November 2020 OLP Magazine

OLP MAGAZINE

LEADING IN CRISIS:

Heroes in Our Midst ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE (AUTUMN 2020)

Stand Here

In the footsteps of giants

Please Keep Your Distance

The cover of this magazine issue can be removed to reveal an 11x17 inch poster of our COVID-19 Student Design Contest submissions.

We invited students to submit designs for campus floor signage pertaining to physical distancing and received 58 incredible designs! All of the designs were printed and are on display around campus. The three winners were Anjali Paye ’21, Emily Ruta ’24, and Samantha Armstrong ’22.

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Dear OLP Pilot Community, Growing up, I still remember being told that heroes were all around us. I never doubted it! And never before have I felt it so profoundly as of late.

Over these past few months, we have seen the many remarkable men and women who have emerged as frontline saviors in healthcare, our first responders, essential workers, and those who have met the call in serving the needs of community members. They are the ones putting their lives on the line to care for all of us.

Another group of heroes has emerged through this global pandemic, and they are at the very heart of our communities. These are the unsung heroes who have walked alongside our families throughout these difficult months, who have been there for our children, and who remained as a motivating force in providing stability.

The heroes that I am privileged to work with day in and day out are the men and women who comprise the employees here at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. They do not seek praise, will sadly not often be featured on the highway billboard signs, but these are the individuals who have kept us going because they care for our children. As a parent myself, there is no greater joy and peace than knowing my children are loved and cared for, than seeing that consistent relationship during this time of COVID-19 between a teacher and a child.

No other profession has had to reinvent their entire modality so rapidly not once, but twice in the space of five months. First in March, as they were forced to quickly move their entire teaching pedagogy to an online distance learning curriculum! Then, a second time in August, as they navigated for the first time ever a Hybrid Learning Model that blended both distance learning and in-person learning under COVID-19 protocols. These COVID-19 protocols require face masks at all times, physical distancing, hand washing, and plexiglass screens. Our educators juggle all of this while actively working to maintain community, culture, relationships, and a faith-centered CSJ charism.

These heroes have simultaneously experienced the same cascading crises while caring for our vulnerable adolescent young women, navigating isolation, increased depression, many suffering from their families’ economic journeys, and potential COVID-19 exposures. As we reopened the OLP campus, our employees returned and navigated their own kids at home, health concerns, and a radical shift in their profession to enter a new learning environment in order that they may once again care for our girls.

In this edition of our OLP magazine, we pay tribute to the selfless contributions of our OLP employees with stories of their tenacity and fortitude in the face of such monumental change. We also highlight the remarkable investments made to provide a safe reopening of the OLP campus under COVID-19 conditions, and the partnerships forged with public health officials and business leaders to guide our work. This was all done while simultaneously preparing to open Esther Sanfilippo Navarra Hall and Shiley Center for Science and Innovation. Take a moment to view the incredible photos of our new facilities and the powerful way they are shaping learning.

We highlight the work of our faculty in partnership with our students to create the first student researched, written, and produced theatrical production at OLP called The Suffrage Project. Our students and faculty spent their summer crafting this important show commemorating the accomplishments of suffragists, while also memorializing the work still left to be done. Theirs is a masterpiece not to be missed! It is yet another testament to the incredible relationships forged between faculty and students, working in partnership to transform teaching and learning in real time.

For 138 years, OLP has remained steadfast in providing an education to young women rooted in a tradition of academic and spiritual excellence. At the core of how we are able to provide that is unequivocally these men and women. These are the heroes in our midst, leading in a time of crisis.

May God bless and keep you all,

Lauren Lek, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

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OLP

MAGAZINE

Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace

Head of School Lauren Lek, Ed.D. Assistant Head of School Jessica Hooper Leadership Team Rivka Bent Marlena Conroy Becca Fink Aaron Gonzalez Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Jessica (Goncalves) Occhialini ’88 Inez Odom Toni Russo Contributors Rivka Bent Becca Fink Jeanette (Prantil) Handlesman ’64 Stephanie Kanaski ’99 Bridgette Ouimette Anjali Paye ’21 Alyse Saucedo ’21 Justin Tracy Kaila Weedman ’08 Design Hollis Maloney ’07 Copy Editor Lisa Danaher Photographer Robyn Scherer Board of Directors Lauren Lek, Ed.D., Head of School Damian McKinney, Board Chair Francesca Castagnola Monsignor Richard Duncanson Clair (Cunningham) Kennedy ’81 Diane Koester-Byron Deacon Lane Litke Gayle McMahon Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea, CSJ Carrie Sawyer Timothy Truxaw Danitza (Ramirez) Villanueva ’98 Sister CSJ Provincial 4 | O Maureen L P M A G AO’Connor, ZINE

IN THIS ISSUE AUTUMN 2020

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18

OLP Leads the Way for a Safe Return to Campus

OLP's Theatrical Production: The Suffrage Project

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24

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26

Meet the Members of OLP’s Campus Readiness Task Force

Leading in Crisis: Heroes in Our Midst

The Boundless Journey: Celebrating the Completion of Phase I

OLP Alumnae on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Response

MARK YOUR CALENDARS DR. LISA DAMOUR VISITS OLP

This December, Dr. Damour will join the OLP community for a Parent Education Program, a student program, and a professional development session with our faculty and staff.

Lisa Damour is a psychotherapist, author, and public speaker. She is a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University, and serves as the Executive Director of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls. She has written numerous academic papers and books related to education and child development.

GIVING TUESDAY

A Global Generosity Movement will be held on Tuesday, December 1,

OLP’S ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

2020. Look out for ways

Friday, April 23, 2021 · Coronado Municipal

On May 5, 2020, our

To sponsor this event, please reach out to

community raised

our Associate Director of Annual Giving,

$42,465 as part of the

Kaila Weedman ’08, at kweedman@aolp.org

Giving Tuesday Now

or 619-725-9188.

campaign!

to support OLP!

SEVENTH ANNUAL WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM Friday, March 12, 2021

Join us for OLP’s Seventh Annual Women’s Symposium on Friday, March 12, 2021. This annual event brings together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success with our students and community.

To sponsor this event, please reach out to our Associate Director of Annual Giving, Kaila Weedman ’08, at kweedman@aolp.org or 619-725-9188.

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Our founding order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, have set the pace for our students in their achievements and commitment to “serving the dear neighbor.� OLP students follow in their footsteps as Uncommon Women for an Uncommon Time.

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OLP Leads the Way for a Safe Return to Campus

BY BECCA FINK

___ Student desks have been equipped with plexiglass and mask wearing is required at all times.

The Campus Readiness Task Force brought together members with backgrounds in large business operations, civic leaders, as well as healthcare and immunology experts to research best practices related to

The COVID-19 pandemic presents the most serious public health crisis the world has experienced in generations, forcing schools all over the world to grapple with how to safely

safely reopening the school’s physical campus. The team identified four critical areas to be considered to ensure policies and protocols provide the necessary conditions to mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19: (1) Physical Distancing and Reducing Student Density; (2) Health Screening and Preventative Hygiene; (3) Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting; and (4) Communications, Training, and Coordination.

reopen. This summer, the Academy of Our

These areas were identified through ongoing study of the growing

Lady of Peace appointed two task forces to

virus, the role masks and effective hand-washing play in protection, and

examine how to safely reopen while ensuring

literature on COVID-19, such as how to reduce transmission risk of the how to reduce and kill surface germs.

a robust educational experience during this

Concurrently, an Instructional Task Force composed of OLP teachers

unprecedented time.

campus with necessary restrictions, in a hybrid model, or fully online.

outlined plans and best practices to ensure learning should students be on

The findings from both task forces are presented in the OLP Roadmap for Reopening, a 71-page public document detailing the protocols for how the school will navigate reopening. All safety protocols exceed the standards for reopening schools set by the San Diego Department of

6 FEET

FACE COVERINGS AT ALL TIMES

INCREASED HAND WASHING

Health and the San Diego County Office of Education.

This work has been difficult and we have had to continually adapt to the changes that we face while living through a global pandemic. We are so thankful to our community for entrusting us with the education of their

MAINTAIN AT LEAST 6 FEET DISTANCE

daughter(s) and partnering with us while we prepared the way for our TEMPERATURE & SYMPTOM SCREENING REQUIRED

return to school.

Ensuring that OLP is able to keep our campus open requires the commitment of every student, every parent, and every faculty and staff member. It requires us to commit to a pledge for safety that calls all of us

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to respect each individual.

Following in Their Footsteps

BY A NJA L I PAY E ’ 2 1

Harriet Tubman leading others to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Florence Nightingale tending wounded soldiers in the Crimean War. Malala Yousafzai fighting the Taliban in Pakistan.

What did these women have in common across time and space? They faced immense obstacles and overcame them, leaving their mark on

One of the most difficult parts of the global changes over the last few months is the feeling of helplessness that seems to constantly surround us. We have so little control over what is open or closed, who is healthy or ill, who we can see and who we cannot. So this summer, when OLP provided an opportunity for students to design COVID-19 physical distancing stickers to be put around campus, I knew that this was an opportunity to have some control over how my senior year would look. My chance to make my mark.

As I began to brainstorm what my design would look like (being artistically limited by my inability to draw both people and animals), I knew that I wanted it to convey hope. I wanted to remind my OLP sisters that they are brave women and that this moment will pass but the strength that we will gain from overcoming it will endure a lifetime. In my history classes at OLP, we talked about many women, often unrecognized, who had risen above the problems of their time. They had challenged the status quo and moved against societal currents to stand up for what was right. And when they came out on the other side, they were stronger, smarter, and an inspiration for future generations. In my design, I chose to create footprints with the names of these women, allowing every OLP student to very literally follow in their footsteps as we go

history in the process. Today, we are all similar to

through perhaps the defining moment of

these women in two ways. First, we are all facing immense obstacles. And second, every one of us has the chance to leave

our generation.

Stand Here

As I walk around campus, I am constantly reminded of how blessed I am to be

our mark.

part of a community that is doing its very best to keep each other safe.

Being back on campus means rejoining with the vibrant sisterhood of OLP and

In the footsteps of giants

actively reimagining what tomorrow will look like, whether it is in clubs, classes, or sports.

When generations of future OLP students look back on this moment, I know that they will be proud of the struggles that we have overcome,

of the strength that we have demonstrated, and of the women that we have become. Every time someone sees my sticker lining the floor amid the dozens of other beautiful designs, I hope that they are reminded that we are part of something bigger. While each woman on the sticker made her unique influence, it was only through their combined efforts that we have the myriad of opportunities open to us today.

No footprint can be made alone. In this moment, together, we have the chance to be the giants of today, creating the footprints for future generations to stand in.

OLP MAGAZINE ___ Anjali Paye ’21

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Meet the Community Members of the OLP CAMPUS READINESS TASK FORCE

Sandro Romero

Dr. Edward Greene

Director of Operations at CityWide

Regional Medical Director at Sharp

Maintenance of San Diego

Rees-Stealy South Bay

It was an honor to have spent time with this group of individuals, brought together by a common goal of bringing our OLP family back responsibly and safely. OLP is a beacon of how schools around the nation should approach reopening during this time.

The time spent planning and working out the details with our team proved to be successful.

Thanks to the diverse experience and input from our team members, OLP was able to resume as intended, safely, for both staff and students alike.

Dr. Gregory Matwiyoff

John Galvan

Dr. Sonia Maciewjewski ’06 Ph.D., Scientist in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at Novax, INC. It was a pleasure being able to work along with the individuals within the OLP task force.

The amount of detail and consideration put into the plan developed for reopening the school was astounding. I believe that this plan will help protect the individuals at the school during this pandemic.

Cheryl Kim ’94

Pulmonary Specialist and Critical

Director of Schools for the Office of

Sr. Director, Flow Cytometry Core Facility

Care Doctor, at Naval Medical Hospital,

Schools at the Diocese of San Diego

La Jolla Institute for Immunology

OLP enjoys a long history of excellence in educating young, Catholic, women leaders.

Because of the school’s diligence in research and broad consultation in constructing its reopening plan, it is clear that our Pilots will safely continue a tradition of excellence long into the future. It was a pleasure to serve one of the finest schools in San Diego in this moment.

As an OLP alum, it has truly been an honor to serve on this task force with these amazing leaders and experts, making OLP as safe an environment as possible for both staff and students for in person learning. I applaud OLP leadership for being able to quickly adapt to the constantly changing environment due to the pandemic.

San Diego This was a fantastic collaborative effort spearheaded by Dr. Lek and her brilliant staff.

The OLP family should know that the school took extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of everyone! I was proud to play a very small part in this monumental effort.

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Tony Evenson

Gary C. Matthews

Paul Baribault

Chief Financial Officer, Manpower of

Vice Chancellor, Resource

President & Chief Executive Officer, San

San Diego

Management and Planning, University

Diego Zoo Global

I was beyond impressed with the level of thought and effort that Lauren, Jessica, Toni, and Rivka put into this plan. They left no stone unturned. It is the most thorough and well thought out plan I have seen. I truly believe it is the model for other schools to work from. Built into the plan was the knowledge that with all the unknowns, we had to be able to pivot in a moments' notice which you saw flawlessly executed after only a week on campus. There was no hesitancy to make a decision, because they had already worked through various scenarios. Behind every decision, the most important driving factor was first and foremost the safety and health of the students, faculty, and administration. In times like these, it was very rewarding to be part of a group that worked so incredibly hard and cared so much about finding various solutions that could address both safety and the strong desire for in person learning. All parents should feel comforted knowing every decision that has been made (and will be made) was well thought out and well intentioned. Great job to the OLP team!

of California, San Diego The efforts taken to ensure the safe return of all students, faculty, and staff was outstanding and will provide all a safe and nurturing environment. OLP serves a wonderfully diverse population that is blessed with caring and devoted staff with a singular focus in providing the very best and safest learning environment.

The task group focused on the available science and the needs of the students, parents, faculty, and staff in a loving manner consistent with the values they hold so dear. It was a pleasure and an honor to serve.

During these unprecedented times, it is important for us all to put community first and support each other to be better and safer together. The task force members shared their knowledge and experience, advising on new protocols and procedures we were all applying in different ways. As a new family at OLP, being part of this task force was, in many ways, our first experience with the school.

What we saw was a remarkable level of care, commitment, and attention to detail by OLP leadership to ensure they had detailed plans to deploy that would give them the options they would need to ensure a successful reopening and the flexibility to manage in a changing landscape. We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of the OLP family.

Dr. Melissa Halter Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Student Wellness at the

Victoria Greene, RN Director of Staff and Infection Prevention at Victoria Post Acute Care Not only was this agenda well worth the time and investment, but the significant progress made after our meetings led us to our desired outcome: having the students return to a safe and healthy learning environment.

Tyler Renner

University of San Diego

Director of Community Outreach,

Serving on the OLP Campus Readiness Task Force was such an honor. I was quickly welcomed into the OLP community and experienced a great collaborative spirit as we worked to strategize the best ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Our work was grounded in the OLP mission and seeking to ensure the Integral Student Outcomes were not compromised. I have great confidence in the OLP leadership and know they are well equipped to flexibly support student learning and community well-being.

District Three

Office of Councilmember Chris Ward,

OLP’s Campus Readiness Taskforce assembled a powerful and thoughtful group of community leaders to respond to shifting state, county, and city regulations to ensure the most enriching and safe environment possible for students and faculty. Campus leadership created working guidelines with integrity and neighborly intention. We are grateful for these ongoing conversations to keep the students and community safe.

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LEADING IN CRISIS:

Heroes in Our Midst

Faculty and staff physically distanced in our Aquinas Amphitheatre and our remote educators on Zoom.

In this crisis, teachers have shown, as they have done so often, great leadership and innovation in ensuring that #LearningNeverStops, that no learner is left behind. Around the world, they have worked individually and collectively to find solutions and create new learning environments for their students to allow education to continue.

Their role advising on school reopening plans and supporting students with the return to school is just as important.

J O I N T S T A T E M E N T F R O M U N E S C O , U N I C E F, E D U C A T I O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L , A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L L A B O U R O R G A N I Z AT I O N O N W O R L D T E A C H E R S ' D AY

THE FRENCH GOURMET "The French Gourmet is grateful to continue our food service partnership with OLP for the 2020-2021 school year! Our Common Grounds team is happy to be back on campus and serving the OLP community. We are offering on-campus service with appropriate physical distancing and COVID-19 protocols in place. New this year, we are offering online ordering! We are blessed to have a business where we can continue to do what we love: feed and serve others!”

MR. CHRISTIAN MALÉCOT Our “A Team” pictured at Common Grounds (left to right) Katherine Virissimo, Tracy Rillos, Domini Renda, and Christian Malécot.

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The faculty and staff at OLP have worked tirelessly to adapt to life during a global pandemic—continuing learning, creativity, and the social-emotional development of our girls. We are so thankful for all that they do to support the students at OLP. Here’s a snapshot of some of the incredibly creative ways our community is adapting!

SCIENCE LABS “Our Honors Genetics class needed to figure out how to adapt to the new COVID-19 protocols in place in order to conduct lab experiments. After some careful planning, the group performed their first COVID-19 safe lab experiment in September!”

M R S . M A RY C U L L I N A , S C I E N C E D E PA R T M E N T

VIDEO PRODUCTION “Our Video Production I students learned in the PTV studio earlier this semester. Mr. Moreno partnered with me and trained the students on the media production equipment, as students learned about being both in front of and behind the camera, with the proper COVID-19 safety protocols in place.”

M R S . I N E Z O D O M , A S S I S TA N T P R I N C I PA L , C U R R I C U L U M & I N N O V AT I O N , V I S U A L & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S D E PA R T M E N T

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Leading in Crisis: Heroes in Our Midst

ROBOTICS TEAM “OLP’s robotics team, The Pilots #6885, is using virtual tools to stay in touch and build skills that will help the team be even more successful in the coming years. The primary focus at the start of the school year has been team building and developing design skills.

Our first activity was to design and build structures using spaghetti and marshmallows, with the goal being creativity, strength, and/or height. Our next project is to work on resumes and to explore how social media can be used to promote a professional image.

As a side project for the team, we are also offering programming classes for students interested in learning to program. The classes are student-led and focus on learning enough of the basics so that students can understand the components of the robot and how they all work together programmatically. Next quarter we will be offering CAD (computer-aided design) classes for anyone interested in learning to 3D model.”

M R . J A M E S C O O N E Y, R O B O T I C S M O D E R A T O R ,

Helen Brunton '22, co-president, with her sister and fellow Pilot, Margaret Brunton '24.

M AT H E M AT I C S D E PA R T M E N T

SENIOR MENTORS “Our Senior Mentors took some time to practice their conversation and small group leading skills by participating in a little bit of ‘speed friending’ in one of our outdoor classrooms. They rotated partners, while physically distanced, and answered an array of icebreaker questions. Not only did this activity help the mentors hone their skills while having fun, but it also allowed them the chance to really get to know their classmates with whom they plan and execute school-wide community-building, faith-sharing events. Our outdoor spaces allow students to have awesome, in-person interactions, while staying safe by maintaining appropriate physical distance.”

M R . H A R R I S O N T R U B I T T, C A M P U S M I N I S T R Y

SPEECH TEAM “This school year has brought new challenges, especially for the OLP Speech Team, but with the help of Ms. Laura Rodriguez and our leadership team, we have been able to make plans to provide new ways of participating. By moving all weekly meetings and seasonal competitions to the virtual world, team members are able to continue to engage, actively participate, and compete. The leadership team has worked hard to make the transition to virtual as seamless as possible by involving the student population through Google Classroom, Zoom, and Instagram. The OLP Speech Team is ready to take on whatever this school year has in store, and we are looking forward to this year’s new opportunities.”

C H E L S E A M A C AV I N TA ’ 2 1 & J I L L I A N K L I M A ’ 2 1 , SPEECH TEAM MANAGERS

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Leading in Crisis: Heroes in Our Midst

DANCE “When thinking about how to structure my dance classes to support the girls online at home and here on campus, I had so many ideas as far as research, projects, and other things that could easily be adapted at home, but then remembered why our girls chose to sign up for a dance class in the first place - they love to dance and want to dance! So my classes are doing just that: we are dancing! Whether online at home or in the studio, we are dancing and finding therapy through movement. Especially in these times, I think it is so important to continue to offer an outlet of expression and emotion, and I hope that during my class, my students feel a sense of freedom and escape from the outside world for our 70 minutes together, no matter what learning model we are in.”

M S . K E L LY M A R S H A L L , V I S U A L & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S D E PA R T M E N T

AP STUDIO ART “In AP Studio Art (AP Drawing, AP 2D Art & Design, and AP 3D Art & Design), each student is building a Digital Portfolio of their artwork, which shows finished artworks, works in progress, sketches, and research. In our hybrid model, I wanted to find ways to keep our students connected to one another, so I created a website for the class that displays each Digital Portfolio. There is also an "Exhibition" page on the site that displays virtual art exhibitions of student work. We use the website for display purposes, to record progress, as a platform for critiques and discussions during class, and to connect visually as a whole group. The National Art Honor Society also has a website that unites club members with information about activities, membership criteria, meetings, and documented artworks.”

M S . M E L A N I E TAY L O R , V I S U A L & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S D E PA R T M E N T Rhea Lalangan ’22, "Parol," color pencil on paper.

“Socrates was one of the greatest educators who taught by asking questions and drawing out answers from his pupils ('ex duco,' means to 'lead out,' which is the root of the word 'education'). The overall purpose of Socratic questioning is to challenge the accuracy and completeness of thinking in a way that acts to move people toward their ultimate goal of learning. Thus, a Socratic Seminar is an academic discussion based on asking open-ended questions that allow for multiple interpretations, centered in academic dialogue rather than debate. The goal of Socratic Seminar is to teach students to engage in critical and deep thinking by preparing for and participating in an academic conversation. This conversation is centered on listening and probing ideas for the discovery of new ones. There are no "right" answers, but rather a journey of thought. I know that Socratic Seminar is one of the most powerful learning tools we can use with our students, but physically distancing in classroom spaces makes that challenging. So, I chose to take my students outside so they could look at one another and still be safely distanced with the goal of bringing every student into the conversation so that they can embark on this journey of deeper, more meaningful learning.”

S O C R AT I C S E M I N A R S DR. ANGIE GASCHO, INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGY I N T E G R AT I O N D I R E C T O R , E N G L I S H D E PA R T M E N T

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OLP’s First Virtual Women’s Symposium

BY BRIDGETTE OUIMETTE & ALYSE SAUCEDO ’21

O

n Friday, September 11, OLP held its Sixth Annual (and first

virtual!) Women's Symposium. Our keynote speaker was Haben

Girma, the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law

"She is Enough" panel: (left to right) Rachel Schlesinger, SDSU; Sarah Hassaine, Qualcomm; Alessandra Wall, Life in Focus Coaching; Stephanie Brown, Manchester Financial Group; and Rosa Adams, Shukor BELLA.

School, an advocate for equal opportunities for people with disabilities, and the author of the best-selling book, "Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.” Modeled after speaker panels at leading universities, this event brought together top women leaders to share their insights and pathways to success with our students and the community. Through dialogue and modeling, these female leaders empower young women to stand up for themselves and fearlessly chase their dreams.

We started the day with an emphasis on wellness through a yoga and meditation session led by Kelli Corder '09. This was followed by five pre-conference skills workshops designed to give a practicum in professional skills. The event featured four panels of speakers that addressed salient issues for women and girls from combating imposter syndrome to blazing your own trail.

The day concluded with a virtual cooking class taught by OLP alumna Sara (Valine) Harris '08, Executive Chef & Partner of Herb and Sea restaurant (right), and hosted by Danitza Villanueva ’98 (left).

Architects of Change club member Alyse Saucedo '21 facilitated our Q&A with Haben Girma. Haben shared her inspiring life journey filled with perseverance, courage, and grace, and she truly demonstrated what it means to be a woman of excellence. The conversation began with Haben describing the fascinating system in which she conducts conversations. The OLP community was educated on how Haben communicates: someone types a speaker’s auditory message onto a keyboard which is transmitted to Haben’s braille keyboard that raises with each letter for her to read. Haben then shared the obstacles in her life that she’s had to overcome, such as close mindedness, judgment, and underestimation of her abilities. She was also careful to emphasize that having a disability is not one of those obstacles but instead is an opportunity for innovation and a part of human diversity. Closing with guidance to our future female leaders, Haben shared invaluable advice that advocacy and change start small and bloom into bigger positive change, encouraging our girls to use their talents and voice on whatever platform accessible in order to contribute to a more inclusive, accepting world. We thank Haben for her time, wisdom, and inspiration, hoping to welcome her back to OLP in person as a returning honorary guest in the future.

Alyse Saucedo '21 and Haben Girma during the Q&A portion of the event.

Thank you to our 2020 sponsors, including our Innovator Sponosor, I.E.-PACIFIC, INC. 16 | O L P M A G A Z I N E

She Is...

Going Places. Resilient.

Daring. Enough.

Talking About Racism: Heeding the CSJ Call to Action

BY RIVKA BENT

T

he work of diversity, equity, and inclusion has been the underpinning of decisions at OLP for many years.

Inclusion is the driving force behind creating greater

___ Sister Angela Faustina, CSJ

access to all that OLP has to offer; this includes the examination of our facilities and organizational practices and processes.

Improving access has been and continues to be integral to the work of our administration. Last year, we began learning the

Fast forward to the 2000s and the stirrings of the order began to call Sister Angela to her own identity and authenticity. The issue of racism was first noted in the CSJ Acts of Chapter of 2007. In 2013, the Acts of Chapter became the CSJ Calls to Action, which encouraged the

“skill-up” strategies imparted through DEI expert Dr. Steven Jones

traits of “listening emphatically, surfacing biases, recognizing privilege

in his workshops with our faculty, staff, students, parents, and board

and racism.” 2019 went even further to encourage the action of the

members. With the help of Dr. Jones and others, we have gained

Sisters and those connected to them to take on “the care of the

more understanding about systemic racism and how systems create

world, live authentically and face down our own racism. Go deeper,

divides. At OLP, we are committed to improve, so we are continuously

journey farther, respond boldly and dare to be prophetic.” As a CSJ,

poised to be ready to meet the needs of society and ensure our

Sister Angela felt compelled to speak out with her story in an effort to

students are equipped to do so as well.

help others investigate racism's lingering trail. She reminded our OLP community that we need to “continue in discovery, individually and as a

Alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation is simultaneously

community. The work of anti-racism is not sequential, it's perpetual!”

experiencing the fall out from deep rooted systemic racism. At OLP, we are learning how to speak up, take action, and look inside ourselves.

Sister Angela spent hours guiding the conversation with the OLP faculty,

With this in mind, Sister Angela Faustina, CSJ spent a great deal of

staff, and administration to help us look inside to see past pit-falls and

time leading our employee retreat in August with a focus on what it

current struggles of racism, encouraging us to recognize that what once

means to be anti-racist.

was hidden can now be seen. She deliberately taught that silence on the topic is action in favor of racism. To not speak is to concur. As a

Sister Angela shared her experiences confronting racism early on in life.

CSJ-sponosored school, we are compelled to the mission and charism

She learned from society's constructs to identify herself as white; being

of unity, where our collective voices (in the classroom, admissions,

light skinned she was able to hide her African heritage. She explained

fundraising, internal systems, etc.) need to oppose racism as a measure

that the messages she received growing up in Los Angeles were not

of responding boldly until, as she states, “racism no longer exists.”

as severe as those of her counterparts who lived in southern states, yet she still learned that identifying as “white” would give her more

Springboarding from Sister Angela’s dynamic story, the work of individual

opportunities, access, and safety. With this understanding, she entered

and organizational introspection continues for OLP. In September, our

the order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet more than 50

faculty and staff engaged in guided conversation with members of the

years ago, as a “white” woman.

JONES team, Dr. Aisha Taylor and Dr. Damian Robinson, who couched the discussion by recognizing the highly contentious climate our students

___ The Sister Thea Bowman Award was presented to Sister Angela for her work to provide access and inclusion by creating the mini-congress in South Central Los Angeles. The award presentation had a profound impact on Sister Angela as her grandfather founded The Knights of Peter Claver, and it was the first time she was recognized in the community as a Black woman.

and all of us are living in. The discourse exercise allowed us to hear the burdens carried by the community, while recognizing the care and compassion that is vibrant in connecting one another. The intention here is to model for the students the love and compassion of our faith with the understanding of our own distinctions. As the CSJ Calls to Action spur us forward in the work of inclusion, diversity recognition, equitable access and anti-racism, we will see the OLP community “going deeper... journeying farther...responding boldly and daring to be prophetic,” alongside one another and in tandem with Sister Angela and the CSJ.

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SUFFR AGE (N .) late 14c., "intercessory prayers or pleas on behalf of another," from Old French sofrage

O L P'S F A L L TH EA TR I C A L P R O DU CT I ON :

The Suffrage Project

BY JUSTIN TRACY

I

f you stroll the hallways of Navarra Hall after school most days of the week this fall semester, you walk past an interesting sight in Room 206. If you lean your head in and pull back the curtains, you see a tiny sound stage tucked into this innocuous room at the

end of the hall. In that space, history is being made, or rather recreated. The Suffrage Project, OLP’s fall theatrical production, is being recorded in front of green-screen, one actor at at time, with COVID-19 protocols in place. The physically-distanced crew members wear masks and carefully coordinate themselves to do their jobs safely.

This year marks the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Emily Devereaux ’00,

Scan the QR code to purchase access to The Suffrage Project! Join us for the premiere on November 13, 2020!

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Chair of the Social Science Department and creator of the popular “Herstory” course, asked me to work with her to develop a play to tell the story of women’s suffrage to commemorate this momentous historical anniversary.

HE SUFFRAGE PROJEC

One of the goals of the production was to have students in as many leadership

roles as possible, and that included our first teammate, Eliana “Ellie” Oliver ’21.

A leader in OLP Drama, Ellie has participated in every OLP play since her frosh year,

both on stage and behind the scenes. For this project, we needed her managerial and organizational skills, as well as her creativity, and were overjoyed when she agreed to serve as the producer on the project.

In preparation for the writing of the play, a team of student-researchers conducted a close inquiry into the moments in history most critical to the Women’s Suffrage

Movement. In doing so, they became aware of the insidious racism and classism within

the movement. The researchers shared their findings with the student-playwrights, who then went to work on penning the play. They wrote the scenes, working directly with

the researchers to ensure the characters were as close to their historical counterparts as possible. While there is certainly some dramatization, our goal was to express the truths of these eras and figures.

We knew the voices of the underrepresented groups needed to be heard. We brought in ShaWanna Renee Goffney, a professional playwright, to coach the students and to

write one of the monologues, the powerful Sojourner Truth speech skillfully performed

by Belyeziin Farley ’23.

When Emily first approached me with the idea in March, it was right before lockdown

had begun. She, Ellie, and I brought together nearly 20 students who worked diligently over the spring and summer. We had numerous readings, first for Ms. Goffney’s

playwriting friends and, later in the summer, for a small invited audience. After the

readings, the audiences were sent response cards to fill out. Their feedback was pivotal in crafting the final edit of the play.

In August, we learned that due to COVID-19 we would not be able to perform the play as a live production. Therefore, we pivoted: the play became a movie.

While similar in many ways, plays and movies require quite opposite approaches. A

small team of editors went to work, led by Assistant Director Halle Wilson ’21, another OLP student who has also been involved in every show since her frosh year.

With this change came a great number of challenges and opportunities. The biggest

in both columns was LOCATION. Where would we shoot the movie now that it was not on stage? Thankfully, the show already had Animations and Illustrations departments,

run by Kat Lavarez ’21 and Anapaula Rios Miranda ’21 respectively. We pushed back the date of the premiere from October 16 to November 13 to accommodate for the extra

time that they and Editor Loren De Los Santos ’21 needed to fine-tune the movie’s look.

By shooting on a green screen, we are able to set the action where we want. The goal is to have an “illustrated” look that will slide from animation to “Zoom-world” / Brady Bunch actors talking to each other in different smaller windows.

Sound design is especially important for projects like this, and I am glad to have

Cindy Tran ’21 returning as our sound designer. For our soundtrack, Isabelle Islas ’23 is composing a full original score.

Adapting to COVID-19 is a challenge but also an opportunity. We believe this story needs to be told. Sophia Wakefield ’22 is playing Harry T. Burn, one of the

Representatives from Tennessee who helped ratify the 19th Amendment. Someone

asked her what this story is about. To paraphrase, she replied, “So many people went

through so much to get us to where we are. It may take more than our own lifetimes but, if like them, we keep fighting for what’s right, we can make a difference.”

--(photos from top to bottom) Halle Wilson '21 as Frederick Douglass Kate Linggi '21 as Elizabeth Cady Stanton Mr. Justin Tracy: Co-Creator and Director Ms. ShaWanna Renee Rivon: NAACP-nominated O L P M Aproducer G A Z I Nand E | 19 playwright for her first stage play Deal Breakers co-produced with Lisa Nicole Bell, which premiered in Los Angeles, California

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SHE IS THE FUTURE For 138 years, The Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego has taught young women to value diversity, equity, and inclusion with a focus on innovation and leadership

Housed in what used to be the Villa Montemar estate in San Diego, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP) sits atop a hill underneath the perennially blue California sky. As the oldest continually operating women’s educational institution in Southern California and the only all-girls’ school in San Diego, its mission is the same today as it has been for 138 years.

“The school was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1882,” says Dr. Lauren Lek, the Head of School and the first layperson to hold the position. “It was a time when women’s education was not at the forefront of people’s thoughts.

These pioneering Sisters were very entrepreneurial and certainly ahead of their time, real role models for the girls they educated.”

Today, OLP takes in 750 students from 82 ZIP codes across San Diego County and from the cross-border region of Mexico.

Twenty percent have familial ties to the school, some going back four generations. OLP is blessed by these familial ties such as the ones from generous patrons, Bob and Cheryl Kevane, whose granddaughters (pictured opposite, top left), current students Francesca (left, from the Class of 2020) and Cameron La Marca (right, also Class of 2020) and their aunt Patricia Kevane (who holds the title of Miss OLP from the Class of 1970). The school is fee-paying with robust tuition assistance offerings to ensure access to an OLP education is equitable. OLP girls come from a variety of religious, racial, and social backgrounds and, while they are expected to be part of the school’s Catholic community, the school’s “Dear Neighbor” philosophy provides an inclusive ethos.

“In France, when the Sisters began in 1650 following the Hundred Years’ War,” says Dr. Lek, “their intention was to serve the ‘dear neighbor without distinction’, according to the needs of society’. That idea—of inclusivity and unifying love—persists within the school community and as part of the curriculum from interfaith prayer services, to supporting students with learning differences to co-curricular programs.”

Pupils excel in the visual and performing arts and the school has a proactive STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program, with the result that 40 percent of graduates go on to study STEM fields in college: a remarkable statistic when compared to the national co-ed average of 16 percent. Many

OLP alumnae also excel in the fields of political science and international diplomacy, something that Dr. Lek believes is a result of the school’s large number of cross-border students and its commitment to social justice.

“Whether they are in research or innovation, our alumnae are consistently seen working to move humanity forward and making a difference day in and day out,” she says. “They are conscientious, caring women who never cease to amaze me.

What’s remarkable about our school is the feeling of sisterhood.

Our girls build each other up, empower, and help one another.”

Taking into account the holistic picture of the girl is a priority for Dr. Lek, including the pressures on women brought by modern life, which the founding Sisters could not have envisaged.

As for the future, Dr. Lek says she will ensure that OLP remains at the forefront of innovative academic practices to equip the next generation of women to lead and invest in societal needs. “I want every girl to know that whatever discipline she wants to pursue there is a pathway for that. Our world needs her voice to be heard.” www.aolp.org

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An early proof of OLP's article in the A Vote for Women 2020 publication published by St James’s House.

Educating the Female Leaders of Tomorrow

BY KAILA WEEDMAN ’08

As a result of the school’s incredible track record

This celebration, rescheduled for 2021 due to COVID-19, will be held

for educating the female leaders of tomorrow,

of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution,

the Academy of Our Lady of Peace received the tremendous honor of being featured in the 2020 Women’s Vote Centennial event in Washington,

at the Library of Congress to commemorate the 100th anniversary guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote in the United States.

The Kevane family has made a legacy of supporting female leadership in the civic arena. Bob and Cheryl’s daughter, Christine La Marca, was

D.C. Our participation has been made possible

recently elected as the first female president of the California Rental

by the generous patronage of Cheryl and Bob

on real estate and housing policy at the statewide level. Christine’s

Kevane, current OLP grandparents to juniors Francesca and Cameron La Marca.

Housing Association where she is actively engaged in advocating daughters, Francesca and Cameron, are following in their mother’s footsteps taking on leadership roles here at OLP. As a result of this honor, OLP will be featured as one of only four schools in the country in a commemorative book illustrating the advancement of women over the last 100 years in the US and will highlight the work still being done, especially by educational institutions like OLP. We will also be the subject of a case study to be included in the book, which will be distributed to members of the House of Representatives, Senate, Heads of State throughout the United Nations, universities, CEOs, and

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chairs from the leading 5,000 US companies.

Mia Davis ’23 Places First in Celebration of the Law Contest

BY BECCA FINK

In September 2020, Mia Davis ’23 submitted a

“This year’s theme discusses the women’s suffrage movement and how it forever

video for the San Diego County Bar Association

popular movements for constitutional change and reform. The 19th Amendment to

Celebration of the Law. This annual celebration invites San Diego County high school students to submit videos on a specific theme. This years’ theme was “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.”

changed America, expanding representative democracy and inspiring other the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote, a right known as women’s suffrage, and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending a century of protest.”

Mia’s video, “The Road to Equality,” won first place! In her two-minute video, Mia walks us through a brief history of the 19th Amendment and the journey for women’s equality in the U.S. She also asks her OLP sisters what women’s equality means to them.

Mia’s video is available online (watch the video by scanning

F U N FA C T: Mia has submitted videos to this contest before,

the QR code) and on public display at the Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse.

placing second in 7th grade and first in 8th grade!

LAUREN CRANE '22 FOR DEMOCRACY! As part of her journey to earn the Girl Scouts Gold Award, Lauren Crane '22 is effecting lasting change by equipping voters to make their voices heard! Alongside a group of volunteers, Lauren painted a mural in City Heights (pictured left) to encourage people to get out and vote. She also produced the San Diego County Registrar of Voters' High School Voter Education social media toolkit and led Democracy badge workshops for younger Girl Scouts. She isn't yet old enough to vote, but wants to inspire you to! OLP is so proud of Lauren for inspiring our community.

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OLP'S SOCIAL ENTREPRENUERS

BY BRIDGETTE OUIMETTE

This fall, OLP is represented in the Social Innovators Program at the University of Pennsylvania by five incredible OLP students. The Social Innovators Program allows students to learn about entrepreneurship and experience it first-hand while earning a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania.

OLP is the only west coast independent school to participate in this unique program in partnership with an Ivy League institution. During the twelve-week program, students learn how to launch ventures of their own that create value and a positive impact on society. Because students choose their own projects, each student’s experience in the program is unique to his or her interests and goals. Students are encouraged to find something that sparks their curiosity and to use intrinsic motivation as the basis for developing an entrepreneurial mindset.

Entrepreneurship is so much more than merely learning how to start a business. It is a mindset—a creative problem-solving framework that can be applied to any number of situations and opportunities—and it’s fundamental to students’ long-term success in school, work, and life. It allows them to see opportunities where others don’t, make risk-adjusted decisions, persevere through adversity, and communicate effectively with stakeholders and the public.

A N N YA A P O D A C A ’ 2 2 “This program interested me because of the prestige and level of hands-on experience we get from it. We are taught entrepreneurship skills, professionalism, networking, and life skills that will help us succeed in the future. Our mentors, Scott and Eric, really make sure the program is highly beneficial for us and are always there to meet with us and mentor us as we embark on this entrepreneurial journey. My target market, and what I would like to focus on, is the hotel industry’s lack of sustainability.”

EMMA PRINE ’22 “I hope to learn more about the techniques and expertise that entrepreneurs possess. In doing this, it is my goal to ultimately create an insightful business that will benefit many people. I am aiming to solve problems for people who help others with mental health. I have found that it is essential to help mental health workers in order for them to assist people in need of help. Additionally, through achieving this, I hope to spread awareness of the importance of mental health education in schools and in people’s everyday lives. It is important to remove the negative stigma attached to expressing one’s emotions and feelings!”

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ANA CLARISSA ORTEGA ’22 “I have been very interested in entrepreneurship ever since I was a little kid, and I knew this program would help me out a lot in the long run. I hope to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and how to grow in skills that will be necessary when creating a business in the future. The market I decided to focus on was teens who want to improve their self-health, and teens who want to begin to live their healthy lifestyle.”

M I A D AV I S ’ 2 3 “This program immediately caught my attention because I’ve always been interested in creating something to ultimately benefit people yet was never exactly sure how to begin. From this program, I am hoping to help at least one single person in some way, and to ultimately benefit their life even if only a little. I also hope to gain the knowledge to be a successful entrepreneur, seeking information that can help me in the future. The venture I am currently focusing on is people with nut allergies, especially those who have severe allergies that can lead to anaphylaxis. I am so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to learn more!”

ISABELLA BUCKLEY ’21 "This program really appealed to me because of the focus on helping others. Sometimes, business isn't rooted in moral principles, but this program really pushes us to think about other people, how we can best help them, and how to go about doing so with an entrepreneurial mindset. Since the start of the program, I have been inspired to think in a different way - to be more innovative and unique in how I solve problems in all aspects of my life. Now, I can apply this mindset to my own business venture!"

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset while in high school gives students substantive differentiation from their peers, better insight into their future educational and career opportunities, and more grit and resilience to accomplish their goals.

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The Boundless Journey:

Celebrating the Completion of Phase I

BY STEPHANIE KANASKI ’99

On September 17, 2020, Bishop John Dolan and Monsignor Richard Duncanson joined OLP as we hosted the virtual blessing and dedication of Esther Sanfilippo Navarra Hall, Shiley Center for Science and Innovation, St. Joseph Plaza, Aquinas Amphitheater, and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Relic.

More than a decade in the making, we celebrated the completion of the newly renovated buildings that meet the needs of our 21st Century learners. None of this would have been possible without the leadership of our Boundless Co-Chairs, Paola Avila '93 and Carla Boren '87, who have been honored as 2020's Alumnae of the Year!

We also want to recognize the generosity of our Boundless Donors who are true changemakers in our community.

As we look to the future and the groundbreaking of Phase 2—which will bring us the new Library Learning Center and Performing Arts Complex—we invite you to be a part of OLP’s history. Many naming opportunities are available. Contact Stephanie Kanaski '99 at skanaski@aolp.org to learn more.

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Scan the QR code to view the a video of the dedication event.

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OLP Alumnae on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Response

BY JEANETTE (PRANTIL) HANDLESMAN ’64

How are our alumnae faring during this pandemic? How are they lending their support to finding solutions to the myriad of issues that the virus, ensuing quarantine, and sheltering-in-place have presented to our worldwide community? In their usual generous manner, many of our alumnae have shared their very personal stories of the work that they do, the struggles they face, and the adaptations they have made during this very difficult time. They have also shared their vision of hope for the future. Once again, our pride in the life-changing work that our alumnae are doing, right now, during this crisis, soars! We thank you and bless each of you and your loved ones!

ALLISON WILHITE ’06 & DR. LORESSA USON ’06 Best friends since their years at OLP, Allison and Loressa have both journeyed near and far to find true fulfillment in their professional lives. Allison graduated from Stonehill College in Massachusetts with a B.A. in International Studies with hopes of working in international development and poverty alleviation, and perhaps pursuing a law degree to work on immigration and asylum issues. After three years as a member of AmeriCorps/Vista in Baltimore and two years in Ecuador as a Teacher Trainer for the Peace Corps, she felt drawn to use her development skills locally. She pivoted her career, returning to Los Angeles and earning a Master’s in Public Administration. She has worked with the City of LA to open an interim shelter for people experiencing homelsssness (PEH) and currently works with Project Roomkey, a statewide initiative to shelter COVID-19 vulnerable PEH in hotels, and an initiative to build 6,000 beds for PEH in eighteen months.

After her time at OLP, Loressa pursued a career in medical research. After graduating from UC Irvine with a degree in Medical Sciences, she conducted cancer research at the Salk Institute in San Diego before continuing her education at the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York City. She earned her Ph.D. by focusing on DNA damage repair in bacteria that cause tuberculosis. While studying in NYC, she had the opportunity to work outside the lab with younger science students. This work spawned her interest in science policy. She now works for the University of California at San Diego, and last November, moved to Washington D.C. as part of UCSD’s Government Research Relations team. There, she connects federal agencies, Congress, and NGOs with faculty, students, and thought leaders ___ Allison and Loressa on a trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2016 where they swam with the sharks and experienced a 7.8 earthquake!

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in the Washington, D.C. area. Most recently, she has been advocating for continued COVID-19-related emergency support from the federal government for higher education, research, and healthcare providers.

DR. ANGELA TOOKER ’96 Angela earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and is currently a Research Engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.

She has been leading a team at the Laboratory which is evaluating 3D printed nasal swabs used for COVID-19 testing and developing new prototypes of other consumables, such as test tubes/vials and 96-well plates, used in COVID-19 testing. There were serious shortages of these consumables at the beginning of the pandemic and new manufacturing options were needed. The 3D printed swabs are significantly different from traditional swabs, prompting many questions regarding their safety and efficacy. With her team, she has been developing rigorous testing protocols (mechanical, sterilization, aging, etc.) to help companies improve the performance of the 3D printed swabs. As she observes the world around her, Angela has been most surprised and heartened during the pandemic by the number of people beyond those working in hospitals and clinics who have responded with, “What can I do to help?” ___ Angela Tooker ’96

JULIANNE SHELTON HAMLIN ’06 Julianne is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and national certification as a Clinical Genetic Molecular Scientist. She currently works for Helix, a genomics firm which operates a high-quality gene sequencing lab in San Diego. In July 2020, the County of San Diego contracted Helix to supply and process 2,000 coronavirus tests per day. As a clinical lab scientist, Julianne tests thousands of local and national patient samples for the presence of COVID-19 using molecular-based essays.

“The pandemic has stretched my family and me in ways I never could have imagined. In late winter, Helix got its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 among its staff, and we were asked to stop everything and go home,” said Julianne. Remote lab work is impossibily difficult, yet she did it for two months. Now, back in the lab, she is working at breakneck speed with all safety precautions to test as many people as possible. “Life throws a million lemons at you, and it never stops. OLP taught me how to handle it with prayer; humility in not being afraid to ask for help; resilience in the face of adversity; and most of all, remembering that happiness really derives from serving others. The best lasting legacy of OLP in my life has been this emphasis on service. It propels me to be a better worker, a better scientist, a better partner, and a better mother. I don't regret the struggle in figuring out how to stretch myself in ways I had never imagined for something much bigger than me,” said Julianne.

DR. SONIA MACIEJEWSKI ’06

___ Julianne Shelton Hamlin ’06 in COVID-19 approriate gear at the lab.

After graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Sonia earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California at Irvine, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. She is currently a scientist at Novavax, where she has contributed to the development and testing of a vaccine for COVID-19.

Novavax has recently posted positive, first in-human Phase 1 data of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Her time as a student at OLP helped her to become disciplined in her academic and professional career and has guided her to become a more compassionate woman in her daily life. These values have played a significant role in her current work that is focused on creating life-saving vaccines for the betterment of society. In her own words, “This pandemic has highlighted to me the importance of coming together as a community in order to overcome these trying times we are facing. To do so, I have relied on my faith to help me be more compassionate and understanding with not only myself, but those around me who may be struggling during these times. I can only hope that with our continued faith and tenacity, we will be able to defeat this pandemic.” ___ Sonia Maciejewski ’06

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DR. PAOLA ACQUARO ’93

& DR. SEANNA THOMPSON ’93 Paola works as a physician in Sicily. At the beginning of the pandemic in Castelvetrano, Sicily, their healthcare system was in crisis—too many patients and too few beds in intensive care. The schools there promptly closed, but many families in Sicily do not have internet access. This inequity led to an educational gap among the country’s students. Yet Paola continues to maintain a positive attitude during this difficult time in her country, observing, “The lockdown, forcing people to stay home, gave them the time to reflect on the simple but important things in life.”

Seanna is a practicing doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is the Senior Medical Director at Mount Sinai South

Nassau on Long Island in New York. A medical school classmate of Seanna's, Lorna Bren, recently passed away. As she fulfills her duty to lead, her children are doing virtual learning, her mother is a frontline worker, and her husband serves as a medical doctor. Her struggle is compounded by the current economic and racial crises. As raw as things are right now, Seanna is preparing for the second wave and for whatever is to come next.

Paola and Seanna both credit OLP with teaching them the kind of determination that is needed in the time of this pandemic. ___ (left) Paola Acquaro ’93 with her children and Jeanette (Prantil) Handlesman ’64 at OLP in 2019. (right) Seanna Thompson ’93

LYNH LE ROWE ’92 Lynh is a clinical lab manager at Genalyte, a San Diego-based healthcare analytics company whose purpose is to empower physicians and patients with real-time laboratory results and healthcare analytics that improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Lynh is proud to be a part of a company that has developed serology testing for SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) and made that testing available to the public. Serology tests look for the presence of host antibodies against disease, which can indicate whether a person has been exposed to an infectious agent and potentially whether they have developed a measure of immunity against it. In the case of COVID-19, such tests could help identify people who have had the virus and recovered from it, allowing them to safely return to work. Additionally, they could provide researchers with information on the spread and scope of infections. In all that she does in her work and her personal life, she credits OLP with instilling in her a belief in herself, that there are no limits to what she is able to do.

This pandemic has provided an opportunity for Lynh to reflect on how intertwined countries and people are and how compassion, empathy, selfsacrifice, and resiliency are still so important in today's society. In her own words, “When we are forced to stop and do things differently for the good of ourselves and our fellow human beings, we see other better ways to measure the arc of our lives. This pandemic has tested our faith in science, faith in medicine, and faith in our neighbors. My hope is that I become a better person for it, living my life with intention and purpose.”

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___ Lynh Le Rowe ’92 with her daughter.

DR. ALICIA MIKOLAYCIK KURTZ ’03 Alicia is an Emergency Medicine Physician and the Emergency Department Medical Director at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, California.

Alicia shares that it is a strange thing to be a doctor in 2020. She recalls her days at OLP and is forever grateful that the faculty truly saw the strength and potential in their students and believed in the OLP mission to mold women change-makers of tomorrow. She shares, “Our country has a pretty rough relationship with healthcare, in that our American culture combined with easy access to all kinds of information on the Internet often results in tension between medical professionals and patients.” The presence of COVID-19 has presented additional challenges—what physicians don’t know about diagnosing and treating the disease and what they do know, and how patients have a hard time hearing the advice given by medical professionals.

But Alicia sees hope! She observes, “You see it in the everyday moments at our places of work; the creative gestures of support; the small tokens of gratitude; the celebrations of success when a COVID-19 patient survives and leaves the hospital. COVID-19 has certainly made being a doctor tougher, but ___ Alicia Mikolaycik Kurtz ’03

in all darkness, there is this chance for our inner light to shine brighter—and the medical community is absolutely fighting to let their passion fire burn!”

Alicia finds herself returning to the inner foundation that was formed at OLP— “the 'I can do this' attitude, emphasizing that rising when you fall and being willing to learn from your mistakes and try again is what really defines a person and makes you a successful leader.”

DR. SARAH DUNN ’01 A biochemist by training, Sarah is a principal scientist at NanoImaging Services (NIS) with specialized skills in electron and light microscopy sample processing and imaging techniques. After earning a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of California at San Diego, she is working from home, collaborating with her colleagues at NanoImaging on multiple programs to find a vaccine or a cure for COVID-19 and other critical diseases. As many other alumnae have shared, Sarah has been challenged in this time of COVID-19. She is grateful for all those who are aiding both those recovering from COVID-19 and those who have been impacted by it. She sees signs showing the strength of humanity and the resolve to stand together and connect, despite physical distancing. In her words, “I am confident we will make it through this by fostering our personal relationships, enriching our faith, and continuing to be courageous and courteous to one another.” Again, as our other alumnae have shared, she is grateful for her time at OLP: “While attending OLP, I was encouraged to find my voice, strengthen my confidence, and develop my ability to stay focused during challenges...

During this challenging time we are in due to COVID-19, I find myself having

___ Sarah Dunn ’01 with her family

the strength to be a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and coworker. I find I am very grateful to OLP, as the self-confidence, inner strength, drive, and determination that I have now, I learned first at OLP.”

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A LUMNA E OF THE YEAR:

Carla Da Luz Boren ’87 and Paola Avila ’93

BY JEANETTE (PR ANTIL) HANDLESMAN ’64

Since 1986, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace has honored one of its graduates as the Alumna of the Year. This selected alumna is a strong female leader whose personal, professional, and/or social accomplishments reflect the core values of OLP and the Sisters of St. Joseph. She is a woman who will serve as an inspiration for future generations of OLP students. ___ Carla Da Luz Boren ’87

In a break from tradition, we announced not one, but two honorees, Carla Da Luz Boren ’87 and Paola Avila ’93! Carla and Paola were honored in this special way for their vision and dedication to OLP’s

After graduating from OLP in 1987, Carla attended and graduated

future. As Co-Chairs of Boundless: The Campaign for OLP, they

from the University of California, Berkeley and earned her Juris

have been essential in ensuring the success of the campagin to

Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

renovate and innovate the OLP campus. Like our dear Mother St.

She is the General Counsel and Head of Human Resources at

John Fontbonne, whose statue shows her stepping forward, Carla

Otonomy, a biopharmaceutical company in San Diego. She and

and Paola are guiding their alma mater into its bright future.

her husband, Sean, are the parents of two OLP Pilots, alumna Isabella ’19 and Alexandra ’21.

Paola graduated from OLP in 1993 and went on to attend and graduate from the University of California, San Diego. She is the Vice President of International Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and Border Trade Alliance. She is married to Saintsman Troy Gorostiza and is the mother of two OLP Pilots, alumna Isabella ’16 and Simona ’21.

Congratulations, Paola and Carla! We are so proud of you and we are so grateful for your dedication to support your alma mater and its future.

Scan the QR code to view the Alumnae of the Year celebration at our dedication event.

___ Paola Avila ’93

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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POS TAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, C A PERMIT NO. 1592

4 8 6 0 O R E G O N S T, S A N DI E G O, C A 92 1 16

This amounts to more than $27 million awarded by colleges and universities to OLP’s graduating class.

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VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE IS S U N D AY, NOVEMBER 8

In a class of 166 students, 84% of the Class of 2020 received at least one merit-based scholarship.

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40% OF THE CLASS OF 2020 PLAN TO PURSUE STEM MAJORS IN COLLEGE

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V I S I T A O L P. O R G T O SIGN UP & LEARN MORE!

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Learn about sisterhood, the OLP difference, and why 100% of our grads go on to higher education.

The Academy of Our Lady of Peace admits students of any color, race, ethnic origin or faith to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, ethnic origin or faith in the administration of its educational policies, scholarships, financial aid programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.