“Should the Ursuline Convent of Dallas ever become anything, those who come after us may well say, ‘This is the Work of God!’”
– The Annals of the Dallas Ursulines, 1875
8 Student Voices
On Campus 40 Living Serviam
The Ursuline Spirit
High Notes
Alumnae Day
Albums
Bears’ Buzz
Class of 2024
On Campus
Meet our newest group of graduates, hear from them about their time as students, and learn about their next journeys.
Career Day, Science Department’s Curiosity Hooks, Pillars of Excellence in Teaching, and Athletic accomplishments!
Honoring the Past, Transforming the Future.
Ursuline turns 150! See photos of our beloved school from “then and now” and read about the various ways this monumental milestone was celebrated.
High Notes
Highlighting recent accomplishments of alumnae, students, faculty, and staff.
ON THE COVER
Ursuline featured this Sesquicentennial logo during the 2023-24 school year.
URSULINE
PRESIDENT Gretchen Z. Kane gkane@ursulinedallas.org
PRINCIPAL Andrea Shurley, Ed.D. ashurley@ursulinedallas.org
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Mimi Bishop Bason Chief Development Officer mbason@ursulinedallas.org
ALUMNAE OFFICE Claire Blanshard Webb ’97 Director of Alumnae Relations cwebb@ursulinedallas.org COMMUNICATIONS
ursulinedallas.org
Andrea Shurley, Ed.D., has been selected the next President of Ursuline Academy of Dallas, effective July 1, 2024. The naming of Dr. Shurley as the eighth President of Ursuline Academy culminates a comprehensive selection process for a successor to President Gretchen Kane.
“For nearly a decade, Andrea Shurley’s leadership has been essential to the successful innovations and growth at Ursuline Academy, assuring excellence in academics, student well-being, and faculty and staff development,” said Jon Piot, Chair, Ursuline Academy of Dallas Board of Trustees. “Our community is truly blessed that her dedication and passionate commitment to the Catholic Ursuline core values and allgirls education will energize her vital new efforts to lead Ursuline.”
A highly accomplished Catholic educator, Dr. Shurley joined Ursuline as Principal in 2014, having served eleven impactful years in teaching and administration with the Schools of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, California, including a transformative tenure as Head of School, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School. Prior to her work in education, she built a successful technology career first in Austin and then in Silicon Valley.
“Ursuline’s mission and values, the overarching commitment to Serviam, and the opportunity to continue building on the history and promise of Ursuline call me in many ways,” Dr. Shurley said.
“It is humbling and fulfilling to see these wonderful young women come through our doors as young freshmen and leave us as graduates, ready to lead as women of faith.”
“Our team of educators is devoted and focused on excellence. The extended community, parents, alumnae, and engaged partners, help us remain focused in sustaining our heritage and identity as a Catholic, Ursuline school,” Dr. Shurley continued, “And the Ursuline Sisters are the soul of what we do. We see their gifts and legacies in our daily lives and in the spirit of St. Angela that fills our hearts.”
Andrea Shurley received her BA in English at The University of Texas at Austin, earned her MA in English at Texas State University - San Marcos, and completed her Doctor of Education degree in Catholic Educational Leadership at University of San Francisco. She is a graduate of Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic school in Houston.
“I love being part of this school community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the transformative growth and development of Ursuline.”
Molly Nickols
University of Notre Dame, Computational Biology
The Class of 2024 has logged many unique experiences for the Ursuline history books: starting our freshman year during a pandemic, driving to the middle of a desert to film our intramural video, creating an Instagram account documenting the progress of our hallway committee, and, of course, graduating during Ursuline’s sesquicentennial year. But today, I’d like to highlight a less glamorous, but perhaps equally valuable shared experience of the Class of 2024: learning to navigate the chaos of an Ursuline fire drill.
While sitting in unfamiliar classrooms for our first day of in-person learning, the earsplitting fire alarm broke the calm, and green fobs flew left and right as we surged out of classrooms and towards the exits. Once outside, we frantically scrambled across the front lawn, concerned eyes scanning the crowd for the friendly face of an advisor and a place to stand silently in line. And adding to the chaos, the Ursula cohort, the half of the grade still at home, looked on through the class hubs, perplexed as they watched their classrooms empty and listened to the siren drone on from a computer screen. But, with time and practice, fire drills became second nature, and sometimes even a welcome change of pace.
We don’t need a prophet to tell us that additional chaos lies in the future, chaos more complicated and difficult to manage than fire drills. But this premonition does not have to come with dreadful anticipation, because our time at Ursuline has taught us to be resilient, to embrace challenges, to navigate chaos with grace. Equipped with this fortitude, this ability to weather a storm, please, let’s welcome a little chaos as we go out into the world, because sometimes we need to capsize in order to wash up on an unfamiliar new shore that introduces us to fresh interests, passions, and purposes… In tackling the whirlwind of Ursuline, we have stumbled upon indispensable values and a sisterhood that will last long after our final curtsy. So, Class of 2024, set sail into the tempest; embrace the storm and welcome new destinations.
Madeline White
University of Notre Dame, Accounting and Finance
Today is a truly special day, as we celebrate not only our own achievements but also a significant milestone in Ursuline history. In case you haven’t heard, our class is graduating in the 150th year of this esteemed institution. 150 years of tradition, excellence, and spirit.
From the first group of students in 1874 to today, so many graduates have walked these halls, worn the plaid, and carried the torch of Serviam into the world.
As we celebrate the rich history of our beloved school, let us not overlook our own accomplishments. We are 228 young women, we are composed of singers, dancers, athletes, scholars, and more, but most importantly, we are servants. Over these past four years, we have grown through triumph, grown through failure, but most importantly, grown through solidarity. Today, we stand before you, all 228 of us, and speak together with one voice.
The past four years have flown by, filled with highs and lows, and countless moments in-between. We’ve learned that success is not solely about grades, performance on the field, or superlatives, but about personal and spiritual growth and the connections we’ve made throughout our community and beyond. It’s about those late-night McDonald’s door dash deliveries during community days. After all, nothing says solidarity like sharing a McFlurry at midnight.
As we stand on the brink of our futures, let us remember the solidarity that we found with every setback. And never forget every win, no matter how small, is worth celebrating. While we may never be able to dance on the tables in Fox, hopefully it is memories like this we will always hold dear.
To the Class of 2024, thank you for all the incredible memories, laughter, and joy. We’ve faced every obstacle head-on and emerged more resilient, compassionate, and prepared to take on what is in store for us. We’ve built friendships that will last a lifetime and created a community that feels like family. As we leave these halls, let’s remember that we are never alone. We are Ursuline sisters, forever connected by the experiences we’ve shared.
The Sister Emmanuel Shea Award was presented this year to Elizabeth Jiede and Danielle O’Sullivan. This award, sponsored by the Ursuline Alumnae Association, is given in honor of beloved Sister Emmanuel Shea for her years of service to the Alumnae Association. The graduates chosen to receive this award have served Ursuline willingly and generously. The most outstanding characteristic of their service has been the joy with which it has always been completed.
Elizabeth Jiede, Baylor University
Elizabeth is described as “so warm and kind, willing to help when needed, is super reliable, kind toward others, sees the best in people, and always completes her duties with joy.”
One teacher remarked, “When I first met this student, I had to ask others who already knew her if she was real, because surely no teenager can always be that kind and compassionate in real life. Over the years I have seen her accept anyone and everyone, and I have never heard her make an unkind remark. In fact, she has consistently taken the initiative to be welcoming and is a leader among her peers in this regard.”
Another teacher also shared this observation: “If you ask anyone if there is even one negative thing to say about this Ursuline student, they won’t...because they can’t.”
Her kindness and good nature have been on full display every day of her four years at Ursuline, “She is welcoming, funny, gracious, thoughtful, and she generously shares her considerable talent in our theater program bringing varied characters to vibrant life – even….as a teapot.”
Danielle is described as someone who “gives of herself without fanfare, cares for others, and is a genuinely wonderful person. She always exudes Serviam in a quiet and compassionate way. I can think of few others as deserving of this award as this young woman. This Ursuline senior is friendly and kind, and the hallways will feel different next year without her gentle smile.”
A member of the Global Advisory Council, “she has represented Ursuline on international delegations and hosted visiting students. She has been a member of the GAC Leadership Board for two years and, based on her community service and her passion for equal access to education for all, she was recently named as one of Dallas’ Top 20 Global Young Leaders under 20 by the World Affairs Council of Dallas Ft. Worth.”
For all her accomplishments, we admire most her gentle nature, her warm and welcoming spirit, and her desire to make the world a better place.
212 with honors (Total Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude)
$42M+ in merit-based scholarships
1 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist
12 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended
1 National African American Recognition Award
15 National Hispanic Recognition Awards
Meredith Hazzard received the Sedes Sapientiae Award for the Class of 2024. The highest award presented by the faculty, staff, and administration of The Academy; the Sedes Sapientiae Award takes its name from the Latin phrase meaning “Seat of Wisdom.”
This award is presented by the faculty and administration to the graduate who exemplifies in an outstanding way the core values of Ursuline. The recipient contributes greatly to Ursuline through her optimism, compassion, and strength of character.
Meredith is described as “a strong, positive presence in the classroom and everywhere she goes. She is reliable and hardworking, and, as a result, has had exceptional academic success.”
She is equally as kind and warm as she is brilliant. “To a person, faculty, or classmate, anyone who knows her would describe this senior using words such as warm, humble, compassionate, kind, unassuming, diligent, and dedicated to excellence in all she does.”
She experienced setbacks in her high school years, and each time she met a challenge, she looked for what she could learn from the experience and kept going forward.
“A leader on her sports team, even when she was out of play due to an injury, she attended every practice and game to support her teammates. Selflessly, she recognized opportunities to help without having to be asked. This recognition today allows us to tell her that we have seen all of this and admire her greatly.”
“An altar server and leader on student council, she never loses sight of her classmates and is a trusted peer and good friend to many. She is a powerful addition to any classroom, and she is the kind of person for whom teammates cheer wildly when she is invited, although on the injured list, to take the field for the first kick of senior night.”
She will be attending The University of Texas at Austin this fall.
In any given year, Ursuline’s Theater Department puts on three to four productions. Each production has costume, makeup, and set crews that work together to create the overall look of the show in tandem with the director and choreographer. The costume crew creates at least one costume for every member of the cast.
For this year’s Spring Musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Mary Borkowski ’24 was the creative behind Belle’s iconic yellow dress. This is Mary’s seventh production working on costumes. She was also the Costume Chief for the Fall Play, Noises Off
“I’m so grateful for my time on the Ursuline costume crew,” said Mary. “I love being able to do the thing I love. It’s been a great opportunity to gain sewing experience and design experience. I definitely learned how to work under pressure, too.”
Beauty and the Beast is a particularly unique show to costume, requiring more creativity as the crew fabricates and builds distinctive costumes, like lifesized cups, feather dusters, and silverware crowns.
Mary spent over 30 hours building Belle’s yellow ball gown, looking to 1850s dress trends for inspiration and sewing techniques. After coming up with her vision and sketching a rendering of the dress, Mary got to work. The dress required ten yards of fabric.
Performing Arts teacher Whitney Coulter, who oversees the costume crew, and teaches Introduction to Costuming, a semester elective where students learn the process of designing and sewing costumes, is impressed with Mary’s artistry and passion.
“Her confidence as a seamstress and artist has grown exponentially since she took my Intro to Costuming class her sophomore year,” said Coulter. “She has stepped up as a leader, excelling as Editor-in-Chief for the ESSE | Literary Magazine, Lieutenant and Clarinet Section Leader in Band, and Costume Crew Chief for Beauty and the Beast.”
Amelia Mappus ’24, who plays Belle, is astounded at all of Mary’s costume creations, but especially her quintessential Beauty and the Beast yellow ball gown.
“It reminds me of the teamwork needed to put on these shows,” said Amelia. “Mary and the rest of the Ursuline costume crew have been so supportive, and their creativity and hard work has truly inspired me to put everything I have on the stage.”
Mary sews many of her own everyday clothes, and in 2021, won second place in a Recycled Fashion Show at the Perot Museum with a top that was sewed from protective face masks.
“I’m still impressed I pulled that off since I only had a few months of sewing experience at the time,” she said.
Next year, Mary plans to continue her fashion education, with the goal to one day work in high fashion. Her dream is to work in an atelier sewing haute couture gowns. Mary will attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this fall.
by Amelia Rowes ’25, Communications
“I love the physical process of making a dress by hand”
– Mary Borkowski ’24
By: Lauren Zulick ’25,
Ursuline students and employees were treated to a special viewing of the totality of a solar eclipse in Dallas on April 8, 2024. The much-anticipated eclipse brought many visitors to Dallas, and the Ursuline school community was lucky to share in this breathtaking experience together on campus.
Before Eclipse Day, the Science Department taught eclipsespecific lessons:
• Physics: The Motion of the Heavens: How Can There Be Different Kinds of Eclipses?
• Chemistry: The Chemistry of the Sun: What Makes the Sun Shine?
• Biology: Darkness in the Day: How Do Diurnal Animals Respond to the Change in Light During an Eclipse?
“Our Eclipse Team did a great job planning a special lesson for the Science Department to teach,” said Science Department Chair Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak. “Each teacher added something wonderful in every class. It is a true blessing to have the incredible students we have and to work with such amazing people across the whole school.”
Thanks to a special schedule, students were able to gather at 1:30 p.m. to begin viewing the eclipse with special Sesquicentennial-branded glasses. As the moon positioned itself between the earth and the sun, students were excited to see what totality would bring.
Eventually, a twilight-like shade fell over Ursuline and from 1:40 – 1:44 p.m., the school community cheered in awe as the moon completely covered the sun in totality. Viewers were fascinated by the darkness and delighted in the splendor of the event.
“The eclipse was the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen,” said Liliana Toudouze ’25. “I didn’t expect it to be that dark!”
Finally, as the eclipse ended, students were subject to a natural phenomenon: the diamond ring stage of the eclipse, creating a bright, sharp display of light and making a lasting impression on students.
“The diamond ring stage was my favorite,” said Helena Ninos ’25. “It was so bright!”
After the eclipse concluded, students were given the opportunity to attend an informational session on the eclipse by the Science Department and reflect on their experiences.
“It was a true joy to celebrate this rare event as a community,” said Lindsay-Hudak. “I am thrilled that the school was as excited as the Science Department to make the viewing as special an event as possible.”
More than a celestial event, the 2024 eclipse was a transformative experience that left Ursuline viewers in awe and wonder – reminding us of the beauty and majesty that lie beyond our earth.
by Reese Walsh ’25,
array of student clubs mirrors the diverse interests among its 800+ students. Any student can suggest a new club, subject to review by an eightmember student committee. Clubs are grouped into five categories: Academic, Social Awareness, School Organization, Recreational, and Service.
Some of this year’s newest additions were The Illusionistas, catering to aspiring magicians, and Bears Educate to Serve, committed to educating students on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their alignment with Catholic Social Justice principles.
92 student clubs at Ursuline
12 new clubs for the 20232024 school year
24 service clubs
Kate Walsh ‘25 enrolled in a creative writing class her sophomore year at Ursuline, with no idea how the art would touch her heart and ignite a passion within her.
“Creative writing is a beautiful way for people to express themselves through the written word like with poems and short stories, and my class was such a joyful and supportive atmosphere,” she said. “After the class ended, I wanted to join a club where I could enjoy creative writing with others, but there wasn’t one like that at Ursuline yet.”
So, with her newfound appreciation for creative writing, Kate banded together with some of her classmates and started the club, Wild Tangents.
“Our goal is to build a creative writing community at Ursuline through fun meetings where girls can come together in a relaxed space and write,” she said. “We provide prompts to inspire, snacks to fuel, and promote collaboration between writers during our meetings.”
Wild Tangents has 60+ members and meets twice a semester. Recently, the club welcomed guest speaker, author, and former Ursuline English teacher Kyle Lee. He provided helpful tips on getting work published.
Mary Peterson ‘25 spent a few afternoons a month volunteering at a homeless shelter in Dallas when she was in middle school. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the shelter closed for good and left Mary wondering about the fate of those she used to help.
“Hearing the stories of the people at the shelter deeply moved me, and it prompted me to take action to support Dallas’ homeless community,” she said.
As a freshman at Ursuline, she saw the change and impact Ursuline’s robust club program was making on the DFW metroplex and her experiences volunteering at the homeless shelter sparked the idea for Kits for Hope.
Founded in the Fall of 2022, Kits for Hope assembles kits for women and children containing feminine hygiene products, diapers, notebooks, pens, candy, and toys.
“Our mission is to extend compassion and support to those experiencing homelessness, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs addressed with dignity and respect,” she said. “Through collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication, we strive to create positive change within the homeless community of Dallas and beyond.”
The club now has more than 290 members who have produced and donated 500+ kits since its inception to local Dallas Shelters like After 8 and Genesis Women’s Shelter.
Stephania Cruz ’25 was inspired by her Colombian roots to establish Goodies for Colombia, a club that assembles goody bags containing colored pencils, journals, rosaries, and toys to be enjoyed by the children at a school in Cali, Colombia, La Instutacion Educativa Nuestra Señora de la Candelariam, where her uncle works.
“I wanted to establish a connection between my community in Colombia and my community at Ursuline, providing fun service hours for Ursuline students while bringing smiles to the kids in Colombia!” she said.
The club, established in 2023, now has 60+ members and meets 3-4 times a semester to pack goody bags and write notecards.
Kennedy Jenkins ’26, aspiring veterinarian, reviews the x-rays of a cat that broke its leg.
Career Day is the longest-running volunteer opportunity for alumnae to engage directly with the students. This year’s Career Day featured more than 70 alumnae and other professional women presenting to the students in classrooms about their education, careers, and daily life.
Beginning next year, Ursuline will offer two Career Symposiums annually, one in each semester. Each symposium will consist of two separate panel discussions featuring 4-6 professional women, focused on two different industries – think business, healthcare, law, technology, design, etc. Produced by a student-led committee, these hour-long symposiums will provide students with insights and information on multiple careers within an industry, as well as how professionals interact with others in the same industry.
For students looking for hands-on experience in a field, rising seniors are given the opportunity to partake in a student internship during the summer before senior year. These 60-hour internships provide solid training for Ursuline students to further develop their skills and interests before applying to colleges, many of which require the students to apply to a specific college and major. If you are interested in hosting a summer intern, please reach out to Jenn Kim Wilson ’91 at jwilson@ursulinedallas.org.
Ursuline launched a mentorship program in Fall 2023 designed to match collegebound graduates with alumnae willing to give advice on majors, changing majors, careers, career paths, overall life advice, and everything in between. This first year, we placed 22 college students with mentors. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please visit www.ursulinedallas.org/mentorshipprogram.
Students hear from Kelly Bach Soll ’05, about her experience as a TV show editor on The Bachelor franchise series, Yellowstone, and many others.
Lauren Albert Sand ’07 speaks to a room full of students about being a full-time neurosurgeon at Methodist Hospital and mom to her 1-, 3-, and 5-year-old children.
The Ursuline Science program is designed to build connections, taking a thematic approach which uses “Curiosity Hooks” in each unit.
Putting Physics first allows students to explore the fundamental laws that then allow them to understand molecular interactions in Sophomore Chemistry, which are the heart of the biological systems they study in Junior Biology.
Each course connects directly to the previous one, building on the foundational concepts, including a deeper understanding of the nature of science.
“Students are seeing more connections and retaining more from year to year in terms of a big picture understanding,” said Science Department Chair Kirsten Lindsay-Hudak.
“We also have more students who want to take science classes and more students loving classes they had only ‘survived’ in past years.”
The “Curiosity Hooks” allow for students to connect to familiar, real-world examples as an immediate way to begin understanding complex, and sometimes challenging, concepts from the very beginning of their science journey. Additionally, this familiarity allows students to better visualize how science uses math as a language to describe natural relationships.
“Students explore physics in the world around them with things that they can see and do. As we spark their curiosity, they explore concepts such as motion, forces, potential and kinetic energy, and total energy,” said Physics teacher Cassie Deaver.
In Deaver’s classes, some of these thematic hooks look like:
Sports: Why do things move?
Race Cars: What happens when velocity changes?
Amusement Parks: What happens when gravity is the only force acting on an object?
“The idea is to start with something they can relate to, then ask questions that facilitate curiosity,” she said. “In the Waves unit, we chose the theme, ‘Music & Light.’”
She began the lesson with a question: “What do music and light have in common?” (The answer being that both travel in waves.) Once the girls master the basic principles governing waves, they can dive deeper into exploring the differences and similarities in sound and light waves.
When people think of Physics class, they generally think of pages of equations. But, with the shift in the curriculum, Freshman Physics now
focuses on formulating both conceptual and mathematical solutions to different scenarios based on information given or data measured.
“There are a number of defined variables (like friction, gravity, acceleration, length, velocity) that can be used to build and understand formulas (known or unknown) to solve problems,” said Chemistry and Biology teacher Cooper Flickinger. “As the students move from Physics to Chemistry to Biology, the courses will require the use of these mathematical tools. So, building a good foundation in those skills early on is highly beneficial.”
He continued, “this further allows for success in Chemistry and Biology where
conceptual work and problems will be in higher frequency.”
Flickinger sees that the students look forward to hearing each new theme and at the end of each unit, try to guess what the entire unit will be about based on the thematic hook. More importantly, the connection of the themes throughout each class and between disciplines allows for the spiraling and repetition of fundamental concepts through different lenses creating a more sophisticated view of the world for the students.
“They seem to enjoy watching the connections between the themes and the units form as we discuss and learn more,” he said.
For example, the unit, “Dogs,” focuses on genetics. However, unlike a genetics unit in a traditional curriculum, it also includes connections to artificial selection, genetic engineering, antibiotic resistance, and disease.
“Everyone loves dogs so it’s initially exciting and relates the topics we will discuss to the real world,” he said.
“The long history of selective breeding of dogs allows us to have in-depth discussions about pedigrees, genetic lines, codominance, and much more!”
T
URSULINE ACADEMY
en years ago, Ursuline published its first Pillars of Excellence in Teaching, stemming from the question: “How can Ursuline create a way to reward its truly excellent teachers?”
A lot changes in a decade. So before the start of the 2023-2024 school year, a new group of ten dedicated teachers updated the Pillars to more accurately reflect Ursuline today.
“The Pillars of Excellence in Teaching serve as our ‘North Star;’ they define what we say we are as a community, while providing guidance for how we can achieve it,” said Director of Professional Learning and English teacher Corby Baxter.
“Ursuline’s teachers are more than just their content specialty – we are advisors, role models, spiritual leaders, and support for our students and each other,” Baxter continued. “The Pillars celebrate the vastness of our jobs and speak to the unique ways we build servant leaders for the future; they celebrate the qualities that make Ursuline educators so exceptional.”
He sees the Pillars being lived out in a variety of ways: from Monday morning professional learning, where Ursuline educators work as a community to grow their craft through collaboration, to after school events where they stay late to support their students’ extracurricular life, to the advisory program where lasting relationships are built.
“In the Pillars, we describe teaching as a vocation, and it’s that call to serve – not because we have to, but because we believe in building a community of learning – that teachers exemplify daily through their joy and dedication and craft,” he said.
Ursuline educators are passionate and are inherently called to teaching as a vocation. They support and steward the Ursuline mission of all-girls Catholic education and the students they are entrusted to form. An excellent Ursuline educator: Is an agent of the Ursuline mission and its success and curates mission-aligned learning environments.
Cultivates a space where all backgrounds and faiths are welcomed and honored within our community while nurturing the Catholic identity of Ursuline.
Strives to be a loving and consistent presence in the lives of students and colleagues, even when doing so may be difficult.
Embraces and exhibits the spirit of Serviam through involvement beyond one’s classroom teaching role and contractual duties.
Mindfully balances the different facets of life to be well-positioned to fully and professionally engage in the calling as an educator.
“As for you, live and behave in such a way that [they] may see in you a model. And what you want them to do, do it yourselves first.”
- St. Angela’s Sixth Counsel
At Ursuline, educators support students, teaching to the wholeness of the student and viewing each one as a child of God. Excellent Ursuline educators authentically enjoy establishing positive relationships with students and they:
Demonstrate a love and joy for teaching as a vocation to our students, ministering to them with kindness, compassion, and truth.
Embrace building trust, demonstrating care, and connecting with students outside of the classroom.
Recognize the various learning needs of students, celebrating the value these students bring to the community and helping them realize their learning potential.
Leverage the resources provided in the school program to support student learning and well-being.
Understand that formation of students at Ursuline involves work and time beyond the classroom, affecting schedules and teaching time to allow full engagement with Ursuline’s mission and core values.
“For the more you esteem them, the more you will love them; the more you love them, the more you will care for and watch over them.”
- St. Angela’s Prologue to the Counsels
DEVOTED TO LEARNING
Ursuline educators are learners who model openness, humility, excitement, and curiosity to students, colleagues, and the broader community. They value their own growth as a teacher and do so by continually updating curriculum and instructional practices to meet the dynamic needs of their students. An excellent educator at Ursuline: Contributes to the profession of teaching and collaborates in school-wide and extended learning communities.
Embraces and integrates current, research-based innovations and their applications in education.
Identifies and utilizes opportunities and trends in technology that enhance student learning and accessibility.
Engages in and applies reflective practices including feedback, coaching and mentoring, and goal-driven learning.
Recognizes and invites the expertise of colleagues and the perspectives of students and families.
“…And to seek and desire all the ways and means necessary to persevere and make progress to the very end. For it is not enough to begin, if one does not also persevere.”
- St. Angela’s Rule Prologue
At Ursuline, leadership is not just a concept; it’s a practice that shapes the way coaches and athletes operate.
With a distinguished roster of coaches, including many who have earned Coach of the Year titles in basketball, tennis, cross country, and soccer, Ursuline’s approach to coaching stands out.
The unique experiences and innovative coaching methods at Ursuline have cultivated a culture of well-rounded athletes. From soccer driven by student leadership to cross country with a stellar performance at State, Ursuline teams exemplify the success of this approach.
Basketball coach Nikki Nester’s coaching style is one that values hard work, dedication, and trust.
“I coach at Ursuline because I genuinely care about the girls at every level,” she said. “They make every day coming to work, all the late nights, early mornings, and weight room sessions worth it.”
She reflected on this last basketball season and has felt a shift in her mindset as a coach.
“I really only want to do what is best for my players and focus on them as people rather than girls who play basketball,” she said. “Basketball is what they do, not who they are.”
At Ursuline, soccer coach Darrin Hedges strives to bring the joy of playing the game back to players that are often burned out from the “winning at all cost” mentality.
“I must confess, I, too, had this mindset,” he said. “But, since I began working in the Catholic school system, I have been able to coach the game hard without the stress of having to win to be successful.”
He strives to be a “player’s coach,” meaning, he coaches the “X’s” and “O’s” of soccer while keeping in mind the player’s thought process and emotions throughout the year.
He attributes a culture that places value in the characteristics of being a good person and teammate to creating and maintaining a well-rounded team.
“It’s important to reward those core characteristics of Serviam, integrity, resiliency, empathy, and collaboration,” he said.
Cross country coach Becky Wade Firth ’07 hopes her athletes say she is a firm but fair coach.
“I ask a lot of my runners because we have big goals as a program,” she said. “But I also try to keep the pursuit fun enough that most will run in some capacity for the rest of their lives.”
Through coaching at Ursuline, Becky is reminded daily what a gift it is to be a
part of something bigger than herself – to work towards big goals with people she really cares about.
“Because I’ve run competitively for almost 20 years, I know how important a long-term approach is in this sport, and I try to bring that to the Ursuline program,” she said. “My goal for every runner is to help her get a little better each season, with potential left in her when she graduates, whether she’s going on to compete collegiately, is interested in running marathons, or simply wants to keep running for the joy of it.”
Volleyball coach Caitlin WernentinRobinson describes her coaching style as encouraging, team-oriented, energetic, and passionate.
Her experience as an Ursuline coach has been insightful and supportive, allowing her to get creative on how to step more into her love of coaching the game.
“Creating and maintaining a wellrounded team is a combination of factors such as respect and trust, diverse group of skillsets, clear goals and expectations, and a continuous journey of learning,” she said.
Coaching at Ursuline has been life changing for golf coach Amy Ruengmateekhun.
“I love the empowering culture Ursuline has built for our players,” she said. “The school and Athletic Director, Stefanie Hill, have been encouraging and supportive with my teachings, which has given me the strength and confidence to lead and build a successful team.”
She continues to grow not only as a coach, but as a person.
“Coaching at Ursuline has given me the opportunity to grow the game I love and share my teachings and experiences,” she said. “Everyone on my team is treated equally and everyone on the team is a contributor. Everyone knows they are a huge part of this team and will give it their all when they compete. As a coach, that’s all you can ever ask for.”
Ursuline Academy of Dallas received TAPPS Overall Champion Girls Athletics 6A for 2024. Cross Country coach Becky Wade Firth ’07 was also announced as TAPPS 6A Coach of the Year for all TAPPS.
This school year, Ursuline celebrated the following State Championships:
• Cross Country: State Champions with a spread of five seconds and with 25 points, the five best runners from all the other schools in the race would still not have won against Ursuline.
• Golf: Six State Championships in a row. Shot a team career low of 292.
• Soccer: 30th State Championship win since 1991.
• Tennis: Back-to-back State Champions.
2023-2024 Coaches of the Year for TAPPS 6A District 1:
• Basketball: Coach Nikki Nester
• Soccer: Coach Darrin Hedges
• Tennis: Coach Tridib Goswami
• Volleyball: Coach Caitlin Wernentin-Robinson
11 student-athletes signed their Letters of Intent:
• Basketball: Madelyne Davis: Houston Christian University and Kiana Mollabashy: Kenyon University
• Golf: Berkeley Bundy: Washington & Lee University and Sonia Hao: Santa Clara University
• Dance: Jamie Duda: Villanova University
• Lacrosse: Reagan Chen: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Rowing: Kate Jarrett Dean: United States Naval Academy
• Soccer: Quetza Garza: St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Isabella Zanoni: University of Illinois, and Kate Askew: Trinity University
• Volleyball: Loren Winn: University of Connecticut
Ursuline’s Chinese program has made great strides over the past 16 years. May Shen joined the World Language Department in 2016 as the Mandarin Chinese teacher, brought in by Dr. Hua Yang, who initiated the Mandarin program in 2007. With Dr. Yang retiring, Shen was sought out to continue teaching Chinese at Ursuline.
Their paths crossed at a Chinese teacher’s professional development workshop hosted by The University of Texas at Dallas, where they discovered a personal connection: Shen’s daughter was a student at the same Chinese Sunday School where Dr. Yang served as Principal. Shen was hired at Ursuline soon after.
When Shen first arrived, the Chinese program had six levels: Mandarin 1, 2, 2 Honors, 3, 3 Honors, and 4 Honors. She took on teaching responsibilities for 4 Honors, 3, and 3 Honors, while another teacher taught 1 and 2. New to an all-girls Catholic school environment, Shen quickly found that she loved teaching her Ursuline students.
“Students who take Mandarin at Ursuline self-select to study the language,” she said. “They are motivated and willing to take on challenges – Mandarin is not an easy language to learn!”
Under Shen’s guidance, the Chinese program expanded to eight levels, now including Mandarin 4 and 5 Honors. She has used a variety of engaging learning methods, such as traditional Chinese classical poems, classic songs, and contemporary music to enhance pronunciation, intonation, and cultural understanding. This approach also empowers students to showcase their learning, as seen during a visit from the Taiwan Delegation in 2024, where students performed Chinese songs learned in class.
Shen has fostered active learning through picture and movie discussions, connecting lessons to students’ lives for relevance and enjoyment. Daily reading activities and personalized reading logs further enrich their learning experience, granting students autonomy in their learning journey.
“One thing about Ms. Shen is that she is creative,” said her former student, Frances Villar ’22. “She knows how to make a difficult subject appealing and relevant to her students. Compared to a traditional textbook/worksheet format, Ms. Shen’s teaching style not only helped me remember the Mandarin I learned for years after graduating, but also allowed me to make memories and gave me the confidence to practice speaking the language.”
When another former student, Callie LaValle ’22, thinks back to her time taking Mandarin, she fondly remembers Shen’s amazing energy and passion for her work.
“Each class, Ms. Shen brought a contagious excitement for Chinese,” said Callie. “Because Mandarin was a less taken course compared to other languages, she was deeply appreciative that each one of us chose to learn about her language and culture.”
Shen helped Callie fall in love with the Mandarin language, motivating her to study it in college and apply it to her other academic interests. At Johns Hopkins University, Callie is receiving her minor in East Asian Studies. She hopes to study abroad in Taiwan and live in Asia in the future.
“Teaching at Ursuline has been very fun,” said Shen. “It has made my teaching career meaningful, and I love teaching even more. I am very grateful to the Ursuline leadership team and colleagues for their kindness, value, and respect for their teachers, the spirit of continuous learning, care for each other, and professionalism.”
“Build community wherever you go.” – St. Angela Merici, Fifth Counsel
The student Community & Inclusion (C&I) Leadership Team plays an active role in making “unity” a lived reality at Ursuline. The team introduced its “Unity in Community” concept in 2021, and its members continue to work today to foster unity.
“They engage with each other through informal conversations, monthly meetings, and by facilitating conversations around a topic related to the rich tapestry of humanity,” said Director of Community & Inclusion Estela Ayala. “Students get to share their voices, learn from each other, and collaborate with other clubs at Ursuline – all with the goal of fostering an inclusive community.”
Students from the C&I leadership team answer:
What does “Unity in Community” mean to you?
For Lauren Satcher ’24, “unity” has always held an essential place in her heart.
“Standing at the world’s entrance as a senior in high school, I’ve come to understand that ‘Unity in Community’ goes beyond the simple belief of ‘people coming together,’” she said. “It’s about a group of unique leaders coming together for a purpose greater than themselves.”
To Lauren, a leader isn’t just one who leads the crowd, but one who is always committed to growing – someone who works out of love, servitude, and grace, ensuring everyone has a voice while still being confident in standing up for their values.
What is your vision for a community where you feel unity?
Sameera Chiruvolu’s ’24 vision is a place that is supportive, loving, and caring. It is a place that allows everyone to share their unique thoughts and experiences in a safe space.
“I think it is important for a community to have unity because it gives people a sense of belonging and safety,” she said. “We are stronger together.”
One of Lauren’s favorite quotes is Psalms 139 because it points out that no matter how similar or different we may appear, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Why is it important to have “Unity in Community?”
“It allows for everyone in the community to put forth their best and most true selves,” said Ai-Vy Hoang ’25. “Communities are composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Unity allows us to leverage this diversity to address common challenges more effectively.”
“Unity promotes teamwork which gives a community the ability to drive development,” said Ana Meza ’25. “A united community uses the collective skills and talents of each member to drive innovation and growth.”
What has been one of your favorite community-building activities at Ursuline?
“There is nothing that brings people together quite like the Intramurals competition,” said Diya Cham ’26. “Being a part of something so big and seeing everyone come together to cheer and show their spirit while working towards winning Intramurals is something that I had not been able to experience before coming to Ursuline. Although I may lose both my hearing and my voice after all the cheering, I will never lose the memory of being able to be a part of such a beloved and unforgettable experience!”
Diya continued, “Ursuline unites all students, regardless of background, by a shared passion for service and love for our school. The acceptance and hospitality of the members of the Ursuline community have helped me feel as though I am well
supported and cared for; I have never felt as though I do not belong or that my perspective is not valued.”
Student Leadership Teams were introduced at Ursuline in 2017 to create pathways for student input, leadership, and perspective focusing on Campus Stewardship, Community and Inclusion, Student Well-being, and Unity and School Spirit
Ursuline’s mission of educating for leadership in a global society calls us to cultivate an understanding of peoples and cultures in our students. Appreciating the rich tapestry of humanity is critical in our multicultural world.
Over the years, surveys of Ursuline student delegates have told us that Ursuline’s cultural and educational exchanges have helped them grow in confidence to handle situations independently. Students also highlight the deepening of their awareness of other peoples and cultures as well as their feeling of connection to the greater Ursuline community around the world.
This past year, Ursuline delegations traveled to Brazil and Taiwan, where they were warmly welcomed and celebrated by sister schools. Summer 2024 delegations traveled to Chile, England, and Peru.
In 2023-2024, Ursuline also welcomed students from Jordan, England, Peru, Taiwan, and Chile and received faculty and administration guests from UA Delaware and Brazil, who came for some of the Sesquicentennial celebrations.
The 2024 President’s Circle Dinner was hosted on April 29 at the Thompson Dallas Hotel. The night featured the presentation of the 2024 President’s Awards to Bob Galecke, John Grimes Jr., Win Bell, Tom Merkel, and Jon Piot; all awardees have served as Board Chair during the tenure of outgoing President Gretchen Kane. Following the award presentations, the awardees each gave a lighthearted roast of Gretchen. The evening culminated with a toast, led by incoming president Andrea Shurley.
“Tonight, we gather to toast, roast, and celebrate the many forms of leadership that have been essential to the success of Ursuline’s remarkable journey over the past 12 years. First and foremost, we thank you…for your invaluable support that has made all things possible at Ursuline. We also honor five amazing volunteer leaders…each has been a mentor, an inspiration, and a guiding source of strength in navigating these extraordinary times.”
Gretchen Kane, President
“Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and for believing in our dreams for Ursuline education and the young women we serve.”
Gretchen Kane
“The last ten years have been jam-packed with goodness: our successful campaign, our transformational strategic roadmap, and our shift in focus to ensure that our students are thriving through their UA years…. And who better to lead us through all the challenges…the weather events …the health crises.
In every moment, Gretchen has guided our school with grace and love, a lively faith, and a laser focus on our mission and on our girls. She has worked to ensure the school is in a place of strength! We have amazing teachers, staff, and administrators, parents who are committed to our Ursuline, Catholic identity, and the absolute best students anyone could wish for. We all look forward to continuing along the trajectory she has set.”
Dr. Andrea Shurley, Principal
“We in fact enrolled our oldest even before we had a contract to buy a home here. It was one of the best decisions we made. And, I have had the privilege of staying connected and involved with Ursuline, these past 40 years.”
Bob Galecke, Board Chair (2011-2013)
“Gretchen’s sense of prudent irreverence, combined with uncanny smarts and a huge heart, has made an enormous impact on the community. It is most apparent when we are on campus, admiring the incredible physical transformation that has occurred during her tenure. But it is equally powerful in the small generosities that occur every day.”
John Grimes Jr., Board Chair (2013-2015 )
“Gretchen is a loyal person. Before coming here, she was President of Ursuline in New Orleans. We were able to recruit her because her board chair forgot to renew her contract. We made sure that mistake was not repeated in Dallas.”
Win Bell, Board Chair (2015-2017)
“It is no surprise that Ursuline Academy and the Ursuline community is better today than when Gretchen arrived twelve years ago. Irreplaceable as she is, I know for a fact that the path steered by Gretchen assures the future success of Ursuline.”
Tom Merkel, Board Chair (2017-2021)
For more about the 2024 President’s Circle Dinner: Read Awardee Bios
“You’ve been more than just a close friend, an incredible leader, and steward for our girls; you’ve been the heart of Ursuline and our community. Your ability to light up a room, remember the little things that matter to people…your unmatched intellect and loyalty have touched our hearts forever.”
Jon Piot, Board Chair (2021-2024)
Ursuline Academy, the oldest continuously operating school in Dallas, has been a leading force in the education of young women for more than 150 years. No school in Dallas has a richer history, more established traditions, or deeper engagement with its community. It is the support of generations of families, alumnae, community leaders, and others who believe in Catholic all-girls education that has enabled Ursuline and its students to grow and thrive, and to take leadership in serving the needs of others to build stronger communities.
Intramurals Spirit
Auditorium
Spanning the 2023-2024 school year, the celebration of Ursuline’s unique heritage was wide-ranging, filled with milestone events and extraordinary activities:
Ursuline formally launched its sesquicentennial year on September 9, 2023, with a morning ceremony to dedicate new facilities, commemorating The Campaign for Ursuline: Act, Move, Believe. The most ambitious fundraising effort in Academy history, The Campaign exceeded its $85 million goal to provide comprehensive support for all aspects of teaching and learning at Ursuline. A luncheon for donors followed the dedication, and the celebration continued that afternoon with an All-Community Party with live music, food trucks, and lawn games.
On January 27, 2024, the Ursuline Dallas community gathered for a Sesquicentennial Mass on St. Angela Merici’s Feast Day, marking the beginning of Founders Week. The Mass Celebrant, Monsignor Milam Joseph, attended Ursuline Academy when the school still had a co-ed kindergarten program. That evening, several buildings in the Dallas skyline were illuminated in red lights in honor of Ursuline.
The All-Community Sesquicentennial Mass Celebrant was Msgr. Milam Joseph, a priest of the Diocese of Dallas and Jesuit Dallas Class of 1955, who fondly recalled his earliest educational days as a kindergartner at “Old Ursuline,” which was located on Live Oak and Bryan Street in Dallas. Ursuline’s kindergarten was open to girls and boys at the time.
On February 2, 2024, Founders Day was celebrated on campus, marking the exact day when six Ursuline Sisters began teaching in Dallas in 1874. To honor the occasion, a “Legacy Team” of students and employees planned a bevy of activities.
All students and employees were gifted 150 mementos including sweatshirts, lapel pins, and party hats. An all-campus assembly featured a “Uniforms Through the Years” fashion show and a screening of the video “Celebrating 150 Years,” especially created to tell the school’s story in beautiful narrative.
The school community also took a drone-photo on the soccer field spelling out “UA150.” Students played pickleball and bounced in bounce houses. To top off the day, there was “Pizza in the Piazza” and 150-photo-topped birthday cakes with lunch!
On February 24, 2024, supporters gathered for SOIREE ROUGE!, the Sesquicentennial Gala and Mardi Gras Auction to support Ursuline scholarships. With more than 700 attending, the event was the largest in the history of Ursuline Mardi Gras.
Archivist Renee Chevallier unveiled the 1974 Time Capsule assembled by the middle school students in 1974. It contained the Student Handbook, uniform items, a yearbook, and more.
Legacy Team member Timberlynn Gayden ’25 was responsible for organizing a 2024 Time Capsule for the students of 2074, including 150th celebration class lanyards, uniform items, the most recent editions of Ursuline’s newspaper The Bear Facts, the 2023-2024 Acres yearbook, graduation materials, and a letter addressed to the future student body detailing the hope that students in 2074 are continuing the traditions of Serviam, Sisterhood, and Excellence. “Working with UA Live to show the time capsules was by far my favorite part about being on the Legacy Team,” said Timberlynn.
by Amelia Rowes ’25,
Communications Intern
Students kicked-off the Sesquicentennial & Founders Day Student Celebration on Friday, February 2, with a special UA Live broadcast to reveal a time capsule that had been buried 50 years ago by Ursuline students in 1974.
The broadcast was hosted by Ursuline students; Director of Mission & Heritage Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U.; and Head Librarian & Archivist Renee Chevallier who welcomed former Ursuline Principal Betty Bourgeois as well as seven Ursuline graduates who were students at the time of the 1974 time capsule burial: Judi Fontenot Pierre ’74, Bee Webster Dietemann ’75, Kathy Rix Hogan ’76, Nancy Leamy Bowen ’76, Nora Campos ’77, Barbara Balisteri Koeijmans ’79, and Patty Kutscher ’74.
Bourgeois oversaw the time capsule’s dedication in 1974. “The very idea of a time capsule was student driven,” she said. “I remember a great sense of celebration and joy as we gathered to bury it.”
The time capsule included a variety of items, such as the Ursuline Student Handbook for the 1973-1974 school year; uniform items like a white blouse, red cardigan, blue shorts, skirt, and jumper; The Dallas Morning News from March 15, 1974; and more.
Also within the time capsule was a letter from Ms. Bourgeois, addressed to the students of 2024: “You are among the generations yet to come, a people yet to be born. We are glad your life is given to you and are honored that you are spending some of that life at Ursuline. It is a place we know and love, a place where the Lord lives among us. Our hope tells us that there will be students yet to come – you who will enter Ursuline and will be taught to live the truth in love.”
The Legacy Team began as an idea in March 2023. Dean of Students Mandy Briones wanted to establish a way to honor Ursuline’s legacy with active “storytellers and culture carriers.” “I saw creating the Legacy Team as an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and empower students who would then go on to imagine, create, and lead,” said Briones.
Member of the team Danielle O’Sullivan ’24 wanted to join the team to help her peers develop deeper understandings of their favorite Ursuline traditions: “The reason we have all these traditions is because of Ursuline’s history… so it is important to know where [they came] from. With the history [understood], the traditions have so much more meaning.”
The team was comprised of 35 people, only eight of which were adults. The students submitted applications for a chance to be on the team, and those 27 selected guided the direction of the students’ 150th celebration.
“The best part of being on the Legacy Team was seeing Founders Day do so well with all the fun activities we planned,” said team member Mary Peterson ’25. “As a team, we met quite a few times to share ideas, and seeing them come together the day-of was amazing.”
So many faculty & staff volunteered to make the day as fun as possible for the girls. “I love working in a place where support is so prevalent!” said Briones. Founders Day 2024 is one of her happiest memories at Ursuline. “It was so rewarding to hear from so many students and adults that they loved having time to celebrate together! It was a joyful time to let go and have fun as a community!”
For Mary, the year of celebration served as an important reminder of the generations who came before her: “Strong women shaped Ursuline and continue to every day; learning about these women inspires us. Learning about our history made me feel even prouder to wear our plaid skirts every day!”
An Ursuline alumna, Rory Werner Seifer ’97, was commissioned to create a 172-page pictorial history book that uses imagery, anecdotes, quotes, and historical artifacts to take the reader on a journey from St. Angela’s time in 1534 to current day. The hardbound publication is the most comprehensive collection of Ursuline Dallas’ history and a beautiful tribute to the school’s ongoing legacy.
Copies of the limited-edition anthology are available to order through Bear Necessities: https://uabearnecessities.square.site/.
When Aimee ’90 and Paul Griffiths’ daughter, Maggie ’22, was born, Aimee decided she wanted to reconnect with Ursuline and its community because she and Paul hoped Maggie could have the Ursuline experience, too, one day.
“I’m thankful for having attended a high school with such a strong sense of community,” said Aimee. “It is an experience very few people are fortunate enough to have.”
She shared how Ursuline not only prepared her for life, but how it also prepared her for how she approached life.
“Ursuline built confidence within me I didn’t fully appreciate until years after graduation,” she said. “The spirituality, traditions, and network created deep connections which will last a lifetime. With such a foundation, I feel empowered and supported long after my time as a student.”
Serviam (“I will serve”) is a continuing theme in Aimee’s life. It is something that she and Paul always try to balance along with family, faith, and work.
“To have a full life, service has to be a part of the equation,” Aimee said. “There is a piece missing if you are not serving others. Ursuline instills the idea of service in its students from the first day of freshman year and provides countless opportunities for students to witness how it can be incorporated into their lives.”
Having attended a public high school in Canada, Paul was inspired by the supportive Ursuline community and the meaningful relationship a person can have with their high school when faith and service elements are woven into the student experience.
“Ursuline has continued to cultivate these elements and infuse this into the daily lives of its students,” he said.
Aimee recognizes how Serviam has impacted her life, thanks to the seed that was planted during her time as a student.
“It is a call to service that gives us all purpose,” said Aimee, who volunteered on Ursuline’s Alumnae Board beginning in 2007, serving as Alumnae Board President from 2009-2011. She was also employed as the Director of Alumnae Relations at Ursuline from 2012-2014.
“As an alumna, a volunteer, and employee, it was easy for me to align with the themes of faith and Serviam,” she said. “And how, from a leadership perspective, all decisions and strategy decisions are made with these in mind.”
At a certain point, Aimee and Paul also began to look at their investments in a more comprehensive way, asking themselves: “How can we use what we have to make an impact on others, beyond the time we are here on this earth?”
Keenly aware of the positive influence Ursuline has had in their lives, they decided to leave a legacy of support at Ursuline.
“We want Ursuline to continue its mission for generations to come,” they said.
“We understand that these types of gifts secure a strong future for Ursuline.”
By leaving a legacy gift, Aimee and Paul hope to show how much they value the Ursuline education and experience and encourage others to do the same.
“It is critical we all do our part to ensure Ursuline’s success and survival for future generations,” they said.
Members of the Ursuline Society gathered for a special event at the residence which housed Merici High School to hear first-hand accounts of life in the 1940s from Sr. Mary Troy, O.S.U. ’51, Trudy Veleba Smith, ’57, and Gabriella Veleba Bondy ‘53 (not shown).
Donors who have named Ursuline as a beneficiary of their estate are recognized as members of the Ursuline Society.
Charitable planned gifts, donated through wills and estates, help ensure the long-term financial stability and future growth of Ursuline Academy without affecting your day-to-day finances. For question about giving, please contact Mimi Bishop Bason, Chief Development Officer, at mbason@ursulinedallas.org or 469-232-3584.
Ursuline welcomes Christina Miller ’95 as Senior Director of Development.
“Having the opportunity to return to Ursuline to help with development and fundraising feels like a full circle moment! Ursuline had a profound impact on my life as it has for thousands of other women. I feel privileged to work on this team and play a part in helping to ensure Ursuline’s future is strong and secure.”
“URSULINE’S SISTERHOOD, FAITH, SERVIAM, AND LOVE MADE THIS EVENING POSSIBLE!”
- Mardi Gras Chairs
Maxine Kijek Sims ’82
Ashley Snider Erickson ’90
Nathalie Anderson
MORE THAN $900,000 WAS RAISED IN 2023-2024 TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH MARDI GRAS.
“I TRULY BELIEVE THIS EDUCATION HAS MADE ME THE GIRL THAT I AM. A GIRL WHO IS STRONG IN MY FAITH, WELLSPOKEN, AND CARING TO ALL. BY THIS GENEROUS DONATION, I AM ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ME!”
- Scholarship Recipient
Serviam is more than a motto at Ursuline Dallas; it is a lived practice.
Each year, a day is set aside in the spring for all faculty and staff to share in a service activity. The day ensures Ursuline employees have reserved time to live what they teach and to experience the joys of giving back.
In the 2023-2024 school year, Employee Serviam Day was held on Friday, February 16.
Service Coordinator Gabi Merani organized a project with Rise Against Hunger (RAH), an international nonprofit that aims to end hunger in “remote, last-mile communities within hunger pockets” by providing meals in medical clinics, vocational training programs, elder care facilities and schools; supporting and empowering those communities to tackle their own food and nutrition challenges; responding to emergencies; and spreading awareness.
“I have worked with RAH through my service-learning summer classes and other projects with the service learning yearlong class,” says Merani. “And we were happy to pair with them as they had the right size for our faculty and our goal seemed like it would make a great impact on so many people!”
Roughly 160 employees gathered in the Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center gymnasium, put on hairnets and gloves, and began working on a goal of packing 10,000 small meal bags (layers of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a packet of 20 vitamins and minerals) within a two-hour time frame.
With a greatest-hits playlist booming through the gym, employees worked and chatted with people from other departments, and occasional mini dance parties broke out!
In just an hour and 15 minutes, 10,152 meals had been filled, sealed, and packaged for shipping!
The efficiency of the teachers and staff blew the event organizers away. “We were so focused, collaborative, and hard-working that we amazed the RAH team with our productivity!” according to Merani.
The annual event, and its impact, is cherished by employees. Development Services Manager Coleman Rabourn says, “Employee Serviam Day is a powerful reminder that our collective impact extends beyond Ursuline. In the spirit of Serviam the faculty and staff come together to serve others selflessly, and to inspire not only the students but the entire community, bringing joy and fulfillment to all.”
The 10,152 meals were shipped to Burundi, a country in East Africa with an “alarming level of hunger,” according to The Global Hunger Index. The meals will be given to children at schools and early child development centers.
Virginia LaSala Hinkle ’01 is no stranger to Serviam. A recipient of the 2001 Gold Congressional Award, which recognizes initiative, service, and achievement in America’s youth, Virginia has given her life to helping others.
Agraduate of Baylor University, Virginia’s first job out of college was as the Assistant Volunteer Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity. She worked her way up and landed her dream job in Development there.
Coming from the nonprofit world, Virginia never expected to start her own.
But when she learned that a fellow parent at her child’s school in Southlake had contracted COVID-19 in September of 2020, Virginia reached out to help, heard about the gravity of their illness, and sprang into action.
“I rallied a group of people together and we started praying for the family and bringing them meals. Thankfully, she survived, and we threw her a welcome-home-front-door drop off when she returned home from the hospital. When I came home that night, I turned to my husband and said, ‘we may go broke, but I think we are supposed to help people who get sick in our school community.’ I’ll never forget this, but he looked at me and said ‘Well, if you think you are called to do this, then let’s do it until we can’t anymore.’”
Virginia initially enlisted the help of 10 parents, and by the end of the 2020-2021 school year, she had 86 parent volunteers who helped families, faculty, and staff and raised almost $13,000 for those in need.
The following year, Virginia and her husband, Roth, moved within the Southlake area meaning their two daughters would attend a different Carroll ISD school. Parents from Walnut Grove knew about the work she had done at Rockenbaugh Elementary and asked if she would start something for them too, knowing the need was great.
“It was a really hard year for the staff, and it was exhausting, but being able to be there for others when they
“Every good idea I have ever come up with for this organization has originated out of a time of prayer and worship. I am confident in what I am doing because I know I am called to serve and love in this capacity.”
truly needed it was very special. Staff members walked through illnesses, grief, and injuries, and we walked alongside them. Together, we were able to raise over $26,000 at just one school in just one school year.”
And so, Dragon’s Care was officially hatched!
Run entirely by parent and staff volunteers, Dragon’s Care has one of the lowest operating costs of any nonprofit.
Shifting their focus to primarily helping CISD faculty and staff, “Our hope is that by strengthening parent-staff relations, it will bring more unity within our school district and demonstrate to the CISD staff how much our community truly values them.
Additionally, it is our intention that the outpouring of community involvement and support towards the staff of Carroll ISD will increase retention and recruitment of excellent staff for the school district, an important component in providing a high-quality educational experience for the students.”
Founded in 2022, Dragon’s Care supports all teachers, staff, and School Resource Officers (SROs) of Carroll ISD (11 campuses and 3 administrative buildings) as they walk through personal hardships brought on by illness, injury, or family tragedy.
To learn more about Dragon’s Care, please visit www.dragons-care.org
According to legend, the nun seen in the window in the class picture above is actually the ghost of a nun who had died relatively soon before this picture was taken. She was very close to the Class of 1920 and they thought it only fitting to use this as their class picture, since her spirit had returned for the photograph.
Sybil Emmett Tucker ’51
I was twelve when I was enrolled at Ursuline in the eighth grade in 1946. I had been to Catholic schools in New Orleans but this was my first time in an “all-girls” Catholic school. Mother Isabelle Adams, O.S.U. ’31 enrolled me. Her kindness and friendly manner made me feel welcome. That was the beginning of my love for Ursuline.
Barbara Brooks Fairfield ’59
Mother Adelaide Thompson started the Debate Club and Clemence Romanet and I were her avid pupils. She was no-nonsense and hard driving. As a result, we began to expect to do well in competitions against other schools and boys. Learning how to think on my feet, express my views, and not back down are invaluable as I work with couples and families who need a strongminded therapist to bring out the best in them. I thank Mother Adelaide for giving me the courage to stand strong when it counts!
Sr. Karen Schwane, O.S.U. ’60
Sr. Dolores Marie Ramsey had a profound impact on my life. After our Senior Retreat she asked me what I intended to do with my life and gave me a small spiritual book to read daily. I had to set an extra alarm to rise earlier for this task. Today, I am an Ursuline Sister celebrating my 60th anniversary of Profession.
Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U, former principal Betty Bourgeois, Sr. Mary Troy ’51, O.S.U., and Sr. Glenda Bourgeois, O.S.U. attend the Sesquicentennial Mass on The Feast of St. Angela, January 27, 2024.
Grab the nearest Ursuline Sister and toast the good old days with these drink recipes, straight from the Sisters’ private collection.
Directions
Beat egg yolks with sugar until fluffy
Add bourbon slowly to the egg yolks (This "cooks" the yolks )
Whip heavy cream, then add to mixture, along with milk
Beat egg whites and add Sprinkle nutmeg over the top to taste
Directions
To follow are highlights of recent professional, volunteer, and personal accomplishments submitted by Ursuline alumnae, students, and faculty. To read more, visit www.ursulinedallas.org/highnotes.
Mary Cook Nabors Blanshard ’67 received 1st place in the State Fair of Texas Creative Arts competition for her needlepoint handbag. This is her 11th blue ribbon.
Shana DeSouza Druffner ’85 was appointed the new Diocese of Nashville Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Art by Elsa Gebreyesus ’87 was featured in an exhibit at Lydia Street Gallery in Austin, Texas. The theme of the series was “The Color of Words,” a visual representation of poems or wordsmiths that have inspired Elsa. Each painting in the series is paired with a written piece- some are even poets she first read and studied back at her time at Ursuline in the 11th and 12th grade.
Mindy Tucker Fletcher ’88 was named Interim CEO of Tri Delta Sorority.
Katie McDermott Klein ’92 has a new book release, “Penny Pescadusa: A Children’s Magical Adventure.”
Jennifer Houston Scripps ’95 is one of six new board members of Southwestern Medical Foundation.
Mariel Tam-Ray ’97 won two blue ribbons at the North Texas Fair and Rodeo in Denton for her mustang grape jelly and homegrown peach jam.
Karla Navarro Noone ’99, Founder of Style with Karla, was a guest on Good Morning Texas in January 2024. She discussed, “Unexpected Layers: stylish and innovative accessories that go beyond your conventional gloves, hats, and scarves to keep you warm and keep you looking sleek and sophisticated.”
Michelle Lee Le ’99 and her family’s State Fair of Texas booth, Eat Crispies, introduced an old family recipe that won the 2023 Big Texas Choice Winner for Best Taste Savory: Fried Pho.
Christina Helwig ’00 was named as the first female CEO of Advocare, an omnichannel health and wellness e-commerce company.
Dr. Allison Mathews ’03, Executive Director and Research Fellow in Faith and Health at Wake Forest University, was recognized with Winston Salem’s Under 40 Leadership Award. She was also the Keynote Speaker at the University of West Georgia for their Sociology Honors Program Dinner. She spoke to the students about using their life story to drive their work, setting boundaries to maintain self-care, and knowing their value when they walk into every room.
Natalie Nordseth LeVeck ’03 received the Association of Media and Entertainment Council’s 2024 Counsel of the Year Award for Technology and New Media Counsel.
Dr. Rita Saynhalath Ngai ’03 and her research team published an article in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, “Association between preoperative respiratory symptoms and perioperative respiratory adverse events in pediatric patients with positive viral testing.”
Emily Tuggle ’04 published her research article, “Effects of Gabapentin on Emergence Delirium in Pediatric Tonsillectomy/ Adenoidectomy Patients: A Post-Hoc Analysis” in the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists’ Journal.
Rubio Digital Forensics, LLC, the company Graciela “Grace” Rubio ’04 founded and manages, was recognized by Texas Lawyer as the #2 Texas-based computer forensics firm in Dallas for the fourth consecutive year!
Cristi Ramón Ochoa ’04 was confirmed as the first female Deputy Securities Officer for the Texas State Securities Board in May 2024.
Gabrielle Dizon Pruss ’09 was awarded the Texas A&M School of Dentistry Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. She was also awarded as Dallas County Dental Society’s New Dentist of the Year.
Alex Perez-Garcia ’12 was selected as a Featured Speaker for the Michigan Ross Story Lab Showcase in March 2024.
Doctor of Physical Therapy student
Kaitlin Codd ’18 was selected as the 2024 Saint Louis University Doisy College of Health Sciences Pre-commencement speaker.
Kate Murphy ’20, soccer player at Syracuse University, was featured in Daily Orange, “Kate Murphy brings consistency, balance to SU’s backline.”
Ria Shaji ’20, a senior Mathematics major at Villanova University, is a recipient of the Villanova University DFW Club Scholarship.
Miller Kerr ’21 was selected as a Texas Christian University Transfer Chancellor’s Scholar and was awarded a three-year full-tuition scholarship for undergraduate studies and study abroad. She was also featured in Cleveland Clinic’s, “CRPS Patient from Texas Returns to Pediatric Pain Rehab Program with Her Gratitude.”
Tess Hayes ’21 wrote, produced, and hosted “The Stories of Our Sisters: A Living History” podcast. This podcast is a series of one-on-one interviews with members of the Congregation of The Sisters of The Holy Cross who live on the Saint Mary’s College campus where Tess attends.
Send your professional, service, and leadership accomplishments to alumnae@ursulinedallas.org, and we’ll share in UA’s e-newsletter and on the Alumnae High Notes page www.ursulinedallas.org/highnotes.
Meredith Payne ’22, a sophomore Computer Science Major at the University of Missouri, was selected to represent Mizzou’s Computer Science program in a promotional video.
Corinne Tinker ’24 was featured in People Newspaper, “Ursuline Senior Builds Homes in Costa Rica each Thanksgiving.”
Ava Mychel Rodriguez ’24 was featured on the cover of Preston Hollow Neighbors, “My Life in 10 Dresses.”
Livia Lange ’24 was featured in Preston Hollow People, “Fashion-Forward Friends Find Way to Swap More Affordably.”
Serena Trupiano ’24 captured great images during the eclipse. It takes practice and attention to many details to make it happen. Below are four of Serena’s remarkable photos that document this event:
Crystal Cantu ’24 has been writing songs and singing throughout high school and recently celebrated her one-year anniversary of releasing songs on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, YouTube, and more. While still deciding on what college to attend, Crystal released a song titled “Undecided” in April 2024. In this track, she reflects on her childhood memories and contemplates her future.
Sara Dietsch ’24, AP Art student, was one of seven Ursuline students to have art pieces selected to be exhibited at the Dallas Young Artist Exhibition at the Blue Print Gallery in the Design District. Her piece, “Cleansing,” was selected as an Honorable Mention.
Crew teammates Christine Martin ’24, Alex Jungerman ’24, Cora Mahaney ’25, Evan McCauley ’25, and Kate JarrettDean ’24 finished first in the US Rowing Youth National Championship in Sarasota, Florida, competing in the 4+ Final C Division. This win places them at 17th in the Nation for all school and club teams.
Five students were named to the World Affairs Council 20 Under 20 Young Global Leaders of DFW: Courtney Kleinenbroich ’24, Danielle O’Sullivan ’24, Emma Morales ’24, Nika Vahadi ’24, and Shelby Lovejoy ’24. All five students are members of Ursuline’s GAC (Global Advisory Council) Leadership Board, have been very active with the Junior World Affairs Council, and have traveled and/or hosted with Ursuline. These students were recognized at an awards ceremony in May 2024, and will participate in a three-day Summer Institute in June with the World Affairs Council and their fellow honorees.
Ai-Vy Hoang ’25 was honored with Superior ratings at the TPSMEA State Vocal Competition in Fort Worth, Texas in April 2024, after qualifying at the regional contest in February 2024. Only 20% of the performers earned top scores during the day, making Ai-Vy one of the outstanding soloists at the event.
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Cora Mahaney ’25 will attend Summer Seminar at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Summer Seminar is designed for juniors who are considering the Naval Academy for college. She will also participate in the Naval Academy’s rowing camp.
Chichi Nnaji ’25 was a winner of the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s Veterans Legacy Program Student Contest, World War II: Portraits of Service Awards contest. She was named one of only ten winners.
Sophia Colbert ’25 and Amanda Robb ’25 received Ursuline Education Network (UEN) awards for their service to the community.
Sophia serves on the Teen Board for Meals on Wheels in Dallas, delivering meals to residents of Forest Green Manor, a low-income apartment complex. “These people who live not far from me became my neighbors,” she said. “This outreach deepened my understanding of St. Angela’s words to be of service to those around us.”
Amanda participates in the Rosaries for Hope Club, which provides materials to the Ursuline community for those interested in making rosaries. “We teach others how to make rosaries,” she said. “The completed rosaries are then collected and delivered to the Diocese of Dallas, where they are blessed and distributed throughout Dallas through those serving in the hospitals. Rosaries for Hope helps me bring peace and hope to others.”
“The entire walk itself was a prayer we prayed that people would protect and recognize the value of the lives of the unborn,” said Eloise. “Not only did Maddox and I march for the lives of the unborn, but we also met new friends with whom we could connect through similar beliefs.”
“The experience of marching with peers from Ursuline and Jesuit alongside individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds created a contagious and indescribable energy,” said Maddox. “The students from Ursuline and Jesuit were gifted the opportunity to lead the march of thousands where we proudly represented our Catholic schools in unity. It is something I will never forget.”
Ana Meza ’25 not only received the top score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam in May 2023, but was also one of 247 students in the world to earn every point possible, reaching the maximum score on each portion of the exam.
Ava Staton ’25, equestrian, had a very successful year.
• She competed at the Texas Rose Equestrian Horse Trials in Tyler, Texas, and placed 3rd in her division. She also competed at the Meadow Creek Equestrian Horse Trials in Kosse, Texas and placed 1st in Dressage and 3rd Overall in her division.
• She competed at the Willow Draw Equestrian Eventing Competition in October 2023 and placed second in her division. She also placed second in her Division at the Texas Rose Equestrian Competition in Tyler, Texas.
February 2024, placing First in her Training Division. Ava will move up to the Modified Level for her next competition.
• Ava and her horse, Lamondale Graciana (Gracie), placed 1st at the Tyler Texas Rose Eventing Spring Competition in the Training Division. Ava and Gracie’s competition consisted of Dressage, Stadium Jumping and Cross Country. This summer Ava will train and be a working student for Joe Myer, a former Equestrian Eventing Olympian.
Mercedes Ramirez ’25 was selected to exhibit an oil painting in Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s High School Art Competition. She was one of only 35 students chosen from over 300 submissions by Dr. Andrew Walker, Executive Director of The Amon Carter Museum of Art.
Emily Zeigfinger ’26 spent two weeks living in New York City in July where she participated in The New York Times’ Summer News Workshop. The group was led and taught by reporters, editors, and other industry experts who have an insider’s knowledge of the terrain and will guide students to out-of-the-way places and unique experiences.
attended Mass then marched through downtown Dallas with more than four thousand people.
• She received the 2023 Jan Michie “Earn Your Spurs” Award for exhibiting Horsemanship, Sportsmanship, and Teamwork with Others. She was also a North Texas Eventing Association Year End High Point Awardee.
• She competed in Altoona, Florida at the Rocking Horse II Eventing Competition in
Mercedes Porter-Via ’26 competed in the Texas Sailing Association end-of-year Regatta on Lake Ray Hubbard in the single-handed “ILCA 6” sailboat class which consisted of 10 boats from across the state.
Best wishes to the following UA employees
Valerie Oates, Director of Communications
Tammy Yung, Math teacher
Teri Uber, Executive Assistant to the President
Maria Fernandez, Facilities
Juanita Fernandez, Facilities
Rick Lancaster, Mathematics Department (not pictured)
After competing in eight races over two days, Mercedes secured 2nd place overall and closed the year in 5th place and 8th place in the “ILCA 6” class out of 47 sailors. Mercedes competes across Texas lakes and shores as part of the Texas Sailing Association Regatta Circuit.
Additionally, Mercedes was awarded the US Sailing Hanson Rescue Medal along with six other sailors by the US Sailing Committee for rescuing a windsurfer on July 16, 2021.
Finally, Mercedes was awarded the Jim Wright Leadership Award and the Best Female Sailor of the Year Award from Rush Creek Yacht Club.
Sofia Lizardi ’26 traveled to Costa Rica for a community service trip for two weeks with a group of 12 teens from across the U.S. They helped a local family renovate their home - mixing concrete, painting, measuring out wood, and laying down tiles.
Sofia also helped translate conversations and immersed herself in the culture. There were various opportunities to bond with the people in the community through cooking, playing with kids, and music. She also visited a National Park, learning about environmental awareness and protection of flora and fauna.
Ellie Schwetz ’27 performed in The Nutcracker at the Eisman Center as Dew Drop Fairy. She is part of the Elite Company at Contemporary Ballet Dallas.
Sehra Moalem ’27 organized a group of 10 Ursuline classmates to help wrap and fill shoe boxes for Soup Mobil, to be given to the homeless.
The 2024 Tehan Award was awarded to Art teacher Jocelyn Holmes. The Tehan Award was established by Hal Tehan to honor a teacher whose life and work demonstrates strong integration of the Ursuline mission.
“I cherish the relationships I cultivate with my students,” said Jocelyn. “Witnessing their artistic journeys and subsequent achievements in various art professions is the ultimate reward.”
The 2024 Teacher of the Year Award went to Social Studies teacher Olivia Ide The Teacher of the Year Award is a peernominated award for someone who serves as a role model for students and models 21st century learning skills and teaching tools.
Her favorite part about being a teacher at Ursuline is the students and her colleagues.
“I know everyone says that, but everyone is right!” she said. “We have such wonderful students who are kind, funny, and curious and my colleagues are so talented and interesting.”
Math teacher Simon Aisthrope received his American citizenship. The Math Department held a special celebration for him!
Theology teacher Dr. Ann Middendorf ’84 received the National Catholic Educators Association (NCEA) “Lead. Learn. Proclaim.” Award, an award given to outstanding leaders in Catholic education and was honored at the NCEA 2024 Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. She was also appointed to Bishop Burns’ committee for the 2024 Diocese of Dallas Synod. The committee worked to assist Bishop Burns for the Diocese of Dallas future planning. Dr. Middendorf received the Work of Heart Award given by the Catholic Foundation.
Science teacher Rachel Clarke and World Language teacher Dr. Claudine Saade are the first recipients of the Ursuline Showcase Teacher Exchange Program, a program started by Ursuline’s Director of Technology Anne Robertson to recognize and reward teachers who have gone above and beyond with innovation in the classroom and professional development.
Director of Community & Inclusion Estela Ayala is now a Licensed Professional Counselor, Associate by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
Athletic Director Stefanie Hill was announced as TAPPS 6A – District 1 District President for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Distinguished Alumna Award honors an alumna who, through her service, leadership and achievements has distinguished herself to Ursuline, her community or her profession. The alumna should be a recognized leader within her chosen field and should reflect the Christian ideals, standards, and objectives of Ursuline Academy.
Thedaughter of Dottie and Tom Unis, Cheryl graduated from Ursuline in 1966, having been involved in several school projects including serving as School Chairman of the Leukemia Drive, Yearbook staff, and Class Cheerleader. Following Ursuline, she attended St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans.
Cheryl has dedicated her life to Serviam. Moving to LaGrange, Georgia with her husband, Beau, in the mid ‘70s, Cheryl quickly became involved in community needs, serving on numerous boards and championing many causes she feels strongly about. She is a founding member of the Junior Service League there, served as a volunteer emergency assistance coordinator for the American Red Cross for 16 years where she was responsible for facilitating emergency communications to military families worldwide, and led the campaign to design and build St. Peter’s Catholic Church, school, and rectory.
In 1992, Cheryl and Beau moved back to Dallas where she quickly re-integrated into the Dallas Community dedicating the last 30 years to working for community foundations and helping donors create their philanthropic legacies. Cheryl served as the Vice President of External Affairs and Director of Donor and Community Relations for Communities Foundation of Texas before joining The Catholic Foundation, an organization her father helped found. She honors his legacy with almost two decades of commitment to the Foundation, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Donor Relations. Currently, the Foundation manages assets of over $290 million and over time has granted over $287 million.
A mother of three who is devoted to Catholic education, Cheryl serves her home parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, The Dallas Diocese, and Ursuline Academy as a former member of our Foundation and Strategic Planning Task Forces.
She has poured herself into her Catholic community, in both volunteer and work force roles. She has built strong personal relationships with top philanthropists as well as individuals serving in the trenches. Cheryl makes everyone in her life feel cherished. She approaches each day with grace and a true commitment to Serviam.
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.
Libby is the youngest of eight children of Patsy Richardson, Class of ’35, and John Ryan. Growing up across the street from Holy Trinity, her life revolved around the church and school. The Ryan children all learned to contribute to the community and strive to make it better.
Libby’s life seemed to revolve around Ursuline and Serviam. A member of the Class of 1975, sports were important to Libby and Intramurals were her favorite - the prep, the class spirit, and competition would leave her hoarse for a week. She was called to serve her fellow students through Student Council, serving as Freshman Representative, Sophomore Class President, and on the Executive Board as a Junior.
After Ursuline, Libby earned a degree in nursing and worked as a Neonatal and Intensive Care Nurse, in pediatric offices, and as a school nurse at St. Rita. Her service was centered around helping new mothers and their children.
Since retiring from nursing, Libby’s free time has been devoted to the Ladies of Charity of Dallas (LOC), an organization her mother helped found in the 60’s. Their mission is to serve those in need.
In 2012, LOC partnered with Vickery Meadow Neighborhood Alliance (VMNA) and opened a food pantry and clothes closet which serves low-income families and refugees from all over the world. There are 25 different primary languages spoken and often communication is without words - but empathy and compassion are universal languages. Libby spends 2 days a week onsite and performs computer entry at home but once the Christmas project begins, there are tasks seven days a week. Over the years, the project has grown exponentially. It went from serving 90 children 10 years ago to almost 1,000 in 2022. It is a complicated organizational endeavor with months of preparation. Every year Libby’s house is brimming with gifts, not for her own family but our neighbors in need.
“My service is my pleasure, certainly not anything that deserves an award. What I am most proud of is having passed on to others the understanding of the joy and blessings that service brings.”
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.
As a member of the Class of 2011 and Ursuline’s mascot, Honey Buns, Megan took part in several opportunities that aided her in discovering her true passion for engineering and healthcare.
Megan’s Senior Service was at Parkland Hospital’s Oncology and OB Complications clinics. This, coupled with her time in Ursuline’s Pink Ladies Club, spurred her interest in women’s health and cancer. Additionally, Megan was the first Ursuline student to serve as an athletic trainer for Jesuit, making her the first female to letter at Jesuit athletics, furthering her interest in the medical field. She took part in Ursuline’s first engineering-related elective as well as Ursuline’s first AP Physics C course, confirming her interest in engineering and preparing her well for college.
Following graduation, Megan received her Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University where she was a NIH National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering T32 and National Cancer Institute F31 Fellow. She is a member of BMES and was awarded the BMES Burrows Wellcome Fund Young Investor Award. Today, Megan is an Assistant Research Professor in Biomedical Engineering and the Assistant Director of Education for the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies at Duke University. Her research focuses on the development of optical imaging technologies to improve disease outcomes with specific emphasis on the tumor microenvironment and cancer metabolism. Megan serves as a primary research mentor for the graduate and undergraduate students of the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies in the areas of breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment through imaging and technology development. Megan aims to cultivate perseverance and self-efficacy in her mentees so that they will become independent problem-solvers and thoughtful researchers. Additionally, Megan’s research is dedicated to creating educational experiences that empower and retain K-12 and undergraduate students in STEM, particularly those who are underrepresented and gender minorities. This focus is not limited to engineering as a field but also extends toward developing a community-focused approach to problem-solving in the world around them. Towards this goal, Megan serves as the Director of Duke Ignite, a K-12 engineering, human-centered design education program. Ignite works to scale community-centered engineering pedagogy to local and global middle and high school students. In addition, she leads the (In)Visible Organ initiative that empowers creative thinkers to use art and storytelling to decrease stigma surrounding sexual and reproductive health and increase science and health literacy. She has mentored over 120 middle school students, 45 high school students, 75 undergraduate students, and 9 graduate students.
The Sr. Marie Staats Award honors a member of the Ursuline family, male or female, who has shown an outstanding commitment and tireless service to Ursuline Academy or its Alumnae Association. Such individual’s service and commitment should have deeply and positively affected the Ursuline Community.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sister Lois Castillon, O.S.U. is one of five children. Her parents, Florence and Alan Castillon raised their family on faith-based principles and passed their lively Catholic heritage on to their children. Sr. Lois graduated from Ursuline Academy in St. Louis where she was active in sports, especially volleyball and basketball. She participated in the school drama and debate clubs, the Sodality club, and was voted President of her freshman class.
In 1960, Sr. Lois entered the Ursulines of the Roman Union and made her First Profession of Vows in 1963. She received her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle in New York, M.A. from the University of Iowa, and holds a Doctorate in Catholic Educational Leadership from the University of San Francisco.
Beginning in 1966, Sr. Lois served as teacher, principal, and President at Ursuline schools across Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, and Texas. She has also held many additional positions including Prioress for the Ursuline Sisters in St. Louis and Dallas for two decades and leadership roles for the Ursuline Sisters of the Central and Western Provinces (USA) and of Ursuline International Commissions. From 1996-2010, Sr. Lois was Director of Ursuline Educational Services for domestic Ursuline schools, where she made presentations to global Ursuline schools about St. Angela and Ursuline education.
Ursuline Dallas welcomed Sr. Lois in 2010 as acting Principal for six months before becoming the Director of Mission & Heritage. Now in her 14th year in Dallas, Sr. Lois loves her ministry more than ever. Her days are filled with coordinating missionfocused events for students: Freshman Convocation, Sophomore Serviam, Junior Ring, and Senior Baccalaureate Mass. She also helps faculty and boards be nurtured in St. Angela’s legacy and writings through Angela Retreats and Angela Merici Advisories.
Alumnae Day 2024 brought back hundreds of alumnae to the Ursuline campus. The Alumnae Luncheon was hosted in Fox Dining where we celebrated Alumnae Award recipients and reunion years, announced the Battle of the Decades winning decade, and honored President Gretchen Kane by naming her an Honorary Alumna.
The day continued with campus tours of our new and renovated spaces and we capped off the evening with a crawfish boil complete with a 7-piece band entertaining us with dancing music all night long!
Save the Date for Alumnae Day 2025 on May 3!
Registration will open in January so make your luncheon tables now and get ready for another great celebration!
Alumnae
Elinore McClusky Gondolf ’40
Charlotte Totebusch Whaley ’42
Cathryn “Cay” Ventura Colgin ’44
Patricia Brown Currin ’50
Justine Gallerano Jennings ’52
Sharlene Ahnert Loretz ’53
Sr. Mary Theresa Moser, R.S.C.J. ’53
Jane Weber Kottemann ’53*
Colleen Malone Grider ’55
Gerry Zalkovsky ’59
Janie Garrett Collomb ’60
Mary Mangelsdorf Benson ’60
Sue Ellen Seabrook Mauro ’62
Peggy Ann Nancy Lyle ’63
Mary Ann Pauken ’67
Mary Jo McGehee Dorn ’69
Cathy Cook Phillips ’70
Edith “Edye” Cohen Sneegas ’75
Laurie Rivas Cervera ’75
Tish Williamson Luther ’75
Eris Wood ’78
Michelle LaBarba Cook ’86*
Dina Benson**
Wally Linebarger**
Helen Petrisky**
Husbands of
Trudy Veleba Smith ’57
Pat Hoch Shannon ’57
Patricia McDonald Parkerson ’60†
Amelia Schmitz Young ’61
Nancy Berry McClure ’66
Rita Garcia Ransdell ’69
Janet Bardol Tullius ’70
Patty Walker Mason ’74
Judy Borman Cotter ’82
Cecilie Meister Pitton ’85
Lori Ashmore Peters ’87
Sarah Kobdish Frost ’93
Ellen Knapek-Nestor ’06
Mothers of
Catherine Grinnan Bartley ’66
Anne Grinnan Lind ’67
Sandra Cass ’69†
Louise DeLoache Wilbanks ’69
Mertie Jackson Alexander ’70
Mary Grinnan Puster ’70
Donna Cass ’71
Terry Schmeltz Feuerborn ’72
Pamela Pierre Meyers ’72
Karen DeMarco Kremers ’73
Mary DeLoache Terry ’73
Kathleen DeMarco Stephens ’74
Janie Grinnan McNaughton ’75
Judy Schmeltz Evans ’77
Tracy Naftalis Kittle ’78
Barbara Schmeltz Newey ’78
Frances Grinnan DeWitte ’78
Annette Salvaggio Pipes ’78
Rosemary Salvaggio DeTrempe ’80
Mary Anne Haren Hallagher ’80
Karen Pustejovsky Klein ’81
Chris DeMarco Elder ’82
Gemma Blanco Nolan ’82
Bonnie Ampil Ivey ’82
Melissa Cass ’83
Cheryl Pustejovsky ’84
Carolyne Koval Davis ’84
Cristin Clements Miller ’84
Tiphanie Richardson ’85
Mary Leslie Stewart Calcote ’85
Jenny Nady Montgomery ’85
Soni Olivier Stone ’86
Bridget Lenzen Johnson ’86
Susan Hassenmiller Deaton ’87
Leigh Anne Cloud Haugh ’89
Cindy Pustejovsky Belknap ’90
Meredith Drees Sepehri ’90
Monica De la Cerda ’91
Amy Conkey ’91
Anne Gravelle ’91
Amy Pustejovsky ’92
Melanie Drees Hutchinson ’92
Amanda Bona ’95
Leigh Bonner Wilder ’96
Jenifer Walkowiak ’96
Caroline Gravelle ’96
Ali Gidel Lord ’97
Carrie Conkey Miller ’98
Katherine Bona Wilke ’03
Sarah Johnson ’07
Maria Box ’10
Allison Vanderwoude**
Nicki Bray**
Fathers of
Mary Ashmore ’77
Michele Feltman Savoy ’79
Mary Lou Munin Polosky ’79
Andrea Lundy Breedlove ’81
Gail Glasgow ’82
Mary Elizabeth Shannon Egan ’82
Rose Eustachio Lafferty ’83
Nancy Collins Rizzo ’83
Janet Scott-Maher ’83
Elizabeth Thompson Grant ’83
Ann Middendorf ’84
Julia Parkerson Kee ’84
Kelly Moore Cook ’85
Allison Glasgow ’85
Joani Parkerson Sullivan ’85†
Laura Pederson Vganges ’86
Kathleen Smith Smith ’86
Cindy Maus Kilpatrick ’86
Nancy Hunt Zimmerman ’87
Julie Horak ’87
Lori Ashmore Peters ’87
Heather Glasgow Naumann ’87
Ann-Marie Munin Helling ’87
Jenny Hill Haggerty ’87
Pamela Parkerson DiPasquale ’87
Christine Conselman Ramirez ’87
Cynthia Smith Delanoy ’89
Meredith Glasgow Sullivan ’89
Jenny Sepeda ’90
Wendy Wilson Stiles ’91
Kaya Pederson Freeman ’93
Meghan Boeding Feighny ’94
Megan Middendorf O’Sullivan ’94
Maureen McLochlin Bridwell ’95
Emily Henrich Meister ’95
Cindy Parkerson Canas ’96
Rachael Sunbarger Duffy ’97
Lara Ahearn ’97
Maggie Haning Works-Leary ’97
Suzy Sunbarger Grooms ’99
Camille Wright Jacobie ’99
Melissa Sepeda ’01
Molly Boeding Ridic ’01
April Spigner ’03
Lisa Pimentel ’03
Molly Mason Stevens ’05
Rachel Wade Robertson ’06
Becky Wade Firth ’07
Emily Pimentel ’10
Madeline Thomas ’25
Megan Jamison Griffin***
Angie Jakubik***
Lisa Le Blanc Green**
Daughters of
Margaret Moser ’31
Mary Blalack Garrett ’38†
Catherine Cook ’44
Theresa Canales-Jud ’52
Michelle Dion Grimes ’82
Grandmothers of
Christin Leach ’88
Amie Cantu Hinderliter ’95
Melissa Terry Pridmore ’97
Lori Cantu Libby ’98
Stacey Alexander Golightly ’98
Whitney Baldridge Nowlin ’98
Amy Alexander Gardner ’00
Carie Cantu ’01
Blaire Baldridge Trammell ’01
Whitney Michelle Bray Work ’04
Sarah Schmeltz Martens ’05
Sarah Whaley ’06
Rachel Wade Robertson ’06
Becky Wade Firth ’07
Tiana Hauber Shivers ’07
Lacey Baldridge Tschudy ’07
Carissa Chavez Gasparovich ’07
Caitlin Murad Lynch ’10
Marti White ’10
Amanda Chavez ’10
Jennifer Klein ’12
Jillian Buys Bates ’12
Anne Marie Priddy ’13
Katy Cornwall ’14
Savannah Priddy Overton ’14
Jenna Buys ’15
Madeline Weinberger ’15
Gracie Hunt ’17
Julianna Buys ’18
Avery Hartley ’18
Mallory Rasco ’18
Grace Weinberger ’18
Sydney White ’18
Maggie Griffiths ’20
Hallie Clements ’20
Jordan Catloth ’20
Ashley Lehman ’21
Jessica White ’21
Sarah Cate Clements ’23
Madelyne Davis ’24
Molly Davis ’24
Lydia Rasco ’25
Vivian Griffith ’27
Caroline Green ’26
Grandfathers of
Apryl Dominguez Churchill ’91
Michelle Verdiguel Alonzo ’97
Stephanie Carpenter Warnock ’04
Ashley Harrison ’07†
Kathryn Bentley Butler ’09
Kellie Schnurr Scott ’12
Taylor Rosenbleeth ’15
Becky Esparza ’15
Kinsey Cook ’16
Samantha Kilpatrick ’16
Brooke Connolly ’18
Kelsey Cook ’18
Abigail Kilpatrick ’19
Katie Cook ’21
Whitney Dodson ’21
Juliana Stanford ’21
Molly Kate Feighny ’22
Hunter Boeding ’23
Karoline Cook ’24
Markley Shaw ’24
Erin O’Sullivan ’24
Griffin McLochlin ’25
Ella Fogel ’26
Josie Annand ’27
Finley Boeding ’27
Sarah O’Sullivan ’27
Vivian Griffith ’27
Great Grandmothers of
Eva Campbell ’24
Kennedy Pridmore ’27
Great Grandfather of Chamberlain Churchill ’23*
Sisters of
Margaret McClusky McElroy ’41†
Earlene Ventura Loremo ’41†
Elizabeth McClusky Manilla ’42†
Dorothy McClusky Franz ’44†
Betty Totebusch Cannon ’45†
Josephine Gallerano Windhgam ’54
Marcia Malone ’54
Carolyn Ahnert Contreras ’55
Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. ’56
Sr. Ann Mangelsdorf O.S.U. ’56
Kathleen Brown Gardner ’60
Mary Gallerano Krebbs ’63
Dusty Wood Clark ’63
Judith Wood Millican ’66†
Sharon Ahnert Root ’67
Georgette Gallerano Horne ’68
Kathy Moser Barr ’71
Betsy Mangelsdorf Santoro ’72
Colleen Cook Collins ’72
Carol Moser Grantham ’73
Jan Cohen ’77
Julie Cuellar Reck ’91
Brothers of
Sr. Mary Troy, O.S.U. ’51
Pat Hoch Shannon ’57
Mimi Hoch Sherwin ’59
Mary Jane McGraw ’63
Julie Christine Turner ’64
Patricia McGraw ’64
Mary Christine Hayes ’65
Margaret McGraw Leahy ’65
Patricia McHugh Butler ’71
Rita Solon ’72
Loretta Solon Green ’81
Michelle Romine Vaughn ’81
Ann Gaisbauer ’82
Joelene Walenta Elliott ’83
Cecilia Nipp ’84
Meg Nestor Schneider ’08
Crystal Cantu ’24
Susan Noonan**
Juanita Fernandez**
Maria Fernandez**
Aunts of
Christine Jack ’82
Kym Contreras ’83
Kelly Contreras Balliett ’84
Kaysi Contreras ’89
Kelly Moser Mickan ’93
Megan Moser Daigle ’93
Margaret Moser ’94
Genny Barr Malott ’01
Caitie Barr McCormick ’07
Hannah Braun ’13
Caroline Braun ’14
Lindsay Braun ’17
Lauren LaBarba ’19
Sarah LaBarba ’21
Uncles of
Mary Elizabeth Shannon Egan ’82
Janine Wachsman Amy ’83
Faith Culotta ’83
Erika Bondy Redd ’84
Elizabeth Bondy Reynolds ’88
Stephanie Wachsman Woods ’91
Natasha Wyndham Hanners ’94
Anne O’Brien ’95
Hannah Walker ’11
Aubrey Elliott ’11
Maddie Sladek ’12
Averey Elliott Schneider ’15
Jayden Gill ’18
Brynson Gill ’20
Kaia Putnam ’23
Claudia Mathison***
Great Aunts of
Aubree Auletta ’12
Baylee Auletta ’15
Great Uncles of Claire Mathinson ’25
Anna Mathison ’27
Kylie Hanners ’23
Mothers-in-law of
Judy Fontenot Pierre ’74
Jean Thomas Buys ’82
Jenny Gates Priddy ’82
Elaine Bennett Catloth ’83
Mary Lauderdale Aidala ’86
Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90
Leigh Bonner Wilder ’96
Brooke Houston Green ’97
Brenda Rasco***
Fathers-in-law of
Faith Martinez Culotta ’83
Monica Ruiz Carpenter ’85
Anna Stewart LeBlanc ’86
Jennifer Houston Scripps ’95
Sons-in-law of
Doris Blunck Walker ’56†
Ann Haden Letteer ’76
Sisters-in-law of
Kathy Cronin Moser ’61
Sally Shell Zalkovsky ’69
Brothers-in-law of Gabriela Veleba Bondy ’53
Mimi Hoch Sherwin ’59
Jacqueline Berry Caire ’64
Mary Beth Schmitz Lehman ’67
Susan Roberts Maxwell ’68
Cindy Walker Pierotti ’72
Nancy Walker Adams ’76
Mitzi Garcia Perez ’76†
Mary Ashmore ’77
Mary Walker Sladek ’79
Irma Garcia Pacheco ’80
Juliann Walker Chavez ’83
Joanie Walker Brunkhorst ’85
Janet Walker Peterson ’88
Jerilynn Walker Putnam ’93
Jamie Rae Walker ’94
Nieces of Martha Blalack Brooks ’40†
Dorothy Blalack Burns ’42†
Kathy Cronin Moser ’61
Elizabeth Thompson Grant ’83
Nephew of Sr. Margaret Solon, O.S.U. ’32†
Cousins of Marcia Stiles Cuellar ’55
Barbara Brooks Fairfield ’59
Denyc Perez ’69
Lupita Cuellar Allen ’69
Maria Cuellar Sikkel ’69
Delia Cuellar ’70
Lolita Luellar Sims ’70
Marili Cuellar Paternostro ’71
Nora Cuellar Jacobs ’73
Ann Brooks ’74
Sandra Cuellar ’75
Fredrika Cuellar Newton ’77
Kelly Moser Mickan ’93
Rebecca Sims O’Brien ’97
Amy Sims Stovall ’99
Margot Allen Goss ’01
Luisa Paternostro ’04
Marisa Allen Bertha ’04
Jillian Jacobs Maxey ’08
Emily Sims Purd ’10
Ryan Luedtke ’22
Ursuline is saddened by the losses in our community. We make every effort to accurately list each passing and regret any oversight or errors. Please remember to notify us of any updates at alumnae@ursulinedallas.org and join us for our Memorial Masses held in August, November, February, and May.
Those listed here died between June 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024.
*Non-graduate
**Former Faculty/Staff
***Current Faculty/Staff
†Deceased
Ursuline’s 150 year history is filled with many lesser-known facts. Here are a few:
I N 1989, ANN DREES †, MOTHER OF MEREDITH ’90 AND MELANIE ’92, PETITIONED THE DALLAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR A HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE PLACED ON CAMPUS, PLACING URSULINE ACADEMY ON THE LIST OF TEXAS HISTORICAL SITES. FOR YEARS, IT WAS LOCATED ON THE FRONT LAWN BUT BECAME BLOCKED BY GROWING TREES AND SHRUBS. THIS PAST FALL, IT WAS RELOCATED TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE SO EVERYONE WHO DRIVES BY OUR CAMPUS CAN SEE IT.
This part of the campus has housed many different departments including the President’s office and now Student Counseling, but when it was first built, it was actually where the priest lived on campus. It had a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
AND WE’RE JUST GETTING WARMED UP!
SAVE THE DATES 2024 –2025
Boston Regional Gathering – September 11-13
Career Symposium – September 25
Student and Alumnae Service Project – October 5
Ladies Night Bingo – October 27
Memorial Mass – November 10
Houston Regional Gathering – November 13-15
LA/San Diego Regional Gatherings – December 3-5
Austin/San Antonio Regional Gatherings – January 22-24
International Serviam Day – January 25
UA+ Summer Camps Registration opens – January 30
Memorial Mass – February 2
Mardi Gras – March 1
Washington D.C. Regional Gathering – March 18-20
Career Symposium – March 26
Easter Egg Hunt – April 19
Memorial Mass – April 27
Alumnae Day – May 3