A Message to our Graduating Seniors and Legacy Families from Tamara Thorpe Odom '92, P'17 '23 and Sandra Odom '23

Tamara: I carry not only my own story but the legacy of generations of women in my family—women who walked the same halls, wore the same uniform, and absorbed the same values at the Academy of the Holy Names. I am a proud graduate of the Class of 1992 and even prouder to be the mother of two AHN graduates, in 2017 and 2023. Together with my sisters, who graduated in the late ’70s, and my daughter, who now thrives at Howard University, we are a tapestry of strength, purpose, and unwavering faith—all woven by the threads of this remarkable institution.

To be a legacy alumna of Holy Names is more than a title—it is a calling. The academy has not only been a school for our family but also a foundation, a compass, and a home. Here, we were not only educated but formed—taught to be rather than to seem, to develop character over appearance, and to pursue lives rooted in compassion and integrity. Esse Quam Videri wasn’t just a motto on the wall; it became a guiding principle etched into our lives. As a young student, I watched my sisters grow into confident, articulate women shaped by the school’s nurturing environment. That same influence carried me through my own journey, and later, I passed it on to my daughters. Watching them graduate filled me with pride—not just because of their accomplishments, but because of the kind of women they had become: thoughtful, resilient, grounded in faith, and driven by purpose.

Sandra: As a graduate of the Class of 2023 echoed my own reflections from decades earlier. As an African American young woman, I stood on the shoulders of our family’s matriarchs—myself, my aunts, and the quiet strength of my grandparents, especially my grandmother. Whose belief in education laid the foundation for all of us. My story is also a testament to the Academy’s enduring mission: to empower young women to define success not by titles or followers, but by character, courage, and compassion. In a world that often pushes young people to perform, to compare, to conform—the Academy of the Holy Names dares to teach them to be. To stand in their truth. To lead with empathy. To embrace their identities fully and unapologetically. That, to me, is the most powerful legacy of all.

Tamara: As a mother, an alumna, and now the witness to my daughters’ own growth, I am filled with gratitude. For the Sisters of the Holy Names, who built this mission. For the educators who continue to challenge and nurture. And for the community that continues to raise strong women who know that their worth is inherent, their voices matter, and their futures are limitless.

Sandra: We are living proof that a Holy Names education doesn't end with graduation. It lives on in every choice we make, every life we touch, and every bold, faithful step we take into the world. This legacy is not something we inherit—it’s something we build, live, and pass on. And that is the greatest gift we can offer the world.

A message from Donna Galanti '86, AHN's High School Graduation Alumna Keynote Speaker and Veteran:

"As you embark on new journeys you leave Holy Names behind but also take it with you. Your community here will always be a part of your foundation—and your world. Spread that community spirit as you move through life but never forget how that seed grew here, giving you permission to be your true self. 

Connecting your Holy Names past to your present and future is a powerful thread to lift you up in life—and a way to honor where you came from. And a way to pass on what you learn to future graduates."

Have you recently celebrated a personal or professional milestone? This could include a new home, addition to your family, you just graduated or beginning your graduate studies, received a job promotion or recognition in your community, recently retired or about to travel.

Please email me your information and pictures to be included in our upcoming EQV magazine.