Marian Magazine - Marian High School

Spring 2013
Marian Magazine
Rooted in Tradition • Confident in our Future
A Fond Farewell:
Teachers Kathy Tocco ‘61
and Al Di Mauro Retire, page 14 & 24
iPad Learning Initiative, page 5
AdvancED Accreditation Report, page 6
1

Letter from Head of School
Dear Marian Family,
As I look out my window at the fresh white snow covering the brown earth, I can’t help but
reflect on the newness of this year and all of the new things that happened this past year.
One year ago, the Performing Arts Center was a dream, and now it is a reality. One year ago
we were beginning to discuss the idea of each student having a piece of technology in her
hands at all times. Now we will be more technologically advanced than ever; every student
will use an iPad not only for research, but for presentations, collaboration with others, notetaking,
test review and even for her textbooks. One year ago we had a new club called Hearts
of Marian that prayed with students once a week, and this year the club has quadrupled in
size. We have Eucharistic Adoration one day each month where students, staff, parents and
grandparents can participate in the solemnity and gift of Christ. One year ago we observed
a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics lab at a local university and this year
we are finalizing plans to build one of our own that will be open for the 2013-2014 school
year. One year ago we had a bookstore that also sold some spirit wear. This year the new
BLUEtique has added dozens of new items and increased sales to such a level that tuition
assistance will be provided for at least 20 additional students!
We are able to bring these new assets to our school because we have been blessed by an
incredible community. We have the blessing of an incredibly gifted and dedicated faculty and
staff that makes more things possible than at other schools. We have the blessing of a robust
volunteer pool that steps up each and every time there is a call for help. We have the blessing
of a supportive community that says “yes” to the call to continue to financially support our
school so that a Marian education is possible for more young women.
Marian is a special place, and although there will always be things that are added, changed
or amended, the spirit of the school remains the same. It still has a faculty, staff, student
body and community committed to the six Core Values. It still has a strong sisterhood that is
rooted in tradition and life-long friendships that stand the test of time and distance. Marian
still has a feeling of “home” and will always be there waiting with open arms, open hearts and
open minds.
May your spring be beautiful and may you know that you are always welcome here. Things
may have changed a bit, but at its core, it is still the same! We are still the best at educating
young women to become confident, independent, thinking leaders who will use their faith
and talents to give hope to the world.
God bless,
Susan M. Russell Toohey ’82
Head of School
2

In this issue:
Marian Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Spotlight on: Herman Weist ......................................... 8
Marian is a Catholic, college
preparatory high school for
young women founded by the
Servants of Mary and dedicated
to Mary, the Mother of God.
Future Marian Girls ................................................ 14
Spotlight on: Al Di Mauro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Advancing the Mission of Marian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Alumnae Today .................................................... 21
Alumnae Class News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Spotlight on: Kathy Tocco ’61 ...................................... 24
Spotlight on: Sr. Midge Petersen, OSM, ’52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Marian teaches the beliefs of
the Roman Catholic faith in a
caring and loving community
atmosphere.
The mission of Marian is to
commit all its resources to the
college preparatory education
of young women, teaching
them to be leaders and life-long
learners in a society where their
talents and faith will give hope
to the world.
Magazine Contributors
Editor
Colleen McQuillan
Director of Communications
Proofreaders
Amy Bauman ’92
English Teacher
Sarah Jank ’01
Director of Advancement
Alumnae News
Nancy Kettering Casey ’82
Director of Alumnae Relations
Photography
Marian Journalism Students
MCL Construction
Colleen McQuillan
Scott Peak
Layout and Design
Tracie Sis
Green Hat Creative Heads
Printing
Elman Printing
3

Marian Today
Since Marian opened its doors in 1955, the young women who have come and gone have continued to prove
themselves as empowered, confident, independent, thinking leaders; today Marian is no different. Our Marian
girls are embracing leadership roles in the classroom, on the stage, on the court and in their community.
New Date,
Same Awesome
Field Day
Field Day 2013 will be moved up one week—to April 26—to accommodate scheduling conflicts
for both Marian students and the Ryan Women’s Athletic Center on the Creighton University
campus, where Field Day is held.
Many Marian students have been unable to participate in Field Day in years past because of
sports or other events, such as district soccer or trap competitions. “For the last several years,
we have had entire teams of students who could not attend Field Day, the one event that for
most Marian students is the highlight of the year. By moving it up one week, we avoid many of
those conflicts,” said Head of School Susan Toohey. In addition, the move
will allow for an additional week of classroom instruction before final exams.
Traditionally held the first Friday of May, Field Day is a long-time Marian
tradition, but it is not your typical day of track and field events. Rather,
Marian’s Field Day is a colorful, creative and fun-filled competition between
the classes to see who can display the most school spirit.
Field Day is an all-morning event that includes a parade of the classes in their
costumes, class demonstrations and cheerleading routines. The event ends
with an awards ceremony.
Students prepare for the big day for months, first choosing creative class
themes to best show their spirit. Each class then chooses two primary colors
to implement into imaginative wall decorations, costumes, skits and more.
All-School Read will Bring
Periodic Table to Life
The 2013-2014 All-School Read will introduce
the entire Marian student body to the wonders
of the Periodic Table. The Disappearing Spoon
and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the
History of the World from the Periodic Table of
the Elements, by Sam Kean, is a collection of
short stories that relate real-world events to
the elements of the Periodic Table.
This is required summer reading for all
students; they will be tested over selected
chapters at the beginning of next school year
and the test grade will be applied to their
science grade.
On Sept. 26, Kean will speak to the entire
student body at an all-school assembly and
will then visit individual classrooms later in
the day.
The Periodic Table is one of man’s crowning scientific achievements. But it’s also a treasure
trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The infectious tales and
astounding details in The Disappearing Spoon follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as
they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and
the lives of the ( frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.
We learn that Marie Curie used to provoke jealousy in colleagues’ wives when she’d invite
them into closets to see her glow-in-the-dark experiments. And that Lewis and Clark
swallowed mercury capsules across the country and their
campsites are still detectable by the poison in the ground.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did the Japanese kill
Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium? And why did
tellurium lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?
From the Big Bang to the end of time, it’s all in
The Disappearing Spoon.
Source: Little Brown & Co.
About the Author:
Sam Kean is a writer based in Washington, DC. His work has
appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss,
Slate, and Science, and has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab”
and “All Things Considered.” The Disappearing Spoon, his first
book, was a New York Times national bestseller. Read excerpts at http://www.samkean.com.
24

iPad
Marian to Integrate Use of iPads in Curriculum
At the start of the 2013-2014 school year, Marian will be integrating the use of iPads into its
classrooms. “We are excited to harness our students’ energy and enthusiasm for technology
and apply it toward learning in and out of the classroom and help our students grow into 21st
century communicators, thinkers and problem solvers,” said Head of School Susan Toohey.
The decision to become an iPad school is the result of more than 18 months of research,
input from professional educators, other schools and from students, parents and faculty. “As
parents we have witnessed firsthand how our children have grown up completely immersed
in technology—the iPod, computers video games—these are the ways they interact with
their world,” Toohey said. The iPad supports essential skill areas—complex communication,
an understanding of new media, collaboration, creativity and self-directed learning. “While
it is certainly a dynamic new teaching tool, it will not replace the special and personal
relationship between our teachers and their students, but rather, will enhance our goal to
create confident, independent and thinking leaders,” she said.
On the first day of school,
all incoming freshman,
sophomores and juniors will
be given an iPad2 with 32GB of
memory and protective case.
It will be loaded with all the
necessary apps needed for the
school year. The program also
“We believe that the iPad
is the leading device that
best augments our rigorous
and relevant curriculum.”
includes the AppleCare warranty program and ~ Head of School, Susan Toohey
provides a new device to each student after two
years. A technology fee of $350 for each student will cover the cost of the program. Seniors
will not be required to purchase an iPad since it would be cost prohibitive for them to have to
participate for only one year. If they already own an iPad, however, they can bring it to school
to use in the classroom.
With the introduction of iPads into the classroom, the use of paper textbooks will be greatly
diminished. For the 2013-2014 school year, all science and some social studies textbooks
will be downloaded to the iPad. Some classes will still utilize textbooks for now but Toohey
expects with each year following the implementation of iPads into the classroom, the need for
paper textbooks will drop significantly. Textbooks are expensive to produce and expensive to
buy—currently, the average yearly cost of textbooks at Marian is approximately $400—which
is why schools are forced to use a book for several years to minimize the cost to students.
Unfortunately, since information changes so quickly, some textbooks are out of date almost
before they’re published and as books are passed along from one student to the next, they get
more dog-eared, tattered, and worn. Those problems are solved with the integration of iPads in
the classroom.
With new technology, there can also be a potential for misuse. To protect students, the
Marian campus wireless infrastructure has Internet filters in place to limit students’ access
to inappropriate web content and exposure to viruses. Teachers will also help students
understand the importance of acting as responsible digital citizens.
Toohey said that feedback from parents has been very positive and that the Marian
community is excited for the new technology. “We believe that the iPad is the leading device
that best augments our rigorous and relevant curriculum.”
Valentine’s Day Brings
Fun and Surprises
There is no better way to shake the
“winter blues” than a day full of surprises.
On Valentine’s Day, Marian’s Student Board
gave students the best valentine of all—
Surprise Day.
Surprise Day is a beloved tradition since the
beginning days of Marian. What started as a
break from class with popcorn and a movie
has evolved into an afternoon filled with
carnival-like activities, complete with cotton
candy and face painting. There’s something for
everyone—girls can enjoy quiet time in a “nap
room” with blankets and pillows, practice
relaxing yoga in the “yoga room” or work up a
sweat at a dance party in the school cafeteria.
Surprise Day is a secret event planned by the
Student Board; no one, not even the teachers,
knows when it will be. It can happen any
day, at any time, at any point in the second
semester. Traditionally, the “Surprise Day”
announcement is made after the mid-day
bell, and students rush to the gym to see
what the day has in store for them.
This year’s Surprise Day needed to be altered
slightly. Originally the event was slated for
early February but unfortunately a snow day
interfered. Despite scheduling challenges,
Marian administrators and Student Board
were able to re-schedule the event for
Valentine’s Day and pull off a fun afternoon.
Surprise Day encourages school spirit and
allows students to spend time with each
other outside of the classroom.
5

Marian Receives
AdvancED
Accreditation
Marian has recently been given a five-year
accreditation by an independent reviewing
agency, AdvancED, following a lengthy and
thorough evaluation process. In November,
a team of seven professional educators
visited Marian for two days. They met with
21 teachers and 19 support staff members,
22 students, 10 parents, 12 community
stakeholders and six members of the Board
of Directors and observed 36 classes. This
very thorough evaluation was also supported
by written documentation, including student
performance data and other artifacts
submitted by Marian before the site visit.
The evaluation team rated Marian on a set of
five standards for quality:
1 Purpose and Direction
2 Governance and Leadership
3 Teaching and Assessing for Learning
4 Resources and Support Systems
5 Using Results for
Continuous Improvement
Reviewers gave Marian high marks in
nearly every area reviewed, noting in the
final report that
• Marian had a strong commitment to high
academic achievement for all students by a
dedicated, caring staff.
• Students were on task, engaged and had a
high level of learning.
The team was especially impressed by
the high expectations of the faculty at the
school and in their classrooms. Students
are consistently striving to meet those high
expectations for behavior and involvement in
the learning process.
The report also praised the way in which
Marian is able to daily carry out its
commitment to its six Core Values, saying:
“Testimonials from faculty, administration,
students and stakeholders reflects a vibrant
Catholic spirit rising from the six Servite
Core Values, which form the basis of the
mission and vision for the school. This spirit
is nurtured and infused into all aspects of the
school and produces a caring and nurturing
community.”
Reviewers suggested that the school develop
a comprehensive long-term technology plan,
something Head of School Susan Toohey
said has been part of a the strategic plan for
some time; and plan and align faculty and
staff professional development with Marian’s
strategic improvement plan.
“The process of being evaluated by an outside
organization may seem intimidating, but we
looked forward to the opportunity to have
experts share with us what our strengths
and opportunities for growth are. We were
so impressed by the professionalism and
efficiency of the team. We feel as if we
received valuable feedback and many, many
kudos of what we do so well,” said Toohey.
“We are proud and thankful for our faculty,
staff, Board, volunteers, parents and donors
who have helped us to be successful, and
most importantly, our students for whom all
of this is done. We were given an outstanding
report and we look forward to sharing the
details with our community.”
Accreditation is a process of helping
institutions improve through evaluation,
assuring that a school not only meets
quality standards but also demonstrates
a continuous commitment to providing
quality education programs aimed
at improving student performance.
AdvancED accreditation also fulfills Rule
10 requirements (the rules and regulations
which govern standards and procedures
for accreditation of all public schools
and nonpublic schools that request state
accreditation) for State of Nebraska
accreditation.
To view our full report, please visit our website, marianhighschool.net
Marian Presents the 2013 Spring Play
Medea
by Euripides with additions from Seneca and Shakespeare
Medea
The Marian spring play Medea took audience members back in time to ancient Greece, with
some plot twists and turns along the way, making for an entertaining performance. The Greek
tragedy written by Euripides (with additions from Seneca and Shakespeare) is based on the
myth of Jason and Medea. It was presented in the Marian Quad on March 8 and 9.
The play was directed by Latin instructor Al Di Mauro, who is retiring in May after 18 years at
Marian. This is the third time he has directed Medea for the school.
Marian Quad Theatre
7400 Military Aveenue
Thursday, March 7 th , 7 p.m.
Friday, March 8 th , 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 th , 7 p.M.
Sunday, March 10 th , 2 P.M.
Chorus of Corinthian Women: Ally Pietrok ‘13,
Toni Ptacek ‘14, Roni Perez ‘14,
Kelly McGonigal ‘15, Megan Han ‘13
26

Academics
Two Marian Students Are Named Finalists for
2013 National Merit Scholarship
Two Marian seniors were selected as finalists in the 2013 competition for National Merit
Scholarships. Emily McCusker and Megan Woodruff will continue in the competition for
8,300 National Merit Scholarships that are offered in the spring. To be considered for a Merit
Scholarship award, the girls were chosen first as semifinalists and then were required to fulfill
several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. More than half of the
finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
2013
Marian Senior
Named Student
of the Week
Congratulations to senior Emily
McCusker who was selected to
receive the Runza® Student of the
Week honor. Runza Restaurants and
KETV created a partnership to
honor senior students for their
achievements in the classroom and
in the community. Each Student of
the Week receives a $500 college
scholarship. Emily was recently
chosen to participate in the 2012
All-State Band, is a National Merit
Scholarship finalist and serves
Marian as a TAR (Technical Aide
Resource) at Marian.
Megan Woodruff ‘13 Emily McCusker ‘13
Marian Journalism Students Receive National Recognition
Marian journalism students recently earned
national recognition—ranking ninth for
the school’s yearbook and receiving seven
Superior or Excellent individual ratings in
the National Write-Off Competition—at the
National High School Journalism Convention
in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 15-17.
The 2012 yearbook, Beyond, was ranked #9
in the National Best of Show competition.
The National Scholastic Press Association
coordinates the contest and said there were
426 total entries in the Best of Show contests
for yearbooks, student newspapers and
magazines.
A total of 34 student writers and editors,
representing M-Beat (video podcast), The
Network newspaper, the Crusader yearbook
and Burn literary magazine, attended the
conference and participated in the National
Write-Off Competition. Out of more than
1,700 competitors, 13 Marian girls were
recognized for their journalism skills with
two Superior and five Excellent ratings.
Marian journalism students were also
big winners in the Journalism Education
Association of Nebraska’s winter contest,
where students received seven Superior, seven
Excellent and five Honorable Mention ratings.
Marian’s literary magazine, Burn, has been selected to receive a rank of superior—nominated
for the highest award—in the 2012 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Program
to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. A total of 417 schools entered the
2012 program that recognizes students, teachers and schools for producing excellent literary
magazines. Its mission is to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines, seeking
excellence in writing and school-wide participation in productions. Congratulations to all of
the students who contributed to this impressive publication.
7

Marian salutatorian and valedictorians (left to right): Kathryn Blaser, Emily McCusker, Megan Han and
Megan Woodruff
Three-way Tie for 2013 Valedictorian
For the first time in the history of Marian, the graduating class will have three valedictorians.
Seniors Claire Sonderman, Megan Han and Megan Woodruff each had the exact same grade
point average, thus creating a tie for the honored designation. Traditionally, the valedictorian
addresses her class at graduation, and this year will be no different. Each of the girls will be asked
to speak at the ceremony on May 19 at the Orpheum Theater. Salutatorian for the Class of 2013 is
Kathryn Blaser. Congratulations to all four girls for their important accomplishments!
Robotics Rule!
Congratulations to the Marian Robotics
teams for placing first and second in five
events at the Robotics Expo at the SAC
Museum on Feb. 16. More than 800 students
participated in the Expo. Marian had two
teams competing in five different events.
Team 1: Juniors Anna Krettek, Alisa Bedun
and Rose and Annie Gensichen took
second place in two events: Lab Notebook/
Scientific Writing and Programming (preprogramming
the robot to complete three
different courses).
Team 2: Hannah Lajba, Natalie Bialas and
Alyssa Gebhart took first place in three
events: Lab Notebook/Scientific Writing,
Gather the Animals (moving a toy cow,
calf, medicine pack and branding iron from
one part of the course, up a ramp and then
depositing the items in the proper pens) and
Navigation (moving bales of hay to various
positions by viewing the course remotely on
iPads).
The teams, coached by science teacher
Sharon Genoways, have been meeting each
morning at 7 a.m. since Christmas Break to
prepare.
Spotlight on:
Herman Weist
Keeping Marian on firm financial footing has been the focus of Herman
Weist’s volunteer efforts at the school for more than 17 years. Weist retired in
November from the Marian Board of Trustees but said he is leaving the school
in capable hands and in a strong position for the future.
Catholic education has always been a priority for Herman and his wife, Ellen. All eight
of their children attended Catholic grade school and high school— three girls went to
Marian: Patty Ervin ’85, Anne Kalkowski ’89 and Beth Ziegler ’93, and five boys went to
Creighton Prep: Herman, David, Joseph, John and Daniel.
For decades, the couple has volunteered at their parish, St. Leo the Great; their children’s
grade school, St. Pius X; and at Marian and Prep. For more than 12 years, Ellen volunteered
as a Marian Mom and served as the group’s president in 1992. In addition, she has been
a member of the Catholic Charities Service League, the Emergency Pregnancy Services
Auxiliary and the Christ Child Society.
Weist received his bachelor’s in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University and
did post-graduate work at Creighton University. Over a 50-year career as a certified public
accountant, in which most was spent running his own firm, Weist worked with non-profit
organizations and Catholic schools in Omaha. In retirement, Weist continues to offer his
financial expertise to many Catholic high schools, religious orders,the Archdiocese of
Omaha and Catholic Charities.
Fortunately, a significant amount of his time has been devoted to Marian, helping to
ensure a sound financial future. Weist began his involvement on Marian’s Advisory Board
after his youngest, Beth, graduated in 1993. He served as Board president from
1995-1996 and played an integral part in transforming Marian’s Advisory Board into a full
28

New Members
Inducted to NHS
Congratulations to the newly inducted
members of the National Honor Society
(NHS). The 11 seniors and 73 juniors
were inducted into the Maria Chapter on
Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Servants of Mary
Chapel. Guest speaker for the Induction
Ceremony was Marian Board President-Elect
Doreen Finochiaro Griffith ’79.
Congratulations!
Seniors
Elizabeth Boulay
Carrie Cable
Molly Clow
Anna Forbes
Hayley Higgins
Katherine Lang
Alexandra Naidenovich
Courtney Neneman
Jordan Shramek
Allison Smith
Lacy Thompson
Juniors
Claire Adams
Alisha Baginski
Alisa Bedhun
Samantha Bianchi
Emily Birkel
Marisa Bohlim
Courtney Boler
Sarah Brashear
Laura Burnett
Allison Buser
Jocelyn Carter
Christina Chapman
Adelaide Curley
Abigail Davis
left to right: Newly inducted National Honor Society members Rachel Reiner ’14, Miranda Reeder ’14,
Emily Rakoczy ’14, Megan Steffes ’14
Laura Domet
Julianne Faur
Antonia Franco
Honor Fredrick
Alyssa Gebhart
Ann Gensichen
Rose Gensichen
Sarah Geske
Madalyn Grace
Marian Heaney
Emma Henderson
Caroline Hendricks
Margaret Herold
Hannah Hertel
Kaitlin Houlton
Kristen Jansen
Ashlyn Kampschneider
Madison Kenney
Jane Kilgore
Kristen Koley
Lauren Koperski
Sara Kreski
Anna Krettek
Abbie Kubat
Hannah Lajba
Morgan Lubeck
Erin McClellan
Margaret McKeon
Haley Minnick
Nora Neary
Sloan Nelson
Lori Nevole
Carly Novacek
Leah Plofchan
Emily Rakoczy
Miranda Reeder
Rachael Reiner
Mikayla Sahm
Cassidy Schlosser
Kenzie Schumacher
Connor Silvey
Monica Spence
Anne Steenson
Megan Steffes
Megan Stuva
Morgan Sullivan
Paige Taylor
Molly Tessmer
Lauren Tondl
Ellen Townley
Ashley Tylski
Sarah Wangler
Courtney Warren
Madisen Waters
Evyn Watts
Margaret Witzenburg
Sydney Wolf
Madeline Worth
Molly Zabawa
Board of Directors. He also served as chairman of Marian’s Endowment Trust Board of
Trustees. The Endowment Trust was formed in 1993 as a way to safeguard Marian’s
financial future.
“Marian has been good to me. It gave me an opportunity to expand myself
as the head of the Finance Committee. It’s very satisfying to work with great
people who have such vast experience and knowledge. It really is amazing the
quality of people that have been on Marian’s board,” Weist said.
Head of School Susan Toohey said Weist’s devotion to Marian has been a
blessing to the school and the entire Marian community.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Herman since I was in high school. His son
and I were friends and Herman worked with my (now) father-in-law. He is one
of the most thoughtful, conscientious, polite, and dedicated men I have ever
known,” she said. “Herman is a true gentleman and cares deeply for Marian.
He has given so much of his time, talent and treasure to Marian that we will
always be in his debt ... but, then again, he hates debt!”
Weist said he has been particularly impressed over the years with the strength
of Marian’s faculty and the passion and commitment they bring to their
students. In addition, he said the new Mary Joy and Tal Anderson Performing
Arts Center, which will be completed in the fall of 2013, will be of particular
benefit to the school and will contribute to its future success. “Marian has just
gotten better and better.”
“I always recommend Marian to girls. Not that the other high schools aren’t
good, but I’m prejudiced,” he laughed. ”I know how good it is.”
Herman Weist
9

service & spirituality
New Eucharistic
Adoration at Marian
Thanks to current Marian parent Susan
Heim, Marian now has a new opportunity for
parents to support and pray for the faculty,
staff, Servants of Mary and students during
Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel at Marian.
Since November, parents and grandparents
have come to pray before the Blessed
Sacrament that is exposed on one
Wednesday each month from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
in the Marian chapel.
There are still two dates left for Eucharistic
Adoration—April 10 and May 8—and you are
invited to come and pray at Marian. When
the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, there must
always be someone present. Parents and
grandparents are asked to sign up for a onehour
shift as the primary adorer and there
must be two parent-volunteers to cover each
hour. “This allows the faculty, staff, Servites
and students to spend time in adoration as
they are able, without any pressure of having
to cover a time slot,” said Heim.
If you are interested in joining in Eucharistic
Adoration at Marian, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/MarianAdoration.
Marian students say “thanks” to firefighters at the 102nd and Maple Streets fire station. (Left to right):
Captain Joe Salcedo, Firefighter Rob Anderson, Marian students Jenna Taylor ’16, Noelle Pick ’16 and
Miranda Kellner ’13, Firefighter Jim Narak and Fire Apparatus Engineer Mike Tafoya
Baking Club Delivers Sweet Thank You
NSAA Honors
Marian Students
Three Marian seniors were recognized by
the Nebraska School Activities Association
(NSAA) for being outstanding students
who show a commitment to good citizenship
and involvement in school and
community projects.
The NSAA and US Bank recognized Megan
Woodruff, Megan Han and Emily Johanek
with a Believers & Achievers certificate.
Summer Trip to DR
Congratulations to the following students
who have been selected to travel to the
Dominican Republic in June 2013.
Claire Adams ’14
Sadie Ahsan ’15
Samantha Bianchi ’14
Courtney Boler ’14
Honor Fredrick ’14
Sarah Mullen ’15
Sloan Nelson ’14
Miranda Reeder ’14
Kayla Sullivan ’15
Sydney Wolf ’14
Alternates:
Maddie Mendell ’15
Taylor Munchrath ’15
Members of Marian’s Baking Club had a busy
holiday season sharing their sweet treats as a
way to say thanks to some special groups. In
early November, Baking Club members baked
over 1,000 cookies that were included in a
shipment to U.S. troops overseas, mostly in
Afghanistan. The club helped the non-profit
organization, Iowa Cookie Crumbs of Council
Bluffs, prepare 226 holiday care packages
with more than 30,000 cookies and treats.
In December members of the club organized
an outing for the Servants of Mary (the
founding order of Marian which has its
convent on the Marian campus) to view
Christmas lights, something the sisters have
missed doing for the last few years. About
19 sisters and 11 students boarded Ollie the
Trolley and took in some of Omaha’s finest
holiday lights. The group also enjoyed hot
chocolate and homemade cookies, baked
with love by Marian students; they also sang
Christmas carols together.
Students also baked and personally delivered
cookies to fire stations near Marian as a way
of saying “thank you” for the firefighters’
service to Omaha as well as the Marian
community. Girls took about eight dozen
cookies to each of the three fire stations.
Marian senior Miranda Tingley helps load up
boxes of cookies and treats that were shipped to
U.S. troops overseas in November
210

Dads and Daughters
for Habitat
Marian dads and daughters are volunteering
together to build homes with Habitat for
Humanity on Saturdays throughout the year.
The effort was organized by Campus Ministry
and gives Marian girls and their fathers a
chance to spend time together while giving
back to the community. More than 48 girls and
their fathers have signed up to help with the
building effort that started in September.
The father/daughter duo of Michael and Katie
Lang ’13 work together at a Habitat for Humanity
building site
Empowerment, Compassion, Marian Identity, Spirituality, Community and Service.
Marian for Make-A-Wish
Congratulations to Marian’s Student Board
for being recognized on Nov. 5 as a Wish
Maker by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of
Nebraska and the Nebraska Association of
Student Councils. In order to become a Wish
Maker, Student Board raised approximately
$3,000 for Make-A-Wish during the 2011-2012
school year.
Optimist Club
Students of the Month
Marian seniors Poorna Ramasubramanian
and Sarah Reynolds were named the
Optimist Club of Omaha Students of the
Month for November and December 2012,
respectively. The Optimist Club is committed
to promoting and recognizing the good
works of area youth. Marian selected the
girls for the many contributions they have
shared with the Marian community as well
as the community at large. The girls were
recognized at an Oct. 17 Optimist
Club of Omaha luncheon
and program.
Marian Celebrates
Mission Week
Marian celebrated its annual Mission Week Nov. 26 to 30. Marian is a member of the
International Servite Schools Network (ISSN) and all member schools are dedicated to six
Core Values—Empowerment, Compassion, Marian Identity, Spirituality, Community and
Service.
To gain a deeper understanding of those Core Values, each day students, faculty and staff
focused on one of them. To reflect the Core Value of Service, the Marian community, in
partnership with Operation Others, held a cereal and oatmeal drive. The food donations
were included in holiday meals and delivered to families in need in December.
On Monday of Mission Week, students focused on Empowerment with a project called
Operation Beautiful, where girls were asked to post anonymous notes with empowering
and encouraging messages in public places for other people to find. Compassion was the
focus on the second day. Students reflected on how compassion is demonstrated in the
halls of Marian and then wrote examples on a large poster in the school. To acknowledge
and celebrate Marian Identity, students gathered together on Wednesday to pray the Dolor
Rosary in the school gym. On Thursday the entire school gathered for a prayer service that
included musical performances and speakers from the Servants of Mary and students
shared their thoughts on the Core Value of Spirituality.
The final day of Mission Week, celebrating the Core Value of Community, brought the
Servants of Mary and Marian students together for lunch in the school Quad; all students,
faculty, and staff enjoyed a free lunch. Earlier in the week, Marian students wrote thankyou
letters to the Sisters which were delivered to them on Friday.
11

sports
Cheerleaders
Take Honors at State
Marian’s varsity cheerleading squad placed
third in the Class A tumbling division at the
State Cheer and Dance Championships on
Saturday, Feb. 16.
Front row (left to right): Michaela Clausen ’15,
Samantha Chaney ’15, Mackenzie Duce ’14,
Amanda Wolf ’14 (captain), Katrina McCutcheon
’13; middle row: Maddie Shely ’16, Madison
Duncan ’16, Baylie Kudlacz ’14, Carly Kelly
’16, Emmy Witzenburg ’16, Ashlyn Hruska’16;
back row: Madeline Holmes ’15, Ellie Krupicka
’16, Kelly Neuhaus ’15, Emma Henderson ’14
(captain), Coach John Yenny; not pictured: Devon
Gottsch ’16
Elliston Attends National
Soccer Training Camp
Marian junior Maddie Elliston attended her
first under-18 U.S. women’s national training
camp for soccer Oct. 21-28 at the Olympic
Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. She was
one of 24 players chosen nationwide.
Marian Hires
New Softball Coach
Marian has hired Mike Heard as its new head
softball coach. Heard brings to Marian more
than 12 years of coaching experience most
recently as director of Coaching and Club
director of Nebraska Fury Fastpitch.
Nebraska Fury placed ninth out of 156 teams
this year at the American Softball Association
(ASA) nationals in Montgomery, Ala. and has
won several ASA and United States Select
Softball Association State championships.
Heard also served as the co-head coach of the
Ralston High School Varsity Softball Team
last season.
Top photo (left to right): Annie Wolfe, Maggie Heim, Katherine Nelsen, Lexi Elman
Bottom photo (left to right): Payton Horacek, Nyoke Dumba, Taylor Saucier, Ginni Yost, Nicole
Liske, Alex Johnson
Marian Senior Athletes
Sign Letters of Intent
Ten Marian seniors signed scholarships on the Nov. 14 and Feb. 6 National Letter of
Intent signing days for Division I and Division II athletes. Fall sports athletes who signed
letters of intent are Annie Wolfe, volleyball, University of Nebraska Kearney; Maggie
Heim, volleyball, Ohio State University; Lexi Elman, volleyball, University of Pacific and
Katherine Nelsen, tennis, Creighton University. Spring sport athletes signing letters
of intent are Alex Johnson, soccer, University of Southern Illinois; Nicole Liske, track
and field, University of Nebraska Omaha; Payton Horacek, track and field, University
of Nebraska Omaha; Nyoke Dumba, soccer, University of Nebraska Omaha; Taylor
Saucier, soccer, Texas A & M and Ginni Yost, soccer, DePaul University.
Marian Golfer Honored
Marian senior Sarah Pravecek was selected as the top Female Scholar-Athlete in the fall sport
of golf by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. Sarah was the organization’s honored guest at a
Jan. 8 luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel.
212

performing arts
Marian Musicians Take Honors
• Marian seniors Kate Johnson and Emily
McCusker were named to the Nebraska All-
State Choir and Band, respectively. Kate sang
with about 400 high school students from
around the state and Emily played clarinet
with an approximately 250-piece band.
In addition, McCusker was chosen through
an audition process to participate in the
University Nebraska Lincoln Winter Winds.
• Toni Ptacek ’14 was chosen, also through
an audition process, to participate in the
University of Nebraska Omaha BOCH Festival
Honor Band.
• All eight Marian students who participated
in the Elkhorn South Band Olympics on
Feb. 16 received Superior ratings, and the
mixed quartet also was recognized as an
outstanding ensemble of the day, the highest
award given at this competition.
• The Marian band performed at the WOWT
food drive on Dec. 1 at Aksarben Village. All
proceeds from the food drive were donated
to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. In
addition, the Handbell Choir and String
Ensemble performed Christmas carols at
the AV Sorensen Branch Library during the
Christmas season.
Kate Johnson ‘13
events & happenings
Grandparents’ Day Mass a Record!
More than 550 grandparents joined their granddaughters for Marian’s annual Grandparents’
Day celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Traditionally held during Catholic Schools Week, the event
included an all-school mass followed by a reception where grandparents had an opportunity to
have their photos taken with their granddaughters, tour the school and visit with students and
teachers. Grandparents’ Day has become a favorite with students and their grandparents and
this year Marian had the largest number of grandparents ever attend the event.
Marian grandparent Mary McGuire and granddaughters Maren McGuire and Jade King, both freshmen
at Marian, enjoy their first Grandparents’ Day celebration on Jan. 29
Staff Honored at Breakfast
In celebration of Catholic Schools Week,
Marian’s Board of Directors hosted an
annual Breakfast of Gratitude for faculty
and staff on Jan. 31 at Marian. At the
breakfast, four staff members, who have
collectively dedicated 60 years of service
to Marian, were honored.
This year’s honorees are:
Wayne Downie – 20 years
Beth Dye – 10 years
Sharon Genoways – 20 years
Megan Piernicky – 10 years
The breakfast is a way for the Board of
Directors to thank faculty and staff for
their dedication to furthering the mission
of Marian—teaching young women to be
leaders and life-long learners in a society
where their talents and faith will give hope
to the world.
(Left to right): Wayne Downie, Megan Piernicky, Sharon Genoways, Head of School Susan Toohey
and Beth Dye
Marian Teacher Presents at National Meeting
Earlier this fall, English teacher Megan Piernicky submitted a paper for consideration to the
College English Association’s (CEA) annual conference. She recently learned that her paper,
“The Value of Disputed Memoirs Angel at the Fence and Fragments as Historical Evidence of the
Holocaust” was accepted. Piernicky will travel to the conference in Savannah, Ga., in April to
present her paper.
13

Future Marian Girls
Open House
Nearly 250 prospective Marian girls and their families attended Open House on Nov. 18 to take
tours of the school, meet with teachers and staff and hear about all that Marian has to offer
from current Marian students, parents and alumnae. The event was open to all 5th, 6th, 7th
and 8th-grade girls and their families. It was a rousing success and we are grateful to all those
who attended or volunteered to help.
All 5th through 8th-grade girls are invited to shadow at Marian. Please contact
Recruitment Director Molly Adams Woodman ’97 at 402.571.2618, ext. 161
or mwoodman@omahamarian.org to set up your shadow visit.
*Please note: A two-day notice is required for all school visits.
Summer Camps
at Marian
Watch your mail and check the Marian
website for information about 2013 summer
camps being offered at Marian. We are
excited to partner with the Omaha Creative
Institute to offer workshops in mixed media,
hot wax encaustic art making, watercolor
and caricature and cartooning. In addition,
Marian will again host a leadership institute,
volleyball, basketball, tennis and a new
softball camp.
Al Di Mauro
A Marian “Classic”
To Retire in May
Mr. Al Di Mauro has had many titles in his life: clothing salesman, curriculum coordinator, actor
and director. The title of “teacher,” though, may be what he is best known for by the students
and alumnae he has impacted at Marian. In May, Di Mauro will retire after 18 years at Marian
and a total of 48 as a teacher.
The Omaha native attended Cathedral High School and then spent three years at Conception
Seminary. He left after three years to attend Creighton University, majoring in English with a
minor in Latin. He then returned to Conception Seminary but only completed one additional
semester before he decided to pursue a post-graduate degree at Loyola University of Chicago
in the Literature of Drama. As part of the program, Di Mauro was a member of the first Loyola
class to study abroad in Rome, Italy.
Di Mauro began his teaching career at North High in the early 60s where he taught Latin for
four years, followed by a short stint teaching English in Torrence, Calif. To keep busy, Al also
worked in a department store selling men’s clothing and took drama classes at UCLA. It was
there that he reconnected with an old acquaintance, well-known actor and director Rob Reiner,
whom he had directed in a play years earlier when Reiner was just starting out in his career.
Di Mauro then returned home to Omaha and to teaching Latin at North. Two years later, he
transferred to the newly built Northwest High School, where he reluctantly agreed to be the
curriculum coordinator. After six years, Di Mauro said his love for teaching called him back to
the classroom. “I really missed teaching – I really did.” He stayed on at Northwest until 1995 and
then retired after 29 years with Omaha Public Schools.
His first retirement was short lived. Within a year, Marian’s Head of School Elizabeth Kish asked
Di Mauro to come out of retirement to teach Latin at Marian. He told her he would only commit
to two to three years. That was 18 years ago.
During his first year of teaching at Marian, Di Mauro said he had five students in his class and
every one of them went on to medical school; all are doctors today. “I’ve been blessed by such
outstanding students, it’s unbelievable. It’s easier to teach when you have kids really interested
in learning something,” he said.
In addition to teaching Latin, Di Mauro directed many musicals and dramas at Marian and
oversaw the Junior Classical League, a Latin club. In his final semester teaching at Marian, he
directed Marian’s production of “Medea,” the Greek tragedy by Euripides. This is the third time
he has directed this play at Marian.
Outside of the classroom, he is well-known as a critically acclaimed actor on local stages
214

Future Marian Girls
On Feb. 12, Marian administrators
had the privilege of delivering 38
academic scholarships to 8th-grade
girls throughout the city. The academic
scholarships were determined by the
girls’ scores on Marian’s 8th-grade
Placement Exam administered on
Saturday, Jan. 12. On that day Marian
welcomed 227 8th-grade girls from 42
different schools. After the exam, the
future members of our class of 2017
enjoyed a pizza lunch. The test helps to
determine the students’ preparedness
for a college preparatory school.
Top photo (left to right): Head of School
Susan Toohey with St. Pius X scholarship
winners Erin Walter, Rachel Walet,
Kaitlyn Baysa
Bottom photo (left to right): Director of
Recruitment Molly Woodman, Kate Schwaller,
Kiera Leppert, Morgan Hove, Megan
Szwanek, Lily Foley (scholarship recipients
from St. Vincent de Paul), Head of School
Susan Toohey
throughout Omaha, most notably playing Jacob Marley for 20 years in the Omaha Community
Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol.” Each year he has opened his home to visitors during the
Christmas season to view the Dickens Christmas Village that he has created over many years.
Di Mauro has won many accolades for both teaching and drama. Some of his educational
awards include: the Nebraska Teacher of the Year in 1985 and Northwest High Teacher of the
Year in 1982 and 1993. His theater awards include: The 1973 Omaha Community Playhouse
Critics’ Award, the 1973 Metropolitan Actors Guild Best Supporting Actor Award, the 1978
Omaha Community Playhouse Fonda/McGuire Best Actor Award and the Omaha Community
Playhouse Cameo Award in 1976 and again in 1993. Di Mauro was awarded the Humanitarian
of the Year Award from the Nebraska Sons of Italy in 2008.
There is no doubt that Di Mauro’s presence will be greatly missed at Marian. He is a respected
teacher who is not only known for his knowledge of Latin and theater but for his ability to
impart common sense wisdom to his students.
“Al is one of the most kind and generous men I have
ever met. He is generous with his time and talent. He is
beloved by his Latin students and they return year after
year to say hello and thank him for his instruction. He
has a passion for teaching and acting that is second to
none!” said Head of School Susan Toohey.
“Al is one of the most
kind and generous
men I have ever met.
He is generous with
his time and talent.”
Fellow colleague and friend Regina Lehnhoff, Marian
English teacher, said that Di Mauro’s passion for
education and lifelong learning – a cornerstone of the
Marian mission – is the reason for his great success as a
teacher. “Throughout Al’s illustrious and award-winning
education career, he has placed his students at the heart of all his work. Everything Al has
~ Head of School,
Susan Toohey
undertaken has been to help his students in the Omaha Public Schools and, for the past 18 years
at Marian discover the joys inherent in lifelong learning,” Lehnhoff said. “Whether he is directing
a play, teaching lessons on the humanities, guiding his students through translating Virgil’s
Aeneid, or showing them the Christmas wonderland of his Dickens Village, Al models the joys of
an educated life. It is a small wonder that no matter when or where students have studied in his
classes, they stay in contact with Al, showing him the same respect today that they had when
they sat before him in his classrooms. He is the consummate educator.”
Al Di Mauro
15

Advancing the Mission of Marian
Dear Marian Family,
There is always a certain level or excitement in the air at Marian and the first half of the second
semester has been no exception. With the construction of the new Mary Joy and Tal Anderson
Performing Arts Center, the landscape of Marian’s campus is being transformed, bringing with it
a new level of excitement for the students, faculty and staff, parents, and visitors to the school.
The glass of the new entrance was recently placed and it’s amazing to think that only a year ago,
this new addition was still just a dream. However, due to the overwhelming generosity of the
Marian community, the building will be open for our students in less than six months.
Plans to recognize our donor’s generosity with a permanent display were recently formalized.
The leadership donor wall will be inside the main lobby and will be the focal point as you enter
through the new doors. The starry night mural has recently been moved from the original
planned location, and the design also has been determined. To find out more, please read the
article on page 17.
There are some exciting things happening at Marian. The leadership for The Marian Fund
knocked the winter Phone-A-Thon out of the park, along with many parents, alumnae and
students who spent countless hours asking members of the Marian family to give to this
important fund that supports tuition assistance and many other needs at Marian. Plans are in
the works for our upcoming Golf Tournament and 2014 MarianFEST. Our annual Grandparents’
Day in January was bursting with more than 500 grandparents who joined their granddaughters
at Marian and attended a Mass and reception. It was a testament to the dynamic and closeknit
community that is Marian. This was the largest group that Marian has ever hosted for
Grandparents’ Day.
As spring approaches, this year will continue to offer many new opportunities and growth
at Marian. We are grateful for your ongoing support and your continued commitment to the
Marian community.
Cordially,
Sarah C. Jank ’01
Director of Advancement
216

Take your place in the Spotlight:
now more prominently than ever!
The Mary Joy and Tal Anderson Performing Arts Center, which will open for the Fall 2013
semester, still needs your support. One way to aid this important project, which will benefit
current Marian students and thousands of girls to come, is by sponsoring a seat in the new
auditorium. This allows you to customize a message that will be displayed on the armrest
in perpetuity and will give you the opportunity to sit in your seat at one of the inaugural
performances of the Fall 2013 musical.
The starry night wall will now be located
just off of the main lobby which will increase
the amount of foot traffic from the public.
In addition, you could highlight your
achievements or those of your daughter
by commemorating them with a
star within the starry night mural.
As indicated, the premium stars will
be a blue metallic with silver text and the standard stars will be in silver metallic with blue
text. Adding to the prominence of the starry night wall, it has been relocated from its original
placement within the new addition. In the initial plans, the mural would have been placed in
the hallway connecting the new theater to the existing building. However, we received feedback
that although the students using the facility everyday would have seen the wall, the general
public would have had to do a bit of exploring to find it since it was “backstage.” Instead, the
starry night wall will now be located just off of the main lobby which will increase the amount
of foot traffic from the public. In addition, it will beautify the space across from the restrooms
and provide visual interest if lines get too long! Please also note that due to the change in walls,
the number of stars has also had to decrease since the new wall isn’t as long. Thus, there are only
going to be 250 stars sold prior to the opening of the building.
Don’t delay, reserve your seat or star today, because a special opportunity to pick out your exact
star or seat is currently being planned for April 2013, and you don’t want to miss out on taking
your place in the spotlight! Visit marianhighschool.net/advancement/capital-campaign/ or call
402.571.2618, ext. 102.
Open for the Fall 2013 semester
17

Pro Peter Jacobsen to Headline Lexus Champions
for Marian Golf Tournament 2013
Plans are “teeing off ” for the 18th annual
Lexus Champions for Marian Golf
Tournament to be held July 15 at Indian
Creek Golf Course in Elkhorn. We are
thrilled to announce that Peter Jacobsen,
professional golfer and commentator on the
Golf Channel and NBC, will be our celebrity
pro at this year’s tournament. Jacobsen has
played on the PGA Tour and the Champions
Tour and has won seven events on the PGA
Tour and two events on the Champions Tour,
both majors.
We are also looking for new, enthusiastic
men and women to join our committee. The
tournament benefits tuition assistance at
Marian and is part of the Lexus Champions
for Charity, a unique series of 200 charity golf
tournaments throughout the United States.
Planning will start soon so contact
Shari Gilg at 402.571.2618, ext. 167 or at
sgilg@omahamarian.org to join in the fun.
Pro golfer Peter Jacobsen
Check out our progress!
Performing Arts Center Update
Construction of Marian’s Mary Joy and Tal Anderson Performing Arts Center is moving along
at a good pace and is still on schedule to open in fall 2013. The new auditorium will seat 400.
The 20,000-square-foot addition also will feature a 40-foot proscenium, dance studio, dressing
rooms, scene and prop shop, an instrumental music room and a gallery for student artwork.
Providing for all the spatial and functional requirements of classes, rehearsals, individual
instruction and performances, the facility will serve the needs of drama, speech, vocal,
instrumental and dance students. The space will also be used for honors assemblies, parent
meetings and guest speakers; seats will be equipped with fold-out lap desks and the auditorium
will have teleconferencing capabilities.
218

MarianFEST is on the Move
The 32nd annual MarianFEST (Funding Education in the Servite Tradition), Marian’s largest
fundraising event of the year, is moving to Feb. 22, 2014. The event has traditionally been
held in October but because of many conflicts with community fundraising events, Husker
football and Marian’s student-led fundraiser, Walk-A-Thon, the committee has decided to
move the event to February 2014.
The chairs for FEST 2014 are Jerry and Joan Kalhorn Hahn ’78, Mike and Mary Kay
Mangus Leatherman ’81, Tom and Sara Sheeren McKeon ’81, Rob and Dede Salerno
and Brian and Susie Ward Shoemaker ’81.
Save
the date
February 22
2014
We are grateful for your support!
Top photo (left to right): Katie Griffin Paist ‘75,
Karen Monahan O’Connor ‘75, Ellen Hollander
Jackson ‘75 and Sue Gibbs Scheinost ‘75
Bottom left photo: Parents Rick & Jen Bettger
serve as Junior Class Captains
Bottom middle photo: Parent Chairs Diane &
Kevin Warneke
Bottom right photo: Susan Kreski, Junior Class
Captain
Give with “Confidence”
This year’s theme, “Confident to be Me,” does
not pertain only to our students! It’s apparent
in the thousands of benefactors who support
our annual giving program, The Marian Fund.
By contributing financially to Marian, you are
demonstrating your “confidence” in Marian’s
ability to carry out its mission.
You can be confident that your gifts to Marian
provide vital support to a broad spectrum
of needs that cannot be met through tuition
alone. You can also be confident your gifts
provide tuition assistance to more than 42
percent of students and bring cutting-edge
technology to the classroom that enriches our
superlative academic, spiritual and leadership
programs. You can be confident that your
gifts are greatly appreciated by our students,
faculty and staff and make an immediate
impact on our students daily lives at Marian.
The leadership of The Marian Fund is
confident that, with your support, our goal
of $562,500 will be met. The Marian Fund is
currently 95 percent of its goal. If you haven’t
already donated, we invite you to make a gift
today online at www.marianhighschool.net
and click on the DONATE TODAY button
located at the upper right-hand corner of
your screen. You can also mail your donation
directly to Marian.
19

Spotlight on Our Future
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for Marian’s future by
supporting the Spotlight on Our Future campaign and
taking your place in the Spotlight!
Become a permanent fixture in Marian’s Mary
Joy and Tal Anderson Performing Arts Center.
By “Taking a Seat,” your name or message
will be engraved on a personalized plate and
installed on an auditorium seats’ armrest.
You can “take a seat” in honor of your favorite
Marian performer or your own contributions
to the Marian stage. Additionally, this could
serve as a special gift to commemorate
a graduation, reunion, or honor other
celebrations in the life of a loved one.
Whether it’s on the court, in the science lab,
or even on the stage, your unique talents
can be commemorated with an engraved
star that will be incorporated in a night sky
mural. Your star will greet thousands of
future Marian students as they enter the new
addition from the existing building. With
your gift, your name, graduation year or
message will be engraved and on permanent
display in the night sky of supporters. Create
one for yourself or give one as a gift to your
favorite Marian girl.
Take a Seat
Seat Location Price Seats Available
Standing Ovation (1st row) $5,000 19
Encore (2nd and 3rd rows) $2,500 60
Bravo (remaining seats) $1,500 309
Additional details:
Name plate size – 2½” x 7/8”
Messages may be two lines of up to 16 characters per line (including spaces).
Messages will be in all capital letters.
We will do our best to honor specific seat requests; however, we are not able to guarantee fulfillment of all
seat requests due to limited availability.
Please note: Seat name recognition does not guarantee a particular seat for future performances other than the
inaugural performances planned for Fall 2013. Seat donors must still purchase tickets to any paid performance.
You’re a Star!
Star Type Price Stars Available
Premium $750 50
Standard $500 200
Additional details:
Standard stars can be engraved with two lines of text, twenty (20) characters per line.
Premium stars can be engraved with three lines of text, twenty (20) characters per line.
Messages will be in all capital letters.
Stars will be available for a limited time and created only for the first 500 donors in time
for the dedication ceremony.
20

Alumnae Today
Upcoming Events
Legacy Lunch
Sunday, April 7 • Noon
Alumnae and their grade school-aged
daughters, granddaughters, or nieces
are invited to enjoy a Legacy Lunch at
Marian. Enjoy activities, door prizes,
legacy stories and a stop at the new
BLUEtique, Marian’s spirit wear store.
Alumnae Fan Night
Thursday, April 11
Varsity Soccer • 4:30 p.m.
Marian vs. Millard North
Marian Soccer Field
&
Varsity Tennis • 4 p.m.
Marian vs. Millard West
Marian Tennis Courts
Alumnae and guests receive free
admission. If you coach a team they
are welcome to attend.
Alumnae Board Sponsored Events
Mpower Luncheon
Marian juniors selected for the Mpower professional mentoring program had their first
meeting with their mentors at a Dec. 4 luncheon at Marian. Students and their mentors
exchanged information, made plans for future contact and reviewed guidelines to help them
through the process.
Alumnae Board Chair Mary Hendrix Schuele ’82 and Cathy Firmature Furlow ’79, co-chair,
hosted the catered lunch; 38 attended.
This year there are 25 mentors and mentees participating in Mpower; nine of the mentors live out
of state but through email, phone calls and Skype will make monthly contact with their mentees.
Professions the Marian students will be mentored in include engineering, journalism (print
and broadcast), medicine, nursing, law, fashion, museum curating, sports psychology,
entrepreneurship, social work and physical therapy.
Field Day Walls Night
Tuesday, April 23 • 5:30- 8:30 p.m.
Field Day
Friday, April 26
Creighton University
Stop by the Alumnae tent and visit
with old friends, enjoy coffee and rolls
and reminisce over Field Days past.
May Crowning
Tuesday, May 7 • 1 p.m.
All second-grade daughters,
granddaughters, or nieces of
alumnae making their First Holy
Communion are invited to be part
of the all-school May Crowning
ceremony dressed in their First
Communion dresses. A cupcake
reception and tours of the school
will follow the ceremony.
(Left to right): Samantha Bianchi ’14, Kelley Keefe ’05, Sara Cipolla ’14, Maria Finocchiaro ’04
Alumnae Fan Night
More than 50 alumnae and
children plus three youth
basketball teams cheered on
the Crusaders at the Marian
vs. Millard South junior varsity
and varsity basketball games
on Jan. 31. The fans received
complimentary admission and
enjoyed face painting, popcorn
and prizes.
MaryKate Kamper, daughter of
Mikki Dolan Kamper ‘93
21

Alumnae Today
Sprorcic Tribute
The Class of 1987 joined together and purchased
a star that will be displayed in the new Performing
Arts Center in remembrance of Mr. Mike Sporcic,
a favorite teacher of many Marian alumnae who
passed away in 2009. The commemorative star is
engraved with a special message from the class and
will be incorporated in a night sky mural. If you
would like to create one for yourself or give one
as a gift to your favorite Marian girl, contact the
Advancement Department at 402.571.2618, ext. 102.
Marian Open House
We are grateful to the many Marian alumnae who
volunteered to check in the families at this year’s
Open House in November. Our alumnae are the best
recruiters and it is invaluable to have graduates
from different eras share their experiences and
knowledge with prospective students and parents.
Phoenix Alumnae Group Kick-Off
Feb. 26, 2013
Head of School Susan Toohey ’82 helped kick
off the newly formed Phoenix Alumnae Group,
led by Jill Peitzmeier McNamara ’00 and Erin
Peitzmeier ’02. The event was held at Jill’s home.
Young Alumnae Open House
Nearly 60 alumnae returned to Marian for the Class
of 2012 Assembly on Jan. 8, where Marian juniors
and seniors peppered the graduates with questions
about college life. Following the assemblies,
alumnae from the classes of 2008-2012 were invited
to the Young Alumnae Open House to enjoy a
pizza lunch, reconnect with classmates and friends
and visit with favorite teachers.
Megan Devereaux ’12, Christina Rommelfanger ’12,
Megan Andreasen ’12, Michaela McDonald ’12, Emily
Fisher ’12, Tori Nietzel ’12, Joy Leick ’11
Debutante Ball
Nineteen Marian alumnae from the Class of 2012
participated in the 2012 Omaha Symphony Guild
Debutante Ball held on Dec. 27: Jessica Koraleski,
Rachael Kreski, Catelin Hotz, Alli Braun, Olivia
Hershiser, Kaitlin Bacon, Taylor Haag, Anna
Rosenlof, Mary Foxley, Katie Nichting, Morgan
Schumacher, Jenna Glass, Zoe Ursick, Ashley
Jansen, Miranda Dineen, Emma Huerter, Anna
Hupp, Jessica Brandl, and Marie McNamara.
Rachael Kreski, Anna Rosenlof, Taylor Haag (2012)
Mary Kate Casey ’08 registered prospective students
and families
Regional Alumnae Group Gatherings
Kansas City Alumnae Group
Nov. 10, 2012
Back row: Molly Bystrek ’07, Kansas City Alumnae
group leader, Christina Frank Erwin ’90, Kim Patterson
’09, Anne Zuegner ’09 and Amanda Schumacher ’09
Front row: Katie Wicht Searl ’84, Kansas City Alumnae
group leader, Coco Spethman McAtee ’83, Kristen Jones
’09, and Head of School Susan Russell Toohey ’82
St. Louis Alumnae Group
Feb. 26, 2013
The St. Louis Alumnae Group hosted a Build-a-Salad
dinner and book discussion of Sarah’s Key by Tatiana
de Rosnay. The gathering was at the home of Mary
Bernard Sullivan ’78 and was co-hosted by Deana
Dougherty Klein ’03 and Mary Macaitis Simon ’84.
Front row: Mary Macaitis Simon ’84, Mary Bernard
Sullivan ’78, Barb Nussrallah Vaupel ’77, back row:
Susan Kozal Brennan ’78, Erica Irwin ’02, Deb Gruidel
Tata ’69
Left to right: Erin Peitzmeier ’02, Jill Peitzmeier
McNamara ’00, Mary Jo Cappellano Sheldrick ’89,
Sharon E. Slattery ’75, Head of School Susan Toohey,
Susan Davis Fugger ’79, Lisa Virgillito Osselaer ’80,
Nina Easley Harlow ’99, Kelly Zimmerman ’89, Nancy
O’Neil Kuchta ’89
Accomplishments
1960
Connie Heenan Kudlacek will conclude her eight
years of service as governing leader on the Board
of Directors of New Cassel Retirement Center. She
has served as the board’s chair for the last three
years. New Cassel’s ministry is to serve the elderly
who need help through housing and an adult
day program. Connie has published three books:
Alzheimer’s Disease – The Dignity Within: A Handbook
for Caregivers, Family and Friends; A Caregiver’s
Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life
Easier and The Alzheimer’s Caregiving Puzzle.
1967
Rosanne Schumacher Klug has been awarded
the Tau Award of Excellence by the New Cassel
Retirement Center, where she has worked
since June 2001. She earned this award due to
her hard work, dependability, friendliness and
responsiveness to everyone’s needs.
1973
Ann Mellen has been co-owner of M’s Pub in
Omaha since 1987. The original restaurant opened
in 1972 and has been a favorite in the Old Market
and Omaha thanks to its unique atmosphere,
friendly staff and European bistro food ever since.
M’s Pub recently was featured in the Omaha World-
Herald as a favorite and classic eatery.
1977
Leslie Schaefer has been appointed by Omaha
Mayor Jim Suttle as interim finance director
effective Jan. 1, 2013. She is currently the city
treasurer and will act as the interim finance
director until June 2013.
22

1978
Celeste Johnson Brabec, M.D. is the medical
director at the Reproductive Resource Center
of Greater Kansas City. Celeste completed her
reproductive health and infertility specialty training
at Harvard University (Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, Boston, Mass.) and has helped thousands
of couples build families. Celeste has received
recognition in Who’s Who in the 21st Century. She is
a member of the
American Society
for Reproductive
Medicine and of
the Alpha Omega
Alpha Medical
Honor Society.
She has also been
voted “SuperDoc”
by her peers
on numerous
occasions.
1986
Jennifer Matt has been awarded the 2012
Women of Distinction Award by OutputLinks
Communications Group. Honorees represent
Belgium, Canada, France and the United States.
The annual Women of Distinction Awards celebrate
the numerous achievements of exceptional
women from around the globe in the document
communications, graphic arts and high volume
transaction output industries. Jennifer’s business,
Web2Print Experts, Inc., earned her this honor.
Anne Newland, M.D. graduated from Barnard
College and worked as a managing editor of a
political science periodical for five years in New
York, then returned to Omaha for medical school.
Anne was a physician in Arizona for more than six
years on a Navajo Indian Reservation. She now has
gone back to school as a Mongan Commonwealth
Fund Fellow in Minority Health Policy at the
Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Anne
plans to work to eliminate disparities in healthcare
access and outcomes due to race, ethnicity, poverty,
and other social determinants of health.
Diane Staab Carlson has been named deputy
county administrator for Douglas County, Nebraska.
She previously was in the civil division of the
Douglas County Attorney’s
office, where she worked
for nine years. In her new
role, she will be working
with Chief Administrative
Officer Patrick Bloomingdale
on all aspects of county
management and overseeing
the labor relations and risk
management areas of county
government.
1989
Patra Pakieser, owner of Silversmith Jewelry &
Workshop at Rockbrook Village in Omaha, has
changed the store’s name to Alletti Jewelry. Alletti
means allure in Italian. Alletti will continue to
offer diamond and precious gemstone jewelry
along with other items. The store is also moving to
a new space in Rockbrook Village. Visit the store’s
website at www.allettijewelry.com
1991
Erin Grace Helton was named an Omaha World-
Herald columnist in January 2013. Erin has been
a reporter with the paper for more than 14 years
and, in her new position, will be writing columns
in various sections of the paper. You can follow
her blog on omaha.com/columnists to read more
about Erin.
1996
Abby Klusmire Jordan and her business partner,
Becky App, appeared on the Sept. 21, 2012 episode
of “The Shark Tank.” The owners pitched their
eCreamery business, hoping to secure a $250,000
investment to help the company ramp up
production. They did not win but as suggested by
Barbara Corcoran, one of the celebrity judges, App
and Jordan secured a loan through Dundee Bank
to help them fulfill the orders generated by their
appearance on the show. The space of the small,
1,200-square-foot corner shop was also solved by
leasing a large industrial freezer at Omaha-based
Prima Distribution. Within minutes of the TV
show airing, their website hits soared. When the
show re-aired in
January, orders
again spiked, even
higher than the
first time. The
suggestion to
close the retail
shop is out of the
question; they like
the community
support and are
happy where
they are.
1998
Elizabeth Perry raised money for the Team in
Training Program to support the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society while training for the half
marathon in honor of her mother who died of
leukemia in 2006. A local Omaha restaurant, Le
Peep, donated 25 percent of diners’ bills when they
mentioned the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
2000
Jill Peitzmeier McNamara is the owner of Millie’s
Caramels, a small, online company headquartered
in Phoenix, Ariz., dedicated to creating all sorts of
tasty caramel treats. Millie’s is taking the traditional
caramel and making it a little more modern and fun
by making chewy
caramel candies in
all sorts of creative
flavor combinations.
Some favorites are
rosemary & black
pepper and lavender
& sea salt. Jill sells
her caramels at local shops and farmers’ markets.
Visit her website at www.milliescaramels.com
2001
Jen Edney, adventure journalist, whose motto is
“Have camera, will travel,” has traveled to such
places as Fiji, Suriname, Australia, and Cape Town.
She estimates that 10 months of the year is spent
traveling with her lens focused and ready. Jen
recently was aboard the JP Morgan BAR racing boat
during the America’s Cup World Series event in San
Francisco, Calif., in the fall of 2012.
2003
Sara Sabaliauska will earn her master’s in
Public Administration in May 2013. She also is a
student government graduate class senator at the
University of Nebraska Omaha.
2005
Katie Lee Longanecker has a bachelor’s and
master’s in psychology and counseling and is an
adolescent counselor in Minnesota.
Christine Stormberg and Anna Grier live in Los
Angeles, Calif., and are co-owners of Dog Show, a
boutique in Echo Park.
2006
Tara Vaughan showcased her musical talent as the
opening act for Lifehouse, an American rock band
from Los Angeles, on Jan. 17, 2012. She also has a
new CD entitled Better Versions. She recently spoke
to Marian students as part of Marian’s Lunch with a
Leader speaker series on Tuesday, March 26.
2007
Anne Gambrel graduated from University of Tulsa
with a degree in Engineering Physics and is now
midway through her second year of graduate study
at Princeton. The National Science Foundation
Graduate Research Fellowship award provided
funding for her first three years at Princeton.
She is in the physics department and works on a
collaboration called SPIDER. The experiment is a
balloon-borne telescope that they will use to study
the cosmic microwave background – radiation that
originated during the very early universe. Through
these studies, the team hopes to better understand
what was happening in the first moments after the
Big Bang. They will launch the telescope on a NASA
balloon from Antarctica in December 2013 and it
will fly for 20 days.
Mary Narzisi completed her rookie year on the
the 2012 Ladies Pro Golf Association (LPGA)
Symetra Tour, a developmental tour one level
below the LPGA tour. Mary’s playing status for
2012 was F4, which allowed her to be admitted into
15 tournaments where she finished 97th on the
players list. Mary has earned a higher status of B14
on the Symetra Tour for 2013 and will be eligible
to play every tournament. She expects to play at
least 15 tournaments during 2013 and feels that the
experience gained in her first year on the tour will
translate into greater success next year. Mary has
secured four corporate sponsors and is also looking
for individual investors. You can follow her progress
on the Symetra Tour web site at
http://www.symetratour.com
Mary Narzisi and her father, Jack, after making the
cut at Stage II Q-School
23

2008
Megan “Maggie” Lee received her elementary
education degree last May at William Jewell College
and is now in her fourth month of a 26-month
commitment in the Peace Corps teaching English
and computers to junior high and high school
students in Nacuxa, Mozambique.
Katelyn Lohaus is a baker at the new Omaha
Cheesecake Bakery (not to be confused with the
Cheescake Factory). The bakery serves up vintage
sweets that are anything but mass-produced.
Delicious baked goods from bygone eras are
buttery, rich and, most likely, sinfully caloric.
2009
Afton Robertson was crowned Ak-Sar-Ben queen
at the Coronation and Scholarship Ball held at the
CenturyLink Center in Omaha on Oct. 13, 2012.
Afton is a senior at Indiana University, majoring in
apparel merchandising, with a minor in business,
and is a member of the university’s swim team.
2010
Corinne McGill is co-chair for Camp Kesem,
which is a free camp for children ages 6 to 16
whose parents have or have had cancer. Aside from
providing respite care to cancer families, Camp
Kesem’s other mission is to encourage leadership
on college campuses. There are 41 chapters around
the country and each chapter works independently
to plan their own week of camp. This involves
fundraising, reaching out to the community to find
campers, planning the programming for the entire
week of camp, and building its image on campus
and in the surrounding communities.
Hannah Mergen ’11 and Corinne Fleming ’09
also are also involved with this chapter of Camp
Kesem. Hannah plans programming for the camp
and Corinne recruits campers from Lincoln,
Omaha and the surrounding areas. Camp Kesem
will take place June 16-21 in Boone, Iowa at the
YMCA camp. Check out their website:
http://campkesem.org/nebraska.
Margaret Powers, a junior at Iowa State University
and a member of its women’s soccer team, was
named to the All-Big 12 Academic First Team; this
requires students to have a grade-point average of
above a 3.20.
Kaitlin Zardetto-Smith, a 4th chair Tuba player
in the Nebraska Wesleyan University Band,
performed during a ceremony commemorating
the 68th anniversary of D-Day in France. Kaitlin
was chosen from among her band mates as the
student representative, along with 17 people
including veterans and veterans’ family members,
who laid wreaths at the D-Day memorial on
Omaha Beach. Kaitlin also was invited to
audition for the Union Opera in St. Louis in
February. She is starting the process of applying
for opera apprenticeships.
2011
Emily Reynolds was elected to the Board of the
National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS)
in Washington, D.C., and will travel there four
times a year for meetings and a summit. The NOYS
Coalition member organization represents over 80
million youth and adults and is still growing!
2012
Jackie Tondl, defender for the Texas A&M women’s
soccer team, was named to the SEC’s all-freshman
team. Jackie has appeared in 16 games with 12
starts. She has helped spearhead a defense that
leads the league with a 0.49 goals-against average.
Kathy Tocco
Retires
Kathy Tocco
After 14 years as a Marian religion teacher and 34 years in Catholic schools, Ms. Kathy Tocco ’61
said it’s time to say goodbye to her students who she calls, “her companions on the journey.”
The 1961 Marian Girl of the Year came back to her alma mater in 2000 to teach Religion to
sophomore and junior students. Tocco said she enjoys teaching this age group because there
is “beautiful personal growth between sophomore and junior year.” Sophomore students take a
course entitled “Church” where they learn the history of the Catholic Church, Christology (the
history of Jesus), and explore human sexuality and the Church’s teaching related to it. “Sophomore
girls have never examined what the culture tries to make them out to be—essentially sex objects.
We teach them that the power is in their intellect and will and that, if they are going to be women
of substance, then they must be counter culture. They love learning that,” Tocco said.
In the Morality course that Tocco teaches to juniors, she said the goal of the first
semester is to help girls realize that they have the power to choose good over evil
all the time and the class gives them the tools to do that. “I also remind them that
if somehow they don’t have the power or ability to make the right decision, then in
the end, there is always mercy and forgiveness,” she said.
Outside of the classroom, Tocco has led student immersion trips to the Dominican
Republic and taught at Servite College in Perth, Australia. Her enthusiasm,
compassion and willingness to commit so much of her life to her students has been
a hallmark of her career at Marian.
“Our girls have been extremely blessed to have Kathy Tocco,” said Counselor Kathy
Janata. “She is more than a teacher. She is a charismatic, nurturing, confronting
mentor and life coach, and she has touched countless lives over her years in
education. Kathy is not someone the girls just like and care about ... it is much
more than that. She connects with them, influences them, inspires them to
change and encourages them to be active and contributing women in society. She
genuinely and unconditionally loves her students, and they are better people for
having known Ms. Tocco.”
“Every year I have each senior eat lunch with me to talk about her Marian
experience. These are very gratifying meetings because I get to hear what went
well in her four years and what she would edit. Consistently, students share with
24

Weddings
Patty Weist ’85 married Dan Ervin at St. Mary’s in
Bellevue on Aug. 31, 2012.
Dana Morinelli ’98 and Brad Williams were
married Sept. 22, 2012 at Holy Cross Catholic
Church in Omaha. Dana’s sister Lisa Morinelli
’01 was the maid of honor and Amy Thurmond
Johnson ’98 was a bridesmaid. Brad’s mother,
Marci Moluf Williams ’70, is also a Marian alumna.
Dana is the director of marketing for Ashley Lynn’s,
Inc. in Omaha. Brad is an engineering tech/
photographer for E&A Consulting Group in Omaha
as well as the owner of Brad Williams Photography.
Megan Irwin ’99 married Wes Prickett, M.D. on
Oct. 6, 2012. Meagan is a obstetrics/gynecology
physician at Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s
Center. Wes is an anesthesiologist currently
completing a fellowship at the University of
California-Davis.
Amanda Cyr ’01 married Michael Klapperich on
Sept. 21, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church in
Omaha.
Katie Eckholt ’01 married Brendan Nolan on
Oct. 20, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church
in Omaha followed by a reception at the Joslyn
Art Museum. One of the bridesmaids was Marian
alumna Beth Biehle Hawkins ’01.
Photo courtesy of Geoff Johnson photography
Laura Spanheimer ’01 married John Dechant
April 21, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church
in Las Vegas. Sisters Jenny Spanheimer ’96 and
Krissie Spanheimer ’97 were bridesmaids. Laura
and John live in Omaha where Laura is employed as
a physical therapist and John is a writer for Legacy
Preservation.
me that one of their favorite classes is Ms. Tocco’s Morality class,” said Head of School Susan
Toohey. “They value her style of teaching because they feel respected and that they have a voice
in the class. She has a unique gift for bonding with a group of young women who are much
younger than she is, but who she connects with on a personal and spiritual level with each day.”
Before coming to Marian, Tocco was the Religious Education coordinator for St. Robert’s five-day
school; she educated teachers and trained new assistant pastors to teach religion at the school.
Tocco earned her undergraduate degrees in Education and History at Duchesne College in
Omaha and a graduate degree in Theology from Creighton University. She continued her studies
in Theology at the University of Detroit while teaching at Servite High School.
Tocco said the decision to retire has been in the making for more than five years. “All of my life
decisions have taken a long time. I prayed about it. I don’t want to get to a point where I’m not
effective in the classroom,” she said.
However, her retirement will be anything but “retiring.” Already her travel calendar is booked
starting with trips to Minnesota—a childhood tradition—where she will enjoy the “dock, lake and
northern lights.” She will attend the wedding of a former Marian student this summer in Malibu,
Calif., travel to Costa Rica in February 2014 with her eight siblings, and then head to Alaska in
July 2014.
During her “down time,” Tocco plans to
substitute teach at Marian as well as take time
to enjoy some of her passions: reading, country
and western dancing and cooking—she plans to
take a cooking course to hone her skills.
Tocco said that she will always carry with her
the joy she experienced from her students as
“a companion on the journey” of her retirement.
She said that when she thinks of her students she is reminded by the words of St. Augustine:
“Our hearts are made for you alone, Oh Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.”
“The best thing about being with the girls is that they are so inspiring. They reflect what every
heart reflects,” she said. “They are so easily led to the truth because they have hungry hearts that
never disappoint. This is the bedrock of my teaching.”
“She is more than a teacher. She is a charismatic,
nurturing, confronting mentor and life coach, and she
has touched countless lives over her years in education.”
~ Counselor Kathy Janata
25

Beth Flynn ’02 married Bryan Wilch on August 11,
2012, at Werner Park on the Storm Chaser Baseball
Field. The reception was held at St. Patrick’s in
Gretna. Bridesmaids included Marian Graduates
from left to right; Jennifer Flynn Zinna ’94, matron
of honor; Maggie Flynn Cannon ’99, Matron of
Honor; Bride Beth Flynn Wilch ’02, Julie Flynn
Molstad ’95, and Michaela Flynn Lucas ’91.
Kylie Talacko ’05 and Jesse Kulp were married on
the beach of Riviera Maya, Mexico on Nov. 8, 2012.
Kendel Talacko Rowe’02 was matron of honor.
The newlyweds will make their home in Omaha.
Kylie graduated from Capitol School of Hairstyling
in 2006 and is now a self-employed hair dresser and
hair extension specialist.
Mary Goetz ’08 and Blake Thompson were married
June 30, 2012 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic
Church in Omaha. A reception followed at the
Scoular Building Ballroom. Mary is a progressive
care registered nurse and Blake is a grades 5-12
music director. The couple is making their home in
Hastings, Neb.
Erika Meisinger ’03 married Colin Conces in
Nebraska City at the Morton Barns on Oct. 19, 2012.
The reception was held in the Barns and featured
bluegrass folk band, Bad Country. Colin is a
photographer and Erika is the Operations & Events
manager at Nonprofit Association of the Midlands.
Taylor Godfroy ’06 married Nate Wood on June 16,
2012 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church followed
by a reception at St. John Vianney. Her mother is
Jean McDonald Godfroy ’65; fellow alumna Cala
Durkan Borovac ’06 was a bridesmaid and the
wedding photographer was Anna Mostek Tetrault
’06 of Anna Mostek Photography. Taylor is a
preschool teacher at St. Vincent de Paul School.
Births
Cynthia Walsh-Lemle ’89 and husband Paul
welcomed son Bizuneh, age 6, who was adopted
from Ethiopia in September. He joins brothers
Mintesinote “Minte,” 7, and Ermias, 3. The family
resides in Odenton, Md.
Spotlight on:
Sr. Midge
Petersen,
OSM
To say that Sr. Midge Petersen, O.S.M. ’52 speaks her mind might be an understatement. This
powerhouse of opinions and passion has been part of the Marian community from day one—
literally. Sr. Midge can claim the distinction of being the first girl to graduate from Marian in
1959. The 52 graduates were lined up by height and, since Sr. Midge was the shortest, she was
the first to walk across the stage on that monumental day. “It was my greatest pride,” she said.
A very ironic ending to a high school career which also marked the beginning of a lifelong
commitment to the Marian community. Sr. Midge recalled that on the first day of classes she
cried all the way to school. She had hoped to attend Cathedral High with her brothers but her
father had other plans. He wanted “something special for his girl” and felt that the new school
founded by the Servite sisters would be just the thing.
Who knew that 54 years later, she’d be a member of the founding order of Servite sisters and
that the school would be better and stronger than ever? Sr. Midge entered the convent after
graduation and commenced her formation to become a nun and a teacher. She attended
Duchesne College and then went on to Mundelein College in Chicago where, she said, “I spent
far too much time on the beach.” She taught English and Religion classes in Welby, Colo.; Sioux
City, Iowa; Messina, New York and Detroit. In Omaha, she taught at St. Pius X and, of course, her
beloved Marian. For nearly 12 years, she taught a Death and Dying course to juniors and seniors
and said it was one of her favorite courses to teach.
“In the 1980’s we had a variety of choices for religion classes. One of the most popular was Death
and Dying taught by Sr. Midge. I must say that her course is one that I remember as being one
of the most impactful in my Marian career,” said Head of School Susan Toohey. “Not only did I
learn about the grieving process, but I began to form the idea of compassionate presence, one of
the Core Values and the charism of the Servants of Mary, through this very difficult but necessary
aspect of life and death. Sr. Midge was able to guide us in a way that had a lifelong impact.”
After Marian, Sr. Midge trained to become a hospital chaplain and for many years worked at
Richard Young, an Omaha psychiatric hospital that has since closed. She then went back to
26

Shaela Cavel Wepfer ’92 and husband Chris
welcomed a baby boy, Benjamin, born on Dec. 28,
2012. He joins big sister Elizabeth, 4.
Amy Ficenec
Holmes ’97 and
husband Rob
celebrate the birth
of twins, Max
and Nolan, born
on Thanksgiving
Day, Nov. 22, 2012.
The boys join big
sister Madelyn,
9, and proud
grandparents
Joe and Mary Kay
Lund Ficenec ’68.
LeeAnn Overmann Kollmorgen ’99 and husband
Steve welcomed their third child on Oct. 30, 2012.
Joslyn Marie joins big brothers Nathan, 7, and
Dylan, 4.
Maggie Helget French ’00 and husband Brian
adopted son Kyler Cole French on July 19, 2012.
Maggie manages two group homes for consumers
with mental disabilities in Tempe, Ariz.
Rachael Watson Frohardt ’03 and husband Daniel
welcomed their first child, Lauren Elizabeth, on
Nov. 17, 2012.
Heather Schleich-
Wees ’93 and
husband Kevin
welcomed Johanna
Marie Wees on Sept.
29, 2012. Johanna
joins big brother
Caleb Micah, 5.
Meghann Longo Dietz ’98 and husband Nick
happily announce the birth of their third child,
Elizabeth “Ellie” Nicole Dietz. She joins big brother
Charlie, 2, and big sister Katherine, 4.
Jamie Frost Kingston ’98 and husband Vince
welcomed their second child, Jack Vincent, on Aug.
15, 2012. Jack joins big sister Audrey.
Karissa Kaczmarek Burroughs ’95 and husband
Justin welcomed daughter Anabelle Marie on Nov.
16, 2012. Anabelle was welcomed by big sister
Addison and brother Ashton.
Laura McQuillan Nash ’95 and husband Rick
welcomed a son, Nicholas, on Aug. 31, 2012.
Kylie Talacko Kulp ’05 and her husband, Jesse,
welcomed their first child, Easton Eugene Kulp, on
Dec. 21, 2011.
teaching Theology at Mount Michael Benedictine in Elkhorn and Skutt Catholic High School
until her retirement. She said that she has always loved teaching and providing structure to
the students in her classroom. In her typical blunt fashion, she stated, “I didn’t have discipline
problems, because I didn’t mess around,” she said.
In retirement, Sr. Midge is once again giving back to Marian and for the last two years has served
on Marian’s Board of Directors and on the Advancement Committee, where she offers her nononsense
viewpoint and institutional knowledge to further the school’s mission.
“I’m fascinated by the people on the board—the expertise—oh, my gosh!” said Sr. Midge. “The
knowledge, advice and the energy they are able to give to Marian is amazing!”
“One of the gifts that Sr. Midge possesses is her ability to stand firm in her convictions and
to demonstrate leadership through her confidence to express herself. I appreciate that she
has the courage to ‘call it as she sees it,’ even if it may make some people uncomfortable. Her
honesty and direct approach provide the Board an opportunity to discuss issues on a level that
is crucial for us to move forward,” Toohey said.
Longtime friend and Marian Religion teacher Kathy Tocco ’61 agrees. “Midge is a
discriminating, loyal and faithful friend. She has a long list of lifelong friends who treasure her
strong character, direct honesty and insightful humor. She may have been the shortest in her
class, but this feisty south Omaha girl is a force to be reckoned with!”
Through the Quilting Ministry, Sr. Midge also gives to Marian by creating memory quilts for
Marian students and alumnae. She and her team stitch together works of art from colorful
cloth and students’ Marian T-shirts, collected from four years of activities and events, creating
memories that Marian graduates can take with them to college.
Sr. Midge said that the school has done a “phenomenal job” over the years and she is very proud
of what the school has become. “We once dreamed that Marian would be a school like it is
today,” she said. “Marian’s my school—I love it. I am Marian.”
Sr. Midge Petersen
27

Each Friday, the students, teachers and staff of Marian offer a special prayer for those who are suffering from any kind of
pain, illness, or loss and for those who have asked us to pray for them. We pray for those Marian alumnae and members
of their families who have died and now experience the joy of resurrection. Following this we say together the Hail Mary.
You may join us in spirit each Friday at 8 a.m. and you will know the power of praying together in community.
In Memoriam of
Deceased Alumnae
Sally Maher Bleyhl ’77, sister
of Nancy Maher Wicks ’81,
sister-in-law of Maggie Troia
Maher ’70 and aunt of Melissa
Maher ’04
Cheryl Whalen Dwyer ’73,
mother of Kailey Dwyer ’02,
Shannon Dwyer ’06, sister of
Mary Whalen Bolamperti ’81,
aunt of Lindsay Bolamperti ’13
and Lauren Bolamperti ’16
Colette Rita Brik Hameline
’60, sister of Suzanne Brik
Harkness ’67
Mary Kathleen Whaley
Laudon ’72, sister of Christine
Whaley Schell ’71 and sisterin-law
of Margaret Nelson
Whaley ’78
Suzanne Nauman Dwyer
McEvoy ’60, mother of Coreen
Dwyer Weiss ’82 and Eileen
Dwyer ’90
Rita Jostes Murphy ’73, sister
of Mary Jostes Garland ’67,
Patricia Jostes Lotspeich
’67, and Jane Jostes Murphy
’76, aunt of Michelle Garland
Jochim ’95, Krista Lotspeich
’92, Kara Lotspeich Reeves ’95,
and Kathleen Lotspeich ’99
Ann Marie Ruth Peterson ’84,
sister of Trish Ruth Erickson
’85 and Donna Ruth Brennan
’89
The Marian Community Joins in Remembrance
Sara Allee, mother-in-law of Kathleen Battaglia
Allee ’76
George Allison, father of Nancy Allison Monroe
’64, Bridget Allison Blessie ’68 and Sally Allison
Johnson ’71
Ron Andersen, father of Shari Andersen Reynolds
’83, Christine Andersen ’84, grandfather of Sarah
Reynolds ’13 and Emily Reynolds ’11
Dorothy Baker, mother of Carol Baker Lowndes ’75
Cecelia Barak, grandmother of Karina Barak ’14
Harry Bassett, grandfather of Emily Bassett ’12
John Belitz, father of Jana Belitz Rhodes ’90,
grandfather of Kaitlin Belitz and Kristin Belitz ’14
Richard E. Benda, grandfather of Evelyn Benda ’15
Ronald Bettger, grandfather of Joslyn Bettger ’11 and
Jillian Bettger ’14
Roberta Bianchi, mother of Sharon Bianchi De
Leo ’59 and Carolyn Bianchi Harrison ’61, and
grandmother of Barbara De Leo Howell ’80
Robert Bidroski, grandfather of Emma Bidroski ’15,
and Claire Bidroski ’16
Alice Birkel, mother of Mary Alice Birkel Newquist
’72, Kathleen Birkel Rayl ’74, Caroline “Bernie”
Birkel Larsen ’77, Catherine “Jean” Birkel
Schuller ’84, grandmother of Lauren Larsen ’06,
Emily Birkel ’14, Abby Birkel ’16 and aunt of Laura
Kocher ’87
Louis Boukal, father of Katherine Boukal O’Brien
’71
Mona Braun, grandmother of Tracy Braun McKillip
’79, Barbara Braun Brooks ’ 82, Mary Jo Muckey
Barry ’82, great grandmother of Kate McKillip ’05,
Megan McKillip ’07, Maureen McKillip ’16, Lauren
Barry ’08, and Kimberly Barry ’12
Anne Briganti, grandmother of Shari Briganti ’09,
aunt of Melissa Monzu Sparks ’90
Evelyn Brown, grandmother of Stacey Glogowski ’95
Rose Marie Bruning, mother of Cindy Bruning
Murante ’74, mother-in-law of Mary Virginia Bast
Bruning ’67, grandmother of Jennifer Bruning
’89 and Allison Bruning ’94, great grandmother of
Molly Bruning ’10
Melvin Buettner, grandfather of Tricia Steinkraus ’08
Robert Byrnes, father of Clare Byrnes Ossino ’77 and
grandfather of Erin Byrnes ’03
John Carlson, husband of Mary Tharla Heaston
Carlson ’63
Mary Carlson, mother of Susan Carlson Colan ’78
Dorothy Catalano, grandmother of Erica Catalano
Larsen ’94
Gloriann Cerny, grandmother of Siera Cerny ’06,
Haley Cerny ’05, and Alexis Cerny ’01
John Clark, father of Mary Jane Clark Rasher ’74
Roy Denker, great uncle of Jennifer Denker ’13
Corazon Gonzaga Del Mundo, mother of Johanna
Del Mundo Utman ’03
William Dickey, father-in-law of Catherine Vinardi
Dickey ’66
John Dowell, brother of Margaret Conahan ’63,
Kathleen Corcoran ’64, and Patricia Dowell ’67
Laurance Dunker, grandfather of Jordan Dunker ’04
Robert Egan, father of Julia Egan Freshman ’78,
Karen Egan Hood ’79 and Mary Egan ’81
Michael Fischer, father of Emily Fischer ’12
Mary Flynn, aunt of Katherine Trenolone ’60
Georgene Franco, mother of Carole Franco Rose ’60
Jeanice Franco, mother of Jeanne Franco Doyle ’79,
Marian Franco Weaver ’85 and Theresa Franco
Kleinsmith ’90, grandmother of Kathleen Franco
’08 and Antonia Franco ’14
Gerald Gardner, father of Theresa Gardner Falk ’79
Joan Garro, grandmother of Courtni Kopietz ’07
and Gabriella Martinez-Garro ’12
David Gell, grandfather of Margaret Gell ’14
Raymond Gloeb, father of Andrea Gloeb Whalen ’83
Robert Gottsch, husband of Cindy Mau Gottsch ’79
Maureen Graniewski, mother of Maureen
Graniewski Kille ’68
Carmen Grasso, mother of Beverly Grasso Dempsey
’64 and grandmother of Paige Dempsey ’92
Michaline Groller, mother of Gloria Groller ’79 and
Catherine Groller Dupell ’86
Michael Hanna, husband of Sherri O’Loughlin
Hanna ’73, father of Nicole Hanna ’00, Kellen
Hanna ’04 and Lindsay Hanna ’09
28

Ray Hatt, grandfather of Alex Hanus ’12 and Andrea
Hanus ’16
Robert Herink, father of Carol Herink Mendlik
’69, grandfather of Krista Kurmel ’07, and Amber
Bridgeford ’15
Barbara Herting, grandmother of Kristen Herting
Ewing ’02
Madonna Hollander, mother of Debra Hollander
Clayton ’73 and Ellen Hollander Jackson ’75,
grandmother of Emily Clayton ’02 and Natalie
Clayton ’05
Timothy Holzapfel, uncle of Kristen Conley ’03
George A. Homan, father of Lisa Homan Gorton ’86
Dorothy Jaksich, grandmother of Audrey Jaksich ’08
Leonard Jaworski, grandfather of Julie J. Nelson ’90
Edith Jedlicka, mother of Janice Jedlicka Brown ’60
and Kathryn Jedlicka Sieburg ’65
Donald Kern, father of Amy Kern ’88 and
grandfather of Kathryn Blaser ’13
Timothy Kraft, brother of Erin Kraft ’01
Hilda Kramer, mother of Teresa Kramer Ruback ’90
Margaret Kramer, mother of Janeen Kramer
Rainwater ’69 and Denise Kramer Muth ’73
Marjorie Krause, grandmother of Katie Krause
Leonard ’01 and Laura Krause Novitsly ’03
Robert Kellner, grandfather of Miranda Kellner ’13
and Blair Kellner ’15
Robert Kennedy, father of Erin Kennedy Shearer ’82
and Mary Shannon Kennedy ’88
Jerry Leahy, father of Kelly Leahy Anderson ’82 and
grandfather of Sharon Anderson ’12
Janet Lechner, mother of Denise Lechner Garcia ’97
Robert Linstroth, father of Chloe Linstroth ’12
Sister Barbara Loomis, OSM, former Art teacher at
Marian
Don Ludvigson, grandfather of Leah Moran
Dukarski ’95
Mary McGill, mother of Julie McGill ’86 and Molly
McGill ’87
Sally Mancuso, grandmother of Emma Mancuso ’15
Dorothy Manzer, mother-in-law of Constance
“Connie” Torres Manzer ’70
Kenneth Meis, father-in-law of Jennifer Hamele
Meis ’89
Kenneth Mick, grandfather of Haley Mick ’16
Mildred Miller, aunt of Sr. Peggy Miller, OSM ’65
Michael Mitchell, brother of Gail Mitchell Smith ’71
Judy Ann Monaghan, mother of Kalen Monaghan
Daniels ’91 and Meegan Monaghan Griggs ’93 and
former director of Development at Marian (1991-
1994)
Michael Murphy, father of Colleen Murphy Keenan
’73
Dennis Murray, father of Michelle A. Murray ’08
John Murray, father of Molly Murray Ferm ’83
Trudy Nebbia, mother of Chris Nebbia Sodoro ’72,
Julie Nebbia Johnson ’74, grandmother of Allison
Christine Nebbia ’11 and Mary Margaret Nebbia
’13
David Nutting, husband of Linda McBreen Nutting
’71, father of Trisha Nutting Greguras ’96 and
Stacy Nutting ’99
Patrick O’Kane, father of Ellen O’Kane Rose ’81 and
Corinne O’Kane Fleishman ’77
Gregory Marc Papa, husband of Kelly Lamson Papa
’85 and brother-in-law of Jill Lamson Harlan ’91
Michael Peters, husband of Michelle O’Doherty
Peters ’74
Dorothy Peterson, grandmother of Breeane
Peterson ’07, Kealinn Peterson ’11, Bridgit
Peterson ’13, Molly Peterson ’10, Maggie Peterson
’11 and Angela Peterson ’15
Michael Piccolo, father of Michaela Piccolo ’05 and
Rebecca Piccolo ’08
Warren Pizinger, grandfather of Jaclyn Kassmeier
’02
Thomas Pluhacek, father-in-law of Joan “Jodi” Fretz
Pluhacek ’88
Barbara Pollpeter, mother of Susan Pollpeter
Randle ’92
Chester Puszewski, grandfather of Jessica
Puszewski ’99 and Katrina Puszewski ’07
Kathleen Gibbs-Reeves, great-grandmother of
Sophia Lemen ’15
Michael Roach, father of Dianna Roach Elias ’85,
grandfather of Madison Duncan ’16
Robert Rossell, father-in-law of Janette Gurney
Rossell ’77
Claire Ryan, grandmother of Elizabeth Ryan ’14
Ron Reynolds, father of Teri Reynolds Glasz ’91
Marcella Sanley, mother-in-law of Teresa Laughlin
Sanley ’73 and grandmother of Christine Sanley
’04, and Elizabeth Sanley ’07
Neal Sapp, brother of Kristi Sapp Marasco Wurgler
’85
William Sheldrick, grandfather of Barbara
Sheldrick ’14
Larry Silverstrand, grandfather of Madeline
Kirchofer ’16
James Smith, father of Kathleen Smith McVay ’69
Patricia Sorensen, sister-in-law of Julie Potter
Merriman ’79
Virginia Spethman, mother of Patty Spethman
Kreikemeier ’77, Susie Spethman Sullivan
’80, Kathleen Spethman Pallesen ’84, Joanne
Spethman ’85, Peggy Spethman Zier ’87;
grandmother of Katie Pallesen ’15; aunt of Ellis
Spethman Orsay ’82, Coco Spethman McAtee
’83, Jeanne Spethman Ruch ’87, Mary Spethman
Gordon ’88, and Megan Spethman Krenzer ’92
Kenneth Staats, son of Theresa Durkan Staats ’80
Yvette Steier, mother of Colleen Steier Roggenburk
’86 and Pamela Steier Gottenberg ’88; sister-in-law
of Nancy Buckingham Steier ’73, Carole Novotny
Steier ’71, Susan Steier ’64; aunt of Amanda Steier
Russell ’97, Kristen Steier ’07, Lauren Steier
’07, Katlin Steier Svendsen ’03, Christina Steier
’06, Leanna Steier ’04, Jennifer Steier ’08, Mary
Margaret Steier ’12, Nicole Steier ’03, Kellyjo
Steier ’13, Mary Rose Steier ’14, Rachael Claire
Steier ’16, and Amy Ramsey ’87
Raymond Stratman, father of Shari Stratman
Samek ’70, Sue Stratman Reitan ’73 and Sandy
Stratman Ludwig ’77
Bernard Strohl, husband of Karole Archibald
Strohl ’66
Dennis D. Sullivan, father of Lisa Sullivan Caputo
’89
Randy Anderson Szemplenski, father of Caroline
Anderson ’14
Temple Tilley, mother of Carol Tilley Wininger ’72
Donna Tritsch, mother-in-law of Christina Porter
Tritsch ’77
Robert Trumbauer, father of Laura Trumbauer
Kelley ’82, Brenda Trumbauer Rouse ’86 and
Jennifer Trumbauer Callahan ’91
Joseph Tourek, father of Mary Catherine Tourek
’70, Terri Tourek Foley ’72, Larri Tourek Dickson
’73, Ann Tourek Anderson ’74, Christine Tourek
Kaiser ’76, Jean Tourek Olson ’82, Patty Tourek
Riddle ’85, Jennifer Tourek Hesser ’87, grandfather
of Andrea Tourek ’98 and Morgan Kaiser ’11
Milo Vacanti, father of Leslie Vacanti Donley ’78,
Courtney Vacanti Birnstihl ’85 and uncle of Sara
Vogt D’Anna ’82
Bernice Walsh, mother of Maribeth Walsh
Fitzgerald ’64, mother-in-law of Anne Pritchard
Walsh ’76, and grandmother of Katie Ely ’16
Catherine Weiss, mother of Cathy Weiss Nelson
’77, Jeanne Weiss Hopkins ’78, Mary Weiss ’82,
Christie Weiss ’87; grandmother of Michelle
Nelson ’03, Melissa Nelson ’02, Elizabeth Hopkins
’05 and Caitlin Hopkins ’07
Ilene Williams, mother of Cynthia Williams Vicario
’78
Mildred Wingate, grandmother of Katelyn Wingate
’08
Edmund Bill Wingender, father of Jodi Wingender
’86, uncle of Mary Kay Wingender McCarthy ’75
and Pam Wingender Begley ’85
Daniel Worthing, father-in-law of Wendy Peterson
Worthing ’83
Catherine Zenk, mother of Janette Zenk Sammons
’80, Margaret Zenk Baldwin ’82, and Rebecca
Zenk Adams ’87
29

2013 Reunion Weekend,
Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2
If your graduation year ends in a ’03 or ’08,
then 2013 is your reunion year. Plans are
already underway for your class to gather
and celebrate your Marian connection this
summer. Individual class reunions will be
held Friday, May 31 and/or Saturday, June 1.
Save
the date
2013
Class of 1963 - 50 years
Congratulations to the Class of 1963!
They will celebrate 50 years since
graduating from Marian. Mark your
calendar for these events to celebrate
this momentous occasion.
Sunday, May 19
2 p.m. • Marian Commencement
Holland Performing Arts Center
1200 Douglas St., Omaha, NE 68102
The Class of 1963 will be recognized
at the beginning of the 2013
graduation ceremony.
Friday, May 31
5 - 11 p.m. • Girls’ Night Out
Hampton Inn - Hospitality Suite
1212 Cuming St, Omaha, NE 68102
$25 per person, includes appetizers &
drinks, memorabilia welcome!
To reserve a hotel room, call the
Hampton Inn at 402.245.5500 by
May 1, and mention Class of ’63 when
making reservation.
5:30 - 7 p.m. • Cocktail Reception
with the Servants of Mary
Servants of Mary Convent
Complimentary
Watch your mail for your invitation
Saturday, June 1
6 - 10:30 p.m. • Dinner at
La Casa Pizzaria
4432 Leavenworth, Omaha, NE 68105
Dinner buffet, beverages and cash
bar, $25 per person; guests welcome
Questions, contact:
Carol McCrillis Rayer,
402.359.2846 or jackorcarol@cox.net
Barb Wade O’Malley,
402.697.9753 or barbom@cox.net
Class of 1968 - 45 years
Friday, May 31
7 p.m. • Girls’ Night Out
Poolside Cocktails and Hors
d’oeuvres at the home of
Ginny Dignoti
711 N 69 St., Omaha, NE 68132
$10
Saturday, June 1
6:30 p.m. Cocktails, 7:30 Dinner
Girls’ Night Out
Dinner at the home of
Kathy Grier David
11227 William Plaza, Omaha, NE 68144
$25
Questions, contact: Kathy David
at kdavid@jbkdesigns.com or
402.333.2592
Class of 1973 - 40 years
Saturday, June 1
7 p.m. • Girls’ Night Out
Clancy’s Pub
7128 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68106
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres
Cash bar
RSVP at Marianclass73@hotmail.
com so we know you are coming!
Include a memory you would like to
share.
Questions, contact:
Mary Fortune Cash 402.614.7072 or
mcash123@cox.net
Class of 1978 - 35 years
Saturday, June 1
Girls’ Night Out
More information to follow
Planning Committee:
Maureen Gotch Vinton,
mvinton@financialguide.com
Cindy Petricek LaPole,
clapole@fnni.com
Mary Mayberger Ambrose,
mambrose2@cox.net
Marion Slattery Bendon,
bendonjohn@aol.com
Julie Merwald Maloney,
pajmaloney@gmail.com
Class of 1983 - 30 years
Saturday, June 1
6:30 p.m. • Fox and Hound Bar & Grill
506 N 120th St., Omaha, NE 68154
Guests welcome, cash bar
Questions, contact:
Kellie Clavin Schlecht,
kellieschlecht6@gmail.com
Krista Malcom Freimuth,
kfreimu@gmail.com
Class of 1988 - 25 years
Saturday, June 1
Guests welcome
Finest Hour, with Nikki Boulay
Cripe, will be performing
More information to follow
Questions, contact:
Erin O’Malley Anderson,
erinanderson2@yahoo.com
Class of 1993 - 20 years
Friday, May 31
Girls’ Night Out
Stokes, Old Market
1122 Howard St., Omaha, NE 68102
Planning Committee:
Jodi Teal,
jodeenteal@gmail.com
Lori Lazure Rusch,
lorirusch@creighton.edu
Heather Schleich Wees,
heather.wees@yahoo.com
Class of 1998 - 15 years
Saturday, June 1
Guests welcome
More information to follow
Planning Committee:
Rachael Jank Misiolek,
rmisiolek@omahamarian.org
Shannon Stinebaugh Morse,
stinebsm@yahoo.com
Dana Morinelli,
danam1102@hotmail.com
Class of 2003 - 10 years
Saturday, June 1
7:30 p.m. • Girls’ Night Out
Lucky Bucket Brewing Co.
11941 Centennial Road,
La Vista, NE 68128
Watch your mail for your invitation
Become a member of the
“Marian Class of 2003 - 10 Year
Reunion” on Facebook.
Planning Committee:
Erika Meisinger Conces,
erika.meisinger@gmail.com
Sarina Vlock Tannehill,
smvlock@ft.newyorklife.com
Class of 2008 - 5 year
Saturday, June 1
6 p.m. • Girls’ Night Out
Home of Mary Kate Casey
More information to follow
Questions, contact:
Mary Kate Casey,
mkcasey23@gmail.com
Become a member of the “Marian High
School Class of 2008” on Facebook.
230

Lost Alumnae
These alumnae are marked
in our database as “lost.”
Address updates can be sent to
peggyosm@omahamarian.org
or updated on the
Marian website.
Save the date for the Alumnae Mass & Reception, Sunday, June 2
Mass will be held in the West Gym at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch buffet, tours of the
school, activities for children and an opportunity to visit the new BLUEtique for your
Marian Spirit wear.
Marian will induct the class of 1963 into the Golden Grad Society and name the 2013
Alumna of the Year: Margaret Coyle Hershiser ’78, Marian Award: Steve Schiller,
Sr. Marcella Leadership Award: Kelly Parks Snider ’83, Spirit of Marian Award:
Dr. Dave & Diane Millea, the Quarter Century Club Award: Kathy Janata,
recognition of Al Di Mauro’s retirement, and the induction of the Class of 1963 into
the Golden Grad Society.
It is a weekend that you will not want to miss so mark your calendars today! Contact
the Alumnae Office with questions or email Nancy Casey at ncasey@omahamarian.org.
Send us your updates:
Have you recently had a child, tied the knot, moved, been promoted at work or
recognized by a peer group with a special honor? We want to know about it and so
do your fellow alumnae. Be sure to include photos whenever possible. Send us baby
announcements, with picture, wedding announcements, with picture and even
news clippings from your local paper. We will try to add your update to the news
magazine and any news clippings you send us will be displayed on our Alumnae
Gems Wall found in the foyer at Marian. So, don’t be shy, let us know what is new
with you! Please send your updates to the Alumnae Office at 7400 Military Ave,
Omaha, NE 68134 or ncasey@omahamarian.org.
Vicki Abel ’74
Marguerite Adams ’71
Jessica Adams ’05
Karen Addy Tully ’89
Sarah Allen ’06
Brittnee Allen ’08
Jodi Anderson ’73
Kimberly Anderson ’70
Mary Andracki Coryell ’67
Regina Baber Meeker ’67
Annie Baca Brock ’91
DeJare Barfield ’10
Tina Barham ’01
Rita Barr Pickering ’69
Barb Barrett ’63
Jayne Barton Pias ’72
Genevieve Bateman ’60
Barbara Bauer Monet ’69
Judy Becker ’60
Constance Becker ’61
Paula Belford ’72
Kateri Beller Chamberlain ’95
Stephanie Bemowski ’94
Christine Bene Gray ’02
Erica Bennett ’98
Alison Berger ’95
Kellie Berry Dehner ’86
Anna Bjorkman Blythe ’95
Marci Blasco Sausman ’73
Corrine Blubaugh Shoup ’69
Mary Boever ’99
Chantalle Boston ’04
Helen Bragg ’60
Michelle Bremholm Taylor Young ’83
Mary Brennan Maranitch ’78
Tanya Brewer Westberry ’80
Martha Brown ’68
Kathy Brownrigg Loyd ’69
Pat Bruna ’69
Nancy Bryce Garro ’81
Vickie Bryg Martin ’62
Milissa Burkart ’73
Terri Burke ’70
Mary Burke Sullivan ’67
Erin Burns McMahon ’91
Kathleen Burns ’67
Kristine Byrne ’90
31

Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Omaha, NE
Permit #323
Marian High School
7400 Military Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
Scan the QR code shown at left with your smart
phone to access current news at Marian.
Important Dates to Remember
Contacts
Alumnae Legacy Lunch
April 7 • Noon
Alumnae Fan Night
April 11, Soccer 4:30 p.m.
& Tennis 4 p.m.
Prom
April 13
Select Women’s
Choir Spring Concert
April 21 • 6 p.m.
Field Day Walls Night
April 23
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Field Day
April 26 • 10 a.m.
May Crowning Ceremony
May 7 • 1 p.m.
Instrumental Music
Spring Concert
May 7 • 7 p.m.
Graduation
May 19 • 2 p.m.
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
May 31 to June 2
Alumnae Mass & Reception
June 2 • 11 a.m.
Head of School
Susan Russell Toohey ’82
Assistant Principals
Rochelle Rohlfs
Kathy Tompkins
Prayer Needs
Sr. Joan Houtekier
402.571.1618, ext. 166
Transcript Requests
Sheila Zimmerman
402.571.2618, ext. 127
Director of Advancement
Sarah Jank ’01
402.571.2618, ext. 119
Director of Alumnae Relations
Nancy Kettering Casey ’82
402.571.2618, ext. 270
ncasey@omahamarian.org
For more information about any of these events,
please visit Marian’s website at www.marianhighschool.net
The Marian Magazine is published three times per
year through the Marian Advancement Department.
Please report any address changes and corrections to:
Stay in touch with all things Marian by liking us on Facebook at
Marian High School, Omaha, NE. We’ll keep you up to date
on events, news and information at Marian.
Colleen McQuillan
Editor/Director of Communications
Marian
7400 Military Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
402.571.2618, ext. 137
Fax: 402.571.2978
cmcquillan@omahamarian.org
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