Annual Report2013-14 inside VISIONSVISIONSACADEMY of NOTREAcademy DAME of de NotreNAMUR Dame de Namur FALL 2014 NotreNotre DameDame WelcomesWelcomes Dr.Dr. JudithJudith A.A. DwyerDwyer asas itsits 4th4th PresidentPresident VISIONS MAGAZINE . FALL 2014 . 1 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT How does the Notre Dame community describe excellence? I am pleased to share this combined issue of Visions and the 2013-2014 Annual Report of Gifts with you. The magazine portion highlights the academic rigor, community engagement, and spiritual depth that continue to define our tradition of educational excellence. The report testifies to the generosity of so many members of our community, who support our mission and core values. Together, they tell the story of how the Academy honors the past, celebrates the present, and secures the future in the pioneering spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. How does Notre Dame describe excellence? Our students excel in academic, President artistic, and athletic achievements. Our alumnae continue to lead and achieve Eileen Wilkinson (see article on Margaret [Meg] Kane ’99, this year’s Notre Dame Award recipient, Principal on page 12). It is this legacy and dynamic learning environment that the gifts described in the Annual Report support. Jacqueline Coccia Academic Dean The “Our Time to Inspire” campaign seeks to ensure Notre Dame’s reputation Madeleine Harkins The Mansion. The Mansion continues to be a defining part of our school and our lives. as a premier Catholic academy for young women by providing an enhanced, Dean of Student Services 8 innovative, and dynamic learning environment. The transformation is underway. Trish Shea The front of the campus will provide one of the finest athletic facilities on the East Director of Marketing and Communications Coast; the remodeling of Launfal is near completion; plans for the restoration of INSIDE The Mansion and STEM facilities are advancing; and a liturgical and performing OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT arts center and a renovated student center are moving forward. In addition, we 6 Around ND .................................... 4 seek to grow the endowment and the Annual Fund. Paige Peters LeGrand Director of Advancement ND’s 4th Living Your ND ...........................12 Bold and ambitious? Yes. Realizable? Yes, with your continued support. Sally Orr President Associate Director of Advancement Class Notes ..................................14 Thank you for your extraordinary generosity this year. May God continue to bless Joy Antonoplos The installation of Director of Annual Fund Dr. Judith A. Dwyer you and your families. Annual Report ...........................21 Marielle DuBovec Mazda ’06 Associate Director of Alumnae Relations Gratefully, Financial Summary of Gifts ...23 Sarah McGovern Database Manager Class of ‘14 Matriculations ....24 Heather Godley Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D. Event Coordinator and Parent Liaison 10 2014 Reunion 2015 Events ................................31 President MAGAZINE STAFF Classes ending in Trish Shea 4s and 9s came together Meet Faculty Member Editor on October 18 Evan Thomas ..............................36 Kimberly Kelly Nicholl ’94 Design & Layout Meet Kelsey Glancy ‘15 ...........41 OUR MISSION The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, a Catholic, independent, CoveR PHoto CREDIT David Campli Photography college preparatory school, commits itself to the education of young women of grades 6 through 12 for responsible living in a global society. The Academy, rooted in the faith tradition of the Catholic Church, ADDITIONAL PHoto CRedits Mike DiTrolio 13 and the charism of Saint Julie Billiart, provides its students with a Evan Thomas challenging academic curriculum within a rich spiritual community in New Faces at order to Notre Dame • inspire them to live the prophetic nature of the gospel with a passion for justice and love for the poor, Paige Peters LeGrand VISIONS is a publication of the • enable them to develop the skills and desire necessary for lifelong Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (pictured) and Trish Shea for alumnae, parents, alumnae join the Notre Dame learning, parents, grandparents, and friends. community • empower them to be honorable, compassionate leaders. 2 . ACADEMY OF NOTRE Dame VISIONS MAGAZINE . FALL 2014 . 3 Around Notre Dame NEWS EVENTS Annual Gesu Picnic SPORTS Tennis The High School Varsity Tennis team finished with an overall record of 12-2, which is their best finish, placing them 4th in the InterAc Championships. Grace Leasure placed 3rd in the 1st singles division; Meredith Hughes placed 4th in the National Merit Recognition Mother Daughter Picnic Students Attend 2nd singles division; and Anne Marie Notre Dame is pleased to announce On September 12, Notre Dame held its Congressman Meehan’s Crinnion placed 1st in the 3rd singles that four seniors were named National annual Mother Daughter Picnic. The 1st Leadership Summit division. Entering its fifth decade, the annual Merit Semifinalists in the 2014 National weather was perfect for the celebration of Fifteen juniors from Notre Dame Gesu School picnic was held on Saturday, Merit Scholarship Competition: Lindsay Volleyball the special relationship between mothers participated in Congressman Patrick October 4. More than 150 middle school Michel, Jennifer Zack, Elise Higgins, The High School Volleyball team had and daughters. The day began with Meehan’s 1st Leadership Summit and high school students were paired with and Gabriella Carlini (pictured l-r above an overall record of 17-4 (a league mass followed by a picnic on the campus at Marple Newtown High School kindergarten through third grade Gesu with President Dr. Judith A. Dwyer [left] record of 7-1) and ended the season by grounds. on October 9. These students were students to enjoy sporting activities, arts and Principal Eileen Wilkinson). The winning the InterAc League title and recognized for their current leadership and craft projects, games, face painting, students will advance in the competition the PAISAA tournament title. or potential for leadership in our school and a moon bounce. This year’s theme, for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships community. “Gesu Goes to Oz,” transformed the worth about $33 million, which will Field Hockey school into the magical world of Oz with The Middle School Varsity Field be offered next spring. Dr. Dwyer Middle School students dressed in theme costumes. The Hockey team finished the regular praises the students for this wonderful Leadership Conference Academy’s students, who plan, produce, season going undefeated with a achievement. “Notre Dame commits The Middle School Student Council and staff the day, chose the Oz theme to 14-0 record and won the Catholic itself to quality, and our National Merit attended the first Middle School align with the school’s fall student musical, Academies regular season title, as well Semifinalists testify to that commitment. Leadership Conference hosted by The Wizard of Oz. Parents, faculty, and as the playoff championship. We are very proud of our students Germantown Academy. In October, the friends of Notre Dame donated healthy and their accomplishments.” Principal Father Daughter girls attended workshops on both self- The High School JV B Field Hockey food selections for the children to enjoy. Wilkinson agrees. “This is our time to Communion Breakfast awareness and communication followed team completed their season with a inspire at Notre Dame, yet it is these Liberty Medal Another Notre Dame tradition for by a teamwork activity. After lunch the record of 10-0-1. students who provide inspiration to us.” dads and their daughters, the event girls spent time with their own school on celebrates the special relationship and big a planning committee. The moderators Welcome Fields of Dreams impact fathers have on their daughter’s were equally engaged in a leadership The Athletic Department has hired The entire front of our campus continues development into a strong, confident workshop run by Gap International. two new Varsity High School lacrosse to be transformed with our new state-of- woman. coaches: Xan Weitzel has been named the-art turf fields and athletic facilities. the head coach and Maura Cullen An official opening and celebration of is the assistant varsity coach. Both the entire project will occur in spring coaches were Division 1 lacrosse 2015. At this time, we continue to engage players at Boston University and Thanks to members of the Notre Dame in important fundraising efforts to help Drexel University respectively, and community, seventeen Notre Dame finance these critical improvements to have club coaching experience. Xan students attended the Liberty Medal our campus. We are very proud of all was an assistant coach at Villanova Ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, our student-athletes and encourage you University for the women’s lacrosse honoring Malala Yousafzai, the 2014 to support our efforts to provide them team for four years. Maura is co- Nobel Peace Prize winner. Malala spoke with state-of-the-art facilities. For more owner of Motion Lacrosse in Wayne, about her campaign to make education information, contact Paige LeGrand, PA. We welcome them to our Notre available to girls around the world despite Director of Advancement, at Dame community. tremendous personal risks. (610) 687-3867. 4 . ACADEMY OF NOTRE Dame VISIONS MAGAZINE . FALL 2014 . 5 Another chapter in Notre Dame’s history The inauguration of Dr. Judith A. Dwyer as the school’s fourth president and chief unfolded on October 3 with