14 . ACADEMY OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR
SAINT JULIE AWARD RECIPIENTby Mary Ellen Keegan Keyser ’70The Saint Julie Award is presented each year to an alumna <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Aca<strong>de</strong>my</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Notre</strong> <strong>Dame</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Namur</strong>whose life contributes to the recognition <strong>of</strong> the goodness <strong>of</strong> God in all creation, and who commits herself tothe service <strong>of</strong> others. This woman is chosen by her peers as a mo<strong>de</strong>l <strong>of</strong> faith, optimism, integrity, andunselfish <strong>de</strong>dication.MEREDITH MCDONOUGH ’94 RECEIVED THE SAINTJULIE AWARD ON JANUARY 30, <strong>2013</strong>. Merry atten<strong>de</strong>dMount Saint Mary’s University where she played basketball andgraduated cum lau<strong>de</strong> with a <strong>de</strong>gree in Psychology. She received amaster’s <strong>de</strong>gree in counseling and human relations, summa cumlau<strong>de</strong>, from Villanova. Merry has worked at the Children’sHospital <strong>of</strong> Phila<strong>de</strong>lphia since 1999. She is a certified Child LifeSpecialist in the cardiac center where she provi<strong>de</strong>s support for theheart transplant team. She assisted Penn Hospice and the JamieMoyer Foundation to establish the first Camp Erin Phila<strong>de</strong>lphiafor bereaved children that focuses on their grief journey. Shevolunteers each summer at the Dragonfly Heart Camp inMaryland, a specialized camp for children with pulmonaryhypertension that she helped program with staff from CHOP. It isthe only pediatric camp in the country that is able to board suchcritically ill children outsi<strong>de</strong> <strong>of</strong> the hospital setting. She has alsotravelled to South Africa with the Augustinians <strong>of</strong> Villanova tovolunteer in their schools and orphanages.In gratefully accepting her award and addressing the entire stu<strong>de</strong>ntbody, Merry said, “A special thank you to the faculty and the Sisters<strong>of</strong> <strong>Notre</strong> <strong>Dame</strong> for the influence you have had on my life, to myparents for the sacrifices you ma<strong>de</strong> to allow me to share in thiswon<strong>de</strong>rful school that not only taught me at the highest level butinfluenced me to live my best life, and to my siblings, closest friendsand family who are sharing this special day with me, thank you forsupporting me along my journey.“Saint Julie <strong>of</strong>ten shared that ‘days <strong>of</strong> darkness are perhaps ourbest and happiest days for glorifying the good <strong>of</strong> God.’ This isparticularly meaningful in my life because when I think back to howI learned about the field <strong>of</strong> Child Life, it did in<strong>de</strong>ed come from ‘days<strong>of</strong> darkness’.“I am blessed. I am incredibly lucky. There are in<strong>de</strong>ed sad, harddays where life doesn't make any sense to me but there are manyMeredith McDonough, ’94, left, receives the Saint Julie Award fromAlumnae Association Presi<strong>de</strong>nt Carey Kulp ’96.more days that are filled with triumph and celebrations. Every dayis filled with hope. In my own small way, I try to contribute to thathope. My experiences here and the values that were instilled in methrough the example <strong>of</strong> the Sisters <strong>of</strong> <strong>Notre</strong> <strong>Dame</strong> have inspired meto serve others. In addition, there was no greater mo<strong>de</strong>l or examplethan that <strong>of</strong> both <strong>of</strong> my parents. They taught me from a very youngage that it is in giving that we receive. My mother has shaped her lifearound service to others, to the poor, the sick and less fortunate andthrough her example, she ultimately shaped my life.“I encourage each <strong>of</strong> you as stu<strong>de</strong>nts to be influenced and inspiredby the good works <strong>of</strong> all those around you, to use the talents God hasgiven you to listen to your heart and follow your heart as you go onto serve others. Let these won<strong>de</strong>rful opportunities that you areexperiencing today shape you and influence you so that in whateversmall way you find, you are able to do small things with great love.”VISIONS MAGAZINE . WINTER <strong>2013</strong> . 15