9 t h A N N U A L
Chez Nous Benefit
Luncheon & Auction
ALUMNAE REUNION
Friday, May 1, 2026
5:00 – 7:30 pm Notre Dame School
Toast the anniversary years ending in 1 & 6
Take a tour Chez Nous at 327 West 13th Street Enjoy light bites, wine, and beer!
Q U E S T I O N S ? If you have any questions please reach out to Elizabeth Bixenman at (212) 620-5575 ex. 317 or bixenmane@cheznous.org. Register for FREE, beginning April 1st!
Sponsor a Notre Dame Student
With a desire to bolster our spirit of community and build bridges of communication between our donors and the school’s current students, we invite alumnae and friends of Notre Dame School to sponsor a current student throughout their four years of high school. Based on your level of support, you will be matched with one or more students who are in need of financial assistance to access a Notre Dame education. Your financial gifts will offer an exceptional education to those lacking the resources to experience such an opportunity.
Opportunities for Sponsors*
Receive a formal profile on student(s) and their most recent report card(s)
Meet virtually or in-person with sponsored student(s)
Receive thank you notes and updates written by your student(s)
* Each donor decides their own level of involvement with their student(s)
You can make a difference. Become a sponsor today!
To learn more about becoming a Sponsor, we invite you to contact Benjamin Zevallos, Associate Director of Annual Giving at 212-620-5575 x348 or by email at zevallosb@cheznous.org.
The Notre Dame School Board of Trustees is privileged to support and serve the students, teachers, and staff
Chez Nous. We enthusiastically welcome the school's new President, Mary Kate Blaine, while continuing to cherish the memory of Sister Virginia O'Brien, S.U. Her legacy lives on in the school's bright future. Together, we are committed to providing a nurturing environment for all.
Rev Vincent Biagi, S J (Chairperson)
Mr. Raymond P. Dolan (Vice Chairperson)
Ms. Jaclyn Brilliant (Acting President)
Ms. Patricia A. Cullen, Esq.’73
Ms Virginia M Dolan
Sr. Mary Dolan, SU
Mr. Daniel Dougherty
Mr. Michael F. Doyle, FAIA
Rev George Drance, S J
Rev Kenneth Gavin, S J
Ms. Marcela Hahn
Ms. Laurie Hindley
Mr Thomas Jacquot
Det. Justine Killion ’91
Ms. Julia Pilcer Lichtenstein, Esq.
Ms. Josephine Martinez '06
Ms Maria-Teresa Mata
Dr. Grace C. Pilcer, Ph.D
Ms. Talya Santillan ’95
Ms. Linda Smith
Rev Kevin Spinale, S J
Ms Carolyn Wahlig Szostek ’65
Mr. Matthew Ulloa
Ms. Nancy T. Vincent, Esq.
The administration, faculty, and staff of Notre Dame School congratulate the Class of 2026 for their academic excellence.
PARTIAL LIST OF COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES:
American University
Bates College
Binghamton University
Chapman University
Clemson University
Columbia University
Drexel University
Fairfield University
Fordham University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gonzaga University
Hamilton College
Howard University
Indiana University Bloomington
James Madison University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Marquette University
McGill University
New York University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Penn State University
Pepperdine University
Providence College
Purdue University
Queen Mary University of London
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Skidmore College
Southern Methodist University
St. John’s University
Syracuse University
The Catholic University of America
Tulane University
University of Alabama
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Denver
University of Glasgow
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of San Francisco
University of South Carolina
University of Toronto
University of Virginia
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
100% of our graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities.
Over 94% of graduates over the last ten years have been awarded academic scholarships.
As of March 21st, the Class of 2026 has received over $17 million in academic scholarships to four-year colleges and universities through Merit, Honors, and Presidential Scholarships, and many more.
SELECT LIST OF SCHOOLS FROM WHICH WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR
Boston College
Dartmouth University
Duke University
Georgetown University
Johns Hopkins
Princeton University
University of Notre Dame
Yale University
Chez Nous Benefit
Saturday, March 21st from Noon until 4:00 p.m.
Program Begins at 1:00 PM
Grace
Fr. Vincent Biagi, S.J.
Introduction
Elizabeth Bixenman, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations
Silent Auction Closes at 1:50 PM
Live Auction Begins at 2:00 PM Pat Tully
Student Speeches with Principal, Karina Vargas ‘02 at 2:30 PM
Mikaila Rivas ‘26
Vicnnerys Peralta ‘26
Fund the Scholarship at 2:45 PM Pat Tully
Awards Ceremony with Jaclyn Brilliant, Acting President at 3:30 PM
Anne de Xainctonge Award
Alexandra Rynczak Teper ‘81
Chez Nous Parent Awards
James Phillips & Kristi Roche P’26
Richard Wesolowski & Stacy Mark P’26 & P’28
Raffle Drawings at 3:45 PM
Elizabeth Bixenman
PATRICK TULLY
With nearly 20 years of live auction experience, Pat Tully is New York City’s leading independent benefit Auctioneer. Mr. Tully has raised over one billion dollars at over 1,500 nonprofit benefit events across The United States and around the world. Mr. Tully’s vast clientele includes St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The American Cancer Society, and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. Beyond his live auction experience, Mr. Tully is the Co-founder of The Kate Shea Foundation for Leukemia research and previously served as Vice President of Development for The Ireland Funds. Mr. Tully holds a B.A. degree in Communications from Marist College as well as a Certificate in Radio and Television Broadcasting from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. In addition, he holds a Benefit Auction Specialist designation from the National Auctioneers Association and is a member of The Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Raise your paddle today and you will have an immediate impact on the future of our Chez Nous girls!
ACTING PRESIDENT
Jaclyn Brilliant
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNAE RELATIONS
Elizabeth Bixenman
2026 CORE COMMITTEE
Avanee Patel P‘28
Cara Guerra P‘29
Chari Corpuz P‘28
Ewa Berton P‘28
Helen Paguia P‘28
Ivy Moon-Rumsey P‘29
Kassie Bracken P‘28
Kim Rose P‘27 & P‘28
Laura Swain P‘29
Linda A. Sampieri P‘29
Lisa Leingang P‘28
Louise Consilvio P‘29
Louise O’Connor P‘19 & P‘22
Marybeth Vineyard P‘27
Michael Imasua P‘27
Richard Wesolowski P‘26 & P‘28
Sandra Rossier P‘28
Shawn Williams P‘28
Tara Marlovits P‘27
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
PARTICIPATING FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS & FRIENDS
Alaric Lejano
Anne’s Leaders
Anthony Jenks
Benjamin Zevallos
Brian Dempsey
Claudine Baldwin
Colleen McGrath
German Garcia
Glee Club
Glenn Stordeur
Iris Rivera
Jacqueline Aleandre
Jacqueline Elias
Karina Vargas
Lauren Lee
Maria Vulcano
National Honor Society
Penny Grote
Rigo Chery
Sarah McGowan
Sr. Mary Dolan, SU
Yazmine Mendoza
ANNE DE XAINCTONGE AWARD RECIPIENTS
1991 - Lillian Leach Friedlander ‘26
1992 - Sr. Catherine Keating, S.U.
1993 - Sr. Elizabeth DiTolla, S.U. ‘59, Former Teacher and Principal
1994 - Sr. Mary Dolan, S.U., Former President, Former Principal
1995 - Sr. Regina Ahern, S.U. ‘37
1996 - Carol Gose DeVine ‘66
1997 - Jeanne Burchell ‘47
1998 - John R. Joven, Former Principal
1999 - Sheila Lewis Houde ‘54
2000 - Molly Sheils ‘60
2001 - Mary Maloney Murphy ‘52
2002 - Barbara Rowbo Seymour ‘77
2003 - Carolyn Wahlig Szostek ‘65
2004 - The Class of 1959
2005 - Irma Fiordalisi, M.D. ‘70
2006 - Sisters of St. Ursula
2007 - Florence Molinari Foti ‘77 — Lifetime Achievement Award
2011 - Agnes McComiskey Quinn ‘61
2012 - Patricia DiTolla ‘62
2013 - Nancy McNamara Haney ‘58, accepting in memory of the Stratemeyer Sisters
2014 - Antoinette LeQuire Schott ‘59
2015 - Arlene Deninger Prendergast ‘60
2016 - Edith Dalton Marinucci ‘56
2017 - Brigid Frey Dzierzanowski ‘77
2018 - Patricia Cullen ‘73
2019 - In Memory of Maureen T. Brolly P’85, P’91 & GP’17
2020 - Talya Pinto Santillan ‘95
2021 - Vivian Cardia ‘70
2022 - Mary Burke Heyman ‘55
2023 - The Honorable Dakota D Ramseur ‘88
2024 - Elizabeth Roth
2025 - Helen King Madden Vespe ‘73 & Johanna King Vespe Aulisa ‘01
CHEZ NOUS ANGEL RECIPIENTS
2016 - Mary Frances Sheridan Delaney ‘56
2017 - Virginia Turezyn ‘75
2018 - Jane Chen Firester ‘83
2019 - Sr. Patricia Bruck, S.U.
2020 - Richard Battaglino P’91 & P’95 and Thomas Lacorazza
2021 - Judy and Russ Carson
2022 - Julia Pilcer Lichtenstein, Esq.
2023 - Martin Cottingham P’23
2024 - Michael and Catherine Halloran
We are honored to present the
Anne De Xainctonge Award to Alexandra Rynczak Teper ‘81
Anne De Xainctonge Award
Alexandra Rynczak Teper ‘81
Sandy Teper was born and raised in New York City. She was one of five born to immigrants who never finished high school, but who understood the value of education and sacrificed to provide each child a parochial school education. Sandy graduated from Notre Dame School in 1981, earned a BS in Information Systems from NYU in 1985 and an MBA from Dartmouth College in 1990. Her professional life has been challenging and varied. She programmed at JP Morgan Bank, provided strategic direction for clients at The Mac Group as a management consultant, managed Human Resource systems at Microsoft and taught hundreds of professionals communication skills as an executive coach. In 1990, she and her husband Jeff moved to Seattle to work for Microsoft (he is still working there!) and raised two wonderful daughters. Alongside, she is deeply engaged in work for City Year Seattle, a nonprofit where young adults spend a year of service supporting underserved students in the Seattle area.
Sandy says that while at ND she never understood how special the environment was for a young woman. She realizes now that she absorbed three lessons that have influenced her life. First, the academic rigor at ND made it clear that it was not only okay for a woman to be smart, but that intelligence and critical thinking were key to having success in life, both professionally and personally. This discipline helped her achieve scholarships that made college and graduate school possible and provided the basis for a successful professional life. Second, that a woman could take on any role she chose because at ND, women did it all – they were academics, athletes, student government leaders, and artists. This made her comfortable with being a leader. She was never afraid to speak up in class or in a business meeting. Third, that you need to work to bring about a more just world. Because of this, she has been involved in supporting the education of students through her work at City Year Seattle and her support of the Alumnae Sisters program at ND.
Sandy received a scholarship at ND that made it financially possible for her to attend. She feels her ND experience set her on the path to a life that has been interesting, challenging and rewarding. Through her support of ND’s scholarship programs, she hopes to make it possible for more young women to have the ND experience.
We are honored to present the Chez Nous Parent Award to Rich Wesolowski and Stacy Mark P’26 & P’28
Chez Nous Parent Award
Rich Wesolowski and Stacy Mark P’26 & P’28
Stacy and Rich met at a rooftop party in NYC in June, 2002 and were married in August 2006.
They raised Ava (born in 2008) and Daniella (2010) in Battery Park City, with both daughters attending PS/IS 276 from kindergarten through eighth grade.
When it came time to choose a high school, Notre Dame was the first pick for both parents and students. Stacy and Rich were struck by the bright and modern learning spaces, Chez Nous ethos and the welcoming vibe set by Sr. Virginia.
Ava and Daniella returned home from their informational tours waving the neighborhood maps featuring shops and coffeehouses of the Meatpacking District.
During their four years as Notre Dame parents, Stacy and Rich have become staples of the school community, regularly attending JV and Varsity soccer games (“GO ennn-DEEEEE!!!), Benefit Committee meetings, ND Career Fairs, Leadership dinners and school performances of all kinds.
The couple feels strongly that Notre Dame’s community of parents and alumnae have a shared responsibility to contribute toward the school’s need-based scholarship fund, which supports many ND students.
Ava is (sadly!) approaching graduation after four tremendous years. She will graduate having earned a varsity letter for soccer and as co-founder of ND’s Women in Finance Club, among many other accomplishments. Ava will also look great wearing Syracuse Orange, as she has officially chosen to enroll there this fall!
Thankfully, Daniella still has two more full years to go, but she is well on her way with two seasons of ND soccer in the books. Most importantly, both Ava and Daniella have deep and wide ND friendships that they will carry into their college years and beyond.
Chez Nous Parent Award
Jim Phillips and Kristi Roche P’26
Jim Phillips and Kristi Roche are the Parents of Dylan Phillips, Class of 2026.
Jim was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Ridgewood, Queens. He is a lifelong resident of the New York Metropolitan area. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and Pratt Institute School of Architecture.
Mr. Phillips has two adult sons. His oldest son and wife, along with a 12 year old grandson, live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His youngest son lives on the East Coast of Florida and will be getting married there in May.
Mr. Phillips is the Founder of TPG Architecture which has grown to be the second largest interior architecture firm in New York City. In his spare time, enjoys travel, fishing, golf and reading.
Kristi grew up in the town of Callicoon, New York, on the Delaware River in the western Catskill Mountains. Kristi attended the local high school, Russell Sage College and Syracuse University where she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Design. Kristi, too, is a life long resident of New York State. She is also an entrepreneur and has founded Urban Office, a sales agency for contract furniture and architectural products.
Kristi and Jim reside in Manhattan and also own a weekend/summer home in Sag Harbor, New York.
As parents of a graduating senior at the Notre Dame School, they are pleased to be able to support the school as they have seen Dylan grow from a shy teenage girl to a confident young woman. When they were touring high schools, Kristi was immediately captivated by Sr. Virginia’s presence and dedication. Dylan felt the welcoming vibe of the students and, ultimately, it was her choice to enroll at Notre Dame. The family has not been disappointed with their experiences, Chez Nous, and Dylan has enjoyed her time being a part of the ND community.
She has had academic success, made life long friendships, played varsity basketball and learned the importance of service. Dylan chose one of ND’s 12 values, Magis, the idea of doing more for others, as the primary topic of her college essay. They are so pleased to have seen Dylan grow to become a well adjusted, balanced and complete young woman about to go off to college. Notre Dame has done its job. They encourage everyone to contribute in any way they can, as there is nothing more precious than our deserving Notre Dame girls.
Congratulations to the Entire
Notre Dame Family
May the light of Mother Anne’s lamp guide your steps along the pathways of mercy and of justice throughout your lives.
Sisters of Saint Ursula
www.dkpepc.com proudly supports Notre Dame, our daughter Alannah Keane, and the entire Graduating Class of 2026.
Notre Dame Varsity Basketball Team
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Congratulations to the ND Varsity Basketball Team on a great season!
CHSAA Varsity "A" Division 1 Team All League: Enid Thorson st
CHSAA Varsity "A" Division 2nd Team All League: Parker Huang
Coach of the year: Matt Lackmann, Notre Dame School
A special shoutout to coaches Matt, Kevin, and Mike for their tireless dedication to the team's development and success!
Providing New Yorkers and expats a taste of Britain for over 30 years, Myers of Keswick stocks a variety of fresh, homemade pies and sausages and imports a vast range of Britain’s favourite brands. Using orignal recipes handed down for three generations, our experienced butchers and pie makers prepare 13 different British pies and five types of British pork sausage daily. We deliver nationwide* and offer same day delivery in the city. *Order through email or link in Social Media bio, new website coming in the spring.
Congratulations to ND Cross Country & Track!
A heartfelt thank you to our coaches, Daryn Johnson and Alyssa Simmons, for your unwavering enthusiasm, dedication, and support for our daughters.
From the Notre Dame Cross Country & Track Families
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Congratulations to Michelle Riaz '27, Isabella Cesaria ‘27, and Gabriella Rolon ‘29 for your exceptional academic achievements! We are incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished, and wish you the best in your upcoming years at Notre Dame!
We are thankful for the dedication of Notre Dame’s faculty and staff, and we remain proud to support the school and all those who make its mission possible.
Jack & Judy Houlihan
FlynnO’Hara Uniforms is the largest privately-owned supplier and retailer of high-quality school uniforms, gym wear, and medical attire in the United States. Since 1972 we have remained family owned-and-operated, providing industry-leading quality and customer support to over half a million students each year.
Mary E. Larkin, Head of School Faculty, Staff and Students of Saint Ignatius Loyola School
Supporters of Chez Nous
Eileen Ryan ‘75
Alfred Smith
Pure Logic
Mary O’Shaughnessy
Vincent LaPaglia
Notre Dame School of Manhattan