News from Mother Mcauley High School This Is a Publication of St
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inscapeWINTER 2014 News from Mother McAuley High School This is a publication of St. Xavier Academy/ Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. our mission MOTHER McAULEY LIBERAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL is a Catholic educational community committed to providing a quality secondary education for young women. In the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy and their foundress, Catherine McAuley, we prepare students to live in a complex, dynamic society by teaching them to think critically, communicate effectively, respond compassionately to the needs of their community and assume roles of Christian leadership. In partnership with parents, we empower young women to acknowledge their giftedness and to make decisions with a well-developed moral conscience. We foster an appreciation of the diversity of the global community and a quest for knowledge and excellence as lifelong goals. PRESIDENT Mary Acker Klingenberger ‘75 PRINCIPAL Claudia Woodruff For nearly 170 years, Mother McAuley High School, preceded by Saint Xavier Academy has provided to young women of Chicagoland, a quality Catholic education seeped in the Mercy tradition. This would not be possible without the generous support of the Sisters of OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mercy, alumnae, donors, the community, and our many volunteers. This year we’ve coupled this table of contents VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL annual report with Inscape, our alumnae magazine, as we believe it’s the best way to share with you examples of how your gifts have helped to prepare our students for college, careers and Letters 3-5 ADVANCEMENT Carey Temple Harrington ’86 leadership roles in our community. Funding our Future 6-9 ALUMNAE COORDINATOR Gift of Giving 10 This past year, the areas of focus for the Board of Trustees included stabilizing enrollment, Linda Balchunas Jandacek ‘84 ensuring financial stability, and welcoming our new president, Mary Acker Klingenberger ’75, Paying it Forward 11 our first alumna president. Today, I am pleased to report that our enrollment is strong, our ANNUAL FUND/DATABASE SPECIALIST balance sheet is healthy, and Mary has enjoyed a wonderful homecoming. Each of these All-Class Reunion 12-13 JoAnn Foertsch Altenbach ‘76 milestones offers a seamless transition for Mother McAuley to continue its rich tradition Hall of Fame Inductees 14-15 GRANT WRITER and diligently plan for the future. In Memory, Sister Christian Molidor 16 Sr. Liz Pardo, IHM The board is committed to building on the great strength and history of Mother McAuley. Alumnae Happenings 17 Creating a clear vision of the future is our highest priority. The board with our president, Financial Information 18-19 administration, alumnae, parents and students is crafting our long-term vision in a strategic plan. ALUMNAE BOARD OFFICERS Student Accomplishments 20 The strategic plan will guide Mother McAuley on a course to meet the future needs of families PRESIDENT who value Catholic education and academic excellence. The action plan will become the guide Celebration 2014 21 Jodi Farrell ’84 to allow future generations to experience the lifetime advantage that a Mother McAuley Donors 22-28 education provides. VICE PRESIDENT School News 29-35 Bridget McIlvain ‘88 During these past few years of economic uncertainty for so many of our families, the support of Announcements 36-39 alumnae, friends and supporters of Mother McAuley has made Catholic education possible for PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR many of our students. We are blessed beyond measure by your prayers, service and philanthropy. Tracy Duffy ‘94 As we look to the future, we continue to ask for your prayers and your gifts which are essential SECRETARY to our mission. Virginia Schumann Petrancosta ‘94 On the cover: The Valiant Woman, painted by In Mercy, McAuley faculty member, Kathy Gordon-Davis. Photos by H & R Imaging Design and layout by Karen Culloden Hoey ‘84 Anne Edwards Cotter ‘73 Printing by Accurate Printing Chair of the Board of Trustees 3 Change. Some shirk at the mere mention of the word, while others revel in the possibilities at which it The 2012-2013 year saw many accomplishments. This Annual Report allows hints. In our nearly 170 year history, Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School has weathered much change; us to celebrate the achievements of our faculty and students that have been made possible through the from changes to our campus, to changes to our curriculum, to the changing faces of our students, and more. significant support of our benefactors. Thank you! Your partnership in our mission is crucial to our success And while change remains inevitable, one thing remains constant: our mission to ensure our rich tradition of in providing a quality Catholic education spiritually grounded in the Gospel values of our Catholic faith providing educational excellence for young women. and in harmony with the Mercy charism. All that we do at Mother McAuley is made possible by your support and financial generosity. We are blessed Today we remain student focused. We continue to build and thrive while providing an academically with a stable enrollment, strong academic profile, and a network of nearly 25,000 alumnae. By assisting with enriching curriculum, a prosperous learning environment, and opportunities that foster community. This our school ministry, you have added to the rich and storied history of Mother McAuley. More importantly, you past year was marked by tremendous growth in these areas. We made significant capital improvements have provided opportunities for other students and families to experience and become a part of our McAuley with the opening of two new Chemistry Labs; network and wireless technology upgrades; and, curriculum community. For that, we all are extremely grateful. review and enhancement through the initiation of our Apple iPad® Integration Initiative. The introduc- tion of the iPad integrates the best aspects of a traditional education with the innovative technologies that Today, we endure difficult economic times. A faltering economy requires people to remain good stewards of our support multiple learning styles. resources. Frequently, one item we may find easy to trim from our budget is charitable giving. Paradoxically, it is in times like these that charity is most needed. During prosperous times or lean, we rely on the charity of The history of Mother McAuley is a story of leadership and service to the community. From Francis Xavier our supporters for the continuation and development of the educational and co-curricular programs that make Warde in the year 1846 came the vision and commitment to a Catholic high school education for young Mother McAuley the stellar school it is. Tuition alone does not cover the budgeted expenses of operating this women in Chicago: a place for spiritual growth and academic learning. That vision, and the belief in what vibrant and vital campus. we were doing as a unique opportunity for women of faith was filled with hope and possibility. We are proud to foster and encourage this tradition with each and every student we serve. We are confident it has been It is often the case that a small percentage of parents, alumnae and friends carry the weight of stewardship for the recipe for the extraordinary success of so many of our students. Mother McAuley. As people find their pockets a little emptier, more of us are needed to step up and make a sacrifice to support causes we hold dear. I hope that, for you, Mother McAuley is a special place you want to Our predecessors looked to the future, and dreamed of what could be. They dreamed of opportunities, they nurture and advance. For it is in the rich soil of tradition that we cultivate new growth; we cultivate compas- built an incredible academic program, and as the future unfolded and the student body grew, our campus sion, success and leadership in each girl who enters our doors. flourished with new opportunities for our young women. We continue to dream, we will always believe, and with your commitment, we grow with each new challenge. Thank you for sharing in this remarkable As we look toward the future, we will continue to acknowledge the importance of individual gifts and efforts journey. which collectively lead to new growth and allow us to state with confidence that the best days of Mother McAuley are yet to be experienced. Please join me in growing our vision. I ask you to use the envelope in- In Mercy, cluded in this magazine to give what you can to Mother McAuley, or make a donation through our website, in recognition for whatever role it plays in your life: your alma mater, your daughter’s school, or a beacon of excel- lence in Catholic, liberal arts, college preparatory education for women. Through your pledge and prayers, we Mrs. Claudia Woodruff can ensure many more magnificent chapters in the annals of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. Principal In prayer, gratitude, and mercy, Mary Acker Klingenberger ‘75 President Pictured: Mother McAuley legacy students for the 2013 - 2014 school year. 4 5 What is the impetus behind creating this program? values are clear, the decisions are easy. Jenny Costello Fortner (JCF): Thinking back to my days MAS: The current financial climate has pushed more women as a high school and college student, I knew very little about into the role of primary breadwinner and chief primary the investment field, finance, or the concept of saving and stakeholders in their family’s financial future. Sixty percent investing. I was first inspired to learn more about the financial of small businesses are run by women, and women make over world through my uncle, Mark DeHertogh, a former McAuley 80% of the financial decisions in their households right now. basketball coach and mentor throughout my life. My freshman The importance of empowering women with solid financial year of college, I was studying clinical psychology, and Mark was knowledge to make smart financial decisions is critical.