Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees Reflect on OLSH's Influence

On Sunday, October 1, OLSH family members and friends gathered to enjoy a festive brunch and celebrate the accomplishments of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School alumni spanning several generations. The 2018 OLSH Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to a campus minister, a lawyer, an EMS professional, and a scientist. In addition, the large crowd in attendance recognized the members of the OLSH Class of 1968 who were on hand to celebrate their 50th class reunion.

Each of the four Distinguished Alumni shared brief remarks and reflected on the impact OLSH had on their lives.

SANDY (CAHALAN) MERRILL ’11, recipient of the Young Alumnus Award, is pursuing her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology at Loyola University of Maryland after spending three years as Women’s Mission Leader with University Christian Outreach at the University of Maryland. She was introduced by her brother Joe Cahalan ’03 who recognized his parents (and all OLSH parents) for their sacrifices that provided an OLSH education for him and his siblings. Sandy reflected on how the ideas she is charged with carrying out as a minister – to reach, call, form, and send – were essentially instilled in her during her time at OLSH. Through her time in ministry, she has learned the importance of kindness and encouraged everyone to “Keep choosing love; that small act can and will change the world.”

WILLIAM STICKMAN IV ’98, recipient of the Alumnus with Heart Award, is an accomplished attorney who has maintained strong ties to OLSH throughout his career. He was introduced by an individual Bill considers to be one of the two best teachers he has had in his entire life, OLSH English teacher, Mrs. Barbara Desman. “Besides my family and the way they raised me”, Bill shared, “there is no question that OLSH had the greatest impact on who I am today.” Bill reflected on the idea of success and noted that success is more about the person you are rather than the job, money, or other status symbols you may have. He credits much of his success to OLSH, because of the school’s ability to nurture students into the best versions of themselves. “Places like OLSH give a spark of Christian spirit, what is good, truthful, and beautiful, and encourage you to take that spark into your family, the community and the world, and share the light with others. So from OLSH goes forth a stream of sparks, of light.”

Genevieve (Klein) Rosselot ’99 introduced her sister, AMANDA (KLEIN) GONZALEZ ’02, the Christian Leadership Award honoree. Amanda is a member of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff and a nationally registered paramedic in New Orleans, LA. She is an active board member for Help the Heroes, a nonprofit that assists injured and fallen first responders and their families. Genevieve referenced Fr. Sam Esposito’s homily from Mass that morning, in which he spoke about how it’s not how loudly we proclaim our Christianity, but rather it’s our actions that are important, and she noted how this idea exemplifies her sister, Amanda. Amanda is struck by how close everyone was at OLSH during her time there and how connected people remain after graduating. She noted, “You can’t teach empathy, you embrace it – and OLSH does that.” She is able to put this into practice as a medical professional, helping to heal her patients with more than just medicine.

Sr. M. Alexander Klawinski had the honor of introducing her former student, DR. ANDREA MASTRO ’62, as the recipient of the Professional Excellence Award, commenting that Andrea was a woman ahead of her time. Andrea, in turn, credited Sr. M. Pulcheria Saukaitis ’39 for playing an important role in her choice to pursue science at a time when women were severely underrepresented in the field. Sr. Pulcheria entered many OLSH students in area science competitions, which they frequently won. Andrea has been blessed to be involved in several organizations that support women in science and has been able to make connections across the globe as she completes her research. She has done extensive cancer research, prompting Sr. Alexander to remark that when a cure for cancer is discovered, she is sure Dr. Mastro’s research will have played a role. Andrea currently serves as Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Cell Biology at Penn State, and she has traveled the globe as she published 149 papers, and 212 abstracts and letters, and mentored 185 students, assistants, and fellows. She accepted the award on behalf of all of her classmates. “We did it all,” she said. “There were only 20 of us and we became teachers, nurses, religious, entrepreneurs, and business owners. I love them.”

After the awards ceremony came to a close, OLSH principal Tim Plocinik shared congratulatory remarks with the Class of ’68. He noted that while much has changed at OLSH in the last 50 years, “personal characteristics among students such as character, spirituality, scholarship, creativity and service (as listed in the Class of 1968 Canvas yearbook) remain at the forefront of student life here at OLSH as it did when you walked the halls 50-years ago.” The event concluded with a singing of the OLSH alma mater, led by Sr. M. Francine Horos, member of the class of 1968, former principal, and current math department chair at OLSH. •