The courage alone that it took for her to try out, and then to stay on the team. She has a bright future, and she can do anything.”
Her mom noticed, too. Caydance would come home sore, and linger a little longer under hot showers, which soothed her muscles. By late September, the team had a few meets under their belts. And Boten and the Andersons started to notice something wonderful: The rule-turned-promise was now a bond. While Caydance was always the last to cross the finish line, she was never alone. Her teammates would finish the race, circle back, and run alongside her. As they neared the finish, groups of Ursuline girls were cheering “Caydance! Caydance!” “I was so proud of them,” Boten said. “I thought, this is it, they get it, they’ve become a team.” By the middle of the season, other schools noticed, too. During meets, young women on other teams joined Ursuline’s girls. A pack of teens and parents from all over the city were routinely rooting Caydance across the finish line. “She didn’t finish one race alone,” said Anderson. “Her teammates were so awesome. They were all screaming for her to finish, and every other school would come back and scream for her, too.”
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Candice Anderson has another pointof-view. Caydance is courageous; she was brave on the soccer field and in cross-country, and with her angelic voice, is able to belt out the most beautiful songs before crowds as a singer with the New Orleans Children’s Chorus. It’s just that others don’t always see beyond the physical uniqueness.
“Coach Macy changed Caydance’s life,” Anderson said. “She’s stronger physically. She’s still running every day with her Dad. She has the confidence to do whatever she wants. And I really give her coach credit for what she’s done for this little girl and the team.”
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
F e l i c i t y St
INSIDE THE MUSEUM
Nuns Religious St St
Sister
St
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From the moment they arrived in 1727, the Ursuline Sisters have impacted the city of New Orleans in many different ways. From educating young women, to treating wounded soldiers, and spreading the Catholic faith – theirs is a living legacy. It is only fitting that this legacy lives on in the areas in which they once served. The legacy of these trailblazers is alive today in some of New Orleans' well-known streets.
Felicity Street
This street was named for Sr. St. Felicity Alsaz, an Ursuline Sister from France. She was born in 1786 in a small village in Languwedoc, France, and was a member of the Ursuline Community in Pont-Saint-Esprit. She and several other sisters arrived in New Orleans in 1786 and was much loved as teacher, as the Head of the Academy, and as Superior of the Convent. Sr. St. Felicity brought the “Sweetheart” statue with her from France. She died in 1835 after a brief illness. In naming the street after Sr. St. Felicity, the mapmaker omitted the title “St.” in the name and the error has persisted ever since.
St. Andrews Street
The Ursuline for whom this street was named is Sr. St. Andrew Madier. She was born in Pont-Saint-Esprit, France and made her profession as an Ursuline in that city. She accompanied Sr. St. Felicity Alsaz to New Orleans and became a dedicated teacher during her long religious life. It was Sr. St. Andre who wrote to her cousin in France, Sr. St. Michel Gensoul, begging her for assistance. Sr. St. Michel not only came to New Orleans but also brought the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to our city. Sr. St. Andrew died in 1837 in the 82nd year of her age.
St. Mary Street
This street was named for Sr. St. Marie Olivier de Vezin, a native New Orleanian, who was born in 1756 and was professed in the Chartres Street convent in 1775. For forty years, she taught catechism to poor women who loved her as a mother. She was superior of the convent during the Battle of New Orleans, and it was she who made the vow to have a special Mass of thanksgiving celebrated every year on January 8, in gratitude for the victory of the American army. Sr. St. Mary died a peaceful death in 1820.
Special thanks to Sr. Rosemary Meiman ’46, Archivist, for providing the information.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Empowering Ursuline’s Next Innovators With every new school year, comes new opportunities. Ursuline Academy’s 2018-2019 school year has been no different. The high school division introduced an entrepreneurship class this year. Juniors and seniors have the option to enroll in this class and learn the ins and outs of starting a business. Divided into important business topics such as idea development, market research, designing and testing ideas, business planning, making the pitch, and business launching – these classes also allow time for Ursuline students to hear, first-hand, from real-world entrepreneurs. What better way to kickoff the very first entrepreneurship panel than with Ursuline alumnae? Senior, Madisen Suell, states: “The women of Ursuline, for years, have been recognized for their courage and persistence in what they do and it is solely because of women like these that Ursuline’s legacy will live on for years to come. I truly hope to bring honor to my school’s name just as these
brilliant women have.” The first alumnae panelists were: Deb Augustine Elam ’79, retired GE Foundation President and Chief Diversity Officer for GE, and current President and CEO of Corporate Playbook; Simone Bruni Crouere ’89, owner of Demo Diva; and Clare Donovan ’09, inventor of FlowGlows. The panel was facilitated by Liz Glaser Broekman ’85, Associate Vice President and Director of P.O.W.E.R. at Fidelity Bank. Panelists shared their experiences, offered advice on being your own brand, and discussed how it all relates back to the Academy’s motto of Serviam: “I will serve.” Senior Madisen Suell also felt that “It was the essence of seizing an opportunity and running with it rather than trying to plan their lives out perfectly that made these women’s success stories real.” Alumna and owner of Monogram Junkie, Becca Bertaut Vaughn ’91, also spoke to the students about turning her vision into reality.
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This professional mentor program will provide great insight for future female entrepreneurs as they look forward to hearing from many more alumnae and other business professionals. Through nearly three centuries of innovation in teaching, the Academy has produced many successful female leaders who enjoy returning home to share their success stories with the newest generation of female leaders. Just as the Ursulines made an impact on the New World when they arrived from France in 1727, today’s Ursuline girl continues to carry forth that mission. Academy President, Dr. Karen McNay states: “With the Ursuline Entrepreneurship Program, our girls can identify ideas and turn them into goods and services to benefit others. Entrepreneurship is the perfect step to fulfill our motto: Serviam. Students can see the fruits of their hard work after identifying needs and finding solutions to meet them. We look forward to expanding this program throughout the Academy.”
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
ALUMNA IN ACTION
Ursuline alumna, Sofia Giordano, exhibits the ability of an Ursuline girl to go the distance on her voyage from Tahiti to Hawaii through her trip with SEA, Sea Education Association. Sailing is nothing new for this Skip of 2016 who was the captain of Ursuline's sailing team her senior year of high school.
Skipperette Sets Sail with SEA Madisen Suell, Skip of 2019
When she first began sailing as a freshman, she had little interest in it. Her sister joined the team, so she signed-up too. At the time she didn’t know it, but sailing would benefit her later on in life, and during her time at SEA. Today, Sofia is studying environmental science at Loyola University New Orleans, where she is also captain of the sailing team. At the end of her sophomore year, she was presented with this opportunity to sail from Tahiti to Hawaii (a 3,000 nautical mile journey) with twenty other students to study the coral reefs through the Pacific Reef Expedition offered by SEA, or Sea Education Association. Sofia was accepted into the program and, for one month, would be examining the change in the coral reefs as a result of the El Niño event that occurred two years prior. Her voyage began this past summer on a 134-foot ship with thirty-four crew members consisting of students and teachers. The crew made four stops before arriving to Hawaii. While sailing, it was the students’ duties to keep the ship cruising properly. This was a twenty-four hour shift that consisted of steering the helm, performing lab duties by analyzing what was in the water, and organizing a watch group. This was not a simple lifestyle to adjust to – causing one girl to go home – but through perseverance, Sofia and the rest of the members made it to their first stop - the island of Mo’orea. It was here they had to learn to snorkel as this was crucial in the exploration of the coral reefs. Two days later, the ship docked at their next destination of Rangiroa Island, a tourist attraction, and the location of the first coral survey. They were greeted by a pod of dolphins and friendly locals. The next two destinations were Caroline Island, a highly protected island, and Christmas Island where they visited a local high school. After 10 days sailing from Christmas Island and enduring harsh weather, they made it to Hawaii where one of the islands was facing volcanic issues. Nevertheless, the ship made it back safely where Sofia was able to share this story. Due to her performance on board, Sofia announced: “Because of that, I am now a campus ambassador for SEA.” Sofia also revealed that she is not sure if she would like spend her career on a boat. While the lifestyle is strict, this trip did ignite her passion for ocean conservation. When asked about her plans, Sofia states: “In my future, I hope to get involved with conservation/ sustainability efforts - ideally even helping to restore Louisiana’s coast.” URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA
Karen Yuratich Jakiela 1965 has been chosen by the Ursuline Alumnae Association of New Orleans, with the approval of the Academy President and the Ursuline Sisters, to be the 2018 Ursuline Distinguished Alumna. This award is annually bestowed upon a graduate of Ursuline Academy or Ursuline College of New Orleans who demonstrates the core values and ideals of an Ursuline education in all aspects of her life. Since 1986, 50 women have received this honor, making it one of Ursuline’s most prestigious awards. Karen attended Ursuline Academy for 13 years, four of which were spent in the high school choir, and graduated as a Skipperette of 1965. Music was her first love. Karen states that after watching Mother Vera Marie play piano and teach little songs to her kindergarten class, she “knew she wanted to play the piano for people to sing.” She remembers listening to Mother Elizabeth Marie play the organ. Playing the Hymn to Our Lady of Prompt Succor on the organ as an Ursuline teacher was a dream come true for Karen. Following her Ursuline graduation, Karen received a Bachelor of Music Therapy with a major in music therapy and a minor in psychology from Loyola University. Her major instrument was piano and her minor instrument was classical guitar. She became a Registered Music Therapist in 1972 and earned a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of New Mexico in 1975. She later received certification from the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a high school religion teacher. For 12 years, she worked as a social service designee and activities director at Long Leaf Nursing Home in Ruston, Louisiana. She began teaching high school religion at Ursuline Academy in 1990. She was the accompanist for the academy choir, a retreat leader, and class sponsor. Classmates Mary Ellen Gillaspy Denning and Distinguished Alumna Mary Beth Drown Meacham note that “Karen was the go-to person for the Ursuline nuns for years and years, driving them to appointments and visiting ailing sisters in the hospital. She did these things because she loves every aspect of Ursuline.” Former students say that Ms. Jakiela was their favorite teacher, compassionate and understanding. Karen is a woman of strong faith. Archbishop Tom Rodi writes of his childhood friend, “Karen has always exhibited a deep spiritual life and she is an active member of the Third Order of URSULINE ACADEMY
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St. Francis of Assisi. Her faith, dedication, and talents blessed the students of Ursuline who were fortunate enough to have her as a religion teacher.” Fr. Cassian Derbes, O.P. taught at Ursuline in 2001-2003 prior to his ordination. He states, “In the absence of an abundance of religious vocations, it is no overstatement that a school with a history and mission as Ursuline Academy could not exist without a teacher like Karen Jakiela. The fruitfulness of her hard and dedicated work has benefited generations of Ursuline women.” After several years of formation, Karen was professed as a member of the Secular Franciscan Order in 2007, almost 500 years after St. Angela Merici obtained that same distinction as a young woman. After retiring from Ursuline in 2012, Karen worked as the Intake and Activities Director of Covenant Home in New Orleans. She recently moved to Michigan to be closer to her family. Throughout the years, Karen has lived the Serviam motto she learned as a student at Ursuline Academy. She was a member and Assistant Director of the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, and she served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas Church, Covenant Home, and Tulane University Catholic Center. She has always had a special devotion to the elderly as a worker, volunteer, and devoted friend. Her children Greg and Allison share that their mother was a scout leader and trusted confidant of their friends. She showed them “how to have a gentle spirit towards others and to enjoy doing things for those in need.” She has exemplified the Ursuline ideals of courtesy, loyalty, and courage throughout her life. Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is proud to call Karen Yuratich Jakiela a Distinguished Alumna.
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
MIRACLES JEFF & AZIZA LANDRUM CARMOUCHE ’95
TIM & ASHLEY JORDAN RILEY ’97
DANI & VANESSA BRIDGES LEVINE ’00
LADD & JAMIE RODRIGUE STRAATMANN ’00
A SON, MAJOR TYRONE
A DAUGHTER, ELLA KATE
GARY & MONIQUE WHITE BALLIER ’99
BENNY & MONICA DAWSON ST. CYR ’00
A SON, CROSS ST. CYR
A SON & DAUGHTER, JORDAN STEVEN & ABIGAIL ELIZABETH
CHRIS & JENNIFER GUNNELL TAYLOR ’03
C. MATTHEW & ROSE MARTIN COOPER ’95
A SON, TOBY WILDER
A DAUGHTER, MYAH ROSE
A SON, MARCEL OLIVIER
A SON, SAMUEL DALE
RUSSELL & ALEXANDRA ROMERO THOMPSON ’01
EUGENE & BIANCA GORDON WILSON ’03
THOMAS & MOLLY WIEDEMANN LOVE ‘06
A DAUGHTER, CASSIDY NOLA
A SON, CALLUM THOMAS
A DAUGHTER, MAISIE GRACE
ALUMNAE MARRIAGES
Corey Rodrigue ’02 & Peter Crowsen
URSULINE ACADEMY
Lacy Davillier ’04 & Luke O’Neal III
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Jami Lacour ’07 & Michael Ishee
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
Jennie Lacour ‘11 & Michael Roy
URSULINE ACADEMY
Elora Doskey ’12 & Evan Wall
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Amanda Giordano ’14 & Christopher Maheu II
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
ABOUT ALUMNAE
1
2
3
4
C1950
1972
1989
1 ANNA MARIA D’ANTONIO MITCHELL celebrated her 90th birthday with a special Mass in The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
CHRISTEL CAPDEVIELLE SLAUGHTER, PH.D., CEO of SSA Consultants, is the Chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Council on Small Business.
4 SIMONE BRUNI CROUERE was chosen for Young Leadership Council’s 2018 Role Model Class.
1963
1973
PAT CROUERE DENECHAUD has been named one of St. Charles Avenue’s 2018 Activists of the Year.
3 SUZANNE CROMILLER THOMAS was chosen for Young Leadership Council’s 2018 Role Model Class.
1966
1978
2 JUDY MOLLERE retired after 41 years of devoted service to Ursuline Academy. Judy joined Ursuline as a teacher and served as Elementary Assistant Principal for most of her tenure before retiring as Elementary Director of Operations.
DR. JAN DANIEL LANCASTER received the No Man is An Island Award at the 48th Annual Louisiana Youth Seminar.
1980 HONORABLE MADELEINE LANDRIEU received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 48th Annual Louisiana Youth Seminar.
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ANDREA VILLEMONT MOREAU published her first children’s book, I Mustache You to Read With Me. REV. DANIELLE ROME-BRIGGS published her first book of devotional readings, From Marah to Elim: Poetic Journeys through Scriptures for Christians.
1993 NICOLE GAITHER founded Creativa IP Law – a boutique trademark and copyright law firm.
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6
7
5
1995
2014
2017
ERIKA MCCONDUIT is now leading Ed Trust’s Louisiana Advocacy Efforts.
6 AMANDA GIORDANO MAHEU recently married in the Shrine. She was excited to share her big day several other Ursuline girls.
8 INGEBORG HYDE was crowned Miss Guatemala New Orleans 2018.
2004 5 LACY DAVILLIER O’NEAL hosted “Mama and Me” mini photo sessions in the Academy courtyard. A portion of the proceeds from the sessions was donated to support Ursuline’s Beyond Our Borders Service Immersion Program.
2010 HILLARY BROUILLETTE joined Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC as an Associate.
HANAN RIMAWI received the 2018 Jim Runsdorf Excellence in Public Service Award for co-founding the student organization, Bridging Generations. The outreach program partners students with elderly residents at five different retirement communities.
2016 7 BLAIR JONES was crowned the 72nd Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival Queen.
ALYSIA TERRY was voted Women’s Freshman of the Year by a Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel of college publicists. She is the first Xavier University of Louisiana athlete, female or male, to receive one of the state’s major track awards.
2018 THERESA MYERS received the SME Education Foundation’s 2018-2019 SME Education Foundation Robotics Scholarship in the amount of $1,900.00. MICHAELA ZENO is a UNCF Scholarship Award Recipient.
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
8
IN MEMORIAM
Alumnae Elizabeth Landers AM Carmen Mendez Box ’47 Cheryl Ann Johnston Bragg ’63 Helena Truxillo ’44 Joan Chirieleison Breeden ’47 Rosemonde James Nugent ’56 Geraldine Caillet DeLatte ’46 Elcy Louise Eble Daussat ’34 Jean Rive’ Hock ’47
Mother of
Grandmother of Amaya Alexander ’18 Mother-in-law of Helen Franz Eshleman ’77
Daughter of Cherie Bensabat Banos Schneider ’42
Son of Marie May Traylor ’76 Gina Giacona ’83
Anna-Karletta Armstrong Alexander ’89 Stacie Birchfield Kern ’89 Charlotte Dusse’ Haro ’67 Sue Lousteau Gisclair ’66 Louise Blamphin Price ’62 Carlee Blamphin ’66 Nancy Blamphin Brodsky ’69 Carolyn Siefken Wiley ’93 Barbara Siefken ’97 Dalila Simpson ’99 Terrie Johnson Farrand ’81 Susan Schoen Holmes ’65 Laura Pennebaker Gallichio ’00 Anne Pennebaker Holstead ’02
Sister of
Father of
Brother of
Francy Lanzetta LeBlanc ’97 Katie-Lauren Guell ’00 Nadia Walden ’00 Allison Leonard Hildebrand ’04 Rachel Leonard ’07 Rebecca Leonard ’09 Charlotte Duss’ Haro ’67 Erin Stacy Carl ’75
Husband of Gloria Buckley Felder ’49 Jane Babst Truett ’56 Cynthia Stewart ’66 Regina Elms Keever AME Kathleen Alfonso C’55 (DEC) Mary Eileen Fitzpatrick Pollard ‘61 Charlotte Grisaffi Eschman ‘67
Father-in-law of Shelby Stumpf Key ’71 Maria Cangemi AM Sister-in-law of Claire Lally Brennan ’44 (DEC)
Ann Booker Loper ’64 Margaret Booker ’70 Catherine Banos Eustis ’66 Patricia Ann Mathes ’65 Lucille Eble Champagne ’38 (DEC) Lucille Livaudais ’27 (DEC) Mary Eble Eastin ’34 Carolyn Eble Levy ’36 (DEC)
Brother-in-law of Loretto Babst Stephens ’57 Renee Fortier-Bujol ’73 Stacie Birchfield Kern ’89 Karen Fitzpatrick ’60 (DEC)
Son-in-law of
Uncle of Yvonne Quijano Moffat ’84 Nicole Quijano ’92
Loretto Morvant Babst ’30, C’33 (DEC) Margaret Donovan Mufdi ’66 Rita Stock Fitzpatrick ‘36, C’40 (DEC)
Angela “Michelle” Winand ’84 Gretchen “Monique” Winand ’91 Barbara Traylor ’03 Caroline Lynch ’09 Grace Brue Campbell ’35 Patricia Brue Majeau C’1952
Aunt of Pamela Ann Gauchet Schroeder ’67
Nephew of Maria May Cespedes ’71 Rose May Carroll ’78 Cousin of Emilie Gagnet Leumas ’76 Chantal Hamm Dillon ’85 Kathleen Hamm Zuniga ’88
Granddaughter of Jo Ann Saladino Gagnet ’56
Great Granddaughter of Fanny Gagnet Toppino HM (DEC)
Grandfather of Sarah Barrow ’00 Tiffanie Barrow ’94 Rechelle Diaz Brooks ’93
URSULINE ACADEMY
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AME Associate Member, Elementary AMH Associate Member, High School AMC Associate Member, College DEC Deceased HM Honorary Member If the name of an alumna to whom you are related, does not appear here, please call the Office of Alumnae at 504.861.9114 or email us at alumnae@uanola.org
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
SCHOLARSHIPS
WE BLAZE OUR OWN TRAILS.
IT’S OUR LEGACY.
MAKE IT HERS, TOO. The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, an organization of which Ursuline Academy is a proud and active member, discusses the importance of a same-sex education in shaping the lives of future female leaders. The benefits of an all-girls environment are endless – increased academic achievement, increased self-confidence, the development of leadership skills, striving for higher aspirations, female to female mentoring, freedom from stereotypes, help finding a voice, and increased civic engagement, to name a few. It is with this knowledge that our donors understand the importance of providing access to an all-girls, top quality Ursuline education to as many New Orleans students as possible. As we work to build a robust endowment, scholarship gifts are at the top of our priority list. Last year, two new scholarships were created from private gifts, with two more pledged to be completed in the next three years. The newest scholarships, the Mary Ann Valentino Endowed Scholarship and the Joan Gisevius Johnson Endowed Scholarship, will be awarded for the first time this fall. In addition to these private endowed scholarships, Ursuline girls can also leverage a variety of merit based awards automatically, by scoring at the top levels on their placement tests. Any high achieving incoming eighth grade student who want the world-class education that Ursuline offers are eligible for the President’s Merit Scholarship, the Principal’s Merit Scholarship and, now, the Dean’s Merit Scholarships. All three scholarships are renewable throughout high school. As we are able to open our doors to those who may have never had the opportunity to experience the unique, all-girls, environment at Ursuline Academy, our impact on our community and subsequently, our nation and our world, will increase. It is these students who will grow up to be the doctors, lawyers, judges, and leaders in their communities. Through endowed gifts like the Valentino and Gisevius Johnson scholarships, we deliver on the promise of providing continuing access for all girls. URSULINE ACADEMY
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Standing: Ann Valentino Fuselier ‘63, Lisette Valentino Turpin ‘72, Ellie Turpin ‘12, Katie Turpin ‘00. Seated: Mary Ann Glorioso Valentino ‘37
“The Valentino family wanted to honor Mary Ann Valentino’s lifelong appreciation for her Ursuline education. Mary Ann is committed to future generations of Ursuline graduates who are academically sound and socially diverse. The scholarship is intended to make it possible for all qualified candidates to avail themselves of an Ursuline education and life experience. Mary Ann’s legacy lives on.” –Ann Valentino Fuselier ’63
THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
REUNIONS
LEPS 1953
MERRY MACS 1958
SIOUX 1963
SKIPS 1968 MERRY MACS 1973
SIOUX 1978 URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
REUNIONS
MERRY MACS 1988 SIOUX 1993
SI
URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • WINTER/FALL 2018
SKIPS 1998
SIOUX 2002
MERRY MACS 2003
SKIPS 2013
ACADEMY
URSULINE
viam Annual
2018-2019 Ser
Fund
Your gifts to the Serviam Annual Fund have a direct impact on the education of our students. From robotics to fine arts and drama to engineering, Ursuline students have a breadth of experiences because of your support. Please use the enclosed envelope to return your donation or visit www.uanola.org to give online.
2018-2019 Ursuline Alumnae Association of New Orleans Board Executive Committee Officers
Ex-Officio Members
Amber Randazzo Peskin ’99 President
Dr. Karen McNay Academy President
Stephanie Tomlinson Ricau ’92 President-Elect
Stephanie Davi Director of Development
Kimberlin Pittman Brown ’95 Vice President
Committee Chairs
Johanna Hochhalter Logan ’00 Recording Secretary
Alumnae Spring Gathering Helen Franz Eshleman ’77 Annie Krasnow Palmer ’10
Kristen Rivero ’00 Past President Marguerite Hathway ’40 C’44 College Representative
Blessing of the Herbs Jan Haydel Signorelli ’80 Graduating Seniors’ Luncheon Calli Bodin ’02
OLPS Feast Day Reception Tricia Giraldo Ortalano ’77 Alisa Blake Dobronich ’99 Santa’s Workshop Stephanie Tomlinson Ricau ’92 Johanna Hochhalter Logan ’00 Serviam Annual Fund Toni Wright ’80 Jessica Dalton Woodward ’99 Special Alumnae Awards & Honors Thérèse Wegmann ’78 Sweethearts Club Luncheon Kimberlin Pittman Brown ’95
Homecoming Angie Fulton Castay ’74 Terri Thibodeaux Stuckey ’81 Angela Lally Seither ’85
URSULINE ACADEMY
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THE URSU.LINES • FALL/WINTER 2018
Ursuline students raised both money and awareness during this year’s Pink Game. During the Pink Game Pep Rally, alumna and oncology nurse, Nicole Dupont Perry ‘04 spoke to students about her personal fight. Second through fourth grade students have been paired up with pen pals from Sainte Ursule, our sister school in Paris, France! Students will take turns writing and translating in both French and English with the help of their French and Language Arts teachers.
Students and faculty rallied together for a red dress-down day to raise money and awareness for those suffering from sickle cell anemia in support of 7th grade student, Evan Bellow.
Senior Skips of 2019 won the most coveted Spirit Award at the 71st Rally! The annual blessing of the herbs took place after the first Academy Mass of the school year.
Early Childhood students invited friends and family to join them for the annual Thanksgiving Feast – a showcase of the many talents of our littlest chefs, artists, collaborators, and creators.
Lillian Wiseman, 5th grade student, was a Hancock Whitney New Orleans Saints Jr. Captain. She was selected because she has dedicated many hours of her summer to community service.
Our Starstruck Children’s Theater actresses put on real live performances of Pinocchio for friends, family, and other schools as well! Ursuline Sister and first female pharmacist, Sr. Francis Xavier Hebert, was honored on the cover of Nola Family Magazine’s December issue in celebration of the city’s tricentennial year. The cover model was our very own 7th grader, Cecelia McLellan, whose namesake and great-grandmother is an Ursuline alumna. In partnering with the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council and the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ International Visitor Leadership Program, our administration, faculty, and student spent time with 7 visitors, along with 3 interpreters, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ursuline friends and family joined us for an open house of our campus museum.
Orchestra teacher, Lulu Reeks, played a violin from our campus museum both for her students and for Patron Party. The violin was made in France in 1734 and was brought to the convent in 1912 by Sr. Borgia McNair.
A RO U N D S TAT E S T R E E T ursuline academy
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THE URSU.LINES • 2018-2019
URSULINE
ACADEMY Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID New Orleans, LA Permit No. 806
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