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Ursuline Society Members
Jeanne Marie Aber ’33
Cheron Curran Adams ’64
and Clint Adams
Stephanie Brooks Angel ’72
Anonymous
Sherrye and Joe R. Bass
Mimi Bishop
Martha Blalack Brooks ’40
Louise Buhrer ’35†
Esther Connelly†
The Jerome J. Crane†
and Rhea McCoy Crane†
Charitable Remainder Trust
Mary DeLoache
Angela Downes ’86
John P. Flavin
Winifred Flood†
Christy Frazer
Jennifer Staubach Gates ’84
and John Gates
Beatrice M. Haggerty†
TOP
10
LIST FOR ESTATE PLANNING
You don’t have to be a millionaire to find that good estate
planning is a smart idea. At any age or stage of life, planning
is a prudent thing to do. Think of it as taking the time to have
a wellness check up.*
1. Do you have a will or living trust
drafted by a qualified estate planning
attorney
2. Do you review and update your
will every few years
3. Have you named an executor in
your will and notified that person
6. Have you established a durable
power of attorney in case you
become incapacitated
7. Do you have a living will or health
care power of attorney
8. Have you made any provisions for
your favorite charitable organizations
Dolores Lee IIiya ’44
Lauren Michelle Johnson ’96
Frances Nevitt Kreymer ‘34
Dr. Michael Kurilecz†
Louise Lorraine Lastelick ’51
Jane Ann Law ’73†
Melinda and Dr. John D. McConnell
Christine McDonough
Flora Quinn Monroe ’40†
Bunny Priest Nance ’63
Pat Brown O’Brien ’52
and Neil O’Brien
Lisa Mullan Perkins '91
Susan Hayes Raffo ’74
and Robert Raffo
Michael Ribelin
Hans J. Schnitzler
4. Is your life insurance adequate for
you and your family’s needs Are the
beneficiary designations up-to-date
5. Does your will name a guardian for
any dependents you may have
9. Have you given careful thought
to the legacy that you want to leave
behind
10. Have you considered putting
Ursuline Academy in your will
Catherine O’Connell Schulze ’32†
Patty Sullivan ’81
Laura Genaro Tomaso ’42†
and Louie Tomaso†
Josie and William E. Toogood †
Sybil Emmett Tucker ’51
Ruth Brown Wiseman ‘44
†Deceased
We invite you to become a member of The Ursuline Society. To learn more about ways you
can make a charitable planned gift to Ursuline Academy of Dallas contact:
Christy Frazer
Director of Institutional Advancement
469-232-3584 or cfrazer@ursulinedallas.org
*When reviewing your plans, please seek the help of an estate planning attorney.
To order a copy of The Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Estate Planning Attorney compliments
of The Stelter Company contact Christy Frazer, above.

table of contents
COVER STORY
Published annually for Ursuline Academy of
Dallas Alumnae and the Ursuline community.
URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS
4900 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, Texas 75229
www.ursulinedallas.org
ALUMNAE OFFICE
Regina Fonts Morris ’82
Director
469-232-3586
rmorris@ursulinedallas.org
Julia Frasco ’05
Alumnae Associate
469-232-3587
jfrasco@ursulinedallas.org
ADVANCEMENT
Christy Frazer
Director, Institutional Advancement
469-232-3584
cfrazer@ursulinedallas.org
Mimi Bishop
Director, Annual Giving
469-232-3595
mbishop@ursulinedallas.org
COMMUNICATIONS
Valerie Oates
Director
469-232-1806
voates@ursulinedallas.org
URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS
Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. ’56
President
srmoser@ursulinedallas.org
Elizabeth C. Bourgeois
Principal
ebourgeois@ursulinedallas.org
URSULINE SISTERS OF DALLAS
Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U.
Prioress
lcastillon@ursulinedallas.org
2011-2012 URSULINE ALUMNAE BOARD
Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95, President
Karen Quadrini Powell ’86, Vice President
Elizabeth Doczi ’04, Secretary
Amber Andregg ’03
Jenny Beesley ’03
Marianne Chionglo ’00
Elaine Cochran ’01
Kelly Moore Cook ’85
Fran Corrales-Drone ’86
Jen Pitz Deck ’01
Karen Meier Eubanks ’83
Kate Kilanowski ’98
Caytie Sarandis Langford ’98
Catherine Baetz Maurer ’98
Malorie Perry ’04
Sarah Johnston Polzer ’98
Amy Wills Reading ’88
Eileen Maher Weber ’84
Linda Thomas White ’81
Tracy Fulkerson Wilson ’81
18
FEATURES
“Theatre, art, music — these
subjects allow students to open
their minds to all the wonders
that this world has to offer.”
Emily Rice '06
A View from the Front Row
Creativity and the arts, from classroom to career. By Miki Bone Melsheimer '79
EX-OFFICIO
Sr. Lois Castillon, O.S.U.
Monica de la Cerda ’91
Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90
Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. ’56
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Deborah Kellogg, Brandon Thibodeaux,
William Thompson
Susan Gordon
Group Publisher
Amy Robinson
Editorial Director
J.R. Arebalo Jr.
Design Director
Casey Casteel
Senior Editor
Erica Espiritu
Designer
Wilfredo J. Torres
Designer
Gretchen Nickson
Designer
James Ricks
Publisher
KariAnne Harmon
Account Director
EDITORIAL OFFICES
4333 Amon Carter
Blvd., MD 5374
Fort Worth, TX 76155
817-931-5927
Editorial department
fax 817-963-3128
Copyright 2012 by
Ursuline Academy
of Dallas. All rights
reserved.
16
A Conversation with
the President
Sister Margaret Ann
Moser '56 reflects on 22
years of leadership at Ursuline
Academy of Dallas.
DEPARTMENTS
2 From the Director
3 Community Connections
4 From the Alumnae Board President
6 Alumnae Mosaics
Cover photo by Jim Olvera.
26
Answering the Call
Gretchen Kane on mission,
all-girls education, and
becoming Ursuline's next
President.
8 Faith Formation
10 Reunion Weekend 2011
12 Alumnae Awards 2011
14 Living Serviam
28
Point of View
Tech times for the
Ursuline girl. By Monica
Prachyl Cochran '71
30 Ways of Giving
32 President's Circle Dinner
34 Photo Gallery
40 Bears Mentioning
URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 1

from the director
community connections
Achieving
Your Dreams
Since the very first issue, LOGOS has
showcased outstanding achievements
of Ursuline Alumnae. The examples
set by those graduates have inspired
generations of other young women to reach for
their dreams. To imagine endless possibilities
and make the most of opportunities, to lead,
and all the while look for ways to help others…
that defines the character of an “Ursuline girl.”
In our cover story, “A View from the Front
Row,” you’ll learn about the benefits of performing
arts education and how talented
Alumnae have transitioned their skills into a
wide variety of career opportunities. A special
thanks to author Miki Bone Melsheimer ’79,
a former Ursuline faculty member now working
on her own advanced degree in performing
arts education.
This LOGOS also highlights four incredible
women who have made our world a safer
and better place, the 2011 Alumnae Award recipients.
Whether you relate to Sharon Broun
Keeler ’78, fulfilling her Serviam pledge in the
simple act of reading to underprivileged children,
or to Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86,
faced with the serious challenges of her husband’s
traumatic brain injury, their stories are
sure to evoke a strong sense of pride.
The awardees were honored last June at the
inaugural Alumnae Reunion Weekend: A New
Homecoming. More than 600 turned out for
the event, presented in a new weekend format
that brings reunion classes back on campus at
the same time. The best of Ursuline’s traditional
homecoming remains, with new class activities
and family fun added. Mark your calendars for
Alumnae Reunion Weekend 2012, June 8-10.
There will be something for everyone, and all
Alumnae are invited!
This year’s Alumnae Mosaics spotlight
the entrepreneurial spirit. Read about three
Ursuline graduates who have turned their personal
passion into successful business endeavors.
Also in this issue, Ursuline English teacher,
Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71, along with daughters
Elaine Cochran ’01 and Erin Cochran ’07,
share their “Point of View” on the impact of
technology from classroom to career. And,
Serviam comes to life in the story about the
St. Vincent de Paul Connections Club, as
Ursuline students learn firsthand how to build
a service program to help meet the needs of one
local community.
As children, we are encouraged to dream
with an “I can do anything” attitude. As Ursuline
graduates, we were provided with the tools
and encouragement to achieve our dreams and
given the confidence to know that we can accomplish
anything we put our minds to. Whatever
your dream, and wherever your path may
take you, there are sure to be some welcome
surprises along the way.
All my best,
Regina Fonts Morris ’82
Alumnae Director
rmorris@ursulinedallas.org
Networking UA Style
“When
I decided to help
out at Phonathon, I was
apprehensive, but I felt comfortable
right away. I loved going
back to that familiar place and being
enveloped in that warmth again. It was a
blast getting to reconnect with classmates
whose conversations really made me look
forward to our 50 th reunion! It
also made me proud to see
the continuing growth of
Ursuline and to feel so
welcome there.”
Dorothy McNally
Barker ’62
Communications
Class Agent
Find Ursuline online @
www.ursulinedallas.org
“Getting in touch
with the Ursuline Alumnae
Office led to an exciting
and intellectual legal internship
and provided me with a great mentor.
It has been so rewarding to get to know
Lori Ashmore Peters ’87, who is a
successful female attorney
and fellow Ursuline graduate
shaped by similar
experiences and values.”
Evie Lalangas ’01
Bay Area Chapter
Event Attendee
“Attending the
New York Alumnae
Chapter gathering was a great
way to reconnect with some of
my classmates and reminded me how
many interesting, successful women
have graduated from Ursuline. When I
relocated back to the Dallas area, I decided
to apply for a position on the
Alumnae Board as a way
to give back to current
and future Alumnae of
Ursuline.”
Amy Wills
Reading ’88
Alumnae Board
Member
“Living out of
state, the first Ursuline
event I had an opportunity
to attend since graduation was a
dinner with the Boston-area Alumnae
Chapter. There, I learned of the
new French Family Center and Ursuline’s
increased focus on math and
science. As a science teacher,
I realized that if I came back
to Ursuline to continue my
teaching career, I would
have the opportunity to
be part of something
special.”
Christine Miller ’00
Ursuline Teacher
of the Year
2010-2011
“Ursuline provided
me with the tools
that I needed to become a
successful career woman as well
as a loving mother and wife. When an
opportunity arose through the Alumnae
Auxiliary to share my knowledge and
memories of Ursuline at Heritage Day, I was
willing to do whatever it
took to be a part of it.”
Kristi Esposito
Doucet ’02
Alumnae Auxiliary
Member
Your Ursuline Alumnae Connections:
• Ursuline Alumnae Auxiliary
• Professional Women’s Network
• Alumnae Chapters across the U.S.
• Annual Phonathon
To learn more call 469-232-3587
2 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 3

from the alumnae board president
Lifelong Bonds
Like many of you, Ursuline girls were
with me throughout college, stood
next to me in my wedding, blessed
me with a beautiful godson, and continue
to be amazing influences in my life today.
The bond that we share as Alumnae is unique
and one for which I am incredibly grateful.
As President of the Ursuline Alumnae Association,
my priorities are to offer new ways for the
Alumnae community to become more involved
with the school and to revive some fun memories!
Start planning now to attend Alumnae
Reunion Weekend 2012, June 8-10, to reconnect
with classmates, other classes, teachers,
and families. Keep in touch through the Ursuline Alumnae Connects monthly e-newsletter and
learn more about our plans to expand arenas for Alumnae networking.
True to our mission, the Spiritual Enrichment Committee of the Alumnae Board is now developing
ways to enrich our spiritual connection beyond the three Memorial Masses celebrated
throughout the year.
We are also very excited about the growth of the Ursuline Alumnae Auxiliary. If large time
commitments are hindering you from getting more involved, the Auxiliary is perfect for you.
Sign up for periodic email updates regarding flexible volunteer opportunities supporting Alumnae,
current students, and school events. You can help out as much or as little as your schedule
permits.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the Alumnae Association President for 2011-
2013. To be working with such talented and accomplished women is an honor and privilege.
Sincere thanks to our past President, Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90, who is an inspiring and
focused leader. I admire her positive attitude along with the level of professionalism and enthusiasm
she constantly displays.
Heartfelt thanks to Board members Rita Allegro Strickler ’03 and Angela Tristan ’99 who
have completed their terms. And we welcome five new Board members: Amber Andregg ’03,
Catherine Baetz Maurer ’98, Fran Corrales-Drone ’86, Jen Pitz Deck ’01, and Amy Wills
Reading ’88.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss possible ways the Ursuline Alumnae Association can
be of service to you. I look forward to seeing you on campus this year!
2011-2012 Alumnae Board
Left group, back row from left: Sarah
Johnston Polzer ’98, Tracy Fulkerson
Wilson ’81, Jen Pitz Deck ’01, Linda
Thomas White ’81, Karen Meier
Eubanks ’83.
Front row from left: Caytie Sarandis
Langford ’98, Jenny Beesley ’03, Eileen
Maher Weber ’84.
Center group from left: Sr. Lois
Castillon (ex-officio), Catherine Baetz
Maurer ’98, Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95,
Elizabeth Doczi ’04, Karen Quadrini
Powell ’86.
Right group, back row from left:
Elaine Cochran ’01, Kate Kilanowski ’98,
Marianne Chionglo ’00, Regina Fonts
Morris ’82 (Alumnae Director), Fran
Corrales-Drone ’86.
Front row from left: Julia Frasco ’05
(Alumnae Associate), Kelly Moore
Cook ’85, Malorie Perry ’04
Not pictured: Amber Andregg ’03,
Monica de la Cerda ’91 (ex-officio),
Aimee Baillargeon Griffiths ’90 (exofficio),
Sr. Margaret Ann Moser ’56
(ex-officio), Amy Wills Reading ’88
Sincerely,
Lorilei Cardenas Cronin ’95
Alumnae Board President
lorileicronin@gmail.com
4 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 5

alumnae mosaics
Alumnae
Entrepreneurs:
Making It Their
Own Way
Lauren Kitchens ’93,
owner of Fancy Cakes
by Lauren in Dallas,
first set out to be a
screenwriter. But when
she realized her passion
for film was more
“film watcher than
filmmaker” she turned
her attention to her other love: baking.
“I made cakes because I couldn’t stop. My
fascination wouldn’t stop. I was obsessed,”
Lauren says. “I wanted to own my own business
doing exactly what I wanted to do —
wedding cakes.”
Since opening her commercial bakery in
2002, Lauren’s success has exceeded even her
own original expectations of wanting to operate
a simple bakery.
Lauren reflects on her business growth and
changes saying, “I did feel the hit [of the recession],
but that’s when you know it’s time to
shake things up businesswise. About that time
the Food Network called; I said ‘yes,’ and my career
changed forever.”
Lauren was selected to compete on the Food
Network Challenge four times, and walked
away with the Gold Medal for her cake design
twice, securing her spot on the list of must-have
cake designers.
With every small-business endeavor comes
By Julia Frasco ’05
risk, sacrifice, and the looming chance of failure
that could mean losing it all. In order to
gain success, she says, you need, “passion and
talent, but nothing happens without ambition.
I have seen ambitious people reach the
highest heights with little passion to back it
up. Ambition, drive, and will…that’s what an
entrepreneur needs.”
As a successful, self-taught cake artist, she
says she hopes to “see cake decorating gain the
respect it deserves. It is one of the few arts that
can earn someone a living. I am proof.”
Visit www.fancycakesbylauren.com
agency in Chicago.
Gabrielle Martinez ’89,
a dedicated wife and
mother of two daughters,
is the co-founder/
managing
partner
and driving force behind
the operations at
AgencyEA, a premier
experiential marketing
“Ursuline prepared me well to take on the
business world and to believe that the sky is
the limit with what can be achieved. I never let
anyone’s preconceived notions slow me down,”
Gabrielle says.
After establishing Event Architects (recently
rebranded AgencyEA), a small boutique agency,
with her husband in 1999, the company has
expanded to a “premier experiential marketing
partner” housing a full-time staff of 40.
AgencyEA provides everything from elaborate
events to international marketing campaigns
for some of the largest corporations in the world.
“All it takes is an authentic, true-to-yourself
disposition plus creativity and you can connect
with anyone,” Gabrielle says. “That realization
allowed me to parlay my event production experience
into thriving client relationships.”
It was this savvy business outlook and her
mantra to “always over-deliver and exceed expectations”
that helped her land accounts such
as Harpo Productions’ “Trip of a Lifetime” and
the Rachael Ray Show’s Season Premiere Block
Party. Her client list includes the Obama for
America campaign and Ameriprise Financial.
She has also conceptualized and produced the
holiday decor for the White House.
Gabrielle was recently featured as one of
Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” and
she is just getting started.
“[My goals] are to continue to explore new
markets with challenging projects and to optimize
the workload for our team,” she added,
“because long-term success for our business is
dependent upon a happy, balanced team.”
While there is always risk in her industry, she
remains positive that opportunities remain in
“having no limits.”
Visit www.agencyea.com
Rory Werner Siefer ’98
has always held onto
the belief that as long
as there are stories to
be told about a family
member or loved one,
they are never really
and truly gone. Thus,
a company was born.
Rory is now the CEO of Epic Bound, a private
book publishing company which specializes in
“visually stunning personal biographies and corporate
histories for clients around the world.”
After countless nights of brainstorming entrepreneurial
endeavors with her husband, Jeremy,
the idea of a private book publishing company
was born. Rory found inspiration from
her grandfather, a WWII veteran and captivating
storyteller, who had recently begun to divulge
his own life experiences for the first time.
“Originally, it was going to be a simple recount
of one’s life, but we quickly realized we
needed to take it a step further to make it visually
compelling, or else no one would ever read
it,” Rory says.
Since 2003, when she created Epic Bound,
Rory’s staff has expanded to a team of 10. The
company’s eye-catching books are completely
customizable with family stories, photos,
graphic design, and even elements such as researched
facts or interesting side notes pertaining
to a story’s historical background.
The result, Rory says, is “an ultimate reflection
of ‘thank you’ to older generations. These
books pass along values and advice — things
older generations would want their kids to
learn from.”
Creating these books is no easy feat, oftentimes
taking more than 1,000 man-hours to
interview, collect, scan, design, layout, and produce
a finished product that averages 200 pages.
It is a labor of love for Rory though.
“I love going to the unveilings and seeing
the families’ reactions. Since I’ve lost my
grandparents, I can only begin to imagine
what their memoirs would have shared with
me. Seeing the tears of appreciation keeps my
team driven to help capture their priceless
legacies,” she says.
“Photos are often tucked away in boxes left
to become dusty and forgotten, but this brings
them to life and gives [families] a one-of-a-kind
gift that is really special,” Rory says.
For Epic Bound, the next chapter presents a
whole new perspective and window of opportunity
with expansion into corporate history
projects, and Rory just commissioned her first
international project for a client in Singapore.
Visit www.epicboundbooks.com
Clockwise from top: Examples from Rory's publishing company; Gabrielle (l) with Lucy Stratton (r), an
event team member; and an original cake design created by Lauren.
6 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 7

faith formation
(Left) Students at Class of 2014 Retreat: Carly Nunez, Carly Jasperson, Stephanie Costa, and Marcella St. Romain; (Right) Carolina Esteve '13, and Katerina
Goldstein '13 perform at Class Retreat
A Community
of Faith
It’s 8:50 a.m. on a typical day at Ursuline
Academy. Students hurry into their classrooms
as chimes ring out over the PA system
across campus, followed by a student’s voice.
“Good morning, Ursuline. Please stop where
you are and quiet your hearts and minds
to prepare for this morning’s prayer. In the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit…” Thus, peacefully, prayer sets the
tone as students, teachers, and staff begin
their busy days in this community of faith.
In fact, expressions of faith, both formal and
informal, are part of each day at Ursuline.
Faith Development
For students, faith development continues
with their formal education in four years of
required Theology courses. Freshman and
sophomore curricula include studies of the
foundational tenets of the Catholic faith, morality,
Church history, and that of St. Angela.
Juniors study Hebrew Scripture and Christian
Scripture for an in-depth examination of
Biblical texts. Senior course choices include
Comparative Religions, Christian Ethical Principles,
Issues of Life and Death, and, a senior
requirement, Social Justice.
By Susan McAllister
“I recently heard two students talking about
how much they love their Faith classes — a
term used synonymously with Theology classes
for some of our students,” remarks Sr. Lois
Castillon, O.S.U., Director of Mission and Heritage.
“I asked them why they love these classes
and one said to me, ‘because the teachers make
God alive for us and we can develop our faith
life.’ May that grow in our school daily!”
Worship is a constant at Ursuline, with allschool
Masses celebrated on Holy Days, if not
monthly. Mass is also offered daily for smaller
groups in St. Ann Chapel. Students, faculty, and
staff are also free to pray in either St. Ann Chapel
or the new St. Angela Chapel in The French
Family Science, Math, and Technology Center.
Eucharistic adoration is offered weekly as well.
Students Take the Lead
Lila Lehtola ’12 serves as a Peer Minister, one
of a dozen or so students who are accepted into
the program each year. As members of this
ministry, students serve as role models of their
faith by helping prepare for Masses and serving
as Eucharistic Ministers and lectors.
Students take the lead in organizing re-
treats under the guidance of the Director of
Campus Ministry and the Director of Mission
and Heritage. According to Lila, “Being a retreat
leader is one of the best things about
being a Peer Minister because there is a sense
of equality and trust when we lead retreats
for our grade, and we serve as role models for
the younger students.
“Our retreats, specifically adoration, have
helped me develop spiritually,” she adds.
Ursuline to the Core
In 2010, the school undertook the Ursuline
Identity Assessment. This self-study and evaluation
examined the current, lived reality of the
Ursuline mission.
Reflecting on the assessment, Kathleen
Twetten, Director of Campus Ministry, said,
“What I value most about the Ursuline Identity
Assessment is the opportunity to look at Ursuline
Academy of Dallas from a broader per-
spective than I ever had. It is inspiring to see
where our school lives its mission and core
values authentically.”
Kathleen continues, “Simply realizing how
very ‘Ursuline’ our school is, to the core of its
identity, is incredibly reaffirming.”
Students end their school days much like
they begin them, with a moment of prayer.
“Saint Angela, watch over the days of our youth;
St. Ursula, protect our future.”
FORMAL SPIRITUAL
ENRICHMENT
Throughout the school year, students, faculty, and
staff partake in a variety of faith-based celebrations
and activities:
» Freshman Convocation
» Sophomore Serviam
» Junior Ring Ceremony
» Senior Baccalaureate Mass
Retreats
» Class Retreats
» Angela Retreats for co-workers
» Evening Retreats for parents and students
» Senior Community Days
Eucharistic Liturgies
» Mass of the Holy Spirit
» Mother/Daughter Mass
» Feast of St. Ursula
» Feast of the Immaculate Conception
» Feast of St. Angela
» Ash Wednesday
» Senior Farewell Liturgy
Faith Supportive Prayer Services and Ministries
» Memorial Masses hosted by the Alumnae Association
» Peace One Day Prayer Service
» Thanksgiving Prayer Service
» Eucharistic Adoration
» Catholic Schools Week
» Mission and Heritage Commission
» Campus Ministry and Peer Ministry
In the Spirit
of St. Angela
Our Call to Action
By Eileen Maher Weber ’84
Ursuline Academy of Dallas is blessed with a distinguished
heritage, outstanding academics, and
a worldwide community of Alumnae who, some would
claim, are among the best and the brightest.
Ursuline strives continuously to anticipate the challenges
students will face in the future and to provide
a curriculum that prepares them for what lies ahead.
The core strength of Ursuline, however, lies deep within
its spiritual roots dating back to 1535 when St. Angela
Merici established the Ursuline Order.
As Alumnae, we have experienced the love, compassion,
and extraordinary intellect of the Ursuline Sisters.
We know that these deeply religious women are
members of a worldwide community of Catholic Sisters
whose lives and mission are rooted in the Gospel. Their
great work has focused on educating young women to
be leaders and citizens of service.
The Sisters have shown us the way, leading by example
as a compassionate, reconciling presence of God
in our world.
We were extremely fortunate to be immersed in an
environment centered on Christ with the Ursulines there
to teach us, to lead us, to pray with us, and to support us.
They have given us an overall sense of the importance of
a personal connection with God, instilling a solid values
system, all the while nurturing the development of the
whole person. We learned through our relationships
with them and through their example.
And so we must ask ourselves, while the Ursulines
are taking bold steps to keep alive the spirit of St. Angela
Merici, to capture new vision, and to continue as a force
for peacemaking in our world, is there a call to action
for us
Absolutely!
Our role as Alumnae, as the very benefactors of the
unique Ursuline experience, also takes on new meaning.
It is our responsibility — our privilege — to perpetuate
the legacy of St. Angela Merici and to uphold and carry
forward the mission of the Ursuline Sisters.
Certainly, we all strive for a meaningful life. The recipients
of the 2011 Alumnae Awards (see pages 12–13) are
representative of so many of our graduates across the
U.S. and around the world who have distinguished themselves,
doing their part to ensure human dignity for all.
Like the beloved Ursuline Sisters, these modern women
carry on Angela's tradition of progressive ministry in their
communities. They heard and embraced the calling.
As Ursuline Alumnae we are all Serviam women,
called to better the world, to seek justice for all people,
and to nurture the earth and all God’s creation. This inherent
sense of service resides deep within us, fostered in
our youth by the Ursuline Sisters. We are reminded that,
as Ursuline women, we too can achieve anything.
Let us be grateful to St. Angela Merici who set the
original example, empowering women almost five centuries
ago and, through her legacy, continues to do so
to this day.
And let us not forget that, as products of an Ursuline
education who learned to take responsibility for the gifts
that God has granted, we play a crucial role in the future
of today’s Ursuline students; we are the mainstay to keep
the spirit alive.
Eileen Weber is a member of the Ursuline Alumnae Board.
8 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 9

eunion weekend 2011
SAVE THE
DATE
All Alumnae invited!
Alumnae Reunion
Weekend 2012
June 8-10
The Ursuline campus was bursting with energy June 3-5, 2011, as
Alumnae from across the country came home to celebrate Alumnae
Reunion Weekend: A New Homecoming.
More than 600 attended events throughout the weekend — Friday
Girls’ Night Out, Saturday Family Fun Day, and the annual Alumnae Mass
and Awards Ceremony on Sunday. Whether you returned for a class reunion, to check out the
renewed campus, or to catch up with friends, the weekend offered something for everyone.
View complete photo albums at www.ursulinedallas.org/reunion
See class
reunion
photos
on pages
34-35.
1
2 3
4
6 7
8
5
1. Alumnae Board Members 2. Paige Burnside Franks ’91, Todd and Farrah Franks 3. Class of 1991: Jennifer Kim Wilson, Estelle Voisin-Baudoin Fonteneau,
Jenny Putchinski Carroll 4. Class of 1991: Melina McKinnon Cain, Katina Bithos Tchokoev, Chithra Arumugham Volluz, Alicia Carter Carline, Alicia Alcala
Frederick 5. Class of 1951: Midge Murnane Yoxall, Sr. Mary Troy, Lorraine Lastelick, Sybil Emmett Tucker, Julie-Anne Post Kress, Beverly Urban Brady,
Josephine Todora La Barba 6. Class of 1996: Meghan Boeding Feighny, Kristen Ohlenforst, Kathy Seery Scucchi, Lindsay Wesp Thomas
9 10
7. Melanie Green Quinn '80, Susan Williams McElroy '80, Laura Smith Anechiarico '81, Mary Koch Stack '82 8. Class of 1986: Fran Corrales-Drone,
Shannon Grothues Maxwell, Karen Quadrini Powell 9. Class of 1981: Anne Parigi Michels, Mary Beth Jones Thomas, Monica Brito Johnson, Carol Savage
Ryan, Patty Sullivan, Veronica Fuqua Young 10. Gabriella Veleba Bondy '53, Jean Troy Knauber '56, Ann Browne Martin '56, Sr. Margaret Ann Moser '56,
Sherron Ericksen Smith '56, Doris Blunck Walker '56
10 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 11

alumnae awards 2011
DID YOU KNOW…
The 2011 Alumnae Award recipients from left: Karen Decker ’83, Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86, Sharon Broun Keeler ’78, and Capt. Mary Kidd Cosper ’96
Amazing Women
Among Us
Last June, at Alumnae Reunion Weekend: A New Homecoming, the
Alumnae Association recognized four extraordinary Alumnae who
exemplify the Ursuline mission in action. We are proud to share the
stories of these women and their journeys.
Shannon Grothues Maxwell ’86
Ursula Laurus Award
The newly created Ursula Laurus Award recognizes an Alumna
whose life example of commitment is a generous giving of
time and resources to those in need on a national scale.
Shannon Grothues Maxwell became devoted to wounded
warrior family initiatives after her husband, Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell,
USMC (ret), suffered a penetrating traumatic brain injury.
In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, a nonprofit organization that addresses needs
of families recovering from traumatic injuries. She then co-founded the SemperMax Support Fund
in 2009 to further benefit service-disabled
veterans and currently serves as the Fund’s
vice president.
A recipient of the Presidential Call to
Service Award, Shannon is also one of
five 2007 recipients of the National Military
Family Association’s Very Important
Patriot Award.
“I’ve been blessed to witness the amazing
resolve of individuals challenged by traumatic
injury and the overwhelming commitment and
support to serve one’s fellow man,” she said
upon accepting the Ursula Laurus Award.
“At Ursuline and at home we are given the
foundation of love…caring and service become
ingrained in our way of life. But until recent
years, I did not understand the viral effect that
little acts of kindness [can have]… as calls to action,
with others taking up the example.”
Author of Our Daddy Is Invincible! (pictured
at left), she is planning more children’s
books. She and her husband also hope to establish
a camp for families of wounded, ill, and
injured soldiers.
Karen Decker ’83
Distinguished Alumna Award
The Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes
service, leadership, and achievement that have
distinguished an Alumna to Ursuline, her community,
and her profession over her lifetime.
Following graduation from Georgetown
University, Karen Decker joined the State
Department and has lived her life abroad for
one overriding reason, “to make the world a
better place.”
After entering the Senior Foreign Service,
she served first in Pakistan and then Bosnia,
where she monitored cease-fire conditions between
warring factions and implemented a fullfledged
peace treaty.
As the chief action officer on NATO policy
in the Balkans, she had primary responsibility
for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) air campaign and subsequent peacekeeping
mission in Kosovo. Following the attacks
on September 11, 2001, she helped build
the coalition that today fights the War on Terror
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now in the Office of European Security and
Political Affairs, she is responsible for policy development
for NATO and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Alumnae Leadership Scholarships
As part of the Reunion Weekend celebration, the
following students received Alumnae
Leadership Scholarships of $1,000 each for the
2011-2012 school year:
Jacquelyn Elias ’14
Faith Noah ’14
Catherine Buskmiller ’13
Carolyn Oliver ’13
Jillian Buys ’12
Hannah Juarez ’12
Margot Schneider ’12
Any freshman, sophomore, or junior student who
is a daughter, sister, niece, grandniece, or granddaughter
of an Ursuline Academy of Dallas graduate
is eligible to apply for an Alumnae Leadership
Scholarship. To learn more, contact the Alumnae
Office at 469-232-3587 or www.ursulinedallas.
org/alumnaescholarships.
“Serviam started here [at Ursuline]
for me and has never ended. I
love my job. I represent the greatest
country on the planet,” Karen says.
“And it is my privilege every day to
go out there and try to make it a
little safer.”
Sharon Broun Keeler ’78
Serviam Alumna Award
The Serviam Alumna Award, presented
to Sharon Broun Keeler, honors
a graduate who embodies the
Serviam, “I will serve,” spirit of Ursuline
Academy.
Sharon entered Ursuline as a kindergartner
in 1960 under the care
of Mother Emmanuel O’Shea. Her classmates
describe her as humble, witty, intellectual, and
resourceful. Today, she is quietly changing the
lives of those around her, one by one.
Sharon volunteers weekly for Refugee Resources,
Inc., a Dallas area ministry that provides
physical and spiritual help to refugees
from the Middle East and Africa. Every Saturday
she folds blankets and gathers books,
puzzles, and games, and heads to an East Dallas
apartment complex where she reads to refugee
children as if they are her own. She hopes that
her time spent with displaced children will put
them on a path to a brighter future.
“This is Serviam at its most basic level —
even better — Serviam at its best!” said classmate
Dianne Wright Doyle ’78 at the June
Awards ceremony.
Sharon has also been active in the Ursuline
Mothers’ Club and Dallas County Aggie Moms.
As Class Agent, she has organized service projects
for the Ronald McDonald House and the
Salvation Army.
Capt. Mary Kidd Cosper ’96
Young Alumna Award
The Young Alumna Award honors a graduate
who, through her service, leadership, and
achievements has made outstanding commitments
within her community and/or her
profession.
A highly decorated graduate of the United
States Military Academy at West Point, Captain
Mary Kidd Cosper has been awarded the Bronze
The first Distinguished
Alumnae Awards were
presented to Elsie
Ingram Griffith ’42
and Lydia Haggar
Novakov ’68 at Homecoming,
May 6, 1984.
Since then, 29 Alumnae
have been so
honored.
A complete list of
Alumnae Award
recipients can be
found online at www.
ursulinedallas.org/
alumnaeawards
Star Medal, Army Commendation
Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster,
National Defense Service Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Medal, and the Global War
on Terrorism Service Medal.
At the Alumnae Award ceremonies,
classmate Lauren Johnson ’96
expressed her own heartfelt admiration
for Captain Cosper in four
words, “She is my hero.”
From December 2001 to July
2002, Mary served in Kandahar,
Afghanistan. After graduating
from the Captains Career Course
and joining the 89 th Military Police
Brigade, she deployed again to
Camp Victory, Iraq, serving there from July to
December 2004. Now with the 108 th Military
Police Company (Airborne/Air Assault), her
assignments have included Platoon Leader,
Executive Officer, and Rear Detachment
Commander.
A standout on the Ursuline Academy soccer
team in the ’90s, she also played on the All-Army
and All-Armed Forces soccer teams.
The Ursula Laurus Award calls to mind the
laurel featured in the Ursuline Roman Union
coat of arms — a symbol of victory, glory, and
immortality. Laurus, an anagram of Ursula,
evokes St. Ursula.
Find videos and more about the 2011
Alumnae Award recipients at www.
ursulinedallas.org/alumnaeawards
12 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 13

living serviam
Study Time program volunteers from left: Katherine McKenna '11, Julie Cox '12, Marcela Torres '11, Maddie Sladek '12, and Tori Manogue '11
Making the
Most of
“Study Time”
By Tori Manogue ’11
Ursuline Academy core values
include Serviam, “I will serve,” as
a lived reality. While this inspires
Ursuline women worldwide, the
following reflection illustrates the
passion with which our students
commit to their local community on
a daily basis, going above and beyond
to serve their neighbors in need.
As with all Ursuline students and
Alumnae, Serviam is a big part
of who I am. As a student, I enjoyed
volunteering at local food
shelters, at the Father/Daughter Service Project,
and at various other service opportunities
offered through the school. Ursuline gave me a
Serviam mindset and the opportunity to start a
club with a volunteer core.
During the summer of my sophomore year,
Lydia Morris ’12 and I started the St. Vincent
de Paul Connection Club at Ursuline. Responding
to the need to support the youth of Dallas
and their advancement in school, we worked
with the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store to develop
the Study Time tutoring program.
Although the Thrift Store held classes for
adults, it did not offer programs for elementary
school children. By taking the initiative to develop
something new, our club soon found its
calling by helping this underserved community.
We created the Study Time program with the
assistance of the Thrift Store staff and a former
teacher volunteer, Kayla Kennedy. Study Time
provides after-school tutoring for students
in kindergarten through eighth grade. The
Maddie Sladek '12 reads with a program participant.
children of local families in need get help with
homework from Ursuline students and our
Jesuit partners.
“I remember being a bit apprehensive at the
thought, ‘What can I do to help these kids’ ”
Tori Manogue '11 tutors a member of the Study Time program.
said Lydia Morris. “Then after working with
them, I experienced that moment when they
‘get it;’ when they understand what they are
studying. It has helped me realize that I would
like to explore the idea of becoming a teacher.”
Study Time provides a safe place where children
can do their homework, get free tutoring,
make friends from different schools, read
books from the Thrift Store library, and grow
intellectually with high school mentors serving
as role models.
Ursuline parents and Alumnae also participate
as tutors. Mary Walker Sladek ’79 says,
“The biggest joy I receive is from the kids as
they are hugging me and thanking me for coming.
My heart is saying, ‘No, I thank you for the
love and joy you give me every time I tutor!’ ”
Bill Sladek, a Jesuit Alumnus, reflects on
how the program has touched his life. “We give
what we can in the way of tutoring, reading
books, playing games, and sometimes just listening,
but we receive so much more in return.”
Kayla Kennedy points out, “After-school
programs keep our children safe and provide
them with much needed, supervised, structured
activity. Studies around the nation have
proven time and again that children in afterschool
programs are two times less likely to use
drugs; one-third less likely to become teen parents;
have improved school attendance; show
better achievement in math, reading, and other
subjects; learn to respect people who are differ-
ent from themselves; and develop better conflict
resolution and social skills.”
Parents of Study Time participants have
praised the program for helping their children
learn their coursework, increase their reading
level, and avoid having to repeat grades in
school. Study Time has made a difference in the
lives of many children in our community. The
Study Time program has been a great success
over the past two years and continues to be,
even as the original volunteers graduate.
Since being involved with tutoring elementary
level students through Study Time, I have
joined a club at Tufts University that tutors students
in the surrounding towns of Medford and
Somerville. Ursuline’s motto of Serviam has
been instilled in me and has made me eager to
pursue many service opportunities at Tufts.
Service Opportunities
Through the Alumnae monthly e-newsletter,
Connects, Ursuline issues calls to action and promotes
service opportunities in the community.
Each issue includes ways to volunteer and stories
of Alumnae and their families living Serviam. If
you know of a special volunteer opportunity or
Serviam story, contact the Alumnae Office at
Alumnae@ursulinedallas.org or 469-232-3587.
14 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 15

profile
SISTER MARGARET
ANN MOSER
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Current board member
Catholic Housing Initiative Board
Sisters of Our Lady of Charity Advisory Board
Ursuline Academy of New Orleans
Left: 1956 high school yearbook portrait Above: Sister Margaret Ann Moser,
President. Photographed on the Ursuline campus, December 2011
A Conversation
with the President
Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U. reflects on 22
years of leadership at Ursuline Academy of Dallas.
When Sister Margaret Ann
Moser ’56 retires this summer
from her position as President,
she expects to move almost
seamlessly into an entirely new role for serving
Ursuline education in Dallas. That’s not at all a
surprise to those who know her joyful and tireless
approach to life and work.
One of nine children of Margaret Murrin
Moser ’31 and the late A.C. Moser Jr., Margaret
Ann Moser grew up in Dallas, part of a loving,
faith-filled Catholic family that placed a high priority
on education and giving back.
“My parents were wonderful examples for all
nine of us,” Sister Margaret Ann explains.
“They always found the good in everyone. They
opened our eyes to the hardships of others and the
need to serve,” she says. “They allowed us to develop
our own gifts, and they told each of us that
they would educate us as far as we wanted to go.”
Her own Ursuline education began in Dallas
where she attended kindergarten and continued
through high school. She received her bachelor’s
in history from the College of New Rochelle, NY,
and earned her master’s in theology at St. Mary’s
University in San Antonio, TX.
“Sometimes I think I was an Ursuline from the
womb!” Sister Margaret Ann remarks, offering a
touch of her trademark humor.
In addition to her mother, two aunts (Anna
Catherine Moser Endom ’31 and Mary Louise
Moser Bosworth ’37) were also graduates of Ursuline
in Dallas. Three sisters — Mary Theresa ’53
(now Sister Mary Theresa Moser, RSCJ), Kathleen
Moser Barr ’71, and Carol Moser Grantham ’73
are all Alumnae.
Sister Margaret Ann professed her vows as a
member of the Order of St. Ursula in St. Louis,
MO, in 1959. She then began building what
would become an outstanding career as an educator,
with teaching and administrative positions
at Ursuline schools in Springfield, IL; St. Louis,
MO; and New Orleans, LA. In 1989, she got the
call to return to Dallas.
“I was grateful and excited to get the opportunity
to serve my alma mater. Over the years that I
was away from Dallas, I was always in touch,” she
says, “but I never dreamed that I would be coming
back.”
She credits the Academy’s success in reaching
its goals to the collaborative spirit of the entire Ursuline
family.
“What a great pleasure it has been to get to
know so many gifted people — employees, parents,
Alumnae, friends — who value the mission
that we as Sisters treasure so much!” Sister says.
“It has been rewarding to watch the Academy
grow, from 545 students in 1989 to more than 800
today,” she continues. “Think of the impact of all
those young women graduates who are now leaders
here in Dallas, across the country, and around
the world!”
Growth at Ursuline during Sister’s tenure has
extended well beyond enrollment. She has led
multimillion dollar fundraising campaigns and
directed landmark expansion of campus facilities.
She has continued the Academy’s long history of
innovation with advances in curriculum, a pioneering
technology program, gains in student diversity,
and the current global education initiative.
Over the years, she has also promoted steady
growth in endowments for scholarship, faculty,
and facilities. Much remains to be accomplished,
she says, and in her new part-time position as
President Emerita, she will continue that work.
“From 1874 to today, the Ursulines have always
provided some form of financial assistance to students
in need,” Sister Margaret Ann says. “Our endowments
must be strong to ensure this essential
support, and to provide additional revenue to allow
the Academy to keep tuition levels as reasonable
as possible for our families.”
On February 10, The Catholic Foundation will
honor Sister Margaret Ann with the 30 th Annual
Catholic Foundation Award in recognition of her
commitment and service to Catholic education
and the Dallas community.
Top Left: Ursuline welcomes the first exchange visitors from Huaxia
Girls Academy of Beijing, 1998. Above: The Moser family's annual summer
trip to see Murrin grandparents in Pennsylvania. Right: The Moser
family at Sister Margaret Ann’s first Profession of Vows, 1959.
“I am so grateful to the Ursuline Sisters, who
have given me wonderful opportunities throughout
the years for service and leadership,” Sister
says. “And I have enjoyed every minute of it!”
High School
Graduation,
1956
Past board member
St. Alcuin Montessori School, Dallas
Duchene Academy of the Sacred Heart, Houston
AWARDS
2007 Our Friends’ Place Ebby Award
2012 Catholic Foundation Award
ON HER WATCH
A Timeline of Growth
1991 First annual Mardi Gras Ball is held to
benefit the Ursuline Scholarship Fund.
1995-96 Ursuline is one of six U.S. schools to
pioneer a laptop computer program.
1996 Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center is
dedicated.
1997 Educational, cultural exchange
partnership is formed with Huaxia Girls
Academy of Beijing.
1998 Meadows Foundation recognizes
Ursuline for outstanding community
service.
2000 The Ursuline Center for Performing
Arts/Braniff Hall is dedicated.
Property is acquired at the corner of
Walnut Hill Lane and Inwood Road.
2002 The Ursuline Academy of Dallas
Foundation is established.
2005-09 Partnerships are formed with Ursuline
schools in South America.
2009 The French Family Science, Math, and
Technology Center and the new Music
Building open.
2010 Major campus renovations are
completed.
2011 Global Education Initiative for
curriculum renewal enters second year.
16 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 17

CREATIVITY
AND THE ARTS,
FROM CLASSROOM TO
CAREER
COVER STORY
BY MIKI BONE MELSHEIMER ’79
EMILY RICE '06 performing in The Last
5 Years at Elon University's Black Box
Theatre, March 2010. Emily produced the
two-person show, written by composer/
lyricist Jason Robert Brown, which tells the
story of a five-year relationship between a
novelist and an aspiring actress.
Stop for a moment and think about your most
enduring (and endearing) memories of school.
No, really...do it! I’d wager that your memory
drifts not to a grade or a particular test, but to
something more defining.
While I have little recollection of the time I
spent on homework and taking tests — measures
of my quantitative performance — I can
recall a few great lessons I learned beyond the
classroom walls (in my case through the performing
arts) that allowed me to discover my
qualitative value as an individual.
Fast-forward 30 years. One of the many
perks of a teaching career in the arts is having a
front row seat to observe the impact of qualitative
learning on a whole new generation.
Participation in the arts increases our
higher-order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis,
and application. The arts also provide
a vehicle for driving home life lessons that can
be applied to any discipline: 1) know your audience;
2) seek to engage those around you in
meaningful ways; 3) find your light; and 4)
make sure you can be heard!
If our dreams are what make us who we are
and our passion fuels the drive to achieve our
dreams, the arts provide ample opportunity to
explore and nurture both.
CREATIVITY
IN THE CLASSROOM
Now that we are well into the 21 st
century, long gone are the days when
students viewed the arts classroom as
an oasis in a day otherwise filled with
lectures, drills, worksheets, and tests.
To help students become successful
in today’s world, qualitative learning
is expanding into the core subjects.
Students are being challenged in new
and creative ways with interdisciplinary,
project-based approaches that
take problem solving and performance
to new levels.
In one freshman mathematics course last
year, Ursuline students used equations to create
original works of art. Starting with a concept
of the image they wanted to achieve, they
“designed” the formulations needed to plot the
drawing on a computer. The result was a gallery
of unique and visually stimulating graphics,
and a better understanding of the inherent
relationship between math and design.
Since curriculum guidelines serve as a road
map for educators, perhaps an analogy to the
advances in mapping technology can illustrate
the point. Remember that paper map that
folded into the backseat pocket of your parents’
station wagon or minivan While it was a useful
tool, the small print, paper folds, and occasional
tears presented challenges.
Today, with GPS technology in our cars, cellphones,
and computers, advances in the way we
navigate now enhance our journey. We may be
going to some of the same places, but we are
traveling with more information, different information,
and more perspective.
Like mapping technology, we now have more
advanced curriculum tools to broaden and
deepen the learning experience. And teachers
can plot a course for their students that more
effectively demonstrates real-world applications
for what is learned.
NOT WHAT,
BUT HOW
The transition under way with today’s
curriculum is not about what is being
taught — the essential course content
remains. It’s about how that content
is learned. As teachers develop new
pedagogy — the ways of teaching —
they see students becoming more excited and
engaged in their learning.
Principal Betty Bourgeois has challenged the
Ursuline faculty to expand their best teaching
practices with goals that would have an enduring
impact on their students. My response was
the introduction in 2002 of a touring program
for the junior theatre students.
18 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 19

terday’s creative students are becoming today’s
critical thinkers and doers.
It seems like just yesterday that Stephanie
Hockridge Woyski ’01 was juggling her drill
team responsibilities with rehearsals for Dancing
at Lughnasa. As she sat with me at breakfast
on a hot morning late last summer, she was
waiting for her agent to call with some pretty
big news about her next career move.
The call would clarify the particulars of two
job offers. Should she accept the position in
“THE ARTS FOSTER A SENSE OF SELF,
ENCOURAGE YOU TO FIND YOURSELF,
TO KNOW YOURSELF, AND TO LOVE
YOURSELF. WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING
THAT PROCESS.”
— TANNER HARTNETT ’06
Sacramento or Phoenix Stephanie had gained
good experience as a TV news anchor for the
CBS affiliate in Charlottesville, VA, and as a
weekday reporter for WDAF–TV in Kansas
City, MO. Regardless of her decision (ultimately
Phoenix, AZ), Stephanie was about to become a
television anchor in one of the top 20 markets
in the U.S.
It is no surprise that Stephanie still exhibits
the poise, grace, and drive that made her stand
out 10 years ago. Even then she had “stage presence,”
exceptional ease, and focus in front of
a large group. Those qualities have certainly
served her well as she’s made a name for herself
as a reporter and TV anchor.
“In photography class, I developed an ‘eye’
for how to tell an emotionally impactful story.
As a member of the drill team, I gained poise
and self-confidence,” Stephanie says. “And a
ety of young audiences and performance venues.
“Serviam on Tour” was also a community
outreach program, bringing the joys of theatre
seemingly insignificant suggestion from an Ursuline
theatre director helped solidify the foundation
I needed to be successful in my career.
TANNER HARTNET '06 is a student at Texas
Tech School of Law. Tanner was an accomplished
ballerina by the age of 17.
to children from families of all income levels
“She suggested I speak utilizing the lower
across the community.
register of my voice in order to sound more
As the teacher, I was able to watch my stu-
professional while performing on stage. Believe
Tanner had an opportunity to test her talent as
dents cut their permanent teeth on the concepts
it or not, I still use that skill each evening as I
a leader in a collaborative effort. No doubt she’ll
of dedication, discipline, competition, and col-
deliver the news,” she continues.
have many more opportunities to demonstrate
laboration in that class. Now, almost 10 years
“I may look young for my 28 years, but my
her capable leadership when she graduates
later, the touring class program is still going
photographer’s eye, self-confidence, and voice
from Texas Tech University School of Law.
strong, and the program ranks among the most
are the reasons I just landed the anchor job in
“For me the arts have always been an emo-
challenging and rewarding arts opportunities
Phoenix, the 12 th largest television market in
tional journey, learning how to channel all the
at Ursuline.
the country. Thank you, Ursuline!”
feelings I have and turn it into something beau-
Tanner Hartnett ’06 was already an accom-
tiful,” Tanner says. “You get lost in your dance,
STEPHANIE HOCKRIDGE WOYSKI '01 was
nominated for three Emmys in 2011 for her
work as a newscaster at WDAF-Fox4 in Kansas
City, MO. (Above) Stephanie appears as a
poppy in Ursuline Academy's production of
The Wizard of Oz in 2000.
I still taught the basic analysis, synthesis,
and application skills, but touring took it a step
further. The new approach taught the students
to apply and adapt their performance to a vari-
GREAT
PERFORMANCES
Thanks to the power and reach of
social media, I’ve been able to keep
that front row seat with my former
students. Regardless of their college
major or career choice, they are always
eager to share how qualitative learning
has helped shape their identity.
As the first students I taught at Ursuline
mark their 10-year reunion, it’s
a perfect time to celebrate how yes-
plished ballerina by the age of 17 when I asked
her to choreograph the ballet sequences for A
Midsummer Night’s Dream for Ursuline. As exceptional
as her dance ability was at the time,
what stopped me in my tracks was her ability to
command a large group of peers while teaching
complicated movement sequences.
Tanner’s talent wasn’t limited to her own
technique as a dancer. Getting the chance
to choreograph a theatre production meant
in your music, or in your drawing as you get in
touch with your deepest thoughts.
“I think, as adults, we forget how powerful
the imagination is, and how important and integral
that is to a student’s development. In a
fast-paced constantly moving world, children
sometimes get lost in the shuffle, and they
aren’t given the opportunity to figure out who
they are,” she explains. “The arts foster a sense
of self, encourage you to find yourself, to know
20 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

jects based on facts and near-certain truths.
Theatre, art, music — these are subjects that
touch your soul and allow students to open
their minds to all the wonders this world has
to offer, and to freely express themselves in the
process.”
ELENA DOSKEY '06 teaches English at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin, TX. (Above
right) Elena, in gold dress, plays a wicked stepsister in Ursuline's production of Cinderella in 2005.
yourself, and to love yourself. We should be encouraging
that process.”
Those who know Elena Doskey ’06 have no
trouble imagining her as a high school teacher.
The truth is, Elena had a head start at Ursuline
thanks to Jane Chambers’ musicals. Jane is
fond of rounding out her large casts with young
children and Elena, at an early age, was clearly
a natural in front of an audience.
Once officially admitted as an Ursuline student,
Elena continued to delight audiences
with her vocal and comedic talents throughout
her four years. Her commanding presence onstage
also grew off-stage, as she served as Class
President during her sophomore, junior, and
senior years.
“It was because of Jazz Choir, Concert Choir,
and Musical Theater at Ursuline that I discovered
what made my heart sing,” Elena says.
“Even if it’s not my career, I experience that
feeling when I do get to practice and even sing
in front of an audience, and I remember why I
fell in love with music in the first place. Music
brings me joy, and joy is rare and priceless.”
As a public speaker, Elena has a powerful
and engaging style. I have a vivid recollection
of being seated in the Ursuline Center for Performing
Arts (UCPA) and listening to Elena address
her classmates as their president. Leaning
over to a fellow teacher I whispered, “It’s hard
to tell if she’s got a future as a military sergeant
or a tent revival preacher.”
A favorite memory is the large collective smile
on the faces of the congregants at St. Rita Catholic
Church in Dallas when Elena, as the Ursuline
representative, delivered a moving eulogy at the
funeral Mass of our beloved Father Jack Deeves.
I’m sure that Father Deeves was smiling, too.
Today, Elena is teaching Spanish and English
at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in
Austin. She also manages to squeeze in graduate
school courses at the University of Notre
Dame throughout the school year and during
the summers.
During the several years Aimee Ghosh ’03
spent working on Capitol
Hill for Representative
Louise Slaughter from
New York, she managed
to stay connected to some
of her American University
a cappella group members and record a CD
called A Splash of Pink.
Aimee has put her artistic pursuits on the
back burner for a while to earn her law degree.
She recently returned to American University
to attend Washington College of Law, planning
to graduate in 2013.
“The skills I learned onstage and in the classroom
have definitely helped me to prepare for a
career in the courtroom,” Aimee says. “Through
arts education, I not only developed confidence
in my own abilities, but also learned valuable
lessons in teamwork, communication, and
leadership.”
Emily Rice ’06 graduated from Elon University
in May 2010, not long after the U.S. economy
had taken a major nose-dive. Many college
graduates found themselves in the unenviable
position of having few, if any, job prospects. But
not Emily. Armed with her musical theatre degree
and a mountain of determination, she has
managed to get great work — doing what she
loves.
Before collecting her diploma, Emily devoted
months to networking and chasing leads, traveling
on weekends to New York City and auditioning.
By graduation, Emily had an offer to
appear as Maria in The Sound of Music in Virginia.
That role was followed by a nine-month
national tour of A Chorus Line. Then, during
summer 2011, she performed as the lead in
Summer of ’42 in Norwich, CT.
Emily was always a keen observer and diligent
worker. If you gave Emily an assignment
to work on at home, she brought it back polished.
She knows the secret of success: it’s not
enough to be talented — the successful performer
also educates herself on the business of
show business.
“It was through the arts that I discovered the
very best way to express myself. Not only that,
but I learned how to collaborate with others,
work as a team, and get the job done by a specific
deadline,” Emily says. “In the theatre I have
worked hardest to combine my creativity, organization,
and people skills. Each production,
each project, has taught me more about myself,
and the world I live in.
“Math, science, history — these are all sub-
WHERE YOU CAN
SEE THEM NOW
A number of Ursuline Academy theatre
program graduates of the past decade
have gone on to begin successful
careers in the performing arts. Others
have chosen different career paths to
apply their talents. Here’s an update
on some of those alumnae.
THEATRE
Elise LeBreton ’07 is an intern at Roundabout
Theatre and a MFA Theatre Student at Brown
University/Trinity Repertory Theatre.
Shannon Marcotte ’03 is Senior Marketing
Manager for Roundabout Theatre Company in
New York City.
Kelly O’Neill ’06 studied with Second City
Comedy Theatre and Improvisation Company
in Chicago. She occasionally crosses paths with
Jesuit grad and honorary UA alum funnyman
John Sabine, who recently appeared in a Second
City production in Chicago.
Erin Watts ’03 is working in New York City as a
producer for Story Pirates. This nationally recognized
education and media organization celebrating
the words and ideas of young people
was featured last fall on The Today Show.
Bayli Ryan ’08 is studying musical theatre at
Elon University, and appeared with Stephen
Foster Productions in Kentucky last summer
as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. She returned
to Dallas last July for a brief visit to appear at
the premiere of Inventors and Vendors, an independent
film in which Bayli plays the lead
female role.
Megan Rabuse ’10, a Plan II Major at The
University of Texas, manages to find time to
pursue theatre as well. She was in several performances
at UT last year, and has performed
with the following theatre groups/troupes:
Foot in the Door, the Broccoli Project, Spirit of
Shakespeare (SOS), and Shakespeare Outreach
(SHOUT), a service group that teaches Shake-
THE ART OF
COLLABORATION
AT URSULINE
It’s safe to say that Dallas is a city that has long embraced
its love of sports, and it’s only natural that our
schools would strive to create excellent sports programs.
Not all students, however, are drawn to sports.
So it was fortunate that, when Jane Chambers (above)
was hired 28 years ago to head the music program at
Ursuline, the playing field of extracurriculars expanded
to include new avenues for enrichment. Jane and
her staff breathed life into what has become a rich and
prolific performing arts department.
I joined the faculty in 2000 and stepped into
the then-newly completed Ursuline Center for Performing
Arts. Armed with my teaching certificate, I
brought to the job more than a decade of professional
theatre experience and two young sons, in search
of more humane working hours.
When I first began teaching at Ursuline, I was
intrigued by the close physical proximity of the performing
arts program to the sports program. The
lobby entrance and concessions corner formed an
intersection for the two disciplines, and it was in that
space that I learned how much the two disciplines
have in common.
The students drawn to our respective programs
were disciplined and dedicated to their training.
They strived for their own success — yet they understood
that their success was dependent upon the
dedication and discipline of their fellow castmates/
teammates. In short, the sports and arts disciplines
shared one very important common life lesson that
will resonate for many years to come: the importance
of collaboration.
Regardless of whether they were in UCPA/Braniff
or the adjacent Neuhoff Athletic Center, students
learned how to compete, train, strategize, practice,
evaluate, and perform as a group of collaborators.
They were mentored and coached. Sometimes the
group stumbled and fell short of their goals, but more
often than not they shined.
Needless to say, I was clueless about the countless
hours I would be working — mainly because they flew
by so quickly and I loved my work. I was passionate
about modeling and mentoring the lessons of collaboration.
In the intervening years, Jane Chambers
and the newer members of the faculty have worked
tirelessly to mentor their students and, most importantly,
model the art of collaboration.
22 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 23

MAKING MUSIC
Graduates whose career paths were paved with musical studies
a university research grant, and served as an assistant
teacher for the Laura Schellhardt playwriting
sequence last summer. Sarah also served
as the writing chair for PreTENd Productions,
leading a student-organized seminar where students
received course credit. Now with her coveted
diploma in hand, Sarah has set down roots
in New York to pursue her theatrical dreams.
Elizabeth Pyke ’09 is working as the sports anchor in the Trinity University newsroom.
Michelle Weilert ’05 has opened seven off-Broadway plays in New York City, the latest in April
2011. Three of the plays got an initial test run at Ursuline before they were produced. She has
worked as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola Marymount University and co-taught playwriting
with Beth Henley (author of Crimes of the Heart). Last year, Michelle worked as an
assistant for NBC Writers on the Verge, a fellowship that provides training for TV writing to
outstanding writers who are “on the verge” of being discovered.
“REINVESTING IN ARTS
EDUCATION”
The statements below have been excerpted from
“Reinvesting in Arts Education,” a 2011 report by
the President’s Committee on the Arts and the
Humanities.
Sharon Woster Pabon ’94, Kendall Zini-Jones ’03, Glynnis Garry ’07, Josephine Hsieh ’05
An active soloist and chamber musician, Sharon Woster Pabon ’94 has performed at venues throughout the Washington,
D.C./Baltimore area including the U.S. Capitol, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Summer Opera Theater Company,
Opera International, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Camden Yards. She also enjoys a busy teaching career, maintaining
a private flute studio and holding faculty positions at the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program and Musical Expressions in Bethesda.
Sharon is a first place winner of the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair Collegiate Soloist competition. She received a Master of Music in
Flute Performance from Peabody Conservatory.
A native of Dallas, mezzo-soprano Kendall Zini-Jones ’03 completed a master’s degree in opera studying under performance
great Carol Vaness at Indiana University. She appeared with the IU Opera Theater as Candace in the collegiate première
of William Bolcom’s A Wedding and as Stella in Les contes d’Hoffmann. She has been featured in concerts and operas
around Europe. Most recently she was seen as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and Caterina in L’Amico Fritz for Cincinnati College-
Conservatory of Music’s Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca., Italy.
The 2011 Notre Dame Distinguished Student Award was presented to Glynnis Garry ’07 in honor of her academic performance
and service to the community. Glynnis completed a double major in Pre-Medicine and American Studies, with a minor in the
Glynn Family Honors Program. In her sophomore year, she traveled to an orphanage in rural Honduras to help open a surgery
center. Upon her return, she co-founded Friends of the Orphans at Notre Dame. Since 2008, she has tutored young children and
high school students through the Center for Social Concerns. As a senior, she led the Band of the Fighting Irish as Head Drum
Major. She is currently attending Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Josephine Hsieh ’05 received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where
she studied with Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff. There she performed for the renowned Liszt scholar Alan Walker, won first prize
in the MacDowell Arts Foundation, and earned top honors in piano concerto competitions. At the Norwegian Academy of Music,
Josephine studied with Håvard Gimse and won the Conoco-Philips Music Stipend Competition. She was honored to play for the
King of Norway and participated in the Takamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan this past March. In July she married
fellow concert pianist Øyvind Sundsvalen at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas; the couple resides in Oslo.
TELEVISION AND FILM
Kelly Bach ’05 graduated from the University of
Oklahoma with a film studies degree and works
with Larry Levinson Productions in Los Angeles.
She became interested in film editing while
she was at Ursuline.
Julie Cole ’05 works for the Domestic Theatrical
Publicity department at Warner Bros. Pictures.
Nicole Daboub ’02 is a news personality who
covered the royal wedding last year as a correspondent
for The Insider.
Erin Dooley ’09 is working as a news anchor at
Trinity University. She questioned Colin Powell at
a San Antonio press conference, as well as Robert
Gates and Sir Salman Rushdie at other press conferences.
Erin spent last summer in a paid internship
at Androvett Legal Media in Dallas.
Bethy Poluikis ’03 works in film and television
in Los Angeles and is currently appearing
with the Second City Comedy Troupe in
Hollywood, CA.
LAW
Perry Woods ’05 is currently working as Case Manager for a law firm in Dallas and plans
on attending law school.
Carolyn McLaughlin ’04 received her J.D./MPA in 2011 from Texas Tech University.
Meggie Sudderth Gilstrap ’04 received her J.D. 2011 at Harvard Law School. She is currently
clerking for a Federal Bankruptcy Judge in New York.
AND MORE
Jessica Barnett ’05 is a member of the theatre faculty at Parish Episcopal School of Dallas
and is known for her love of directing musicals.
Kate O’Neill Emrich ’05 is a Certified Public Accountant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Kristin Kuhn ’07 recently graduated with a degree in Biological Engineering from MIT. Kristin is
taking a year off from her studies before attending medical school. During that time, she'll be working
as a missionary to the poor in Denver with a program called Christ in the City. Younger sister
Courtney Kuhn ’10 is studying saxophone performance at Arizona State University and, during her
visits to Dallas, can be seen cantoring on Sunday evenings at the St. Monica Youth Mass.
Miki Bone Melsheimer ’79, former Ursuline Academy faculty member, is a current
Masters candidate in Humanities with an emphasis in Aesthetic Studies at the University
of Texas at Dallas. She continues to be involved as an Ursuline Alumna, and most
recently served as a member of the Exploratory Team for Curriculum for the Ursuline
Strategic Planning Committee.
Scientific Research
Neuro-Ed Initiative researchers at Johns Hopkins hypothesize that
arts integration, which emphasizes repetition of information in multiple
ways, provides the advantage of embedding knowledge in longterm
memory. The brain prioritizes emotionally-tinged information
(again, a possible additional advantage for learning through music or
theatre, for example) for conversion to long-term memory.
The initiative is one of several research projects which are looking
more systematically at how arts instruction supports learning
transfer. Such scientific research may also help to uncover the reasons
for the observations that many teachers have made about how
students learn differently — some seem to learn best kinesthetically,
others respond best to visual or aural approaches.
Public Policy
A remarkably consistent picture of the value of the arts in a comprehensive
pre-K through grade 12 education emerges from a review
of two decades of theory and policy recommendations about arts
education.
Over the past decade, professional groups with a broad education
interest have begun promoting the value of arts education using
the same arguments as traditional arts advocates such as the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Education Partnership,
the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and Americans for
the Arts.
Last year’s 2010 U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents the
mayors of more than 1,200 cities nationwide, urged school districts
to use federal and state resources to provide direct instruction in the
arts and integrate the arts with other core subjects.
While there is support for the intrinsic value of developing cultural
literacy and teaching artistic skills and techniques, leadership groups
typically emphasize instrumental outcomes derived from high quality
arts education in one or more of the following categories:
speare to underprivileged students in Austin on
weekends. She also composed the music for her
role as Ariel in SOS’ production of The Tempest
and wrote a ‘ditty’ for Foot in the Door’s production
of Country Wife.
NORTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY THEATER
Sarah Weber ’09 was recently accepted into
both the Creative Writing program and the
Playwriting Sequence at Northwestern University,
two highly competitive programs. She also
serves as the Executive Director of the Radio
Drama program on Northwestern’s radio station,
WNUR 89.3fm, and is in charge of publicity
and fundraising for several student shows on
campus. In her scant spare time, she serves on
the Executive Board of Alpha Chi Omega and
is in charge of philanthropy. Last summer she
studied Spanish in Barcelona.
Amanda Kroiss ’07, armed with her recently
earned diploma from Northwestern University,
was among the chosen few when Chicago
Shakespeare Theater announced the cast list for
the fall 2010 production of Stephen Sondheim
and James Goldman’s Follies. She is currently
appearing in Gypsy at Drury Lane Oakbrook
Theatre in Chicago, IL through April 1, 2012.
Sarah Einspanier ’07 was the winner of the Agnes
Nixon Playwriting Festival at Northwestern.
There she completed her senior Honors thesis,
a full-length play and staged reading, received
Follies cast (from left to right) Kari Sorenson,
Jenny Guse, Christina Meyers, Amanda Tanguay,
and AMANDA KROISS '07.
and mathematics performance on high stakes tests, including
transfer of skills learning from the arts to learning in other
academic areas — for example, the spatial-temporal reasoning
skills developed by music instruction
attendance, persistence, focused attention, heightened
educational aspirations, and intellectual risk taking
critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and
complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and working
with others
and teamwork skills, social tolerance, and self-confidence
Each category of outcomes is composed of many distinct behaviors
that have been supported by findings from research studies and
evaluations.
24 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 25

on campus
Answering
the Call
Gretchen Kane on mission,
all-girls education, and becoming
Ursuline’s next President
Gretchen Kane with elementary school students at Ursuline New Orleans (a K-12 campus)
When Gretchen Kane assumes
the office of President
of Ursuline Academy
of Dallas on July 1, she will
be the first member of the
laity to hold the position since the school’s founding
in 1874.
“For me, it is a calling,” she says. “Ursuline
Academy of Dallas is an extraordinary school, with
gifted personnel and exceptional facilities. I am incredibly
excited about this opportunity!”
A Catholic educator for more than 32 years,
Gretchen Kane has impressive credentials and a
keen understanding of the Ursuline mission.
“The distinguishing characteristic of early Ursuline
educators was neither their numbers nor
their theory, but their presence and caring for individual
students that generated understanding and
promoted a desire to serve,” she says.
“That personal engagement between dedicated
and competent administrators, faculty and staff,
and the students is one of the most important elements
of Ursuline-sponsored education.”
For the past eight years, Ms. Kane has served
as President of Ursuline Academy in New Orleans,
the oldest continuously operating all-girls school
in the U.S., which offers grades pre-K through
high school. She believes that single-sex education
is very beneficial for girls.
“The all-girls environment is important for a
young woman’s academic and social development,
Ms. Kane with an Ursuline New Orleans graduate
particularly during the middle and high school
years,” she explains.
“Girls are nurturing and the quality of relationships
is important to them. They are great collaborators,
and they work especially well in teams.
“Girls want to share their victories and their
successes, and to take care of one another,” she
continues. “The all-girl setting gives them an environment
where they can do all of that and gain
confidence in their own abilities to achieve.”
And Ms. Kane knows something about
achievement.
After attending high school at the Academy
of Sacred Heart in New Orleans, she played two
years for the Louisiana State University Tigers
women’s basketball team.
She earned a B.S. in mathematics and an M.A.
in mechanical engineering from the University
of New Orleans, then embarked on a career in
Catholic education distinguished by teaching and
administrative leadership positions at the high
school and college level. She has authored numerous
papers and presentations, and has been active
in professional associations.
In 2005, just one year after she took the President’s
position in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina
hit with devastating results for that city and the Ursuline
campus. Against overwhelming odds, she led
the successful rebuilding of the school.
“When the opportunity to take the position in
Dallas came to me, I asked the search committee
for 10 days to pray and discern.
“I wanted to reflect on my life and where God
was leading me. That time gave me the opportunity
to look deep within my heart and soul and come
up with the decision that would be the right one.”
She knows and admires Sister Margaret Ann
Moser, Ursuline’s retiring President, who now
serves on the Ursuline Academy New Orleans
Board of Trustees.
“Sister Margaret Ann has been a charismatic
and caring leader…hers are extra big shoes to fill,”
she says. “I am very happy that she will be available
to help mentor me.”
What are her plans for her first year on the job
in Dallas
“I want to get to know the students and their
parents,” she says. “I want to learn as much as possible,
and to build relationships with all the constituent
groups.”
GRETCHEN Z. KANE
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2004 – present
President, Ursuline Academy in New Orleans
2001-2004
Associate Vice President
Jesuit Secondary Education Association
Washington, D.C.
Chair, 2020 Vision Project
1993-2001
Academic Assistant Principal
Jesuit High School, New Orleans
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Subjects
AP Calculus
Trigonometry
Geometry
Algebra
Jesuit High School, New Orleans
DeLaSalle High School, New Orleans
University of New Orleans
EDUCATION
University of New Orleans
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
B.S. in Mathematics
HER FAVORITE THINGS
Cooking
Reading
Sports
Travel
Art and Movies
...and her Siamese cat, Ichabod Kane
She is already impressed by the dedication
of the Academy’s faculty and staff, as well as the
Alumnae and their love of the school.
A New Orleans native, Ms. Kane loves cooking
and reading. She enjoys all sports, travel, art, and
movies.
And, while she will remain a lifelong fan of LSU
and the New Orleans Saints, she says she will be
cheering for the Texas Rangers and the Mavericks
after she moves to Dallas.
She is also looking forward to beginning work
on the Academy’s new strategic plan.
“It’s a great vision for the future!” she says.
26 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 27

point of view
Monica Cochran with her freshman English class
Tech Times for
the Ursuline Girl
By Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71
I
am often asked how Ursuline has changed from the time I
taught English in the mid ’70s and early ’80s to today, now in
the 11 th year of my second term teaching here. The answer is
easy: technology.
While girls today are the same wonderful young women who
work hard to earn good grades, technology has revolutionized education
for students and teachers alike. Since Ursuline began a laptop program
in 1996, the use of technology has flourished in ways never imagined.
When my daughter Elaine ’01 left Ursuline for Southern Methodist
University (SMU), she reported that few college students used their laptops
in the classroom, suggesting that Ursuline was more technologically
minded than some colleges at the time. Now in the workplace, Elaine is
more closely entwined than ever with technology.
She has traveled the globe with her laptop in tow and used it for delivering
presentations in China, setting up a new client in Japan, and
reconfiguring systems in Sweden. Even from home,
she can connect with colleagues around the world
using online webinars and instant messaging.
Elaine appreciates being taught early on to
effectively use the computer as a multipurpose tool.
Harking back to her high school days, she says, “I
was still wearing a plaid skirt when I realized that
my productivity increased tenfold with the laptop. At
that age, it was a small revelation to see past technology’s
fun veneer and recognize its potential.”
Six years later, my daughter Erin ’07, also at SMU,
described her dramatically expanded social media
activity, using Facebook to stay in touch with high
school friends and to keep informed of campus
organizations.
For instance, her sorority utilized the group feature
on Facebook in order to keep everyone up-todate
on important announcements and events.
Other social media outlets such as LinkedIn provide
networks within the business world to help land
that first job, and the growth of Twitter serves as a
condensed, simplified Facebook for updates on her
friends and family in 140 characters or less.
As a recent college graduate, Erin proudly says,
“Without my strong technological background
from Ursuline, I would never be able to exploit all
that today’s social media has to offer with such ease
and confidence. Not only did Ursuline adequately
prepare me for college but also for that next stage,
known as ‘the real world.’ ”
What is a typical tech-filled school day at Ursuline
like for me, the English teacher While I take attendance
on my laptop that rests in a docking station,
my students open their email to the SAT Question
of the Day.
In the ’70s and ’80s, we English teachers anguished
over how to incorporate standardized testtaking
skills with our curriculum of vocabulary,
grammar, writing, and literary skills; accordingly,
the SAT Question of the Day allows me to do both at
the same time, as my students see a direct relationship
between the grammar concepts they study in
class and the verbal parts of the SAT and ACT tests.
If a student forgets her book, she can find it online
or use her e-reader. As we study Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, we take a virtual tour of London’s Globe
Theatre in minutes. When we read Elie Wiesel’s
Night and study the World War II Holocaust, we
go to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s
website in Washington, D.C., and find a wealth
of articles, photographs, and videos that enhance
the reading.
After students complete exercises in their grammar
books, they find an endless list of online interactive
quizzes, whereby they get the correct answers
immediately, instead of waiting for me to give the
text’s answers. Last but not least, students submit
their essays to a plagiarism website that finds and
cites the source(s) from which plagiarized words,
phrases, or sentences come.
Because the computer serves both academic and
social purposes, learning activities compete with
social media. The good news is that students create
study groups on Facebook and use sites such as
Quizlet to enter vocabulary words and definitions;
then, the website makes quizzes for students to study
and share. Of course, teachers communicate with
students through email that many see immediately on their cellphones.
But computer distractions are abundant in the forms of email, instant
messaging, Facebook correspondence, games, movies, and random Internet
sites. Students must maturely make decisions about when to use
their computers for homework and when to use them for entertainment
or social purposes.
Good students often tell me that they discipline themselves to do
homework first; only afterward do they use their computer for socializing.
Technology places an abundance of information literally at our fingertips.
Part of a student’s success hinges on her ability to deal properly
with the influx of temptation.
Today, technology’s strong presence on campus profoundly affects everyone.
We continue to expand our realm of computer savvy, as even the
most novice users naturally acquire “tech literacy” skills. But innovation
and automation have not changed everything.
Despite powerful word processing software, English is not an obsolete
subject. My reasoning to students on the importance of good writing is
soundly reinforced by the Internet; this public forum showcases the confluence
of social media and electronic communication.
As a result, embarrassing writing gaffes are on display to millions.
Even ubiquitous use of the most sophisticated spelling and grammar
check tools cannot mask poor communication skills. Ironically, technology
is a wonderful aid in proving the value of strong writing skills to skeptical
students.
Elaine Cochran and Erin Cochran
Monica Prachyl Cochran ’71 currently teaches freshman English at Ursuline
Academy. She was named recipient of the Alumnae Association’s Serviam
Alumna Award in 1998.
Elaine Cochran ’01 graduated from SMU in 2005 with a B.S. in Engineering
Management and Information Systems. She also received her M.S. in Systems
Engineering in 2009 from SMU. She currently works for an IT consulting
firm in Dallas and has been a member of the Ursuline Alumnae Board
since 2008.
Erin Cochran ’07 graduated from SMU in May 2011 with a BBA; she is currently
working toward her M.S. in accounting at SMU and plans to become a
Certified Public Accountant.
28 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 29

ways of giving
WAYS OF GIVING
Endowed Gifts
The Ursuline Fund
arts, and other student programs
Mission-Inspired Giving
What does a student need to Academy is surely a vital part of each of us.
But the Academy’s need is still great.
succeed What makes a The Ursuline community contributed nearly Right now, apart from a few full scholarships
great teacher What is the $29 million to the recently concluded Facing funded by individual donors, Ursuline can
definition of excellence for the Future Campaign, the largest fundraising only provide up to 50 percent of any individual
a school like Ursuline The answer to each
of these questions is in the giving.
The highly engaged student achieves with
boundless energy and enthusiasm. She delights
in new discoveries. She gives her very
best effort in greeting every new challenge.
Great teachers give their all to help students
learn. They do it with pure joy. And
they would all tell you that they get back as
much as they give, maybe more.
Excellence in academics is certainly a key
part of what makes Ursuline Academy such
a special place. But the willingness to serve,
in whatever manner each of us is able, is the
kind of giving that lives at the heart of the
Ursuline mission.
We are a community of givers. And just
as every student, employee, parent, Alumna,
and friend is essential to Ursuline, the
effort in Ursuline history!
That campaign made it possible to renew
our campus — with The French Family Science,
Math, and Technology Center, a new Music
Building, and major renovations — as well as
add to our endowments, and still meet operating
expenses each year.
None of these achievements would have been
possible without the hardworking employees
and volunteers who gave of their time and talents,
extending the impact of every financial
contribution received.
With these new resources in place, Ursuline
is better equipped to provide a truly interdisciplinary
21 st century curriculum. And advanced
technologies make it easier for our students to
make worldwide connections, learn languages,
investigate global issues, and explore other cultures
as well as our own.
student’s demonstrated financial need. At the
same time, family need for financial assistance
is growing rapidly.
Events like the Mardi Gras Ball and Lunch
With A View provide major scholarship funding
for today’s students.
A growing scholarship endowment can assure
that the Academy is always able to offer
assistance, and at the levels needed, to
qualified students.
Each year, the cost of competitive teacher
salaries, benefits, and professional development
represents the largest portion of Ursuline’s total
operating expense.
A strong faculty endowment can help the
Academy provide for the highest quality faculty
and staff over the long term and still keep tuition
as affordable as possible for all families.
Finally, Ursuline relies on the generosity
of donors to bridge the difference between
tuition and the actual cost of an Ursuline
education. This year, it will take an additional
$1,750 per student to meet that need.
The Ursuline Fund, the Academy’s annual
giving campaign, provides that essential “everyday
support for every girl.” Nearly two-thirds
of each dollar donated to the fund helps pay
faculty salaries and benefits; the balance goes
toward other expenses required to sustain excellence
in the academic experience.
All of this and more is needed if we are to
continue to prepare our young women students
to be true Serviam women, successful and compassionate
citizens of the world.
Whether yours is a gift of time, talent,
or treasure, we thank you for your mission-
inspired giving to Ursuline!
May God bless you,
Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U.
President
To learn more, visit www.
ursulinedallas.org/giving
GIVING CIRCLES
Lunch With A View
Mardi Gras Ball
The President’s Circle
Alumnae Serviam Circle
30 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 31

president’s circle dinner
Giving Thanks
“There’s no better place in the world than Ursuline…to stimulate intellectual development balanced with personal
growth, spiritual growth, and the essence of social justice as defined in Serviam.” — Dr. John McConnell
More than 250 Ursuline supporters gathered on May 6, 2011, at the
Biblical Art Museum in Dallas for the annual President’s Circle
Dinner honoring major donors and volunteer leaders.
Keynote speaker, Dr. John McConnell, Chief Executive Officer of Wake
Forest Baptist Medical Center and campaign co-chair, spoke on the vital need
for education in math and science. Dr. McConnell and his wife, Melinda, are
parents of Cara McConnell ’06.
4
1 2
5 6 7
“Young people of today have to be trained in critical thinking, have to understand some essence of science, in order
to be informed consumers and voters in the future in very complicated issues.” — Dr. John McConnell
The volunteer leadership cabinet
for the $29 million Facing the
Future Capital Campaign was
named recipient of the 2011
President’s Award. Awardees
included:
3
1. Dr. John McConnell's President's Circle Dinner presentation 2. Facing the Future Capital
Campaign Cabinet Members 3. Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, Dr. John and Melinda McConnell
4. Rosemary Haggar Vaughan, Mary Fox, Barbara Doyle, Mary Stewart 5. Al and Mary Emma
Ackels Karam '72, Angie Sagers Kadesky '80 6. Roger and Marianne Staubach, Betty Bourgeois
8 9
10 11 12
7. Lydia Haggar Novakov '68, Sr. Margaret Ann Moser, Daniel Novakov 8. Doug and Vicky Pitts Lattner '69, Mary Lee and
Fritz Duda 9. Eugene and Shirley Vilfordi 10. Win and Lynn Feather Bell '82 11. Miriam Ackels Claerhout '83, Bill and Mary
Walker Sladek '79 12. Ann Doyle Boehm '75, Sr. Mary Troy '51, Katie Dziminski
Kevin Bartholomew
Sherrye Bass
Deborah Carson
Joe Coleman
Barry Drees
Robert Elder
Michelle Marlow Fojtasek ’84
Roger Hirl
John Landon
Earl Latimer
Vicky Pitts Lattner ’69
Wes Loegering
Dr. John McConnell
Janet Liese Medlin ’75
Michael Mutek
Pat Brown O’Brien ’52
Neil O’Brien
Jack Pratt
Alice Rodriguez
Jake Schroepfer
Karen Livesay Shuford ’66
Trudy Wright
32 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 33

photo gallery
Class Reunions
1.
Class of 1991 2. Class of 2001 3. Class of 1961: 50 th Reunion Class 4. Class of 1981
5. Class of 1951 6. Class of 1996 7. Class of 1966 8. Class of 1971
5
1
2 4
6
7
3
8
34 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 35

photo gallery
A Royal
Phonathon
1. Class of 1998: (front row) Caytie Sarandis Langford, Michelle Stevens
White; (back row) Catherine Baetz Maurer, Emily Driscoll, Sheila Melle,
Sarah Johnston Polzer, Kathryn O'Connor 2. Samantha Smith '05, Brooke
Houston Green '97 3. Kathie Kahn Wood '87, Michele Balady Beach '87,
Beth Geisler Singel '87 4. Patty Pedevilla Helm '80, Susan Wolff Wolf '83,
Magdalena Kovats '83, Diana Coulter Liese '83 5. Rita Hunt Maher '46,
Anne Kerin Thomas '46 6. Maribeth Messineo Peters '85, Mary
Winikates '85, Jenny Nady Esteve '85 7. Kristi Esposito Doucet '02, Jen
Pitz Deck '01, Jenny Beesley '03 8. Allison Dunne Darnell '05, Deb
Cummings Dunne '74, Judi Fontenot Pierre '74, Amy Dunne
Henderson '99 9. Amy Wills Reading '88, Beth Geisler Singel '87, Jennifer
Jascott Crumley '88 10. Kitty Kelly Johnston '73, Emily Johnston
Larkin '01, Sarah Johnston Polzer '98
2
5
9
6
1
3
7
4
8
10
36 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 37

photo gallery
Alumnae
Mother/
Daughter
Breakfast
2 3
1
8
4
5
10
9
11
6
7
12
1. Teresa Vilfordi Korman '74, Kelsey Korman '13 2. Shari Rogers
Ackels '79, Madeleine Ackels '12, Jennifer Ackels '15, Teresa
Messina Rogers '52 3. Jessica Valenzuela '12, Kathleen Malloy
Valenzuela '85 4. Joelene Walenta Elliott '83, Jean Thomas
Buys '82, Genevieve Rubensteen Dittmar '80 5. 1979 Mothers and
Daughters 6. Class of 2015 7. Melissa Miramontes Carpenter '84,
Kaitlin Carpenter '12 8. Class of 2012 9. Class of 2013 10. Class of
2014 11. Marcie Mathews Fincher '81, Alexandra Fincher '14, Mary
Hutti '14 12. Chelsea Powell '13, Tiffany Powell '68, Kellie
Sanchez '15, Dianne Sanchez '78
38 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS 39

ears mentioning
Helen
and Mary
By C. Angelique Thomas-Reagor ’81
DID YOU KNOW…
The origin of Ursuline’s
bear mascot can be traced
to the seven stars in the
Ursuline Serviam shield
representing the Ursa
Minor (Little Bear) constellation
and recalling our
patroness St. Ursula — a
noble beginning for our
beloved Honey Buns.
Back in olden times, around 1979,
the Ursuline cafeteria was located
on the lower level of Main
Hall. If not for a row of windows
and a door leading out to the
parking lot, I would classify it as a basement or
tornado shelter.
The walls were crisp white, the floor carpeting
was reminiscent of Galaxy Lanes standard,
the booths alternated between padded cherry
red or burnt orange vinyl, and the Formica
tables were accompanied by sturdy industrial
plastic chairs in complementary shades of tan.
I preferred the booths; however, most days
a dozen of us would crowd around a four-top
acting like we all had enough room. A hot lunch
line was only a pipe dream then — the options
were limited to either buying a can of spaghetti
or a soggy hoagie from the fairly reliable vending
machines. Or you would stand in line holding
a dollar to visit Helen and Mary.
Helen and Mary were the patron saints of the
cafeteria. Two middle-aged women dressed in
polyester separates and wearing sensible shoes,
they were like beacons of light shining from
the tiny kitchenette, leading us to them as they
prepared the only hot “homemade” fare in the
building.
Helen and Mary would prepare a daily
standard dish with just a Crockpot and hotplate
at their disposal. Frito pie, grilled cheese,
nachos, tacos, and hot dogs were the top sellers.
Jelly donuts were an added bonus when in season.
Simple and good.
Miraculously, we transformed into patient,
kind, and orderly young women when
the aroma of the coveted grilled cheese sandwich
reached us as we stood stock still in line
waiting our turn. We tried never to be greedy
or buy more than two (the allotted limit). We
would not want to be blackballed and forever
banished to a daily lunch of Funyuns or canned
spaghetti.
Once, a classmate made the dire mistake of
educating us on the contents of hot dogs after
she watched a documentary on the subject. She
was informed by Helen that all sales were off
and ordered to cease and desist. She did, and
the hot dog exposé was an unpleasant memory
never to be spoken about again.
The years spent navigating the great social
hour of lunchtime taught me several lessons
that have helped me in life. Good things come
to those who wait. The simple things in life
bring the greatest joy. Be generous, kind, and
supportive. Listen. Set your standards high. Be
respectful and work hard. Stay honest.
At the time, I certainly did not realize I was
absorbing all of this advice. The majority of the
time we spent speculating which Jesuit student
would show up for typing class, or who
was the lucky stiff that found the peanut (or
was it a plastic baby) in the Senior SnowBall
cupcakes; perhaps we were consoling a friend
dealing with matters of the heart. In hindsight,
both the good and the bad served a purpose,
as should all lessons in life. That would be the
ideal anyway.
Seeing Helen and Mary day after day
through the years was reminiscent of seeing
our own mothers. We grew very accustomed to
their presence and took them for granted, just
as we did our mothers, as they served our motley
crew in plaid.
Eventually, the cafeteria was remodeled and
Helen and Mary retired. I don’t know if they
realized the legacy they left behind and the
comfort they offered effortlessly, without fanfare,
behind the waist-high countertop in the
no-frills cafeteria circa 1979.
In fall 2011, Ursuline introduced a new food service
with seasonal menus featuring regional favorites
and fresh produce available at market. Students
and employees now choose from a wide variety
of healthy options free of trans fats and made
from local ingredients.
www.ursulinedallas.org/dining
Sisters-in-law, Mary Traynor and Helen Petrisky worked side-by-side for many years. Mary passed away in January 2000.
Helen continues to touch young lives, working at the Jesuit College Prep cafeteria with Mary’s son, Steve.
40 URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS

Getting involved has
never been easier!
Don’t have a lot of time to help
with Ursuline events
The Alumnae Auxiliary is your answer! Volunteer
as much or as little time as your schedule allows.
Not hearing about news and
upcoming events
Send us your email address and check out the
Ursuline Alumnae page on Facebook for news
and updates.
To learn more contact:
alumnae@ursulinedallas.org or call 469-232-3587.
The skirt may not fit anymore but… Bear Necessities spirit items will!
SHOW YOUR URSULINE
PRIDE AND GET A
15% DISCOUNT!
Gifts
Clothing
Spirit Items
Much More!
GO
BEARS!
15% alumnae discount, just note “alum”
in comments section of order form.
Visit www.ursulinedallas.org/store

Honoring Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U.
and celebrating more than two decades of
community support for scholarships.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
InterContinental Dallas Hotel
Crystal Ballroom
reservations online at www.uamardigras.org or call 469-232-3964
Entertainment by The Rat Pack is Back
The Rat Pack is Back with Las Vegas swagger for Mardi Gras 2012. You’ll
think you’re at The Copa Room in the Sands Hotel as you relive the days of
Frank, Dean, and Sammy and their twelve-piece big band. Get ready for an
evening of great music and entertainment, Rat Pack style!
Mardi Gras Honorary Krewe Martha and Dr. David Alameel, Rosalyn and Alan Bell,
Karol Kreymer and Dr. Robert Card, Ann and Barry Drees, Mary Lee and Fritz Duda,
John Flavin, Mrs. David G. Fox Jr., Paulette and Dr. Lewis Frazee, Isabell and Joe
Haggar, Mrs. Ed Haggar, Jane and Don Hanratty, Dorothy and Roger Hirl, Vicky and
Doug Lattner, Brenda and Dr. Robert Morgan, Audrey and Lou Munin, Kay and Henry
Neuhoff, Andrea and Bob Neuhoff, Pat and Neil O’Brien, Gale and Allan Peterson,
Aileen and Jack Pratt, Susan and Robert Raffo, Denise and Denis Simon, Marianne
and Roger Staubach, Mary and Rich Templeton, Mary and Mike Terry, Rosemary
Haggar Vaughan, Shirley and Gene Vilfordi
Co Chairs Angie Sagers Kadesky ’80, Barbie Boe, Cindy Lindsley