THE URSU.LINES
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF URS ULI NE AC AD EMY O F NEW O RLEAN S
Fall | Winter 2019
STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS Academy President Dr. Karen T. McNay Head of Elementary Shannon Culotta Head of High School Dr. Tracy Bonday Director of Admissions Becky McLellan Director of Alumnae Maria Merchan Weidenbacher '05 Director of Communications Christy Jackson Zurcher ’00 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND WRITERS Camille Black ’20 Alicia Brannan Dolly Duplantier ’82 Olivia Elam ’21 Isabelle Giangrosso ’20 Sue Dorsey Heidel ’85 Beth Joubert ’80 Charlotte Kimble ’19 Sylvia Swoop Landry ’69 Jenna Notarianni Emily Pastorek Pat Garin Photographer, LLC Gwen Pitre Sara Quinlan Meghann Harney Rooney ’06 Sophie Shields ’20 Taylor Sontag ’20 Riley Talbot ’21 Haley Tingler ’20 Ally Veron ’20 L AY O U T A N D D E S I G N Lori Monahan Borden ’88 Lori Monahan Borden Design
ON THE COVER Ursuline girl, Sophie Shields, working on Bethlehem Farm during the summer service immersion trip.
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President's Perspective................................................................... 4 Welcome Administration..................................................................5 Service Immersion Trip..................................................................6-7 Cross-Curricular Learning ............................................................. 8-9 Ursuline Academy Timeline ........................................................ 10-11 Strategic Plan............................................................................ 12-13 National Merit Scholars................................................................... 14 True Blue Ursuline Girl.................................................................... 15 Faculty Spotlight........................................................................ 16-17 Alumnae Spotlight.....................................................................18-21 Serviam Annual Fund................................................................ 22-23
24
34-35
Inside the Museum.........................................................................24 2019 Distinguished Alumna.............................................................25 La Fête and Homecoming.......................................................... 26-27 2019-2020 Alumnae Board..............................................................28 Reunions.................................................................................. 29-32 Miracles.........................................................................................33 Marriages................................................................................. 34-35 About Alums............................................................................. 36-37 In Memoriam............................................................................38-39 Around State........................................................................... 40-43
Together with Zehno Cross Media Communications, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans received international acclaim for its new “blaze brighter” campaign, which encourages every girl to blaze her own trail. Ursuline won four golds — including one for out-of-the-box thinking — and one bronze in the 2019 InspireED School Marketers Brilliance Awards. It’s the only international competition that recognizes excellence in private and independent school marketing and communications exclusively. Entries were judged by 63 marketing experts from around the world, representing private schools or businesses that specialize in school marketing. The entries were scored on creativity, persuasiveness, design, copy, photography and overall appeal. The Zehno-Ursuline team won more golds than any other agency or school in the competition.
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Our winter edition of The Ursu.Lines features our students, faculty, and alumnae “making new life” in a global community. In early fall, Pope Francis spoke to the Ursuline Sisters during their chapter gathering in Rome. He spoke about understanding one another in our complex, global community. From his speech, a vision statement for the Roman Union schools of the United States was created. This statement's theme of a global community moving into new life sets a concise message for our schools to focus on for the next four years. This Ursu.Lines provides highlights of just how Ursuline Academy faculty, students, and alumnae live out this vision through their actions. Insieme means together. In the spirit of Insieme, our Ursuline community reaches out to understand, listen, and encounter others. When you read about Sr. Rosemary, Karen, Hanan, and Sara, you see people doing just that—living in the spirit of Insieme. As you turn the pages to see updates about our Ursuline community, you will also see the Board of Trustees’ strategic plan for the next four years. Through the five strategic areas: institutional stewardship, operational vitality, educational innovation, leadership development, and global citizenship, the Academy will move forward toward her tricentennial celebration. Our strategic plan sets a vision in each area. The needs of the main building are quite significant. The renovation of the main building has been divided into phases to update our physical space to support the project-based Ursuline education we desire. In order to grow and prosper as an educational institution, our facilities, endowment, and enrollment must support the curriculum and projectbased learning our faculty is providing. As we strive to provide STEM and Arts curriculum that require critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, our faculty need an innovative setting in our historic environment to best serve our students. Our final area, global citizenship, is alive and well at Ursuline. Read through the featured articles in this magazine and you will see that Serviam continues through our community. As we grow in this area, we embrace the peacemaking of St. Angela along with the responsibility for ourselves, others, and our world. This edition of The Ursu.Lines shares the story of Ursuline today - a story of trailblazers. Ursuline’s future is very bright. Blessings,
Karen T. McNay, EdD
URSULINE ACADEMY | 4 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
DR. TRACY BONDAY
SUZANNE DORSEY HEIDEL ’85
Dr. Tracy Bonday joined the Ursuline family as Head of High School in the 2019-2020 academic year. She transitioned from Des Moines, Iowa, where she served as the Superintendent for the Diocese of Des Moines. She has two daughters: Cassie, a teacher in Virginia, and Gabi, an Ensign serving on the USS Chafee, and a dog named Reagan.
Suzanne Dorsey Heidel ’85 returned to Ursuline Academy following 17 years of service at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. She now serves as the Ursuline High School Dean of Students. Sue has teaching and administrative experience and served as Community Outreach Coordinator, Service Learning Coordinator, and Religion Department Chair. She has led visits and served on several AdvancED accreditation teams.
Head of High School
Dr. Bonday holds a Bachelor in Business Administration, a Juris Doctor, Master of Science in Educational Administration, and has completed specialist coursework leading to Superintendent's licensure. She has served in Catholic schools in many capacities. Previously serving in roles from teacher to Chief School Administrator and Director of Development, to name a few, she has a deep understanding of the business, operational, and instructional aspects of Catholic education. In sharing her philosophy of Catholic education, she feels strongly that "each student must be a person whose intellectual growth is balanced with spiritual, emotional, and social growth. Teachers must accompany each individual child to assure that each child achieves his or her God-given talents. The balance of faith, culture, and life within our school buildings requires staff who are willing to model their faith and teach the message of social justice found in the gospels."
High School Dean of Students
Sue earned a B.A. in English Literature from Louisiana State University and a Master of Theology from Notre Dame Seminary. She has training in Design Thinking for educators and innovation in schools, completing training with 4.0 Schools, Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and Leadership & Design of California. Sue and her husband David have three daughters and live in River Ridge. When asked to describe Ursuline, Sue stated: “There is no Ursuline Academy without St. Angela and her companions or the twelve women who traveled to New Orleans in 1727. Fearless women know that you can not manage the demands and concerns of daily life or realize a great enterprise alone. I cannot imagine traveling overseas the way they did, but maybe I could have done it with a few of my best friends! I believe there is not a more powerful force than a band of women joined in common purpose and virtue.”
Ursuline Academy of New Orleans welcomed two new high school administrators in the 2019-2020 school year.
Living the Gospel through
Service Immersion
In June 2019, eight students and two high school administrators were chosen to participate in an academy service immersion mission trip to Bethlehem a F rm in Alderson, e W st iV rginia. h W ile there, they learned the importance of sustainable living through small daily actions. They served the community, as well as each other, through living sel-essly and working together to broaden their perspectives, while educating each other and the Ursuline community. During this week of service, they promised to live out the four Gospel Cornerstones of service, prayer, community, and simplicity. Throughout the week, they recorded their experiences in journals. Here are some of their memories:
Service
“Next, we went to ou r work sites for the day. My group went to Fa rmer Rhonda’s. She is amazing and so deter mined, even in her times of defeat. I had a hard day of sho veling horse poop but it wa s so worth it when I saw Farmer Rhonda’s face after I told her I was finished. She was so grateful for my hard work. Her appreciation ma de the job not so bad after all”
- Sophie Shields
“I truly learned the meaning of service tod ay while working on the farm. Today, I mowe d the grass, picked berrie s in the garden, and worked on building the hous e. It is not only abou t doing the deeds themselves, but how they affect others and their meaning of life. Service to me is more impa ctful toward the person doing it, not the person receiving it. Serving others allows one to realiz e their self worth. Just being ab le to see how happy and grateful they were is incredible.”
- Camille Black
Prayer “Today after dinner, we headed over to Clayton Baptist to experience what their Church services are like. I really took in the nature that surrounded us on the walk over. The service we attended tonight was more of a Bible study. The priest read a story and then broke it down and explained it. We also sang a few songs that were different to us, but it was cool getting to experience a different type of religion and worship.” - Taylor Sontag
“Woke up. Slept great! We started the day with prayer about local environmental problems like pipelines and mountain top extraction. It’s crazy how negatively this affects the community. Colleen said that one of Miriam’s classmates lives 100 feet from a gas pipeline. I saw the house. It is unbelievable what people must live through so we can have natural gas. Prayer like this is amazing. I never thought prayer could be centered around discussion of current events. I really enjoyed this topic.” - Riley Talbot
Community “After two days on the road, we made it to the farm! As we got out of the car, we were greeted with hugs from the summer servants, and they were saying “Welcome Home!” This made me so excited for the week to come and I felt so loved by all these people I didn’t even know yet.” - Olivia Elam
“We returned back to the farm and had downtime. During this time, I got to meet Eric and Colleen's kids: Miriam, Isiah, and Claire. These kids amaze me. They are so well spoken and understanding of the constant newcomers. Claire, who is two, can speak perfectly. Miriam, who is eight, invited me (not everyone was invited) into her newly built tree house (platform). We talked, sat in sap, and ate popcorn.” - Haley Tingler
Simplicity “I took my bucket shower today. I was worried that a five gallon bucket wouldn’t be enough , but with a little extra help from the rain it was the perfect day to take a shower. It’s crazy to me how a simple bucke t of water could ma ke up my whole shower an d then some, but it really opened my eyes to ho w much water I waste d and how much I don’t ne ed to use at home, to get a good shower.” - Isa belle Gian
grosso
“The authentic bea uty here is something I have never seen or experienced before. It’s in the people, the farm, and nature its elf. Without distraction s, I am able to see organ ic contentment in mysel f and the people aroun d me.” - Ally Veron
At this age of my life, I wasn't sure that I could have this profound of an experience. I did. I am way more aware of environmental injustices in the way that we unconsciously waste on a daily basis. I am contemplating going back to the farm as a Summer Servant for a couple of weeks. - Beth Joubert I feel challenged to use less water, compost and recycle at home, start a backyard garden, perform chores when I wake up each day, avoid food waste, embrace the joy of physical labor, cook with quality ingredients, use less energy, and to become educated about environmental injustices that exist in our beautiful country. But perhaps the greatest impact was the deep pride I felt for our Catholic Church. The Catholic community on the farm reminded us of the importance of personal and communal prayer. - Sue Heidel Of the many values these Ursuline girls lived while on the farm, the one they felt most compelled to bring back to the Ursuline community was sustainability. Upon their return, they created four “Scrapin’ Stations.” Each station has six bins and each bin collects specific items: food waste, trash, cups, bowls, plates, and utensils. The separation of these items spreads awareness of and lessens the waste created. In turn, it greatly assists the dining hall staff. URSULINE ACADEMY | 7 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
rposefu
g pu | Cross-curricular teachin g in rn a e L r la u ic rr Cross-Cu ing students to engag to assignments, encourag
meaning teaching gives real-world ntary Ursuline girls have me ele r Ou . ing rn lea in lue the va their knowledge – seeing
Red, White, Blue & YOU!
By: Jenna Notarianni, 1st Grade Teacher
Our first grade leaders put the UA in USA! They began learning about citizenship in their cross-curricular course, which integrates art and technology into the classroom. In these classes, they discovered what it means to live in a community, as well as how to be great citizens in their smaller community of Ursuline. Within these classes, they used different mediums in art to create campaign posters, and were able to write speeches in tech using their iPads and Google Docs. These confident Ursuline girls delivered their speeches to a large audience that included family members and Ursuline staff. The candidates took stances on everything from new playground equipment, days off for teachers, being kind to others, and even saving the sea creatures! The greatest skill that was unexpectedly learned was finding their voices to support causes they believed in!
Georgia O'Keeffe and New Orleans Botanical Gardens
By: Meghann Harney Rooney ’06, Elementary Art Teacher
Our 6th graders learned about master artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Inspired by her large floral paintings, students created their own masterpieces with watercolors and photography. As part of a cross-curricular project, the students wrote poetry in their English class that reflects the mood of their artwork. The students learned unique photography perspectives in technology before taking a field trip to the Botanical Gardens in City Park. They took pictures of nature and used their photography for their poetry. They created abstract watercolors as the background of their entire project.
URSULINE URSULINE ACADEMY ACADEMY || 8 8 || THE THE URSU.LINES URSU.LINES || FALL/WINTER FALL WINTER 2019 2019
of eously. This effective way an ult sim es lin cip dis ic em to apply ully applies multiple acad students the opportunity es giv g hin ac te r ula ric ur ! ge and learn. Cross-c ies so far this school year nit rtu po op ing rn lea r ula ric e had wonderful cross-cur
Charlotte's Web and Sugar Roots Farm By: Alicia Brannan and Gwen Pitre, 3rd Grade Teachers
2nd Grade Ursuline Timeline
By: Emily Pastorek, Elementary Tech Teacher
During the first semester of the school year, the second grade students studied timelines in their social studies curriculum. As part of a cross-curricular project between social studies, art, music, and technology subject areas, the students toured The Old Ursuline Convent and researched the important historical milestones in Ursuline’s history. Each girl was in charge of making a document of a special event in Ursuline’s history – illustrating a depiction of the historical event along with an informational caption. The individual documents were brought together in chronological order and designed into an acrylic masterpiece located on the second floor of the main building to be shared with the Ursuline community. The second grade students were taught the "Hymn to Our Lady of Prompt Succor" in music class.
Third grade participated in a novel study of the beloved children’s book Charlotte’s Web. They began with an author study of E.B. White and then moved into observations and investigations of the story elements including character development, theme, setting, and plot. During the novel study, they completed various writing activities to show their comprehension of the story, studied different spider species in science, and designed spider webs using adjectives to describe story events. Integrated with the novel study was a technology unit, in which students learned to safely and critically conduct internet research. Students chose a farm animal, researched that animal’s role and use on a farm, and shared their knowledge through a Google Slide presentation. As a conclusion, they traveled to Sugar Roots Farm. There, students experienced a working, educational farm and spent time learning more about farm animals. Third grade teachers worked in conjunction with the art and technology teachers to guide students through a final, comprehensive project: a “web” with photographs taken on the farm.
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URSULINE ACAD
By 2019-2020 Sec
DEMY TIMELINE
cond Grade Class
STRATEGIC PLAN 2019-2024 R A I SE HER UP - EMP OW E RIN G T RAILB LAZ E RS Institutional Stewardship • Transform main building to support 21st century project-based learning • Ensure endowment growth for future sustainability • Advance educational excellence through viable financial strength and fiscal responsibility • Support optimal size and structure of the Academy • Support maintenance and beautification of historic campus
Operational Vitality
Educa Innov
• Recruit mission-appropriate student population through visionary admission plan
• Integrate STEM a equal partners w technology
• Provide robust financial assistance to support mission-appropriate student body
• Re-examine use flexible classroo student collabo
• Engage community partners to support Ursuline’s curricula, programs, and experiences
• Create a compre program for our self-care, indep living, and resil
• Review and enhance educational strategies, curricula, and differentiation of instruction to increase student achievement
• Develop and im that promote cr thinking throug
St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Order of St. Ursula, teaches us that “if, according to times and circumstances, the need arises to make new rules or do something differently, do it prudently and with good advice.” As Ursuline Academy of New Orleans prepares to celebrate her 300th birthday, we believe that now is the time to “do something differently.” While the traditions and values of an Ursuline education are timeless, the ways in which students learn are ever-changing. We believe now, more than ever, is the perfect time to heed St. Angela’s words and make plans to address the changing times URSULINE ACADEMY | 12 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Steeped in a historic mission, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans moves forward with the strategy of a Catholic independent school, educating girls for the challenges of the future. This vision, created by the Academy’s Board of Trustees, requires strong programs in STEM and Arts, external and internal experiences, and an increase in personnel for an innovative learning environment. This vision will place emphasis on empowering and challenging girls to live out Serviam in careers, decisions, and faith.
ational vation
Leadership Development
Global Citizenship
and Arts as with progressive
• Increase funds for faculty and administration professional development
• Develop programs that instill a global view; celebrate and serve others from different backgrounds
e of space to provide oms and areas for oration and projects
• Attract and retain mission-driven faculty and staff
• Continue to improve our Beyond Our Borders program, inserting leadership into global experiences
ehensive wellness r girls that promotes pendence, healthy liency
mplement programs ritical and creative ghout all grade levels
• Review and enhance faculty and staff compensation
• Share and celebrate other cultures within our internal community
• Form a mission integration divisional team to support the integration of the mission into multiple subjects
• Ensure students understand peace and social justice issues within our global society
• Design and implement an Academy student leadership program
• Instill a sense of responsibility as an active citizen
and circumstances. To succeed in tomorrow’s world, we believe girls must learn to think creatively, articulate their ideas confidently and compassionately, and solve problems collaboratively. Through highly interactive experiences powered by STEM and Arts - and a nurturing community diverse by design - we develop tomorrow’s brightest independent thinkers, innovators, and community builders. Our girls will be ready. URSULINE ACADEMY | 13 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Congratulations ALLISON CHEVIS & CHARLOTTE FOWLER
on being named Class of 2020 National Merit Scholars.
Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. - National Merit Scholarship Corporation
o t n i a g a d n ...a Charlotte oan achieving T C A 6 3 t c e f r e p Score!
URSULINE ACADEMY | 14 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL WINTER 2019
When Karen Hubble Mortillaro graduated as a Skip of 1989, little did she know that she would return to State Street a few years later to teach. Beginning in 1994, she returned to Ursuline to teach history and religion. While she has taught different grade levels and different subjects throughout her career, she taught Advanced Placement U.S. History for all twenty-six years. During her time at Ursuline, she served as the academy’s first Mission Effectiveness Director, Rally Night Coordinator, Close Up Coordinator, and Dean of Students. She coordinated twenty-one Rally Nights and twenty-four Close Ups of over 700 students. The number of student activities she has led is far too many to count! In asking Karen about her most memorable experience as a teacher, she stated: “I have had many wonderful memories in the classroom. The thing that I loved the most was when a student would tell me that they were talking to their parents about what we discussed in class or were inspired to find out about current events because they have enjoyed the class so much!” Both as a student and employee, Karen has made many memories at Ursuline. When the opportunity came for Karen to elevate her involvement with her alma mater and create new memories, she stepped up. In July 2019, this true blue Ursuline girl left State Street to join as Co-Director of the Office of Sponsorship for the Ursuline Provincialate USA’s Central Province. Yet again, Karen became the “first” to serve in a position, as she is the first layperson to hold this title. For thirteen years prior to Karen’s appointment, Sr. Madonna
O’Hara served as sole Director of the Office of Sponsorship. Upon Sr. Madonna’s retirement, the decision was made to add a layperson in order to connect Ursuline schools and begin to foster the Ursuline/Catholic identity with laity. “We want to ensure everyone knows what that identity is based on and that they are a part of a much larger sisterhood who all share the same mission, core values, and love of St. Angela Merici,” Karen said. Joining her Co-Director Sr. Diane Fulgenzi, Karen serves as a liaison between Ursuline Central Province schools and the leadership team of Ursuline Sisters. “My favorite part of the job so far has been spending the fall semester visiting all five of the Central Province schools! In addition to New Orleans, the Ursuline Provincialate of the Central Province sponsors schools in St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Dedham, Massachusetts; and Waterville, Maine. Being able to visit the campuses and meet the leaders of the schools, as well as many faculty and students, has allowed me to begin to truly feel how each school lives the mission and charism of St. Angela. All of our schools have that family atmosphere and welcoming feeling that we all love about Ursuline New Orleans and I am now blessed to be a part of each of those families,” Karen said. Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is truly proud of this special alumna and is blessed to have her in this new position. While she has touched the lives of many on State Street, she will now make an impact around the nation.
A True Blue Ursuline Girl By: Christy Jackson Zurcher ’00
At the heart of every Reggio Emilia-inspired program is an atelier, also known as a studio. Inside that atelier, is an atelierista – a teacher who inspires students through art education and exploration. For nearly ten years, the Soeur Teresita Rivet, OSU Learning Center of Ursuline Academy has been blessed with atelierista Nubia Aguiar.
A is for
ATELIERISTA By: Christy Jackson Zurcher ’00
Born in Brazil, Nubia knew as early as childhood that she wanted to be a teacher. She studied economics in college. Midway through her studies, she was called to be a substitute first-grade teacher. Nubia says, “I fell in love with it. I knew that it was my calling.” At the age of 21, she moved to New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and Nubia knew immediately that she wanted to make a difference. She attended a workshop on how to teach children to be resilient through art and she worked closely with children whose neighborhoods and lives were in distress – building up their selfesteem through art. Nubia attended the University of New Orleans, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She worked at a local school – promoting cross-curricular learning. In August of 2010, she became Ursuline’s atelierista. “When I looked at the building, I was inspired. When I met the children, I fell in love. To this day, I still have the same feeling. I am always so excited about all of the projects that we do. I am inspired by the program. There are so many possibilities,” said Nubia. Through her attendance at numerous conventions, workshops, and continuing education, Nubia has fully embraced the Reggio way of student-driven, experiential learning. When asked about her favorite part of this type of learning, Nubia says, “The belief that children are capable and rich in potential. They are natural investigators. Therefore, the open-ended provocations and invitations for exploration are key for the children’s learning process. There are surprises that come with it. The students, teachers, and the environment all collaborate for a reflective process of learning.” From Toddler One to Kindergarten, Nubia shares her love of art, music, and language. Her lessons go deeper than the actual project at hand. Nubia says, “In art, when we focus on an artist – we focus on the culture of that artist.” Ursuline girls recently studied the culture of the Aboriginal people. It is one of the oldest indigenous cultures that is still making art inspired by their ancestors. Fortythousand years ago, they relied on natural materials such as clay, berries, and hides to create their art. Understanding this lineage inspires our girls to create art with available resources. “Our projects are based on meaningful invitations where the children can explore individually or collaborate. I feel so much joy when they are proud of something that they have created” said Nubia.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Building a Global Community by Sara Quinlan High School Teacher Building community has been at the forefront of all of my passions. It is what ultimately drove me to teach at Ursuline Academy. The first all-girls’ Catholic school in the nation has been built on the cornerstones of empathy and service of others since 1727. I was excited to be a part of a school whose vision aligned with mine. Since that day three years ago, I have been consistently enamored by the intentional dedication and thoughtful placements of these cornerstones in our curriculum, our extracurricular activities and most importantly, the community of faculty and staff who interacts with our Ursuline girls.
learners. Over the summer, we spent countless hours reviewing topics such as English verb tenses, the difference between “there,” “they’re,” and “their,” and how to read a clock. On the weekends, I would travel to the towns my students recommended for me to see. But I always seemed more excited for Monday mornings in our makeshift classroom than I was for Friday nights in picturesque Costa Rica. The people I met and the community I was building in that rundown community center in a rural part of Costa Rica brought me more life than volcanoes, zip-lining, beaches, hot springs, exotic monkeys, and incredible food.
I wanted to put empathy and service into action this past summer. I was inspired. I decided to devote my summer to volunteer to teach English in Coronado, San Jose, Costa Rica. Coronado is a low income community outside of the country’s capital, San Jose. Each day, I traveled two hours by bus to and from the community center where I volunteered. My class was comprised of intermediate high school and adult English language
It is my hope and desire that more of us can partake in such a life changing experience. Bringing communities together across the globe provides all parties the opportunity to learn more about each other - which in turn gives us the space to appreciate all of our uniquenesses. After all, it is the Ursuline mission that promotes appreciating and learning from people with different perspectives in order to build a better world.
URSULINE ACADEMY | 17 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
One for the History Books Like many others, I have often wondered about the concept of time travel. I would love to be able to see what life was like a hundred, two hundred, two thousand years ago. This past summer, I had the opportunity to explore that idea further and, in a sense, travel back in time through the past of New Orleans. My internship with the archivists at the Archdiocese of New Orleans was a great insight into a potential career path for a history major like myself. In my time at the archives, I did various jobs. I helped with genealogy requests, which involved finding people’s ancestors in the archdiocese record books based on the information provided. Depending on the amount and accuracy of the information provided, this could be very easy or quite difficult. It sometimes involved translating records from French or Spanish into English. When looking at really old records, sometimes the words were faded or smudged, and sometimes it was just hard to decipher the handwriting. Still, this was one of the most fascinating parts of the internship. It was interesting to note the patterns in language and names throughout the years, and the fact that I was handling records which were sometimes hundreds of years old was really exciting, too. In addition to this, I helped to index the books which weren’t already in the online catalog, and I also updated people’s records (things like confirmations, marriages, or annulments). One of my favorite parts of the internship, however, was the opportunity to help prepare an exhibit on Pope John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans in the 1980s. This involved looking for pamphlets, pictures, newspaper articles, and other artifacts to include. I’m really glad to have been able to work at the archives this summer. The fact that Dr. Emilie Leumas ’76 is an Ursuline graduate made the experience all the more interesting. Being able to connect with someone from another generation of Ursuline students gave me a different perspective into what I could do with my education. And as someone who loves history, this experience was a great way to immerse myself in the past of New Orleans and to learn more about the history of this incredible city. Charlotte is currently a first year history major at Durham University in England. – Charlotte Kimble '19
How does a 15 year old arthritic standard poodle become a puppy again?
Ask Dr. Anna Landry, DVM, and certified veterinary acupuncturist! This Sioux of 2011 currently practices veterinary medicine at Metairie Small Animal Hospital (MSAH), but has worked toward these degrees since she was in Toddler 2 at Ursuline Academy. Anna received a play vet medical bag for Christmas in 1995 and immediately began administering to her own pets by regularly taking their temperature, blood pressure, and applying tourniquets of various fashions. Fostering over 200 kittens and cats through Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter over a period of twelve years while attending Ursuline kept Anna on course for vet school. She chose University of Georgia for her undergraduate education in large part because it offered her an opportunity to study penguins and other marine mammals up close in Antarctica - an experience she will always cherish. As part of her training, Anna also went to Nicaragua and Costa Rica with VIDA - a Central American mission organization. Anna’s Central America
trips helped provide spay/neuter services and other care for an indigenous population who are in dire need of accessible health care for themselves and their animals. Serviam runs deep in this Ursuline girl, as she was able to continue her farm animal volunteering at the UGA Veterinary Hospital as well as complete educational and research studies in Georgia’s poultry and swine industries. After graduating cum laude from UGA, Anna was ready to come back home to LSU Veterinary School. During her four years of veterinary medicine, she pushed her focus toward integrative medicine technics. While attending LSU, she spent weekends attending The Chi Institute of Acupuncture, located near The University of Florida and one of only two such schools in the nation. Graduating cum laude in May 2019, Dr. Anna has now established herself as a specialist in both traditional and Chinese medicine - treating small animals in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Follow her success stories of acupuncture on instagram: msah_acuvet or contact her at Metairie Small Animal’s main hospital on Metairie Road.
Alumna Fulfills Lifelong Dream of Service By Sylvia Swoop Landry ’69
URSULINE ACADEMY | 19 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Hanan Rimawi Class of 2014 By Dolly Duplantier '82
A Heart for Global Service
URSULINE ACADEMY | 20 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Ursuline women, from the very beginning, have made a difference in our global society. Their courage and passion to help others, become leaders, take risks, and experience all life has to offer is a great part of our tradition and a major source of pride to everyone in the Ursuline family. One such young woman continues to impress with her efforts to make a difference. Hanan Rimawi (Class of 2014) graduated from Tulane in May 2018. She studied public health and neuroscience. A recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, she recently traveled to Amman, Jordan, where she spent 10 months teaching English. Hanan had visited Jordan three times previously, but the trips never lasted more than a few days. This was the longest period she had ever spent away from home, and the explosion of newness was initially overwhelming. She believes these excursions, along with her familiarity with Arabic, helped ease her transition. “Given my attachment to family, it was difficult at first,” she said. “While trying to navigate the logistics of moving to a new country, I was also experiencing my first official foray into teaching. At the same time, I was immersed in a different culture.” Initially, Hanan was matched with an institution that trains teachers to be better educators. After that, her program assignment involved teaching 5th, 6th, and 7th grade boys. Helping her students develop their English, and getting to know them as individuals in the process, was fun and enriching. During her stay, Hanan developed a strong connection to the community. She believes her amazing students, along with the support of her host family and the hospitality of locals, helped her immensely. “Before long, my homesickness receded and I was savoring every part of the experience.” A true adventurer, Hanan took advantage of Fulbright’s liberal travel policy. “I was able to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and really experience Bethlehem during Christmas. I gasped at the grandeur of Petra and gazed at the Red Sea from Aqaba, watched the sun set in Wadi Rum, and slathered mud on my body at the Dead Sea. I also traveled to Istanbul with Marian McLellan, my former art teacher at Ursuline.” Hanan’s commitment to Serviam was an integral part of her education at Ursuline and Tulane. Her desire to help others follows her wherever she goes. While in Jordan, she volunteered at a local nonprofit called Collateral Repair Project (CRP). There, she taught English to displaced civilian victims of war and conflict from Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, and Iraq. “These individuals were accomplished professionals in their home countries with expertise in dentistry, education, and architecture. Now they were cast adrift in an unfamiliar place, suffering one indignity after another as they tried to rebuild their lives,” explained Hanan. “Many of them faced insurmountable
challenges finding employment in Jordan, so class served as a crucial outlet for community and purpose.” Hanan said she fostered a challenging, but friendly, learning environment in a rudimentary downtown Amman classroom where they could express themselves freely. “Although we could all speak Arabic, we agreed to use solely English in class. I introduced them to colloquialisms and other facets of American culture. To offset the desolation and ennui that enveloped their lives, I infused lessons with warmth and humor. Sometimes, simply having fun was our aim. It was really meaningful to spend time with them every week.” Hanan said the impact of her experience was significant. “For one, I discovered I enjoy teaching. This led me to accept a position teaching full-time as a middle school English teacher in New Orleans.” She also offers private tutoring lessons. When asked about her future, Hanan acknowledged it’s a big question mark. “I’m open to the future unfurling in many different ways. For a long time I imagined I’d end up in healthcare. (In fact, we wrote about Hanan’s prestigious eight-month internship with Dr. Alaa Murabit, the UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth in The Ursu.Lines 2017/2018 issue!) If that comes to pass, I’ll always look back on this teaching interlude fondly.” Hanan emphasized that the spiritual, emotional, and educational nourishment she received at Ursuline sustained her through a range of experiences, including this most recent one. For Ursuline students planning their future and wanting to make a difference, she gives this advice: “Live by your values. Build meaningful relationships with others. Pursue what animates you. Be curious about the world. Most importantly, be kind.” If you’re interested in Hanan’s private tutoring services, contact her via email at hrimawi@tulane.edu.
Our girls
will be ready!
2
National Merit Semifinalists in the Class of 2020. One of whom scored a perfect ACT.
147,233
$
in scholarships awarded to students for the 2019-2020 school year.
3
%
of Ursuline seniors have been named National Merit Scholars since 2012.
12
High school students can earn up to college credits through dual-enrollment courses with certified professors.
100
%
of Ursuline girls learn coding logic starting in pre-k and learn a musical instrument - starting in grade 3.
2019-2020 SERVIAM ANNUAL FUND
GIVE ONLINE TODAY AT BIT.LY/UAMAKEANIMPACT OR MAIL BACK THE ATTACHED REPLY ENVELOPE!
CASEY TALBOT ’19
“The Ursuline education is an education of the whole person. We are educated academically, spiritually, and in leadership. I am able to take everything I have learned over my years at Ursuline and use it to leave my mark on the world. There are so many unique qualities that Ursuline holds, but if I had to choose one it would be caring. One example of Ursuline’s caring environment is that countless alumnae, who do not hesitate to help, influence the Ursuline girls of today to become strong women of the future.”
Jessica Dalton Woodward ’99, Parent “As an Ursuline student for 13 years, I learned to have courage, take risks, work hard, and serve others. These lessons helped me and my sister, a Mac of 1994, to pursue our dream of opening our retail store, Phina. Ursuline has been a foundation for our success, and I am so proud that my two daughters and my nieces are continuing our Ursuline tradition. It warms my heart to see them walking down the same halls wearing the same uniforms that I wore as a student. The nostalgia is sweet, but seeing them thrive and grow into strong, independent thinkers with deep Ursuline roots of courtesy, loyalty, courage, and service is even sweeter.”
PENELOPE ANDERSON, 7TH GRADE “Attending Ursuline has given me opportunities I never would have dreamed possible. I believe that being at Ursuline has taught me many things. From manners, to history, to a sense of tradition and pride, I think that Ursuline has modeled who I will be in the future. Ursuline has taught me to be myself. To make a difference in this world. To make it a better place not only for me, but for my community. Ursuline has given me the chance to explore and find the gifts and talents God has given me. Ursuline taught me to have faith not only in God, but what He will do for me.”
By: Christy Jackson Zurcher ’00
INSIDE the MUSEUM There are certain people who greatly impact our lives, leaving an imprint on our hearts, and forever changing us. Ursuline Sister Sr. Rosemary Meiman ’46 was that person for me. Sr. Rosemary came to New Orleans in 2014 to serve as archivist, three short years after I began working at Ursuline. Her previous position was as archivist for the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province for seventeen years. Serving as Alumnae Director at the time, I relied on her knowledge and storytelling for much needed facts and oftentimes help with events. She attended Ursuline Day at The Old Ursuline Convent, Ursuline Arts Festival, open houses, and alumnae networking events, to name a few - just to tell our Ursuline story. Sister and I also worked together on the “Inside the Museum” section of The Ursu.Lines magazine. When I transitioned to the Communications Office, we continued this partnership and kept telling our story. In writing the “Inside the Museum” section, we would work side-by-side to choose a particular item housed inside the campus museum and tell its
story. We would often call, email, or see each other in passing and have the next topic come to mind. In fact, we had an ongoing list! I looked forward to the times when we would actually sit down to brainstorm and discuss our strategy. I can still picture her gentle smile and absolute excitement as she shared history with me. She would often make surprise visits to my office to give updates on recent projects. While Sr. Rosemary’s 2019 celebration of her 70th jubilee as an Ursuline Sister confirmed her love for Ursuline, the true testament of this love was the passion and excitement with which she spoke about her alma mater. It was contagious! How could you not be just as passionate when you witness a 90-year-old woman turn childlike while talking about our Ursuline heritage? After her passing, I sat and stared at our “list” several times - trying to come up with the next topic for “Inside the Museum,” this time on my own. Then it hit me. The next edition had to be dedicated to the woman who made all of the previous ones happen. While Sr. Rosemary’s physical presence is no longer inside the museum, her spirit
lives on throughout every artifact she touched and preserved. Many students have entered through those museum doors and listened to her presentation. Many students will return and her story will forever remain in them because of the impact she had. Sr. Rosemary not only told our Ursuline story on campus, but at The Cabildo, The Smithsonian, The Old Ursuline Convent, and many places in between.
HER STORY LIVES ON IN THE HEARTS OF FELLOW SISTERS, STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES, ALUMNAE, AND FAMILY. IT IS NOW OURS TO TELL SO THAT HER INFECTIOUS SPIRIT LIVES ON INSIDE THE MUSEUM.
OLGA MORGAN BECNEL
2019 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA
Ola Morgan Becnel 1951 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 2019 Ursuline Distinguished Alumna. This award, granted to Ola Becnel posthumously, 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, 51 women have received this honor, making it one of Ursuline’s most prestigious awards. Ola attended Ursuline Academy for six years and graduated as a Sioux of 1951 - the very first Sioux class. While at Ursuline, she excelled academically, socially, morally, and spiritually. She was an active member of Sodality, Mission Club, and intramural sports. Ola was a leader in her class and was instrumental in selecting the Sioux name. Her classmate, Lucille Weyman Deas, says that “her delightful and kind demeanor made her a friend to be admired by all.” Former teacher, Sr. Mary Margaret Prenger, once said: “My life was blessed in the Fall of 1947, when I was assigned to teach a group of just-beginning-to-find-themselves sophomores at Ursuline Academy. Among them was Ola, a happy girl who thoroughly enjoyed life. She is a true-blue Ursuline woman who embodies the ideals of Serviam and CLC.” After graduating from Ursuline, Ola attended Loyola University New Orleans where she majored in pharmacy in the accelerated program. She was also very active in college and was chosen for the university’s honor society. She graduated from Loyola with honors and served at Sara Mayo Hospital as a licensed pharmacist. In 1959, she married her husband, Charles. In 1962, the Becnels moved to Metairie where they became founding members of St. Angela Merici Parish and started a family - having seven children. After thirty years of marriage, an unfortunate and untimely accident resulted in the death of Ola’s husband, Charles. With courage, Ola dedicated her life to her children while continuing to serve her community. Nearly four years later her second daughter Anne, who is also an Ursuline alumna, passed away. Ola’s Ursuline teachings of courtesy, loyalty, and courage quickly became a foundation for her life as she was faced with numerous obstacles and hardships. Father Beau Charbonnet says that he “soon learned the secret to Ola’s strength. Her love of Christ in the Eucharist - and a persevering generosity - was remarkable.” Classmate, Mary Brodrick LaCoste describes Ola as “accomplishing much with grace and a delightful sense of humor.” Ola’s deep faith and devotion encouraged her to persevere. Nothing stopped her from giving back to the people and the community she loved. Since its inception, Ola served the St. Angela Ladies Auxiliary for many years - several times as a board member. She later served as an exofficio member as well. She was also a Eucharistic Minister, a pro-life advocate, treasurer and member of a booster club and other service organizations, as well as a participant in many St. Angela Merici groups. She also served on the ARC Board. Ola was a recipient of the St. Louis Medallion for her work and devotion to the Catholic Church. She was co-founder of Special Connections, an adult-oriented special needs group, that held a special place in her heart since her youngest child had Down Syndrome. Ola was instrumental in working with parish officials in formulating the ways public schools worked with those with special needs. It is evident that Ola has lived the Serviam motto she learned as a student at Ursuline Academy. Her accomplishments, awards, and kind remarks from friends and family are a true testament of her dedication. Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is proud to call Ola Morgan Becnel a Distinguished Alumna. Ola Becnel passed away on July 19, 2019. Her daughter Mary Becnel Plache ’85 and family received the award in her honor.
November 1, 2019
November 3, 2019
URSULINE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS Kimberlin Pittman Brown ’95 Amber Randazzo Peskin ’99 Co-Presidents
Kimberlin Pittman Brown ’95 President-Elect
Johanna Hochhalter Logan ’00 Vice President
Annie Krasnow Palmer ’10 Recording Secretary
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Karen McNay Academy President
Maria Merchan Weidenbacher ’05 Director of Alumnae Relations
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Alumnae Spring Gathering
Homecoming / La Fête Patron Party
Serviam Annual Fund
Helen Franz Eshleman ’77 Annie Krasnow Palmer ’10 Blessing of the Herbs
Toni Wright ’80 Terri Thibodeaux Stuckey ’81 Angela Lally Seither ’85 Amber Randazzo Peskin ’99
JoAnn Fazzio Mueller Salassi ’57 Jessica Dalton Woodward ’99 Maria Merchan Weidenbacher ’05
Jan Haydel Signorelli ’80 Maria Merchan Weidenbacher ’05
OLPS Feast Day Reception
Graduating Seniors’ Luncheon
Tricia Giraldo Ortalano ’77 Alisa Blake Dobronich ’99
Kristen Rivero ’00 Calli Bodin ’02
Santa’s Workshop Kefla George Brown ’93 Johanna Hochhalter Logan ’00
Special Alumnae Awards & Honors Thérèse Wegmann ’78 Brittany Robinson ’04 Sweethearts Club Luncheon Kimberlin Pittman Brown ’95 Lacy Davillier ’04
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REUNIONS
MERRY MACS 2009
SIOUX 1999
MERRY MACS 1994
SIOUX 1984
SKIPS 1989
MERRY MACS 1979
SKIPS 1974
MERRY MACS 1964
SIOUX 1969
SKIPS 1959 Class of 1939 SIOUX 1954 Class of 1944
MIRACLES
LEE & MARY ANTEE MCCULLOUGH ’97 a daughter, SIMONE LEE
CODY & ALYSSA GUILLAUME DONABY ’05 a daughter, CODI GREY
JON & KARA FUOCO LASHLEY ’05 a daughter, DEMI ELIZABETH
NICK & ASHLEY DOUBLEDAY REES ’05 a son, ANDREW JAMES
MERT & BONNIE BOWLER SAYGIN ’98 a son, JACK DENIZ
JORDAN AND JENNIFER PLAUCHE HEBERT ’05 a son, EVERETT TODD
JIM & HOLLI JENSEN MUTH ’05 a son, EZRA WILLIAM
CAM & CAITLIN BURKE WOODALL ’05 a daughter, LYDIA GRISHAM
RODNEY & DR. SARA GOODMAN DEJONG ’05 a daughter, ELENA SKYE
HOUSSEM AOUIDIDI & HUDA KASIM ’05 a son, YASEEN HOUSSEM
DAVID & AMY JOHNSON PONSON ’05 a son, MATTHEW DAVID
URSULINE ACADEMY | 33 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL WINTER 2019
RYAN & ERICKA FUOCO HUNT ’06 twin daughters, KINLEY ELIZABETH & PAISLEY ANN WILLIAM & DANIELLE CHAUVIN STOUDT ’07 a daughter, SOPHIE MAE SEAN & CLAIRE MAGNER HOLCOMB ’09 a son, CULLEN MATTHEW
ALUMNAE MARRIAGES
Marcelle Ducote ’00 and Robert Edwards
Lauren Bourgeois ’10 and Nicholas Swiber
URSULINE ACADEMY | 34 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Renee Bonnaffons ’13 and Alex Eberlan
Cora Hicks ’14 and Matthew Hood
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1962 1 THE SKIPPERETTES OF 1962 recently got together for lunch to celebrate their 75th birthdays!
1965 2 SUSAN SCHOEN HOLMES met a fellow Ursuline girl while on a trip to Bulgaria. Anne (pictured left) shared with Susan that she had been “raised by the Ursuline nuns in Canada” and graduated in 1972.
made significant contributions toward promoting the mission of Federally Qualified Health Centers and excelled in grassroots advocacy on behalf of Louisiana’s FQHCs.”
1981 LESLIE CASTAY was selected to sing the National Anthem at the Allstate Sugar Bowl game on New Year’s Day in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.
1985
1979 3 JULIE HENDERSON, with Daughters of Charity Health Centers, recently received the Consumer Advocate of the Year Award from the Louisiana Primary Care Association, Inc. This is awarded to “an outstanding consumer who has
ELIZABETH GLASER BROEKMAN was selected to the 2019 Class of CityBusiness Women of the Year & Nonprofit Leaders.
1989 KAREN HUBBLE MORTILLARO completed her 26-year career
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as a teacher and administrator at Ursuline New Orleans in May 2019 and accepted the position of Co-Director of the Office of Sponsorship for the Central Province Ursuline Provincialate. She now works with all five of the Central Province Ursuline schools to help them foster their Ursuline Identity.
1990 SUSAN HACKETT WALPOLE and her business partners recently opened Code Ninjas Metairie. Code Ninjas is “an educational center for kids 7-14 to learn coding (computer programming) through game building and other STEM activities.” They also offer field trips, after school and school holiday programs, as well as summer camp.
URSULINE ACADEMY | 36 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
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ABOUT ALUMS
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1995 AZIZA LANDRUM was selected to the 2019 Class of CityBusiness Women of the Year & Nonprofit Leaders.
1999 4 MELISSIA SMITH, ED.D. was recently awarded the Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award.
business this past August. Her sister Kari Baltimore, is the coowner.
2008 7 CRISTY ASTURIAS CALI, designer & CEO of Cristy Cali Jewelry, opened her flagship store at 3110 Magazine Street this past October.
2015
2000 5 CASEY MAGEE MAENZA, co-owner of Girl Crush Fitness NOLA, won the Fidelity Bank 2019 Women in Small Business Award for the Health & Wellness category.
2004 6 LACY DAVILLIER, owner of Davillier Photography and Graphics, celebrated 10 years in
BAILEY CLOUATRE is currently enrolled in the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, which she began in Fall 2018.
2016 8 AMYRIAH CAMPBELL was selected as University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2020 University Program Council President. Her advisor stated
“It has been a phenomenal experience working with Amyriah as a student leader on our campus,” said Ruben Henderson, Assistant Director in the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership and advisor to the University Program Council at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. “She has consistently excelled in all of her endeavors, while making a true impact on our organization. She will be a great addition to UPC as president and I look forward to her leadership in making a positive difference.”
2017 9 JADE ALEXANDER was recently elected the 2020 President of the Kappa Sigma Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority at the University of Southern Mississippi.
URSULINE ACADEMY | 37 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
In Loving Memory of Our Ursuline Sisters Sr. Marie McCloskey, OSU C ’36
Sister Marie McCloskey, born Dorothy Catherine McCloskey, died peacefully at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans on Friday, October 4, 2019, at age 105. The daughter of Joseph McCloskey and Zita Gogarty McCloskey, she was born February 17, 1914, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by seven siblings - four sisters: Helen McCloskey Graham, Marion Macdiarmid, Geraldine McCloskey, and Mary Anna McCloskey; and three brothers: Joseph McCloskey, Jr., Patrick McCloskey, and Hugh McCloskey. She is survived by many devoted nieces and nephews. Sister Marie graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, after which she attended Ursuline College, earning her BA in English from Loyola University. She taught with the Ursuline Sisters for two years before entering the Ursuline Order on July 15, 1938. She made her profession of vows on January 16, 1941. She earned a Master's Degree in English from St. Louis University and did further studies in theology at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio. Sr. Marie taught in Ursuline Schools in Galveston, San Antonio, and Laredo, Texas; Decatur and Alton, Illinois; and New Orleans, Louisiana. While she was headmistress at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, she was the one whose idea it was to begin Rally Night, a tradition which has continued for over 70 years. Sr. Marie served in many roles of leadership as principal, headmistress, or prioress of her local religious community. She also assisted at Villa Maria Retreat Center in Frontenac, Minnesota, and in her retirement years, she returned to New Orleans.
Sr. Rosemary Meiman, OSU ’46
Sister Rosemary Meiman died suddenly on July 11, 2019, in Great Falls Montana, where she was presenting a program on the Ursuline Indian Missions there, as she had done annually for several years. The daughter of Joseph Henry and Margaret Howell Meiman, she was born Mary Elizabeth on February 4, 1929, in Covington, Kentucky. She was preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers, George and Phillip Meiman. She is survived by her brother Joseph G. Meiman, her sisters-in-law Joan and Kay Meiman and many devoted nieces and nephews. Called Betty by her family, she came to New Orleans when they moved here and stayed on as a boarding student in order to graduate from Ursuline Academy when the family moved again. Sr. Rosemary entered the Ursuline Sisters in July of 1946, making her vows in January of 1949. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the College of New Rochelle in New York and a Master's Degree in Education from St. Louis University. Her many gifts enabled her to serve as teacher and principal in schools in Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota. She was principal of the Ursuline School in Frontenac, MN, when it was destroyed by a fire in 1969. She served as a member of the leadership team of the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province and was province archivist for seventeen years. On her retirement from this last position, Sr. Rosemary came to New Orleans, where she worked with the Ursuline archives and assisted in giving tours of the Ursuline Sisters' museum on the campus of Ursuline Academy.
IN MEMORIAM Alumnae
Clayre Ahern Crook HM Sr. Marie McCloskey, OSU C ’36 Marguerite Rombach Hathway ’40, C ’44 Dorothy Weilbaecher ’40 Amelie Prados Cressend C ’40 Sr. Rosemary Meiman, OSU ’46 Patricia Gunning Reese ’47 Barbara Biermann Graham C ’48 Jacqueline Staub Graves ’77 Leslie Robbert Marsh ’79 Clair Barrios Kennedy ’86
Mother of
Karen Keenan Angelo ’62 Patsy Dubret Koehler ’74 Theresa Dubret Nicholson ’78 Ann Dubret Noel ’87
Bonnie Peyrefitte Hebeisen ’62 Lisa Rizzuto Normand ’86
Alma Ann Soignier Weilbaecher ’57 Claire Weilbaecher Bourgeois ’59 Pamela Weilbaecher Perry ’63 Nancy Weilbaecher Davis ’64 Deborah Ann Weilbaecher Boudreaux ’67 Mary Weilbaecher Desimone ’69 Sarah Weilbaecher Delatte ’74 Elizabeth Desimone ’05
Grandmother of
Uncle of
Brother of
Randi Selby Barrett ’99 Jennifer McDuffie Bond ’92 Jennifer Nicholson Klotz ’00 Jessica Nicholson Fitzgerald ’04 Jamie Nicholson ’08 Jordan Nicholson ’16 Amy Boudreaux Roth ’96
Father of
Renee Burch Guenther ’73 Elise Burch Kerl ’75 Celia K. “C.K.” Crull ’78 Paula Burch-Celentano ’79 Lisa Rizzuto Normand ’86
Great Grandmother of Brigette Legendre ’10 Shelby Schmitt ’12
Daughter of
Grandfather of
Lindy Boggs HM (DEC)
Sister of
Aunt of
Sr. Loyola Weilbaecher, OSU ’25 (DEC) Rhea Weilbaecher Holt ’34, C ’38 (DEC) Joan Gunning Merkle ’52 Albione Becnel ’61 Denise “Denny” Becnel McGovern ’64 Teresa Staub Meeuwenberg ’66 Maureen Staub Eide ’68 Louise Robbert Huete ’69 Peggy Staub Chapotel ’71 (DEC) Harriet Staub Cousins ’73 (DEC) Lisette Robbert Fabacher ’74
Barbara Traylor ’03 Julia Burch ’13 Alyssa Guillaume Donaby ’05 Ashley Guillaume ’09
Mother-in-law of Avin Puderer Squires AMH Lacy Davillier ’04
Father-in-law of Marie May Traylor ’76
Shelley Hebeisen Reinecke ’85 Dr. Cheri Hebeisen ’90
Niece of
Sr. Maureen “Mary Ann” Gaffney, OSU ’38, C ’42 (DEC)
Cousin of
Louise Malarcher ’23 (DEC) Neila Malarcher O'Neill ’28 (DEC) Myron Gogarty ’56 (DEC) Donna Rees Gerstner ’64 Frances Duplantis Huck ’64 Charlotte Gerstner Bernal ’87 Rochelle Gerstner ’90
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
URSULINE ACADEMY | 39 | THE URSU.LINES | FALL/WINTER 2019
Our Ursuline girls look forward to Career Shadowing Day. Thank you, Pat Garin Photographer, for hosting a group of students.
Ursuline received the Safe Sports School Award through the National Athletic Trainers' Association and is the only girls' school and 1 of 3 schools in New Orleans to receive this honor. Our fourth grade students took a field trip to Code Ninjas. The new local franchise was opened by Ursuline alumna Susan Hackett Walpole ’90! The girls had a great time learning more about coding and were even able to complete maze challenges using Javascript.
All Saints’ Day was extra special with St. Angela, St. Ursula, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor present.
Our Ursuline girls had so much fun celebrating their grandparents and special friends!
Our Toddler 1 students enjoy painting with nature.
Our sailors were surprised with letterman jackets. Ursuline Sailing is now a varsity sport!
During this year’s Pink Game, we came together as an Ursuline family to raise awareness and money for breast cancer - all in honor of our beloved former volleyball coach, Marta Bott, who lost her battle in 2008.
Senior Sioux of 2020 won the most coveted Spirit Award at the 72nd Rally!
We love when past presidents of our alumnae board return to campus for their luncheon. Our high school girls shined during their The Performing Arts Showcase. It was a great celebration of their many talents.
The inaugural Neon Night was a winwin! Not only did our Lions defeat Cabrini in basketball, we raised money and awareness for organ donation and honored a few organ recipients while doing so!
Congratulations to Mae-Ying Stock Bordnick, Khue Huynh, and Cecilia Barras on being awarded Superior Recitalist for the New Orleans Music Teachers Association.
Our 1st grade students had the opportunity to visit with Fr. Lee Poché and learn about his life as a priest. Fr. Poché is an extra-special member of our Ursuline family as a current grandparent, father of an alumna, son-in-law of an alumna, and husband of the late Distinguished Alumna, Maureen McKay Poché '75.
Elementary teachers Meghann Rooney ’06 and Emily Pastorek presented "A Creative Twist on Cross-Curricular Projects" at the LACUE (Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators) Conference.
For a second year, our Ursuline girls have won all places in the Orleans Parish Communication District's Annual 9-1-1 Poster Contest! They won cash prizes, paid internship opportunities, and $1,000 for the academy!
Our kindergarten and 1st grade students attended the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Early Explorers Meet the Orchestra” program. They were able to meet many members of the orchestra and ask questions about their instruments.
The Starstruck Children's Theater production of Hansel and Gretel was awesome! Bravo to Director Renee Barras and our talented Ursuline girls!
In taking the World Mission Rosary and honoring Pope Francis' wishes of "living an extraordinary time of missionary activity," our Ursuline girls prayed a special living rosary to celebrate our Ursuline Sisters and the 6 continents and 37 countries they serve!
Mrs. Z’s theatre students took a field trip to Le Petit Theatre to see alumna Leslie Castay ’81 perform in Noises Off.
We welcomed a group of international STEM educators to tour campus.
Our Mane Event at City Park is always a fun time together with our Ursuline family.
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Parents of Alumnae: If you are receiving your daughter's copy of The Ursu.Lines and she no longer lives with you, please let us know so we can update our database and send the magazine directly to her. Visit bit.ly/whereare_u to make updates.