Greetings Dear Maryite Sisters!

150 Years of Excellence

“No Excellence Without Hard Labor!”

Greetings Dear Maryite Sisters!

Our 2017–2018 school year was remarkable and memorable!  We celebrated the 150th Anniversary of St. Mary’s Academy and as promised, we drew Maryites from near and far to SMA to commemorate this milestone in our history.  The excitement was high, with our Alumnae Marching Unit sounding off on Chef Menteur Highway and waves from our beautiful Alumnae Homecoming Queen, Giselle Boswell Allen, ’83, and Miss SMA, Karen Matthews Brooks, ’80, who, by the way, together raised over $20, 000 for our Blue and Gold Ball Event!  This was only a fraction of the many activities our Maryite family celebrated!

As we continue to build on our one hundred-and-fifty-one year legacy, we realize that it really does take a village.  Each and every Alumna can play a part in the life of our beloved school.  I’m happy to report that many of us do!

This past August, St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae Association awarded scholarships and tuition assistance to twelve students.  We accomplished this by the hard work and generosity of loyal Maryites who understand how necessary it is for all of us to do our part.

Homecoming 2018 is right around the corner!  Mark your calendar!  November 9-11, 2018!  We are looking forward to hearing from Maryites around the world.  If this is a reunion year for your class (Class year ending in 3’s and 8’s), plan to join us at Homecoming!  The events are so much fun and it’s always great to see everyone!

Today, I invite you to renew your active membership or become an active member of St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae Association.  Membership dues help defray the operational cost of the association (not salaries) and assist us in reaching our goals for the year.  Mail your annual fee of $50 today or submit online www.smaneworleans.com.  Also, take a minute to update your information using the form at the bottom of this letter.

God bless you for your commitment to St. Mary’s Academy!

Sincerely,

Connie Whitfield-Fitch, ’69

Director, Alumnae Relations

Alumnae President’s 2018 Homecoming Address

My name is Sheridan Cooper and I am a proud member of the class of 1987.  For the last four years, it has been my pleasure to represent the Alumnae Association as President.

When I first graduated from St. Mary’s, I was so happy to be gone and grown with no one telling me how to dress or how to behave that it took me some years to realize if not for St. Mary’s where would I be?  I was kind of on the outside looking in during the beginning years of the Association when the founding members diligently worked to ensure that what they were creating was sturdy and unwavering.  They realized that as graduates an independent alumnae group had to be formed with its own governing body that was able to make its own decisions as to how they would give back to the school.  I can say with 100 percent certainty that all of the members of the Association work tirelessly to assure that our mission is carried out.  We do it for the love of St. Mary’s Academy and the love of each and every young lady that walks through the doors of 6905 Chef Menteur Highway.

Since its inception, the Association has worked hand and hand with the school by providing yearly scholarships and cash awards to entering students and students already in attendance. Since the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, the Alumnae Association has provided over $25,000 in scholarships and cash awards. We have also provided limitless financial assistance and support to the school.

The Association exists to provide the principal link between St. Mary’s Academy and its worldwide network of alumnae.  We are committed to making the school aware of the value of its alumnae and alumnae aware of their vital role in the school’s future.  Our goal is to promote a shared spirit among alumnae, students, faculty, staff and administration through projects that benefit our school and to engender in our students, as future alumnae, a sense of pride and loyalty to St. Mary’s Academy.

Because this is our mission, I implore each and every one in this room to bring back another Maryite. St. Mary’s Academy has existed for 151 years.  There is no reason that this room should not be packed to capacity.  We see schools closing every year and I know that none of us would ever want the day to come where we would risk losing our beloved school.  We want to stay proactive in our resolve. We want to make sure that St. Mary’s Academy exist for generations to come.  But in order to do this, we not only have to give financially, we have to send our girls.  Yes, times have changed and opportunities are different but one thing remains the same and that is the solid foundation and moral principles that St. Mary’s Academy has instilled in each Maryite in this room.

Thank you once again and it has been my pleasure to serve you.

With sisterly love,

Sheridan

c/o 1987

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