June Alumnae News - The Academy of the Holy Cross

June 2017

ALUMNAE NEWSLETTER

Congratulations to All 2017 Graduates!

Whether high school, college or graduate school…remember, you are where you are because you were here! Remember to always keep Holy Cross in your hearts.

Planned Giving Seminar

Join us on Thursday, June 15, from 12:00 noon - 2:30 pm for a Planned Giving Seminar hosted by Phil Fish, CFP and Sandy Spring Bank and sponsored by The Academy of the Holy Cross Advancement Office. We will meet in the Theatre Lobby. A light lunch will be served beginning at noon followed by the presentation and a Q & A session.

Please RSVP by Friday, June 9 to Charly Ryan at (301) 929-6447 or cryan@academyoftheholycross.org.

See details here

Distinguished Alumnae Awards/Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

The Distinguished Alumnae and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place on Friday, May 12 in the Holy Cross Theatre.

2017 Distinguished Alumnae recipients: Karen Schmelzer Jacobsen '81 and Dominica Groom '00.

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: 2004 and 2005 WCAC Champion Tennis Teams.

Congratulations to these remarkable alumnae.

(L-R) Megan Hendon Harbold '00*, Dominica Groom '00, Karen Schmelzer Jacobsen '81, and Kathleen Burgess Clark '82* (*presenters)

(L-R) Tina Pappas Cron '05, Brittany Bigelow '05, Angela Fuccillo '06, Maria Fuccillo '09, Courtney Radcliff '06, and Mary-Kate Rasa '05

Jeasmine Ebessa '18 Receives Coach Sheahan Excellence Award

The Academy presented the Coach Sheahan Excellence Award to Jeasmine Ebessa '18 on Tuesday, May 23, during the Underclass Awards Ceremony. The award, given as a surprise to the recipient, is named after the late Bill Sheahan, who coached the Academy's basketball team to its 115-game winning streak and enjoyed a 27-year relationship with the Academy. This is the fifth year for the award, which is presented to a rising senior who exemplifies the values that Coach Sheahan ascribed to in his own life and coaching style: a Christ-centered life, a devotion to family, a conscientious student, a leader and person of integrity and commitment who is loyal to herself, her school, and her community. The award includes a scholarship towards tuition.

Jeasmine was nominated by Outdoor Track and Field Coach Bryan Hoffman, who wrote, "[Jeasmine] is a wonderful individual to coach and her personal and family values show true with each action she takes. Her faith is important to her and guides the decisions she makes. Her teammates look up to her and my entire coaching staff is amazed at what she can accomplish when she takes the lead. If something needs to be done, there is no hesitation in asking her to manage it and we know that it will not only be done on time, but correctly."

Athletic Director Lisa Schrader announced the award and included a remark from last year's recipient, Jessica Falcinelli '17, who noted how special it was to receive the award.

Annual Fund

Thanks for a great Annual Fund year!

We are still tallying our Tartan Challenge final numbers, but we can safely say we surpassed our $50,000 goal! Alumnae contributions truly make the difference.

If you didn't have a chance to give, you can be the first to give for the 2017-2018 year! Let's set a new record for our 150th Anniversary!

Thank you for your support!

Make a Gift

150th Anniversary Golf Tournament

Friday October 13, 2017 • 12:00 noon

Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, MD

The Golf Tournament website will be live soon with great opportunities to sponsor, participate or volunteer. Consider arranging an alumnae foursome and join us! Last year we raised over $25,000 for Holy Cross.

Contact Chair Marc Bruno at (301) 717-6352 or marc.bruno@yahoo.com for more information.

Kate Axelsson '14, learned improv at Holy Cross starting in her freshman year under the tutelage of Performing Arts teacher Dale Placek. Kate, now a student at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, is featured in the article entitled "What Laughter Can Teach You" (read it here). Kate recently returned to Holy Cross as the keynote speaker for the Performing Arts Gala.

Holy Cross Mourns the Loss of Kelly Mikules

It was with sadness that The Academy of the Holy Cross received news of the death of P. Kelly Mikules, 71, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. Kelly, whose wife Carol Ann Hook Mikules was an alumna from the class of 1963, was a generous Holy Cross donor. Following Carol's death in 2009, Kelly funded a $300,000 scholarship endowment in Carol's name. Additionally, he supported events of the Academy's lacrosse teams during their spring trips to California. Most recently, Kelly was a major contributor to The Difference We Make campaign which provided the air conditioning of the Carol Ann Hook Mikules Student Commons.

Helen R. White '59 (far right), President of the American News Women's Club, is pictured here with Jeffrey Ballou, President of the National Press Club; Lisa Sullivan, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Makita Francis, Howard University, Washington, DC; Susan Page, USA Today, for the 2017 ANWS Scholarship Awards.

Holy Cross Memorabilia Donations Wanted

As we plan for the 150th anniversary of The Academy of the Holy Cross, we are working on displays which will help tell our magnificent story.

Additionally, we are collecting memorabilia and items to be preserved in our archives. If you have something that you would like to donate, please contact Danielle Ballantine at dballantine@academyoftheholycross.org or at (301) 929-6462.

Attention Classes of 1954, 1959, 1967 - Yearbooks Needed!

We have copies of Holy Cross yearbooks in our archives from every year EXCEPT 1954, 1959, and 1967. If you have an extra yearbook from one of these years and would like to help complete our collections please contact Danielle.

Uniforms Wanted

We are also collecting uniform items. If you have uniform items that you would like to donate please contact Danielle.

Friday, November 10 • 7:00 pm
All-Alumnae Anniversary Reunion

You asked for us to bring back the all-alumnae reunion…and we listened! This year we want every class represented…so gather your classmates and see if your class can win the prize for the best attendance! Veteran's Day weekend is the perfect time to spend in DC. So get your friends together, make your reservations, and let's party!

This is EVERYONE'S Reunion Year! We hope that you will join us on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm on campus for our All-Alumnae 150th Anniversary Reunion!

Schedule:

12:00 noon: Campus Tours

2:00 pm: Junior-Senior Powder Puff football game

7:00 pm: All-Alumnae Reunion Celebration

Spouses/Guests welcome • $25 per person includes food and beverages

This is a perfect time to reconnect with your old friends and classmates – and meet new Holy Cross "sisters."

More details are forthcoming. Watch your Alumnae Newsletter for information.

See the "Save the Dates" information here for all of the exciting events which will take place during our 2017-2018 150th Anniversary celebration!

For additional information, contact:

Kathleen Warner Bula '79
kbula@academyoftheholycross.org
(301) 929-6463

We have some class reps who are working with classmates for the all-alumnae event. However, not every class currently has a willing volunteer to be the "connection" – will you volunteer and help your class have the most attendees? Let's rock the 150th with our best all-alumnae reunion ever!

Class Reunions

Classes ending in -2 and -7

The Alumnae Office is here to support your class reunion plans! We can provide you with your class list, mailing labels, location ideas, or help in a variety of ways. Please contact Kathleen Bula at (301) 929-6463.

Upcoming Reunions:

Class of 1962 – Organizer(s) needed. Please contact Kathleen Bula or (301) 929-6463.

Class of 1967 – 50th Anniversary Reunion: Sunday, June 4, 5:00 pm. Please RSVP immediately to Kathleen Bula at (301) 929-6463. On Monday, June 5, beginning at 10:30 am, members of the Class of 1967 are invited as honored guests of the Class of 2017 for brunch at Holy Cross and a bus ride to and from the graduation ceremony at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where they are invited to process with the graduates.

Class of 1972 – Organizer(s) needed. Please contact Kathleen Bula or (301) 929-6463.

Class of 1977 – If you are interested in helping to plan your 40th reunion, please contact Christy Anastasi Sims at simschristy6@gmail.com.

Class of 1982 – 35th Anniversary Reunion: Powder Puff game at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 10 on Ridgway Field at the Academy. A cocktail "hour" will be held at the home of Lisa Ridgway Slater from 5:30-7:00 pm followed by the All-Alumnae Anniversary Reunion. Please contact Mary Beth Corso Kennedy at mbkennedy03@msn.com or (443) 416-7233 or Donna Homberg Kirby at dkirby@greater-potomac.com for more information.

Class of 1987 – 30th Year Reunion: Plans are in place to attend the All-Alumnae Anniversary Reunion on Friday, November 10, followed by dinner at a local restaurant (TBD) on Saturday, November 11. A Facebook Group has been formed (Academy of the Holy Cross Class of 1987). Please contact Lori Poveromo Haight at (919) 727-0770 or loriph8@gmail.com.

Class of 1992 – Organizer(s) needed. Please contact Kathleen Bula or (301) 929-6463.

Class of 1997 – 20th Anniversary Reunion: Coming in October–plan now to join your class at Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring, MD, Saturday, October 14, at 7:30 pm. For forthcoming details on this event, join the class Facebook group (search "Holy Cross c/o 97" on Facebook) or contact Laurie Menser (LaurieMenser@gmail.com) to be added to the announcement list.

Class of 2002 – Organizer(s) needed. Please contact Kathleen Bula or (301) 929-6463.

Class of 2007 – 10 Year Reunion – For more information, please contact: Natalia Darling – darling.natalia@gmail.com or Kelly Carlin – kmc039@bucknell.edu.

Class of 2012 – 5 Year Reunion – For more information, please contact: Caitlin Cahill – caitlincahill8@hotmail.com (301) 767-7861, Alyssa Carbonaro – acarbona@terpmail.umd.edu (301) 704-9555, or Jacqueline Colburn – j.colburn525@gmail.com (240) 750-9585.

Parents of Alumnae: We are now including you in our monthly alumnae emails! Please share news with your daughters and encourage them to send us their current email, cell and address information so they too will know what's happening at Holy Cross!