Saint Ursula Academy congratulates the Class of 2023. 174 members of the Class of 2023, following SUA tradition, will graduate in white gowns carrying red roses during the ceremony at the Taft Theatre downtown on May 21.
Saint Ursula is proud to announce that 94% of the class earned more than $28-million in college scholarship offers in academics, athletics, fine arts, and service. That's an average of more than $171,000 per student.
Several graduating seniors earned special honors and were recognized at an all- school awards assembly on Friday, May 19. These honors are given for academic achievement or in memory of individuals who made essential and enduring contributions to the Academy. They are awarded to students whose academic achievement, leadership, deep spirit of faith, and Christian service exemplify the quintessential qualities of a graduate of Saint Ursula Academy. Their classmates nominate the recipients of the Awards of Honor, and a committee of faculty members makes the final selection.
St. Angela Merici Award
The St. Angela Merici Award was merited by
Gabrielle Morenike Baptist of Pleasant Ridge
In 1535, St. Angela Merici founded the Ursuline Order, the first religious order in the Church to undertake the personal formation of young women. Angela believed that educated women held the key to a strong family, a sound Church, and a stable society. She had the courage to lead and transform her world. This award, the highest honor given to a student in the graduating class of 2016, is given to a student who, like Angela Merici, exemplifies the qualities of confident leadership, a sense of compassion for others, a strong faith, and the ability to make positive change in her world.
Mother Fidelis Coleman Award
The Mother Fidelis Coleman Award was merited by
Lauren Grace Ayer of Anderson Twp.
Mother Fidelis saw a need and broke the mold to start a new community of Ursulines that would not only educate students in a private academy, but who would also teach in the parochial schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Responding to a request by Archbishop Moeller in 1910, the new “Ursulines of Cincinnati” committed themselves to teach, serve, and care for the people of all social classes in the city. This award recognizes a student who, like Mother Fidelis, has demonstrated initiative and leadership in her school and in her community.
Mother Gertrude Creamer Award
The Mother Gertrude Creamer Award was merited by
Aissatou Bah of Paddock Hills
Mother Gertrude was a much-loved teacher and long-time principal at the Academy who made each student feel important and respected. She always encouraged her students to realize their power as Christian women and to be loyal to God, to family, and to themselves. Under her tenure, St. Ursula Academy came to be recognized by the community as an institution that provided an outstanding education. This award recognizes a student who, like Mother Gertrude, is highly respected by her fellow students and by the faculty for her leadership and service here at the Academy and in the community.
Sister Mary Carmel McLellan Award
The Sister Mary Carmel McLellan Award was merited by
Emily Jane McLachlan of Newtown/Anderson Twp.
Sister Mary Carmel, a member of the Ursulines of Cincinnati, continued the tradition begun by Angela Merici in opening new roles for women in society when she became the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in education from the University of Cincinnati. This award recognizes a student who, like Sister Mary Carmel, exhibits the rigorous academic discipline, the initiative, and the leadership to forge new paths for women in the world.
Sister Mary Helen Sanker Award
The Sister Mary Helen Sanker Award was merited by
Bridget Ann Brus of Sharonville
Sister Mary Helen earned her Master of Arts in English degree from the University of Notre Dame when it was still an all-male institution. She was an outstanding educator who, as both teacher and principal, inspired generations of St. Ursula students, parents, and faculty by her personal interest in them, by her faith, and by her zest for teaching and learning. This award is given to a student who, like Sister Mary Helen, demonstrates strong academic achievement, a clear sense of values, and a concern and commitment to the needs of others which enriches the lives of all those around her.
Roberta Foley Award
The Roberta Foley Award was merited by
Madeline Grace Bruns of Newport, KY
Miss Roberta Foley taught drama and English to Academy students for decades. She is remembered as a woman who maintained high academic standards for students and as one who recognized and promoted the enduring values of good manners and courtesy to others. This award honors a student who best exemplifies Miss Foley’s academic ideals and Christian courtesy.
Judith Thompson Olberding Award
The Judith Thompson Olberding Award was merited by
Hailey Mercedes Heidrich of Hyde Park
Judy Olberding taught religion and chaired the Religion department at the Academy for many years. Judy was known for her integrity, her compassion, her intellectual curiosity, her strength in times of trial and her wisdom. This award, established by the faculty in her memory, recognizes a student who displays these same admirable qualities.
Faculty Award
The Faculty Award was merited by
Margaret Sarah Kelley of Mt. Washington
The Faculty Award is given to a graduating senior whom the teachers at St. Ursula Academy hold in high esteem. This distinction recognizes the recipient’s integrity, intellectual curiosity, courage and exceptional school spirit along her high school journey. Her optimism and adherence to the ideals of a St. Ursula Academy education will be exemplary contributions in a changing world.
SUA also congratulates the top two students in the Class of 2022 based on the cumulative grade point average over the four years.
Gold Medal for Academic Achievement ~ Valedictorian
Colleen Anne Lake of Pleasant Ridge
Silver Medal for Academic Achievement ~ Salutatorian
Christine Michelle Reinhart of Montgomery
Additional Awards presented at an all-school awards ceremony include the following:
Honor Medals in Academic Disciplines
Art – Samantha Ryan Vogeler
Design – Grace Katherine Deye Wessel
English – Val Molloy
French – Kathleen Paige Fitzpatrick
Health – Caitrin Weber Byars
Latin – Colleen Anne Lake
Mathematics – Grayson Ashley Anne Rohmiller
Music Choral – Megan Elizabeth Knapke
Music Instrumental – Remmy Goyette
Physical Education – Brenna Earley Bohan
Religion- Allison Nicole Shattuck
Science – Alyssa Brianna Sutherlin
Social Studies – Hannah Christine Moorman
Spanish – Elizabeth Marie Knight
Theatre Performance – Maureen Elizabeth Greenwell
Theatre Technical – Val Molloy
Danielle M. Hater Award – Cara Donna Thiemann
Special Recognition
Campus Ministry – Ella Elizabeth Yorn and Grace Katherine Deye Wessel
Community Service Awards – Elizabeth Margaret Graham, Elizabeth Lucille Zobrist, Sarah Choquette Kemper, Aissatou Bah, Belle Elizabeth Gruber
Ursuline Education Network Student Service Recognition - Elizabeth Margaret Graham and Taylor Elizabeth Roy
The Spirit of Dorothy Stang Award – Sophia Sullivan deJesus
Athletic Achievement Awards
OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award – Gertrude Elisabeth Winter
GGCL Scholar Athlete Award Nominee – Allison Nicole Shattuck
Ursuline Education Network Scholar Athlete Award –Gabrielle Morenike Baptist
SUA Outstanding Senior Athlete Award – Zoe Marie Luebbers
OHSAA Courageous Student Award – Cara Donna Thiemann
OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award – Ainsley Lucille O’Toole
OHSAA Award of Excellence – Mary Clare Momper
Ursuline Education Network Spirit of St. Angela – Grace Marie Pavloff
OHSAA Huismann Award – Quincy Marie MacCutcheon
SAU Triple Sport Athletic Award – Mary Elizabeth Anhofer