The Ursuline Spirit

The word community means, at its deepest level, being united together. Being united together can be physically, spiritually, emotionally, or pastorally.

The Ursuline Dallas Community is made up of seven Sisters between the ages of 72 and 87: Sisters Glenda Bourgeois, Louis Marie Carter, Lois Castillon, Ann Mangelsdorf ’56, Mary Milne, and Mary Troy ’51, all live in Dallas; Sister Madeline Kelly lives in San Antonio.

During the pandemic we have creatively found other ways to connect, through phone calls and emails; for us even postal mail is a special way to connect. Some of us join Zoom calls and conference calls, and visit each other when we are not sheltering in place. Spiritually we are part of Angela Merici’s family across the world so we receive communications (e.g. videos, emails, newsletters) from our Ursuline leadership team in Rome as well as Ursuline friends and missionaries in other countries. For us that is an expression of community. We hear from Ursuline friends across the USA.

Angela’s words ring in our hearts: “be united together of one heart and one mind…then Jesus will be in your midst; and I will be in the middle of you, lending aid to your prayers.”

Here’s what the Sisters are reflecting on as they share in the challenges of 2020 and anticipate the exciting impact of the campaign on Ursuline Academy.

Sister Lois Castillon, O.S.U., Prioress

The Campaign for Ursuline: ACT, MOVE, BELIEVE witnesses to the development of the whole person, one of our Core Values at Ursuline Academy of Dallas. St. Angela counsels us to be compassionate, to offer opportunities for each one to grow into her best self. There will be a variety of spaces and places and an outstanding faculty and staff to encourage each student in her emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and academic development. With faith-filled confidence our graduates will face the future. They will lead us into tomorrow, with “Serviam” as their motto.

Sister Mary Troy, O.S.U. ’51

Our students are coming of age in a very different world. The world will need them desperately. And they will meet that need with courage, generosity, and joy. So yes, this building will be a great gift to our students. A space in which they will learn and grow, that they will enjoy, in which they will develop skills for a lifetime. Indeed, a great gift!

Sister Diane Fulgenzi, O.S.U., Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, Co-Director of Sponsorship

The capital improvements that the campaign will make possible are impressive by their breadth and vision. Every aspect of a student’s life is being addressed in careful and creative ways: prayer space; teaching and learning spaces for the arts, social studies and English, engineering and broadcasting; spaces to gather, and to foster and celebrate community, etc. All of these are proof of Ursuline’s faithfulness to the development of the whole person, long a core value of an Ursuline education. Of equal importance, the scholarship monies generated by the campaign will help to ensure that Ursuline remains an inclusive microcosm of the socioeconomic balance of the wider community. How important this is in our world today!

The Central Province of the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union is located in St. Louis, where Sister Diane resides.

S UCCESS STORIE S

Scholarships empower academic and career goals. For so many Ursuline graduates, the value of the support they received inspires their own giving and advocacy for scholarship funding. To follow are stories shared by three of those graduates, offering insights to how Ursuline education has shaped their lives.

Lauren Johnson Housh ’96 had no real plans to attend Ursuline until a friend convinced her to meet at the Open House after Sunday School one day. She fell in love with the school the moment she pulled up the driveway from Walnut Hill.

“It was 100% God acting in my life,” she said.

The next Sunday was the final weekend to take the entrance exams to qualify for scholarships. Lauren was a public-school student, raised by a single mom, and in need of the financial assistance.

“There was absolutely no way I could have attended without it,” said Lauren. “It is not an exaggeration to say that receiving financial aid changed my life.”

After high school, she pursued a degree in Public Policy and Spanish at Southern Methodist University and today, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management. She always wanted to do a great variety of things, and investing was one of them. Seventeen-years-ago she gave it a go, and the rest is history.

Her Ursuline experience influenced her career decisions in three parts.

First, Serviam taught her to be giving.

“I am in a service profession,” she said. “I provide a service to families and help make a difference in their lives.”

Second, the quality of teaching at Ursuline challenged and pushed her, but in a loving way.

“That was the real difference, especially coming from public school,” Lauren said. “I was blown away by the quality of teaching and have never felt so cared for.”

Finally, her friendships. She notes that she truly does have the best class in the world.

“My classmates are hands down the best women I know,” she said. “I have some exceptional women in my class.”

Lauren is thankful for her Ursuline education and describes it as one of the greatest things to happen to her.

She has been an active volunteer with Ursuline over the years, serving as a member of the Alumnae Board and in leadership roles for fundraising activities including chair of the annual fund. Today, she continues to give back through her participation on the Foundation Board.

“I would love to see a world where every young woman who wants to attend, can,” said Lauren. “We’ve got work to do as alumnae to support the mission and raise the funds.”

Her hope is that money is not a barrier for future students and that Ursuline will continue to play an important role in the local community, raising strong women leaders in a global society along the way.

“Ursuline gives you the confidence to know you can do anything,” she said. “You can be in any career and hold any space and be as successful as you want to be.”

Natalia Gonzalez ’13 moved to the United States when she was threeyears-old from Guadalajara, Mexico. Growing up, she always had the goal in mind to attend Ursuline Academy as her mother had attended a private, Catholic, all-girls school in Mexico. Finding the education so formative, she wanted to ensure her daughter had the same experience.

“From a young age, my mom made sure to instill not only a deep seeded intellectual curiosity within my siblings and me, but also a deep respect for the privilege of education,” said Natalia. “I was always told if I studied very hard and applied myself, Ursuline would be in my future.”

Natalia’s dream came true when she was accepted into Ursuline; however, she needed financial assistance. She was matched with a memorial fund scholarship in remembrance of Judith Browne Huff ’58, and not only went on to participate in dozens of theatrical performances, but also felt challenged to be a better version of herself – both academically and personally.

“Thanks to my scholarship, I was able to graduate Ursuline Academy Summa Cum Laude and go on to attend Boston College on a full ride,” Natalia said. “Attending Ursuline gave me a real sense of confidence in my abilities during my formative years. By the time I got to college, I was not easily shaken by discriminating rhetoric or societal standards.”

At Boston College, Natalia double majored in Finance and Marketing and minored in Chinese Language and Asian Studies. After taking Mandarin at Ursuline and falling in love with the culture, she knew it would also be a valuable skillset in the business world. She even immersed herself in the culture and history by studying in Beijing for six months during college.

Currently, she works as an Investment Manager at Clout Capital – a Series A, LatAm focused, tech-centric, $60M Venture Capital fund based in Miami, Florida.

“My day-to-day work in Venture Capital includes engaging with passionate and driven entrepreneurs that are seeking to advance Latin America through the use of technology,” she said. “I am especially motivated by the opportunity to invest in EdTech. Education changed my life, and I want to pay this forward by empowering education in Latin America.”

“I love my job, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the education I received at Ursuline Academy was pivotal in achieving my current career.”

Serviam also remains a big part of her life, as she is a mentor to minorities, young students, and female founders through various organizations including IVY Fellows, WeInvest, Boston College, and other channels in her role as a venture capitalist.

When she was very young, Dr. Miranda Colletta Horton ’07 lost her father. “My family, of course, went through some hard times after that,” she said. But Miranda remembers The Catholic community’s warm embrace, and consistent efforts to assist her family. “Because of their support, I was inspired to dedicate my life to helping others.”

Miranda was the recipient of a scholarship to Ursuline Academy, where she grew into a more confident, determined, and authentic version of herself. Again, she felt the support of those around her: “What really made my experience at UA was the community of people, my classmates, and the teachers. The environment was loving, kind, and supportive. I felt free to be myself.”

She specifically remembered her senior year homeroom teacher’s loving care. “She had a lot of belief in me that I didn’t necessarily have in myself, which was definitely helpful and needed as I was applying to college at that time.”

Miranda says Ursuline’s motto of Servaim further inspired her to choose a career in which her service to others would help them live longer, healthier lives. “Ursuline also prepared me to be a leader,” she recalled. “With the combination of those two, medicine felt right for me.”

Ursuline’s rigorous academics, while challenging at the time, made Miranda feel ready for future studies. “The hard work I had to do at UA helped me in undergrad, which ultimately helped me make it through medical school. I am also grateful for Rhonda Bush and Susan Bauer for making chemistry and calculus fun. I actually went on to get a 100% in my freshman year chemistry course in undergrad, for which I fully credit Mrs. Bush for giving me the knowledge to do that. I eventually TA’d for that chemistry professor during my junior and senior years.”

But science classes weren’t the only experiences that left an impact: “I also remember Pat Mendina in my AP English classes. She was fantastic. I loved her approach to teaching. I specifically remember her saying ‘if you can’t make your point in two pages, you can’t make it at all.’ That stuck with me, and I have definitely carried that attitude with me.”

After UA, Miranda attended undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin, studying Biology through the Dean’s Scholars Program. She then attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. Miranda completed her residency in Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) this year and currently works at a practice outside of Atlanta, GA.

“My experience at UA was overwhelmingly positive. Without a scholarship, I simply would not have been able to attend. Receiving a scholarship meant that I had access to all of the opportunities that led me to where I am today.”

Ursuline is very grateful to Mardi Gras 2021 co-chairs Stephanie Staubach Phillips ’87 and Amy Staubach Mentgen ’95 for their leadership in this extraordinary year, with special thanks to the many volunteers who make this event possible.

How Ursuline Scholarships are Funded

Providing scholarship funds for Ursuline students is a key priority for The Campaign for Ursuline. Fundraising goals include $4M for Endowed Scholarships and $4.6M in Non-Endowed Scholarships

Scholarship Awards

= Endowment Distribution + Annual Non-Endowed Gifts

Annual Non-Endowed Gifts

= Scholarship Gifts + Proceeds from Mardi Gras Gala

Average Annual Distribution

Needed from Endowment

4%

Total Financial Assistance Awarded in 2020-2021 $1,443,000

192 Students 23% of Student Body

More than 4400 young women have received scholarships from Ursuline over the past 25+ years, thanks to the support of generous donors. During that time frame, Ursuline has provided at least 50% of demonstrated need for financial

assistance.

“Simply Amazing!”

Employee Legacy Scholarship achieves 100% participation for sixth straight year

At the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, faculty and staff were asked to participate in the annual Employee Giving effort. History Teacher and Head Swim Coach Jeff Girard stepped up this year as faculty lead of the committee – his first time in the position – and “led with such finesse, kindness, compassion, and intelligence,” said Director of Development Michele Snyder.

Within six days of launching the employee campaign, 97% of the UA faculty and staff had donated, continuing traditional support of the Employee Legacy Scholarship Endowment, and stretching their giving to Capital Improvements.

“The committee, in my opinion, is responsible to fire up the faculty and then… the faculty does the rest,” said Jeff. “97% in 6 days?! That is what makes the UA community so amazing. 100% only a few days later!? That is what I wanted to help make a reality. It’s simply amazing what we can all do when we really care about something!”

“Being part of an employee community that supports an employee-driven endowed scholarship, allowing for a student to attend UA who would not otherwise be able to, is a deeply profound experience,” Michele added.

“Working with and getting to know the students is my favorite part of being at Ursuline,” she continued. “And then, to go beyond that and have the opportunity to be a part of something even bigger – the creation of a legacy – one that gives now and will also continue to give long after I’m gone – is something that inspires me.”

A Timeline of Ursuline’s East Campus

Ursuline purchased 5+ acres with a residence and swimming pool from the Sailer Family. Eight Ursuline Sisters moved into the home, renamed St. Joseph’s Hall, which also housed guest rooms, a sewing room, piano lessons, and Sister Mary Frances Judge’s Art Studio.

1963

1974-76

New convent under construction in 1974.

Note the pool.

1974

Ursuline Sisters moved into the new convent. St. Joe’s served as guest quarters for Ursuline community members until 1980. Ursuline Swimming intramurals took place in the pool on the property; St. Joe’s housed the Humanities Department Classes.

1977

Volunteers including the Alumnae Association and the Board of Trustees held their meetings in the former Formal Living Room.

“True daughters of St. Angela, the Ursuline Sisters of Dallas have always had the ability to anticipate needs and embrace change. Today, as we look back on the rich heritage of this campus in Dallas, we look forward to what will soon be one of the most significant enhancement projects in Ursuline history.”

Gretchen Z. Kane

President, Ursuline Academy of Dallas

The President’s Office was moved to St. Joe’s as well as other staff positions including Development and Alumnae offices and some student organizations.

1980

Rendering of the future East Campus.

December 2019

2006

The Sisters vacated the convent, renamed St. Ursula Hall, and took up residence in private apartments and assisted living communities. The space is used for volunteers, large gatherings, and archival storage. Renovations begin on Beatrice M. Haggerty Library to make room for the President’s Office and Development, Alumnae, and Communications offices.

March

2020

St. Joe’s is vacated to make room for the East Campus expansion.

Distinguished Alumna Dr. Tia Tortoriello Raymond ’88

The Distinguished Alumna Award honors an alumna who, through her service, leadership and achievements has distinguished herself to Ursuline, their community or their profession. The alumna should be a recognized leader within her chosen field and should reflect the Christian ideals, standards, and objectives of Ursuline Academy.

Dr. Tia Raymond is a board-certified pediatric cardiac intensivist who primarily treats pediatric patients who have congenital or acquired heart disease.

After graduating from Ursuline in 1988, Tia attended Pepperdine University and then graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1996. She completed her pediatrics residency at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and her pediatric cardiology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. She focuses on treating children before and after heart surgery and has a dedicated mission to obtain the best possible outcomes in pediatric cardiac critical care. Dr. Raymond has worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas for the last 12 years. She has been recognized for the last three years as one of the Best Pediatric Specialists in Dallas for Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Critical Care by D Magazine.

She has served as a volunteer and Chair on multiples committees for the American Heart Association, the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, and various committees for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care. She is currently the Co-Chair for the development of the American Heart Association 2020 Pediatric Advanced Life Support Guidelines which focus on how lay providers and health care providers resuscitate children from cardiac arrest. She has authored four textbook chapters, and published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in internationally renowned journals and presented at national and international conferences. Her research interests center on pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest, cardiac intensive care, and quality improvement.

Dr. Raymond has been married to her husband Colin for 16 years, and they have two sons, Jackson and Aidan.

Serviam Alumna Award Cecilia Ackels Martin ’84

The Serviam Alumna Award honors an alumna who embodies the Serviam volunteer spirit of Ursuline Academy. Through her spirit, service, and quality of life, she exemplifies the Christian ideals of her Ursuline education.

Cecilia Ackles Martin is the youngest of 10 children of Isabel and Lawrence Ackels. She attended St. Monica Catholic School where she began her life of service on Student Government. She continued serving her school at Ursuline on the Intramurals Committee all four years and as Junior Class Vice President and then Student Body Vice President. She was member of the National Honor Society and performed many hours of community service at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. She attended Spring Hill College where she served as the Junior Class President and Student Government President her Senior year. She was also selected as the Campus Mardi Gras Queen in 1984. Cecilia graduated from Spring Hill College magna cum laude and received the Andrea LaPointe Service Award. She was named Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and Outstanding Young Women of America.

Following college, Cecilia attended Southern Methodist University School of Law where she was the school Mock Trial Champion, Texas Young Lawyers Mock Trial Semi-Finalist, and member of the National Moot Court Team. She received the American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Advocacy and was selected to the National Order of the Barristers. Cecilia began her career as a trial attorney at the Dallas Office of the international firm of Baker & McKenzie, then the world’s largest law firm. While representing clients in several courts including the U.S. Supreme Court, Cecilia maintained her love of service, twice receiving the Dallas Bar Association’s ProBono Award and volunteering as a Mock Trail Instructor and Coach for SMU.

After retiring from Baker & McKenzie as the firm’s first woman to be selected as a National Partner in the Texas offices, Cecilia focused her time on raising her six children. Since 2000, she has volunteered thousands of hours of service to her church, her children’s schools, and the Dallas community at large. Her desire to spread the Serviam spirit is evident in her volunteer leadership creating the St. Monica school-wide service initiative for the North Texas Food Bank, forming the annual 8th Grade Service Day at Feed My Starving Children, organizing multiple service projects for Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and many others.

Cecilia returned to work in 2016, as a licensing specialist at Addison Law Firm and continues to volunteer for many organizations and charities each year.

Young Alumna Award Erin O’Malley Gleim ’10

The Young Alumna Award honors an alumna who graduated in the last fifteen years who, through her service, leadership, and achievements, has made outstanding commitments within her community and profession.

Erin O’Malley Gleim is an attorney and advocate specializing in civil rights and access to healthcare and healthy living. She works with communities across the country to write better laws and policies to build health, wealth, and power for people who have been marginalized.

Erin also serves on the boards of directors of two nonprofits. Project Commotion is a bilingual community space and preschool where children of all abilities can grow together. Integrated Community Services partners with people with disabilities on their path to independence.

While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Erin’s heart and lungs began to fail as a result of a rare congenital condition, and she had to leave school to seek treatment. After making a miraculous recovery, she returned to UT with a mission: make sure no other student with illness or disability lacks access to campus resources. She approached President Bill Powers with plans to make the university more accessible and was the first student ever appointed to UT’s Presidential ADA Accessibility Committee. She also started a Disabilities Inclusion Agency Action Committee before graduating cum laude with a degree in political communications.

Erin’s own health crisis inspired her to pursue a law degree and to specialize in health and civil rights law. Erin earned her law degree at St. Louis University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and was chosen by the faculty as the number one student in the top-ranked health law program in the United States. She also worked as an advocate and health law consultant to the Missouri Legislature to eliminate barriers to health care access.

While in law school, Erin also clerked at the Missouri Commission on Human Rights on cases relating to race, gender, and disability-based discrimination. Because of this, she was honored with a scholarship from the Women Lawyer’s Association of Greater St. Louis for advancing the status of women in society. She also was a faculty research fellow for two internationally-recognized health law scholars.

Erin completed a legal fellowship in constitutional and public health law at ChangeLab Solutions, a health equity-focused policy non-profit. She has published multiple research reports as both a lead and contributing author.

As a student at Ursuline, Erin was co-editor-in-chief of the Bear Facts, founding member of the Junior World Affairs Council, singer in the Jazz Choir, and member of the crew team.