Summer 2011-- MSJA Mount Magazine

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Edu c at ing Foun der s Since 18 5 8

Congratulations Class of 2011

Summer 2011

A Magazine for Alumnae, Parents and Friends of Mount Saint Joseph Academy


A Letter From the President

Dear Friends, I write this letter within days of baccalaureate and graduation! I am still filled with the beauty, and heartfelt appreciation of our students, parents and relatives of the Class of 2011. Truly this celebration was a glorious and grace-filled praise of our God. In my graduation remarks I spoke of Sue Monk Kidd’s book, The Secret Life of Bees, I quoted the lines, “If you need something from somebody, always give that person a way to hand it to you.” I complimented the Class on how they cared for each other and at the same time tended our mission. I asked them to live a life of wonder and caring, and to let their voices be heard. In Kidd’s words, “Find a purpose grand enough for your life. And whatever your necessary fire is, or your genius turns out to be, remember, in some way, it is necessary for the world too. Go make your big beautiful dent, and as you do so come down on the side of boldness. If you err, may it be for too much audacity, and not too little.” Samm Arena, our valedictorian, with a gentle boldness, spoke of the impact of letters on our lives and made connections with personal and global experiences that elevated our thinking and moved our hearts. I invite you to engage the meaning of letters, and I hope the quality of this young woman’s mind and heart touches yours as it did our graduates. A woman who has found a number of ways “to give people the opportunity to give to her,” is the 2011 recipient of the Mount’s Hall of Fame Award, Marci Schankweiler ’86. Please don’t miss Kate Groark Shields’ ’93 moving words of praise and inspiration for all Marci has done to create lasting memories for families struggling with cancer. The Mount experience was the topic of interest in many publications and events this past spring. Our alum, Kathy Mc Gee Burns ’55, was president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and honored the Mount by inviting me to be a part of the Ring of Honor. It was a great time and I was delighted to see so many people along the parade route cheering for the Mount. Thank you Kathy! I hope that you feel the same pride I felt as I read about Maddy Sasso’s ’04 award and her appreciation of her time at the Mount. Aubrey Whelan ’07, now a graduate of Penn State, has made a major contribution to our recruitment efforts by her recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. We decided to reprint it for your enjoyment. For 21 years Sandra Moore has guided well over a thousand young women toward their college choices and future careers. This year she will retire, and the Mount will miss her gracious professionalism and dedicated spirit. We wish her the best and a retirement worthy of all the goodness she brought to women of the Mount. Please join me in wishing her well. Thank you to the Alumnae who wrote to express their gratitude to her. There are so many of you who have “made a big beautiful dent…and come down on the side of boldness.” Please continue to share your stories and enrich our lives. There is so much in this edition so, curl up or bring it to the beach, sing its praises from the rooftops and keep telling us your stories. Enjoy your summer! Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ President

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Table of Contents 2011 Valedictory Address .................................................................... 4 College Acceptances and Awards........................................................ 6

Summer 2011 The Official Publication of Mount Saint Joseph Academy 120 West Wissahickon Avenue Flourtown, PA 19031 President Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ Principal Dr. Judith A. Caviston Development Office Staff Director of Development Jill Gregori Director of Communications Elizabeth Racine Director of Alumnae Theresa Moyer

Profiles of Hope.................................................................................. 16 Alumnae Spotlight.............................................................................. 18 St. Patrick’s Day Parade..................................................................... 20 2011 Graduates Special Section........................................................ 25 Happenings........................................................................................ 29 Athletic Hall of Fame.......................................................................... 35 Athletics.............................................................................................. 36 Development................................................................................. 37-38 Alumnae............................................................................................. 39 Alumnae Day Photos and Speeches............................................. 41-45 Alumnae News................................................................................... 46

Annual Fund Coordinator Leigh McFadden Auction Director Cindy Moore Development Office Secretary Barbara Oldt Phone: 215-233-3177 Fax: 215-233-4734 Website: www.msjacad.org Alumnae Website: www.msjaalum.org Alumnae e-mail: msjaalum@msjacad.org

3 Graduation Photography by Andrea Loughlin Portraiture (Andrea Bauhaus Loughlin ’82)


2011

Valedictory Address Laced in a Legacy of Letters by Samantha Arena ’11

T“T

he word that is heard perishes, but the letter that is written remains” (Ancient Proverb). As life passes us all too quickly, some of the most treasured items many of us will have in our later years will be the collection of personal letters we place in our keepsake boxes. The little bits of information in these letters that contain the inner weavings of our relationships with our family and our friends will one day become part of our own personal histories. But what is a letter? Is it one of the twenty-six characters that compose the English alphabet? Are “letters” the letter grades we receive as a measure of our academic accomplishment? The sports letters we earned on the athletic field? Or are they the personal, written messages we send and receive? Letters are all of these and much more. Through our four-year journey at the Mount, we have compiled many “letters,” each significant in its own unique way, lacing the legacy of the Class of 2011. Our time at the Mount started with a letter, continued through a variety of “letters,” and ends with our letters today. “Dear Mountie, Congratulations! I am delighted to offer you admission to Mount Saint Joseph Academy as a member of the Class of 2011!” This letter brought each of the one hundred forty-seven of us together in the bond of Mount sisterhood.

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As we entered our freshman year in the fall of 2007, many of us had goals of rediscovering ourselves through athletics. As we look back, we see that many Mounties earned their first

varsity “letters” during freshman year. The fall brought the golf state championship, and the winter, the basketball championship, with other athletic teams’ accomplishments to follow. While some of our sisters were representing the “M.S.J.” on the sports fields, others were performing on the stage or working in the art studio. Under the guidance of the Fine Arts Department, we displayed our artistic talents in concerts, theater performances, and art galleries. With each endeavor, we stood united, standing in the halls during “Shout Outs,” supporting and congratulating our fellow classmates and, in a way, sending them “letters” on jobs well-done. During our years at the Mount, we discovered the true champions we are, leaving our legacy through varsity letters; letters etched in PIAA record books; letters appearing in program booklets, newspaper articles, and TV spots; and letters given to our friends, all memorializing our collective extracurricular achievements. When we look back at our time at the Mount, however, we see much more than extracurricular accomplishments. We see young women interested in academics and drawn to connect with our Lord. Through the Mathematics and Science Departments, we discerned complex mathematic and scientific variables that, like the letters of the English language, come together to form a language unto themselves. Through the Foreign Language Department, we learned about our neighbors around the globe by studying their languages. Through the English Department, we discovered The Scarlet Letter, learning about right and wrong, moral and immoral behavior. Our theology classes connected this infamous letter with our everyday life, teaching us to act in accordance with God and His messages. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Class of 2011 was given the opportunity to connect and support those Mount


members traveling to Canton, MS, through letters handcrafted in our New Testament class. When overcome with the emotions of witnessing a natural disaster, we discovered that nothing is more comforting than reading a letter from a loved one offering words of encouragement and support. Clearly, letters have the power to bring a touch of love and comfort and to teach us about the world around us, the friendships we make, and our strength as young women. As we continued our journey through our four years at the Mount, we were challenged by the Mount’s rigorous academic standards. In our junior year, with our college searches starting and the Mount’s strict norounding grading system, we had to make the letter grade. We mastered Geoffrey Chaucer and his never-ending Tales. We studied and prepared for the alphabet-lettered soup of college entrance exams—the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT— and we even took our first AP tests. When we look back on the days when we opted for study time, rather than a shower, or chose a caffeinated drink, rather than water, we can smile with relief and euphoria, for we, all one hundred forty-seven of us, made the “letter grade.” We celebrated with Junior Ring Liturgy and Junior Prom. We watched as our class rings, engraved with the letters of our name, were placed on our fingers by our homeroom moderators. Junior year, most certainly, was a time of making and receiving the “letter.” Each year, we experienced retreats, but none was like our personal, individually designed Senior Retreat. With the intimacy of the Saint Raphaela Retreat Center, we grew closer to God and learned more about ourselves and our peers. Through letters, our family and friends revealed their thoughts and sentiments to and about us. We, too, wrote letters, expressing a newfound relationship with God and our admiration and respect for our classmates. Not only was our Senior Retreat a time to reflect on our lives in the presence of the Lord, but it was also a time to relax and unwind. Amid the college acceptance process, many of us felt overwhelmed with college letters: acceptances, waitlists, and

rejections. What we plan does not always correspond with what God has written in our lives. We are bound to face rejections in our lives, some of which will come in the form of a letter, but we cannot let those rejections or the obstacles they present defeat us; we must overcome them. As we look at the world around us, we see Libyans fighting for what they believe, Japanese struggling mightily for their safety and health after suffering a devastating earthquake and tsunami, Haitians still working to recover some semblance of life after an earthquake more than one year ago, Americans mourning the loss of loved ones and livelihoods destroyed from devastating tornadoes that tore through the South, Americans working to reach closure with the death of September 11th mastermind Osama Bin Laden, and Catholics witnessing the expedited beatification of Pope John Paul II. Each nation—Libya, Japan, Haiti, and America—faces its own obstacles, yet each is working to overcome them. We must do the same with our lives. We must accept whatever life brings us and work to overcome our personal obstacles while at the same time helping others and remaining connected to God. To the Class of 2011, therefore, as we leave the Mount, I say to you that our time at the Mount started with a letter and fittingly should end with letters. Today, we write some of our most important letters as Mount students. These letters are neither varsity letters nor letter grades. They are not letters of acceptance or rejection. Instead, they are letters of gratitude to those who have inspired us to become bright, talented, compassionate young women. Thank you, dear parents, for providing us the opportunity to attend the Mount. Thank you, family, for always supporting us. Thank you, administration, faculty, and maintenance, culinary, and support staff, for instilling in us an education that will remain with us forever and for providing us with a welcoming school to attend each day. Thank you, dear friends, for laughing, loving, and learning. Most importantly, thank you, Lord, Jesus Christ, by Whom all things were made. Now, we put the final touches on our letters titled “MOUNT” and begin the next “letters” of our lives. Class of 2011, make all of your letters your very best, for “the letter that is written remains.”

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College Acceptances Awards

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Jessica Diane Agostinelli American University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program American University Dean’s Scholarship American University Grant Denison University Bookstore Grant Denison University Grant

Samantha Anne Arena Emory University

Villanova University Invitation to Honors Program

Catherine Lucy Baldasano Fordham University

Fordham University Grant Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Jacqueline Maria Bernal Pennsylvania State University

Loyola University Maryland Claver Scholarship Loyola University Maryland Invitation to Honors Program Penn State University Bunton-Waller Merit Award

Grace Elizabeth Bernhardt Chestnut Hill College Chestnut Hill College Scholarship

Megan Elizabeth Black University of Pennsylvania

Proctor & Gamble SHPE Scholarship

Erica Ann Bonavitacola Drexel University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Philadelphia University Faculty Scholarship Philadelphia University Invitation to Honors Program

Stephanie Blanchard Bono The George Washington University Meredith Rose Bracken Drexel University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College

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Amy Leigh Brady Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship Ursinus College Achievement Award

Bridget Marie Brady The University of Scranton

Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship Ursinus College Achievement Scholarship Ursinus College Legacy Scholarship Ursinus College Ursinus Scholarship Washington & Jefferson College Scholars Award

Caitlin Janine Brady Drexel University

Carnegie Mellon Undergraduate Grant Cornell University Cornell Tradition Fellow Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Drexel University Emerging Talent Scholarship Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Dragon Alumni Scholarship Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Drexel University Summer Institute Award Pennsylvania State University Academic Excellence Scholarship Pennsylvania State University Invitation to Schreyer Honors College Philadelphia University Faculty Scholarship Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Leadership Award Syracuse University Merit Scholarship

Lynda Marie Brady Syracuse University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Catholic University of America Invitation to Honors Program Catholic University of America University Scholarship Syracuse University Founders’ Scholarship Syracuse University Invitation to Crown Honors Program

Meaghan Kelly Bresnahan Georgetown University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Villanova University Villanova Scholarship US Rowing Scholastic Honor Roll

Michele Monica Burns Duquesne University

Duquesne University Academic Scholarship Duquesne University Music Scholarship Immaculata University Dean’s Scholarship Immaculata University Music Scholarship Loyola University New Orleans Academic Scholarship Radford University Dean’s Scholarship SUNY Fredonia


Mariel Mackey Cain Boston College

Fairfield University Ignatian Scholarship Fordham University Loyola Scholarship Loyola University Maryland Presidential Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar

Maura Ann Carroll University of South Carolina

Memorial Scholarship FOP Lodge 14 Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship

Katie Margaret Casebeer Boston College

Boston College Athletic Scholarship

Dana Christiansen Delaware Valley College

Delaware Valley College Faculty Scholarship

Megan Elizabeth Ciarlone University of Delaware

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship La Salle University Excellence in Learning Grant La Salle University Grant Milwaukee School of Engineering Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar

Amanda Lynn Clark The University of Scranton

University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Anne Maureen Clarke The University of Notre Dame

Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship

Diana Cnudde The University of Scranton

High Point University Invitation to Honor Program Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Casey Anne Corcoran The University of Pittsburgh

University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Graduation Happenings 2011

The Class of 2011

Stephanie Elizabeth Crilly Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit National Merit Scholarship to Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania State University Academic Excellence Scholarship Pennsylvania State University Invitation to Schreyer Honors College University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program Ursinus College Steinbright Scholarship

Margaret Evelyn Croke Shippensburg University

Chestnut Hill College Scholarship Western New England College Success Grant Western New England College Tuition Assistance Grant

Chiara P. Curcillo Saint Joseph’s University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Holly Lynn D’Agostino East Carolina University Casey Ann Damiani Drexel University

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Wilkes University Presidential Scholarship

Courtney Leigh Davey Temple University

Temple University Scholar Award Temple University Invitation to Honors Program

Audrey Callahan Davis Pennsylvania State University

University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar Virginia Polytechnic Institute Scholarship

Alison Suzanne Deasy Pennsylvania State University

Mount St. Mary’s University Presidential Scholarship University of Baltimore County Invitation to Honors College

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Anna Lynn DelRicci University of Pittsburgh

Catholic University of America Parish Scholarship Catholic University of America Scholarship Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship University of Delaware Environmental Scholarship University of Rhode Island Centennial Scholarship University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship

Victoria Jayne DeMarco West Chester University Erin Catherine Dohony Temple University

La Salle University Founders Scholarship Temple University Scholar Award

Taylor Claire Drueding Temple University

Catholic University of America University Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship Temple University Scholar Award University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Victoria Faith Elliott Drexel University

Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Farleigh Dickinson’s Col Farleigh S. Dickinson Scholarship Messiah College Invitation to Martin’s Scholars Program Messiah College Lloyd and Lois Martin Multicultural Scholarship Messiah College Provost Scholarship

Mary Elizabeth Entwistle The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College University of Alabama Invitation to Honors Program University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship

Hannah Marie Farrell Pennsylvania State University

Boston College Invitation to Honors Program Catholic University of America Scholarship Catholic University Invitation to Honors Program College of the Holy Cross Full tuition Sheehan Scholarship Loyola University Maryland Invitation to Honors Program Loyola University Maryland Presidential Scholarship National Merit Scholarship

Paige Linsey Flynn Lehigh University Caitlin Kearns Foley La Salle University

Catholic University of America Scholarship Fairfield University Loyola Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship La Salle University Invitation to Honors Program Temple University Scholar Award University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Christina Marie Forst University of Delaware

Mount St. Mary’s University Presidential Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar

Carly Ann Frederick University of Miami

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Drexel University Legacy Scholarship

Case Western Reserve University Scholarship Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College University of Miami Invitation to General Honors Program University of Miami University Scholarship

Kacie Catharine Farrell Princeton University Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Program

Rachel Ann Free Syracuse University

Georgetown University 1789 Scholarship Georgetown University Invitation to the Scholarship Program University of Chicago Stamps Leadership Scholarship University of Maryland Invitation to Honors Program University of Pennsylvania Mayor’s Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Full Tuition Honors Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program

Kerry Marie Fitzpatrick Pennsylvania State University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program 8

Evelyn Ann Flashner Georgetown University National Merit Scholarship Recipient

Loyola University Maryland Presidential Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar University of Delaware Invitation to Honors Program University of Miami Dickinson Scholarship

Fordham University Grant Rochester Institute of Technology Presidential Scholarship Syracuse University Chancellor’s Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar

Kerri Leigh Gallagher University of San Diego

Franciscan University Invitation to Honors Program Franciscan University Scholarship University of San Diego Presidential Scholar AXA Achievement Community Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Gold Award

Melissa Marie Gavin University of Georgia

Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship


Teresa Kelly Geruson Georgetown University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Boston College Invitation to the First-Year Scholars Program Boston University Invitation to Honors Program Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship Fordham University Invitation to Honors Program Georgetown University GU Scholarship Hunter Soccer Club Scholarship Lehigh University Dean’s Scholarship Lehigh University Invitation to Roy Eckardt College Scholars Program Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Regis 2015 Grant

Kathryn Craft Glover Sarah Lawrence College

Temple University Scholar Award

Anna Marie Goebel Ithaca College Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Duquesne University Academic Scholarship Duquesne University Invitation to Honors College Duquesne University Music Scholarship Ithaca College President’s Scholar Temple University Invitation to Honors Program Temple University Scholar Award

Margaret Mary Cecelia Gottschalk Pennsylvania State University

Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship West Virginia Blue & Gold Level 2 Scholarship

Carly Ann Graham Temple University

Chestnut Hill College Scholarship Drexel University Legacy Scholarship Pratt Institute Presidential Merit Scholarship

Mary Elizabeth Gries Rider University

Muhlenberg College President’s Scholarship Rider University Presidential Scholarship Temple University Scholar Award West Chester University Presidential Excellence Award West Chester University Invitation to Honors Program

Christina Catherine Hamilton Pennsylvania State University

Catholic University of America Scholarship

Stephanie Anne Henrich University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Athletic Scholarship

Courtney Elizabeth Hogan Pennsylvania State University

Duquesne University Academic Scholarship

Brittany Leigh Hood University of Pittsburgh

American Express Scholarship for the University of Pittsburgh Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit Florida Gulf Coast University Full Tuition Scholarship Florida Gulf Coast University Invitation to Honors Program Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program University of South Carolina Cooper Scholars Award University of South Carolina Invitation to Honors Program

Mary Jo Horgan Lehigh University

Drexel University Trustee Award La Salle University Founders Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship United Cerebral Palsy All-Star Scholarship

Jennifer Kim Jenkins Fordham University

Hofstra University Invitation to Honors College Hofstra University Presidential Scholarship Pace University Honors Scholarship Pace University Pforzheimner Honors College

McKenna Elizabeth Kardish Harvard University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Brown University Scholarship Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship Fordham University Invitation to Honors Program Harvard Faculty Scholarship University of Southern California Trustee Full tuition Scholarship University of Southern California University Scholarship USC Viterbi School of Engineering Invitation to WVT Rusch Honors Program USC Viterbi School of Engineering Merit Research Award

Katelyn Marie Keane Franklin & Marshall College Mackenzie Kennedy Kelley James Madison University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program James Madison University Madison Achievement Scholarship Roanoke College Achievement Award Roanoke College Dreher Scholarship Roanoke College Scholarship Stonehill College Merit Scholarship University of Dayton Adele Scholarship University of Dayton Trustee’s Merit Scholarship Vassar College Scholarship

Elesa Elizabeth Knowles Loyola University Maryland

Catholic University of America Alumni Scholarship Catholic University of America Parish Scholarship Catholic University of America Scholarship DeSales University DeSales Scholarship Loyola University Maryland Claver Scholarship

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Lauren Olivia Lamprecht Temple University

La Salle University Founders Scholarship La Salle University Grant Philadelphia University Grant Saint Joseph’s University Achievement Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Regis 2015 Grant Temple University Grant

Kelly Lynn Leonard Catholic University of America

Catholic University of America Grant Catholic University of America Music Scholarship Catholic University of America Scholarship

Gianna Michele Leone Parsons The New School for Design Tara Katherine Knox Drexel University

Case Western Reserve University Grant Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Fordham University Grant Fordham University Jogues Scholarship University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship University of Scranton Invitation to Honors Program Washington & Jefferson College Howard J Burnett Presidential Scholarship

Veronica Helen Kauffman Kreter University of San Francisco

Cal Poly Outreach Scholarship Loyola Marymount University Achievement Award University of San Francisco Provost’s Merit Award

Carlie Ann Krill Susquehanna University

Cabrini College Catholic High School Scholarship Cabrini College Honors Scholarship Cabrini College President’s Scholarship Gettysburg College Wills Scholarship Susquehanna University Invitation to Honors Program University of New Haven Presidential Scholarship University of New Haven Writing Award University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship University of Scranton Invitation to Honors Program Western New England College Presidential Scholars Award

Kerry Lynn Krouchick Wake Forest University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Elon University Fellows Scholarship Elon University Presidential Scholarship Fordham University Scholarship Tulane University Founders Scholarship University of Maryland Invitation to Honors Program Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarship

Melanie Frances Lagreca Pennsylvania State University

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship York College Dean’s Academic Scholarship

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Julianne Marie Looby Duquesne University

Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Duquesne University Academic Scholarship King’s College Moreau Scholarship

Dana Marita MacIntosh University of Delaware

Boston University Grant Temple University Invitation to Honors Program Temple University Scholar Award University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar University of Delaware Music Scholarship

Annemarie Malazita Temple University

Catholic University of America Scholarship Drexel University Trustee Award

Stephanie Marie Malone Slippery Rock University

University of Dayton Ambassador Scholarship

Elizabeth Catherine Maloney Saint Mary’s College

Saint Mary’s College Dean’s Scholarship University of Dayton Deans Scholarship

Giana Catherine Mandel University of Pittsburgh Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Duquesne University Academic Scholarship Duquesne University Invitation to Honors College Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship University of Connecticut Academic Excellence Scholarship University of Connecticut Invitation to Honors Program University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program University of Rhode Island Centennial Scholarship University of Rhode Island Invitation to Honors Program University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Merit Award

Katherine Lynn Matchett College of the Holy Cross

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship

Jaclyn Nicole Matsinger Pennsylvania State University Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship


Morgan Elizabeth McCafferty North Carolina State University

University of Florida Sunshine Scholarship United Steel Workers Union Hugh Carcella Scholarship

Kathryn Elizabeth McCormick Trinity College

Catholic University of America Grant Catholic University of America Invitation to Honors Program Catholic University of America Scholarship Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Fordham University Grant Fordham University Loyola Scholarship Trinity College (CT) Invitation to Guided Studies Program Trinity College Grant

Margaret Raymond McDermott University of Pittsburgh

Catholic University of America Alumni Scholarship Catholic University of America Parish Scholarship Catholic University of America University Scholarship Fairfield University Loyola Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Heather Lynn McFarlane New England College

Michigan State University Presidential Study Abroad Scholarship New England College Alta Petenda Scholarship

Alexandra Quinn McGill-Wilson University of Miami

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Loyola University Chicago Loyola Scholarship

Michaela Sean McGlynn Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Amy Lee McGovern Saint Joseph’s University

Muhlenberg College Excellence Award Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship Ursinus College Ursinus Scholarship

Shannon Elise McGovern Villanova University Morgan Julia McKibbin University of Pittsburgh Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Book Award Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship University of Scranton Invitation to Honors Program University of Vermont Presidential Scholarship

Colette-Jeanne Desfosse McNeela University of Pittsburgh Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship Tulane University Distinguished Scholars Award Tulane University Invitation to Honors Program University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program

Alise Marie McNutt McDaniel College

Allegheny College Trustee Scholarship Gettysburg College Founders Scholarship McDaniel College Academic Scholarship Mount St. Mary’s University Invitation to Honors Program Mount St. Mary’s University Trustee Scholarship

Catherine Anne Moran University of Pittsburgh

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Duquesne University Academic Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship University of Vermont Presidential Scholarship

Allison Marie Moroz Lehigh University

Muhlenberg College President’s Scholarship Rider University Presidential Scholarship

Mary Katherine Naydan Dickinson College Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Arcadia University Invitation to First Year Study Abroad Experience Arcadia University Invitation to Honors Program Arcadia University President’s Full Tuition Scholarship Bucknell University Bucknell Scholarship Bucknell University Dean’s Scholarship Dickinson College John Dickinson Scholarship Gettysburg College Abraham Lincoln Scholarship Lafayette College Invitation to Marquis Scholars Program Lafayette College Marquis Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Fr. George Ruggieri, SJ Memorial Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Lindsey Ann Nemshick College of the Holy Cross

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit Loyola University Maryland Presidential Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship University of Scranton Invitation to Honors Program

Katie Leigh O’Brien Temple University 11


Melissa Ann Pfeifer Villanova University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program

Meghan Elizabeth O’Grady Gettysburg College

Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship Arcadia University Invitation to First Year Study Abroad Experience Arcadia University Invitation to Honors Program Dickinson College Founders Scholarship Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Gettysburg College Wills Scholarship Ursinus College Ursinus Scholarship

Ellen Marie O’Kane La Salle University

Duquesne University Academic Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship Mount St. Mary’s University Dean’s Scholarship St. John’s University Academic Achievement Award

Julia Louise Pacitti Drexel University

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Dragon Alumni Scholarship Drexel University Legacy Scholarship Drexel University Summer Institute Award

Mary Katherine Pascali University of Pittsburgh

Duquesne University Academic Scholarship University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship

Colleen Margaret Patterson La Salle University

Gwynedd-Mercy College Catholic School Tuition Award Gwynedd-Mercy College Invitation to Honors Program Gwynedd-Mercy College Mother Mary Bernard Scholarship Holy Family University Presidential Merit Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship York College Dean’s Academic Scholarship

Corynne Victoria Peters New York University Finalist, National Achievement Program

Emerson College Dean’s Scholarship New York University Tisch Eckhouse Scholarship New York University Tisch Provost’s Grant New York University Tisch School of the Arts Scholarship Pace University Honors Scholarship Pace University Opportunity Scholarship Temple University Scholar Award

Allison Marie Peterson Dickinson College 12

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Georgetown University GU Scholarship La Salle University Full-Tuition Christian Brothers Scholarship La Salle University Invitation to Honors Program University of Pennsylvania Invitation to Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program University of Pennsylvania Invitation to Nursing Undergraduate Honors Program University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship University of Scranton Full Tuition Scholarship University of Scranton Invitation to Honors Program Villanova University Invitation to Honors Program Villanova University Villanova Scholarship

Emily Anne Phillips Villanova University

Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship Arcadia University Invitation to First Year Study Abroad Experience Arcadia University Invitation to Honors Program Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Drexel University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship Ursinus College Ursinus Scholarship Villanova University Villanova Commuting Scholarship

Allison G. Potestio Gettysburg College Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Dickinson College John Dickinson Scholarship Gettysburg College Presidential Scholarship

Margaret Elizabeth Prendergast University of Maryland

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College George Washington University Invitation to Honors Program George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science Scholarship University of Maryland Banneker/Key Scholarship University of Maryland Benjamin T. Rome Scholarship University of Maryland Invitation to Honors Program Pennsylvania State University Academic Excellence Scholarship Pennsylvania State University Invitation to Schreyer Honors College University of Pittsburgh Engineering Honors Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Invitation to Honors Program University of Pittsburgh University Scholar National Merit Siemens Scholarship for the University of Pittsburgh University of Vermont Invitation to Honors Program University of Vermont Presidential Scholarship

Jaclyn Ann Primavera University of Pittsburgh

Loyola University of Chicago, Loyola Scholarship MA College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Academic Achievement Award MA College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Dean’s Achievement Award University of Pittsburgh University Scholar

Anne Kathryn Pugh Pennsylvania State University


Mary Catherine Radomski Temple University

Chestnut Hill College Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship

Elizabeth Jean Rafferty University of Delaware

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship SUNY Stony Brook University Scholarship University of Delaware, Delaware Scholar University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor’s Scholarship

Melissa Ann Renzi University of Pittsburgh

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Maura Elizabeth Ricci Villanova University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship Villanova University Villanova Scholarship

Stephanie Renae Rivero Lehigh University Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Cabrini College President’s Scholarship Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Lehigh University Dean’s Scholarship Lehigh University Invitation into Integrated Business & Engineering Honors Program National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) Scholar University of Arizona Invitation to Honor Program University of Arizona National Hispanic Scholars Award University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship

Sarah Camille Rocco Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD Artistic Honors Scholarship

Jackelyn Elizabeth Rockwood University of Pittsburgh

Temple University Invitation to Honors Program Temple University Scholar Award University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship

Gabrielle Rounbehler James Madison University

Fairfield University Supplemental Grant Moravian College Trustee Scholarship Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Scholarship

Alyse Rebecca Runowski University of Pittsburgh

Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Drexel University Endowed Grant Drexel University Legacy Scholarship Eagle One FCU Charles R. Nuss, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship

Margaret Anne Rush Georgetown University

Drexel University Anthony J. Drexel Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Legacy Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Angela Lynn Saponaro Pennsylvania State University

Chestnut Hill College Scholarship George Washington University Presidential Academic Scholarship University of Delaware Leadership Scholarship

Anneliese Marie Scheck Boston University

Boston University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Dragon Alumni Scholarship Drexel University Invitation to Pennoni Honors College Eugene Lang The New School Dean’s Scholarship Eugene Lang The New School Lange College Scholarship Pratt Institute Presidential Merit Scholarship

Anna Elizabeth Schultz Saint Joseph’s University

La Salle University Founders Scholarship Pace University Trustee Recognition Award Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University, University Scholarship St. John’s University Academic Achievement Award Temple University Scholar Award

Jenna Colleen Seybert Lafayette College Kathleen Sharaf La Salle University

La Salle University Founders Scholarship

Kirk Elizabeth Shields Pennsylvania State University

Tulane University Academic Merit Scholarship University of Alabama Collegiate Scholar Scholarship

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Denise Siedlecki University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

MA College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Scholarship University of Pittsburgh Merit-Based Scholarship

Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship

Nicole Siedlecki Pennsylvania State University

Leigh Anne Tiffany Saint Joseph’s University

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Pennsylvania State University General Scholarship Temple University Scholar Award

Danielle Bridget Skowronek Syracuse University

Ithaca College Carl Sgrecci Scholarship Ithaca College Leadership in Business Award

Lilly Katrina Small Saint Mary’s College

Saint Mary’s College Saint Mary’s Bertrand Award

Stephanie Marguerite Smith Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University Full Tuition Athletic Scholarship

Valerie Anne Smith Western New England College

Albany Scholarship University of Rhode Island University Scholarship University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship Western New England College Provost’s Scholar Award Albany College of Pharmacy Trustee Pharmacy Scholarship Albany College of Pharmacy Trustee Scholarship

Lauren Marie Subers Drexel University

Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Drexel University Dragon Alumni Scholarship Drexel University Early FAFSA Award Drexel University Legacy Scholarship Drexel University Summer Institute Award LIM College Academic Achievement Scholarship Marist College Alumni Scholarship

Alexandra Bradley Sullivan Denison University

Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarship

Moira Eliza Sweeney La Salle University

Gwynedd-Mercy College Mother Mary Bernard Scholarship La Salle University Founders Scholarship

Natalie Ann Tacka Lehigh University

Lehigh University Athletic Scholarship

Elise Noel Taylor University of Pennsylvania Commended Student, National Merit Scholarship Program Calvin College Calvin Trustee Scholarship Calvin College Heart and Mind Scholarship Messiah College Full-Tuition Trustee’s Scholarship Messiah College Provost Scholarship Wheaton College President’s Award

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Molly Elizabeth Tenzinger Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University Barbelin Grant Saint Joseph’s University Invitation to Honors Program Saint Joseph’s University Presidential Scholarship Saint Joseph’s University Provost Award Temple University Invitation to Honors Program Temple University Scholar Award University of Delaware Invitation to Honors Program University of Delaware Leadership Scholarship

Erin Christine Walsh Syracuse University

University of Scranton Loyola Scholarship

Meghan Marie Weiser Fairfield University Stephanie Patricia Wells Columbia University Keira Campbell Wingert Drexel University

Delaware College of Art and Design Merit Award Drexel University Dean’s Scholarship Maryland Institute College of Art Academic Achievement Award

Allison Leigh Wolper University of Pittsburgh

Elizabethtown College Provost’s Scholarship University of Rhode Island Centennial Scholarship University of Scranton Dean’s Scholarship

Hillary Reddington Yeabsley Fairfield University

Fairfield University Bellarmine Scholarship University of Vermont Presidential Scholarship

Catherine Quinn Zakrzewski Northwestern University

Catholic University of America Alumni Scholarship Catholic University of America Invitation to Honors Program Catholic University of America Parish Scholarship Catholic University of America Scholarship Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship Fordham University Invitation to Honors Program University of Chicago University Scholarship University of Maryland College Invitation to Park Scholars Program University of Maryland President’s Scholarship

Shannon Joanne Zoldy Lafayette College


Medal Recipient Peter DePaul

for Distinguished Service to Mount Saint Joseph Academy

E

Happenings

Fournier

ach year at graduation, the Mount presents an award to an individual who has shown great commitment to the Academy. Named for the foundress of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, the Mother Saint John Fournier Award recognizes those members of our community who have distinguished themselves through their service to the school. This year’s recipient, Peter DePaul, a past parent and current grandparent, is a recognized leader in the Philadelphia area and has been a loyal supporter of the Mount for almost 40 years. His company, Tony DePaul and Sons, were instrumental in the reconstruction of the Mount’s parking lot project last year. Peter and his wife, Nevis, are members of the Purple and Gold Club and were generous supporters of the Foundation for the Future Campaign. We are grateful to Peter’s steadfast commitment to Mount Saint Joseph Academy.

Thank You, Mount!

leen, Dear Sister Kath rtunity you k you for the oppo Saint Joseph an th to g itin wr I am Mount sult of attending gave me as a re the Mount allowed at ed rn lea I ills sk e Th y. em ad Ac with a competitive idener University for me to enter W granted me numerous s advantage that ha ost recent opportunity was being m y M s. ie r University opportunit esident of Widene past February. Pr as ed at ur ug is ina ent Association th ion Student Governm rgraduate populat . de un e th of ice vo ge e en th all as ch ing ing rv Se excit ore has been an as only a sophom success to the foundation I y Yet, I feel I owe m time at the Mount. The Mount y m g rin du received values to seek use my personal to w ho e m ht ug ta t. I learned how ately achievemen passion and ultim ef fectively through the vigorous e to manage my tim intensity of student activities. e th d an d course loa yself a Mountie. e proud to call m or m be t no uld I co d skills the Mount the knowledge an Thank you for all e. has instilled in m Sincerely,

9 Rachel L. Weller ’0

Golden Jubilee

for Sister Gerry!

Congratulations to Sister Gerry Sadowy, SSJ, who celebrates her 50th Anniversary as a Sister of Saint Joseph this year! Sister Gerry was recognized at our year-end assembly. Pictured with Sister Gerry is Dr. Judith Caviston, Principal of MSJA. Her tribute video is available on our website at www.msjacad.org.

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Memory Maker from MSJA By Kelley Osborne Faust ’87

TT

ina (Keane) Krinsky ’72 is a memory maker. She is constantly creating memories through her creativity, her travel and, most significantly, through the lives of her students. For the past 34 years, Tina and her husband, Julian

Becoming a Visionary Tina is a visionary and one who follows through on those dreams. Having always valued the importance of education, Tina’s parents had the foresight to send her to the Mount.

Photo 1) Tina with Comcast Sportsnet Host Michael Barkann, left, and Hilarie Morgan Photo 2) Tina & Julian Photo 3) Tina, Julian & James Taylor Photo 4)

Krinsky, have been inspiring tweens and teens from around the world with their Philadelphia-based summer programs. Their mission is simple: “If you can dream it, we can create it. Creating citizens of the world through exceptional experiences.” And, creating is exactly what they have done! What began as a local tennis camp in Julian’s backyard has grown into Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs, an internationally known, industryleading summer experience that today boasts over 20 programs drawing 5,000 students each summer from over 35 states and 40 countries. “We’re sharing Philadelphia with students from China, Spain and Brazil - truly creating globally minded, wellrounded citizens of the world,” says Tina. Tina and Julian’s inboxes and Facebook pages are filled with letters, photos and stories from parents, students and alumni from every corner of the world, who thank them for the impact they have made.

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Even though she was the first student to ever attend from St. Bridget’s and she didn’t know anyone, her parents knew she would flourish. Taking this big leap allowed her to take other big leaps for the rest of her life. “People can take almost everything away from you, but they can’t take your education,” says Tina, “and my parents knew that.” While at the Mount, Tina loved the diversity, the friendships she made, and the memories she created. One of her fondest memories was in her first-year French class with Sister Claire Helene. Being an engaged, dynamic and passionate teacher, Sister Claire Helene would walk up and down the aisles of the classroom pointing to a student’s nose as the class would respond “le nez”, then to a face with “le visage”. When Sister Claire Helene came to Tina she touched her hair. However, instead of the standard “cheveux” response, she was stopped in her tracks when Tina’s Cher-inspired fall hairpiece came right off her head! While Sister Claire Helene was stunned, the class laughed as many were also sporting their own classic 70’s hairpiece.


After the Mount, Tina attended Moore College of Art where painting became a passion. Upon graduation, she began working at a family-run ad agency on Delancey Street. While she loved her job, Tina, never being one to settle, quickly realized it would take 10-12 years to get promoted to the “top floor.” Instead, she discovered King of Prussia (with its soonto-be mall) and decided to invest in her own agency, Studio Five, in the up-and-coming area. As they say on the tennis courts: “Love All”... While Tina was off to a successful start, so was South African Julian Krinsky. After competing at Wimbledon and the French and Italian Opens, Julian arrived in Philadelphia with a law degree and a designation as a chartered accountant. Julian was busy scouring the books for a Norristown company when Tina took on that business as a client. Months later, Julian’s passion for tennis was drawing him back to the court and he began the Julian Krinsky School of Tennis. As the two had stayed in touch, Tina offered to do the marketing for Julian’s rapidly growing tennis program, which was then also branching into golf and business classes. After working together, they later realized that perhaps, this was a little bit more than a typical client-vendor relationship. Citizen of the World “Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” -Albert Einstein To say that Tina enjoys travel is an understatement. Tina’s world

tennis circuit have helped their business reach all corners of the globe. “We’re always ‘working’ but we are fortunate, as few get to do what they love,” says Tina. “We are constantly bumping into people who tell us that we enriched their children’s lives and that they share that message with others.”

Profiles of Happenings Hope

“I am grateful to the Mount for so many things. I thrived in the environment of structure and discipline while receiving nurturing guidance,” says Tina. “It also opened my eyes that there was a world well beyond the zip code into which I was born.”

California Dreaming For three months every winter, one can find the Krinskys recharging in San Diego, California. As the new digital world allows them to work from anywhere, why not enjoy the best weather you can find in the U.S.? For Tina, the sea and sunshine work as fabulous organic stimulants. With the business being seasonal, it’s the right time of year to work remotely. The focus is on marketing from September to January, selling from February to June and creating memorable experiences in June, July and August.

Keep On Learning... Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs continually adjusts to the ever-changing generational needs of students while “meeting students where they are”. As the Chief Visionary Officer, Tina is always reading, asking questions, networking and learning. She has truly become an expert in the tween and teen industry. “I analyze information about this generation and then forecast what our students will want one, three and five years from now,” says Tina. As students are discovering their skills and passions at an earlier age, JKCP is realizing the influence their programs have on their students’ future college and career goals and decisions. Tina and Julian have been passionate, prescient and tireless in the pursuit of these goals, while allowing their programs to evolve with the needs of the students.

Tina & Andre Agassi Photo 5) Tina and tennis player Tracy Austin Photo 6) Students walking through Penn’s Campus Photo 7) Internship students on Penn’s Campus

citizenship status began at the Mount, at the age of 16, when she traveled for a month with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia starting in England and ending in Greece. Since that formative experience, Tina’s passport book has obtained stamps from every continent. Today, Tina and Julian enjoy the ability to intertwine business with pleasure. From a business trip to Shanghai to a vacation in Italy, there are always opportunities to share their programs with the people they meet. They do this all while maintaining a work-play life balance. Tina is recharged and inspired by traveling. “Some things you just can’t read – you need to experience them,” she says. Case in point, she just returned from the French Open in June. “We saw the Federer vs. Djokovic match in person. It will go down in history of one of the greatest matches of all time and I was fortunate to be there,” said Tina. “Seeing it on TV is great; but, experiencing it in person is so heightened.” An enjoyable trip to the French Open also has its business opportunities. Julian’s valuable relationships on the international

“I am always interested, however, my experiences make me interesting,” states Tina. The world is her classroom and she learns from each experience. “When I lose, I go out of my way to not lose the lesson,” says Tina. Tina is a member of several professional organizations that enhance her learning including Les Dames Escoffier. “Being nominated for membership by other female chefs is quite an honor,” she explains. “Being a part of a worldwide society of other female chefs is a fascinating network. I have learned so much from them that I am able to share with our culinary arts students.” I have learned life lessons from this Mount Grad, class of ’72, and so have thousands of other fortunate individuals. In our conversation, Tina and I reflected on how each Mount grad really has the power to do amazing things with their life and give Continued on page 30

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She Makes It Look So Easy One Mountie’s Foray into the World of Fashion By Madeline Sasso ’07

II

nstead of earning a more typical college degree in some area of business, liberal arts, or science, I entered college knowing that my passion was the fashion industry. I had always enjoyed art classes with Ms. Rossi and S. Cathie, and while a little part of me shuddered at the fact that I would never study Shakespeare to the extent I did with Mrs. DeStefano or that I would never again know the feeling of accomplishment after getting a 98 on a math test for a unit that I had such trouble understanding, I pretty much knew that nothing would satisfy me in my career if it were not related to fashion.

Mount on my college career. It was not until my senior year at Marist while I was enrolled in Senior Collections, one of two Fashion Design “Capping” courses, that I fully appreciated the lessons the Mount taught me.

This decision led me to choose Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. I chose Marist because I wanted the strongest possible combination of a fashion program and traditional liberal arts education outside of Philadelphia. The most common response when I told people of my decision was “Ohhh…and where is Marist?” While I was comfortable ignoring these reactions at the time, I can’t say that they didn’t come back to gnaw at me as I faced the most emotionally challenging year of my life. Since my high school education overqualified me for the liberal arts program at Marist and the Mount certainly did not prepare me for the types of course-specific material covered in my fashion design classes, I often questioned the effect of the

18

© 2011 vinepod.com, photo by Timothy Maggio

While every Collections class, in which each designer creates a sixlook collection from start to finish over the course of one year, is known for being extremely grueling and intense (think Project Runway, and then some), my year’s class was even more so, as we had two new teachers from the fashion industry who pushed each student to go far beyond what we thought we were capable of. The professors established new rules and set the highest standards. The schedule also included overlapping projects within the same time period as Collections, so that at any given point we were working on multiple garments, all in different stages of production. As if the overwhelming workload was not enough, the professors were extremely critical of our work, an aspect of their teaching style to which I now give much respect, but at the time, I found very difficult to deal with. Almost immediately, Collections took complete control over my life. The pressure of the extreme workload as well as the fact that three of the 22 fashion design seniors had to drop the course (one switched majors, the other two were told to repeat their


Alumnae Happenings Spotlight

senior year), while another three at any other point were failing, caused me such anxiety that most of my time was spent hyperventilating in my room, having severe panic attacks, and practically running to and from each of my five classes because in order to get my work done for each deadline, my day was measured in seconds. In fact, the pressure was such that there was never a point I was not thinking about that class. There were many occasions in my honors Ethics class, a core requirement, when I couldn’t stop thinking about the work that I could have been doing in the design studio instead of reading through Plato’s The Republic that I would find tears running down my cheeks mid-discussion. Another instance, in which I fell going up the steps to my thirdfloor bedroom, caused me such distress for losing the two minutes it took me to get back up and clean up the glass of water that I spilled, that I completely broke down. I had nightmares that I missed a deadline and would wake up not to my alarm clock but to the panic that during the 15 hours a day I would work on Collections, something would go horribly wrong and set me back a whole day.

shaped the woman I was. I began looking at the positive points in my college career. Instead of focusing on the fact that after every deadline, I was called out for my lack of finishing abilities (after every deadline, the same comment), I focused on the fact that I was one of the few students who always met the deadline, something that I completely owe to the time management skills I acquired at the Mount. Because I went to the Mount, I knew how to balance a heavy workload and, while nothing could prepare me for the intense emotional struggle of working so intensely in such a creative and subjective area, I knew how to set goals for myself and stick to them. The Mount also taught me about professionalism and respect. Although there were times when I wanted nothing more than to say what was really on my mind, to explain that I worked so hard on an assignment and wanted more credit than an unexplained C+ on my grading rubric, I knew that I would be able to learn so much more if I put my ego to the side and listened to the advice that my professors were trying to give me.

By October, the pressure was in full force. May 5th, the day of our fashion show, seemed so far away, I hit rock bottom. I had lost all confidence, found myself alienating my friends, and was unable to do anything but burst into tears when I would call home. My senior year of college, which was supposed to be “the best year of my life,” was so emotionally draining that I did not know how I would survive.

Because of this reflection on how the Mount greatly prepared me for anything I wanted to accomplish despite the fact that it never taught me the quickest way to sew thousands of sequins onto a single garment, or successfully sew a baby hem, I was able to put aside all of my negative feelings and focus on the work. By the end of my senior year in Collections, I had created a six-look, ten piece collection that I was proud of, established a great relationship with my professors, won the top award for “Outstanding Senior Collection,” and earned an A in a class where that once seemed impossible. Although my senior year at Marist was the most difficult year of my life, I was able to walk down the runway at the end of my fashion show with the confidence that I had once lost after leaving the Mount.

At that point, I started thinking back to my time at the Mount. The Mount taught me so much about myself that I left high school feeling like I could accomplish anything. How could I have reverted so far back that I struggled with the idea of finishing a fashion design major? I then remembered one of the speeches that then Principal S. Karen Dietrich gave where she referenced a line from Corinna, Corinna, in which Whoopie Goldberg’s character motivates the shy and withdrawn Molly by encouraging her to state, “I am Molly Singer and there is no one in the world better than me.” I remember S. Karen explaining this statement; Molly was not saying that she was better than anyone else, but that no one was better than she. Although I was unable to fully understand this reference then, reflecting on it greatly helped me get through my senior year of college. How could I have let myself think that I was not able to accomplish something that I was so passionate about or that I wanted so badly? Thinking about this quote also caused me to reflect on the other ways in which the Mount

ot od.com, All ph © 2011 vinep gio ag M hy Timot

os by

Maddy Sasso, ’07, seen on opposite page, was recently awarded the top award for “Outstanding Senior Collection” at Marist College’s 25th Annual Silver Needle Fashion Show. Maddy’s inspiration was Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens on South Street in Philadelphia, and contained original prints she designed based on his work, as well as over five thousand sequins hand punched from soda cans, plastic water bottles and other found objects. The Fashion Show was attended by over 2,100, and was judged independently by top names in the fashion industry. Maddy is currently looking for fashion positions within the Philadelphia and New York area.

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Steps Well-Earned in This

March March By Beth Leary Hegedus ’70 Article was originally published in the The Times Herald Tuesday, February 22, 2011

II

n March 1995, How the Irish Saved Civilization appeared on The New York Times BestSeller List and stayed there for two years. This witty and oftentimes irreverent book by noted author Thomas Cahill shared what he always thought — that the Irish helped with the preservation of the Western world — with his tongue firmly implanted in his cheek. While the Irish may have been instrumental in saving history from their island home, they were also involved in spreading their own culture as is evidenced in 2006 when the U.S. Census Bureau said that 34.5 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry.

Mount Alumna Kathy McGee Burns ’55, President of the 2011

organization to oversee this very large and detailed responsibility. This mother of nine is no stranger to taking on projects that most would never attempt. “I grew up with a father who told me I could do and be anything I wanted,” noted this Lafayette Hill resident. Attending one of the best Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia area — Mount St. Joseph Academy — Burns was molded at a young age to take part in life through graciousness, manners, discipline and a faith in God.

In high school, her interests Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Philadelphia’s population of were sports and boys, and approximately 1.4 million certainly her grades enabled her to vacation at her beloved Ocean City, includes its fair share of Irish men, women and children. N.J., every summer. There are signs all around the city that showcase Irish restaurants and monuments. And since 1771, Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day Back in the day, having children and a family usually meant Parade (www.PhiladelphiaStPatsParade.com) has celebrated that mother didn’t go off to school — but not for Burns. In Irish culture and faith. It is a march down the Ben Franklin Parkway 1968, she attended Montgomery County Community College and Broad Street that highlights pride and patriotism, honors in Conshohocken (at the site of the old Conshohocken High military service and remembers the political struggles in Ireland. School) and eight years later received her associate degree. This year, heading up the St. Patrick’s Day Parade presidency Her next goal was to attend a four-year college, so she enrolled is Montgomery County’s Kathy McGee Burns, a woman who is at Chestnut Hill College and graduated with an honors history the embodiment of Irish pluck, persistence and professionalism. and magna cum laude degree in 1986, a few days short of her She is only the second woman in the history of the parade 50th birthday.

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After she found out her ancestors were from County Donegal, her next stop was the Irish Center on Carpenter Lane in

Burns is a very active alumna of her high school and college and serves on numerous boards and organizations, some of which include president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame; Chestnut Hill College, By-Laws and Nominating Committee; Board of Directors of The Irish Memorial, St. Malachy School, The Brehon Society, and the Irish Society of Philadelphia. It takes hundreds of people to successfully pull off the St. Patrick’s Day Parade that starts with a Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, which is attended by hundreds of activists, electeds and parade marchers. The parade ends with the last Irish dancing group being judged.

Happenings St. Patrick’s day Parade

Not content with having a bachelor’s degree, she applied and was accepted to Temple University Law School. She attended for two years before deciding a law career wasn’t what she had envisioned. In 1989, she turned her business acumen into a real estate career at Prudential/Fox and Roach in Blue Bell. While she has been extremely successful in her professional life, she always had this nagging question about her Irish roots. It wasn’t until her father spoke about them on his deathbed that she really wanted to know more about the McGees. Her father told her she was related to the “McGees in Bridgeport,” which sent her on a mission to find out where she was from “… in the old sod.”

The Ring of Honor, from left, are Liz Kerr. Judge Kelly Wall, Sister Kathleen Brabson SSJ, Sister Christin McCann, Denise Foley, Bernadette Brown, Eileen Lavin, and Judge Pamela Dembe. Photo Courtesy of IrishPhiladelphia.com.

Germantown. In 1993, she joined the Donegal Society, and within 10 years, she became the second woman president. Because of her passion in her Irish ancestry and activism in the Donegal Society, she would represent the Donegal Society at meetings to discuss the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A few years ago, someone asked for her resume and she became a board member of this association, and last year she became president. Being president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Society carries an incredible responsibility with details, networking and making sure all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. But being president also entitles you to have a “Ring of Honor,” to acknowledge those who have done things to help keep alive and promote the Irish traditions. “I have selected eight women whom I deeply admire and respect, most notably Sr. Kathleen Brabson, president of the Mount, and my daughter, the newly-elected Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas judge, Kelly Wall.” The “ring” membership also includes Sr. Christine McCann, president, Mercy Order; Denise Foley, editor, IrishPhiladelphia.com; The Honorable Pamela Dembe, president judge, City of Philadelphia; Liz Kerr, cofounder, Ladies of the AOH, Div. 25, and Eileen Lavin, founder of Tara Gael Adult Irish Dancers.

And speaking of judges, the parade gives various awards to different participants. For example, they have the Honorable James H.J. Tate Award (named for Philadelphia Mayor Tate) that is given to the group that best exemplifies the Spirit of the Parade. Despite all the accolades and honors, Burns is quick to point out that her husband, Michael, a successful construction businessperson, has been the “wind beneath my wings,” and she is very proud of all her children, each of whom is a success in their own right. For those who have never seen the St. Patrick’s Day Parade up close and personal, it is an experience never to be forgotten as this parade goes back to pre-Revolutionary War times. And it is a day for the “Wearin’ o’ the Green,” when everyone is Irish. [Be sure and get to Philadelphia by noon March 13] to see Kathy McGee Burns, her family from Ireland, her friends, hundreds of Irish dancers and loyal members of different organizations, who all come together for one day to celebrate the luck of the Irish — something Kathy McGee Burns was born with. Beth Leary Hegedus ‘70 has been a freelance writer since 1978 and recently has been a grassroots communications liaison for the Republican National Committee. 21


Once a Mountie, Always a Mountie The Altruistic Habits of a Mountie Will Always be with Us By Jackie Nucero ’09

EE

ver since I graduated from the Mount two years ago, my Mount “habits” are still part of my every day. Only true Mounties can completely comprehend the impact of Mount “habits” which include: rolling out of bed, brushing your teeth, throwing on your kilt, tights, blouse, sweater, and the infamous loafers without even considering what your hair, complexion or wrinkly clothes look like. Mounties have a tendency of sitting on floors in hallways and being used to having personal and wonderful conversations with administration and faculty. I still crave a pretzel every day for “snack.” Furthermore, I am guilty of beginning every written assignment with an MLA heading. But most importantly, the habit of gathering together during and after school to think of others through actions of community service is instilled in every Mountie. The Mount taught me many things in all of my AP and honor classes. However, the uniqueness of being a Mountie is seeing with the heart and how to respond to the needs of humanity through service. This was instilled in us from our first day freshman year. It was to look deeper and to know you had the gifts and the ability to respond. I am currently a sophomore at Fairfield University. Fairfield is a Jesuit University that focuses much on service. However,

22

being in college at a University with one grade equaling the number of total students at Mount makes it very easy to get “lost in the crowd.” In order to continue the service I did in high school, I had to be independent and proactive. Although this assertiveness is hard for some students, I found it natural for me to look for every opportunity here at Fairfield. Mount taught me so much about the beauty of serving others that I find it only part of my human nature to search for ways to help the dear neighbor. At Mount, I had weekly opportunities to go to St. Francis Inn Soup Kitchen and La Salle Academy, as well as an amazing opportunity to go on a service trip to Mississippi. Not to mention I enjoyed my experiences at the Urban Challenge in Camden, New Jersey, and the annual retreats and leadership positions. My most defining moment at Mount was the founding of Project S.E.W. The foundation of a project to save lives internationally changed my heart. Girls like myself who needed food, water, and an education. What can I give? It isn’t what can I, myself, give. It is what can we do together? The original founders of Project S.E.W. will always be in my heart and the satisfaction I gained


I yearned to continue community service after high school graduation. When I first arrived at Fairfield, I became a member of the Community Service Alliance. I signed up to tutor children once a week in the neighboring city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. This experience reminded me of La Salle Academy. Although I was involved in community service weekly, I felt as though something were missing. I missed Project S.E.W. I am passionate about this project and have been touched by those we have reached and helped. I noticed this feeling the middle of my freshman year. Therefore, I did what Mount always taught me to do: I followed my heart. I spent a full year filling out paperwork, writing constitutions and gaining support for the adoption of Project S.E.W. as an official club on Fairfield’s campus. With the help of my two best friends, Caitlin and Rebecca, we were able to found a charter of Project S.E.W. on the Fairfield Campus and hold fundraisers for the cause. I am ecstatic and blessed to say that Project S.E.W. is an official club on Fairfield’s campus and has reached campus-wide attention on numerous fundraising occasions. We held one of

Community Happenings Service

from being one of the founders opened my mind and heart to new realms of service and leadership.

our fundraisers at a women’s basketball game. Our club was announced on the score board. Families and students gathered around our table to buy bracelets we braided and made generous donations to the cause. This fundraiser reminded me so much of the Café Night held in my senior year at Mount. I am away in a new state and a new school; however, Mount will always be my roots.

Sisterhood is instilled in every Mountie. The power of a group of women is magnificent. I have seen this true power through Caitlin and Rebecca here at Fairfield. We formed a sisterhood and through that sisterhood made a difference on campus and those we are touching in Senegal, Africa. Most importantly, I use the lessons of love of people and self that I was taught from Mount in my every day. I owe my passion for helping others to my Mount education and to believe in the power of a formation of women into a sisterhood. Sisters are empowering women. Mount taught me that service is not just about helping others, but rather a mutual gift as both giver and receiver. I have most definitely been the receiver to recognize the needs and the beauty of humanity. This is the passion that moves me forward.

Mississippi Service Trip The students and faculty who participated in this year’s Mississippi Service Trip over Easter break are (seated, left to right): Nicole Mischler ’13, Giana Mandel ’11, Amelia Alameno ’12. Standing, left to right are: Sister Joannie Cassidy, SSJ, Director of Campus Ministry, Maddie Good ’13, Elizabeth Marley ’12, Olivia Scanlon ’12, Dana Zielinski ’12, Mackenzie Kelley ’11, Lexie Meister ’13, Casey Schu ’13, Julianne Looby ’11, and Mrs. Lydia Stieber, MSJA Faculty Member.

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Empowerment High

All-girls school’s the place to be for self-discovery By Aubrey Whelan ’07

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This essay appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s special section First Take on March 16, 2011

ne of my friends informed me this weekend that she, like me, is a member of a dying breed, that rare tribe of women who went to all-girls high schools. Naturally, I did what I always do when I meet one of my sisters-in-arms: I screamed a little and spent the next 10 minutes gushing about how great it is to spend your formative years surrounded by the fairer sex. I think I might have freaked her out a little bit. I never really had to defend the merits of same-sex education until I ended up at Penn State, where, upon mentioning my high school experience, people looked at me like I’d just escaped from a nunnery. I’ve heard everything from “Didn’t you go crazy without any boys around?” to “So, did you all, like, turn into lesbians?” In 2011, being a graduate of an all-girls school marks you as something very curious and archaic, a relic of a bygone age. Some of that’s valid. Wearing penny loafers every day and memorizing your school’s Latin motto and getting your knee socks in a knot over the annual Mass that accompanies the anniversary of your school’s founding is, admittedly, kind of weird. But if I ever have a daughter, I’m dressing her in plaid and shipping her to the nearest same-sex educational facility, because going to an all-girls school is the reason I am the woman I am today. I went to an all-girls prep school not because I wanted to forgo male companionship for four years, but because I was the kind of insufferable teenager who got real joy out of Learning Valuable Things, and my particular high school had a stellar academic reputation. It made sense: When everyone wears the same outfit to school every day and there are no boys to fight over, the only thing you can do is engage in fiendish competition over your grade-point average. What I did learn in high school, though, went beyond the causes of the First World War and the boiling point of ethanol (both of which I have since forgotten). No, the most valuable lessons I took from high school were things you can’t learn in a classroomlike sisterhood and loyalty and taking care of one another and sticking it to the man (or, in our case, the adolescent).

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As legions of Lifetime movies have taught us, teenage girls can be vicious. They are, by definition, cruel and vindictive and judgmental and, like everyone everywhere, very, very insecure. Going to an all-girls high school doesn’t eliminate that insecurity, but it eliminates distractions. You don’t worry about your hair or your makeup or how short your uniform skirt is because Hot Boy isn’t around to be impressed by it. And in the meantime, you form what I can only describe as a sisterly bond with your classmates - you realize that, in the immortal words of High School Musical, you’re all in this together. That’s not to say I spent my lunch hours discussing feminist theory. None of us really acknowledged how valuable it was to grow up in a place where young women were running the newspaper and the student government and beating the boys at robotics competitions. But when you’re pushed and pulled in a million different directions by a world that urges you to be skinny and sexy and vapid - and where undergraduate college guys refer to women as “frat-mattresses” - spending your school days surrounded by a couple of hundred brilliant and complicated and uncompromising girls makes all the difference in the world. In the end, moving from a school of 500 girls to a campus of 40,000 undergraduates was much easier than I expected it to be. Going to an all-girls school isn’t about hiding from a maledominated world, but about recognizing that you can claim a place in it. And being in class with boys for the first time in four years was, frankly, kind of fun - after all, it’s not like high school turned me into a man-eating she-wolf. What it did turn me into was a young woman who knows that the only person I ever really need to impress is myself. I can thank the girls for that.

Aubrey Whelan wrote this while in her senior year at Penn State where she majored in journalism and French. After graduation, she will be reporting at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. You can reach her at aubrey.j.whelan@gmail.com.


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Happenings


Congratulation

    26

100% College Place 132 seniors offered 20 seniors recognize 48 seniors invited to


Happenings

ns, Class of 2011!

ement 454 scholarships totalling over $18,097,926 ed by the National Merit Corporation o join 101 honors programs 27


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Ring Liturgy

Happenings

Junior

Ring Liturgy Reflection by Brittany McDermott ’12 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that all may be one.”

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hree years ago, a group of unique, smart, and talented girls chose to become a part of the sisterhood of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. In the beginning, we approached warily, unsure of what lie ahead, but in time, we found our place and embraced the true spirit of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Our journey began the same year as the Mount’s 150th anniversary, and from the start, we were inspired to “leave a legacy,” to make our mark on society. We, the class of 2012, have embraced what it means to be a Mountie: striving for excellence, serving the dear neighbor, and upholding the mission of unity and reconciliation. In the process, we have grown as individuals and as a class working towards living these ideals. Over the past three years, with the help of our parents, teachers, and mentors, we have been transformed from timid freshmen to future leaders of our school and our society. The love and support we have received has shaped us into confident, ambitious, and caring young women, who are committed to changing the world for the better. The young women who sit before me are incredibly talented both inside and outside the classroom. I am honored to be a part of such a dynamic and diverse group. There is no limit to what we can achieve. Tonight, the rings we receive unite us as a class, but also celebrate our individuality. Whether you were here from day one or were recently welcomed into the circle of this class, each plays an important role in the character of our class. As the class of 2012, we come together like puzzle pieces- each piece unique and irreplaceable, but holds significant value to the big picture. Likewise, each ring ranges in color, style, and design - personalized to match the girl who wears it, but the purple stone and the Mount emblem remain the same. These rings symbolize the unity of the class of 2012, as reminders of the sisterhood and the experiences we have shared during

our high school years. From our Charity Day trivia success as freshmen to one of our own scoring the game-winning shot in the basketball championship this year, these experiences united us as a student body and will forever be a part of our lives. As future Alumnae, we will look at these rings to remember our time together and realize that we will always have a piece of the Mount with us. The rings also symbolize God’s continuous presence in our lives. Like the circle of the ring, God’s love is never-ending, and we are called to share this love with others. Similarly, the Mount’s mission calls us to make a difference in the world. Our time here at the Mount has helped us to understand our role and seek God’s guidance as we develop a deeper relationship with Him. We pray for strength to become instruments for global change and servants to the dear neighbor beginning with one another. As members of the Mount community, we have a responsibility to continue the legacy of service and leadership for years to come. We are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are members of a faith community that, along with God, the eternal unifier, has shaped the path of our lives. Someday when we look at these rings, we will remember this community: the friendships we have made, the experiences we have had, and the ups and downs of the past three years. Let us also remember to lead and serve wherever we go and to uphold the ideals that have been instilled in us, asking ourselves --“What will our legacy be?” When we have long forgotten what we have learned from the textbooks, let us always remember the mission, memories, and moments we carry with us. From this day forward, we will wear these rings proudly because they represent our connection to this loyal sisterhood.

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Farewell Tribute to Mrs. Moore By Elyse Cox ’12

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arlier this year, Allison Peterson ’11, Moira Sweeney ’11, and I received the opportunity to produce a special film project in place of an instructional video. What began as an assignment, however, grew into a something much more meaningful. Day after day, in eighty-minute increments, we filmed Mrs. Moore’s colleagues as they thanked her for her work at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. With each declaration of her impact on the Mount, we learned just how important Mrs. Moore has been to the school community. Mrs. Dyer spoke about what a pleasure it was to work with her. She was called a wealth of information, an advocate, a mentor, and an outstanding person. Sister William Teresa praised Mrs. Moore’s constant smile, Major Turner lauded her expertise, and Sister Kathleen wished her the best in her retirement. Moira, Allison and I discovered that when Mrs. Moore leaves the Mount after 21 years, her legacy will not be confined to the Mount. As Sister Kathleen told us, Mrs. Moore has helped the current students and the young women who came before us to “carve out their futures by being a presence to them in the guidance department.” As Mrs. Finney said, “she’s able to make each girl stretch what her individual expectations are for herself.”

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Yet one story, as told by Mrs. Finney, stood out. Mrs. Finney had been with Mrs. Moore on one of the European trips to Germany. She described how they wandered into a quaint bakery, and, wanting to try something unique, selected confections called snowballs. According to Mrs. Finney, the snowballs “were all

covered with powdered sugar. Really covered with powdered sugar.” Mrs. Finney described how, for the rest of the day, they “walked around with the obvious distinction of having been in the bakery.” As Allison, Moira, and I edited our video tribute, I realized that Mrs. Moore’s legacy is like the powdered sugar. Even after she leaves Mount Saint Joseph Academy, the school and all the students and teachers she has worked with will carry the distinction of having known Mrs. Moore. She has transcended her position to become a Mount institution, taking the lead when it came to college recommendations and helping young women shape their futures with her characteristic kindness and integrity. When we asked Mrs. Moore what her favorite Mount memory is, she described a talent show, in which one girl was playing the violin. Mrs. Moore told us how she played “amazingly well,” but didn’t play “the kind of music that many of the students would know.” Mrs. Moore said, “What sticks out in my mind the most of anything is, when she finished playing, the entire student body stood up, and gave her a standing ovation, and I thought ‘I really want to work at this place for a long time’.” Mrs. Moore has guided so many Mounties during her time at Mount Saint Joseph Academy that her legacy will always remain. On behalf of the students of the Mount, I would like to thank Mrs. Moore for the years of service and dedication to Mount Saint Joseph Academy. To view the tribute video for Mrs. Moore, please visit www. msjacad.org and click on the link.

Tina Krinsky article continued from page 17 back to those that helped them get where they are. Each of us is different, but we remain unified in the hard-working, socially responsible atmosphere of achievement we were taught early at the Mount. I am grateful to Tina that she took the time out of her busy schedule to share her experience and advice with this wonderful community. Tina was the first Keane to attend the Mount, followed 13 years later by her sister, Lisa, and now her nieces Katelyn and Natalie. About Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs is a leading creator of worldclass summer educational experiences for tweens and teens. Their programs are held in an atmosphere of fun and friendship

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at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania. They span the arts, sports, business, leadership and the sciences to provide students with stimulating opportunities for personal development and growth. They believe each student is unique. Therefore, JKCP is dedicated to maximizing individual talents, strengths and abilities. They firmly believe that we are inspiring students to be the leaders of tomorrow. Kelley Osborne Faust ‘87 runs Sunshine Hope and is committed to changing the DNA of tomorrow’s adults by teaching today’s kids about hope and possibility. Visit sunshinehope.com for more information. Email Kelley at kelley@sunshinehope.com.


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A Love Letter to Mounties By Mrs. Sandy Moore

s some of you know, I have decided to retire after spending 21 years at the Mount. I can’t leave without sharing my feelings with two decades of students. I hold all of you in high esteem. My life has been blessed by knowing you. In my experience one of the extraordinary joys in life’s journey includes the people you meet along the way. (In fact some of my closest friendships have developed from working at MSJA.) I was recently asked for a favorite memory of the Mount. The one that I shared at the time occurred in my first year. During Charity Day a student played the violin with remarkable skill. I looked around to see how the classical piece she was playing was being received. At the end of her performance the entire student body saluted her with a standing ovation. I knew then that this was a school where I felt at home.

When I came for a job interview with principal Sister Mary Dacey, the warmth of the MSJA people I met impressed me. I have witnessed many changes in my time at the Mount including class structure changing from eight short periods in a day to four longer ones (Block Scheduling), our mascot changing from the Chief to the Magic and the faculty lunchroom relocating from Fran Brett’s copy room to the Archives in the back of Fontbonne to (presently) the new wing. Modifications in the Guidance Department included instituting half hour visits by various colleges rather than plant bar “walk-by’s,” students no longer were charged for each transcript sent to college(s) and both a junior and senior book was written and distributed to juniors/seniors as a reference guide for help in the selection of colleges/universities. Initially colleges were sent a student’s application as a complete package but, with the advent of electronic applications, this no longer could happen. Of course much was transformed when Sister Mary asked me to collaborate with Mr. Junker in giving feedback on the design of the new guidance wing. For

instance, the outer curved wall was initially designed to have lighted glass. I am sure it would have been lovely but it was more important to use the area to hang college posters, scholarship announcements, open house information, and so on. More important than the bricks and mortar was the actual job of a counselor. I loved witnessing the transformation that took place among you from the beginning of your college search to the end of the admission cycle. You started the process with open minds and digested all of the information available. You took stock of your achievements, contributions and accomplishments and began to understand how those experiences translated into the larger context of your lives. It always was inspiring for me to watch you grow from awkward teenagers into confident young adults. I so respect the kindness that you gave through grace, compassion, warmth, understanding and benevolence. Your intelligence impressed me. Working with such fine young women has been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience. I deeply loved my work. We have shared a chapter or two of our lives. Actually it’s hard for me to believe that students in my first class at the Mount are now 39 years old! (Class of 1991) We have loved and laughed, played and prayed, wept and celebrated and commiserated and rejoiced---together. These gifts that have been given to me I will treasure forever in my heart. Students, you will always be the most memorable aspect of my years at the Mount. It was rewarding being a Mount counselor. It has been my extreme pleasure getting to know many of you. It’s always a special treat to reconnect with students to relive and reflect on our many shared experiences. I’ll close with words from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., “Where we live is home; home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”

Memorial Scholarship Winners The Stephanie Leonards Roman Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Angelica Pinninti ’12, in photo at left with Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, President of MSJA. This award is given to a rising senior student who has a passion for and excels in science. Mrs. Roman was a teacher at the Mount from 1997-2003. She died in 2009 after a valiant battle with breast cancer. During her time here, this gifted teacher had the ability to connect with her students and instill in them the love of learning. she brought kindness, compassion and great intellect to the classroom. Her students loved her and delighted in her joy of teaching science. The Stephanie M. Arizin ’99 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Dana Zielinski ’12 (not pictured). This scholarship is awarded to a deserving student entering her senior year who has demonstrated the characteristics of athletic and academic excellence recognized and appreciated by all who knew Stephanie Arizin. Stephanie Arizin truly exemplified the Mount scholar-athlete. Involved in a number of sports, she maintained high academic honors while participating in many areas of school life. Congratulations to both girls on your outstanding achievement.

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Champions of C a r ing

Five Students Honored for Individual Community Service Work by the Champions of Caring Foundation

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ive students from Mount Saint Joseph Academy were honored at the 16th Annual Champions of Caring Recognition Program on Friday, May 20 at Drexel University. The Champions of Caring program honored teens from throughout the Philadelphia region for their commitment to service and social justice. From left to right-Back Row: Lauren Buben ’13, Chinaka Elliot ’13, Erin Tiffany ’12. Front Row: Victoria Elliot ’11, Leigh Anne Tiffany ’11, with S. Joannie Cassidy, SSJ, Director of Campus Ministry. Champions of Caring is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to sensitizing, educating, and empowering young people to take active roles in improving their communities. The invitation to the event stated, “Join us as we celebrate inspirational teens who are making a difference locally and globally."

A Spring Concert M M

SJA’s Department of Fine Arts presented “A Spring Concert,“ on April 24th and 25th in the Fournier Auditorium. The concert featured the MSJA Orchestra and Glee Club, Sweet Madelines, Choral Class, and Handbell Choir. Under the direction of Choral Conductor Donald Holdren and Orchestra Conductor William Whitaker, the groups delighted audiences with selections from the contemporary, jazz, broadway and light classical repertoire.

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Woman R adio

Achievements

The First of

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As of May 2011, Amanda Nolan ’08 became the first woman to serve as General Manager of WLOY Loyola Radio, Loyola University Maryland’s studentrun college radio station.

n the beginning of her sophomore year of college, Amanda Nolan ’08 and her friend, Sam, decided to co-host a radio show together (DJing at WLOY is a volunteer activity and is based on an initial demo). As the year continued, she started going to more and more events, and by springtime, the staff started to recognize her as a potential future employee. WLOY hosted a huge event called “Rock for Life” – a benefit concert for Relay for Life with over 20 vendors and five bands participating. Amanda volunteered to help out at the event, demonstrating her commitment by spending over eight hours on her feet. After that, she was offered the position of Content Manager for her junior year – a job which consisted mostly of updating the website and promoting events. Says Amanda, “I made myself available to work at a lot of different events, which led to me learning a lot more about the station than other members on the staff.” With all that time spent at those events, Amanda recalls a few times when it became difficult to balance the hours at WLOY along with her class schedule, and she realized she needed to be more proficient in scheduling her own time. “Since I’m working upwards of twenty hours each week during the academic year,” says Amanda, “essentially, it’s up to me to make sure my educational workload doesn’t suffer in the process.”

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Now, as first-in-command at WLOY Loyola Radio, Amanda‘s responsibilities as General Manager are “somewhat endless!” Indeed, a big portion of the General Manager job involves being a “fallback” person for the other members of the station – Amanda has to be available when and if something goes wrong in addition to providing answers when a staff member comes across a question regarding their position. She is also the point of contact between station personnel and other organizations seeking to get involved with WLOY. One of the more exciting aspects of her job is that it brings a level of distinction which will make any Mountie proud: She is the first woman to hold her position at the radio station.

btaining this position is like cracking a hole in the Glass Ceiling.”

“I never thought I would be able to say that I was the first woman to do something – and it feels amazing to be able to say so,” says Amanda. “We live in a society that typically doesn’t hold women to the same standards as men. For me, obtaining this position is like cracking a hole in the Glass Ceiling.” Because this position has always been held by a male, having a female run the show “should be interesting,” according to Amanda. She will make her fellow Mounties proud by bringing to

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the position a fresh attitude as well as new ideas for effectively running WLOY. Her preparation for this role began even back in high school, and she finds herself drawing on her Mount education, which readied her for this promotion, this challenge. “Any Mount girl will tell you that it’s not easy at the Mount. The tests, the papers, the extracurricular responsibilities – all of these aspects (and more) pushed each and every Mountie to her limit in order to make us do our best. “With each step and every struggle, there were so many people (faculty and students alike) surrounding me with support – no one told me that I was incapable. I was taught that if I set my mind to something, I could do it. I could achieve it.” This attitude stayed with her during her college experience, and it has allowed her to not hold back from achieving her dreams. In addition to preparing her to go after her dreams, she also was prepared to deal with the unexpected bumps in the road. Her advice to fellow Mounties regarding their future career choices: “First, sooner or later you’re going to have to work with some unsavory characters. You might even have to partner up with someone you find somewhat repulsing. However arduous this may seem, it will happen frequently – and you have to be able to power through it. Learning to collaborate with all types of people will ultimately have a successful end product. Second, you can’t do it alone. I wouldn’t be anywhere I am today without my parents, my family, and my wonderful group of Mounties. It’s

useless and a waste of time to even attempt to go about life without the company, the support, and the laughter that you gather from those around you.” As she begins her new position, her hope is to continue the success that the station has had, “and increase it, if possible!” She wants to keep moving forward in the station. WLOY likes to give back to the community – whether it’s donating to Haiti relief for which the station raised over $22,000, or hanging out with children in the surrounding area (WLOY lets kids have an opportunity to record their own radio show). Says Amanda, “I want to keep these things alive in the spirit of WLOY.” And let’s face it—the job definitely has its perks – free concert tickets and press passes, access to a music library containing thousands and thousands of CDs, and “the opportunity to network like I’ve never networked before!” says Amanda. As she begins her new job, with an eye towards the future, she won’t forget her roots. “I think my first duty as GM is going to be the placement of a banner underneath the WLOY logo that reads: ‘On the education of women largely depends the future of society.’ Then, people will know what to expect before they even enter the station!” To listen to WLOY, visit http://wloy.org and click “Listen Now!” at the top of the web page, or listen through iTunes by clicking on Radio College/University - WLOY Loyola Radio.

Acadr am Leaves Audiences Laughing ... and Thinking

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cadram presented The Female Condition which explored female friendships, personal issues and relationships through a series of six one-acts and three monologues. In the photo, left to right, are Maria Cilio ’12, President of Acadram; Allison Moroz ‘11; Rita-Marie Jaquinto ‘12; and Nicole Williamson ‘14. Medea married two opposing theatrical genres: the dark and suspenseful Greek tragedy, and the surprising and comical parody. Medea, the dramatic foreigner, was thrust into a world of farcical nonsense, brought upon by her posse of chorus members turned cheerleaders, and her arrogant and affected husband, Jason the Argonaut. Within the happy framework of a one-act play, Medea allows the audience to focus on humor, as opposed to becoming buried underneath a thick plot.

The Female Condition sparked a fire in the Acadram club. Because they were able to experiment with a broad range of one-acts and monologues, each member was able to not only find her own niche, but learn about different types of theater, genres, and characters. The show’s producer and director, Ms. Jean Korey, carefully selected each piece to weave a common thread among each act, the entire cast, and the audience it served. Congratulations to Ms. Korey and the members of Acadram on being chosen to join a select group of outstanding high school theatre groups to perform at the 2012 American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Seeking Nominations

Athletic Happenings Hall of Fame

Athletic Hall of Fame OUR MISSION:

The purpose of the Mount Saint Joseph Academy Athletic Hall of Fame (AHOF) is to honor and perpetuate the memory of former Mount athletes, teams, coaches and benefactors who have brought pride and distinction to the school; to instill and continue the tradition of excellence that has been characteristic of Mount athletes; to link past and current generations of student-athletes; and to encourage current student-athletes to embrace the many opportunities available to them through teamwork, determination and dedication.

CRITERIA FOR INDUCTION: A worthy candidate shall have: • Upheld the mission and beliefs of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. • Exhibited good moral and ethical character, as judged by acceptable Mount standards. • Demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities. • Demonstrated a level of achievement or service that stands out from the ordinary. • Achieved honors and recognition that bring credit to the community and to Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Note: An Inductee may be inducted posthumously. For specific criteria and Nomination Forms, please visit the website at www.msjaalum.org and click on the link.. Forms are also available in the Alumnae Office or Athletic Office. Forms will be accepted from June through October 31st.

Spring Fling Over 55 vendors were on hand to sell their unique products, and over 300 happy shoppers attended this year’s annual Spring Fling, held on Sunday, April 10th at the Mount. This popular event is sponsored by the Special Events Committee.

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Mount’s Scholar Athletes Seniors Playing in College

Congratulations to the following Senior Athletes who will be playing their sport in college:

Basketball Mary Jo Horgan - Lehigh University Steph Smith - Loyola University

Volleyball Carlie Krill - Susquehanna University Val Smith - Western New England College

Crew Meredith Bracken - Drexel University Meaghan Bresnahan - Georgetown University Katie Casebeer - Boston College Stephanie Henrich - University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Katie McCormick - Trinity College Maggie Rush - Georgetown University Molly Tenzinger - St. Joseph’s University

Field Hockey Bridget Brady - University of Scranton Kat Matchett - College of the Holy Cross Jenna Seybert - Lafayette College Natalie Tacka - Lehigh University

Lacrosse Stevie Wells - Columbia University Shannon Zoldy - Lafayette College

Letters

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of

Intent

he following seniors have signed a National Letter of Intent or have committed to play a sport in college:

Back row, left to right: S. Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, MSJA President; Katie Casebeer (crew- Boston College); Natalie Tacka (Field Hockey-Lehigh); Jenna Seybert (Field Hockey-Lafayette); Steph Smith (Basketball-Loyola) Steph Henrich (Crew-UNC); and Janet Columbro, MSJA Director of Athletics Front row, left to right: Shannon Zoldy (LacrosseLafayette); Stevie Wells (Lacrosse-Columbia); and Meredith Bracken (Crew-Drexel)

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Golf Alise McNutt - McDaniel College Swimming Meghan Weiser - Fairfield University Alex Sullivan - Denison University


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s of press time, the 2010-2011 MSJA Mount Fund closed with an overall total of $386,137, exceeding the 100% goal of $375,000.

$375,000

With pride and appreciation, the Development Office recognizes the collective generosity of the entire Mount Community during these difficult economic times. Gifts from Alumnae, Current and Past Parents, faculty and staff wholly support the young women at the Mount each and every day. Please accept our gratitude for the many ways in which you have made Mount Saint Joseph Academy a priority in your charitable giving. We humbly look forward to your continued participation and commitment next year. For more information about the MSJA Annual Fund, please contact Jill Gregori, Director of Development at jgregori@ msjacad.org or call 215-233-1859.

Development Happenings Events

2010-2011 Mount Fund

Did you Know?

102 %

19% of Mount students will be receiving financial aid in 2011-2012. Thank you for your support!

Harvest Club Dinner

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record number of parents, Alumnae and friends of the Mount gathered in Fontbonne for the Harvest Club Dinner in May. The dinner honors those who have given to the Annual Fund at the Purple & Gold or Harvest Club levels, or who have volunteered their time at the Mount during the past school year. To make it even more special, members of the MSJA Culinary Club assisted Mount’s Executive Chef Dennis Littley in the preparation and serving of the delicious fare.

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&

Charitable Giving

HH

Development

Life Insur ance

by Elizabeth Rose Barker ’74

ow can you use a life insurance policy as a gift to the Mount? Giving life insurance to the Mount may allow you to make a larger gift than you otherwise could afford. Further, the government encourages charitable giving by providing tax advantages for certain charitable donations (the Mount must be a qualified charity). This means that both you and the Mount could benefit from your donation (though some charities may not accept a gift of life insurance for various reasons). Typically, a donor makes a charity the owner and beneficiary of some type of permanent life insurance policy. But, there are many ways of structuring a charitable gift involving life insurance, and one alternative may better suit your needs and those of the Mount than others. Caution: This discussion contains only a brief description of some of the many charitable giving strategies involving life insurance. You should consult your tax advisor before making such a gift to make sure it is structured properly. For further information on charitable gifts and tax advantages, see Charitable Gifting, Charitable Deduction, and Deductions: Charitable Gifts.

Name the Mount as beneficiary of proceeds

How to do it: This is the simplest type of charitable gift using life insurance. You designate the Mount as the beneficiary of your existing policy or a new policy by completing a beneficiary designation form. (See Life Insurance Ownership and Beneficiary Designations). You own the policy and pay the premiums. Upon your death, the Mount receives some or all of the proceeds from the policy. Advantages and disadvantages Designating the Mount as beneficiary while retaining ownership of the policy allows you to retain control over and rights to the policy, including the ability to change the beneficiary or access to the policy’s cash value.

insurance cannot be used). You own the policy and your heirs (the designated beneficiaries) receive the proceeds at your death. Advantages and disadvantages By assigning policy dividends to charity, you are able to make a gift without diminishing the amount of your heirs’ inheritance. You retain ownership of the policy allowing you access to the policy’s cash value. The dividends paid to the Mount are deductible for both income tax and gift tax purposes. Because you retain ownership of the policy, the proceeds will be included in your gross estate at your death. However, in this case, your estate will not receive an offsetting estate tax charitable deduction because the proceeds will not go to charity. Tip: Your estate may be entitled to the unlimited marital deduction, though, if your spouse is the beneficiary. Or, your estate may not owe estate taxes anyway because of the applicable exclusion amount and other deductions and credits. Tip: With permanent life insurance policies that are not modified endowment contracts, you do not have to include dividends until they exceed your basis (generally, gross premiums paid) in the policy.

Donate an existing life insurance policy to the Mount

How to do it In order to donate an existing life insurance policy to the Mount, you must assign all rights in the policy to the Academy. You must also deliver the policy itself to the Mount, as it becomes the new owner of the policy as well as the beneficiary, but you will continue to pay the premiums (unless the policy is paid up). As the owner, the Mount will have access to any cash values during your life. Caution: If you retain any “incidents of ownership, “ no income tax or gift tax deductions will be allowed.

How to do it: Another simple way of making a charitable gift is to assign to the Mount policy dividends from cash values (term life

Advantages and disadvantages The gift of the policy and any future premium payments you make will be deductible for both income tax and gift tax purposes. Further, because you give up ownership of the policy, the proceeds will not be included in your gross estate at your death (unless you die within three years of the transfer, and then your estate will also get an offsetting estate tax charitable deduction). However, by relinquishing ownership of the policy, you give up all control over and rights to the policy, including the ability to change the beneficiary and access to the policy’s cash value.

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(Continued on page 50)

However, because you retain ownership of the policy, the premium payments you make are not tax deductible for either income tax or gift tax purposes. At your death, the proceeds will be included in your gross estate, however, there is an offsetting estate tax charitable deduction for the amount of proceeds that pass to the Mount.

Name the Mount as recipient of dividends


A Letter from the Alumnae Association President

Happenings Alumnae

Dear Fellow Alumnae, There is an inherent optimism about the spring/summer season and it is evident as it shines through in our Mount Community. This year, even more so than others, it is reflected in the pride that defines and unites us as Alumnae. Our spring events were very successful. We continued the tradition of our founding sisters and celebrated the 116th Alumnae Day on April 2. The day began with a luncheon in the Rotunda at Chestnut Hill College where we welcomed the newest members of the “Golden Girls.” These ladies graduated from MSJA in 1961 and had the distinct honor of being the last class to graduate from the ‘Old Mount.” The celebration continued that evening with mass and a cocktail reception for over 200 Alumnae who were celebrating their anniversary years. While the weather was anything but spring-like, it did not dampen the success of our 4th Annual Spring Fling. Over 300 Alumnae, students, parents and friends of the Mount enjoyed a fun-filled day of shopping and fun. Alumnae induction for the Class of 2011 was held on May 19. A record number of Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunts participated in the medal presentation. Each year the graduating class fills us again with hope as they become part of the Mount Alumnae community. The Alumnae Association is proud to promote the “College-Age” internship program that began several years ago. This year we have coordinated 26 internship opportunities to offer our college-age Alumnae. If you are interested in learning more about this valuable program, I urge you to visit the website at www.msjaalum.org/internships or contact the Alumnae office. Mark your calendars for the Annual Golf Outing, Monday, October 3 at Blue Bell Country Club. It is our second largest fundraiser, and 50 percent of its proceeds fund the Alumnae Grant. This grant provides a needs-based tuition grant to the daughter of a Mount Alumna. I am pleased to welcome the new Officers and Alumnae Board members for the 2011-2013 term. They bring to the Mount their enthusiasm, dedication and insight to continue our mission. Our newest board members are: Mollie O’Rourke Menapace ’71 Emily De Paul ’01

Tricia Geppert Haber ‘79 Meaghan Londergan ‘00

The Association is grateful for the dedicated service of our outgoing Board members. Each of these amazing women has contributed to the Alumnae Association in a meaningful way: Virginia Bendinger Wischhusen ’70 Kimberly Rothwell ’01

Corinne Ledwith Murphy ‘84 Stephanie Birchett-Wroten ‘86

Let’s make a bold statement this summer to celebrate the legacy of MSJA. It’s time to make an investment, one that will serve generations of “future founders.” This is a perfect way to celebrate our heritage and renew our commitment, by making a contribution to the “Mount Fund.” Wishing you a summer filled with endless memories,

Tricia Zugay Burkholder ‘74 President, MSJA Alumnae Association

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Look for Connections online in August. Because there’s no better time to come back to the Mount than now!

Save the Date! Alumnae Board Open Meeting October 18, 2011 6:30 pm Alumnae Room

Alumnae Induction ’11

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n May 19th, the members of the Class of 2011 were inducted into the MSJA Alumnae Association. This special day allows us to celebrate our new Alumnae Association members, as well as recognize the generational legacy that is ever-present at the Mount! In this photograph, members of the Class of 2011 are in front of their Mothers or other relative.

Far Left, Trish Zugay Burkholder ’74, President of MSJA Alumnae Association. Front Row, left to right: Chiara Curcillo, daughter of Stephanie King Curcillo ’76 and granddaughter of Marie Rosato King ’46; Annemarie Malazita, daughter of Esther McDermott Malazita ’78; Angela Saponaro, daughter of Cynthia DePaul Saponaro ‘75; Lilly Small, daughter of Andrea DiGiacomo Small ‘72; Carly Ann Graham, daughter of Hillary Maguire Graham ‘84; Dana MacIntosh, daughter of Barbara Hynes MacIntosh ‘77; Meaghan Bresnahan, daughter of Monica Janke Bresnahan ’77.

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Top Two Rows: Jacqueline Bernal, daughter of Barbara Coupe Bernal ’78; Michaela Sean McGlynn; granddaughter of Lorraine Sukalski McGlynn ‘52; Margaret Mary Gottschalk, daughter of Margaret Gibbons Gottschalk ‘73; Caitlin Foley, daughter of Beth Rogacz Foley ’83 ; Catherine Moran, daughter of Kathleen Sykes Moran ‘80; Stephanie Henrich, niece of Betty Jane Beitel Whalen ’59; Megan Black, daughter of Mary Kate Haber Black ’80; Ellen O’Kane, daughter of Bernadette McCann O’Kane ‘79; Molly Tenzinger, daughter of Kathleen McNamara Tenzinger ‘77; Erin Walsh, daughter of Patricia Leis Walsh ’77; Catherine Zakrzewski, daughter of Chyllene Waters Zakrzewski ‘80, with grandmom Chyllene Quinn Waters ’56; and Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ, President of MSJA.


MSJA Alumnae Association

Alumnae Awards Hall of Fame

Marci Kuttler Bossow Schankweiler ’86 The MSJA Hall of Fame was established to honor an Alumna who has exhibited service and loyalty to the Mount, who has made contributions to the Mount and whose efforts have made a difference in her community. The nominee should be a woman who has achieved a level of excellence in her profession or vocation while sharing the values of MSJA and its Alumnae Association, thereby serving as an example for all Alumnae and students of Mount Saint Joseph Academy.

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Text of the Alumnae Day Speech Given by Kate Groark Shields ’93

magine for a minute that you are newly married.

Imagine that you’re married to your best friend, your high school sweetheart, your prom date, your soul mate – the person who is as comfortable to you as your favorite song or your oldest pair of jeans. Now imagine that that same best friend – that one who is as comfy to you as those favorite jeans – dies. Of cancer. At age … 30. He dies before you’ve had a chance to truly begin your life with him. He’s gone before you’ve had the occasion to celebrate your 10th or 20th wedding anniversary. Before you have a chance to build a family together, he’s vanished. Your life, the one you planned together, has been mercilessly taken from you. Your most intimate relationship has been unapologetically stolen. And there is no solution – not a thing you can do to replace what you’ve lost. What would you do? What would you do? We could probably spend an hour today collectively discussing what “most people” might do if faced with this cruel twist of fate. But that would be a fruitless exercise. Because “most people” aren’t my dear friend and mentor, Marci Schwankweiler. If you’re Marci Schankweiler, you walk into a comfortable and steady job as an attorney … and you quit. Then, you tell all of your family and friends that you’ve made the wise decision to abandon your reliable source of income a mere two weeks after losing your husband. Some justifiably wonder if your grief is turning into a more serious mental health concern.

Then, you add a layer to the cake by telling everyone that you’re starting a non-profit organization. Again, many are justifiably still whispering that you just may need an intervention. After all, most non-profits don’t survive just a few years past their date of inception. But Marci, while in the thick of the murky waters that grief forces you to trudge through, somehow had the clarity of mind to see that this life had a different path for her to follow. Somehow, despite the distracting static and deafening noise that grief imposes on the quiet of your mind, Marci heard the call to incorporate her tragedy into a life abundant with giving and love. And truthfully, I shouldn’t be surprised that Marci literally began her life’s work in her darkest hour. It should not shock any of us that while she was in the depths of depression and sadness, she had the fortitude to think of others beside herself. You see, Marci comes from an incredible family who laid her foundation as rock solid as granite. She has many brothers and sisters – so she learned from an early age to look outward from one’s self and that sharing is, indeed, caring. She has a loving mother and father who instilled the importance of faith and love unconditional in Marci from the moment of her birth. Beyond that, she has cousins, aunts and uncles who put family first. Second, Marci had the blessing of a Catholic education – especially one here at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. If you asked her, there is no doubt that she’d testify to the

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strong connection between her Mount days and her life’s accomplishments, and more importantly, her attitude toward adversity. Her independence, her strength of character, her belief in God’s constant presence in our lives, her willingness and bravery to stand on her own two feet and face the hand she was dealt – were sharpened and developed in these halls and reinforced at home with two parents who selflessly made an investment in their daughter’s faith-based, single-sex education. And in addition to the academic and spiritual nourishment that we all received here at the Mount, Marci left this place with friendships that have sustained her, and continue to support her as she grows and flourishes in her work. Lastly, Marci has an unfettered ability to hope. Marci hopes big and dreams bigger – whether it’s for the recovery and survival of a patient …. for that next big donor (hint hint for all of you listening today) … for children who’ve lost a parent … When you need a little hope, Marci doles it out tenfold. And that is why it’s pointless to wonder how “most people” would respond to the life events that Marci has had to endure. “Most people” wouldn’t send away more than 800 cancer patients and their caregiving families on all-expense paid vacations to get a break from cancer. “Most people” wouldn’t have the unbridled energy to be in a state of constant fundraising mode to ensure the survival and growth of a foundation. “Most people” would get discouraged after the first or second “no” from a corporate sponsor, rather than politely stalking them until they agreed to give of their financial resources, time or products. “Most people” might get overwhelmed and throw in the towel while trying to strike a balance between work and an amazing, supportive and strong husband and two beautiful daughters at home. “Most people” wouldn’t get introduced by Julia Roberts at the MLB 2010 All-Star Game after winning the People magazine “All-Stars Among Us” designation for the Philadelphia region. “Most people” wouldn’t be able to handle the emotional demands of working daily with hundreds and hundreds of cancer patients who often pass away leaving young children and young spouses behind. But again, “most people” aren’t Marci Schankweiler. She’s special. She’s different. She has a calling that she fulfills with grace and beauty every day. She literally has changed, touched and inspired the lives of thousands of people, mine included. And that is why I am most honored to be here today as she receives the Mount Saint Joseph Academy Hall of Fame Award. Congratulations, Marci!

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Acceptance Speech by Marci Kuttler Bossow Schankweiler ’86 I’m actually quite speechless. Thank you, Kate, for that wonderful introduction. I’d also like to say that my husband would add one adjective that you didn’t include… he called me a ‘raving lunatic’ the other day when I couldn’t find the checkbook to put the check in the collection basket at Mass. Well, thank you very much. And I actually wish he and my two girls were here to see this…gosh you’re going to make me cry! I can’t look at Courtney because she’s crying, too. But anyway, I talk about husbands and I’ll share with you. The hope of the harvest is in the seed is the motto that we have here at Mount Saint Joseph Academy and we’ve all followed in those footsteps and we have that motto in our heart. But that motto was especially important and relevant in my life and without even knowing, in thousands of lives. Because the seed for what I do today was started here in this building on December 26, 1998. When my husband Pete was sick, one of my classmates, Courtney Daly Ferrero, said to Sister Mary Dacey, “We have a friend whose husband is very sick and probably will not survive. And he’s 29. And we don’t know what to do to help them any more. We’ve done everything we can. Can we have a Beef ‘n’ Beer? And Sister Mary Dacey, being a Sister of St. Joseph, said yes. And in that one quick moment, the SSJs changed thousands of lives. Because at that Beef ‘n’ Beer, held on December 26, 1998, where a lot of my classmates came, and a lot of people in different classes came, that seed was born from that one evening. Because after that night, my husband, Pete, and I went away for 17 days on a trip during his illness. It was his idea to go on the trip, which I thought was really remarkable. I thought we could pay the mortgage, but [Pete said,] “The heck with the mortgage! Let’s just go on a trip!” We couldn’t even afford an azalea bush for the house, so that tells you how bad it was, but we went on that trip. And that trip was so profound for us—it was really a time to connect to what we’re all about as people. And to really, as Monsignor said during mass, to really love and nourish your spiritual self. Because if you love, you get closer to God, and you get closer to what it is to be really human. That’s what we experienced. Coming back and recognizing the significance of that, he had this idea, and I guess I was such a good student here at the Mount maybe (laughs), that I listened, and he said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to do for other young people what we had this opportunity to do, which was put in motion on December 26th?” And essentially, he passed away and we made the decision to put that request into his obituary notice. So that was really the start of an organization that exists today—that just this month


will have received 29 nominations from families to go away on these vacations. And all I can say is that the seed really was planted here in this building. And just think of all the people who came before us to plant those seeds, to let us all have the chance to come here. Because I think, what if I had never come here, and I had never met my class and discovered the beauty of all my classmates that I shared this experience with, and all the people I’ve met afterwards, from all different ages… I see all the people that have come before me and the faces of the people who have really watered the seeds of all of us, who have lived what it is to be truly human and to truly love. I just feel so grateful that I can be a part of this community. I can tell you that I share this story with a lot of the people that we help, about how the For Pete’s Sake organization started— about how a simple, “Yes,” to help another human being has changed thousands of lives. So we should all be so proud of what the Sisters of Saint Joseph have built here for each one of us—we’ve given so much in so many ways to so many people, I can’t even count the ways.

“Love isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” The point the pastor made was that even through her own pain, she just cherished the gift of being human, of being here today. And I thought, How perfect it is to read that quote and thinking, I’m going to share that quote with classmates I haven’t seen in ages! We’re going to share that day, and we might not share that day again with some of those classmates. And we might share that day when we’re the Golden Girls –hopefully that’s where I’m heading—to be those Golden Girls’ ages—I want to get to that! Voice from the audience: “It goes by quickly!” (Laughter) Marci: I’m starting to think that! But how appropriate it is to really recognize that—we’re all going to have storms in our life, and we’re all going to have challenges in pieces of our own journey. And really just soaking up that rain, dancing in it for one day and recognizing “Gosh, let’s look at the joy that’s right here in front of us!”

Just the other day I was at a service for a woman who had passed away from cancer. Now, I’ve been to a lot of services for people who have passed away from cancer, but this one was really unique, because as I approached the family, I noticed they had on the wall a long string of all the bracelets that she got when she would check in to the hospital. And there had to be 60 feet of her hospital bracelets from all her treatments over the past three and a half years. When she was 62 she had multiple myeloma. It really struck me when the pastor got up, even through her journey she really cherished the day, the existence of just being here today.

So, all I can say is enjoy your cocktail hour, ladies! Soak up those cocktails! But really cherish the friendships you have today and what this school has done for each of us. For we built something beautiful, and you know the seeds will just continue to blossom!

There was a quote posted behind the long line of bracelets. It said,

Kate Groark Shields ’93 is Vice President & Managing Partner at Vault Communications and serves on the Board of Directors of For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation. Visit Kate at vaultcommunications.com.

The

Marci Schankweiler ’86 is Founder and Director of For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation, which was recently awarded the Seal of Excellence by the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. For more information, visit takeabreakfromcancer.org

Rosemary McNally ’17

Alumnae Award

Mollie O’Rourke Menapace ’71 The Rosemary McNally ’17 Alumnae Award is presented annually to an Alumna who has distinguished herself through consistent dedication and outstanding service to Mount Saint Joseph Academy. The recipient will have contributed to the welfare of the school and the Alumnae Association as well as have a record of contributing to the Mount Fund. The President of the Alumnae Association will present one award each year. This award has been named for Rosemary McNally ’17, a longtime friend and supporter of the Mount, whose commitment, service and dedication to the Academy serve as an example and inspiration to all Alumnae. This year’s recipient has dedicated her time, talent and energy to the Mount for many years. As a parent, she was an active member of the Parent’s Association while her daughter was here at the Mount. She served on the reunion committee, reaching out to classmates, urging their attendance and participation in the Mount Fund. She has been an invaluable member of the Alumnae and Parent’s Associations Special Events Committee for the past four years. She has volunteered for countless events and co-chaired several. We are very grateful for her dedication to and passion for the Mount for the past 40 years. The recipient of this year’s Rosemary McNally Award is Mollie O’Rourke Menapace, Class of 1971.

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April 2, 2011

Alumnae Day Album

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Happenings Alumnae


Alumnae

News 1936 Margaret Kelly Baumgardner recently celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 4th. with Jon Bon Jovi, on March 2nd, his 49th birthday. Last summer, Margaret spent the evening with a group of Mounties, and led them in singing the school song. Top row: Angelique Hrycko ‘04 and Liz Daniels ‘04. Middle row: Carolyn Lynch ‘04, Margaret Baumgardner ‘36 and Jen Fasy ‘03. Bottow row: Kristin Jasiukiewicz ‘04, Lisa Jasiukiewicz ’75 and Nan Daly ‘03

classmates even though they live in different cities. Adin, her 14-year-old grandson, went to see How to Succeed in Business, in NY and was thrilled when she shared the news that the lead female was a Mountie. 1953 Janice Diamond Charlton spent touring through Germany and France with her two grandchildren while visiting her son, who lives in Stott Gart, Germany. 1958 Anne (Nancy) Meaney Phillips continues to work for a law firm on Long Island. She vacationed in Naples, Florida this winter, and her most enjoyable time was with her six grandchildren, Anne, Thomas, MaryKate, Abigail, James and Ryan, luckily for Anne, they all live nearby. 1959 Natalie “Sue” Nolan Berkey is retiring in June, after 31-1/2 years in secondary education from Jenkintown High School. She knows that life will certainly be different and will miss it but, all good things must end! Fortunately, she found a profession that she loved. Sue and her husband plan on traveling more, especially Seattle, to see their daughter. Joanne Scott Kyle is very excited that her granddaughter, Megan Doyle will be a member of the Class of 2015. Megan will be a third generation Mountie. Her mother is Diane Kyle Doyle, Class of 1985. Anne Schmid Muir spent this March in Sarasota, Florida, interrupted only by flying to charlotte, North Carolina to assist in the birth of her sixth grandchild, Bennett Ryder. Her other three grandchildren were just as excited. 1961 Margaret Ann O’Connell Feeny is now retired, having traveled extensively with husband, Bill. She is working on moving to Ohio to be nearer to their four grandchildren. Peg knits hats and scarves, paints furniture and still loves reading, cooking and decorating. She is happy.

1946 Elizabeth Stroud Giordano has plans on moving to Alberta, Georgia, as soon as her house is sold up here. No more winters - non-stop snow and ice, December to March. If anyone is living down there let her know. S. Barbara Mary Sanborn would like to share that she has retired and returned to the USA. The school they founded, Saint Joseph Joshigakuen, now has thousands of graduates. She will return to Japan for a visit in April, but on the 2nd she will be with you in spirit. If anyone is in the Los Angeles area after May 10th, please come and visit. Her room overlooks the city and the Getty Art Museum. 1951 Jeanne Norris Bahm shouts a Happy 60th Anniversary with Health, Happiness and Memories! Mary Lou Barbera Thomas is living in Florida most of the year and sadly will not be able to attend the reunion, she’ll see you in September. 1952 Willa Byrne Cericola still enjoys the Alumnae news magazine, stating so much talent! She still keeps up with several of her

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Kathleen Reilly Gallagher is having a difficult time wrapping her mind around being a “Golden Girl” – fifty years from graduation. Many memories are still fresh like running up all those steps to get to the gym on the top floor for P.E., as if those steps weren’t enough exercise. Kathleen sends, Congratulations to all “Golden Girls.” Patricia Miller-Shaivitz, Ph.D. is now retired from full-time teaching. She keeps up with her academic colleagues via the internet and adjunct teaching at the college near her home. Patricia enjoys frequent trips to Texas to see her granddaughter, Abby, who is now four years old. 1962 Mary Catherine Kelly McCauley has retired from 21 years as school nurse at the Haverford School. She is now working as the Parish Nurse at St. Thomas of Villanova parish. Mary has five children, six grandchildren all living close by. Her best friend, Patti Condon McDonough lives right next door. 1963 Diane Taglialatela Green is now retired and living in Naples, Florida seven months a year and Stone Harbor, NJ the other five. She is still married to High School sweetheart Topper, who is also retired. Their son, Robert Brenner Green and wife Heather have a four year old son, R. Brenner and two year old daughter, Charlotte, all blessed with a happy life!


Joan “Popo” Flanigan has a new jewelry shop called Popo & Company at 1520 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031. Mary Ellen Herzog, M.Ed, CFRE, NGMS has recently received certification as a National Grant Management Specialist (NGMS), a new certification established by the Nation Grant Management Association. Mary Ellen was one of 148 individuals to receive this certification – all with years of documented successful Grant Management activities. 1968 Susan Smith Daniels is currently an MFA Candidate in Creative Writing at Fairfield University. She is working on a book of short stories and will graduate in 2012. Her youngest daughter, Chetana, graduates from Mt. Holyoke this May, while oldest Genevra Williams graduated from SMU, Steadman Law School last May along with her husband, Avery. Susan has two grandchildren and one on the way. Karen McCarty-Fleming Schuler says that life is moving on for her family. She and her husband, Greg, are empty nesters. Son, Geoff, is graduating from Marquette University and will be working for Price Waterhouse Cooper in Chicago. Daughter, Laura, just completed her freshman year at Providence College in R.I. Karen and Greg are enjoying time together. She sends a thank you to all who remembered her on the passing of her mother. 1980 Mary Claire Dinda Kasunic happily welcomed her third grandchild to the world in January! Work, four grown children, and three grandchildren are keeping life exciting. 1984 Barbara Byrne Denham was seen last year on the Bloomberg Channel, currently an Economist at Eastern Consolidated, in New York City. 1985 Maribeth Byrne Hawkins and husband, Chris, welcomed their 5th child, Hailey Belle, on August 11, 2010. 1987 Linda Klein Lynch is a full-time Mom and a part-time Office Manager and has been married for 15 years to her husband, Tom. Having three great children, Megan, 8th grade, Thomas, 6th grade and Michael, 4th grade. Her high school search for their oldest has brought back many fond memories of MSJA! Bernadine MacNeal Weng graduated from Villanova, earning her BSN. She is currently working at Aria Health, as a Nurse Case Manager in the Home Care department. 1988 Amanda Ulmer Freed and husband, Tim, welcomed their first child, Ava Victoria, on April 6, 2011. 1989 Heather Harrington Atkinson and husband, Brian, announces the birth of twin girls, Lucy Barbara and Ava Beverly Atkinson, born March 1, 2011. Jeanine Harrington Ferrick and husband, Dave, welcomed a beautiful daughter, Cara Jeanine, on March 13, 2010. Cara joins older brother, Liam and sister, Anna. Jeanine and her family are living in Lexington, Massachusetts. Maria Termini-Romano and her husband, John, welcomed baby Louis Augustine into their family on October 25, 2010.

Louis joins big brother, John (6), and big sister, Sofia (4).

Alumnae Happenings News

1967 Bernadette Cavanaugh Dugan announces that her family is growing from two grandchildren to five coming this summer.

1990 Deanna Celotto married Mark Brennan, on December 17, 2010, in a ceremony at Old Saint Joseph’s Church, followed by a reception at Cescaphe Ballroom in Philadelphia. Danielle Celotto ’98, her sister, stood as her maid of honor. The couple honeymooned in Maui and Kauai, Hawaii. Currently they reside in Philadelphia. Laurie Cybulski is living in Pittsburgh with husband, Greg Brooks, and daughters, Ginny, (8), and Genevieve (5). Working as a Director of an Adult Basic Education program.

1991 Maureen Furletti is excited to celebrate her 20th Reunion by attending the alumnae game with her mother and daughter! 1992 RaVonne Simmons was married to Talat Muhammad, at Conversation Hall in Philadelphia, on December 30, 2010. Also in attendance were Stacy James ’94, Jennifer Dent ’92 and maid of honor, Valerie Friday ’92. 1994 Amy Kaltneckar Dixon and husband, Edward Joseph, announce the birth of their daughter, Maggie Elizabeth, born on March 31, 2011. Nancy Keosathit Guynn and husband, Derek, welcomed their first child, Caroline Rose, on October 25, 2010. Susan Prior Ramage and husband, Jeff, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, John “Jack” Henry. Baby Jack arrived on December 6, 2010 and is thriving. Susan is a communications consultant specializing in cause driven organizations and Jeff is senior counsel at IMS Health in Plymouth Meeting. The couple currently resides in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia. Megan Osborne Romano and husband, Brian, are enjoying their new home in Ambler. Children, JP (6), Katie (4) and Erin (2 in June) are excited to welcome a new baby brother in early September into their hearts, lives and family. Kristen Zielinski-Nalen has returned from her three year missionary work in Bolivia. She now works in Camden, New Jersey, as a Pastoral Hispanic Associate, at Saint Anthony of Padua Church ministering the poor.

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1996 Auste Radzius Joost announces the birth of her son, Nolan Aleksandras, on February 7, 2011.

Vecchione and Frances Vecchione Searle ’79. Kneeling: Lisa Angely Madden ’00, Colleen Breznicky Parfitt ’00, Christina Vecchione ’09, and Madison Searle ’13.

1999 Carolyn DiMaria is still serving in the U.S. Navy and is currently stationed in Misawa, Japan. She is taking an active role in her base’s efforts to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief to the areas hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami in March.

2001 Sue Smith Seman and husband, Steve, are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Samuel John, born on March 14, 2011 weighing eight pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 22 inches.

2000 Kelly McKeown Adomsky and husband, Jonathan, welcomed a son, Bennett Michael, on April 18, 2010. Corey Ann Raieta Heacock graduated from Wilmington University in January, 2011, with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation. She defended her dissertation in November, by finding that a high level of self-disclosure on Facebook by teachers had a negative effect on high school students’ opinions of that teacher. Colleen Breznicky Parfitt married David Parfitt on December 18, 2010. The following Mounties were in attendance ( left to right), Erin McClafferty Erfle ’96, Lisa Angely Madden ’00, Jenna Breznicky ’02, Megan Lyons ’01, Lindsay Breznicky

2003 Brittany Terese Fasy, granddaughter of Joan Fasy ’47, is engaged to David L. Millman of Randolph, New Jersey. Dave visited Brittany, who is currently living in Austria, and proposed on the top of the Valluga Mountain in Sankt Anton am Arlberg during a ski trip. It was a fairy tale engagement followed by adventurous (and maybe dangerous) off-piste skiing. Meghan Ann Malone is working in the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and will finish graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania in December 2011. 2005 Erin E. Hughes is currently enrolled in a Nursing (RN) program. Christine Macolino is thanking the Mount for all of the guidance she received over the years and how much it has meant to her. She would like to share that along with her research team from Thomas Jefferson University an article was published in Nature Medicine for the April 2011 issue. Check it out at http://www. nature.com/nm/jornal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm.2334.html.

’08, Michele Breznicky Brinkerhoff ’98, Bridget Flanagan Vecchione ’00, Sara Breznicky ’05, Kate Scully ’00, Maureen Scully ’03 and Jen Dolan ’96. Bridget Flanagan Vecchione announced that she was married on May 9, 2009, in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. The following Mounties were in attendance: Standing: Rosemary Vecchione Potter ’74, Jennifer Harrington Vogel ’94, Heather Harrington ’89, Barbara Harrington Hladik, Esq. ’85, Bridget Flanagan Vecchione ’00, Maggie Flanagan ’04, Maureen LaNoce ’04, Cristin Harrington ’97, Josephine

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2007 Katie Kirsch is this year’s recipient of the Dr. John P. Karidis Department Head’s Award for Research Achievement in Mechanical Engineering. Katie is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Engineering Leadership Development. Throughout her time at Penn State, she has been involved in both mechanical and nuclear engineering research, acting as a research assistant on several projects. She is a member of the Engineering Ambassadors Program, The Society of Women Engineers, The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience, the Women in Engineering program and THON. 2008 Jacqueline I. Hain has been elected captain of the University of Pennsylvania Varsity Swimming Team for the 2011-2012 Season. Lawren Kieffer was part of the Brown crew team that won Division I NCAA’s out in Sacramento. Lawren competed in the Varsity 4. Also competing, Nicole Weinrich ’09 (see photo on next page) Stanford coxswain of the V8, to third place in the V8 event and Stanford came in 2nd in the team competition. Sarah Jordan ’10 (see photo on next page) coxed the UVA Varsity 4 to a 2nd place finish in that event and 6th in the team competition. Mary Maginnis ’09, was also competing at the event racing for Radcliffe which finished 14th in the team competition.


2010 Catherine Brown has won the 2010 EN101 prize in English. Her paper, a critical analysis of Robert Frost’s poem “Putting in the Seed” was submitted by her English teacher to the English Department for the end of the year awards. Catherine was unaware that her paper was submitted until she heard the winning news. Thanking all in AP Lit for their work because she would have never been able to write anything half that quality without all of the preparation work and practice. Emily Gimpel has been named in the Colonial Athletic Conference to the All-Conference Golf Team (second team), one of only a few U.S. players in a very international field. She finished up her season leading the Tribe with season scoring average and top 20 tournament finishes; setting or tying five school records, and performing solidly in the classroom as well. A real highlight for her was the relationships she had with her teammates. She accepted a scholarship from the University of Maryland to play golf for the “Lady Terps” next year. Maryland plays at the top of the collegiate field in the ACC conference (vs. Duke, UNC, Virginia and Wake Forest). Emily is very happy and excited and looking forward to challenging herself and to continuing to develop her skills, majoring in Kinesiology and looking toward a career in golf.

New Arrivals Maribeth Byrne Hawkins ’85, a daughter, Hailey Belle Amanda Ulmer Freed ’88, a daughter, Ava Victoria Heather Harrington Atkinson ’89, twin daughters, Lucy Barbara and Ava Beverly Jeanine Harrington Ferrick ’89, a daughter, Cara Jeanine Maria Termini-Romano ’89, a son, Louis Augustine Marjery MacNeal Krill ’93, a son, Joseph Ethan Amy Kaltneckar Dixon ’94, a daughter, Maggie Elizabeth Nancy Keosathit Guynn ’94, a daughter, Caroline Rose Susan Prior Ramage ’94, a son, John “Jack” Henry Rana Silver ’94, a daughter, Mila Jade Auste Radzius Joost ’96, a son, Nolan Aleksandras Kelly McKeown Adomsky ’00, a son, Bennett Michael Sue Smith Seman ’01, a son, Samuel John

Nicole Weinrich ’09 (far left)

Sarah Jordan ’10 (far left)

In Memoriam

We extend our sympathy and prayers to the families of the following Alumnae:

Margaret Abbott Driscoll ’41 Barbara Britt Dunsford ’48 Ruthann Boone Braunwarth ’66 Sara Ruetschlin Kaylor ’66 Regina Alba Williams ’68

Our sympathy and pr ayers are extended to the following alumnae: Catherine Achuff Swank ’46, on the death of her husband, James A. Swank Eileen Donnelly Williams ’51, on the death of her brother, Joseph C. Donnelly, Jr., MD Maryanne Dever Ginley ’52, Maureen Ginley Vorobec ’79 and Colleen Degnan ’07, on the death of their sister-in-law, aunt and grandmother respectively, Mary A. Ginley Adams Anne Flanagan Burgoyne ’54 and MaryLou McDevitt Burgoyne ’54, on the death of their husband and brother-in-law respectively, Henry “Hank” Burgoyne, Jr. Kathryn Ruetschlin Greenleaf ’64, on the death of her sister, Sara Ruetschlin Kaylor ’66 Joanne Rizzo Mastronardo ’68, on the death of her father-inlaw, Joseph V. Mastronardo Mary MacAvoy Strawitz ’70 and Janice MacAvoy ’74, on the death of their mother, Concetta “Connie Mac” Valerio MacAvoy Maribeth Cattie Tursi ’70, Michele Cattie Wiley ’71, Suzanne Cattie Fordham ’75, Jeannine Cattie ’77 and Mary Elizabeth Tursi ’00, on the death of their father and grandfather respectively, Gerard F. Cattie Mary Brady McSherry ’71, on the death of her sister, Martha “Marcy” Brady Janet Salvo Woods ’76, on the death of her father, Frank Salvo Amy Rothwell Worster ’77 and Megan Rothwell Nakamoto ’81, on the death of their mother, Margaret “Peggy” Gallagher Rothwell Dolores Slifer Harrison ’78, Lesa Slifer Williams ’79, Karen Slifer ’81 and Kathleen Slifer ’87, on the death of their father, Harry L. Slifer Karen Williamson Naughton ’78, Mary Beth Williamson Zieger ’89, Nicole Williamson ’14, on the death of their husband, brother-in-law and uncle respectively, Sgt. Stephen M. Naughton Ellen Doney Funchion ’82 and Paige Funchion ’13, on the death of their brother-in-law and uncle respectively, Michael F. Funchion Sheila Kropp McLaughlin ’84, Mary McLaughlin ’12, and Sheila McLaughlin ’14, on the death of their mother and grandmother respectively, Cecelia P. “Sheila” Mulligan Kropp Tara Deasy Rose ’84, Ann Deasy Colebaugh ’87, Alison Deasy ’11 and Amanda Deasy ’13, on the death of their brother and father respectively, David W. Deasy Amy Boris Cratin ’89, on the death of her father-in-law, James H. Cratin Alicia Ondik Doyle ’90, on the death of her father, John Stephen Ondik, III

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Christa Spause Reilly ’95 and Amy Spause Benner ’93, on the death of their husband, and brother-in-law respectively, Thomas N. Reilly, Jr. Kathryn Maahs ’96, on the death of her grandmother, Mary Foley Maahs Kimberly Franzoni Freimuth ’97, on the death of her uncle, Frederick A. Franzoni Christen Battipaglia ’03, on the death of her father, Joseph V. Battipaglia Brittany Fasy ’03 and Dana Fasy ’06, on the death of their grandmother, Gertrude T. Boyle Ryan Maureen LaNoce ’04, Alyssa Hirst ’07 and Sarah Hirst ’09, on the death of their uncle and grandfather, Augustine “Augie” LaNoce Katherine Pichola ’04, on the death of her grandfather, James J. McHugh Erica Reisenwitz ’04, on the death of her grandmother, Virginia “Ginny” Yerkes Reisenwitz Carol Shotzbarger ’04, on the death of her uncle, Gerard P. “Shotz” Shotzbarger, Esq. Emily Johnson ’05 and Laura Johnson ’08, on the death of their grandfather, James W. Nugent, Jr. Kristin LaGreca ’05 and Melanie LaGreca ’11, on the death of their grandfather, Anthony “Junie” LaGreca, Jr. Moira Bryers ’06, on the death of her grandmother, Sarah C. McIlhinney Alexandra James ’06, on the death of her grandmother, Mary Ellen Palmieri Joanna Dearolf ’08, on the death of her grandfather, Walter W. Dearolf, Jr. Megan Gimpel ’08, on the death of her grandmother, Sarah Kenny Horan

Christina Smith ’09 and Valerie Smith ’11, on the death of their grandmother, Dolories M. Streibig Smith Mercedes Bellam ’10, on the death of her grandmother, Marie Shanager McKeegan Stephanie Leone ’10, on the death of her grandfather, William E. Jendrowski, Jr. Carly Smart ’10 and Rebecca Smart ’14 on the death of their grandfather, Augustus J. Pedicone Stephanie Henrich ’11 and Lisa Henrich (Staff), on the death of their uncle and brother respectively, Jay D. Marcolina Morgan McCafferty ’11, on the death of her grandmother, Margaret Dinan McCafferty Heather McFarlane ’11, on the death of her aunt, Eleanor “Ellie” Zakrzewski Rowan Melissa Pfeifer ’11, on the death of her grandfather, Edward W. Pfeifer Maureen Gallagher ’12 and Tara Gallagher ’15 on the death of their grandfather, Peter P. Gallagher, Jr. Kelsey Robins ’12, on the death of her grandfather, Donald L. Robins Olivia Scanlon ’12, on the death of her uncle, William Edward Scanlon, Jr. Caroline Patton ’13, on the death of her grandmother, Alma Jean O’Donnell Mairead Glowacki ’14, on the death of her grandmother, Maryann Anderson Glowacki Catherine Murray ’14, on the death of her grandfather, John Randall McDonnell Leigh McFadden (staff), on the death of her grandmother, Rose F. Varga Christine Reily (cafeteria staff), on the death of her father, Harvey L. Schultz

Life Insurance & Charitable Giving continued from page 38 Tip: When you donate an existing policy, the amount of your deduction is either the value of the policy or your cost basis (net premiums paid), whichever is less. Tip: Premium payments made directly to the insurer may be considered to be gifts for the use of the Mount (rather than gifts to the Mount) and, as a result, may be deductible only up to 30 percent of your contribution base (your contribution base is generally equal to your adjusted gross income). On the other hand, if you make a cash donation to the Mount that is used to pay the premiums, your deduction is limited to 50 percent of your contribution base.

Donate a new policy to the Mount

How to do it: In order to use this strategy, you purchase a new insurance policy in the Mount’s name. You never own the policy. The Mount is the owner and beneficiary. You will make any future premium payments (unless it is a single premium policy). As the owner, the Mount will have access to any cash values during your life. Advantages and disadvantages The gift of the policy and any future premium payments you make will be deductible for both income tax and gift tax purposes. Further, because you never own the policy, the proceeds will not be included in your gross estate at your death (unless you

50

die within three years of the transfer, and then your estate will also get an offsetting estate tax charitable deduction). However, because you do not own the policy, you do not have any control over and rights to the policy, including the ability to change the beneficiary or access the policy’s cash value. Caution: The IRS may treat this transaction as if the Mount itself had purchased the policy on your life. Most states require the purchaser of a policy to have an insurable interest in the life of the insured. If the Mount does not have an insurable interest, all deductions may be lost. If this is the case in your state, consider having your spouse purchase the policy and then immediately assign all rights to the Mount. Tip: When you donate a new policy, your deduction will generally be equal to your cost basis (i.e., initial premium) in the policy. Liz Barker is Vice President, Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management in Conshohocken, PA. For over 25 years, Liz has helped her clients identify their personal financial planning objectives and implement thoughtful, strategic plans to match their needs. Women “in transition” are of special interest to her practice for changing times of: divorce, retirement, relocation or widowhood. Please visit her website at www.lizbarker.com for timely market and financial information that is updated daily.


RUNWAY 2011

Save the Date

FOR OUR FALL FASHION SHOW THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2011

College Preparatory Program for Young Women, Grades 9-12

Open House

Sunday, October 16, 2011 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Scholarship/ Entrance Exam Saturday, November 5, 2011 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

A Sponsored Work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph

120 W. Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031

• Education Rooted in the Catholic Faith • Cutting-Edge Technology • Intensive Scheduling • Small Classes and Attentive Faculty • Honors & Advanced Placement Courses • 100% College Acceptance • Extensive Community Service Programs • Diverse Extracurricular Activities • Outstanding Athletic Teams

(215) 233-9133 • admiss@msjacad.org • www.msjacad.org

Educating Founders Since 1858


120 West Wissahickon Avenue Flourtown, PA 19031-1899 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANGHORNE, PA PERMIT #118

Save the

Date! Monday, October 3, 2011 Blue Bell Country Club

19 th Annual

Golf Classic


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