St. Joseph's Academy

SJA Mission Statement

St. Joseph’s Academy is a private, Catholic high school for girls in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Our mission is to provide quality Catholic education for young women in an environment that challenges them to grow in faith, knowledge, and respect for self and others. Our community expects these young women to make a profound impact in the world.

Giving

St. Joseph's Academy is proud to celebrate 175 years of excellence in education. SJA students excel in an environment of world-class learning, faith-based education, and an emphasis on service to the dear neighbor. In the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph, SJA graduates truly embody the school's motto of "Not I, But We."

The Alumnae Association seeks nominations for the awards from all alumnae and members of the St. Joseph's Academy community. A committee made up of members of the Alumnae Council reviews the materials submitted for each candidate and selects those persons whose achievements most closely fit the criteria for the award and who are deemed most deserving of recognition. The names of those selected are then recommended to the Alumnae Council and the administrative team for approval. In 2005, the alumnae awards program was expanded to recognize more alumnae each year and their notable contributions.

2019 Distinguished Alumnae Award Recipients

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Excellence in Leadership Award - Kristin Folkl Kaburakis ’94
The purpose of this award is to recognize a “values-driven woman leader,” a characteristic St. Joseph’s Academy strives to foster in its alumnae. The award will be given to an alumna who:
- Maintains a leadership role within her professional, social, civic, or religious communities;
- Has promoted significant success or progress through her leadership;
- Influences others with confidence, compassion, and respect; and
- Exemplifies the values of St. Joseph’s Academy through her leadership.
In Service to the Academy Outstanding Class Representative Award - Mary Catherine McDonnell Finnegan ‘45
The purpose of this award is to recognize an alumna who serves as a class representative and has made sincere contributions to her class and to the Academy. The award will be given to an alumna who:
- Has demonstrated her loyalty and dedication to St. Joseph’s Academy and the Alumnae Association;
- Influences her class with compassion and respect;
- Exemplifies the values of St. Joseph’s Academy through her service to the Academy.
Mary Lawless Denness ’56 ‘Not I, But We’ Award - Mary Beth Garr Schwarz ’82
The purpose of this award is to recognize a selfless alumna who embodies the St. Joseph’s Academy motto “Not I, but We” by contributing her unique gifts to benefit the greater good. The award will be given to an alumna who:
- Has shown outstanding commitment to carrying out the St. Joseph’s Academy motto “Not I, but We” through her compassionate nature and selfless acts benefiting others; and
- Exemplifies the values of St. Joseph’s Academy through her self-sacrificing service.
Professional Achievement Award - Christy Gunn Ambrose ’05
The purpose of this award is to recognize an alumna who has accomplished significant professional achievement in her field or organization. The award will be given to an alumna who:
- Positions herself to carry out the St. Joseph’s Academy mission of “making a profound impact in the world”;
- Has demonstrated success in her professional or entrepreneurial endeavors;
- Has “broken barriers” or otherwise promoted significant progress/innovation in her field or organization;
- Influences others with confidence, compassion, and respect; and
- Exemplifies the values of St. Joseph’s Academy through her contributions to her field or organization.
Service to the Academy Award - Mimi Nusrala Meskill ’81
The purpose of this award is to recognize an alumna who has made significant contributions of her time, talent, and treasure to The Academy. The award will be given to an alumna who:
- Has demonstrated her deep loyalty to St. Joseph’s Academy and her dedication to The Academy’s continued development and advancement;
- Contributes significant time, talent, and treasure to St. Joseph’s Academy or the Alumnae Association; and
- Exemplifies the values of St. Joseph’s Academy through her service to The Academy.

- 2018 Alumnae Award Recipients

Alumnae Awards Over the Years

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Past Recipients

1980 - 1981
Marianne McNeive Goedeker ‘55^†Alumnae of the Year Award

1982 – 1983
Mary Lawless Denness ‘56^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1983 – 1984
Berenice Hall Donahue ‘25^†
Alumnae of the Year Award
Carol Tschopp Groneck ‘55
Alumnae of the Year Award
Joan Amendola Coulter ‘69
Alumnae of the Year Award

1984 – 1985
Nancy Nordmann LaVigne ‘63
Alumnae of the Year Award
Janet Fernau Horn ‘55
Alumnae of the Year Award

1985 – 1986
Kathleen Felke Baalmann ‘55
Alumnae of the Year Award

1986 – 1987
Margaret B. Flaven ‘25^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1987 – 1988
Rosemary Ward Wellington ‘38^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1988 – 1989
Patricia Flood ‘74
Alumnae of the Year Award

1989 – 1990
Nancy Picraux Mueller ‘55
Alumnae of the Year Award

1990 – 1991
Cecilia Reichert Paszkiewicz ‘33^†
Alumnae of the Year Award
Peggy Murphy Nestor ‘46^†
Alumnae of the Year Award
Mary Virginia Downey Cline ‘51^†
Alumnae of the Year Award
Rosemary Mantia Quigley ‘63
Alumnae of the Year Award

1991 – 1992
Sr. Mary de Paul Berra^† (honorary)
Alumnae of the Year Award

1992 – 1993
Jane Fowler Walsh ‘62
Alumnae of the Year Award

1993 – 1994
Kitty Jordan Williams ‘67^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1994 – 1995
Anne F. Lamb ‘37^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1994 – 1995
Patricia A. Walsh ‘39^†
Alumnae of the Year Award

1995 – 1996
Susan Niemeier Paster ‘62
Alumnae of the Year Award

1996 – 1997
Kathleen Nestor Frey ‘71
Alumnae of the Year Award

1997 – 1998
Mary Cay McDonnell Finnegan ‘45
Alumnae of the Year Award

1998 – 1999
Deborah Bird ‘78
Alumnae of the Year Award

1999 – 2000
Anne Nestor Blind ‘73
Alumnae of the Year Award

1999 - 2000
Bonnye Brimmer Perry ‘59
Alumnae of the Year Award

2000 - 2001
Patricia McLaughlin O’Brien ‘80
Alumnae of the Year Award

2002 - 2003
Kathleen McLaughlin Armstrong ‘84
Alumnae of the Year Award

2003 - 2004
Mary Jo McLaughlin ‘81
Alumnae of the Year Award

2004 – 2005
Mary Noel Brueggestrass Donovan ‘81
Alumnae of the Year Award

2006
Megan Lane Siebenman ’91
Not I, But We Award
Julie Goessling Matheny ’79
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award
Henrietta Binder Osterholt† ’41
Pioneering Spirit Award

2007
Connie Boschert Diekman ’68
Excellence in Leadership Award
Roseanne Cook, CSJ ’57
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award

2008
Susan Eisenhart Conrad ’83
Excellence in Leadership Award
Laura Hoemeke ’82
Pioneering Spirit Award
Ruth O’Neill Stroble ’48
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award
Rosemary Ward Wellington† ’38
Not I, But We Award

2009
Helen Petropoulos ’58
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award
Mary Petropoulos ’60
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award

2010
Mary Lawless Denness† ’56
Not I, But We Award
Heidi Cerneka ’83
Serving the Dear Neighbor Award

2011
Helen Antoine ’81
Excellence in Leadership Award
Elizabeth Tomber ’01
Pioneering Spirit Award

2012
Mary Laurent Duggan, CSJ† ’37
Excellence in Leadership Award
Erin Hopmann ’99
Pioneering Spirit Award

2016
Carolyn Cassani Ring ’60
Service to the Academy Award
Wendy Hermann Steele ’81
Community Service Award
Jessica Linck McElman ’94
Professional Achievement Award
Susanne Noonan Taylor ’82
‘Not I, But We’ Award

2017
Patty Fagan Briguglio ’71
Professional Achievement Award
Marlise Schmitz Albert ’93
Excellence in Leadership Award
Mary Clare Byrne Darland ’84
Community Service Award
Jeanne Wilson ’75
Service to the Academy Award

2018
Dr. Angela DeMichele ’83
Professional Achievement Award
Nicki Klinkhamer Burke ’96
Excellence in Leadership Award
Mary Barnes Sauer ’84
Community Service Award
Jill Slay Garlich ’80
Mary Lawless Denness ’56 ‘Not I, But We’ Award
Lynda Langhi Wright ’58
Service to the Academy Award

†Deceased