THE POWER OF co mmunity St. Teresa’s Academy ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Current students and alumnae TABLE OF CONTENTS MISSION STATEMENT of St. Teresa’s Academy are 1 The Power of Community St. Teresa’s Academy is committed to truly blessed to the education of young women. We have benefited 4 Hear My Prayer are a Catholic, independent, college from the preparatory high school sponsored by 6 Endowing Education supporters in our passionate community. the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. This community bands together like no 8 Scholarships The Academy is rooted in Christian values other to ensure St. Teresa’s remains a and embraces a diverse student body. leader in education. As a result, this 9 Empowering Women We promote excellence in education historic, all-female school has survived through a challenging curriculum, personal 10 2017 Gifts over 151 years, longer than any other in responsibility, and participation in Kansas City. 12 Continued Connection extracurricular activities. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all 15 Giving Back those listed within these Annual Report pages. I also share deep gratitude for 18 Living the Mission those who have donated their time and talents with St. Teresa’s, as well 20 Academy 150 Capital Campaign as parents who entrust us with their 26 Designs on Education daughters’ educations. The talented, hard- working STA faculty and staff, who commit 27 In-Kind Gifts themselves to their profession and their students, help to make it all possible. 28 Honoring Lara In my recent talks with students, I’m 29 In Memoriam inspired by the fruits of the community’s Teresa of Avila Society support. Students consistently expressed, 30 Donors by Graduating Class “I feel like myself at St. Teresa’s;” “I can truly be who I am;” and “There’s 32 Mentoring Matters no other school like STA.” The power Nan Bone, Ed. Spec., M.A. of the St. Teresa’s Academy community 36 United by Music President has helped to create this model school, developed especially to empower young 38 Women’s Circle of Giving Barbara McCormick, Ed. Spec., M.A. Principal for Academic Affairs women to go out and change the world. 39 Funding a Dream Elizabeth Baker, Ph.D. With great appreciation, 40 Financial Overview Principal for Student Affairs Matching Gifts Nan Bone, President Michelle is Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer at Ogletree Deakins. INTRODUCTION BY MICHELLE WIMES St. Teresa’s Academy Board of Directors Chairperson THE COMMITMENT, ENTHUSIASM, AND GENEROSITY of a devoted community have been instrumental in establishing St. Teresa’s Academy as the leader in educating young women. Over the course of the last 151 years, with the help of the St. Teresa’s community, generations of young women have found their voices, their passions, and pursued their commitment to serve their own communities. I am proud to be part of the power of the THE St. Teresa’s Academy community. As the chairperson of the Board of Directors, and as a past STA parent, soon-to-be current parent, donor, and volunteer, I have seen firsthand the mission and vision of the Sisters POWER OF of St. Joseph at work. Due to the generous nature of our community, St. Teresa’s continues to achieve excellence in terms of educational trends, curriculum, facilities, extracurricular activities, and technology. COMMUNITY 1 “ I think community is so important to the success of St. Teresa’s, what we do and how we do it every day.” 2 DONORS MAKE IT POSSIBLE ensuring the same exceptional education community. The Board cares deeply about at St. Teresa’s is available for future the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, The gifts of the donors listed within these generations of young women. and is committed to ensuring that students Annual Report pages, as well as those who receive 21st century best practice came before them, are critical to the top- PARENTS SERVE CRUCIAL ROLES educational opportunities. To accomplish notch education our students receive. that goal, we are continually reviewing Whether their support comes through Parents are part of the living, breathing school policies, and adapting to reflect an the Capital Campaign, Academy Fund, community of St. Teresa’s Academy. We have ever-evolving world. endowment, or in-kind donations (to name a the unique opportunity to raise funds to Some of the challenges the Board faces few), a glance at our college matriculation maintain the quality of education that STA relates to diversity and inclusion, and rates (99%-100%), composite ACT scores, provides. Parents are active in serving on the technology. STA’s current long-range athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular Auction and Capital Campaign committees, strategic plan includes specific objectives activities clearly provide evidence of the as well as contributing financially to their toward diversity and inclusion, including amazing impact donors make. successes. Parents dedicate impressive attracting and retaining a diverse faculty amounts of time in support of St. Teresa’s. and staff. These goals and action steps will ALUMNAE EMPOWER FUTURE The Star Galaxy Diversity Committee, Star continue to be among our priorities. GENERATIONS Shop, StarCups, and fundraising efforts would not be possible without them. St. Teresa’s continually works to stay ahead Alumnae of St. Teresa’s Academy (like my of technology to best prepare our students two daughters) use their powerful voices, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FACES for their academic and career futures. To their time, and their gifts to advance in IMPORTANT CHALLENGES do so, investments have been made in our their lives and careers, while impacting and facilities, curriculum, and tools to help give serving their communities. The contributions The Board of Directors of St. Teresa’s graduates a competitive edge. of time and money given on behalf of Academy plays an important role within the the alumnae community are crucial in Pictured (l to ri): Sydney (’15), Saige (’22), Brian, Michelle, and Gabby Wimes (’17) 3 2017 | DONORS BY GRADUATING CLASS HEAR MY PRAYER Students lift each other up in prayer through the new Prayer Wall. 4 Sophomore students submit and collect prayers from the Prayer Wall before their Class Mass. THE ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY PRAYER WALL Andrea Essner, director of campus ministry is found outside the Chapel of St. Joseph and service, expressed, “The Prayer Wall “ It’s a good way to bring the in the Windmoor Center. As students enter helps to illustrate the powerful reality that STA sisterhood full circle. the Chapel for Class Masses, Adoration, we are all connected to one another, that or independent prayer, they may post an we all are struggling with similar things and Holding the anonymous anonymous petition on the “Hear My Prayer” can relate to one another.” prayers in your heart, wall. Those entering the Chapel may select a prayer to lend their voices to the intention. At the end of the fall semester, over 500 lifting it up to God, brings The prayer is pinned on the “Your Prayer has petitions had been offered for prayer. Senior the sense of community been Heard” wall upon leaving. Maura Graham said, “I love giving up Mass for someone else. It takes the stress from together even more.” someone, and brings the STA community together to be there for one another.” – Claire Wunder (’19) STA Daily Prayer Coordinator 5 1993 Jennifer Gray 2003 Alex Persley 2012 Anja Browning 2017 | DONORS BY GRADUATING CLASS 1993 Catherine Cucar 2003 Kelly Harbison 2012 Megan Ehrnman 1993 Monica Newell 2003 Rachel Hogan 2012 Fabiola Gutierrez 1993 Jill Etem 2003 Ashley Price 2012 Viridiana Hernandez 1993 Tram Nguyen 2004 Katie Kellerman 2012 Amanda Koch 1993 Jennifer LaScala 2004 Lindsey Zapien 2012 Madeline Meloy 1994 Emily Twyman 2004 Molly Huber 2012 Briana Wells 1994 Andrea Mura 2004 Stefanie Schwalbe 2012 Bailey Whitehead ENDOWING1994 Teressa James 2004 Juana Summers 2013 Emma Allen 1994 Andrea Cummings 2005 Aristee Lubar 2013 Katherine Becker 1994 Alison Heryer 2005 Shannon VanBuskirk 2013 Emily Cosgrove 1994 Maria David 2005 Sarah Hylander 2013 Gracie Fleming 1995 Elizabeth Barnes 2005 Rebecca Rogers 2013 Kelly Gardella 1995 Christina Carollo 2005 Kim Kennaley 2013 Sydney Hunter 1995 Sarah Elmore 2005 Katie McSorley 2013 Isabella Matthews 1995 Jennifer LaScala 2005 Katie Kellerman 2013 Emmie McCabe EDUCATION1995 Dorothy Le 2006 Elizbeth Duff 2013 Madeline Medina With a $100,000 gift to St. Teresa’s Academy in 1993, the Forster 1995 Kelley Smith 2006 Molly Hamid 2013 Lauren Nagle Powers Charitable Trust began a 24-year long tradition of helping 1996 Jennifer Cummings 2006 Katie Kellerman 2013 Rachel Smith 1996 Colleen Kampman 2006 Kim Kennaley 2013 Maddie Summers to fund the education of hundreds of young women. 1996 Erin Rockford 2006 Lauren Medina 2013 Elizabeth Taylor 1996 Jennie Schmidt 2006 Lauren Michael 2014 Jewell Allen 1996 Amy Setter 2006 Rozanne Troxell 2014 Alexia Arrieta 1996 Rissy Yahaya 2007 Julia Adriano 2014 Anna Barone 1997 Ashley Bivens 2007 Sarah Duff 2014 Daisy Calderon 1997 Sarah Brown 2007 Rachel Knox 2014 Maya Charles 1997 Jeanne Caffrey 2007 Chloe Lundgren 2014 Gloria Cowdin 1997 Kelly Crawford 2007 Lauren Medina 2014 Sophia Cusumano 1997 Daphne Mack 2007 Lauren Michael 2014 Maggie Knox 1997 Shelly Wynn 2007 Angelique Short 2014 Lily Koppen 1998 Sarah Brown 2008 Carlie Campbell 2014 Delaney Meyer 1998 Becky Burnett 2008 Lauren Durie 2014 Siobbhan Rowan 1998 Jennifer Cummings 2008 Rachel Knox 2014 Hallie Ryan 1998 Mahtab Fakhari 2008 Eilene McSorley 2014 Moira White 1998 Jaqui Jacobson 2008 Lauren Medina