Ursuline Academy of Dallas LOGOS Magazine 2012 by Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Ursuline Society Members Jeanne Marie Aber ’33 Cheron Curran Adams ’64 and Clint Adams Stephanie Brooks Angel ’72 Anonymous Sherrye and Joe R. Bass Mimi Bishop Martha Blalack Brooks ’40 Louise Buhrer ’35† Esther Connelly† The Jerome J. Crane† and Rhea McCoy Crane† Charitable Remainder Trust Mary DeLoache Angela Downes ’86 John P. Flavin

TOP LIST FOR ESTATE PLANNING

You don’t have to be a millionaire to find that good estate planning is a smart idea. At any age or stage of life, planning is a prudent thing to do. Think of it as taking the time to have a wellness check up.*

1. Do you have a will or living trust drafted by a qualified estate planning attorney?

6. Have you established a durable power of attorney in case you become incapacitated?

2. Do you review and update your will every few years?

7. Do you have a living will or health care power of attorney?

3. Have you named an executor in your will and notified that person?

8. Have you made any provisions for your favorite charitable organizations?

4. Is your life insurance adequate for you and your family’s needs? Are the beneficiary designations up-to-date?

9. Have you given careful thought to the legacy that you want to leave behind?

5. Does your will name a guardian for any dependents you may have?

10. Have you considered putting Ursuline Academy in your will?

Winifred Flood† Christy Frazer Jennifer Staubach Gates ’84 and John Gates Beatrice M. Haggerty† Dolores Lee IIiya ’44 Lauren Michelle Johnson ’96 Frances Nevitt Kreymer ‘34 Dr. Michael Kurilecz† Louise Lorraine Lastelick ’51 Jane Ann Law ’73† Melinda and Dr. John D. McConnell Christine McDonough Flora Quinn Monroe ’40† Bunny Priest Nance ’63 Pat Brown O’Brien ’52 and Neil O’Brien Lisa Mullan Perkins '91 Susan Hayes Raffo ’74 and Robert Raffo Michael Ribelin Hans J. Schnitzler Catherine O’Connell Schulze ’32† Patty Sullivan ’81 Laura Genaro Tomaso ’42† and Louie Tomaso† Josie and William E. Toogood † Sybil Emmett Tucker ’51

We invite you to become a member of The Ursuline Society. To learn more about ways you can make a charitable planned gift to Ursuline Academy of Dallas contact: Christy Frazer Director of Institutional Advancement 469-232-3584 or cfrazer@ursulinedallas.org *When reviewing your plans, please seek the help of an estate planning attorney.

Ruth Brown Wiseman ‘44

To order a copy of The Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Estate Planning Attorney compliments of The Stelter Company contact Christy Frazer, above. †Deceased

table of contents CO VE

ST O

Published annually for Ursuline Academy of Dallas Alumnae and the Ursuline community.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 4900 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, Texas 75229 www.ursulinedallas.org ALUMNAE OFFICE Regina Fonts Morris ’82 Director 469-232-3586 rmorris@ursulinedallas.org

Julia Frasco ’05 Alumnae Associate 469-232-3587 jfrasco@ursulinedallas.org ADVANCEMENT Christy Frazer Director, Institutional Advancement 469-232-3584 cfrazer@ursulinedallas.org

Mimi Bishop Director, Annual Giving 469-232-3595 mbishop@ursulinedallas.org COMMUNICATIONS Valerie Oates Director 469-232-1806 voates@ursulinedallas.org URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. ’56 President srmoser@ursulinedallas.org

Elizabeth C. Bourgeois Principal ebourgeois@ursulinedallas.org URSULINE SISTERS OF DALLAS Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U. Prioress lcastillon@ursulinedallas.org 2011-2012 URSULINE ALUMNAE BOARD Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95, President Karen Quadrini Powell ’86, Vice President Elizabeth Doczi ’04, Secretary Amber Andregg ’03 Jenny Beesley ’03 Marianne Chionglo ’00 Elaine Cochran ’01 Kelly Moore Cook ’85 Fran Corrales-Drone ’86 Jen Pitz Deck ’01 Karen Meier Eubanks ’83 Kate Kilanowski ’98 Caytie Sarandis Langford ’98 Catherine Baetz Maurer ’98 Malorie Perry ’04 Sarah Johnston Polzer ’98 Amy Wills Reading ’88 Eileen Maher Weber ’84 Linda Thomas White ’81 Tracy Fulkerson Wilson ’81

“Theatre, art, music — these subjects allow students to open their minds to all the wonders that this world has to offer.” Emily Rice '06

18 A View from the Front Row

Creativity and the arts, from classroom to career. By Miki Bone Melsheimer '79

FEATURES

EX-OFFICIO Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U. Monica de la Cerda ’91 Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90 Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. ’56 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Deborah Kellogg, Brandon Thibodeaux, William Thompson

with 16 AtheConversation President Susan Gordon Group Publisher

James Ricks Publisher

Amy Robinson Editorial Director

KariAnne Harmon Account Director

J.R. Arebalo Jr. Design Director Casey Casteel Senior Editor

EDITORIAL OFFICES 4333 Amon Carter Blvd., MD 5374 Fort Worth, TX 76155 817-931-5927

Erica Espiritu Designer

Editorial department fax 817-963-3128

Wilfredo J. Torres Designer

Gretchen Nickson Designer

Sister Margaret Ann Moser '56 reflects on 22 years of leadership at Ursuline Academy of Dallas.

26 Answering the Call

Gretchen Kane on mission, all-girls education, and becoming Ursuline's next President.

28 Point of View

Tech times for the Ursuline girl. By Monica Prachyl Cochran '71

DEPARTMENTS 2 3 4 6

From the Director Community Connections From the Alumnae Board President Alumnae Mosaics

8 10 12 14

Faith Formation Reunion Weekend 2011 Alumnae Awards 2011 Living Serviam

30 Ways of Giving 32 President's Circle Dinner 34 Photo Gallery 40 Bears Mentioning

Cover photo by Jim Olvera.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

from the director

community connections

Achieving Your Dreams S

ince the very first issue, LOGOS has showcased outstanding achievements of Ursuline Alumnae. The examples set by those graduates have inspired generations of other young women to reach for their dreams. To imagine endless possibilities and make the most of opportunities, to lead, and all the while look for ways to help others… that defines the character of an “Ursuline girl.” In our cover story, “A View from the Front Row,” you’ll learn about the benefits of performing arts education and how talented Alumnae have transitioned their skills into a wide variety of career opportunities. A special thanks to author Miki Bone Melsheimer ’79, a former Ursuline faculty member now working on her own advanced degree in performing arts education. This LOGOS also highlights four incredible women who have made our world a safer and better place, the 2011 Alumnae Award recipients. Whether you relate to Sharon Broun Keeler ’78, fulfilling her Serviam pledge in the simple act of reading to underprivileged children, or to Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86, faced with the serious challenges of her husband’s traumatic brain injury, their stories are sure to evoke a strong sense of pride. The awardees were honored last June at the inaugural Alumnae Reunion Weekend: A New Homecoming. More than 600 turned out for the event, presented in a new weekend format that brings reunion classes back on campus at the same time. The best of Ursuline’s traditional homecoming remains, with new class activities and family fun added. Mark your calendars for Alumnae Reunion Weekend 2012, June 8-10. There will be something for everyone, and all Alumnae are invited!

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

This year’s Alumnae Mosaics spotlight the entrepreneurial spirit. Read about three Ursuline graduates who have turned their personal passion into successful business endeavors. Also in this issue, Ursuline English teacher, Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71, along with daughters Elaine Cochran ’01 and Erin Cochran ’07, share their “Point of View” on the impact of technology from classroom to career. And, Serviam comes to life in the story about the St. Vincent de Paul Connections Club, as Ursuline students learn firsthand how to build a service program to help meet the needs of one local community. As children, we are encouraged to dream with an “I can do anything” attitude. As Ursuline graduates, we were provided with the tools and encouragement to achieve our dreams and given the confidence to know that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to. Whatever your dream, and wherever your path may take you, there are sure to be some welcome surprises along the way. All my best,

Networking UA Style

Your Ursuline Alumnae Connections: • Ursuline Alumnae Auxiliary • Professional Women’s Network • Alumnae Chapters across the U.S. • Annual Phonathon To learn more call 469-232-3587

“Attending the New York Alumnae Chapter gathering was a great way to reconnect with some of my classmates and reminded me how many interesting, successful women have graduated from Ursuline. When I relocated back to the Dallas area, I decided to apply for a position on the Alumnae Board as a way to give back to current and future Alumnae of Ursuline.”

“When I decided to help out at Phonathon, I was apprehensive, but I felt comfortable right away. I loved going back to that familiar place and being enveloped in that warmth again. It was a blast getting to reconnect with classmates whose conversations really made me look forward to our 50th reunion! It also made me proud to see the continuing growth of Ursuline and to feel so welcome there.”

Amy Wills Reading ’88 Alumnae Board Member

Dorothy McNally Barker ’62 Communications Class Agent

Christine Miller ’00 Ursuline Teacher of the Year 2010-2011

“Getting in touch with the Ursuline Alumnae Office led to an exciting and intellectual legal internship and provided me with a great mentor. It has been so rewarding to get to know Lori Ashmore Peters ’87, who is a successful female attorney and fellow Ursuline graduate shaped by similar experiences and values.” Evie Lalangas ’01 Bay Area Chapter Event Attendee

Regina Fonts Morris ’82 Alumnae Director rmorris@ursulinedallas.org

“Living out of state, the first Ursuline event I had an opportunity to attend since graduation was a dinner with the Boston-area Alumnae Chapter. There, I learned of the new French Family Center and Ursuline’s increased focus on math and science. As a science teacher, I realized that if I came back to Ursuline to continue my teaching career, I would have the opportunity to be part of something special.”

“Ursuline provided me with the tools that I needed to become a successful career woman as well as a loving mother and wife. When an opportunity arose through the Alumnae Auxiliary to share my knowledge and memories of Ursuline at Heritage Day, I was willing to do whatever it took to be a part of it.” Kristi Esposito Doucet ’02 Alumnae Auxiliary Member

Find Ursuline online @ www.ursulinedallas.org

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

from the alumnae board president

Lifelong Bonds

ike many of you, Ursuline girls were with me throughout college, stood next to me in my wedding, blessed me with a beautiful godson, and continue to be amazing influences in my life today. The bond that we share as Alumnae is unique and one for which I am incredibly grateful. As President of the Ursuline Alumnae Association, my priorities are to offer new ways for the Alumnae community to become more involved with the school and to revive some fun memories! Start planning now to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend 2012, June 8-10, to reconnect with classmates, other classes, teachers, and families. Keep in touch through the Ursuline Alumnae Connects monthly e-newsletter and learn more about our plans to expand arenas for Alumnae networking. True to our mission, the Spiritual Enrichment Committee of the Alumnae Board is now developing ways to enrich our spiritual connection beyond the three Memorial Masses celebrated throughout the year. We are also very excited about the growth of the Ursuline Alumnae Auxiliary. If large time commitments are hindering you from getting more involved, the Auxiliary is perfect for you. Sign up for periodic email updates regarding flexible volunteer opportunities supporting Alumnae, current students, and school events. You can help out as much or as little as your schedule permits. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the Alumnae Association President for 20112013. To be working with such talented and accomplished women is an honor and privilege. Sincere thanks to our past President, Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90, who is an inspiring and focused leader. I admire her positive attitude along with the level of professionalism and enthusiasm she constantly displays. Heartfelt thanks to Board members Rita Allegro Strickler ’03 and Angela Tristan ’99 who have completed their terms. And we welcome five new Board members: Amber Andregg ’03, Catherine Baetz Maurer ’98, Fran Corrales-Drone ’86, Jen Pitz Deck ’01, and Amy Wills Reading ’88. Please feel free to contact me to discuss possible ways the Ursuline Alumnae Association can be of service to you. I look forward to seeing you on campus this year!

2011-2012 Alumnae Board Left group, back row from left: Sarah Johnston Polzer ’98, Tracy Fulkerson Wilson ’81, Jen Pitz Deck ’01, Linda Thomas White ’81, Karen Meier Eubanks ’83. Front row from left: Caytie Sarandis Langford ’98, Jenny Beesley ’03, Eileen Maher Weber ’84. Center group from left: Sr. Lois Castillon (ex-officio), Catherine Baetz Maurer ’98, Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95, Elizabeth Doczi ’04, Karen Quadrini Powell ’86. Right group, back row from left: Elaine Cochran ’01, Kate Kilanowski ’98, Marianne Chionglo ’00, Regina Fonts Morris ’82 (Alumnae Director), Fran Corrales-Drone ’86. Front row from left: Julia Frasco ’05 (Alumnae Associate), Kelly Moore Cook ’85, Malorie Perry ’04 Not pictured: Amber Andregg ’03, Monica de la Cerda ’91 (ex-officio), Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90 (exofficio), Sr. Margaret Ann Moser ’56 (ex-officio), Amy Wills Reading ’88

Sincerely,

Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95 Alumnae Board President lorileicronin@gmail.com

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

alumnae mosaics

Alumnae Entrepreneurs: Making It Their Own Way By Julia Frasco ’05

Lauren Kitchens ’93,

owner of Fancy Cakes by Lauren in Dallas, first set out to be a screenwriter. But when she realized her passion for film was more “film watcher than filmmaker” she turned her attention to her other love: baking. “I made cakes because I couldn’t stop. My fascination wouldn’t stop. I was obsessed,” Lauren says. “I wanted to own my own business doing exactly what I wanted to do — wedding cakes.” Since opening her commercial bakery in 2002, Lauren’s success has exceeded even her own original expectations of wanting to operate a simple bakery. Lauren reflects on her business growth and changes saying, “I did feel the hit [of the recession], but that’s when you know it’s time to shake things up businesswise. About that time the Food Network called; I said ‘yes,’ and my career changed forever.” Lauren was selected to compete on the Food Network Challenge four times, and walked away with the Gold Medal for her cake design twice, securing her spot on the list of must-have cake designers. With every small-business endeavor comes

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

risk, sacrifice, and the looming chance of failure that could mean losing it all. In order to gain success, she says, you need, “passion and talent, but nothing happens without ambition. I have seen ambitious people reach the highest heights with little passion to back it up. Ambition, drive, and will…that’s what an entrepreneur needs.” As a successful, self-taught cake artist, she says she hopes to “see cake decorating gain the respect it deserves. It is one of the few arts that can earn someone a living. I am proof.” Visit www.fancycakesbylauren.com

Gabrielle Martinez ’89,

a dedicated wife and mother of two daughters, is the co-founder/ managing partner and driving force behind the operations at AgencyEA, a premier experiential marketing agency in Chicago. “Ursuline prepared me well to take on the business world and to believe that the sky is the limit with what can be achieved. I never let anyone’s preconceived notions slow me down,” Gabrielle says. After establishing Event Architects (recently

rebranded AgencyEA), a small boutique agency, with her husband in 1999, the company has expanded to a “premier experiential marketing partner” housing a full-time staff of 40. AgencyEA provides everything from elaborate events to international marketing campaigns for some of the largest corporations in the world. “All it takes is an authentic, true-to-yourself disposition plus creativity and you can connect with anyone,” Gabrielle says. “That realization allowed me to parlay my event production experience into thriving client relationships.” It was this savvy business outlook and her mantra to “always over-deliver and exceed expectations” that helped her land accounts such as Harpo Productions’ “Trip of a Lifetime” and the Rachael Ray Show’s Season Premiere Block Party. Her client list includes the Obama for America campaign and Ameriprise Financial. She has also conceptualized and produced the holiday decor for the White House. Gabrielle was recently featured as one of Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” and she is just getting started. “[My goals] are to continue to explore new markets with challenging projects and to optimize the workload for our team,” she added, “because long-term success for our business is dependent upon a happy, balanced team.” While there is always risk in her industry, she remains positive that opportunities remain in “having no limits.” Visit www.agencyea.com

Rory Werner Siefer ’98

has always held onto the belief that as long as there are stories to be told about a family member or loved one, they are never really and truly gone. Thus, a company was born. Rory is now the CEO of Epic Bound, a private book publishing company which specializes in “visually stunning personal biographies and cor-

porate histories for clients around the world.” After countless nights of brainstorming entrepreneurial endeavors with her husband, Jeremy, the idea of a private book publishing company was born. Rory found inspiration from her grandfather, a WWII veteran and captivating storyteller, who had recently begun to divulge his own life experiences for the first time. “Originally, it was going to be a simple recount of one’s life, but we quickly realized we needed to take it a step further to make it visually compelling, or else no one would ever read it,” Rory says. Since 2003, when she created Epic Bound, Rory’s staff has expanded to a team of 10. The company’s eye-catching books are completely customizable with family stories, photos, graphic design, and even elements such as researched facts or interesting side notes pertaining to a story’s historical background. The result, Rory says, is “an ultimate reflection of ‘thank you’ to older generations. These books pass along values and advice — things older generations would want their kids to learn from.” Creating these books is no easy feat, oftentimes taking more than 1,000 man-hours to interview, collect, scan, design, layout, and produce a finished product that averages 200 pages. It is a labor of love for Rory though. “I love going to the unveilings and seeing the families’ reactions. Since I’ve lost my grandparents, I can only begin to imagine what their memoirs would have shared with me. Seeing the tears of appreciation keeps my team driven to help capture their priceless legacies,” she says. “Photos are often tucked away in boxes left to become dusty and forgotten, but this brings them to life and gives [families] a one-of-a-kind gift that is really special,” Rory says. For Epic Bound, the next chapter presents a whole new perspective and window of opportunity with expansion into corporate history projects, and Rory just commissioned her first international project for a client in Singapore. Visit www.epicboundbooks.com

Clockwise from top: Examples from Rory's publishing company; Gabrielle (l) with Lucy Stratton (r), an event team member; and an original cake design created by Lauren.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

faith formation “Our retreats, specifically adoration, have helped me develop spiritually,” she adds.

Ursuline to the Core

(Left) Students at Class of 2014 Retreat: Carly Nunez, Carly Jasperson, Stephanie Costa, and Marcella St. Romain; (Right) Carolina Esteve '13, and Katerina Goldstein '13 perform at Class Retreat

A Community of Faith

By Susan McAllister

It’s 8:50 a.m. on a typical day at Ursuline Academy. Students hurry into their classrooms as chimes ring out over the PA system across campus, followed by a student’s voice. “Good morning, Ursuline. Please stop where you are and quiet your hearts and minds to prepare for this morning’s prayer. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” Thus, peacefully, prayer sets the tone as students, teachers, and staff begin their busy days in this community of faith. In fact, expressions of faith, both formal and informal, are part of each day at Ursuline.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Faith Development For students, faith development continues with their formal education in four years of required Theology courses. Freshman and sophomore curricula include studies of the foundational tenets of the Catholic faith, morality, Church history, and that of St. Angela. Juniors study Hebrew Scripture and Christian Scripture for an in-depth examination of Biblical texts. Senior course choices include Comparative Religions, Christian Ethical Principles, Issues of Life and Death, and, a senior requirement, Social Justice. “I recently heard two students talking about how much they love their Faith classes — a term used synonymously with Theology classes for some of our students,” remarks Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U., Director of Mission and Heri-

tage. “I asked them why they love these classes and one said to me, ‘because the teachers make God alive for us and we can develop our faith life.’ May that grow in our school daily!” Worship is a constant at Ursuline, with allschool Masses celebrated on Holy Days, if not monthly. Mass is also offered daily for smaller groups in St. Ann Chapel. Students, faculty, and staff are also free to pray in either St. Ann Chapel or the new St. Angela Chapel in The French Family Science, Math, and Technology Center. Eucharistic adoration is offered weekly as well.

Students Take the Lead Lila Lehtola ’12 serves as a Peer Minister, one of a dozen or so students who are accepted into the program each year. As members of this ministry, students serve as role models of their faith by helping prepare for Masses and serving as Eucharistic Ministers and lectors. Students take the lead in organizing retreats under the guidance of the Director of Campus Ministry and the Director of Mission and Heritage. According to Lila, “Being a retreat leader is one of the best things about being a Peer Minister because there is a sense of equality and trust when we lead retreats for our grade, and we serve as role models for the younger students.

In 2010, the school undertook the Ursuline Identity Assessment. This self-study and evaluation examined the current, lived reality of the Ursuline mission. Reflecting on the assessment, Kathleen Twetten, Director of Campus Ministry, said, “What I value most about the Ursuline Identity Assessment is the opportunity to look at Ursuline Academy of Dallas from a broader perspective than I ever had. It is inspiring to see where our school lives its mission and core values authentically.” Kathleen continues, “Simply realizing how very ‘Ursuline’ our school is, to the core of its identity, is incredibly reaffirming.” Students end their school days much like they begin them, with a moment of prayer. “Saint Angela, watch over the days of our youth; St. Ursula, protect our future.”

FORMAL SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT Throughout the school year, students, faculty, and staff partake in a variety of faith-based celebrations and activities: » Freshman Convocation » Sophomore Serviam » Junior Ring Ceremony » Senior Baccalaureate Mass

In the Spirit of St. Angela Our Call to Action

By Eileen Maher Weber ’84

rsuline Academy of Dallas is blessed with a distinguished heritage, outstanding academics, and

a worldwide community of Alumnae who, some would claim, are among the best and the brightest. Ursuline strives continuously to anticipate the challenges students will face in the future and to provide a curriculum that prepares them for what lies ahead. The core strength of Ursuline, however, lies deep within its spiritual roots dating back to 1535 when St. Angela

It is our responsibility — our privilege — to perpetuate

Merici established the Ursuline Order.

the legacy of St. Angela Merici and to uphold and carry

As Alumnae, we have experienced the love, compassion, and extraordinary intellect of the Ursuline Sis-

Certainly, we all strive for a meaningful life. The recipi-

ters. We know that these deeply religious women are

ents of the 2011 Alumnae Awards (see pages 12–13) are

members of a worldwide community of Catholic Sisters

representative of so many of our graduates across the

whose lives and mission are rooted in the Gospel. Their

U.S. and around the world who have distinguished them-

great work has focused on educating young women to

selves, doing their part to ensure human dignity for all.

be leaders and citizens of service.

Like the beloved Ursuline Sisters, these modern women

The Sisters have shown us the way, leading by example as a compassionate, reconciling presence of God in our world.

Retreats » Class Retreats » Angela Retreats for co-workers » Evening Retreats for parents and students » Senior Community Days

forward the mission of the Ursuline Sisters.

carry on Angela's tradition of progressive ministry in their communities. They heard and embraced the calling. As Ursuline Alumnae we are all Serviam women,

We were extremely fortunate to be immersed in an

called to better the world, to seek justice for all people,

environment centered on Christ with the Ursulines there

and to nurture the earth and all God’s creation. This in-

to teach us, to lead us, to pray with us, and to support us.

herent sense of service resides deep within us, fostered in

They have given us an overall sense of the importance of

our youth by the Ursuline Sisters. We are reminded that,

Eucharistic Liturgies » Mass of the Holy Spirit » Mother/Daughter Mass » Feast of St. Ursula » Feast of the Immaculate Conception » Feast of St. Angela » Ash Wednesday » Senior Farewell Liturgy

a personal connection with God, instilling a solid values

as Ursuline women, we too can achieve anything.

Faith Supportive Prayer Services and Ministries » Memorial Masses hosted by the Alumnae Association » Peace One Day Prayer Service » Thanksgiving Prayer Service » Eucharistic Adoration » Catholic Schools Week » Mission and Heritage Commission » Campus Ministry and Peer Ministry

system, all the while nurturing the development of the

Let us be grateful to St. Angela Merici who set the

whole person. We learned through our relationships

original example, empowering women almost five cen-

with them and through their example.

turies ago and, through her legacy, continues to do so

And so we must ask ourselves, while the Ursulines

to this day.

are taking bold steps to keep alive the spirit of St. Angela

And let us not forget that, as products of an Ursuline

Merici, to capture new vision, and to continue as a force

education who learned to take responsibility for the gifts

for peacemaking in our world, is there a call to action

that God has granted, we play a crucial role in the future

for us?

of today’s Ursuline students; we are the mainstay to keep

Absolutely!

the spirit alive.

Our role as Alumnae, as the very benefactors of the unique Ursuline experience, also takes on new meaning.

Eileen Weber is a member of the Ursuline Alumnae Board.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

reunion weekend 2011

SAV E TH E All A DATE

lu Alum mnae in vited na ! Wee e Reun ion kend 2012 June 8-10

The Ursuline campus was bursting with energy June 3-5, 2011, as See class Alumnae from across the country came home to celebrate Alumnae reunion Reunion Weekend: A New Homecoming. photos on pages More than 600 attended events throughout the weekend — Friday 34-35. Girls’ Night Out, Saturday Family Fun Day, and the annual Alumnae Mass and Awards Ceremony on Sunday. Whether you returned for a class reunion, to check out the renewed campus, or to catch up with friends, the weekend offered something for everyone.

View complete photo albums at www.ursulinedallas.org/reunion 1

1. Alumnae Board Members 2. Paige Burnside Franks ’91, Todd and Farrah Franks 3. Class of 1991: Jennifer Kim Wilson, Estelle Voisin-Baudoin Fonteneau, Jenny Putchinski Carroll 4. Class of 1991: Melina McKinnon Cain, Katina Bithos Tchokoev, Chithra Arumugham Volluz, Alicia Carter Carline, Alicia Alcala Frederick 5. Class of 1951: Midge Murnane Yoxall, Sr. Mary Troy, Lorraine Lastelick, Sybil Emmett Tucker, Julie-Anne Post Kress, Beverly Urban Brady, Josephine Todora La Barba 6. Class of 1996: Meghan Boeding Feighny, Kristen Ohlenforst, Kathy Seery Scucchi, Lindsay Wesp Thomas

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

7. Melanie Green Quinn '80, Susan Williams McElroy '80, Laura Smith Anechiarico '81, Mary Koch Stack '82 8. Class of 1986: Fran Corrales-Drone, Shannon Grothues Maxwell, Karen Quadrini Powell 9. Class of 1981: Anne Parigi Michels, Mary Beth Jones Thomas, Monica Brito Johnson, Carol Savage Ryan, Patty Sullivan, Veronica Fuqua Young 10. Gabriella Veleba Bondy '53, Jean Troy Knauber '56, Ann Browne Martin '56, Sr. Margaret Ann Moser '56, Sherron Ericksen Smith '56, Doris Blunck Walker '56

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

alumnae awards 2011 DID YOU KNOW…

The 2011 Alumnae Award recipients from left: Karen Decker ’83, Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86, Sharon Broun Keeler ’78, and Capt. Mary Kidd Cosper ’96

Amazing Women Among Us Last June, at Alumnae Reunion Weekend: A New Homecoming, the Alumnae Association recognized four extraordinary Alumnae who exemplify the Ursuline mission in action. We are proud to share the stories of these women and their journeys. Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86 Ursula Laurus Award The newly created Ursula Laurus Award recognizes an Alumna whose life example of commitment is a generous giving of time and resources to those in need on a national scale. Shannon Grothues Maxwell became devoted to wounded warrior family initiatives after her husband, Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell, USMC (ret), suffered a penetrating traumatic brain injury. In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, a nonprofit organization that addresses needs of families recovering from traumatic injuries. She then co-founded the SemperMax Support Fund

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

in 2009 to further benefit service-disabled veterans and currently serves as the Fund’s vice president. A recipient of the Presidential Call to Service Award, Shannon is also one of five 2007 recipients of the National Military Family Association’s Very Important Patriot Award. “I’ve been blessed to witness the amazing resolve of individuals challenged by traumatic injury and the overwhelming commitment and support to serve one’s fellow man,” she said upon accepting the Ursula Laurus Award. “At Ursuline and at home we are given the foundation of love…caring and service become ingrained in our way of life. But until recent years, I did not understand the viral effect that little acts of kindness [can have]… as calls to action, with others taking up the example.” Author of Our Daddy Is Invincible! (pictured at left), she is planning more children’s books. She and her husband also hope to establish a camp for families of wounded, ill, and injured soldiers.

Karen Decker ’83 Distinguished Alumna Award The Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes service, leadership, and achievement that have distinguished an Alumna to Ursuline, her community, and her profession over her lifetime. Following graduation from Georgetown University, Karen Decker joined the State Department and has lived her life abroad for one overriding reason, “to make the world a better place.” After entering the Senior Foreign Service, she served first in Pakistan and then Bosnia, where she monitored cease-fire conditions between warring factions and implemented a fullfledged peace treaty. As the chief action officer on NATO policy in the Balkans, she had primary responsibility for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air campaign and subsequent peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, she helped build the coalition that today fights the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now in the Office of European Security and Political Affairs, she is responsible for policy development for NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Alumnae Leadership Scholarships As part of the Reunion Weekend celebration, the following students received Alumnae Leadership Scholarships of $1,000 each for the 2011-2012 school year: Jacquelyn Elias ’14 Faith Noah ’14 Catherine Buskmiller ’13 Carolyn Oliver ’13 Jillian Buys ’12 Hannah Juarez ’12 Margot Schneider ’12 Any freshman, sophomore, or junior student who is a daughter, sister, niece, grandniece, or granddaughter of an Ursuline Academy of Dallas graduate is eligible to apply for an Alumnae Leadership Scholarship. To learn more, contact the Alumnae Office at 469-232-3587 or www.ursulinedallas. org/alumnaescholarships.

“Serviam started here [at Ursuline] for me and has never ended. I love my job. I represent the greatest country on the planet,” Karen says. “And it is my privilege every day to go out there and try to make it a little safer.”

The first Distinguished Alumnae Awards were presented to Elsie Ingram Griffith ’42 and Lydia Haggar Novakov ’68 at Homecoming, May 6, 1984. Since then, 29 Alumnae have been so honored.

Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. At the Alumnae Award ceremonies, classmate Lauren Johnson ’96 expressed her own heartfelt admiration for Captain Cosper in four words, “She is my hero.” From December 2001 to July 2002, Mary served in Kandahar, Afghanistan. After graduating from the Captains Career Course and joining the 89th Military Po-

Sharon Broun Keeler ’78 A complete list of Serviam Alumna Award Alumnae Award The Serviam Alumna Award, prerecipients can be sented to Sharon Broun Keeler, honfound online at www. ors a graduate who embodies the ursulinedallas.org/ Serviam, “I will serve,” spirit of Uralumnaeawards suline Academy. Sharon entered Ursuline as a kindergartner in 1960 under the care lice Brigade, she deployed again to of Mother Emmanuel O’Shea. Her classmates Camp Victory, Iraq, serving there from July to describe her as humble, witty, intellectual, and December 2004. Now with the 108th Military resourceful. Today, she is quietly changing the Police Company (Airborne/Air Assault), her lives of those around her, one by one. assignments have included Platoon Leader, Sharon volunteers weekly for Refugee ReExecutive Officer, and Rear Detachment sources, Inc., a Dallas area ministry that proCommander. vides physical and spiritual help to refugees A standout on the Ursuline Academy soccer from the Middle East and Africa. Every Satteam in the ’90s, she also played on the All-Army urday she folds blankets and gathers books, and All-Armed Forces soccer teams. puzzles, and games, and heads to an East Dallas apartment complex where she reads to refugee children as if they are her own. She hopes that her time spent with displaced children will put them on a path to a brighter future. “This is Serviam at its most basic level — even better — Serviam at its best!” said classmate Dianne Wright Doyle ’78 at the June Awards ceremony. Sharon has also been active in the Ursuline Mothers’ Club and Dallas County Aggie Moms. As Class Agent, she has organized service projects for the Ronald McDonald House and the Salvation Army. Capt. Mary Kidd Cosper ’96 Young Alumna Award The Young Alumna Award honors a graduate who, through her service, leadership, and achievements has made outstanding commitments within her community and/or her profession. A highly decorated graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Captain Mary Kidd Cosper has been awarded the Bronze

The Ursula Laurus Award calls to mind the laurel featured in the Ursuline Roman Union coat of arms — a symbol of victory, glory, and immortality. Laurus, an anagram of Ursula, evokes St. Ursula.

Find videos and more about the 2011 Alumnae Award recipients at www. ursulinedallas.org/alumnaeawards

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

living serviam

s with all Ursuline students and Alumnae, Serviam is a big part of who I am. As a student, I enjoyed volunteering at local food shelters, at the Father/Daughter Service Project, and at various other service opportunities offered through the school. Ursuline gave me a Serviam mindset and the opportunity to start a club with a volunteer core. During the summer of my sophomore year, Lydia Morris ’12 and I started the St. Vincent de Paul Connection Club at Ursuline. Responding to the need to support the youth of Dallas and their advancement in school, we worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store to develop the Study Time tutoring program. Although the Thrift Store held classes for adults, it did not offer programs for elementary school children. By taking the initiative to develop something new, our club soon found its calling by helping this underserved community. We created the Study Time program with the assistance of the Thrift Store staff and a former teacher volunteer, Kayla Kennedy. Study Time provides after-school tutoring for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The

Study Time program volunteers from left: Katherine McKenna '11, Julie Cox '12, Marcela Torres '11, Maddie Sladek '12, and Tori Manogue '11

Making the Most of “Study Time” By Tori Manogue ’11

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Ursuline Academy core values include Serviam, “I will serve,” as a lived reality. While this inspires Ursuline women worldwide, the following reflection illustrates the passion with which our students commit to their local community on a daily basis, going above and beyond to serve their neighbors in need.

Maddie Sladek '12 reads with a program participant.

children of local families in need get help with homework from Ursuline students and our Jesuit partners. “I remember being a bit apprehensive at the thought, ‘What can I do to help these kids?’ ”

Tori Manogue '11 tutors a member of the Study Time program.

said Lydia Morris. “Then after working with them, I experienced that moment when they ‘get it;’ when they understand what they are studying. It has helped me realize that I would like to explore the idea of becoming a teacher.” Study Time provides a safe place where children can do their homework, get free tutoring, make friends from different schools, read books from the Thrift Store library, and grow intellectually with high school mentors serving as role models. Ursuline parents and Alumnae also participate as tutors. Mary Walker Sladek ’79 says, “The biggest joy I receive is from the kids as they are hugging me and thanking me for coming. My heart is saying, ‘No, I thank you for the love and joy you give me every time I tutor!’ ” Bill Sladek, a Jesuit Alumnus, reflects on how the program has touched his life. “We give what we can in the way of tutoring, reading books, playing games, and sometimes just listening, but we receive so much more in return.” Kayla Kennedy points out, “After-school programs keep our children safe and provide them with much needed, supervised, structured activity. Studies around the nation have proven time and again that children in afterschool programs are two times less likely to use drugs; one-third less likely to become teen parents; have improved school attendance; show better achievement in math, reading, and other subjects; learn to respect people who are differ-

ent from themselves; and develop better conflict resolution and social skills.” Parents of Study Time participants have praised the program for helping their children learn their coursework, increase their reading level, and avoid having to repeat grades in school. Study Time has made a difference in the lives of many children in our community. The Study Time program has been a great success over the past two years and continues to be, even as the original volunteers graduate. Since being involved with tutoring elementary level students through Study Time, I have joined a club at Tufts University that tutors students in the surrounding towns of Medford and Somerville. Ursuline’s motto of Serviam has been instilled in me and has made me eager to pursue many service opportunities at Tufts.

Service Opportunities Through the Alumnae monthly e-newsletter, Connects, Ursuline issues calls to action and promotes service opportunities in the community. Each issue includes ways to volunteer and stories of Alumnae and their families living Serviam. If you know of a special volunteer opportunity or Serviam story, contact the Alumnae Office at Alumnae@ursulinedallas.org or 469-232-3587.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

SISTER MARGARET ANN MOSER

profile

Left: 1956 high school yearbook portrait Above: Sister Margaret Ann Moser, President. Photographed on the Ursuline campus, December 2011

A Conversation with the President Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. reflects on 22 years of leadership at Ursuline Academy of Dallas.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

hen Sister Margaret Ann Moser ’56 retires this summer from her position as President, she expects to move almost seamlessly into an entirely new role for serving Ursuline education in Dallas. That’s not at all a surprise to those who know her joyful and tireless approach to life and work. One of nine children of Margaret Murrin Moser ’31 and the late A.C. Moser Jr., Margaret Ann Moser grew up in Dallas, part of a loving, faith-filled Catholic family that placed a high priority on education and giving back. “My parents were wonderful examples for all nine of us,” Sister Margaret Ann explains. “They always found the good in everyone. They opened our eyes to the hardships of others and the need to serve,” she says. “They allowed us to develop our own gifts, and they told each of us that they would educate us as far as we wanted to go.” Her own Ursuline education began in Dallas where she attended kindergarten and continued through high school. She received her bachelor’s in history from the College of New Rochelle, NY, and earned her master’s in theology at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. “Sometimes I think I was an Ursuline from the womb!” Sister Margaret Ann remarks, offering a touch of her trademark humor. In addition to her mother, two aunts (Anna Catherine Moser Endom ’31 and Mary Louise Moser Bosworth ’37) were also graduates of Ursuline in Dallas. Three sisters — Mary Theresa ’53 (now Sister Mary Theresa Moser, RSCJ), Kathleen Moser Barr ’71, and Carol Moser Grantham ’73 are all Alumnae. Sister Margaret Ann professed her vows as a member of the Order of St. Ursula in St. Louis, MO, in 1959. She then began building what would become an outstanding career as an educator, with teaching and administrative positions at Ursuline schools in Springfield, IL; St. Louis, MO; and New Orleans, LA. In 1989, she got the call to return to Dallas. “I was grateful and excited to get the opportunity to serve my alma mater. Over the years that I was away from Dallas, I was always in touch,” she says, “but I never dreamed that I would be coming back.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Current board member Catholic Housing Initiative Board Sisters of Our Lady of Charity Advisory Board Ursuline Academy of New Orleans

She credits the Academy’s success in reaching its goals to the collaborative spirit of the entire Ursuline family. “What a great pleasure it has been to get to know so many gifted people — employees, parents, Alumnae, friends — who value the mission that we as Sisters treasure so much!” Sister says. “It has been rewarding to watch the Academy grow, from 545 students in 1989 to more than 800 today,” she continues. “Think of the impact of all those young women graduates who are now leaders here in Dallas, across the country, and around the world!” Growth at Ursuline during Sister’s tenure has extended well beyond enrollment. She has led multimillion dollar fundraising campaigns and directed landmark expansion of campus facilities.

High School Graduation, 1956

She has continued the Academy’s long history of innovation with advances in curriculum, a pioneering technology program, gains in student diversity, and the current global education initiative. Over the years, she has also promoted steady growth in endowments for scholarship, faculty, and facilities. Much remains to be accomplished, she says, and in her new part-time position as President Emerita, she will continue that work. “From 1874 to today, the Ursulines have always provided some form of financial assistance to students in need,” Sister Margaret Ann says. “Our endowments must be strong to ensure this essential support, and to provide additional revenue to allow the Academy to keep tuition levels as reasonable as possible for our families.” On February 10, The Catholic Foundation will honor Sister Margaret Ann with the 30th Annual Catholic Foundation Award in recognition of her commitment and service to Catholic education and the Dallas community. “I am so grateful to the Ursuline Sisters, who have given me wonderful opportunities throughout the years for service and leadership,” Sister says. “And I have enjoyed every minute of it!”

Past board member St. Alcuin Montessori School, Dallas Duchene Academy of the Sacred Heart, Houston AWARDS 2007 Our Friends’ Place Ebby Award 2012 Catholic Foundation Award ON HER WATCH A Timeline of Growth 1991 First annual Mardi Gras Ball is held to benefit the Ursuline Scholarship Fund. 1995-96 Ursuline is one of six U.S. schools to pioneer a laptop computer program. 1996 Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center is dedicated. 1997 Educational, cultural exchange partnership is formed with Huaxia Girls Academy of Beijing. 1998 Meadows Foundation recognizes Ursuline for outstanding community service. 2000 The Ursuline Center for Performing Arts/Braniff Hall is dedicated. Property is acquired at the corner of Walnut Hill Lane and Inwood Road. 2002 The Ursuline Academy of Dallas Foundation is established. 2005-09 Partnerships are formed with Ursuline schools in South America. 2009 The French Family Science, Math, and Technology Center and the new Music Building open. 2010 Major campus renovations are completed. 2011 Global Education Initiative for curriculum renewal enters second year.

Top Left: Ursuline welcomes the first exchange visitors from Huaxia Girls Academy of Beijing, 1998. Above: The Moser family's annual summer trip to see Murrin grandparents in Pennsylvania. Right: The Moser family at Sister Margaret Ann’s first Profession of Vows, 1959.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

CREATIVITY

AND THE ARTS,

FROM CLASSROOM TO

CAREER

BY MIKI BONE MELSHEIMER ’79

COVER STORY

Stop for a moment and think about your most enduring (and endearing) memories of school. No, really...do it! I’d wager that your memory drifts not to a grade or a particular test, but to something more defining.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

The transition under way with today’s curriculum is not about what is being taught — the essential course content remains. It’s about how that content is learned. As teachers develop new pedagogy — the ways of teaching — they see students becoming more excited and engaged in their learning. Principal Betty Bourgeois has challenged the Ursuline faculty to expand their best teaching practices with goals that would have an enduring impact on their students. My response was the introduction in 2002 of a touring program for the junior theatre students.

NOT WHAT, BUT HOW

Now that we are well into the 21st century, long gone are the days when students viewed the arts classroom as an oasis in a day otherwise filled with lectures, drills, worksheets, and tests. To help students become successful in today’s world, qualitative learning is expanding into the core subjects. Students are being challenged in new and creative ways with interdisciplinary, project-based approaches that take problem solving and performance to new levels. In one freshman mathematics course last year, Ursuline students used equations to create original works of art. Starting with a concept of the image they wanted to achieve, they “designed” the formulations needed to plot the drawing on a computer. The result was a gallery of unique and visually stimulating graphics, and a better understanding of the inherent relationship between math and design. Since curriculum guidelines serve as a road

CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM

EMILY RICE '06 performing in The Last 5 Years at Elon University's Black Box Theatre, March 2010. Emily produced the two-person show, written by composer/ lyricist Jason Robert Brown, which tells the story of a five-year relationship between a novelist and an aspiring actress.

While I have little recollection of the time I spent on homework and taking tests — measures of my quantitative performance — I can recall a few great lessons I learned beyond the classroom walls (in my case through the performing arts) that allowed me to discover my qualitative value as an individual. Fast-forward 30 years. One of the many perks of a teaching career in the arts is having a front row seat to observe the impact of qualitative learning on a whole new generation. Participation in the arts increases our higher-order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and application. The arts also provide a vehicle for driving home life lessons that can be applied to any discipline: 1) know your audience; 2) seek to engage those around you in meaningful ways; 3) find your light; and 4) make sure you can be heard! If our dreams are what make us who we are and our passion fuels the drive to achieve our dreams, the arts provide ample opportunity to explore and nurture both.

map for educators, perhaps an analogy to the advances in mapping technology can illustrate the point. Remember that paper map that folded into the backseat pocket of your parents’ station wagon or minivan? While it was a useful tool, the small print, paper folds, and occasional tears presented challenges. Today, with GPS technology in our cars, cellphones, and computers, advances in the way we navigate now enhance our journey. We may be going to some of the same places, but we are traveling with more information, different information, and more perspective. Like mapping technology, we now have more advanced curriculum tools to broaden and deepen the learning experience. And teachers can plot a course for their students that more effectively demonstrates real-world applications for what is learned.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

ety of young audiences and performance venues. “Serviam on Tour” was also a community outreach program, bringing the joys of theatre to children from families of all income levels across the community. As the teacher, I was able to watch my students cut their permanent teeth on the concepts of dedication, discipline, competition, and collaboration in that class. Now, almost 10 years later, the touring class program is still going strong, and the program ranks among the most challenging and rewarding arts opportunities at Ursuline.

I still taught the basic analysis, synthesis, and application skills, but touring took it a step further. The new approach taught the students to apply and adapt their performance to a vari-

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

GREAT PERFORMANCES

STEPHANIE HOCKRIDGE WOYSKI '01 was nominated for three Emmys in 2011 for her work as a newscaster at WDAF-Fox4 in Kansas City, MO. (Above) Stephanie appears as a poppy in Ursuline Academy's production of The Wizard of Oz in 2000.

Thanks to the power and reach of social media, I’ve been able to keep that front row seat with my former students. Regardless of their college major or career choice, they are always eager to share how qualitative learning has helped shape their identity. As the first students I taught at Ursuline mark their 10-year reunion, it’s a perfect time to celebrate how yes-

terday’s creative students are becoming today’s critical thinkers and doers. It seems like just yesterday that Stephanie Hockridge Woyski ’01 was juggling her drill team responsibilities with rehearsals for Dancing at Lughnasa. As she sat with me at breakfast on a hot morning late last summer, she was waiting for her agent to call with some pretty big news about her next career move. The call would clarify the particulars of two job offers. Should she accept the position in Sacramento or Phoenix? Stephanie had gained good experience as a TV news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Charlottesville, VA, and as a weekday reporter for WDAF–TV in Kansas City, MO. Regardless of her decision (ultimately Phoenix, AZ), Stephanie was about to become a television anchor in one of the top 20 markets in the U.S. It is no surprise that Stephanie still exhibits the poise, grace, and drive that made her stand out 10 years ago. Even then she had “stage presence,” exceptional ease, and focus in front of a large group. Those qualities have certainly served her well as she’s made a name for herself as a reporter and TV anchor. “In photography class, I developed an ‘eye’ for how to tell an emotionally impactful story. As a member of the drill team, I gained poise and self-confidence,” Stephanie says. “And a seemingly insignificant suggestion from an Ursuline theatre director helped solidify the foundation I needed to be successful in my career. “She suggested I speak utilizing the lower register of my voice in order to sound more professional while performing on stage. Believe it or not, I still use that skill each evening as I deliver the news,” she continues. “I may look young for my 28 years, but my photographer’s eye, self-confidence, and voice are the reasons I just landed the anchor job in Phoenix, the 12th largest television market in the country. Thank you, Ursuline!” Tanner Hartnett ’06 was already an accomplished ballerina by the age of 17 when I asked her to choreograph the ballet sequences for A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Ursuline. As exceptional as her dance ability was at the time, what stopped me in my tracks was her ability to command a large group of peers while teaching complicated movement sequences. Tanner’s talent wasn’t limited to her own technique as a dancer. Getting the chance to choreograph a theatre production meant

“THE ARTS FOSTER A SENSE OF SELF, ENCOURAGE YOU TO FIND YOURSELF, TO KNOW YOURSELF, AND TO LOVE YOURSELF. WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING THAT PROCESS.” — TANNER HARTNETT ’06

TANNER HARTNET '06 is a student at Texas Tech School of Law. Tanner was an accomplished ballerina by the age of 17.

Tanner had an opportunity to test her talent as a leader in a collaborative effort. No doubt she’ll have many more opportunities to demonstrate her capable leadership when she graduates from Texas Tech University School of Law. “For me the arts have always been an emotional journey, learning how to channel all the feelings I have and turn it into something beautiful,” Tanner says. “You get lost in your dance, in your music, or in your drawing as you get in touch with your deepest thoughts. “I think, as adults, we forget how powerful the imagination is, and how important and integral that is to a student’s development. In a fast-paced constantly moving world, children sometimes get lost in the shuffle, and they aren’t given the opportunity to figure out who they are,” she explains. “The arts foster a sense of self, encourage you to find yourself, to know

jects based on facts and near-certain truths. Theatre, art, music — these are subjects that touch your soul and allow students to open their minds to all the wonders this world has to offer, and to freely express themselves in the process.”

WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM NOW

A number of Ursuline Academy theatre program graduates of the past decade have gone on to begin successful careers in the performing arts. Others have chosen different career paths to apply their talents. Here’s an update on some of those alumnae.

THEATRE

Elise LeBreton ’07 is an intern at Roundabout Theatre and a MFA Theatre Student at Brown University/Trinity Repertory Theatre. Shannon Marcotte ’03 is Senior Marketing Manager for Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City.

ELENA DOSKEY '06 teaches English at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin, TX. (Above right) Elena, in gold dress, plays a wicked stepsister in Ursuline's production of Cinderella in 2005.

yourself, and to love yourself. We should be encouraging that process.” Those who know Elena Doskey ’06 have no trouble imagining her as a high school teacher. The truth is, Elena had a head start at Ursuline thanks to Jane Chambers’ musicals. Jane is fond of rounding out her large casts with young children and Elena, at an early age, was clearly a natural in front of an audience. Once officially admitted as an Ursuline student, Elena continued to delight audiences with her vocal and comedic talents throughout her four years. Her commanding presence onstage also grew off-stage, as she served as Class President during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. “It was because of Jazz Choir, Concert Choir, and Musical Theater at Ursuline that I discovered what made my heart sing,” Elena says.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

“Even if it’s not my career, I experience that feeling when I do get to practice and even sing in front of an audience, and I remember why I fell in love with music in the first place. Music brings me joy, and joy is rare and priceless.” As a public speaker, Elena has a powerful and engaging style. I have a vivid recollection of being seated in the Ursuline Center for Performing Arts (UCPA) and listening to Elena address her classmates as their president. Leaning over to a fellow teacher I whispered, “It’s hard to tell if she’s got a future as a military sergeant or a tent revival preacher.” A favorite memory is the large collective smile on the faces of the congregants at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas when Elena, as the Ursuline representative, delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral Mass of our beloved Father Jack Deeves. I’m sure that Father Deeves was smiling, too.

Today, Elena is teaching Spanish and English at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin. She also manages to squeeze in graduate school courses at the University of Notre Dame throughout the school year and during the summers. During the several years Aimee Ghosh ’03 spent working on Capitol Hill for Representative Louise Slaughter from New York, she managed to stay connected to some of her American University a cappella group members and record a CD called A Splash of Pink. Aimee has put her artistic pursuits on the back burner for a while to earn her law degree. She recently returned to American University to attend Washington College of Law, planning to graduate in 2013. “The skills I learned onstage and in the classroom have definitely helped me to prepare for a career in the courtroom,” Aimee says. “Through arts education, I not only developed confidence in my own abilities, but also learned valuable lessons in teamwork, communication, and leadership.” Emily Rice ’06 graduated from Elon University in May 2010, not long after the U.S. economy had taken a major nose-dive. Many college graduates found themselves in the unenviable

position of having few, if any, job prospects. But not Emily. Armed with her musical theatre degree and a mountain of determination, she has managed to get great work — doing what she loves. Before collecting her diploma, Emily devoted months to networking and chasing leads, traveling on weekends to New York City and auditioning. By graduation, Emily had an offer to appear as Maria in The Sound of Music in Virginia. That role was followed by a nine-month national tour of A Chorus Line. Then, during summer 2011, she performed as the lead in Summer of ’42 in Norwich, CT. Emily was always a keen observer and diligent worker. If you gave Emily an assignment to work on at home, she brought it back polished. She knows the secret of success: it’s not enough to be talented — the successful performer also educates herself on the business of show business. “It was through the arts that I discovered the very best way to express myself. Not only that, but I learned how to collaborate with others, work as a team, and get the job done by a specific deadline,” Emily says. “In the theatre I have worked hardest to combine my creativity, organization, and people skills. Each production, each project, has taught me more about myself, and the world I live in. “Math, science, history — these are all sub-

Kelly O’Neill ’06 studied with Second City Comedy Theatre and Improvisation Company in Chicago. She occasionally crosses paths with Jesuit grad and honorary UA alum funnyman John Sabine, who recently appeared in a Second City production in Chicago. Erin Watts ’03 is working in New York City as a producer for Story Pirates. This nationally recognized education and media organization celebrating the words and ideas of young people was featured last fall on The Today Show. Bayli Ryan ’08 is studying musical theatre at Elon University, and appeared with Stephen Foster Productions in Kentucky last summer as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. She returned to Dallas last July for a brief visit to appear at the premiere of Inventors and Vendors, an independent film in which Bayli plays the lead female role. Megan Rabuse ’10, a Plan II Major at The University of Texas, manages to find time to pursue theatre as well. She was in several performances at UT last year, and has performed with the following theatre groups/troupes: Foot in the Door, the Broccoli Project, Spirit of Shakespeare (SOS), and Shakespeare Outreach (SHOUT), a service group that teaches Shake-

THE ART OF COLLABORATION AT URSULINE It’s safe to say that Dallas is a city that has long embraced its love of sports, and it’s only natural that our schools would strive to create excellent sports programs. Not all students, however, are drawn to sports. So it was fortunate that, when Jane Chambers (above) was hired 28 years ago to head the music program at Ursuline, the playing field of extracurriculars expanded to include new avenues for enrichment. Jane and her staff breathed life into what has become a rich and prolific performing arts department. I joined the faculty in 2000 and stepped into the then-newly completed Ursuline Center for Performing Arts. Armed with my teaching certificate, I brought to the job more than a decade of professional theatre experience and two young sons, in search of more humane working hours. When I first began teaching at Ursuline, I was intrigued by the close physical proximity of the performing arts program to the sports program. The lobby entrance and concessions corner formed an intersection for the two disciplines, and it was in that space that I learned how much the two disciplines have in common. The students drawn to our respective programs were disciplined and dedicated to their training. They strived for their own success — yet they understood that their success was dependent upon the dedication and discipline of their fellow castmates/ teammates. In short, the sports and arts disciplines shared one very important common life lesson that will resonate for many years to come: the importance of collaboration. Regardless of whether they were in UCPA/Braniff or the adjacent Neuhoff Athletic Center, students learned how to compete, train, strategize, practice, evaluate, and perform as a group of collaborators. They were mentored and coached. Sometimes the group stumbled and fell short of their goals, but more often than not they shined. Needless to say, I was clueless about the countless hours I would be working — mainly because they flew by so quickly and I loved my work. I was passionate about modeling and mentoring the lessons of collaboration. In the intervening years, Jane Chambers and the newer members of the faculty have worked tirelessly to mentor their students and, most importantly, model the art of collaboration.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

MAKING MUSIC

Graduates whose career paths were paved with musical studies

Sharon Woster Pabon ’94, Kendall Zini-Jones ’03, Glynnis Garry ’07, Josephine Hsieh ’05

An active soloist and chamber musician, Sharon Woster Pabon ’94 has performed at venues throughout the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area including the U.S. Capitol, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Summer Opera Theater Company, Opera International, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Camden Yards. She also enjoys a busy teaching career, maintaining a private flute studio and holding faculty positions at the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program and Musical Expressions in Bethesda. Sharon is a first place winner of the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair Collegiate Soloist competition. She received a Master of Music in Flute Performance from Peabody Conservatory. A native of Dallas, mezzo-soprano Kendall Zini-Jones ’03 completed a master’s degree in opera studying under performance great Carol Vaness at Indiana University. She appeared with the IU Opera Theater as Candace in the collegiate première of William Bolcom’s A Wedding and as Stella in Les contes d’Hoffmann. She has been featured in concerts and operas around Europe. Most recently she was seen as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and Caterina in L’Amico Fritz for Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music’s Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca., Italy. The 2011 Notre Dame Distinguished Student Award was presented to Glynnis Garry ’07 in honor of her academic performance and service to the community. Glynnis completed a double major in Pre-Medicine and American Studies, with a minor in the Glynn Family Honors Program. In her sophomore year, she traveled to an orphanage in rural Honduras to help open a surgery center. Upon her return, she co-founded Friends of the Orphans at Notre Dame. Since 2008, she has tutored young children and high school students through the Center for Social Concerns. As a senior, she led the Band of the Fighting Irish as Head Drum Major. She is currently attending Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Josephine Hsieh ’05 received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff. There she performed for the renowned Liszt scholar Alan Walker, won first prize in the MacDowell Arts Foundation, and earned top honors in piano concerto competitions. At the Norwegian Academy of Music, Josephine studied with Håvard Gimse and won the Conoco-Philips Music Stipend Competition. She was honored to play for the King of Norway and participated in the Takamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan this past March. In July she married fellow concert pianist Øyvind Sundsvalen at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas; the couple resides in Oslo.

speare to underprivileged students in Austin on weekends. She also composed the music for her role as Ariel in SOS’ production of The Tempest and wrote a ‘ditty’ for Foot in the Door’s production of Country Wife.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY THEATER Sarah Weber ’09 was recently accepted into both the Creative Writing program and the Playwriting Sequence at Northwestern University, two highly competitive programs. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Radio Drama program on Northwestern’s radio station, WNUR 89.3fm, and is in charge of publicity and fundraising for several student shows on campus. In her scant spare time, she serves on

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

the Executive Board of Alpha Chi Omega and is in charge of philanthropy. Last summer she studied Spanish in Barcelona.

a university research grant, and served as an assistant teacher for the Laura Schellhardt playwriting sequence last summer. Sarah also served as the writing chair for PreTENd Productions, leading a student-organized seminar where students received course credit. Now with her coveted diploma in hand, Sarah has set down roots in New York to pursue her theatrical dreams.

Elizabeth Pyke ’09 is working as the sports anchor in the Trinity University newsroom.

TELEVISION AND FILM

LAW

Kelly Bach ’05 graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a film studies degree and works with Larry Levinson Productions in Los Angeles. She became interested in film editing while she was at Ursuline.

Perry Woods ’05 is currently working as Case Manager for a law firm in Dallas and plans on attending law school.

Julie Cole ’05 works for the Domestic Theatrical Publicity department at Warner Bros. Pictures.

Michelle Weilert ’05 has opened seven off-Broadway plays in New York City, the latest in April 2011. Three of the plays got an initial test run at Ursuline before they were produced. She has worked as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola Marymount University and co-taught playwriting with Beth Henley (author of Crimes of the Heart). Last year, Michelle worked as an assistant for NBC Writers on the Verge, a fellowship that provides training for TV writing to outstanding writers who are “on the verge” of being discovered.

Carolyn McLaughlin ’04 received her J.D./MPA in 2011 from Texas Tech University. Meggie Sudderth Gilstrap ’04 received her J.D. 2011 at Harvard Law School. She is currently clerking for a Federal Bankruptcy Judge in New York.

AND MORE Nicole Daboub ’02 is a news personality who covered the royal wedding last year as a correspondent for The Insider.

Jessica Barnett ’05 is a member of the theatre faculty at Parish Episcopal School of Dallas and is known for her love of directing musicals. Kate O’Neill Emrich ’05 is a Certified Public Accountant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Erin Dooley ’09 is working as a news anchor at Trinity University. She questioned Colin Powell at a San Antonio press conference, as well as Robert Gates and Sir Salman Rushdie at other press conferences. Erin spent last summer in a paid internship at Androvett Legal Media in Dallas. Bethy Poluikis ’03 works in film and television in Los Angeles and is currently appearing with the Second City Comedy Troupe in Hollywood, CA.

Follies cast (from left to right) Kari Sorenson, Jenny Guse, Christina Meyers, Amanda Tanguay, and AMANDA KROISS '07.

Kristin Kuhn ’07 recently graduated with a degree in Biological Engineering from MIT. Kristin is taking a year off from her studies before attending medical school. During that time, she'll be working as a missionary to the poor in Denver with a program called Christ in the City. Younger sister Courtney Kuhn ’10 is studying saxophone performance at Arizona State University and, during her visits to Dallas, can be seen cantoring on Sunday evenings at the St. Monica Youth Mass.

Miki Bone Melsheimer ’79, former Ursuline Academy faculty member, is a current Masters candidate in Humanities with an emphasis in Aesthetic Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. She continues to be involved as an Ursuline Alumna, and most recently served as a member of the Exploratory Team for Curriculum for the Ursuline Strategic Planning Committee.

“REINVESTING IN ARTS EDUCATION” The statements below have been excerpted from “Reinvesting in Arts Education,” a 2011 report by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Scientific Research Neuro-Ed Initiative researchers at Johns Hopkins hypothesize that arts integration, which emphasizes repetition of information in multiple ways, provides the advantage of embedding knowledge in longterm memory. The brain prioritizes emotionally-tinged information (again, a possible additional advantage for learning through music or theatre, for example) for conversion to long-term memory. The initiative is one of several research projects which are looking more systematically at how arts instruction supports learning transfer. Such scientific research may also help to uncover the reasons for the observations that many teachers have made about how students learn differently — some seem to learn best kinesthetically, others respond best to visual or aural approaches. Public Policy A remarkably consistent picture of the value of the arts in a comprehensive pre-K through grade 12 education emerges from a review of two decades of theory and policy recommendations about arts education. Over the past decade, professional groups with a broad education interest have begun promoting the value of arts education using the same arguments as traditional arts advocates such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Education Partnership, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and Americans for the Arts. Last year’s 2010 U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents the mayors of more than 1,200 cities nationwide, urged school districts to use federal and state resources to provide direct instruction in the arts and integrate the arts with other core subjects. While there is support for the intrinsic value of developing cultural literacy and teaching artistic skills and techniques, leadership groups typically emphasize instrumental outcomes derived from high quality arts education in one or more of the following categories: IjkZ[dj WY^_[l[c[dj" jof_YWbbo Wi h[fh[i[dj[Z Xo h[WZ_d] and mathematics performance on high stakes tests, including transfer of skills learning from the arts to learning in other academic areas — for example, the spatial-temporal reasoning skills developed by music instruction

Amanda Kroiss ’07, armed with her recently earned diploma from Northwestern University, was among the chosen few when Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced the cast list for the fall 2010 production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies. She is currently appearing in Gypsy at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre in Chicago, IL through April 1, 2012.

IjkZ[dj cej_lWj_ed WdZ [d]W][c[dj" _dYbkZ_d] _cfhel[Z attendance, persistence, focused attention, heightened educational aspirations, and intellectual risk taking

Sarah Einspanier ’07 was the winner of the Agnes Nixon Playwriting Festival at Northwestern. There she completed her senior Honors thesis, a full-length play and staged reading, received

Each category of outcomes is composed of many distinct behaviors that have been supported by findings from research studies and evaluations.

:[l[befc[dj e\ ^WX_ji e\ c_dZ _dYbkZ_d] fheXb[c iebl_d]" critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and working with others :[l[befc[dj e\ ieY_Wb Yecf[j[dY_[i" _dYbkZ_d] YebbWXehWj_ed and teamwork skills, social tolerance, and self-confidence

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

on campus

Answering W the Call Gretchen Kane on mission, all-girls education, and becoming Ursuline’s next President

Gretchen Kane with elementary school students at Ursuline New Orleans (a K-12 campus)

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

hen Gretchen Kane assumes the office of President of Ursuline Academy of Dallas on July 1, she will be the first member of the laity to hold the position since the school’s founding in 1874. “For me, it is a calling,” she says. “Ursuline Academy of Dallas is an extraordinary school, with gifted personnel and exceptional facilities. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity!” A Catholic educator for more than 32 years, Gretchen Kane has impressive credentials and a keen understanding of the Ursuline mission. “The distinguishing characteristic of early Ursuline educators was neither their numbers nor their theory, but their presence and caring for individual students that generated understanding and promoted a desire to serve,” she says. “That personal engagement between dedicated and competent administrators, faculty and staff, and the students is one of the most important elements of Ursuline-sponsored education.” For the past eight years, Ms. Kane has served as President of Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, the oldest continuously operating all-girls school in the U.S., which offers grades pre-K through high school. She believes that single-sex education is very beneficial for girls. “The all-girls environment is important for a young woman’s academic and social development,

Ms. Kane with an Ursuline New Orleans graduate

particularly during the middle and high school years,” she explains. “Girls are nurturing and the quality of relationships is important to them. They are great collaborators, and they work especially well in teams. “Girls want to share their victories and their successes, and to take care of one another,” she continues. “The all-girl setting gives them an environment where they can do all of that and gain confidence in their own abilities to achieve.” And Ms. Kane knows something about achievement. After attending high school at the Academy of Sacred Heart in New Orleans, she played two years for the Louisiana State University Tigers women’s basketball team. She earned a B.S. in mathematics and an M.A. in mechanical engineering from the University of New Orleans, then embarked on a career in Catholic education distinguished by teaching and administrative leadership positions at the high school and college level. She has authored numerous papers and presentations, and has been active in professional associations. In 2005, just one year after she took the President’s position in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina hit with devastating results for that city and the Ursuline campus. Against overwhelming odds, she led the successful rebuilding of the school. “When the opportunity to take the position in Dallas came to me, I asked the search committee for 10 days to pray and discern. “I wanted to reflect on my life and where God was leading me. That time gave me the opportunity to look deep within my heart and soul and come up with the decision that would be the right one.” She knows and admires Sister Margaret Ann Moser, Ursuline’s retiring President, who now serves on the Ursuline Academy New Orleans Board of Trustees. “Sister Margaret Ann has been a charismatic and caring leader…hers are extra big shoes to fill,” she says. “I am very happy that she will be available to help mentor me.” What are her plans for her first year on the job in Dallas? “I want to get to know the students and their parents,” she says. “I want to learn as much as possible, and to build relationships with all the constituent groups.”

GRETCHEN Z. KANE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2004 – present President, Ursuline Academy in New Orleans 2001-2004 Associate Vice President Jesuit Secondary Education Association Washington, D.C. Chair, 2020 Vision Project 1993-2001 Academic Assistant Principal Jesuit High School, New Orleans TEACHING EXPERIENCE Subjects AP Calculus Trigonometry Geometry Algebra Jesuit High School, New Orleans DeLaSalle High School, New Orleans University of New Orleans EDUCATION University of New Orleans M.S. in Mechanical Engineering B.S. in Mathematics HER FAVORITE THINGS Cooking Reading Sports Travel Art and Movies ...and her Siamese cat, Ichabod Kane

She is already impressed by the dedication of the Academy’s faculty and staff, as well as the Alumnae and their love of the school. A New Orleans native, Ms. Kane loves cooking and reading. She enjoys all sports, travel, art, and movies. And, while she will remain a lifelong fan of LSU and the New Orleans Saints, she says she will be cheering for the Texas Rangers and the Mavericks after she moves to Dallas. She is also looking forward to beginning work on the Academy’s new strategic plan. “It’s a great vision for the future!” she says.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

point of view

Monica Cochran with her freshman English class

Tech Times for the Ursuline Girl By Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71

am often asked how Ursuline has changed from the time I taught English in the mid ’70s and early ’80s to today, now in the 11th year of my second term teaching here. The answer is easy: technology. While girls today are the same wonderful young women who work hard to earn good grades, technology has revolutionized education for students and teachers alike. Since Ursuline began a laptop program in 1996, the use of technology has flourished in ways never imagined. When my daughter Elaine ’01 left Ursuline for Southern Methodist University (SMU), she reported that few college students used their laptops in the classroom, suggesting that Ursuline was more technologically minded than some colleges at the time. Now in the workplace, Elaine is more closely entwined than ever with technology. She has traveled the globe with her laptop in tow and used it for delivering presentations in China, setting up a new client in Japan, and

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

reconfiguring systems in Sweden. Even from home, she can connect with colleagues around the world using online webinars and instant messaging. Elaine appreciates being taught early on to effectively use the computer as a multipurpose tool. Harking back to her high school days, she says, “I was still wearing a plaid skirt when I realized that my productivity increased tenfold with the laptop. At that age, it was a small revelation to see past technology’s fun veneer and recognize its potential.” Six years later, my daughter Erin ’07, also at SMU, described her dramatically expanded social media activity, using Facebook to stay in touch with high school friends and to keep informed of campus organizations.

For instance, her sorority utilized the group feature on Facebook in order to keep everyone up-todate on important announcements and events. Other social media outlets such as LinkedIn provide networks within the business world to help land that first job, and the growth of Twitter serves as a condensed, simplified Facebook for updates on her friends and family in 140 characters or less. As a recent college graduate, Erin proudly says, “Without my strong technological background from Ursuline, I would never be able to exploit all that today’s social media has to offer with such ease and confidence. Not only did Ursuline adequately prepare me for college but also for that next stage, known as ‘the real world.’ ” What is a typical tech-filled school day at Ursuline like for me, the English teacher? While I take attendance on my laptop that rests in a docking station, my students open their email to the SAT Question of the Day. In the ’70s and ’80s, we English teachers anguished over how to incorporate standardized testtaking skills with our curriculum of vocabulary, grammar, writing, and literary skills; accordingly, the SAT Question of the Day allows me to do both at the same time, as my students see a direct relationship between the grammar concepts they study in class and the verbal parts of the SAT and ACT tests. If a student forgets her book, she can find it online or use her e-reader. As we study Shakespeare’s Macbeth, we take a virtual tour of London’s Globe Theatre in minutes. When we read Elie Wiesel’s Night and study the World War II Holocaust, we go to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s website in Washington, D.C., and find a wealth of articles, photographs, and videos that enhance the reading. After students complete exercises in their grammar books, they find an endless list of online interactive quizzes, whereby they get the correct answers immediately, instead of waiting for me to give the text’s answers. Last but not least, students submit their essays to a plagiarism website that finds and cites the source(s) from which plagiarized words, phrases, or sentences come. Because the computer serves both academic and social purposes, learning activities compete with social media. The good news is that students create study groups on Facebook and use sites such as Quizlet to enter vocabulary words and definitions; then, the website makes quizzes for students to study and share. Of course, teachers communicate with

students through email that many see immediately on their cellphones. But computer distractions are abundant in the forms of email, instant messaging, Facebook correspondence, games, movies, and random Internet sites. Students must maturely make decisions about when to use their computers for homework and when to use them for entertainment or social purposes. Good students often tell me that they discipline themselves to do homework first; only afterward do they use their computer for socializing. Technology places an abundance of information literally at our fingertips. Part of a student’s success hinges on her ability to deal properly with the influx of temptation. Today, technology’s strong presence on campus profoundly affects everyone. We continue to expand our realm of computer savvy, as even the most novice users naturally acquire “tech literacy” skills. But innovation and automation have not changed everything. Despite powerful word processing software, English is not an obsolete subject. My reasoning to students on the importance of good writing is soundly reinforced by the Internet; this public forum showcases the confluence of social media and electronic communication. As a result, embarrassing writing gaffes are on display to millions. Even ubiquitous use of the most sophisticated spelling and grammar check tools cannot mask poor communication skills. Ironically, technology is a wonderful aid in proving the value of strong writing skills to skeptical students.

Elaine Cochran and Erin Cochran

Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71 currently teaches freshman English at Ursuline Academy. She was named recipient of the Alumnae Association’s Serviam Alumna Award in 1998. Elaine Cochran ’01 graduated from SMU in 2005 with a B.S. in Engineering Management and Information Systems. She also received her M.S. in Systems Engineering in 2009 from SMU. She currently works for an IT consulting firm in Dallas and has been a member of the Ursuline Alumnae Board since 2008. Erin Cochran ’07 graduated from SMU in May 2011 with a BBA; she is currently working toward her M.S. in accounting at SMU and plans to become a Certified Public Accountant.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

ways of giving

WAYS OF GIVING Endowed Gifts <kjkh[ e\ Khikb_d[ Z[f[dZi ed ijh[d]j^ e\ [dZemc[dji Fh_eh_jo d[[Zi Wh[ \eh iY^ebWhi^_fi WdZ \WYkbjo ikffehj <ekdZWj_ed fhel_Z[i \eh iW\[" [\\[Yj_l[ Wii[j cWdW][c[dj

The Ursuline Fund <kdZi [ii[dj_Wb WddkWb ef[hWj_d] [nf[di[i 8h_Z][i j^[ ]Wf X[jm[[d jk_j_ed WdZ WYjkWb Yeij e\ Wd Khikb_d[ [ZkYWj_ed Fhel_Z[i \eh Yecf[j_j_l[ \WYkbjo iWbWh_[i" [nY[bb[dY[ _d WYWZ[c_Yi" Wj^b[j_Yi" arts, and other student programs

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Mission-Inspired Giving

hat does a student need to succeed? What makes a great teacher? What is the definition of excellence for a school like Ursuline? The answer to each of these questions is in the giving. The highly engaged student achieves with boundless energy and enthusiasm. She delights in new discoveries. She gives her very best effort in greeting every new challenge. Great teachers give their all to help students learn. They do it with pure joy. And they would all tell you that they get back as much as they give, maybe more. Excellence in academics is certainly a key part of what makes Ursuline Academy such a special place. But the willingness to serve, in whatever manner each of us is able, is the kind of giving that lives at the heart of the Ursuline mission. We are a community of givers. And just as every student, employee, parent, Alumna, and friend is essential to Ursuline, the

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Academy is surely a vital part of each of us. The Ursuline community contributed nearly $29 million to the recently concluded Facing the Future Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in Ursuline history! That campaign made it possible to renew our campus — with The French Family Science, Math, and Technology Center, a new Music Building, and major renovations — as well as add to our endowments, and still meet operating expenses each year. None of these achievements would have been possible without the hardworking employees and volunteers who gave of their time and talents, extending the impact of every financial contribution received. With these new resources in place, Ursuline is better equipped to provide a truly interdisciplinary 21st century curriculum. And advanced technologies make it easier for our students to make worldwide connections, learn languages, investigate global issues, and explore other cultures as well as our own.

But the Academy’s need is still great. Right now, apart from a few full scholarships funded by individual donors, Ursuline can only provide up to 50 percent of any individual student’s demonstrated financial need. At the same time, family need for financial assistance is growing rapidly. Events like the Mardi Gras Ball and Lunch With A View provide major scholarship funding for today’s students. A growing scholarship endowment can assure that the Academy is always able to offer assistance, and at the levels needed, to qualified students. Each year, the cost of competitive teacher salaries, benefits, and professional development represents the largest portion of Ursuline’s total operating expense. A strong faculty endowment can help the Academy provide for the highest quality faculty and staff over the long term and still keep tuition as affordable as possible for all families. Finally, Ursuline relies on the generosity

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of donors to bridge the difference between tuition and the actual cost of an Ursuline education. This year, it will take an additional $1,750 per student to meet that need. The Ursuline Fund, the Academy’s annual giving campaign, provides that essential “everyday support for every girl.” Nearly two-thirds of each dollar donated to the fund helps pay faculty salaries and benefits; the balance goes toward other expenses required to sustain excellence in the academic experience. All of this and more is needed if we are to continue to prepare our young women students to be true Serviam women, successful and compassionate citizens of the world. Whether yours is a gift of time, talent, or treasure, we thank you for your missioninspired giving to Ursuline!

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GIVING CIRCLES The President’s Circle ?dYbkZ[i Zedehi cWa_d] ]_\ji e\ )"+&& eh ceh[ _d W ÓiYWb o[Wh :edeh h[fehj WdZ m[Xi_j[ WYademb[Z][c[dj

May God bless you,

Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. President

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Alumnae Serviam Circle ?dYbkZ[i 7bkcdW[ Yedjh_Xkj_d] '"&&& eh ceh[ _d W ÓiYWb o[Wh :edeh h[fehj WdZ m[Xi_j[ WYademb[Z]c[dj If[Y_Wb h[Y[fj_ed _d j^[ ifh_d]

To learn more, visit www. ursulinedallas.org/giving

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URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

president’s circle dinner

Giving Thanks

“There’s no better place in the world than Ursuline…to stimulate intellectual development balanced with personal growth, spiritual growth, and the essence of social justice as defined in Serviam.” — Dr. John McConnell

ore than 250 Ursuline supporters gathered on May 6, 2011, at the Biblical Art Museum in Dallas for the annual President’s Circle Dinner honoring major donors and volunteer leaders. Keynote speaker, Dr. John McConnell, Chief Executive Officer of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and campaign co-chair, spoke on the vital need for education in math and science. Dr. McConnell and his wife, Melinda, are parents of Cara McConnell ’06.

The volunteer leadership cabinet for the $29 million Facing the Future Capital Campaign was named recipient of the 2011 President’s Award. Awardees included:

“Young people of today have to be trained in critical thinking, have to understand some essence of science, in order to be informed consumers and voters in the future in very complicated issues.” — Dr. John McConnell

Kevin Bartholomew Sherrye Bass Deborah Carson Joe Coleman Barry Drees Robert Elder Michelle Marlow Fojtasek ’84 Roger Hirl John Landon Earl Latimer Vicky Pitts Lattner ’69 Wes Loegering Dr. John McConnell Janet Liese Medlin ’75 Michael Mutek Pat Brown O’Brien ’52 Neil O’Brien Jack Pratt Alice Rodriguez Jake Schroepfer Karen Livesay Shuford ’66 Trudy Wright

3 10

1. Dr. John McConnell's President's Circle Dinner presentation 2. Facing the Future Capital Campaign Cabinet Members 3. Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, Dr. John and Melinda McConnell 4. Rosemary Haggar Vaughan, Mary Fox, Barbara Doyle, Mary Stewart 5. Al and Mary Emma Ackels Karam '72, Angie Sagers Kadesky '80 6. Roger and Marianne Staubach, Betty Bourgeois

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

7. Lydia Haggar Novakov '68, Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, Daniel Novakov 8. Doug and Vicky Pitts Lattner '69, Mary Lee and Fritz Duda 9. Eugene and Shirley Vilfordi 10. Win and Lynn Feather Bell '82 11. Miriam Ackels Claerhout '83, Bill and Mary Walker Sladek '79 12. Ann Doyle Boehm '75, Sr. Mary Troy '51, Katie Dziminski

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

photo gallery

Class Reunions

1. Class of 1991 2. Class of 2001 3. Class of 1961: 50th Reunion Class 4. Class of 1981 5. Class of 1951 6. Class of 1996 7. Class of 1966 8. Class of 1971

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

photo gallery

A Royal Phonathon

1. Class of 1998: (front row) Caytie Sarandis Langford, Michelle Stevens White; (back row) Catherine Baetz Maurer, Emily Driscoll, Sheila Melle, Sarah Johnston Polzer, Kathryn O'Connor 2. Samantha Smith '05, Brooke Houston Green '97 3. Kathie Kahn Wood '87, Michele Balady Beach '87, Beth Geisler Singel '87 4. Patty Pedevilla Helm '80, Susan Wolff Wolf '83, Magdalena Kovats '83, Diana Coulter Liese '83 5. Rita Hunt Maher '46, Anne Kerin Thomas '46 6. Maribeth Messineo Peters '85, Mary Winikates '85, Jenny Nady Esteve '85 7. Kristi Esposito Doucet '02, Jen Pitz Deck '01, Jenny Beesley '03 8. Allison Dunne Darnell '05, Deb Cummings Dunne '74, Judi Fontenot Pierre '74, Amy Dunne Henderson '99 9. Amy Wills Reading '88, Beth Geisler Singel '87, Jennifer Jascott Crumley '88 10. Kitty Kelly Johnston '73, Emily Johnston Larkin '01, Sarah Johnston Polzer '98

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

photo gallery

Alumnae Mother/ Daughter Breakfast 2

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

1. Teresa Vilfordi Korman '74, Kelsey Korman '13 2. Shari Rogers Ackels '79, Madeleine Ackels '12, Jennifer Ackels '15, Teresa Messina Rogers '52 3. Jessica Valenzuela '12, Kathleen Malloy Valenzuela '85 4. Joelene Walenta Elliott '83, Jean Thomas Buys '82, Genevieve Rubensteen Dittmar '80 5. 1979 Mothers and Daughters 6. Class of 2015 7. Melissa Miramontes Carpenter '84, Kaitlin Carpenter '12 8. Class of 2012 9. Class of 2013 10. Class of 2014 11. Marcie Mathews Fincher '81, Alexandra Fincher '14, Mary Hutti '14 12. Chelsea Powell '13, Tiffany Powell '68, Kellie Sanchez '15, Dianne Sanchez '78

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

bears mentioning

DID YOU KNOW…

Helen and Mary

The origin of Ursuline’s bear mascot can be traced to the seven stars in the Ursuline Serviam shield representing the Ursa Minor (Little Bear) constellation and recalling our patroness St. Ursula — a noble beginning for our beloved Honey Buns.

By C. Angelique Thomas-Reagor ’81

ack in olden times, around 1979, the Ursuline cafeteria was located on the lower level of Main Hall. If not for a row of windows and a door leading out to the parking lot, I would classify it as a basement or tornado shelter. The walls were crisp white, the floor carpeting was reminiscent of Galaxy Lanes standard, the booths alternated between padded cherry red or burnt orange vinyl, and the Formica tables were accompanied by sturdy industrial plastic chairs in complementary shades of tan. I preferred the booths; however, most days a dozen of us would crowd around a four-top acting like we all had enough room. A hot lunch line was only a pipe dream then — the options were limited to either buying a can of spaghetti or a soggy hoagie from the fairly reliable vending machines. Or you would stand in line holding a dollar to visit Helen and Mary. Helen and Mary were the patron saints of the cafeteria. Two middle-aged women dressed in polyester separates and wearing sensible shoes, they were like beacons of light shining from the tiny kitchenette, leading us to them as they prepared the only hot “homemade” fare in the building. Helen and Mary would prepare a daily

standard dish with just a Crockpot and hotplate at their disposal. Frito pie, grilled cheese, nachos, tacos, and hot dogs were the top sellers. Jelly donuts were an added bonus when in season. Simple and good. Miraculously, we transformed into patient, kind, and orderly young women when the aroma of the coveted grilled cheese sandwich reached us as we stood stock still in line waiting our turn. We tried never to be greedy or buy more than two (the allotted limit). We would not want to be blackballed and forever banished to a daily lunch of Funyuns or canned spaghetti. Once, a classmate made the dire mistake of educating us on the contents of hot dogs after she watched a documentary on the subject. She was informed by Helen that all sales were off and ordered to cease and desist. She did, and the hot dog exposé was an unpleasant memory never to be spoken about again. The years spent navigating the great social hour of lunchtime taught me several lessons that have helped me in life. Good things come to those who wait. The simple things in life bring the greatest joy. Be generous, kind, and supportive. Listen. Set your standards high. Be respectful and work hard. Stay honest. At the time, I certainly did not realize I was

absorbing all of this advice. The majority of the time we spent speculating which Jesuit student would show up for typing class, or who was the lucky stiff that found the peanut (or was it a plastic baby?) in the Senior SnowBall cupcakes; perhaps we were consoling a friend dealing with matters of the heart. In hindsight, both the good and the bad served a purpose, as should all lessons in life. That would be the ideal anyway. Seeing Helen and Mary day after day through the years was reminiscent of seeing our own mothers. We grew very accustomed to their presence and took them for granted, just as we did our mothers, as they served our motley crew in plaid. Eventually, the cafeteria was remodeled and Helen and Mary retired. I don’t know if they realized the legacy they left behind and the comfort they offered effortlessly, without fanfare, behind the waist-high countertop in the no-frills cafeteria circa 1979. In fall 2011, Ursuline introduced a new food service with seasonal menus featuring regional favorites and fresh produce available at market. Students and employees now choose from a wide variety of healthy options free of trans fats and made from local ingredients.

www.ursulinedallas.org/dining Sisters-in-law, Mary Traynor and Helen Petrisky worked side-by-side for many years. Mary passed away in January 2000. Helen continues to touch young lives, working at the Jesuit College Prep cafeteria with Mary’s son, Steve.

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Getting involved has never been easier! Don’t have a lot of time to help with Ursuline events? The Alumnae Auxiliary is your answer! Volunteer as much or as little time as your schedule allows.

Not hearing about news and upcoming events? Send us your email address and check out the Ursuline Alumnae page on Facebook for news and updates. To learn more contact: alumnae@ursulinedallas.org or call 469-232-3587.

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ͻ Spirit Items ͻ Much More! 15% alumnae discount, just note “alum” in comments section of order form. Visit www.ursulinedallas.org/store

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Entertainment by The Rat Pack is Back

Honoring Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. and celebrating more than two decades of community support for scholarships.

Saturday, February 18, 2012 InterContinental Dallas Hotel Crystal Ballroom ,IVE "IG "OARD 3ILENT !UCTIONS s #AR 2AFmE ,AS 6EGAS #ASINO s h6EGAS &UNv !TTIRE reservations online at www.uamardigras.org or call 469-232-3964

The Rat Pack is Back with Las Vegas swagger for Mardi Gras 2012. You’ll think you’re at The Copa Room in the Sands Hotel as you relive the days of Frank, Dean, and Sammy and their twelve-piece big band. Get ready for an evening of great music and entertainment, Rat Pack style! Mardi Gras Honorary Krewe Martha and Dr. David Alameel, Rosalyn and Alan Bell, Karol Kreymer and Dr. Robert Card, Ann and Barry Drees, Mary Lee and Fritz Duda, John Flavin, Mrs. David G. Fox Jr., Paulette and Dr. Lewis Frazee, Isabell and Joe Haggar, Mrs. Ed Haggar, Jane and Don Hanratty, Dorothy and Roger Hirl, Vicky and Doug Lattner, Brenda and Dr. Robert Morgan, Audrey and Lou Munin, Kay and Henry Neuhoff, Andrea and Bob Neuhoff, Pat and Neil O’Brien, Gale and Allan Peterson, Aileen and Jack Pratt, Susan and Robert Raffo, Denise and Denis Simon, Marianne and Roger Staubach, Mary and Rich Templeton, Mary and Mike Terry, Rosemary Haggar Vaughan, Shirley and Gene Vilfordi Co Chairs Angie Sagers Kadesky ’80, Barbie Boe, Cindy Lindsley