FAITH IN YOUNG WOMEN. SINCE 1860.
PRESIDENT
Sister Dominic, O.P.
PRINCIPAL
Sister Josemaria, O.P.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Sharon Huber
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
Amelia Strobel
Magazine Graphic Designer: Emily Adams
Photography:
Jessie Addleman
Kate Cacopardo
Margy Galassini
Hatcher & Fell Photography
Rachel Lombardi
Maria Marchetti
Uchida Photography
Justin Yasay
Writers:
Sister Dominic, O.P.
Sister Eva Marie, O.P.
Amelia Strobel
The Dominican Difference: Five Years of Vision and Growth
For Every Girl: A Historic Milestone for St. Cecilia Academy
Activities and Accolades: The Student Experience Today
A Portrait of Resilience: Making a New Home in the United States
Pursuing the Truth: St. Cecilia’s Signature Junior Research Symposium 24 26 27 28 35
Choosing St. Cecilia: SCA Alumnae and Their Daughters
Campus Eucharistic Procession
Giving Day: A Day of Love and Support
Alumnae News
any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. 3 4 6 10 20 22 Letter from Leadership
A Legacy of Support: 2026 Rose Gala Honors the Donnelly Family
It is with joy that we welcome you to this edition of Harpstrings, where we celebrate the various and wonderful ways our students, faculty, and alumnae live out The Dominican Difference. At St. Cecilia Academy, we are committed to forming young women who are grounded in, and guided by, faith and reason. Every classroom discussion, retreat, athletic practice, and service opportunity is a chance for our students to grow in confidence and wisdom, preparing them to engage the world with courage and clarity of vision.
This edition of Harpstrings highlights a particularly exciting chapter in our journey: the plans for our new Athletic and Wellness Center. Athletics at SCA is about more than competition—it is an opportunity to cultivate virtue, discipline, perseverance, sacrifice, leadership, and joy in the pursuit of excellence. Inside these pages, you will learn about expanded athletic staffing and programming and celebrate our students’ achievements both on the field and in the classroom. You will also find stories from our rich campus community life, including the Eucharistic procession, theatrical productions, and the Junior Symposium, where our 11th graders showcase the depth of their research and scholarship.
We are also proud to share the voices of our alumnae and parents, whose stories reflect the lasting impact of an SCA education and the ways our mission continues to shape generations. We hope that what you find in these pages affirms what you know about this vibrant, joyful community where each student is known, challenged, and supported.
With our prayers and gratitude,
President of Overbrook Catholic School and St. Cecilia Academy
Principal of St. Cecilia Academy
BY: SISTER DOMINIC, O.P.
As St. Cecilia Academy approaches the conclusion of The Dominican Difference Strategic Plan (2021–2026), we do so with a clear sense of momentum and purpose. This milestone positions our community to advance with confidence into the next chapter of our unfolding mission.
When the strategic plan was launched in 2021, it set forth an ambitious vision rooted in Dominican signature pillars: faith, reason, and virtue. Over the past five years, that vision
has guided major decisions, bold changes, and long-term investments that continue to shape the daily life of St. Cecilia Academy. While most goals of the plan are now complete, one
significant initiative—a new Athletic and Wellness Center—will extend into 2027, reflecting both the scope of the project and the school’s commitment to excellence.
One of the most impactful accomplishments of the strategic plan came early, namely the transition to a president-principal governance structure. This shift expanded and clarified leadership and created a more unified vision for Dominican education across the campus. Under this model, long-term planning, mission alignment, and institutional stability have been strengthened in ways that continue to benefit students, faculty, and families.
Another defining moment in the unfolding of the strategic plan was the movement of grades 7 and 8 from Overbrook Catholic School to St. Cecilia Academy. In 2022, SCA officially became a 7–12 academy—a decision that was both exciting and challenging.
This change required careful planning, new programming, renovations, faculty hiring, and a re-envisioning of student life. Today, junior high students are integrated into the academic, spiritual, and cultural life of SCA in ways that reflect the school’s mission and prepare them for high school at SCA with confidence. The success of this transition is a testament to thoughtful leadership and a shared belief in the value of an all-girls Dominican education.
Throughout the strategic plan, St. Cecilia Academy has made significant strides in advancement, development, and alumnae engagement. Annual Fund participation has increased steadily, with parent participation reaching an impressive 96% in this 2025–2026 school year. New named endowments have been established, alumnae participation in giving has grown to twice the national average, and engagement opportunities for alumnae have expanded and deepened.
A comprehensive campaign feasibility study led to the launch of a capital campaign for a new Athletic and Wellness Center, informed by data, surveys, and stakeholder and alumnae input. This campaign reflects a broader commitment to stewarding resources wisely while investing boldly in the future of students.
The heart of The Dominican Difference is formation of young women. Over the past five years, SCA has strengthened the faith life of its community through retreats, Mercy Nights, pilgrimages, faculty faith formation, and student-led prayer opportunities. Academic initiatives, such as Philosophy of the Human Person classes that are offered each year, reflect a commitment to teaching enduring truths in a changing culture, while programs like Art of Living Days and Advisory support a culture of belonging and virtue.
At the same time, the strategic plan has helped identify areas for continued growth – such as the deepening of campus ministry, greater integration across disciplines, and more unified programming for both students and parents.
The facilities initiative of the strategic plan has resulted in visible, meaningful improvements across campus. A beautifully renovated chapel, junior high classrooms and spaces, a refreshed theater lobby and interior, and upgraded security systems have enhanced safety, functionality, and beauty. Athletic facilities have expanded significantly, including a shared fieldhouse, track and field improvements, and the upcoming construction of the St. Cecilia Athletic and Wellness Center, projected to break ground in 2026 and open by the start of the 2027 academic year.
The completion of this strategic plan is but a threshold. Over the past five years, St. Cecilia Academy has navigated change with courage, grounded in our Dominican mission and supported by community trust. As the school prepares for its next strategic vision, it does so stronger, more unified, and deeply aware of the importance of its mission today and beyond.
Looking ahead, we are entering a period of reflection and thoughtful planning for the next chapter of SCA’s growth. Over the coming months, we will study the needs of the school, gather input from stakeholders, and explore opportunities to strengthen key areas of school life, including operational vitality, enrollment growth, scholarship and endowment development, and continued investment in our athletic program.
As we look to the next strategic planning process, one thing is certain: St. Cecilia Academy will continue to prioritize a rigorous, faith-based education that cultivates faith, excellence, virtue, and belonging for every student.
The Dominican Difference is not just a plan – it is a lived reality which has influenced many generations, and may, please God, continue to bear more fruit. ◊
BUILDING STRENGTH, VIRTUE, AND COMMUNITY THROUGH THE NEW ATHLETIC AND WELLNESS CENTER
For 165 years, St. Cecilia Academy has stood as a beacon of faith and academic excellence for young women in Nashville. Today, that legacy is taking a momentous leap forward with the announcement of the largest capital project in our history: the new Athletic and Wellness Center.
For decades, the need for a dedicated, modern athletic facility has been clear. Our current gym—built in 1957 and nestled inside the main school building—has faithfully served generations of students but no longer meets the needs of a thriving and active student body. The vision for this new Athletic and Wellness Center has been part of our community’s conversation and strategic planning for nearly four years. Now, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our alumnae, friends of St. Cecilia, parents, grandparents, and faculty, that vision is becoming reality.
The planning for a new Athletic and Wellness Center is a wonderful occasion—not only marking the largest facility project in St. Cecilia Academy’s 165-year history but also manifesting the blessing of the strength and unity of our school community.
EVERY
More Than a Building
The campaign to fund this transformative center is called For Every Girl—a name that reflects the heart of our mission. While the new center will provide cutting-edge spaces for athletics, it is designed to serve every girl at St. Cecilia Academy: the athlete, the artist, the academic, the leader, and the dreamer.
Within its 25,000+ square feet of space, the Athletic and Wellness Center will offer:
A spacious 12,900-squarefoot gymnasium for practices, games, assemblies, and community events
• A 3,060-square-foot fitness area equipped for weight training, barre, plyometrics, and other exercises tailored specifically for developing the growing female athlete
Separate locker rooms for junior high and high school students, plus visitor facilities
A team room for strategy meetings, film review, and celebrations
• Offices for our dedicated athletic staff and an athletic trainer’s room
• A welcoming 2,270-square-foot lobby designed to host school and community events
The center is more than a gym—it will be a hub for wellness, community gatherings, pep rallies, dances, and more. Every student will have access to personalized fitness plans, whether through classes, individual workouts, or team sports. This inclusive approach ensures that the facility supports the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of every girl, reinforcing the formation that defines a St. Cecilia Academy education.
Announcing the project on St. Cecilia Day 2025, the campaign entered the public phase with great momentum and enthusiasm. With a campaign goal of $16M and 88% pledged at Harpstrings printing, we are confident the project will move forward to enrich student life.
Gifts to this campaign are an investment in generations of young women who will benefit from a St. Cecilia Academy education.
Our work with Hastings Architecture— a Nashville firm with experience in the development of private school campuses— along with The Carter Group General Contractors and Barge Civil Associates has been a true partnership grounded in creativity and mission alignment. Together, we have developed a design that blends modern innovation with the warmth and tradition of our campus to meet the needs of young women today.
St. Cecilia Academy aspires to excellence in
every area, including sports. Two-thirds of our students participate in team sports across 14 offerings for grades 7–12. Our athletic program is integrated with the academic and spiritual formation that defines our school, supported by partnerships such as FIERCE Athlete, which fosters physical, mental, and spiritual growth.
With the new Athletic and Wellness Center, we are poised to elevate our programs by providing the facilities and resources that talented athletes, casual fitness enthusiasts, and nonathletes alike deserve. This will provide an opportunity for current and future students.
GRATITUDE FOR A GENEROUS COMMUNITY
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us— sisters, alumnae, families, faculty, and friends who have sustained St. Cecilia Academy for 165 years. This campaign honors their hard work and dedication to the mission and to our young women at SCA, looking to the future with enthusiasm. ◊
The new facility is being intentionally planned to serve the entire student population. It will be a place for:
• Athletic Development
• Integrated Wellness
• Recreation and Celebration of Sport
• Community Gathering
GIFT DESIGNATION AND NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
SCA is pleased to offer naming and gift designation opportunities at certain giving levels.
Pledges may be fulfilled over a five-year period, and contributions may be made by cash, check, credit card, securities, or IRA distributions. For information, please scan the QR code or contact Sharon Huber at 615-383-3230 ext. 397 or email hubers@dominicancampus.org.
THANK YOU
To all who have pledged, volunteered, and championed this effort, thank you. Your support of our mission and your generosity have brought us to this historic moment. We invite every member of the St. Cecilia Academy community to join us.
After a nationwide search, St. Cecilia Academy appointed Brad Bishop as the school’s new Director of Athletics. He joins Francis Horn, Ben Spiegelman, and Grace Laster Torrence ’18 to lead the Athletic Department.
A Nashville native with more than 20 years of experience, Bishop has had an extensive career in coaching, sales, marketing, and education. Most recently, he was a faculty member at James Lawson High School, where he served as the varsity girls’ basketball coach and took that team to five region playoffs since 2019. Other coaching roles include positions at Hillwood High School, Hillsboro High School, Harpeth Hall School, St. Matthew School, and Trinity Basketball AAU. In 2020, he was named 12-AAA Coach of the Year.
With athletics identified as a key component of the Strategic Plan and school leadership committed to programming, Bishop believes he can have a positive impact in the role. “I bring a blend of life experience, both professionally and personally, that makes me uniquely qualified to move SCA Athletics forward.”
He leads a dynamic and expanded staff with Horn, Spiegelman, and Torrence. In December, Sister Josemaria, O.P. hosted an introductory meet and greet with Athletic staff, coaches, and Bishop, marking a new chapter in SCA Athletics.
“I couldn’t help but reflect on how this opportunity came together,” said Bishop. “It was truly God’s hand leading me into the next chapter of my life. I am humbled by this opportunity and can’t wait to be part of such an amazing campus.”
Strength and Conditioning
Coach
Grace Torrence
working with 7th and 8th grade athletes during a summer workout session.
St. Cecilia Fine Arts programs had a banner year with performances of Hello Dolly! by the high school and Too Many Daughters: A Jane Austen Parody, by the junior high. Many students earned awards for visual arts, vocals, music, and dance.
Seventh and eighth grade students and
Two accomplished educators joined the St. Cecilia Academy Fine Arts Department, further strengthening the commitment to excellence in music and theater education.
Joining the faculty in July, Crystal Kurek leads the choral program, teaches junior high drama, and directs the Academy’s newly expanded junior high musicals and plays. A Georgia native, Kurek began performing professionally as a child at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre and spent summers in New York City filming commercials, modeling, and working as a member of SAG-AFTRA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Musical Arts from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in PreK–12 choral and general music. Kurek has taught in the Diocese of Nashville since 2007 and is a classically trained singer whose deep love for the Catholic faith is evident in her work with students.
Also joining the Fine Arts team is Diane Lennon Meier ’91, as St. Cecilia Academy’s Theater Director, high school drama teacher, and forensics coach for both junior high and high school. An alumna of St. Cecilia, Meier returns to her alma mater after serving on the faculty at Overbrook Catholic School. She has an extensive history with St. Cecilia productions—as a student, director, costume designer, and forensics coach. In a full circle moment, Meier was the Student Music Director in Hello Dolly! as a student, and she directed the play this fall. She earned a BS in Music Education from Xavier University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Aquinas College.
“This new position is truly a bucket-list dream job,” said Meier. “I am excited to return to St. Cecilia and give back to the theater department that meant so much to me as a student.”
Together, Kurek and Meier bring professional experience, strong leadership, and deep faith to a thriving Fine Arts program. Their appointments mark an exciting new chapter for music and theater at St. Cecilia Academy. They join talented faculty members Meredith Callis, Leigh Anne DeLisle, Jasmine Dillon, Toni Ferguson, and Amie Pike, rounding out the Fine Arts program staff.
Seniors taking the field for the Powderpuff game.
Members of the junior high Stewardship Club spending time with the garden beds to make them ready for the next planting season.
Students celebrating the
Keiran Elder ’26 and Rebecca Acevedo ’26 attending the Father-Daughter BBQ Bash with their dads.
ACADEMICS
2025 GRADUATING CLASS ACCOLADES
The Class of 2025 was accepted to many colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Georgetown University, New York University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, and Washington & Lee University.
2025 VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN, AND ST. CECILIA GIRL
Dalton Vaughn ’25 was selected as Valedictorian, Anna Kate Talbot ’25 was named Salutatorian, and Emma Golczynski ’25 was awarded St. Cecilia Girl.
NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST
Saba Michael ’26 was chosen as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. She scored in the top one percent of last year's PSAT/ NMSQT takers, and she has the opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in the spring.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized Grace Bauer ’26, Mia Keller ’26, and Natalie Petroni ’26 as National Merit Commended Scholars. Commended Scholars scored in the top two to three percent in the nation and demonstrate strong potential for academic success.
CLASSIC LEARNING TEST
10 REGIONAL SCHOLAR AWARD AND DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Farah Chen ’27 earned the 2025 CLT10 Regional Scholar Award and was named a Distinguished Scholar. The Classic Learning Test 10 (CLT10) serves as a college preparatory
exam for 9th and 10th graders and is an alternative to the PSAT. The Regional Scholar Award is given to those who scored within the top 5% of their geographic region during the 2024-2025 academic year. The Distinguished Scholar is given to the highest-performing student on the CLT10 at their respective school.
Several St. Cecilia students attended the recent YMCA Model United Nations High School and Junior High Conferences. Students from across the state learned the real-world operation of the United Nations by participating in a reenactment of the UN’s activities. Congratulations to the students below on the following accomplishments:
• OUTSTANDING RESOLUTION
Claire Claverie ’26 and Natalie Petroni ’26 Saule Bernotas ’26 and Aniya Surati ’26
Rita Mae Krog ’29 and Caroline Holden ’29
• OUTSTANDING DELEGATES
Claire Claverie ’26
Julia Petroni ’28
• Claire Claverie was invited to participate in a Summit Resolution, which brought together the top delegates from member countries to present at the Sunday Plenary session, and Maggie Crosslin ’26 served as the General Assembly Liaison at the conference.
• All three of the junior high delegate teams had their resolutions passed.
Emma Golczynski was named Student of the Month in February by the Bellevue Exchange Club.
Alle Epstein ’26 and Kirsten Tumanda ’26 were awarded the 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Alle and Kirsten were honored at the Nashville LLS Grand Finale for having raised more than $100,000 to fight blood cancers as leaders of St. Cecilia’s Fight for Life Team. This amount was the largest generated by any group in Nashville and across Tennessee.
The SCA junior high math team competed in the Perennial Math Regional tournament at Franklin Road Academy. The team was composed of Emme Hickman ’30, Mia Prickett ’29, Finley Rand ’30, Rebecca Terry ’29, and Felicity Yasay ’29. Finley placed 1st in individual competition among all 7th graders. The team took second place overall among all 8th-grade teams and qualified for the National Tournament.
A number of St. Cecilia students won awards or served as elected officers at the Youth in Government Conference:
• OUTSTANDING DELEGATES: Emma Wanucha ’25 and Maggie Crosslin ’26
• OUTSTANDING BILL: Mariela Sanchez ’28 and Charlotte Finley ’28, Claire Claverie ’26 and Natalie Petroni ’26
• Mehetabel Mikael ’25 served as the Senate Chief Clerk and was also chosen as a CONA (Conference on National Affairs) delegate. This honor is considered the highest honor of the conference.
The SCA Mock Trial Team performed well in the Tennessee State Mock Trial competition. Meg Cherry ’25 was named by the coaches as team MVP for the season, and Claire Claverie ’26 was named Best Plaintiff’s Attorney for District 09 by the judges and scorers from the Young Lawyers Division of the Tennessee Bar Association.
• Cate Greek ’25 served as the Social Media Director of the Press Corps.
• Isabel Mzumara ’25 and Bersabell Mikael ’27 were invited to the Lobbyist Luncheon due to their noted skill in debate.
CAROLINE VRETTOS ’28
Caroline Vrettos received multiple awards from the Daughters of American Revolution. Caroline was awarded a certificate and a bronze medal for being the Fort Nashborough Chapter winner for the Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest. She was also awarded Honorable Mention for the state of Tennessee for the same Patriots of American Revolution High School Writing Contest. Her essay was on Paul Revere.
MTVA MID-STATE AND ALLSTATE HONORS CHOIR
Julia Betbeze ’27 and Hannah Broderick ’26 were named to the MTVA Mid-State and All-State Honors Choirs.
VANDERBILT YOUTH CHOIR IN GEORGIA
Julia Betbeze ’27 and Natalie Petroni ’26 toured with the Vanderbilt Youth Choir this summer in Georgia. They attended choral clinics and sang at venues including the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.
HANNAH BRODERICK ’26
Hannah Broderick was in an off-Broadway show this summer at Greenroom 42, a cabaret venue in New York City. She auditioned as part of a nationwide search for On Stage Collective and performed in two shows there.
MID-STATE HONORS ORCHESTRA
Saule Bernotas ’26, Sam Coplan ’28, Julia Petroni ’28, and Mariam Smith ’28 auditioned and were selected for Mid-State Honors Orchestra.
ALL-STATE HONORS ORCHESTRA
Sam Coplan ’28 was chosen to perform as part of the All-State Honors Orchestra.
SAM COPLAN ’28
Sam Coplan performed internationally with Music City Strings during that organization’s tour to Alicante, Valencia, and Barcelona, Spain.
Sam was one of 15 students chosen to travel with the group and played four shows across the three towns. Music City Strings is one of the top educational string-performance ensembles in the country. Their mission is to conduct classes, workshops, and public performances that foster high-level music education for the students of Middle Tennessee.
Members of the St. Cecilia Chamber Ensemble and several St. Cecilia and Overbrook Catholic School students from the Suzuki Violin Program at the St. Cecilia Music Conservatory traveled around Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee to share their talents this year. Performances included the MTSBOA Mid-State Festival - Rockvale High School (Rockvale, TN), the University of Evansville Suzuki Violin Workshop (Evansville, IN), Western Kentucky University - Fiddle Fest (Bowling Green, KY), and the TMEA All-State Convention (Opryland Hotel and Resort- Nashville, TN).
Several St. Cecilia thespians were nominated for Spotlight Awards by the Tennessee Performing Arts Center based on their work in the fall production of Beauty and the Beast
• SPOTLIGHT AWARDS
Applause Award - Mollie Kate Zimmerman ’27
All Star Cast - Blake Birmingham ’25 and Anna Kate Talbot ’25
All Star Crew - Mary Geist ’28 and Sophia Roberts ’25
• OTHER SPOTLIGHT NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Student Designer Nomination - Mary Cecilia Meier ’27
Outstanding Comedic Performer Nomination - Emma Wanucha ’25
Outstanding Lead Performer Nominations - Blake Birmingham ’25 and Hannah Broderick ’26
SCA students Gloria Harrell ’28, Mary Cecilia Meier ’27, Saba Michael ’26, and Caroline Vrettos ’28 had artwork selected as part of the “Teens Take the Frist” exhibition at the Frist Art Museum.
NUTCRACKER AND MINI-NUTCRACKER
Several St. Cecilia students performed in either Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker or Centennial Youth Ballet’s Mini-Nutcracker.
NASHVILLE BALLET:
Nora Rieck ’27, Evie Ells ’29, Emerson Rose Duke ’30, Elizabeth Williams ’30, Lily Targun ’31
CENTENNIAL YOUTH BALLET: Ashley Weber ’28
JAYMA LINDSLEY ’25
Jayma Lindsley ’25 was chosen as a cheerleader for Vanderbilt University and has been cheering for the Commodores this year.
MAGGIE CROSSLIN ’26
Maggie Crosslin will continue her Cross Country and Track & Field career at the University of Miami. She earned the title of Region Champion in the 800m event at the 2025 TSSAA Division II Class AA State Track and Field Championships. Not only did she place first, but she set a new regional and school record. Maggie placed third in the TSSAA Track and Field State Championship Meet and was named to the TSSAA All-State Track and Field team.
Marla Kosinski ’25, Cece Phillips ’25, and Dalton Vaughn ’25 were awarded the 2025 SCA Tri-Sport Award, having played the same three sports all four years in high school.
Dalton Vaughn ’25 was recognized with the 2025 SCA Megan Whaley Award for her efforts as a scholar athlete.
St. Cecilia Academy varsity Basketball team partnered with Ascension St. Thomas to host Pink Out games in support of breast cancer awareness and research. SCA athletes warmed up in pink cancer awareness t-shirts, spectators were encouraged to dress in pink, and the school donated the gate proceeds to the Ascension St. Thomas Foundation for cancer research.
Mia Galassini ’25 was named Honorable Mention for the TSSAA DII AA Middle Region Basketball Team.
SCA hosted its first softball tournament in March. University School of Nashville and MLK joined SCA in the three-team tournament.
Dalton Vaughn ’25 was named a Student Athlete Award of Excellence winner by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). The NFHS Award of Excellence for Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity was created to honor student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional character and sportsmanship during their athletic pursuits.
Alle Epstein ’26 was selected for the TSSAA All-District III Soccer Team. Alle also broke the SCA single-season record for soccer goals scored by an individual player.
TSSAA SWIMMING
Nora Arender ’27 qualified for the State Championships in the 200 IM.
Maggie Crosslin ’26 (100 breaststroke), Amelia Sims ’29 (100 freestyle), Clara Stefansic ’26 (100 freestyle), and Anastelle Stephenson ’27 (200 and 100 freestyle) all qualified for the Regional Championship.
HVAC SWIMMING
Helen Enstice ’30 and Phillipa Tolle ’30 both qualified for the Regional Championship for middle school swim in the 100m freestyle and backstroke.
ALL GIRLS NASHVILLE CITY FRESHMAN CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK & FIELD
For the second year, St. Cecilia hosted the All Girls Nashville City Freshman Track & Field Championships. Twenty-eight teams brought 167 female athletes to compete in 303 events. The SCA athletes who finished in the top 10 were:
• Masley Reising ’28 - 2nd place in discus and 8th place in shot put
• Mariam Smith ’28 - 7th place finish in the 400M event
• Sophie Crosslin ’28 - 10th place in the 800M event
Ella Thomas ’26 and Dalton Vaughn ’25 were named to the TSSAA All-Region Lacrosse team.
STATE TRACK & FIELD FRESHMAN TEAM
Masley Reising ’28 was named to the Tennessee Runner Milesplit DII-AA All-State Track & Field Freshman Team for Discus.
TSSAA GOLF
The Golf team finished in second place in their TSSAA division.
St. Cecilia Academy’s Spirit Bus rolled to the State meet to cheer on the Scarab Cross Country team. Students and faculty packed the bus with school pride, bringing energy and encouragement every step of the race. The show of support fueled an unforgettable day as runners represented SCA with heart and determination. After setting numerous new school records throughout the year, Maggie Crosslin ’26 finished first as the TSSAA Division II Class A State Champion. The St. Cecilia Cross Country team placed 4th overall in the State.
The SCA High School Bowling team finished the season second in regular conference play and is slated to compete in the TSSAA Division II Bowling State Tournament.
St. Cecilia sent nine athletes to the TSSAA Individual Bowling Regional Tournament, and three Scarabs finished in the top 20.
Bersabell Mikael ’27 was first, Evyn Dahlinger ’27 was sixth, and Cimbri Cotton ’27 was 16th. Bersabell’s and Evyn’s finishes earned them spots in the TSSAA Individual Bowling State Tournament.
Evyn Dahlinger ’27 and Bersabell Mikael ’27 were named to the TSSAA Division II All-Region Bowling team.
The Torch Award is presented twice a year to students who radiate the light of Christ, living out the values of faith and service in the spirit
of St. Dominic. Often depicted with a torch, St. Dominic symbolizes his role as a beacon of divine truth and his unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel. These awards are voted on by the SCA faculty and staff and were given to the following students in April:
• 7th grade: Kimball Caldwell, Emerson Rose Duke
• 8th grade: Julie Kennedy, Felicity Yasay
• 9th grade: Aylin Rodriguez Amaro, Charly Cherry
• 10th grade: Korlyn Bowden, Katherine Burgin
• 11th grade: Porter Congdon, Maggie Crosslin
• 12th grade: Eve Finley, Mia Galassini
The fall semester Torch Awards were distributed in December to:
• 7th grade: Camilla McCaslin, Stella Pike
• 8th grade: Caroline Henry, Jameson Reising
• 9th grade: Maria Grippo, Paisley Smith
• 10th grade: Julia Petroni, Charlotte Reisinger
• 11th grade: Lovely Brister, Bersabell Mikael
• 12th grade: Mary Nunn, Daira Ramirez
Twenty-one St. Cecilia eighth-grade students received their Confirmation at the Cathedral of the Incarnation from Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding, Bishop of Nashville. Some of the Confirmation sponsors were SCA upperclassmen.
Caroline Henry received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion in December. Caroline celebrated this significant milestone with the support of her family, classmates, and teachers.
Six St. Cecilia students, Adeline Brault ’27, Kara Halvey ’29, Georgi Karmo ’27, Megan Knapp ’27, Agnes McGibbon ’27, Maria Wade ’27, and SCA math teacher Rachel Knapp attended the St. Matthew Church "Servio Deo" trip this summer to serve hurricaneaffected communities in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Participants attended daily Mass, contributed to service projects, took part in adoration and confession, and fostered meaningful connections along the way.
St. Cecilia students spent a week in France visiting Lycee de La Sauque in Bordeaux and helping pilgrims in Lourdes. They ended their trip with sightseeing in Paris, including visits
to the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame, and attending Mass at Sacre Coeur.
The St. Cecilia Academy community joined together for a walk in honor of Gabrielle Brault ’23, who is currently battling cancer. Participants walked the St. Cecilia track in solidarity with Gabrielle as she participated in the St. Jude Marathon with other St. Cecilia alumnae, students, family, and friends in Memphis. The event was a powerful reflection of SCA’s unity and compassion, demonstrating strong support for both our community and St. Jude’s mission.
The Advanced Drawing and Painting class painted food displays as a service project for The Branch of Nashville. These will be used in their food pantry that serves people in the southeast Nashville
community. SCA students filled the shelves with canned goods for the non-profit before delivery of the displays.
Charlotte Crosslin ’26, Rita Elmasry ’25, and Izzie Playfair ’26 earned the Eagle Scout Award. Charlotte and Izzie founded the first all-female troop in Middle Tennessee, and they were the first two female Cub Scouts to earn the Arrow of Light in the state of Tennessee. The Arrow of Light is Cub Scouts’ highest rank, and this achievement enabled the girls to join Scouts BSA months earlier than is typical.
Izzie Playfair received two of Scouting America’s highest honors for a significant act of service to a stranger and for saving the life of a neighbor.
“ALL
The Annual Fund is St. Cecilia Academy’s fundraising priority, providing just over 6% of the school’s operating budget and directly supporting the distinct SCA experience—exceptional intellectual and faith formation, robust athletics, vibrant fine arts, meaningful student life opportunities, and cherished traditions.
Gifts to the Annual Fund impact the current school year, supporting every student and sustaining SCA’s mission to ennoble young women, equip them to excel, and help them thrive as women after the heart of Christ.
We are deeply grateful to our community of parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends whose faithful generosity ensures our students, teachers, and programs continue to flourish.
To make a gift, visit stcecilia.edu/ support or scan the QR code. To view the 2024–2025 Annual Report and learn more about ways to support St. Cecilia Academy, see the Guide to Giving at stcecilia.edu/support.
The Ukrainian-Russian conflict has had a direct impact on St. Cecilia senior Yuliia Herasymova. We asked her to share her journey from Pavlohrad, Ukraine to St. Cecilia Academy.
My mom was a financial analyst at a coal company in Ukraine, and my dad was a miner for DTEK.
We lived in a small industrial town in eastern Ukraine called Pavlohrad, where life stayed the same for years. In 2021, everything changed. My mom earned a promotion, and our family received the chance to move closer to the capital, to a town called Hostomel.
My parents needed time to finish their work and responsibilities before they could move. I did not. I was told to start a new chapter
right away. So, I moved to Hostomel with my grandma, without my parents, and stayed there for almost six months. I began eighth grade in a new place, far from everything familiar, while still waiting for the moment our family would finally live together again.
Life in Ukraine had always felt peaceful to me. My parents felt the same. When my mom and dad bought a new apartment in Hostomel, it was like a dream. Hostomel felt calm, bright, and full of nature. For the first time, I thought about what a different life could look like.
I waited for the day my parents would join us. I thought we would finally start our new life together.
War crushed that hope overnight.
On February 24, 2022, Russian forces occupied Hostomel, and the place that was supposed to become our future turned into a battleground. Everything we planned, everything we waited for, disappeared in an instant.
By God’s Providence, my mom, not knowing anything about the upcoming invasion, traveled to Hostomel one week before the war and took me back to Pavlohrad to sign the papers to sell our home. My grandma stayed alone in our new apartment in Hostomel.
I remember that I was supposed to return to Hostomel on February 24. I had my school bag ready because I planned to go back to classes the following week. Instead, I woke up to the sound of my parents’ voices in the dark. I asked my dad what was going on. He had this serious, almost angry expression on his face. He said, “War started, Yuliia.”
My parents told me to gather all our important documents while they were out. That evening, Pavlohrad stayed untouched, but inside our home, everything felt different. We did not know what tomorrow would look like.
Meanwhile, my grandma was in Hostomel, alone. She stayed trapped there for almost three weeks. She joined a small group of people and walked on foot through dangerous territory
to reach a safe zone. From there, she boarded a free evacuation train to Dnipro, where my uncle picked her up and took her back to Pavlohrad.
We decided to go west, to Lviv, hoping that my grandma could get on an evacuation train and meet us there. The road was full of cars. On the fourth day, we reached Lviv. My parents and I lived in an apartment for two weeks without going outside. We did not know what could happen next, especially after Lviv was being bombed as well.
At the end of April 2022, the Uniting for Ukraine program was announced, allowing Americans to sponsor Ukrainians escaping the war. My godmother’s mother-in-law, Loretta Hanson, lived near Nashville, shared our Catholic faith, and offered to sponsor my parents and me. I begged my mom to leave. She was scared because moving to the United States meant starting an entirely new life. My dad refused at first. He argued that we would not receive support, that we did not know the language, and that taking such a risk made no sense.
But in the end, my mom and I left.
When I left Ukraine, I felt torn between hope and fear. I was grateful for the chance to escape war, but I also carried the pain of everything and everyone I had to leave behind.
I brought only a few things with me when I came to America, but each one carried a part of my old life. When Loretta told us that St. Cecilia was a school focused on art and music, my mom and I looked at each other and knew we had to bring my saxophone with us. I started playing alto saxophone for about three years before the war started. It felt like a small part of my identity that I could hold onto.
I arrived in the United States with a saxophone on my shoulder, a small suitcase with a few clothes, and the hope that I would be able to build something new. Those were the only things I had, but they felt like enough for the moment. Even though I had left almost my entire life behind, I still carried something that mattered to me and something that reminded me of who I was before the war.
We arrived in August 2022. Freshman overnight at St. Cecilia was my third day in the country. I could not speak English. Jet lag crushed me. The culture felt overwhelming. Everything and everyone looked different from the life I had before.
The biggest thing that stood out to me was that SCA is an all-girls school. At first, I thought I would never get used to that. I worried about feeling out of place again, especially after everything I had already gone through. I walked in, expecting to feel awkward or disconnected, but instead, the school felt warm from the first day. People smiled at me. Teachers tried to help me, even though my English was weak. Girls I had never met said “hello” and made space for me. SCA felt different from anything I knew before, but it was welcoming in a way I did not expect, and little by little, I started to feel safe there.
My mom called my dad in Ukraine every day. She wanted our family together again, safe, somewhere she could finally breathe without fear. My dad agreed to come, and we could finally see him on the day before Christmas Eve. He brought my grandma with him.
For the first time since the invasion, my family stood together again. Not in the home we bought, not in the city we dreamed of, but in a place where we had a chance to start over. And that alone felt like a miracle.
My favorite teacher is Mr. David Donlon. I was excited to take physics my freshman year because I always felt strong in that subject back in Ukraine. His class became one of the first places where I felt calm in a completely new country. He explained everything in a way that made me feel confident again, and he created an atmosphere where I didn’t feel scared to try, even with my weak English. That is why I chose him for advisory. Now, I’m truly happy to start my mornings in his classroom. It feels steady, familiar, and safe, and that means a lot to me.
Since I play saxophone, I auditioned for the Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble right after I came to the United States. The first time I walked into rehearsal, I felt like I stepped straight into the movie Whiplash. Everyone was so talented, so confident, and I felt terrified. But that experience shaped me. It pushed me to grow, to stay disciplined, and to believe that I deserved to be in the room. I played with NYJE from freshman year through junior year, and it became one of the most meaningful parts of my high school life.
During my sophomore year, I joined the swimming and tennis teams, which helped me stay active and meet new friends. At the end of that same year, I tried out for the MBA cheer team, and I made it because of my dance background. Dance has always been one of
the strongest passions in my life, and cheer gave me a chance to use that energy again.
I cheered during my junior and senior years. I was a basketball cheerleader as a junior and a football cheerleader as a senior. Those teams helped me find confidence, community, and a part of myself I thought I left behind in Ukraine.
SCA definitely prepared me for college. I became a stronger writer because of Sister Eva Marie and Mrs. Pamela Woosley. They pushed me in ways I didn’t expect, and little by little, my writing stopped feeling weak or unsure. I started to trust myself more, especially in a language that wasn’t mine at first.
I also grew in math. Now, in my senior year, I’m taking AP Calculus, which was my dream since freshman year. I remember telling myself that one day I wanted to be one of the “smart math kids,” and now I’m actually doing it. That goal mattered to me because math made me feel steady and capable during a time when everything in my life felt unstable.
SCA has been both a challenge and an achievement at the same time. I am grateful that the Lord allowed me to be a part of this community because this place shaped me in ways I never expected. I grew here, not only as a student, but as a person and as a young woman. SCA became a place where I learned strength, faith, discipline, and confidence, and I will carry all of that with me long after I leave. St. Cecilia became a home I never expected to find.
All these experiences shaped what I want to study. I’m planning to major in accounting, and I hope to do that at Belmont University. It feels like the right path for me, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come from the girl who arrived in the United States not knowing a single word of English.◊
BY: SISTER EVA MARIE, O.P.
Every spring, the junior class at St. Cecilia Academy completes a long-term, interdisciplinary research project. Working with her English and religion teachers, each girl chooses a topic, narrows her research focus, and explores it in light of Catholic teaching. Topics range from science to history to technology to literature and beyond. No matter the focus, all the girls’ efforts are crowned and informed by what is traditionally called “the queen of all sciences:” theology, the study of the truths of Divine Revelation.
The tangible results are threefold: a research paper, an oral presentation, and the opportunity to participate in the Junior Research Symposium, when select students present their findings to the wider SCA community. These accomplishments are worthy and valuable in their own right. Having taught junior English for several
years, however, I am convinced that the intangible results are even more valuable. Why? Simply put, the girls finish this project with more than a paper, a PowerPoint, and another line on their résumé. They leave changed.
As they research, the girls develop both intellectual and moral virtue. Saule Bernotas ’26 noted that studying pharmaceutical companies “deepened my curiosity for the world around me.” Pursuing this curiosity leads girls to the joy of independent learning, developing a capacity to be shaped by the ideas and accomplishments of great scholars.
“Finding and reading sources was definitely my favorite part,” said Saba Michael ’26, whose research addressed the interconnections between art and science, “and there were many I didn't cite in my paper that still
influenced my ideas and arguments.” Self-knowledge and fortitude also blossom: After exploring the feminine genius in key literary heroines, Grace Wehby ’26 shared, “This research paper taught me that I can do hard things. It taught me to test my limits and ask for help. It also helped me gain confidence in myself that I will take with me to college and beyond.” An inquisitive spirit, a genuine delight in study, and a newfound taste for challenge: these are just some of the fruits of the junior research project.
As Catholic educators, we know that even these fruits are not enough. All our efforts at teaching and forming our students must be placed firmly within the context of the Gospel. As the Second Vatican Council taught,
No less than other schools does the Catholic school pursue cultural goals and the human formation of youth. But its proper function is to create for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and charity, to help youth grow according to the new creatures they were made through baptism as they develop their own personalities, and finally to order the whole of human culture to the news of salvation so that the knowledge the students gradually acquire of the world, life and man is illumined by faith. (Gravissimum educationis 8, emphasis added)
In other words, a Catholic school fosters the intellectual and cultural development of its students precisely by fostering authentic freedom and authentic love, and by relating all of human culture—science, history, music, psychology, and all other disciplines—to the good news of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for us.
This is the adventure in which the juniors immerse themselves each spring. Whether they write about social media, family life, politics, sports, or art, they discover that there is nothing that cannot be related to the good news of salvation. Jesus Christ is interested in every part of our lives, our cultures, our studies, and there is nothing outside of His loving attention.
Each year, it is my privilege and joy to help these young women begin to discover how to “order the whole of human culture to the news of salvation,” so that St. Cecilia Academy can truly be for them “an environment in which faith, culture and life intertwine. . . not simply an institution, but rather a living environment in which the Christian vision permeates every discipline and every interaction” (Pope Leo XIII, Drawing New Maps of Hope 5). At the Junior Research Symposium, when family and friends gather to hear the girls’ presentations, it is a joy to welcome them into this living environment and to share with them what we experience at St. Cecilia Academy: that we are most deeply unified when we pursue Truth together. ◊
The Junior Research Symposium covers an array of topics. Below are the selected student presentations in 2025.
THE RENAISSANCE APPROACH: Bridging the Gap Between the Arts & Sciences by Saba Michael
POLARIZATION: The Media’s Influence on the American Social and Political Gap by Taylor Harrison
THE CREDIBILITY OF CHRISTIANS IN MEDIA by Ivy Treybig
ANTISEMITISM: A History of Hate by Alle Epstein
MARY VS. MODERNITY: Defining Motherhood in a Changing World by Shannon Contreras
DIVORCE: What About the Children by Ellie Schulz
WHAT’S WRONG WITH HER: A Look into the Stigma of Raising a Disabled Child by Porter Congdon
THE PRICE OF PICTURE PERFECT: Behind the Scenes Damage to Feminism and Adolescents by Eleanor Lampley
THE MATCH THAT CAN’T BE WON: Why Biological Men Should Not Be Allowed to Participate in Women’s Sports by Mia Keller
THE SEARCH FOR THE FEMININE IDEAL by Grace Wehby
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SERIAL KILLERS by Tessa Hunt
LOCKER ROOM TALK: The Effects of Pornography on Teenagers by Madeline Hart
THE HIDDEN COST OF SPORTS BETTING by Natalie Petroni
GUN CONTROL by Fenet Deresu
HEALTH INSURANCE: The Presence of Corruption by Katie Radian
THE LOBBYIST’S LAB: When Pharmaceutical Influence Poisons Policy and Patients Pay the Price by Saule Bernotas
Since 1860, generations of women have attended
St. Cecilia Academy, with many following in the footsteps of great-grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, and cousins. We asked several alumnae and their daughters about their experiences and why they continue to choose St. Cecilia.
TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE BENEFITS WITH CATHERINE STUART VRETTOS ’98 AND CAROLINE VRETTOS ’28
“My father’s first cousin, Catharine Beasley O’Bryan ’74 (for whom I am named), and my sister, Marianne Stuart Stoll ’94, attended and supported my being at SCA,” said Catherine.
“I grew academically and personally thanks to the teachers and the coaches who challenged and encouraged me. Having a child attend my alma mater is special! She gets the opportunity to benefit from my former teachers, like Mr. Horn. An education at St. Cecilia Academy is invaluable because of the strong academic
program, the arts, and the athletic opportunities. St. Cecilia students are challenged while being nurtured at the same time.”
“I really enjoy being able to share some of the same high school experiences as my mom and other family members,” explained Caroline. “I love SCA. The community is so friendly and encouraging. Everyone is cheering for each accomplishment that a student achieves in and outside of school.”
Catherine added, “My family is appreciative of the tangibles like education, but also for the intangibles, such as the relationships made, which are formed from being part of the SCA community.”
“I started my freshman year at a different school in 1995, and by December of that year, I knew I was in the wrong place,” Andrea remarked. “I decided to tour SCA, and the moment I walked through the doors, I knew it was where I belonged. Transferring to SCA was the best decision I have ever made. It was the most important piece of my adolescent development for future successes.
“My sister, Robyn Biga Henderson ’00, was a year younger than I was at SCA. I loved having my sister there with me. I chose SCA for Madeline for a number of reasons. I valued the high level of academics and fine arts, but more than anything else, I valued the overall environment that encourages young women to develop without the unnecessary dramas of adolescence. I wanted Madeline to be in an environment where she could try many different things without fear or ridicule. SCA allows young women to explore courageously and push themselves to high achievements
with minimal distractions. I hope and pray that I have a granddaughter who can attend SCA one day, so I can experience it all on another level as a grandmother, too.”
“It is amazing knowing that all the same women in my life graduated from the same academy I will be graduating from in only a few short months,” said Madeline. “It is also something that has helped me bond closer with my mom throughout the years, and we love comparing the classes from when she was there to the classes I’m taking now.
“These past four years of my life have been fantastic, and I have made friendships that I know will last into my adulthood. St. Cecilia Academy has also helped me grow stronger in my faith with the many spiritual opportunities, and through the challenging classes, I am more than ready for college.”
“The value of an SCA education is absolutely priceless,” added Andrea. “I learned more at SCA than I did during my time earning a B.A. in Political Science, or my master’s in the Science of Nursing. SCA has formed me into a leader who values ethics, integrity, and community. These characteristics were formed from SCA’s prestigious education based on the values of the Catholic church.”
A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WITH LESLIE WALLACE CONGDON ’98 AND PORTER CONGDON ’26
“I attended Overbrook, so I always knew I would go to St. Cecilia,” said Leslie. “It was important to my dad that my sister and I attend a Catholic school. We chose SCA for Porter for so many reasons, including the excellent education that I knew she would receive. We wanted a place where Porter would be supported not only in her education but emotionally and spiritually as well.
“It’s nostalgic to be back in the building, and also fun to see the changes. I don’t know if the value of a St. Cecilia education can truly be measured. I know I was prepared for college, and I made lifelong friends, and I can see that this will be true for Porter, too.”
“My Mom went here and wanted me to go as well,” explained Porter. “I toured, fell in love with the sisterhood shown here, and I wanted to go, too. I was really excited, and I couldn’t wait for the friends I was going to make. My
cousin, Olivia Congdon ’29, is at SCA, and I love having her at school with me. I love being able to continue the legacy.”
“When my daughter Virginia passed away in February 2025, I was so grateful for the love and support that Porter received,” shared Leslie. “Seeing all the Sisters, teachers, and students at Virginia’s memorial helped us to know we were not alone in our grief.”
FORMED IN FAITH BY THE DOMINICAN DIFFERENCE WITH CORTNEY PURSER ROCKHILL ’99, PAIGE ROCKHILL ’27, AND KATE ROCKHILL ’30
“My parents selected SCA because they were looking for a single sex education that would provide more rigorous academics to prepare me better for college,” said Cortney. “I had come from a Christian school, but they were looking to focus more on our Catholicism and wanted a faith-based education.
“Both of my daughters attend St. Cecilia, and that is such a proud legacy that I am honored to share with them. Realizing the impact a Catholic education had on my faith, I wanted to give them that same opportunity. It truly feels like home to me. I’m honored to pass on the SCA traditions to both of my girls. The SCA education is a well-rounded experience with God at the center.
“I attribute much of my relationship with God and my strong Catholic faith to the Sisters. The friendships and the bonds that I had at St. Cecilia were so strong, and I know that it is a place where girls develop relationships they will hold for the rest of their lives. The academics are also top-notch and prepared me for college, and I wanted my daughters to be as prepared as I was.”
“We chose SCA because we knew how welcoming the environment is,” Paige added. “My mom went here and absolutely loved it, so she really wanted me to have the same sort of experience. I was excited to finally get to be in the school that I had always grown up knowing. I was also nervous because it was a new place with new people, but I could not wait to see what was in store for me. I love being able to talk to my mom about my experiences here, and she can relate to them. Now with my sister Kate ’30 in the SCA junior high, there is a lot we can share.”
“SCA means the world to me,” explained Cortney. “It formed me into the mother I am today and has helped me create a beautiful family that values the Dominican sisters. SCA has formed our family because, at the end of the day, our faith and our relationship with God are the most important. Academics are always imperative, but St. Cecilia has taught us to focus on our faith, which is at the core of our family.” ◊
Cathy Mayo Bell ’86 and Sarah Bell ’28
Susan Hollis Clayton Kennedy ’88 and Julie Kennedy ’29
Diane Lennon Meier ’91 and Mary Cecilia Meier ’27
Rachel Nelley ’91 and Grace Nelley ’28
Dr. Susannah Quisling Longmuir ’92 and Charlotte Longmuir ’26
Courtney Kostyk Watson ’92 and Olivia Watson ’28
Margaret Strobel Pyburn ’93, Helen Pyburn ’26, and Mimi Pyburn ’28
Leslie Wallace Congdon ’98 and Porter Congdon ’26
Catherine Stuart Vrettos ’98 and Caroline Vrettos ’28
Andrea Biga Hart ’99 and Madeline Hart ’26
Cortney Purser Rockhill ’99, Paige Rockhill ’27, and Kate Rockhill ’30
Erika Fredericksen Scaramuzza ’03 and Eva Scaramuzza ’29
Anne Ferguson ’05 and Dylan Ferguson ’29
BY: AMELIA STROBEL
To celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, more than 500 faithful attended the Dominican Campus Eucharistic Procession and Mass on September 6.
Overbrook Catholic School, St. Cecilia Academy, and Aquinas College hosted the community event on the 83-acre campus.
“On the Dominican Campus, we want to provide meaningful faith opportunities for our families who desire to pass the faith on to their children, and this was one way to support our families in that effort,” said Sister Dominic, O.P., President of Overbrook Catholic School and St. Cecilia Academy. “Worshipping God at Mass and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament are not just ways of demonstrating our faith, but of deepening it for us individually and communally.”
In the Overbrook Catholic School gym, Father Luke Wilgenbusch presided at the Mass with Father Rhodes Bolster serving as master of ceremonies and seminarians from the Nashville Diocese attending. During his homily, Father Wilgenbusch invited all to deepen their faith through participation in the Eucharist.
Sara Brunette Strobel, OCS ’97, SCA ’01, current parent at Overbrook Catholic and chair of the Social Sciences Department at St. Cecilia, and her family presented the gifts at Mass. “We were honored to be asked to participate in the Mass,” she said. “The entire event was a wonderful way to celebrate as a community.”
Following the Mass, gatherers walked from Overbrook Catholic in a Eucharistic procession through the Dominican Campus, ending on the White House lawn. As Father Wilgenbusch processed with Jesus in the
monstrance throughout campus, a group of altar servers held candles, lighting the way. Flower girls covered the ground in flower petals, paving the way for Jesus, the Bridegroom.
There was time for personal prayer once the monstrance was placed on the temporary altar of the White House front porch, where Father Wilgenbusch gave the benediction. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed live music and a picnic dinner brought from home, or they took advantage of food trucks from Hoss’ Loaded Burger Truck, Roscoe’s BBQ, Salsa Franklin Taco, and The Pink Truck.
“I hope people felt renewed in zeal and love for the gift of the Eucharist,” said Sister Dominic, O.P. “I hope that our families felt that picnicking together on the lawn and enjoying a ‘concert in the park’ somehow carried with it a deeper joy for having it all rooted in our relationship with Christ.”
This year’s celebration built on the Eucharistic Procession held on the Dominican Campus in 2023, which was a cherished gathering for campus families. Both celebrations fostered a profound sense of spiritual community and devotion among participants. ◊
What a remarkable SCA Giving Day!
The 2025 SCA Giving Day was our most successful ever, with alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends showing extraordinary generosity in support of St. Cecilia Academy. Altogether, $267,333 was raised – surpassing last year’s total by more than $45,000!
This initiative welcomed 28 first-time donors, re-engaged 128 donors who had given in previous years but not last year, and inspired 93 supporters
to increase their giving over last year. Thanks to their collective generosity, SCA successfully secured the $50,000 challenge gift offered by a fellow alumna. We are deeply grateful to each benefactor who responded to the challenge.
Of special note, the classes of 1973 and 1979 took top honors in new donors, highest number of donors, and most new and increased support.
Giving Day funds strengthen SCA’s mission of ennobling young women, equipping them to excel, and inspiring them to lead lives of integrity.
We also extend our gratitude to those who graciously participated in this year’s videos, sharing the impact of SCA and the reasons they continue to support the school: Dale Baird Mitchell ’76, Marsha Ivey Price ’89, Helen Adelman Roudi ’01, McColl Adelman Curtiss ’03, and Hannah Broderick ’26.
1 / SHIRLEY VAUGHAN WILLIAMS ’49 attended a Lenten Retreat led by Sister Gabriella, O.P., with Sister Agnes Marie, O.P., at St. William Catholic Church on St. Simons Island, GA in April 2025. Shirley was excited to reconnect with some of the St. Cecilia Sisters and enjoyed speaking with them about her years at the Motherhouse campus.
2 / NANCY SANDERS PETERSONHERN ’51 was honored with the 2025 Luminary Lifetime Achievement Award by the C200 organization on October 17, 2025, at the Conrad Hotel. Founded in 1982, C200 is a global organization for businesswomen with the mission to inspire, educate, support, and advance current and future women entrepreneurs and corporate, profit-center leaders.
4 / LAURA BLACK CRAWFORD ’79 recently competed in the World Time Trial Championships in Borrego Springs, CA. Among the many ultracycling races (races of 300 or more miles in 24-plus hours) she competes with her husband, John, and holds several race records.
3 / Five alumnae from the SCA CLASS OF 1974 celebrated memories by attending the "Happy Together" tour at the Ryman in August 2025. From left are Patricia Smith, Betsy Merlin Kraus, Josie Crespo Cox, Sheryl Abbey Wehby, and Bette Blackman Schnitzer.
5 / A cast of Claytons gathered in Hilton Head, SC, for a family vacation. Top row, left to right, are SUSAN CLAYTON KENNEDY ’88 and LISA CLAYTON HENDERSON ’84 . Front row, left to right, are PAMELA CHRISTY ’85 , JULIE KENNEDY ’29 , and CAROLE CLAYTON REINKE ’97
6 / SUSANNAH FRENCH GENTRY ’86 was honored in July 2025 with the Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) in Washington, D.C., for leading the Franklin Special District’s district-wide rebranding initiative to modernize its logo and clarify
its mission. Over 18 months, she guided stakeholder research and strategic planning to address misconceptions, strengthen community engagement, and introduce a new logo, unified messaging, and the district’s shortened name. The award recognized the campaign, which reached every major touchpoint – campuses, district assets, digital platforms, and employee and student materials – and helped spark the overarching vision for the district’s new fiveyear strategic plan.
7 / KATIE GUERIN BAILEY ’97 was named Assistant Director of the State Library of Alabama. She has worked in the public library field for 18 years and holds a B.A. in political science and history, a master’s in history, and a master’s in library and information sciences. She is a passionate supporter of intellectual freedom, for which she credits much of her education and experience at SCA. Her late mother, Dorothy Guerin, was an influential teacher at SCA for years.
8 / SISTER MARY CLAIRE STRASSER, S.O.L.T. ’98 graduated from Franciscan University in May 2025 with her master’s in theology.
9 / DR. CARLENDA SMITH ’99 is in the second year of a two-year term as President of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP).
In addition to her duties as TNAAP President, Dr. Smith is the lead physician at the Vanderbilt Children’s Primary Care in Smyrna, Tennessee, which she opened in 2017. She is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
10 / SARA DENBO JAMES ’00 lives in Mountain Brook, AL, with her husband, Fob, and their twin boys, Jackson and William James. Sara attended the fall 2025 Birmingham alumnae social.
11 / DANIELLE LASTER
BROADWATER ’98 recently moved back to the States after spending two years living in London with her husband, Brian, and their 13-year-old son, Aaron. While in the UK, she worked at the London School of Economics, helped charter a UK chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and completed her first half-marathon. As a family, they embraced British culture through arts, food, and theatre, and she joined a women’s group, enjoying monthly activities with fellow expats. Her son discovered competitive sports that took him across Europe, and Brian traveled extensively for work. Together, they built lasting friendships and memories, and now carry a broadened perspective, a stronger global network, and deep gratitude for an experience that shaped them personally and professionally.
12 / NEILY TODD BOYD ’05 was named Executive Director for High Hopes Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic. Boyd initially connected with High Hopes through her innovative “Counting With Kids” program, which she founded in 2019 to support families and early childhood professionals in building foundational math skills for young children. She later joined the High Hopes board in 2022. Boyd is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a master’s in educational leadership from Lipscomb University. She is the co-author of Developing Roots Pre-K Math, a curriculum used by schools in 20 states. Boyd and her husband, Wilson, live in Franklin with their two children.
13/NINA JENKINS FISHER ’14 was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Jody Williams Songs (JWS). With JWS since its founding in 2020, she has signed and managed an impressive staff of writers, including developing artists, major label artists, writer-producers, and songwriters. In addition to handling day-to-day operations, Fisher also plays a key role in the company’s partnership with Warner Chappell Music.
14 / GRACE ROUSHDI ’16 moved to Los Angeles after completing her BA in Comedy Writing and Performance from Columbia College Chicago. She is presently Content Development Manager for EmmyAward winning World of Wonder Productions.
15 / LAUREN WATKINS ’17 made her Grand Ole Opry debut in June 2025. She performed her debut single, “Shirley Temple,” and her most recent release, “I’ll Get Through It.” To keep up with Lauren’s tour dates and more information, visit laurenwatkins.com.
16 / GRACE LASTER TORRENCE ’18 returned to SCA this school year to serve as the Strength and Conditioning coach and junior high physical education teacher.
17 / GRACIE O’BRIEN ’19 successfully completed undergraduate pilot training, earning her Air Force Pilot wings in August
2024. She was promoted to First Lieutenant in the Air Force in May 2025, and selected to be an Air Force Instructor Pilot, completing Instructor Pilot training in San Antonio, Texas, in August 2025. She will be training future Air Force aviators in Del Rio, Texas, for the next three years.
18 / MARIA DAVIS ’21 graduated from Acadia University in May 2025 and received The Actuarial Science Distinguished Achievement Award at Honors Convocation in March. The award is selected by faculty for academic excellence by a senior in Actuarial Science. This award is supported by the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Maria credits Sister Nicholas Marie, O.P. for being a major influence on her math comprehension and skills.
19/ MARY JEAN MOLES ’21 graduated summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University in May 2025 and received the designation of "Scholar of the College" from the College of Health & Human Services.
20 / JAYMA LINDSLEY ’25 was selected as a Vanderbilt cheerleader.
21 / ANNA KATE TALBOT ’25 was confirmed at SCA in December with Dalton Vaughn ’25 as her sponsor.
1 / EMILY PARTEN BUCKLEY ’11
married Ryan Buckley in Nashville on September 21, 2024. The ceremony was officiated by Father Dexter Brewer at Christ the King Church, and the reception was held at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Fellow Scarab Caroline Leftwich ’11 was a bridesmaid.
2 / ERIN KELLER BUCHANAN ’13
married Bo Buchanan on October 4, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation with Father Mark Simpson officiating. A reception was held at Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery. Maddie Lawry Deveikis ’13, Maddie Keller ’15, Mia Keller ’26, and Molly Humphreys Teas ’13 were among her bridesmaids. Erin and Bo currently reside in Nashville.
3 / MARY MARSHALL ANDERSON FLANNERY ’13 married Ellis Flannery on November 9, 2024, at Wightman Chapel at the Scarritt Bennett Center, followed by a reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bridesmaids included fellow members of the Class of 2013: Amy Bray Danahy, Abby Link Fredebeil, Genny Parkes, Velvet Vaughan, and Anna Whitney.
4 / KAITLYN DEDMAN JOHNSON ’13
married Robert Neil Johnson on March 1, 2024, at St. Henry Catholic Church with a reception following at Old Natchez Country Club. In attendance from left to right were Brady Diaz-Barriga Meyers ’13, Elizabeth Dedman ’09, Meredith Copeland ’13, Jessica Volz ’09, Mary Marshall Anderson Flannery ’13, Rebecca Conners Rotert ’13, Angela Ray ’13, Asia Jolly ’13, and Julia Moore BeltonHall ’09.
5 / KATHERINE FRENSLEY NGUYEN ’16 and Dr. Tin Nguyen were married on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Memphis, TN.
6 / KATIE SUCHANICK ’16 exchanged vows with Austin Rappé at St. Henry Catholic Church on December 6, 2025, with Father Nicholas
Allen officiating. SCA alumnae Hannah Hundt Dodd ’16, Patience Thompson ’16, and Sarah Smith ’16 were among her bridesmaids. Katie and Austin currently reside in Spring Hill, TN, and Katie is a Neonatal ICU nurse at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital.
7 / KEELY THORNTON ’17 and Jay Nagel, who met as students at the University of Notre Dame, were engaged over Thanksgiving 2025 and plan to marry after she finishes her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Iowa. Her specialty is child clinical psychology, and she is conducting research on how ADHD presents differently in girls and women.
8 / ELISE DURELLI JENKINS ’20 married Cade Jenkins at The Cathedral of the Incarnation on March 22, 2025.
1 / CHRISTINA PAPUCHIS RAMENOFSKY ’05 and her husband, Bob, welcomed son Jacob on April 30, 2025. Big brother, Max, and sisters Olivia and Samantha are happy to have him join the family.
2 / CATHERINE NORVELL SINKS ’05 and her husband, Adam, welcomed their third baby, Mary William Norvell Sinks. “Mary Will” was born on November 1, 2024. She is joined by her brother, Owen, and sister, Parker.
3 / ALLIE SAXON NOOTE ’09 and her husband Daniel, welcomed their third boy, John Michael Noote, on June 23, 2025. He is happy and healthy, and his older brothers love playing with their little brother.
4 / ELIZA NAGLE WARD ’10 and her husband, Brian, welcomed Michael
James to the family on June 12, 2025. Big sister Madeline Marie is also happy about the new addition.
5 / CHRISTINE WEHBY ENGELBERT ’14 and her husband, Rex, welcomed Nora Frances on August 18, 2025.
6 / NINA JENKINS FISHER ’14 and her husband, Ricky, along with big sister Maribel, welcomed Elizabeth Mae to the family on September 25, 2025.
7 / CHLOE WALL KENT ’14 and her husband, Matthew, added Daphne Mae Kent to their family on September 28, 2025. Big sister, Francine, is excited about her arrival.
8 / REBECCA ZIMBERG LEE ’14 and her husband, Andrew, welcomed their first child, Magnolia Josephine, in March 2025.
9 / MELISSA JOHNSON MILAM ’14 and her husband are proud to announce the arrival of their first child, Harrison Milam, born March 5, 2025.
10 / CAROLINE NELSON BLAHA ’16 and her husband, Justin, are pleased to share that Charles Walburn was born on July 16, 2025.
11 / LAUREN CIANCIOLO WALKER ’16 and her husband, Ben, welcomed Etheredge Walker on June 10, 2025.
12 / HELEN SIMPSON BAKER ’18 and her husband, Ethan, welcomed their third child, Ruth Elizabeth Baker, on March 26, 2025, weighing 11 pounds 5 ounces. Big brothers Phillip and Francis love their new little sister.
Plan to celebrate with St. Cecilia Academy on March 28 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.
We look forward to honoring Mary Lynn Donnelly ’76, Rita Ann Donnelly Holiman ’79, Denise Donnelly Beaty ’80, and posthumously honoring Frances “Lolo” Donnelly Hobbs ’70 and Katherine “Kay” Donnelly Swinehart ’68 and their mother Rita Whitehead Donnelly ’48.
“What a privilege it is to be named Honorees of the Rose Gala for 2026,” said the Donnelly sisters. “We know our mother would be proud that her daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters have been keeping the Donnelly tradition alive for generations. Supporting SCA was Mom’s passion. This is an opportunity for the Donnelly family to give back by raising money to help provide for the needs of young ladies who wish to be a part of such a fine institution.”
The family has supported and served St. Cecilia Academy for many years, offering financial support for the annual fund, capital and special projects, alumnae scholarships,
tuition assistance, the Rose Gala, and the annual Alumnae Memorial Mass.
“We hope that SCA stays a place where students are encouraged to grow in faith, character, and knowledge,” explained the sisters. “We want to see it continue to shape the hearts and minds of future generations.”
Join us in recognizing them for their deep and abiding support of St. Cecilia Academy.
To support the event, visit stcecilia.edu/support/the-rose-gala or scan the QR code.
4210 Harding Pike
The Dominican Difference is an expression of the charism of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, whose legacy lives in the daily life of SCA. This difference flows from the person of St. Dominic, who founded the Dominican Order in the heart of the Church for preaching and the salvation of souls.
• It is an academically rigorous approach to educating students in truth and charity within a nurturing community marked by grace, friendship, freedom, and confidence.
• It emphasizes that true learning leads to wisdom and that a life of virtue grounded in friendship with Jesus Christ, who is Truth, leads to happiness, fulfillment, and joy.
• It teaches that friendship with God invites us to communion with our neighbor, inspiring us to communicate His goodness and love to the world.