Alumnae E-Newsletter | March 2025

Giving Day - March 12 & 13

Watch a special Giving Day video above from some members of the Alumnae Board.

An Appeal from Our Alumnae Board of Trustees Members:

Dear Carondelet Sisters,

As proud members of the Carondelet Board of Trustees, we are thrilled to be a part of Carondelet's Giving Day on March 12 and 13. Our theme this year is "Believe in Her," a call to action that celebrates the strength, potential, and future of every student at Carondelet.

This Giving Day, we invite you to stand with us in support of our school, just as Carondelet has supported and shaped each of us. Carondelet Giving Day is more than a fundraiser—it's an opportunity to demonstrate our belief in the power of women and to create lasting change for the next generation of students. Your participation helps us show the world the deep engagement of our alumnae community and strengthens our mission.

There are many ways to get involved this year:

Make a Gift—whether $10, $20, or more, every contribution counts. Early bird donors receive special incentives
Share our Campaign on Social Media—spread the word and inspire others to get involved
Encourage Friends and Family to join in—your support and advocacy create a ripple effect that touches more hearts

Our goal is not just about reaching a monetary target, but about showing the depth of our collective support. Whether you’re able to give, advocate, or share, your participation sends a powerful message to our community and beyond.

Let’s come together and Believe in Her, in the heart of Carondelet, and in the future we are shaping together.

With gratitude for our sisterhood,

Nancy O'Malley ’71, Dr. Rosanne Siino ’80, & Jennifer Ghelfi De Smedt ’85

Carondelet Board of Trustees

If you would like to be a part of our Phone-A-Thon, reach out to Alumnae Relations.

The Power of Her

takes the Power of Us!

We’ve shared plans with the extended Carondelet community and now look forward to strong partnership and investment in this important project. The sooner we fund this campaign, the sooner our students will be in their new space, using it to maximize their promise and potential every day. This project is five months—start to finish—so if we fundraise fast we can break ground this spring and be ready to welcome students to the Boscacci Performance Center as they start school in the fall.

The Power of Her takes the Power of Us. Please reach out to the Development team to continue the conversation, share ideas, and explore giving opportunities.

Thank you for using your power to empower her!

Senior Luncheon - May 2, 2025

“I’ll be there for you... 👏👏👏👏”

Let’s welcome our “Friends” of the class of 2025 into our alumnae community at their first official alumnae event—the Senior Luncheon!

All alumnae are invited to share in this special lunch hour with us on Friday, May 2. We would love to welcome you back to help serve lunch, say a word or two to our newest members, and be a part of the celebration. Please reach out to Alumnae Relations for more information on how to be involved.

We look forward to celebrating together!

Upcoming Events

Carondelet Easter Egg Hunt

Hop on over to the Carondelet Athletics Complex (CAC) on Saturday, April 12, for mid-morning fun with family and friends! Doors open and festivities begin at 10:00 AM. This fun day includes face painting, Easter-themed activities, coloring, and more. Carrie the Cougar and the Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance. The Easter Egg Hunt will start promptly at 10:30 AM.

We’ll have light snacks and drinks to enjoy on-site, and we invite families to bring a picnic and enjoy the facilities in tandem with the Easter fun.

If you would like to attend, please register here.

To support this activity, we are asking for $20 per family. Any proceeds and additional donations will benefit the Carondelet Fund, which touches nearly everyone and everything that makes up a Carondelet education. If you have questions or want to help with the planning of the event, please reach out!

You can also help by purchasing eggs and egg fillers from our Amazon supply list.

Alumni Theater Night & Winton Art Show - Thursday, April 10

The De La Salle & Carondelet Theater Company is celebrating 51 years! Join fellow alumni for a short reception before watching as Company presents: Hadestown Teen Edition. Mix and mingle while viewing artwork from our talented art students in the LAPC at De La Salle.

All are welcome, whether or not you participated in Company during your time at school. We are happy to offer one complimentary ticket to each alumna. Please fill out this form so we can get a headcount.

Save the Date: Cougar Classic - Monday, May 5

Join us for a day of fun at the Round Hill Country Club golf course at the Cougar Classic! Tickets and foursomes go on sale Monday, March 31—stay tuned for details.

Not a golfer? No problem! Volunteer at the Alumnae Hole, where we’ll be serving up Cougaritas and connecting with fellow alumnae. A shift sign-up form will be available soon, or reach out to Toni Garcia ’11 for more information.

Bay FC vs. Washington Spirit - Saturday, August 23

Let's unite to support the local women's soccer team, Bay FC, and cheer for our former Cougar, Kaylie Collins ’16. Save the date for an exciting match at PayPal Park on Saturday, August 23, at 1:00 PM!

Tickets will go on sale in April! We hope to see you there!

More Upcoming Dates and Events:

Wed, Mar. 12: Giving Day Phone-A-Thon evening

Thu, Mar. 13: Giving Day Phone-A-Thon evening

Wed, Apr. 9: Board Meeting

Sat, Apr. 12: Easter Egg Hunt

Fri, May 2: Senior Luncheon

Mon, May 5: Cougar Classic

Happening on Campus

She Reads, She Rises: Changing Lives One Chapter at a Time

Carondelet Lenten Project 2025

This year, Carondelet's Lenten Project is dedicated to supporting the AIC All-Girls Primary Boarding School—where 700 girls, including those rescued from FGM, early marriages, and abuse, find sanctuary and an education. Our community will be collecting books and donating them to the school, helping to provide these young women with the resources they need to learn, dream, and build a brighter future.

Learn more about the Donation Drive here.

Join us in making a lasting impact—because every girl deserves the chance to write her own future.

Want to get involved? The Alumnae Association will be collecting books at our Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for the school in Kenya. Bring a new or gently used book (preferably paperback) to our Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, or contact us about giving a monetary donation to help with getting the books to Kenya.

Making a Meaningful Social Impact

Thirty-seven students participated in Carondelet Ventures’ 2025 Social Impact Challenge on Friday, February 21. Formerly known as The Hackathon, this annual event encourages students to design innovative solutions to modern problems in just one day.

This year’s theme, “Generation Mindful: Creating Better Mental Health Solutions for Youth, Teens, & Young Adults in America,” pushed students to go beyond statistics and social media trends to address root causes of mental health concerns.

Working in teams, students developed business models, marketing strategies, and budgets while building essential skills like collaboration and negotiation. By lunch, teams had functional prototypes and prepared for final presentations before a panel of judges.

Congratulations to all seven teams, especially the Best Overall Social Impact Award winners (Selam A. ’28, Cailey B. ’28, Serena H. ’28, Val M. ’27, Karli M. ’25, and Isabella P.F. ’27) for their mental health platform, “Mindscape.”

Alumnae Spotlight:

Makenna Zimmerman ’16

A Journey of Passion, Dedication, and Dance

From excelling in collegiate dance to making waves in the professional dance and corporate world, Makenna Zimmerman’s journey is a testament to perseverance, passion, and an unyielding drive for success.

Makenna graduated from Long Beach State with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Dance. During college, she was a member of the D1 dance team, worked with the Universal Dance Association (UDA) traveling nationwide to teach and assist in competitions, and studied abroad in Denmark as part of a corporate communications program.

Click Here to Read the Full Article

Athletics Updates

The Carondelet basketball team had an incredible regular season, facing the highest-ranked strength of schedule among all teams in the California Interscholastic Federation, North Coast Section (NCS). The team showed their grit and determination, winning an impressive 10 games in a row, and entered post-season play as one of the top-ranked teams in the NCS Open Division. They now move on to the Regional Semi-Finals of the CIF State Playoffs TONIGHT, March 8, 6:00 PM, at Carondelet! Come and cheer them on! Get your tickets here!

The Carondelet soccer team continued a rich tradition of excellence. The team went undefeated to earn the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) Championship, marking the 29th League Championship in the soccer program's history. The team had a 16-game winning streak, showcasing their skill and resilience. Their strong performance earned them the the title of the #1 ranked team in the NCS Division 1 Playoffs.

Upcoming Spring Sports SOS (Support Our Sisters) Games:

Fri, Mar. 21: Stunt vs. Monte Vista, 5:00 PM, at Carondelet Main Campus

Thu, Apr. 3: Softball vs. San Ramon Valley, 4:00 PM, at the CAC

Visit the Carondelet Athletics Website

Fall Signing Day

Read the article about our Committed Cougars at the Student Commitment Signing Day in the fall of 2024!

(L to R): Ellie Butler ‘25, Vanderbilt University; Abigail Cheun ‘25, Rider University; Jessica Drobick ‘25, University of Pennsylvania; Bella Ehrlich ‘25, Boston College; Miranda Goldner ‘25, University of Idaho; Lillie King ‘25, Saint Michael's College; Katie Lakin ‘25, University of Mississippi; Maia Scholtens ‘25, University of California, Davis; Samantha Walker ‘25, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

All-Class Grand Reunion Summer Celebration

Save the Date: Saturday, August 9

No matter what year you attended Carondelet or De La Salle, we want to celebrate you at this summer’s Grand Reunion!

Join us back on campus on Saturday, August 9, to reconnect with classmates, enjoy dinner and drinks, and dance the night away to live music from Mustache Harbor!

This year, we’re giving an extra special shout-out to the fabulous classes ending in 5 and 0, but all 21+ graduates are welcome. Registration is coming soon. Please check here for current information and updates.

To assist in the planning of this event or if you have any questions, please reach out to Alumnae Relations.

If you would like to plan your own mini class reunion and need help gathering contact information, please email Alumnae Relations.

Update Your Information & Share Your Life Events!

Have you started a new job, moved, added a new member to your family, or maybe even published a book? Share your updates with us here and keep in touch!

In Memoriam:

If you would like to share the loss of a loved one, please use this link.