Kayla Vanderhoef, DSHA ’22, has had a multitude of opportunities, including the college-prep academics and leadership roles she has had throughout her four years at DSHA. She is also heavily involved in recruiting future Dashers, drawing on her own experiences. Her goal is simple: to show others it is worth working hard — and seizing opportunities — in hopes of a bright future.
Leading Others to Opportunites By Madeline Zukowski, DSHA ‘11
When Kayla Vanderhoef, DSHA ’22, graduated from St. Mary Parish School in Hales Corners four years ago, she was set to attend St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, her father’s alma mater. She and her parents toured DSHA just to check it off the list, to solidify that Thomas More was, in fact, the right place. But after the tour, everything changed. Vanderhoef knew she belonged at DSHA. “In middle school I excelled, and I wanted to be pushed even more, and I thought this was a good place to do that,” she said. “Hard work is something my family and I value a lot. I knew (at DSHA) if I was challenged, I would work hard to excel.” PUTTING IN THE EFFORT What she saw at DSHA during that tour — and her work ethic since her first day freshman year — led her to help other girls discover the all-girls, Catholic school for themselves. Vanderhoef is currently a student recruiter at DSHA, visiting area middle schools to introduce girls to the special experiences she has had, giving tours of the school to interested families at DSHA Open House, and helping with events for incoming freshman and potential future Dashers. “DSHA has given me so many opportunities, and I want to tell girls and families more about it and how great of a place it is for me,” she said. 15
While Vanderhoef chose DSHA because of its academics and was drawn to challenging courses like Accelerated Biology and Advanced Algebra right out of the gate, the leadership experiences she has had helped her formation in other areas. In addition to recruiting for DSHA, she has been a captain on the school’s swim team since her sophomore year and has been involved in Student Council — specifically the Student Ambassador branch of the council — since freshman year. “My leadership opportunities have helped me improve working with other people,” she said. “They have forced me to have an open mind and work with people who have different ideas and incorporate all of our different ideas into one thing.”
