ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL LauncheS LeaD PROgRam

VOL. 1 • SPRing 2012
Elizabeth Seton High School
Launches LEAD Program
a standards-based pre-engineering program
A PUBLICATION OF ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 1
SPRING 2012
3
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
MESSAGE
4 - 5
WORDS OF WISDOM
6 - 7
HALL OF FAME
8
Giving Society
9
P r i n c i p a l ’ s
message
10 - 15
L E A D C O M E S
TO SETON
16
Honor - The Height
of Leadership
17
recognition
celebration
18
ICA Association
20
Rose garden
21 - 22
CLASS NOTES
Front Cover: From left to right:
JoEllen Gray ’86, Lead Instructor,
Grace Tarnoksy ’14, and
Paige DeLoach ’14.
23
In Memory
Advancement TEAM
Sister Ellen Marie Hagar, ‘74
President
Vision
Erica Corbin, ‘00
Associate Director
The young women of Elizabeth Seton High School will become more confident, creative and compassionate. Their love for God and others will
empower them to lead, to collaborate, and to serve in the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Louise de Marillac.
2

Mission
Is College-Prepared
Enough???
Since its inception, Elizabeth Seton
High School has prided itself on
its strong academic program that
has afforded its students an excellent
foundation for college curriculums
and for earning millions of dollars in
college financial aid and scholarships.
It has evoked continual gratitude
from graduates in every era who have
remarked, “Seton really prepared me
well. I was truly ready for college
because of my writing abilities and my
study skills.”
In l992, the emphasis on Seton as a college
preparatory high school was highlighted
when the school’s leadership determined
that a college preparatory program would
be central to the mission of Elizabeth
Seton High School. It was agreed that
the time had come to say goodbye to a
business program, home economics and
typing and shorthand. Those courses
would be eliminated so that every student
would engage in an outstanding college
preparatory curriculum.
Now, twenty years later, I join other
educators who are asking, “Is collegeprepared
enough?” According to a recent
study by the Georgetown Center on
Education and the Workforce, published
in the January 13-19, 2012 edition of
Washington Business Journal, “The
workforce unemployment rates among
recent college graduates are tied to their
degrees. Overall, the unemployment rate
is 8.9%. The lowest rate of recent grads is
among those with degrees in engineering,
the sciences, education, and health care
who are at just 5.4%”.
This change in the workforce of today
is keenly felt by CEOs who can’t find
enough engineers to hire and by
economists who see the United States’ role
in the global economy being challenged
by other countries who are focusing
on the fundamentals of innovation.
Most importantly, this change is being
continuously felt by college graduates
themselves who are now working in
restaurants and retail, outside of their
college degree, while still living at home
with mom and dad because they can’t
find a job.
The impact of this situation is a significant
issue for business, for educators, and for
parents, themselves, who are making
untold sacrifices every day for the future
of their children.
I, personally, find this reality to be an ethical
responsibility for the administration
and the faculty of Elizabeth Seton High
School who strive to fulfill the vision of
our school. I am incredibly thankful for
my colleagues who are working tirelessly
to design and implement a curriculum
that is responsive to the changes of our
time. I am so proud of Seton not only
for initiating the new LEAD program,
but also for advancing its technology
curriculum and for enhancing its digital
arts instruction. Every day, I am privileged
to see the talent and creativity of our
young women given more opportunities
and raised to new heights.
Yes, the graduates of Elizabeth High
School will remain college prepared,
but even better, I believe that they will
be career-positioned. I believe that our
Seton students will indeed be able to
accomplish the hopes held for them by
their parents and the dreams that they
are determined to pursue. Reflecting on
this even further, I find myself saying,
“It’s nothing more than the light to know
(college-prepared) and the grace to do
(career-positioned): Elizabeth Seton High
School’s timeless motto from a woman
who was responsive to the realities of her
life, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Elizabeth Seton High School educates young women by engaging them in a challenging, college preparatory curriculum and
in the teachings of the Catholic Church. We promote a community that values diversity and is rooted in service to others.
3

isdom
Amara Chaudhry ’12
offers words of wisdom
to her classmates as they
pursue global studies.
4

Words of Wisdom from the Workforce:
Seton Students in Summer Internships
For many Seton students, the
summer is not simply a time for
late sleeping, basking in the sun,
or family vacations. Rather, it is a time
to gain practical work experience while
interning in careers of interest.
Caitlin Byrd ‘12
Advocate for the Disabled
Caitlin Byrd spent the last two
summers as an intern at the District
of Columbia Department on Disability
Services, working with attorneys who
advocate for clients who have disabilities
so that they can receive the services they
need to function in their everyday lives.
Off to court, Caitlin went to witness
judges making rulings about services
their clients needed such as healthcare,
guardianship and caretaking. Behind
the scenes, Caitlin would gather client
information, develop spreadsheets, and
organize office affairs.
Caitlin claimed that the value of this
internship was in “learning to be
professional. I learned how to
dress professionally, to interact
with different types of adults (which
could be intimidating), and to exhibit
professional etiquette in relating to
others. When I saw issues in the office,
I learned to stay out of it. I worked
hard to look beyond personalities and
to be respectful of everyone. Most of all,
I learned that people with disabilities
are like everyone else when it comes to
wanting their basic needs to be met”.
Her Words of sWisdom for the Workforce:
“Be kind at all times
because people
remember your
kindness more than
anything else.”
s
Sherell Sloan left Maryland this
summer to enter the Daniel Fox Youth
Scholars Program for Music in Annville,
Pennsylvania. Her goal was to write and
produce a song, which she not only did,
but in fact, she produced seven songs.
According to Sherell, “Songwriting in
this program began with expressing
my thoughts and emotions in poetry,
and then putting that poetry to music.
Later, I would meet with others in my
small group, share my work, and receive
their feedback”.
For Sherell, producing her first song, “If You
Hurt” was the fulfillment of a childhood
dream. Her parents said that she began to
sing as a baby. While she was in the 3rd
grade, her father realized her talent as she
sang in the church of which he was pastor,
and from that time forward, he kept her
singing. When she arrived at Seton and
took her place as a soprano in the Concert
Choir, she lost her shyness and wanted to
perform for others.
Sherell Sloan ‘12
Success in Songwriting
Now, her sights have changed considerably.
Beyond the thrill of producing songs,
this internship introduced Sherell to
the complexities of the music business
including how to manage people,
compensation norms for artists, and
the constant pressure of working with
agents and being in the public eye. She
is now certain that the music industry is
not for her because as she says, “the joy
of singing is often compromised by the
demands of the business and the feelings
of being used by others”. Instead, Sherell
is looking forward to using her talents to
help others through music therapy. She
is grateful for the clarity of vision that this
internship afforded her as well as for the
opportunity to make her wish come true.
s
Her Words of Wisdom for the Workforce:
“Trust in Yourself;
Develop a thick skin;
Be Yourself.”
scontinued on page 7
5

S e t o n H a l l o f F a m e S PA R K S a
Spirit of Thanksgiving
On October 9th, 2011, Sister
Ellen Marie Hagar inducted
four outstanding members of
the Seton Community into the Elizabeth
Seton High School Hall of Fame.
Their lives model the heart of Christ as
they have gone above and beyond to give
of themselves to help others. In turn, the
young women of Seton who have been
blessed by their pure acts of selflessness
will forever remember the kindness and
generosity of those who have devoted
part of their lives to building a bright
future for others. Students, alumnae,
parents and friends of Seton can attest
to the service and the love that each of
these four great honorees have given to
Seton High School making them perfect
candidates for the Hall of Fame.
From religion teacher to principal of
one of the most prestigious high schools
in the Archdiocese of Washington
for over 30 years, Sharon Pasterick
has nurtured countless young Seton
girls into strong, educated, and wise
women. By continuing to implement
new advances in Seton’s challenging
college preparatory curriculum as well
as appoint the perfect teachers who
are willing to invest an extraordinary
amount of time and effort into their
students, Mrs. Pasterick has fostered
Seton’s reputation of providing its
young women with a solid foundation
that is strong enough to position them
for any career of which they dream. Her
ongoing efforts to preserve the Seton
tradition of producing young women
who will make their mark in the world
are priceless. She is truly the face and
driving force behind Seton’s prominent
future.
Sister Rita Bozel was a truly progressive
woman of her time. Not only did she
spend 17 years teaching young Seton
women the art of math where she
pushed them to never give up until they
achieved the correct answer, but she also
encouraged them to discover a whole
new world that would lead them to the
doorstep of the future. She started the
computer science program at Elizabeth
Seton High School where students
could learn computer programming
and take classes that prepared them for
a career in the Information Technology
field. Sister Rita was, also, the backbone
of the athletic program.
Today, her former students hold her in
high regard as they keep her lessons
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Neely
close to their hearts, well into their
adulthood. Although, they may not
utilize linear functions day in and day
out, her lessons of perseverance, an
open mind to new ideals, and courage
to discover the unknown have become
second nature to them.
John and Jean Doran were devout
Catholics who worked hard as they lived
their life by the Word of God. With the
resources that they created during their
years of work, they decided to create
the Doran Family Foundation. After
retirement, they dedicated their time
and money toward “brick and mortar”
projects that would benefits teenage boys
and girls. They made a major contribution
Mrs. Sharon Pasterick Sister Rita Bozel Cathy Doran
6

toward the construction of Seton’s Brooks
Center, which has enhanced the athletic
and music programs.
With John and Jean now residing in a
nursing home, their children continue to
carry on the Doran Family Foundation,
which has helped many Catholic Schools
in the area. The Doran Family lives out
the Seton philosophy of service to others
by paying forward the blessings that
God has given to them over the years.
Because of their generosity, many young
adults will be morally, intellectually, and
socially prepared for the future.
Kim Neely, class of 1991, was the
epitome of Seton excellence. Her
teachers, friends and family remembered
her as a young adult who was active
in the Seton choir, who enjoyed her
religion classes, and who held her Seton
values close to her heart. Even into her
adulthood, she practiced serving others
and revered human life. She was her
family and friends biggest fan, and in
return they loved her tremendously.
Although, Kim is no longer with us on
earth, she remains an angel that rests
in the hearts of many. Her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Kenneth Neely, carry on her
memory by providing a scholarship to
a current Seton student whose moral
values and ambition replicate the spirit
of Kim. Seton is grateful for alumnae,
such as Kim, who set an example for
women of the future.
As stated in the Elizabeth Seton High
School Hall of Fame Creed, each of these
inductees has “imparted to Seton his or
her own desire to seek always the light
to know and the grace to do”. As family
and friends gathered on October 9th to
celebrate these inductions, a spirit of
thanksgiving filled the Seton auditorium:
a deep appreciation for each inductee
who has paved the way for the future of
our school and for the young women who
strive to be a part of its greatness. The
Elizabeth Seton High School Community
will be forever grateful for their service
and love.
Words of Wisdom from the Workforce (continued)
Gabrielle Wynn ‘12
The Vision of the Public Eyes
Gabrielle Wynn worked as an
intern for Prism Public Relations Firm
in Washington, DC. Clients sought
assistance from this firm to position
themselves well in the public eye both by
building relationships through effective
media and by doing damage control to
reduce negative perceptions.
Gabrielle was responsible for
maintaining the client’s public media
portfolio by gathering daily media clips
of the client’s business through the use of
a variety of search engines and through
extensive media reading. In doing so,
Gabrielle said she learned the value of
“time management, of accuracy in your
research, and of trying new tasks.”
Gabrielle enjoyed working in an
environment that was professional,
but not uptight. The company’s
sense of family, which was extended to
her the day the earthquake shook the
Washington Metropolitan area, made a
deep impression on her.
Her Words of sWisdom for the Workforce:
“The Company wants
you to do well: don’t
be afraid to ask for
help, to admit your
mistakes, and to
communicate with
your supervisors.”
s
7

G R A T E F U L P A R E N T S ’
GIVING SOCIETY
Elizabeth Seton High School would like to thank those parents who have already joined the
Grateful Parents’ Giving Society:
Maria Albanese
Mother of Alyssa ‘11 and Karri ‘14
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Barrett
Parents of Kimberly Anita Barrett ‘11
Ronald & Sue Bodmer
Parents of Emily Bodmer ‘11
M. Tanya Burrell ‘72
Mother of Kia Burrell ‘11
John & Deanna Busch
Parents of Emily ‘07 and Katie ‘09
Agnes Cheung
Mother of Stephanie Cheung ‘11
Michael & Stacey
Gallagher Cleveland ‘88
Parents of Kelly Nicole Cleveland ‘11
Dr. Linda Gast &
Mr. Lynn N. Dudinksy
Parents of Katherine E.G. Dudinsky ‘11
Teri Frontin
Mother of Danielle Frontin ‘11
Amy Hammett
Mother of Sara Hammett ‘11
Margaret Hernick Leach ‘70
Mother of Veronica Leach ‘11
Stan Jackson
Father of Kristin Tyler Jackson ‘11
Mark & Sheryl Jacobs
Parents of Katherine Jacobs ‘11
Acquenetta & Robert Thurston
Parents of Courtnie N. Thurston ‘11
Nadine Robertson
Mother of Autumn Elizabeth Robertson ‘11
Bennie & Stephanie Spady
Parents of Saidah Payne-Spady ‘11
We thank these parents who believe that Elizabeth Seton High School gave their daughters a
priceless gift. If you are a parent of a “Seton Grad” of any year, please consider joining The Grateful
Parents’ Giving Society. A gift of $12.00 in this year of 2012 will enable you to show your support.
Gifts can be mailed or paid online by visiting: http://tinyurl.com/ESHSGratefulParents
8

Principal’s MESSAGE
Last spring we began considering
the introduction of a STEMbased
program here at Seton.
STEM stands for Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math, career fields
where women have been largely
underrepresented, despite the fact that
the job opportunities in these fields
have increased substantially and are
anticipated to continue to grow at a
rapid pace.
Seton has traditionally provided one
of the most challenging college prep
curriculums in the Washington area, and
more recently has added to and intensified
our math and science courses to respond
to current workplace demands. At the
same time, more and more Seton graduates
have been returning to visit and telling us
that they are majoring in engineering or
engineering/technology-related fields. In
light of these realities, we feel that the time
is right to launch a major effort to better
equip our students to pursue careers in
these disciplines and to compete in an
arena where women have traditionally not
ventured, but where a female perspective
can be highly insightful.
So, it is with great excitement that we
will introduce the Learning Engineering
and Design (LEAD) program in the 2012-
2013 school year. The LEAD program
will be open to all of our current students
as well as our incoming freshmen. Mrs.
JoEllen (Narcavage) Gray, a 1986 Seton
alumna and current math teacher, will
serve as the LEAD coordinator. Mrs.
Gray’s teaching skills and enthusiasm for
the program make her the ideal person to
lead this important effort.
We have begun the process of identifying
current students who have expressed
an interest in and who qualify for the
program. Incoming students will be
able to take a
sequence of
four courses
over four years
(one per year).
We are also
investigating the availability of internship
opportunities for our LEAD students.
Upon learning about our plans, one of
Seton’s recent graduates, who is pursuing
an engineering degree, applauded our
decision because her experience has
revealed how beneficial a program like
LEAD can be to facilitate the adjustment to
an engineering or technology curriculum
at the college level.
I hope this will give you some appreciation
of Seton’s ongoing commitment to prepare
our students to meet the challenges that
await them when they move into the
future.
Business Support for LEAD
CentiMark Innovative Roofing
and Flooring Solutions is
pleased to present $5000.00
to Elizabeth Seton High School’s
LEAD Program.
From left to right: Mark Cooper (Sr. Vice-President of CentiMark), JoEllen Gray ‘86 (LEAD
instructor), Sister Mary Beth Kubera, (Provincial Councillor), Sharon Pasterick (Principal),
Grace Tarnosky ‘14 (LEAD student), Savannah Johnson ‘14 (LEAD student), Sister Ellen
Marie Hagar ‘74 (President)
Sister Ellen Marie expresses
great gratitude for CentiMark,
“CentiMark has blessed ESHS with
expert workmanship in two recent
roofing jobs. Their service and
commitment matches that of Seton.
We are extremely appreciative of
their support for our innovation in
education.”
9

10
EAD

Elizabeth Seton High School
Launches the LEAD Program
LEAD (Learning Engineering And
Design) is set to begin in August,
2012 when students interested
in engineering and technology begin a
four year program that combines science,
technology, engineering and math
(STEM) into one curriculum.
While STEM programs have already
been initiated in public high schools,
Elizabeth Seton High School’s program
will mark the first all-female engineering
curriculum among high schools in the
Washington, DC area. Students who are
accepted into this program will engage
in hands-on exploration, which includes
designing, building, and testing as they
apply the skills that they have learned
to real world problems around them
and gradually progress to more global
issues. Students will use their ingenuity
with tools, building materials, robotics,
electronics, etc. in laboratory classrooms
to create models and products for the
world in which they live.
Why LEAD?
According to Sister Ellen Marie Hagar,
“LEAD is much more than a new
curriculum at Seton. It is Elizabeth
Seton High School’s strategic response
to educational, business, and economic
needs that face our country.” The
National Science Foundation supports
Sister Ellen Marie’s belief saying,
“Innovation in Information Technology
has driven economic growth, has been
the underlying factor of many of our
scientific advances and has ensured our
national security. It is not surprising that
predicted IT job growth is very strong.
Yet students are not majoring in this field
in sufficient numbers.”
Dean Kern, Deputy Director of the Office
of Education of NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center offers additional support for
this program saying, “Like Elizabeth Seton
High School, NASA too has recognized
how critical it is to ensure that students
from our neighboring communities are
equally participating in advanced STEM
activities. Women, especially African-
American and Hispanic women, have
held a disproportionately lower share of
STEM undergraduate degrees, particularly
in engineering. Elizabeth Seton High
School has strategically stepped into
this gap to expand opportunities for
women in STEM fields through the
implementation of an academically
rigorous and integrated engineering
program. Furthermore we are pleased to
be in partnership with Elizabeth Seton
High School to further engage and inspire
high students in STEM.”
By 2020, the U.S.
Department of Labor
projects that 150, 000
new jobs will be available;
however, only 50,000
college graduates will
be prepared for these
jobs because of their
lack of technological
education.
LEAD changes the definition of
technological literacy to include
strategies that allow students to build
their own understanding of engineering
design, the process that transforms ideas
into manufactured products that impact
the environment, society, and our global
developments. Technology continues
to change every aspect of our natural
world. LEAD enables students to learn
principles and designs that allow them to
assess, evaluate and discern technological
values and ethics as technology affects
our behavior, our lifestyle, and our global
perspective.
LEAD teaches students to work
together in teams in an environment
where constructive feedback, project
management, and participatory learning
are valued. This type of collaboration
encourages students to share ideas, assist
one another in projects, and design
solutions together. It promotes students’
abilities to network with others and
deepens their appreciation for diverse
thinking in problem-solving situations.
LEAD prepares students for a wide variety
of career paths. Designing and applying
technology is vital for those who enter the
work force today as technology plays an
ever increasing role both in our economic
vitality and our environmental survival.
Alumnae support
for LEAD
Elizabeth Seton High School is especially
pleased to have JoEllen Gray, a 1986
graduate and a math teacher of l5 years
at Seton, become the LEAD instructor.
JoEllen eagerly accepted this position
saying, “I am thrilled to be part of such
an exciting program. This is a great
continued on page 14
11

LeaD Learning En
Technology is the
basis for improving
the past and
creating the future.
Technology
drives invention
and innovation and
is a thinking and
doing process.

gineering & Design
Technology impacts
society and must be
assessed to determine
if it is good or bad.
Technology creates
issues that change
the way people
live and interact.

Elizabeth Seton High School Launches the LEAD Program (continued)
time to start LEAD…We have so many
girls who excel in math and science,
and engineering is a wide open field for
them. These courses will give our girls
the knowledge and skills that they need
to confidently engage in this domain in
college and beyond.”
JoEllen is not the only graduate excited
about the LEAD program. Recent
graduates who are now pursuing an
engineering degree in college have also
expressed their support for this program.
Among them is Annette Englehart, class
of 2009, who is currently a sophomore
mechanical engineering major at the
University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Annette says, “I think the LEAD program
is awesome. It will help the students
build a strong foundation for engineering
by challenging them to think out of the
box, to work in teams, and to build
their confidence so that when they enter
the field, they will not be discouraged
or overwhelmed like many women in
the field are. There is no better way to
encourage female students to consider
the STEM field than by integrating it into
the curriculum.”
“A diverse technical
workforce is vital
to the success of
corporations, our
competitiveness as
a nation, and our
national security.”
Dr. Ray O Johnson,
Chief Technology Officer
of Lockheed Martin
Annette’s enthusiasm is seconded by
Cara Hamel, valedictorian of the class of
2011, who is currently in her freshman
year at the University of Maryland,
College Park and is a Fire Protection
Engineering Major and a member of
the Women in Engineering Community.
Cara encourages Seton students to
enroll in this program as way of putting
themselves a step ahead for their college
engineering program. She says, “I am
completely jealous of these students
who are now able to enroll in the LEAD
program, which will make them more
competitive for getting into college and
into the engineering field.”
And from the field itself is Mariann Escoe
’92, who is currently working for Energy
Systems Group in Baltimore and who has
returned to Elizabeth Seton to assist with
the school’s energy audit and savings.
“I think LEAD is a fantastic idea,” says
Mariann, “as it will expose students to
the course work and to the career fields
in engineering.”
14

Internships for
Students
Exposing students to careers in
engineering is just what Sister Ellen Marie
had in mind when she began visiting
CEO’S of construction and engineering
fields not only to garner their support
for the program, but also to establish
summer internships for the students.
Elizabeth Seton High School is proud to be
partnering with the following companies
in the establishment of internships for
this program:
Associated Builders
Boland
The Bozzuto Group
Bracey Associates
Bradley Site Design, Inc.
Donohoe Construction
Envisions Technology
Leach Wallace, Associates, Inc.
Louviere, Stratton & Yokelm, LLC
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Parkinson Construction
Regional Electric
R & R Mechanical
Scott-Long Construction
Toole Design Group
Community Support
for LEAD
Elizabeth Seton High School would like
to thank all those who gave to GIVE TO
THE MAX DAY on November 9, 2011,
the day on which we launched our
campaign for LEAD Support. As a result
of these efforts, we were able to raise
$5000 for the program in just one day!
We invite our alumnae, our parents
both past and present, our friends and
our donors to continue the community’s
support for the program.
If you know of, or if you own a business
that would like to be INVOLVED in our
internship program, please call Sister
Ellen Marie. (301-864-4532 ex. 7108)
If you would like to INVEST in this
program by making a financial
contribution to the start-up of
this program, we welcome a
donation either by mail or online at
www.razoo.com/story/Setonleads
ESHS Leads the
Fight Against
Human Trafficking:
Today’s Most Savage Cruelty
The ESHS Community participated in an interactive antitrafficking
workshop to understand the horror behind child
slavery. More than a million children are sold as sex or labor
slaves with more than 100,000 girls in the United States trafficked as
sex slaves.
Guest speakers from TurnAround, Inc. provided a realistic picture of
how girls get stuck in sex-trafficking and also of how elements of our
culture (language, music, media) promote the degradation of women
and sexuality.
15

onor
The Gospel Choir of Elizabeth Seton High School gives praise and honor to God as we begin the celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
The young musicians of Elizabeth Seton High School had the honor of singing for Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s Christmas TV
Mass, which was celebrated in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as well as
performing at the State House in Annapolis.
16

The Legacy of Light to Know
and The Giving of Grace to Do
Every donor of Elizabeth Seton
High School has a story behind
the gift that they give to Seton.
This story is woven together with details
of characters, experiences, emotions,
and hopes. Likewise, every student
who receives a gift from a Seton donor
has a story: a story of struggle, of
perseverance, of courage, and of hope.
Despite the powerful inspiration of
each one’s story, rarely does the donor
know the story of the student; nor
the student, the donor’s story as most
donors shy away from recognition or
even identification.
Much is lost in the silent exchange
between the giver and the student, and
as Elizabeth Seton High School recently
discovered, much is gained when these
stories are shared and celebrated.
On November l5, 2011 the first annual
Light to Know, Grace to Do Donor
Recognition Celebration was held in the
formal lobby of Elizabeth Seton High
School, which is now graced by our new
donor wall: The Light to Know and The
Grace to Do. Those who gave and those
who received gathered together with
family and friends for an evening of
storytelling, an event that breathed new
life into the legacy left by alumnae such
as Theresa Anne Gemmell ‘68, Kimberly
Neely ‘91 and Mary Laurette O’Meara ‘74;
by former staff members such as Sister
Jacqueline Kilar and Ms. Jean Llewellyn;
and by generous donors such as Agnes
Brown ‘63, Sam Rose, Stephanie Solaris
and Mary Jo Zeeman Vogt.
These stories were as inspirational as the
stories told by the students themselves
as they shared smile to smile and eye
to eye with someone who was formerly
a stranger and now a friend. Their
stories were poignant portrayals of the
promise that they have for the present
and the hopes that they have for the
future, despite the difficulties and the
disappointments of the past.
As with any good storytelling, there
was a new understanding and a parallel
familiarity with one another’s words.
The gap between the donor and the
student narrowed tremendously as
hearts joined together in gratitude and
generosity, in awe and admiration, in
tenderness and triumph. As Mary Jo
Zeeman Vogt ’75 said, “It was wonderful
to make a personal connection with the
girl that I was helping, to meet her and
her family, and to have her tell her story
with such humility. The thought of this
young girl not being able to finish at
Seton made me want to make sure that
she had what my parents gave to me. I
was impressed that this student took the
time to follow up with me and to send
me an email for the New Year.”
Mary Jo continues, “It was also a very
moving experience for me to be standing
right outside my former homeroom
classroom, re-connected with several
of my classmates and friends, and to
remember that much of my success now
is due to the way Seton prepared me for
college and for business.”
This night was Seton’s mission at its
best: the mission that enflames the ever
burning “light to know and increases
the ever flowing grace to do”. Said
continued on page 19
17

One Heart, One Mind, One Spirit
About a year ago, Sister Ellen
Marie was approached by
members of the Immaculate
Conception Academy (ICA) Alumnae
Association about the possibility of the
school’s alumnae association joining
Elizabeth Seton High School’s Alumnae
Association based upon our common
threads: a long string of school
similarities that include
• Our shared appreciation for the
excellence of the education that
we received
• Our gratitude for all those who
made this education possible:
parents, teachers, and
administrators
• Our common bond with the
Daughters of Charity who
administered both ICA
and ESHS
• Our desire to deepen and develop
our close ties with our former
classmates and friends
When members from both alumnae
associations discussed the possibility,
they realized that in addition to our
similarities, we had many differences
as well: different histories, different
eras of active alumnae, and different
traditions. Likewise, the alumnae
associations were in very different
places. ICA’s Association’s primary
focus was their annual Alumnae
Luncheon while Seton’s Association
had a calendar of monthly activities
and meetings. ICA was eager to get
their alumnae connected through email
while ESHS’s alumnae’s main source of
connection was social networking.
ESHS Alumnae Association Members (some members missing from picture)
Back Row L-R: Marianne Ferguson ’77, Gina Mascerelli Schmidt ’77, Gina Andrella Barley
’81, Amy Reese Lawrence ’77, Trudy Smith Stanek ’69, Regina Murphy Day ‘76
Front Row L-R: Sr. Ellen Marie Hagar ’74 (president), Mary Brophy Haddow ’68,
Erica Corbin ’00, Renee Green ’81, Adriana Leyton Zellers ‘78
Despite these differences, the two
associations agreed that our common
threads could be woven together
because we had one heart, one
mind, and one spirit. Furthermore,
we could assist each other from our
strengths and enrich each other with
our differences. We believed that we
could share the best of what we have
to strengthen our commitment to
supporting the Daughters of Charity
in their retirement, to supporting one
another, and to supporting the young
women of Seton today. For this year,
both associations agreed to invite one
another to their planned events and
meetings. Looking to the future, the
two associations agreed to form a single
calendar of events.
continued on page 19
Immaculate
Conception Academy
Alumnae Association
The Immaculate Conception Academy
Alumnae Association began in l897 to
further the mission of the school, which
was opened in 1865 by the Daughters
of Charity. First located in Immaculate
Conception Parish at 8th & N St. NW,
the school moved, in 1954, to 24th &
K Street in St. Stephen’s Parish.
Although the school closed in l984,
the Alumnae Association continues its
mission to support the care of the retired
sisters. The Association also shares the
mission of the Daughters of Charity of
educating young women by supporting
the scholarship fund of Elizabeth Seton
High School where some graduates are
teaching (those that became Daughters
of Charity) and where some graduates
have children and grandchildren who
attend the school.
18

The Legacy of Light to Know and The Giving
of Grace to Do (continued)
Agnes Brown ’63, “The evening was
so inspirational. I am truly grateful
to Seton for finally making the Allen
D. Bruns Scholarship a reality and for
choosing Roslyn as its recipient. I am
so proud of Roslyn.”
A highlight of the evening was the
recognition of our principal, Sharon
Pasterick for whom the Grace to
Do wall is named. Mrs. Pasterick’s
commitment to the mission and
vision of Seton was applauded by
alumnae, board members, staff,
students and their families who have
experienced her tireless devotion and
her tremendous dedication.
As we continue to fulfill the mission
of Elizabeth Seton High School, we
continue to welcome new donors
whose Seton story impels them to
give back to the school that gave
so much to them. We encourage all
our alumnae, parents, and friends to
experience the joy of reconnecting
with their own
Seton story and of uniting
that story with the story
of a young woman today.
Such joy is evidenced
by Kay Nash ’88 as she
says, “I was so thrilled
to be back at Seton for
the donor reception.
Walking the halls brought back so
many great memories including my
advisory, room 102, and my advisory
teacher, Mrs. Roux. What was most
special about the evening was hearing
from the young women at Seton.
Their stories of gratitude inspired
me to think about ways in which
I could do more for Seton. I also
thought about how much Seton does
for wonderful young women who are
looking for a great education. Each of
the presentations highlighted a Seton
student today who has received a
scholarship to attend Seton. I found
these young women to be amazing
and accomplished people. I know
that as a sophomore or junior I would
never have had the self-confidence or
skill to stand up in front of a crowd
and speak from my heart as these girls
did. Seton girls are truly exceptional
and I am so proud that I got to be a
part of this amazing evening.”
The Sharon Pasterick Giving Society remains open to anyone who would
like to make an annual financial commitment of $1,000 to support the
continued excellence of Elizabeth Seton High School. Your name or the
name of someone in whose honor you make this gift will proudly be displayed
on the Grace to Do Donor Wall. Likewise, anyone who is interested in
establishing a scholarship in honor of someone they wish to recognize, or
as a gift that they would like to give to a student who needs assistance to
continue at Seton, may call Sister Ellen Marie to make arrangements for
this scholarship and to have the scholarship proudly displayed on the Light
to Know Donor Wall.
One heart, one mind,
one spirit (continued)
When asked about this partnership,
Sister Ellen Marie commented, “I
have a deep respect for the women of
the ICA Alumnae Association. They
have developed a great association
that has provided support for the
sisters’ retirement fund for many
years. In recent years, they have
offered an annual scholarship of over
$3000 to an Elizabeth Seton High
School student. While they have a
fierce love for their school, they also
ICA Member Joan Hoerbelt Mahoney ‘62
want to extend this love to students
today. Since their school has closed,
they have chosen to grace Seton with
their generosity and goodness. I am
grateful, very grateful, that they have
noticed the common thread that
binds us together because indeed we
are of one heart, one mind, and one
spirit. I look forward to many events
with them, in which I can get to know
these women personally and become
ever more inspired by their pride and
their passion.
19

Love Lies in the Garden
“
What happened to the roses?”
asked Mary Brophy Haddow
’68 who was bewildered
to see the lifeless garden that lay at the
foot of Blessed Mother in the Seton
courtyard. During Alumnae Association
meetings, she vividly recalled her days
as a young Seton woman. Those were
the days when the Blessed Mother stood
boldly over a sea of roses, in what was
known as the “Seton Rose Garden”, with
her arms outstretched as if to embrace
and cherish the bouquet of beauty that
lay before her. This was once a place
where students proudly gathered for
graduation pictures, “Rose Ceremonies”,
May processions, and other special Seton
events. Over the years, the garden started
to deteriorate as ivy, weeds, and other
harmful entities invaded the territory.
Soon, the vibrant Rose Garden in the
courtyard of the school became a listless
bed of weeds. Slowly, as the tide of
young Seton students began to turn, the
question went from, “What happened to
the roses?” to “What rose garden?” And
just like that, the legacy of the Seton Rose
Garden faded away.
In the final line of Bette Midler’s song,
“The Rose”, after many disheartening
situations, it was the love of the sun that
ultimately revived the rose. Likewise, the
unique love of the Alumnae Association
gave life to a garden that appeared to
have no hope in ever becoming what it
once was. And on September 10th, they
restored its honor and legacy within the
community as they unveiled the beautiful
transformation that had occurred.
The members of the Alumnae Association
made it a priority to breathe life into the
Seton Rose Garden. With gardening tools
and roses in hand, Association members,
Renee Greene ‘81 and Mary Brophy
Haddow ’68, led the restoration efforts.
They spent the spring and summer
months clearing out the ivy and tilling
the soil. After many months of sweat,
energy, and most importantly, patience,
the rose garden was ready! The time
had come to introduce it to the school
community. With the ivy all gone, and
the roses brazenly soaking in the sunlight,
the Seton Rose Garden was now a gem
ready to shine.
Former graduates, Seton students,
friends, and family came on that warm
Saturday afternoon, on September
10th, to take part in rededicating a long
lost symbol of Seton. The Alumnae
Association celebrated the Rose Garden’s
transformation with an outdoor reception
that was held in Seton’s courtyard and a
ribbon cutting ceremony. Bright smiles
and laughter emerged from the crowd as
people intermingled and enjoyed light
appetizers and drinks. In the true spirit
of sisterhood, the essence of the Rose
Garden inspired many Seton students to
thank the alumnae for giving them a path
to a brighter future: many of whom had
provided scholarships for students. In
turn, they delighted in meeting their “little
sister”, and asked what more they could
do to help them achieve their dreams. As
everyone took their seats, Seton President,
Sister Ellen Marie Hagar ‘74, opened
the ceremony with a brief prayer that
thanked God for the revival of our rose
garden and the reunion of friends and
family. Renowned horticulturalist, Gene
Sumi, from Homestead Gardens, shared
his expertise regarding the care of roses
and the special quality that comes with
each kind of rose. Then, it was time to
introduce the main attraction of the event.
United by their Seton pride, the crowd
broke into a cheer when the students cut
the ceremonial ribbon initiating a new
start to the Seton Rose Garden.
To those who never had the chance to
experience it as a student, the Seton
Rose Garden is no longer a mystery.
Moreover, the community can take an
active role in continuing to enrich its
magnificence. For a small contribution,
a rose can be planted in the garden in
honor of someone who has used their
love as a catalyst for growth, change, and
ultimately to make a difference, just as the
Alumnae Association did for the Seton
Community. As for the future of the
Seton Rose Garden, it will always unite
the members of the Seton Community,
and as long as their love continues to
shower down on the Garden, the roses
will continue to return year after year.
20

Class Notes
1970’s
Theresa (Persick) Arnold ‘70
I retired on September 30, 2011 after
35 years with the Federal Government
mostly with the Department of Army
and the Defense Department. My last
project supervised the construction of
the 1.8 MSF LEED Gold administrative
facility with a budget of about a billion
dollars, in Alexandria VA. I continue to
keep in touch with my big sister Jeannie
Kalinofsky Townsend ‘68 and her
daughter, my godchild, Anastacia Pena.
I also keep in touch with Ginny Meade
Crotts ‘70 and Evelyn Bancroft Hahn ‘70
whom I have known since grade school.
Mary Lou (Barton) Holt ‘71
I am very proud of the fact that I worked
for the Catholic Church for many years
until 1998 when I started at the University
of Maryland in the College of Education. I,
now, work in the Fire Protection Engineering
Department. I have been married to my
husband, Mike, for 21 years. We have four
children and four grandchildren. My oldest
children, Joe and Denise live in North
Carolina with my one grandson and my
three grand-daughters. My youngest sons,
Mike and Billy, are going to MD community
colleges. I am active in St. Hugh’s parish. I
have wonderful memories of Seton: when
I watch basketball, I wish could get up the
court like old times. God Bless the Class of
1971 ...40 years...hard to believe.
Nicole Jones ‘71
I enjoy my retirement. I am involved in
volunteer work, and I am a member of
the board of directors for the Restoration
Ministry for Women in Orlando. We are
a residential home for women with drug
and alcohol issues. I also enjoy teaching
bible study to the women twice a month.
Lisa Anne Shea ‘74
I retired and moved from Potomac to
Edgewater, MD
Ann Marie (Reilly) McGovern ‘75
I recently attended my daughter Richelle’s
graduation from Mary Washington
University, Fredericksburg, Virginia. She
received her Masters Degree in Education
specializing in gifted and autistic children.
My best friend, Susan Byrd Finotti ’75,
and my sister, Margaret (Reilly) Furio
’82, sat next to me during her graduation.
My husband and I moved to Florida and
have officially become beach bums.
Class of 1976
They celebrated their 35th Reunion on
Sunday, December 4th at the home of
Cheryl (Patane) Neidig ‘76. Many came
to see their fellow classmates and to
delight in the joy of Seton Sisterhood. A
good time was had by all!
1980’s
Gloria Davis Harberts ‘81
She is happily married with 2 stepsons
and 2 daughter-in-laws. She is looking
forward to grandchildren
Katherine (Farrell) May ‘82
As a CPA and corporate accountant, I
have worked the past 10 years in the
construction and homebuilding industry.
Unfortunately, the drastic downturn
in the economy affecting construction,
particularly hitting hard in Florida, forced
me to seek new employment. I am very
excited to have started as the Director
Business Process Lead with Arizona
Chemical Company in Jacksonville,
Florida. This international company is
the leading producer and refiner of pine
chemicals. It strives to make the world
cleaner, healthier, and safer by converting
paper mill waste into viable products,
not pollution. I report directly to the
International Corporate Controller. My
work will be in both in the US and in
The Netherlands. My husband, Paul,
has also started a new position as the IT
Manager for NCCAOM - an international
non-profit. My son, Bryan, continues to
live in Jessup, Maryland and work as an
accountant for an international banking/
finance company in Washington, DC. We
are very excited that our oldest daughter,
Caitlin, will graduate from high school in
2011 and has been awarded a scholarship
to attend the Maryland Institute and
College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland.
She will major in sequential art/graphic
design and minor in animation. Our
youngest daughter, Maggie, has started
her freshman year of high school and is
quite the academic (scoring a near perfect
score on the PSAT). She regularly appears
in productions at Theatre Jacksonville
and the Limelight Theater. We love life
in Florida, but travel home regularly to
continued on page 22
21

Class Notes
Maryland where most of our extended
family still resides.
Patricia (Mowbray) Dennis ‘82
My dad, Richard Mowbray, passed away
at the age of 85 on March 1, 2011. We
buried his ashes at Arlington National
Cemetery on August 23, 2011. It is
getting better, but we still miss him very
much. He lived long enough to meet his
great-grandson, Macklin Mills Mitchell.
Kathleen (Merkel) Jackson ‘86
I am a Partner of Novak Francella LLC,
a public accounting firm in Philadelphia,
PA, where I audit labor unions and
employee benefit plans. I have 2 children
who are 8 and 5 and now attending
Catholic School.
Sydnee (Nobles) Thompson ‘88
Daughter, Tori, is a Junior at Seton. She is a
scholar and a cheerleader. I enjoy reliving
high school through her! Tori’s father,
Tony Thompson, is currently ranked #2
heavyweight boxer in the USA, and the
#1 boxer by ESPN. He recently fought
on May 27, 2011 on ESPN scoring a 3rd
round KO. He is now 36-2 with 24 KO’s.
Nicole Paulmier-Wilkinson ‘89
After graduation, I moved to Colorado were
I met my husband. I have been married for
18 years and have four wonderful girls. I
owned two businesses and then decided to
sell them, so that I could to go to college
to get my degree in photography. I was
accepted into the Art Institute of Colorado
in the summer of 2011.
1990’s
Elizabeth Ann (Gorman)
Cariaga ‘94
I married my HS sweetheart after being
apart for 12 years!! In addition to my fulltime
position as a Charge Nurse on the
Mother/Baby Unit at Anne Arundel Medical
Center, I have accepted a position as a PRN
(fill in) Administrative Coordinator. This
is a supervisory position that oversees the
flex and flow of all the patients and the
nursing staff on a given shift.
Stephanie (George) Mitjans ‘99
I recently got married on July 23, 2011
to William Mitjans.
2000’s
Jessica Shorter ‘02
After graduating from Seton, I attended
Hampton University for 2 years. My father
passed away in 2003, but I made it through
with the help of God, family, and friends
(including 2 of my best girlfriends from
Seton). Since then, I have moved back
home and have received my Bachelors
degree in Communications and Public
Relations from Bowie State University
in 2008. In the summer of 2007, I was
selected to be a part of the T. Howard
Foundation summer internship program.
I moved to NYC to intern for Court TV
(which is now Tru TV. I now work for
TV One (an African American Lifestyle &
Entertainment television network) where I
have been working since May 2010. I have
to credit my early training in interpersonal
skills, self-esteem, confidence, good will
towards men, and professionalism to
my years at Seton. I made some lifelong
friends and memories with my fellow
Roadrunners (which I wouldn’t change for
the world). I cherish the memories I have
of the faculty and staff. I have returned
to Prince Georges County, MD, and I am
single with no children. I have a wonderful
7 year old nephew, and my loving mother
and wonderful older brother are doing
great. My class will be celebrating our 10
year reunion in 2012, and I can’t wait to
get back in touch with my Seton sisters,
and see how life has changed for them. I
will always have a special place in my heart
for Elizabeth Seton High School!! And I
hold true to our motto, “Light to Know
and Grace to Do”!
Maria Mendez ‘05
After graduation from Seton, I went to
Trinity Washington University where I
received my BA in Elementary Education
in 2010. Currently, I work for KIIPP DC in
Washington DC. I am a pre-kindergarten
teacher at KIPP DC: Discover Academy.
Janelle Tupper ‘07
I am volunteering with the Mennonite
Central Committee in Bujumbura,
Burundi, a poor country in Eastern Central
Africa. I am grateful for the opportunity
God has given me to serve, and I am
looking forward to learning about myself
and the world in which I live. I wanted
to share this because I really feel like the
service-oriented education that I received
at Seton was one of the factors that led me
down this path. Many thanks and peace
to you all.
Olivia (Croxton) Gore ‘08
Hello to my fellow Alumnae! Just want to
say, in short, that I am extremely proud of
my alma mater and the new engineering
program!! Development and advancement
is a beautiful thing. On April 4, 2011, I
gave birth to a healthy baby boy named
Zion Alexander Gore...and on September
2, 2011, I married one of the greatest men
I know, Joseph Gore. I am truly blessed
to have these two amazing people in my
life. I will never forget all that Seton has
taught me and will cherish it for the rest
of my life.
Mary Salers ‘10
Mary is studying Marine Science at Coastal
Carolina University in South Carolina. She
has finished her freshman year with a 4.0
GPA. She loves studying and the beach!
And the cheer goes on! Alumnae from the Class
of 2011 continue their Roadrunner Spirit!
22

In MEMORY
Alumnae
Mary Ann (Straub) Richardson ‘64
Emily Gloyd ‘76
April Allen ‘92
Faculty and Staff
Sr. Mary Marguerite Butler,
Math Teacher
Mr. Marion “Bill” Eldridge,
Facilities Manager
Mrs. Dawn Dewaele,
English Teacher
Ms. JoAnn McAnallen,
School Secretary for Guidance
and for the Principal
Family and Friends
Lillian Cribben,
Mother of Kathleen (Cribben) Elkins ’64
and Mary (Elkins) Murray ‘71
Gerald Forlenza,
Father of Maria T. Forlenza ‘79
Louis Migliorini,
Father of Bridget Migliorini ‘86 and
Margaret (Migliorini) Russell ‘67
George “Skip” Powell,
Father of Regina (Powell) Higgins ’00
and Anne Powell ‘04
Violet and Anthony James Andrella,
Parents of Gina (Andrella) Barley ’81
Grandparents of Jori Barley ’11 and
Jillian Barley ‘14
Ephriam “Duke” Day,
Husband of Regina (Murphy) Day ‘76
Father of Elizabeth Day ‘13
William E. Mould,
Father of Alice (Mould) Briese ‘74
Matthew Falcone,
Brother of Theresa (Falcone) Bothwell
‘74, Julia (Falcone) Johnson ‘75,
Angelina (Falcone) Johnson ‘79,
Marybeth (Falcone) Minch ‘81,
and Susan (Falcone) Lopresti ‘85,
Uncle of Sarah Falcone ‘09 and
Chloey Henchcliff ‘09.
Ralph J. Vendemia, Jr.,
Father of Luanne (Vendemia) Smith ‘86
Carol Cartney,
Grandmother of Amy (Cartney) Ross ‘93
and Elise Mudd ‘03
George “Pat” Patterson,
Father of Jeannie (Patterson) Carr ’79 and
Betty (Patterson) Hoza ’69; Father-in-law
to Kim (Blake) Patterson ‘85
John O’Neill,
Father of Cathy O’Neill ‘91
Brian Robertson,
Husband of Eileen McGuire Robertson ’88
C o n t a c t u s
S Magazine is a publication for the school community,
especially our alumnae. Tell us what you are doing now,
catch up with old friends, and say hi to those with whom
you lost touch. Don’t forget to include your name, maiden
name, class year, complete address, phone numbers, and
email address along with your update. Email your facts
and photos to advancement@setonhs.org, or mail them
to: Elizabeth Seton High School, Seton Advancement,
5715 Emerson Street, Bladensburg, MD 20710.
23

Elizabeth Seton High School
5715 Emerson Street
Bladensburg, MD 20710
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