Monthly Archives: March 2019

Choral Ensembles and Forensics Team Advance to State Competitions

Spring awards season has kicked into high gear, and three more of Mount St. Mary Academy’s student groups – the Concert Belles, Harmony Belles and Forensics Team – have moved on to their respective state-level competitions.

 

Once again the Concert Belles were recognized as being among the very best at this year’s regional Choral Performance Assessment on March 8. They scored all superior ratings and were awarded a Division I plaque, which qualified the choral ensemble for the Arkansas Choral Directors Association State Festival on April 9.

 

The Harmony Belles also performed well at the regional assessment, receiving mostly superior ratings and an overall Division I rating. Their performance qualified the small ensemble for the State Festival, as well. This is the first year the Harmony Belles have advanced to the statewide competition.

 

The Forensics Team, known as the Forensics Breaking Belles, enjoyed another successful season of competition. The group participated in five tournaments across the state, placing in speech and theatre events such as storytelling, poetry, prose and duet improv. The group’s overall performance earned them Second Place Sweepstakes awards at both the Bentonville and Searcy tournaments. They will be competing at the Arkansas Forensics & Debate State Championship held April 5-6 in North Little Rock.

 

The following team members qualified to compete in the state tournament: America Alejandri ’20, Avery Appleton ’20, Mia Aquino ’22, Lily Eagan ’20, Anna Farmer ’19, Rachel Klinck ’22, Sophia Lehman ’22, Malingo Matute ’22, Bri Moseley ’19, Anna Palmer ’20, Alexandra Powell ’22, Amalie Shollmier ’19, Karina Singh ’19 and Victoria Volpi ’20

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Mount St. Mary Academy Senior Named National Merit Finalist

Mount St. Mary Academy is proud to announce that Bekka Ureta ’19 has been named a National Merit Finalist in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Bekka is among 15,000 high school seniors nationwide who have met all the requirements to advance to Finalist standing and continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships.

 

More than 1.6 million students nationwide entered the Merit Program as juniors by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. High scorers were designated as Semifinalists in the fall by scoring in the top one percent among students taking the PSAT.

 

Congratulations, Bekka!

 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Two MSM Students Honored for Commitment to Service

Two MSM students were recently recognized for their community spirit and exemplary volunteer service. Rachel Ridgeway ’19 was honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award, and Grace Barnett ’21 received the Sotomora Service Award.

 

Granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, the President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of time to serve their communities and their country. An active member of the Mount St. Mary and Christ the King Catholic Church communities, Rachel has spent more than 500 hours volunteering through school, church and other activities. Her lengthy list of involvement includes the Building Bright Futures tutoring program, the Diocese of Little Rock’s Youth Advisory Council and her church’s Youth Advisory Team, Mount St. Mary Academy’s Mountie Messengers student ambassador program and Beta Club, and more.

 

“I have always been told to use my gifts for good, so I became involved everywhere I could think of,” Rachel said of her participation in so many different groups and activities. “I have realized through all this work that there is nothing more rewarding than doing things for others. I have gained a new appreciation for all people, stereotypes have been lost, and walls in my heart have been broken down. I have become a more understanding, merciful, loving and open-minded person, and I strive to improve every day.”

 

Grace was honored with the Sotomora Service Award at this year’s American Heart Association of Central Arkansas Heart Ball on Saturday, March 2. Created by Eileen and Dr. Ricardo Sotomora in 2001, the award is presented annually to the Sweetheart who performed the greatest number of community service/educational hours during her time as a Sweetheart. Grace completed 317 hours of volunteer work, the most of this year’s group of 66 Heart Ball Sweethearts. She is the fourth Mount St. Mary Academy student to receive the Sotomora Service Award since it was created 18 years ago. Previous recipients from the school include Megan Alley ’18, Olivia Root ’07 and Ashley Jones McMillan ’05.

 

I think volunteering in the community is important because it helps acquire life skills as well as provide service to those who need it most,” Grace said. “Along with the fun experiences that I have volunteering, I have also made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

 

We recognize Rachel and Grace for their commitment to service and living Mercy, and congratulate them on their respective well-deserved honors!

Rachel Ridgeway '19 was honored with the 2019 President's Volunteer Service Gold Award for volunteering a significant amount of time -- more than 500 hours -- to serve her community.
Sweetheart Program Education Coordinator Michele Linch presents Grace Barnett '21 with the 2019 Sotomora Service Award for performing the greatest number of volunteer hours during her time as a Sweetheart.

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Mount St. Mary Academy Announces New President

Dr. Mary Patricia “Pattie” Davis has been selected to serve as the new president for Mount St. Mary Academy, effective July 1, 2019. The announcement was made to the school’s faculty and staff on Monday, March 11. Students, parents and alumnae were notified through email shortly afterwards.

 

“Dr. Pattie Davis has committed her entire career to Catholic education. She has invaluable experience as a teacher, as a principal and as an administrator in three dioceses. Her life-long pursuit of continuing education and academic challenge will be a tremendous example for our students and staff,” said Greg Hartz, chairman of the Mount St. Mary Academy Board of Directors. “Our board was very impressed by her strong faith, love for Mount St. Mary Academy and her dedication to the guiding values of the Sisters of Mercy. As chairman, I encourage our community to reach out to Pattie and assist her in her new role, that our rich tradition of 168 years may continue well into the future.”

 

Dr. Davis most recently served as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico. She served in the same administrative role for the Archdiocese of San Antonio from 2009-2014. A native Arkansan, Dr. Davis worked in the Diocese of Little Rock for nearly 15 years prior to moving to Texas, serving as associate superintendent for the diocese, principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary and a teacher at several Catholic schools. She taught social studies at Mount St. Mary Academy from 2004-2005.

 

Dr. Davis received a Ph.D. in education, with a focus on international education and entrepreneurship, from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio this past January. She received a Master of Education in educational administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2004, and a Bachelor of Science in elementary education there in 1995.

 

“I cherish my time spent in Texas and New Mexico, but truly my treasure is at home in Arkansas with family and lifelong friends,” Dr. Davis said. “As I move into this new chapter of my life, I feel extremely blessed to serve in the role as president, and I look forward to working with the entire school community as we continue to build upon the rich legacy of Mount St. Mary Academy.”

 

Dr. Davis will succeed Karen Flake ’65, who has served as president of Mount St. Mary Academy since 2012. The first layperson to hold the president’s position, Flake will retire at the end of the school’s current fiscal year in June.

 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

MSM Plans Lenten Evening of Reflection

Mount St. Mary Academy invites our community of alumnae, parents and friends to a special Lenten Evening of Reflection on Tuesday, March 26. The theme for this Lenten season’s event is based off that for the 2018-2019 school year, “Go Forth in Love,” and we are happy to have Sr. Deborah Troillett, RSM join us as our guest speaker to help lead the evening’s reflection and discussion.

 

“Lent is the time for all of us to stop and examine our relationship with Jesus, and to be reminded of how he wants us to live our life – with love,” said Chelle McKenzie McCarroll ’02, director of alumnae relations, who is helping organize the event. “That is not always easy to do; work commitments, family demands, and life in general can cause us to lose focus. That’s why this evening is so nice. It is an easy way to ‘hit pause’ and do the work we are encouraged to do during the Lenten season.”

 

The event will be held from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Mount St. Mary Academy. The cost is $10 per person and includes a light supper. Please register online by Friday, March 22.

 

Questions? Contact Chelle at 501-664-8006 ext 118 or cmccarroll@mtstmary.edu.

 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Tickets on Sale for 2019 Mercy & Me Luncheon

Tickets are now on sale for the fifth biennial Mercy & Me Luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. This special event provides the opportunity for over 700 alumnae, students, family and friends to gather together to celebrate Mercy-inspired leadership – past, present and future – and honor its impact in the Central Arkansas community and beyond. The silent auction will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by the lunch and program at noon.

 

This year’s keynote speaker is Sister Mary Sullivan – a highly regarded author and professor emerita of language and literature at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Said to have an “unparalleled knowledge” of Catherine McAuley, Sister Mary will share insight into the Sisters of Mercy founder’s incredible influence over the past 187 years. Sister Lisa Griffith, executive director of the Mercy Education System of the Americas, will provide special remarks following Sister Mary’s keynote address. Sister Lisa previously worked at Mount St. Mary for a combined 21 years.

 

A new addition to this year’s Mercy & Me Luncheon is the presentation of the Mount St. Mary Academy Women’s Leadership Award, which was established to recognize exceptional women with ties to Arkansas who have demonstrated impressive leadership within their community. Laura Landreaux ’91, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, will be honored as the inaugural recipient of this award at the April 16 event.

 

Read more about Laura and the 2019 Mercy and Me Luncheon in this featured story from the March 2019 issue of Inviting Arkansas.

 

To reserve your spot at this year’s Mercy & Me Luncheon, visit www.mtstmary.edu/mercyandme. Advance tickets are required and will not be sold at the door. Proceeds from the event benefit Mount St. Mary Academy and ensure the Mercy tradition of educational excellence and leadership continues for many years to come.

 

Questions? Contact Lauren Day, Special Events Coordinator, at lday@mtstmary.edu or 501-664-8006 ext 116.

 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Mount St. Mary Teams See Success at Regional Competitions

This time each spring, a handful of Mount St. Mary Academy’s student clubs and organizations travel to various locations across the state to participate in regional competitions with the goal of performing well enough to advance to state and national competitions. Two groups – Odyssey of the Mind and Mock Trial – both achieved that goal after placing at the top in their respective regional tournaments on Saturday, March 2.

 

The MSM Odyssey of the Mind team is headed to the state competition after a first-place win in their division at the Diamond Regional Tournament in Paragould. This year’s problem, “Leonardo’s Workshop”, challenged the team to develop and present a performance that tells an original story about Leonardo da Vinci that takes place within the famous Italian painter’s workshop and features pieces of his work. In addition to receiving a top score for their performance, the MSM team also scored high in the Spontaneous and Style portions of the competition. They’ll represent the central region at the State Tournament in North Little Rock on Saturday, March 30.

 

The combined Mount St. Mary and Catholic High Mock Trial teams also fared well in their regional competition, hosted by the Arkansas Bar Association in Pine Bluff. Students on each of the nine-member teams played various attorney, witness and timekeeper roles in simulated trials before a panel of judges consisting of licensed attorneys. The Purple (Senior) Team – currently the highest ranked team in the state after the regional competitions – won first place, and the White (Junior) Team placed second, which resulted in both teams qualifying to compete in the state competition in Little Rock on Saturday, March 30. In addition to placing at the top of their regional competition, both teams were among only six schools across the state to receive the highest amount of ballots possible from the judges.

 

We’re proud of these teams and wish them continued success at their state competitions!

Odyssey of the Mind Team: (front, L to R) Mary Owen ’21 (manager), Abby Yanosick ’19 and Isabella Boyd ’20; (back, L to R) Audrey Caruthers ’20, Anna Palmer ’20, Josie Fitz ’21, Emily Delfos ’19 and Emily VanEcko ’21
Mock Trial Team: (front, L to R) Isabel Jara ’22, Naomi Moreland ’20, Avery Cauley ’21, Sarah Meeks ’20, Anne Marie Coy ’21 and Katherine Meeks ’22

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Annual Spirit Banquet Honors MSM Cheerleaders and Rockettes

Mount St. Mary Academy hosted a special evening for its spirit squads on Sunday, March 3. Held at the Country Club of Little Rock, the Spirit Banquet celebrated the groups’ accomplishments over the past year and honored several young women with individual awards.

 

The cheerleading squads and Rockettes dance team entertain crowds and promote school spirit year-round at MSM and CHS athletics events, and the Spirit Banquet provides the opportunity to recognize the talented groups for their hard work and dedication.

 

“What most people do not realize until they’ve lived it is that Cheer and Rockettes are a year-round sport,” explained Marly Gammill, MSM French teacher and Freshman Cheer sponsor. “These girls never give anything less than their all. They are the hardest workers and have hearts as big as Mount St. Mary. The Spirit Banquet is a great time to thank everyone who makes the spirit year possible.”

 

Dee James, MSM office administrator and Rockettes coach, echoed similar sentiments after the fun celebration. “Last night’s Spirit Banquet was remarkable. The girls looked fabulous, as always, and my heart is full of love from the spirit squads’ members, parents and coaches. I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing group.”

 

Seniors Elizabeth Cline and Chloe Lay were honored with the evening’s top awards, chosen by the spirit squad coaches. Elizabeth received the Mary Ellen Pate Memorial Award, given to the spirit squad member who best embodies strength of character, discipline, hard work, dedication talent, grace and a little sass. The Carolyn Chalmers Spirit Award was given to Chloe for promoting school spirit at MSM by living the Mercy values of untiring service, hospitality and response to need. Recipients of the evening’s additional awards are listed below.

 

Varsity Cheer Awards:

Team Player: Gracie Connell ’21

Above and Beyond: Beatrice Zargari ’20

Most Passionate: Kennedy Phillips ’19

Transformation: Megan Jennings ’19

Squad Choice / Best All Around: Kennedy Phillips ’19

Coaches’ Choice / Top of the Pyramid: Elizabeth Cline ’19

 

Freshman Cheer Awards:

Squad Choice: Anna Falcon ’22

Most Improved: Carson Sanders ’22

Coach’s Award / Leadership: Mimi Baldwin ’22

 

Rockettes Awards:

Best Dancer: Addie Grace Coleman ’20

Best Kicks: Elizabeth James ’21 and Anna Jewel Schluterman ’21

Purple Pom: Ashley Henry ’19 and Chloe Lay ’19

Rockette of the Year: Addie Grace Coleman ’20

Silver Pom: Ashley Henry ’19

 

View photos of the event, courtesy of Karen Tlapek, at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBB1f3d.

 

Congratulations to our 2018-2019 Cheerleaders and Rockettes on a wonderful season, and thank you to their fabulous coaches — Kilee Fogleman, Marly Gammill, Dee James, and Allison Caldarera — for their tireless devotion to the spirit program!

 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

MSM Announces Exciting Lineup of Summer Camps for Kids

Spend your summer dreaming, exploring, learning and creating at the Mount!

 

Mount St. Mary Academy is once again offering a wide range of fun and engaging summer camps during the months of June and July for children entering the 1st through 9th grades. Campers will be able to sharpen their skills — or try something new! — in the following areas: volleyball, basketball, creative writing, math, drama, reading, cooking, arts and crafts, and study skills.

 

Most camps are half-day camps and may be combined for a full day of camp fun with an hour lunch break provided. Pricing and information may be found on the downloadable registration form at http://mtstmary.edu/summer-camps/. Register by Wednesday, May 15, to receive the early bird rate for many of the camps.

 

Questions? Email summercamp@mtstmary.edu, and be sure to mention the name of the camp(s) in which you are interested.

MSM Hosts Basketball Skills Academy for 4th-8th Graders

Mount St. Mary Academy is once again hosting its popular Basketball Skills Academy for young girls in grades 4-8. Held over the course of six weeks each spring, the program’s goal is to help young players build a basketball skills foundation and love of the game. Instructors focus on fundamental basketball skills including dribbling, shooting, passing, and defense principles. It also includes team and individual competition.

 

The 2019 Basketball Skills Academy runs from April 8 through May 19. Sessions will take place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on select Sundays and Mondays in the McAuley Center Gym at Mount St. Mary Academy. The cost per participant for the six-week, seven-session program is $125. Space is limited. For more information, contact Coach Lauren Lawrence at (501) 664-8006 or llawrence@mtstmary.edu, or download the flyer and registration form.