The Marymount Magazine, Winter 2019

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THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE WINTER 2019

CHARTING

our COURSE

MARYMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL is an independent, Catholic, all-girls school with the core purpose of educating and empowering young women to live lives of consequence as ethical leaders with a global perspective and an unshakable commitment to the common good.

We are an active member of the Global Network of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) Schools in which the following goals and core values are shared: 1. To foster a personal relationship with God. 2. To create unity through diversity.

3. To instill a lifelong love of learning.

4. To encourage and aďŹƒrm personal growth.

5. To awaken a consciousness of social justice.

6. To fulďŹ ll the RSHM mission, "That all may have life and have it to the full."

M - The Marymount Magazine is published by the Marketing & Communications Office.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. 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: Contributing Photographers:

Student Contributors:

Design & Printing:

Parents of Alumnae:

Justin Baker Erica Berardi Rebecca Bostic Stephanie David Kambria Fischer Sr. Margaret McKenna, RSHM Bobbie Pyle

Devon Newberry '19 Natasha Savianu '21 Sophia Scott '21 Stephanie Sowa '21

Design by Lisa Paruch and Marymount High School

Please forward this publication and notify the Alumnae Office of updated address.

Printer: Southern California Graphics

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURED STORIES 14 CHARTING OUR COURSE Four Marymount teachers recalculate their curriculum to address the changing needs of modern students by applying tenets of cultural competency, digital literacy, religious literacy, and social emotional learning.

34 KNOWLEDGE KNOWS NO BORDERS Director of Spiritual Life and Religious Studies Department Chair Rebecca Bostic and Social Studies Department Chair Justin Baker recount their November travels to Béziers, France, home to Marymount's Founding Order.

42 BIG AND SMALL: ACTS OF KINDNESS ARE MORE THAN SIMPLE Marymount students share how quiet acts of kindness, both given and received, shape their actions within our community and the world at large.

ON CAMPUS

ALUMNAE NEWS

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Letter from the Head

6

Snippets

46 Watch Our Women Alumnae Series:

12 Athletics Recap: Featuring Devon Newberry '19

Featuring Nika Soon-Shiong '11, Jenna (Turner) Fite '03, and Ayanna Neal '17

24 Visual Arts

54 Class Notes

28 Performing Arts

57 Transitions

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letter from the head of school

Dear Marymount Families and Friends, Winter is a time of reflection and anticipation. It is a time to stand still, to listen, and to reacquaint ourselves with that in which we are rooted. Within these months are also the stirrings of life, the promise of new beginnings, and the anticipation of all that is possible.

This winter issue of M celebrates several of the core values that are central to Marymount’s purpose, which stems from our Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) roots. Since the school’s founding almost a century ago, the Sisters, faculty, and administration have remained vigilant, forward focused, outward thinking, global, and steadfast in their commitment to providing students with the skill set that will equip them for lives of meaning and purpose in college and beyond.

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As we prepare to host the annual Global Network of International Schools Conference this upcoming summer, bringing together Sisters and members of all 19 RSHM international schools, I am especially mindful of the need for our collective vision and voice for justice. In a world that is ever-evolving and unpredictable, we remain sustained by our roots and anchored in faith. We recognize that new courses are charted successfully with deep knowledge, with curiosity, and with hope. That is what we do at Marymount. Though we cannot predict the future, we educate as a means to inform and shape the essential and growing role held by women in all industries, disciplines, and areas of leadership.

Within the pages of this magazine are articles that outline several of the core literacies taught at Marymount pertaining to global, religious, social-emotional, and digital landscapes. And, two

“

The world never needed women’s intelligence and sympathy more than it does today. The education that will equip women to meet modern conditions effectively will not neglect any medium in which true American womanhood may find its best expression.

”

— Mother Marie-Joseph Butler, Foundress of the Marymount Schools in America

faculty members share their experiences when they journeyed to Béziers, France, the birthplace of the RSHM, to participate in an immersive winter retreat and reflect upon how our school continues to advance and live the mission that all may have life.

Rounding out this issue of M are profiles of alumnae who are dedicated to justice as documentarians, researchers, and humanitarian advocates.

Our program is intentional, relevant, and successful in its ability to equip students with the tools that they need not only for success, but to amplify their voices as leaders in a dynamic, rapidly-evolving, and increasingly global future.

With gratitude,

MARYMOUNT'S PROGRAM IS FORECAST AND INFORMED BY MS. LANDRY’S PARTICIPATION IN THE FOLLOWING: � THE WOMEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES � THE HARVARD WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP BOARD � THE WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM CONFERENCE AT UCLA � THE PATRICK SOON-SHIONG INNOVATION AWARDS � THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE CONFERENCE

Jacqueline L. Landry Head of School M - THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019

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s t e p p i n S 1.

RETREAT WEEK Students bond over three-days of reflection, sisterhood, and prayer during Marymount’s annual Retreat Week, a cornerstone of the Spiritual Life curriculum.

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3.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS WIN GOLD RATINGS FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Marymount’s student newspaper, The Anchor, and literary magazine, Sunset, receive prestigious Gold Medalist Critiques from Columbia University’s Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

HONOR COUNCIL INDUCTIONS Marymount inducts eight students into the Honor Council, an organization that promotes life-long integrity in academic and non-academic pursuits. New members include Sophomores Carlisle West and Jennifer Kim, and Junior Gabriella Scothon. Re-elected members include Senior Karen Ogisawa and Junior Madeline Abadin, in addition to Junior Mary Cooper, who serves as secretary, and Seniors Eugenia Baek and Skylar Brown, this year’s co-presidents.

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL DANCE Students ring in the new school year at Marymount’s popular Backto-School Dance. This year’s theme was Carnival.

4.

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MENTOR DINNER Students Advancing in Internship Learning and Leadership (SAILL) interns enjoy time with mentors and family at Marymount’s annual event, which recognizes those who support Marymount’s internship program.

6.

UCLA PROFESSOR LYNN VAVRECK VISITS MARYMOUNT’S AP GOVERNMENT Dr. Vavreck, the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA, speaks to AP Government students about her statistics-driven research on the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

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s t e p p i n S 7.

CAPPING AND PINNING CEREMONY Freshmen are initiated into the Sailor Sisterhood with a sailor cap from Junior big sisters, while Sophomores are gifted a pin from Senior big sisters in this beloved tradition, which has spanned over eight decades.

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ALL SAINTS’ DAY MASS During his interactive homily, presiding priest Fr. Ron Schmidt, S.J., celebrates the lives of those whom we have lost and asks, “What was the grace of their lives to you?” Mass attendees were honored to share touching memories of loved ones.

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MARYMOUNT’S MODEL UNITED NATIONS (MUN) TRAVELS TO SEATTLE Marymount’s MUN delegates celebrate outside Seattle’s Pac MUN 2018 conference after earning five excellent individual awards, and finishing the meet as the second-highest rated delegation.

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10.

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GRANDPARENTS DAY Sailors greet their grandparents at Marymount’s annual Grandparents Day Mass and Lunch. Fr. Mark Villano, Associate Director of the University Catholic Center at UCLA, was the celebrant.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE Students, teachers, and parent volunteers pack over 400 meals donated to A Place Called Home (APCH) as part of Marymount’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.

HEAD OF SCHOOL JACQUELINE L. LANDRY LAUNCHES MARYMOUNT’S THOUGHT TALK SERIES Ms. Landry leads a discussion at the series’ first forum titled, “Understanding the Adolescent Journey in an Era of Social Media.” Over 20 Marymount mothers joined Ms. Landry at the inaugural event, which will continue with periodical, small-group discussions between Ms. Landry and parents on current topics affecting teenage girls.

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NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST Senior Sarah Fry earns National Merit Semifinalist status based on her PSAT score, placing her in the top one percent of all U.S. test-takers. Sarah, with 16,000 other semifinalists, will compete this spring for one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarships.

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ATHLETICS RE CAP 10

VOLLEYBALL Freshman/Sophomore, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Volleyball win Mission League titles during the fall season, with Varsity holding their first-place finish for the 19th consecutive season. Varsity also brought home the firstplace trophy in the Nike Tournament of Champions and continued their winning season into the CIF Southern Section Division I finals. Their season ended at the Southern California Regional Finals in the CIF State Playoffs.

TENNIS Junior Varsity Tennis captures the league title for the third-consecutive season with an undefeated league record of 8-0 and an overall season record of 15-1.

Varsity Tennis tied for third in the Mission League after beating competitors HarvardWestlake and Chaminade.

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CROSS COUNTRY Sailor Strong Varsity runners tie for third place in the Mission League.

Led by Freshman Eva Muldoon, Junior Varsity took eighth place in the Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) race. Varsity finished first at the Small School Invitational, where Lucia Perez-Saignac '20, Bella Wright '19, and Caitlin Donovan '21 finished first, second, and third, respectively, with four more Sailors placing in the top 12. Their season ended at the Southern California Regional Finals in the CIF State Playoffs.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY GOLF Marymount’s Golf Team takes fourth place in the Mid-Season League Tournament and fifth overall in the Mission League. Senior Alexandra Korer shot a 93 in preliminaries and advanced to the Mission League Finals.

Three Senior athletes sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) to Division I Colleges and Universities during this fall’s NLI Signing Day. Grace Frohling, Devon Newberry, and Emi Smith will play Division I Volleyball at the University of San Diego, Division I Beach Volleyball at University of California, Los Angeles, and Division I soccer at University of California, Irvine, respectively.

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a g n i m o ce

N I U B BR Marymount all-star athlete & youth Olympian Devon Newberry '19 talks about her travels to the top.

ot many 17-year-olds have played to crowds of a quarter-million people, but Marymount Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Beach Volleyball star Devon Newberry '19 added the experience to her long list of achievements this fall when she competed at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games.

N

“Playing for your country is an opportunity not many experience, and I am so grateful I had the chance,” said the soon-to-be Bruin, recruited to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play Division I Beach Volleyball.

As part of Team USA, Devon and her beach volleyball partner, current Bruin Lindsay Sparks, traveled to Cuba for five days and China for nine before spending two weeks competing in Argentina — where they placed fourth in the world-wide competition.

“This tournament went further than just volleyball — these people — who are spread out all over the world — became my best friends,” said Devon, who is also a threeyear Mission League MVP, All-CIF Player, MaxPreps All-American Player, and a two-time ASICS Challenge All-Tournament Player. “This experience has inspired me to work harder so I can have that opportunity again.”

Devon’s volleyball career started at age eight. At 10, she began competitively playing after her love of volleyball literally kicked in — at a sleep-away soccer camp.

“I kept passing the ball with my forearms even though I was the goalie,” Devon said. “I realized that I should probably take volleyball more seriously at that point.”

From that time, Devon devoted herself to her sport: her days often begin at 5 a.m. for her first volleyball practice before a full-day of school. She then heads straight to after-school practice, followed by an hour of weight training. Devon next tackles homework and, time permitting, she unwinds with a walk or yoga. Devon credits her unrelenting work ethic and sportsmanship to her time at Marymount.

“Marymount taught me how to be a team player; my team is my second family, so making sure that everyone’s needs are met is a huge priority,” Devon said. “I expect everyone to carry their weight and be treated fairly.”

Now, as Devon reaches the end of her time as a Sailor, she looks forward to becoming a Bruin.

“I feel like I have been waiting to go to UCLA for so long,” said Devon. “Playing beach volleyball at the highest level, at a top-ranked school, with amazing women whom I already know, is something I’m really looking forward to.”

With her short time remaining at Marymount, she urges younger Sailors to take chances and try new things.

“Get involved as much as you can — you never know which people and what activities will be your favorite,” Devon said. “I found my passion in volleyball, and I made friends that have been and will be by my side, and it was the best experience I could have asked for.” n M - THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019

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CHARTING

our COURSE

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CHARTING Marymount’s world-class education begins with its faculty, a remarkedly

our COURSE

accomplished group of educators dedicated to teaching young women problem-solving skills and empathy through creativity and self-expression. Our interdisciplinary curriculum

By applying four competencies—cultural

integrates Marymount’s pioneering Catholic

competency, religious literacy, social emotional

history with modern innovation to create an

learning, and digital literacy—across subject

experience that empowers our students with

matters through academics and real-life

a toolkit for success.

experiences, our young women achieve intellectual excellence through deep, personal meaning.

In the pages that follow, "M" explores how four teachers recalculate their curriculum to address the changing needs of modern students.

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“

USING RESOURCES LIKE THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, TEACHING TOLERANCE, AND THE SEEKING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ⁽SEED⁾ PROJECT ARM OUR STUDENTS WITH THE LANGUAGE NEEDED TO COMBAT INSIDIOUS STEREOTYPES, CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, AND TOXIC MASCULINITY IN THE WORLD THEY ENCOUNTER BEYOND MARYMOUNT’S GATES.

”

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CULTURAL COMPETENCY

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hen teacher Samantha Hazell-O’Brien implemented Marymount’s Student Diversity Awareness Board (SDAB) three years ago, she knew the Sisters of Marymount’s Founding Order, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), would approve. After all, the SDAB holds a modern mission that echoes the RSHM core purpose, that all may have life and have it to the full.

“It is this mantra and message that the RSHM instilled in the fabric of all Marymount schools,” said Ms. Hazell-O’Brien. “It permeates Marymount’s academia, athletics, and service learning, and now, the SDAB adds the opportunity to take this core value further by fusing cocurricular programing with traditional tenets and dedication to inclusivity and equality.”

Ms. Hazell-O’Brien, who also serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion and adviser to The Anchor, Marymount’s student-run, online newspaper, said that SDAB’s purpose is to bring awareness to different cultures’ celebrations and nationally recognized historical months, in addition to encouraging students to speak up and out for those underrepresented or misrepresented.

modern minority experiences with racism, gender equity, and ableism — to encourage healthy and open dialogue in the Marymount community.

Ms. Hazell-O’Brien goes beyond campus-based activities to educate herself on current topics relevant to diversity and inclusion and brings her insight back to Marymount. Each year, she and her students attend the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) yearly professional development and diversity symposiums, including the People of Color Conference (PoCC) and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC).

“I have the privilege and pleasure of working alongside student leaders who are determined to leave their school, communities, and world a more tolerant and accepting reflection of themselves — ethical leaders and learners,” Ms. Hazell-O’Brien said. n 2019 Student Diversity Awareness Board

“Using resources like the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance, and the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) Project arm our students with the language needed to combat insidious stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and toxic masculinity in the world they encounter beyond Marymount’s gates,” Ms. Hazell-O’Brien said. “In large part, we offer our personal narratives as windows to allow teachers and students to grow in their understanding of each other, and, ultimately, the RSHM Sisters’ vision to embrace all parts of all people.”

Earlier this year, SDAB arranged Diversity Day during Marymount’s annual Mission in Action Week to include Bollywood and Greek dancing. The SDAB also hosts Thought Talks — student-led, exploratory forums on M - THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019

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DIGITAL LITERACY

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hen Marymount’s redesign of the Digital Resource Center (DRC) was in the early stages of development, Head of School Jacqueline L. Landry and faculty dreamed of creating a state-of-the-art makerspace that would serve as the school’s hub for digital literacy and technological innovation.

What began as a small-seeded dream blossomed into an entire interdisciplinary program led by Marymount’s STEAM team, which includes Director of Design Engineering and Academic Data Adrian Skrentny, CoSTEAM Coordinators Science Department Chair Kim Bathker and Math Department Chair Julie Whittell, and Visual Arts faculty member Ceres Madoo.

“I wanted our students to be excited about an interdisciplinary space that has a variety of technology, equipment, and resources, so I presented a light-up neoprene coat at an all-school assembly to show students how computer programming can also be something tangible and artistic,” said Mr. Skrentny.

The STEAM team began integrating digital literacy and advanced technological skills into Marymount’s academic program with workshops in 3D printing, textile design, and coding. The students—and teachers—loved it.

“We capitalized on that momentum by creating a temporary space to develop the program and as a case study for the features we wanted in the final space,” said Mr. Skrentny, who, with the STEAM team, spent the next three years

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visiting makerspaces in schools and colleges across the country, collecting ideas about equipment, infrastructure, and design that could be incorporated into a new makerspace. When Marymount's makerspace—dubbed the M3 studio—opened last year, students and teachers quickly began integrating the resources and tools into existing projects from core classes (including Algebra, Geometry, Visual Arts, Ceramics 3D Design, Physics, English, and Spanish).

“Our students—some of whom may have never stepped foot into a makerspace prior—are utilizing the space in ways in which they never thought were possible,” said Ms. Whittell. “As our academic program is interdisciplinary in nature, students are seeing first-hand the diverse fields that STEAM incorporates and really learning how, where, and why arts, humanities, science, and technology merge.”

“I love seeing students using the laser cutters and 3D printers in Algebra and Geometry because they can see math’s relationship with the beauty of the world around them,” said Mr. Skrentny. “In the Visual Arts, the M3 gives students more mediums for expression so they can combine tactile and technological skills to create unique artistic vision and actualization.

“Ultimately, we want the M3 to break down access barriers for girls to pursue studies in STEAM,” Mr. Skrentny said.

“This space is user-friendly and fun – and the more ways we experiment, create, and learn, the more we have to offer and inspire our students.” n

“

I LOVE SEEING STUDENTS USING THE LASER CUTTERS AND 3D PRINTERS IN ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE MATH’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

”

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Among the many developments that emerged out of the Second Vatican Council were the Church's Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate, and the establishment of the Pontifical Secretariat for NonChristians, now known as the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

This commitment to interreligious understanding is affirmed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and is a key component of Marymount’s four-year Religious Studies program.

Religious Literacy and the Religious Studies program are complimented by: -

Service Learning Program Annual Kingdom Fair for Social Justice Regular Masses Celebration of Holy Days of Obligation Interfaith Clubs and Activities Annual Class Retreats Daily Prayer Weekly Community Reflections Interfaith Speakers Annual Religious Education Congress

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RELIGIOUS LITERACY

T

he Religious Studies curriculum at Marymount is designed to not only cultivate the spiritual formation of each student, but to promote a mutual understanding of the world’s religions in the pursuit of fostering greater empathy, respect, and understanding in our richly diverse community, city, and world. At Marymount, we recognize that religious literacy is integral to reducing ignorance and intolerance, and to fostering peace.

Approached from the Catholic framework, Marymount’s Religious Studies curriculum engages students in the study of Scripture and Catholic teachings, and in understanding the structure of the Church and other world religions within modern history.

Students explore how religious expressions are culturally and historically embedded in all dimensions of human experience; socially, politically, culturally, and economically. Throughout the curriculum, Marymount students learn about moral leadership and are inspired collectively and individually to contribute to making a more just world.

“It is through the lens of religion that students are able to resource facts and figures that connect them to developing their consciousness of others, and their own conscience,” Ms. Nguyen said. “Understanding themselves through this lens is the first step to inclusive empathy.”

In her teaching, Ms. Nguyen constantly re-evaluates and re-constructs her lessons based on current events and insights gleaned from her own continuing education (she is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at Loyola Marymount University). Keenly aware of the impact current events and tragic incidents have on teenagers, she uses her classroom as a place to organically process these occurrences using a social justice framework.

IT IS THROUGH THE LENS OF RELIGION THAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO RESOURCE FACTS AND FIGURES THAT CONNECT THEM TO DEVELOPING THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS OF OTHERS, AND THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE.

Freshman and Sophomore Religious Studies teacher Linda Nguyen noted that students are encouraged to develop and articulate their personal beliefs in a diverse classroom setting where they are not able to assume that everyone thinks about things in the same way.

Through discussion, students are challenged to think critically about different philosophical questions, as well as how to verbalize their feelings in relation to complex issues. They learn to actively listen to their classmates’ voices, from myriad backgrounds, to enhance their understanding of the multitude of ways religion influences how one thinks about, and acts, within the world. This engagement positions students to better understand their own spirituality, while growing in their comfort of articulating, differentiating and conversing about various religions, values, traditions, and nuances. Through that process, Marymount students learn about the crucial and relevant role people of faith play in positively impacting the world. n

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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

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ver three decades in the classroom, English teacher Teresa Dickey has developed a hyper-awareness of the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) for her students—and herself. “The ability to recognize and manage the emotional swings of teenagers makes for a better, happier teacher, so I’ve learned to cultivate my own social-emotional skills as well as teach them to my students,” said Ms. Dickey.

Last summer, Ms. Dickey earned a coveted seat in the Huntington’s Voices Institute for Teachers, where educators share how they use the Library’s materials to enhance student learning. During the seminar, a mindfulness speaker hosted a session that taught teachers activities that quiet and focus the mind.

“

Ms. Dickey first began incorporating SEL into her classroom after her first year teaching, 35-years ago, when she attended a weeks-long seminar hosted by the California Writing Project, an organization dedicated to improving student writing and learning by improving the teaching of writing.

WHEN THE MIND IS CALM, PEOPLE MORE

“I met extraordinarily talented, experienced teachers, one of whom gave me the best advice: successful teachers have ‘with-it-ness,’ or an ability to connect and understand— but not to participate in — student culture,” said Ms. Dickey, who noted her own “with-it-ness” is critical in developing her students’ SEL because it fosters empathy—and empathy begins with her.

MORE EFFECTIVELY LEARN.

“When I am ‘with it,’ I understand my students’ worlds and respect their place inside the classroom and out: their commitments beyond school, the entertainment in which they engage, and the stress impacting their lives,” Ms. Dickey said. “It shows that I understand what matters to them and that I take my students’ lives seriously.”

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EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE WITH OTHERS. AND WHEN THE MIND IS CALM, PEOPLE

”

While “with-it-ness” and mindfulness are examples of SEL tools and practices Ms. Dickey employs in her classroom, she notes that SEL’s core purpose is already deeply embedded in the RSHM’s core value that all may have life and have it to the full. “That value embodies empathy and emotion control, good communication, and problem-solving skills,” Ms. Dickey said. “The moment we embrace the idea that all people deserve a full life, we are then obligated to listen, learn, and assist others in achieving it.” n

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Artwork by Jillian Neuner '19

VISUAL ARTS

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Dorothy Eck '20

Caitlin Donovan '21

Chandler Garland '21

Marissa Trapani '20

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Teya Janz '21

Emma Pierson '20

Audrey Hoen '20 M - THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019

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PERFORMING ARTS

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(L to R) Frederica von Siemens '21, Piper Ackerman '20, and Brynn Coleman '21 practice a scene from the play Marcus is Walking prior to their performance at the Varsity Division Fall Festival at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita.

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Dancers learn the Afro-Brazilian dance, “Dance of the Orixas,” choreographed by the Los Angeles-based Vivir Brazil Dance Company's artistic director and guest lecturer Linda Yudin.

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Over one-fourth of Marymount’s student body participates in performing arts through song, orchestra, and dance showcased in Masses, all-school community gatherings, plays, musicals, and concerts.

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THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT In November, the Marymount Players debuted their poignant production of The Triangle Factory Fire Project. The play,

by Christopher Piehler in collaboration with Scott Alan Evans, tells the stories of the victims and survivors of New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

The Players’ production included 17 thespians, five production assistants, and 14 stage crew members. Together, they honored the memory of the 146 garment workers, most of whom were young immigrant women between the ages of 14 and 23, who perished in the infamous 1911 fire in a heartbreaking interpretation of this moving play.

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Knowledge 34

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Knows No

In late November, Director of Spiritual Life and Religious Studies Department Chair Rebecca Bostic and Social Studies Department Chair Justin Baker traveled to Béziers, France, for an in-depth exploration of the history of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM). Ms. Bostic and Mr. Baker recount their experience about how this spiritual journey reinforced their dedication to Marymount’s living mission.

Rebecca and Justin standing across the river from the city of Béziers, which was a walled fortress with the Cathedral rising behind them.

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The "Béziers Experience:" A Historical Perspective

BY JUSTIN BAKER

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n a brisk November morning, I stood outside of the St. Aphrodise Basilica in Béziers, France, and stared in awe at the 12th century structure. I thought to myself, as I often do at historical sites, that, at one point, this building was new.

Somebody laid this foundation; someone laid the first brick; someone laid the last brick. And back in the 12th century, the Basilica’s first parishioners arrived to pray.

Next to the Basicalla is a modest house where, in 1802, Fr. Gailhac was born.

As I walked into the crypt that held Fr. Gailhac’s remains, I came back to the thought that this man laid the foundation for a Religious Order that has incredible worldwide significance. I had never experienced a historical site like this. It was the first time that I felt a part of the living history and mission of the RSHM. When I began working at Marymount over seven years ago, I distinctly remember our Head of School, Jacqueline L. Landry, introducing all new faculty to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM). The story of Fr. Gailhac and the historical context in which the Religious Order and school was founded intrigued me.

Seven years later, I found myself walking those same streets I learned about that first day along with Religious Studies Department Head and Spiritual Life Director Rebecca Bostic, who had also been at the same new faculty orientation.

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This “Béziers Experience” furthered my understanding of the historical context in which the Order was founded, and how it relates to the world today. When Fr. Gailhac was born, the Catholic Church in France was in tremendous peril under Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution. Although implicated in corruption and attacked because of its link to France’s Absolute Monarchy, the Church was, in most cases, the only place that offered social services. As Fr. Gailhac grew up, and the Church and the state reached better terms, Gailhac attended Seminary and eventually became a Priest. Fr. Gailhac opened his doors to women and children in most need of help. Together with Mother St. Jean, they founded the RSHM, which created the Global Network of RSHM Schools (now 19 strong) – including our very own Marymount, Los Angeles.

This was my second opportunity to experience the RSHM mission alive and living through the students, faculty, and staff of everyone I met from all the various Marymount schools. In 2016, I attended the RSHM Global Network of Schools conference in Bogota, Colombia. There, I learned about the escuelas funded by the Marymount schools in Colombia. The escuelas are schools centered in low-income areas that offer the same incredible opportunities as the elite Marymount schools in the area.

With the Béziers experience, I found myself thinking about the Kingdom Fair project that our Juniors

The building in which Fr. Gailhac grew up, which is next door to the Catholic Church where he attended as a boy. This statue of Mary and Jesus as a child greeted him every day, likely inspiring part of his devotion to Mary, which led to the founding of the RSHM.

complete for their Religious Studies course here at Marymount Los Angeles: a project in which the students’ complete hours of service and connect their experience to the contextual information learned in their Religious Studies classes. Both of these examples are clear evidence that the mission is still living within the Marymount schools.

Gailhac was a revolutionary in his time and remains so today. The values of social justice are engrained now within our students more than ever, and they are an enduring legacy of what we do here at Marymount and why. n

I had never experienced a historical site like this. It was the first time that I felt a part of the living history and mission of the RSHM.

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Taken from the bottom floor of the Motherhouse, many paintings and tapestries decorate the halls and interior of the home.

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Educating the Whole Child Throughout the Centuries

BY REBECCA BOSTIC

A

relatively small town in the south of France, Béziers has a fair share of economic diversity, which was also the case when Fr. Gailhac founded the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) in the mid-1800s. When Fr. Gailhac first came to Béziers, his Catholic superiors warned him of professional ruin if he followed through with his plans to support marginalized residents. Instead of ruin, his groundwork with impoverished people in that small French town launched a worldwide movement through the RSHM. It is his legacy that we continue to celebrate today.

As Marymount’s Director of Spiritual Life and Religious Studies Department Chair, I was confident I knew our Founders’ story; I had been telling it for years. I read the histories, heard retellings, and conversed about our shared RSHM mission with my colleagues from around the world at various Global Network of RSHM School conferences.

But this past November, when I visited the RSHM Motherhouse in Béziers, I experienced a spiritual and professional epiphany. Walking through the Motherhouse felt surreal. I walked through the same halls that Fr. Gailhac walked. I stood in RSHM Foundress Mother St. Jean’s room. It was a powerful experience that brought all my imaginings from the histories I read to life. I prayed for my current, former, and future Marymount students in the same Chapel Mother St. Jean and Mother Butler surely prayed for their own students, which felt like active participation in a spiritual legacy spanning centuries.

During our retreat, we examined the Founders’ letters where they gave advice that is incredibly relevant in our modern world. In a letter to an RSHM teacher about how to engage with her students, Fr. Gailhac advises, “It’s not what you teach them, it is how you are.” A teacher at an

RSHM school has a great deal of work that goes beyond the content they teach in the classroom. They are tasked with teaching young people how to best engage with the world in an impactful way. The challenge of educating the whole child has always been at the heart of the RSHM. As I sat in a room full of teachers, I felt the presence of Fr. Gailhac as we talked about the importance of loving the students we educate and the care we give to each student when we acknowledge each one as a unique child of God.

A teacher at an RSHM school has a great deal of work that goes beyond the content they teach in the classroom. They are tasked with teaching young people how to best engage with the world in an impactful way.

This dedication to cultivating individual uniqueness is exceptional. Marymount teachers are passionate about education, and also so clearly share a passion for supporting and loving each student’s whole being that we are blessed to encounter. This is Fr. Gailhac’s living legacy in action. “Educating the whole child” often sounds trite, but RSHM schools truly consider more than each student’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development. Marymount educators care about their soul and essence. n

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BIG {

& SMALL

Acts of Kindness are More than Simple

}}

Kindness comes in many forms and from unexpected

places. Sophomores Natasha Savianu, Sophia Scott, and Stephanie Sowa share some of the ways they give and receive kindness at Marymount, and how these quiet acts influence their actions on campus and off.

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NATASHA SAVIANU ‘21

Sometimes, I pause for a moment as I sense the warm emotion of gratitude fill my body. I’m sure you’ve had that feeling, too.

It happens when you meet an old friend; when you are in the middle of nature on a spring day; or, when you taste your favorite childhood food. To me, it happens when someone acts kindly.

{

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT KINDNESS, CONCERN, AND CARE CONSTRUCT OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. MARYMOUNT INSPIRES THESE CORDIAL, HUMANE SENTIMENTS IN EACH STUDENT, AND EACH STUDENT INSPIRES IT IN OTHER PEOPLE, OUTSIDE OUR CAMPUS.

I’ve felt that feeling before, but never as much as I do at Marymount. As an international student from Oradea, Romania, I didn’t know what to expect when I came to America—and our community’s compassion astounded me. Kindness here comes in various forms: it’s in my best friend’s hug after I cried over the new movie trailer for Dumbo; it’s in the bottle of water my self-defense classmate brought me without me asking; it’s in a fellow student’s smile and hello, even though we don’t know each other.

My teachers show consideration, respect, and appreciation towards our work and effort. One of our staff members, Angie Ramos, always asks us, “How was your day, mija?” Coach Lasan bakes bread for us to eat after track practice. These acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, brighten my day.

They make me hopeful for the future of humanity and inspire me to become a better person. I try to encourage and support my friends, especially during a test week. I smile at people I pass in the halls. I even share my “Lasan bread” (sometimes).

I truly believe that kindness, concern, and care construct our whole community. Marymount inspires these cordial, humane sentiments in each student, and each student inspires it in other people, outside our campus. With two years left at Marymount, I know that the compassion I am shown here will accompany me throughout my whole life.

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SOPHIA SCOTT ‘21

On the first morning of my Freshman year, I vividly remember my nervousness and excitement when walking to my Marymount bus stop. The sound of my brand-new penny loafers clicked against the wet concrete as I drew nearer to the sidewalk-meeting place, where five upperclasswomen immediately greeted me with beaming, radiant smiles. They happily introduced themselves and offered me tips, advice, and recommendations about what activities to try during my first day. At first, I was quiet and shy, but their welcoming demeanors eased my apprehension. I felt my trepidation melt away.

When the bus arrived to campus, I eagerly made my way to Cantwell Hall for my first community (a weekly, all-school assembly). A bit unsure of what to expect, I sat in the Freshmen section. I had no understanding of the wonderful school community I was about to join.

{

WHEN I MEET NEW MARYMOUNT GIRLS, I AM ALWAYS ENAMORED

BY THEIR KINDNESS, WARMTH, AND THOUGHTFULNESS.

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In those first days, I was amazed at how quickly and easily I made friends with girls in and out of my classes and my grade.

From bringing cupcakes, balloons, and decorating lockers on friends’ birthdays, to staying late after school to cheer on my Sailor Sisters in sports events, the entire community displays a genuine kindness that reinforces that Marymount is the place for me. Even now, when I meet new Marymount girls, I am always enamored by their kindness, warmth, and thoughtfulness.

We tend to underestimate the impact that showing kindness has towards strangers and rarely recognize what this display may mean to them, but often, it means a great deal. Now, and in the years to come, when I hear the penny-loafer clicks of a new student, I will strive to treat all those I encounter with the same kindness that was graciously shown to me, without expecting anything in return, but always hoping to make a new friend.

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“

KINDNESS RADIATES AT MARYMOUNT. I CAN COUNT ON A FRIENDLY SMILE TO GREET ME AS I WALK BETWEEN CLASSES. AND, I HAVE MADE

”

MY VERY BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE AT MARYMOUNT. THEY INSPIRE ME TO ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY AT THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL.

— STEPHANIE SOWA '21

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Watch Our Women ALUMNAE SERIES

celebrating decades of Marymount graduates who have worked tirelessly to affect change in the world around them, each in their unique way. 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 each issue of M — The Marymount Magazine as well as on our website over the coming years. If you are interested in participating or nominating a fellow Marymount graduate to be featured in this series, please contact alumnae@mhs-la.org.

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tenacious advocate and researcher, Nika SoonShiong '11 has dedicated her career to helping end inequality in the developing world – a passion fostered

by Marymount’s emphasis on social justice.

At the World Bank Group – which lends $65 billion a year to developing countries to achieve its goals of ending poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity – Nika works on strategies to incorporate technology-enabled solutions that solve critical development challenges.

“We are harnessing the power of disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and 3D printing to unlock countries’ development potential.”

Nika said. “For example, a signature project is the Famine Early Action Mechanism, the first AI-driven predictive model of famine risk that can trigger humanitarian aid more quickly and effectively than ever before.”

Nika said long conversations with her former Marymount Religious Studies teacher, Mr. Klein, deeply influenced her perspective on social responsibility.

“Marymount engrained in me the importance of listening to others. It protected my curiosity for why and how inequality persists,” she said.

NIKA

Soon-Shiong

'11

PROFESSION Consultant at the Office of President Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group

EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in International Relations (specializing in Social Development) with a Minor in Creative Writing, Stanford University Master of Arts in African Studies (concentration in Culture and Society), Stanford University

CURRENT RESIDENCE Washington, D.C.

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Nika earned her bachelor’s in international relations and master’s in African studies from Stanford University, later working in South Africa and Botswana where she managed five community-based participatory research projects. She recently published a report on school infrastructure delivery in South Africa, which led to the Department of Education’s public commitment to implement her four policy recommendations.

Nika’s work with unemployed youth, activist movements, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS informed her desire to understand how technology might unlock new approaches to protect the poor and marginalized groups.

“An exciting part of my job is that I get to assist the development of partnerships with global technology leaders whose innovations, data, and expertise are expanding the very nature of what multilateral development institutions can achieve at scale,” Nika said.

Inspired by stories of her South African parents’ personal experience under apartheid, Nika has always been motivated by the history and politics of inequality.

Her experience at Marymount was instrumental in charting a desire to find her voice and amplify the voices of others.

“Marymount has always been a place that encourages students to speak out, and that is something that has helped me develop a critical approach to thinking about the world, and my place in it,” Nika said. “What is so special about Marymount is its emphasis on instilling different concepts of success that embrace multiple registers of social and cultural difference.”

Currently applying to Ph.D. programs to study universal basic income as a global social policy, Nika understands that, although there is tremendous urgency for change, charting a unique path will require a mix of independent analysis and intellectual guidance moving forward.

“I try to remind myself that there is no perfect path to follow, if only someone would tell me where it is!

I’m inspired by my female friends who are constantly looking beyond history for solutions to today’s problems.” Nika said.

When asked what she would say to Marymount students who seek to be future leaders of social change, her response was simple: “Don’t wait to challenge the small and large injustices you see. Marymount students – and young people all over the world – are the ones we’ve been waiting for, and the change starts now.” n

AS PART OF HER PHOTOVOICE RESEARCH PROJECT, “ILIZWI LAM” (MY VOICE), NIKA EXPLORED THE JOURNEY THAT UNEMPLOYED YOUTH IN NYANGA, CAPE TOWN FACE IN FINDING JOBS. THIS EXHIBITION, WHICH INCLUDED 20 PHOTOS AND STORIES FROM THE YOUTH IN NYANGA (LIKE THE ONE BELOW), WAS FEATURED AT BOTSWANA’S LARGEST CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY IN 2015.

TOGETHER WE CAN: “THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE SUN RISING OVER RDP HOUSES THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS BUILDING TO REPLACE THE SHACKS HERE IN MPETHA SQUARE IN NYANGA. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING THESE HOUSES ARE THE SAME ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIVING IN THEM. THE WORKERS AND FOREMEN ARE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I AM ONE OF THOSE WORKERS AND HOUSE 33 IN THIS PICTURE WILL BE MINE. EVERY DAY WHEN I WAKE UP, I SEE THE MORNING SUN RISING BEHIND MY SHACK, AND TO ME, THAT IS INSPIRATIONAL BECAUSE ANOTHER DAY AND ITS CHALLENGES IS BEGINNING. EVERY EVENING, WHEN I WATCH THE SUN SETTING, I ASK MYSELF WHAT I HAVE GAINED, COMPLETED, OR ACHIEVED THAT DAY. I LOOK AT THE OBSTACLES THAT STOOD IN MY WAY SO THAT THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN I SET UP MY NEXT GOAL, I KNOW WHAT TO AVOID. I RESPECT TIME. I KNOW THAT TIME IS EVERYTHING.”

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ational Geographic photo editor Jenna (Turner) Fite '03 has taken her Marymount education around the world and back in a trailblazing career inspired

by Marymount’s core value of global advocacy.

“Marymount taught me to be curious about the world which is how I have lived my life since graduating,” Jenna said. “My curiosity inspired me to live abroad in Italy, Mali, and Azerbaijan, and it has led me in some really interesting directions with my career.”

JENNA

(Turner) Fite

After receiving her bachelors degree in Art History from Pepperdine University, Jenna enlisted in the Peace Corps, which sent her to work with women in the remote village of Tenemabougou in southwest Mali, West Africa. But she found her true calling in photography at iconic National Geographic, where she was mentored by renowned photo editor Susan Welchman.

'03

PROFESSION Photo Editor, Science & Innovation at National Geographic

EDUCATION Bachelors of Arts in Art History, Pepperdine University

CURRENT RESIDENCE Washington, D.C.

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“National Geographic combined my two passions: learning about the world and visuals,” said Jenna, now the lead photo editor in National Geographic’s Science & Innovation department for digital and short form.

With an evergreen love of learning and curiosity, Jenna said her career path has taken her through a diverse range of roles and subjects – from art directing a Spinosaurus cover story (which required a week-long shoot with a life-sized dinosaur model) to commissioning original coverage of the Mars Insight Lander. Jenna now directs and styles photo shoots for National Geographic, including a recent story on how genes affect one’s love— or hate—of coffee.

When reflecting on past, powerful lessons, Jenna looks to her time at Marymount, as well as her openness to following God’s direction in her life.

“All parts of my life – my work, my family, my interests – contribute to my sense of self,” Jenna said. “No one part defines me; I have learned to always ask questions, to follow God’s path, and to be curious and interested in the world around me.

“Marymount’s faculty does a remarkable job seeing the potential in each student’s unique interests and talents— and then cultivating and shepherding them towards their goals,” Jenna said. “What makes Marymount unique is that they do this while simultaneously placing an importance on seeing outside of one’s self.”

As for advice to current and future Marymount students, Jenna stressed the importance of openness over explicitly mapping out the future.

“Enjoy life’s simple pleasures,” Jenna said. “If you’re open to it, life is full of adventure and can lead you down some really interesting paths.” n

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he started as a Girl Scout. Now, at 19-years old, Marymount alumna Ayanna Neal '17 is a non-profit founder and the recipient of the Presidential Environmental Youth Award (PEYA).

Ayanna received the PEYA Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the President of the United States in September for her founding of the Friends of the LAX Dunes (FOLD), a non-profit that partners with community organizations, corporations, and volunteers to protect and restore the LAX Dunes (also known as the El Segundo Dunes). A natural wildlife preserve, the Dunes stretch over 30-acres west of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and are home to over 900 species, including the federally-protected, endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly.

AYANNA

Neal '17

PROFESSION Student

EDUCATION Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, University of Pennsylvania (expected completion 2021)

CURRENT RESIDENCE Philadelphia, Penn.

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Growing up in Los Angeles, Calif., Ayanna began her work with the Dunes in 2014 after being introduced to the project by her mom and her Girl Scout mentor, Peggy Nguyen. This project became her Girl Scout Gold Award Project and focused on removing nonnative plants and restoring the Dunes’ native habitat.

Recognizing the need for community engagement and organizational leadership, Ayanna founded FOLD in 2015 in hopes of organizing volunteer days to engage the public in restoration efforts. In three years, Ayanna’s efforts have grown exponentially: FOLD now hosts weekly events that attract more than 1,000 volunteers, who contribute over 4,000 volunteer hours per year extracting invasive species from the Dunes.

FOLD partners with The Bay Foundation and Loyola Marymount University’s Coastal Research Institute and has also been recognized by the Los Angeles City Council, the North American Council of Airports, and the Environmental Protection Agency – all of which contributes to buzz that has garnered the organization over $150,000 in grants.

“Starting FOLD gave me an amazing leadership

opportunity to make a measurable impact in my community,” said Ayanna, who credits her Marymount education as inspiration to organize and act.

“I genuinely believe that I would not have had the resources or motivation to do even a fraction of the work I have done thus far if it weren’t for my teachers and advisors at Marymount who pushed me to challenge myself and my limits.”

Now a Sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, Ayanna cites her Marymount education as the foundation of the confidence she carries to college.

Away from the California coast she loves, Ayanna continues to work on passion projects, including with Penn’s Civic House, a Philadelphia-based hub for social justice and civic engagement work.

“The educational environment at Marymount taught me to be confident in the classroom and be bold in sharing my thoughts,” Ayanna said. “I’ve learned how to think before I speak, but not overthink to the point that I invalidate my opinions, and that is a confidence that I carry with me in college.”

Ayanna encourages her younger Marymount cohorts to find their truth and speak it, noting that the loudest voice in the crowd doesn’t always translate to the biggest action. Instead, she said, passion, drive, and commitment are qualities mandatory for leadership and change.

“My motivation and dedication to the ideas and work I care about have always been consistent, and I try to let kindness and good lead my actions,” Ayanna said.

“Take pride in your ability to address situations head on and stand firmly in your truth.

“Marymount taught me the value of giving back, and that is something I carry with me every day.”

In addition to winning the Presidential Environmental Youth Award in 2018, Ayanna is a Robeson Cooper Scholar, a 2017 Milken Scholar, a Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Scholar, a Girl Scout Emerging Leader and Gold Award winner, and was recognized by Los Angeles City Council for her work with FOLD. n

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CLA SS NOT E S

'69

L to R: Victoria Sork '69, Lucy Hesky '69, Debra Bonkowski Miller '72, Frances Lau '69, Pamela Ripley '69, Kristina Hokanson Gore '69, and Diane Fleischer Ditsworth '69

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Alumnae: Send Us Your Notes!

Our community wants to hear from you! Send us your class notes or photos electronically in a .jpg format to alumnae@mhs-la.org. If you are submitting photos, please make sure that the resolution is high enough for print publication —preferably 300 DPI. Your classmates can’t wait to see what you have been up to!

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CLASS NO T ES

1960s Kathi Robinson Koll '69 shares

that her memoir, Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love and Caregiving, was published in October. In the book, Kathi chronicles the years she spent as a full-time caregiver to her late husband, real estate developer Don Koll, after his debilitating stroke. The book is also a life-story of growing up in Los Angeles, a love story, and a warrior's story: Kathi narrates in vivid detail her unexpected life and some of the lessons she learned. Kick-Ass Kinda Girl published to rave reviews: Kirkus Reviews calls the memoir a, “clever, compelling...engaging wartsand-all telling of the ups and downs of a full-time caregiver;” while the Midwest Book Review said the book is, “a standout in the literature surrounding grief, recovery, and illness.”

1990s Katrina Bisetti Aza '99 writes, “On July 14, my husband, Vince, and I gave birth to our son, Travis Ryan.”

2000s Ayanna Neal '17 recently won the 2017 Presidential Environmental Youth Award for her work with the LAX Dunes in Playa Del Rey, Calif., a coastal habitat where her environmental non-profit, Friends of the LAX Dunes, works to restore the area by removing non-native plants. Friends of the LAX Dunes also won the Environmental Achievement Award by the Airports Council International - North America. For more about Ayanna and Friends of the LAX Dunes, please see our Alumna Profile on page 52.

Alexis Knott Price '11 writes that

she married Joshua Price on July 27, in Granada, Spain. The couple met as Freshmen at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and currently live in Los Angeles. “I now work for UCLA Health and began my master’s in gerontology at California State University, Long Beach.

Joshua works for the Boy Scouts of America. Three Marymount alumnae attended our wedding as part of the bridal party: my mother, Lycette Irving Knott '76, my sister, Olivia Knott '12, and my best friend,

1970s Joani Peter Noneman '76 writes, “my goddaughter, Camille Cameron, married Andrew Brooks on Oct. 13 in a gorgeous wedding at the Parker in Palm Springs. Both are graduates of Notre Dame High School. Helene Iannucci Cameron '76, Camille’s mother, was my matron of honor 23 years ago, and I was Helene’s maid of honor 29 years ago. Marymount ties that bind!”

Aleksandra Martinovic '11.”

Lauren Wahlquist Tigani '09 shares that she married Thomas Tigani on July 8. Her fellow Sailor Sisters Maria Grosso '09 and Ryan Murphy '10 served as bridesmaids.

(L to R) Joani Peter Noneman, Helene Iannucci Cameron '76, Camille Cameron, and Maid of Honor Kimmie Moore

Lauren Wahlquist Tigani Wedding

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Marriages Alexis Knott Price '11 to Joshua Price (07/27/18) Lauren Wahlquist Tigani '09 to Thomas Tigani (07/08/18)

Births Travis Ryan, to Katrina Bisetti Aza '99 and her husband, Vince (07/14/18) Brodie Palmer, to Erin Huling Blakeslee '04 and her husband, Raymond (09/7/18) Marilyn Grace, to Laura Wenglikowski Giery '02 and her husband, Ronnie (07/26/18) Alexander Von, to Kimberly White Haupt '02 and her husband, Eric (10/12/18) Kelly Anne, to Kathryn O'Brien Peveraro '01 and her husband, Daniel (05/25/18)

Transitions Robert Bell, grandfather of Caroline Garity '08 and Kimberly Garity '08 (07/26/18) Marvin Brady, grandfather of Lillian Wedbush '15 and Ruby Wedbush '21 (10/23/18) Bill Buckingham, husband of Josefa Witteman Buckingham '83 and brother-in-law of Marla Witteman Malcolm '79 (08/22/18) Barbara Weaver Call '44 (07/29/18) Eileen M. Call, mother of Kathleen M. Call '73 (08/26/18) Marie Carfino, grandmother of Jordan Carfino '14 and Cami Carfino '19 (10/29/18) RH “Bill� Casto, husband of Linda Ramos Casto '80 (11/12/18) Carrel Conley, aunt of Erin Hiney Lynch '83 (08/25/18) Nicholas Diaco, stepfather of Kelly Bryson Pearce '94 and father of Nicole Diaco Burgess '01 (09/21/18) Lisa Salvucci Ferrare '77, sister of Elise Salvucci Thomas '79 (11/05/18) Sarah Tilton Fries '56 (5/25/17) Bernice Delaney Herkenhoff '50 (09/18/18)

Lisa Dianne Hills '74 (01/29/17) Vincenzo Labella, father of Kerstin Park-Labella '87 and Jennifer Labella De Maio '93 (07/28/18) David Anthony Lacy, son of Virginia Benziger Lacy '51 (01/20/18) Charlene Laraneta, mother of Camille Laraneta '80 and Lisanne Laraneta-Watson '83 (09/27/18) Margaret Ann Leppo Meek '43 (11/07/01) Lynn Barbero Lombardo '56 (11/22/18) Dorothy Burke Rumer, mother of Cheryl Burke Ball '72, Maureen Burke Fimpler '74, Molly Burke Harrigan '80, and grandmother to Meagan Burke '17, Jennie Burke '18, and Allison Harrigan '17 (12/23/18) Frances Morehart, mother of Madeleine Morehart Mueller '64, Marianita Morehart Willmon '65, and Marcia Morehart Bottoms '72 (11/13/18) Marilyn Shipman, grandmother of Regan Shipman '99 (11/09/18) Lisa Sirianni '83, sister of Gina Sirianni Wilcox '81 (05/24/18) Alice Roberts Stattman '74 (11/06/17) Teresa Zabaldo-Chutuk '82 (08/2018)

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MARYMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL is an independent, Catholic, all-girls school with the core purpose of educating and empowering young women to live lives of consequence as ethical leaders with a global perspective and an unshakable commitment to the common good.

We are an active member of the Global Network of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) Schools in which the following goals and core values are shared: 1. To foster a personal relationship with God. 2. To create unity through diversity.

3. To instill a lifelong love of learning.

4. To encourage and aďŹƒrm personal growth.

5. To awaken a consciousness of social justice.

6. To fulďŹ ll the RSHM mission, "That all may have life and have it to the full."

M - The Marymount Magazine is published by the Marketing & Communications Office.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. 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: Contributing Photographers:

Student Contributors:

Design & Printing:

Parents of Alumnae:

Justin Baker Erica Berardi Rebecca Bostic Stephanie David Kambria Fischer Sr. Margaret McKenna, RSHM Bobbie Pyle

Devon Newberry '19 Natasha Savianu '21 Sophia Scott '21 Stephanie Sowa '21

Design by Lisa Paruch and Marymount High School

Please forward this publication and notify the Alumnae Office of updated address.

Printer: Southern California Graphics

Address service requested

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10643 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90077

LOS ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO. 32365

For information about important dates and upcoming events, please visit our website: www.mhs-la.org

THE MARYMOUNT MAGAZINE WINTER 2019

CHARTING

our COURSE