Alumnae Engagement

Alumnae Engagement SHA CELEBRATIONS

Sacred Heart Academy values the connection between our alumnae and current student body through the celebration of the many shared Sacred Heart traditions.

In May and June we welcomed the following alumnae to address our students: Madeline Reynolds ’08 – National Honor Society, Marian Rosario ’16 – Junior Ring Mass and Ceremony, Princess Rahman ’18 – Alumnae Induction and Lauren Tucci Shafer ’01 – Class of 2021 Commencement.

NHS Induction with Mrs. Kerri Schuster, US English Teacher

National Honor Society

MADELINE REYNOLDS '08

Madeline is the Associate Director of the Honors Program at Villanova University. After graduating college, Madeline worked on the production end of Broadway, later pivoting to corporate fashion. She returned to Villanova in 2015 to work for the Honors Program, and most enjoys guiding students to find that which is true for themselves. She holds both her BA and MA from Villanova, is currently pursuing her MBA, and trained in Indonesia to become a certified yoga instructor. Madeline’s SHA days were filled with Student Council, trying to remember “Perfect” (Formal) Uniform Day, and being at the latter end of the alphabet for homeroom. Her SHA ring remains one of her most prized possessions.

Junior Ring Mass and Ceremony

MARIAN ROSARIO ’16

Marian currently guides the BSU at Sacred Heart Academy. Aside from working with Sacred Heart, Marian is continuing her commitment to nonprofit work as she currently serves as an Academic Coordinator for Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. Marian graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2020.

PRINCESS RAHMAN ’18

Princess is a junior and Ancient History major at the University of Pennsylvania and plans to pursue a medical degree, possibly in psychiatry. Through her academic work, and leadership and volunteer work, she has become passionate about access to healthy food as a social determinant of health. She is an urban farmer at The Sankofa Farm Community at Bartram's Garden and works to increase the sustainability and health of communities in Southwest Philadelphia. Princess gardens, grows, builds, and teaches as part of her work. She also founded her own YouTube Channel Grow Through It to raise awareness.

Commencement

LAUREN TUCCI SHAFER ’01

Lauren is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Nemours DuPont Pediatrics. She completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University. After graduating, she decided on a career in nursing and graduated from an accelerated BSN program at Thomas Jefferson University. She holds a Masters in Nursing with a focus in Pediatric Primary Care also from Thomas Jefferson University. Lauren is the daughter of the late Elise Allan Tucci, a 1970 graduate of Sacred Heart who was a beloved Pre-K teacher at Sacred Heart for 22 years.

Alumnae Engagement SHA EVENTS

“The thread that binds them together is their Sacred Heart education, and their loyalty to its mission.” ALUMNAE MISSION

Veterans Day Middle School Assembly

Dale Mitchell Hobbs ’95 is a veteran of the Marine Corps and the Air Force. She is also an Operation Enduring Freedom veteran participating in the war in Afghanistan for a year. Currently, Dale is a first grade teacher in Columbia, MO.

Katie Leardi Henslee ’08 joined the army as a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear specialist. She went to basic training at Fort Sill Oklahoma, advanced Individual training at Fort Leanordwood MO, and then headed to Korea for her first duty assignment. She was stationed there for a year, living on Yongson Army Base in Seoul. She then served at Fort Hood in Texas for almost three years. Katie is married to SSG Henslee, an infantryman in the army, and they are stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. They have four children: Emma Kate, 7, Billy, 6 Tucker, 5 and Connor, 1.

Madison Schnieder ’16 went to college at Saint Louis University and received her degree in Marketing. During college, she participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and received her commission in May of 2020 as an Engineer Officer. She then spent seven months training as an engineer officer at Engineer Basic Officer Leaders Course. Following her graduation, she headed to her first duty station in South Korea. Madison recently became a platoon leader in a Multi-Role Bridge Company (MRBC) where she will be leading about 60 soldiers in bridging operations on the peninsula. Since being in the Army, Madison graduated from Air Assault school where she learned about sling load operations and how to repel (jumping out of a helicopter tied to a rope). She also earned the Gold standard for the German Armed Forces Military Proficiency Badge. Overall her path has been an exciting and unique one since graduating from SHA, and feels she wouldn’t be the strong female leader she is today had she not attended SHA, which taught her to be a powerful strong woman who is not afraid to take on any challenges!

Alumnae Service

A global pandemic did not stop the SHA Alumnae Board from creating ways to perform service to benefit the local community. Stephanie Piraino-Davey ’02 organized a drive-by drop off of children’s clothing and accessories for Cradles to Crayons. It was a chilly November day that saw alumnae, parents, past-parents, and friends of SHA drive through the Lower Lot at SHA to donate much-needed supplies for children impacted by the shut down.

The annual Souper Bowl Drive was once again a huge success. Laura Hibbs McKenizie ’06 did a terrific job keeping alumnae informed of the progress of the week-long drive with posts on both our alumnae Facebook page and Instagram accounts. A local Delaware County food bank was thrilled to receive 22 cases of hearty soups this winter.

Middle School Day of Service

Caroline Hahn ’14 spoke to the Middle School girls about her experience working with AmeriCorps. Caroline detailed her experience teaching and working with underprivileged students. She shared that while doing this work she was reminded of St. Madeleine Sophie’s quote “for one child.” She shared how much she learned from SHA about giving back. She said “for whom much is given, much is expected.” She fondly recalled her SHA experience and how the Goals shaped her as an adult.

Upper School Day of Service

As part of the Upper School’s on-campus Day of Service, eight SHA alumnae joined us virtually for a service panel. Each individual shared how they have remained involved in service and advocacy in college. The panel of alumnae of current college students is involved in programs through their majors, through athletics, through campus ministry, through Greek life, and through campus life. They shared advice for our current students and demonstrated that work toward Goal 3 does not end after 12th grade, but continues to be a guiding force throughout life. As one alumna shared, “Don’t wait to make a difference! Just try something now!”

Thanks to Brigid Benko ’19 (Seton Hall University), Bridget Bergan ’18 (University of Delaware), Sarah Conway ’19 (American University), Alexandra Coyle ’18 (Saint Joseph’s University), Grace Magnotta ’19 (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Catherine Nguyen ’19 (Villanova University), Lyssa Shopa ’19 (Saint Joseph’s University), and Angela Winter ’19 (Drexel University) for sharing how Goal 3 remains an important part of their college experience.