Winter 2021 Dear Parent of Alumnae,
We hope this note finds you and your family in good health. We are delighted to share with you this quarterly newsletter, where you can learn more about the Head of School Search, the 48th Annual Fine Art Show & Sale and more!
Please always feel free to connect with us about the exciting updates in your daughter's life! We love hearing from you and we take great pride in highlighting our amazing Alumnae! Enjoy the newsletter!
Warmest regards,
Lauren (Thomer) Power Director of Alumnae Relations 560 Sproul Road Villanova, PA 19085 Direct Line: 610-687-6561
The Buzz On Campus Honoring Traditions at Notre Dame Notre Dame is committed to preserving and safely reimagining our time-honored traditions. In the fall, the annual Mother-Daughter picnic and Opening Liturgy were held on campus for all seniors and their mothers. Grades 6-11, along with their mothers and special friends were able to participate in the Opening Liturgy virtually.
The Academy Continues to Host Virtual Open Houses and On Campus Tours! Notre Dame and the Admissions Team have hosted a series of virtual events for prospective families, including Virtual Open House with approximately 140 families in attendance.
Head of School Search Committee Update The Head of School Search Committee continues to post updates and progress on the search process here: Head of School Search Webpage. On this webpage, you may view the latest update and letter from Anne Vazquez '99, Chair of the Head of School Search Committee and Chair of the Board of Trustees.
"Thanks to a Technologically-driven Strategic Plan, Students at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Thrive – Even During a Pandemic." Notre Dame was featured in Main Line Today. You may read the article below!
The Archives on Campus: An Article from The Gates on March 17, 1966 Did you know? Dr. David Califf, English Department Chair and Instructor of English, Classics, and the History of Art,
If you have any items you wish to donate for display or the archives, please contact Director of Alumnae Relations, Lauren Power at Lpower@ndapa.org.
Alumnae in the Spotlight Lisa Raymond '91, Wimbeldon Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Adds Another Prestigious Accolade to Her Resume! Lisa Raymond '91 continues to inspire us with her unprecedented career achievements! Lisa was recently inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in honor of her successful tennis career. She's a National, International and Wimbledon Champion, and also won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Sr. Maureen Cannon O.P. Sq '50 Shares Her Remarkable Life Story as a Dominican Sister of Peace Sr. Maureen Cannon O.P. Sq '50 shares a raw and riveting reflection of her own experience entering the Convent in 1952 and life as a Dominican Sister. You may read her spectacular piece here!
Grace Bernicker '07 Shines as a Soulful Singer and Songwriter Grace Bernicker '07 is a singer and songwriter and typically performs as a duo with a guitar player. Grace spent 2016 living and writing in Nashville, getting back to her roots in pop and soul.
"Her music has been described as having a strong lyrical quality, that at one paints a picture and shares a story with her audience. Her style mixes girl-next-door sweetness with the soulful acoustic sounds similar to artists such as Adele and Sara Bareilles. Grace will make you feel."
As an independent artist, she's played in 200+ shows since her initial release and most recently opened for Jon McLaughlin at the Bryn Mawr Summer Concert Series. Other notable accomplishments include showcasing on the college tour circuit, opening for Joe Bachman at Milkboy Philly and being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Wawa Welcome America Taste of Philadelphia Singer/Songwriter Competition, which granted her an opportunity to perform at Penn's Landing. Grace has also been a finalist in the PA round of the Texaco Country Showdown, hosted by 92.5 WXTU. She was one of 100 artists asked to submit by Dodge for the Dodge, "Inspired by You" Contest, that granted the winning artist song placement in the 2013 Dodge Dart Commercial. Grace placed within the Top 15, as a fan-voted artist.
Grace is the Founder and Marketing Consultant at Social Graces Creative. She is an experienced marketing professional, well versed in business development, marketing strategy and operational needs for growing and established businesses. Grace says, "when others see details, I see the big picture. Strategy and ideation are my superpowers. I enjoy working with business owners on determining their long term goals and then building an effective strategy to get them there." Grace is passionate about working with startups, small businesses and music-based clients.
Grace's most recent musical accomplishment is the performance of "Stay". You can listen and watch here. To learn more about Grace's exciting career, visit here.
Eryka Waller '10 Turns Her Passion into Successful Entrepreneurial Business Eryka Lynn Waller '10 attended Temple University and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Social Work. Immediately after graduating, Eryka was accepted into the Advanced Standing Program at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research where she obtained her Masters of Social Services.
Eryka is a licensed social worker in the state of PA and has worked as a medical social worker, school social worker, early intervention social worker, and adoption social worker. Now, Eryka owns her own business, The Quinn Center for Performing Arts, where she uses her background of social work combined with performing arts to impact youth in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.
Eryka virtually presented to current students earlier this month, as part of the "social justice nights" hosted by Director of Campus Ministry, Julia Tully '08. "Social justice nights" are a virtual opportunity for students to meet someone who works directly in a field that serves others, while we are unable to take girls to service during the pandemic.
Eryka will also be presenting at our upcoming Senior Workshop: Preparing for Life Beyond Notre Dame in early spring.
Kristin Toland Spengler '92, Making her Mark as Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Kristin Toland Spengler '92 (picture above with her family) received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Georgetown University and her Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Kristin is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and spends much of her time in the NICU, taking care of her young patients and their parents.
Kristin's husband, Matt, reached out to share their story. "Kristin was also a NICU parent herself when our third child, Pierce, was born with complications and ended up passing away in her unit after 30 days. Despite this very difficult experience, she never for one minute stopped her passion or love for helping others and went right back to work in the same unit."
"When our first child James (now 15) was two years old, Kristin discovered a lump in his groin that ended up being a very rare sarcoma. After a year of chemotherapy and various surgeries at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, James was on the path to recovery. I credit her knowledge and ability in finding the tumor and knowing how to navigate a health system with saving his life. Coming out of that experience, Kristin founded the 9th Floor Foundation (the ninth floor is the Pediatric floor at Sloan Kettering) and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support families battling the financial realities of the illness."
Kristin currently cares for mothers with COVID-19 and helps them as they welcome new children into the world. Kristin has dedicated her life to helping others in their most challenging times. "I know Notre Dame played a role in who she is," said Matt.
Healthcare Heroes! Dr. Trish Henwood '98 Leading the Emergency Medicine COVID-19 Task Force at Jefferson Health Dr. Patricia Henwood '98 is an associate professor of emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University's Kimmel Medical College. Trish helped fight the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and now focuses on global health and infectious diseases, leading the Emergency Medicine Covid-19 Task Force at Jefferson Health.
Trish recently wrote an opinion piece for The Philadelphia Inquirer urging the public to observe social distancing and exercise patience during this pandemic. You may read the article here.
Kristin McGowan '05 Finds Rewarding Career, Specializing in Pediatrics Kristin McGowan '05 received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware in 2009. She has specialized in pediatric care working on the brain and spinal cord injury unit of Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD and providing full care services for an inter-city Baltimore High School. Just prior to the pandemic, Kristin re-joined Kennedy Krieger Institute in their PACT division, a specialized child care center for children who have medical conditions and developmental disabilities requiring daily nursing care. Once the pandemic hit, Kristin willingly accepted various nursing roles supporting inpatient pediatric units wherever she was needed within the Johns Hopkins Healthcare System.
Kristin will marry Justen Freeman on December 19, 2020. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Thank you to all of our amazing Alumnae who are Healthcare Heroes!
Wedding Bells are Ringing! Congratulations to DeAnna Supplee Evans '08 and her husband Malcolm Evans who were married on February 1, 2020 in Philadelphia at One North Broad. They met at the University of Pennsylvania over 10 years ago and currently reside in New York City.
Notre Dame Alumnae were in attendance including: Rachel Criner '08, Dawn Robinson '02, and Alexa Stoczko '08 (bridesmaid), and Juliann Downs '08. Additionally, DeAnna's sisters Jennifer Nearn '02 (who was married in May of 2019) and Charnae Supplee '10 were also bridesmaids. Deborah James '79, the aunt of DeAnna, created the floral arrangements and decor.
DeAnna is a successful actress with an exciting career in New York City. To learn more about her career, visit here.
Congratulations to Alumnae Board Member, Kristin McNeill '11 and Graeme Nicholls who were married on September 4, 2020 in a small ceremony. The couple plans to celebrate with a reception in September 2021.
Congratulations are in order for Jenna Meissner '12 and her fiance, Tate Jozokos. The couple got engaged on June 13, 2020.
Jenna's television career has taken off in recent years as a morning traffic anchor for PHL17. To learn more about Jenna's role, visit here and tune into PHL17, as she appears every morning from 5am - 9am.
Additional proposals and weddings featuring our Alumnae will be highlighted in the upcoming issue of Visions this winter!
Staying Connected -Virtually! The 48th Annual Fine Art Show & Sale will be entirely virtual this year with an online exhibition and sale taking place Saturday, January 30 through Sunday, February 7, 2021.
Early access tickets to the Preview Sale on January 29 are available here. The show will feature nearly 100 artists, including our featured artist, Jeannie Wolfington, and their works in a variety of mediums, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, ceramics, metals, and glass. For more information please contact: ndartshow@ndapa.org.
Award-Winning Artist, Wendy McClatchy '76, will be exhibiting her art in this year's 48th Annual Fine Art Show and Sale. After graduating from the Academy, Wendy attended Hollins College where she earned her Bachelor's in Studio Art and Art History, minoring in Psychology. She then worked multiple jobs to put herself through graduate school at Drexel, earning a Master of Art Psychology.
Today, Wendy is a professional artist whose work is inspired by places and objects she loves, including different land and seascapes with varying light-values and shadows. Her favorite medium is pastel, and she enjoys pushing the boundaries of the medium to capture a unique vibrancy. Wendy has participated in many ND art shows in the past, and she looks forward to the opportunity to be back again this year virtually. Her exhibited work will be a reflection and glimpse into what she is truly passionate about - painting and the emotions she feels for these subjects.
This year alone, Wendy has received two national awards for her work, including the Purchase Award from Degas Pastel Society and the Terry Ludwig Award from The Appalachian Pastel Society. She is represented by The Station Gallery in Greenville, DE, and The William Ris Fine Art Gallery in Stone Harbor, NJ.
We are delighted to share that we have launched the ND Alumnae Virtual Book Club. We have read and discussed the following books:
We just finished An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and we are currently reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, which we will discuss on February 9, 2021 at 7:30pm via zoom.
If you or your daughter are interested in joining our book club, please email Lpower@ndapa.org.
We are incredibly grateful for the support our community has made, particularly as the 2020 year came to an end. The season of giving was on full display from our amazing supporters. Thank you to those who gave to our annual Notre Dame Fund, the most important financial initiative we have at Notre Dame. This fund impacts every student and has provided opportunities for success in academics, the arts, athletics, diversity, equity and inclusion and countless other areas.
It is, of course, not too late to donate! This year, our faculty and staff have gone to great lengths to ensure that each student receives the excellent education that Notre Dame has been known for since 1856. Now, more than ever, your gift will make a difference.
You can donate now via online, making a stock transfer or mailing a check, or through Venmo (@AcademyofNotreDamedeNamur).
Questions? Contact: Mimi Koelle 610-971-4919 / mkoelle@ndapa.org.
A Call for Class Notes! Share Your Good News! Visit our Alumnae Class Notes page here to send us announcements of personal accomplishments of your daughter's family and life events. Please include a professional photo or a photo that we may use for publications. We look forward to highlighting these special times in our Monthly Digital Newsletter and Visions Magazine.
Please encourage your daughter to join our private Linkedin networking page here! On this page, we provide updates on our news and events, along with highlight our Alumnae! Additionally, if we learn of internships and other career opportunities, we post the information on this page.
We are approaching 500 Alumnae members and would love to continue to grow this professional networking opportunity! Thank you!
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