Summer 2020
Review The
Highlights, Special Events and More!
Class of 2020 Graduation Our newest alumnae begin their next steps
Saturday, June 27 marked the 145th Commencement of St. Mary’s Academy. Our SMA grads have been offered $11,191,180 in scholarships and are off to some of the country’s finest colleges and universities. Class of 2020 highlights include: • Lydia Fisseha has been named as a 2020 Daniels Scholar. The Daniels Scholarship provides a full tuition to any four year accredited college or University in the United States as chosen by the scholar. Students are selected based on their embodiment of the criteria as defined by Bill Daniels which includes: strength of character, leadership, commitment to serving their communities, academic performance and their wellrounded and mature nature. • Brynn McCall has been named as a 2020 Boettcher Scholar. The Boettcher Scholarship provides a full tuition to any four year accredited college or university in Colorado. This award was last awarded to an SMA student in 2010. The program also aims to provide their Scholars with “...unique opportunities to enhance their time in college, access to a broad network of successful alumni, and additional grants and experiences…”. Recipients are selected based on their superior scholastic ability, leadership & involvement, service to community & school and outstanding character. • Six students from the Class of 2020 will continue their athletic careers in college. Haley Maeurer will be attending High Point University and competing on the volleyball team. Sydney Silver will be attending the University of Texas at Austin and competing on the swim team. Chloi Clark will be attending the University of Florida and competing on the gymnastics team. Hailey Rhine will be attending Gettysburg College and competing on the field hockey team. Darian Smith will be attending Rhodes College and competing on the field hockey team. Lindsey Fruhwirth will be attending Concordia University and competing on the swim team.
St. Mary’s Academy Award Winners Shepherdess Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chloi Clark, Lydia Fisseha, Adeline Harrington, Alexis Ihaia, Chloe Knitt, Clara Schroepfer and Alexis Tiryakioglu This award is given to the students who have had the longest, continuous tenure at SMA.
Sanders Citation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darian Smith This award is given to the senior who best exemplifies the spirit and commitment of Sister Helen Sanders ’25. Sister Helen was a visionary within the Loretto Community, and her generosity and dedication serve as an example to all of us.
Jessie Forshee Award. . . . . . . . . . . Brynn McCall and Haylee Vasquez This award is presented to the seniors who have been outstanding in academic achievement. These students must have a 3.8 GPA or above and have shown a general interest in all school activities.
Marian Award. . . . . Chloe Knitt and Lydia Fisseha Awarded by the faculty to the senior most outstanding in leadership, loyalty and academic achievement. This is the most prestigious award given to a graduating senior.
• The Class of 2020 completed over their four years 9,200 hours of community service, 2,700 more hours than required. Specifically during the 2019-2020 school year, these seniors completed 3,250 hours with 40 different organizations (locally and globally).
1
Reunion Weekend 2019 Golden Graduates Luncheon The Class of 1969 was honored during their 50th Reunion Year at the annual Golden Graduates Luncheon at Cherry Hills Country Club. More than 130 alumnae gathered for a delicious lunch, class pictures and reconnecting. Many thanks to our gracious hostesses, LaFawn Biddle and Barbie Biddle Galoob ’78.
Mass and Happy Hour Reception On Saturday, October 5, we celebrated the milestone classes, those ending in 4 or 9, with a Mass and Happy Hour Reception. Mass took place in the Community Center where Father Marty Lally led a wonderful service. From there, we walked over to the Community Center where alumnae had the opportunity to hear from Academy President, Bill Barrett, High School Principal, Iswari Natarjan, and learn a cheer from our current SMirls. Alumnae toured the High School, took class pictures, strolled down memory lane at our memorabilia display and talked to current students about leadership, global learning and STEAM.
2
Save the Date | Reunion Weekend 2020 | October 2-4, 2020 In light of these unprecedented times and our concern for the health and safety of our SMA Alumnae Community, we are reenvisioning this year’s Reunion Weekend festivities. Please keep in touch as we work towards finding a safe but joyful way of celebrating all of our SMA Alumnae.
Congratulations to the Class of 1970 for celebrating their “Golden Graduate” year, as well as all of our milestone classes: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010. We are thinking of all of you and wishing you and your families well.
For more information, please visit the SMA website at stmarys.academy and click on the “Alumnae” tab at the top of the homepage. Please be sure your contact information is updated with St. Mary’s Academy to receive the latest news.
3
2019-2020 Alumnae Events
Alumnae events take place throughout the year. For more information, please visit SMA’s website at stmarys.academy and click on the “Alumnae” tab. You may also contact Katie Wheeler, Annual Fund & Alumnae Coordinator, at kwheeler@smanet.org.
Alumnae Community Service In October, Alumnae Board members joined the 2020 senior class on their volunteer day at The Food Bank of The Rockies and enjoyed getting to know the students. The Alumnae Board looks forward to continuing this tradition as well as working with Escuela de Guadalupe in the upcoming year.
Volleyball Reunion On Thursday, August 1, former volleyball players returned to campus to play a friendly match against SMA’s current volleyball team. More than 13 alumnae along with their families attended the game. Afterwards, everyone gathered for a casual dinner in the Community Center. Thank you to Laura Grisenti de Luna ’89 for sponsoring this great event.
Basketball Reunion On Wednesday, December 18, more than 20 alumnae returned to St. Mary’s Academy for the 23rd Annual Alumnae Basketball Reunion. After the game, players and their families gathered in the Community Center for a casual dinner. It was a fun night of basketball, friendship and reconnecting.
4
Senior Seminar In March, the senior class was treated to a morning of presentations by alumnae during the annual Senior Seminar. The Young Alumnae Panel, including Anne Clinton ‘15, Alex Weil ’15, and Carrie Deline ‘14, counseled the girls about the transition to college. Marcy Loughran ‘93, the Guest Alumnae Speaker, is a highly regarded, seasoned marketing, communications and public relations professional with a career spanning 20 years. Marcy shared her experiences working within a corporation as a woman and the courage and resilience it took for her to leave and create her own firm.
Monet Exhibit This past January, many alumnae gathered at the Denver Art Museum for a docent-led tour of their Monet Exhibit, which was the largest Monet exhibition seen in the past 20 years. The alumnae had a great time catching up with friends, enjoying the art, and learning a little more about Monet. Thank you to our Alumnae Board for helping to organize the event.
5
Hopper Family Wildcat Classic
On September 16, 2019, the SMA Community joined together at Valley Country Club for SMA’s 16th Annual Golf Tournament. The event raised more than $60,000 to benefit technology at SMA. Thank you to Kelsey Traynor Jung ‘07 for participating in the tournament and Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 for spending her day out on the course as a volunteer! Interested in playing in this year’s tournament? Contact Lea Frank at lfrank@smanet.org.
SAVE THE DATE
Hopper Family Wildcat Classic | Monday, September 21, 2020 | Valley Country Club
2020 Gala
The 2020 “That 70s’ Gala” was held virtually this year, with more than 400 viewers tuning in, including SMA families, alumnae, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends of SMA. The Gala raised more than $400,000 (a new record) for the SMA Tuition Assistance Fund (95%) and our SMA Speaker Series (5%).
20
20
That ‘70s
SAVE THE DATE | 2021 Gala | Friday, April 30, 2021 | Hilton Denver Inverness 6
Capital Campaign Concludes St. Mary’s Academy has been blessed since 1864 with a caring and generous community. Since moving to our University Boulevard campus in 1951, significant capital improvements have included Bishop Evans Sports Center (1985), Middle School building (2000), High School forum renovation (2013), Pam Bent Turf Field at Biddle Fields (2015), and our new Community Center (2015). The SMA Endowment Fund also ended the last fiscal year (6/30/19) at more than $13 million. All of this is possible thanks to people like you, people who care, people who share. Thank you! Our Community Center Capital Campaign kickoff was more than seven years ago, May 9, 2013. With nearly $8M raised to date, the most money ever raised in a capital campaign for SMA, the Board of Trustees decided to conclude the campaign on May 29, 2020. This decision will allow our school to move forward with a new master plan and new fundraising initiatives that will best serve our students and all SMA constituents. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Administrative Team, and all of our faculty and staff, we share our thanks and gratitude to each and every individual, business, foundation and friend of SMA who supports SMA through charitable giving. We are able to keep “SMA Moving Forward” thanks to you. We’d also like to thank Charlie Arbogast for his hard work on this campaign and 23 years of service and dedication to St. Mary’s Academy
Alumnae Stories: Why I Give Back “The older I get the more I realize how much I personally benefited from the inspiration of others within my St. Mary’s Academy community. My St. Mary’s formation spoke largely about the importance of service towards one-another; and now that I am further along in life, I can do my part to be of service to others: especially in serving the young girls who are now attending my alma mater high school. St. Mary’s Academy inspired me to be the best version of myself & now I want to help the next generation of girls find the best version of themselves as well. After all, who doesn’t want to be a part of inspiration!” ~ Abby Marie Rohr Harris ‘00
Capital Campaign Alumnae Honor Roll of Givers (As of May 30, 2020) Judith Dillon Baenen ‘57 Linda Lennartz Beaven ‘62 Sandy Keller Blue ‘65 Mandi Benavidez Buche ‘92 Betsy Byrne ‘74 Lindsey Cella ‘10 Brianne Ehrlich Clanton ‘02 Susan Heider Coleman ‘75 Sharon Doyle Crisera ‘60 Catherine Bell Darnell ‘67 Laura Grisenti de Luna ‘89 Linda Hughes Deits ‘75 Adele Murray DeLine ‘54 Annabelle Monaghan Deline ‘49 Elizabeth Deline ‘09 Kay Braun DeLine ‘54 Patti Nevans Egloff ‘64 Jordan Fouts ‘01
Frances Lennartz Fryberger ‘64 Barbara Biddle Galoob ‘78 Patricia Wyers Gammon ‘52 Jane Grogan ‘75 Alyssa Hamilton ‘09 Chelsea Hamilton ‘06 Mary Ann Costello Hamlin ‘56 Sheryl Cervi Hollingsworth ‘73 Megan Butler Honig ‘06 Amy Isaacson ‘01 Deidre Williams Johnson ‘83 Meg Fischer Jonsen ‘77 Jean A. Kearns ‘46 Katie Murray Kleeman ‘79 Erin Kloppenberg ‘99 Jessica Kozel ‘06 Theresa Lorenzo ‘88 Patricia DeVore MacMillan ‘64
Janis Gilligan Malkewicz ‘70 Marianne White Marvez ‘71 Julie May ‘84 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 Mary Curtan McGowan ‘60 Amber Grisley McGown ‘06 Nancy McMahon Psy.D. ‘65 Patty Cella Michalek ‘64 Maureen McCallin Moses ‘70 Jane Wagner Nolan ‘67 Claire Curlander O’Neal ‘75 Linda Waldeck Parker ‘62 Dena Johnson Pinsker ‘79 Joanne Elliott Rickard ‘51 Kelly Rogers Denzler ‘08 Sarah Schultz Sanford ‘49 Carol Mansfield Schlessman ‘76
7
St. Mary’s Academy Annual Fund: The St. Mary’s Academy Annual Fund supports programs that allow our students to explore their curiosities, creativity and passions to build a brighter future. While tuition covers a large portion of our budget, the Annual Fund is essential to producing enriching academic, creative, social, and athletic experiences for our students. We depend on the generosity of our parents, grandparents, friends, alumnae and staff to support our school. We strive for 100% participation from our faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and parents, and at least 10% from alumnae and grandparents. Alumnae participation in the Annual Fund is a demonstration of our alumnae’s love for their alma mater and how St. Mary’s Academy impacted their lives. On Colorado Gives Day alone, SMA raised a total of $136,469 for the Annual Fund, including $14,234 from alumnae. Every gift, no matter the size, is appreciated. Thank you for giving to the Annual Fund this year!
ANNUAL FUND ALLOCATION 2019-2020
$25,000
providing vital resources to each the Lower, Middle and High Schools
$55,000
Athletics and Arts
$80,000
Lower School Inspiration Lab
$16,000
Robotics across all divisions
$20,000
Student One-to-One Device Program
$44,000 Teacher Appreciation
$25,000 $10,000
Technology Improvements
8
$45,000 President’s Discretion
Academy Parents and Special Events to continue our Loretto School value of community
$20,000
Bus maintenance and field trips
$10,000
9th Grade Spirit Packs for each incoming High School student
The Cornerstone of SMA’s Annual Fundraising Efforts Alumnae Stories: Why I Give Back “For me, St. Mary’s Academy is more than an educational institution. It is a living organism, comprised of women and men, past and present, who share the great endeavor of making themselves, their communities, and the world around them a better place. Every graduate supports me by giving a piece of themselves to the greater good. Investing in their future is an investment in my own, and the future of our world. In a place where money and time are preciously limited, I never regret sharing either of mine with St. Mary’s. ” ~ Lindsey Cella ‘10
Alumnae Stories: Why I Give Back “My four years at St. Mary’s Academy gave me two of the greatest gifts in my life—incredible, life-long best friends and the belief that there were no limits to what I could accomplish in life.” ~ Julie Cella McKenna ‘82
Make a gift today, pay it forward and be a part of the SMA legacy!
Make a Gift Online
Make a Gift by Mail
Make a Gift by Phone
Visit our secure website at stmarys.academy/donate
Send a check, payable to: St. Mary’s Academy Attn: Advancement Office 4545 South University Blvd. Englewood, CO 80113
Call Katie Wheeler, Annual Fund & Alumnae Coordinator, at (303) 762-8300 ext 286.
9
Thank You Alumnae! 2019-2020 Annual The following alumane have donated to the Annual Fund as of May 30, 2020. Class of 1945 Ann Andrew Class of 1949 Anna Mae Duffy Elinor Geesen Jean Hebert Kay Hornbecker Shirley Lee Class of 1950 Carole Rusho Class of 1952 Dorothy Hanifen Lomme ClĂŠ Symons Class of 1954 Adele Murray DeLine Kay DeLine Anne Jackson Class of 1955 Margaret Gonzales Nemechek Class of 1956 Bunny Dines Mary Sue Hackett Terry Lowery Class of 1957 Judith Dillon Baenen F. Dianne Bobko Barbara Elliott Frances Hopp Adele Locke Class of 1958 Barbara Kendall Class of 1959 Sheila Sullivan Bisenius Joan Carbone Mary Helen Coughlin Barbara Ann Cummings Virginia Kittleson Floyd Patt Kerr Class of 1960 Suzie Campbell Mary McGowan Kathryn Murphy Mary Marlene Nevin Noreen Purcell Nancy Cella Sunkel Carol Grant Thomas Dianne Tramutola-Lawson Marilyn Natale Vecchiarelli
10
Class of 1961 Ruth Frazier Norma Lammers Class of 1962 Mary Arvidson Linda Beaven Judith Carlson Class of 1963 Dr. Frances Candlin Cynthia Gardell Drew Patricia Brown Grace Class of 1964 Dora Cash Frances Fryberger Alexandra Hoch Nancy Landauer Patty Michalek Terry Miller Julie Neukomm Class of 1965 Eileen Barela Sandy Blue Clare Dilts Nancy Holcomb Jones-Alred Barbara Koser Kathleen McMahan Class of 1966 Mary Ann Hartigan Class of 1967 Cathy Darnell Laura Ellerby Jessica Karet Alanna Kimmel Jane Wagner Nolan Class of 1969 Anne Castle Joan Friend Karen Goodson Class of 1970 Laurie Mohrman Nina Sisk Class of 1971 Marianne White Marvez Mary Ann McGovern Dr. Condoleezza Rice Patricia Hazlitt Steiner
Class of 1972 Debra McCallin Martha Diss Sundby Jane Votel Class of 1973 Teresa Curlander Sheila Karr Janet White Maureen Witt Class of 1974 Jo Ann Beine Betsy Byrne Class of 1975 Nancy Bell Dalton Jane Grogan Class of 1976 Mary Carolyn Gamache Class of 1977 Cristi Lippert Lundquist Lucy Roucis Niki Frangos Tuttle Class of 1978 Aimee De Line Alley Barbara Biddle Galoob Class of 1979 Elaine Bergmann Mary Marcus Broere Meg Hencmann Deline Lynn Millar Lovato Carole Eckrich O’Hagan Dena Johnson Pinsker Class of 1981 Lisa Donahue Goodwin Class of 1982 Julie McKenna Margaret Reidy Pflueger Kathleen Traylor Donna Treu Class of 1983 Christine Fischer Jeanie Wiemer Lint Susan Lintonsmith Tonya Rayment Ann Oberle Sauer
Class of 1985 Mary Berger Dilenschneider Sarah Diss Warren Class of 1986 Catherine Horle Class of 1987 Stephanie Goodrich Jennifer Hallam Joan McFarren Class of 1988 Theresa Lorenzo Class of 1989 Andrea Carey Laura Grisenti de Luna Kelly Michalek Osborn Celia Collins Zaharas Class of 1990 Michelle Irwin Peggy Coughlin Walling Class of 1992 Mandi Buche Millicent Knox Class of 1993 Christy Stadig Class of 1995 Cissie Busch Rebecca Mullenix Sara Tisdale Class of 1997 Kerith Kanaber Melissa Whalen Wiseman Class of 1998 Megan Felsburg Doud Class of 2000 AbbyMarie Harris Colleen Heneghan Class of 2002 Nina McCaskill Lara Mintz Class of 2003 Sara Adair Margaret Emmerich Katy Balazy Jaffe
Class of 1984 Julie May
We apologize if there are any omissions, misspellings or errors. If so, please inform the Advancement Office at (303) 762-8300.
Fund Honor Roll of Givers Class of 2006 Casey Harnar Amber McGown Riley Stouffer Elizabeth VanCamp Class of 2007 LaDan Assayesh Allison Galoob Briana Wallace Keyes Christine Koets Kelsey Traynor Jung Class of 2009 Emily Bechtold Elizabeth Deline Annie Scott Class of 2010 Lindsey Cella Morgan Flynn Katherine Horvath Cecilia Lorenz Hillary Redd Callie Wallace Class of 2011 Megan Cronin Class of 2012 Ellen Hoogerwerf Andrea Lorenz Cassie Prouty Class of 2013 Katherine Armstrong Class of 2014 Carrie Deline Daniela Lorenz Emma Selner Class of 2017 Margaret Longenecker Annie Tobler Class of 2018 Raegan Rychecky Class of 2019 Annie Hoogerwerf
Class of 2020 Annabel Benes Morgan Briere Jenna Ceraso Christine Cole Lilia Duran-Cabral Lauren Falicia Kathryn Frankmore Ella Gertge Adeline Harrington Greta Heitmann Karina Holguin Hayden Jones Chloe Knitt Haley Maeurer Brynn McCall Marthaly Rubio Clara Schroepfer Sydney Silver Darian Smith Emma Stern Emma Stribley Alexis Tiryakioglu Megan Wick
President’s Partnership (Gift of $1,200+) Mandi Benavidez Buche ‘92 Judith Carlson ‘62 Laura Grisenti de Luna ‘89 Margaret Emmerich ‘03 Barbara Biddle Galoob ‘78 Mary Carolyn Gamache ‘76 Stephanie Goodrich ‘87 Katy BalazyJaffe ‘03 Susan Odland Lintonsmith ‘83 Cristi Lippert Lundquist ‘77 Debra Due McCallin ‘72 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 Mary Ann McGovern ‘71 Claire O’Neal ‘75 Anne Bernau Osborn ‘92 Kelly Michalek Osborn ‘89 Dena Johnson Pinsker ‘79 Dr. Condoleezza Rice ‘71 Peggy Coughlin Walling ‘90
(Gift of $300+) Aimee De Line Alley ‘78 Judith Dillon Baenen ‘57 Jo Ann Beine ‘74 Sheila Sullivan Bisenius ‘59 Sandy Keller Blue ‘65 Mandi Benavidez Buche ‘92 Cissie Megyesy Busch ‘95 Betsy Byrne ‘74 Andrea Carey ‘89 Judith Carlson ‘62 Laura Grisenti de Luna ‘89 Meg Hencmann Deline ‘79 Elizabeth Deline ‘09 Barbara Biddle Galoob ‘78 Mary Carolyn Gamache ‘76 Stephanie Goodrich ‘87 Lisa Donahue Goodwin ‘81 AbbyMarie Rohr Harris ‘00 Katy BalazyJaffe ‘03 Nancy Holcomb Jones-Alred ‘65 Barbara Bazata Kendall ‘58 Briana Wallace Keyes ‘07 Millicent Timmons Knox ‘92 Norma Phillips Lammers ‘61 Susan Odland Lintonsmith ‘83 Lynn Millar Lovato ‘79 Cristi Lippert Lundquist ‘77 Marianne White Marvez ‘71 Debra Due McCallin ‘72 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 Joan McFarren ‘87 Mary Ann McGovern ‘71 Julie Cella McKenna ‘82 Lara Kubicek Mintz ‘02 Kelly Michalek Osborn ‘89 Dena Johnson Pinsker ‘79 Dr. Condoleezza Rice ‘71 Nancy Cella Sunkel ‘60 Annie Tobler ‘17 Dianne Tramutola-Lawson ‘60 Kelsey Traynor Jung ‘07 Itsy Jones VanCamp ‘06 Peggy Coughlin Walling ‘90 Melissa Whalen Wiseman ‘97 Maureen Reidy Witt ‘73 Celia Collins Zaharas ‘89
11
SMA High School Highlights Latino Heritage Night
Mock Trial
The High School Latina Affinity Group hosted Latino Heritage Night on October 3. More than 100 people attended this special event, hosted during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate Latino culture. Co-Presidents Andrea Lopez and Emma Garcia did a fantastic job of representing the Affinity Group, our SMA Community, and their heritage.
This year’s SMA Mock Trial Teams had an outstanding performance at Regional competitions this February. Rachel Pogue and Amelia Cooper won Best Attorney Awards, Team C won the Professionalism Award, and Team A made it to the State competition!
High School Student Artists Recognized
Performing Arts
Three SMA High School students have been recognized in this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at the State level. Parker Amburn received a Gold Key award for her painting, “Contemporary Rape Culture (Reimagining Pietro da Cortona’s “The Rape of the Sabine Women”). Maura Benedick received a Gold Key award for her photograph, “Fridge Baby.” Bree Horn received a Silver Key award for her photograph “Nita (The Face on the Ballroom Floor).”
SMA High School students performed Peter and The StarCatcher in November and participated in our All-School Musical, Mary Poppins, in February. Both performances were wonderfully done— congratulations to our SMirls!
SMirls Receive Scholastic Writing Awards
Community Service
Five SMirls won a total of 6 awards for writing, including four gold keys, one silver, and one honorable mention.
SMA’s Outreach Club had its most successful Pad and Tampon Drive to date, donating over 66,000 pads and tampons for the Gathering Place. Founded in 1986, The Gathering Place is the only daytime drop-in center in metropolitan Denver that serves women and their children who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Lizzy Cave, recipient of a Gold Key for her poem “Sailor to Shore.” Saffron Bennet-Spurlock, recipient of a Gold Key for her short story “Eve, 1968.” Bridget Kim, recipient of a Gold Key for her poem “For a Hapa Girl.” Victoria Perez, recipient of a Gold Key for her poem “Why Butterflies Were Made.” Caitlin Walling, recipient of a Silver Key for her poem “The Unknown,” and an honorable mention for her poem “I am.”
12
CONNECT WITH FELLOW ALUMNAE TODAY The SMA Alumnae Connection is a new networking platform exclusively for SMA alumnae.
4Search for your fellow graduates by location, graduation year, careers, and more. 4Create interest groups and post discussions. 4Utilize the job board for hiring at your company or for your own job search. 4Stay updated with St. Mary’s Academy. Visit alumnaeconnection.stmarys.academy to get started. Reach out to Katie Wheeler at kwheeler@smanet.org with questions.
Come Back to SMA…In a New Way! The admissions process will soon be underway for 2020-2021 academic year enrollment. We invite you to return to campus as a prospective parent in the coming months:
LOWER SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Co-Ed Pre-K through 5th Grade
Co-Ed 6th through 8th Grade
All Girls 9th through 12th Grade
Info Night: September 26, 6:30 PM
Info Night: September 22 & November 10, 6:30 PM
Preview: October 20 & December 10, 9:00 AM
Preview: October 6 & December 8, 9:00 AM
Open House: October 17, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Please contact admissions@smanet.org to learn more about the admissions process, including the possibility of enrollment in select grades for the 2020-2021 academic year!
13
St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae Board
The Alumnae Board is a group of dedicated graduates who meet throughout the year to discuss activities within the SMA Alumnae Community, to plan events and to assist in fundraising efforts involving alumnae. Board members serve as a liaison to the school and the Alumnae Community and act as ambassadors for St. Mary’s Academy. Interested in joining the Alumnae Board? Check out a meeting to see what it’s all about. Meetings are held once per month on Tuesday evenings during the school year. Contact Katie Wheeler at kwheeler@smanet.org for more information.
20192020
Sara Donahue Adair ‘03 Megan Cronin ‘11 LaDan Assayesh ‘07 Cathy Bell Darnell ‘67 Meg Hencmann Deline ‘79 Liz Deline ‘09 Laura Grisenti de Luna ‘89 Abby Marie Rohr Harris ‘00
Briana Wallace Keyes ‘07 Stephanie Landin ‘81 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 Julie Cella McKenna ‘82 Raegan Rychecky ‘18 Annie Scott ‘09 Kelsey Tranyor ‘07 Itsy Jones VanCamp ‘06
SMA Alumnae Board
Loretto Legacy Society Thinking about the future? Join SMA’s Loretto Legacy Society! The society recognizes friends of SMA who have notified the school that they have made a provision for St. Mary’s Academy in their estate plans. Thank you to our current members. Charlie and Theresa Arbogast Judith Dillon Baenen ‘57 Pam Bent Dusty and LaFawn Biddle Deirdre Cryor Timothy and Katherine Farrell Lauren Fisher Stephanie Goodrich ‘87 Jim and Darlene Graham Carol Haller Robert and Brenda Harrison Barbara Hennigar Norma Phillips Lammers ‘61
Mary Ann Brannan Lipton ‘ 46 Cristi Lippert Lundquist ‘77 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill ‘02 Kathryn McNamee Jay and Liz Mellick Alney Allbritten Norell ‘23 Claire O’Neal ‘75 Mary Sweeney Parlin ‘65 Dena Johnson Pinsker ‘79 Carol Mansfield Schlessman ‘76 Anita Figueras Stricoff ‘64 Mary Martha Diss Sundby ‘72 Mike and Meg Tobler
For more information, contact Natalie Mesko at nmesko@smanet.org.
14
In Memoriam and Class Notes IN MEMORIAM St. Mary’s Academy has lost the following members of our community: Patricia Boekel ‘71. September 12, 2018. Sister Mary Ann Coyle. President of St. Mary’s Academy from 1977 to 1986. June 15, 2019. Mary Kay Malnati Dillon ‘57. March 2, 2020. Mary Comstock Feeley ‘57. November 29, 2019. Patricia Koran Fohn ‘62. April 8, 2019. Dana Greene, ‘08. March 6, 2020. Sheila Dick Haskell, ‘57. June 28, 2020 Mary “Jeroldine” Buckley Holden ‘53. December 2, 2019. Mary Beth Martin Keaney ‘59. June 2, 2018. Sandi Krebs, former SMA teacher. February 27, 2019. Mary Lou McCabe McNair ‘54. May 2020. Lisa Quinn ‘83. May 2019.
C L AS S N OT E S CLASS OF 1960 Noreen Murphy Purcell. Noreen is a retired nurse but still volunteers at a hospice house and rocks newborns at a Children’s Hospital. She is married to Tom (a retired dentist) and loves gardening! CLASS OF 1961 Terry Fraser Forde. Terry spent 30 years in hospital work (X-Ray/ MRI tech) and now works part-time in Behavioral Health, a lock-down clinic for mental health and drug/
alcohol addiction. She has two wonderful children and four delightful grandchildren. God is good! CLASS OF 1964 Dora Dinsmore Cash. Dora retired in 2006 from a wonderful career in teaching French and Spanish. She was blessed with a wonderful son and two daughters. She and Jim get to enjoy two delightful grandsons, ages 8 and 10. She still subs in the Cherry Creek School District and really enjoys the students. She and Jim both love to travel in the US and abroad. Two years ago, they enjoyed three weeks in Costa Rica. Jim drove and Dora was the communicator/translator. Most recently, they have spent time in Hawaii since one of their daughters lives there. Dora is grateful that, at her age, she can still do step aerobics, shovel snow and make jam for her ‘64 classmates when they get together. One year ago, Dora and Jim celebrated 50 years of marriage with family and friends. Anita Figueras Stricoff. Anita set up a one million dollar fund for her college! CLASS OF 1967 Jessica Varacalle Karet. Jess is fully retired and thoroughly enjoying her time! CLASS OF 1969 Peggy Klecker Boese. Peggy was recently married to Michael. Her first husband died in 2000, and she never thought she’d marry again, but there you go. She has been a nurse doing step-down for open hearts, then hospice and now works from home reviewing insurance claims since she has old nurse knees (hips, shoulders, you name it)! Candie Cummings. Candie is enjoying her 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren! She retired after 30 years, teaching Deaf/Hard of Hearing students.
Cheryl Fink de Gaia. Cheryl is peacefully retired in Grand Junction, CO. Her politics are peace and freedom. Her only religion is Love. She blesses and gives gratitude to all her classmates, teachers and friends. We are one. Karen Higgins Goodson. Karen became a Denver Public School Teacher for 10 years after her professional dancing career ended. She is currently a Realtor. She married and is now widowed. She reconnected with a boyfriend, Walter, from 30 years ago. They have traveled to visit friends and family in Europe. Soon, she will go back to Ireland. They loved Iceland and had a voyage through the Panama Canal. The best trip was to Antarctica last December and January. She would go again. They will travel to parts of the Amazon this winter and later next year swim with whales. She still lives in Denver but travels to Baltimore often where Walter is a Law Professor and where one of her step-daughters lives. Though she is gray from head to toe, she is still trying to keep up an exercise routine. (groan!) Jeanne Jackson. Jeanne is currently a mom of five girls. Her oldest daughter, Brooke is 22 yrs old, just graduated college, and is now attending grad school in South Dakota, getting her doctorate in audiology. Her daughter Brandi is also 22 yrs old and is in management with Maverick. Her daughter Maria is 17 yrs old and just graduated high school as a junior and is attending our local college studying to become a nurse. Her two babies, Rylee and Olive, turned 5 years old this year, graduated pre-school, and started kindergarten. They have all reached such milestones. This past year, Jeanne received her Masters in Special Education and completed all of her coursework to become a licensed special education teacher at our local high school. She feels truly blessed with the life God has given her and is grateful for old classmates and friends!
15
Class Notes (continued) Marci Searles Reid. Marcia retired from teaching three years ago. She began teaching in New Hampshire, working with the deaf and hard of hearing in a residential setting. Most recently, she taught for 20 years in Denver Public Schools as a teacher for the Visually Impaired and Blind. She has a son who lives in Miami. He is a photographer for a news channel. Her daughter lives in Loveland, CO with her family. They have three boys (ages 6, 4, and 3). Marcia and her husband, Paul, of 40 years currently live in Centennial, CO. She publishes their neighborhood website and monthly newsletter. Mary Ann Tavelli Tuthill. Mary Ann has been married to her husband Dave for 45 years. She has 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren. She graduated from CSU, then the University of Colorado Health Science Center and retired after 43 years as a PA. CLASS OF 1972 Mary Yelenick. Mary, recipient of the 2019 Eileen Egan Peacemaker award from Pax Christi Metro New York, has been elected to the international board of Pax Christi International board, a global Catholic peace and nonviolence organization headquartered in Brussels. Since retiring as a litigation law partner from her law firm in Manhattan at the end of 2016, Mary has been serving as Pax Christi International’s Main Representative to the United Nations in New York, where she focuses on issues of peacebuilding and nuclear abolition (as a member of the 2017 Nobel Prize-winning ICAN coalition). In April, Mary participated in the meeting of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative in Rome. CLASS OF 1974 Laura Turnbull. Laura has been a professional actor for over 40 years, starting out in the Denver area and then in St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York City (for 15 years) and now in South Florida. She has worked on
16
Broadway, Off-Broadway, toured nationally and done both television and film. She has been fortunate enough to receive both critical acclaim and several awards during her career. She and her husband, (whom she met doing a show Off-Broadway), have two beautiful daughters, who are both in the arts. The eldest is also an actor and the youngest is a classical musician! Sadly, her mother, Louise, passed away in August 2018 at the age of 101. Laura and her family felt so honored that a number of her students from her nearly 20 years at SMA, attended her funeral and spoke of the profound impact she’d had in their lives. CLASS OF 1975 Rosemary Voss Holbert. Rosemary has two daughters ages 37 and 35 and five grandchildren ages 2-14 who all live in Colorado Springs. Since age 24, Rosemary has had 60 throat and lung operations. She retired from twelve years of Microelectronics Manufacturing and eight years of Home Health Care. CLASS OF 1979 Dena Johnson Pinsker. Nine years after retiring from Variety—the Children’s Charity and four years after moving back to Denver from Knoxville, she is more in love with her wonderful husband, skiing double digits and reading to her heart’s content. Mary Jo Scott. Mary Jo is married to John Kummer, who’s mother Dorthy used to be the beautician to several of the nuns from SMA. They have 3 wonderful daughters between them and their Goddaughter. They have 9 grandchildren and 1 greatgranddaughter. Mary Jo and John live on 40 acres in Elizabeth Colorado. Mary Jo enjoys doing volunteer work and spending time with her 90-year-old Mom. She and John are also raising their 16 and 14-year-old grandchildren, who have been with them since they were very small.
Mary Kerwin Wilkerson. After 20 years helping to run a fun family medicine clinic in Denver with three talented female partners, Mary recently took a one-year sabbatical and volunteered in several international rural clinics in various countries including Ghana, Uganda, and the Peruvian Amazon. During that year, she realized that she doesn’t enjoy the business side of healthcare but loves seeing patients. Struggling with language barriers also reinforced that she is most effective working in her own backyard, so she is now working for Denver Health as a primary care and urgent care doctor in several of their neighborhood clinics. This change in patient demographics has been very rewarding! CLASS OF 1984 Courtney Baum Avichouser. Since graduating from high school in ‘84, the biggest milestones in her life were getting married, giving birth to her two wonderful children who are now both adults, and losing her husband of 10 years. That was ten years ago. Since then, Courtney has received a BFA from a highly respected Art school in Savannah (SCAD). Upon graduation, she moved her family back to Maui, where she has spent most of her adult life. She loves it there! These events inspired her to create a television show based on the story of losing her husband and raising young children on a small isolated island. 808 state of mind will be an hour-long dramedy (dramatic comedy) that will encourage hope and perseverance, especially in a time of grieving and change. She is currently negotiating a contract with a production company in Hollywood. Super excited. You can follow Courtney on her next life’s journey. at 808stateofmind.com, 808 state of mind on FB, and @808som on Instagram. Aloha! Claudine Murphy Cheever. Claudine was recently promoted to Chief Creative Officer for North America at
Amazon. Additionally, her oldest just turned 13 so she gets to embrace being the mom of a teenager! Mimi Coughlin. Last year, Mimi celebrated 35 years since graduating from SMA (her loveable and feisty classmates remain some of her favorite people on earth!), celebrating 30 years since meeting her wife (her most favorite person on earth!), celebrating 30 years working in the field of education (it’s been a good fit, but she is open to new and unknown ventures to come...? ), and celebrating her healthy/happy young-adult daughters and old-adult dogs. Hooray and cheers! Mimi sends love to her SMA family. CLASS OF 1989 Stacy Salvador Beck. Stacy is a freelance writer and editor with clients across the country. She lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Jim and their two children, Colin (18) and Emma (13). Chiyo Crooks. Chiyo works full time as a paramedic for Summit County, CO. Prior to working there, she was a flight medic in NM. She missed her family and Denver too much so she moved back to the Denver area. Not only is she working full time, but she is in nursing school full time as well. Luckily, all her children are grown, on their own and successful. She still keeps in touch with her high school classmates with better friends developing over the past several years. Mary Kuehner. Mary is an early literacy librarian with Arapahoe Libraries. She has worked with children and their caregivers as a librarian for over 20 years, after graduating from the University of Toronto with a Master’s in Information Studies. She is a founding member of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy and recently chaired the Association for Library Service to Children’s inaugural Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award committee.
Michele Massee Warling. After graduating high school in ’89, Shelly attended Colorado University in Boulder pursuing the Arts. She then found her way to Montana, Big Sky Country and worked at Glacier Park, Lake McDonald at the coffee shop. She finished her 1st college career in Missoula Montana at the University of Montana with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. Missoula had a great underground rock movement Shelly joined with her first band Chicks with Chainsaws (Shelly on guitar, back vocals, Megan Offner on guitar lead vocals, Amanda Browder on bass and vocals, and some pink-haired chick on drums, who’s dog peed on Shelly’s guitar case). Sasshole was the next band Shelly was in for about 2 years (Shelly on guitar and back vocals, Kia Liszak on lead vocals, Millie Thompson on bass and back vocals, and Jen Tachovsky on drums and back vocals). She then married the then Fireballs of Freedom bass player Troy Warling and moved to Portland Oregon. Shelly dabbled in the Portland underground rock scene with her band Fonda Five-O where she wrote most songs and was lead vocals and guitar, with Erika on bass and Rhiannon on drums. Troy’s band went on to tour across the US and had records on Empty and Estrus record labels. After a few years in Portland, Shelly & her husband Troy decided to retire the underground music scene and went back to college. Shelly did a year of graphic design before deciding to go into nursing. While taking classes for nursing school Shelly gave birth to her daughter Bebe. Troy was in graduate school for nursing at this point so Shelly was able to stay home with Bebe the first 4 years of her life. The family moved back to Missoula MT when Bebe was 2. In 2010 Shelly graduated Montana States Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Shelly now resides in Minneapolis MN with Troy & Bebe. She is a PACU RN at an eye center. Her daughter Bebe has been figure skating since she was 4, she is now 15, a Sophomore in high school,
and skates with the Northernettes, a synchronized figure skating team. Her husband Troy works for the United States Postal Service. They will be celebrating 22 years of marriage on 2/14/2020! Shelly enjoys watching Netflix, running, yoga and teaching kids to figure skate in her off time. CLASS OF 1995 Adora Curry. Adora Curry was elected to serve as the Vice President of Membership for the Council of Alumni Marketing and Membership Professionals (CAMMP). Curry joined the organization on behalf of UA – Pulaski Tech’s Alumni and Friends Association in 2018 as the first two-year institution to be invited for membership. Adora is also the first woman of color in CAMMP’s history to be nominated and elected to the Board. Over the course of the year, she has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion as it pertains to professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities within higher ed and fundraising. The fruits of her labor were realized at CAMMP’s annual business meeting where the membership base was officially expanded to include “two-year public or private institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).” “My hope is that people will see diversity and inclusion differently and as a result, find value in it. Diversity and inclusion are about bringing a two-year institution to the table to learn about market trends that we may not otherwise be privy to. It is also about making sure people with different faces and perspectives are encouraged to be a part of the conversation.” The Council of Alumni Marketing and Membership Professionals (CAMMP) was founded in 1997. It began with a small group of like-minded alumni relations specialists seeking an organization focused on specific needs of membership and marketing programs in the profession. Today, the organization includes more than 450 members representing
17
Class Notes (continued) 147 alumni associations in higher education across the country; including some of the best and the brightest in the business. To accommodate the ever-changing industry, CAMMP’s membership eligibility was expanded in 2018 to include alumni professionals representing marketing and membership, business and sponsorship development, affinity programs, and digital communications. CLASS OF 1999 Julie Dehague Bellamy. Julie and her family are currently living in Northern Virginia and welcomed their second child, Charlotte Grace last May (2018) who joins big brother John (4). She recently started a position with Boeing Global Services as a Senior Facilities Planner / Configuration Control Coordinator. Her husband John works for DoD as a Civil Engineer and is finishing his Doctorate in Engineering Management at GW in D.C. this year. Erin Kloppenberg. Erin has received a certificate in Paleontological Studies at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Meghan Tynan Riecker. Meghan married her husband, Rob Riecker, four years ago and they welcomed their son, Benjamin Tynan Riecker, on February 16, 2018. He brings so much joy to their lives every day! CLASS OF 2002 Nina Ehrlich McCaskill. Nina and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed their first child, Victoria (Tori) Ellis McCaskill
Have news to share? Send it in! SMA would love to hear from you! Send your news and pictures to kwheeler@stmarys.academy.
18
CLASS OF 2008
on October 22, 2019. While it was bittersweet to step back from teaching and coaching at SMA, she is thrilled to be staying home and getting to know this amazing girl.
Lama Al-Turki. Lama graduated with LLB and LLM and is currently working as the Legal Affairs Manager at one of the leading companies in Saudi Arabia.
Kamleh Shaban. Kamleh got married in April of 2017, then she and her husband moved back to Denver in October after Kamleh finished her child and adolescent psychiatry residency and fellowship from the University of Louisville in Kentucky. In October, she started working for Children’s Hospital Colorado as an outpatient psychiatrist at the Pediatric Mental Health Institute. In December of 2018 she and her husband welcomed their beautiful daughter, Aziza Ross, into the world! Lena Winkler. Lena Winkler and her husband are so happy to announce their newest addition, born on April 18, 2019. Their sweet Nicolette is doing well and big brother Landon is slowly adjusting. They’re over the moon happy to be a family of four! CLASS OF 2004 Amanda Caldwell Archerd. Amanda has been married to her husband Jon Archerd for 9 years and they have three sons: Graham (5) Fritz (4) and Penn (10 months). Allison Astuno Cain. Allison and her husband, Packy, were thrilled to welcome another boy into their family right before Christmas of this past year. They now have Patrick, born December 2018 and Henry, born January 2017.
Stay connected with SMA! Send us your updated contact information: kwheeler@stmarys.academy.
CLASS OF 2009 Nicole Vizas Bernstein. Nicole was married in July 2018 and will soon be celebrating her two-year wedding anniversary. She is an elementary school teacher in Orange County, California where she works with students with learning and attention challenges. She has worked there for 4 years and loves it. Elizabeth (Liz) Deline. Liz became engaged to her boyfriend of five years, Brett Williams, on December 7, 2019. They are in the early stages of planning their wedding and are hoping to get married in the mountains in 2021. Kelsey Hatley. Kelsey married fellow alumna, Joanie Ryan (Class of 2012) on June 25, 2018. She also started a new job last year at Northridge High School as an English Language Arts teacher and teaches English 9, English 12, and AP Research. Brittany Webb. Brynn resides in Culver City, CA with her boyfriend Kylar and their two cats, Romulus and Remus. She works in production and is currently developing her screenplay for her debut film, of which she also plans to produce, direct and star in.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Join our LinkedIn Group
St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae
@sma1864
St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae Group, Englewood Colorado
Class of 2020 College Matriculation
Parker Amburn Evelyn Barton Annabel Benes CĂŠcile Blanc Morgan Briere Paola Castrejon Taylor Cave Jenna Ceraso Jasmin Cervantes Gutierrez Hannah Chung Chloi Clark Christine Cole Skylar Cole Amelia Cooper Amanda Dewhurst Lilia Duran Cabral Adelyn Dwyer Alexis Ewing Lauren Falicia Tess Finke Lydia Fisseha Kathryn Frankmore Lindsey Fruhwirth Hattie Gertge Ella Gertge Kennedy Gleim Julia Gonzales Greta Heitmann Aarushi Gupta Abbie Gusek Adeline Harrington Karina Holguin Gretchen Hummel Alexis Ihaia Jovanna Jaquez Jaqui Jaramillo Hailey Johnson Hayden Jones Chloe Knitt Grace Madden Haley Maeurer Brynn McCall Beftu Mohammed Areeba Nauman Mikel Niedergerke Rachel Pogue Elizabeth Quinones Hailey Rhine Lane Rippey Marthaly Rubio Madeline Schroeder Clara Schroepfer Sydney Silver Darian Smith Emma Stern Emma Stribley Abigail Sullivan Sophia Taylor Carter Thomas Alexis Tiryakioglu Laura Tupler Paulina Ursua Haylee Vasquez Anna Vasten Megan Wick
San Diego State University Babson College Ohio Wesleyan University University of Denver University of Colorado Boulder Saint Louis University Texas Christian University Cornell University University of Northern Colorado University of Waterloo University of Florida University of Richmond University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado Boulder Creighton University University of Northern Colorado Clemson University Gonzaga University University of California, Los Angeles Washington University in St. Louis University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Concordia University Irvine Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University Fort Lewis College Villanova University Tufts University Georgetown University University of British Columbia Elon University Colorado State University Colorado State University Elon University Colorado State University Scripps College Auburn University Northwestern University University of Southern California Goucher College High Point University Colorado State University Loyola Marymount University University of Colorado Boulder Montana State University University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University Gettysburg College Texas Christian University University of Northern Colorado The University of Mississippi University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Texas at Austin Rhodes College University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado Boulder University of Denver Tulane University University of Georgia Lynn University Santa Clara University Skidmore College University of Colorado Boulder Whitman College
4545 South University Boulevard Englewood, CO 80113-6059
Summer 2020
Review The
Highlights, Special Events and More!
Get Involved with SMA! q Attend an alumnae event q Make a charitable contribution q Send in a class note q Cheer on the Wildcats at the Pam Bent Turf Field at Biddle Athletic Fields
q Engage with SMA on social media Visit the St. Mary’s Academy website at stmarys.academy. Has this newsletter arrived to our alumnae parents rather than the alumna it was intended for? Please send your daughter’s updated address to kwheeler@smanet.org.