Alumnae Awards

Community Service Award
Honors an alumna who has shown outstanding dedication to serving her community and the dear neighbor without distinction in the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Gospel call to serve others.

Mary Pat Gallagher ’76
Founder & Executive Director | Lolly’s Place, Inc.

Mary Pat lives in St. Louis with her husband, Gerard Erker. They are the proud parents of five children, two of whom are SJA graduates, and 13 grandchildren.

A lifelong educator, Mary Pat has taught in early childhood, elementary, and university settings. She founded Little Flower’s Preschool and served as its first program director, and later worked as Manager of Outreach & Education at Channel 9, where she fondly remembers meeting Mr. Fred Rogers at a White House presentation.

After 23 years of teaching, Mary Pat recognized the academic barriers many students faced. In response, she created a “Traveling Tutor” program, visiting students’ homes to support their learning.

In 2015, she founded Lolly’s Place, a holistic nonprofit after-school tutoring and mentoring program for children who lack access to affordable academic support. What began with 23 students at Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City now serves 96 children across several locations, offering tutoring, reading intervention, ESL classes, and summer programs. Nearly 90% of students receive scholarships, and half are native Spanish speakers learning English.

Mary Pat earned her undergraduate degree from St. Louis University and a Master of Arts in Communication and Media Literacy from Webster University. She treasures her lifelong SJA friendships and credits St. Joseph’s Academy with instilling the value of service and the guiding principle, “Not I, But We.”

Professional Achievement Award
Honors an alumna who has attained significant professional accomplishment while carrying out the mission of St. Joseph’s Academy to “make a profound impact in the World.”

Lila Narkiewicz Kertz ’91
DNP, APRN, CPNP, AE-C
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Washington University
Pediatric Allergy & Pulmonary Medicine
Clinical Director of the Severe Asthma Clinic for Kids 

After graduating from St. Joseph’s Academy, Lila earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University and began her career in the NICU at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. She later received her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
 
At Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Lila became the first PNP in the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine and founded the Severe Asthma Clinic for Kids. In addition to her clinical leadership, research, and teaching, she has received several nursing and professional leadership awards recognizing her impact in pediatric healthcare.
 
Lila and her husband Dan are proud parents of Angels, Ella '21 and Grace '21, and Louis.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
Honors an alumna whose boldness, creativity, and drive exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and the Academy’s mission to “make a profound impact in the world.”

Emily Kertz Lampkin ’91
Founder Women Leaders Series

Emily is a sought-after speaker, author, and advisor who empowers women leaders across corporate, nonprofit, education, and political sectors to strengthen their skills and expand their impact. Through her dynamic “Women Leaders Series” workshop, she has trained thousands of women globally. Her debut book, Duct Tape and White Lies: A Woman’s Practical Guide to Real Life Success, released March 3, 2026.
 
A frequent media contributor and member of the U.S. Department of State Speakers Program, Emily promotes leadership development worldwide and serves as Northern Virginia’s representative to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. A proud St. Joseph’s Academy and University of Missouri graduate, she lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Trailblazing Spirit Award
Honors a young alumna who has risen rapidly and distinguished herself in her profession or service to her community. This award honors a graduate whose accomplishments and character reflect a deep commitment to excellence and reflect the values instilled at St. Joseph's Academy.

Mollie Harris Olson ’06
CEO ECOcentrix 
Since graduating from St. Joseph’s Academy in 2006, Mollie (Harris) Olson has turned her passion for health and the environment into a pioneering career in sustainable construction. She is the founder and CEO of ECOcentrix, a St. Louis-based contracting and energy firm, where for the past 15 years she has worked to help families and businesses live more sustainably.

A proud St. Louis native and third-generation entrepreneur, Mollie earned her Global MBA from Webster University, a program that took her to 27 countries and broadened her perspective on sustainable living and responsible energy use. Inspired by the entrepreneurial legacy of her father and grandfather, she returned home in 2011 to launch ECOcentrix, bridging the gap between technical energy efficiency and community wellbeing.

Mollie currently serves as the Energy Expert for the St. Louis County Building Code Review Committee, helping shape safer and more efficient infrastructure across the region. In 2020, she and her husband, Aaron, expanded ECOcentrix to include solar installations, and in 2024, the firm evolved into a full-service general contracting company working on projects ranging from large-scale roofing to high-end renovations for brands like Marriott.

Mollie reflects on her time at St. Joseph’s Academy as foundational. A former volleyball and basketball player, she credits the school’s values of faith, leadership, and service as guiding principles in her life today. Mollie and Aaron are raising their three children, who keep them just as busy and inspired as their growing company.