MSM Award Recipients

Each year, during Alumnae Weekend, Mount St. Mary Academy recognizes three individuals who have shown themselves to be outstanding leaders in the school community, as well as ambassadors of the school's spirit.

Alumna of the Year: Recognizes an alumna who exemplifies the Mount St. Mary spirit in her daily life. Selected by the MSM Alumnae Board from nominations submitted by the public.

Past recipients are:

• 1981 Helen Wesley
• 1982 Sr. Barbara Riter '54
• 1983 Patricia Moss Means '54
• 1984 Mary L. Almeter '48
• 1985 Barbara Balling Tucker '51
• 1987 Kathleen Flynn Clune '58
• 1988 Maria Dispenza Lagona '78
• 1989 Laura Kucharski '38
• 1990 Sr. Maris Stella Beecher
• 1991 Rosemary Kniffin Baer '41; Sr. Barbara Whelen; Sr. Lori High '75
• 1992 Christine Robinson Smolen '64
• 1992 Kathleen Murphy Mayfield '73
• 1992 Sr. Mary Helen Oates '32
• 1993 Margaret Roth; Helen MacMillan; Grace Donius; Alice Rozan; Elizabeth Scanlon; Ann Niland Murphy
• 1994 Sr. Mary Eileen Quinn '57
• 1994 The Sisters of St. Mary of Namur
• 1995 Carla Damiani Young '65
• 1995 Sr. Judith Carroll '64
• 1995 Sr. Marie Julianne Farrington '48
• 1996 Sr. Patricia Brady '59
• 1996 Laura Heimback Graham '73
• 1996 Jodie Laughlin '86
• 1997 Dawn Hurley Riggie '71
• 1998 Phyllis Barth Harth '37
• 1998 Nancy Brossway Allaire Donohue '47
• 1998 Mary Anne McCarthy Dow '52
• 1998 Sr. Rita Claire Pfaff '56
• 1998 Michelle Boutet Deyell '62
• 1999 Joan Planz Spencer '58; Jacqueline Vitale Hare '69; Elizabeth Volk McMahon '71; Cynthia Zeisz Vanderbrook '81
• 2000 Donna Hoelscher Suchan '81; Donna Carney Spicer '54; Maureen Hitzges Meyer '56; Mary Jo Berg Butler '63
• 2001 Sr. Mary Thompson '45; Marcella Forde Uhlman '54
• 2002 Marianne DeNisco LoDestro '72; Laurie Styka Bloom '76
• 2003 Margaret Almeter Shotwell '86; Debra Hall-Stonish '71; Angela Lagenor '70
• 2004 Genevieve DeNisco DeCarlo '76; Leah Stephens Luhr Snyder '49
• 2005 Barbara Warren Strzyz '60
• 2006 Francine Militello Mergl '69
• 2007 Mary Patricia Pauly '67
• 2008 Anne Kohl '84
• 2009 Patricia Sheehan Evans '49; Penniston Rae Kieffer '71; Monica Saltarelli '82
• 2010 Sr. Marian Baumler '58
• 2011 Kathleen Shanahan '76
• 2012 Anne Jakiel McBride '74
• 2013 Christine Mitrowski Bylewski '70
• 2014 Mary Teresa Furfari Colson '54
• 2015 Patricia Kennedy Larkin '45
• 2015 Elizabeth Reiser '75
• 2016 Claudia Catalano Lasting '78
• 2017 Ann Marie Luhr '80
• 2018 Sr. Roberta Thoen, SSMN '61
• 2019 Rachael Romano Kittleson ’89
• 2020 & 2021 Eve Pedini Wells '84; Jennifer Englert DeRose '89
• 2022 Deborah Keenan '66
• 2023 Mary Balkin Cannata '08

Sophia Award: Recognizes an alumna who has distinguished herself in her chosen career through wisdom and dedication. Selected by the MSM Administration.

Past recipients are

• 1993 Sr. Mary Robert Thompson '45
• 2011 Mary Jenkins Roberts '73
• 2012 Diane Petrella Bodman '65
• 2013 Bonny Butler '64
• 2014 Susan Genco '84
• 2015 Mary Feeney Burich '79
• 2016 Christina Bisset Abt '69
• 2017 Nancy Connolly Polino '79
• 2018 Sara Czaja '71
• 2019 Kathleen Higgins Kanaley ’69
• 2020 & 2021 Davina Moss, PhD '86 & Jennifer George Walsh, MD '90
• 2022 Dr. Erin Biro Bui '98
• 2023 Dr. Roslyn Romanowski '78

Distinguished Educator Award: Recognizes a teacher who has greatly influenced the lives of Mount St. Mary Academy alumnae. Current teachers are exempt. Selected by the MSM Administration.

Past recipients are:

• 2011 Sr. Mary Robert Thompson '45, SSMN
• 2012 Miss Grace Majewski
• 2013 The Sisters of St. Mary
• 2014 Mrs. Joanne Champion Granger
• 2015 Mr. Kenneth Feltges and Mrs. Trudy Feltges
• 2016 Sr. Frances Deffge, SSMN
• 2017 Sr. Regina Murphy, SSMN (formerly Sr. Damian)
• 2018 Nancy Strychasz
• 2019 Dawn Hurley Riggie '71
• 2020 & 2021 Anne Clancy; Tim O'Shei
• 2022 Mary Ann Fancher
• 2023 Jennifer Pitz-Jones '96

Do you know an outstanding MSM Alumna or faculty member that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them by filling out the form below!