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UPCOMING EVENTS
See what's happening this month.
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PORTRAIT OF AN OAKCREST GRADUATE
Meet our alumnae
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THEN AND NOW
A pictorial history of Oakcrest then and now
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ALUMNIFIRE
Network with Oakcrest alumnae
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ALUMNAE NEWS
Share your news and update your
contact information
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ALUMNAE PRAYER INTENTIONS
Submit your prayer intentions
| 2024 Alumnae Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch | |
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Greetings from
Maritere (Gramatges '91) Crum
Alumnae Relations Coordinator
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Dear Oakies,
The month of May is always busy for everyone with Graduations, First Communions, and Mother's Day. May is also when we host our last official alumnae event of the school year. This year's Alumnae Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch was held on May 18 and was the largest to date! I enjoyed seeing so many alumnae and their families, and it brought me great joy to welcome our soon-to-be alumnae, the Class of 2024, to our alumnae family! Graduation for the Class of 2024 will be on Saturday, June 8; we'd love to have you join us!
Maritere
| Maritere (Gramatges '91) Crum with her daughters at the annual Alumnae Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch | |
Commencement for the Class of 2024
Saturday, June 8 10 am
McGowan Family Athletic Center
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Thank you to all our alumnae who attended this year's Gala and Auction, and to all those that contributed to our alumnae auction basket "Sporty Spice". Our basket helped bring in $300 this year. A very special thank you goes out to Tara (Hill '11) Van Zoeren for helping to put together the alumnae basket. Thank you, Tara!
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Annual Alumnae Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch keeps growing!
On May 18, almost 100 alumnae, their moms, grandmothers, and daughters, along with members of the Class of 2024 and their mothers and grandmothers gathered together for our annual Alumnae Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch. The morning began with Mass and a beautiful homily by Oakcrest Chaplain, Fr. Gerry Kolf. Afterwards, all gathered in the lobby, where Father blessed the newly installed painting of Our Lady of Oakcrest which was painted by alumnae, Nicole (Bourgea '99) Gleason. In Walsh Hall, mimosas, a delicious brunch, and several presentations and raffles were enjoyed by all. In keeping with this year's theme of nostalgia, we are grateful to alumna, Celina (Heeter '95) Schneider for her retrospective keynote address about her time at Oakcrest and now that she is a current Oakcrest parent!
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Alumnae Return for Senior Lead Day
On May 22, several alumnae returned to campus
to offer the Class of 2024 advice on wellness and practical tips for college. Thank you to Laura (Rowell '96) O'Neill, Giorgina (Agostini '15) Narango, Alexa Lerner '21, Rima Al-Mosawy '23, Natalie Major '23 and Giana Castillo '23!
Read more about Lead Days here.
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Congratulations to Our Newest
Alumna Attorney
Katie (McNeish '16) Hill shared that she graduated from UVA Law on May 19 and accepted her diploma while holding 6-month-old Clare Marie Hill. She is now studying to take the DC bar and will begin working at Morrison Forester in the fall. Congratulations, Katie!
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Congratulations to the Oakcrest Class of 2020 on their College Graduations!
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Catherine (Heeter '99) Bishop
Since graduating from Oakcrest School, both family and work commitments have taken Catherine (Heeter ’99) Bishop around the globe. From Jordan and Bahrain to now living in Santiago, Chile with her husband, Matthew, and their six children, Catherine takes the Oakcrest spirit with her wherever she goes.
“Being a Yuma campus Oakie, I learned very early on to make the most of my circumstances and surroundings,” she said, “to not allow the less-than-ideal conditions limit my opportunities.”
“Oakcrest, with no stage, no theatre, no consistent practice space, was able to put on world-class variety shows year after year,” Catherine continued. “Our sports teams were all competitive in our league and consistently won banners - we had grit and desire to do our best and be our best, no matter what. I absorbed this lesson through the example of my teachers, coaches, and mentors and have been able to draw on it in the years that followed.”
Catherine attended the University of Dallas, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in politics and international studies in 2003, which set her up for an exciting and “unconventional career path,” as she says. “I have worked on Capitol Hill, managed a coffee shop, opened restaurants, been an office manager, a caterer, a first-grade teacher, worked in embassies coordinating VIP visits, all while managing a household of eight and moving every couple of years across continents and time zones.”
“My career trajectory has been anything but conventional. I was a college junior on September 11, 2001. My post college plans changed, and I had to adapt to the changing circumstances that came with dating then marrying a soldier in a time of war. We moved cross country twice and then endured several deployments. Every move brought challenges and opportunities that had me reinventing myself and my ‘career’. These jobs: Hill staffer, coffee manager, office manager, teacher, embassy employee, pushed me to constantly take stock of my skills and look at them in a new way - what can I bring to this job that no one else can? How can I do more with less?”
Read Catherine's full story here.
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There are Oakies living all over the world. Above is the Oakcrest AlumniFire map indicating where are Oakcrest alumnae are living and studying. Oakcrest AlumniFire can help you connect with fellow Oakies around the globe! | |
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International Program
Since 2010, ninety-seven (97) international students have enrolled for either a semester or year-long immersion program at Oakcrest School. Oakcrest has welcomed students from Argentina, Chile, China, Guatemala, Korea, Mexico, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, and Spain. International students take the same courses as all Oakcrest students and live with host families whose daughters currently attend Oakcrest. Director of International Programs Mrs. Sara Bendeck says that, “When the time comes to say goodbye, (our exchange students) do feel like Oakies.”
“Our girls love hosting the international students, they welcome them and make sure that they feel part of the school in just a short time,” she continues. “It’s hard for the students to say goodbye and they take Oakcrest in their hearts for the years to come. It truly impacts their life.”
Oakcrest also welcomes our sister schools from Peru, Costa Rica, and Argentina for day visits throughout the year.
For the 2024-2025 school year, four students will attend Oakcrest from Spain, China, and Peru. Three students will stay for the whole year and one student will stay for the fall semester.
To learn more about the Oakcrest international program, visit our website.
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Senior Appreciation Day
On May 1, 2024, the whole school showed the seniors how much they appreciate them by wearing red and showering the Class of 2024 with special treats throughout the day - from a warm welcome to the school day to spiritual bouquets to musical performances! Read more about the special day here.
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Go Chargers!
Congratulations to our Varsity Soccer team for an incredible season! The team hosted the VISAA State Soccer First Round on Monday, May 13, winning over St. Gertrude, 5-3. They fell in the quarterfinals to Norfolk Academy.
Congratulations also to Coach Jen Pruskowski for being named the Virginia Christian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year!! Congrats, Coach!!
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Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on their College Acceptances
See the list of the college acceptances for the Class of 2024 here.
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Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you, to our alumnae parents who were sponsors and attendees at the 2024 Gala and Auction. Your generosity helped us raise $310,000!
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Attention Alumnae!
The members of the Oakcrest Class of 2024 have just joined Oakcrest AlumniFire. Please welcome them and offer your assistance! Don't forget to use Oakcrest AlumniFire as a resource and reach out to alumnae in your interest areas! You may email Giorgina (Agostini '15) Narango, our OAA Networking Chair at gnarango@oakcrest.org if you have any questions.
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Attention Alumnae!!!
Do you wish you had gotten one of the new alumnae
t-shirts from Alumnae Week? You're in luck, we have a limited number of shirts (sizes S, M, L and XL) available for sale ($20 each).
Contact Maritere Crum at mcrum@oakcrest.org to purchase your shirt before they are all gone.
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Join us on Campus
Morning of Recollection
June 1, 10 am - 12 pm
(Mass at noon)
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In the latest episode, Learning Specialist Maggie Musacchio shares her tips and tricks for how to approach final exams. She provides study strategies and offers encouragement for both students and parents. | | | | |
