Monthly Archives: April 2022

2022-2023 MSM Student Council elected

Mount St. Mary Academy held elections for its 2022-2023 Student Council on Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27. Congratulations to next year’s newly elected officers:

Student Body President: Anna Mammarelli

Senior Class President: Shelby Coleman
Senior Class Vice President: Eliza Spellins
Senior Class Officers: AnnaRose Boone, Grey Parrish and Melody Small

Junior Class President: Alison Gambill
Junior Class Vice President: Eliza Jane Null
Junior Class Officers: Ashley Adams, Isabella McConnell and Abby Whittaker

Sophomore Class President: Amaria Love
Sophomore Class Vice President: Isabel Duch
Sophomore Class Officers: Grace Edwards, Isabella Nguyen and Naldy Ramos

“I’m so excited for the group of girls elected to serve as next year’s student council! They will be a great group.” Noël Gieringer, MSM English teacher and student council sponsor, exclaimed. “It is such a brave thing to stand up in front of your classmates and give a speech, and I’m so proud of every student that ran this year.”

Next year’s student body president echoed Ms. Gieringer’s excitement. “I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a leader for my school, and I want to do everything I can to ensure each student and staff member has an engaging and progressive year,” Anna Mammarelli said. “Next year’s Student Council was pretty much guaranteed to be a success, as each candidate had so much to offer. I’m really looking forward to working alongside the elected group and hope to see us consolidate current issues, as well as implement new ideas that will benefit the school and our community.”

As the elected representatives of the student body, Student Council members traditionally help coordinate and promote school events while also overseeing the execution of class projects to assist in furthering the mission of Mount St. Mary. The group coordinates the school’s large-scale canned food drive, Robin Hood Days, each fall. Its huge success year after year is a testament to Student Council’s leadership, hard work and enthusiasm.

Officers for the freshman class will be elected later this fall.

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.

Class of 2023 receives senior rings

The Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2023 participated in the time-honored tradition of receiving their senior rings at Christ the King Church on Sunday, April 24. Following the call to worship by their classmate, Alexis Coy, the juniors celebrated Mass with their families in preparation of becoming next year’s leaders.

MSM Chaplain Msgr. Lawrence Frederick blessed the rings at the end of the special Mass. Then, as homeroom teachers announced all 108 names in the Class of 2023, each young woman stood and was presented her senior ring by a family member. The rings will not only serve as a symbol of the group’s class unity and leadership, but also as an important reminder to live Mercy every day.

Congratulations to next year’s leaders, the Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2023!

MSM senior, alumna honored by Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame

Mount St. Mary Academy was well represented at the sixth annual Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held Wednesday, April 20, at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. Millie Allgood ’22 was recognized as one of five Girls of Distinction during the event. Additionally, Amy Rossi ’71 was among the eight women and two organizations comprising the latest class of Hall of Fame inductees.

As one of this year’s Girls of Distinction, Millie was provided the unique opportunity to meet the 2022 inductees and help escort them to the stage during the ceremony. According to the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, the five high school students chosen for this honor each year serve in leadership positions, maintain high academic standards and strive to make their communities a better place.

“Being a Girl of Distinction was such an inspiring yet humbling experience,” Millie said of her recent honor. “I was so grateful to meet and hear the stories of women who persevered through challenges and barriers to achieve their dreams. Their advice and insight was truly life changing. I was deeply humbled to be nominated among a group of such unique and successful young women. I am so blessed to have found both friendship and inspiration from my fellow honorees, and I hope in the future we may all follow in the footsteps of the inductees.”

Millie is very involved at Mount St. Mary. She is a member of Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Campus Ministry, and the Mountie Messengers student ambassador program. She also serves as a student athletic trainer and was captain of the Belles varsity volleyball and basketball teams this year. Millie, who currently ranks first in her class, will join the Honors College at Texas A&M University-Commerce this fall where she is committed to playing volleyball for the NCAA Division I Lions.

The Girls of Distinction program was implemented in 2017, and since then Mount St. Mary has had at least one student chosen each year young women have been selected. Stephanie Verdaris ’18 was honored in the inaugural class in 2017, America Alejandri ’20 and Annie Quo ’19 received the recognition in 2018, and Brynne Johnson ’21 was named a Girl of Distinction in 2019. The program took a two-year hiatus while the induction ceremony was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

Mount St. Mary Academy was also proud to have an alumna and former student body president, Amy Rossi, inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame during this year’s ceremony. Amy was recognized in the latest class of honorees for her impactful advocacy work on behalf of Arkansas’ children and families. She worked at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families for 23 years, 15 of them as executive director, before continuing to impact the state’s healthcare landscape at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and then at AFMC, from which she retired in 2015. Amy’s hard work and dedication led to the development of ARKids First, a health insurance program that has provided coverage for thousands of children across the state since its inception in 1997. Click here to read her detailed bio featured on the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame website.

The goal of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state. It is dedicated to preserving the history of its inductees’ accomplishments and to providing encouragement and inspiration to women across the state by sharing their powerful stories. The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, founders of Mount St. Mary Academy, were honored as members of the second class of inductees in 2016. Former Mount St. Mary president and CEO, Karen Flake ’65, was inducted in 2018.

We congratulate Millie and Amy on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition!

MSM student, teacher win prestigious Stephens Award

Sydney England ’22 and CAPT Scott Pursley are among the seven Little Rock high school seniors and six teachers who have been named recipients of the 2022 Stephens Award by The City Education Trust in honor of their outstanding achievements. This year’s program provided $5,000 scholarships to the students and $5,800 cash awards to selected instructors. Recipients were honored during a ceremony and reception on Monday, April 18, at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce AT&T Auditorium.

Sydney was named a Finalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Competition in February. She is currently enrolled in six AP courses at MSM and is ranked third in her class. Among her many accomplishments, she is co-captain of the varsity volleyball team, vice president of the Spanish Club, and a three-year member of Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, Quiz Bowl, and the Mountie Messengers student ambassador program. Last year Sydney served on the team of students, faculty, and staff that drafted the school’s new Honor Code, and she now serves as a representative on the inaugural Honor Council.

“I was very excited to hear I won a Stephens Award,” Sydney said of her most recent honor. “My dad received the award when he was in high school, so it was cool to feel like I was keeping with tradition.”

CAPT Pursley is in his first year of teaching at Mount St. Mary Academy, having previously taught at eStem Public Charter High School for five years. He currently teaches science courses, including AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and Honors Chemistry. Additionally, he has helped reinstate and energize the school’s Robotics Club, which had been inactive for several years.

Prior to entering the teaching profession, CAPT Pursley served as a founding and principal partner in a business strategy consulting firm, working with clients such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Georgia-Pacific. Having graduated from the United States Naval Academy, he also served many years and numerous roles in the U.S. Navy.

“I was surprised, then pleased, and finally humbled after I heard the news,” CAPT Pursley said of his reaction to receiving this year’s Stephens Award. “I am grateful that I have a small role in Mount St. Mary Academy’s excellent learning community.”

Congratulations, Sydney and CAPT Pursley!

Mount St. Mary celebrates Dinner Belles’ success

Nearly 300 Mount St. Mary Academy alumnae, parents, faculty, staff and friends filled the McAuley Center gymnasium on Saturday, April 9, for Dinner Belles 2022: Belles in Blue Jeans. The biennial dinner and auction raised more than $110,000 for the school, including over $20,000 for tuition assistance alone during the event’s paddle raise at the end of the night.

Since its inception in 1985, Dinner Belles has been a special time for friends of Mount St. Mary Academy to enjoy an evening of camaraderie, good food, and friendly bidding. The event’s committee, chaired by MSM parent Deanna Hildebrand, worked tirelessly for months leading up to the April fundraiser to ensure a fun and memorable night for all in attendance. Inspired by its Western theme, guests at this year’s Dinner Belles enjoyed a barbecue meal catered by Corky’s Ribs & BBQ prior to the start of the live auction. Emmy Award-winning auctioneer Mark Schroeder added to the energy and excitement as the evening’s special guest emcee.

Mount St. Mary Academy wishes to thank everyone who helped make Dinner Belles 2022 such an incredible event. The school is especially grateful for the event’s many generous sponsors – including the presenting sponsor, CHI St. Vincent – and gift-in-kind donations.

Proceeds from Dinner Belles benefit the annual giving campaign at Mount St. Mary Academy, which supports tuition assistance, student programs, technology and facility improvements, faculty compensation, and more. This year marked the first time the nearly 40-year tradition has been held in person since 2018. It was postponed and then ultimately presented virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View photos from Dinner Belles 2022 at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKo7d.

Odyssey of the Mind team once again advances to World Finals

This year’s MSM Odyssey of the Mind team placed 2nd in their division at the State Tournament in Mayflower on Saturday, April 9. The achievement earns the group a spot in the 2022 World Finals May 25-28 at Iowa State University in Ames where it will compete with other qualifying teams from countries around the world.

In solving this year’s problem, the OM team had to create a biographical musical about a historic figure who deserves more recognition. The group chose to share the story of London printer Elizabeth Nutt. Their skit, carefully crafted over months of hard work since the beginning of the school year, included special effects, movement of scenery and several original songs. In addition to the skit component, the OM team also competed in an improvisational component at the State Tournament.

Mount St. Mary Academy has participated in the international creative problem-solving program promoting teamwork, STEM and the arts for more than 20 years. Since 1999, the MSM team has regularly been awarded first or second place in regional and state competitions. This marks the 11th straight year the school’s OM team has advanced to the World Finals. Last year’s team finished 6th overall in the final competition, which was held virtually due to COVID-19.

We wish these talented girls the best as they represent MSM and Arkansas on the international level next month: Isabel Jara ’22, Lucy Nimmo ’22, Anna Polk ’23, Clara Principe ’24, Macy Ramiro ’22, Kimberley Sorsby ’24 and Sofia Theodore ’24 as well as managers Hannah Pruitt ’24 and Caroline Cash ’25. The team is coached by Deborah Baldwin, MSM Academy board member, and Monica Madey ’06, MSM English teacher.

MSM Concert Belles score big at State Festival

The Mount St. Mary Academy Concert Belles received some of the highest scores of all performers at the Arkansas Choral Director Association’s 2022 State Festival in Bryant on Wednesday, April 6, which earned the choral ensemble another Division I – Superior plaque to add to their wall of awards.

The highest score possible at the event is 100. According to MSM Choral Director Chelsea Allman, the Concert Belles received two 95s and a 98 from this year’s judges. “I am so proud of our young musicians,” Mrs. Allman said. “They sang advanced repertoire and rehearsed for months to make their songs as perfect as possible.”

This year’s event included 125 of Arkansas’ most talented choirs. To receive a Division I – Superior rating at the State Festival represents “the finest possible performance for the event…worthy of the distinction of being recognized as among the very best,” according to the ArkCDA’s website.

The Concert Belles qualified for the statewide event by receiving all Division I – Superior ratings at their annual Choral Performance Assessment earlier in March. Additionally, the four-member Harmony Belles, another choral ensemble at Mount St. Mary Academy, received a Division II – Excellent rating at the Choral Performance Assessment.

“To have received a Division II – Excellent rating at CPA is a great accomplishment, especially considering there are only four Harmony Belles this year and most of them have little to no choir experience,” Mrs. Allman said. “They were wonderful!”

Congratulations to Mrs. Allman and our 2021-2022 choral ensembles:

Concert Belles: Gabriella Angtuaco ’23, Ella Burdine ’24, Kylie Byrne ’25, Olivia Cordell ’22, Layne Edwards ’23, Vivian Fischer ’23, Maya Johnson ’25, Gracie Limmer ’22, Aubree McCullough ’24, Belle Mentgen ’23, Grace Moody ’24, Kathryn Morris ’23, Mari Negrete ’22, Isabella Nguyen ’25, Grey Parrish ’23, Sophia Parrish ’22, Elizabeth Pellicciotti ’22, Clara Principe ’24, Anya Ratycz ’23, Camilla Ricaurte ’22 and Natalie Vailes ’22

Harmony Belles: Bella Angtuaco ’25, Rhea Fitts ’25, Elvira Huerta ’25 and Sarah Siria ’25

International Thespian Society welcomes 10 new members

Ten Mount St. Mary Academy theatre arts students were inducted into the International Thespian Society on Friday, April 8. During the special ceremony held on campus and led by current Thespian members, the inductees pledged to pursue excellence as students of theatre, to perform their best, to accept praise and criticism with grace, to cooperate with fellow thespians and work for the good of the troupe, and to share their love of theatre.

“Membership in this international organization is not only a reward for the fine work you have done, but further evidence of your desire to continue to work in this specialized field,” Malingo Matute ’22, vice president of MSM Troupe #8462, said during the ceremony. “As a troupe, your work will contribute to the growth of better theatre in this community, our country and throughout the world.”

Benefits of Thespian induction include membership in the only international honor society for high school theatre arts students; leadership opportunities at the troupe, chapter and national levels; and eligibility for scholarships, grants, and awards through the Educational Theatre Association and its festivals.

Congratulations to Mount St. Mary Academy’s newest inductees and members of MSM Troupe #8462: Brianna Boggs ’24, Elizabeth Darnold ’24, Hope Harvey ’25, Maya Johnson ’25, Mary Mayo ’23, Lindsey Morris ’25, Isabella Nguyen ’25, Annabelle Owen ’25, Anna Polk ’23 and Kimberley Sorsby ’24.

Forensics Team makes history at state championship

Five members of Mount St. Mary Academy’s Forensics Team were named finalists at the 2022 Arkansas Forensics and Debate State Championship held April 1-2 at Bentonville West High School. Alex Powell ’22 won 1st place in humorous interpretation, making her this year’s state champion in the event. Other top finishers included Rachel Klinck ’22, 2nd place in prose; Anna Mammarelli ’23, 3rd place in prose; and Lizzy Darnold ’24 and Kimberley Sorsby ’24, 5th place in duo interpretation. Additionally, Malingo Matute ’22 was named a semifinalist in prose.

This is the first time in recent school history that Mount St. Mary Academy has had a finalist higher than 4th place at the state competition as well as the first time the school has ever had a state champion in an event.

A total of 10 of the Forensics Team’s 13 members were eligible to compete based on their performance at qualifying events earlier in the year. Other students participating in this year’s state championship include: Sophia Brannon ’22, poetry; Mary Mayo ’23, poetry; Annabelle Owen ’25, prose; and Emma Palmer ’22, prose. The team is coached by Jenny Moses, MSM theatre and forensics instructor and Arts Department chair.

Organized by the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association, the state championship represents the culmination of the forensics and debate season where hundreds of competitors enter weekend tournaments to compete in the art of oral presentation. Described by some as “competitive acting,” forensics competitions, in particular, include events such as storytelling, poetry, informative speaking or humorous interpretation and improvisation.

We congratulate our Forensics Team on a very successful season!