Fall 2015
The Marymount Magazine
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CONTENTS Fall 2015
Looking Toward the Year Ahead
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An interview with rising Student Body President Sophie Regan
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Letter from the Head of School
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Happenings Around Campus
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In Loving Memory of Marie Johnson
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Looking Toward the Year Ahead
10 Finding Your Passion 12 The 2015 Marymount Internship Program 14 Arts 16 Student Life 18 Year-End Athletics Recap
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Graduation
20 Graduation 2015 38 “ Watch Our Women” Alumnae Series 40 Alumnae Reunion Weekend 42 Alumnae Awards 44 Alumnae and Les Anges Events 46 Class Notes 50 Marymount By the Numbers
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“ Watch Our Women” Alumnae Series
DEAR
Marymount Community,
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n recent conversations with several prominent Deans of Admission, one from a top-tier California research university and another from an Ivy League institution, I was surprised that the topic they wanted to discuss most was whether Marymount was a joyful place. They elaborated, wanting to know if the environment on campus is one where our students are not just
themselves, brings out a distinctive quality in all of our graduates, something that I like to call “the joy factor.” We’ve been very diligent at Marymount, studying how girls learn best and beyond that, building a structure around them that allows for critical “open moments” throughout the days to inspire often sidelined activities like creative brainstorming, play, and leisure. It is in these moments that we see our girls discover that elusive “joyful spark,” and is also when they produce their best work, whether they have to decide on the final topic for their Service Fair project or devise an innovative way to tackle their group science assignment as a team. Having this space in their schedules and minds allows them to think outside the box and, more importantly, to find joy in the learning process.
There truly isn’t a day that goes by that our students don’t show us the joy that lives deep within them. Through the support of our program, the sisterhood of their peers and the sense of collaboration across our community, Marymount students are thriving. Seeing their exuberance, hearing their laughter and watching their smiles radiate is beyond infectious – it is to me, the true test of how well we are instilling this critical, yet simple value: the joy of learning for life. I hope that you find the pages ahead to be a testament to this “joy factor” at Marymount, and how our community is truly alive with the jubilance and the energy we are privileged to witness in our students each day. Warmly,
Jacqueline L. Landry
Our focus on both academic excellence, and the true nurturing of women who can see a world greater than themselves, brings out a distinctive quality in all of our graduates, something that I like to call “the joy factor.”
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Pinning Day, 2014
Anyone who has recently read the New York Times or other leading publications has seen the many articles on large, difficult-to-address topics currently plaguing even the most prestigious higher-ed institutions: depression, academic burnout, violence, and student discipline issues – the list could go on. Because of this, university and collegiate admission officers have had to look more deeply into the values, quality and character of their prospective students, all areas where I see Marymount girls shine. Our focus on both academic excellence, and the true nurturing of women who can see a world greater than
“When was the last time you saw teenagers singing and skipping to class together, hand-in-hand or sitting in their Advisor’s office for hours after school, telling her how meaningful it was to spend a retreat week volunteering on Skid Row with their classmates? Or walking into a roomful of girls who, instead of competitively cutting each other down, cheer and clap loudly for every single one of their peers when they received accolades at our year-end awards ceremony, loudest even for the youngest in the bunch?”
Fair, 2013
When asked by these Deans to “tell them more about joy and collaboration at Marymount,” my brain ran through a reel of rich examples of joy that I see in our girls each day. I then turned the question back to them and asked:
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challenged academically, but also happy and emotionally thriving. The reasoning behind these questions, was their recognition of how students who are unhappy and overly stressed, have a difficult time transitioning into University life in a sustainable way.
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THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 1
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WHAT KIND OF GIRL EXCELS AT MARYMOUNT?
Every kind. Marymount girls reside across the Greater Los Angeles area, representing over 70 zip codes and 80 different middle schools. Marymount girls are thinkers, scientists, writers, athletes, artists, advocates and friends. When a girl joins our Marymount family, she has set herself on a path of leadership and excellence, finding ways to nurture her existing passions and having the courage to seize new opportunities that come her way.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 3
Happenings AROU FATHERS CLUB BBQ This past April, on a glorious California afternoon that felt more like summer than spring, we welcomed over 150 Marymount Dads to campus for the annual Fathers Club BBQ and Senior Celebration! Run by the 2015 Fathers Club President Pat McRoskey, the entire Marymount community was treated to an outstanding hamburger bar on sunny senior lawn as we got a chance to learn more about where members of the senior class will be heading for their next chapters. This tradition is beloved by Marymount Dads, students and faculty alike, and we can’t thank them enough for all of their energy, delicious food, and great company. Here’s to many more years of BBQ-ing to come!
RSHM International Network of Schools 2015 Conference In late June, Head of School Jacqueline Landry traveled with Spiritual Life Coordinator, Rebecca Bostic, and Theology Teacher, Christie Muller, to New York City for the RSHM International Network of Schools Annual Conference. At this event, Ms. Landry, along with Heads of School from 16 schools in the Marymount Network (pictured below) met to discuss the RSHM Mission, and how it is being brought to life and lived out in each individual school. The group visited the United Nations as guests of Sr. Veronica Brand, RSHM, who runs the RSHM NGO at the United Nations. The group visited the original Provincial House in Tarrytown, New York and also had the privilege of being addressed by Leymah Gbowee, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work as a Liberian peace activist, and a Marymount New York parent. It was an inspiring experience, and our team looks forward to bringing an even stronger sense of the RSHM mission to our community during the upcoming year.
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A Better Self for a Better Marymount’s signature leadership conference, A Better Self for a Better World (BSBW) inspired more than 100 teen girls to be bold, brave and, most importantly, to be themselves!
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escribed by Executive Team Chair Norani Abilo ’16, Marymount’s all-girls leadership conference A Better Self for a Better World (BSBW) “is a day that inspires girls to own their best qualities, honor the qualities that they see in others and then put all of that toward projects that better the community around us.” A one-day conference for middle school girls, run exclusively by a dedicated team of Marymount student leaders, BSBW is now celebrating its fourth year and has grown to include over 100 students from all across the Greater Los Angeles area. The BSBW Executive Team, made up of seven dedicated upperclassmen, met frequently throughout the spring semester to plan and refine the structure and themes of the conference. Drawing from previous years’ successes and adding their own flair to the day at large, the conference was broken up into four distinct sections: icebreakers and trust-building activities, thematic talks written and delivered by BSBW leaders, interactive activity breakout sessions, and group community service projects. This year’s speeches and breakout sessions covered topics ranging from open-mindedness to confidence, and self-respect to giving back, ultimately all focusing on helping girls to be their best selves. Color-coded friendship bracelets celebrating each other’s best attributes were made and humorous skits were performed – all with a central focus on personal growth, reflection, and fun.
ND CAMPUS W orld Conference “My favorite part of the conference was seeing the transformation that takes place within the group of participants over the course of the day,” said Executive Team Chair Maddy Heldman ’16. “The attendees start out timid and nervous when they first arrive, but by the end of the day, the girls are so outgoing, not afraid to get up in front of a room to share what they’ve learned, and are all fast friends! My biggest hope is that all of our participants leave more confident and aware of the impact that they can make in each other’s lives and in the community around them.” Toward the end of the day, the conference attendees completed four robust service projects alongside a staff of thirty eight Marymount student volunteers. Together, this team of young women produced the following for local organizations across Los Angeles: • 152 toiletry bags for women at the Santa Monica Shelter (SAMOSHEL) • 203 bagged lunches for the LAMP Shelter • 131 welcome cards for Special Olympics World Games Athletes • 136 stress balls for the Torrance Pediatric Therapy Network In just a day’s time, these young women accomplished so much, both personally and collectively. The confidence that blossomed, the new friends that were made and the impact that the service activities had on the local community were all astounding. We look forward to the continued growth of this inspirational program for years to come! A special thanks for the tremendous effort and leadership from the 4th Annual BSBW Executive Team: Norani Abilo ’16, Valory Banashek ’17, Caroline Cooper ’17, Kaitlyn Greta ’16, Lauren Gurbach ’16, Maddy Heldman ’16 and Kate Wegleitner ’16.
ABC7’s Jovana Lara Visits Marymount’s Drone Flying Workshop
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s the school year wound down this past May, Marymount launched a series of workshops for students focused on coding and interdisciplinary design thinking. In partnership with two all-girls summer tech programs (Alexa Café by ID Tech and The Flatiron School), Marymount hosted a drone-flying workshop for fifteen select students to cap off the academic year. Inspired by the ingenuity of the workshop and Marymount’s efforts to promote opportunities for girls to engage in these exciting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fields, ABC7’s Jovana Lara visited campus to participate in the workshop alongside the girls. As she interviewed instructors and students alike, and watched the girls in action as they learned how to fly the drones through a series of self-written code, it was evident how much passion and excitement has been building around this movement at Marymount. “The thought of being able to have an idea and then actually have the tools or workshops to make it happen is what makes me most excited about the Marymount MAKERS Movement,” said rising junior Maddie Zaloom, who interned with Google’s prestigious Girls Who Code program this summer. With many of our students already versed in coding basics, the drone programming process came naturally, as a team of students commanded the drones to flip, put on light shows and “dance” together in synchronization. Jovana’s story aired on ABC7’s primetime evening news and can be found on the Marymount MAKERS Movement website, along with other exciting updates on the growth of our overall STEAM program (www.mhs-la.org/MHSMAKERS).
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 5
In Loving Memory
of
Marie Johnson
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THE VOICE OF MARYMOUNT FOR 24 YEARS
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I remember many days spent in the halls of the Administration building for retreat team and student council meetings, and Marie was always there with a giant smile. I will also always remember her incredible laugh, which was so bright and full of joy. She was a truly wonderful woman whom I will always remember dearly.
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– CHRISTIE CLOUGH BISHOP, ’97
t has been with heavy hearts that we’ve mourned the loss of our beloved receptionist and the “Voice of Marymount” for 24 years, Marie Johnson. Marie passed on May 15, 2015 after many beautiful years of life. Marie was loved by generations of Marymount Faculty, Staff, and most importantly, by our students and families who brought her joy every day. She will be remembered as one of the kindest, most gracious souls, and our community will always miss this beacon of light and grace at the front desk.
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Although I love Marymount, I am not there very often, but whenever I would telephone, a voice would welcome me with grace and calm. I never knew who spoke with me for a few moments so graciously. Now, I do: Marie Johnson. Her openness to me as an alumna assured me that I was still part of Marymount’s family. That is what our community is, an educational family in soulful relationship. Marie’s kindness and thoughtfulness drew me in to the spirit and joy of communal thriving. In the brief moments of our interactions, she helped me to realize the power of voice that can move another. May her family at home and at Marymount carry forth with her light.
– CRIS GUTIERREZ, ’73
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I will never forget the first time I entered the beautiful Administration building of the Marymount campus and met Marie. Our family was new to the school this past year, and Marie was the first person we met when we came to tour the school. She was warm and cheerful and left a wonderful lasting impression on all of us. She was gracious and kind without fail. We will remember her lovely voice, and we will truly miss her every day.
– THE STAAKE FAMILY
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My family was always so grateful for Ms. Johnson’s warmth and kindness. This photo taken on my graduation day captures a beautiful memory I have of my mother thanking Ms. Johnson for always taking such good care of both her girls during our years at Marymount. I think this photo perfectly expresses just how thankful we all were to have her as a part of our Marymount family.
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– OLIVIA FELDMAN, ’08
Excerpts from a poem written for Marie by Alumna Katelin Wagner, ’12
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Ms. Johnson had a voice, like a forest of hummingbirds, She was the first hello and final goodbye to anyone that set foot on my high school campus The top of her head could barely be seen over the receptionist desk But that didn’t stop her from being the Willy Wonka of Marymount She doled out free candy like golden tickets to every student even if it was 8 in the morning Ms. Johnson did not care if you got cavities, as long as you stayed sweet inside
“ Marie was among, and will always be, one of my dearest friends here at Marymount. I have so many wonderful memories of Marie. Whenever I answered the phone at the front desk, inevitably, the first comment by a familiar caller was, “This isn’t Marie.” Her beautiful voice welcomed every caller into our community. Her gentle kindness and warmth welcomed every visitor. Several years ago, Marie was invited to be the keynote speaker at Marymount’s Diversity Conference. I will end this in the same way that Marie ended her address to the students:
High school could feel a lot like being stuck in 405 traffic at times – everyone is playing terrible music and being overly aggressive, but Ms. Johnson was a church, abandoned in the wild, Was a confetti bomb of joy with hugs that felt like being wrapped in duvet covers Her desk was the first house to ever keep my vulnerability safe
of you is an instrument of peace. You are our “Each conscience. You are our pulse, our energy. You are the citizens who will guide us to new heights, to new beginnings. What a lovely future our country has. One by one, peacemakers make a difference. Go. Increase the peace.
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– MARLENE BATHKER
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I always told Marie that she was my angel and now she truly is. When I would leave Marymount for the day she would say, “Safe ride home, Traci.” Safe ride home, sweet Marie. God be with you.
– TRACI MAFFEI, ’87
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Marie was the first person I met at Marymount, in 2003. Before the greetings, interviews, and tours, my mom brought me to the front desk to ask for directions. I’ll never forget Marie’s soft, reassuring voice and gentle demeanor dissolving my initial anxiety as she welcomed us to Marymount. That was so important for me at that age, and she was one of the reasons I knew from that first day onward that Marymount would be a safe and encouraging place for me. She was a true blessing.
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Whenever anyone asked How could this one little woman who’s been a receptionist for 20 years be so content? She’d say: “My secret to happiness: begin and end every day with a smile” I like to think before Ms. J died, she buried a piece of sunlight inside the backs of all our throats – So that, now, whenever we open our mouths we can be an orchestra of her laughter that will never mute.
– JOHANNA SPOONER, ’07
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 7
Summer on
Campus
ADVANCED STUDY SUMMER PROGRAMS: Sage Strieker ’17 attended an accelerated “Intro to Software Engineering” course through Marymount’s partnership with The Flatiron School. Reflecting on the two weeks she spent in this course, Sage told us:
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Taking this course was absolutely lifechanging and a complete “deal-closer” in really knowing that computer science is the field for me. I can emphatically say that I am going to code for the rest of my life whether it be creating applications to help better the medical industry, developing awesome games for companies like “Media Molecule,” or being a white hat hacker for the FBI. This program gave me the chance to get a much better understanding of what computer
programming is all about. Prior to The Flatiron School course I had attended a hackathon and taught myself some coding language, but now I realize I really had only scratched the surface! At Flatiron on the other hand, I truly felt challenged and had the opportunity to completely immerse myself in the fundamentals of software engineering. I have grown as a person in that I have learned how to become a really good team player and I now revel in my mistakes since I know
UCLA Summer Tech Camp
that they are just learning experiences. With that, I have found a new sense of determination to figure things out and it has made me view learning in a completely new light. From Flatiron I’ve learned to now encourage myself to make mistakes; to embrace other students and ask them for help just as much, if not more, than I ask my teachers; to never take myself too seriously; and to try my best to always be creative. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the summer!
COSMOS Program
“UCLA Tech Camp was a wonderful experience for me this summer. This camp was very hands-on: we built our own working robot that played hockey! Through the program I was immersed in all aspects of engineering: from programming to the economics and the history of engineering to creating things in a machine shop. This camp truly made me understand what engineering is all about. Not only did we learn a lot, but we also had a lot of fun along the way, making friends and memories that won’t be forgotten.” – CARMEN VOSKUHL ’17
Faculty Members Visit Marymount New York’s Fabrication Lab This summer, four faculty members from various academic departments got the opportunity to visit Marymount New York’s “Fab Lab,” short for fabrication lab. The Fab Lab is a combination of three spaces across campus dedicated to inspiring students in fields such as engineering, design and computer science. Our team of four was inspired by these spaces and by the strides that Marymount New York has made in bringing forth new technologies and ideas to students. “Marymount NY is a 8 / Marymount High School
Rising junior Hyewon Lee sent us a photo of her “cluster” team at the prestigious summer COSMOS Program, put on by the UC school system. Hyewon studied the “Sound for Mobile Devices: Physical Modeling and Programming” seminar for four weeks at UC Irvine, telling us that one of the greatest takeaways from the program was, “seeing the value of collaboration, because with the help of my classmates, I was able to more quickly and deeply learn various software programs and coding language.”
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wonderful trailblazer for the MAKERS movement in schools. They’ve had students working with 3D printers and other fabrication equipment for enough time to start seeing the impact of this studio space on their girls. Their team’s insight and experience is a great asset for our community here in Los Angeles, and having the ability to collaborate and share ideas with them is an invaluable resource,” says coding workshop instructor Adrian Skrentny. Asked what was most inspirational about the overall visit to these labs, Director of STEM, Will Walker told us, “Marymount NY has strived to connect their MAKERS movement to the RSHM mission, engaging students to look beyond the making of widgets for their own sakes. I would love to combine the imagination that our girls have with their newly developing talents to create new solutions to real problems.”
MARYMOUNT WELCOMES THE CLASS OF 2019!
Update from Academic Dean , Kathleen Macdonell
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s we welcome our Sailors back for the ’15-’16 academic term, I am proud of all we have accomplished as a faculty team over the summer to enhance the academic program for the year ahead. From the addition of two new courses in response to our students’ academic interests (Multi-Variable Calculus and AP Psychology), to the addition of digital portfolio creation for our incoming class, as well as a cross-curricular study of how all departments can impact our growing Marymount MAKERS Movement, there are many things to be excited
NEW SAILOR STUDENTS
For more detailed updates on our academic program and new faculty bios, please visit our website’s “Academics” tab (www.mhs-la.org/Academics) – it is sure to be a great year ahead!
Representing
NEW FACULTY PROFILE SAMANTHA HAZELL-O’BRIEN, ENGLISH his year we welcome Samantha HazellO’Brien to the Marymount English Faculty. Joining us from Little Rock, Arkansas where she previously taught at Episcopal Collegiate School, Samantha graduated from the College of William & Mary with an undergraduate degree in English and Secondary Education. Samantha also earned an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University, inspiring her to work in the world of book and magazine publishing in
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Looking Toward the Year Ahead T
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about throughout the upcoming months. We are also proud of our continued commitment to ensuring a global presence across campus, and this year welcome a new group of international students coming to us from the UK, China, Korea and Dubai, along with a new faculty member from Australia.
New York City. Deciding to combine all of her passions together, Samantha will teach in the English Department and also moderate our growing student newspaper, The Anchor. Asked what she is most looking forward to about next year, Samantha said, “I’m very excited to find new, budding journalists amongst the student body and feel very blessed to join the Marymount family!”
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Merit Scholars and 28 students accepted with Academic Distinction
“Marymount is a good fit for me because my core values are what Marymount encourages. Marymount’s tagline defines what I always come back to when I’m faced with a difficult decision”. – LILLY BRODIE-BERGE ‘19
“Marymount develops the whole person while also providing challenging academics. From the moment I stepped onto Marymount’s campus, something clicked. I felt welcomed and content in the supportive, tranquil environment. I love the challenging academics and encouragement to be a leader”. – SARAH FRY ‘19
Campus Updates This fall we are excited to launch a new all-inclusive lunch program for our community through SAGE Dining. A newly renovated kitchen and café will accommodate this new dining program, full of healthy, organic options for our students and faculty. Plans for further updates to campus over the coming year include enhancements to The Marian Library and science labs located on the ground floor of Cantwell Hall, as well as landscaping and additional signage on Sunset Boulevard.
“Marymount offers me a balance between strong academics, a caring social community and competitive athletics. I am excited to attend an all girls school and to be in smaller classes so I can work closely with my teachers. I also like that Marymount will provide an opportunity to be in an environment where my religion matters”. – AVA PRUNIER- HERMAN ‘19 THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 9
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his past May, we were blessed to have Lucy Meyer speak to our community about leadership, determination and the inclusion of all people. Lucy is a rising 9th grade student with cerebral palsy who has won gold medals in prior Special Olympics swimming events, and was chosen as one of just 25 Global Messengers for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, held here in Los Angeles!
Finding Your Passion:
The Marymount community was inspired by Special Olympics Global Messenger Lucy Meyer as the World Games were hosted in Los Angeles.
The Marymount Athletic Council Members with Lucy Meyer and former Olympian Rafer Johnson after Lucy’s inspiring presentation to the Marymount community.
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Joined by Rafer Johnson (Olympic gold medalist and one of the founders of Special Olympics California), Lucy Meyer spoke to our Marymount community about the exciting World Games that were hosted here in our back yard this summer. During her presentation, Lucy first taught us some basics about the Special Olympics organization at large, more specifically how it is a year-round sports organization whose athletes train and compete on both a local and national level. The World Games mirror the Olympics themselves, hosted every two years, alternating between summer and winter sports.
Lucy also told us more about her personal journey, how much she has loved competing within this organization and how many amazing people she has been able to meet and inspire throughout her time as a Global Messenger, including President Obama! After her presentation, Lucy and the Marymount Athletics Council hosted a school-wide lunch activity where students worked on welcome cards in multiple languages for the nearly 7,000 athletes from 165 different countries who participated in the World Games. This past summer, students from the Athletic Council were invited by Lucy and her family to join their World Games Kickoff Celebration with many Special Olympics supporters and the Israeli Special Olympics Team (see sidebar to the right). A huge thank you to Lucy, Rafer and all Marymount Community members who are involved with and support Special Olympics! Lucy, we look forward to watching and supporting you as you continue to serve as a Global Messenger for this incredible organization!
+ Lucy just finished her middle school years and already has won several gold medals through her years as a competitive swimmer with the Special Olympics organization. This year, she was selected as just one of 25 Global Messengers for the Special Olympics World Games here in Los Angeles.
KATY CLOSE ROBERTS ’96
THE MARYMOUNT ATHLETIC COUNCIL GETS INVOLVED WITH THE WORLD GAMES!
Special Olympics Volunteer for 15 years
Alumna and current staff member Katy (Close) Roberts ’96 took her first job with Special Olympics Wisconsin after graduating from UCLA. While majoring in psychology and child development, Katy discovered an interest in studying how different individuals develop, play, and learn. An avid sports fan and soccer player from kindergarten through her four years of Marymount, Katy decided the position would be a great opportunity to combine her passion for sports with her knowledge of developmental psychology. After five years in Wisconsin, Katy moved back home to Los Angeles, where she continued her involvement with this great organization. After meeting a dedicated group of volunteers (including her husband!) who are responsible for the management of Special Olympics events throughout Southern California, her passion for the mission “just stuck.” Her favorite volunteer shirt aptly reads, “WARNING: Special Olympics is highly addictive and you may be hooked for life!” This past summer, Katy was instrumental in coordinating the World Games Aquatics venue, volunteer force and competition hosted at the USC Aquatics Center. Difficult to pin down what her favorite Special Olympics moment has been, Katy said, “It’s hard to pick any one memory, as the days I spend at Special Olympics events are always my favorites of the year. It is such an honor to be part of an organization that feels like a huge family, emphasizes athletic excellence and celebrates personal achievement. To share in the joy and determination you see on the athletes’ faces when they compete is quite simply, an unmatched experience.”
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At the World Games kickoff celebration for the Israeli Special Olympics Team at Lucy Meyer’s house, I met a lot of interesting people and was able to help run games and stations across the party. I met many athletes and supporters while running both the photo and basketball booths, and was inspired by all of the amazing athletes around me. Every person I met was so happy to be in LA for the Games – hearing how hard each of the athletes had worked to get to this point in their sport was a true inspiration, and showed me that anything is possible with such joy and dedication behind you. Many thanks to Lucy and her family for letting us be a part of such an awesome day! – CLARE COOPER ’17
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 11
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T The Marymount
Internship Program
his past summer, with many thanks to Head of School Jacqueline Landry and Director of Girls Leadership Robin Pickett, The Marymount Internship Program grew once again, with over sixty students (30% of the eligible student body) participating in a Marymount-sponsored internship and/or advanced study program. We are proud of the growth of this program, the breadth of the internship placements, as well as the access our students gain to inspiring mentors and real-life work experience. From neurosurgery to art conservation and public relations to architecture, there has been no shortage of incredible opportunities for our girls, and we look forward to the continued growth of this program throughout the coming year! For a full listing of the 2015 Marymount Internship Program placements, please see the box to the right.
STUDENT INTERN REFLECTION OLIVIA BOWMAN ’16 When I first heard about the internship program as a rising junior, I did not know if I wanted to apply. After the long school year, I was looking forward to summer days of doing nothing, but as my mom wisely pointed out, I would get bored of that really quickly. I looked through the brochure of Marymount’s various internships and saw that there was one offered in the Department of Homeland Security. I was already interested in government, so this internship sounded really interesting, and I decided to apply. On my first day, I nervously entered LA City Hall, not knowing what to expect or that the internship would be one of the best experiences of my life. It was my first time working in an office environment and
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I was able to see the breadth of jobs offered within the many government departments. I met many interesting and dedicated people, one of whom was Mayor Eric Garcetti, who kindly agreed to meet and talk with the interns in his beautiful office. The internship gave me knowledge of what a career in government might look like, and I would not trade my experience at City Hall last summer for anything. After such a great experience with that internship, I was eager to apply for another placement through the program this summer. As much as I loved the government experience, I wanted to broaden my interests and try something new. I again looked through the brochure and saw a new internship for the television
show America’s Funniest Home Videos (AFV). I had recently become interested in television production, so the internship sounded like the perfect way to get a hands-on experience in that industry.
of AFV’s social media, like making video compilations for their YouTube channel – there is an amazing sense of satisfaction when I see a video I personally made get millions of views.
On my first day, I was quickly introduced around and put straight to work, which was a little scary but everyone could not have been more welcoming. This program was so amazing because my bosses really cared about me and the other interns, and wanted to teach us as much as they could about the industry in a short period of time. I have met with head producers and marketing people for Vin Di Bona Productions, who told us about their own careers and the paths they took to get where they are today. I was also able to do a lot
Overall, my experience across two summers of The Marymount Internship Program has given me the opportunity to work with incredibly interesting people and has strengthened my teamwork skills, which I believe to be crucial not only in a school environment but also in any career. I have gained valuable insight into possible professions I could pursue, as well as confidence in my abilities to successfully pursue whatever I am interested in throughout my future!
CO ARCHITECTS MARYMOUNT INTERNS: TIFFANY CAPPELLARI ’16 AND SOPHIE REGAN ’16
SUMMER 2015 INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS & ADVANCED STUDY PROGRAMS Adventures of the Mind Leadership Camp Alexa Café, All-Girls Computer Science Camp
This summer, rising seniors Tiffany Cappellari and Sophie Regan participated in a four-week Marymount Internship Program placement with leading Los Angeles architecture firm, CO Architects. Close in proximity to LACMA, Sophie and Tiffany’s CO Architects mentors designed a project for them related to the museum. The end goal of their multi-stage project was to envision an outdoor pavilion somewhere on the LACMA property that would provide shade and a cooling outdoor area for the museum’s guests. Throughout the internship, Sophie and Tiffany were challenged to tackle a different aspect of their project each week, ending on Thursdays with a “pin-up” presentation of their progress for their mentors and various members of the firm. Different project milestones included: touring LACMA to create site plans for their pavilion designs, developing digital design concepts, creating 3D printed models of their final designs and choosing physical materials to bring their projects to life. Ultimately, their mentors told us, “the girls truly had an accelerated “soup-to-nuts” experience on what it takes to hone and craft a true architectural project.” Pictured with their first set of 3D paper models (which they were able to build and create in the firm’s 3D printers), Tiffany let her love of art drive her pavilion design, with its interesting sculptural shape and space inside of the pavilion rooftop to feature a local young-artists gallery. Sophie envisioned her version of the pavilion as a structure within a garden-like maze; more of a playful area that children would be drawn to, letting the landscape around the pavilion drive the interest of the space. At their last “pin-up” presentation, Sophie and Tiffany presented their final plans, and were given high praise for their ability to master different software design programs, while also creatively tying many elements of design together throughout the process. Tiffany and Sophie told us that they are both walking away from this internship with a better sense of the architectural experience not just as designers, but also as people who experience design in their day-to-day lives. Tiffany told us, “From here, I know I will pay more attention to what is surrounding me, thinking more about what designers are trying to show me, how objects work together and ultimately, how I’m being inspired by the spaces around me.” Many thanks to Scott Kelsey, Parini Mehta, and Alyssa Phanitdasack for their partnership with The Marymount Internship Program and congratulations to both Tiffany and Sophie on the completion of a great placement!
The Amanda Foundation America’s Funniest Home Videos The Bay Foundation (TBF) and the Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) Clairobscur Dance Company CO Architects COSMOS Advanced Study Program for Science & Mathematics Flatiron School, All-Girls Software Engineering Camp The Getty Conservation Institute The Gotham Group Inspire Entertainment Litinomics Los Angeles Superior Court, Torrance Pet Depot Veterinary Group UCLA Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program UCLA Cancer and Stem Cell Research UCLA Department of History Seminar: American Race Riot UCLA Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Research UCLA Department of Pulmonary Care UCLA High School Summer Research Program (HSSRP) UCLA Medical School Department of Neurosurgery & Pediatric Neurology, Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program UCLA Orthopaedic Center, Sports Medicine UCLA Engineering Summer TECH Camp WEBB Schools Global Leadership Program
The Amanda Foundation Intern UCLA BrainSport program interns Bella Mendoza ’17 and Olivia Thomas ’17 with their mentors, Dr. Stephen Giza, Constance Johnson and Max Zeiger
Remi Halliburton ’16 with her new
rescue dog friend, Mandy.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 13
ARTS
T
he past academic year brought many accomplishments for both the Performing and Visual Arts Departments at Marymount – with the addition of new vocal groups, a successful production of “The Boy Friend” and many prestigious awards earned in various visual art shows, students, faculty and staff were inspired by the waves these gifted students made across campus. A highlight from the end of the school year was the annual Spring Arts Festival, an extraordinary showcase of student collaboration and creativity. The evening included dancers, singers, instrumentalists and actors as well as a gorgeous display of student artwork in a wide myriad of media – from film and photography to ceramics, painting, drawing and collage. One of the central highlights of the evening was an evocative interpretation of “Colors of the Wind” by the choirs, orchestras and dance ensembles. We look forward to a new year of creativity, and seeing the remarkable talents of our arts students come to life! This past spring, the Marymount Chapter of the National Arts Honor Society (NAHS) was inspired by Jim Hodges’ “Peace Curtain” installation at the HAMMER Museum. This group of talented students decided to bring their own version of the “Peace Curtain” to campus and hosted a peace commitment ceremony on senior lawn. Students signed the flowers and walked through the curtain as part of their commitment to peace.
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The Performing Arts Department is greatly looking forward to the upcoming year, which will include a renewed emphasis on student and faculty-driven collaboration. The Marymount Players are excited to put on colorful and inventive productions of “The Imaginary Invalid” and “Once Upon a Mattress,” while the choirs, orchestras and dance ensembles look forward to exploring new ground, new heights and new opportunities!
CHOIR AWARDS The Marymount choirs ended the year on a high note at the Forum Music Festival competition, which took place at the Downey Civic Theatre on the last day of school. Marymount’s new A capella group, The High ‘C’s, received a silver award and the combined Conservatory Arts Program choirs received a gold award! In addition, Kaitlin Moore ’15 received a special musicianship award as an ‘Outstanding Soloist.’ The choir students celebrated by spending the rest of the day at Disneyland for some well-deserved end-of-year fun. THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 15
STUDENT LIFE An Interview with rising Associated Student Body President SOPHIE REGAN ’16 As the past academic year came to a close, Marymount hosted annual elections for the new Associated Student Body (ASB) President. Sophie Regan ’16 was voted into this prominent student leadership role and before the year came to a close, we sat down with Sophie to learn more about her goals in this position and more generally, about her Marymount experience at large.
Q: Hi Sophie! We already know you are one of our impressive rising seniors, but could you tell us a bit more about yourself and what you’re involved in at Marymount? A: Beyond being involved in student government through ASB, I love participating in the performing arts. I play in the orchestra and perform with the Marymount Players. I am also involved with our competitive acting team, DTASC, and The Marymount Internship Program. Q: As you move into your senior year, do you have any ideas about what you may want to pursue in your next chapter? A: I’m not quite sure yet where I may want to go to college – my mother obviously wants me to stay in Los Angeles, so we will see how that goes... This summer we are taking a bunch
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of trips to visit campuses I’m interested in here and out East. As for what I want to study, this summer I’m exploring my interest in architecture and engineering through my Marymount internship with CO Architects, but I also love a lot of other subjects so we will see what I end up studying in the future! Q: Tell us a bit more about your new role in ASB – you’ve been part of the student government group for most of your time here, but what made you choose to run for ASB Office this year? A: I ran for ASB office because of my thirst for power. I kid of course, but that being said, I would never have had this opportunity if it weren’t for the support of my classmates. I’m sure that they would all be surprised to find out that I am actually very shy and have a hard time putting myself
out there. I would not have considered running for any office had Lucia Kim not suggested it one day in Writing Workshop. When the rest of the class agreed that I should run, I recognized that this was my opportunity to assert my “dominance” (ha, ha!) over the Marymount community and decided to run for Sophomore Class President. That night, I anxiously decided that running for anything that involved public speaking (something that still terrifies me) would be a complete disaster, and the next morning I told my friends that I wouldn’t run. I remember Maddy Heldman, whom I hardly knew at the time, saying, “Sophie, you have to. You would be so great as class president.” So, to answer the question succinctly, I chose to run for ASB office because of Maddy Heldman! I highly doubt that Maddy, who is now a good friend of mine (Maddy if you are reading
this and secretly hate me, I am sorry for telling everyone that we are friends), remembers the exchange, but it truly did mean the world to me. This incident always reminds me of how lucky I am to go to Marymount, because I know that I would never have had the confidence to run for any office, let alone student body president at any other school. Q: That’s a great story and we’re so happy that you decided to run – we can’t wait to see what you will accomplish next year. Speaking of, what are some of your biggest goals as ASB President for the upcoming year? A: Well, I know that high school can be a stressful time. I have never personally experienced this so called “stress,” but my friends tell me that it is a real thing. Again, I kid. Generally, I would really just like to make sure that the joy that has always characterized Marymount not only remains a part of our community, but also that it grows this next year. I want this to happen so that even though my peers and I may have many worries and challenges, we know that in the end, life can be a lot of fun when we stop taking ourselves too seriously.
Q: From the perspective of becoming one of Marymount’s most influential student leaders, what are the things you think make our community unique? A: Wow! Who would have thought that I would ever be called “one of Marymount’s most influential student leaders!” I think the fact that that happened is probably what makes Marymount so unique. Beyond my “unexpected rise to power” as the shy student, who is terrified of public speaking, there are so many things that make Marymount the school that it is. The caring nature and dedication of the faculty are surpassed only by the love and camaraderie of the students, who celebrate birthdays as if they were national holidays.
Q: Any big plans this summer or final thoughts you’d like to share? A: This summer I’m looking forward to taking a hot air ballooning trip, which makes me sound a lot more interesting than I am... I’m also going to Italy to visit my sister who is studying abroad in Florence. Other that that, I hope to read some good books and have enough time left over to be so bored that I almost (just almost), am ready to head back to school for senior year!
S C E N E S F RO M T H E Y E A R
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 17
Year-end
ATHLETICS RECAP In a year that saw tremendous change in league competition, our #SailorStrong Marymount Athletes
triumphed, and saw growth across all sports. Year-end highlights included seven NCAA recruited athletes from the Class of 2015, an undefeated Mission League Volleyball season, and a Basketball Sunshine League Championship with a CIF quarterfinal appearance. In addition, thirty Marymount athletes took home All-League Honors throughout the year. Many notable individual and team performances impressed us season after season, with highlights listed below. The standard has been set during the 2014-15 season, and our returning Sailor Athletes were busy training with purpose throughout the summer, looking ahead to maintaining Marymount’s excellent athletic reputation for passion, determination and teamwork.
NCAA Recruited Athletes: • Grace Campbell Beach Volleyball UC Berkeley • Shea Decker-Jacoby Volleyball Brandeis University • Mia Mason Volleyball University of Arizona • Cassandra Obel Sailing Stanford University • Catherine Shepherd Volleyball Dartmouth College • Kyra Smith Volleyball Cal State Fullerton • Tyler Spriggs Volleyball University of Arizona
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Emily Newberry ATHLETE PROFILE Senior four-year volleyball athlete Emily Newberry is ready for her final year at Marymount. As an incredibly well-rounded student-athlete and current President of The Marymount Athletic Council, Emily stays involved in many other activities off the court, recently completing a seven-week summer internship in the Google Girls Who Code program, and serving as a member of the Teen Advisory Board at Cedars Sinai Hospital. As she heads into this volleyball season, Newberry, along with her teammates, is ready to take care of some unfinished business. “We (the Volleyball team) have set the standards high for this year. We feel that all of the parts are in place to have an unforgettable season.” With her younger sister beginning her Marymount journey this fall, Emily leaves a bit of advice for all incoming Marymount student-athletes: “Be wholly dedicated to whatever part you do on your team because the coaches deserve it, your teammates deserve it and most importantly, you deserve it. Only you can decide the experience YOU have, and will only get out of it what you give to it.”
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Freshman athlete Malina Yago (pictured here playing her winter sport, soccer) took home the gold medal in the 1600 meter Mission League Track & Field Championship.
NOTABLE TEAM FINISHES: • Varsity Basketball: Sunshine League Champions, CIF Southern Section Division IV Quarterfinalists. • Varsity Volleyball: Undefeated Mission League Champions, CIF Southern Section Division I Quarterfinalists.
• Frosh/Soph and JV Volleyball: Also both named Mission League Champions. • Beach Volleyball: Westside Division Champions. • Cross Country: 2nd Place Overall in Sunshine League.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES: • Kristen Soh ’16 earned a second place individual finish in the Mission League Varsity golf, and also qualified for CIF Individual Regionals for the third straight year. • Freshman athlete Malina Yago took home the gold medal in the 1600 meter Mission League Track & Field Championship.
• Michaela Keefe ’16 earned the MVP of Sunshine League Award for her outstanding performances on the court during Marymount’s Varsity Basketball season. • Rising junior Naomi Smith was named the Mission League Discus Champion for the 2015 season.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 19
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WHO DOES A MARYMOUNT GIRL BECOME?
A confident woman who will fearlessly step forward into her next chapter. After graduation, Marymount alumnae attend top-tier, diverse colleges and universities all over the world. From there, they take passions developed at Marymount and enter professions as varied and numerous as the alumnae themselves.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 21
Student Address to
The Class of 2015 LAILA RODRIQUES, ASB VICE PRESIDENT
G
ood Morning, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Board of Trustees, Ms. Landry, Faculty and Staff, parents, families, friends, and the Class of 2015.
Right when we are on the cusp of a large and awe-inspiring change, time begins to slow down. Life creeps at a snail’s pace, and we are left only with our thoughts and the anticipation of what is to come. When our souls are quiet and the world moves slowly, we can intensely appreciate where we are and where we have been.
The last four years of our lives have happened and are coming to a close. This is a fact. What we have done here at Marymount will never happen in the same way, and the unique patterns we leave here are ours and ours alone. When I think of our impact on this school, I think of how we came together: yelling Christmas carols at the top of our lungs during junior year spirit week, reaching almost one hundred percent of our goal during the food drive, and the little, everyday things – the smiles, the waves, the massive, massive bear hugs. Class of 2015, we are strong. We are strong in our opinions and our choices and our love for each other. We, as a class, love and think and speak with such passion that I have seen changes happen and energy grow, simply because we willed it so. Kind, collaborative, and deeply loyal, we have looked after each other, and this instinct to take care will make us lights in the world that other people are drawn to.
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We are a class with spirit, determination and willpower. We will not settle for anything less than what we know we can achieve.
We will not settle because we care. Even though there are certain moments of our time together that make me laugh and cringe in equal amounts, and certain sophomore year spirit week dances that I’d rather just forget, I know deep in my heart that the Class of 2015 burns with a fire and a passion that is all our own, and I will always be proud of that. I will also always be proud of the fact that a Marymount education is one of a kind.
We have learned from teachers who care about us and care about the material that they are teaching so deeply that we could not help but feel electrified by their passion.
“
I am compelled to give those life lessons I have learned on the stage first. Make eye contact. Say “yes.” Even better, say “yes, and?” Take huge and scary and ridiculous risks. Trust your body and listen to it. Nurture your instrument. Remember that you stand on the shoulders of giants.
We have learned in ways that were so unique and so exciting that it was easy to forget that it was only an English class or a choir rehearsal. We have learned that we have received a gift in the form of an education, a gift that has shaped us and will serve us well. It is only right that when I talk about the gifts that we have received over these last four years, that I acknowledge the countless gifts our parents have given us. Parents, there is nothing in this world that is more striking than the love you have for us. Even though we may not express it as much as we should, we are changed for the better because of you. Thank you for the big things and the small things. Thank you for letting us go when all you want is to hold us close a little longer. Now begins the part of the graduation speech where I tell you about the world and life and how we are all going to kill it out there. So here it goes. I will reach back into my eighteen years of extensive knowledge and unload some gems onto you. I am compelled to give those life lessons I have learned on the stage first. Make eye contact. Say “yes.” Even better, say “yes, and?” Take huge and scary and ridiculous risks. Trust your body and listen to it. Nurture your
instrument. Remember that you stand on the shoulders of giants. We cannot do everything alone. Even though it may not seem like it, more often than not, the people in your life want nothing more than to see you succeed. Open yourself up to them. Making homes out of other people is dangerous, but nobody said you could not stay a while.
Take care of yourself. You are delicate and strong and magnificent. You are the world contained. Behind your eyes there are countless stars. The secret to the universe lies buried behind your beating heart. Believe me, I have seen it in every single one of you. When I see a girl offer a sympathetic hug on a bad day, or explain a difficult concept, or provide tough love when it is most needed, I can feel that secret, that whisper, the heartbeat that connects us all with each other. Beyond all pretenses, we know the power of being fiercely kind.
This year, our special focus within the RSHM mission was “That all may have life, and have it to the full.” A full life means doing what others are afraid to do. Offer your help and your time and your talent. Paint a fence, read to a child, and be there when someone needs a hand to hold. When we rally behind the unfortunate, the love we give will come back to us tenfold, and we will find a special peace within providing peace to others.
And finally, I advise you to open your hands and your heart to the chaos of the world. Enjoy the deliciously disordered universe. Feel everything. You are a tree that stands tall with the storm. Lean in and learn to love the sting of the wind on your face. Surrender to the current and you will end up where you need to go.
”
To defy the classic graduation speech cliché, I am also going to tell you that the world is not going to cater to you, and the world is not a bad and scary place either. It is only the world. The people in it are only people. Everything is just as it is and just as it should be. You, you who stand at the edge of the precipice, are just as you should be. Everything you need is inside of you at this moment. Things out there can be rough; I admit it. But, think about all of the rough things you’ve endured here! Having to shoulder your way around the café on pizza day, studying for a reading quiz that never happens, having to pick a date from the multitudes to take to prom, and, worst of all, dealing with the temperature being anywhere below seventy five. We have been through a lot. We are tough. And we can handle anything at all. Class of 2015, there are no words. I believe in you, I love you, and I will never forget you.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 23
M
Excerpts
the 2015 Commencement Address Eileen Decker g U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California g Former Deputy Mayor of Homeland Security and Public Safety for Los Angeles under Mayor Eric Garcetti
arymount was privileged to have Eileen Decker, who was recently appointed by President Obama as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, address the Class of 2015 as they sat on the cusp of looking toward their futures. Ms. Decker, a New York University Law graduate and proud mother of two Marymount seniors, had a few tangible pieces of advice for the departing class, all noted to the right. Throughout her speech, Ms. Decker built on her advice by referencing accessible, modern day female figures like Ellen DeGeneres, while also weaving in thoughts from timeless women like Emily Dickinson. Received with a rousing burst of applause, Ms. Decker commented to our graduates, and a packed audience, that, “We must acknowledge what a wonderful time it is to be a woman. No longer are women just putting cracks in the glass ceiling, they are punching holes right through it.” Telling stories of impressive young girls like Mo’ne Davis (the first girl to ever pitch a winning Little League World Series Game) to determined, passionate women like Janet Yellen, (Chair of the Federal Reserve), Decker captivated the rapt audience with her remarks, encouragement and sage wisdom to the Class of 2015. Many thanks to Ms. Decker for her inspirational address and also, a warm congratulations as her daughters join the Marymount Alumnae network!
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,
Invocation Paula Sison Member of the Class of 2015
“ Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”– 1 Timothy 4:12
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Thank you for bringing us together for the last time on this beautiful morning on Senior Lawn to celebrate our class, the Class of 2015, and the completion of four wonderful school years.
We thank you for our growth and intelligence,
because we were able to discover our joys and most importantly, who we are and who we have become.
We thank you for the work we have done, because without it we would not be proud of our accomplishments and able to wear our long white dresses.
HIGHLIGHTS & ADVICE FROM MS. DECKER’S ADDRESS: • Speaking as a parent, I want you all to know that we marvel at you. We stand in awe of all that you’ve accomplished, and more so, of who you’ve become. You have found your voices, learned to express yourselves with passion and strength, discovered your callings, supported each other, and most importantly, you know you don’t have to bring another person down to raise yourselves up. We are so proud of you, and now, like never before, you’re going to be blazing your own trails. • Follow your passion, whatever that may be. Never follow someone else’s path. Unless of course, (as Ellen DeGeneres would say), you find yourself lost in the woods and someone knows the way out, then by all means, follow them! • Have faith in yourself, trust your instincts, and be brave. You must have the courage to “lose sight of the shore” to navigate the ocean ahead of you. • As you bravely follow your passions, always be open – to new opportunities, and new inspirations. Emily Dickinson said it best here, “Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” • Remember that you’re not alone. You all are a part of something bigger than yourselves and Marymount is included in that. The unique experience you’ve had here
has woven a special bond between you all that can only come from attending an all-girls high school. • Impressive, passionate and dedicated women like Chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and the first female Blue Angel pilot Captain Kate Higgins, have taken us far beyond the shoreline, expanding our horizons farther than we could have ever imagined. But now it is your turn. It is your time to take us farther. Find what you love and go for it, venture father from the shore. Stay true to yourself and your path, nobody else’s. Class of 2015, I expect great things from each and every one of you.
We thank you for giving us enough confidence to begin a brand new chapter, in our
We thank you for our mouths to speak up for what we believe in, and arms to fight for what we feel is just in the world.
as we’ve been taught by our mothers, fathers, and teachers.
We thank you for all those who have helped us on our journeys, including
We thank you for all of our wins and losses, the
We thank you for the love and care from our families and friends, that we may
lives, in a new setting, with new people, and a new lifestyle.
our families, teachers, administration, coaches, directors, counselors, bus drivers, custodians, and security. Bless them and forever keep them in God’s mercy.
We thank you for opened eyes to see the issues of the world, and the encouragement
and empowerment to care and want to make a difference for a better future.
spotlights on our faces, and the audiences to our art pieces.
We thank you for all of the good times and the bad, because no matter what, it was the best four years we’ve ever had.
We thank you for our many sweet memories, that we
We thank you and pray that we will always give of ourselves to others, just
Because we come from a world of all walks of life and diversity, we pray that one day we may live in a world of equality; especially, where we as women are respected for our virtues and work.
forever keep their unending and total affection.
We thank you for allowing us to be confident and ethical women, and leaders
in our own fields.
Through your guidance, we have found unity in heart and soul. Lastly, dear Lord, As the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary state, help us to live and live and let live, so that we “all may have life, and have it to the Full.” Amen.
cherish them and remember to make an effort keep in touch with each other.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 25
Celebrating the
CLASS of 2015
Below is a select list of acceptances for the Marymount Class of 2015. Numbers in parentheses represent acceptances to each institution, and schools with at least one graduate attending are denoted in bold.
American University (4) Auburn University Bard College (2) Barnard College Belmont University Bennington College Bentley University Boston College (7) Boston University (10) Brandeis University (2) Brown University (2) Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo California State University, Fullerton (2) Carleton College Chapman University (7) Claremont McKenna College Colby College Colgate University (6) Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College (4) Denison University DePaul University (2) Drexel University (2) Emerson College (2) Emory University (2) Fordham University (13) Franklin and Marshall College (2) The George Washington University (4) Georgetown University (2) Gettysburg College (2) Gonzaga University (2) Hamilton College Hampshire College College of the Holy Cross Indiana University at Bloomington (10) Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Lawrence University (2) Lehigh University (2) Lewis & Clark College (2) Loyola Marymount University (11) Loyola University Chicago (6) Marquette University Miami University, Oxford (2) Middlebury College Mississippi State University Muhlenberg College (2) The New School, Eugene Lang College (4) New York University (7) Northeastern University (5) Northwestern University Oberlin College Occidental College Pace University Pennsylvania State University (4) Pepperdine University (4) Pomona College Providence College Purdue University Rhode Island School of Design
Rhodes College Saint Mary’s College of California (3) Santa Clara University (13) Sarah Lawrence College School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2) Scripps College Seattle University Skidmore College (2) Smith College Southern Methodist University (9) Stanford University (5) Syracuse University (6) Texas Christian University (3) The Theatre School at DePaul University Trinity University Tulane University (11) The University of Alabama (3) The University of Arizona (13) University of California, Berkeley (13) University of California, Davis (6) University of California, Los Angeles (8) University of California, San Diego (4) University of California, Santa Barbara (11) University of California, Santa Cruz (5) University of Colorado, Boulder (15) University of Connecticut (4) University of Denver (3) University of Edinburgh University of Florida University of Hawaii at Manoa (2) University of Miami (2) University of Michigan (9) University of Mississippi (3) University of Notre Dame (2) University of Oregon (13) University of the Pacific (2) University of Portland (2) University of Puget Sound (6) University of Redlands University of Rhode Island University of Richmond (2) University of Rochester (3) University of San Diego (10) University of San Francisco (10) University of South Carolina (4) University of Southern California (15) University of St. Andrews University of Sydney University of Tennessee The University of Texas, Austin University of Virginia (3) University of Washington (5) University of Wisconsin (3) Vassar College Villanova University (2) Wake Forest University (2) Washington University in St. Louis Whitman College Willamette University (2) Williams College Yale University
For more information about this outstanding group of young women, please visit: www.mhs-la.org/Classof2015
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BY THE NUMBERS
92 GRADUATES
100%
ACCEPTANCE RATE TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND / OR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES TO OVER
180
INSTITUTIONS, WITH STUDENTS MATRICULATING TO 57 OF THESE INSTITUTIONS THIS FALL
40%
OVER OF THE CLASS WILL MATRICULATE TO ONE OF US NEWS & WORLD REPORT’S TOP 25 NATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES OR TOP 25 LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES THIS FALL
1 NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST AND 1 MILKEN SCHOLAR
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 27
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Class of 2015 ROW 1 (FRONT, L TO R): Cassandra Obel, Annika Garrett, Anna Martinez, Raquel Freeman, Rachel Sands, Aya Ghoneum, Paula Sison, Allegra Udell, Sumi Hwang, Jessenia Zelaya, Ariel Adelman ROW 2 (L TO R): Irene Kim, Claire Murphy, Fiona Ogeborn, Kendal Currie, Katherine Moses, Kaitlyn Decker-Jacoby, Georgina Grant, Kendall Ferguson, Cayla Keech, Anabella Driz, Maggie Morrison, Olivia Perez, Francesca Macaluso, Gianna Iacone, Isabella Tagliati, Isabella Adler ROW 3 (L TO R): Sophia Kim, Kaitlin Moore, Erin Argano, Sarah Burgess, Paula Mendoza, Daisy Trout, Eleanor Hottle, Mikaela Minor, Nicole Hauser, Gianna Grasska, Jillian Moulton, Kevin Kilroy, Talia Pacini, Charlotte Barker, Sedona Nugent, Madeline Shulman-Clancy ROW 4 (L TO R): Sindhu Sundar, Madison O’Hanlon, Meghan McMahon, Kelly Byrne, Caswell Jernigan, Ella Tatum, Alana Schweitzer, Amanda Fazio, Haley Taylor, Chelsea Otto, Alyssa Isaak, Megan Gard, Natalie Redington, Mia Bodell, Erin Orcutt, Summer Plair ROW 5 (L TO R): Lillian Wedbush, Natalie Burger, Rhapsody Washington, Alexandra Karpie, Katherine Burger, Laila Rodriques, Brittaney Frenner, Helya Azadmanesh-Samimi, Eraena ValÊry, Reiley Johnson, Julia Matthews, Claire Whitesell, Christine Beatty, Kathleen Shields ROW 6 (BACK, L TO R): Shea Decker-Jacoby, Gentry Burkes, Katharine Emery, Taylor Reed, Mia Mason, Tyler Spriggs, Grace Campbell, Anna Whittell, Catherine Shepherd, Sarah Staver, Kelly Kirch, Kyra Smith, Kelley McGinnis, Olivia Rodberg, Nicolette LaPorte, Hannah Stelzner, Lauren Gabourel Not Pictured: Jocelyn Coe, Harine Park
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 29
GRADUATION Awards Kevin Kilroy THE KATHERINE ALFS CALDWELL ’35 MEMORIAL AWARD This award is presented to a senior class leader for her initiative, devotion, commitment, and spirited contribution to her class.
Irene Kim THE MARIAN AWARD This award is presented to a senior whose devotion to the pursuit of excellence is complimented by a sincere dedication to the highest standards of character and integrity.
Mia Mason THE KRISTIN KLEIN KEEFE ’88 AWARD This award is presented to a senior who has displayed excellence in academics and who has participated in interscholastic sports with the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity as exemplified by Kristin Klein Keefe ’88 during her years at Marymount.
Paula Mendoza
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THE LES ANGES AWARD
THE MOTHER BUTLER AWARD
This award is given to a senior who has consistently demonstrated the high ideals of a Marymount education, who has taken full advantage of the unique opportunities of that education, and who has consistently contributed to her school community.
Marymount’s highest honor is given in memory of the Foundress of the Marymount Schools in the United States and Europe. It is awarded to a senior who has best integrated the ideals of a Marymount education through her academic excellence, leadership, loyalty, and supportive presence to the school community.
and Honors Talia Pacini THE GAILHAC AWARD This award, named after the Founder of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, is presented to a senior who has consistently demonstrated the energy, enthusiasm, warmth, leadership and joy that promote the special family that is unique to Marymount.
Anna Whittell MARYMOUNT OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR AWARD This award represents Marymount’s highest academic honor and is presented to an exceptional senior who has achieved excellence in a multitude of disciplines.
Claire Whitesell THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION’S MARYMOUNT YOUNG WOMAN AWARD This award is given to a senior for her dedication and service to Marymount High School and her devotion to the principles of Christian womanhood.
THE ARCHDIOCESAN CHRISTIAN SERVICE AWARD
MARYMOUNT CUM LAUDE SOCIETY Ariel Adelman Helya Azadmanesh-Samimi Kelly Byrne Raquel Freeman Megan Gard Aya Ghoneum Georgina Grant Caswell Jernigan Irene Kim Sophia Kim
Paula Mendoza Kaitlin Moore Katherine Moses Cassandra Obel Natalie Redington Taylor Reed Rachel Sands Catherine Shepherd Sarah Staver Anna Whittell
Sarah Burgess THE LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD
Anna Whittell THE LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Sarah Burgess THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 31
MARYMOUNT
SCIENCE
Gold Medal Awards
Christine Beatty
Georgina Grant
Natalie Redington
VISUAL ARTS
ENGLISH
FRENCH
Helya Azadmanesh-Samimi
Raquel Freeman
Gianna Iacone
Cassandra Obel SOCIAL STUDIES
Laila Rodriques
VISUAL ARTS: Photography
PERFORMING ARTS
Brittaney Frenner
Irene Kim
Alana Schweitzer
THEOLOGY
MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES
FRENCH
Megan Gard
Paula Mendoza
SPANISH
MATH, SCIENCE
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THEOLOGY
Anna Whittell MATH, VISUAL ARTS: Studio Art
SIBLINGS AND LEGACIES Megan Kilroy ’02, Kevin Kilroy ’15 and Bridget Kilroy
Chelsea Otto ’15 and Alexandria Otto ’13
Monica Conroy Bodell ’80, Mia Bodell ’15 and Paula Conroy Clarkson ’82
Devon Francis ’08 and Rachel Sands ’15
Camilla Ogeborn ’10, Fiona Ogeborn ’15 and Joey Lynch ’72
Madeline Shulman-Clancy ’15 and Paige Clancy ’08
Olivia Rodberg ’15 and Alex Rodberg ’13
Sedona Nugent ’15 and Phyllis Babbitt Nugent ’52
Stephanie Shepherd ’11 and Catherine Shepherd ’15
Michele Velasco Trout ’83 and Daisy Trout ’15
Christine Peter Gard ’80, Megan Gard ’15 and Joan Peter Noneman ’76
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 33
SIBLINGS AND LEGACIES Jesslyn Whittell ’13, Anna Whittell ’15 and Genna Whittell ’17
Marilee Mahoney ’74, Isabella Adler ’15 and Monica Mahoney-Adler ’83
(From left to right:) Susan Grant ’67, Georgina Grant ’15, Mary Grant Blacker ’69 holding a photo of Ann Grant Villa ’60, and Patricia Grant ’76.
Alexandra Pacini ’11, Talia Pacini ’15 and Gabby Pacini ’17
Kendall Isaak ’12, Aly Isaak ’15 and Lucy Isaak ’17
Madeline Whitesell ’13 and Claire Whitesell ’15
34 / Marymount High School
Annika Garrett ’15 and Mikaella Garrett ’12
Stephanie Shepherd ’11, Catherine Shepherd ‘15 and Tori Shepherd ’13
Erin Argano ’15 and Lauren Argano ’11
EXCERPTS FROM THE ANCHOR’S SENIOR EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS Chantelle LaPorte ’09 and Nicolette LaPorte ’15
Paula Sison ’15 and Letitia Sison ’89
Alicia Beatty ’12 and Christine Beatty ’15
Georgina Grant
“
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Four years flies by, so like I said before, four years flies by, so if I could leave one piece of advice for the underclassmen, I would say this: Enjoy it. Enjoy your somewhat successful Spirit Week dance rehearsals and the days that you have free dress and the times that the admissions office provides Diddy Riese cookies left over from Open House. Celebrate the feminist guest speakers who point out the talents and gifts you must share with this world. Value the teachers who challenge you when you think you’re right, and treasure the girls who make each class more interesting. Love the good and the bad. Relish every second of a never-ending Community or a long line at the Café. Appreciate the squirrels that ate your lunch bag freshman year. Praise the friends who hug you after a devastatingly difficult math test. Delight in every corny or touching or once-in-a-lifetime moment that you experience at Marymount, because each of those instances make high school worth it.
“
”
Helya Azadmanesh-Samimi
If I could impart any one piece of advice onto anyone reading, it would be this: don’t lose sight of what’s important to you. If you’re passionate about something, make time for it. Instead of watching that extra episode of Pretty Little Liars or surfing aimlessly on Instagram and Buzzfeed, pursue something that has attracted your interest, even a little bit. Join a new team, take an art class, join the musical, start a club, go on one of the many service learning opportunities. Though all of these things may seem simple, they can truly change the way you live your life and give you a new set of eyes through which to see the world.
Isabella Tagliati
Not Pictured: Natalie Burger ’15 and Nicole Garton ’03 Sarah Burgess ’15 and Casey Burgess ’13 Kendal Currie ’15 and Lauren Currie ’13 Aya Ghoneum ’15 and Alia Ghoneum ’07 Cassandra Obel ’15 and Nicolette Obel ’13 Gianna Grasska ’15 and Melia Grasska ’12 Taylor Reed ’15 and Kerri Kunkel McPhail ’86
“
”
I am amazed at all that we’ve done these past four years, and we should be very proud that we’ve finished with flying colors. But that doesn’t deviate from the point that we still know very little. We are each one, (just one), able-bodied, heart-beating, neuron-transmitting human, in a state, a country, a continent, a world of people. We know very little in comparison to the enormous world we live in. When we all step off campus for the very last time, carry everything you have learned. Carry every memory, every laugh, cry, formula, fact, and vocabulary word in hand, and use those to explore the world even more. Take advantage of the education we are lucky enough to have had, and take advantage of the unknown. There is an entire world out there and we are each just one.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 35
(l to r) Alumna Service to Marymount Award Recipient Jennifer Quail ’73, Head of School Jacqueline Landry and Alumna of the Year Award Recipient Margo Leonetti O’Connell ’60
36 / Marymount High School
HOW DOES A MARYMOUNT WOMAN USE HER TALENTS TO LEAD IN HER INDUSTRY?
By positively impacting the world around her. Marymount alumnae are doing amazing things around the world and are impacting change in ways all their own. They are storytellers, advocates for social change, doctors, researchers, founders of non-profits, public servants, teachers, engineers and much more, making a difference wherever they stand. We are incredibly proud of this growing, outstanding network of women and look forward to all of the inspiring things they will do throughout their lives.
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 37
Watch Our Women A S lumnae
JESSICA CLUESS
eries
Marymount Grad Year: ’03 College: Northwestern University Profession: Author / Writing Coach Currently Resides: Los Angeles
A
lumna Jessica Cluess recently shared that one of the biggest things she was afraid of as she stepped into the “real world” post-Marymount, was failure. In the past decade however, not only has Jessica learned to be less afraid of failure, but she has instead harnessed it and let it propel her passion for writing, culminating in her career as a successful author. Next fall, Jessica will be publishing her first book in a young-adult trilogy series with Random House, featuring a young female heroine at the helm. A blend of fantasy and science fiction, set in Victorian England, “A Shadow Bright and Burning,” will play off of the central theme that people cannot be afraid to be themselves, or on an individual path that may seem different than everyone else’s. “Looking back on my inspiration for these books, I wanted to bring out some larger world-view themes for young adult readers, while also making the story line accessible and fun to read, by adding in elements of fantasy and rich storytelling,” Jessica told us.
“
Always focus on finding your own way in a world that may tell you to be something you’re not.
”
So who is this young female heroine that plays the role of her main character? Meet Henrietta Howel, a young girl who is discovered to be the first female sorceress in her small town, which had previously only known sorcerers to be male.
38 / Marymount High School
As London is taken over by monsters from another dimension, Henrietta must learn to trust herself and prove that she can lead her town through this crisis, even as others around her doubt her abilities. As for where she drew her inspiration for this character? Jessica says: “Going to an all-girls school allowed me to have (and become) a strong female role model, leader and creative person. I’ve never doubted that women can play these roles in the world, and I wanted to write my books with a young girl at the forefront. I hope to help my readers see themselves in her shoes as she discovers her strengths and learns to trust herself along the way.” Beyond writing this trilogy, Jessica is currently exploring opportunities to option her series for movie rights and is also teaching young writers at Writopia Lab here in Los Angeles. Self-described as “creative and quirky,” Jessica made the most of her time at Marymount by founding the Creative Writing Club with Ms. Hackett. She tells us that she simply “appreciated the fact that it wasn’t just about academics and college all of the time. There was a call to be moral, to bond on retreat weeks, to be good citizens as well.” As our conversation wound down, we had the opportunity to ask Jessica for her best piece of advice to young Marymount students and graduates. Much like the theme of her books, she shared the following: “Always focus on finding your own way in a world that may tell you to be something you’re not. Failure is not permanent, and taking risks will show you that you’re stronger than you may know. Make sure to not take anything for granted and, most importantly, savor the good moments when they come around!” We congratulate Jessica on all of her recent success and look forward to the release of her first book in the summer of 2016!
This series celebrates decades of Marymount graduates who have worked tirelessly to affect change in the world around them, all in their own unique ways. These women inspire us with their dedication to innovation, determination, creativity and service, and we are lucky to call them sisters in our alumnae community.
We look forward to continuing this series in further publications and on our website over the coming months! If you are interested in participating or nominating a fellow Marymount graduate for this series, please contact alumnae@mhs-la.org
Marymount Grad Year: ’97 College: University of Southern California Graduate School: Pepperdine University Profession: District Director, Office of California State Senator Fran Pavley Currently Resides: Los Angeles
A
fter spending the majority of her pre-college education with Marymount institutions (Marymount Junior School and then Marymount High School), alumna Lauren Gallant shares, “Marymount, in its entirety, truly was my foundation for life. I feel very lucky to have gone there and I treasure the friendships I made – the friends I had at Marymount remain my best friends today. Beyond that, I also feel blessed to have had so many years to absorb the teachings of this great institution. To learn about the importance of service, social justice and involvement in community at such a young age was a gift. I wouldn’t be where I am today – so deeply involved in public service through the State Senate – had it not been for those lessons being ingrained in me so early on.”
“
I am excited to find new ways to not just motivate myself, but all of those around me – my staff and local leaders – to enact positive change in the communities around us here in Los Angeles.
”
Since her time at Marymount, Lauren has gained two degrees – a BA from USC and a Masters of Political Science from Pepperdine University. From there, her love for public service and government has only grown, bringing her to exciting and challenging work experiences with former State Senator (and now California Secretary of State) Alex Padilla as well as with the reputable non-profit organization, City of Hope. Lauren told us that the “big moment” that has truly shaped her career was when former California State Senator Alex Padilla hired her as a Field Deputy. This job, she told us, was “the one that brought me closest to the community in a hands-on way, and allowed me to truly sink my teeth into the issues surrounding us all, as I worked to affect change on a larger scale across Los Angeles.”
LAUREN GALLANT
Since her days working with former Senator Padilla and the City of Hope organization, Lauren has been recently appointed as the District Director for California State Senator Fran Pavley. In this position, Lauren says she is already taking her passion for leadership and community activism to the next level, representing Senator Pavley’s Los Angeles operation. A former student-body president at both the Marymount Junior School and Marymount High School, Lauren says she is looking forward to continuing to hone her leadership skills, taking all that she has learned along the way to lead in the most effective way possible. “I am excited to find new ways to not just motivate myself, but all of those around me – my staff and local leaders – to enact positive change in the communities around us here in Los Angeles.” When reflecting on some of the most powerful lessons that she’s learned and those that she would want to pass along to our current students, Lauren said, “Don’t get discouraged or give up easily. Every step in a career path or job prepares you for something that is coming next. Find the cause or issue that you are passionate about, and find a way that you can contribute to that cause in your own authentic way. Finally, keep exposing yourself as much as you can and give yourself a shot at finding new interests, passions or opportunities. Listening to yourself can be incredibly empowering and can give you the most energy to really go out into the world and affect change.” A big thank you to Lauren for sharing her journey and insights with us! We are excited to see the impact she will surely have as District Director for Senator Pavley, and we wish her the best in this new role!
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 39
(l to r) Barbara Kirsch Savant ’50 and Ann Gautier ’50
Class of 1960
Class of 1980
(l to r) Mary Ellen McCann Outwater ’70, Camille O’Keefe Everett ’70, and Susan Merrin Field ’70
ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND MAY 1 & 2, 2015 (l to r) Lila Bohorquez ’90, Golriz Jafari ’90, April Levy Bibawi ’90, Jennifer Pinckert Tierney’90, Toya Tillis ‘90, Katharine Linke ’90, Hillary Brademan Del Regno ’90, Marguerita Reyes ’90 with former Faculty member, Chris Utz
Anniversary classes ending in “0” and “5” were the honored guests at the 2015 Marymount Reunion, and, as always, all alumnae were welcome to join in the festivities. The weekend began with the annual Friday night Cocktail Party on Senior Lawn, as alumnae and their guests reminisced under the stars. The next morning Mass was held in the Chapel followed by a luncheon. It was fantastic catching up with so many wonderful Marymount women and we are already are looking forward to this great event next year!
(l to r) Meghan Wood ’02, 40 / Marymount High School
Mimi McPhee Wood ’65, Katie Wood ’91
(l to r) Whitney Cale Brejcha ’00, Ilona Casellini Myslinski ’00, Emily Hull ’00
Class of 1985
Class of 1990
Class of 2005
(l to r) Dorothy Kaeber Holman ’65, Maria Roach Carpenter ’65, Jeanne Roach ’67
Class of 1985 and former Marymount teacher Chris Utz
(l to r) Sylvia Valeri Sichol ’90, Jill Wilson Broadhurst ’90, Ruth Mamaril ’90, Elisa Klosterman Graceffo ’90, Megen O’Keefe ’90
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 41
ALUMNA SERVICE TO MARYMOUNT AWARD
JENNIFER QUAIL ’73
S
ince her days as a student, Jennifer has remained connected with, and deeply committed to, her alma mater. Her loyalty and dedication are evident through her consistent service and support. Jennifer was an active presence on the Alumnae Association Council for nine years. She currently serves on Marymount’s Board of Trustees, where she is a member of both the Development and Investment Committees. Grounded, engaged and conscientious, Jennifer has never hesitated to be of service when asked. It was with tremendous gratitude that the Alumnae Association presented Jennifer with the Service to Marymount Award.
ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND
42 / Marymount High School
Class of 1995
(l to r) Jason Graff, Courtney Overland Graff ’95, Tasha Huber-Gailys ’95, Mark Gailys
ALUMNA OF THE YEAR AWARD
MARGO LEONETTI O’CONNELL ’60
T
“ We must each give back – to our community, to our city, to our state and, especially, to Marymount, one of the few remaining quality girls high schools in the city of Los Angeles.”
he Alumnae Association was honored to present the Alumna of the Year award to Margo Leonetti O’Connell ’60 for her many achievements, among them her tremendous involvement with the California Science Center. During Margo’s more than 35 years of service to the Science Center, the initial development of a neighborhood science magnet elementary school, the development of a science research center, and the California Science Center facilities were all fully realized. Most recently, Margo played an integral role in bringing the Space Shuttle Endeavor to its permanent home in Los Angeles. Margo’s integrity, character and demonstrable commitment to the common good embody the mission inspired by our RSHM Sisters: that all may have life and have it to the full.
Class of 1965
(l to r) Patricia King ’77 and Carolene Ryan Bookman ’77
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 43
Alumnae and Les Anges Les Anges Tea
Alumnae Easter Eggstravaganza
APRIL 18, 2015
MARCH 8, 2015
Les Anges mothers were delighted to gather for a beautiful afternoon tea on campus. The group was pleased to also welcome several mothers from the Class of 2015 to this fun event.
The Annual Alumnae Easter Eggstravaganza was a tremendous success! Alumnae and their families enjoyed a day of fun with the egg hunt, moon bounce, face painting, cookie decorating, egg dying and a petting zoo!
Laura Hirschmann, Anne Hance, Jonna Veitch Carls ’78
Becky Azad, Valerie Kiley, Monica Mahoney-Adler ’83, Jonna Veitch Carls ’78, Linda Scilacci, Stefanie Schedes Wilson ’83, Laura Hirschmann, Anne Hance Virginia Kazanjian, Kyle Sommers, son Carter and Michelle Kazanjian Sommers ‘98
Sue Roen, Sister Margaret McKenna, RSHM, Sister Eileen Tuohy, RSHM, Patti Tannebaum
Julianne O’Connor, Sister Margaret McKenna, RSHM, Sally Helin, Linda Scilacci and Sharon Stephens
44 / Marymount High School
EVENT RECAPS Michelle Youssef-Forgione ’94 and her
daughter Colette with the Easter Bunny
Cali, daughter of Elizabeth Cirelle Shula ’00
Dylan, son of Candace Overland Davis ’93
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 45
Class Notes 1950’s Patricia Costello Humphreys ’54
writes, “My 18 year old great granddaughter just graduated from high school, and another granddaughter is getting married. I have 3 more “greats” on the way. With a large family, there is so much going on. For relaxation I love to read and also love to walk. Walking clears my head of all the “cobwebs.” Marymount is always in my prayers, I will always treasure my time there.”
Veronika Cernadas-Loret ’97
writes, “My first grandchild, a girl named Harper, turned 1 in May. My oldest is getting married in Chicago in June. Life is wonderful!”
Faith Harper Trotman ’68
1970’s
1990’s
Mary Kay Weaver Sexton ’56
Bridget Anderson Latka ’76
writes, “I am the proud Nana of James Weaver Sexton, Taylor Catherine Sexton and Grant William Sexton, who are all graduates of Marymount Junior School in Santa Barbara. Grant is currently concluding his freshman year at LMU. Jimmy lives in San Francisco and works for a tech firm. Taylor lives in Santa Barbara, where he is involved with International sales.”
shares, “I just received the Marymount spring magazine, FANTASTIC!!! It’s so wonderful to see diversity on the front cover and throughout the magazine. Love the large format and great informational articles. It makes me proud to know that Marymount reflects our diverse and talented communities.”
Jennifer Lotta Prull ’93 writes, “My husband, David Prull II, and I welcomed a son, David Wesley Prull III on March 31, 2015.”
1960’s Mary Olds Raine ’68 writes, “My mother, Elizabeth Ann Quinn Olds ’35 passed away in her
Ava Barab Wilson ’93 shared “I was married to Troy Wilson (Loyola HS – class of ‘92) on September 27, 2014. Many other alums were in attendance – Candy Overland Davis ’93,
writes, “In 2011 I married a French diplomat named Herbert Loret. We lived in New York for a few years and recently relocated to Dakar, Senegal where I work for Reuters covering West and Central Africa. I am completing my second masters in International Security Policy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Finally, we recently adopted a shih-tzu puppy named Sukie and are as happy as can be, though I do miss Southern California and look forward to visiting!” Ashey May ’97 writes, “Ahmed
and I welcomed a new baby boy into our family. Zakariyah Ahmed Nur was born on January 31, 2015. We are now the proud parents of two darling little boys—2.5 year old Ebrahim and 4 month old Zakariyah.”
Jennifer Veltri Kirsch ’93, Sarah Warda Hartzog ’93 and Laura Temple Brau ’93 attended
our amazing wedding at The Beverly Hills Country Club.”
home in Broomfield, Colorado, on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015, at the age of 97. My sister, Elizabeth Olds Ludvik ’71, myself and other family members, cared for her during her last weeks of life. True to her fighting spirit, although in hospice, she played bridge four days before her death. She is survived by four children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Betty, as she was known to friends and family, was active in several charities: the League for Crippled Children, Orthopedic Hospital Auxiliary, and St. Anne’s Guild. She was also active in the Marymount Mother’s Club, and served as president in 1970-71.”
Elizabeth Ann Quinn Olds ’35
46 / Marymount High School
David Wesley Prull III
Class Notes 2000’s Meggie Woods ’00 graduated
from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine in May of 2013. At the Graduation Convocation, she received the Kevin Mack Champion Award for service to the LGBTQ Community. She is a Family and Community Medicine Resident at San Francisco General Hospital. DeAna DiMeo McAvoy ’02
writes, “I married Brendan McAvoy in Los Angeles. Christy Massopust ’01, Karen Lotta ’01, Megan Tannenbaum ’01, Carrie Tannenbaum ’01, and Katie O’Brien Peveraro ’01
helped me celebrate.”
Alexandra Woods ’01 graduated
from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver with a Masters in International Human Rights in June 2013. She is the Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Officer for Free the Slaves (freetheslaves.net), a Washington, DC based NGO.
Annabelle Stewart ’04 writes, “Greetings from London! I’ve just recently moved here from Geneva as I take on a new role with my company, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management. With this change in role came a promotion to Vice President. My job title is
VP- Business Manager for our European team of the Private Bank based out of headquarters in London. I’ve settled in the Greenwich area near the famous Cutty Sark ship which is thankfully an easy commute into work in Canary Wharf. Since graduating from Marymount in
2004, these past 11 years living in Europe have seemed to fly by! I’m excited for this new adventure in a new city and look forward to exploring my new community full of history!”
(l to r) Karen Lotta ’01, Christy Massopust ’01, DeAna DiMeoMcAvoy ’02, Katie O’Brien Peveraro ’01, Carrie Tannenbaum ’01 and Megan Tannenbaum ’01
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 47
Class Notes Krista Frelinger Tavares ’05
Shauna Woods ’06 graduated
writes, “I married Adam Tavares this July in Pismo Beach, CA at Thousand Hills Ranch amongst family & friends! My sister, Elyse Frelinger ’08, was the maid of honor. My Aunt,
Cum Laude from Duke University School of Law in May 2014 and is now an associate in the Los Angeles office of Goodwin Proctor.
Jennifer Linzmeyer ’84, Caroline Garity ’08 and Kimberly Garity ’08 danced the
Rosemary Miller ’08 writes, “On January 23rd I became engaged to the love of my life, Derick Stace-Naughton. We met in graduate school at Stanford and will be relocating to LA this summer. Our wedding is planned for next April and Tatiana Kassar ’08 will be one of my bridesmaids! We couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter.”
night away at our barn wedding! I also received a Masters in Agricultural Education in March from UC Davis, and I began a new career as a Sales Representative in Fresno county for Syngenta this summer, which allows me to continue to pursue my true passion – agriculture.”
Krista Frelinger Tavares ’05 and her husband, Adam
48 / Marymount High School
Rosemary Miller ’08 and Derick Stace-Naughton
Caroline Garity ’08, Elyse Frelinger ’08 and Kimberly Garity ’08
Transitions In Memoriam Henry Carleton, father of Patricia Carleton Hodgson ’70 (12/12/14)
Paul Shoop, father of Evan Shoop Taranta ’02 and Madison Shoop ’04 (5/16/15)
Stephen Wolfson, father of Alisa Wolfson Rodman ’02 (4/25/15) Arthur Gimbel, son of Caroline Wilson Gimbel ’53 (5/2/15)
Elizabeth Ann Quinn Olds ’35, mother of Mary Olds Raine ’68 and Elizabeth Olds Ludvik ’71 (5/24/15)
Donna Michaud, mother of Alison Michaud Price ’99 and Ashley Michaud ’04 (5/8/15)
Patricia Wright Clough, grandmother of Christie Clough Bishop ’97 (6/11/15)
Marie Johnson, Marymount Receptionist for 24 years. See page 6 for memoriam. (5/15/15)
Mary Dunphy, mother of Megan Dunphy ’77 (6/24/15)
Marriages Veronika Cernadas-Loret ’97 to Herbert Loret
(10/29/11) Christy Tabit Evans ’02 to Brandon Evans (4/18/15)
Births Annabelle Grace to Stephanie Matthias Anduze ’02 and her husband, Nico (5/13/15) Anthony Joseph to Cassie Hoppock Layton ’06 and her husband, Joseph (4/14/15)
DeAna DiMeo McAvoy ’02 to Brendan McAvoy (2/28/15)
Braxton to Monica Beland Smith ’02 and her husband, Brady (4/5/15) Haley Jorgensborg Skiba ’02 to Matthew Skiba (4/11/15)
David Wesley to Jennifer Lotta Prull ’93 and her husband, David (3/31/15) Krista Frelinger Tavares ’05 to Adam Tavares (7/26/14) Ava Barab Wilson ’93 to Troy Wilson (9/27/14) Katy Close Roberts ’96 to Paul Roberts (5/24/15)
Ciaran Cameron to Laura Burgee-Soran ’04 and her husband, Cameron (5/10/15) Hannah Eva to Victoria Silberman McCracken ’02 and her husband, Ryan (7/7/15) Hunter Doyle to Allison Schwarting Wilson ’96 and her husband, Keith (2/24/15) Madelyn Louise to Caralyn Thomason Slapnicka ’02 and her husband, Chad (4/5/15) Mason Harris to Rebecca Harris Skinner ’96 and her husband, Shane (8/22/14) Rory James to Molly Heintz Moriarty ’02 and her husband, John (5/4/15) Zakariyah Ahmed to Ashley May ’97 and her husband Ahmed (1/31/15)
THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE / 49
MARYMOUNT
BY THE NUMBERS Los Angeles County Our girls come from 78 Zip Codes
30% of eligible students participated in The Marymount Internship Program and/or an Advanced Study Program this summer.
181 OVER
THE CLASS OF 2015 WAS ACCEPTED TO 178 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND/OR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
153
student-athletes attended off-season Marymount training camps this summer
100
Over middle school students attended the 4th Annual “Better Self for A Better World” conference this summer
44
1,880 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK – DON’T FORGET TO GIVE US A LIKE!
2,000 Over
Diddy Riese cookies consumed this year
out of 51 Faculty hold one or more advanced degrees.
2
visual arts students accepted to prestigious film festivals: The 2015 All-American High School Film Festival and the LA Film Festival
95% pass rate on last spring’s AP exams 50 / Marymount High School
Keep an eye out for the new Marymount Video! With many thanks to Marymount parent Blake Hottle (Elly Hottle ’15), we will be releasing a new video trailer this fall, featuring stunning footage of our campus, student life and all things that tie into the journey each student takes throughout her Marymount years. Don’t forget to check our website soon to view the culmination of this exciting project!
WAYS TO GIVE TO MARYMOUNT Online Make a gift at www.mhs-la.org/give
Cash/Check Make payable to Marymount High School
Credit Card Visa or MasterCard
Stock Call 310.472.1205 ext. 207 for gift instructions
Matching Gifts Double or triple your gift by obtaining a Matching Gift form from your employer Tax ID Number 95-4273507.
The Marymount Magazine is published by the Marketing & Communications Office. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this report. If we have made an error or if you would like additional copies of this magazine, please contact the Marketing & Communications Office at communications@mhs-la.org. Thank you to all contributors to this publication, including: Photography: Blake Hottle (Elly '15) Sr. Margaret McKenna RSHM Katie Morin Jonathan Farrer
Genna Whittell ‘17 Dawn Regan Michol Roberts '02
Student Contributors: Helya Azadmanesh-Samimi ‘15 Olivia Bowman ‘15 Georgina Grant ‘15 Hyewon Lee ‘17
Sage Strieker ‘17 Isabella Tagliati ‘15 Carmen Voskuhl ‘17
Design & Printing: Design by Jennifer Spencer Design Printing by Southern California Graphics
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Marymount admits students without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs and activities available to students. It does not discriminate in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, financial aid programs, athletic programs or any other school administered program.
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