Alumnae

Alumnae News & Honors

2024 Alumnae of the Year

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Alumnae of the Year | Past Honorees

List of 3 items.

Young Alumna of the Year

2023: Sandra Mejia Gerbacio, DSHA '13
2022: Lissa deGuzman, DSHA '12
2021: Arike Ogunbowale, DSHA '15
2019: Molly Sullivan, DSHA '04
2018: Melissa Melendez Rios, DSHA '03
2016: Elizabeth Rees, DSHA '02
2015: Shanna Doucette Knierim, DSHA '00
2014: Gina Stilp, DSHA '99
2013: Mary Kate Steinmiller, DSHA '03
2012: Katie Weiss, DSHA '97
2011: Patricia Egan Schmidt, DSHA '01
2010: Samantha "Sam" Erschen, DSHA '05
Alumna of the Year

2023: Caroline Klein, DSHA '03
2022: Judie Dalum Taylor, DSHA '87
2021: Molly Hogan, DSHA '02
2019: Captain Amy Bauernschmidt, DSHA '89
2018: Laurie Gramling Lambach, DSHA '76
2016: Susan Ruesch Evans, DS ’69
2015: Barbara Millen, HA '68
2014: Jane Foley, DSHA '74 and S. Shawnee Daniels-Sykes, DSHA '79 †
2013: Kate Granrath Wilson, DS '63
2012: Lauren Dedinsky Maddox, DSHA '82
2011: Chris Oldam McDermott, DSHA '76
2010: Laura Wake Bray, DSHA ‘90
2009: Diane Knight, HA ‘64
2008: Mary C. Cannon, HA ‘63
2007: Mary Rademacher Rose, DS ‘59 †
2006: Mary Jo Johnson Dempsey, HA ’68
2005: Kathie O’Brien Daily, DS ’60 †
2004: Katie Andrews Murphy, DS ’58 †
2003: Barb Frey, DSHA ’74
2002: Betty Ewens Quadracci, HA ’57 †
2001: Fran Sorrenti Tollefson, HA '65
2000: Judith Carney Keyes, DS '58
1999: Janet Schewe, BVM, HA '33 †
1998: Toni Gradisnik, SSSF, DSHA '71
1997: Kathleen Zierden Olen, HA '57
1996: Terry Gehringer Gingrass, DS '70
1995: Margaret Mathews Sankovitz, HA '51
1994: Lucille Carpenter Boemer, HA '18 †

† deceased
Jubilarian of the Year

2023: Ellen Keyser Buggy, HA '69; Patricia Jung Lazaarczyk, HA '69, Ellen Retzer Zielinski, HA '69
2022: Sue Behling Schmitt, HA '67
2021: Maria Haas Tess, HA '68
2020: Divine Savior Alumnae of the SDS Order:
S. Jeanette Clarke, SDS, DS ’59; S. Grace Mary Croft, SDS, DS ’56; S. Karlyn Cauley, SDS, DS ’61; S. Maryann Engelhardt, SDS, DS ’52; S. Marie Ensslin, SDS, DS ’52; S. Jane Eschweiler, SDS, DS ’65; S. Mary Lee Grady, SDS, DS ’58; S. Virginia Honish, SDS, DS ’55; S. Francine Kosednar, SDS, DS ’56; S. Sheila Novak, SDS, DS ’58; S. Susan Staff, SDS, DS ’56; S. Carol Thresher, SDS, DS ’59; S. Betty Vetter, SDS, DS ’61; S. Carol Jean Zais, SDS, DS ’62
2019: Joan McCabe Bruce, DS '64
2018: Janie Felker Jasin, DS '57
2017: In light of the 125th anniversary celebrated in 2017, DSHA gave special recognition to five Jubilarians who shaped the school through dedicated service to their alma mater as leaders and teachers.
Betty Jo Zintek, Azpell, HA '58; Marilyn Kleis Casper, DS '64; S. Virginia Honish, SDS, DS '55; Carla LaValle Olle, HA '60; and Angela Mischke Pienkos, DS '58
2016: Mary Pat Klein Pfeil , DS ’65†
2015: S. Mary Howard Johnstone, OP, DS '65
2014: S. Sheila Novak, SDS, DS '58
2013: Sylvia Pancheri DuBois, HA '46†
2012: Mary Reilly Cermak, DS '52†
2011: S. Mary McCauley, BVM, HA '56
2010: Patricia Shannon Janz, DS ‘58
2009: Maripat Young Dalum, HA ‘59
2008: Patricia Sheridan Spoerl, HA ‘47; Marilyn Maren Berger, DS ‘52
2007: Mary Weller, HA ‘57; Mary Preo Wiegele, DS ‘52†
2006: Mary Ellen Anderson Buellesbach, HA ‘47†
2005: Elenor McDermott Schroeder, HA ’53†
2004: Antonette (Toni) Dujick Gorske, HA ’50
2003: Margaret Mathews Sankovitz, HA '51
2001: Florence Merten Fridl, HA '45†
2000: S. Janet Schewe, BVM, HA '33†
1999: S. Jane Buellesbach, HA '49
1998: Virginia Gaertner Broderick, HA '35†
1997: Mary O'Mahar McCormick, HA '31†
1996: Marie Esser Hansen, HA '43†

† deceased

Alumnae of the Year Nominations + Criteria

List of 3 items.

Young Alumna of the Year
Established in 2010, the Young Alumna of the Year Award recognizes established and future leaders among DSHA's young alumnae. The award honors an alumna for achievements in her career and/or public, community or parish service activities which may be especially exceptional given her age.

Criteria for this recognition include one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated leadership capability
- Substantial indication of a commitment to service of others
- Leadership/potential for distinction in the long term
- Positive role model for current DSHA students and other young alumnae
- Substantial commitment to school and its mission
- Professional achievement of distinction for a young woman
The Young Alumna of the Year supports the efforts of DSHA to be recognized and valued as the best high school for young women seeking rigorous college preparation, faith development, leadership opportunities and personal growth.Prospective recipients must have graduated from DSHA within the last 15 years, may not be a candidate for public office and must be available to attend designated award ceremony.
Alumna of the Year

The Alumna of the Year must be an alumna of Holy Angels Academy, Divine Savior High School or DSHA and must have graduated at least 15 years prior to receiving the award. Her daily life must reflect the Christian values and ideals nurtured at DSHA. She must exhibit strength of character and shows social and/or individual progress, achieved by conscious, intelligent devotion to desirable goals.

She is an inspiration for other women and shows strong awareness of human problems and has measurably contributed toward their alleviation in private and/or public life by exhibiting leadership in her community or field.

The Alumna of the Year is committed to our mission to educate young women in an environment that fosters an awareness of a loving God and promotes the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. She supports the efforts of our institution to be recognized and valued as the best high school for young women seeking rigorous college preparation, faith development, leadership opportunities, and personal growth.
Jubilarian of the Year

The Jubilarian of the Year Award recognizes a woman whose daily life reflects Christian values, ideas and strength of character. As a leader in her community she has exhibited a strong awareness of human problems and her contributions toward their alleviation is an inspiration to other women. The Jubilarian of the Year must have graduated from Divine Savior High School or Holy Angels Academy at least 50 years ago.