w e N ^ Spring 2010 Volume 6, No. 1
Extending the Mission
of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and College into the 21st Century
www.ursulinesmsj.org alumnae.msj@maplemount.org
Alums from Thailand make their first visit back to the Mount
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now often brings back memories of days gone by, but for Valliya Janekarnkit Mekpongsatorn, it reminds her of the days as a student at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Valliya, of San Marino, Calif., graduated from the Academy in 1980, a year after her sister, Busra Janekarnkit Sosothikol. Both the women came to the Mount from their native Thailand for their last two years of high school. Valliya (pronounced “Vuhlee-uh”) was on a trip to London recently, and while riding on a bus with snow all around, she was struck by how much the scene reminded her of Maple Mount. She told her husband she wanted to visit the Mount. She searched for Mount Saint Joseph on the Internet and found the community’s Web site. She found her name among the “lost alumnae,” and e-mailed Marian Bennett, director of Ursuline partnerships, on Jan. 13 with her contact information, saying she’d like to visit the Mount soon. On Jan. 29, Valliya and her 18year-old daughter, Vanessa, were in the campus dining room, along with Busra and her daughter Cindy, 22, having lunch with former teacher
Members of the Janekarnkit family visited Mount Saint Joseph Jan. 29. Joining them for lunch were, at left, Sister Mary Angela Matthews, their former principal, and at right, Sister Catherine Marie Lauterwasser, their former teacher. BELOW: Stopping for a photo in the Motherhouse Chapel were, left to right, Cindy Sosothikol, her mother Busra Janekarnkit Sosothikol, Valliya Janekarnkit Mekpongsatorn, and her daughter Vanessa Mekpongsatorn.
Sister Catherine Marie Lauterwasser and former principal Sister Mary Angela Matthews. Neither Valliya nor Busra had been to the Mount since they graduated. “Since my sister was going to visit, I said, ‘Why don’t we come here together?’” Valliya said. They flew into Louisville on Jan. 28, and drove to Maple Mount the morning of Jan. 29. They headed back to Louisville later that day, concerned about the winter storm that arrived later that evening. Busra, who lives in Bangkok, Thailand, told Sister Catherine Marie she thinks of her often when she drives, because Sister Catherine Marie was her driver’s education teacher. “(Busra) told me she knew how to drive in the snow because of
you,” Valliya said to Sister Catherine Marie. The Janekarnkit sisters were taught by Ursulines at Mater Dei School in Bangkok through their sophomore years of high school. Their father was working in Thailand and learned through a bank client about Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Busra came first by herself, with younger sister Valliya coming the next year. Continued on page 6
Mount Saint Joseph Academy & Junior College Reunion Schedule Saturday, May 15, 2010 Please join us! 2 p.m............... Registration 2-5 p.m............ Optional: Class Meetings & Visiting 4 p.m............... Mount Saint Joseph Museum Tours 5 p.m............... Supper 6:30 p.m.......... Evening Prayer Joan Clayton Payne A’49, second from left, 7 p.m............... Welcome Back Reception models a Mount Saint Sunday, May 16, 2010 Joseph sweater at the 8 a.m............... Registration 2009 alumnae reunion. With her are classmates 8:30 a.m.......... Business Meeting Betty Rumage Bickett, 10:30 a.m........ Reunion Liturgy left, and Rosella Cotton 11:45 a.m......... Class Photos Whitsett and Gertie 12:30 p.m........ Banquet and Awards Hall Mayhew, right.
Note: All times Central