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Academy grads return to Maple Mount for Alumnae Weekend

Opening Mount Saint Joseph Academy was the reason the Ursuline Sisters came to Maple Mount 150 years ago. On Aug. 25, 2024, more than 100 “Mount Girls” returned to enjoy Alumnae Weekend, the all-class reunion that was a bit more special this year thanks to the Sisters’ anniversary.

The alumnae officers chose to utilize the 150th anniversary theme, “Cultivating the Vine Saint Angela Entrusted to Us.” During the 118th business meeting, the Alumnae Association agreed to donate $1,000 to an Oct. 26 event to pack 50,000 meals to feed starving children, a service project for the anniversary year. Alums matched that gift with $1,100, for a total of $2,100.

Two nonprofit organizations that are led by Academy graduates – Casa Ursulina, led by Sister Mimi Ballard A’66, and Water By Women, led by Sister Larraine Lauter A’77 – also received $1,000 donations from the Alumnae Association. Individual donations increased the total donations to $2,200 for Casa Ursulina and $2,300 for Water By Women. Alumnae who were not present can still make donations to these three wonderful efforts by writing a check to the Ursuline Sisters, noting the charity of their choice, and mailing to the attention of Doreen Abbott, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 542356.

During Mass in the Motherhouse Chapel, alumnae officers read the names of all the alumnae whose deaths were reported since August 2023. You can find the list of those names here.

One of the highlights of Alumnae Weekend is the selection of two Academy graduates as winners of the Maple Leaf Award. The award is 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 the honorees were Brenda Dant McIntire A’73, and Sister Elaine Burke A’49. McIntire was nominated by Sister Vivian Bowles for the extensive service she gives to her church community. Sister Elaine was nominated by the Alumnae officers for her extensive ministries through 74 years as an Ursuline Sister. Sister Elaine is celebrating 75 years since her graduation from the Academy.

“Sister Elaine, you make the rest of us look like we’re standing still,” said Stephanie Warren, alumnae president. You can read about Sister Elaine’s high school years here.

The next Alumnae Weekend will be Aug. 23-24, 2025. Here are pictures from the day.

Pat Wedding Stelmach A’68, left, shares a laugh prior to Mass with Sister Karla Kaelin A’63.
Shirley Bickett Warren A'72 talks with Mary Beth Bickett Andrews A’71 prior to Mass.
Phyllis Bresnik A’66, and her sister Mary Costello A’65, both of California, take advantage of the additional seating in the Motherhouse Chapel as Mass was about to begin.
1973 classmates Rhonda Warren Mischel, left, Marian Lanham, center, and Brenda Dant McIntire react as they see more classmates enter the Chapel.
Sally Buford A’64, prepares to carry in the processional cross, as Sister Larraine Lauter A’77 and Father Ray Goetz, chaplain at the Mount, enter.
The musicians and cantors for Mass included Tina Weber Smith A’74 on the piano, Vicki Bickett Groce A’74 on mandolin and the cantors from left, Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger A’58, Sister Elaine Burke A’49, Pat Schwartz Cook A’72, Jenny Speaks McGee A’70, and Sister Amelia Stenger A’67.
Sister Larraine Lauter A'77 proclaims the first reading from the book of Joshua.
Becky Collins Morris, A’71, proclaims the second reading from Ephesians.
Sister Elaine Burke A’49, reads the intercessions. Sister Elaine was the oldest returning alum in 2024.
Mary Gertrude Brand A’54, right, and her daughter LaWanna Brand hand the altar gifts to Father Ray Goetz.
Stephanie Warren A’73, left, president of the Alumnae Association, and Paula Chandler Gray A’73, treasurer, read the names of all the alumnae whose deaths were reported since August 2023. After every five sets of names, the congregation sang “Saints of God in Glory.”
Tina Weber Smith, left, and Vicki Bickett Groce, center, both 1974 graduates, talk with Marian Lanham A’73 in Maple Hall.
Mary Margaret Drury A’66, left, chats with her classmate Dolores Biddle Lundy in Maple Hall before the banquet began.
Sister Jacinta Powers A’72, talks about the food packing event the Ursuline Sisters are having on Oct. 26 to help feed starving children. The Alumnae Association and alumnae combined to donate $2,100 for the effort, which is part of the 150th anniversary celebration for the Sisters.
Brenda Dant McIntire A’73, hugs Sister Vivian Bowles, who nominated her for the Maple Leaf Award, as Paula Chandler Gray looks on.
Brenda Dant McIntire A’73, center, poses with Sister Vivian Bowles A’57, and Stephanie Warren, A’73, Alumnae Association president.
Brenda Dant McIntire A’73, center, poses with her nominator, Sister Vivian Bowles A'57, and the Alumnae Association officers. From left are Mary Danhauer A’71, Sister Vivian, Paula Chandler Gray A’73, Brenda, Stephanie Warren A’73, and Jenny Speaks McGee A’70.
Sister Elaine Burke A’49, center, gets a hug from Stephanie Warren A’73, and a standing ovation from her fellow alums after she was named one of two winners of the Maple Leaf Award.
Sister Elaine Burke A’49, center, holds her Maple Leaf Award with the officers of the Alumnae Association. From left are Paula Chandler Gray A’73, Mary Danhauer A’71, Stephanie Warren A’73, and Jenny Speaks McGee A’70.
Tina Weber Smith A’74, right, holds the painting she won as a door prize that was created by Brenda Faye Lee A’82.

Class Photos

Class of 1949, Sister Elaine Burke.
Class of 1951, Sister Ruth Gehres.
Class of 1954, Mary Gertrude Brand.
Class of 1956, from left, Patsy Thompson Clayton, Peggy Murphy McCarthy and Jeanie Bickett Calhoun.
Class of 1957, from left, Sister Vivian Bowles and Sister Ann Patrice Cecil.
Class of 1958, Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger.
Class of 1959, from left, Sister Nancy Murphy and Joy Robinson Keller.
Class of 1962, Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner.
Class of 1963, Phyllis Thomas Troutman, Lila Basham Frederick and Sister Karla Kaelin.
Class of 1964, Sally Murphy Buford and Sister Mary Henning.
Class of 1965, Mary Costello and Sue Timbrook O’Bryan.
Class of 1966, seated from left, Sister Maureen O’Neill, Cecilia Robinette McEldowney, Susan Thomas Allgeier, and Elaine McCarty Glenn; standing from left, Sister Suzanne Sims, Dolores Biddle Lundy, Phyllis Costello Bresnik, Mary Murphy Riney and Mary Margaret Drury.
Class of 1967, from left, Sister Amelia Stenger and Sister Claudia Hayden.
Class of 1968, seated from left, Pat Wedding Stelmach, Sara Olges Holden, Deborah Lord Campisano, Sister Pam Mueller; standing from left, Judy DeWeese King, Rita Molohon Beckman, Georgia Warren Bottles, Carole Caummisar Sanders, and Alice Ann Cecil Biscopink.
Class of 1969, Sister Cheryl Clemons and Betty Drury Byrne.
Class of 1970, from left, Kathy Ford Young, Jenny Speaks McGee, Beth Calhoun Henderson, Becky Henderson McCarty.
Class of 1971, seated from left, Becky Collins Morris, Mary Danhauer, WaNell Stallings Lanham, Carolyn Drury McCarty; standing from left, Mary Beth Bickett Andrews, Barbara Drury Hutchins, Mary Carol Riney, Mary Ann Cecil Ebelhar and Maria Ransdell.
Class of 1972, seated from left, Dorothy Ford Riggs, Mary Ann Carr, Mary Ann Shewmaker Willett; standing from left, Pat Schwartz Cook, Sister Jacinta Powers and Shirley Bickett Warren.
Class of 1973, seated from left, Stephanie Warren, Rhonda Warren Mischel, and Brenda Dant McIntire; standing from left are Marian Lanham and Paula Chandler Gray.
Class of 1974, seated from left, Tamara Warren, Eileen Cassidy Peterson, Lynn Hofer, Diane Bickett, and Karen Timbrook Roark; standing from left, Laquita McIntyre McCarty, Karen Calhoun McCarty, Janet Meyer Calhoun, Vicki Bickett Groce, Donna Murphy, and Tina Weber Smith.
Class of 1975, from left, Lisa Calhoun Mulligan, Jane Bratcher, Kay Drury Clark and Mary-Anne Cossey Powers.
Combined classes of 1976 and 77, from left, Renee Mayhew Shoemaker A’76; Sister Larraine Lauter and Elaine Clouse Foster, both A’77.
Class of 1982, Brenda Faye Lee.

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