The Word Magazine | Spring 2017 by Incarnate Word Academy

THE W

INC ARNATE WORD AC ADEMY M AGAZINE | SPRING 2017

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Incarnate Word Academy Executive Team Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I., President Dr. Mary Aamodt, Principal Mr. Binh Vuong, Director of Operations Mr. Stephen Edworthy, Director of Finance Ms. Ginger Przybyla, Director of Advancement Board of Advisors Mr. Patrick Barry, President Ms. Pamela Powell, Vice President Mr. Eric Self, Past President Ms. Carol Barndollar, Secretary Mr. Charlie Turner, Finance Chair Mr. Joe Birkofer Ms. Jo Carcedo Dr. Patrick Curling, MD Mr. Randy Graham Mr. Andrew Hawthorn Mr. Bill Hickl Ms. Sally Moseley Mr. Bill Penczak Mr. Ed Raponi Mr. David Sears Ms. Margret Sonnier '80 Ms. Robyn Sutton Adjunct Board Mr. Jim Booth Mr. Chris Borreca Ms. Nora Brooks Mr. Mike Cenatiempo Ms. Marla Davis Ms. Lisa Ganucheau Ms. Kay Hawthorn Ms. Diane Kopfensteiner ‘78 Ms. Patty Schulze Board of Directors Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I. Sister Brigid Cummins, C.V.I. Sister Carmel O’Malley, C.V.I. Sister Barbara Anne Osterhaus, C.V.I. Sister Charline Schlebach, C.V.I.

SPRING 2017

IN THIS ISSUE 4

LET TER FROM THE PRESIDENT

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R I N C I PA L

WOR D I N T H E WOR L D

FROM THE CLASSROOM

AROUND CAMPUS

AROUND OUR (NEW) CAMPUS!

S U P E R Y E A R AT I WA

1 8 A LUM NA E EV E N T S 20

CLASS NOTES

I N M E MOR IA M

ON THE COVER

His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo presided over the historic Blessing and Dedication of the new Academic Building and Young Leaders Conference Center in a school ceremony that was broadcast live on Facebook. Juniors and seniors lined the hallways of the new building.

O P P O S I T E PA G E

Incarnate Word Academy seniors had a SUPER final year at 609 Crawford Street. Read more about the excitement around downtown this year in our Feature Story on p. 16. Incarnate Word Academy provides young women with a Catholic college preparatory education, helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus, the Incarnate Word, and live according to His values. Our cornerstones are academics, values and spirituality.

Editor Ms. Catherine Thedinger THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 3

FROM THE PRESIDENT

“I am thrilled to see the girls excelling in so many different areas. It really makes me stop and think of the important role that IWA plays in helping them to grow into the persons God wants them to be. I am so proud of our students.” A walk through the cafeteria at lunch or after school just makes me smile. You can see girls cramming for a test, oblivious to the chatter going on around them. How do they do that? You can see girls having a great time with their friends or planning for class projects and extracurricular activities. I love the end-of-day announcement: “Soccer Team, Swim Team - head to the bus!” Usually, the announcement only has to be made once. It is a happy place to be. I am thrilled to see the girls excelling in so many different areas. It really makes me stop and think of the important role that IWA plays in helping them to grow into the whole persons God wants them to be. I am so proud of our students. First and foremost, they stand out as examples of kind and caring teenagers. Don’t just take my word for it. This is always an identified characteristic among those outside the IWA community who have any interaction with our students. This is a credit to their families and teachers who challenge them and are always willing to go the extra mile to help them succeed. Our students are dedicated to their studies and are recognized academically by a number of national honor societies and even as finalists in the esteemed National Merit Scholarship Program. It is clear in this magazine’s alumnae section that our strong academic program prepares graduates to succeed at colleges and careers throughout the United States and abroad. But what really inspires me is to see the many ways that our students put their academic gifts and talents to use for others. I was so impressed with the Young Leaders Program’s student-created business, Crawford Coffee Company. Not only did students feel empowered because of the business skills they learned but they also showed great consideration for others by donating the p. 4 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

proceeds to a school for under-privileged students. That is the “Woman of the Word” spirit in action! The annual Talent Show sponsored by the Teens for Unity club is another great example of service to others. All of the money raised through ticket sales went towards the group’s mission trip. Thirteen students will spend their spring break volunteering at Cafe Con Leche, an under-served school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. How inspiring is that? Lastly, our student-athletes and their parents were truly team players when they worked an incredibly long day at the Super Bowl. Their good deed allowed them to donate nearly $45,000 towards a new bus. You can read more about their exciting day later in this magazine. I couldn’t close this letter without mention of our new building. We can all be proud of the completion of this beautiful addition to the school and for all that it will provide for the teachers and students. Thank you to everyone who made a contribution to the I AM IN campaign. Even if you saw the dedication on Facebook Live or “toured” the building on our website, I invite you to come and see the real thing at the Community Open House on Wednesday, March 29th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. You will be amazed. In this season of Lent, my prayer is that each of us take the Lenten advice of Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI, when he calls us to slow down, trust in God’s providence and open our hearts in such a way that we hear God clearly say, “I love you!” It will make all the difference. May God bless each of you.

Praised be the Incarnate Word, Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I. President of Incarnate Word Academy

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

“IWA is always looking to set goals for higher levels of performance, but it has remained steadfast in its mission since 1873, providing an education which helps our students grow in their relationship with Jesus, the Incarnate Word and live according to his values.” 2016-2017 has been a busy school year both on campus and in our downtown neighborhood. The faculty and staff began the year preparing for the TCCED (Texas Catholic Conference Education Department) and AdvancEd accreditation visit this February. Our last accreditation visit was in October 2006, and much has changed over the years. During the last accreditation visit, the current fine arts building was scheduled to be completed in March 2007 and a multi-million dollar park (Discovery Green) was being planned. The student enrollment was 231 in 2006; today the student enrollment is 335. We listed 27 faculty members in 2006; today we have 43 faculty members. In 2006, IWA offered 8 Advanced Placement classes; this year we are offering 12 Advanced Placement classes. In the past ten years, IWA has developed an outstanding Campus Ministry program and a stellar leadership program. Despite the changes over the years, some areas of the accreditation report have remained consistent since 2006 such as the exemplary ratings on the integration of Catholic faith and Gospel values within the school and the school’s high expectations for values and virtues in the school community. IWA is always looking to set goals for higher levels of performance, but it has remained steadfast in its mission since 1873, providing an education which helps our students grow in their relationship with Jesus, the Incarnate Word and live according to his values.

Our visiting accreditation team this spring validated our school Self-Study which addressed different Domains including Mission, Community, Governance, Administration, Faculty/Staff, Curriculum & Instruction, Student Assessment, Student Services and Plant. The Consensus Report, submitted by the accreditation team, noted the many areas of strength observed during the visit, including: • The leadership of the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament provides strong guidance and support to carry out the IWA Mission • The strong commitment to cultivating Catholic Identity throughout the school • The caliber and quality of the faculty and staff • The strong and active engagement of students and the variety of instructional strategies and practices • The focus on service to the immediate community and beyond witnessed throughout the Campus Ministry program, the Young Leaders Program and other organizations in the school. Congratulations to our faculty and staff, Board of Advisors, students, parents, alumnae and entire IWA community for your efforts to make IWA the outstanding school it is today and the commitment to always move forward.

Mary Aamodt, Ed.D. Principal of Incarnate Word Academy

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WORD IN THE WORLD

Members of the junior class went on a fall college trip and visited a variety of schools including Texas A&M, Baylor, University of Texas and St. Edwards. Here they are posing with the Baylor bears that live on campus in Waco, TX!

Lauren Daniels ‘17 and her father organized a collection of hundreds of much-needed items including toothpaste, garbage bags, and diapers to bring to the people affected by the tragic flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. p. 6 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

After learning that Houston Astros star Jose Altuve would soon be a father to a baby girl, Sister Mary Brendan O’Donnell, C.V.I. got to work knitting one of her famous handmade baby afghans! She had the honor of bringing the gift to the dugout on behalf of all the sisters!

16 members of the senior class traveled to Washington DC with the Close Up Program. Here they are pictured atop the Heritage Foundation with a beautiful view of the iconic Congressional dome.

Cristobella Durrette ‘17 put her passion for storytelling to work as the Incarnate Word Academy correspondent for the Buzz Magazines.

Students, parents and teachers from around the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston gathered at the Co-Cathedral to celebrate the winners of the University of St. Thomas Essay Contest. 11 IWA students receive recognition and Sarah Culbreth ‘17 placed 2nd overall earning a $2,000 scholarship to UST!

Twelve IWA students spent a Saturday volunteering at the annual Cardinal’s Christmas event benefiting Catholic Charities Children and Family Services. The students helped set up the event and greeted guests as they arrived at River Oaks Country Club.

Students hammed it up at the photo-booth at IWA’s “Tale as Old as Time” Winter Ball. Instead of nominating “Belles of the Ball” based on measures of physical beauty or other superficial criteria, IWA students leaned on character and leadership traits to determine their vote!

IWA’s Campus Ministry Team hosts student-led retreats each year. They are designed to build community within each classification while providing personal space for prayer and reflection. This year, juniors attended an overnight retreat at the Christian Renewal Center.

IWA’s Junior Statesmen of America members attended the organization’s state convention in Austin at the Texas Capitol. Students participated in discussions on local, national, and social issues.

IWA’s Student Council attended a district meeting where they joined council members from over 30 Houston area high schools to build their leadership skill set, brainstorm, and share ideas.

Angelique Longobardi ‘17 isn’t ready for her final lap! The impressive student-athlete signed to swim at Hendrix College, a private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas.

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from the classroom national merit finalist

Incarnate Word Academy senior Anna Winter (center) has been named a Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The 15,000 finalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state and represent fewer than 1 percent of each state’s high school seniors. Two Incarnate Word Academy seniors, Jennifer Martin (left) and Marina Pirzada (right), have been designated as commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Their selection scores placed them among the top 50,000 of over 1.6 million students who took the 2015 PSAT. Congrats to these students for hard work in their academic pursuits!

national spanish honors society inductees

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica recognizes high school achievement in Spanish promotes interest in Hispanic studies. Elizabeth Diamond Aiyana Jones Emily Perez Victoria Smith Brittany Ezeude Destanie Lechuga Evelina Pimentel Alessandra Taliente Gabrielle Gonzales Zainub Mussa Kassidy Porche Stefania Taliente Kaitlyn Hoffeld Reilly O’Hare Samantha Pozzi Aimee Tovias Margaret Jardine Isabel Ortiz Madison Ripp Brianna Villareal

mu alpha theta

Mu Alpha Theta is a Mathematics Honor Society dedicated to inspiring a keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship within the subject and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics in high school. Isabella Altman Katherine Edwards Evelina Pimentel Aimee Tovias Triciajane Asuncion Brittany Ezeude Kassidy Porche Brianna Villareal Victoria Bonilla Destanie Lechuga Samantha Pozzi Susannah Wilson Eden Caligur Isabelle MacDonough Madison Ripp Clare Cromwell Ifeoma Mbue Alessandra Taliente Elizabeth Diamond Reilly O’Hare Stefania Taliente

national honor society

NHS recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Isabella Altman Triciajane Asuncion Mary Boneno Victoria Bonilla Louise Callens Anna Canizales Claire Cleveland Reagan Coleman Clare Cromwell Libby Diamond

Germayne Eaton Katie Edwards Brittany Ezeude Mikayla Herreth Kaitlyn Hoffeld May Huynh Margaret Jardine Isabelle MacDonough Ifeoma Mbue Sophia McCullough

Zainub Mussa Shannon O’Hara Reilly O’Hare Julia O’Neil Isabel Ortiz Kassidy Porche Samantha Pozzi Madison Ripp Madison Sears Victoria Smith

MEDUSA MYTHOLOGY EXAM

Alessandra Taliente Stefania Taliente Mary Kate Theroux Aimee Tovias AnaLaura Trentadue Lillian Turner Brianna Villareal Emma Wiederhoeft Domanique Williams Susannah Wilson

The Medusa Mythology Exam is an international, standardized exam for students who are excited about mythology. Congrats to the following students who received the distinction “Coronoa Oliva” or the “Olive Crown” for their outstanding performance. Anastasja Kraft Lillian Sudkamp p. 8 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING BACK Incarnate Word Academy’s Leading with Business class made a bold promise this year: plan, create and run a small business and donate 100% of the profits to San Francisco Nativity Academy, a Southwest Houston school serving exclusively low-income students. Last semester 24 students fulfilled their promise by presenting a check for $1400 to Matthew Garcia-Prats, Principal of San Francisco Nativity Academy – just in time for Christmas. Leading with Business students collaborated to create a student-run business, “Crawford Coffee Company,” named for the street their school has stood on for 144 years. A fresh take on a coffee shop, Crawford Coffee Co. operated three mornings a week for 3 months. Students held all leadership roles in the company, and made strategic decisions for Marketing, Sales, Operations, Human Resources and Finances. Director Charles Kafoglis knew it was essential for the girls to open a real-life business: “In leadership and business, class knowledge only goes so far. A real life business, with real goals (to help fund San Francisco tuition), and risks is essential in moving students from rote knowledge to inspiring possibilities. The business sparks their imagination in a way a class environment cannot.” For example, to encourage

continued purchasing, the students of Crawford Coffee Company created a rewards loyalty program to boost sales and funds for San Francisco Nativity Academy. All in all, Crawford Coffee Company sold 381 hot chocolates, 51 peppermint hot chocolates, 130 coffees, 160 salted caramel coffees, 85 double chocolate coffees, and 63 teas. After 15 days of sales, 111 cans of whipped cream, lots of last-minute runs to the store, and bags and bags (and bags!) of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee grinds, the students proudly closed their doors with $1400 in the bank - exceeding their predictions by $400. The beneficiaries of their hard work were the nineteen Pre-Kindergarden students at the newly established San Francisco Nativity Academy. Principal Matt Garcia-Prats was blown away by the achievement: “We are incredibly appreciative and humbled by the hard work and generosity of these amazing young ladies!” IWA’s Leading with Business class is an Ivy League caliber, project based entrepreneurial leadership course, offered in collaboration with The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is part of IWA’s Young Leadership Program (YLP).

“I am so happy that I took this class senior year. It gave me a unique perspective on life beyond classroom activities and a window into future business endeavors. ”

- Mary Kate Theroux ‘17

The Leading with Business class poses in front of their pop-up shop! THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 9

AROUND CAMPUS falcons score on national signing day The lunchroom was buzzing with Falcon Pride on February 1st as two of IWA’s student-athletes committed to play varsity athletics during their college years. Families, coaches, and classmates cheered on as Lily Hatcher and Lauren Zammit, both of the Class of 2017, signed their letters of intent. Lily Hatcher will play softball at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. IWA’s softball head coach Steve Mares shared in the proud moment: “I’ve seen Lily play for about three years and we all know that she’s a leader and a winner and on the field. But what I’ve always been most impressed by is her personality and what IWA has taught her. She is very humble and whenever anything happens on or off the field, she always looks at other people to see what they are thinking. Before she reacts, she looks to her teammates to try to do the best for them.”

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Lauren Zammit will run cross country and track at the University of Dallas. A natural talent, Lauren ran cross country for the first time senior year and finished in the top 10 of IWA’s competitive district. Head Coach Chris Warren expressed his pride in her accomplishments and work ethic: “She ran pretty much every single race there was to run in track and field last year and emerged to be one of the best runners I’ve ever coached here at IWA. I’m so proud of her and what she’s accomplished. She’s just getting started and I can’t wait to see what she does at the college level.” Three other IWA student-athletes committed to play college sports several weeks after national signing day. Swimmer Angelique Longobardi swam for her entire IWA career and signed with Hendrix College, a liberal-arts college in Arkansas. Caitlin Hillier also signed to play at Hendrix College, but will be joining the volleyball team. Lastly, Chelsea Hogue will run Track and Field at Southwest University in Georgetown, TX. Go, girls, go!

winter sports recap

swimming

soccer

BASKETBALL

fall banquet

Coaches Linda Vesser and Marcella Portillo did a fantastic job coaching the IWA swim team this year. Five IWA swimmers qualified to compete in the TAPPS State swim meet in San Antonio and made their teammates proud. Freshmen Laura Cromwell beat her own school record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:57:82. The 4x400 relay team of Angelique Longobardi ‘17, Kiarah Parrales ‘17, Evyn Yasinski ‘19, and Eileen Evans ‘20 also beat their own school record with a time of 4:07:62. All in all, the team set seven new school records in one season!

IWA Basketball boasted a solid season with an 11-16 record. The team was comprised of students from all classifications and built a strong foundation on which to build next year. Says Head Coach Matt Ruiz: “This season was a great test for us. We were challenged physically and mentally but came out on top. Our record does not reflect how much blood, sweat and tears these girls put into this program. Our seniors led the way for us whether it was playing or helping the coaches on the sideline. I am very proud of them and cannot wait to get started next year.”

Bravo to team captain and Goal Keeper Bridget Arrellano for leading IWA soccer through a great season. The only senior on the team, Arrellano led the five juniors, three sophomores, and eight freshmen to the season highlight of victory over St. Pius X High School. Head Coach Bryan Gonzalez prioritized team development: “The season was one to remember and learn from. If the girls continue to develop trust for one another on the field and build on their foundation of skills then we have a lot to look forward to next season.” Thanks to the parents who offered unwavering support at home and away games! Go Falcons!

Cross country and volleyball athletes gathered together with their parents, coaches, and teammates to celebrate another successful season. Congratulations to the individual athletic award winners who stood out for their physical abilities and strength of character on and off the field. Volleyball MVP: Anna Winter ‘17 Volleyball Champion of Character: Aiyana Jones ‘18 Cross Country Most Valuable Runner: Lauren Zammit ‘17 Cross Country Champion of Character: Kassidy Porche ‘18 THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 11

AROUND CAMPUS Falcon Theatre performed Shrek the Musical this spring, and it was a huge hit! The main stage production showcased our incredibly talented IWA community: seasoned student thespians led the way and encouraged freshmen and sophomores to try their hand at acting and managing the stage; Theology teacher Matthew Vale moonlighted as Musical Director and Dance Instructor Michaela Barta dreamed up the choreography for the original score. Mr. Jurick, Ms. Neaves and Mr. Mooneyham took the stage to raucous applause. Shrek Director and teacher Katherine Mulvaney was proud of the cast and crew for their creativity - both as self expression and resourcefulness: “The cast and crew rely on each other not only to learn lines and blocking but also to run the sound board and the lighting, to manage set changes backstage, and to help each other when something goes wrong.” Plus, Director Mulvaney says, there’s always a lesson to be learned, even from a fairy tale about a donkey and an ogre: “This musical, even more than the movie on which it is based, challenges us all to be ourselves...big, bright and beautiful or otherwise. No matter what the stories say.” Bravo!

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fine arts recognition Six of our budding artists competed at the Regional 4E VASE Competition in Dickinson and represented IWA with flying colors. They placed with 9 Superior ratings earning 10 medals and 2 Excellent ratings. Congrats to the following students for their performance: Jacqueline Bergeron ‘17 2 Superiors Rebecca Da Jose ‘17 2 Superiors Cristobella Durrette ‘17 2 Excellent Teresa Henderson ‘17 2 Superiors Vivian Nguyen ‘19 2 Superiors Adrianah Rangel ‘19 1 Superior IWA students participated in the Scholastic Regional Art and Writing Awards. Bri Salang ‘19 submitted a pencil drawing of a young girl with braids (right) by IWA and received an Honorable Mention in the competition. Adriannah Rangel ‘19 received Silver Key Recognition.

catholic schools week art contest

IWA celebrated National Catholic Schools Week in many ways but what may have been the most heartfelt expression of the catholic school spirit was the school-wide art contest hosted by Campus Ministry. Students were asked to create a work of art in any medium that reflected the connections between IWA’s past to our current sisterhood. Senior Isabella Raschke won first place with her photo collage (below, right):”I went through old IWA yearbooks to find inspiration for our artwork. I came across this picture in the 1954 yearbook and couldn’t get over the similarity between that building and the current one. That day, I took a picture of IWA from the same angle and merged parts of the two together to represent the similarities between IWA then and now. The picture from 1954 shows a whole different world, but when you look closely, it really hasn’t changed much!” Senior Erica Martinez impressed the judges with her hand-drawn ink and wax logo featuring mirrored IWA buildings: “The new IWA will always mirror the old IWA with the same traditions and sisterhood. Some things have never changed, even though the buildings have! I wanted the art piece to be fun but solid like IWA.”

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AROUND (our new!) CAMPUS blessing & dedication

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”

On February 10th, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo joined Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I, Dr. Mary Aamodt, and Patrick Barry, President of Incarnate Word Academy’s Board of Advisors for the Blessing & Dedication of IWA’s new Academic Building and Young Leaders Conference Center. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and supporters attended the ceremony at 609 Crawford Street, and thousands more witnessed the historic moment via the live feed streaming on Facebook Live. It was only one-year prior that a similar group gathered together in the Rafferty Courtyard to break the ground on which the 18,500 square foot campus addition now stands. Sister Lauren acknowledged and thanked the many people whose efforts made the historic moment possible: “Everybody went into high gear to complete this project on time and on budget and here we are today. I am so, so grateful. This project is a dream come true and has come together through the cooperation, skill and hard work of so many people.”

Sister Lauren gave special thanks to the architect Charles Bourgeois and his team at SBWV Architects, Mike Jones and the en-

tire E.E.Reed Construction team, and IWA Director of Operations Binh Vuong. These team leads and their crew navigated the challenges of maximizing a limited footprint, scheduling conflicts due to downtown Super Bowl preparations, connecting two existing buildings into one, and a year of historic Houston flooding - all without disrupting the school day. The state-of-the-art building boasts collaborative learning spaces, student centers, and classrooms designed to enhance the effectiveness of IWA’s rigorous curriculum. The new performing and fine arts studios boast floor to ceiling windows with urban views that will inspire IWA’s budding artists. A history wall in the new courtyard chronicles the major milestones since Foundation Day in 1873. And the rooftop patio – the cherry on top - brings the outdoors to our urban campus. Along with our pride, Sister Lauren and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word are careful to emphasize the importance of gratitude: “To the students of IWA - I want you to enjoy all that this building has to offer you but I never want you to take it for granted. People inside and outside the IWA community have contributed

“May God continue to bless this school, its alumnae, its faculty and staff, and above all its current students. Cherish this in your hearts because you’re going to take this with you. You are going to be leaders wherever you are - whether in Houston or beyond - and I pray that Jesus’ truth and Jesus’ goodness will be summarized for you in Jesus’ beauty.” - His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo p. 14 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

to make this a reality for you, because they believe in all that you can accomplish and they believe in the mission of the Academy which stands proudly on the pillars of Academics, Values and Spirituality.” Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, after noting that he was one of the few in attendance who chose to wear “IWA red”, grounded the physical beauty of the building with the beauty of its purpose: “Incarnate Word Academy should make you absolutely first-rate at everything you do in the knowledge of the world. But Sister Lauren would be the first to remind you this all happens because of the Incarnate Word – to which her community has been ded-

icated for all of its existence and to which in the 1870s they decided to make palpable right in the middle of downtown Houston. Would you have any better symbol of how truth and beauty can work together? May God continue to bless this school, its alumnae, its faculty and staff, and above all its current students. Cherish this in your hearts because you’re going to take this with you. You are going to be leaders wherever you are and I pray that Jesus’ truth and Jesus’ goodness will be summarized for you in Jesus’ beauty.” And so, it is with heartfelt voices that we proclaim, “Praised be the Incarnate Word!”

WE ARE IN!

The Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, along with IWA students, got a sneak peek of the new building before it was blessed. Their reactions bring us so much joy!

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SUPER BOWL, SUPER BUS!

On February 5, 2017 hundreds of

thousands of people descended into Houston and millions more kicked back, relaxed, and tuned in to watch the now-historic Super Bowl match up between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. But for one hundred and fifty IWA community members, Super Bowl Sunday 2017 was a day of hard work that would ultimately raise nearly $45,000 for the IWA Athletic Program. Here’s how they did it.

THE PARTNERSHIP

For the past eight years, Incarnate Word Academy’s Athletic Booster Club has forged a close partnership with Aramark, the food services and merchandising conglomerate that serves NRG p. 16 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

Stadium. Each year, Aramark invites Incarnate Word Academy student-athletes and their families to volunteer at various Houston events in return for a portion of the profits. Students and IWA families have sold concessions and merchandise at high profile Houston events including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Rockets games, Texas Bowls, and the Monster Jam truck shows. For the past several years, IWA has exclusively worked the Go Texans store at every single home game for the Houston Texans. Volunteering with Aramark has brought between $10,000 to $15,000 of annual revenue to help cover the cost of IWA”s growing athletic program. Team uniforms, out-of-town tournaments, new equipment, and special coaches are funded in large

part through the Booster Club’s fundraising efforts. The Aramark fundraising partnership has been a huge success for all parties involved: Aramark achieves corporate responsibility and community engagement objectives, IWA students learn teamwork and the satisfaction of putting in a hard day’s work to raise funds for their extracurricular activities, and Coach Perez gets his steps in: ”I’m telling you, it’s a full day of hard work. Most volunteer days are six-hour shifts and I hit 10,000 steps before we’re halfway through!” Volunteer work is required for each student-athlete and for IWA, that amounts to quite a few people. More than 30% of IWA’s student body learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership skills participating in one of the nine different sports that are offered: Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming, Softball, Cheerleading, and Track & Field. IWA Falcons practice at state-of-the-art facilities throughout Houston including our fourth floor gym affectionately called “The Nest,” the University of Houston Aquatic Center, Hermann Park, the newly refurbished Buffalo Bayou Park, St. Thomas High School and Houston Sports Park, home of the Houston DASH and Dynamo. This year alone, six seniors out of a graduating class of seventy have signed to play in college.

SUPER BOWL FOR SUPER BUS!

Though it’s clear IWA’s athletic program is in full swing, it’s growing popularity and increasing student body has put extra demand on its transportation resources. So, when Aramark approached IWA with the opportunity to work the NFL store at the Super Bowl, Coach Perez and the Athletic Booster Club jumped at the chance to earn money for a new bus, and immediately started drumming up excitement for “the Super bus!” Organization began in the first weeks of school, six months ahead of the main event. After an overwhelming response to the initial request for volunteers, Aramark opened up an additional 75 volunteer spots. Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I. thought that this enthusiasm summed up the IWA family: “It didn’t surprise me at all that so many IWA family members wanted to be a part of the event. On top of being a necessary financial support, the idea of volunteering as a team falls right in line with IWA’s great traditions of community and service. Volunteering as a community towards a common goal is precisely the kind of thing that makes the IWA community so tight-knit and unique.” In total, 37 IWA students worked the Super Bowl event with their families and coaches from six thirty in the morning until midnight that night – an eighteen hour day. Volunteers stayed on their feet folding inventory, assisting customers, and checking out the excited fans who flew in from all across the country. They may have been almost as tired as the Falcons and Patriots that evening, and the students saw themselves as the true winners of the day. Chrysta Joy Jaucian, who will graduate this spring, explained the feeling: “ It’s not everyday that you live in the host city for the nationally broadcast Super Bowl and have the opportunity to directly participate in it. I volunteered to get this experience and to help raise money for the school! Even though I’m graduating this year, I wanted to leave a my own little mark by helping by contributing to the super bus effort. It was a great experience and hearing the crowd roar at the final touchdown was a memory that I’ll never forget.” Top to bottom: (1) Before the chaos began, students took a walk to get a first-level field view of the SB51 field. A once-in-a-lifetime experience! (2) Morgan Hall ‘17 and her mother pose for a picture outside of the stadium. Photos were not allowed to be posted that day due to security concerns (3) Cross country coach Chris Warren showed his true colors and coached the IWA volunteers through a long day of volunteering. (4) IWA student volunteers got the view of a lifetime as Tom Brady threw the game winning touchdown for the New England Patriots. THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 17

ALUMNAE A NOTE FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS CARMEL TAJONERA ‘08 It was always a dream of mine to return to the Academy someday, and there couldn’t be a more SUPER way to do so than to serve our alumnae network as your Alumnae Relations Coordinator. It’s been an honor getting to know many of you, hearing your stories and shared love for our beloved alma mater. What a joy it’s been to meet so many of you at our various events this year, especially at the beautiful Saluting Alumnae Luncheon. Please check the calendar for more events throughout the year! Praised be the Incarnate Word!

SALUTING ALUMNAE LUNCHEON Women of the Word from as early as the Class of 1948 to as recent as the Class of 2012 gathered at The Junior League of Houston in March for the annual Saluting Alumnae Luncheon. More than 100 alumnae and friends were in attendance to enjoy each other’s company and delicious lunch, and celebrate the IWA sisterhood. As representatives of the Academy, Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I, student body president Lydianne Juguilon ’17 and Carmel Tajonera ’08 thanked alumnae for blazing the trail for future Women of the Word and for their continued support of IWA. The afternoon closed out with a moving rendition of the alma mater and class photo shoots. A delightful time was had by all and we are already looking forward to next year—mark your calendars for March 3, 2018!

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e h t e v a S Dates!

March 29, 2017 Community Open House Incarnate Word Academy 4 to 6 p.m.

April 29, 2017 IWA Legacy Gala & Auction Omni Hotel Houston May 10, 2017 Alumnae Happy Hour Location TBA | 5 to 7:30 p.m.

May 18, 2017 Red Check Luncheon Incarnate Word Academy *for class years ending in ‘7 1 Barbara (Anderson) Carl ‘56, Virginia (Theall) Berreth ‘53, Mary Jane (Anderson) Sullivan ‘53 • 2 Jo Ann McCarty ‘75, Patricia (McCarty) Fraser ‘74 • 3 Lorrie Matula ‘69, Helen Matula ‘50 • 4 Mara Lisa Castaneda ‘92, Adorian Goodwill ‘93; ‘94: April Falcon-Blanco, Michelle Hamilton, Melissa Ibanez, Lisa (Morello) Madrigal, Angela (Garza) Mendoza, Elizabeth Olivares-Reed, Tyewaneka Turner, Marisa Weber, Dominique (Boussac) Bartholet; ‘98: Katy (Miller) DiPuma, Kathy Goodwin, Mary Konieczny, Ann Marie (Samperi) Montalbano, Ann (Burton) Loayza; Shannon Plakos ‘97 • 5 ‘50: Helen (Osterhaus) Matula, Marie (Polka) Pearsall, Dorothy Thompson, Martha (Krippner) Daumas • 6 ‘07: Amanda Flores, Nicole (Marin) Capelo, Angela Garza, Sarah Garza; Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez ‘06, Brianna (Sandoval) Ortega ‘02, Sr. Melody Mobley ‘03 • 7 ‘53: Betty Ann (Martin) Kowis, Virginia Berreth, Noel (Talley) Holberg and guests Alice Mondshine, Elizabeth Stromatt; ‘17: Bridget Arellano, Lydianne Juguilon • 8 Dominique Bartholet ‘94 and daughter Danielle Bartholet • 9 ‘48: Clarissa (Porras) Schiefen, Constance Sechelski, Sr. Jean Marie Guokas, C.V.I. • 10 Patricia Fraser ‘74, Jo Ann McCarty ‘75, Patrice (Philips) Sandoval ‘77, Diane (Freitag) Kopfensteiner ‘78, Jeanice (Guzzetta) Netzel ‘79 • 11 Gilda Mendoza ‘84, Graciela (Villareal) Cardenas ‘80, Annette (Vasquez) Delgado ‘80, Elizabeth Horan ‘87 • 12 ‘10: Victoria Cote, Francisca Cardenas, Emily Marin, Jillian Bellard; ‘11: Erika Delarosa, Claire Tajonera, Domenica Delgado; ‘12: Jordan Daly, Catherine Gonzalez, Emma Lampson, Emily Hall • 13 Lanette Kowis ‘88, Betty Ann Kowis ‘53, Jeanice Netzel ‘79 • 14 Denise Dreyling, Joan (Koh) Thoede ‘50

THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 19

ON THE SCENE: IWA ALUMNAE EVENTS

CLASS NOTES 1962

Eleven members of the Class of 1962 gathered to celebrate 55 years since their IWA graduation. It was a fanastic celebration and so wonderful to spend time with each other! (8)

1966

The Class of 1966 gathered in November to celebrate 50 years of sisterhood! They started with a Saturday girls’ night dinner at Piatto’s, flipping through the ’66 yearbook and remembering old friends. They attended Latin Mass (oh, the memories!) on Sunday at Annunciation with spouses followed by a delicious brunch. It was a blast! (7)

1999

ALUMNAE HAPPY HOUR @ Lawless Spirits & Kitchen

2006

1 Patricia (Silva) Castro ‘89, Wanda (Labrie) LeBlanc ‘69 • 2 Nicole (Marin) Capelo ‘07, Carmel Tajonera ‘08, Daniella Gonzalez ‘09 • 3 Maricela (Villareal) Villar ‘77, Mary (Mendoza) Cortinas ‘77, Beatrice (Mendoza) Licea ‘76

CLASS OF 2016 YEARBOOK PICK-UP PARTY

4 Sydney Novak, Leah Mathews • 5 Caitlyn Payne, Kathryn Caudell, Alondra Morillon, Lauren Marie Reyes, Jessica Flores

ALUMNAE COLLEGE PANEL

6 Back row: Izzy Bacilla ‘16, Evelyn Fischer ‘16, Kimberly Flickinger ‘13, Cara Simon ‘13, Victoria Haddad ‘15 • Front row: Caitlin Linton ‘16, Rebecca Loera ‘14, Lisa Perez ‘14, Gabrielle Gonzalez ‘15 p. 20 | THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017

Danielle Gregory and Chris Melendez welcomed their first child Adam William Melendez on October 27, 2016. He was named after her beloved uncle, Adam William Piña, a graduate of St. Thomas High School. (17) On November 12, 2016 Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez wed Rolando Oyervidez at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Ariana Montelongo ‘12 was the maid of honor, Larissa (Sandoval) Flores ‘06 was a bridesmaid and Jaylyn Flores ‘20 was an altar server. Also in attendance were Coach Rick Perez and Patricia (Trostmann) Perez ‘86, Joe and Patrice (Phillips) Sandoval ‘77, Brianna (Sandoval) Ortega ‘02, Gaby (Sandoval) Deck ‘08, Nicole (Marin) Capelo ‘07, Emily Marin ‘11, Daniella Gonzales ‘09 and Arianna Rodriguez ‘15. All floral arrangements were done by Franceska (McCaughan) Ostermann ‘06, owner of Franzie’s Flower Design. (21) The Class of 2006 gathered last September to celebrate their 10-year reunion at the Karbach Brewing Co. beer garden. Cheers to 10 years! (11)

2007

Nicole (Marin) Capelo ‘07 wed

ALUMNAE Mark Capelo on October 22, 2016 at Annunciation Catholic Church. Photo by Composure Studios. (20) Molly Moore opened the Austin loaction of Sprinkles, a boutique cupcake bakery with locations nationwide, as the General Manager in February 2017. After receiving her master’s degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2013, Jennifer (Masters) Stavinoha has since been with Ablaze Ministries doing campus ministry at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Bryan, TX. She wed Jeremy Stavinoha in May 2016.

2008

Sheila (Cronin) Santos and husband Andrew Santos (STH ‘08) welcomed John Joseph Santos on February 28, 2017. John joins big brother 18-month old Caleb.

Erin (Webb) Hermosillo wed Diego Hermosillo on February 11, 2017 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church followed by a celebration at the JW Marriott Downtown Houston. Erin joined Vinson & Elkins as an associate in September 2016 after receiving her law degree from Vanderbilt University Law school. Lydian Lopez was named the first Houston Rose of Tralee in 2016. The Rose of Tralee is a festival that is held every year in Tralee, County Kerry in Ireland. Representatives from all over the world are chosen to represent their country, county or state. In Texas, there is a annual selection to choose the Texas Rose who will represent Texas in Ireland. “It was such an honor for me to have been selected as I am extremely

proud of my heritage, and I’m proud to be from the city of Houston.” (9) Katie Sanchez recently moved back to Houston after living in Santiago, Chile for two years. She taught English and traveled all around Chile, and got to experience a completely different way of life. She was fortunate enough to also explore other countries in South America such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. “I’m happy to be back home in Texas, but boy do I miss seeing the Andes mountains every day!” She is pictured at Viña Del Mar with Cristina Vaglienty ’09 who visited Katie in Chile. She adds “The friendships we make at IWA do last a lifetime!” (13)

Elina (Lopez) Bohanon wed college sweetheart Greg Bohanon on December 10, 2016 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands. (22)

Nicole (Garza) Eckhardt and husband Tom Eckhardt welcomed daughter Isabelle Rey Eckhardt on May 4, 2016. They moved from Texas last year and now reside in northern California. Bea (Rodriguez) Guerrero and husband Chris Guerrero welcomed son Benson Blake Guerrero on October 6, 2016. (19) Christina Rodriguez wed Shaun Gaffney of Sugar Land on July 16, 2016 at Resurrection Catholic Church. They met while attending Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. Amidst the preparations of marriage and early marriage, they bought and renovated their new home. Christina joined Cummings & Houston, LLP in August 2016 as tax staff, and after five months was promoted to senior tax staff. (15)

2009

Daniella Gonzalez graduated from the South Texas College of Law in May 2016. She sat for the July bar exam and passed on November 4, 2016. She now works at a law firm that practices in family, civil and probable matters.

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ALUMNAE CAREER DAY 2017

Seven distinguished alumnae joined us for IWA’s annual Career Day. Each alumna, along with other participants from the greater Houston community, shared about their professional experience and journey after IWA. PICTURED: Franceska (McCaughan) Ostermann ‘06, Owner of Franzie’s Flower Design • Nicole (Marin) Capelo ‘07, Marketing Manager of Houston Downtown Management District • Jada Davis ‘10, Energy Modeler at Aliantgroup • Michelle Roy ‘13, Supply Chain Management at Shell • Domenica Delgado ‘11, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinical Research Coordinator at Houston Methodist • Susan Sahwani-Garci ‘94, Owner of Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream Co. • Gin Braverman ‘96, Owner/Principal Designer of Gin Designs Group

ALUMNAE WEDDINGS Elina Lopez ‘08 to Greg Bohanon Nicole Marin ‘07 to Mark Capelo

Jennifer Masters ‘07 to Jeremy Stavinoha Sara Montelongo ‘06 to Rolando Oyervidez Christina Rodriguez ‘08 to Shaun Gaffney Patricia Sass ‘11 to Lincoln Jackson

Erin Webb ‘09 to Diego Hermosillo

BLESS THESE BABIES Emilie Watson Dunn ‘11, a daughter, Blakely Emma Nicole Garza Eckhardt ‘08, a daughter, Isabelle Rey

Danielle Gregory ‘99, a son, Adam William Bea Rodriguez Guerrero ‘08, a son, Benson Blake Sheila Cronin Santos ‘08, a son, John Joseph Shakaree Geegan Smith ‘10, a daughter, Eladie Hope

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CLASS NOTES (CONT’D) 2010

Shakaree (Geegan) Smith and husband David Smith welcomed Eladie Hope Smith on June 5, 2016. She joins big sister Kaelyn Rylee. Pictured at Eladie’s baptism, Cristina Flores’10, Andrea Garza ’10, Shakaree and Christine Nguyen ’10. (16)

2011

After graduating from Trinity University in 2015 and moving to Australia, Arielle Cottingham published her first book The Tarantist’s Soapbox in April 2016. She is the National Champion of the Australian Poetry Slam National Final and will be releasing another book with Pitt Street Poetry later this year. (12) Emilie (Watson) Dunn and husband Erik Dunn (STH ’10) welcomed daughter Blakely Emma Dunn on June 30, 2016. She joins big sisters Brooklyn and Olivia. (18) Patricia (Sass) Jackson wed Lincoln Jackson on March 3, 2016. She works as a registered nurse and now resides in Virginia. (23) Elizabeth Landry is living her dream job as the Event & Program Director for the nonprofit organization Mustang Heritage Foundation, helping place wild mustangs into private homes for more than a year now. She is engaged as of November 2016 to Josh Foster and the couple will wed in 2018! She now lives in Austin with their two crazy dogs and fluffy cat. (10)

Joanna Roberts is finishing up her first year of graduate school studying Speech Pathology at Texas Women’s University. She will graduate with her master’s degree in 2018. Kelsey Walls received her undergraduate degree in environmental engineering from Louisiana State University in 2015. She is currently working on her master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

2012

Emily Hall graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016, served as a congressional intern with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. and is now a legal assistant in the Houston office of Susman Godfrey, LLP.

2013

Paula Montiel, a senior mechanical engineering student at the University of Houston, participated in a full-time coop program with Marathon Petroleum Corporation during the fall semester within the maintenance and safety department. She will join Marathon again this summer as an intern in their Detroit office. (14) Kimberly Flickinger is a senior at Texas A&M University and spent the fall semester in Washington, D.C. as an intern at The Heritage Foundation.

IN MEMORIAM Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace. Amen. Melba Rae (Mills) Beavers ‘50 Jessica Danziger ‘99 Bernadette (Bashinksi) Eheman ‘68 Doyleen Esquiff ‘73 Charlotte Greer ‘67 Sharon Marie (Marques) Haynes ‘64 Aimee Prieur Higgins ‘39 Nischa C. Janssen ‘97 Barbara Ann Kmiecik ‘55 Geneveive Marino Larive ‘50 Mary Loser ‘55 Mary M. Muegge ‘57 Mary Louise Noonan ‘38 Eileen Oser ‘39 Denise (Weiskopf) Rodriguez ‘71 Bernice (Bashinkski) Syzdek ‘58 Brenda Demaris, sister of Elizabeth Demaris ‘73 Darlene Kelleher, mother of Kathy Lopez ‘68, Cecilia McDonald ‘70, Becky Duncan ‘71, Sr. Theresa Kelleher C.V.I. ‘77, Mary Kelleher ‘81 Rose R. Martinez, mother of Melissa Martinez ‘81 George Stephenson, husband of Paula (Harper) Stephenson ‘53 Amelia Alicia Vara, mother of Cindy Vara-Leija ‘76 Mark Zwick, father of Jennifer Zwick ‘86 and grandfather of Noemi Flores ‘07

THE WORD MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 | p. 23

Incarnate Word Academy 609 Crawford Street

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Houston, Texas 77002-3668

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