HeartBeat THE ALUMNAE MAGAZINE OF SACRED HEART ACADEMY
FALL 2020
• COMMUNITY • REVERENCE • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP •
FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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Honoring Faith and Family
The inside of the new Motherhouse entry is named the Semmes Family Vestibule, honoring the Catholic faith woven throughout generations of donor Semmes Brightman’s family. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a small group gathered to celebrate the grand opening and dedication of the entrance on a beautiful day in November. The entrance will now welcome visitors to the historic Ursuline Motherhouse for many years to come.
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Alumnae Board 2020-2021 PRESIDENT
Callie Wall ‘05 VICE PRESIDENT
Christie Leigh Mueller Wells '02 S E C R E TA RY
Maria Cowley Quinn ‘05 If you, or an alumna you know, are interested in giving back by joining the SHA Alumnae Board, please contact Megan Brumleve Theisen ‘95 at mtheisen@shslou.org or 502.736.6408. We’d love to have you! The Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Association is comprised of more than 11,000 women who have graduated from Sacred Heart Academy since it was founded in 1877. A member of Sacred Heart Schools, SHA is a Catholic, college preparatory all-girls school. Faithful to the mission of the Ursuline Sisters, SHA educates the whole person, fostering Christian values, personal integrity and responsible leadership in a supportive learning environment committed to academic excellence. To view all board members, visit sha.shslou.org/alumnae/.
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The HeartBeat is published three times a year for alumnae, parents and friends of Sacred Heart Academy by the Sacred Heart Schools Office of Marketing and Communications. © 2020, Sacred Heart Schools Please submit information for publication or address changes to: Sacred Heart Academy HeartBeat Magazine 3115 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206 502.896.8681 | alumupdates@shslou.org shslou.org Information in this issue was received prior to November 1, 2020.
Follow Your Heart /shalouisville
@shalouisville
Motherhouse 2019
/shalouisville FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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STUDENT & FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS Academic Excellence
While all students at Sacred Heart benefit from an IB education, there is a group who choose the rigorous full IB Diploma Programme. This year, 37 seniors are engaged in the full IB Diploma curriculum and recently turned in their Extended Essays. This is one of our largest classes of IB Diploma candidates. As one facet of Sacred Heart’s IB offering, the Diploma Programme is an academically challenging and balanced program of study of the humanities and sciences. IB Diploma students complete three additional requirements: the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge course and 150 hours of Creativity, Activity and Service. Turning in the Extended Essay is a great milestone for our IB Diploma students who celebrated with a small reception and yard signs on Horton Field!
One Heart. One Team. 95 State Titles. Soccer: SHA’s Varsity Soccer team won the State Championship with a 2-0 win over Lexington Catholic! This was the team’s 7th state win. Gabriela Quintero was named State Tournament Most Valuable Player and Regan Nolan and Allie George were 1st Team All-State. In Regional play, our Valkyries scooped up the following honors: Mallory Glass 7th Region Player of the Year, Amanda Isaacs and Allie George 1st Team All-Region, Gabriela Quintero and Regan Nolan 2nd Team All-Region, and Anna Buse, Reese Nelson, Katie Barney were 7th region Honorable Mention.
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Volleyball: Varsity Volleyball ended a great season as 27th District champions and Region 7 Runners-Up. Tess Schrenger was named the 7th Region Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State, and Lucy Malone, Julia McNeley and Tess Schrenger were all named to the Region 7 All-Tournament team.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program and we are SO proud to congratulate Caroline Carrig and Lily Terrell for this amazing accomplishment!
Congratulations also go to Anneliese Wickson, Anna Whittle and Allison Portaro on being honored as Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program! Your dedication to excellence, your determination and grit and your positive attitudes shine as you become strong women of great faith!
Field Hockey: Varsity Field Hockey captured the Region Two Championship and Lindsay Schiavone, Kennedy Vinson, Carson Neal, and Reese Wearren were all named to the Region All-Tournament team. After a two-week Covid delay the Valkyries defeated Christian Academy in the State Championship to win SHA's 95th state title.
Golf: The SHA Golf team was the Region 6 champions and finished in 3rd place at State tournament. Abigail Sutherland was named to the 1st team all-state.
Lindsay Schiavone, ’22 was named the 2020 Midway University/KHSAA Field Hockey Student Athlete of the Year and has committed to continuing her field hockey career at Syracuse University. Ruby Clark and Megan Kessler made the State All-Tourney team and Olivia Mayer was named the MVP.
Cross Country: SHA’s cross country team finished in 8th place at State Tournament led by runner Josie Gilvin who finished in 20th place.
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A HERO at
Heart
As may have seen in our social media and other publications, current senior, Mia Mercer started a nonprofit during the early quarantine of Covid-19 called Guardian on the Go. Mia’s nonprofit created reusable masks for the public so that frontline healthcare workers would have access to the medical-grade PPE. Mia already knew how to sew, and decided to use donated nurses’ scrubs, a symbolic and sustainable material, to create CDC-compliant masks for family and friends. As orders rolled in, Mia created a business plan and website for her new nonprofit and began selling the masks for $10 each. Aware of the financial, physical, and emotional struggles facing so many during this uncertain time, Mia created a compassionate business plan. 100% of Guardian on the Go’s proceeds were donated to organizations supporting frontline workers, at-risk communities, and COVID-19 vaccine development. The KY Nurses Association was one of the beneficiaries of Guardian on the Go’s proceeds, and in late October, presented Mia with their Volunteer of the Year Award for her support during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Greater Louisville Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals changed its focus for the 2020 National Philanthropy Day Awards by awarding the COVID-19 Philanthropy Hero Awards focused on those (individuals and organizations) who invested in our community through philanthropy during this uncertain time. Mia was nominated for the hero award by Lauren Hitron, Director of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute. On November 11, the association announced Mia as a recipient of the award virtually via their Facebook page and she received her actual award that Friday at school. Sacred Heart is no stranger to philanthropic leaders – two Valkyries have also been honored with National Philanthropy Day award in the past: Emily Kosse ‘14 and Anna-Maria Beck ‘17. We are so proud of the strong, compassionate servant-leader and problem-solver Mia has become.
LearningTHE BUSINESS OF NONPROFITS
This year, seven Sacred Heart Academy students are members of the Louisville Youth Philanthropy Council (LYPC), due in part to the dedication and enthusiasm of senior Anna Whittle. The LYPC gives teenagers the opportunity to learn how to run a nonprofit philanthropic foundation, teaching the principles and practices of philanthropy through hands-on learning experiences and teaching them how to put what they learn into practice by awarding grants of $5,000 in the Louisville area. Learn more about LYPC straight from Anna!
What is LYPC’s mission? LYPC educates high school students about philanthropy and creates an appreciation of Louisville’s community needs. Whether or not students pursue philanthropic careers, LYPC raises awareness for the “third-sector” of our country’s structure and the important role it plays. LYPC also encourages civic engagement, teaching students how to get involved in the community while developing the next generation of philanthropic leaders. How long have you been involved and how did you choose to become involved? I chose to apply to LYPC because it seemed like a unique service opportunity and a meaningful way to connect with other passionate high schoolers. After applying and interviewing, I was accepted into the program the summer after my freshman year. I have continued serving on the council for the past three years and was elected Team Captain by my peers for this year. 6
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What has it meant to you? How have you been able to hone your leadership skills through participation? LYPC has been a foundational part of my high school experience, helping me to uncover my passions and find my voice within the Louisville community. LYPC has provided me countless opportunities to interact with inspiring community leaders from a variety of careers, interview dedicated non-profit executives, and connect with other students who want to make a positive impact on our community. In addition to building my confidence, LYPC has shown me the value of surrounding myself with passionate peers and mentors, helping me make meaningful connections not only within LYPC but also in my community. Through LYPC, I was able to intern at TreesLouisville, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and expanding Louisville’s urban tree canopy. LYPC taught me how nonprofits operate, but actually working at one deepened my perspective while providing an outlet to address my concerns. SHA Representatives – Louisville Youth Philanthropy Council Nora Cummins Hollings Ruml
Ella Hendricks
Haylen Wehr
Caroline Hirn
Anna Whittle
Mia Zuber
CONTINUING THE CYCLE OF GIVING Recognizing the obstacles faced by our servant leaders in finding ways to volunteer in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sacred Heart was able to provide meaningful on-campus opportunities that benefitted our community, city and world. Jane Cruthirds, SHA’s Service Coordinator and a theology teacher, along with the student-led Community Awareness Committee, hosted service activities on our Wednesday Resource Day. With the hybrid schedule due to Covid, all students are at home on Wednesdays and use this time to meet with teachers, study and complete schoolwork, and in this case, give back to the community! Two weeks in October were devoted to the Cycle Circles project, an outreach initiative of the non-profit, Her Best Foot Forward. Socially distanced in the cafeteria, students created 500 cycle circle bracelets that will be sent to Eastern Africa as part of a feminine hygiene education and assistance program for young African women. The last Wednesday in October was for the dogs! (and cats). Students gathered in the gym to make blankets, treat boxes and cat and dog toys for the KY Humane Society.
REMEMBER, be
Thankful and Give with a Generous Heart
November was designated as a month to Remember, Be Thankful and Give with a Generous Heart. Campus Ministry and Service sponsored different activities to bring the Sacred Heart community together. Beginning with the Feast of All Souls, prayer and catechesis focused on the saints who inspire us and culminated in a Thanksgiving prayer service. A school-wide art installation took shape throughout the month of November, as together we built a Tree of Remembrance. This project encouraged all to reflect on the people who have formed and shaped our character, especially those whom we have lost. We focused on a spirit of gratitude and demonstrated that through generous giving to the Appalachia Gift Drive. • Week 1 was about Remembrance as students, faculty and staff were invited to bring in photos of lost loved ones that became the trunk of our tree. • Week 2 focused on Gratitude. Students, faculty and staff were invited to reflect on their blessings and decorate a leaf with a message of about what they are thankful for. • Week 3 was all about Giving. Here we added pictures of our friends in Appalachia – the fruit of our giving – and kicked off the Appalachia Gift Drive. In a year where everything is different, Sacred Heart students have not lost the heart of service that is ever prominent in our community.
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SHARING PASSION
PURPOSE
Founded in 2015 by Laura Chauvin, Her Best Foot Forward (HBFF) is a local non-profit that offers handmade products created by women Artisans in East Africa. In addition to providing women Artisans with a fair wage, a safe workplace, access to education and support for their families, HBFF invests 100% of net proceeds from sales as well as donations to the non-profit Foot Forward Fund in impactful activities to empower girls and women.
Margaret Cunningham and Claire Saylor hosted sales of the beautiful, beaded products at Sacred Heart Academy and created the “Cupcake Queen” fundraiser to raise money for the organization. They introduced the organization to their fellow King Scholars and soon Alise Fenwick, Isa Cristobal, Noella Dugan, Zuri King and Kate Saylor were engaged and volunteering as well.
Their primary investment is in UhuruPads, an initiative of the Foot Forward Fund. UhuruPads, from the Swahili word for “freedom” is a 100% compostable sanitary pad and menstrual hygiene education program in Tanzania. HBFF believes that understanding and practicing menstrual health and hygiene is key to independence for girls and women. More than 5,000 young Tanzanian girls are supported annually with pads, undergarments, and health and hygiene education.
Alise, then a junior, became an Ambassador for HBFF, and together with Noella, filled the leadership void left by the graduation of Margaret and Claire. HBFF Ambassadors inform and engage their peers about the issues through donations and sales. Last spring, Alise worked with SHA’s service club, CAC, to develop a week-long fundraiser that was to include the Cupcake Queen Bake Sale and expand to include other ways to raise money for HBFF. It was all scheduled for the week of March 16th, which we now know as the first week of the Covid-19 lockdown in Louisville. There were no students in the building, and therefore, no fundraiser.
Her Best Foot Forward does not have any paid staff in the United States, they are fully operated by volunteers. This is where Sacred Heart Academy enters the picture. Here in Louisville, it does not take long to establish your six degrees of separation with anyone. So, when we asked Laura Chauvin how Her Best Foot Forward established a connection with Sacred Heart Academy, it was not surprising to learn that her husband, Judge McKay Chauvin, was a Sacred Heart Model School student (one of the first boys to attend!) and was mentored by Judge Nick King, who established the King Scholars Program at Sacred Heart Academy. Mr. King thought his King Scholars would find the locally based, global non-profit, then in its infancy, interesting. Once the connection was made, the partnership evolved quickly and organically as the students learned about the plight of young women in East Africa – many of whom are their age – who miss multiple days of school each month, and those who are forced to take a week of unpaid vacation from jobs, during their menstrual cycle. Access to hygiene products is something many of our students take for granted. 8
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Now back in school, Alise, Noella, Isa, Kate and others have jumped back in to assisting HBFF, and hope to create a formal club before the year is out. And they are getting help from another group of Valkyries who just happen to be a perfect fit – SHA’s IB Diploma students. In HBFF’s Volunteer Guide the organization lists four ‘criteria’ for their volunteers – and we are not surprised to see how closely they align with our IB learner attributes: • They must be passionate about the right and potential of girls and women to lead empowered, meaningful lives – IB Attributes: Principled, Balanced, Inquirers • They should show initiative and a willingness to demonstrate compassion and leadership – IB Attributes: Thinkers, Caring • They are organized, thoughtful, and confident communicators – IB Attributes: Reflective, Communicators
• They have a desire to learn about international development and are undaunted when blazing new trails – IB Attributes: Knowledgeable, Open-Minded, Risk-Takers When Her Best Foot Forward embarked on the bold endeavor to open a “PopUp Shop” in Louisville’s Oxmoor Mall, during a pandemic, they knew Sacred Heart would take the lead in providing dedicated and committed volunteers. Chauvin just had to train the students and then watch as they took the initiative to learn about the mission of the organization and the benefits and highlights of the products themselves, and then share their passion with potential customers. Every weekend, Chauvin has two Sacred Heart students working the shop at any given time with adult supervision. She says, “after a brief orientation, we step away (within eyesight!) to allow them to really take charge. We also tell them they can arrange the shop as they see fit.” She’s also allowed them to take over the organizations’ Instagram page and given them featured profiles. Chauvin says, “they are such a special group of young women.” All told, there will be more than 20 Valkyries volunteering in the shop over the coming weeks. Chauvin is grateful for the support, but looks to provide a benefit to the girls, over and above the opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of young women they will never meet. She is nurturing their leadership skills and helping them identify strengths and abilities they weren’t aware they possessed. Chauvin said of a recent pair of volunteers, “I talked with two who were hesitant to speak out to passing mall visitors.” She role-played with the girls asking them to imagine ‘what would be the worst thing that could happen if they were shut down?’ One of the reasons Chauvin chose “Her Best Foot Forward” as the name of her non-profit was because when she was a girl and hesitant to try new things, her mom would say, “come on honey – just put your best foot forward.” She knew that so many of the girls HBFF was helping may never have anyone say that to them. Chauvin shared that with the girls and told them how being ignored or told “no” by shoppers is also a lesson in humility and compassion. Such amazing, on-the-job leadership education for the girls! Chauvin said by the end of the day, the students had grown much more comfortable, and realized they were “doing this for the girls!”
In addition to the satisfaction of helping to create life-changing impact for East African women and girls, volunteers also benefit from: • Working with an international non-profit • Enhancing their skills in marketing, fundraising, public speaking, communications, and social media • Increased confidence through opportunities to demonstrate initiative, work as part of a team, and provide leadership and service • Earning community service hours toward volunteer requirements • Sharing the mission and using their voices to ensure that women and girls a world away have the opportunity to achieve more and be able to use their voices too! In addition to the fundraising efforts and volunteer work in the PopUp Shop, Sacred Heart Academy students have also made a huge impact through HBFF’s ‘Cycle Circle’ service project. The Cycle Circles are beaded bracelets featuring five bold colors to help young women connect to their menstrual cycles in dignity and with confidence. They are a helpful menstrual hygiene tool to help the girls in East Africa understand and track their cycles. Through CAC activities, close to 50 students have created 500 cycle circle bracelets for HBFF! And as each student completed stringing her 10 bracelets, she was encouraged to keep and wear one herself and empowered to educate her peers about the program and organization. We have no doubt Sacred Heart’s connection to and relationship with Her Best Foot Forward will flourish for many years to come and we are ever grateful for the servant leadership experience the students are receiving. If you’d like to purchase products, Cycle Circle kits or make a donation to Her Best Foot Forward, visit www.footforwardfund.org.
Fueling Fair Trade Two Sacred Heart Academy students, Ella Bean and Haylen Wehr, have been selected to serve as Fair Trade Ambassadors, a program for high school juniors developed by Just Creations, a values-driven marketplace that advocates for marginalized communities of artisans and farmers through promotion of fair trade and social justice. According to their website, the Just Creations Fair Trade Ambassador Program provides in-depth exposure to fair trade, enabling participants to understand and commit to its values. Ambassadors deepen their understanding of fair trade, plan and participate in an Ambassador Day event, prepare and give a presentation on fair trade at their school or church, have the opportunity to visit regional fair trade partners and volunteer monthly at Just Creations. Ella took some time to tell us what becoming a Just Creations Fair Trade Ambassador means to her. Why are you interested in learning more and getting involved with the Fair Trade movement? I am interested in learning more about fair trade because it is such a pertinent issue in our world that pertains to everyone yet usually goes undiscussed. My goal through this program is to educate myself and others about the impact of what we purchase and how these purchases affect the lives of others. In addition, being an advocate for fair trade allows you to step outside of yourself and make a change in not just your community but the whole world. Have you been involved with Just Creations in the past? Volunteer, or in what capacity? I have been involved in Just Creations since I was very young. When I was little my mom would take my brother and I to shop at the store and let us buy little knick-knacks every once in a while. She would always buy the neatest gifts and I would be so excited to receive them on holidays. When I learned about the Ambassador program, I was so excited to be involved in something that meant so much to me in my childhood. FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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Make Your M
YOUR ME
Make your Mess your Message. That’s one motto the mother-daughter duo of Carol and Lauren Hemker ’08, has taken to heart. Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014 and underwent four surgeries. She believes that we should take our struggles and use them to help other people – and that when you make your mess your message, it usually ends up healing you in the process. That compassion and positivity is what led the Hemker women to begin Audrey Liz, a clothing company that makes flattering post-surgical garments with patented functionality. Breast cancer, and the surgeries and treatments that often accompany a diagnosis, can strip a woman of many things that make her feel feminine, like hair and breasts. On top of that, anyone who has had a surgery like this will tell you that the post-operative drains that remove fluid buildup are quite necessary, but impractical and cumbersome. As she helped take care of her mother, Lauren wished for clothing that was functional for dealing with the drains and lack of arm mobility, yet feminine and attractive. The Hemkers were not able to find anything on the market that fit the bill – and thus was born the idea for the Audrey Liz Drain Pocket Top and Shower Scarf. These garments wrangle the pesky drains and are “comfortable, flattering and easy to use.” The idea for the company didn’t actually come until after Carol was through with her treatment and healing. The Hemkers were having a family dinner and Lauren was discussing what she’d do with the Powerball millions if the ticket she’d purchased that day was a winner – and one of those ideas was starting a clothing company to help post-op patients like her mother. She recalls that her father looked her in the eyes and said, “you don’t have to win the lottery to do that.” He was right. Lauren had graduated from Indiana University with a degree in fashion merchandising and psychology – both of which she believes helped in creating a company that supports women through a very difficult time. She and her mother began developing prototypes – they have boxes of those prototypes – and didn’t stop until their design was perfected. The traveled to New York to source fabrics and struggled to find dealers who would meet with their small company from Kentucky. But the women were persistent. They wanted fabric made in the U.S. and eventually established relationships with a couple of U.S. textile manufacturing companies. They developed and applied for the patent. Every time someone told them they would not succeed, they moved on to the next contact. Audrey Liz was named for three generations of strong women – daughter, mother and grandmother who all share the two names – and who have all been touched by cancer. Their strength and perseverance paid off in the launch of the company in February 2020.
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Mess
ESSAGE It’s clear they are strong women of great faith, and both believe in the power of prayer. Lauren recalled that she didn’t realize how Sacred Heart had shaped her faith and moral foundation until she had graduated and gone on to college. She said it was “invaluable,” and recalls favorite teachers who guided her, like our own interim principal Amy Nall who taught her public speaking and retired favorite, Ann Cunningham whom she had for AP Psychology. And because Audrey Liz is located here in Louisville, the story comes full circle to include another Sacred Heart mom. Nicole Carrig currently has a daughter at Sacred Heart and wrote to Mrs. Nall to share a story with her about an SHA alum saying, “I figured we could all use some positivity.” We couldn’t do it justice by paraphrasing, so we’re including Nicole’s message as Mrs. Nall received it.
“One of my be st friends here was recently di and underwen agnosed with br t a double mas east cancer tectomy yesterd they found no ay. She is doin cancer in her ly g great and mph nodes so th My story is from at was wonderf a few days befo ul news! re her surgery. in her backyard A small group (socially distanc of us met ed) to have a gl support before ass of wine and she was headed sh are our in to su rg extremely anxi ery because she ous about wha was understand t was ahead. ably We had read an article in the C ourier-Journal making clothing about a woman for women who who was had the surgery drainage tubes to accommodat and containers e their , so w e ordered a shirt our friend. Whe and shower vest n the designer/ ow for ne r found out that was the next da our friend’s surg y, she reached ou er t y an d away!” and she said, “she’s goin g to need these insisted in driv ri in gh g t th e drop it off. 20 minutes over to the Highlan ds to Lauren Hemke r showed up w ith a pretty pink was a bright lig bag, her flower ht to our evenin ed mask and g. She had a gl shared stories ab as s of wine with out her mom’s us and experience and to my friend’s m recovery that w ental state at th ere so helpful e tim e. of her company We asked Laur and her backgr en about the ge ound. It’s Loui nesis asked where sh sville, so of cour e went to high se someone sc ho ol an just so impresse d she said, “Sac d with her crea red Heart.” I w tivity, empathy, as that I had to sh perseverance an are this story w d kindness ith you.”
To learn more about Audrey Liz and the Hemker’s story, visit www.audreyliz.com.
IN THEIR WORDS: ‘How SHA Shaped Me’ This fall, Gabriella Scott '14, a student at Villanova Law School, was one of eight students on the Villanova Law Review to be selected for publication in Volume 65 as a student. In letting Mrs. Debbie Hudson, ‘99, her former English teacher at SHA know the good news, Gabri said, "I know that I could not have accomplished this feat without the help of amazing teachers like you and wanted to make sure it was memorialized in the dedication for years to come. Getting published has also helped me in my professional goals, and I am so happy to share that I have accepted an offer to join my dream law firm Cozen O'Connor as an associate in Philadelphia after graduation! Once again, I could not have done this without the people like you who have helped me with my writing along the way." Gabri went on to say, “Like a lot of other women at SHA, I was set on medical school while I was in high school, largely because I never had much exposure to the legal field and what it entailed. However, writing and research classes like Mrs. Hudson's and Mr. Heuser's were my favorites. When I decided to switch majors in college, it was because I finally realized I didn't just like writing and research because I was good at them—I was good at them because I liked them and they were my true passion.” Gabri thanked Mrs. Hudson, English Dept. Chair, in the dedication of the published article for being an educator who helped her on her journey.
Julia Neidhardt Rives ‘09, lives in Jefferson City, Missouri, with her husband Robert Rives. Julia and Bob met in college at the University of Missouri in Columbia and married in October of 2018. Julia works as an attorney for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and argues before the appellate courts of Missouri and the Missouri Supreme Court to uphold felony convictions. About her work Julia said, “I am very grateful for the work that I get to do in shaping the law of Missouri. Our goal is not to merely uphold every conviction but to ensure that criminal convictions can be viewed with confidence. We examine each case with the goal of ensuring that justice has been done and that the rights of the accused have been adequately protected.” Julia was recently honored by the Missouri bar with the David J. Dixon award for her appellate advocacy skills. When asked about her Sacred Heart education, she said, "The success I have had is directly attributable to the education I received from Sacred Heart. The IB Diploma program taught me how to think critically, how to research and write, and how to communicate ideas effectively. It was the perfect preparation for law school." Julia also works to mentor law students and young attorneys; and she helps oversee the Missouri Attorney General's recruitment program. "I love teaching and passing on the values that my mentors taught me. I really enjoy interviewing students and offering them advice. I always hope I'll see a Sacred Heart graduate but so far no luck." FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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SETTING THE BUILDING BLOCKS
for the Future
Have hope and firm faith in God, for he will help you in everything. Pray to him, humble yourselves under his great power, because, without doubt, as he has given you this charge, so he will give you also the strength to be able to carry it out. ~Saint Angela Merici
It has now been nearly six months since Dr. Karen McNay began her role as Sacred Heart Schools President. During this time, we have accomplished much together as a community and have much yet to do. Together, we safely reopened all four schools on campus and have kept our students, faculty and staff engaged and healthy. In these uncertain times, we are all grateful for the dedicated administrators, faculty and staff who have made this possible. This year, as we focus intently on the Ursuline Core Value of Reverence – the deep and profound respect for others – we place emphasis on improving our culture of diversity, equity and inclusion campus-wide. Dr. McNay joined this collective journey on her first official day as president and will continue as we create meaningful and lasting change. At the heart of an Ursuline education is compassion, gratitude, and a longing to serve others that is founded in the mission and vision of St. Angela. Dr. McNay is humbled to continue this legacy and has begun collaborating with the new Ursuline leadership team in ensuring the Charism of St. Angela continues to flourish in our schools. Sacred Heart Schools is one of few in the country, and the only Catholic institution in our community, designated as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School District. IB is the best education for our students and instills in each the life skills needed for future success as they grow from learners to global leaders. The attributes of the IB are woven throughout our campus and demonstrated by the leaders educating our children. Dr. McNay looks forward to building on this success and creating greater awareness of the benefits of an IB education. 12
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Now, we look to the future with the creation and execution of an intentional and accountable Strategic Plan for the next five years. The Board of Trustees met to initiate the strategic planning process, review the mission, vision, and values of Sacred Heart Schools, and begin the development of the Strategic Plan aspiration statements. Concurrently, a Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee (SPCC), representing a diverse group of volunteers and administrative leaders, was recruited to provide leadership and coordination for the planning process. The SPCC has the overall responsibility for organizing, crafting, and implementing the Strategic Plan for SHS. Specifically, the SPCC will: • Review and affirm the Strategic Planning process • Make recommendations on all constituencies to be involved in the process • Schedule and conduct meetings with all major constituencies involved in the creation of the plan • Focus the planning process and keep the process as a high priority for the Board of Trustees • Ensure that Board and community core values are reflected in the plan • Develop the written Strategic Plan • Suggest annual planning goals and objectives to meet the multi-year goals of the Strategic Plan • Monitor initial progress toward achievement of plan goals and objectives The SPCC is meeting and conducting constituency-based focus groups consisting of administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, Ursuline Sisters, and other community leaders. The strategic planning process will continue to set the building blocks for the future of Sacred Heart Schools over the next six months and then move into the implementation phase.
WELCOMING THE FUTURE,
Honoring the Past The new entrance to the Ursuline Motherhouse serves as a gateway, welcoming all to the historic and beautiful building that is now home to the leadership teams of both the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and Sacred Heart Schools.
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WELCOMING THE FUTURE, Honoring
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the Past
Coffee, Conversation and Collections Over the last year, the historic Ursuline Motherhouse located on our beautiful 48-acre Sacred Heart Schools campus has undergone a dramatic restoration as it became the leadership hub to both the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and the administrative team of Sacred Heart Schools (SHS). The most visible change and the final piece of the renovation was the addition of a central entry point to the Motherhouse complete with a handicapped-accessible entrance made possible by a $1 million gift from Semmes Brightman, SHA ‘68. Semmes, who took her family name of Semmes as her first name when she moved to New York City, chose to name the space the Semmes Family Vestibule to honor her family – those who have come before, those here now and those to come in the future. In the 1600s, Semmes’ family came to the United States to openly practice their Catholic faith – something not possible in their native England at the time – and the family name changed from Semmes to Simms over the centuries. That strong Catholic faith was passed down through the generations with her parents choosing Catholic education for their three daughters who all attended Sacred Heart Academy and her two brothers who graduated from Catholic schools as well. Semmes recognizes that the faith-based lifestyle, specifically the Catholic faith instilled in her and her siblings by their parents, has been the “thread that kept the family going.” It is because of the importance of this connection that she has also pledged an eight-figure planned gift to Sacred Heart Academy.
While visiting SHA, Semmes had the opportunity to tour her alma mater – specifically the art wing – and to take part in a “Coffee and Conversation” with members of the Forever Valkyries Club, and faculty and students from the art department. Semmes spoke of her time at SHA, relating to the students so beautifully as she told them that it took her a bit to find her place – who she was and who she would become.
“The generosity of remarkable alumnae like Semmes is valued more than words can describe. It allows our schools to remain leaders in Catholic education and it permits that thread of Catholic faith to be woven into future generations of Sacred Heart students. We are so grateful for Semmes’ dedication to Sacred Heart Academy,” said president of Sacred Heart Schools, Dr. Karen McNay.
Art was always the common thread. Semmes found her friends through her art classes and founded a club for all types of artists – visual, vocal, theatrical – at Sacred Heart. After graduating from SHA, Semmes went on to the University of Kentucky as a physical therapy major at her parents’ urging but realized quickly that her passion was elsewhere. So, she changed her major to Fine Arts and burst into the arts scene in New York City.
Sacred Heart Schools held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the steps of the new Motherhouse entrance on November 12, 2020. The fanfare that would typically accompany the completion of this major renovation and announcement of the incredible gift was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions, however, the schools did not want the important moment to pass without proper recognition and gratitude. A small group gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Semmes created and collected art for decades in NYC. As she shared stories and photos of her eclectic collection, Semmes told the girls to trust their aesthetic and have confidence in how they see art and how it makes them feel. She told the group to collect or create art because they love it, not because they think it will be valuable someday. And finally, Semmes shared her favorite quote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone,” and her embodiment of these words is an inspiration to all who have the pleasure to know her.
Semmes was joined by her sisters, Ann Simms Steltenpohl, SHA ’71 and Margaret Simms Sutton, SHA ’76. Other distinguished guests included Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville; Mr. Tim Rutledge, president of the Sacred Heart Schools Board of Trustees; Dr. Cynthia Crabtree, past president of SHS; Dr. Karen McNay, current president of SHS; and Sister Janet Marie Peterworth, previous president of the Ursuline Sisters, as well as a few of Semmes' classmates, family, and friends. Semmes ceremoniously cut the ribbon to the new Motherhouse entrance, but we know that Catholic thread woven through the generations of her family members will continue to spread through future generations of Sacred Heart Academy students because of her generosity.
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GRATITUDE th In 2019, during the anniversary of Sister Lorna’s 60th year as an Ursuline Sister, two Sacred Heart Academy alumnae and sisters, Clara Passafiume Fultz ’84 and Lucy Passafiume Hajare ’79 decided to honor their beloved teacher by endowing a scholarship in her name at Sacred Heart Academy. The Sister Lorna Scholarship was established in the summer of 2020 to celebrate and support a SHA student who has a strong passion for science and is academically motivated. The Passafiume sisters were two of five children, all of whom have ties either as alumnae, parents, or future parents of Sacred Heart Academy. Clara and her husband, Ben Fultz are parents to Mary Klarer Fultz, a member of the class of 2020 and Lena Marie, a current freshman. They are also related to two Ursuline Sisters, Sister Cosma and Sister Sebastian. The ties that bind this family to Sacred Heart and to Sister Lorna are strong and lasting, as will be the legacy created by this scholarship. Here, Lucy Passafiume Hajare shares her experience with Sister Lorna and what inspired her to join with her sister and brother-in-law to create the scholarship in Sister Lorna’s honor.
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I would often think of Sister Lorna during my 30-year career with ExxonMobil, especially when I would receive recognition or a promotion. She was pivotal in my pursuit of a career in Chemical Engineering and I would often think about sitting down to write a letter to her to express my gratitude on just how much she meant to me. Recently, it all came together, and I wanted to share my story. In 1978/79, I was a senior at SHA and became very ill, and therefore missed most of the school year. I was able to do some schoolwork in the hospital, but Sister Lorna told me not to worry about Chemistry, that we would work on it when I was better. I was able to graduate with my class (my class honored me with a standing ovation, since I had just gotten out of the hospital!) but I wanted to finish Chemistry. Sister Lorna asked me to come to the convent in the summer, tutored me through the course work and gave me all the homework, quizzes, and exams. She told me that I had surprised her on how quickly I completed the work, that the material came very easy to me, and that I should study this in college. I had always achieved very high scores in math, but I had never received any personal recognition for my capability in math and science before Sister Lorna. This comment planted the seed of academic confidence and would ultimately direct me in college.
hrough Giving When I arrived at college, I was still recovering from being ill for a year, so I had not thought too much about what to study. I started out in business, then mathematics, then computer science, and then Sister Lorna’s words came back to me. Why was I not pursuing where I excelled? Could I compete? At that point, I knew what Sister Lorna’s words meant…. Chemical Engineering put it all together for me. I knew because of Sister Lorna, that I could compete in a field that was dominated by brilliant men. Last month I retired from ExxonMobil as a Global Technology Manager with a group (mostly men!) that spanned the globe. One of my nieces thinks I had a really cool job since I got to travel and shop, but mostly because I got to boss boys!! In my career, I carried my Catholic education with me. One of my favorite things to do is give direction to people to help them perform at a higher level and most importantly to treat all people fairly and with respect. I attribute these learnings to my parents and my Catholic schooling. It is the small words of encouragement, like what Sister Lorna did for me, that are so important for our young people today.
In speaking with Clara Passafiume, we learned a bit more about their special relationship with Sister Lorna. Clara said, “Sister Lorna was an amazing role model for young women. She taught us to always achieve excellence. Her way of bringing out the best in students was very personal to each of us, that is why she is so beloved at Sacred Heart. As a strong woman of faith, she connects on an individual level to bring out the best in each person.” Clara added that Sister Lorna was the type of teacher and motivator that makes a young girl realize she can do whatever she aspires to do. Her favorite memories of Sister Lorna involve the “original” Beaker – a sweet dog gifted to Sister Lorna by Clara’s class of ’84. She said, “that gives you an idea of how much we all enjoyed Sister Lorna’s chemistry class.” When asked what it meant to her to be able to help a young woman receive a Sacred Heart education, Clara replied, “We were blessed to have been educated in a Catholic school, and by the Ursuline Sisters. Mine and Lucy’s great aunt, Mother Cosma, was Mother Superior of the Ursulines, so our roots at Sacred Heart go deep. By honoring Sister Lorna with this scholarship, we help continue that legacy of Catholic education and formation of young women.”
I think it is only fitting that as I retire, I recognize Sister Lorna’s role in my life. My sister, Clara Passafiume Fultz, her husband Ben Fultz, and I have joined together to start a scholarship fund to honor Sister Lorna’s career. I think that Sister Lorna is such a great example of teaching excellence. So, if you feel that Sister Lorna touched your life, please consider adding to this scholarship fund. Congratulations Sister Lorna and enjoy this small expression of gratitude for what you have done for so many!
Dr. Karen McNay, Mrs. Amy Nall and Scholarship Recipient Julia Frederick '24 joined the celebration.
If you would like to honor Sister Lorna through a contribution to the Sister Lorna Scholarship Endowment, or are looking for a way to honor your time at Sacred Heart through scholarship endowment, please reach out to Beth Clingaman, Vice President for Advancement at 502.736.6467 or bclingaman@shslou.org. FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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The Laurel Award
Sister Jean Anne commented on the sentiment chosen by the Trompeters for the plaque saying it is “beautiful and from the heart.”
The recipients of the 2020 Laurel Award are Bert and Barbara Duerr Trompeter ’50, and it couldn’t be more fitting to honor these two with such a strong and meaningful symbol of the Ursuline tradition. The Trompeters embody and deeply value the legacy and charism of the Ursuline Sisters. It was this great respect and gratitude that led them to sponsor the renovation and creation of the Ursuline Legacy Room in the Motherhouse. Barbara graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1950 and was later blessed to give her five daughters – Ann Trompeter ’74, Kathy Trompeter ’75, Jennie Trompeter Heintzman ’77, Patti Trompeter Nash ’81, and Barbie Trompeter ’84 – the gift of an Ursuline education. Bert and Barbara were both influenced by Ursuline Sisters in myriad ways. Barbara of course learned from Ursulines, graduated with classmates who went on to become Ursuline Sisters, sent her girls through SHA to be taught by Ursulines, volunteered at both the Marion and Nazareth Homes with the Sisters and even had an Ursuline Sister stay with her children when she and Bert were out of town. Bert said Sister Jane would stay with the children and they would come home to happy stories from the girls and a house that had never been cleaner! And though Barbara shares such a special connection to the Ursuline Sisters, she believes the generosity in sponsoring the Ursuline Legacy Room in the Motherhouse found its foundation in Bert. Bert converted to Catholicism a year after their youngest daughter made her First Holy Communion, seeing the blessing the Catholic faith had been to his family. Barbara said, “I’m so proud of Bert. He did not grow up Catholic or go to school with any Sisters. But yet, he is so generous.” When asked what inspired the couple to sponsor the Ursuline Legacy Room, they said quite simply, “because of all the Ursuline Sisters have done for our family.” Keeping the group small due to Covid-19, Barbara and Bert, along with their daughter Jennie Trompeter Heintzman ’77, gathered in the beautiful space along with Sacred Heart Schools president Dr. Karen McNay, Ursuline Sisters president, Sister Jean-Anne Zappa and vice president for advancement, Beth Clingaman. It was here that Dr. McNay presented the Trompeters with the Laurel Award, explaining that the award represents the Laurel Tree which has long been a part of Ursuline tradition, even included in their crest. The Laurel Award honors a member of our Sacred Heart community whose commitment to our schools is strong, deep-rooted and wide-branched. The Trompeters are certainly deserving of this honor. 18
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LEADERSHIP LEGACY Donna Bender Moir ‘79, is a wonderful example of a Valkyrie who embodies so many characteristics that are valued here at Sacred Heart Academy. Throughout her 30+ years as SHA’s Athletic Director, and head basketball coach, Donna has accumulated four state championships – 1 as a player (’76) and 3 as a coach (’02, ’03 and ’04) – and she has successfully led our SHA Athletic Department coaches and players as they have racked up 95 state tournament championship titles. A fierce competitor, Donna also embodies the characteristics of patience, kindness and perhaps most importantly, community. Director of Alumnae, Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95, sat down recently to shine the light on Donna as part of her Alum Spotlight series. Here are some highlights! (Check out our website for the full interview – sha.shslou.org) Who have been some of the big influences in your life? I have known a lot of great people throughout my years at SHA. First and foremost, my parents because they always believed in me. I was always included in anything my dad did – going to the racetrack, playing gin rummy, or golfing with his friends. As an athlete, Bunny Daugherty for sure was a big influence, and my assistant coach Suzie Sigler was instrumental, as well. She helped Bunny coach everything, and we still play golf together. I’ve had so many people at Sacred Heart who have looked out for me. Sister Louise Marie Willenbrink hired me to come back and work at SHA; Sister Judith, Beverly McAuliffe, The Colonel, Betsy Ferch, all have been so good to me throughout the years. I coached Betsy Cowan Ferch (’96) and Carrie Wentzel (’97) as players, and to see them return to SHA as administrators has just been awesome. I am so proud of them! Plus, I had many great players that made me look good as a coach! It is just a great place to be, here at SHA. Obviously, I could not do the job without the support of my husband Rick, he has been my rock. He has always believed in me, helped out at Sacred Heart, always in the background, but someone I could always count on when I started and that is still true today.
How do you help students today balance so much with the distractions of social media and the pressures they face as students and athletes? First and foremost, I support 65 coaches. So, my dealings are mainly with them, and I cannot tell you how proud I am of them. When we played our first game of the season this year (soccer) on the turf field, I had so many people – parents and students - come up to me and say “thank you” because they were grateful to actually be playing this year. Normalcy is so important. Social media has its influence, of course, but the game hasn’t changed. Getting to play with your team holds great meaning and I think that normalcy has really helped these kids. What are some of the ways that you stay connected with your classmates/friends/ colleagues/students from SHA? I write notes all the time. I try to stay current with what is happening with people, and I work to recognize special or important moments in their lives. I am always so happy when I run into a former player or student at SHA and I remember their name to say “hi” – my memory isn’t quite what it used to be! Ultimately, I am proud to represent Sacred Heart. My feeling is, “why would anyone choose any place other than Sacred Heart?,” because I believe so strongly in our school and in our mission. I truly want everyone to be the best they can be, and I feel like women in particular, we need to do a better job of supporting one another and our successes. Sacred Heart has given my daughters and daughter-inlaw, all of my children and my family so much. It’s such a special place.
If it were not for Sacred Heart Academy, I… It’s so funny, because you know, I just always saw myself here, doing what I am doing at SHA. This is just a passion of mine. I always believed in myself and was surrounded by people who believed in me. We have some awesome coaches here and without their dedication and influence on the kids, I would be nothing. I don’t know what my life would have looked like if I hadn’t come back. I explored professional golf as a career, but it was too lonely. I’ve been able to truly have it all – a great job, happiness, a family – I hope that I am showing these girls that, yes, you can have it all. You do not have to settle for something, you can aspire to be whoever you want to be. I have had people ask me when I am going to retire, but I really feel like each day is the first day. I have a real passion for what I do here, and I love it. To talk to kids and get them out of their comfort zone, to push them to try something that they wouldn’t normally try is so important and it helps them see their own potential. As a coach and athletic director, I try to be that person that I would want someone to be for my daughters. FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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As winter approaches, the days get shorter and darker, and it sometimes feels as if the gloom of 2020 will never end! That’s why it was with true gratitude and enthusiasm that Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart School for the Arts presented their fall musical, Bye Bye Birdie, at the Ursuline Arts Center on November 5-8. Everything about this romantic comedy exudes lightheartedness and fun, from the bright costumes and sets, the upbeat score and funny dialogue, and even the nostalgic plot of 1950s lovesick teenagers. It was especially nostalgic for director Kat Moser ‘10, who performed the role of sweet Kim MacAfee, president of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club, in the 2007 production of Bye Bye Birdie at SHA. Kat was working off-Broadway in New York City this spring but returned home to Louisville after the pandemic shuttered the theatre community. She remarks that the opportunity to direct a play at her alma mater was a perfect example of “when God closes a door, God opens a window.” She spoke to music director Jill Schurman about teaching opportunities in the Louisville area and learned about the fall musical, and soon she was hired to direct two separate casts of Bye Bye Birdie. Of course, with the pandemic still in full force and rigorous social distancing procedures in place at all schools on
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campus, the rehearsals and production looked different than they ever had before. Kat was especially grateful to give the student actors “at least some bit of joy in such a hard year,” and remains “proud of SHA and SHSA for getting creative and figuring out how we can make live theatre happen safely in this pandemic.” She has fond memories of her time onstage at the Ursuline School for the Performing Arts, now Sacred Heart School for the Arts, and keeps in touch with many of her former castmates. She remarks that “being an alum and coming back to direct at SHA is truly special. I remember what it was like to be in a show like this in high school and how special it was for me. So to be able to give this opportunity and feeling back to SHA students is truly a blessing.” What a rewarding, full-circle moment to come back to the same campus and direct a new group of performers one decade after graduating. Congratulations to Kat and the blue and red casts and crew for achieving a momentous distinction in the history of SHA theatre--they are certainly the first to perform an entire musical in masks! We will never forget our pandemic musical Bye Bye Birdie and the brightness and joy these students brought to the stage, and to our lives.
This fall, the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and SHA Alumnae Office hosted 60 alumnae for our first-ever Virtual Valkyrie Mentor Networking event. Originally scheduled for March 25, version 2.0 was developed to support nearly 80 SHA students who are actively enrolled as Frazier Fellows, a certificate program offered through the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute. These students are developing critical interpersonal and leadership skills--and what better way to hone them than through a virtual networking event with alumnae they’ve never met! (So very 2020!) Alumnae participants were greeted by new Sacred Heart Schools president, Dr. Karen McNay, JFLI director Lauren Hitron, SHA interim principal Amy Nall and SHA alumnae director Megan Theisen, and then they enjoyed speed-networking with about 75 Frazier Fellows. Thank you to the kind and brilliant alumnae (spanning 6 decades!!) for their time and commitment to the bright futures of our Valkyrie sisters. Once paired, mentors will connect regularly with their Fellow throughout her junior and senior year. Mentors will offer support as this first cohort of Frazier Fellows builds a foundation of leadership development as upperclasswomen at SHA. Our Valkyrie mentors and current students cherished this opportunity to connect and support each other. This is what #ValkyriePride is all about!
Virtual Connection and
Leadership Also this fall, the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute, SHA College Counseling Office and SHA Alumnae Office continued the popular ‘Lunch and Learn’ programs, but of course, took them virtual! Three Valkyrie nurses spoke to students about their different career paths in the nursing profession as well as the education required for their field. Each alum reflected on how the role as a nurse calls them to be servants and credited their time at SHA with inspiring them to be servant leaders. Three more SHA alumnae shared their experiences in the field of marketing and communications. Thank you to our alumnae for sharing their time, wisdom and encouragement with our students! Nursing Mary Catherine Oechslin ’07 – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Anna Middleton ’07 – Nurse Anesthetist Claudia Floore Young ’10 – RN Discharge planner in NICU Marketing and Communications Stephanie Yater Mattingly ’97 – Chief Marketing Office at Long John Silver’s Eleanor Venhoff Renfroe ’98 – Director of Marketing, Isco Industries Annalee Cato Worthington ’84 - Senior Communications Specialist, Corporate Communications, LG&E and KU
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Alumnae THE EMBODIMENT OF URSULINE CORE VALUES
The job of managing an alumnae program in the absence of in-person events this year has been no small task, however, engagement of our SHA alumnae continues to impress, given the challenges brought about by the pandemic. In true Valkyrie fashion, when called upon, you answer and step up to help improve the lives of our sisters, whether current students or graduates. As the alumni director for Sacred Heart Schools, I am never without inspiration to keep charging ahead and reimagining our alumnae program with the community I serve, always at the forefront.
Although our active schedule of events has slowed in 2020, we are fortunate for the technology available today to continue to bring one another together. Whether it’s the class of 2015 doing a Zoom trivia night when Reunion 2020 was postponed or facilitating Lunch & Learns for SHA juniors and seniors to interact with alumnae from a variety of career fields, Valkyries move forward with resolve and determination. They do not shy away from challenges but instead, look ahead with a “let’s make it work!” attitude and ideas that become reality. Since March of this year, your SHA Alumnae Board – led by 2005 alumna Callie Wall – has met monthly via Zoom and continues to make its impact known by showing up to welcome families during the SHA Prospective Student parade in September, supporting Class Rep Connect event in October, making calls for Annual Fund this fall, recruiting alumnae presenters for Lunch & Learns and to helping in any way, when asked. We also proudly welcomed six new members to the board in August. They are: Alison Mulrooney Conway ’97, Amy Helm Baker ’92, Sara Freibert Evans ’03, Samantha Combest ’15, Abbey Fargen Riley ’04 and Emily Pike Stewart ’04.
(named for cherished Ursuline sister and founder of Nativity Academy, Sister Paula Kleine-Kracht) which supports students in need both on our campus, and at Nativity Academy in downtown Louisville. Thank you to these vitally important class reps for your commitment to Sacred Heart, and to helping keep us connected throughout the years. We are grateful! In early November, we hosted our first-ever Virtual Valkyrie Mentor Networking events, bring together sixty alumnae and nearly eighty current juniors in our Frazier Fellows program – part of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute. Talk about inspiring! Modeling a speed-networking session aimed at helping girls build interpersonal and leadership skills, both students and alumnae alike shared their enthusiasm about the program and the opportunity to learn from one another. This partnership between the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and the SHA Alumnae Office will continue to recruit alumnae mentors for future cohorts, and if you are interested you are encouraged to reach out to Megan Brumleve Theisen, SHA Alumnae Director, at mtheisen@ shslou.org or 502.736.6408.
Thanks to these alumnae for stepping up to join our board despite the absence of gathering in person. We are so happy to have you!
Finally, as we continue to find unique ways to connect with and inspire you, I hope you’ll join me on January 27 – the Feast of St. Angela Merici – for a free, lunchtime retreat hosted by the Alumnae Office and Campus Minister, Andrea Hoback ’07. Stay tuned for more information on how you can register through The Horn and social media. If you are not on social media and not receiving The Horn, but interested in participating, please call or email me to sign up!
Our first-ever drive-through/virtual Class Rep Connect event held at SHA September 30 and via Zoom October 1, was a great success! We welcomed alumnae class reps to SHA to pick up class lists & other materials as well as to pick up a thank you gift from the Alumnae Board. Class Reps had an opportunity to meet Sacred Heart Schools’ president, Dr. Karen McNay while staying apart & safely saying “hello” from their cars. Alumnae also donated non-perishable food and canned goods to help stock Paula’s Pantry
As we enter the season of Advent and reflect upon a year which has challenged us to focus on what is truly important in life, I hope that you will find ways to live out our core values in all that you do, and I invite you to reach out to us if you are seeking ways to connect with Dear Sacred Heart. The core values of Community, Service, Reverence and Leadership call us to consider ways that we can put the needs of others above self, and I thank each of you for showing what it means to be a strong woman of great faith. A Valkyrie. ~Megan Brumleve Theisen '95
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An Update on the Annual Fund: This year the SHA Annual Fund is even more vital to ensuring students, faculty and staff have the resources necessary to implement and continue our in person and digital learning amid Covid-19. Your generosity supports tuition assistance, enhanced cleaning protocols, technology upgrades for hybrid learning, allows SHA the resources to recruit and retain the best teachers for our students, and much more. As the Christmas season approaches, we hope that you will remember SHA in your year-end giving plans. Make a gift online at www.shslou.org/giving/ or use the Venmo app @ Sacred-Heart (please include your class year and maiden name, if applicable).
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THE ANNUAL FUND
Thank you for your support and go Valkyries!
Save the Date for Alumnae Unite! In 2021, we are excited to debut a new challenge, bringing together Assumption, Mercy and Presentation again and welcoming Holy Cross and Bethlehem High Schools to our competition. The new Alumnae Unite Challenge will unite 6 schools for 60 hours to engage our alumnae in supporting each school's respective Annual Fund. The Alumnae Unite Challenge will begin at noon on Tuesday, April 13, and conclude at midnight on Friday, April 16. Tune in to SHA’s social media this spring for additional updates. A special thank you to Nannette Mershon ’67, for her vision of the Rivals Unite for Girls Challenge, which has made it possible for SHA to increase our alumnae participation in the Annual Fund for the last five years.
Reunion * Weekend JUNE 2021
Save the Date for Reunion Weekend 2021 We are planning to celebrate in June 2021 with classes ending in 0, 1, 5 and 6 celebrating alongside one another. If you are interested in helping your class plan your reunion, please contact Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95 at mtheisen@shslou.org or 502.736.6408. If you did not receive the brochure mailing, please visit https://sha.shslou.org/apps/form/alum-contact to update your contact information with our office.
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CLASS Notes
2019
2016
Kate Harty has been named chapter president of Chi Omega sorority at the University of Cincinnati. Congratulations, Kate!
2018
Lucy Hubbs has been named Western Kentucky University’s panhellenic council 1st Vice President and she is also the chapter president of the Chi Omega sorority. Congrats to Lucy!!
Sacred Heart Academy is so proud to congratulate alumna Asia Seidt for being named the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year! After an outstanding career in high school, Asia went on to the University of Kentucky, and holds the title of most decorated athlete - male or female - to ever come through the school's swim and dive program. Her accomplishments are too many to count, and she achieved her amazing success in the pool while maintaining a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Asia graduated this May with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with the highest honors and is currently attending UK's physical therapy graduate program. Asia, your Sacred Heart Academy family could not be more proud of you or happier for you! Continued best wishes in your studies at UofK, and you are welcome back home to SHA anytime!
2008
Cassidy “Cass” Herrington won an AP Broadcast award for a story she wrote about the discovery of a Spanish settlement in Appalachia. She's currently a news anchor and reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio in Asheville, NC.
2017
Gabrielle Olson Wadle was named Chief Justice of the Student Judicial Board at Murray State University. Underneath her robe she is still a Valkyrie. Congratulations., Gabrielle!
2005
Erin Frankrone Merrick and her husband Dave, welcomed their second child, Sabrina Carmichael, on June 24, 2020. The Merrick’s live in Nashville, where Erin is Deputy Counsel to the Governor of Tennessee. Molly Owens-Paul was recently married to Chris Paul (Trinity High School '03/Sacred Heart Model School '99). Molly & Chris were married at Sacred Heart School for the Arts – where Chris did theater from 1997-2003 – with immediate family and two close friends. After the ceremony, they spent the afternoon taking photos across campus, including on the field hockey field, where Molly played all 4 years. Those in attendance included maid of honor, Sarah Wunderlin '04, bridesmaids Brooke Paul Noon '98 & Quinn Paul Schulz '05, and mother of the groom, Dr. Anna Jo Paul, former Executive Director of the School for the Arts and honorary graduate of Sacred Heart Academy. 24
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CLASS Notes
2004
Sarah Wunderlin graduated from Murray State University with a Masters of Public Administration in August of 2020.
2004/2005
Alumnae sisters Maria Cowley Quinn (’05) and Eleanor Cowley Mitchell (’04) each recently welcomed a daughter! Maria’s daughter Antoinette Cowley Quinn was born October 11, 2019 and younger cousin Virginia Shanklin Mitchell, came into the world on August 22, 2020. Both girls are already fixtures at SHA’s Horton Field, cheering on the varsity girls field hockey team, which Eleanor coaches. She is also a SHA teacher. Maria serves on the SHA Alumnae Board and is employed by Northwestern Mutual as an associate wealth management advisor.
1995
April Smith celebrated 20 years at Baptist Health this fall. April is a nurse in the critical care unit, serving the most vulnerable of patients in our community. Thank you, April, for choosing this service career and for taking care of many of our loved ones, to be sure!
1979
Nina Leigh Howard Krueger has been named the first female CEO and President of Nestlé Purina PetCare for the Americas. Valkyrie leadership at its finest! Nina resides in the St. Louis area with her family. To learn more about Nina’s SHA story and the value in leadership, read our 2018 interview with her at: https://sha.shslou.org/apps/ news/article/1000098.
Antoinette (aka “Nettie”) and Virginia
CLASS NOTES UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST If you have news to share or a new mailing address, please contact our alumnae office: Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Office 3115 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206 mtheisen@shslou.org You may also share information online by visiting: https://sha.shslou.org/apps/form/class-notes FALL 2020 HeartBeat
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IN
Memory
Alumnae Rosemary Hausman Bockhorst ’45, died August 29. Gayle Boone ’76, daughter of Carol Schutte Boone ’51 and sister of Karen Boone ’79, died October 29.
Jayne McGrath Hibberd ’46, mother of Leslie Williams Zoeller ’77 and grandmother of Samantha Grose ’04, died August 2. Lois Ann Hoffman died July 24. She attended SHA in the 1950s.
Mary Ellen Reynolds Bova ’42, died July 31.
Phyllis Ann Howard ’60, died August 30.
Mary Virginia Broadus ’61, sister of Sue Ellen Broadus Ackerson ’51 and Sallie Broadus Hannigan (dec.) ’48, died July 18.
Jan Gottbrath Gardner ’65, sister of Marilyn Gottbrath Michael ’54, Alice Gottbrath Miller ’62, died May 11.
Jeannette Miller Diemer ’40, died October 20.
Mary Evelyn “Meg” Godfrey Mahan ’53, mother of Margaret Mahan ’77 and Julie Mahan Boyle ’85, died November 5.
Dorothy Besten Dimke ’47, died August 31. June Weis Domian ’58, died September 12. Rosalie Corso “Duck” Frame ’64, died September 21. Joan Wagner Hammer ’45, mother of Mary Beth Hammer ’76, Meg Hammer Adams ’79, Joan Ellen Hammer ’81, died August 31. Patricia H. “Cheese” Martin Hargadon ’59, died October 2. Doris Mary Kuebler Hash ’50, died July 11. Phyllis Shackleford Hedges ’57, died November 6. Louise “Dee” Stickel Hellman ’42, sister of Jean Stickel ’45, died July 18.
Nancy Mullin Mather ’51, died October 8. Carol Ann Beha Nicklies ’53, sister of Rosemary Beha Burke ’48 and Alice Beha Frerman ’52, died August 2. Margaret “Lynn” Clifford Noe ’54, sister of Martha Clifford Altman ’66 and Patricia “Pat” Clifford McTigue ’52, died July 27. Patricia Halloran Salvadori ’46, died October 8. Cara Christine Schoen, died June 28. She attended SHA from 2004-2007. Ruth Ann Rulander Weick ’63, died May 6. Angela Zink ’44, died July 1.
Family William “Bill” Alvarez, husband of Barbara Clem Alvarez ’67, died October 23. Loretta Marie Fallon Arave, mother of Janice Arave Nacol ’69, Cheri Arave Lineweaver ’78 and Lisa Arave Russell ’79 and grandmother of Cherieth Lineweaver Smith ’04, Allison Russell ’07 and Emma Arave ’20, died October 25. Emily Jo Barker, mother of Claire Barker McEwen ’91 and Amy Barker Brown ’87, died September 17. Margaret Barton, sister of Elizabeth Barton ’62, died November 3. Nancy S. Billington, mother of Anne Billington Adair ’93, died July 6. James Garland Bland, Jr., Esq., father of Rebecca “Becky” Bland Foster ’80, died July 1. Paul Blandford, father of Anna Maria Blandford Goss ’89 and Amy Blandford Goss ’91, died September 12. David W. Boggs, father of Abby Boggs ’23, died August 10. John “Jack” Scott Brachey, Sr., father of Jennifer Brachey Dickens ’87 and grandfather of Grace Dickens ’20, died August 1.
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David William Brangers, grandfather of Megan Brangers ’14, Ashley Brangers ’18 and Natalie Brangers ’22, died August 30. Terence “Terry” Brossart, brother of Kim Brossart Brown ’88, died September 2. Nicholas Robert Buckler, son of Susanne Elliott Buckler ’81, died August 16. Doris Fallon Cogan, grandmother of Kathleen Cogan ’08 and Olivia Cogan ’11, died July 20. Paul Roberts “Bob” Cooper, father of Anna Cooper Hyle ‘84 Mary Jude Cooper Pfeifer ’86 and Kelly Cooper ’90 and grandfather of Anna Pfeifer ’20, died October 1. Richard “Dick” A. Dentinger, father of Julie Dentinger Gahm ’90 and grandfather of Lily Gahm ’20 and Ryan Gahm ’17, died June 14. Clarence Billy Dishman, Sr., father of Cynthia Dishman Kirk ’79, died September 9. Ruby Dockery, mother of Mary Dockery Pike ’72 and Linda Dockery ’73 and grandmother of Emily Pike Stewart ’04, died August 31. James L. Doerr, husband of Joyce Sprauer Doerr ’53 and father of Lori Doerr Lowry ’85, died August 12.
IN Memory John Eckerle, M.D., father of Diane Eckerle ’68 and Judy Eckerle Quinlan ’75, died July 23. Mark Russell Elder, brother of Peggy Elder Nichter ’58, Barbara “Babs” Elder Riggs ’60 and Carol Elder Lewis ’63, died August 23. Frank “Gannon” Ellington, Jr., father of Maureen Ellington Lintner ’78 and Barbara Ellington Ramser ’86 and grandfather of Mary Ellen Lintner Vorwald ’11, died August 20. Stephen Martin Fink, brother of Vanessa Fink McDermott ’78, died September 9. Lawrence “Larry” Dennis Foushee, husband of Rosalie “Rosie” Senn Foushee ’57, died July 19. William H. “Bill” Gillespie, M.D., father of Joan Gillespie ’80 and Ann Gillespie Huso ’83, died May 23. Nicholas Warisse Glaser, M.D., father of Martha Glaser Lampe ’73 and Alyssa Glaser Bryant ’79, died September 2. George Conrad Haeberlin, father of Melissa Haeberlin Parrish ’86 and grandfather of Leah Parrish ’21, died June 24. Joseph Guy Hagan, Jr., father of Karen Hagan Bauer ’79, Krista Hagan Faltin ’81 and Karla Hagan Tomlinson ’83, and grandfather of Sophia Faltin ’12, died September 28. Robert “Bob” Haragan, father of Ellen Haragan ’69, Nancy Haragan ’69 (dec.) and Mary Haragan Radway ’72, died October 15. Foster L. Haunz, husband of Patricia Boland Haunz ’58, father of Carla Haunz Rusconi ’81 and Leah Haunz Johnson ’84, grandfather of Ella Haunz Johnson ’18 and Daphne Haunz Johnson ’20 and brother of Agnes Haunz Blandford ’62, Sister Ruth Ann Haunz ’64, Carol Haunz Greulich ’67 and Theresa Haunz Burnside ’70, died October 20. Hayden Francis Heaphy, Sr., father of Virginia Heaphy Belmont ’69, died November 9. Charles W. Hebel, father of Loren Hebel-Osborne ’84 and grandfather of Devyn Hebel ’22, Maddy Hebel Ledbetter ’08 and Lizzie Hebel ’09, died September 30. Mary Agnita Heer, mother of Jacqueline Heer Hellmann ’67, died September 28. David Leo Heuke, father of Chris Heuke Richards ’84 and Michele Heuke Blandford ’90, died July 28. Mary Lee Horine, sister of Anna “Maria” Patella Sherrard ’69, died September 1.
Barbara Ann Miller, mother of Laurie Miller Ware ’73, died July 25. John Joseph “Johnny” Moore, father of Jessica Moore Spalding ’99, died October 22. Gary Olsen, husband of Jane Buk Olsen ’70, died July 23. Jo Anne Crowdus Pierce, grandmother of Lindsey Crowdus Hinners ’03 and Jenna Crowdus Morrell ’08, died August 6. Thomas R. Rampenthal. Sr., grandfather of Avery Rampenthal ’16, died August 19. Gavin Reherman, husband of Lauren Charmoli Reherman ’00, died October 4. John Stephen Resch, Sr., father of Megan Resch ’99 and Stephani Resch Rarig ’01, and brother of Michele Resch ’70, died October 14. Sarah E. Salyer, daughter of April Klein Salyer ’96, died October 30. Earl Schlegel, Sr., D.M.D., father of Tracy Schlegel Pomeroy ’78, Susan Schlegel Jacobs ’80 and Amy Schlegel Melcher ’82, died April 17. Patricia Sermersheim, mother of Patsy Sermersheim ’79 and Emily Sermersheim ’82, died August 10. Robert Clark Shea, brother of Betty Shea Cavin ’42, died June 16. Kendrick Simms, Jr., husband of Mary Patricia Bueren Simms ’46, father of Cathy Simms ’72 and Kristen Simms Klakulak ’84 and brother of Barbara Simms Carpenter ’54, died August 31. Michael Smith, brother of Sue Smith Strom ’64, died July 3. Alice K. Thompson, sister of Anna Keith Wihelmi ’50, died July 29. Mary Ann Cash Coomes Thompson, mother of Leah Coomes Fust ’83, died October 6. Jeannette Edna Franzman Timmering, mother of Lisa M. Timmering ’80 and Jonna A. Timmering ’82, died April 13. Johnny Toombs, husband of Lynda Davis Toombs ’61 and father of Jennifer Toombs Corum ’86, died November 1. Geraldine Brutscher Wadell, mother of Jamie Wadell ’71, Janice Wadell Huddleston ’72 and Mary Beth Wadell Byron ’81, died November 3. Alfred Ray Watts, husband of Mary “Marty" Huber Watts ’57 and father of Julienne Watts Vazzana ’92, died September 28.
Mary Rita Kemper Horn, mother of Connie Horn Armstrong ’84, died October 25.
Dianne Marie “Dee Dee” O’Dea White, mother of Theresa White Hoefflin ‘83 and sister of Kathy O’Dea Heineman ’65, died July 5.
Margaret Jackson, mother of Carol Jackson Blair ’75 (dec.), Holly Jackson Vaughan ’74 and Joan Jackson Tichenor ’81, died September 13.
Katherine Allen Whitehead, mother of Randal Whitehead DeSalvo ’69, Dana Whitehead Roberts ’72 and Shelley Whitehead ’77, died November 6.
Carlyn Murphy King, sister of Kelly King Doerlflinger ’87, died July 22. Gloria Kleinholter, mother of Christine Kleinholter ’76, Susan Kleinholter ’77 and Lisa Kleinholter Roberts ’79, and grandmother of Kristen Roberts ’02, died August 25. Joy S. Koniak, mother of Francie Koniak Russell ‘97, died October 23. Eva Lankswert, mother of Vicki Lankswert McClain ’79 and Linda Lankswert ’82, died June 10. William Paul Mahoney, Jr., husband of Ann Chawk Mahoney ’66, died September 29. “Judge” Michael Owen McDonald, father of Judy McDonald-Burkman ’77, Jenny McDonald Gehlhausen ’78 and Julie McDonald Olsen ’80 and grandfather of Judith Gelhausen ’07, Elisa Burkman ’11 and Ingrid Olsen ’15, died July 16.
If you would like to make a donation in memory of a classmate, family member or classmate’s family member, please call 502.896.8681. You may also send a check, payable to “Sacred Heart Academy” to Sacred Heart Schools Office of Institutional Advancement
Mary Grace McGee McLeod, sister of Cathy McGee Catlett ’61, died August 25.
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John Miles, Jr., father of Jane Miles ’84, died November 1.
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