EDUCATING WOMEN OF FAITH, VISION, AND PURPOSE SINCE 1799
FRONT PHOTO
Sofia Lopez ‘26 and Juliette Mahaffey ‘12 team up in one of Visitation’s new laboratories in Berchmans Hall.
PHOTO CREDIT: STONE PHOTOGRAPHY
BACK PHOTO
Dr. Luke O’Connell, theology teacher, joins students in the Visi4Life club at the March for Life this winter.
MESSAGE FROM VISITATION’S PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing prospective faculty and staff for Visitation. Like me, they enjoyed coming to Visitation’s campus for the first time for an interview. When I asked the candidates what questions they had, several asked, “What do you like most about Visitation?” Without hesitation, I shared the blessing of Sister Mary Berchmans’ friendship and the joy of more than 500 students who grace this campus each day. These incredible young women pass from freshman to senior in the blink of an eye and join the lifelong sisterhood of Visitation alumnae. From a graduate returning to campus during the first college holiday break to an alum celebrating her 60th reunion, the sentiment is the same—it is wonderful to be here because Visitation is home. While much has changed, there is a familiarity that will never wane. As alumnae return to campus, they share memories of special friendships, a significant teacher, a favorite tradition, or a sport or a musical, the punctuation marks of their happy years here. It is our hope that this magazine brings you a little closer to home. You will meet the honorees of the Dan Kerns Salesian Leadership Award and the two recipients of the Cor Jesu Award (p. 14–15). The contributions of these individuals are abounding. They live as St. Francis teaches, “We should wear ourselves out in the service of our neighbor and doing so we shall be happy.” We look forward to continuing the celebration of special honorees at Reunion when we recognize two remarkable alumnae with the Sister Margaret Mary Sheerin Award and the St. Jane de Chantal Service Award. Each year, the recipients of these awards touch our hearts and inspire us. Their stories embody the tenets of authentic leadership fueled by love, dedication, and commitment to others, exemplifying the power of a Visitation education. They are the best of us.
This same spirit lives here on campus today in classroom discussions, internships, service trips and in a myriad of Christian service and campus ministry opportunities supported by a heartfelt commitment of our faculty, staff, and families. It is this loving spirit, coupled with memories and antics of youth, that lead you home to 35th Street. As Oliver Wendell Holmes famously said, “Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
May you always call Visitation your home.
In Christ,
Barbara McGraw Edmondson President
FROM THE MONASTERY ARCHIVES
The Sacred Heart at Georgetown Visitation Monastery
In 1674, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun in Paray-le-Monial, France, experienced revelations in which Christ urged her to spread love of His Sacred Heart. Since then, the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been of special significance to the Visitation Order. The Georgetown Visitation Sisters have expressed their devotion to the Sacred Heart in many different ways throughout their history. To mark the 350th anniversary of the visions of Saint Margaret Mary, archivist Cassandra Berman combed the Monastery Archives to learn more about how the Georgetown Sisters have been honoring the Sacred Heart for over 225 years. Here are some of the treasures she found.
Book of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, 1822 →
The Confraternity of the Sacred Heart was established in 1822, just after the consecration of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The “Book of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart” documents the Confraternity’s membership—including Sisters, students, and community members from near and far—from this founding until 1944, when it disbanded and school sodalities took its place. The book’s front and back covers are adorned with handmade gold hearts, and the beautiful lettering on the title page signifies the important role of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart at Georgetown Visitation.
Sacred Heart Vestment and Overcloak →
This doll-sized silk vestment, on which the Sacred Heart is painted, was made by the Visitation Sisters of Philadelphia for their Infant of Prague statue. When the vestment arrived at Georgetown after Philadelphia’s closure in 2023, a Georgetown Sister stitched a red and gold overcloak, echoing the colors of the Sacred Heart, to accompany it.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart, undated ↓
This undated painting—a copy by a Visitation Sister of an earlier work—shows St. Margaret Mary celebrating the first feast of the Sacred Heart with her Sisters at the Visitation Monastery in Paray-le-Monial, France. In the background, portraits of St. Jane and St. Francis hang on the wall—just as they do in our Monastery today.
Scrapbook of Visitation Monasteries in Europe, undated ↓
This undated scrapbook contains photographs and postcards of Visitation Monasteries throughout Europe—including Paray-le-Monial, where St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received her visions of the Sacred Heart. The first chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart is pictured on the bottom right. In addition to its documentation of the Monastery in which St. Margaret Mary lived, this scrapbook demonstrates the connection that has long existed among Visitation communities around the world.
League of the Sacred Heart Badges, Made by Sr. Vincentia Klesc, circa 1980s →
Sr. Mary Vincentia Klesc (1923–2006) made these “League of the Sacred Heart” badges in the 1980s.
An “Out Sister,” she was a familiar face for many at Visitation, serving as the school’s long-time portress as well as the sacristan in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Though small and unassuming, Sr. Vincentia’s badges exemplify the ways in which Visitation Sisters honor the Sacred Heart in their everyday lives.
Books and Pamphlets about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque from the Monastery Library →
The Monastery Library contains dozens of books and pamphlets about St. Margaret Mary, from early Latin texts and transcribed letters to photographic guides and illustrated children’s books. Visitation Sisters have long turned to writing, reading, and studying St. Margaret Mary and her visions as a way to honor the Sacred Heart.
← Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart with Sisters’ Names, circa 1980s
This framed “Dial of the Archconfraternity” of the Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart is inscribed with the names of the Sisters who comprised the Georgetown Visitation community in the 1980s, with Sr. Philomena Tisinger as Mother Superior. The Visitation Monastery of Mobile, Alabama, provides this detailed explanation of the Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart:
“The Guard of Honor, the Hour of Presence, of the Sacred Heart is a little army rallied around the Eucharistic Throne of Jesus, where hour after hour, faithful sentinels replace one another in spirit, to offer to the Heart of Jesus a perpetual homage of glory, love and reparation.
Sisters’ names are inscribed on a Dial of the Archconfraternity. They pledge to make daily an hour of guard. Those who desire to be ranked amongst the Guards of Honor of the Sacred Heart must choose an hour during which, without changing their ordinary occupations, they place themselves each day, in spirit near the Tabernacle.”
Meet Us at the Sisters’ Bench
Students and the Sisters have had a new opportunity to bond this fall at the Sisters’ bench, a weekly stopping point for students right outside the Commons during the Cub Period break.
Director of the Salesian Center Kati Hylden Krueger ’99 got the idea from her time as an undergraduate at Notre Dame, when an emeritus professor would sit on a particular bench saying hello to students as they walked by. “Most people would just say hello for a moment and keep going, but others would stop for a longer chat and still others developed strong relationships with him,” said Krueger. She took the idea to the Sisters.
“It could be a simple hello, a brief chat, or a deeper connection. Any of these options would be a gift of the joyful, gentle, humble presence of the Sisters to each student who came by,” she said.
The Sisters embraced the opportunity to get to know more students and be present to them. “People change and so do traditions. We have really missed homeroom, when the Sisters spent quality time with the girls each morning. It gave us all a chance to discuss any topic that might arise, and, most importantly, a chance to pray together,” said Sister Mada-anne Gell, VHM, who often joins the bench. “We see the Sisters’ Bench as a wonderful opportunity to revive this custom.”
“We set up a few chairs so that Sisters and students alike can sit for a while. Often we even have students sitting on the floor,” said Krueger. “Conversations have ranged from casual ‘how are you doing?’ to ‘why did you become a Sister of the Visitation?’ or ‘what is the meaning of your cross?’ to ‘tell me about your knitting!’ Every conversation is a gift of heart speaking to heart.”
Salesian Center Program Coordinator Savannah Anne Carman helps facilitate the Sisters’ Bench each week. “I try to help the girls find a point of commonality in the similarities with the Sisters. The Sisters have gone to college, had careers, played sports, done musical theater—it’s about bringing the Sisters’ past lives into focus for the girls,” she shared. “From there, they enter deeper conversations about why the Sisters chose to join the Monastery, and why they devoted their lives to this.”
As a new community member this year, Ms. Carman has enjoyed the chance to get to know more of the Sisters: “The life of prayer isn’t easy. [The Sisters’ Bench has] brought to life the discipline it takes…it’s encouraging to see how invested they are in the girls and getting to know them in very simple ways. It makes me think of Salesian Spirituality and the kind of gentleness and consideration of others. You don’t have to have
all the deep conversations at one time, but it’s about getting to know someone as a person. The Sisters demonstrate that very well and have a joy about it all.”
“The Sisters’ Bench is a living symbol of the link between all the great-hearted women who have formed the Visitation community over these two hundred-plus years: those of the past; those who are here together now; and all of those to come,” said Sr. Mada-anne. “It is a place to share our stories, past and present, and—hopefully—to come, in the Salesian Spirit.”
Sr. Mada-Anne chats with students.
Francis ’28 gets to know Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM.
Christine S. Murphy
Christine Sampson Murphy, 76, passed away peacefully with her husband John by her side, on October 22, 2024, at their home in Cape Coral, FL, after a long and painful illness. Born on May 31, 1948, in Phillipsburg, NJ, Mrs. Murphy dedicated her life to family and friends, education, and the enrichment of her students’ lives. May Mrs. Murphy’s soul rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon her.
After earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The College of New Jersey in Trenton, Mrs. Murphy became an English teacher at La Reine High School in Suitland, Maryland, and later Immaculata Preparatory School in Washington. We were blessed that Mrs. Murphy spent the final 22 years of her educational vocation here at Georgetown Visitation.
Mrs. Murphy’s commitment to excellence in education and her ability to create authentic relationships with everyone she encountered will be her legacy. During her time at Visi, she read and proofread over 3,200 college essays. While she served as chair of the English Department, more than 99% of Visi students who took the AP Literature and Composition exam earned a 3 or higher. She was twice voted Teacher of the Year and was a beloved moderator of the senior class.
As a teacher, Mrs. Murphy exemplified the very excellence that she demanded of her students for 22 years. She was a beloved and devoted colleague, mentor, and friend, encouraging and inspiring those around her. She embodied dignity and respect and was an integral part of affirming and furthering the mission of the school, serving on two Middle States Re-accreditation Teams, moderating the Honor Board, and serving on the Sister
Teresa Committee that oversaw the professional growth and development of faculty.
Outside of her professional life, Mrs. Murphy loved to cook for family and friends. She was an avid reader and enjoyed water aerobics, activities that reflected her love for both intellectual and physical wellness. Her family remembers her as a guiding light filled with warmth, wisdom, and humor. Christine’s life was a testament to her dedication to her family, her students, and her community. May we remember her joyful, convivial spirit by embracing her four maxims: “be honest, be fair, don’t take yourself too seriously, and sing whenever the occasion arises.”
“We were friends from the moment we met at Visitation—and I treasured that friendship over many years. … We were steadfast colleagues, always there for each other. Her favorite work was “Hamlet,” and together we went to New York to see Ralph Fiennes star in the play. I think of her every day and thank God for the end to her long suffering.”
CATHERINE M. MATTINGLY, FORMER MEMBER OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
“Joyfully Christine Murphy entered her second-floor Lalor classroom, often singing. Lifting the spirits of her seniors who were mired in college applications and essays that stressed and isolated them, she invited them into the world of literature, and she encouraged each of her students to discuss thoughtfully the literary truths they had encountered in their assigned reading. Respectfully and fondly, she spurred them to form honest opinions and to write, revise, and write again. In ‘living Jesus’ herself and in the purist sense of Salesian charism, she challenged them to be the best they could be. … Forster who wrote that, “At the side of the everlasting why is a yes, and a yes, and a yes.”
PATRICIA BRANSON, FORMER MEMBER OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
At the Archdiocese of Washington Opening of Schools Mass on August 26, 2024, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory offered a papal blessing to Visitation’s leadership in honor of the school’s 225th anniversary. At the end of the Mass, several Visitation educators were also honored for their milestone anniversaries: Peggy Hamilton, Que Haralson, Mark Pennybacker, Lisa Singleton, and Biz Wittschen (all 25 years); and Sue Foreman and Sami Raju (35 years). Onward, Upward, Christward, Together!
[ L TO R ] Cardinal Wilton Gregory; Mother Anne Francis Ng’ang’a, VHM; President Barbara McGraw Edmondson; Principal Leonor Limarzi Ponzio ’97 CATHOLIC STANDARD PHOTO BY MIHOKO OWADA
Students Visit White House for Hispanic Heritage Month Event
Nine Visitation students headed to the White House on September 30 for a STEM-focused Hispanic Heritage Month event, hearing from a panel of Hispanic astronauts and aerospace engineers, before traveling to NASA headquarters. There they had the chance to see the signing of a Space Act Agreement between the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and NASA, formalizing their partnership and expanding STEM opportunities for Latino K–12 and university students, according to a press release from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
Gaby Tejada ’25, co-president of the Latinas Unidas club, shared that she found the experience transformative. While she aims to study international affairs in college rather than STEM, she was most inspired by the personal stories of perseverance by the panelists. She recalled hearing the story of José Hernández, whose family were migrants and worked in the fields in California near the border of Mexico. He received more than 10 rejection letters from NASA before being approved to join their program, which Gaby said taught her, “don’t give up. It was inspiring to hear.”
The story with the biggest impact on Gaby was from Diana Trujilo—an aerospace engineer and now a flight director for NASA—who emigrated from Colombia to the US at the age of 17. She spoke little English, and worked to learn the language in Florida before choosing aerospace engineering as her major in college, and eventually graduating from the University of Maryland with her bachelor’s in the subject.
“She doesn’t have a master’s. She worked her way up,” noted Gaby.
Gaby Tejada ’25, Betel Fekru ’25, Ava Bell ’25, Zoey Johnson ’27, Elena Rossi ’25, Nadia Licamele ’27, Ana Pin ’26, Hope Dickson ’25, and Isabella Rad ’25 met NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in the hallway of the White House before the panel.
“Hearing that, from a Latina in a leadership position, was super inspiring.”
She shared that Diana’s story was incredibly moving: “It was amazing, how she made a name for herself. Her heritage influenced her a lot; in a position of leadership, she uses what she knows—community, family, very Latina characteristics. She wants to know what is going on in her team, because it influences her work.”
Mathlete Isabella Rad ’25 was also inspired by Diana’s story as a fellow Colombian: “I was struck by her story and it made me want to work even harder to make as much of a difference as she has. The thought of moving to an entirely new country at my age without knowing the language is absolutely terrifying, but she did it and became one of the most successful and intelligent women in the country. Not to be cliche, but she really made it seem like anything is possible.”
Gaby leaned into the Little Virtue
of courage at the NASA event in the afternoon, approaching Diana to make a connection. “I just went up to her and spoke to her in Spanish, which I felt was important. I told her how she inspired me,” she said. The two exchanged contact information, and Gaby is excited to continue to be in touch.
The STEM-focus was important for Isabella. “I learned so much! I loved hearing about the process to become an astronaut, how the space industry is developing, and past and future projects that each panelist had,” she said. “I will never forget it.”
Gaby is eager to bring her takeaways to the Latinas Unidas club. “I want to tell them that we are so lucky to have this education here and to have the privilege of attending Visi. It’s our responsibility to carry that on and to make sure we’re doing things that motivate us to achieve similar levels of success and excellence in the future,” she said.
2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
[ FRONT ROW, L TO R ] Michael Bruckwick; Julie O’Malley Moeller ’93, Vice Chair; Mother Anne Francis Ng’ang’a, VHM, Monastery Superior, Ex Officio; Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, ’48 & ’50, Ex Officio; Kathleen Brogan ’99, Chair; Matthew D. Shank, Ph.D. [ BACK ROW, L TO R ] Natasha Williams Zech ’95; Genevieve Ryan Bellaire ’07; Ellen Miskovsky Kentz ’79, ACF Representative, Ex Officio; Christopher Lukawski; Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, President, Ex Officio; Dave Hilal, CFO, Ex Officio; Nori Limarzi Ponzio ’97, Principal, Ex Officio; Bill Crittenberger; Keith Moellering [ NOT PICTURED ] Maureen Davenport ’93, Leena Moore Donaldson ’93, Veronica Dakita Ewald ’89, Margaret Ponds Pearson ’85, Megan Lucey Rounsaville ’99, Mark Tuohey, Brother Daniel P. Wisniewski, O.S.F.S.
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
GENEVIEVE RYAN BELLAIRE ’07 is the founder and CEO of Realworld, a platform to navigate adulthood and its life moments. A lawyer by training, Genevieve began her career at Goldman Sachs and started Realworld to help young adults navigate decisions around personal finance, health care, and insurance, all in one place.
Genevieve has a B.A. from Princeton and a J.D./M.B.A. from Georgetown. She is a proud member of the Gold Team and served as Gold Team Captain her senior year!
CHRISTOPHER LUKAWSKI P’23 is Vice President, Healthcare & Life Sciences at HITT Contracting, Inc. in Washington, DC, specializing in innovative healthcare and laboratory environment construction projects nationwide. After earning a B.C.E. in civil engineering from Catholic University, Chris has built 30 years of experience in real estate development and commercial construction.
Chris has served on the Board Buildings & Grounds Committee since 2020. His daughter is a 2023 Visitation graduate. His son is currently a senior at Gonzaga College High School. Chris lives with his wife, Jennifer, and children in Alexandria, VA.
KEITH MOELLERING P’25
is the Head of Originations (Mid-Atlantic Region) at PNC Business Credit in Washington, DC. He leads a team of middle market lenders who work closely with business owners, investment bankers, and private equity buyers to provide debt capital solutions. Credit facilities support M&A, recapitalizations, restructuring and refinancing for general industries including retail, manufacturing, wholesaling, aerospace and defense, government contracting, and SaaS-based software companies.
Mr. Moellering earned an MBA in finance from The George Washington University School of Business, an MA from Georgetown University, and a BA from St. Louis University.
Mr. Moellering and his family live in Washington, DC, and are parishioners at Holy Trinity. His daughter is a member of the Visitation Class of 2025. He is the Chair of the GVPS Finance Committee.
MARGARET PONDS PEARSON ’85
is the Associate Director of Retirement Services for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this capacity, she directs the activities of multiple staff and line organizations in administering the Civil Service and Federal Employees Retirement Systems with an annual disbursement of over $66.8 billion in benefits.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Pearson served as the Acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Deputy CFO. Before entering public service, Ms. Pearson was a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC and QED Consulting where she was a leader in the federal financial management and performance practice areas.
Ms. Pearson holds a master’s degree from the Heinz School of Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor of arts in American government from the University of Virginia. She and her family reside in Washington, DC.
Visitation Launches New Podcast
In January, Visitation launched a new podcast for parents of teen girls, Nurturing the Mind & Heart. Co-hosted by Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, Director of the St. Jane de Chantal Salesian Center, and Caroline Coleman Handorf ’96, Visi’s Director of Communications, the podcast offers Salesian wisdom for parents helping their daughters navigate the challenges of adolescence. Conversations weave together the hosts’ first-hand experience as parents and educators with insights from our Visitation tradition.
With guests including Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, ’48 & ’50 Visitation’s personal counseling team, the show offers parents a new way to connect more deeply with Salesian Spirituality and Visitation. New episodes are available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart and YouTube as well as at www.visi. org/podcast.
BOB ARONSTAM & KERRY KAMINSKI
NAMED TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Math teacher Bob Aronstam & Director of Academic Support Kerry Kaminski were nominated by their peers as Visitation’s Teachers of the Year. These awards were established by the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools to recognize the devotion of veteran and novice Catholic secondary school teachers. The awards celebrate faithful service, excellence, best practices, and innovations in Catholic secondary school teaching. Students heard the news at Founders Day, giving both educators a standing ovation.
For 15 years, Bob Aronstam has been a loyal, reliable, and hardworking member of the Visitation math department, teaching almost every math class the school offers. From freshmen to seniors, Geometry to AP Statistics, he has helped countless students learn and love math. An MIT graduate, he challenges students to stretch beyond simple memorization and formulaic procedures, to really understand concepts and use them. Gentle and thoughtful, he has a gift for connecting with students and helping them do their best work.
Colleagues laud him as an open-minded and creative educator who seeks out new teaching approaches, putting the needs of his students first. Bob is a flexible team player who is always willing to pitch in where the department needs him most. When not in the classroom, Bob also shares his incredible photography skills with the community. A busy father of two young boys, Bob nonetheless always makes time for students and colleagues alike, demonstrating his favorite Little Virtue of kindness in all his interactions. Visitation is truly blessed to have such a gifted, caring, and steadfast teacher. Kudos and thank you, Bob!
Endlessly patient, creative, thoughtful, and generous, Kerry Kaminski is the type of teacher every parent would like for their child. Of her work, Kerry shared: “Every child is someone’s miracle. I treat them as such, one conversation at a time. Praise their wisdom, their fortitude, their pursuit of knowledge. Acknowledge the gift that they are, every chance I have. When they fall short, work to bring them back to themselves, and to their full potential in the eyes of God.” This deep faith, unwavering belief in each child’s capabilities, and embrace of the beauty of the diversity of our community infuses everything Kerry does at Visitation.
While she has only been at Visitation a few years—a fact that is hard to believe given how deeply invested she is in the community and how extensively she collaborates with colleagues all over campus—she brings two decades of experience to her work, employing evidence-based practices to reach and serve all students. In the garden of our community, Kerry is a gardener, tending to the differing needs of colleagues and students alike, helping each bloom to their full promise. She truly appreciates each individual and their unique gifts, always assuming the best in people. Brava, Kerry—thank you!
Kerry Kaminski
Bob Aronstam
BY MARIA FARREN ’25
As a senior at Visi, I’ve gotten to experience Visi’s distinct sense of community throughout my four years at the school. Here, I’m part of a “Visterhood” that will last far beyond the Green Gate. Student life at Visi is constantly changing with pop culture, new traditions, and fashion trends. Whether adding to our playlists, searching for the perfect Snowball dress, or sharing a snack from the Dining Room, I know it’s the little things I’ll miss when I graduate. But my high school experience has also been defined by long-standing traditions like game-day bagel breakfasts, Gold-White, and spending frees in the Lodge. When I look back, here’s what I’ll remember about 2025:
WHAT WE’RE WEARING
Despite our uniform, Visitation students still find ways to express themselves while avoiding getting dress-coded. Small accessories such as hair clips, ribbons, and pins are most common.
• Hair clips and ribbons are often worn by sports teams on game days, both as team hype for any upcoming games and a way to boost student attendance.
• Though pins have been a common skirt accessory for a while, the softball team has given them a completely new look. In their custom pin shop at Esprit de Noel, students could get any picture they wanted turned into a pin. These designs range from sports team logos to a yearbook photo of a favorite teacher.
• Seniors have also embraced their final high school year with new and distinct fashion choices. Senior sweatshirts allow for a new, studentdesigned addition to the uniform. Another senior privilege, Gold/White jerseys allow seniors to represent their team with their graduation year and a nickname on the back.
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
• With the release of the movie adaptation of “Wicked,” the soundtrack has taken Visitation by storm. Between trying to nail the “Defying Gravity” riff and singing along to “Popular,” the music can be heard everywhere on campus.
• At the same time, pop music from singers such as Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan has a secure spot in the headphones and speakers of any Visi student. Recent albums from the singers, most notably “The Story of Us” by Gracie Abrams, have been especially popular this year.
WHAT’S IN OUR BAGS .
A student’s bag not only holds her school supplies, but also the survival kit for navigating long days.
• Celsius energy drinks are currently very popular, and carried throughout the morning.
At the bottom of these bags are our student IDs and keycards that have been “lost” since they were first issued.
WHAT’S IN OUR INBOX
• Every week is punctuated by a GV Gazette email, which gives a brief overview of the upcoming week. This includes club meetings, athletic games, and any other school-wide event.
• Every day, students receive an update from Dawson’s Corner—Ms. Dawson’s email communications. These include prayers, birthday wishes, and many lost and found announcements.
• More recently, Midweek Munchies announcements have become a Wednesday staple. The new Salesian Center Program Coordinator, Ms. Carman, makes homemade batches of cookies available on a first-come, first-serve basis—and she takes requests!
I hope once I graduate, when I hear a “Defying Gravity” remix or see someone in our plaid, I think of Visi and the Class of 2025.
Student and Faculty Build Salesian Chatbot
How could you use artificial intelligence to improve the world? This fall, Hope Dickson ’25 and Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, director of the St. Jane de Chantal Salesian Center, explored that question as they worked together to build a Salesian chatbot.
“With new technology coming out, we wanted to find new ways to interface with people who have different interests in Salesian Spirituality,” said Mrs. Krueger.
The chatbot is a closed-loop system based on letters and writings from the founders of the Visitation Order, St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. It can provide quotes on a user-prompted topic like the Little Virtue of joyful optimism, write a Salesian-inspired prayer, and even offer Salesian advice for a problem.
“Mrs. Krueger knows I love both Salesian Spirituality and coding,” said Hope, who was excited to work on a project like this.
Hope used the opportunity to program the bot as a demonstration for the Cubs Who Code student club, of which she serves as president.
“You’re training the bot, telling it what to do and what not to do,” she said. “It’s all English language.”
She told the bot it was representing St. Francis and St. Jane, and instructed it to end all interactions with a positive, Catholic, Salesian farewell.
“I’m very happy with the way it works. It has taken a lot of ‘we think it works’ then, ‘oh, it actually doesn’t.’ We had too much trust in AI’s accuracy,” explained Hope. ”We made a switch to a closed-loop function to ensure sources were clearer. I learned a lot more about St. Francis and St. Jane than I previously did.”
Hope input sources including Treatise on the Love of God and Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis, and letters from both St. Francis and St. Jane. Hope had to carefully input many letters through copy and paste; she jokes that she might be able to offer quotes like the bot now, just from training it!
“I think the chatbot bridges the gap between religion and a younger generation,” said Hope. “You can talk to it like a human. It can give you spiritual advice and prayers for whatever you are dealing with. It can represent Salesian Spirituality in a more concrete way.”
“I’m super excited. I thought it would take a couple of generations to get it to this level of proficiency. … I’m blown away by this Salesian chatbot’s tone— it sounds like someone who has been in our community and has been engaged with it,” said Mrs. Krueger. “It’s a reflection of how when you feed a
chatbot really high-quality material, it can give you high-quality responses. If something is fed St. Francis and St. Jane, and it speaks like a modern day bot, it’s truly carrying the charism.”
Hope hopes her peers will use it outside of class as a resource for guidance and asking questions as they explore their Catholic faith and the Salesian tradition.
On the programmer side, “I’ve definitely learned a lot more about AI and the limitations of it. It’s not perfect,” she said. She found that creating this specific job for a chatbot was actually helpful as open AI could not do what she and Mrs. Krueger had wanted.
“I think it is a great example of how we can use technology positively,” said Mrs. Krueger, “and that’s inspiring.”
The Salesian chatbot is available at www.visi.org/chatbot.
“I think it is a great example of how we can use technology positively.”
KATI HYLDEN KRUEGER ’99
Fides et Scientia Speaker Jim Towey Inspires Students
On Monday, December 2, 2024, close friend of Saint Mother Teresa and author of her biography “To Love and Be Loved,” Jim Towey, spoke to Visitation students as part of the Fides et Scientia speaker series, sponsored by the St. Jane de Chantal Salesian Center. Fides et scientia (the school’s motto) means “faith and knowledge.”
“I wanted the Fides et Scientia speakers to speak to their faith and knowledge in the ways that they are loving God and serving His people in the world,” said Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, who added that she appreciated how Towey used his role as a lawyer to help Mother Teresa as well as his direct service to those Mother Teresa also served.
Towey spoke to the year-long Salesian theme of “Abide in Love,” which paired well with what he had learned from his years in close contact with Mother Teresa. “Whenever you care for someone in need, you are helping them abide in love,” said Towey. In fact, Mrs. Krueger considers Mother Teresa to be a spiritual granddaughter of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.
Towey “exudes the kind of relationship with God and service to others that we try and hold up in Salesian Spirituality,” she said. “He speaks beautifully to his own humanity and Mother Teresa’s humanity, and how God works through that humanity to sanctify us, which is very much what St. Francis speaks about in his 'Introduction to a Devout Life.'”
Towey spoke to students about Mother Teresa’s life: “She trusted that God would equip her … If you are going to give your life to others, you need strength to do it,” which came from the Eucharist, he said.
“Mother Teresa was a woman. She was funny. She liked to laugh. She
liked to make her Sisters laugh,” Towey said. “She became a saint through her humanity—through her gifts, through the womanly courage she had.”
He advised students, “Don’t think you have to be perfect to be a saint … That’s not how God sees you. He’s more interested in your love than your sins.”
Mrs. Krueger hoped students would “be inspired to consider their own relationship with God and their own personality and talents can be used as a source of hope and service, lifting up of other people.”
“I better understood our school’s motto by realizing that I too can use my ‘ordinary’ talents and gifts to try and do extraordinary things. Hearing Mr. Towey tell Mother Teresa’s simple stories really helped me realize that these incredible saints, at the end of the day, are all humans made in God’s image and likeness, just like we are as Visitation
student,” said senior Izzy Carosi. “And so we have the opportunity to make an impact, whether big or small, as long as we love one another and utilize the unique gifts that God granted us.”
“One takeaway I have from Mr. Towey’s speech was his emphasis on the importance of loving the small things and living gratefully in the small moments of life,” said Chloe Morton ’25 “I was inspired by his stories of Mother Teresa’s genuine selflessness as well as his own faithful testimony.”
Salesian Center Director Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, speaker Jim Towey, and Visitation President Barbara Edmondson pose together after the event.
LOYALTY, GENEROSITY, AND KINDNESS CELEBRATED
AT DECEMBER VESPERS CEREMONY
On Wednesday, December 11, three members of our Visitation community were honored for their loyal service to the Monastery and school. During a special ceremony at the end of the Sisters’ evening vespers prayer service, Norma Monahan P’07 was given the Cross of Affiliation as a sign of the Sisters’ enduring friendship and heartfelt gratitude; the Cor Jesu Award was presented to Anne Dammen Boyden ’76 and William Tuck
Mother Anne Francis Ng’ang’a, VHM, Monastery Superior, presented the Cross to Norma, who has worked in both the school and the Monastery. Norma’s gentle and generous spirit is a beautiful reflection of St. Jane’s as she tends to the Sisters’ health needs. In her care for each of the Sisters, she truly embraces the Salesian call to Live Jesus!
Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, president of the school, presented the Cor Jesu award, which is given to members of the Visitation community who have been a steadfast, faithful presence, offering service to the school with a gentle and humble heart.
As a volunteer, Anne has been exceedingly generous with both her time and wisdom. A nurse by training, Anne has shared her keen intellect, joyful optimism, and thoughtful concern for others with Visitation, serving on the Board and several committees in addition to helping keep our community knit together. Dr. Edmondson shared, “Anne gives freely of her time, no task is too small or too big. If she can help, she will. … [L]ove of people guides her actions. … A daughter of the Visitation, Anne has blessed this community in countless ways.”
William Tuck has been an active member of the Visitation community for more than 15 years. In addition to his role in the business department, Tuck—as he is affectionately known—is an honorary member of the communications team, sharing his gift of photography with students and families. When he’s not warmly greeting colleagues on campus, he’s attending a Cub sporting event, cheering on Visitation and capturing our athletes in action. As Dr. Edmondson noted, “Patience, kindness, humility, and thoughtful concern for others are just a few of the Salesian virtues that describe William Tuck. …He is genuinely present to others—to listen, to encourage and to support.”
Congratulations and thank you to our loyal, generous honorees!
[ TOP ] Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, '48 & '50 and Norma Monahan
[ BOTTOM ] William Tuck, Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, and Anne Dammen Boyden '76
Luis Lopez Honored for Three Decades of Service to Visitation with Dan Kerns Salesian Leadership Award
On January 25, the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, facilities team member Luis Lopez, who has worked at Visitation for 34 years, was honored with the Dan Kerns Salesian Leadership Award. The award, named for former Head of School Dan Kerns, has been presented annually since 2022 to faculty and staff members who have demonstrated remarkable dedication to upholding Salesian values and virtues within the school community. Previous winners include Kenny Purcell, Laurie Collins Quirk ’74, Amy Devere, and Raynetta Jackson-Clay
“Nothing summarizes Mr. Lopez’s servant leadership so much as the image of St. Joseph the worker, the fosterfather of Jesus, the silent figure of the Infancy Narratives, the protector of the Holy Family,” shared Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, Director of the St. Jane de Chantal Salesian Center. “[He] is a carpenter, unassuming and quiet, but remarkably strong, smart, and talented.”
The creativity, intelligence, and craftsmanship of Mr. Lopez are evident all over Visitation. Every single member of our Visitation community has been touched by his handiwork, which not only beautifies our campus and keeps it running smoothly, but also brings glory to God. The wooden crosses hanging in each classroom of Founders Hall are his work, fashioned from the charred beams left behind by the fire of 1993— a visible reminder that the “Spirit Rebuilds the Place.”
Mr. Lopez is often tasked with directing traffic on campus, especially on days such as open house and graduation; he is unfailingly polite and hospitable, welcoming all to our
Dan Kerns and Luis Lopez
“Nothing summarizes Mr. Lopez’s servant leadership so much as the image of St. Joseph the worker, the foster-father of Jesus, the silent figure of the Infancy Narratives, the protector of the Holy Family.”
KATI HYLDEN KRUEGER ’99
campus. He is here day in and day out, in all kinds of weather, from snowstorms to the sweltering heat of summer, rebuilding our historic campus bit by bit.
Mr. Lopez has a knack for creative problem solving. If you bring him a problem, his answer is always, “Yes, I’ll take care of it.” And he does. He is resourceful and cares for the gifts of God’s creation. He is the unseen
protector of our campus and steward of this place we hold dear. Never one to boast of his work, he takes pride in his craftsmanship and the joy of helping others; he never seeks accolades or attribution.
Beyond his vocational gifts, Mr. Lopez models our Salesian values of humility, thoughtful concern for others, patience, perseverance, and generosity.
As Mrs. Krueger noted, “Like Joseph the carpenter, he is often in the background, but is a central figure in our Visitation community, living his vocation with deep faith in God’s good pleasure.”
Closing the ceremony, Dan Kerns offered, “Luis, we salute you today for the way you have embraced Salesian Spirituality in your life, we are grateful for your service, your leadership and, most importantly, for your friendship. May you continue to serve this community with distinction for years to come.”
Thank you, Mr. Lopez for your service to Visitation. Live Jesus!
Q & A with Dr. Elizabeth Turner
Dr. Elizabeth Turner joined Visitation as the Director of Performing Arts in the fall of 2024. An accomplished artist in her own right, Dr. Turner has performed sacred music at Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, Notre Dame Cathedral, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In her first semester, she staged a fabulous, successful run of Mamma Mia!, reinvigorated our choral program, and kicked off rehearsals for a spring performance of Cinderella. We sat down with Dr. Turner to learn more about her background and her plans for Visi Arts.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the performing arts, and how did that lead you to become a high school director of performing arts?
I was bit with the acting bug from an early age! I started dancing lessons at age three. At five, I started performing in paid local community theaters. But it was singing that really stuck out to me; it was my passion, so that’s what I focused on. I devoted my life to it. I knew from an early age that I wanted to make it my career. I knew what the grind and hustle would be like; the arts do not offer an easy or clear career path, but I was ready for that challenge. When I was going to high school, I specifically chose a Catholic school because of their robust music program. In high school, I felt called to my faith and to combining music and faith. Later, I was fortunate to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I could eat, sleep, breathe music 24/7. I loved Berklee, because it allowed me to explore all different types of music—classical, jazz, Broadway, pop, rock, country. After graduation I knew that performing was where my heart and soul were. I’ve performed on cruise ships, at theme parks, and on international tours, but I also found a love for teaching —whether that be private lessons, conducting ensembles, or directing shows. I have vast experience in arts administration, working behind the scenes for nonprofits, music publishing, and Broadway theaters. At this point in my career, I feel very fortunate to be a Director of Performing Arts, tying all these loves together: performing, teaching, and producing, specifically in a Catholic environment.
As a new director, what changes or innovations are you most excited to bring to the school’s performing arts program?
I am excited for a fresh new start! I come from a Catholic background, so I bring that to the program. Going into 2025, I want to respect our traditions but also modernize some of our approaches. I want to produce content, music, and shows that are relevant and exciting that our girls can identify with and
have fun. I’m excited to do shows that Visi has not done before and to get our girls performing on campus in the community and maybe globally one day! We’re trying to build quality performing ensembles where girls can find themselves. Music is a lifelong career or hobby. I want students to find their joy, their passion, their voice, whether that means becoming a professional or an enthusiast.
How does our Catholic faith and Salesian charism inform your approach to the arts here at Visitation?
My favorite quote is, “One who sings prays twice,” from St. Augustine. I truly believe that music will make our world better; it is a universal language and the arts help instill teamwork, communication, and respect for one another. I want to help train our students to be future cantors or music directors, to give them the confidence to sing in their own congregations, to explore liturgical music.
What is your favorite Little Virtue? Humility
“Playing Donna was a dream come true.
The focus the show has on friendship and relationship building translated so beautifully off stage and on stage. It was such a formative experience to explore a character building relationships while building them myself.”
BLAIR TODD ’25 , WHO PLAYED THE LEAD OF DONNA IN MAMMA MIA !
“Hate
should
have no place in our world”
In December, author Katherine Saad Feghali spoke to Visitation juniors and seniors about her experience growing up in Lebanon during its civil war, fleeing Beirut as a young woman, and how she held onto hope when leaving everything she knew.
Feghali was brought in as a speaker by the Middle Eastern Affinity Club, who planned a Q&A with the author with moderators theology teacher Mike Mothes and Director of DEI Rachel V. Jones ’08 Julia Williams ’25 held a discussion with Feghali, whom she knows from working with Feghali’s organization, Education and Opportunities for Lebanon (EOL) over the last year and a half.
“You have to look for the beauty in a place despite the war,” Feghali said. She took nearly eight years to write her novel, Glass Cedars. The process meant revisiting her own painful history. “The story [from Glass Cedars] is not just a story of Lebanon; it’s a universal story,” said Feghali.
As a young woman, she was told she had one hour to pack a suitcase and leave her home in Beirut, not knowing if her family would survive, nor whether they would ever return. She shared how her mother slowly closed each door, taking a mental picture of her home. “That impacted my life, it impacted the way I look at everything. When you have one hour and a small suitcase, what is of value to you?” Feghali asked the students.
Julia shared, “I believe her story with the Lebanese Civil War shares many parallels to the current conflict [in the Middle East], and I wanted the girls to understand the terrible effects of this intense violence. My grandparents and mom had an almost identical story fleeing Lebanon with Kathy; they even
had the same driver take them to the airport. This cause really affects me personally and I felt called to share the story of my family with Visi in addition to the overall message of promoting peace and preventing violence.”
“No one should have to go through this. No one should have to suffer like we suffered,” said Feghali, adding later, “Hate should have no place in our world. It doesn’t get us anywhere. It poisons you. You can’t let hate become part of you. Once you do, it destroys you.”
“I walked away from the conversation with a new understanding of the word hate,” said Julia, who noted she walks away from every conversation with Feghali having learned something new. “Her profound knowledge of the negative effects of the word re-shaped my interpretation of it. She is someone that has really faced that epitome of pain in life and has every reason to hate, yet she still does not do so. She is such
an inspiration to me and all of the Visi girls to lead with love and peace.”
“How can you change the world? What will you do that will make a difference?” Feghali asked students in the audience.
“No one knows yet,” laughed Julia.
“There’s always a way to do it,” Feghali said, sharing how she and a small group of friends came up with the idea of education to make a difference in Lebanon. Since founding EOL, the group has helped fund costs for 23,000 students to stay in school.
“We went from feeling helpless to helpful,” she said.
“I hope students left the event inspired by Mrs. Feghali’s commitment to storytelling and centering humanity,” said Jones. “This event was made possible by remarkable student leaders and I hope other students are reminded of what is possible for future studentled events.”
Mike Mothes, Caroline Bohigen '25, Katherine Saad Feghali, Julia Williams '25, Erin Neifach '25, and Rachel V. Jones '08
Students Learn from Junior Holocaust Museum Field Trip
Each year, the junior class visits the Holocaust Memorial Museum as part of their theology program in sacraments and Catholic social teaching. We invited students to share what they learned from the experience.
“My junior class visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum profoundly shaped my understanding of Holocaust history and social justice,” said Kana Walsh ’26. “Social justice emphasizes the importance of upholding the dignity of every person, and witnessing the atrocities of the Holocaust underscored how easily this can be stripped away when society turns a blind eye to hate and discrimination.”
As a Jewish-American student, Maddie Katz ’26 said she particularly was touched by the respect and engagement of her peers with this history. “The lesson of the [museum] of ‘never again’ is one that should be used when thinking of current social justice issues worldwide,” Maddie said. “The museum is a clear reminder that we must learn and understand our history to be able to change as a society and move forward towards a future of justice.”
Kana added, “This experience reinforced that social justice is not just a belief, but a call to action—one that demands we proactively work for a more
just and compassionate world for everyone.”
“This experience has reminded of the hope we have for our future with the increasing number of students passionately learning about the past in order to know how to approach injustices in our society as we come of age,” noted Maddie.
The “You Are My Witnesses” wall in the Hall of Witness at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Washington, DC, January 2003.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL MUSEUM
BY MARY VEITH ’05, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
A Banner Season: Three fall sports bring home ISL Championships!
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY reclaimed the ISL crown, winning both the ISL regular season and tournament championships for the first time since 1994. Led by captains Isa Aguirre ’25, Quinn Murray ’25, and goalie Liza Kavanaugh ’26, the Cubs went unbeaten in ISL play, defeated WCAC powerhouse St. John’s, and finished the season ranked #9 in The Washington Post
VARSITY TENNIS will advance to the ISL AA division for the first time in a decade after sweeping the ISL A division to win both regular season and tournament titles. Junior standout Izzy McCann was joined this season by freshman phenoms Adrienne Moseley and Honor Saxe, all of whom were named all-ISL.
After a record-breaking season, CROSS COUNTRY won the ISL title in commanding fashion with six Visitation runners finishing in the top 10 of the championship race. Led by Washington Post All-Met Athlete of the Year Vivian Kelly ’25, and first-team All-Met sophomore Abby Anstett, the Cubs went on to win the D.C. State Championship for the first time since 2016.
Led by Naval Academy commit Helen Bonner ’25, VARSITY SOCCER played a gruelling schedule in a wellbalanced ISL AA division. With an overtime win over Stone Ridge and a quarterfinal finish in D.C. States, seniors Bonner, Caitlin Burke, Mikayla Edmunds, Jaya Kelly, Caroline Klauder, and Caitlin O’Connor leave the program on solid footing after four years on Moore Field.
Under the leadership of senior captains Olivia Shank and Katelyn Strike, VARSITY VOLLEYBALL advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since the inception of the DCSAA. Shank was named the team’s most outstanding
player for the third season in a row and the Cubs pulled off a narrow victory over NCS on senior night to celebrate a 2025 class that has put Visitation volleyball on the map.
[ SOCCER ] Hellen Bonner ‘25
[ VOLLEYBALL ] Olivia Shank ‘25
[ TENNIS ] Isabelle McCann ‘26
[ CX ] Vivian Kelly ‘25
[ FIELD HOCKEY ] Isa Aguirre ‘25
Student Athletes Get ‘Hyped’ for Athletic Program Additions
Mary Veith ’05 stepped into the position of Athletic Director this summer after over a decade in the English department. A decorated athlete both at Visitation and at the University of Notre Dame, Mary has also coached field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse as well as directed a summer sports camp program at Visitation.
Mary is committed to building on the success of the athletic program and helping all of our students and athletes grow into women of faith, vision, and purpose, saying, “The athletic arena can be one of the most powerful venues for growth and self-discovery. I am eager to inspire and empower the next generation of student-athletes and to promote inclusivity, sportsmanship, and excellence.”
To do so, this fall Mary put into practice three new initiatives: athletic tee-shirts for all student-athletes, Cub
of the Week recognition on campus and @visisports on Instagram, and including athletic awards in an all-school assembly at the end of the season.
“I wanted to bring more ‘hype’ to the program, to really celebrate the Cubs,” she said. “When I did a survey of our student athletes, one of the more prevalent comments was wanting to feel more seen.”
To increase the visibility of athletes on campus, she distributed matching team T-shirts at the start of the fall season. “We wanted to give them something they could wear on game days so people can wish them well on their game,” said Veith. “It’s a helpful touchpoint for kids and adults to create conversation and community.”
The shirts also help students understand that they are ambassadors for the Visitation community into the world, she noted. “We told them, ‘we
want you to wear these with pride and responsibility,’” Veith said.
The Cub of the Week on @visisports is also an opportunity to give athletes recognition. “People can be nominated at any time, and it’s a way to have a small recognition that can go a long way for that individual,” said Veith.
At the end of the fall season, rather than saving awards for the end-of-year banquet, Veith incorporated awards into an all-school assembly.
“We wanted to take a moment to recognize the fall season and those specific individuals who won awards, when they win them, when it is fresh for them,” she said. “I wanted a moment with the entire school community to be recognized by all their peers. These kids work really hard, and taking a moment to celebrate them and say we’re proud of you is important.”
It Takes Two
Director
of Academic Support Kerry Kaminski Teams Up with Colleagues in History and English to Help Students Build Study Skills as They Learn
On the first day of school this year, freshmen walking into their English class were surprised to find two teachers happy to greet them: Director of Academic Support Kerry Kaminski and English teacher Rory Edwards ’07 are team teaching one of Rory’s Literary Genres sections.
Team teaching is an opportunity for two educators to collaborate to tailor instruction to the needs of students. Each class is unique; some days Rory and Kerry take turns teaching the lesson or split it. On other days, one will lead the lesson while the other circulates around the room to ensure students understand the content and are engaged. The two can split students into small groups to facilitate discussions, play instructional games, or plan for in-class essays.
In freshman English, one life-long skill Kerry works to help students develop is effective annotation. “In English, I was an OK annotator; I’ve really improved because of Mrs. Kaminski. In class she explains it so thoroughly, encouraging us to put the passage in our own words. It’s helped me better understand Shakespeare, contribute more, help classmates out in working together, and truly understand what we’re learning,” shared Ava Schlapp ‘28
While observing, Kerry can also determine if students need additional resources and design them in real time to help students prepare for their assignments. Rory and Kerry often confer about the progress of their students,
The adolescent brain thrives when students are given timely, relevant, and immediately applicable information to improve their academic performance.”
KERRY KAMINSKI
creating shorter lessons to address academic skills within the context of their curriculum. For example, following the midterm exam, they noticed that students might benefit from explicit instruction on how to annotate a prompt and answer multiple choice questions more effectively. Kerry provided ongoing mini-lessons over the course of several weeks to work on developing their students’ skill set in these areas. “The beauty of moments like Kerry’s test taking mini lesson was that we had to problem-solve a need together—observing, discussing, and forming a plan. I continued the content while she incorporated these strategies in a way that made the girls feel supported,” shared Rory. Kerry jokes that she’s always trying to work herself out of a job; her goal is to empower students as freshmen to build the study skills that will carry them through their four years on 35th Street and beyond as well as to advocate for themselves.
“Rather than only teaching these skills in isolation in Learning Support and Strategies, with team teaching I have the opportunity to become a part of the larger classroom community, learning alongside the students and sharing my own instructional skills,”
shared Kerry. This enables her to provide clarification in real time and frees students to use their free periods and lunch to study, meet with other teachers, or enjoy time with friends. Kerry and her colleagues Monica Choquette and Jake Kelly Collamore ’78 are still available to meet with any student who needs help throughout the day in the Academic Support offices in Fennessy.
Rory observed that successful teachers take the time to understand how each student learns and adapt lesson plans to meet the needs of the students in front of them. Teaming up with Kerry helps her connect with students early in the year and understand how to best support them.
“We ask a lot of our students on a daily basis, and moving around campus as they do has given me more empathy for how challenging some of their days can be,” noted Kerry. “I think it’s important and valuable to be in the classroom alongside them, bringing them additional clarification, and supporting their learning. … The adolescent brain thrives when students are given timely, relevant, and immediately applicable information to improve their academic performance.”
Beyond the practical benefits team teaching offers, it also demonstrates a host of important skills and values for students including risk-taking, teamwork, and humility. “We model being supportive of one another’s gifts, not being competitive,” noted Rory.
Above all else, team teaching brings joy to the classroom. Kerry and Rory are colleagues who bring out the best in one another, in the Salesian tradition of holy friendship. “We just get into this funny banter and the girls pick up on it and join in. They see that The Odyssey or Shakespeare can be funny. We laugh a lot in class.”
I’ve really improved because of Mrs. Kaminski. In class she explains it so thoroughly, encouraging us to put the passage in our own words. It’s helped me better understand Shakespeare, contribute more, help classmates out in working together, and truly understand what we’re learning,”
AVA SCHLAPP ’28
Bridget Cornett ATHLETIC TRAINER
“Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller
“Why Fish Don’t Exist” is deceptive in its appearance. At less than 200 pages, it feels like a quick, cozy afternoon read. I love it when the first page shatters all my preconceptions.
Immediately, the reader is thrust into the dichotomy of Order and Chaos.
Lulu Miller, the author, tumbles down the rabbit-hole of the life of David Starr Jordan, a taxonomist from the turn of the 20th century. She is a masterful storyteller who makes the reader feel as if they are a ghost brought along to view another’s life and, just maybe, find order in their own.
Shena ThompsonJones
PERSONAL COUNSELOR
“Think Again” by Adam Grant
“Think Again” is a thought-provoking book that encourages open-mindedness and uses research, case studies, and storytelling to highlight the importance of cultivating intellectual humility, remaining open to changing one’s opinions, and reassessing one’s beliefs. The book applies to various life areas, including leadership and education, making it relevant to a broad audience. The book encourages the reader to adopt a curious mindset, asking questions to assess and reassess what you think you know. Grant aspires the reader to leave “Think Again” eager to rethink their perspectives. That certainly happened to me, but are you ready for the challenge?
“ We listen to views that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard.”
ADAM GRANT
Elizabeth McCarthy THEOLOGY TEACHER
“The Red Rose Crew” by Daniel J. Boyne
“The Red Rose Crew” tells the true story of the bravery and grit of one of the first women’s crew teams in America as they battle prejudice and male domination to earn the right to row, to be coached by the best, and ultimately to compete internationally in the 1975 World Championships. I enjoyed this book for its unvarnished view of what women who have gone before us sacrificed and endured to open the door to women’s competitive sports. All three of my daughters were on the crew team at Visitation and my son rowed at Gonzaga. The experience became for my children what it becomes for many rowers, “a reflection of who she is, and who she is going to be—intense, responsible, committed to those around her, purposeful and fearless” (David Halberstam, foreward).
Athletic Association officers were all fired up for a night of s’more fun at Marshmallow Roast this fall, and laughter carried well into the evening as students enjoyed one another’s class skits gently roasting their teachers.
PHOTO BY CAROLINE COLEMAN HANDORF ’96
UNEARTHING THE PAST
Deepening Our Understanding of Visitation’s History
For almost a decade, Visitation has been engaged in learning the histories of people who were enslaved here between 1799 and 1862. This year, we have been able to deepen our understanding about the people who lived and labored on campus against their will. The important work of researching this history, telling the stories of the people who were impacted, and understanding the economic, moral, and social implications that connect it to the present is ongoing.
This campus photograph, believed to be from the late 1800s, shows the Quadrangle with Gallerie on the right, looking toward the living quarters.
Sacred Spaces on Campus
Georgetown Visitation has occupied the same land since our founding in 1799; the buildings and spaces in which we live, learn, and work include layers of our 225-year history. In fact, fourteen structures on campus are on the National Register of Historic Places, including ten that were built before the emancipation of enslaved people in DC in April 1862.
As Georgetown Visitation has continued its research, we have prioritized deepening our understanding about these places on campus where enslaved people may have lived and worked. Recently, using a map of campus that was drawn in 1819 by Father Pierre-Joseph Picot de Clorivière, Visitation has identified two spaces in the center of campus that we believe once were living quarters for enslaved people.
The place where enslaved people lived is in the center of our campus yet, for decades, we failed to see it, just like we failed to appreciate the human dignity of the people who were forced to live here. For many years, Visitation did not consider or explore the lives of the people who were enslaved here, so knowledge about the places where they lived was lost. In recent years, the spaces where enslaved people once lived have been used for storage.
Our new understanding—that on campus there are preserved living quarters of the people enslaved by Visitation— calls us to honor these sacred spaces and to continue to remember the people who lived and labored here against their will. Preserved living quarters like this are rare and can be of great emotional and spiritual importance to descendants of enslaved people. These sacred spaces are a powerful reminder of and connection to our past.
We are committed to studying, preserving, and honoring these spaces.Right now, we are working with the DC Office of Historic Preservation and structural engineers to preserve the space and to learn more about it. We are also working with archaeologists to strategize how we may be able to locate artifacts that would help us learn more about the lives of the people who were enslaved on our campus.
This is a sacred space. We anticipate that descendants of people who were enslaved by Visitation will feel a profound connection and wish to visit. We have created informational displays outside the living quarters as well as a place for reflection and prayer.
Sharing Our Story
Following our community announcement in November, we presented our research at a local conference, “Georgetown and Legacies of Slavery: Honoring Stories, Embracing Communities.” This afforded us the opportunity to learn from others doing this important work, including Holy Trinity Parish, Georgetown University, Tudor Place, and Dumbarton Oaks. As we move into the next phase of our work, we look forward to
working together with descendant communities, to learn about family histories and make connections.
As we move forward, we remain committed to our mission as educators to tell these long-untold stories, to help our students understand not only this history, but also its implications and our call to social justice today. In the words of Mélisande Short-Colombe, a descendant of the GU272 (people enslaved and sold by the Maryland Jesuits) and Georgetown alum, “information and knowledge is a memorial that cannot be torn down.”
The Tilghman Family
Precious records from archives at Visitation and other institutions enable us to piece together their stories and, in some instances, even breathe life into their perspectives and wishes. Here we share the remarkable story of Ignatius and Susan Tilghman, who were married for about 55 years and had eight children together, and who challenged the Sisters in their attempt to extract compensation for the Tilghman family as they endeavored to obtain their freedom.
Ignatius Tilghman and Mary Elizabeth (commonly called Susan) Tilghman, a newly-married couple, were forced along with other enslaved people from Notley Young’s plantation to Visitation in 1841 or 1845 as a gift to Martha (Sister Mary Ellen) Young from her father, Notley Young.The couple’s forced migration severed Ignatius Tilghman from his father, Charles, who remained enslaved as a carpenter on Notley Young’s plantation.
The Tilghmans lived at Visitation for eleven or fifteen years, during which time they had five children. Mary Elizabeth, named after her mother, was born in approximately 1845, and
The entrance to the living quarters is under the balcony outside Gallerie, where we see a dark square off the Quadrangle. This photograph, taken from the steps outside Fennessy Hall, serves as a powerful image of how the history of enslaved people on campus was shrouded in darkness for many years, yet also in plain sight at the heart of our campus.
MAP KEY
Georgetown Visitation in 1819
F Parlors
E Refectory
D Infirmary
I Kitchen
B Sisters’ Dormitories
C Student Dormitories
A Original Chapel
M Land for New Chapel
L Priest’s House
W Woodsheds
O Young Lady’s Academy
V Stables
P Benevolent School
Z Privies
R, S, T Chicken coops, storage rooms
Q Quarters for Enslaved People
Father Pierre-Joseph Picot de Clorivière, Visitation’s second founder, drew this map of Visitation’s campus in 1819 as he planned an ambitious building campaign to include a new academy building and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Thirty-fifth Street, the east boundary of campus, runs along the left edge of the map, with the Monastery buildings starting in the top left corner and ending at present-day Founder’s Hall in the bottom left corner—in 1819, land with trees. The bottom edge of the map is our present-day lane, where, in 1819, present-day Volta Street was the east boundary of campus. Near the bottom right corner of the map are three small rectangles labeled ‘Q.’ These rectangles are believed to indicate where enslaved people lived. Comparing campus in the map to a present-day aerial satellite image reveals that these places are underneath today’s Cub Shoppe and Fennessy Hall, and Visitation has located them at the level of the Quadrangle.
◂ This image shows the south wall of the interior of the living quarters, including the entrance to the space, the remnants of a window on the left, a small ledge, and building materials of river rock and brick. The pipes, wooden supports, and concrete flooring were added after emancipation.
Ignatius Tilghman 40 years
Charles Tilghman 15 years
Charles, likely named after his grandfather, in about 1848. The Tilghmans brought many of their children for baptism at Holy Trinity Church. Their third child, Theodore, was born November 11, 1849, and baptized as Mary Ignatius Theodore after his parents on November 25th. Mary Jane Frances was born on August 26, 1853, and baptized on September 4. Their fifth child, John Mary Joseph, was baptized at Holy Trinity on July 3, 1855; and he died at age 7, in approximately 1862.
This is a page from the Chapter Book of the Sisters of the Visitation in Georgetown. The highlighted entry reads, “In May 1856, by a plurality of the votes of the Chapter, Ignatius, his wife & family, Edward, Charlotte, and Maria, were allowed to purchase their freedom, they having hitherto been slaves, held by the community.”
These silhouettes were commissioned by Visitation to represent the Tilghman family based on details about them in historical records including their ages at emancipation in 1862 and, where available, their occupations.
Pursuing Freedom
In May 1856, Ignatius and Susan Tilghman, together with Edward (likely Weldon), Charlotte Mahoney, and Maria (last name unknown)—other people enslaved at Visitation at the time—procured an agreement from the Sisters of the Visitation to purchase their family’s freedom. The Tilghmans negotiated to purchase their freedom and the freedom of their five children for $1,000. From that date, the Tilghmans moved away from Visitation and supported themselves at their own expense, maintaining ties to Visitation as they made payments toward their freedom from his earnings. By December 4, 1858, the Tilghmans negotiated the amount down to to $500. In total, by the time of their emancipation, the Tilghmans had paid the Sisters $298.76 for their family’s freedom.
After the Tilghmans left Visitation likely between 1856 and 1860, the 1860 census lists them as free and living with Ann Green and Sidney Tilghman in Georgetown, in a different ward from Visitation. Both Ann Green and Sidney Tilghman also had been enslaved at Visitation. Sidney Tilghman, who may have been Ignatius’s relative, purchased her freedom from the Sisters for $5 at the age of twenty-six on August 1, 1859. Ann Green self-liberated in 1853 when she was twenty-eight years old by purchasing her freedom from the Sisters. Ann Green also was Jane Tilghman’s godmother. On March 14, 1857, the year after the Tilghmans moved away from Visitation, they welcomed a sixth child, Maria Cecelia.
She was baptized at Holy Trinity on March 24 that same year.The 1860 census lists Ignatius Tilghman as a whitewasher, and Ann Green and Sidney Tilghman as doing washing.
◂ This 1860 Census record shows Ignatius Tilghman, aged 35, working as a whitewasher and living together with his wife, Susan, their six children, Sidney Tilghman, and Ann Green in Georgetown.
Josephine Tilghman 2 years
Cecelia Tilghman 5 years
Ignatius Tilghman advocated for a just outcome when slavery was abolished in D.C. before he had finished purchasing his family’s freedom. Under the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, enslavers were able to seek compensation for the enslaved people freed by the act of Congress. The Sisters of the Visitation sought compensation for Ignatius Tilghman’s family, including the three children who were born after the 1856 agreement (Maria Cecelia, born March 14, 1857; Josephine, born June 29, 1859; and Rosalie, born c. 1862), and without discounting their claim for the amount Ignatius had already paid for his freedom or refunding the money to him. The Sisters also claimed compensation for Ignatius Theodore, who had chosen to pursue freedom by fighting in the Union Army and was noted to be with the Union troops at Yorktown at the time of their claim.
Ignatius filed a counter-petition to the Sisters’ claim, in which he proposed a carefully reasoned resolution that would enable the Sisters to receive the remainder due on the amount they had negotiated with him, yet that would redirect the remaining compensation for his family to him in consideration of the sum he had already paid toward their freedom. Ignatius argued that no compensation should be given the Sisters for the three children who were born after Ignatius began his self-emancipation in 1856.His counter-petition stated: “He thinks no allowance should be made for them to said Sisters. If to any one, he thinks it should be to himself; but he does not wish to be considered as claiming for them.” Through this petition, Ignatius asserted that his three youngest children, Cecelia, Josephine, and Rosalie, were born free.
Life After Emancipation
The Tilghman family continued to live in Georgetown once fully free. Although Ignatius Tilghman was listed as eligible for military service in draft records in the summer of 1863, he did not serve. City directories in 1864, 1867, and 1868 show that Ignatius Tilghman worked for many years as a gardener, and also, at times, as musician and a whitewasher and lived at 11 Seventh Street. Charles F. Tilghman was noted in the 1867 directory as a barber living at the same address, as was Mary Tilghman, who was working as a nurse.
In 1870, Ignatius Tilghman, then about 50 years old, worked as a laborer while Susan ran the household. Mary Elizabeth, 23, and Jane, 18, earned income as domestic servants while Ignatius Theodore, 21, worked as a store clerk. Seventeen-year-old Cecelia and 7-year-old Rosalie were students, and all the Tilghman children knew how to read and write. Two additional people lived with the Tilghmans.
Later public records show the various economic pursuits the Tilghman family pursued. Ignatius Tilghman worked for many years as a gardener, and, at one point, was listed as a musician and a whitewasher. His son Ignatius Theodore Tilghman worked as a waiter and janitor. Ignatius Tilghman’s daughters worked as dressmakers, teachers, and servants. The family lived in several different locations in Georgetown over the years, including on present-day Reservoir Road and on P Street. Before his passing on March 22, 1902, Ignatius Tilghman had moved along with some of his family members to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Georgetown Visitation is grateful to Dr. Kelly Schmidt and Dr. Susan Nalezyty for their research on behalf of Visitation and its History of Enslaved People.
This 1868 City Directory lists Ignatius Tilghman as living at 11 7th Street, which is present-day Reservoir Road, near Visitation. His occupation is listed as gardener.
Continuing
in This Work Together
There are two main pillars of our continuing work, each with several key initiatives:
RESEARCH AND ACKNOWLEDGE
Each of these, in turn, has many sub-parts. For example, within our research, we are locating relevant records in our archives, transcribing and publishing them on our website, updating our narrative history, and learning about places on campus. We will continue to move forward deliberately and collaboratively to advance this important work.
If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to explore our History of Enslaved People website (www.visi.org/HEP).
We have digitized, transcribed, and uploaded to the site more than seventy relevant documents from Visitation’s archives. We also have linked to documents held in other
repositories that pertain to people enslaved at Visitation. We are actively engaged in reviewing our archives and locating additional documents to analyze and share on the website on an ongoing basis. This is the most accurate and up to date resource for information on the individuals enslaved by the Sisters of the Visitation. Since we continue to find new records that change our understanding, past reports may include some inaccuracies. If you have questions, please reach out—we are here to help. We hope that this website will support our community and the descendants of all enslaved people mentioned in our records as they research their ancestors and family history.
WE HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND LABORED ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING:
George
Charles
Stacy (Stace)
Clem
Eliza
Edward Shorter
Stephen Jinny
Children of Jinny, names not yet identified
Basil
Susan
Children of Susan
Dennis
Eliza
John
Stephen Woman, name unknown
Kitty
Jack
Leonard (Leon)
Edward
Clare
Mars
Sam Zealeam
Harry
Joe
Wife of Joe, name not yet identified
Children of Joe, names not yet identified
Sophia
Nelly
Daniel Neale
Ruth
George
Charlotte Smith
John Smith
Maria
Charlotte Mahoney
Elizabeth Mahoney
Benjamin Mahoney
Jane Mahoney
Stanislaus Mahoney
Edward Welden
Sarah Hodge Welden
Thomas Weldon
Elizabeth Weldon
Joseph Dixon
Steven Dixon
Anne Dixon
Ann Green
We offer a prayer as we work together to honor the people who were enslaved by Visitation and their dignity, learn and remember their stories, and memorialize them on our campus:
Dear God,
Open my eyes so that I may see when people around me are treated unfairly.
Help me repent for any time when I have treated another human being as less than the temple of your Holy Spirit.
Fill my heart with love and compassion to care for the oppressed and help me to love them as you love them.
Teach me to have empathy to understand the needs of others.
Help me to Live Jesus in all of my thoughts, words and actions.
Amen
Sidney Tilghman
Susan Tilghman
Ignatius Tilghman
Mary Elizabeth Tilghman
Charles Tilghman
Mary Ignatius
Theodore Tilghman
Mary Jane Frances
Tilghman
John Mary Joseph
Tilghman
Maria Cecilia Tilghman
Josephine Tilghman
Rosalie Tilghman
As an institution committed to Living Jesus, we are deeply sorry for how we have dehumanized our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. First through the system of chattel slavery and, later, through racial discrimination well after slavery was abolished, we have failed to accept responsibility for our sin and its legacy. We ask for God’s forgiveness and grace as we commit to repairing these breeches by learning and sharing our history and working together toward social justice and peace.
THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE
Inspiring Careers in STEM Fields
For longtime math teacher, former engineer, and current Director of Innovation & Technology Nettie Angotti, her role is more than just teaching the curriculum—it’s about exposing girls to what they can accomplish by mastering their classwork.
“In my time, there just weren’t a lot of women in STEM,” she shared. And while strides have been made, “there still really isn’t all that many women in the field.”
At the start of this school year, Nettie reached out to some Visitation alumnae in STEM careers to ask for a photo, a description of their current job, and how Visitation helped them reach their goals. She took that information and built a bulletin board between St. Joseph’s Hall and Berchmans Hall—two buildings that house our math and science classes—filled with women of faith, vision, and purpose who love what they do.
“I’m hoping that the girl who doesn’t see herself in STEM might consider it more,” said Nettie. “There’s people out there who have lived your path that might be out there doing interesting things you hadn’t thought of yet.”
In addition to recent graduates, the board features early school alumna Emily Warren Roebling (1863) who took over management of the building the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill, and beloved math and science teacher Sister Mary de Sales McNabb, for whom our Innovation Lab is named.
“I love that our school’s history includes these incredible women,” Nettie shares. “I feel that a lot of our graduates are prepared to take on the kinds of challenges you face in STEM.”
Allison Robinson Neal ’09
EDUCATION MS in Engineering Management, George Washington University BS in Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
What is your current job?
I am the primary patent examiner in operations research at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In this position, I review utility patents in the art of operations research and other business methods. I am responsible for reviewing patent applications to determine whether they meet the legal requirements for patentability.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Georgetown Visitation laid a crucial foundation for my career in STEM. It was at Visi that I truly learned to study efficiently and conduct research effectively. I was fortunate to have access to challenging math and science courses that ignited my passion for these subjects. Shoutout to Mrs. Angotti and Dr. Pennybacker for realizing and nurturing my passions! Their guidance helped me navigate an academic path to pursue a STEM career.
Dr. Mehrnaz M. Millwater, MD ’00
EDUCATION MD in Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School
MS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Specialization in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics), Georgetown University
BS in Chemistry, Minor in English, University of Virginia
What is your current job?
I am the Medical Director of the Georgetown University Student Health Center—I organize the clinic, work on its mission and purpose, and work as a provider. I also collaborate with the university in helping shape the healthcare and immunizations of its students.
Sarah Moore ’20
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visi helped me gain the confidence to become a strong learner and feel confident in myself to achieve my ultimate goals. It helped form my foundation in both STEM and personal development.
EDUCATION BS in Computer Science and Math, Minor in Engineering Management, Vanderbilt University
What is your current job?
I am an associate product manager at LinkedIn, in my first of two year-long rotations. This year, I’m working on AI chatbots— specifically a chatbot facilitating the sales transitions between recruiters and LinkedIn representatives. I am in charge of the product strategy, roadmap, and features launches, working directly with designers and software engineers, but not coding directly myself.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visitation was the most valuable four years of education I have received. From problem-solving skills in STEM classes to effective writing in English, I built a strong work ethic along the way. I was well-prepared for college, and beyond.
Dr. Annabelle Dorion ’01
EDUCATION Doctor of Pharmacy, Howard University
BS in Biology, Villanova University
What is your current job?
I am a pharmacist at CVS Health. I ensure the accurate delivery of pharmaceutical care services, which include drug therapy monitoring, patient education, drug information, and chronic disease state management for our clinical programs.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
I always appreciated the science and math teachers during my time at Visi.
Dr. Jessica Traylor, MD ’06
EDUCATION MD in Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
BA in Chemistry, UNC – Chapel Hill
BS in Biology, UNC – Chapel Hill
What is your current job?
I completed a residency in OBGYN at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Northwestern University. I am a current attending physician with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, and my practice focuses on minimally invasive gynecologic surgery to treat conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and abnormal bleeding.
Mary Ellen Lynch ’84
EDUCATION MS Architecture, University of Michigan
BS Architecture, Catholic University
What am I doing now?
I am a principal architect at Lynch + Comisso: Architecture + Light. Over 27 years, my experience includes neighborhood redevelopment projects, museum exhibit design, and architectural lighting design for both interior and exterior environments, with expertise in analysis and thoughtful adaptive reuse of older structures.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visitation was truly a springboard for my academic pursuits that prepared me well for a career that involves lifelong learning. The academic rigor helped me develop strong time management and study habits. Access to AP courses in physics, calculus, computer science, and chemistry accelerated my undergraduate education and some satisfied prerequisite courses needed to apply for medical school.
The friendships I formed during high school are now more than 20 years old, and those individuals have celebrated with me, supported me, and continue to be present in my life for whatever triumphs or challenges we encounter.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
The strong values of my family, my friends, and my schools played a part in my confidence to be the person I am today. I think that the all-female high school experience was quite valuable in giving us the confidence we, in many cases, unknowingly gained. Some of my most memorable and inspirational teachers were from Visi—Sr. de Sales in math and physics; Mrs. Roach in biology; and Mrs. Canney in religion. Starting my own firm, and working in the male-dominated world of construction does take a bit of grit, but it always felt like the natural path for me. I didn’t feel I had to overcome big odds; I just did it. That confidence came from somewhere.
Mentorship Across Visi Generations
Juliette Mahaffey ’12 and Sofía López ’26 first met at Career Day in 2024, when Juliette volunteered to speak with students about her job as a mechanical engineer for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL); Sofía peppered her with question after question and a connection sparked.
Sofía’s siblings are both in engineering, and her older sister even works for the APL from California; Juliette was so impressed by Sofía that she reached out to Sofia’s sister get her contact information to encourage her to apply to the APL’s ASPIRE internship program for high school students.
“I went into the Visi Career Day hoping to connect with someone,” said Juliette. “I knew the program existed, and I felt it should have Visi people in it. It would have been something I wanted to do.”
Sofía was already in the application process and was soon accepted - a true accomplishment as the program has a less than 10% acceptance rate. ASPIRE prioritizes finding applicants for mentorship who are “enthusiastic, engaged, curious, and well-rounded with strong critical thinking and communication skills.” Juliette saw those qualities in Sofía and offered to be her mentor—something she’d never done before.
Juliette specializes in mechanical engineering of vehicles in extreme environments, including underwater drones. Together, she and Sofía pulled an old scuba-diving drone out of the closet as a project for her internship, dusted it off, and discovered—to their surprise and dismay—that it was no longer working. Sofía took it upon herself to fix the drone, emailing the vendor in Europe, reading the manual cover-to-cover, and tinkering, eventually bringing the drone back to life.
“I’m working on an underwater scanning system, adding lasers and a camera to go over the ocean floor and get a more accurate picture about what is below,” said Sofía. The lasers will allow the drone to go into deeper, darker water to sense objects on the floor.
Sofía hopes to continue her internship with Juliette through the summer, finishing this project in the spring and beginning something new over the break. “It’s rewarding to see her learn new skills and a new way of thinking,” said Juliette. “She’s very fast at picking things up. Hopefully, she’ll go on to do something in this field in college and beyond. Either way, I know she’s taking away problem-solving skills she can apply to any job in the future.”
“Juliette has taught me a lot about how to be in the workplace,” said Sofía. “She’s been a role model for me. She’s shown me how to work with other people, be collaborative, and be a good listener.” In particular, Sofía shared, Juliette is one of very few women at APL: “She shows me how being a woman leader in STEM is possible, even though a lot of the department is men. Most of the part of the building we’re in is all men. She shows me the possibility of it, for me.”
Juliette shared, “I try not to dwell on being the only woman in a room. Forgetting about the gender ratios and being yourself is
the best advice I would give. Don’t let the statistics get to you.”
Connecting with a Visitation woman at APL has been influential for Sofía: “We have a good connection because she knows what it is like to be from Visi.” Juliette added, “We have had a lot of the same teachers and same experiences, and it’s great to see this continuity.”
Juliette noted that the all-girl environment at Visitation was supportive and helped her grow in confidence in the classroom, key to her success in engineering later. The 2016 Harvard grad observed, “When I went into my math classes in college, I was surprised to see girls were not answering questions, even though I am sure they were just as smart and knew just as many answers. Part of that is being afraid to be wrong. You don’t want to be wrong more often than you are right, but you have to learn to fail. In engineering, there is always a chance of failure when you’re building something new, so you have to push the boundaries and your own limits but not be afraid it might not work out.” Juliette did just that, earning her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and later a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins.
The greatest lesson she hopes to impart on her young protege is a familiar Salesian adage: to live in the present moment. “Be as present as you can, because this is the best environment you’ll ever be in. Better than college, better than the workplace. The camaraderie and support from my peers and teachers was so important,” she said. “College and the workplace can be cut-throat and people might not always have your back; embrace your time with your friends and your classmates because Visi is a very special environment.”
Sofía is enthusiastic about the future and her work with Juliette: “What is most exciting? Everything,” she said.
Faith Cerny ’08
EDUCATION BS Architecture, University of Virginia
Master’s in City Planning (MCP), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MS Real Estate Development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
What am I doing now?
Prior to MIT, I worked in private, public, and nonprofit sectors of the building industry, specifically in design and construction project management. My most recent full-time employment with Skanska in DC included the management of sustainable commercial office building and healthcare construction projects through the greater DC area. I also worked on residential design projects with GTM Architects as well as management of public housing restoration projects following Hurricane Sandy in NYC with Jacobs. I gained experience leading the construction of affordable homes as an Americorps service member with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.
Isabel Morris ’18
EDUCATION BS Nursing, University of Pittsburgh
What am I doing now?
I started working in the medical ICU at Georgetown Hospital as a staff nurse, where I am part of the multidisciplinary team who cares for critcally ill adults with a wide range of complex diagnoses. These require intensive care such as ventilation, vasoactive medications, and continuous monitoring.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visitation instilled confidence in my ability to succeed and contribute meaningfully in future academic and professional environments. It helped me develop resilience and a strong work ethic.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visitation taught me not to be afraid to ask questions. In the ICU, I am constantly adapting to disease processes, medication, and procedures with which I am unfamiliar. It so important to be able to recognize that asking questions does not show ineptitude; rather it indicates to others that you know the limits of your own knowledge and that you want to expand your knowledge base in order to provide safe and competent care.
Demi Dunson ’13
EDUCATION
MS in Forensic Biology, Stevenson University
BS in Integrative Science with a Concentration in Biochemistry, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
What am I doing now?
I am an analytical chemist with Eurofins. I mainly conduct formulation development work on drug substances and drug products of several modalities (monoclonal antibodies, virus-like particles, mRNA).
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
I owe most of my scientific success to Mr. Haralson and the Science Fair Club, as they provided me with an environment where my passion for science could truly flourish. Under Mr. Haralson’s guidance, I not only learned to approach scientific problems systematically, but also gained the confidence to present my ideas to others. The club became a space where I could collaborate with peers, explore innovative projects, and receive valuable feedback.
Sara Pecak ’95
EDUCATION
MS Electrical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology
BS Electrical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology
What am I doing now?
Currently, I am a senior manager at Sandia National Laboratories. I am responsible for battery research, design, and production. One of the major focus areas is the fundamentals of battery safety.
How did Visitation help you achieve your goals?
Visitation fostered my love of mathematics and gave me a thorough grounding in how to write and communicate my ideas—improving my ability to be precise in my communications and build rapport with my customers and peers.
Additional alums in STEM highlighted on Ms. Angotti’s board include:
Katie Stranix ’05, Architect, Researcher, and Assistant Professor at UVA
Kaley Beins ’10, Senior Scientist, Environmental Working Group
Rosie Murphy ’12, Data Scientist at Spotify
Caroline Belt ’20, Engineering Analyst at Goldman Sachs
Riley Guarino ’20, RN at Boston’s Children’s Hospital
AN
American Paris
As she sank her teeth into one of her favorite American treats— a cinnamon-sugar donut from Marvel’s on the Jersey Shore— Visitation alumna and American expat Amanda Bankert ’99 thought, “I wish I could get these in Paris!”
And thus Boneshaker was born.
Named after the revolutionary first bicycle with pedals— which produced a notoriously bumpy ride—Amanda’s 2nd arrondissement bakery is just as groundbreaking. Boneshaker was the first donut shop in Paris and today is also one of the top 100 bakeries in France!
L’Histoire d’Origine
Looking back to her time at Visitation, there were breadcrumbs that would lead to her career as a French baker and author. While here, Amanda discovered an affinity for French in Madame Brinkmann’s class, writing in Mrs. Mattingly English class, and art history in Ms. Elder’s aesthetics class—all subjects she would continue to study in college. Outside the classroom, Visitation’s creative outlets empowered her to explore and experiment. Whether performing on the Nolan Stage or writing for Georgetowner, Amanda found her voice here on 35th Street.
From 35th
Street to Rue d’Aboukir
After graduating from Visitation, Amanda majored in art history at Sarah Lawrence. During her junior year study abroad program, she fell in love with Paris and vowed to return. After graduation, she made her way back to the City of Lights, where she enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu’s pastry program. No stranger to the hospitality industry—she got her start waiting tables at Clyde’s on M Street—Amanda set her sights on the most French of culinary arts: patisserie.
“I was originally drawn to pastry due to the sheer frivolity of it: as pastry chefs, our
sole purpose is to delight,” she shared in the introduction to her recent cookbook. She also loved the creativity of pastry, which drew on her love of art.
After an eight-year stint in Dublin, where she worked at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Amanda returned to Paris, ready to launch her own bakery. It wasn’t until that fateful trip home, though, that her vision became clear: she would bring America’s favorite breakfast treat to the land of croissants.
She stumbled across a used deep fryer at a Parisian flea market and started experimenting and baking donuts for local coffee shops. After adding a couple more table-top fryers to her arsenal and renting space that was initially more shabby than chic, Amanda and her business partner opened Boneshaker’s doors in 2016.
A Covert Experiment
Amanda has dabbled with being a vegetarian on and off since she was eight years old. Quite simply, she didn’t love the idea of eating animals. Five years after she launched Boneshaker, Amanda became vegan and decided to align her business with her life, embracing the ethics and sustainability of a plant-based menu. She began tinkering with the recipes to eliminate animal products. “It started as a challenge to myself to recreate plant-based versions of the pastries I had been making already—I didn’t want to
sacrifice any taste. I love food! I wanted to try plant-based, but not sacrifice flavor,” she shared. She would quietly test and rework recipes for her classics until they were perfect and then swap them out in the shop.
“After 15 years of professional cooking, it was like starting out all over again, learning new techniques; it was a fun challenge,” she said. For the past five years, the shop has been completely vegan—and most of her die-hard customers are none the wiser!
“I love that everyone can eat our pastries. Kids walk in here who have never had a donut [because of food allergies] … I am proud of the sense of home here at the bakery, of how we make everyone feel welcome,” Amanda shared.
Voila Vegan
Boneshaker’s success has earned both the restaurant and Amanda accolades and opportunities, including a book deal. Having always loved writing, Amanda jumped at the chance to publish her first book, Voila Vegan, three years ago, followed by the French livre, Donuts, café et good vibes: Créez vos donuts vous-même! Her third volume—this one in English again—is in the works.
Voila Vegan pairs Amanda’s recipes for some of her restaurant’s beloved treats—like the Beach Haven cinnamon sugar donut that started it all—with vegan recipes for a delicious assortment of French and American desserts. The tantalizing treats are paired with charming watercolor illustrations and beautiful photos of Amanda’s Paris.
Up until Voila Vegan came out, Boneshaker didn’t advertise that their entire menu was plant-based. “Most people didn’t know we were a vegan bakery,” Amanda noted.
Today, it is not just her regulars who are raving about Boneshaker’s delicious vegan confections—the patisserie was named one
of the 100 best in all of France by Fou de Patisserie magazine and Amanda was selected as one of Le Cordon Bleu’s most inspiring alumni to be celebrated at the school’s 130th anniversary this fall. This is no small feat for a woman—an American, no less!—but Amanda wants to change that: “The industry is changing rapidly. When I started out, I was often the only woman in the kitchen. I want to encourage more women to go into culinary jobs, to not be intimidated. You can succeed! It’s a really great career if you are creatively inclined and like being active. You get to meet interesting characters from all over the world and no two days are the same.”
ABOVE Amanda in the Boneshaker Kitchen
Amanda was kind enough to share these two recipes from her cookbook, “Voila Vegan” with her personal notes alongside! Bon appetit, Visi!
Cherry Clafoutis
1½ cups (12.5 ounces/360 g) silken tofu
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (270 ml) soy milk
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons (125 g) granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (50 g) cornstarch
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding powder (see Note)
Vegan ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)
1. Using a pastry brush, grease the inside of a 10-inch (25 cm) ceramic pie pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a food processor or blender, blend the tofu, milk, sugar, cornstarch, flour, pudding powder, almond extract, vanilla, rum, and salt just until smooth. Be careful not to overmix the batter—this will activate the gluten in the flour, and rubbery custard is a party pooper.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pie pan and gently press the cherries into the batter (they don’t need to be entirely submerged). If using frozen cherries, make sure they are drained and patted dry before popping them into the batter.
4. Bake the clafoutis for 35 to 45 minutes, until the edges are crispy, slightly puffed, and golden brown. Let the clafoutis cool slightly on the countertop before serving—in France, clafoutis is traditionally served warm and slightly gooey. Cover with a heavy-handed dusting of powdered sugar before serving.
5. I recommend adding a scoop of your favorite ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream—the contrasting temperatures and textures are divine. Put the leftovers in the fridge—firm, chilled clafoutis makes a superb summer breakfast.
Ultimate Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache
1 cup (240 ml) soy milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (90 g) cocoa powder
1½ cups (300 g) sugar
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (240 ml) coffee, cooled
½ cup (120 ml) neutral vegetable oil
½ cup (170 g) unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
Fresh berries or toasted nuts, for serving
Vegan ice cream or whipped cream, for serving
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and vinegar. Let sit until the mixture is visibly curdled, about 5 minutes. This is your buttermilk.
3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the buttermilk and mix on low speed until just combined. Add the coffee, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until you have a smooth batter.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1½ hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, save a few moist crumbs.
5. Allow the cake to cool completely (this is crucial) before turning it upside down onto a plate or cake stand and covering it with a thick layer of ganache.
6. Serve piled high with fresh berries and cream. In the words of Mae West, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!”
American summers, for me, are bare feet and woven shell anklets, outdoor showers, and shucking corn with my sister Nora on the deck. French summers are clafoutis, the Côte d’Azur, and rosé with ice. As soon as cherries appear in the markets, you know summer has arrived. This homestyle dessert is fuss-free and perfect for eating en soleil—wherever in the world you may be.
NOTE I know that the addition of Jell-O pudding mix here is a potentially controversial move. To be honest, though, the pudding mix results in the most authentic, creamy filling. Do what ye will.
This luscious but gloriously fuss-free chocolate cake is baked in a single layer and topped with swirls of dark chocolate ganache. It’s incredibly chocolaty and very rich— I always cover it with mountains of red fruit (in spring and summer) or toasted nuts (in fall and winter). Serving with ice cream or whipped cream is essential to balance the intensity. You can also frost it with vanilla or coffee buttercream if you want to change it up.
Dear Friends of Visitation,
A Visitation education is at once timeless and ever-evolving. It is rooted in our Catholic faith and guided by the Salesian Spirituality of the Sisters; generations of Visitation women have benefitted from our liberal arts education that balances the rigors of a strong academic program with the joys of co-curricular activities.
Each year, though, we make subtle changes—to our curriculum, our club program, our pedagogy, our team—to respond to the evolving demands on our graduates. We must continually improve so that we can provide our students with the challenges and opportunities that will empower them to become women of faith, vision, and purpose in a rapidly changing and morally complex world.
This year, in addition to enhancements to our beautiful 23-acre campus and continued investment in our dedicated faculty, we deepened our commitment to our athletics and arts programs, including building a new scoreboard for Moore field, where our soccer and softball teams play. We welcomed new directors in both departments, who have brought fresh, innovative ideas and a renewed energy.
We are constantly looking for ways to help students both deepen their engagement with the material they are learning and to expand their horizons. We’ve done that this year with investments in two different machines in the McNabb Innovation Lab. Our dual enrollment program with Mt. St. Mary’s University is thriving with 19 students enrolled in our two-semester program in entrepreneurship and business decision-making.
From the field to the stage, the lab to the chapel, students are growing in fides et scientia every day here at Visitation, all thanks to the generosity of our loyal donors. Thank you.
In Christ,
Barbara McGraw Edmondson President
i
When you give, you want to ensure that your gift has a transformative impact. With Visitation’s Partners program, you can directly support a bright young woman on her journey at Visitation. Working together, we can help transform promise into purpose.
Consolidated School Audited Financial Report
Dear Alums,
Whenever I speak to a group of alums, particularly at Reunion I am struck by the deep connections classmates have forged over the years and life’s inevitable challenges, and, equally, I am impressed by the ties our alums still feel back to Visitation itself. These ties often transcend class years and generations—it’s about the community and the values that Visitation imbues in its students and graduates.
In this issue of Visitation magazine, you will see examples of alums who have connected through the shared experience of spending four formative years on 35th Street; those who met at Career Day and who now enjoy a professional relationship and a shared Visitation foundation; alums who come together to serve those in our community who are suffering from poverty; alums who are many graduation years apart but who meet each other for a friendly game of tennis on our beautiful campus; and alums from different generations who volunteer with the Alumnae Board and work side-by-side to bring alums together for learning, joy, and networking. What brings them together? The feeling of belonging to something bigger than themselves, understanding that their Visitation experience is part of who they are, and seeing so much of themselves reflected in one another— so similar to the shared experience of Mary and Elizabeth at the Visitation.
The sisterhood is real and true, evident and lasting. Aren’t we lucky?
With gratitude and appreciation,
Suzie Koones Egan ’79
ALUM TENNIS SCRAMBLE
SEPTEMBER 21
[ BACK, L TO R ] Melissa Eckels ’11, Blain Beyene ’21, Christine Davenport ’90, Amanda Hart ’16, Joanna Orlando ’10, Catherine Byrne ’10 [ FRONT, L TO R ] Alexa Johnson ’13, Murray Whitehead Gormly ’88, Sophia Knoll ’15, Emma Knoll ’15, Whitney Wallace ’16, Dorsey Fiske Breslin ’99
A group of local alumnae came together to play tennis on a sunny Sunday on the courts, sharing bagels and mimosas.
ALUM DONOR CELEBRATION
OCTOBER 2
Margaret Pearson ’85, Tashia Senn-Jones ’96, Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, ’48 & ’50, Barbara Jones ’58, Deirdre Hester ’77, and Eileen Ugast Hudson ’78
At the end of September, we celebrated the start of a new school year with an event honoring our generous alums in Founders Hall.
OCTOBER 16
Lara Mongini Hines ’88, Sara Morrisey Koch ’12, Carol Rubino ’73, Megan Morrissey ’09, and Riley Talbot (Ursuline New Orleans, Class of 2021)
On a beautiful fall morning on Canney Terrace, alums and families assembled toiletry kits for Bread for the City.
We were blessed to return to New York this year to visit with alums in the area; we hosted a happy hour at Jumpin Jacks at ModernHaus.
OCTOBER 23
1 Lauren Sport ’15 and Alex Noyes ’14 2 Principal Leonor Limarzi Ponzio ’97, Fran O’Nell ’18, Matisse Gilmore ’18, and Director of Alumnae Relations Suzie Koones Egan ’79
The 54th annual Esprit de Noel brought a festive wave of Christmas cheer to Visitation! With over 60 vendors and food trucks scattered throughout campus, this year’s event saw record-breaking holiday spirit and shopping. A standout moment of the two-day celebration was the Esprit de Noel car raffle for a 2024 Ford Escape, sponsored by Sheehy Auto Stores, which sold over 500 tickets!
NOVEMBER 1 & 2
1 Molly Leahy P ’26, Cathleen Howard P ’28, Cristina Torres P ’26, and Lauren Noyes P ’25 & ’27
2 Tara Forester P ’26 & Alona Fayer P ’20 & ’28
3 President Barbara McGraw Edmondson and President Emerita Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, ’48 & ’50 4 Julia Casimira Secasa ’91, Liz Tobin ’91 P ’28, Heather Gerth ’91 P ’26, ’23, ’21, and Ann Southerlyn Reisig ’91
ALUM TRIP TO ST. FRANCIS INN
NOVEMBER 16
1 Beth LaMantia Rafferty ’95, Murray Whitehead Gormly ’88, Elsje Carbonne Eisenhauer ’91, and Kate Denton Earnest ’98
2 Beth LaMantia Rafferty ’95, Kate Denton Earnest ’98, Murray Whitehead Gormly ’88, and Elsje Carbone Eisenhauer ’91
A small but enthusiastic group of alums visited the St. Francis Inn to serve the clients and help with an important mailing, pitching in wherever they were needed.
Former cast and crew members of the Visitation Masqueraders came together for a pre-theater happy hour in Lalor House before the fall musical, Mamma Mia!
THEATER HAPPY HOUR FOR ALUMS
NOVEMBER 23
1 Clara Permuy ’23, Sydney Vargo ’23, Sophia Jeffress ’23, Sage Dennis ’23, and Kayla Donaldson ’23 2 Nori Limarzi Ponzio ’97 and Meg Davey Limarzi ’95 with their daughters
BOUNTIFUL FOOD
NOVEMBER 26
1 Workye Regassa P’25, ’26 shares with Abigail O’Brien ’25. 2 LeAnne DeFrancesco P’28, Ellie Gerth ’26, and Naima Jefferson P ’25 & ’23 3 This tradition is a popular visit moment for recently graduated alumnae to say hi to teachers and friends. We were glad to say hello to such a wonderful group!
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, Visitation gathered for its annual Bountiful Food Feast, celebrating the diversity of cultures that are a part of our community and coming together for a meal. A number of alums returned to say hello to their teachers and classmates.
A group of young alumnae gathered for a happy hour on the eve of Thanksgiving at the Admiral in Washington, DC.
ONLINE PROGRAMMING
On October 16, we hosted the Alumnae DEI Committee-sponsored “Returning Home: A Spiritual Encounter in Ghana,” as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rachel V. Jones ’08 and English teacher Katie Cole ’10 shared their experience of their travels in June 2024. After teaching Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, the alums-now-teachers sought a return “home” to learn about Ghana’s culture, traditions, and history. In addition, as daughters of the Visitation, they wanted to learn more about the origins of chattel slavery in the Americas. They traced the steps of Gyasi’s novel from the markets in Accra to the dungeons at Cape Coast. During this conversation, they shared photos, artifacts, and stories from the experience.
NOVEMBER 27
On November 13, we hosted a Lifelong Learning talk on Salesian Spirituality 101 by Salesian Center Director Kati Hylden Krueger ’99. If you’re looking for an introduction—or re-introduction—to Salesian Spirituality, look no further!
Caroline McGuinness ’20, Amelia Metcalfe ’20, Patricia McGee ’20, Bella Williams ’20, and Mia Azurin ’20
The Magic of Nolan
JACKIE MALONEY OLSON ’03
There’s a certain magic in remembering the past—the flicker of stage lights, the hum of anticipation, and the sound of applause that seemed to echo endlessly in the Nolan Center at Georgetown Visitation. Those moments on stage shaped me in profound ways, weaving a tapestry of experiences that I carry with me to this day. My time as a part of the Visi theater and performing arts community was more than a creative outlet—it was a journey of growth, self-discovery, and lifelong lessons that still guide me as a mother and a leader in early childhood education.
The early days of the Nolan Center were a haven. It became a second home where after-school hours stretched into evenings of rehearsals and weekends of set-building marathons. We hung lights and painted sets with determination, our hands speckled with colors and smelling like Wisemiller’s Chicken Madness, and shared late-night laughter that turned into lifelong friendships— many with our Gonzaga counterparts, who became like family. Together, we built something bigger than ourselves, united by our shared love for storytelling and the arts.
Each production was a new chapter in my growth. Playing Rapunzel in Into
the Woods (fall 2000) introduced me to the power of vulnerability, being a part of an ensemble cast and safely navigating the raptures of the Nolan Center in Rapunzel’s tower. As Helen in Bye Bye Birdie (spring 2001), I discovered the joy of making people laugh. Playing Polly Browne in The Boyfriend (spring 2002) taught me resilience and trust as I trusted Colin, my co-star, to drive our tandem bike off into the “sunset” with about four inches of clearance off stage, while Maria in The Sound of Music 2003) showed me what it meant to perform for the first sold-out Nolan Center.
But it wasn’t just about the roles I
The stage became my classroom for confidence, public speaking, and leadership. Each performance taught me how to collaborate, adapt, and push through challenges—lessons I took with me far beyond the Green Gate. These moments prepared me to become a leader in my field, giving me the confidence to stand before my peers, engage and challenge my students, and grow into a National Board Certified Lead Teacher in a Title I school serving students and families in my local community who often go without.
Now, over 25 years later, I often think about how those experiences shaped me into who I am today. The Nolan Center was more than a theater— it was a place where dreams began and characters were shaped, and I’m forever grateful to have been a part of it.
To see updates from classmates, and our sections on Love, Joy, and Peace, please see the printed copy of the magazine.
To request a copy or be added to the mailing list, please email advancement@visi.org. Thank you! Thank you!
Looking Back Sister Mary Paula McDermott
Sister Mary Paula McDermott graduated from the Junior College in 1930. She was a superb English teacher, a skilled writer who edited Alumnae Notes for many years, and was Dean of the Junior College. Sister had a lovely singing voice which enlivened our liturgies. She was moderator of the Wicket in the late 1940s. In the 1970s, she obtained her elevator operator’s license. To do so, she had to learn to regulate the elevator’s speed and acquire a good sense of timing so the elevator would stop evenly with each floor. Sister passed away six weeks before the fire in 1993; the elevator was replaced with the fully automatic one we enjoy today during the reconstruction.
[ RIGHT ] Before she became Sister Mary Paula, Louise was very involved in Visi school life, as can be seen in her 1930 Green Gate page.
[ BELOW ] Elevators used to need a person to operate them—you couldn’t just push a button! They were potentially dangerous pieces of heavy machinery and the operator needed training and a license.
