July 14, 2014 – Saint Ursula Academy and Ursuline Academy teamed up and connected with sister schools worldwide this summer. They joined representatives from Ursuline schools across the globe that came together for the first Ursuline Educational Services (UES) Global Conference. Ursuline Educational Services is a network of Ursuline schools in the United States and Canada.
Shown: Front row, L-R: Jill Grever Cahill ‘84- Saint Ursula VP of Marketing, Genie Libis-Ursuline Academy Science Faculty, Jill Hallahan-Ursuline Assistant Principal, Rachel Choquette Kemper ‘91-Saint Ursula Community Service Director
Back row, L-R: Jeanine Boutiere ’01- Ursuline Fine Arts Faculty, Dr. Kathleen Geraci Stall ’76- Ursuline English Faculty, Mary Bender-Ursuline Assistant Principal.
Both Saint Ursula and Ursuline sent representatives to New Rochelle, New York June 15- 20th to participate in this global education conference, an opportunity for collaboration among Ursuline educators from around various cultures. Participants traveled from Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Taiwan in the Republic of China, Thailand, the United States, and Venezuela. Jill Hallahan from Ursuline Academy and Jill Cahill from Saint Ursula Academy serve on the national Board of Trustees for UES and helped plan and host the conference.
The program for the UES sponsored Global Education Conference included speakers and break-out sessions for participants who wished to celebrate their common heritage as followers of St. Angela Merici and to discover together how they can enhance the charism of St. Angela in Ursuline schools in the twenty-first century. It was a great way for the participants from Saint Ursula and Ursuline to compare notes on the ways their schools both educate students in the Ursuline tradition.
The theme for the Conference was Global Education in the Ursuline Spirit. The five key presenters reflected on various aspects of that theme:
· Ann Garrido, author and experienced administrator addressed the Conference on the topic of Redeeming Administration.
· Ursuline Sister Mary Virginia Orna's presentation was entitled, The Value of a Liberal Arts Education. Sister Mary Virginia is a professor at The College of New Rochelle.
· Mary Cabrini Durkin, member of the Company of St. Ursula and experienced educator reflected on St. Angela Merici as A Wise Guide on the Path of Life.
· Diana Stano, OSU, President of Ursuline College in Cleveland, OH entitled her presentation Ursuline Education: Global Impact.
· Bro. Raymond J. Vercruysse, C.F.C. reflected on the topic: Seeking to Extend the Kingdom to the Ends of the Earth with a Great and Longing Heart.
Additional goals of the conference were to establish collaborative relationships among Ursuline educators, celebrate their common heritage and values, and share collective wisdom about 21st century education. The conference also opened up channels of communication between representatives from countries interested in connecting students through projects or exchanges.
Ursuline Educational Services (UES) was established by the Ursuline sisters in the United States in 1987 in an effort to enhance Ursuline education and to insure its continued success in educating young women and men in the Ursuline tradition. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, UES programs are coordinated by Executive Director Judy Wimberg.
Since its beginning, UES has served the Ursuline schools in the United States and Canada by sponsoring annual conferences for teachers and administrators. These programs are designed to foster academic excellence in the schools and also to provide an opportunity for collaboration and mutual support for those engaged in the ministry of Ursuline education.
UES also sponsors annual conferences for teachers and administrators as well as an annual Student Leadership Conference, offering leadership development to emerging student leaders. The leadership offerings are rooted in the core values of an Ursuline education and the charism of foundress St. Angela Merici.