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1968 classmates earn Maple Leaf Award during Alumnae Weekend

The annual Alumnae Weekend, an all-class reunion of Mount Saint Joseph Academy students, was a rousing success on Aug. 22-23, 2026. Two members of the class of 1968 were awarded the prestigious Maple Leaf Award.

The weekend began with a “Happy Days” themed event on Aug. 22 at St. Martin Parish Hall just outside Owensboro, Ky. On Sunday Aug. 23, nearly 90 alums gathered at Mount Saint Joseph, where the day began with Mass at 9:30 a.m. Father Ray Goetz presided at his final alumnae Mass. He is retiring this fall as chaplain at the Mount, and was honored during the program later in the day with an oversized card and a plaque with praying hands.

During the Mass, Alumnae Association officers Alicia Harrington A’82 and Lisa Calhoun Mulligan A’75 read the names of the alumnae whose deaths have been reported since Alumnae Weekend 2025. You can read the list of those names here: Alumnae Memorial Mass

During the annual business meeting, there was a unanimous decision for the Alumnae Association to make $1,000 donations to each of four ministries – Casa Ursulina, where Sister Mimi Ballard A’66 serves; Water By Women, where Sister Larraine Lauter A’77 serves; Catholic Charities; and the Louisville Days for Girls chapter, which makes washable period products for girls in impoverished nations so that they don’t have to miss school while on their periods. Sheila Ward A’71 spoke about the charity during the meeting. Several alums made individual contributions to each of the charities.

The highlight each year is the naming of up to two graduates who have esteemed themselves to be selected for the Maple Leaf Award. Every year since 2000, the award has been given to those who “personify the values of their Mount Saint Joseph education in contributions to their local faith communities, civic communities, and/or Mount Saint Joseph.”

This year’s recipients were both members of the class of 1968 – Pat Wedding Stelmach and Carole Caummisar Sanders.

Deborah Lord Campisano A’68, read the nomination for Pat Stelmach, noting her 34 years as a secretary in the Owensboro Public Schools.

“In her office, she displayed a poster of a high-heeled shoe with the words, ‘Put your best foot forward!’ That saying became more than a cheerful decoration. It captured the way Pat approached her work, her service, and her life. … Pat retired in 2014, but continues to volunteer, including dressing as Mrs. Claus for the children at holiday time.”

Pat is active at Immaculate Catholic Church in Owensboro and faithfully volunteers to call Quilt Bingo for the Ursuline Sisters every year.

In her acceptance speech, Pat thanked her husband of 57 years, Todd Stelmach, “who’s always been my biggest cheerleader.” Her three children were present, along with two sisters. She thanked her parents for instilling her faith in her. They sent all 10 of their children to Catholic school, she said.

Sister Pam Mueller read the nomination for her classmate, Carole Caummisar Sanders. Carole taught in Catholic and public schools in Louisville for 40 years, serving as an academic competition competitor. Even in retirement she continues to volunteer her skills with young people. She is active at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle, where she is considered a “treasure.”

In her acceptance speech, Carole credited Sister Victoria Brohm for guiding her and encouraging her to go to college.

“I don’t know that my life would have taken that direction without her seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself,” she said.

Carole quoted Saint Irenaeus saying, “The glory of God is man fully alive,” and related it to the education she received at Mount Saint Joseph Academy.

“I see that in this place,” she said. “We were instilled with a passion for art, for music, and for beauty.”

Alumnae Weekend next year is scheduled for Aug. 21-22, 2027.

Peggy Murphy McCarty, left, talks with Jeannie Calhoun, her classmate from the class of 1956, prior to Mass beginning. In back are 1976 classmates Sheryl Sattazahn Thomas, left, and Cheryl Calhoun Crisp.
1966 classmates, from left, Mary Margaret Drury, Cecilia Robinette McEldowney, and Phyllis Costello Bresnik share a laugh before Mass. They were celebrating their 60th reunion year.
Alumnae Association officers Lisa Calhoun Mulligan, left, and Vickie Bickett Groce welcomed people to Mass.
Mary-Anne Causey Powers A’75, prepares to carry the processional cross, as Becky Collins Morris A’71, and Father Ray Goetz follow to begin Mass.
Brett Ballard plays the piano as Carolyn Sue Cecil A’73 plays the flute and Jennifer Speaks McGee A’70 cantors during the opening hymn “Gather the People.”
Alums sing the opening hymn “Gather the People.”
Classmates from 1973 Stephanie Warren, standing left, Rhonda Warren Mischel and Paula Chandler Gray join Sister Grace Simpson in singing the opening hymn.
Becky Collins Morris A’71 shares the first reading from Isaiah.
Carole Caummisar Sanders A’68 reads from Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Sister Elaine Burke, the most senior alumna representing the class of 1949, reads the intercessions.
Jane Powers Thomas, left, and Renee Mayhew Shoemaker, both of the class of 1976, deliver the offertory gifts to Father Ray Goetz.
Alumnae officers Alicia Harrington A’82, left, and Lisa Calhoun Mulligan A’75, read the names of the alumnae whose deaths were reported in the past year.
Carole Caummisar Sanders A’68, chats with Sister George Mary Hagan following Mass.
Carolyn Drury McCarty A’71, visits with Sister Ruth Gehres A’51, after Mass.
Members of the class of 1966 visit with Sister Claudia Hayden A’67, second from right, after Mass. From left are Phyllis Costello Bresnik, Diane McCreary Kratzwald, Sister Maureen O’Neill, and Sister Suzanne Sims.
Classmates from 1971 WaNell Stallings Lanham, left, Mary Ann Cecil Ebelhar, center, and Barbara Drury Hutchins catch up on old times.
Once the weekend moved to Maple Hall, 1968 classmates Mary Lou Mattingly O’Brien, left, and Deborah Lord Campisano chat before the business meeting.
Carol Toon Clapp A’82, looks over a book with Sister Elaine Burke A’49.
Father Ray Goetz holds an oversized card signed by alums, and a plaque with praying hands that was made by Brenda Basham Lee A’82, seated at left. Father Ray is retiring as the Mount chaplain after 16 years.
Pat Wedding Stelmach A’68, left, holds her Maple Leaf Award, with her presenter Deborah Lord Campisano, center, and Alumnae Association officer Carolyn Sue Cecil.
Maple Leaf Award winner Carole Caummisar Sanders A’68, left, is joined by Alumnae Association officer Carolyn Sue Cecil, center, and her presenter, Sister Pam Mueller A’68.
Class of 1949: Sister Elaine Burke
Class of 1951: Sister Ruth Gehres.
Class of 1956: From left, Patsy Thompson Clayton, Jeannie Bickett Calhoun, Peggy Murphy McCarthy, and Sister Grace Simpson.
Class of 1957: Seated is Virginia Ford Green; standing from left is Sister Ann Patrice Cecil and Lila Green Gehrke.
Class of 1958: Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger.
Class of 1959: Sister Nancy Murphy.
Class of 1963: From left, Sister Karla Kaelin and Lila Basham Frederick.
Class of 1966: Seated from left, Mary Murphy Riney, Diane McCreary Kratzwald, Mary Margaret Drury, and Anna Mattingly; standing from left are Mary Lou Byrne Payne, Delores Biddle Lundy, Sister Maureen O’Neill, Phyllis Costello Bresnik, Cecilia Robinette McEldowney, Susan Thomas Allgeier, and Sister Suzanne Sims.
Class of 1967: Sister Claudia Hayden.
Class of 1968: Seated from left, Mona Vowels Haire, Brenda Greenwell Wallace, Pat Wedding Stelmach, and Sister Pam Mueller; standing from left are Rita Molohon Beckman, Mary Lou Mattingly O’Brien, Deborah Lord Campisano, Georgia Warren Bottles, Judy Deweese King, Sarah Olges Holden, and Carole Caummisar Sanders.
Class of 1969: Betty Drury Byrne.
Class of 1970: From left, Loretta White Hamby, Jennifer Speaks McGee, Patricia Wooldridge, and Chris Schwartz Beets.
Class of 1971: Seated from left, Imelda Warren Cecil, Carolyn Drury McCarty, WaNell Stallings Lanham, and Sheila Ward; standing from left, Mary Beth Bickett Andrews, Becky Collins Morris, Mary Danhauer, Maria Ransdell, Carol Riney, Barbara Drury Hutchins, and Mary Ann Cecil Ebelhar.
Class of 1972: Seated from left, Mary Ann Shewmaker Willett, Pat Schwartz Cook, and Patricia Mattingly Arnett; standing from left are Mary Ann Clements Carr and Dorothy Ford Riggs.
Class of 1973: Seated from left, Rhonda Warren Mischel, Stephanie Warren, and Carolyn Sue Cecil; standing from left, Brenda Dant McIntire and Paula Chandler Gray.
Class of 1974: From left, Vickie Bickett Groce, Karen Calhoun McCarty, and Laquita McIntyre McCarty.
Class of 1975: From left, Kay Drury Clark, Mary-Anne Causey Powers, and Lisa Calhoun Mulligan.
Class of 1976: Seated from left, Laura Schadler, Sheryl Sattazahn Thomas, Renee Mayhew Shoemaker, and Cheryl Calhoun Crisp; standing from left, Jane Powers Thomas, Karen Warren Gilbert, and Mary McCarty Stinnett.
Class of 1982: Seated from left are Brenda Basham Lee, Darlene Thompson May, and Carol Toon Clapp; standing from left are Maria Hayden, Alicia Cecil Harrington, and Lisa McCarthy West.
Four Warren sisters gathered for Alumnae Weekend. Seated from left are Karen Gilbert A’76, Rhonda Mischel A’73, Imelda Cecil A’71, and standing is Georgia Bottles A’68.

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