Dear Oakies,
This academic year has certainly flown by. Wow, what a year!
We’ve seen the start of some great new alumnae events, added virtual options, introduced our first Alumnae Week and launched our alumnae career networking platform AlumniFire!
By the end of the school year, we were able to welcome alumnae back to campus and we have been so thrilled to see you here! Thank you to all who volunteered for Senior Lead Days, attended our home sports games, the Athletic Center Groundbreaking and Graduation.
It’s been a fantastic year and I’m looking forward to personally welcoming you all back to campus for our Homecoming Weekend, September 17 and 18. Please be sure to update your contact information to receive your invitation with the weekend schedule.
Enjoy this issue and have a safe and blessed summer!
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Maritere (Gramatges) Crum ‘91
Alumnae Relations Coordinator
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Alumna and current Athletic Director, Caroline Heeter '97, along with alumna parent and former Athletic Director, Mary Deiss (Kathleen '01), give a riveting account of Oakcrest Athletics through the years at our Athletic Center Groundbreaking.
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Alumna, Laura (Rowell) O'Neill '96,
Commencement Address to the Class of 2021
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Alumna, Katie McNeish '16, Speaks to Juniors
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Katie returned to campus to speak to the junior class. Katie attended the University of California Los Angeles, where she majored in Design Media Arts. She will be attending the University of Virginia Law School in the fall. She spoke to students about life in college and answered their questions about it.
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We love to hear from our Alumnae! |
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Congratulations to
Abigail Porterfield '17
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Abigail is Villanova University's 2021 School of Business recipient of the Bartley Medallion for Excellence in Marketing.
Congratulations Abigail!
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Take our Survey - Alumnae Gear |
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Interested in seeing more alumnae exclusive Oakie items?
Please take the brief survey to let us know your thoughts.
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ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Each month we do a special feature story on one of our alumnae. Check out our past alumnae stories here.
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Oakcrest certainly looks different since Eileen (Schnabel) Byler ‘88 was an Oakie at the original Yuma campus. However, Eileen is pleased to find that, “The school building may have changed over the years, but the commitment to developing young women of outstanding character has not.”
Click here to read Eileen's full profile.
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Oakcrest Alumnae have the honor of handing their daughters their diplomas at graduation.
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This year, Theresa (Currano) Talavera '93 had the honor (for the second time, Eliana '17)
of handing her daughter, Maite '21, her diploma. Theresa joins previous alumnae
Lia (Abello) Ridout '85 (Gianna '14) and Melanie (Van Zutphen) Brown '90 (Kathleen '13)
in keeping this beautiful tradition going!
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From the first years at the Yuma campus to 2021, some things change, but our traditions remain the same. The number of graduates may have varied each year
(11- 40) and the commencement speakers have been unique to each class and time, however, we have always observed certain beloved graduation traditions. We still use white caps and gowns, the seniors still process out with red roses, the ceremony always takes place on our campus, and once we had our first alumna daughter graduate (Kathleen Brown ’13, daughter of Melanie (van Zutphen) Brown ’90) we started the beautiful tradition of alumnae mothers presenting their graduating daughters with their diplomas. Oakcrest Then and Now- we continue to grow, but we are holding on to our beloved traditions!
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OAKIES ON CAMPUS
What have this year's Oakies been up to?
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Alumnae Participate in
Senior Lead Days
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Maria (Kilner) Sousa '99, Digital Director at The Heritage Foundation, shared tips on "Putting Your Best Professional
Foot Forward."
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A Young Alumnae Panel
(Brigid Kilner '17, Clare Escobar '18, and Bela Wilson '19) gave their insights on the first year of college.
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Class of 2021 Valedictorian,
Catalina Scheider Galiñanes
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Class of 2021 Salutatorian,
Annaliese Anderson
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Women's
Morning of Recollection
July 10, 2021
10 am
Confession available
Mass offered at noon.
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Homecoming Weekend
September 17 and 18
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