Divine Savior Holy Angels High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school for young women that excels at developing the whole person. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior and grounded in their mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus Christ, we develop our students into capable young women of faith, heart, and intellect who accept the gospel call to live lives that will make a difference.
Kathleen Cepelka, PhD, Secretary Retired, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Jacquie Fossett, Treasurer QBE North America
S. Grace Mary Croft, SDS, DS ’56, Sponsorship Coordinator Sisters of the Divine Savior
Frank Probst, Sponsorship Coordinator Sisters of the Divine Savior
Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA ’92, President and Ex-Officio Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
MEMBERS
Juan Banda | Froedtert Hospital Froedtert Health
Heather Mehring Grams, DSHA ’97 | Next Door Milwaukee
Steve Hartzheim | Rockwell Automation
Barbara Henderson, JD | Community Volunteer
Brigitte Hyler Richerson | Advocate Aurora Health
Molly Hegarty Kanter, JD | State of Wisconsin—Department of Workforce Development
Mary Ellen Krueger | Aspiriant
Aaron Lipski | City of Milwaukee Fire Department
Arlisia McHenry | Consultant, City of Milwaukee
Brian Merdes | Rockwell Automation
Derek Mosley, JD | Marquette University Law School
Ann Pieper Eisenbrown | Pieper Properties
S. Carol Thresher, SDS, DS ’59 | Sisters of the Divine Savior
John Wimmer | Wimmer Communities
2024-25
ADMINISTRATION
Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA ’92, President
Dan Quesnell, Principal
Sally Gramling, Senior Team/Advisor
Chris Janssen, Chief Financial Officer
2024-25
STRATEGIC COUNCIL
Cynthia Blaze, Director of DEI
Ann Duffy, DSHA ’10, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid
Rachel Fredricks, Dean of Student Affairs
Claire Hartley, JD, VP of HR and In-House Counsel
Matt Johnson, Sr. Director of Development
Jennifer McLaughlin, Academic Dean
Stephanie Monson, Director of Campus Ministry
Maria Schram, Director of Students Services
Peggy Seegers-Braun, Athletic Director
Molly Shea, VP of Marketing & Communications
John White, Director of Technology
STUDENTS BECOME FIELD ECOLOGISTS IN COSTA RICA
From June 25–July 1, 28 Dashers had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica for a week-long immersive, hands-on field study where they acted as field ecologists. They searched for and studied exotic species of plants and animals, constructing ecological hypotheses and collecting data through the trip.
In the Tirimbina Rainforest, girls learned how bats are farmers of the tropics by viewing their interactions with the rainforest habitat, including work with on-site research scientists to catch bats for individual identification and documentation. They also studied macroinvertebrates and learned how to analyze and report biodiversity findings. Finally, they studied Costa Rican birds by observing behavior and gathering and collecting seed traps for study.
At the Arenal Volcano National Park, students hiked the path of lava flows and learned how plants and animals have re-established after volcanic activity. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest, they visited a world-renowned wildlife refuge and studied unique amphibian species.
These student field ecologists also visited the capital city of San Jose, participated in an agricultural conservation service project, experienced Costa Rican culture through cooking classes, and adventured with ziplining and whitewater rafting. The experience was developed and led by Science Department Chair & Faculty Stacey Strandberg along with assistance from Science Faculty Meghan Hahn and World Languages Faculty Señora Susie Romero
We were exposed to the opportunity to learn about nature and its wonders. With opportunities like these, we can learn to appreciate the Earth more and why it matters to care for it. The trip significantly strengthened my confidence in my STEM skills through hands-on experiments such as identifying certain bat species and testing the waters of the Costa Rican rivers for drinking safety. The trip changed how I see nature, and it has motivated me to not only continue my STEM studies at DSHA, but to possibly pursue a STEM-based career.”
Scan to view full research posters and complete list of DSHA SMART Team participants.
—Anamaria Mora Gallegos, DSHA ’26
Pictured left to right: Sophia Quinn, DSHA ’25, and Charlie Smukowski, DSHA ’25.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from the President & Principal
Special Events Highlights
Dasher Life Highlights
Fine Arts Highlights
Athletic Championships & Highlights
Faith Feature | All-School Care for One Another Service Project
Intellect Feature | Salvatorian Global Scholars Honors Program
St. Angela Merici Academic Support Program, Interventionist Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA ’10
Outdoor Maintenance Mechanic Randy Mettlach
Main Office & Campus Ministry
Administrative Assistant Tracy Richburg
Social Studies Faculty Chris Kirsch Weiss, DS ’70
Donor Profile | Molly Monday Schmidt, DSHA ’88
2024 DSHA Alumnae of the Year
On September 25, Dashers enjoyed sunny weather as they walked or ran 7 miles for the school they love, raising over $97,000 leading up to the event, and exceeding their collective goal by over $7,000. Over 700 donors contributed toward the largest student-led fundraiser of the year, including parents, grandparents, alumnae, faculty, staff, and community members. Seniors chose Once Upon a Dash-A-Thon! as the theme for the year and dressed as royalty, while juniors dressed as unicorns or dragons, sophomores as fairies, and freshmen as gnomes or elves. Dashers started off their day in the Chris & John McDermott Gymnasium for an all-school pep rally. The DSHA Dance Team performed, students competed in various games, shouted class cheers, and more. They then headed out on the 7-mile course with spirit stops along the way.
Young Alumna of the Year Dr. Brittany Mays, DSHA ’09
Alumna of the Year Meg Hegarty Dean, DSHA ’94
Jubilarian of the Year Toni Harrison Freeman, DSHA ’74
Dasher Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Christine Anselment Mikula, DSHA ’90
Rachel Koontz Reardon, DSHA ’10
Audrey Ackley Shaw, DSHA ’12
Alumnae News
Memoriam
The Word Magazine is published for and about the students, alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and friends of Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. Your feedback is always welcome; contact VP of Marketing & Communications Molly Shea at SheaM@dsha.info.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Molly Shea, VP of Marketing & Communications
CREATIVE DIRECTOR:
Alex Mora, Director of Graphic Design & Marketing Projects
STAFF WRITER: Erin McCarville, Marketing & Development Writer
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS:
Senior Director of Development Matt Johnson; Director of Digital Marketing Lisa Kaminski; President Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA ’92; Academic Dean Jennifer McLaughlin; Principal Dan Quesnell; and Alumnae Director Danielle Jerominski Rabe, DSHA ’08
2024-25 National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists | Congratulations to Anna O’Brien, DSHA ’25 (pictured left) and Delaney Scott, DSHA ’25 (pictured right) who were named National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This designation is given to only one percent of U.S. high school seniors and is based on their junior year PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test score, which serves as an initial screening of potential candidates.
At DSHA, O’Brien is involved in the SMART (Students Modeling a Research Topic) Team, Science Olympiad, DSHA Varsity Tennis, Diving Strings Ensemble, Student Council, and serves as a Student Auction leader. She hopes to pursue a career in STEM upon graduation. Scott is involved in Student Council, Campus Ministry Council, Art Studio co-curricular, Yearbook, and theatre. She hopes to pursue a degree in marketing upon graduation.
As semi-finalists, these Dashers will apply to be named National Merit Finalists. Finalists will be selected based on their academic record, school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors, and awards received. National Merit Scholarship winners will then be selected from the group of finalists and announced this spring.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT &
Dear DSHA Community,
DSHA continues to be a school that leads, and our girls continue to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to them during high school. Our young women are seeking to be change-makers as they work toward making a difference in the world around them. Whether through committing to academic passions toward the pursuit of a particular area of study in college, or completing a service project through Campus Ministry or their athletic teams—our young women are leading, achieving, and growing each and every day.
Built on a Legacy of Generosity
Today, our Dashers have the most incredible four-year experience because of the legacy built before them. Between 2001-2006, the Vision DSHA campaign added to the footprint of the school with some elements that are hard to imagine our current experience without: the Quad, Fridl Family Foyer, the visual arts suite, and the Robert and Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre. And between 2012-2015, the Building on our Faith campaign reshaped our campus with an additional 60,000 square feet of resources for students including the Chris and John McDermott Gymnasium, the Sarah Hegarty Fitness Center, the R.J. Fridl Commons, the Sylvia DuBois Campus Ministry Center, the Dan and Mary Brennan-Druml Student Services and College Center, along with new classrooms including the Kathleen Granrath Wilson (DS ’63) Vocal Music Room, an instrumental music, and world languages classrooms.
These pieces of our building have become the places where hard work turns into opportunity; where dreams are born; and where academic and co-curricular interests become lifelong pursuits.
The thousands of donors who participated in these previous campaigns directly invested in the lives of our current freshmen through senior classes. They gave them space to perform our Jerry Award-nominated fall musical, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical; the gym to practice and compete in on their way to a three-peat WIAA Volleyball State Championship; and a chapel to attend Thankful Thursday Mass in each week. The student experience today is a gift from the donors of the past.
In addition to our current students, the thousands of women who have graduated since the start of the 2001 campaign, have since become rocket scientists, teachers, medical professionals, servicewomen in the Armed Forces, engineers, entrepreneurs, executives, and mothers. These women have had the confidence to carve their own path, as evidenced by our incredible alumnae community who have become leaders in their companies, communities, and churches in which they serve and live. (See pages 39-44 for the incredible women honored as our 2024 DSHA Alumnae of the Year and 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame!)
Forward in Faith: Elevating Empowered Young Women
And now we have the privilege to further announce how our next capital campaign will continue to build on the legacy and cornerstone of the past, and continue to build the very best DSHA for our current and future generations of Dashers through our Forward in Faith: Elevating Empowered Young Women campaign.
This campaign is meant to sustain our growth and continue to provide excellence for our girls in our remarkable school community. We are thrilled to announce that the campaign will fund the following:
f State-of-the-art STEM labs for every content area in the sciences. These spaces will create flexible learning environments in each classroom that resemble a college classroom. These spaces will foster collaborative and creative learning where students can work together to design, develop, research, experiment, and more.
f Collaborative media center and modernized classrooms and systems. These renewed spaces will also mirror college learning environments through safe, healthy, and technology-driven resources. Additionally, this will allow faculty the opportunity to teach emerging disciplines, support pedagogy, and encourage creativity and collaboration to further advance the caliber and excellence of our current course offerings.
f Outdoor competitive athletic fields. Two turf fields will be added for soccer, rugby, lacrosse, field hockey, and softball, offering Dashers the ability to practice, play, and host games on campus, along with outdoor fitness spaces for all students.
f Growing our endowment. Additional funds toward the endowment will help ensure that we can continue to have the strongest student body possible, and offer scholarship assistance to every deserving girl, regardless of her financial situation. Every $1 million raised toward the endowment will provide an additional $40,000-$50,000 of financial assistance to students annually.
f Enhanced campus safety and security. When 100 parking spaces are added, student drivers will be able to park on campus, along with additional security measures including controlled gates.
We are so grateful to share that to date (at the time of printing), we have already raised $10 million. These priorities will total over $20 million in need. Gifts have come from parents, alumnae, and past parents, and we are so grateful. The dedication and commitment to our school community is clear. We look forward to sharing more about the rollout, and plan to celebrate with you along the way.
Thank you for your continued and ongoing partnership as we work together to develop young women of faith, heart, and intellect.
If you are interested in learning more about the campaign, please contact President Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA ’92 , at KoniecznyK@dsha.info or 414.616.2811 , or Sr. Director of Development Matt Johnson at JohnsonM@dsha.info or 414.721.2911
Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA ’92 President
Dan Quesnell Principal
SPECIAL EVENTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1 | WELCOMING FUTURE DASHERS
DSHA welcomed future Dashers and their families at DSHA Open House on October 20. With over 500 registered guests for the day, girls in grades 5-8 came to campus to take a student-led tour, attend an optional Mass, meet DSHA faculty and staff to learn more about the all-girls difference in the classroom, hear the Angelaires and the Divine Strings perform, and more. Families were greeted by the Pennys and heard from students about their experiences at DSHA including Campus Ministry, co-curriculars, athletics, fine arts, and more. Pictured left to right are the DSHA Class of 2025 Pennys, Nina Kuehn, DSHA ’25 ; Ana Sofia Phillips, DSHA ’25 ; and Grace Wimmer ’25
2 | PAR-TEE FOR DASHER ATHLETICS
On September 6, DSHA current and past parents, alumnae, and community members were invited to the PAA Golf Outing & Dinner. An annual event to support the amazing Dasher Athletics program, individuals played at the University Club of Milwaukee. With several special activities throughout the course, participants got to “Golf with a Dasher” with D1 WIAA State Girls Golf Champions Hannah Strachota, DSHA ’25 ; Zoe Gryniewicz, DSHA ’27 ; and Julia Krueger, DSHA ’28 . The event wrapped up with a cocktail hour, dinner, and a silent and live auction. Pictured left to right are DSHA parents: Adrianne Busch , Jamee LaMonds , Heather Mehring Grams, DSHA ’97 , and Laura Russell
3 | ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD
DSHA held its second annual Mother Daughter Dinner Dance at the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee on November 23. During the special night, Dashers, their mothers (or special mother figures) enjoyed live music, dancing, and dinner. The dance was themed All That Glitters is Gold and some participants came dressed in sparkles, glitter, or metallic clothing. Save the date for a special Mother Daughter Liturgy to be held on May 4 in the Mother of Our Savior Chapel! Pictured left to right: Julie Nolan and daughter Josephine Nolan, DSHA ’27
4 | PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
The DSHA Class of 2026 participated in Junior Interview Day on November 8. Dressed in business casual, Dashers participated in mock interviews with professionals from the greater DSHA community including alumnae, parents, and past parents. As a part of the interview process, girls reflected on their growth in the five Qualities of a DSHA Graduate. There were also several group sessions in which students discussed career exploration, resume building, guidance on college applications, and more. Pictured left to right: Grace Hodges, DSHA ’26 ; Maddie Hodges, DSHA ’26 ; Olive Foster, DSHA ’26 ; Ava Johnsen, DSHA ’26 ; and Lizzie Stuckslager, DSHA ’26
5 | A COOKIE & A CAREER
Megan Waldoch, DSHA ’13 , visited DSHA on November 12 for the quarterly Cookie & Career event. Waldoch currently serves as the DL Hematology Supervisor for the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. She received her biology degree from St. Norbert College and spoke with the girls about her educational journey, career path, and offered a Q&A for students.
6 | A FESTIVE MORNING
On December 8, Santa and his helpers brought Christmas cheer, goodies, and plenty of sweet treats to share in the DSHA Quad for A Morning in Santa’s Workshop. In addition to a holly jolly afternoon with Santa, children created their own Nativity scenes and Advent crafts. Attendees were encouraged to stay for the annual Choral Christmas concert featuring performances by the Camerata Choir and the Angelaires following the event in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre.
DASHER LIFE | HIGHLIGHTS
1 | SPREADING ADVENT & CHRISTMAS CHEER
Students, faculty, and staff, had many options to participate in prayer, service, and Christmas cheer throughout the Advent season. Dashers participated in a Warm Clothing Drive where they donated gently used winter coats, hats, scarves, and more to be donated to several non-profit organizations throughout Milwaukee. As their Advent project, girls raised funds and awareness for Bridge to Brighter, a Milwaukee-based non-profit that provides vital services to youth who are in or aging out of foster care. Students were also invited to participate in Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation. Finally, Dashers enjoyed some Christmas cheer with the all-school Christmas Music Assembly on December 6 where they heard popular hits from the Handbell groups, Orchestra, Divine Strings, Camerata Choir, and the Angelaires.
2 | THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Students in AP Environmental Science, instructed by Science Faculty Megan Hahn , and Earth Science, instructed by Science Faculty Eric Himburg , visited the Catholic Ecology Center where they conducted a turbidity test (water clarity) and collected water samples from the pond, creek, and river on the property. Pictured: Jenna Mansfield, DSHA ’26 (left), and Sienna Ebo, DSHA ’25 , collect water samples.
3 | ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, STEM!
Students in Introduction to Engineering, instructed by Specialized Studies Department Chair & Mathematics Faculty Connie Farrow , traveled to the Milwaukee School of Engineering to participate in a program about artificial intelligence and machine learning. Dashers were instructed to make an unbeatable rock, paper, and scissors machine, building a dataset that could train an AI model to recognize hands making the rock, paper, and scissors symbols. Students started by coding the robot hands, creating the data set, and training the model. They ended the experiment by putting the robot to the test! Pictured left to right: Victoria Woelfel, DSHA ’26 , and Calli Dahlgren, DSHA ’26
4 | OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
On December 12, the DSHA community gathered in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with an all-school Mass. In collaboration with DSHA Campus Ministry, the Furia Latina co-curricular helped plan and organize the bilingual Mass. The special annual Mass honors Mary and her appearance to St. Juan Diego in 1531. It opened with a traditional Aztec dance performed by the Dance Academy of Mexico as a form of prayer and to honor Mary. Cielo Sandoval, DSHA ’27 (pictured) was featured on the drums. Additionally, Edgar Islas, father of Carolina Islas, DSHA ’26 , led the traditional mariachi-style praise and worship music with Carolina playing the cello.
5 | INTERFAITH GRATITUDE PRAYER SERVICE
On November 21, the DSHA community gathered in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre for the fall semester, student-led Interfaith Prayer Service. During the Thanksgiving week, the theme of the service was gratitude, a shared belief among religions in the many ways we show gratitude to God and reach out in service to others. The service was led by Dashers who practice a variety of faith backgrounds and included a praise dance; Christian gratitude prayer; Sikh prayer; several gratitude prayers from an African-Christian perspective; a Muslim verse from the Quran; an Apostolic Pentecostal Prayer, as well as a short summary of the history of Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month.
6 | MUSÉE D'ART DE CHICAGO
This fall, Dashers in the dual-college credit course French 252: Intermediate French, instructed by World Languages Faculty Madame Eileen Gleeson , traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago. Students explored different exhibits and viewed Impressionist, Neoclassicist, Romantic, Cubist, and other works. The students also enjoyed an authentic French meal together, complete with five courses prepared by Chef Didier Durand of Southwest France.
FINE ARTS | HIGHLIGHTS
1 | RINGING IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
The DSHA handbell ensembles delivered some Christmas cheer throughout the Advent season. On December 6, these talented musicians played both contemporary and classic songs for their peers at the annual all-school Christmas music assembly. On December 4, Dashers showcased what they learned throughout the semester at the DSHA HandbellPalooza Christmas Concert. The concert included popular hits such as God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, and more.
To spread some cheer throughout the wider community, the groups performed for the residents of St. Camillus on December 12, at the Basilica of St. Josaphat on December 14, and throughout the halls of DSHA leading up to finals week. Pictured left to right: Julia Davis, DSHA ’27 , Tirza Getty, DSHA ’26 , and Rachel Morris, DSHA ’25
2 | DIVINE PERFORMANCES
The Divine Strings Orchestra Fall Concert was held in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre on October 7, where they performed It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got Those Strings, Moondance, and finished the set with Creaking Tree. On December 9, DSHA hosted the annual Instrumental Christmas Concert. The DSHA Orchestra opened with The Never Ending Story and brought the Christmas spirit with Away in a Manger and Sleigh Ride. The Divine Strings then performed Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and All I Want For Christmas Is You, among other festive hits. Additionally, these talented musicians played for their peers, faculty, and staff at the annual all-school Christmas Music Assembly on December 6.
Additionally, the DSHA Divine Strings performed for over 500 registered guests at the DSHA Open House on October 22 as well as several all-school Masses, including the annual Welcome Back Mass, the Fr. Jordan Spirit Week Homecoming Mass, the Solemnity of All Saints Mass, and more. Pictured left to right: Luisa Lopez Lara, DSHA ’27 , and Carolina Islas, DSHA ’26
3 | DESIGNING BEYOND THE CANVAS
The students enrolled in Graphic Design completed a new project using Adobe Photoshop. Dashers created a “My Life” movie poster featuring a tagline, quote, and at least five unique images. Students were required to layer the images using Photomontage, a feature of Photoshop, and describe why they made specific design choices. Meanwhile, the students in AP Studio Art:2-D created and submitted pieces for the Wisconsin Scholastic Art Awards, a program that acknowledges excellence in the visual arts and encourages the artistic endeavors of young people in Wisconsin. Recipients of this award will be announced in the spring and have their artwork displayed in the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Additionally, the students in AP Studio Art:2-D are preparing their final portfolios to be submitted in the spring as the culmination of the course. The artists are in process of creating twenty original pieces; they will receive feedback on the amount of research done, attempted experimentation, techniques used, and overall composition. The final pieces will be on display in the DSHA Commons in April.
4 | HOLIDAY HARMONIES
On October 7, the DSHA Angelaires (pictured) kicked off their busy fall semester with the annual DSHA Fall Concert. They opened the show with Somebody to Love and closed with Some Nights. On December 6, the musicians performed for their peers at the annual all-school Christmas music assembly. On December 8, the DSHA Camarata Choir and the Angelaires hosted the annual Choral Christmas Concert in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre. The DSHA Camarata Choir performed Caroling Caroling, Christmas is Coming, and Candy Cane Lane. The Angelaires then took the stage with some traditional favorites including Gloria (Angels We Have Heard On High), Peace Peace, and more.
Throughout the semester, the DSHA Angelaries also performed at various organizations and events including at the Bluemound Country Club, St. John Vianney in Brookfield during their Santa Breakfast, the Ladies of Charity Luncheon at the Wisconsin Club, St. Anthony on the Lake for their Young at Heart Christmas Party, and more. The troupe also caroled at the historic Pabst Mansion in downtown Milwaukee as well as performed in the Tosa Village for the Christkindlemarket on December 19.
Keyshla Vega, DSHA ’25, as Luke and Sophie Wondrachek, DSHA ’25, as Percy.
Broadway star Chris McCarrell works with Natalie Hartung, DSHA ’27, playing Annabeth.
The DSHA Stage Crew.
Jenna Mansfield, DSHA ’26, as Mr. D.
Sophia Monson, DSHA ’28 (center) as Charon with the ensemble.
L to R: Elise Drosen, DSHA ’28; Madeline Lampe, DSHA ’27; Natalie Ottman, DSHA ’27; Alexia Nicoletopoulos, DSHA ’27; Karalyn Peterson, DSHA ’25; and Lauren Wray, DSHA ’26.
DSHA THEATRE COLLIDES WITH BROADWAY IN PREPARATIONS FOR
THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL THE LIGHTNING THIEF
This fall, DSHA Theatre presented The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, with seven productions running from November 8-16. The on-stage epic featured a hilarious script and a rock soundtrack where Greek mythology collides with modern-day kids in an electrifying musical adaptation of the favorite book series.
In the summer of 2023, DSHA’s Producing Director Amanda Marsala began to pursue rights to the show, a standard practice. For the first time in her 19 years at DSHA, and the first time in 15 years of teaching for Director of Theatre, Choir, & Liturgical Music Zach Ziegler , the rights were denied without reason or explanation. After two additional tries, they received the go-ahead for this fall. This allowed the cast of the DSHA production to receive a masterclass workshop from Broadway star Chris McCarrell, who originated the role of Percy Jackson, performing the role both on and off-Broadway.
Ziegler learned that McCarrell was cast in the Milwaukee Rep’s fall production of Prelude to a Kiss, and that he would be in Milwaukee during rehearsals for Percy. So he contacted the star and invited him to come to the DSHA Robert and Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre for an “Acting through Song” workshop. DSHA contracted McCarrell to spend the after-school hours of October 16 with students in the production to work through preparations for the upcoming show, sharing his own insights into the character and story, and working through some feature numbers. Sophie Wondrachek, DSHA ’25 , who played Percy, rehearsed portions of her solo Good Kid, and Natalie Hartung, DSHA ’27 , playing Annabeth, practiced her song, My Grand Plan. Wondrachek and Hartung both received high praise from McCarrell. He also worked with the cast on how to elevate their performances by demonstrating how all vocalists can emphasize diction and play with rhythm.
A highlight from the afternoon was McCarrell’s vocal “latte” exercises. “Every famous voice is a latte,” he shared. “We need to make our voices a latte with the right amount of foam and milk.” From there, he explained that the “foam” part of a voice is what makes it unique— but on its own, it’s not enough. A good voice also needs the “milk” of the latte, or the depth and strength to
perform. Along with McCarrell, students practiced and played with their unique “foamy” voices and strong “milk” voices in search of the right latte ratio.
Of the vocal coaching, Hartung said, “Receiving guidance from a professional like Chris who knows the show so well really helped me grow my vocal technique and as a performer. Working with him was such a privilege and I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity.”
McCarrell didn’t just stop with vocal training. He also walked through the all-cast Campfire Song. With a full stage, McCarrell explained that directing the audience’s attention is paramount. He explained that this can be done by “reducing static.” Static can be extra movement or noise. By keeping the right focus and maintaining stage presence, “you build audience confidence,” said McCarrell.
After more than an hour of workshopping several songs, McCarrell opened the floor to questions from Dashers. Students asked McCarrell about the Broadway audition process, challenging moments on stage, and his favorite moments during his tenure as Percy.
“Getting the chance to work with Chris McCarrell was such an exciting opportunity. It was really interesting to hear feedback on our work from somebody who is both a professional actor and knows our show so well. He had so much fun with our cast and was a wealth of knowledge,” says Ziegler. “A truly memorable experience that would not have happened in our original plan.”
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical received 14 Jerry Award nominations in recognition of excellence in high school musical theatre inWisconsin. In addition to being nominated for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Overall Design, five individual students were nominated for their outstanding performance, among other awards. Scan to view the full list of nominations from the productions. Awards will be given this spring.
DSHA Volleyball Captures Historic Three-Peat State Championship
BY MOLLY SHEA
On Saturday, November 9, DSHA’s Varsity Volleyball team, led by Head Coach Caitie O’Brien Ratkowski, DSHA ’02 , became the first team in the history of WIAA Division 1 girls volleyball to earn three consecutive state championships. The Dashers defeated conference-rival Sussex Hamilton 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22) in a tough final match to capture the gold ball trophy. The team finished the season undefeated in the state of Wisconsin with an impressive 47-1 record and a final top-5 national ranking by USA Today/ AVCA. This team was a powerhouse on the court, a family off the court, and fueled by a special class of seniors who led by example through their goal-setting, sportsmanship, work ethic, and demonstration of what it means to be a good teammate.
Ambition in Action
Beginning the season on the heels of back-to-back state championships in the previous 2022 and 2023 seasons, the number one goal for the team was to win a third consecutive state title. Additionally, the team set specific goals to finish in the top three of each tournament, go undefeated in the state, finish in the top six nationally, and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
“I am really proud of this team for a lot of reasons. One of the biggest would be their determination. They set their season goals at the very beginning of the season, before we even had our first practice, and they worked hard every day to do what they needed to meet those goals. They were determined to stay on that path,” Ratkowski shared. “I am also proud of their focus throughout the season. We had some long weeks of practices, along with long tournaments, and they were able to keep their focus, remember their goals, and continue to keep out distractions so they could achieve their goals.”
Three-year varsity setter and Belmont University commit Jordan Czajkowski, DSHA ’25 , adds, “Our coaches would check in with each of us on the team every couple of weeks on how we were doing—with our goals and what we needed. It was so helpful to have that focus and opportunity to think through what we needed to work on.”
Every Role Matters
Czajkowski added that in these meetings the coaches would talk to each Dasher about her role on the team and why it mattered. The Dashers accomplished each of their team goals, in part due to their depth at each position, along with each player’s understanding of how they
Dashers celebrate after defeating conference rival Sussex Hamilton 3-1 in the WIAA Division 1 State Volleyball Championship match.
were expected to contribute to the team’s overall goal to bring home a third gold ball trophy in three years.
Four-year varsity starter, two-time Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, and University of Wisconsin commit Madison Quest, DSHA ’25 , shares of the team’s depth, “We get to play against such tough competition every day at practice. It pushes us to be better. It helps in each position, too. As an outside hitter, I have so many others in practice who are pushing me to be better and we help each other. That is a really important part of our team. We help each other focus, but also stay balanced with being silly and goofy and having a lot of fun.”
“With so much talent, we all got to get better throughout the season,” adds three-year varsity defensive specialist and University of Miami commit Olivia Durst, DSHA ’25 . “It is very fun to make each other better. Especially embracing the younger girls. We (the seniors) all remember what it was like being in their shoes. It’s our job to help them get connected and shape their experience both as teammates and players—and then push each other every day in practice.”
Reflecting on the importance of team roles, Ratkowski holds a special appreciation for the team’s seniors. “This season, these 3 seniors (Czajkowski, Durst, and Quest), along with seniors Elise Hohenwalter (DSHA ’25) , Elise VanHimbergen (DSHA ’25) , and our manager Grace Wills (DSHA ’25) brought a strong level of confidence and leadership. They supported each other and their teammates, and they worked hard in the gym every day to push each other to get better. They set an example of how to accept your role on the team, and contribute to the team in every way they could,” Ratkowski said. “The experience these 6 had from winning state in 2023; and Jordan, Olivia, and Madison in 2022; was helpful for the team. We had a few new-to-varsity players in the group this season, and these seniors guided them through the expectations and goal setting to help the team to reach the level they did, and to succeed in accomplishing their goal of winning a third straight state tournament.”
continued >
Road to the Resch
From a top-down view of this team and their season, they made their season look easy. A 47-1 record, a first place finish in every tournament in Wisconsin, success in the classroom, a bonded team that knows how to have fun, and only one loss (which came out of state to another nationally ranked team at an elite invitational tournament.)
But it was not easy. With a third state title on the line, three three-year varsity players, and a supporting cast of talent and depth, there was certainly an added layer that came along with the goal of winning a third title at Green Bay's Resch Center in November.
When Czajkowski, Durst, and Quest were asked about how they handled the pressure, they are each quick to point out three things: first, all of the fun they had and love for their teammates. Second, a load of hard and consistent work. And third, a differentiation between pressure and motivation.
Quest frames it up as this: “We saw it as an opportunity to accomplish something big and that motivated us. We always knew that each time we stepped on the court, the other team would want to beat us. We knew they were
Pictured from left, are DSHA Varsity Volleyball seniors: Manager Grace Wills, DSHA ’25; Elise VanHimbergen, DSHA ’25; Madison Quest, DSHA ’25; Jordan Czajkowski, DSHA ’25; Elise Hohenwalter, DSHA ’25; and Olivia Durst, DSHA ’25.
going to give us their best, and we saw that as an opportunity to play our best (and therefore) push ourselves to get better.”
Czajkowski adds, “We talked about this a lot—from our first day of practice—that we were going to have a target on our back all season. The key was to trust each other.”
Even with a near spotless record, there were certainly growth opportunities and challenges along the way for the very experienced team. Durst, who has been the team’s libero for the past two seasons, emphasized that serve receive and defense were focus areas for the season. “A record like this doesn’t just happen,” she says. “It comes from a lot of hard work. Everyone on the team has a good foundation of skills, so we got to focus on getting better at the little things that make a difference.”
Title Time
At the WIAA State Volleyball Tournament November 7-9, the Dashers easily defeated Holmen in the quarterfinals 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-11). The following day, they faced Mukwonago in the semi-final match, again winning a convincing 3-0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-15) to move on to the championship match where they took on number tworanked rival Sussex Hamilton.
With 18 kills by Quest, 26 assists and 12 digs from Czajkowski, and 19 digs from Durst, the Dasher senior trio led the team to a championship victory in 4 sets (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22), capped off by a high-flying match point kill from Addison Buckner, DSHA ’26 , who added 13 kills on the night. Additionally, Durst, Quest, and middle blocker Maddie Brown, DSHA ’26 , were each named to the all-tournament team for their outstanding play.
Leaving a Legacy
Reflecting on the impact the three senior leaders have left on the DSHA Volleyball program, Ratkowski shares, “The past 3 seasons Madison, Jordan, and Olivia have been key to our success with their volleyball experience, their level of play on the court, and their leadership off the court. They have accomplished something that has never been done in DSHA history (or WIAA D1 history by winning three state titles in a row.) They have also left a very positive impact for what this program is, and should continue to strive to be.”
These three seniors will each go on to play Division 1 volleyball in college, and they each credit their DSHA coaches and playing experience to be instrumental in preparing them for the next level. While most varsity players are also playing nearly year-round on club teams, the high school team experience offers something different and special—it is rooted in the day in and day out, and for each of these seniors, it comes back to the people and atmosphere.
“Our coaches have seen us each as a person, not just a player or girls they coach. We have had so many good connections and memories and bonding as a team,” says Durst.
Czajkowski adds, “Our coaches communicate so well and help us work through what we need. They also do a good job of helping us set goals, even past volleyball, with goals for our classes and being very aware of our total well-being.”
Quest adds, “The everyday grind of high school volleyball is more like how college will be. We practice and do workouts every day together. And the team will shift each year. Learning to know and adjust our roles each year has helped prepare us for college. You start each year with a certain role, and then that changes and you have a choice at each stage as to how to approach it and help with the transition of each new team.”
Ratkowski adds of the trio, “They have set an example for future teams to follow, and accomplishments that future teams and players will be able to remember, admire, and use to motivate them to continue the tradition of the volleyball program.”
As each of these seniors reflect on their hopes and dreams for the Dashers they will turn the leadership keys over to next year, there is no surprise. Their hope is for the DSHA Varsity Volleyball teams of the years to come to yes, keep winning state titles. But more importantly to “have the same goals and stay connected,” to “continue what we’ve left and keep building your friendships,” and “support each other and the success will follow.”
Record: 47-1 (overall), 8-0 (GMC)
Notable Recognitions:
Head Coach Caitie O’Brien Ratkowski, DSHA ’02 | AVCA Region 6 (IA, IL, MO, WI) Coach of the Year; 6th State Title with DSHA (4x Head Coach, 1x Asst. Coach, 1x player)
Madison Quest, DSHA ’25 * | 2nd Team All-American (AVCA); Under Armor All-American Game; All-Region Team (AVCA Region 6); Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year; 1st Team All-State; WVCA All-Tournament Team; GMC 1st Team and Player of the Year; GMC Scholar Athlete; 1st Team AVCA Best & Brightest
Olivia Durst, DSHA ’25 * | 3rd Team All-American (AVCA); All-Region Team (AVCA Region 6); 1st Team All-State; WVCA All-Tournament Team; 1st Team All-GMC; GMC Scholar Athlete; 1st Team AVCA Best & Brightest
Jordan Czajkowski, DSHA ’25 | AllRegion Team (AVCA Region 6); Honorable Mention All-State; 2nd Team All-GMC; GMC Scholar Athlete; 2nd Team AVCA Best & Brightest
Coaches: Head Coach Caitie Ratkowski, DSHA ’02 ; and Caitlyn Coffey, DSHA ’14
DSHA Varsity Golf secures back-to-back WIAA Golf State Championships.
This team was dominant all season. Our closest win was the Middleton Invitational, and we won by 6 strokes over DeForest. In all other matches, we won by an average of 13 strokes for the 9 holes, and 20+ strokes for the 18 holes. It is tough to golf against us, we are relentless. The girls have such good chemistry. They practice hard, grind through drills, and push each other. They still have a lot of fun, and rainbow Goldfish breaks on the range are something to see. They smile, laugh, poke fun, and then it’s back to work. They are an amazing group of young women. The sky is the limit for them, on and off the course.”
—Varsity Head Coach Dave Himm
The DSHA Varsity Golf team started the season strong with a #1 ranking in the state of Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Association. The team finished the regular GMC conference with a perfect 5-0 record, and subsequently won the GMC Conference Championship on September 25 at the Naga-Waukee golf course. The Dashers then secured the WIAA Regional Championship on October 1, and the WIAA Sectional on October 8 to qualify for the WIAA Golf State Championship.
The Dashers entered the state tournament determined to become back-to-back state champions, having won the first WIAA Golf State Championship in DSHA history in the 2023-24 school year. The team dominated the two-day tournament, defeating second-place Prescott High School by a convincing 29 strokes, with a final score of 637 to Prescott’s 666. With talented young players on the rise, the team is looking ahead and setting the goal of a threepeat to win the 2024-25 WIAA Golf State Championship.
Q & A with Varsity Golf Captain Ava Roesch, DSHA ’26, and Team Chaplain Zoe Gryniewicz, DSHA ’27
Q: How long have each of you been playing golf?
Roesch: I learned how to swing a club at the age of three, and was playing in tournaments by 11. My dad is a professional golf instructor, so he’s really shown me love for the game. I’ve been playing on the DSHA Varsity team since my freshman year.
Gryniewicz: I got my first set of clubs at three, but felt like I was showing interest long before then. I entered my first tournament at five, and have been on the varsity team since my freshman year.
Q: Unlike last school year, your team entered the season as the #1 team in the state and was projected to win the WIAA Golf State Championship. What was your mindset going into this season coming off of so much success?
Roesch: We kept reminding ourselves to not change anything about our game. We played so well during the off-season and wanted to keep that consistency. As captains, Hannah (Strachota, DSHA ’25) and I tried to remind everyone to not worry about the teams behind us and just focus on our play. Our ultimate goal was to win state again, and we were confident we could if we stayed focused on ourselves.
Gryniewicz: A lot of people were telling me, “Don’t worry about it, you’re going to win state again this year,” and we had to work really hard to not get ahead of ourselves. We had the confidence and safety net of knowing that goal was possible, but the knowledge to know we needed to stay grounded and focused on our game if we wanted to achieve it.
Q: Last year you won the WIAA Golf State Championship by two strokes, this year you won by a convincing 29 strokes. Why do you think your team saw so much success and growth this year?
Roesch: A lot of our work in the off-season contributed to our success because we all worked really hard during the winter. We had Friday golf sessions where we’d work out together and bond. A few of us were also playing in individual summer golf tournaments which helped us keep our scores consistent. The off-season work paid off, and our practices this year were more beneficial and efficient because of it. We came into the season so, so strong. Additionally, faith is really important to us as a team, and we pray together before our tournaments. Personally, if I’m having a bad round, I try to remind myself that God has a plan for me. That centering helps my game, and I will oftentimes pray quickly before certain holes.
Gryniewicz: I think focusing on our own team and not worrying about other teams or players has really led to our success. We are also so lucky to have two freshman players [ Addison Roesch, DSHA ’28 , and Julia Krueger, DSHA ’28 ] who are extremely talented. Losing seniors last year was hard, but gaining these freshmen has been great. Also, the night before the state championship, we attended church together at St. Mary’s in Menomonee Falls. As a team, we all recognize that God gave us these athletic talents, and we are playing for Him. It’s been so helpful for all of us to realize that while this game is important, He is the most important. As Ava said, this recognition centers us.
Q: What are you most looking forward to next season?
Roesch: Hopefully winning state again. I want to make sure we work hard in the off-season and come back even stronger next year.
Gryniewicz: I’m most excited about our practices. I’ve built so many relationships through DSHA Golf, and these girls have become family to me. Realistically, the state championship tournament lasts just a few days, but these friendships will last a lifetime. And while not the most important, it’d be amazing to win state the entire four years that I am here!
GMC Conference Place: 1st Notable Recognitions:
Ava Roesch, DSHA ’26 | 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, GCAW Academic All-State, GMC Scholar Athlete
Zoe Gryniewicz, DSHA ’27 | 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, GCAW Academic All-State
Addison Roesch, DSHA ’28 | 2nd Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference
Julia Krueger, DSHA ’28 | 3rd Team All-State, 2nd Team All-Conference
Team Captains: Ava Roesch, DSHA ’26 ; Hannah Strachota, DSHA ’25
Team Chaplain: Zoe Gryniewicz, DSHA ’27
Coach: Dave Himm
Scan to read about the state tournament and the team’s dominant victory, courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Q & A with D1 WIAA State Diving Champion Kendall Rummel, DSHA ’26
On November 16, Kendall Rummel, DSHA ’26 (pictured middle with Emily Grining, DSHA ’25 , and Emma Lieb, DSHA ’25 ), won the D1 WIAA State Diving Championship with a final score of 477.65 points, four points ahead of second place.
Q: Diving is such an individual sport, can you tell me about your team dynamic?
A: Our team is super close. We check in with each other before meets and make sure to cheer loudly from the stands so the swimmers and divers can still hear us. We have always been the loudest team at our meets, and it shows how much we support each other.
Q: What was your greatest challenge this season?
A: My greatest challenge was my mindset. Diving is such a mental sport, and it was hard to figure out how to get in the right headspace. Toward the end of the season, I started concentrating on having fun with my diving friends and teammates, keeping in mind it was the last season for some of them. That really worked, and I started diving better.
Q: Why do you think you saw so much success this season?
A: My success came from the people around me. My coach and teammates brought good energy to practice and made diving fun. My family and friends were so supportive as well, and it motivated me to try my hardest and be the best I could.
Q: What was your mindset on your last dive knowing there was a potential state title on the line?
A: I was so nervous, and I was the last of the four divers to go. Each of us were only a few points apart from each other, and I’ve never been to a meet that close. It wasn’t until after I dove, and people started clapping, that I realized I’d won. I still don’t think it’s hit me yet. My original goal was to place 5th, since I’d placed 6th last year, so winning the title was unbelievable. I’m excited to see what I can do next year.
SWIM & DIVE
The DSHA Varsity Swim & Dive team competed in the WIAA Sectional Meet on November 8 and 9. Diving began the competition strong with a first-place finish and qualifications for Emily Grining, DSHA ’25 , Emma Lieb, DSHA ’25 , and Rummel to progress to the WIAA D1 State Diving Competition. Swim followed with a fifth-place finish overall at sectionals. Jane Johnson, DSHA ’27 , was the sectional champion in the 500 freestyle and qualified to compete in the state meet for the 200 and 500 freestyle. Additionally, Maddie DuBois, DSHA ’28 , finished 4th in the 200 IM and 6th in the breaststroke, swimming a lifetime best in each and qualifying for the state meet.
On November 16, the Swim & Dive team finished 17th out of teams who scored points at the D1 State Championship. Johnson finished 13th and 7th in the 200 and 500 freestyles, respectively. DuBois finished 21st in the 200 IM and 18th in the 100 breaststroke. Additionally, Lieb and Grining finished 15th and 16th, respectively in diving.
GMC Conference Meet: 5th place
Swim Team Captains: Julia Stein, DSHA ’25 ; Peyton Washington, DSHA ’25 ; Eleanor Wawrzyn, DSHA ’25
Dive Team Captains: Emily Grining, DSHA ’25
Team Chaplain: Rose Fleisch, DSHA ’26 , and Sophia Wrench, DSHA ’25
Swim Team Coaches: Kyle Bedalov ; Jackie Jecha ; Brian Temke
Dive Team Coach: Caitlin Locante
DSHA Varsity Rugby A-Side outscores opponents 318-10 on their way
to 14th state title.
The DSHA Varsity Rugby (A-Side) team once again dominated the fall season on its way to securing the program’s 14th state championship. Returning only 6 players from last year and reloading with 12 new starters, the team competed in four games for the fall leg of the season, outscoring opponents 318-10. Their year will culminate during the upcoming spring season as they go for the program’s 11th national title at the Single School National Invitation Championship.
I knew this would be a rebuilding year. I’m proud of how we handled our season and proved ourselves as a skilled, strong team. As captains and coaches we had to figure out how to structure practices differently. We wanted them to count so we could compete our best. It was also important for us to set our juniors up to be leaders next year. It is a very inclusive sport and so many different friend groups come together as teammates each year and make it work.”
Team Captains: Kate Ambrose, DSHA ’25 ; Breanna Henry, DSHA ’25 ; and Lauren Stuart, DSHA ’25
Team Chaplain: Ruby Scheuing, DSHA ’25
We saw so much success due to the time and effort we put into the season. While practicing our skills we’re building bonds with one another. The rugby team is extremely tight-knit. We lean on one another in challenges – it’s a really special community. You don’t have to be super tall or small to stand out. You simply have to give your full effort, and be willing to learn and grow, and it will be reflected in how you play.”
— Breanna Henry, DSHA ’25
ROAD TO A STATE TITLE
SEPT. 21
vs. Stevens Point Area Senior High Dashers win 118-0
OCT. 12
vs. Fox Cities Co-Op Dashers win 136-0
OCT. 19 | State Semi-Final vs. Hamilton High School Dashers win 43-5
OCT. 24 | Thankful Thursday Team Mass
OCT. 27
State Final vs. Catholic Memorial Dashers win 11th state title, 21-5!
OCT. 25 | Championship Eve “Who do you run for?” Bonfire
This special tradition brings players, managers, and coaches together around a bonfire where they share who they run, or play, for. This allows the team to build trust and an understanding of what, and who, motivates one another as they push themselves to play their best. Girls, in turn, find themselves playing for not just their own loved ones, but for their teammates as well.
Field Hockey Brings Home WHSFHA State Runner-Up Trophy
I think we were so successful this year because of our team camaraderie. At the start of the season, our coaches really emphasized that we could create a championship culture with a strong sense of mission and purpose. Our team motto is ‘locked in,’ and I think it describes the type of team we are and the amount of focus, drive, and determination we have. I’d tell the incoming players to emphasize this mindset and give their full effort. It is this mindset and commitment that sets us apart from our opponents and develops us as strong players.”
— Lily Filmanowicz, DSHA ’25
This fall, the DSHA Varsity Field Hockey team opened its season with competitive play in the St. Louis Gateway Classic Tournament on August 30-31. The Dashers continued their season with an impressive 6-2 conference record, securing second place in the Wisconsin High School Field Hockey Association (WHSFHA) conference. They earned a 2-seed in the WHSFHA State Championship Tournament where they defeated University School of Milwaukee on October 16 in the state semi-final, 2-1, with goals by Anne Klaus, DSHA ’25 , and Riley Doerr, DSHA ’26 . On October 19, the team fell to Arrowhead in a hard-fought 1-3 championship game, bringing home the state runner-up trophy.
Record: 9-6 overall; 6-2 in WHSFHA
WHFSA Conference Place: 2nd
Notable Recognitions:
1st Team All-Conference | Sofia Babovic, DSHA ’26 ; Lily Filmanowicz, DSHA ’25 ; Anne Klaus, DSHA ’25 ; Emily Lund, DSHA ’25
Team Captains: Lily Filmanowicz, DSHA ’25 ; Anne Klaus, DSHA ’25 ; Emily Lund, DSHA ’25 ; Charlie Smukowski, DSHA ’25
Team Chaplain: Maggie Klaus, DSHA ’27
Coaches: English Faculty & Technology Instructional Coordinator Quinn Loucks and Admissions and Marketing Coordinator Meaghan Lagore, DSHA ’16
Scan to view all DSHA Fall
Athletics GMC Scholar Athletes.
Tennis Doubles Duo Secures WIAA Individual State Doubles Runner-Up Finish
Tennis is 90% mentality and 10% physicality. Learning to stay calm and focused under pressure has taught me how to handle uncertainty. DSHA Tennis has been like a second family to me, helping me to build confidence, resiliency, and lifelong friendships. It has truly been an amazing few years.”
— Abby Frasher, DSHA ’25
October 1-2, the DSHA Varsity Tennis team brought home second place in the GMC Tournament. They advanced to the WIAA Sectional Tournament on October 9 where they finished in 4th place. Lizzie Stuckslager, DSHA ’26 , went on to compete as the 10-seed in the WIAA Individual Singles State Championship from October 17-19, where she won her first three games, and placed 7th overall. Doubles team Abby Frasher, DSHA ’25 , and Amelia Stuckslager, DSHA ’28 , who finished in first place at both the GMC and sectional tournaments, entered the WIAA State Doubles Tournament as the #2 seed. On October 19, the girls fell to Arrowhead in a tough tiebreaker in the third set of the championship match to secure the state runner-up finish.
Record: 15-5 overall; 3-1 in GMC
GMC Conference Meet: 2nd place
Notable Recognitions:
#1 Doubles GMC Champions; GMC Doubles Team of the Year; WIAA Sectional Champions; WIAA D1 Doubles State Runner-Up | Abby Frasher, DSHA ’25 , and Amelia Stuckslager, DSHA ’28
Team Chaplains: Alexandra Schneider, DSHA ’25 , and Gigi Stangl, DSHA ’26
Coaches: Melissa Gebhardt and Brooke Skemp
CROSS COUNTRY
The DSHA Cross Country team traveled to MinneapolisSt. Paul from September 19-21 to experience two largescale meets—the Roy Griak Invitational and the Mounds View Mustang Stampede—in preparation for the GMC Conference Championship on October 18. At the GMC meet, they finished 6th among nine teams, and Ava Johnsen, DSHA ’26 (pictured left), came in 4th place overall. The team advanced to the WIAA Sectional race on October 26 and finished in 8th place with Johnsen finishing 19th as an individual.
Coaches: English Department Chair & Faculty Andy Lelinski ; Mathematics Faculty Libby Wissing, DSHA ’10 ; and English Faculty Peter Nurre
Inspired to Care for One Another
2024-25 scriptural theme inspires a school-wide day of community, giving, and outreach.
One of the delegated responsibilities of the Sisters of the Divine is Responsible Stewardship. This is rooted in the value that everything is given in trust by a loving God, and resources are to be used responsibly to build the Kingdom of God. Throughout this year, the DSHA stewardship focus has been on how people are entrusted to each other by a loving God. From this, and inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:25, the scriptural theme for the year was born: Care for One Another
May there be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. — 1 Corinthians 12:25
To breathe life into this theme, students worked within their Dasher Dens (similar to homerooms) to choose a local organization to support through a tangible group service project, yielding 36 projects in total. The intention was to live out the yearly scriptural theme through an all-school project. The result was the growth of school sisterhood, and the overflow of that spirit and care spread throughout the Milwaukee area.
Beginning in October, girls researched their chosen organization, and then planned, prepped, and collected donated items to assemble that would specifically benefit their community service partner. On the morning of November 5, students were ready to make personal care kits, sensory bottles for children, snack bags, mini diaper cakes, and more. Additionally, students, faculty, and staff gathered to hear and learn from Vincent Noth, Executive Director of Kinship Community Food Center, a non-profit organization that engages volunteers and neighborhood residents to end hunger, isolation, and poverty in Milwaukee.
As a part of the project, each Dasher Den created a poster to share more about the organization their den supported. On November 6, the posters were hung in the Commons and Quad, and students each answered reflection questions noting what they learned about service, the benefits of a strong community, and how organizations can cultivate a sense of belonging and care for one another.
It was great to choose an organization we wanted to support and make individual cards to go with each donation. I learned that there is always something to give and something to receive while doing service. It’s not just about the person who has ‘more’ giving to the one that has ‘less’. It’s about opening yourself up and seeing what all people have to give and receive."
— Dempsey Dean, DSHA ‘26
Student Care for One Another Projects
f Food Pantry Birthday Cake Bags
For: Kinship Community Food Pantry, St. Bakhita House, Waukesha Food Pantry
f Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
For: Repairers of the Breach
f Mini Diaper Cakes
For: Care Net of Milwaukee
f Sensory Bottles
For: Brown Street Academy, Vision Forward, United Community Center, Women’s Care Center
f Rice Crispy Treat Bags
For: Guest House of Milwaukee, Tosa Cares Food Pantry, St. Anne’s, Kinship Community Food Center, Broadscope
Disability Services
f Welcome Bags
For: Kathy’s House, Ronald McDonald House
f Travel-Sized Personal Care Kits
For: Bob’s Under the Bridge, Hope Street Ministry, Catholic Charities, Cathedral Center, Franciscan Peacemakers, Next Door Foundation, Open Door Café
For: Hephatha Blanket of Love, Song Baby Sanctuary
f Bingo Prizes
For: Hadley Terrace
f Snack Bags for Kids
For: St. Francis of Assisi Parish
S a lva t o r i a n G L o b A l S C h o l a r s
HONORS
PROGRAM
SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH CATHOLIC EYES.
The DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholars Program is running in its second year. The mission of the academic honors program is to provide students with intentional opportunities to grow as global citizens who embrace the mission of the Sisters of the Divine Savior to foster an awareness of a loving God among peoples in whatever place and by whatever means the Spirit of God inspires.
This certificate program was brought to life through the work of Academic Dean and World Languages Faculty Jen McLaughlin and Principal Dan Quesnell to help Dashers expand cultural knowledge and experience to grow world language proficiency, and to foster involvement and collaboration in the global community with the intent to improve the quality of life for our sisters and brothers worldwide.
Students who successfully complete all components of the DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholars Program will receive a certificate of distinction as a Global Scholar upon graduation from DSHA.
MORE ABOUT THE SALVATORIAN GLOBAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
f Inspired by the Sisters of the Divine Savior | DSHA’s sponsoring order, the Sisters of the Divine Savior, hold their North American headquarters on a shared campus with DSHA, though they are an international congregation of more than 1,000 sisters ministering in 26 countries and on five continents. Inspired by the Sisters, students in the Salvatorian Global Scholars Program will prepare for higher education and careers in which multilanguage proficiency, knowledge, experience, and acceptance of diverse cultures are an asset.
f Becoming Global Citizens | Through the program, classroom studies guide scholars to learn about world cultures, geography, history, science, language, literature, art, and religion in a world that is becoming more diverse and interdependent. An additional goal is for scholars to evolve as global citizens outside of the classroom through co-curricular activities, community or international service, and intercultural experiences local or abroad. The intention is for scholars to promote awareness of global issues, appreciate diverse cultures, consider multiple sides of problems, and propose potential solutions to global issues. They are to be liaisons between their home community and the world.
f Global Seal of Biliteracy | Through this program, students can receive credentials verifying proficiency in two languages. The application-based seal can be used on college applications and in other professional settings. Students must show proficiency in English (via ACT/SAT English score) along with a second language through a test composed of interpersonal listening and speaking, interpretive reading and listening, and presentational writing.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM?
HARPER NELDER, DSHA ’ 25 (RIGHT)
“I was initially in (DSHA’s) STEM Scholars (honors program) and was so excited to learn about Global Scholars. I value being well-rounded and wanted a chance to push myself in the humanities the way I have done in STEM. For one of my intercultural experiences, I went to Australia for a study abroad program about wildlife conservation. It is not something I would have been exposed to anywhere else. I got to go for three weeks over the summer and see the other side of the world. Seeing all that we have in common has helped me be open to recognizing and appreciating the differences of our experiences across cultures. In college, I plan to major in environmental engineering, with minors in humanitarian engineering and Spanish. Global Scholars has helped open my eyes to other parts of the world and issues that others are experiencing. I want to help solve those problems through engineering.”
ELIZABETH ORTA-MEDINA, DSHA ’ 25
“I want to be an architect and wanted to be challenged by another academic honors program (in addition to STEM Scholars). Global Scholars has given me opportunities to practice connecting across worlds and cultures and there is so much beauty in that. On our Israel trip, I found that people connected to my own story. And in Italy, I was able to begin to understand the language because I’m fluent in Spanish. This summer, I’m going to the Spanish Immersion trip to Costa Rica, too. I like that we can find ways to connect on various issues that matter to the world. I’m a leader in Furia Latina, and we emphasize having respectful conversations through our differences. I want to learn about other cultures and I am so grateful to have these opportunities to experience the world because there are people I love that have not had the same opportunities.”
ACADEMIC DEAN AND WORLD LANGUAGES FACULTY
JEN MCLAUGHLIN
“ (DSHA Chaplain) Father Silas (SDS) put it best at a recent Mass. In his homily, he challenged us to see the world through Catholic eyes. That is what this program is about. This program encourages girls to be curious about the world and to be intentional about connecting their classwork with experiences outside of their own community. The honors certificate offers a niche for students who are interested in the fields of global studies, health, environment, language, humanities, and arts as they prepare to be citizens of the world—just as our Sisters of the Divine Savior inspire us to do every day. Girls will leave this program as articulate communicators and problem solvers with an ability to listen to understand. They are ready to take these skills out into the world as they pursue their higher education, career, and their role in an evolving world.”
DSHA SALVATORIAN GLOBAL SCHOLARS CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
IN-CLASSROOM ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
f Four credits/years of a world language at the high school level. DSHA currently offers French, Spanish, and Latin, including AP or dual-credit courses in each of the three languages
f Three credits/years of global studies courses. Courses include specific offerings from the social studies, science, and theology departments.
f Two credits/years of culture electives in art, music, theatre, and literature. Courses include specific class offerings within the English and the fine arts departments.
CO-CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
f Two years of active involvement with co-curricular groups that focus on increasing collaboration and consideration of multiple perspectives.
Offerings include Asian Student Union, Best Buddies, Forensics, French Club, Furia Latina, Latin Convention, Model UN, Raise Awareness, She’s the First, Sisters of Culture, Student Diversity Council, and others.
INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
f Five to seven intercultural experiences outside of the classroom that contribute to growth as a global citizen where students form a relationship with an organization or set of people that allows them to interact with a culturally diverse group while sharing a common vision.
COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
f 25 hours of community service relating to a global or intercultural issue with the intent of relationship building and improving the quality of life.
This may include volunteering at the Catholic Ecology Center, participating in an international mission trip, volunteering in community gardening, tutoring students from different cultural backgrounds, or other service among people of different needs and backgrounds.
PROGRAM-CULMINATING PERSONAL REFLECTION
f A final reflection that highlights the impact of the program on a student’s worldview is submitted for review to the DSHA Global Scholars Committee.
Students respond to seven question prompts written by the Sisters of the Divine Savior where they reflect on topics such as human kindness and commonality across diverse cultures, what has surprised them in their learnings, what experiences have changed their hearts, and how the experience will guide their higher education and career choices moving forward.
Pictured: This fall the French Club co-curricular welcomed a group of students from the Lycée St. Jean, a Catholic School in Limoges, France—treated on their first day to a slew of favorite American goodies including puppy chow, Crumbl cookies, and more. From October 10-23, the 30 students lived with a DSHA host family, attended DSHA, and got to experience life as an American high school student. This spring, Dashers will have the same immersive opportunity to visit France where they will stay with the family of the student they hosted, attend school, and experience some travel in the area, including a stop in Paris.
RECENT GLOBAL SCHOLARS
i n t e r c u l t u r a l e x p e r i
e n c e s t
INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE, MISSION, OR CULTURAL EXPERIENCE:
f DSHA Campus Ministry/Latin trip to Rome, December 2023 - January 2024.
f DSHA French language and cultural immersion and high school student exchange with Lycée St. Jean in Limoges France where French students attend DSHA in the fall and Dashers travel to France in the spring; offered annually.
f DSHA Science Department Biology Trip to Costa Rica, summer of 2024; offered every other year. (Learn more on page 2.)
f DSHA Spanish language and culture immersion ; offered every other year beginning June of 2025.
f DSHA Theology pilgrimage and culture immersion to the Holy Land, July 2023.
f International travel to mission work organized through a local community church or organization.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SISTERS OF THE DIVINE SAVIOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS:
f Planning and organizing the Campus Ministry Annual International Lenten Project. Recent projects have supported the sister school in Tanzania, raising money for a school bus, fresh water wells, and more.
f Engaged and sustained correspondence in Spanish with students at the sister school in Colombia.
PREPARE, ATTEND, AND PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERCULTURAL CONFERENCE:
f Model U.N., held annually in WI.
f Latin Convention, held annually in WI.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
f Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Washington D.C.
f Language immersion involvement in planning or attending Mass in a second language, or participation in an interfaith experience.
f Participation with the Milwaukee Catholic Ecology Center.
f Involvement with Milwaukee’s United Community Center or a school or community center that serves immigrants.
f Fine Arts performance in an intercultural community, e.g., St. Camillus Senior Living.
f Visit Milwaukee’s Black Holocaust Museum.
f Attend an event with an international speaker.
In October, best-selling author, Catholic speaker, and Rwandan genocide survivor, Immaculée Ilibagiza traveled to Milwaukee to speak about her experiences at Marquette University High School. The DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholar students, along with Campus Ministry Officers, had the opportunity to listen to her message of love, forgiveness, and the power of prayer and trust in God. Following, the students were able to engage in a Q&A with Ilibagiza.
By Erin McCarville
A Student Recruiters:
As part of the DSHA Admissions Department, Dashers have the opportunity to become Admissions Student Recruiters the second semester of their freshman year, and serve in this capacity for the remainder of high school. To be considered for the role, students fill out an application, sit for an interview where they discuss their experiences at DSHA, and, once selected, help plan and lead a number of admissions and recruitment events throughout the year. These events include: Girls Night In and Future Dasher Night; hosting middle school students during Visit Days; visiting various grade and middle schools throughout the area to speak of their experiences; leading tours during DSHA Open House, and more. A vital piece to the recruitment process, there are currently 186 Admissions Student Recruiters. In return, these Dashers gain valuable experience and confidence with public speaking as they interface with groups of all sizes of prospective students, parents, and school faculty and administration.
INSPIRING FUTURE DASHERS
Derhue Yang, DSHA ’26 (left), and Ana Sofia Phillips, DSHA ’25, lead a school visit at their alma mater St. Agnes.
All Girls Makes All the Difference
Ana Sofia Phillips, DSHA ’25 ; Caroline Cahill, DSHA ’26 ; and Derhue Yang, DSHA ’26 , wanted to become Admissions Student Recruiters for the same reason: their love of the all-girls environment. Each Dasher had a unique point of view walking into the halls of DSHA freshman year, and all have come to love their time in high school. Cahill and Yang were admittedly guarded, while Phillips was ready to hit the ground running.
“I was ‘locked in’ from the beginning,” Phillips explained. “I went to DSHA Summer Cool (summer camps) in sixth grade and signed up for one of the science camps. We were doing real experiments and labs at that young grade level, and I remember thinking to myself ‘I could do some serious stuff at this school.’” DSHA is a place that takes girls seriously, and Phillips saw it immediately.
“DSHA is specifically designed for girls,” Phillips said. “We get to see women in leadership positions every day here, and it allows us to realize that women can take on any position we want. It’s empowering to see and be inspired by our female peers,” she shared.
INSPIRING FUTURE DASHERS
For their part, Cahill and Yang started to love the all-girls environment a few months into their shared freshman year.
Cahill shared, “I was nervous about the all-girls environment and didn’t think I would like it, but it’s been amazing. I was down to the wire between choosing DSHA and the public school near my home, and I always say choosing DSHA is one of the best decisions I’ve made. I want to help others make that same decision.”
Yang spoke of a similar experience adding, “The community at DSHA is so special. It is knowing that you are going to be surrounded by other girls your age that you can lean on for support.”
The three of them wanted to ensure that other young women knew how powerful the all-girls environment could be, and how that environment has allowed them to grow into young women of faith, self-advocates, critical thinkers, communicators, and leaders. Cahill and Yang became recruiters their second-semester freshman year, while Phillips joined her junior year.
Sharing the Authentic Experience
Through the Student Recruiters program, each of the three girls have seen an opportunity to share their authentic experiences with middle school students and help clarify some of the myths and misconceptions of the all-girls environment that they had grown to love so much.
GET TO KNOW SOME DSHA Student Recruiters
Caroline Cahill, DSHA ’26
St. Robert Grade School
Admissions Student Recruiter
Field Hockey
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Student Council Student Ambassador
Dasher Den Leader
Freshman Retreat Leader
Sisters of Culture Co-Curricular Member
Empowerment. Equality. Voice. Co-Curricular Member
Ana Sofia Phillips, DSHA ’25
St. Agnes Grade School
Admissions Student Recruiter
Softball
Student Council (SPRIDE) Committee
SPRIDE Penny Dasher
Sisters of Culture Co-Curricular Member
Empowerment. Equality. Voice. Co-Curricular Member
Handbells
Derhue Yang, DSHA ’26
St. Agnes Grade School
Admissions Student Recruiter
Soccer
Tennis
Student Council Communications Officer
Forensics
Campus Ministry Prayer Coordinator
Asian Student Union, Student Moderator
Caroline Cahill, DSHA ’26, poses after a school visit at her alma mater St. Robert.
“I know a lot of students are nervous about the all-girls environment and might be close to choosing between DSHA and another school,” Cahill shared. “It’s so important for these girls, especially the ones who are hesitant or nervous about it, to get a real perspective on why DSHA and all-girls is the best. They can only get this from us as students sharing our experiences first-hand, and I wanted to be part of that.”
Phillips and Yang, having remembered a school visit from Admissions Student Recruiter Janie Retzer, DSHA ’23, while they were in middle school at St. Agnes a few years prior, knew how powerful student school visits could be. Phillips stated, “Janie came to visit St. Agnes to talk with our class about DSHA and that solidified it for me. She spoke of all the different classes and opportunities here, and I knew I wanted to take advantage of it.”
Yang also spoke of Retzer. “Janie was a big push for me to come here. She and her mom (St. Agnes School Choice Administrator Amy Retzer) really reassured me that DSHA would be a great option for me.” She continued, “I went to DSHA Open House to see for myself, and I became certain. Seeing the school, the faculty and staff greeting us and answering questions, the many sports offerings, the language options—it was just amazing to see in person.”
Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Ann Duffy, DSHA ’10 , knows how important this authentic student voice is to the recruitment process. “These girls are the best representation of the DSHA experience.” She continued, “We’re basically showing prospective students how they can grow, what they can be involved in, and who they can become—and who better to share that message than the people living and breathing it every day?”
Admissions Student Recruiter Rachel Memory, DSHA ’26 , leads 5 th -8 th grade students on a tour at DSHA Open House.
As part of sharing their authentic experience, each of the girls have favorite admissions and recruitment events they love to participate in as part of their role as recruiters. For Cahill, it’s leading the tours on Open House.
“I love showing new families and prospective students my favorite areas of the school including the amazing facilities, the Commons, and the classrooms. Open House was a big turning point for me, and I know how important that event is for girls on the fence. I wanted to be that genuine student voice leading them through the building,” Cahill shared.
Phillips loves the events for potential future students. “I love helping with Girls Night In or the incoming freshmen events. It’s a time to show the younger girls the amazing community they can find here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yang favors the school visits and hopes she can help young women feel confident coming here. “Knowing I can encourage these girls to consider DSHA, and potentially come here to experience all of the positive things I have, is so important to me.”
Endless Opportunities for Growth
In partnership with giving voice to their DSHA experiences, these Dashers recognize the endless opportunities for leadership, faith-formation, service, athletics, fine arts, college-prep academics, and more that DSHA has given them. As Phillips recognized years ago at Summer Cool, DSHA takes girls seriously. Phillips, Cahill, and Yang have big goals, and they have felt the support and encouragement from the DSHA community to achieve them, as well as the exposure to different opportunities that made their goals evident to them.
Phillips shared, “I’m interested in pursuing a psychology or neurology degree, and have considered becoming a forensic psychologist. I know DSHA will help me get there.” Phillips shared, “I want young girls to see all of the amazing accomplishments DSHA students have achieved. We have so many impressive recognitions for athletics, academics, theatre, everything. Anything girls want to achieve, they can achieve here.”
Cahill agreed, sharing her hopes to pursue a degree in psychology with the goal of becoming a therapist. “DSHA has shown me what my passions are, and the
faculty have encouraged me to dive into them.”
Meanwhile, Yang credited the early exposure to STEM courses that sparked her interest in the medical field, noting she took chemistry her sophomore year. She shared, “I really enjoyed Chemistry, and it showed me I can do hard things and persevere. It motivated me, and this year, I’m taking AP Biology and Introduction to Engineering as a result.” Yang hopes to pursue a degree in the medical field and dreams of becoming a biomedical scientist or anesthesiologist.
Yang continued, “I’ve become more comfortable getting help from my teachers and peers. The supportive environment, along with the encouragement to get involved with anything that interests me, has built my confidence in numerous ways.” She shared, “I’ve enhanced my communication skills, and become comfortable asking when I don’t understand and taking advantage of ALPHA [Academic Learning Place for Higher Achievement] time when I need it. There is always someone here to help you achieve what you want.”
Perhaps the most important component of their roles as student recruiters is stressing to girls that their goals are attainable at DSHA, not only because of the environment and support of the faculty, but also because of the robust opportunities available to explore. Phillips shared, “I want young women to seriously consider their futures and help them realize the opportunities this all-girls, college-prep, faith-based education will give them. We talk about the qualities of a graduate [woman of faith, self-advocate, critical thinker, communicator, and leader], and I watch my peers grow into that here.”
Again, Duffy knows this growth to be true, especially with her student recruiters. This role offers Dashers a unique opportunity to speak in front of large groups of people outside of a classroom environment or assignment. They get to practice public-speaking, answering questions on the fly, asking questions of families to understand what is important to them, and communicating with all ages—grade school through parents and school administrators.
“Our students grow in the qualities of a DSHA graduate—most notably as communicators, leaders, and self-advocates,” Duffy shares. “Many student recruiters who go on grade school visits have shared with me that they had never considered speaking in front of a group before high school. Now, because of their time at DSHA and as recruiters, they feel comfortable doing so, are excited about it, and do it well!”
35 Middle & Grade School Recruitment Visits across 32 Zip Codes
Last year, DSHA implemented a recognition award for the TSC (the faculty and staff that make up the Total School Community) to be given to two members of the faculty and two members of the staff each semester. Members of the TSC vote for their peers on the basis of their positive contributions, impact on school community, the way they bring the mission and vision to light at DSHA, and more.
Award-winners were recognized at an all-TSC meeting on November 20, where they were able to hear why their peers nominated them for this special honor. These honorees will hold onto their semester recognition awards until passing the awards onto the next group to be selected this spring.
Congratulations to these incredible TSC members! Read on to learn more about why they were nominated by their peers.
OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE MECHANIC
Randy Mettlach
Mettlach joined the DSHA faculty & staff earlier in the 2024 school year. Since then, he has hit the ground running and transformed the DSHA grounds into a beautifully manicured landscape. His nominators noted that “his energy and enthusiasm are infectious. Randy has a kind word for everyone and is always smiling and friendly. He has embraced our school community and mission so quickly, and his hard work and dedication are evident.”
This fall, Mettlach was instrumental in refreshing the beautiful Sarah Hegarty, DSHA ’98, Memorial Garden on the DSHA front lawn to honor Hegarty as an extraordinary young woman and student-athlete who taught her fellow students, faculty, and staff the meaning of faith, courage, friendship, integrity, determination, and humor.
MAIN OFFICE & CAMPUS MINISTRY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Tracy Richburg
While Richburg has been part of the DSHA faculty and staff since 2021, she has been part of the DSHA community much longer with three Dasher daughters including Allison Richburg, DSHA ’20; Lucy Richburg, DSHA ’23; and Marge Richburg, DSHA ’26. With an understanding of the mission, Richburg first began as the Campus Ministry Administrative Assistant, helping with all things service-oriented, retreat leadership, and more. She added her second title in August 2023 as the Main Office Administrative Assistant and helps mark attendance, welcome students to school, lead school-side events, and more.
Her nominators shared, “Tracy shows our students that she is able do so much and wear so many hats while also caring for them as students. Her willingness to jump into new opportunities, and do so with such positivity, makes our school community a brighter and more joyful space.”
FACULTY & STAFF FOCUS
RECOGNITION AWARDS
SOCIAL STUDIES FACULTY
Chris Kirsch Weiss, DS '70
Weiss has been an integral part of DSHA since beginning as Social Studies faculty over 40 years ago. With two Dasher daughters Katie Weiss, DSHA ’97, and Annie Weiss, DSHA ’03, she understands the importance of the mission at DSHA to develop young women of faith, heart, and intellect. Throughout her years at DSHA, she has not only acted as an invaluable resource to students, but to faculty as well. One of her nominees stated, “Weiss’s commitment to being a source of support for other teachers and a mentor is so greatly appreciated. She always shows patience and understanding while mentoring new colleagues, and her passion for DSHA is truly evident.”
Additionally, Weiss has had a positive impact on countless students and has helped developed so many amazing leaders. One nominator said, “There is no way to summarize the extent of her impact on students.” While another stated, “Where to start with this person?! She bleeds DSHA!”
ST. ANGELA MERICI ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAM, INTERVENTIONIST
Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA '10
Leszczynski has been part of the DSHA community for years as a student, faculty member, and soccer coach. Beginning as Social Studies Faculty in 2021, Leszczynski transitioned to leading the St. Angela Merici Academic Support Program as the school’s academic interventionist for the 2024-25 school year, working with students with learning differences based on their individual academic needs. Additionally, Leszczynski has had a major hand in planning the beloved Dash-A-Thon since 2021, and most recently led students in an effort that raised over $90,000 for DSHA this fall.
One of her nominees acknowledged the ease with which Leszczynski has taken on her new role, stating, “It feels like she has been in her role for years and she is crushing it. She always has a plan and is prepared. She is unfailingly kind in her interactions with everyone, and models goodness and kindness every day.” They continued, “And, as a DSHA graduate, she knows the importance of relationships and sisterhood at DSHA.”
Molly Monday Schmidt, DSHA ’88 , has financially given back to DSHA since her freshman year of college. In fact, since her own DSHA graduation, she has stayed closely connected to the school and sisterhood in numerous ways. She has served as her class representative since 1988, planned numerous class reunions, helped chair the Alumnae Father Daughter Dinner Dance, acted as President of the Alumnae Association, sat on the Alumnae Board, and more. As a legacy student herself, Schmidt’s mother, Kathy Mehegan Monday, DS ’61 , instilled a love for all-girls education and DSHA early. Her close Dasher friends and former classmates often joke that Schmidt’s favorite color is “plaid” given how much she loves, admires, and supports DSHA and the all-girls environment. She also credits DSHA for a profound faith, and currently serves as Director of Parishioner Engagement at St. Dominic Catholic Parish in Brookfield.
Schmidt and her mother Kathy Mehegan Monday, DS ’61, proudly pose in their Dasher gear.
Q: How would you describe your experience as a student at DSHA?
I loved it. I was voted “Most Spirited” of the class. The social aspect and the sisterhood of the school is where I thrived. I was involved in most everything and felt like I was always doing something. I was the Freshman Secretary/Treasurer, Senior Homeroom President, played softball all four years, played basketball for two, was a photographer for the the yearbook club, and more. I’m the only girl in my family and was raised with two brothers, so the sisterhood here and getting involved in that was really important to me. I was the first ever Penny the Penguin! An alumna made the costume, and I wore it for the first time to the 1986 Volleyball State Championship in which DSHA took home the trophy.
Q: How did the all-girls environment impact you? Why is an all-girls environment important?
The environment allows young women to thrive. I was comfortable and confident voicing my thoughts and opin -
ions both inside and outside of the classroom. It gave me, and other girls, opportunities that we might not have had at other schools due to each of the leadership positions being accessible to us. Every leadership position was held by one of us, and that visual is powerful.
Q: What were the most important skills you learned at DSHA that you still use today?
My strong communication skills and my confidence. I’m comfortable speaking up in meetings and speaking my mind. I have leaned on and used both skills throughout my career. DSHA also helped enhance my faith life. I was always devoutly Catholic and went to St. Dominic for grade school, but DSHA reminded me how much I loved having faith as part of the school day and being actively present in the classroom. Just recently, I attended a retreat for Catholic women with five other alumnae. It was at DSHA that my real faith journey began, and it continues to grow today with the help of my Dasher sisters.
Q: As an alumna, why do you think it is important to give back to DSHA?
My parents really emphasized the importance of giving back with time, talent, and treasure. My mother graduated from Divine Savior in the 60s and gave back to the school regularly. Their influence, combined with the fact that DSHA made up so much of who I am today, made it easy for me to want to give back when the time came. I also give back to make sure DSHA remains accessible to other young women in Milwaukee. I want them to gain the same positive experiences and growth that I had going to school here. I really have a passion for this place, and feel that it made me into a strong, confident, faith-filled person. I made such great friends here, friends I still have to this day, and I think the community is so special and want to give back to that.
Q: You’ve been involved in planning a number of reunions, as well as other alumnae events, why do you choose to do this and stay involved this way?
The sisterhood is what I love and what keeps bringing me back. I try to stay connected to each of my classmates, and my close friends often refer to me as the “DSHA Historian” for my efforts. This school is where I learned to be a loyal and good friend, and I love being part of these events.
Q: What resonates with you about the mission of DSHA?
Creating young women of faith, heart, and intellect is so important. I feel like those three words, especially faith and heart, make me the person I am today.
Q: What impresses you the most about DSHA today?
The reputation. I’m proud to say that I went here and I’m proud to be an alumna. Additionally, the community here, the sisterhood, and the volunteerism is amazing. It’s also impressive to see the list of schools that girls are going to these days upon graduation, and how many of them are going all over the place, including Europe!
Q: What are your hopes for DSHA in the future?
I hope DSHA continues to be a pillar in the Milwaukee community. I hope it continues to give girls the opportunities to be the best they can be and achieve whatever they wish. Ultimately, I hope DSHA continues to produce strong female leaders in the community who love Jesus Christ and remain faith-filled.
If you would like to donate to DSHA to further our mission of developing young women of faith, heart, and intellect, please visit or contact Senior Director of Development Matt Johnson at 414.721.2911
DONOR PROFILE
Schmidt, who served as DSHA’s first Penny Penguin, poses with 2023-24 Pennys Madison Turcinovic, DSHA ’24 (left), and Molly Jex, DSHA ’24, at the 2023 DSHA Alumnae Weekend.
Schmidt stands in the front row, second from left, with her classmates at the DSHA Class of 1988 25th year reunion.
2024 DSHA
ALUMNAE of the YEAR
Each year DSHA honors alumnae of distinction in three categories: Young Alumna of the Year, Alumna of the Year, and Jubilarian/s of the Year. Recipients are honored for demonstration of achievement, leadership, problem solving, character, and service to others, among other criteria.
Pictured left to right at the Alumnae of the Year Student Assembly, held October 4, where each honoree received her award:
f Jubilarian of the Year Toni Harrison Freeman, DSHA ’74
f Young Alumna of the Year Dr. Brittany Mays, DSHA ’09
f Alumna of the Year Meg Hegarty Dean, DSHA ’94
Over the course of Alumnae Weekend in early October, the 2024 Alumnae of the Year honorees spoke with students about their own high school experiences, and the paths that led to their current careers and ventures. Each honoree shared what she has learned through her leadership opportunities, along with the importance of serving the communities in which they engage. They all answered questions from a student panel and encouraged girls to explore their interests and passions while in high school. They were also recognized at the annual President’s Dinner, a gathering of special friends and donors of DSHA.
Pictured are Alumnae of the Year Honorees Mays and Freeman with the DSHA Sisters of Culture (SOC) co-curricular on October 3. The alumnae awardees talked with students about their experience as Black women at DSHA, and throughout their academic and career journeys. SOC celebrates the ethnic backgrounds and cultures of the DSHA community with the mission to spread awareness, honor all cultures, and focus on issues of social justice.
Additionally, Dean will attend DSHA's Character Driven Leadership course for juniors and seniors later this year to discuss her academic and career journey.
YOUNG ALUMNA OF THE YEAR
Brittany Mays, DSHA ’09, MD, FAAPMR
DSHA 2024 Young Alumna of the Year Dr. Brittany Mays, DSHA ’09, speaks with friends of DSHA at the annual President’s Dinner. Scan to hear Mays share about her career path and the impact of her DSHA education on her current medical practice, including her work with both patients and medical students.
Assistant Professor, Division of Headache and Facial Pain
Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
Clinical Site Lead
Philadelphia Headache Center of Excellence
Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center
f One of only three board certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation trained headache specialists in the U.S.
EDUCATION + POST-GRADUATE TRAINING/EXPERIENCE:
f Xavier University | B.S. in Biology, 2013
f Medical College of Wisconsin | M.D., 2017
f University of Miami/Jackson Health System | 2021
Resident Physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
First Black woman to serve as a Chief Resident at the University of Miami.
f Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School
United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) Headache Medicine Fellowship, 2022
f Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Assistant Professor and Sole Headache Specialist in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the Department of Neurology
Staff Physiatrist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Tennessee Valley Health System Headache Center of Excellence
Finding my voice at DSHA has been an incredibly impactful skill but arguably learning to be an active listener has been of even greater importance in my career. One cannot advocate without listening and hearing the community one is serving. In my current role as an assistant professor and clinician educator, I teach various levels of learners from undergraduates to clinical fellows. It is my goal to always create a supportive and safe learning space emulating my experience here at DSHA. Clinically, I often serve as a second opinion or last hope for many of my patients who have suffered catastrophic injury or those who struggle with debilitating headache diagnoses. Listening to my patients share their medical journey with me allows my patients and I to work as a team to create individualized treatment plans where I see success come to fruition.”
ALUMNA
OF THE YEAR
Meg Hegarty Dean, DSHA ’94
DSHA 2024 Alumna of the Year Meg Hegarty Dean, DSHA ’94, is pictured with her daughter Annie Dean, DSHA ’29. Scan to hear Dean speak at the annual President's Dinner about her family’s experience with the DSHA community during a time when her sister Sarah Hegarty, DSHA ’98, fell ill and passed away during Dean’s senior year of college; and of the fixture DSHA has been in her life. She also spoke of the inspiring work of her colleagues at Baird Advisors.
f Boston College | B.A. in Economics, 1998 f Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation , 2005 Member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee f Nativity Jesuit Academy | Board of Directors, present f Children’s Wisconsin Foundation | Board of Directors, present f St. Monica’s Parish | School Committee, present f DSHA | Board of Directors, 2008-2014
When I reflect on my time at DSHA, it was one of learning, laughter, and support. My peers, as well as the faculty and staff, created an environment where I could thrive. I had countless opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom, to develop as a young woman of faith, heart, and intellect. You’re a product of your environment. I’m proud to be a product of DSHA, Boston College, and Baird. While I learned the building blocks of many disciplines at DSHA, I was encouraged to apply those skills to solving problems in school and beyond. I am confident DSHA will continue to open up a world of possibilities for young women as it did for me.”
Scan to hear Dean speak about her DSHA experience as an alumna, current parent, and donor—at the place where “girls can do anything” and how DSHA “really sets in motion those leadership opportunities,” as she says.
JUBILARIAN OF THE YEAR
Toni Harrison Freeman, DSHA ’74
DSHA 2024 Jubilarian of the Year Toni Harrison Freeman, DSHA ’74, spoke with friends of DSHA at the annual President’s Dinner. Scan to hear Freeman share about the “profound impact” of her mentors and teachers at DSHA —including current Board of Directors member, S. Carol Thresher, SDS, DS ’59 (pictured), her former social studies and homeroom teacher. She spoke of the ways her mentors challenged her, the leadership opportunities they set in motion for her, and instilling confidence to take risks. Freeman has dedicated her life and career to serving others and spoke of the importance of “unity and collective responsibility.”
Senior Vice President of Operations
Habitat for Humanity, Charlotte, NC
Leadership Charlotte Legacy Award Winner
EDUCATION + CAREER + SERVICE:
f National Louis University, Chicago | B.A. in Education, 1978
f Michigan State University | Master's in Higher Education Administration
f Duke Endowment | Director of Research & Evaluation in support of Duke University and other regional non-profits
f The Mint Museum, Charlotte | Chief Operating Officer
f City of Charlotte | Executive VP of the Arts & Science Council
f Women’s Impact Fund; Habitat for Humanity; YWCA | Board of Directors
I’m grateful I had the privilege of attending a school where faith was an important element of my education. And we know that the emphasis on faith in education makes this institution unique and very valuable, especially in today’s world. I met with students this afternoon and I was really inspired by them. I was inspired that DSHA now serves 650 young women who can receive the type of education and support that I did. I’m really grateful for all of you here today that you support these young women —and I understand the importance of educating young women of faith, heart, and intellect. I know that a supportive environment, dedicated to how girls learn best, can make the difference. I believe I am a testament to DSHA’s commitment to One Body, because it is here, that I became whole.”
Freeman spoke with fellow Jubilarians at the Alumnae Weekend Jubilee Brunch on October 6. That day, Freeman and the rest of her DSHA Class of 1974 were inducted as Jubilarians—alumnae celebrating 50+ years since graduating from Divine Savior High School, Holy Angels Academy, or DSHA. She spoke with fellow Jubilarians about the “enduring bonds” of the DSHA Alumnae community.
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS
OF 2024
Pictured left to right, Rachel Koontz Reardon, DSHA ’10; Athletic Director Peggy Seegers-Braun; and Christine Anselment Mikula, DSHA ‘90, celebrate at the Class of 2024 DSHA Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony. Seegers-Braun holds the panel of Audrey Ackley Shaw, DSHA ’12, (left) who was unable to be present.
On October 4, Athletic Director Peggy Seegers-Braun inducted three athletes into the Class of 2024 DSHA Athletic Hall of Fame, with friends and family present. The ceremony was the ninth annual for DSHA. Since the inception of interscholastic high school athletic opportunities for girls in 1972, DSHA has had a rich history of outstanding athletes. The purpose of the DSHA Athletic Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor exceptional student-athletes and individuals who have had a positive and significant impact on the success of the Dasher athletic program. It also serves to inspire current and future athletes and individuals to strive for excellence.
At the ceremony, Seegers-Braun acknowledged the team contributions and individual athletic and academic accomplishments of each of the honored alumnae, along with highlighting favorite memories, and life successes since graduating from DSHA.
Christine Anselment
Mikula , DSHA ’ 90
FUNCTIONAL ACADEM ICS TEACHER AND PEER PARTNER FACILITATOR
Allen (TX) Independent School District
Rachel Koontz Reardon , DSHA ’ 10
LABOR & DELIVERY AND POSTPARTUM RN
Ascension Wisconsin
Audrey Ackley Shaw , DSHA ’ 12
EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE 552 nd OPERATIONS SUPPORT SQUADRON COMMANDER
Tennis | WISAA State Championship: State Doubles Champion and 3rd Place Team Finish; 2x GMC Team Champion
Basketball | 2nd Team All-Conference; All-Area Team; Easter Seal All-Star Game
BEYOND SPORTS
Mikula serves as a special education teacher and department team lead, while also holding roles as a new teacher mentor, Special Olympics coach, and community-based social skills coordinator.
Scan to view Mikula’s full list of high school athletic and additional career achievements.
Soccer | 2x WIAA D1 State Championship; 2x GMC Champion; WI All-Area Player of the Year; 1st Team All-State; 1st Team All-Conference
Played D1 Soccer for the University of Wisconsin, and club soccer and basketball while at Marquette University with both teams competing at nationals.
BEYOND SPORTS
Reardon will graduate with a Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of South Alabama this year.
Scan to view Reardon’s full list of high school athletic and additional career achievements.
Golf | WIAA State Championship: 2x Top-Five Team Finish and 5th Place Individual Finish; 3x GMC Team Champion; 1st Team All-Conference; 3rd Team All-State
Soccer | WIAA State Championship: 2x Top-Five Finish; 2nd Team All-Conference
BEYOND SPORTS
Shaw received the Top Fitness Award at Air Force Officer training, and the prestigious Yukla Award at Air Battle Manager training. She has been deployed to the Middle East twice, accruing over 315 combat flying hours, earning the prestigious Air Medal for meritorious achievements while in flight.
Scan to view Shaw’s full list of high school athletic and additional career achievements.
WeekendAlumnae
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
ALUMNAE OF THE YEAR STUDENT ASSEMBLY (pgs. 39-42)
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION (pgs. 43-44)
CLASS REUNIONS + HAPPY HOUR
Milestone reunions celebrating classes ending in 4 or 9 gathered for cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and loads of Dasher spirit at Zisters in Elm Grove. The evening was full of reconnection, sisterhood, memories, and more. Many classes continued the celebration into Saturday. Pictured left to right: Debra Leack Braun, DSHA ’84 ; Julie Leack Karasek, DSHA ’90 , and Laurie Hartung Borowski, DSHA ’84
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
ALUMNAE WEEKEND MASS & JUBILEE BRUNCH
All alumnae and their families were welcomed to the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre for Mass. Following, members of the classes of 1974 and earlier were invited to attend brunch in the Quad where Jubilarian of the Year Toni Harrison Freeman, DSHA ’74 , was honored and members of the class of 1974 were inducted as Jubilarians. Pictured left to right: Mary Schiller Reifenrath, HA ’50 ; Marcia Shy Treacy, HA ’50 ; and Joanne Stoddart Weber, HA ’50
PB & J SANDWICH MAKING
Alumnae were invited to participate in a service opportunity with students to benefit local organizations that support food insecurity.
1 | On April 23, 2023, Sofia Hernandez, DSHA ’20 , lost her father, Todd A. Hernandez. Her father’s passion for global communication, literature, and languages was reflected in his career as a Spanish and applied linguistics professor at Marquette University. Currently, Hernandez is completing her undergraduate degree in communication, Spanish, and marketing in hopes of pursuing a master’s degree in business at MU. To honor her father’s legacy, along with her family and her father’s colleagues, she helped create the Todd A. Hernandez Memorial Scholarship at MU, given biannually to Spanish major/minor students at MU. To learn more, visit lnkd.in/d6DtsUDA
2 | First in the tank on the season 16 premiere of the entrepreneurial TV show Shark Tank was Megan Klein, DSHA ’97. Klein pitched her company “Little Saints,” which sells sugar-free, low-calorie, alcohol-free mocktails and spirits. On the show, Klein aimed to get support to grow her direct-to-consumer sales while highlighting her business’s rapid growth, hitting $5 million in sales since October 2023. While Klein didn’t receive a formal deal from Shark Tank, she did secure a fundraising round at a valuation of $20 million shortly after, doubling what was offered on the show. To learn more about her product, visit littlesaints.com
3 | In the fall, Bridget Ackley, DSHA ’07 , received the 2024 South Florida PGA Player Development Award. Ackley acts as the Dedicated PGA Lead Coach/Junior Golf Coach at the Park. The award recognizes PGA Professionals for their extraordinary and exemplary contributions to player development. The award honored Ackley’s passion for growing the game of golf and creating inclusive, impactful programs for players of all abilities.
4 | This fall, Rhodes Scholar Claire Halloran, PhD, DSHA ’16 , wrote and defended a PhD thesis at the University of Oxford in England that centered on climate change, entitled “Spatial planning of a bulk power system with high residential heat pump adoption.” Halloran recently relocated to Denver after joining the Capacity Expansion Team in the Grid Planning and Analysis Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and will be researching and studying the long-term future of the U.S. electricity system.
5 | Assistant DSHA Varsity Volleyball Coach Caitlyn Coffey, DSHA ’14 , was named one of the BizTimes Milwaukee Notable Women in Sports in August. Coffey, the athletic success coordinator at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee, has been serving student-athletes for six years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from DePaul University while playing Division 1 volleyball. Since starting as assistant varsity coach for DSHA in 2023, she has helped the team secure WIAA D-1 State Championships in 2023 and 2024. She previously served as the DSHA JV Volleyball Coach from 2020-2022.
6 | Recently, Sonia Spitz, DSHA ’20 , joined the BizTimes Milwaukee team as a general assignment reporter. Spitz is a recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a degree in journalism, advertising, and media studies. She recently worked with CNN during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
7 | Jennifer Ament Moeller, DSHA ’87 , was sworn in as Door County’s first female circuit judge this fall. She took her historic oath of office in front of friends and family at the Door County Justice Center in Sturgeon Bay. She previously served as the Door County Family Court Commissioner for 12 years after working as an attorney at several law firms. Moeller obtained her JD from Marquette University Law School. In her new role, she will handle every type of case in state court including criminal, juvenile, family, probate, civil, and municipal.
8 | In September, Arike Ogunbowale, DSHA ’15 , became the fastest WNBA player to reach 4,000 career points. In November, she returned to Milwaukee as the keynote speaker for a workshop with PEARLS for Teen Girls, a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving quality of life and strengthening the community one girl at a time. The workshop for high school girls focused on setting goals and achieving dreams with the four-time WNBA All-Star.
9 | Megan Waldoch, DSHA ’13 , was named to the Medical Laboratory Observer’s 55 Under 55 list. The recognition honors professionals working in the laboratory industry who are making a significant contribution to their organization’s success. Waldoch is the DL Hematology Supervisor for the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. In November, she visited DSHA for the quarterly Cookie & Career event where she spoke with students about her education, career path, and held a Q&A.
10 | DSHA’s 2022 Young Alumna of the Year Lissa deGuzman, DSHA ’12 (pictured fourth from right) is the current standby for Elphaba for Wicked on Broadway, and was invited to a special screening of the movie Wicked for the original and current Broadway casts of the musical, along with the movie’s stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Additionally, in October, deGuzman sung the national anthem before game 4 of the MLB National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.
11 | Emily Verabrook-Tutkowski, DSHA ’99 , Pam Simon, DSHA ’99 , and Laura Gagas Temke, DSHA ’99 , took first place in the 2024 Saint Jude the Apostle Golf Outing at Western Lakes Golf Club. Simon had the longest putt of the day and Verabrook-Tutkowski had the longest drive for women. The trio have stayed in touch and remained friends since their time as Dashers.
12 | Following a rigorous and competitive audition process, Abby Quesnell, DSHA ’24, joined the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. While an accomplished percussionist in high school, Quesnell earned a spot playing bass drum in the band’s drumline, despite having never participated in a marching band before—a highly unusual and remarkable accomplishment.
ALUMNAE NEWS
13 | In October, Terrie Baier Hanrahan, DS ’63 , was inducted into the Intermountain Professional Ski Instructors of America Hall of Fame. The award recognizes passion for the sport, as well as superb teaching, coaching, and mentoring. Throughout her career, Hanrahan achieved the highest level in alpine skiing and teaching—PSIA III. She and her husband moved to Utah in 1995, where she became the Children’s Ski Supervisor at Snowbasin Resort. She has been there for over 20 years and received the “Ski Instructor of the Year” from her peers in her first year of employment. Additionally, she is a respected volunteer and coach for the Ogden Valley Adaptive Ski Foundation.
14 | Christina Green Pelino, DSHA ’09 , opened her third restaurant, Caffé Pelino, in Columbus, OH earlier this summer. Her first two Italian restaurants, Pelino’s Pasta and Piazza Pelino, have won numerous awards and are wildly popular in the area. Pelino is the owner and pastry chef of Pelino’s Pasta. Her desserts have been featured as some of the best in Columbus. Her newest restaurant offers popular breakfast items and pastries.
15 | KDV Label, LLC welcomed Hannah Bruckman, DSHA ’20 , as the new Marketing Specialist. Previously serving as the Social Media Intern for Insight Investment Advisers, Bruckman managed digital campaigns, produced video content, led strategic brand initiatives, and more. Her time as a Live Production Assistant at Notre Dame Studios allowed her to master visual storytelling, with her work featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. Bruckman earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in public relations and advertising from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame.
NOT PICTURED | In the next few months, Catherine Pfannerstill Nolan, DS ’57, will welcome two new great-grandchildren, for a total of eight, in addition to her 12 grandchildren. Nolan’s Dasher family includes her late mother Dorothy Backes Pfannerstill, HA ’35†, her daughters Mary Caye Nolan Smith, DSHA ’81, and Dr. Michelle Nolan-Olmsted, DSHA ’80, as well as her granddaughters Laura Smith, DSHA ’04, and Margaret Smith Mahler, DSHA ’06. While her family is growing, she continues to cantor, singing with the Milwaukee Choristers as well as teaching a music class for seniors.
Alumnae
WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED:
GRADUATES FROM THE 1940 s
Mary Bartzen Hunt, HA ’46 September 3, 2024
Rosemary Quitzow Bendlin, HA ’48
March 27, 2024
GRADUATES FROM THE 1950 s
Mary Schramm Schneider, HA ’50
October 9, 2024
Andrea Merkel Phelps, HA ’50
October 23, 2024
Joan Jordan Pequet, HA ’50
November 27, 2024
Joyce Rogler Trainor, HA ’50
November 29, 2024
Carol Damon, DS ’51
August 7, 2024
Carolotta Camarda, HA ’51
October 31, 2024
Mary Ellen McCarty, HA ’52
November 18, 2024
Elizabeth Maurer Altstadt, HA ’52
November 27, 2024
Gloria Lotz Peters, HA ’52
December 14, 2024
Agnes Derse Rubanka, DS ’53
August 27, 2024
Nancy Lee Kimball Morrissette, HA ’54
June 6, 2024
Alice Huss, HA ’54
August 7, 2024
Virginia Hartmann Balcerek, HA ’54
October 18, 2024
Sally Hultkrans Callahan, HA ’54
December 20, 2024
Carol Boldt Pfitzinger, HA ’55
June 18, 2024
Barbara Strenk Burbach, HA ’55 October 10, 2024
Mary Bunnell Reeve, DS ’56 May 1, 2024
Patricia Shields Casey, HA ’56 January 6, 2025
Antoinette Rittner Strancke, HA ’56 May 22, 2024
Joan Grathwohl Siembieda, HA ’57 May 28, 2024
Helma Miller Brenner, HA ’57 August 13, 2024
Margaret O’Neill Rogall, HA ’57 September 25, 2024
S. Ann Harrington, BVM, HA ’57 December 18, 2024
Josette Moore Ruska, HA ’57 December 28, 2024
Mary Ann Marks Langenohl, HA ’58 August 30, 2024
S. Mary Hopkins, OP, HA ’59 July 20, 2024
Mary Lynne Young Weis, DS ’59 July 26, 2024
Helen Kopinski Coles, DS ’59 October 29, 2024
GRADUATES FROM THE 1960 s
Diane Kaberna Neicheril, DS ’60 June 21, 2024
Margaret Mary McCaigue Meurer, HA ’61 July 18, 2024
Mary Ellen Griewski Hegner, DS ’61 August 31, 2024
Mary Newell Duffy, HA ’61 September 9, 2024
Virginia Wick Wheir, HA ’61
November 12, 2024
Maureen Cunningham, DS ’62
July 8, 2024
Marian Catania Yoder, HA ’62 July 17, 2024
Annelie Schrot Orlando, HA ’63
June 22, 2024
Jean Echard Reifenberg, DS ’64 September 3, 2024
Donna Mosgaller Sobrado, HA ’64 January 20, 2025
Donna Mayer Boehm, DS ’65 October 2, 2022
Margaret Swedish, HA ’67 October 31, 2024
Susan Hopkins, HA ’68 August 28, 2024
Barbara Mitschke Nash, HA ’68 November 13, 2024
GRADUATES FROM THE 1970 s
Cheryl Antonovich, DS ’70 March 11, 2024
Cynthia Fridl Gallagher, DSHA ’71 January 11, 2015
Meg Kelley-Beaudoin, DSHA ’72 November 20, 2024
Norah O’Donnell, DSHA ’74 June 22, 2024
Mary Clare Davis Falsetti, DSHA ’74 July 3, 2024
GRADUATE FROM THE 2010 s Mahogany Billups, DSHA ’18 September 19, 2024
ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM. MAY THEIR SOULS, AND THE SOULS OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED, THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, REST IN PEACE.
SAVE THESE DATES!
Grandparent Liturgy | Wednesday, April 30
Dasher grandparents are invited to celebrate Mass with their granddaughters at DSHA with light refreshments and time together to follow.
Questions? Contact Associate Director of Development Jenny Hauser at hauserj@dsha.info or 414.616.2807
Mother Daughter Mass | Sunday, May 4
Celebrate the month of Mother’s Day with this new special event for daughters and mothers or special mother figures. Coffee and light breakfast treats will be served following Mass.
Questions? Contact Director of Campus Ministry Stephanie Monson at monsons@dsha.info or 414.721.7973
Dasher Week of Giving | May 5-9
Mark your calendars for a Dasher Week of Giving. Last year, hundreds of DSHA community members raised over $64,000 in a day! We can’t wait to see what we can accomplish in a full week! Keep an eye on your inbox and follow DSHA on Facebook and Instagram for more information.
Questions? Contact Associate Director of Development Jenny Hauser at hauserj@dsha.info or 414.616.2807
DSHA Summer Cool—Rising Grades 1-9 | June-July
Future Dashers in rising grades 1-9 will have their best summer yet at DSHA Summer Cool. With 100+ camps designed with girls in mind, there’s something for every girl with camps centered around athletics, STEM, faith, leadership, music, reading, study skills, theatre, visual arts, wellness, and writing. Additionally, Community Theatre Works will present Elf The Musical this summer! Registration is open now at dsha.info/summer
Questions? Contact Admissions and Marketing Coordinator Meaghan Lagore, DSHA ’16 , at lagorem16@dsha.info or 414.721.2909
Holy Angels, Divine Savior, and DSHA Alumnae: We want to celebrate you!
Do you know of a fellow alumna who has news worth sharing? Help us celebrate your classmates! From degrees earned and books published, to honors received, job promotions, volunteer work and more, let us know about get-togethers, memories, and other adventures.
Please scan to submit your news! For questions, contact Alumnae Director Danielle Jerominski Rabe, DSHA ’08, at rabed@dsha.info or 414.616.2808
Fine Arts At DSHA
April 28-May 19 | AP Art Exhibit
May 2 | Angelaires and Concert Choir Spring Concert
May 5 | Handbellpalooza Spring Concert
May 7 | Parent Fine Arts Association Awards Night
May 12 | Spring Orchestral Concert
July 11-13 | DSHA Community Theatre Works, Elf The Musical » dsha.info/tickets
Athletics at DSHA
Visit dsha.info/athletics for a schedule of spring events.
Do you have a future Dasher in your life?
Scan or visit dsha.info/ visit to learn more about how to experience life as a Dasher this spring.
Questions? Contact Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Ann Duffy, DSHA ’10
duffya@dsha.info or 414.721.2909
D ivine S avior H oly Angels H igh School
D ivine S avior H oly Angels H igh School
S PONSORED BY THE S ISTERS OF THE D IVINE S AVIOR
SPONSORED BY THE SIS TERS OF THE DIVINE SAVIOR
4257 Nor th 100th Street | Milwau ke e, WI 53222
4257 Nor th 100th Street | Milwau ke e, WI 53222
A ll Girls Makes All the Difference | dsha.info
A ll Girls Mak es All the Diff erence | dsha.info
My Dream Started at DSHA
Hear some of our DSHA stories.
Hear members of the school community speak about their experiences at DSHA, and why all girls has made all the difference. Students, alumnae, faculty, administrators, Board of Directors, and parents share their own stories of dreams turned into realities because of their time at DSHA.
