Moun t Sa in t Joseph Ac a demy Ma ga z i n e Graduation • Women in the Sciences
Summer 2016
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“Be courageous to undertake what God wants of you and constant to persevere in what you undertake, never giving up, whatever difficulties occur and whatever obstacles may be placed in your path unless you become totally powerless against them.� SSJ Maxim #66
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contents [Mount Magazine]
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From the President
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On the Mount
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Go Mount
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Graduation
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dare to...
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dare to
discover
28 Mount Bids Farewell to Departing Staff and Faculty
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Development
31 Alumnae
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Rochelle Grasso ’92:
Using Experience to Impact Education
Liz Nell ’04:
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At the Helm of an Educational Technology Start-Up
Maddy Sasso ’07: Building a Fashion Empire
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37 Alumnae Awards and Reunion 41 Class Chatter
Corrections Mount Magazine issues the following corrections to the Spring 2016 issue: Kate Sheridan ’12 did the illustrations for Dr. Bernadette Balcer’s book Sophie and Jack: A Pirate Adventure. Kate Toll ’12 was misidentified in Class Chatter.
EITC&OSTC TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS What is it?
How does it work?
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit are Pennsylvania tax credit programs that allow businesses that pay applicable taxes to redirect their tax dollars to support the Mount’s financial aid program.
Businesses interested in applying for ETIC/OSTC fill out a simple, one-page application that can be found on www.newpa.com. You can apply for one or two years. Upon approval for a one-year commitment, you will receive a tax credit of 75% of your contribution. For two years, you will receive a tax credit for 90% of your contribution.
You then have 60 days to make your gift to the Mount in one of these ways: Mount Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Fund directly Henkels Foundation, with a designation to Mount Saint Joseph Academy Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS), with a designation to Mount Saint Joseph Academy. The remaining percentage that is not included in the tax credit may be claimed as a charitable donation on your federal tax return.
Magazine managing editor
Kristen DiPrinzio editorial staff
Jill Gregori, Leigh McFadden, Theresa Moyer, Barbara Oldt, Jody Romano writers
Kristen DiPrinzio, Jody Romano class chatter
Theresa Moyer, Barbara Oldt photographers
Kristen DiPrinzio, Sam Fritch Photography, Andrea Loughlin Portraiture, Mike Stevenson designer
Maridel McCloskey, McCloskey Designs printer
Garrison Printing Co., Pennsauken, NJ president
Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ principal
Dr. Judith A. Caviston vp of institutional advancement
Jody Romano
director of development
Jill Gregori
director of alumnae
Theresa Moyer
director of communications
Kristen DiPrinzio
mount fund coordinator
Leigh McFadden
celebrauction coordinator
Cindy Moore
development office secretary
Barbara Oldt
Who can apply?
Businesses in the state of PA that pay the following taxes:
Corporate Net Income
Bank and Trust Company Shares
Mutual Thrift Institutions
Capital Stock Franchise
Title Insurance Companies Shares
Malt Beverage
Personal Income
Insurance Premiums
Pass-through Entities
Why is this support important to the Mount?
All money designated to the Mount from EITC/OSTC is applied to financial aid. In this past academic year, 140 students received financial aid and that number will increase in 2016-17.
This level of financial support would not be possible without EITC/OSTC.
For more details on EITC/OSTC, including deadlines, go to www.msjacad.org/give or www.newpa.org. 4
Summer 2016
submit class notes online at: www.msjacad.org/classchatter send comments or corrections to: Mount Saint Joseph Academy Editorial Office, 120 West Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031 contact: 215-233-3177; mount@msjacad.org website: www.msjacad.org
The Mount Magazine is an official publication of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. The Mount Magazine is published three times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall) for students, alumnae, parents and friends of
From the President Dear Friends, One of my favorite poets is Mary Oliver. The New York Times once described her as “one of the finest American poets who can describe and transmit ecstasy, while retaining a practical awareness of the world.” In what has become a custom of mine, I extract and share with you the essence of my comments at graduation. In Oliver’s poem, The Summer Day, she asks a question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I joined Oliver in asking the Class of 2016 the same question: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” What is it that will take you out of your comfort zone, ignite your passion, and allow you to endure moments of failure, tears of pain, and the thrill that comes with taking risks and embracing your own wild and precious life? I put forward my wishes for them as they ponder and choose their “wild and precious life. “ I tempted them to consider living a life of wonder peppered with daring. I implored them to mull over this kind of life, where their desires can become the seeds of new ideas that will change the lives of people and the quality of life on the Earth. I urged them to live an intelligent life bursting with passion and zeal. I asserted that we need women who will make smart choices rooted in their imaginations, who will do research, and revere facts, but will also have heart. Further, I implored them to be wild and zealous in taking risks, to live on the edge, and to look for the next right thing that will stir the wonder in their lives and in others. I beseeched them not to fear facing their limitations, because it is the voice within calling them to the place of transformation. In my closing, I reminisce about another of Mary Oliver’s poems, “The Journey,” where she writes of the moment I expect our girls to have: “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began…” I expressed my hope that in their four years at the Mount the seeds were planted in their hearts and minds to produce a harvest of women with new and bold ideas to enrich the lives of others. With pride, I told them to go with confidence in God’s grace and great love for them, and to know that they will “ know what you have to do…” by listening with their hearts. I pressed them to go with deepening faith, and to let it lead them to make the best decisions for the sake of the mission and our world. One thing for certain, they will not forget they always have a place in the heart of the Mount. This summer edition is filled with pictures from graduation, Alumnae Day, and many of our spring events. I hope you will see people you know, or better yet, that you will see yourself as you remember the events of these past months. I especially ask you to read our feature on “Dare to…” Please know that we at the Mount value being in relationship with you, and we count on your partnership and support. Enjoy the summer, rest and renew your spirits, and celebrate whenever you can! Warm regards,
Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ President mount saint joseph academy
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On The Mount
School news from Mount Saint Joseph Academy
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Members of the Mount’s Robotics Team toured the headquarters of SCALA, a leader in digital signage software, in March. The girls were given a tour by CEO Tom Nix and received valuable career advice and encouragement from software engineers.
The Mount hosted the inaugural STEM Career Fair on March 15. Kristin Lucas ’16 organized the event. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jennifer Stern, Space Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. A variety of panelists and speakers shared with Mounties their experiences in the areas of technology, science, mathematics, engineering, and medicine. Summer 2016
Several alumnae participated, including: Liz Certa ’08 (Vitals); Mary Dubiel ’84 (U.S. Naval Engineering & Logistics Office); Erin Gallagher ’03 (Willis Towers Watson); Elizabeth Hartnett ’03 (W.L. Gore & Associates); Sarah Hegarty ’05 (Thomas Jefferson University); Mary Jo Horgan ’11 (Deloitte); Elizabeth Kichula ’98, M.D., Ph.D. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia); Angela Lin ’72, M.D. (MassGeneral Hospital for Children); Terri Concannon Long ’80 (Doylestown Hospital); Kathy Lamprecht Prue ’88 (Merck); Meredith Rice ’04 (Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson); Natalie Tacka ’11 (PJM Interconnection); and Meghan Seminack Wakefield ’99 (CHOP Research Institute).
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The Acadram acting ensemble presented “Mind Games: A Series of One-Act Plays” March 18-19. Veteran actors entertained alongside those making their acting debuts. Seven one-act plays unfolded on the Mount’s stage: The Tooth Hurts; Larry’s Inferno; After; Popcorn Sonata; Two By Two; Birdbrain; and Misreading. In March, several Mount students participated in the Montgomery County Association for Teachers of Foreign Language’s oral proficiency contest. Competing were Liana Alcaro ’18, Katie de Luca ’16, Christina Glenn ’19, Margot Murphy ’18, and Jacquelyn Nyzio ’18. The competition was held at Plymouth Whitemarsh High
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School. Margot Murphy received the silver medal. On April 16, Spanish students competed in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese oral proficiency expo. In Spanish One, Sophia Sithya ’18 earned first place, and Helena Volpe ’19, second. In Spanish Three, Abigail Schwenger ’18 placed second and Devon Vonder Schmalz ’17 earned third.
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Four Mount seniors were honored with awards for their artwork displayed in the Archdiocesan Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition featured artwork from students attending Catholic schools in the Philadelphia region, and was on display at the Community Gallery at the LaSalle University Art
Museum. In the Drawing category, Kailey Karabin was awarded first place. In Computer Aided Art, Francesca Diliberto earned first place and Heather Brady placed second. In Ceramics, Zoe Ramos earned second place. Image: “Final Decision” by Kailey Karabin ’16
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MSJA’s annual Spring Concert took place April 27 & 28. This year’s theme, “Showstoppers,” featured songs and performances from notable musicals, films, and performances. Several Mount students volunteered at Carson Valley Children’s Aid (CVCA), a Flourtown-based
organization providing a wide range of support services to children and families. Mounties worked directly with children benefitting from CVCA services, including helping with homework and planting flowers on the local grounds.
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Mary Sabia Ciammetti ’80 presented on April 26 “Don’t Stall, Just Call,” a binge drinking awareness seminar, to the entire Mount community. Ciammetti’s son Christian, a college student, passed away from alcohol poisoning in 2015. Through the Don’t Stall, Just Call organization, Ciammetti encourages youth and young adults to be aware of the signs of alcohol poisoning, and to call for help for mount saint joseph academy
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On The Mount
School news from Mount Saint Joseph Academy
friends in need of medical care. She performed several exercises with student volunteers, including wearing “drunk goggles” to exhibit how alcohol alters motor functions.
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On May 2, the Firebirds Robotics Team completed their season at the World Championship Competition in St. Louis. The team joined forces with students from Israel, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia to defend their stronghold.
annual Broadway Wishes 10 The performance took place on
May 20 at La Salle College High School. Students from the Mount, La Salle, and Gwynedd Mercy Academy performed a medley of songs to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Northern Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley. On May 25, Mount students involved with the program received the Natale Stabile Award for their dedication to the organization at Make-A-Wish’s annual Wish Impact Celebration.
annual Art Show was 11 MSJA’s held on May 24, showcasing
student artwork. Here, S. Catherine Meighan, SSJ and Mrs. Amanda Ritter pose with seniors after the show.
Mount hosted the annual 12 The Senior Recognition Night on May 25, honoring the accomplishments of seniors throughout the school year.
May 26, seniors who have 13 On committed to play a sport in 8
Summer 2016
college gathered with family members, team coaches, faculty, and staff for the Mount’s annual Athletic Commitment Reception.
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Mount held the annual 14 The assembly recognizing
the accomplishments of underclass students on June 10. Five students were awarded scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year: Sarah Rothenberg ’17, Horner Foundation Award; Kieran Glowacki ’17, Buccafurni-Lawrence Award; Mary Joy David ’17, Stephanie Leonards Roman Award; and Meredith Mayes ’17, Buccafurni-Lawrence Award. Not pictured: Genevieve Messa ’17, Horner Foundation Award; Khalita Jarmon ’17, Stephanie Arizin Award.
Bill Naydan won The 15 Mr. Preston & Steve Show’s “Coolest Teacher” contest. In early June, the show on 93.3 WMMR selects a school and asks students to vote for their favorite teacher. The Mount was selected on June 7, and the contest was open for voting for 24 hours. Congratulations to Mr. Naydan!
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Front row, from left: Caitlyn Cunningham, Philadelphia University (Basketball); Christina Knox, University of Pennsylvania (Crew); Megan Morrissey, Union College (Soccer); Mary Katherine Maloney, Old Dominion University (Lacrosse); Brooke McMahon, University of Rhode Island (Crew); Grace Little, Fordham University (Crew). Middle row, from left: Erin McGreevey, Fordham University (Crew); Alexandra Uzzo, Cornell University (Crew); Isabella Balcer, Monmouth University (Lacrosse); Elizabeth DeGroat, Loyola University Maryland (Swimming); Caitlyn Hagan, Georgetown University (Crew); Emily Woodrow, University of Connecticut (Crew); Olivia Kylander, Syracuse University (Crew); Sarah Wills, Delaware Valley University (Basketball); Alison McMullen, Ball State University (Field Hockey). Back row, from left: Madeline Lauinger, Stanford University (Crew); Mia Fitzpatrick, University of Delaware (Crew); Dana Mischler, George Washington University (Crew); Julianna Hunt, Drexel University (Crew); Demi Simms, St. Joseph’s University (Crew); Olivia Tice-Carroll, Boston University (Crew); Taylor Grey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Field Hockey); Taylor Merkle, Fairfield University (Field Hockey); Madeline Carlton, Boston College (Crew); Katelin Cordero, University of Miami (Crew); Elizabeth Tacka, United States Military Academy at West Point (Basketball); Lindsay Maiale, Fordham University (Crew); Julia Comerford, Fordham University (Crew). mount saint joseph academy
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GO MOUNT
CREW
Head Coach: Megan Kennedy (17th season) Team Captains: Shannon Hughes ’16, Christina Knox ’16, Erin McGreevey’16, Brooke McMahon ’16
Team Accomplishments:
• Philadelphia City Championships, seven out of eight gold medals • Fifteenth consecutive win of the Brigantine Trophy • Seven of eight boats advanced to Stotesbury finals; all seven boats medaled (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). • SRAA Lightweight 8 and 4 both National Champions.
College Bound:
Madeline Carlton, Boston College; Julia Comerford, Fordham University; Katelin Cordero, University of Miami; Mia Fitzpatrick, University of Delaware; Caitlyn Hagan, Georgetown University; Julianna Hunt, Drexel University; Christina Knox, University of Pennsylvania; Olivia Kylander, Syracuse University; Madeline Lauinger, Stanford University; Grace Little, Fordham University; Lindsay Maiale, Fordham University; Erin McGreevey, Fordham University; Brooke McMahon, University of Rhode Island; Dana Mischler, George Washington University; Demi Simms, St. Joseph’s University; Olivia Tice-Carroll, Boston University; Alexandra Uzzo, Cornell University; Emily Woodrow, University of Connecticut.
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Summer 2016
spring sports news
LACROSSE
Head Coach: Brian Maderia (1st season) Overall Record: 11-7 League Record: 10-3 League Finish: Runner up Team Captains: Mary Katherine Maloney ’16, Isabella Balcer ’16, Meredith Bohner ’16
AACA All-Stars: Mary Katherine Maloney ’16, Isabella Balcer ’16, Meredith Bohner’16, Kateri Krause ’17
Individual & Team Accomplishments:
Isabella Balcer and Mary Katherine Maloney scored 100 career goals. Seeded 25th in PIAA District 1 AAA Tournament
College Bound:
Isabella Balcer, Monmouth University; Mary Katherine Maloney, Old Dominion University.
SOFTBALL
Head Coach: Bill Thompson (6th season) Overall Record: 11-7 League Record: 10-4 League Finish: Runner up Team Captains: Kailey Karabin ’16, Jessica Burns ’16, Mary Buckley ’16
AACA All-Stars: Jessica Burns ’16, Julianne Burns ’17, Kailey Karabin ’16, Angela Gervasi ’17
Team Accomplishments:
Seeded 4th in PIAA District 1 AAA Tournament
College Bound:
Jessica Burns, Delaware Valley University
Season Recap:
TRACK & FIELD
Head Coach: Kitty McClernand (6th season) Team Captains: Lauren Ciasullo ’16, Gabrielle Good ’16, Julianna Kardish ’16, Katie Strosser ’16
All-League:
Caitlyn Cunningham ’16 (high jump) Julie Hoover ’17 (100 hurdles) Bridget Joyce ’19 (pole vault) Ryan Good ’19 (800M) Samantha Bauer ’17 and Grace Gelone ’17 (shot put)
Season Recap:
This was a successful year for Track & Field. The team was 9-2 in dual meets and was runner-up in AACA champs for the 2nd year in a row. Julie Hoover ’17 qualified in District 1 championships in 100 hurdles and she also broke the school record with a time of 16.33. Another school record went down in the Pole Vault, set by Bridget Joyce ’19.
The softball team had a great season this year, finishing in second place in league play by defeating St. Basil’s in the final league game and moving onto the District playoffs. The team received a bye in the first round of Districts and won a hard-fought contest against Penncrest in the quarter-finals (5-4) before losing in the semifinals to Villa Maria (4-0). The team was led throughout the season by the four league AllStars, along with great play by Mary Buckley ’16 and Daria Vining ’16. Ava Jancarski ’17 and Lila Moore ’18 bolstered the team line-up with both hitting over .400 for the season. Sofia Little ’17 once again anchored the pitching staff along with Julianne Burns and Kailey Karabin. mount saint joseph academy
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GO MOUNT
winter sports news
SWIMMING
BASKETBALL
’16, Rachel Sandquist ’16
Tacka ’16
Head Coach: Janet Pudlinski (5th season) Overall Record: 5-6 League Record: 4-3 League Finish: AACA Champions Team Captains: Julia Comerford ’16, Elizabeth DeGroat AACA All-Stars: 200 relay and 400 relay Individual & Team Accomplishments:
Two new team records were set by Katherine Schaefer ’17 in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
College Bound:
Elizabeth DeGroat will swim at Loyola University Maryland.
Head Coach: John Miller (9th season) Overall Record: 21-6 League Record: 12-3 League Finish: Runner up Team Captains: Caitlyn Cunningham ’16, Elizabeth AACA All-Star 1st Team: Caitlyn Cunningham ’16, Elizabeth Tacka ’16
1,000-point scorer: Elizabeth Tacka ’16 Team Accomplishments: Seeded in PIAA District 1 4A Tournament
College Bound:
Caitlyn Cunningham will continue her career at Philadelphia University; Elizabeth Tacka will play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; and Sarah Wills has committed to play at Delaware Valley University.
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Summer 2016
INDOOR TRACK
Head Coach: Kitty McClernand (6th season) Individual Accomplishments: Kennedy McClelland ’18 set 55 Hurdles record.
Team Awards:
Rookie: Bridget Joyce ’19 Most Improved: Kennedy McClelland ’18 Leadership: Lauren Ciasullo ’16
Claire Chapman Perry ’03 Appointed Head Varsity Basketball Coach The Mount is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Chapman Perry ’03 as head varsity basketball coach, effective fall 2016. “It is with great pride and confidence that I welcome Claire Perry to join the Mount community as the head coach of the women’s basketball program,” said Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, President. “Claire is the first alumna in over 50 years to assume this position.” Perry has a history of using sports as a means to connect with the local community. She comes to the Mount from Up2Us Sports, a 501(c)3 comprised of 1,200 sportsbased youth development members advancing sports as a solution to critical challenges facing American youth including violence, poor health, and academic failure. In her role as senior regional manager for the Mid-Atlantic, she launched and managed the regional office. Prior to that role, Perry was a program officer at Up2Us. She also served for PeacePlayers International, and was an international fellow for Durban, South Africa, where she created basketball curricula for elementary and high school students, and organized coach trainings. Her career path shows how she has incorporated the mission of the Mount into her passion for athletics. She is poised to be an excellent coach and mentor for Mount students. “I am excited to be back at the Mount to continue a tradition of excellence and to help the young women be great basketball players and leaders in school and in our community,” says Perry. “I am proud to welcome Claire, who was a 1000-point scorer during her basketball career here, to begin a new era of Mount basketball. Her knowledge of the game and enthusiasm will be contagious,” said Janet Columbro, Athletics Director. mount saint joseph academy
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2015-2016 ATHLETIC RECORDS BROKEN During the 2015-2016 academic year, several scholar-athletes broke records. Congratulations to these athletes and teams on their accomplishments!
GOLF Alexandra Mercader ’17 scored a hole-in-one.
SWIMMING Katherine Schaefer ’17 set new Mount records for the 50 freestyle (24.50) and the 100 backstroke (1:00.55) on February 2, 2016.
BASKETBALL Elizabeth Tacka ’16 scored 1,000 points on January 28, 2016.
LACROSSE Isabella Balcer ’16 and Mary Katherine Maloney ’16 each scored 100 career goals on April 26, 2016.
CREW • Alexandra Natale ’17: 7:09, 2k • Team Records: Fifteenth consecutive win of the Brigantine Trophy for Women’s Sweep Overall Points during the PSRA season; Mount is the only winner of this award in its history. • Seven of eight boats advanced to Stotesbury finals; all seven boats medaled (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). No team has ever had seven medals of the same sex in one Stotesbury before May 21, 2016. Mount has won the highest number of Stotesbury points of any team (male, female, or both). Light 4+ and Junior 4+ medaled at Stotesbury for the first time. • SRAA Nationals: Lightweight 8 and 4 National Champions.
TRACK AND FIELD • Polevault: Bridget Joyce ’19, 8’6” at AACA Championships on May 11, 2016. • 110 Hurdles: Julie Hoover ’17, 16.33 at AACA Championships on May 11, 2016. • 55 Hurdles: Kennedy McClelland ’18 set a new Mount record. 14
Summer 2016
Class of 2016
Valedictorian
More than four years ago, my classmates and I were invited to look up. The occasion was our freshman retreat, and we were introduced for the first time to the charism of Mount, delineated by a myriad of lustrous stars sprinkled across the vaulted ceiling of the Motherhouse Chapel. This painted sky, we learned, embodies the heritage of our sisterhood, for every glistening star represents one Sister of Saint Joseph. Beneath this galaxy, each eager girl was instructed to select one star, and every Founders’ Day, she returned her gaze to this star, relishing the symbolic bond she had with its immortalized glow. Not wanting to forget my star, I picked the first one on the left above the altar. Fascinated, elated, and intimidated, we began school with a tangible symbol signifying our bright future. In the years following, however, these stars failed to represent our Mount odyssey completely, for rather, during those four years, we have become the stars. In freshman year conceptual physics, we learned the law of conservation of matter. This universal principle states that since the beginning of time, no new matter has ever been created; simply put, something cannot come from nothing. As renowned astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson teaches, “The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.” Yes. We are stars, in every sense of the word. However, our connection to the stars perpetuates itself far past the scale of biological recycling. Like stars, at Mount, as women of Christ, women with courage and compassion, we burn brightly, and we shine ubiquitously in everything that we do. We shine in the classroom. We shine on the sports field. We shine in soup kitchens, and we shine on stage. We shine building robots, writing for The Campanile, painting masterpieces, and rowing on the Schuylkill. We amplify the luminescence of one another with the grace of friendship-- through every Canterbury Tales paper written, every Charity Day enjoyed, and every Unitas tear shed--each precious memory shared has been forged in the warmth of our light. As we bright individuals shine in unison with our sisterly bond, we form beautiful constellations. Constellations that are omnipresent. Our involvement with global initiatives, such as promoting universal education, working to eradicate human trafficking, and venturing abroad to serve the dear neighbor allows our constellations to be seen not only in Flourtown, but throughout the world. Together, we become Perseus (the hero), Columba (the dove) or Andromeda (the princess)... or more appropriately, Cassiopeia (the queen).
Gr aduation
Congratulations to Kristine Lacek, who was named Valedictorian of the Class of 2016. The picturesque nightly heavens with which we are familiar are just as unique as this graduating class. An infinite number of stars exists in our multiverse, yet like snowflakes, no two are the same. Some stars burn yellow; some, blue. White dwarfs, red giants, and a spectrum of supernovae perforate darkness. No two stars have the same path of orbit. However, no matter its size or location, every star in the universe shines united, sharing the same exact chemical composition, collectively contributing to a bright phenomenon. Similarly, as we prepare to leave the Mount, though our future orbital paths will lead us to different, extraordinary endeavors, we will shine in solidarity, imbued with the skills, principles, and values we have learned at Mount. Who can say what exactly will happen when we no longer orbit the halls of the Mount? I suggest we take another look up for a hint. The stars we see at night are actually “footprints.” Since starlight travels multitudes of billions of miles, by the time its brilliance reaches our eyes, its source has already moved. That star’s light, its legacy, lives on in our celestial space. Exactly so, our light, our legacy, will never cease to radiate throughout our former home at 120 West Wissahickon Avenue. As we look ahead to our shining elsewhere on earth, we first must look back, acknowledging the light of others which has promoted our own: the light of God and His immeasurable blessings in our lives; the light from our loving parents who, by enriching our high school careers with a Sisters of Saint Joseph education, have ensured that their nurturing luster will live on through us; the light of our administration, spectacular teachers, and coaches, whose selfless guidance, trust, and wisdom have enabled us to look ahead, prepared to set the world ablaze with our ambition and competence; finally, the light of one another. We now share an unparalleled gift laced in esteem, grace, and courageous love. Any light that we have today is only so bright because of one another. Our growth during four trying years proves that nothing can extinguish our flames. From now on, when we shine, we do so through the grace of God, the grace of those who selflessly guided us along our orbits, often lending us their glow in the darkest times; and the grace of one another. Now is the hour for us to illuminate the next chapter of our lives. Let us remember to allow our brightness to fall on whomever we encounter, wherever our orbit may take us. Remember always how changed our lives are since we have had this experience. Let us not look back with nostalgia but look forward with hope and optimism and willingness never to let our stardom dull. According to William Shakespeare, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” I would respectfully argue that Mr. Shakespeare never met a Mountie. For us, the stars and ourselves are one and the same. Congratulations, Class of 2016. With apologies to Latin scholars everywhere, I wish to send you off with a revised Mount motto: Spes Messis in Nebulae. Shine on. mount saint joseph academy
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Congrat ulat ions,
Mount St. Joseph Academy Class of 2016! Abigail Lynn Aita The College of William & Mary
Katelin Mary Cordero University of Miami
Laura Anne Arnold Fordham University
Madeleine W. Coulter Saint Joseph’s University
Isabella Grace Balcer Monmouth University
Caitlyn Marie Cunningham Philadelphia University
Lauren Nicole Basiura University of Delaware
Catherine Rose de Luca The College of William & Mary Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program
Meredith Louise Bohner University of Virginia Mara Elizabeth Boston Wake Forest University Archdiocesan Scholar
Kathryn Susan Deasy Professional Training in the Circus Arts Elizabeth Ann DeGroat Loyola University Maryland
Heather Elizabeth Brady West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Mairead Donnelly Denton Temple University
Megan Elizabeth Bray University of Pittsburgh
Kristianne Michelle Deverant Duquesne University
Maria McAuliffe Brewster Temple University
Emma Kirby Diebold Fordham University
Kathleen Agnes Brooks Loyola University Maryland
Francesca Maria Diliberto Drexel University
Erin Elizabeth Brophy James Madison University
Mairead Bryn Donnard The Pennsylvania State University
Claire Marie Brown Wake Forest University
Hannah Everett Entwistle The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program
Mary Katherine Buckley La Salle University Elizabeth Erin Burgoyne Drexel University Jessica Marie Burns Delaware Valley University Julia Anne Bushold Drexel University Madeline Elizabeth Carlton Boston College Claire Marie Chadwick University of Delaware
Eliza Garretson Ewing Princeton University Audrey Rose Ezzo La Salle University Arianna Demaris Ferguson The Pennsylvania State University Madeleine Elizabeth Ferrero Loyola University Maryland Mia Kathleen Fitzpatrick University of Delaware
Lauren Nancy Ciasullo The Pennsylvania State University
Kylie Nicole Ford Fordham University Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program
Julia Marie Comerford Fordham University
Julia Isabelle Fox Saint Joseph’s University
Kelly Kathleen Coonahan West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Monica Rae Fredericksdorf West Chester University of Pennsylvania mount saint joseph academy
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Bridget Welsh ’13, James Welsh, Maureen Welsh, Kathleen Welsh ’09, S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ
2016 Fournier Medal Recipient: James Welsh The Mother Saint John Fournier Medal is presented each year at graduation to a member of our community who has served the school with distinction and who has shown great commitment and loyalty to the Academy. Mr. James Welsh was the 2016 recipient. Jim’s daughters (Elizabeth ’08, Kathleen ’09, and Bridget ’13) all attended the Mount. He has served on the Board of Directors for the past six years, serving as chair of the Finance Committee for four years and as Board Chair for the past two years. During his time on the Board, he has provided guidance on all of the Board’s committees, and has been integral in working with the administration to determine the course of the Mount’s future. He was on the Committee for the Founders in the Future campaign, and was instrumental in the success of the recent Founders in the Sciences initiative. We are grateful for Jim’s expertise, counsel, and dedication to the Mount.
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Summer 2016
Caroline Nicole Free Elon University
Christina Marie Knox University of Pennsylvania
Charlotte Eleanor Funchion Temple University
Nicole Isabel Kochanasz The Pennsylvania State University
Anna Christine Gallagher Boston College Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program
Olivia Sablin Kylander Syracuse University
Joan Donna Gannon Bucknell University Sophia Rose Gardell Boston College Christina Claire Gigliotti Temple University Monica Kirsten Goebel The College of New Jersey Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Gabrielle Amelia Good University of Notre Dame Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program Taylor Anne Grey Massachusetts Institute of Technology Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program
Kristine Anna Lacek Georgia Institute of Technology Archdiocesan Scholar Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Madeline Marie Lauinger Stanford University National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar Marta Lynn Lawler Drexel University Mary Claire Leighton Saint Joseph’s University Siobhan Frances Leonard The Pennsylvania State University Jacklyn Olivia LeVito Bucknell University Grace Ann Little Fordham University
Caitlyn Elizabeth Hagan Georgetown University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program
Kristin Michelle Lucas University of Pittsburgh
Sarah Isabel Hansell Chestnut Hill College
Logan Marie Mahan The New School
Sarah Lynne Haurin Duke University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program
Lindsey Maria Maiale Fordham University
Alexandra Adelina Higgins The Pennsylvania State University Bridget Katherine Horan Fairfield University Shannon Beverly Hughes The Pennsylvania State University Julianna Louise Hunt Drexel University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Hanna Chase Iatesta University of South Carolina Mary P. Joyce The Pennsylvania State University Kailey Ann Karabin The Pennsylvania State University Julianna Christine Kardish Harvard University Madeline Elizabeth Knowles La Salle University Margaret Ellen Knowles College of Charleston
Mary Katherine Maloney Old Dominion University Lindsay Elizabeth Margiotti The Pennsylvania State University Allison McMahon Marino The Pennsylvania State University Victoria Lynn Matsinger The Pennsylvania State University Meredith Elizabeth McAfee University of Rhode Island Brianna Chantel McBride University of Pittsburgh Madison Ann McColgan Ursinus College Grace Madeline McCullough Temple University Haley Rose McDevitt West Chester University of Pennsylvania Erin Mary McGreevey Fordham University Madeline Ann McLaughlin Lafayette College mount saint joseph academy
21
22
Summer 2016
mount saint joseph academy
23
Brooke Elizabeth McMahon University of Rhode Island
Jenna Catherine Ruch The Ohio State University
Alison Kaleigh McMullen Ball State University
Rachel Ann Sandquist University of Miami
Emily Taylor McMullen Philadelphia University
Charlotte Emily Sands University of Richmond
Taylor LeAnne Merkle Fairfield University
Dana Kathryn Sargent University of Pennsylvania Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program
Laurie Coleen Metzler University of Delaware Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Dana Marie Mischler The George Washington University
Joann Seunarine Drexel University
Carsy Ann Missett College of Charleston
Demi Marie Simms Saint Joseph’s University
Megan Ann Morrissey Union College
Hannah Monnerat Spolidoro The Pennsylvania State University
Madalynn Elizabeth Mulligan The University of Alabama
Bridget E. Stolarski The Catholic University of America
Brigid Grace Murphy West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Kathleen Anne Strosser University of Tampa
Jennifer Nicole Murphy Saint Joseph’s University
Victoria Summerville The George Washington University
LeeAnn Trinh Nguyen Stony Brook University
Elizabeth Leigh Tacka The United States Military Academy at West Point
Emily Anne Owsiany University of Pittsburgh
Courtney Paige Target The Pennsylvania State University
Laura Park The Pennsylvania State University
Olivia Violet Tice-Carroll Boston University
Madelyn Erin Peikin The Pennsylvania State University
Emily Ann Travaline Temple University
Natalie Theresa Perri The Ohio State University
Hannah Elizabeth Tubman Loyola University Maryland
Ella Marie Perry University of Delaware
Alexandra Marie Uzzo Cornell University Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program
Virginia Elizabeth Poliwoda University of Pittsburgh Jane Connell Prior Tulane University Zoe Ramos The George Washington University Natanya Dorothy Renard Temple University Tiffany Mary Revels Drexel University Chloe Nina Rhodan West Chester University of Pennsylvania Kathryn Rose Riesberg Temple University Paola Mariel Rosario Swarthmore College 24
Lauren Marie Scheffey University of Richmond
Summer 2016
Daria Jung Vining La Salle University Beaonca Mellaniya Ward The Pennsylvania State University Sophia Hannah Willett California Polytechnic State University Sarah Theresa Wills Delaware Valley University Emily Catherine Woodrow University of Connecticut Emma Arnold Woolley Loyola University Maryland Catherine Wynne Zimmerman University of Delaware
DARE TO...
When you read those two words, what immediately follows?
dare to
discover.
dare to
serve.
dare to
inspire.
dare to
create.
dare to
be your best self.
At the Mount, list of possible answers goes on & on. dare to
dream.
dare to
achieve.
dare to
challenge and change.
dare to
be a founder.
For the next year, the Mount will be celebrating the spirit of “DARE TO.” We will focus on Mounties and members of the Mount community who live our mission of unity and transformation by daring to be agents of change in their neighborhoods and in the world. We will share the journeys that Mount students and alumnae have dared to embark upon and how they are inspiring others to do the same. We will spotlight their paths to success and understand the obstacles they faced along the way…and we invite you to celebrate with us all of the remarkable things that these women have dared to do. We also welcome you to share your stories. Let us know what you have “DARED TO” by contacting Kristen DiPrinzio, Director of Marketing at kdiprinizio@msjacad.org.
mount saint joseph academy
25
dare to
Discover Mount alumnae are DARING TO make new strides in various areas and professions across the globe. The sciences are just one arena where Mounties are on the cutting edge of advancements that will change the future. These are just a few stories about alumnae who are using their “one wild life” to positively impact the lives of others through their work in the sciences.
K ar a Spiller ’02, Ph.D.
A ssistant Professor and Principal Investigator Biomaterials and R egener ative Medicine L abor atory at Drexel University ’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems In the Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory at Drexel University, scientists conduct research in an effort to understand how inflammatory response coordinates successful tissue regeneration, and develop new biomaterial strategies in instances where tissue regeneration is weakened. In short, the team is working to improve the body’s inflammatory response to fight disease. At the heart of this work is assistant professor Kara Spiller ’02, Ph.D., who is studying macrophages, the primary cells of the immune system, and how they regulate wound healing and tissue regulation. After she determines how and why macrophages are not functioning properly, she designs biomaterials to correct their behavior. A biomaterial is anything that is implanted in the body, such an artificial knee, prosthetic heart valves, or injectable drug delivery systems. Now that Kara is an assistant professor, she doesn’t conduct many experiments, but instead spends most of her time talking with graduate students about their experiments and the results. She also spends a great deal of time writing grants to fund future research. While at the Mount, Kara excelled at math, and took AP Calculus with S. Mary Butler, and AP Biology, which was introduced during Kara’s senior year, with Mrs. Stephanie Roman. Though the classes were challenging, they were Kara’s favorites, so she applied to biomedical engineering programs for college. She attended Drexel, where she took advantage of a research opportunity during the summer after her freshman year, and
M ount by
THE numbers
21 26
Healthcare (non-research roles)
Summer 2016
11
Krista and Kara Spiller are twins. Several family members also attended the Mount, including their grandmother, Lorraine Sukalski McGlynn ’52; their aunts, Anita McGlynn ’85 and Julie McGlynn ’83; and cousins Lorraine (Lorrie) Beppel ’08, Tara Beppel ’10, Kelsey McGlynn ’09, Michaela McGlynn ’11, and Julie McGlynn ’12. Cousin Hope Placotaris ’18 is a current student.
she “just never stopped.” During her doctoral research, she worked for nine months in Shanghai, China. After earning her Ph.D., she researched in a lab in Portugal for eight months. “Both of these experiences were so important for my personal and scientific growth that I now require all of my Ph.D. students at Drexel to conduct research abroad as part of their doctoral research projects,” Kara says. Her career is rife with rich moments, such as the freedom to pursue any idea she wants, as long as it advances science; brainstorming with colleagues and students; and traveling to see how other people are tackling similar problems. “I also mentor a lot of students and watch them go on to succeed in their own careers, which is really rewarding,” she says. The best advice she can give to Mount students? “Do what you love and don’t overthink it.” She says she sees so many students stressing about schoolwork, careers, extracurriculars, and community service, and generally overstrategizing. “People want to work with happy people, so make sure you do things just because they make you happy,” Kara says.
In May, we put out a call to all alumnae, asking those in the sciences to respond with where their careers or education have taken them. We broke down the professions by field, so you can see where former Mounties have landed in the sciences.
R esearch
10
Continuing Education in the Sciences
8
Educators
4
Computer / Infor mation Sciences
K rista Spiller ’02, Ph.D.
Postdoctor al Fellow Center for Neurodegener ative Disease R esearch, University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine In the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, Krista Spiller ’02 is studying how aging and senescence (deterioration) in the central nervous system affect both motor neuron disease and recovery, and investigating non-neuronal effects on axonal outgrowth and how the cell’s environment shapes functional outcomes. And those are just a few of the projects on which she is working. Krista’s career in the sciences started at the Mount, where she took great interest in her biology classes with S. Karen Dietrich and Mrs. Stephanie Roman (the same AP Bio course Kara mentioned above). She applied to colleges with the intention of following the pre-med track and eventually becoming a doctor. She attended Swarthmore College, where she secured a part-time work-study job in a laboratory that studied the basis of learning and memory in rats. She became involved in a study examining PTSD and memory retrieval, and was fascinated. She kept that job throughout college.
Susan Firely Hor an ’99 Criminalist City of New York
Susan became interested in forensic science while at the Mount. She had started reading fiction by authors like Patricia Cornwell, and found the field fascinating. After taking honors biology, she realized just how much she loved it, and decided she would pursue forensic science. She earned a B.S. in biology from Arizona State University and an M.S. in forensic science from Arcadia University. While pursuing her master’s degree, Susan started an internship with NMS Labs in Willow Grove. They hired her as full-time employee after graduation, and she stayed there for one and a half years.
After graduation, she received a postbaccalaureate training award from the National Institutes of Health to conduct research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Here, Krista discovered that science was more than a hobby for her. She enrolled in Columbia University, where she pursued a doctorate degree in neurobiology, and joined a lab that focused on cell death mechanisms. Her research focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and why it occurs in only some cells in the body.
Her then-fiance (now husband) was working in Manhattan, and she knew that NYC had one of the largest and most innovative DNA labs in the country; it was her goal to work there. She was hired in 2006 as a Criminalist II. Since then, she has been promoted to Criminalist III and is currently a Criminalist IV. She performs testing for all five boroughs and two federal courts: Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
During Krista’s time in New York, Dr. Virginia Lee’s group at University of Pennsylvania was examining a different view of neurodegenerative disease progression. This vein of research sparked Krista’s interest. She met with Dr. Lee, was invited to give a seminar at Penn, and in 2014 was invited to join the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, where she now works. She is a postdoctoral fellow under Dr. Lee’s supervision.
In her role, she supervises a group of Criminalists, and triages evidence that arrives at the lab from the New York Police Department. The lab receives evidence from all types of crimes, including homicides, assaults, sexual assaults, and robberies.
The job brings with it both immensely gratifying rewards and hard-fought challenges. At the top of Krista’s list of pros is that she can always find new questions to answer via research. “Every good scientific discovery generates more new questions than answers, and it’s thrilling to pick which to answer,” Krista said. “Pursuing science is all about addressing a question that has not been answered before.” Because Krista studies diseases of the aging brain, it can take awhile to reach results. She says patience is a necessary skill. If she were to give one piece of advice to Mounties interested in the sciences, it would be to get away from the notion that everything can be found via Google. “Work hard and study hard, but in the end, the ability to creatively use what you learn will always be more important than the quantity of information you consume,” she says.
When a case is sent to the lab, an analyst examines the evidence. Samples are then carried through DNA testing in batches. Once all results are in, Susan writes a report. She (or whoever is assigned to the case) has to evaluate every stage of testing and reach a conclusion. “In some cases we are able to develop a DNA profile from the evidence that can be compared to DNA profiles from known individuals,” Susan says. “In some cases we aren’t successful, because a sufficient amount of DNA wasn’t recovered from the evidence.” If a case she’s assigned to goes to trial, Susan can be called to testify in court. She has testified approximately 85 times in the last 10 years. Sometimes it’s a grand jury, in which the District Attorney’s office obtains an indictment, and other times, it goes to trial. Susan is also a post-conviction liaison for the lab, which means that she works with attorneys from various organizations, like the District Attorney’s office or the Innocence Project, to locate and test old evidence for possible exoneration cases. Susan stresses the importance of women in the sciences, noting that approximately 75 percent of her department is female. “It’s an honor to work with so many intelligent, passionate, and confident women,” she says. “I’m so happy to set an example for my daughter that I can be a mom and a scientist that helps people.”
2
Environmental Sciences
3
Other A reas mount saint joseph academy
27
Departing Faculty and Staff
28
Whether retiring or moving onto new opportunities, the Mount sends these faculty and staff members off with well wishes. Their presence will collectively be missed in the halls and classrooms.
Fr an Brett, Copy Room Retiring after 23 years of service to the Mount
S. Regina Brown, Magic Shoppe Retiring
Maggie Doyle, Director of Finance Retiring after seventeen years at the Mount
Charles Kulesza, Science teacher Taught physics and math for eight years
S. William Teresa Leonard, Math teacher and tutor Retiring
Linda Lewis, Social Studies teacher Taught at the Mount for six years
Amanda Ritter, Art teacher Dedicated five years to the Mount
Carol Siwinski, Technology Coordinator Retiring
“Chief� Bobbie Trotter, Social Studies teacher Retiring after 18 years at the Mount
Summer 2016
Incoming Scholars Reception On May 5, Mount students from the Class of 2020 who received scholarships gathered in Fontbonne for a reception. Students snacked on light bites as they were welcomed by Mount faculty, staff, and S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, President. They were also treated to a performance by Mount’s Glee Club. The event gave students the opportunity to meet a few of their classmates before the start of the 2016-2017 school year, and allowed parents to meet the families of their daughters’ classmates.
What is the Mount Fund? Welcome to part three in our series dedicated to explaining the Mount Fund. Below are commonly asked questions about the Mount Fund. If we have not yet answered your question, please contact the Development Office and we will be happy to help. You can reach us at 215-233-1859 or visit us at www.msjacad.org.
Q:W
hat is the best way to make a
Mount Fund gift?
A:
The fastest and easiest way to make a Mount Fund gift is to go to www.msjacad.org/giving and set up a recurring gift. This allows you to make monthly payments on your credit card to the Mount Fund. For example, if you want to make a $120 gift, setting up a recurring gift means you would only be paying $10 per month. You can also make one-time gift payments online as well.
Q:I A:
s my
Mount Fund gift tax-deductible?
Absolutely! Every gift made to the Mount Fund is tax-deductible and you will be provided with a receipt for your taxes.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Mount Fund in 2015-2016! The 2016-2017 Mount Fund appeal year began on July 1, 2016 and runs through June 30, 2017. We invite everyone to participate by making a gift that is meaningful to you.
Visit www.msjacad.org/giving today! mount saint joseph academy
29
H arvest Club Dinner
Parents, alumnae, and friends of the Mount gathered in Fontbonne and the courtyard to celebrate the annual Harvest Club Dinner on May 11. The dinner honored individuals who gave to the Mount Fund at the Purple & Gold or Harvest Club levels, and who volunteered their time at the Mount during the 20152016 academic year. Members of the MSJA Culinary Club assisted Mike Adams, the Mount’s new executive chef, in preparing and serving the delicious fare.
30
Summer 2016
From the Alumnae Association President Dearest MSJA Alumnae: Welcome to the summer of 2016! It is my hope that the summer brings you time to relax in the sunshine, enjoy time with family and friends, and do what makes you happiest of all! It was another successful school year at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. I would like to offer special congratulations to the Class of 2016 and officially welcome them to our Alumnae Association. As you girls venture onto your next journey, may you always hold your time and memories from the Mount close to your hearts. The past few months have yet again been busy, and the spirit of the Mount is vibrant! One of the many highlights was our annual Alumnae Day, where alums gathered together to reminisce about their days here at the Mount. From the Class of 1966 celebrating their 50th anniversary to the young women who graduated five years ago, it was a day to remember. It was also a time to recognize many who have given their time and talent during the Alumane Awards ceremony. Congratulations to all of our award recipients! As we look towards the fall, I ask that you save the dates for the following events: • • • • • • •
Golden Girls Luncheon on Friday, September 9 at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 24th Annual Golf Classic at Blue Bell Country Club on Monday, September 26 Alumnae Open Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 11 in MSJA’s Alumnae Room Open House on Sunday, October 16 Miles of Magic 5K, benefitting the Stephanie Leonards Roman Memorial Fund, on Saturday, October 22 at the Mount Fashion Show (featuring Free Shop, Ambler, PA) on Thursday, October 27 at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club Lunch with Santa on Saturday, December 3 at the Mount
In closing, having the opportunity to work with the Sisters of St. Joseph and so many dynamic, talented women advancing the mission of the Mount gives me great pride. Our tradition is certain. The Mount Alumnae Association thrives today due to the dedication and support of its members. Thank you for your continued generosity and increased participation in Mount alumnae events, and to all of those alumnae whose planning and organization contributed to another year celebrating our friendship and loyalty to our Alma Mater.
Megan Osborne Romano ’94
CLASS AGENTS 1948 1950 1952 1955 1956 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1965 1966 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
Mary Merz Berko Patricia Connor Surotchak Lorraine Sukalski McGlynn Kathy McGee Burns Dorothy Gallagher Hordubay Joyce Renzulli Wuenschel Joanne M. Scott Kyle Eileen McGill Meko Joan Smith Agostinelli, Ellen Higley O’Neill Mary McFadden Paul Nina Schweikart Love Mary Lorenzo-Brelsford, Peggy Gallagher Mariann Eichelberger O’Connor Maureen Cahill, Ginny Bendinger Wischhusen Cyndy Strolle Suzanne Fitzmyer Foley Colleen Durkin Lapowsky Patricia Zugay Burkholder Rosemary Kenny Kruse, Maryann Ford Becky Hoy Murphy, Ave Murphy Seminack Jennifer Lee Busto
1978 Ellen Riley Biel, Maryann Szczesny Daulerio 1980 Maria Fella Cain 1981 Jen Maguire Princivalle 1982 Ellen Rosa-Bian Cericola 1984 Sheila Kropp McLaughlin, Kim Heck Cilio 1986 Courtney Daly Ferraro, Patty Lynch, Marci Kuttler Bossow Schankweiler 1988 Heather Kates Kelly, Suzanne Coster McCarthy 1989 Megan Melinson McDonough, Kirsten Ledwith Morasco 1990 Jen Dorazio Klein, Colleen Osborne Mook 1991 Kathleen Gorman Duffy, Jennifer Adams Phillips 1992 Rochelle A. Grasso, Coleen Dyer Wybranski 1993 Tracy Allu Albertelli, Keisha Faldon Parker 1994 Danielle Penzarella Lasky, Amy Kaltneckar Dixon 1996 Karen Mullane Bronster, Erin McClafferty Erfle
1997 Joan Elizabeth King Cavallaro, Katie Griffin 1998 Christina Carnevale 1999 Kara McMahon Weaver 2000 Bobbi Tumelty Kelly, Lauren O’Garro Moore 2001 Emily DePaul, Julia Rocchi 2002 Caroline Harkins Gorman 2003 Charlotte Merrick 2004 Katherine Lynn Pichola, Beth Bonnevie 2005 Christine Macolino Kane, Katie McClernand Sacchetta 2006 Kerry Roman, Kathleen Hubbert 2007 Elizabeth DePaul 2008 Alicia Elliott, Claire Kueny 2009 Corin Roman, Kristin Cericola 2010 Katy Gregor 2011 Leigh Anne Tiffany, Michele Burns 2012 Molly McLaughlin 2013 Kiera McCloy, Annie Tenzinger 2014 Sheila McLaughlin, Rachel Basiura 2015 Colleen McBride, Katie Mars Interested in being a Class Agent? Contact Theresa Moyer at 215-233-3177 ext. 334. mount saint joseph academy
31
Understanding the High School Selection Process
Mount Network Event
On April 28, the Mount Network hosted a panel for parents of both girls and boys who are considering high school options. The goals of the panel were to foster an open discussion about choosing a high school, and allow panelists (a mix of alumnae and Mount parents) to share their experiences in selecting a high school.
Below are some highlights from the discussion. PANELISTS
How did you do your initial research on schools? l april butler:
“We were privileged because my daughter’s school offered a high school fair night in 6th grade. Through that and word of mouth from other families, we were able to learn about the best schools for her.”
Heather Kates Kelly ’88, moderator, parent of Elizabeth ’17 and Caroline ‘20
l trudie bruner:
“I really enjoyed hearing what teachers had to say about high school. That was an additional insight that was helpful. One thing that I found challenging was, because I was so familiar with Catholic schools, widening my views to independent and public schools.”
l heather kates kelly:
“I did not let other people tell me what they thought. My child is not anybody else’s and I needed to gather as much information as I could, and apply it to my child. That took the most energy: not letting myself be influenced by others’ opinions.”
Sharon Antonacio, parent of Cathryn ’18
How helpful did you find visits, shadowing, open houses, and the offering of the schools? l sharon antonacio:
Christine Hamburger Broderick ’86, parent of Claire ’19 and Nora ’20
“I felt like visits were the most helpful for my daughter and son. Seventh grade was a really good time to get a leg up on the process, and we did a lot of our morning visits then. The eighth grade shadowing was also great. I gave my daughter a journal where she could write down what she thought of the visit and what she was drawn to about the school and why. Weeks later, she could go back and revisit her first impressions about the schools.”
Do you recommend taking seventh grade practice tests? l christine hamburger broderick:
“Absolutely. The more experience you have taking any of those, just like standardized tests, the more comfortable you’ll be taking those tests. The more time you spend at any place, you’ll get a true sense of what it’s like.”
l heather:
Trudie Bruner ’91, parent of Grace Rowello ’20
“We’re all in agreement: have your child take the test!”
Regarding scholarships and financial aid packages, how easy was it to gain information? l trudie:
April Butler, parent of London ’18 32
Summer 2016
“I thought this was a challenge. With two going into high school, finances were not a neutral question to me, and I needed to understand what it was all going to look like. I found that everybody does it differently. The websites often do not give you everything you need to understand it fully. We took the time to call [the schools] to make sure we understood everything. I encourage everyone to take some time to frame these questions for yourselves.”
l sharon:
“Online, you can get a rough sketch of what’s out there, but you need to go that extra step and make the phone call to talk with someone to get the full financial picture.”
l april:
“That actually aided us on the parent side of our decision, because at the Mount, the information was readily available. That helped us in our decision-making, how easy it was to take that information from certain schools.”
l christine:
“Just click on the schools’ websites, and you’ll be surprised at the number of opportunities you have for financial aid.”
How much input did your daughter have on the decision-making process? “I think it depends on the child. My daughter and I butted heads a lot. I really wanted her to consider a larger pool of schools, and it didn’t happen. Although, I still felt like it was my job to lead her, to have a conversation and not bear down on her. I tried to listen and take a step back, and let it be a process. You want them to think it was their decision. I kept thinking, she will come to the decision if I just give her the time and have the right conversations along the way.”
l sharon
l trudie:
“Since I’m a Mount grad, I feel strongly about my experience here. I said, ‘We’re going to visit the girls’ schools, and you can really get the experience, and I promise you, my mind will be open.’ At the end of the day, part of her connection was seeing my connection.”
l christine:
“[Choosing a high school] is such a big decision at such a young age. We really got there together with a little guidance. Ask questions; talk to faculty and staff. It dawned on me to start asking faculty how long they’d been there. By asking some simple questions, you’ll learn a lot. Spend time with administrators, students, and teachers, and you’ll learn so much.”
l april:
“I told my daughter, ‘We have to be in agreement. I’d love for you to come to the table with your suggestions, but we have to come to an agreement together.’ Every time we went to a visit or open house, we looked at some things that were dealbreakers for her, and for us as parents. We were lucky because we both chose the same school.”
l trudie:
“They have to be happy in the environment. I certainly went into it with my own heart and enthusiasm, but there’s no way I could come back thinking I could force the decision or approach it in a way that made her feel pressed, because that’s not good for anybody.”
The Alumnae Association’s Mount Network hosts several events per year. Information on upcoming events will be available on our website.
A lumnae Induction
On May 25, the Class of 2016 was inducted in the Mount’s Alumnae Association, a tradition that celebrates our newest alumnae. Alumnae mothers, grandmothers, and sisters of current students were invited to attend and distribute commemorative pins to seniors during the ceremony. The celebration continued with food trucks from Chickie’s and Pete’s and Mister Softee! This year, seniors started a new Mount tradition of drawing onto the backs of their skirts the logos/artwork of the colleges and universities they’re attending in the fall.
Seniors pose with alumnae relatives who attended the ceremony.
Back row, from left: Meredith McAfee, Madeleine Ferrero, Claire Chadwick, Brigid Murphy, Emily Owsiany, Emily Woodrow, Virginia Poliwoda, Madeline Knowles, Zoe Ramos. Standing: Dr. Judy Caviston (Principal), Kate Klein Tuohy ’06 (presenter), Christine Vitale McAfee ’86, Courtney Daly Ferrero ’86, Frances Princivalle Chadwick ’85, Mary McFadden Paul ’62, Mary Beth Paul Murphy ’85, Joanne Loftus Owsiany ’84, Michele Morris Woodrow ’81, Virginia Calzi Poliwoda ’85, Gina Ferraro Knowles ’82, Donna Perkinson Ramos ’82, S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ (President). Seated: Coleen McDonald Metzler ’85, Carsy Morrissey Missett ’89, Sue Doney Leonard ’80, Jennifer Haber McMullen ’88, Leah Lawler ’09, Nora Gordon McCullough ’72, Catherine Burger Vining ’74, Barbara Jo Cattie Good ’83, Catherine Carroll ’64. Front Row: Emma Diebold, Laurie Metzler, Carsy Missett, Siobhan Leonard, Emily McMullen, Alison McMullen, Marta Lawler, Grace McCullough, Daria Vining, Gabrielle Good, Christine Gigliotti, Elizabeth Burgoyne. mount saint joseph academy
33
Rochelle Gr asso ’92: Using Experience to Impact Education The
halls at
Roxborough Pre-K
Immaculate Heart section of
through
backpacks.
8
of
M ary School
Philadelphia
in the
are buzzing.
Students
in
shuffle between classes, hauling books and
Teachers
work quickly, preparing their classrooms
for the next round of students.
At the center of it all is Rochelle Grasso ’92, principal of the school. Rochelle’s journey to a career in education started during her time at the Mount, when a life-changing discovery opened her eyes to a new way of thinking.
“I want each child to know that they are amazing and that they can be whatever they want to be as long as they believe in themselves,” Rochelle explains.
“I struggled academically. I worked really hard, but I wasn’t seeing the results,” Rochelle says.
After graduating from the Mount, Rochelle traveled a short distance down the road, following the Sisters of St. Joseph to complete her undergraduate degree at Chestnut Hill College. It was there that her passion for education was cultivated. Rochelle then earned two master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Administration at Drexel University.
Rochelle was in a sophomore year English class with Mrs. Mary Lou Donohue when || the “a-ha moment” transpired. Although Rochelle doesn’t recall the exact details of how the situation unfolded, Mrs. Donohue recognized that Rochelle may have had learning challenges and made some recommendations to her parents about how to better support Rochelle academically both in and outside of the classroom.
{{ You have to stop and ask yourself
if you’re meeting all of your students needs – all of them. Not just a few here and there.
“After that, a whole different world opened up to me,” said Rochelle. Her classes became easier, and she was improving academically by leaps and bounds. “There was a reason [for my struggle], and somebody validated what the problem was,” Rochelle says. “I see that with my own students 34
Summer 2016
Rochelle says she chose a career in education because she wanted to do for students what Mrs. Donohue had done for her.
Her start at the Mount was not the smoothest transition. She found that the rigorous academic curriculum was a challenge for her.
She became frustrated and found it difficult to get through the days. She even remembers sitting in the Guidance Office with her counselor, discussing options for transferring to a different school. And then, a teacher intervened.
now, when we have them assessed. When we make changes or accommodations for them, their whole world changes.”
She became a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, but soon realized that if she truly wanted to make a difference on a much larger scale, she needed to go into school administration. Rochelle says one of the biggest challenges in establishing a successful, impactful curriculum and is effectively teaching all students in a class, regardless of their learning style or levels. “You have to stop and ask yourself if you’re meeting all of your students needs – all of them. Not just a few here and there,” Rochelle says. She says her job as an educator is to help students learn by whatever means they need. She attributes her inclusive approach to education to the encouragement she received from faculty during her high school years. “The support I received at the Mount, and the knowledge that there were other people right there with me, changed my life.”
At the
Liz Nell ‘04: Helm of an Education Technology Start-Up
Throughout her career, Elizabeth Nell ’04 had worked in finance. When she received a call from Blair Pircon, her close friend (who was also her freshman year roommate at the University of Notre Dame), telling her about an idea she had for a new education technology start-up, Liz was intrigued, and took on an advisory role. Little did she know that in a few short months, she would leave her job at Citi and move from New York to Chicago to follow her passion. The start-up that Liz’s friend, and now business partner, dreamed up is The Graide Network, an online platform that connects middle and high school teachers with remote, on-demand teaching assistants to grade and provide thorough feedback on student work. The TAs – or “Graiders” – are aspiring teachers, undergraduate students enrolled in top colleges of education across the country. Liz serves as the organization’s co-founder and chief revenue officer. The Graide Network’s goal is simple: to {{ help teachers become better educators. But its pathway there is a bit more complex, and rather novel. The Graide Network provides Graiders with a unique and flexible service learning opportunity. Graiders must have strong academic records and be passionate about teaching. The teacher reviews all work and has the final say.
to assume leadership positions at their schools—and that there is an increase in engagement because the students love getting feedback. The students feel like they have an advocate in the Graider, and they love showing off their work to another adult besides their teacher. Right now, the network is in its
We’re empowering teachers and giving them more time to connect with students and transitioning feedback into a powerful instruction tool.||
The Graide Network started by partnering with schools of education at colleges and universities, but they are moving to work directly with administration (they are fortunate to count the University of Michigan as one of their first partners.) Students are given incentives to participate, like points that count toward graduation with honors. Graiders have to be interviewed before being accepted to the platform. Liz then does the onboarding and training.
pilot phase, and they are working with five schools in Illinois and Tennessee. Next year, they’ll expand to schools in California, New York, and Texas. To gain concrete data on the effectiveness of their model, The Graide Network has partnered with a learning science professor and education economist at Northwestern University who will be conducting a multi-year study measuring the impact of The Graide Network on student achievement and teacher performance and retention.
“Their energy is contagious,” Liz says. “They’re so passionate about education.”
Liz says, “All teachers are great. We’re working to give them the tools they need to be even better.”
The process for connecting teachers and Graiders can be completed in just a few clicks. A teacher visits the website, uploads completed assignments, and is matched with a Graider based on subject knowledge and availability. The work is sent back to the teacher, who reviews it, and hands it back to students. The Graide Network trains its Graiders on the best ways to give effective, academic feedback.
Although she tutored at the Mount, Liz says her passion for education didn’t really blossom until later in her career. But one thing the Mount did leave within her was confidence.
“The most important result we’ve seen is that we are providing a teacher’s students with more in-depth and timely feedback than ever before,” Liz says. “Teachers are able to get into deeper conversations because they’re not grading papers all the time. We’re empowering teachers and giving them more time to connect with students and transitioning feedback into a powerful instruction tool.”
The Graide Network is currently signing up teachers (5-12th grade) and University partners for the 2016/17 school year. For more information, please contact liz@thegraidenetwork.com.
“The Mount left me gender-blind; I never thought there was anything I couldn’t do because I am a woman,” Liz says. “I never felt like anything was off-limits, or that I couldn’t succeed in any arena.”
For more information on the Graide Network, visit www. thegraidenetwork.com or check out their blog at thegraidenetworkblog. wordpress.com.
According to Liz, the feedback from teachers has been great. They say the service saves a great deal of time—some have even been able mount saint joseph academy
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M addy Sasso ’07: Building a Fashion Empire By Maddy Sasso Admittedly, when I graduated from the Mount in 2007, I was ready to leave. I was exhausted from the pressure of graduating with a 4.0 and trying to wrap my head around why we weren’t allowed to use Google or bring our textbooks to lunch. I also desperately wanted to focus on my passion for fashion design, which up until then had been limited to weekends. I left for college that fall so excited! My randomly-assigned roommate seemed normal (turns out, she’s still one of my best friends!), and I was ready to start a new life, separate from the environment in which I’d grown up. Little by little, however, nostalgia for the Mount started to grow inside me as I realized the community of powerhouse women was not only where I belonged, but also where I wanted to be. Fast-forward to 2016: the network I have because I decided in 2003 to attend Mount Saint Joseph Academy has and is continuing to help me in more ways than I ever could have imagined. Having my own company was a goal I’d had since elementary school, and last year I realized that I owed it to myself to reach for my goals. I started working on Pinkly Perfect, a girls’ clothing and accessory brand that aims to capture the magic of summer vacation all year, in March 2015. I was happy with where I was in my career and genuinely satisfied with the job I had, but I knew I wanted more. So in typical Mountie fashion, I challenged myself and decided to turn my daydream into my reality. I quit my job as an associate designer at a major design firm in New York City that summer and made Pinkly Perfect’s success my full-time job. Quickly I realized I couldn’t do this on my own. My strategy was to build an audience of my target customers—beach-loving high school girls—through a blog and Instagram account while I perfected my spring 2016 line. But designing and producing an entire line, building an e-commerce website, getting my funding in order, attempting to understand what my lawyer and accountant were saying, and what felt like a million other things that had never occurred to me was a lot for a one-woman operation. I reached out to my cousin Eva McGrath ’15 to see if she would be interested in writing some blog articles to lessen my workload. She passed along my request to some of her friends looking to make some extra spending money and gave the “Pinkly Perfect Contributor” description to Ms. Bernadette Leonard, who passed it along to some very driven, impressive Mount students. I also have two of my summer-loving friends, Maureen Devenny ’07 and Elizabeth DePaul ’07, contributing articles. Currently, I have a team of 10 Mount students and alumnae that submit creative, well-written blog articles every week. I also have a Mount alumane and rising Fordham University junior, Melissa Mooney ’14, interning for me. She keeps me sane and also contributes some excellent PR strategies. As if that wasn’t enough, the support that my fellow classmates have shown me is unbelievable. Ashley O’Brien ’07, through her eventplanning company Party Perfect Events, is organizing a “Summer Kick-Off” dinner party for my contributors. The likes, posts, shares on Facebook and Instagram, plus orders coming through from girls I haven’t seen in years is one of the most exciting and encouraging aspects of all of this. I try to imagine now if for some reason I didn’t attend the Mount, would I still have had the courage to start my own company? I would like to think that we are born with the qualities that enable us to adequately respect and challenge ourselves but the reality is if I had not been surrounded by the most inspiring, successful, and supportive girls, teachers and administration in high school, I probably would not have had the confidence or courage to take the leap. 36
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Shop Pinkly Perfect at www.pinklyperfect.com or follow on Instagram @pinklyperfect_inc. Maddy can be reached via email at maddy@pinklyperfect.com or by phone at 215-858-PINK.
Alumnae Awards
Hall of Fame Award Kathy McGee Burns ’55 Kathy McGee Burns truly lives the Mount mission. She has exhibited service for many years by volunteering to raise money through the Phonathon under S. Mary Dacey, SSJ, and serving as Class Representative for the Golden Girls. She believes in giving back and has been generous in donating to the Mount. In her late 70s, she continues to work at Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors because it enables her to donate to several organizations she believes in and supports. She has been a realtor for 30 years, being named Top of the Rock and a Five Star Specialist in Philadelphia Magazine almost every year. Kathy believes that her work habits, ethics, and determination were formed by the Sisters of St. Joseph after eight years at Our Mother of Consolation, four years at the Mount, and six years at Chestnut Hill College. She laughingly admits that that she fought them all the way, but somehow, their messages got through! As a leader in the local Irish community, she has trumpeted Mount Saint Joseph in the many articles that have been written about her. If you Google her name, you will see the references to her beloved alma mater. In 2011, Kathy was the second woman to sit as president of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, where she honored S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ in her Ring of Honor. Kathy has been a great role model for many young women. She is dedicated to her heritage, education, and family.
Rosemary McNally ’17 Alumnae Award Cynthia Strolle ’71 This year’s Rosemary McNally ’17 Award recipient, Cynthia Strolle, shares a long family legacy with the Mount. Her mother, aunt, sister and nieces are all graduates. For the past six years, Cyndy has served on the Mount’s Board of Directors, and has chaired the Development Committee for the past three years. As a Board member, Cyndy’s focus was on alumnae engagement and how to encourage alumnae to give back to the school. She has been a leadership donor to the Mount Fund for many years and was also a lead donor for the recent renovation to the Founders in the Sciences Initiative. Following her retirement from Verizon, she accepted the position of Class Representative and has been instrumental in organizing her class for this year’s 45th reunion. The Academy is grateful for her many years of service and her belief in our mission of educating young women. mount saint joseph academy
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Reunion 2016 April 16, 2016
50th Anniversa ry 1966
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Jeannette Echevarria-Chabance de Lugo ’46 was happily married for 56 years until her husband, Arlando, passed away in 2006. She has three children: her daughter is a pharmacist, and her sons, a dentist and medical doctor. Her nine grandchildren are doctors, dentists, and lawyers. She has thirteen great-grandchildren, and a fourteenth coming soon! She always remembers the wonderful years spent at MSJA.
1950s Lorraine Sukalski McGlynn ’52 shares that her granddaughters enjoy interests they developed at the Mount. Hope Placotaris ’18 is a sophomore who enjoys her guitar group. Kara Spiller ’02 is working in the Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory at Drexel University. Her sister, Krista Spiller ’02, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at University of Pennsylvania. Lorrie Beppel ’08 teaches second grade in New York City and was married in July. Her sister, Tara Beppel ’10, works at AMC Networks in IFC Original Programming and Production. Kelsey McGlynn ’09 is a sales manager at Advantis Global. Her sister, Michaela McGlynn ’11, is an investigator at the Philadelphia Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. Julie McGlynn ’12 was a member of the rowing team at the Mount, and continues to row at Drexel University. Adele Murphy Kittredge ’52 congratulates her niece Catherine Zimmerman ’16 on graduating this year from the Mount.
News and notes from the Mount Saint Joseph Academy alumnae and school community.
M. Alice Farrell ’54 says she is still alive and kicking…not really kicking, more like shuffling. She lives with her daughter, Molly, and her family and has her own sweet suite. Loving it, she gets to see three of her 20 grandchildren on a daily basis. Lorraine McDade Kelly ’55 sends congrats to Kathy McGee Burns ’55 on receiving the Alumnae Hall of Fame Award and hopes to see her at the Irish Center soon. Diane Zilligen McGoldrick ’56 has been living in Cape Cod for 13 years and loves it. She has 15 grandchildren, ages 4 to 28. Her first granddaughter was married in June. Dorothy Gallagher Hordubay ’56 enjoyed getting in touch with so many of her classmates to coordinate the 60th Reunion. Ninety-three percent of her classmates use computers for emails! Anne Schmid Muir ’59 shares that her 18-year-old granddaughter, Molly Muir, has been accepted into Princeton this fall. Time flies!
1960s Teresita Jover Tibbetts ’60 reflects that while at the Mount, the good times, the sad times, the fun times, the naughty times, the difficult times, and the easy times, all together make a beautiful symphony of memories. Joan Smith Agostinelli ’61 has been to married Stephen Agostinelli for 30 years. They have four sons, four grandchildren, and reside in Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania. She is happily retired for ten years. She returns to the family home on Cape Cod each summer. She loves traveling in the fall to see family in
San Francisco, CA; Natick, MA; Hickory, NC; Annapolis, MD; and Rumson, NJ. She also enjoys sports and theatrical events, and watches her grandchildren play ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, football, and lacrosse.
Elsie McIvor Kerns ’61 recently completed the fouryear Eden Energy Medicine Program in Phoenix, Arizona and is teaching Energy Medicine, wellness practices for lifelong health and vitality. Judith Hinkle de Turo ’62 and her husband, Sam, are now part-time southerners. They sold their home on Long Beach Island and moved to Kiawah Island in October 2015. Two of their children live in Charlotte, NC and the other two are in the Princeton area. Splitting the year between the two places, they will be able to see everyone often, having the best of both worlds! Suzanne Foster Hynes ’62 is still enjoying her second home in Rock Hall, MD. Retirement allows her to use it all year long. Her oldest granddaughter will be off to Penn State next school year and the youngest of the four will start high school. How time flies! Mary Catherine Kelly McCauley ’62 continues to work as the parish nurse at St. Thomas of Villanova parish in Rosemont. She will be celebrating 50 years as a nurse in May of this year. Her son, Joseph McCauley, married Jenifer Lincala in California on January 30, 2016. mount saint joseph academy
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Joanne Caruso Garges ’64 is known as GiGi to her three beautiful grandchildren: Olivia, 6, Meredith, 3, and Zackary, 2. She and her husband, Ron, are planning a trip to Provence, France to check out the lavender fields. Then onto Florence, Monaco, and the highlight of the trip is in Siena: the Palio di Siena horse race. Jessie Ross ’64 is still working and has two grandchildren: Timmy, 11, and Abby, 8. Denise Burke ’66 is retired after 43 years in the nursing field. She’s been a long-time freelance health writer for ABC. She resides in Flourtown near lots of family, with one daughter living in New York City. Cecilia Abbamondi Grant ’66 has been enjoying Florida for the past 18 years. She retired four years ago to take care of her mother with Alzheimer’s. Both daughters are married and doing well. She has two wonderful grandsons, ages 15 and 6.
Jane Hinton Koch ’66 retired after 34 years of teaching elementary school. She now volunteers with a local dog rescue and helps students in first grade once a week. She enjoys retirement and spending time with friends and family. Susan Forster Lowery ’66 is working part-time as a personal caregiver for the elderly with her business, Elder Helper, LLC. She and her husband welcomed their first grandchild this spring. Susan has just returned from two glorious weeks in Spain with her oldest daughter, Amy, and she got to visit her youngest daughter, Kathleen, in Chicago. Daughter Sarah was married in Montana last summer and it was the highlight of the year! God has blessed us and all is well.
Lillian Guerrina Haig ’66 recently retired and is enjoying the extra time traveling with her husband; spending time with their six grandchildren; and taking some time for herself sewing and gardening.
Eileen Corr McDermott ’66 has three children living in New York City, Hawaii and New Jersey, with four beautiful grandchildren. Eileen volunteers for Hospice. She enjoys painting watercolors. Eileen resides both in Avalon and Bonita Springs.
After working in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago (with a stop at Trinity College in Dublin to get a M.Phil. degree), Jane Kelly ’66 is back in the Philadelphia area. In addition to the four Jersey Shore mysteries published by Plexus Publishing (Killing Time in Ocean City; Cape Mayhem; Wrong Beach Island; and Missing You in Atlantic City), she has started making mysteries based in Philadelphia, available through Kindle.
Joan Morasco Parsons ’66 and the class of 1966 celebrated their 50th anniversary, and missed many of their sisters, but knew they were with them. Her years at the Mount were rewarding. She can’t say enough about Catholic education in a private school. She was so lucky because of her parents’ wish that she attend the Mount. Thank you, Mom and Dad! Joan is blessed with a wonderful family and seven beautiful grandchildren.
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Roseann Bickley Iuvone ’67 shares that her life has been blessed with a good husband; four healthy and wonderful children; and four healthy and very beautiful grandchildren. She and her husband are enjoying their senior years traveling, attending cultural events, and enjoying life. Roseann is enjoying retirement from teaching as a grandmother. Her husband enjoys his profession as a dentist, in a practice with their son, on a limited basis. Madalene Foster Rohde ’67 is enjoying seeing her two beautiful granddaughters on her trips to Manchester, Vermont.
1970s Mary Maginnis Fisher ’72 announces the birth of her first grandchild! Kate McCauley Hathaway ’71 is enjoying her “Act II” career as a Broadway producer. Her new musical, Southern Comfort, just completed a sold-out run at the New York Public Theater and is headed for Broadway in the spring of 2017!
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Ann Herd Klein ’71 is happy to announce her son’s marriage to Kako, who he met while stationed at Yokota AFB in Japan. This summer, she will travel to Hawaii to meet her family for a vow renewal ceremony. Ann and her husband, Tom, celebrated their silver anniversary in April with friends and family. Helene McGuinn Susanin ’71, an attorney, has been involved with creating and founding Autism programs after her daughter was diagnosed in 1990. Helene is currently on the Board of Directors of MECA and the PAAL program. She resides in Malvern.
Kathleen Gillespie Hennelly ’76 retired from the United States Navy in 2008, and is now a school district administrator in New Jersey. Rebecca Hoy Murphy ’76 has been married to her husband, Jim, for 32 happy years. They are enjoying their two beautiful granddaughters, Brynn and Reese, that her wonderful daughter, Alicia, and her husband have. While spending time between their homes in Lafayette Hill and Wildwood Crest, she always seems to be hanging out with Mounties wherever she goes. Life is good!
Angela E. Lin, M.D. ’72 extends enthusiastic congratulations to the remarkable students who planned the Mount’s STEM Career Fair on March 15. It was a terrific evening for all of the speakers, as much as the parents and students.
Jennifer Lee Busto ’77 and husband, Larry, celebrated 32 years of marriage in July. They are still enjoying island living in Oahu. Jennifer works in residential real estate sales, representing clients. Her three children, Samantha, Michael, and Alexandra, live in Los Angles, where Alex just earned a J.D. from the USC Gould School of Law.
Karen Kraft Hoehn ’75 became a grandmother for the first time. Her daughter, Julie, had twin boys, Charles and James, on November 22, 2015.
Kathleen Acuazzo Martorelli ’78 recently accepted a position as a Renal Dietitian for Fresenius Dialysis. She also announces that her daughter,
Elizabeth Jacobs Barker ’74 shares that several members of the Class of 1974 gathered to celebrate at a surprise 60th birthday party for fellow classmate, Carol Sztukowski Ponzek. Back row, from left: Deborah Moorehead Irons, Lizanne Berko Guenther, Janice MacAvoy, and Trish Zugay Burkholder. Front row, from left: Kathy Quinn Gannon, Mary Haenn Buckwalter, Carol Sztukowski Ponzek, Elizabeth Jacobs Barker.
Kathleen, graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology with the 50th class of Neumann University.
1980s Mary Claire Dinda Kasunic ’80 is entering her third year as president of Pittsburgh’s only all-girls Catholic high school, Oakland Catholic High School. More importantly, she is enjoying five grandchildren. Lizanne Magarity-Pando ’81 was appointed president of St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in Northeast Philadelphia. She most recently was director of marketing and communications for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia last year, managing events and programs for the gathering. Her efforts managing the social media platforms of the World Meeting resulted in more than 1 billion impressions during the week of Sept. 22, 2015. Previously, Pando was communications director for the Miraculous Medal Shrine in the city’s Germantown section. She holds a degree in chemistry and business from the University of Delaware. Leona Peszka ’81 is currently working as the coordinator for youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Frances Grabish Irons ’86, Beatrice Grabish Hogan ’87, Lisa Grabish Bruder ’88, and Kathleen Grabish Jozefowski ’90 are supporting Kidneeds to raise awareness of and find a cure for Denise Deposit Disease (DDD) in honor of Lisa’s son, Brian (age 10) through “Brian’s Buddies.” The group hosted a beef-and-beer to raise funds for Kidneeds and ran in the Philly Love Run Half Marathon on April 10, 2016. mount saint joseph academy
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She was blessed to present the most recent strategy at the White House recently with her client, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB).
Anna Parris Walker ’96 and her husband, Bob, welcomed their daughter, Caroline Parris, on March 29, 2016. The family lives in Durham, NC, where Anna is director of alumni programs at Duke Law School. Megan Miller Yoo ’96 had her second baby in September 2015, and switched jobs as well.
Heather Kates Kelly’s ’88 daughter, Elizabeth Kelly ’17, was escorted to the Mount’s Junior Prom by Connor Murray, St. Augustine Prep ’17 and son of Keely LePera Conti ’88. Kristina Balten ’89 is enjoying her career as a property manager. She lives in Lower Gwynedd. She can be reached at kristinabalten1@gmail.com
1990s Jodie King Smith ’90 and husband, David, welcomed a baby girl, Devon Hope, in October 2015. She joins big sisters Morgan and Reese as future Mountie-hopefuls! Pamela Jolly ’90 graduated from the Graduate Theological Foundation with a doctorate in education. Her dissertation was focused on the convergence of faith and finance and ways we can educate people, businesses, and their communities to define and pursue generational wealth. She published a book, The Narrow Road: A Guide to Legacy Wealth, about her research that is now an Amazon Bestseller. The NarrowRoad™ is now a patented methodology that Pamela uses to create strategies for national organizations across the country. 44
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Mary Cunningham Alban ’99 announces the birth of her daughter, Sofia Elina, on March 12, 2016. Bonnie Mueller ’90 is working for the Hay Group (which was recently purchased by the executive search firm Korn Ferry) and helping to lead their global practice for Executive Leadership Development. She is also is single-handedly responsible for almost every Kelly Drive closure on weekends because she runs most of the regattas in Philadelphia. If anyone ever needs to use a Boathouse Row club for any events, she’s your girl! Cheers, everyone!
Amy Borek Enck ’99 welcomed a daughter, Kara Rachel, on February 9, 2016.
2000s Meaghan Petetti Londergan ’00, Esq. is a partner at Freeman Mathis and Gary, LLP and has been awarded the South Jersey Business People 40 Under 40 Award.
Maureen Abbey-Scorese ’91 was thrilled to return for her 25th Reunion at the Mount. Maureen has been practicing IP law for ten years. She has a wonderful husband, Ron, and fiveyear-old son, AJ. Sheena Johnson ’96 announces her engagement to Todd Marquess, which happened on her birthday, May 1, 2015. The wedding is scheduled for April 2017. Erika Zoller Organsky ’96 and her husband are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Adeline Louise Organsky, on May 3, 2015.
Colleen Breznicky Parfitt ’00 and husband, David, announce the birth of their third child, a daughter, Marie Ann, born January 20, 2016. Julia Rocchi ’01 and Matthew O’Donnell were engaged on October 24, 2015. In December 2015, Julia graduated with a master’s in writing (with a concentration in fiction) from Johns Hopkins University. She is looking forward to another exciting and fulfilling year ahead!
Meghan Kohler Sarli ’01 and husband, Matt, announce the birth of their second child, Katelyn Paula, born on February 2, 2016. Colleen Strawhacker ’01 received her Ph.D. in anthropology from Arizona State University in 2013. She is currently a research scientist and lead social science data advisor as well as an archaeologist at the National Snow and Ice Data Research Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Kathryn Sprandio Ells ’06 married Zachary Ells on December 4, 2015 at Old St. Mary’s Church in Center City. The reception was held at the Union League of Philadelphia. S. Kathleen Brabson and S. Mary Dacey were in attendance. Carleigh (CJ) Tierney ’06 was a bridesmaid and Danielle Ohman ’06, Moira Bryers ’06, Jess Pasquarella ’06 and Julianne Kelley ’06 were guests.
Megan Strawhacker Hiser ’02 married Jeremiah Hiser on December 4, 2015. She received a M.S.N. from Regis University in December 2015. Megan is currently the pediatric trauma manager at Denver Health, in Denver. Jill Heinly Baxter ’04 announces the birth of a son, Patrick Michael Baxter. Moira Bryers ’06 will be celebrating a year with Penn Medicine, as a staff R.N. on Mother-Baby, at Pennsylvania Hospital. She will obtain a M.S.N. in healthcare administration next summer.
Colleen Garvin Coyne ’06 and Sean Coyne were married October 10, 2015 in Ocean City, NJ. Colleen’s uncle, Monsignor Joseph Garvin, celebrated their wedding Mass at St. Frances Cabrini Church and the reception was at the Ocean City Yacht Club. So many Mounties were excited to be part of this special day! Seated, from left: Megan Garvin Heere ’00, Kathy McDonald Garvin ’71, Colleen, Kate Garvin Carroll ’96. Standing, from left: Caitlyn Adams ’06, Brianna Nelms ’06, Kerry Roman ’06, Eileen McDonald Edling ’79, Laurie Metzler ’16, Coleen McDonald Metzler ’85, Maura McDonald ’19, Maggie McDonald ’17, Maureen McDonald Thomas ’82, Eileen Knox McDonald ’87, Julie Cross ’06. Missing from photo: Jane Dunne Mack ’71, Katie McCool ’07.
Abigail Verica Ribeiro ’06 shares her wedding photo. From left: Alexandra Bono ’06, Casey Pollock ’06, Christine Dunn ’06, Catherine Duffy Miller ’03, Selmo Ribeiro, Abby, Kate Klein Tuohy ’06, Courtney Ruhling ’06, Elizabeth Roberts ’06, Alexandra James ’06, Jaclyn Beebie ’06.
Kaitlin McCool ’07 is an English teacher at Haverford High School. She also directed their musicals, Legally Blonde and Beauty and the Beast, which had two successful runs. She is pictured with Jonathan Howe, her biology and genetics teacher when she attended the Mount. mount saint joseph academy
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Meghan Longacre Hall ’07 married Andrew Hall on December 12, 2015. Bridesmaids included Colleen Longacre ’04, Seri Buzby ’07, and Shannon O’Connor ’07. Meghan will be starting the physician assistant program at Thomas Jefferson University.
Maria Sylvester Terry ’08 was married on January 16, 2016 to Caleb Terry from North Carolina. From left: Alyssa Kichula ’08, Sarah Quain ’08, Veronica Dress ’08, Amanda Nolan ’08, Megan Marron ’08, Monica Yantosh ’08, Meghan Ross ’08, Lyndsey Wajert ’08, Maria, Carly McNamara ’15, Pauline McNamara ’13, Gianna Carlone ’17, Natalie Carlone ’10, and Briana Sylvester ’12.
2010s Ariana Harkins ’10 graduated from Philadelphia University as a physician assistant in July 2015 and is currently working in the emergency department at the Cleveland Clinic. Madeline Sasso ’07 celebrated the launch of her company, Pinkly Perfect, in New York City in the company of fellow Mounties Meg Kehan ’08, Mary Sasso ’04, Casey Lumpkin ’07, Chelsea Clark ’07, Elizabeth DePaul ’07. Not pictured: Maureen Devenny ’07, Brianna Devenny ’09. Jessica Dignam ’08 is the cofounder of an organization called the Philly Performance Network (PPN). It is an organization designed for busy adults who want to perform but may not have the time to commit to a typical rehearsal schedule. PPN has an a cappella group and holds a show in the spring. This spring’s show was a concert version of Les Miserables, in which Laura Mancano ’10 and Kaitlin McCool ’07 appeared. Laura was Enjoras, Katie was Cosette, and Jess was the creative director for the show. For more information, visit www.phillyperformancenetwork.org. 46
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Stephanie Rivero ’11 graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in Computer Science and Business and is enjoying her position as a software engineer at IBM Endicott. Heidi Bernardini Beyer ’12 announces her engagement to her fiancé, Christopher John Stenta, which happened on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Nora Bryson ’12 will be graduating this year from Franklin and Marshall College with degrees in Geosciences and History.
Bailey Jean Piazza ’13 is currently studying abroad in Beijing, China with CIEE’s Chinese Language and Society Program. She is studying Mandarin Chinese at Minzu University and International Negotiation with China at Peking University. Follow her abroad experiences at baileyinbeijing. wordpress.com. Belin Mirabile ’15 wrote an essay, “The Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” that was selected by the faculty of University of Notre Dame’s writing program for publication in 2016 edition of the University’s annual student writing anthology, Fresh Writing. Her essay was one of only 26 selected by the University’s editorial board, among nearly 100 competing for publication. Alana Cianciulli ’15 made the Dean’s List during her first semester at St. Joseph’s University.
Michelle Handy ’13 is studying human services at Gwynedd Mercy University. On April 25, 2016 she was inducted to the Tau Upsilion Alpha National Honors Society for Human Services based on academic excellence and commitment to the quality treatment of humanity. The photo includes academic advisor and chapter/chair head, Dr. Wade Luquet, Michelle, Estelle Handy (Michelle’s mother), and John Handy (Michelle’s dad).
In Memoriam
We extend our sympathy and prayers to the families of the following alumnae: Edna O’Hara Anders ’34 Mary Lou Hieb Caufield ’44 Marguerite Haggerty Harrington ’44
Kathleen Prior Matusik ’45 Elizabeth Stroud Giordano ’46 Patricia Lawson McDaniel ’46 Jane Ledwith Charlton ’50
Frances Castaldi Kelly ’53 Ann M. Brennan Toner ’55 Anita Casani ’82
In Memoriam
Our sympathy and prayers are extended to the following members of the MSJA community: Dolores O’Hara McVeigh ’41 (deceased), Victoria Anders ’72, and Wendy Anders Hoffman ’75, on the death of their sister and mother respectively, Edna “Betty” O’Hara Anders ’34 Eleanor Haggerty Abernathy ’43 (deceased), Catherine Haggerty Quain ’46 (deceased), Emily DePaul ’01 and Elizabeth DePaul ’07, on the death of their sister and great aunt respectively, Marguerite Haggerty Harrington ’44 Catherine Stroud DelDuca ’44, on the death of her sister, Elizabeth Stroud Giordano ’46 Virginia Mitchell O’Neill ’46, on the death of her husband, Philip O’Neill S. Grace Rhoads, RGS ’49, Kathleen Rhoads Waters ’52, Judith Rhoads Morris ’59, Eleanor Waters ’73 and Kathleen Waters Owsik ’72, on the death of their brother and uncle respectively, Daniel Joseph Rhoads
Salmon ’75, Lizanne Magarity Pando ’81, Lisa Strecker Magarity ’72, Kathleen Magarity ’98 and Kelly Magarity ’14, on the death of their brother, brother-in-law and uncle respectively, William Magarity, Jr. Donna Nicoletti Ferrier ’76, Lori Nicoletti Peruto ’79, Megan Maguire Nicoletti ’86, Christina Ferrier Billmyer ’05, Gabrielle Ferrier ’07 and Samantha Peruto ’07, on the death of their father, father-in-law and grandfather respectively, Robert V. Nicoletti Mary Timlin Hoag ’76, on the death of her husband, Gary Hoag Anne Lee Hughes ’76 and Louisa Lee Viele ’84, on the death of their mother, Marie Lee Jane Charlton Weiss ’79, Morgan Weiss ’15 and Elizabeth Stow Weiss ’19, on the death of their mother and grandmother respectively, Jane Ledwith Charlton ’50
Pamela Smith Grimme ’50, on the death of her grandson, Devon Donald Grimme
Terri Concannon Long ’80, on the death of her father, Frank Concannon
Judy Aquilani Shea ’58 and Eileen Aquilani ’62, on the death of their mother, Mary E. Aquilani
Jill Hansen Letendre ’84, Stephanie Hansen Boye ’87 and Elyse Hansen Hanlon ’90, on the death of their father, Elmer F. Hansen Jr.
Ann Casani Shewman ’62, Elizabeth Ann Casani ’88 and Anita Casani Haffey ’51, on the death of their daughter, sister and niece respectively, Anita Casani ’82 Diane McMenamin Bainbridge ’65 and Marcia McMenamin Davis ’68, on the death of their mother, Kathryn C. McMenamin Peggy Gallagher ’66 on the death of her mother-in-law, Ruth A. Vezzosi Maureen Maguire Coffey ’72, Diane Maguire Chambers ’73, Lorrie Maguire McKenna ’76 and Maura Coffey Campbell ’99, on the death of their father and grandfather respectively, James W. Maguire Anne Sabol McDonnell ’72, Dr. Susan Sabol ’74 and Dr. Mary Sabol ’83, on the death of their father, Paul W. Sabol Sr. Nancy Salmon Siefert ’74, Patricia
Beth Davey Rosso ’84, Laura Davey Banmiller ’89 and Katarina Davey ’19, on the death of their father and grandfather respectively, Francis Davey Elizabeth Barnes White ’84, on the death of her mother, Mary Agnes Barnes Jill Kleinguenther Lord ’86, on the death of her father, Jan Kleinguenther Laura Riethmiller Savage ’86, Renee Riethmiller Alexander ’91, Elizabeth Ladd Steenstra ’00, Katherine Ladd ’01, Lauren Ladd ’05, Jennifer Ladd ’07 and Caroline Savage ’17, on the death of their grandfather and great grandfather respectively, Robert J. Riethmiller Kathleen Cubbin Cahill ’87, on the death of her nephew, Brett Alexander Hunter Amy Schuhl Bagley ’91, on the death of her father, Francis J. Schuhl
Annemarie Krothe Petroff ’96 and Helene D. Krothe ’99, on the death of their father, Trubee A. Krothe Erica Graf ’98, on the death of her grandmother, Helen Graf Elizabeth Rymar ’00 and Laura Rymar Ferro ’04, on the death of their grandfather, Pedro Rymar Megan O’Brien Dennis ’01, Theresa O’Brien Christie ’94 and Erin O’Brien ’99, on the death of their son and nephew respectively, Leo Patrick Dennis Colleen Madden Wham ’02 and Lisa Angely Madden ’00, on the death of their mother and mother-in-law respectively, Anne Larkin Madden Christina Flounders Conlon ’03 and Victoria Koc ’10, on the death of their grandmother, Apolonia Koc Christine Macolino Kane ’05, on the death of her father-in-law, Michael Kane Sr. Amanda Fellmeth ’07 and Katrina Fellmeth ’10, on the death of their grandfather, Joseph Danko Alyssa Hirst ’07 and Sarah Hirst ’09, on the death of their grandmother, Genevieve “Jean” LaNoce Laura Free ’08 and Rachel Free ’11, on the death of their grandfather, Thomas E. Nicklaus Johanna Duff ’09, Mary Duff ’10 and Robert Duff (MSJA Board Member), on the death of their grandfather and father respectively, Edward Duff Nicole Fabiszewski ’10 and Marisa Fabiszewski ’12, on the death of their grandfather, John J. “Jack” Quinn Erin Brophy ’16, on the death of her uncle, Robert Brophy Alexa Kotch ’17, on the death of her grandfather, Captain Joseph A. Hall Angela LaCorte ’17, on the death of her grandfather, Thomas J. LaCorte, Sr. S. Joannie Cassidy, SSJ (former faculty), on the death of her mother, Mrs. Joan Cassidy mount saint joseph academy
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Admission Dates 2016
Open House Sunday, October 16, 2016 12 - 3 p.m.
Scholarship/Entrance Exam Saturday, October 29, 2016 8 a.m. - 12 P.M.
120 W. Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031 (215) 233-9133 | admiss@msjacad.org | www.msjacad.org 48
Summer 2016
The MSJA Student Council and Alumnae will host the Miles of Magic 5K on
Saturday, October 22, 2016
All proceeds from the 5K and 1-Mile Walk will benefit the Stephanie Leonards Roman Memorial Scholarship at the Mount. Details, including sponsorship opportunities and registration information will be posted on the Mount’s website and in email updates.
Register online at www.msjacad.org/5k. Registration is limited.
Mount
RUNWAY 2016 WHEN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 6:00 PM WHERE: WHITEMARSH VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB LAFAYETTE HILL, PA
Fashions provided by Free Shop, Ambler
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS IN SEPTEMBER!
mount saint joseph academy
49
Educating Founders since 1858
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANGHORNE, PA PERMIT #118
120 West Wissahickon Avenue Flourtown, PA 19031-1899 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
The
Mount
24th
Annual
Blue Bell Country Club
Monday, September 26, 2016 www.msjacad.org/golf2016