New Orleans

Hometown

Mendham, NJ

Undergraduate Institution

University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Studies

Majors: Anthropology, English, & Spanish

What is the one thing that you love most about your ACE school? Why?

The Academy of Our Lady’s mascot is strangely a penguin. I’m sure you’re wondering, as I did, why a school in southern Louisiana chose an Antarctic creature as its representation.  

AOL was created by merging two all-girls Catholic schools: Immaculata High School and Archbishop Blenk High School. Since this new student body combined two existing communities, there was understandably some debate over AOL’s new mascot. Instead of picking a new creature from scratch, students voted to merge the two existing ones. The natural combination of Blenk’s dove and Immaculata’s panda bear was a black and white bird: the penguin. I love the creativity of this solution and how AOL honors the women who came before them. Something so simple like our school’s mascot acts as a bridge to the community around us. 

Hometown

Brookfield, CT

Undergraduate Institution

University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Studies

Major: English

Minors: Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy & Chinese

What are you most looking forward to most as an ACE teacher this year? 

I am looking forward to growing not only as an educator, but also as a person. ACE is filled with people who care deeply about serving others and making a difference in their communities. With the support of my New Orleans community, my school and students, and the broader ACE network, I hope to lead a more thoughtful and compassionate life.

Hometown

Downingtown, PA

Undergraduate Institution

Quinnipiac University

Undergraduate Studies

Major: Behavioral Science

Minor: Biology

What is the one thing that you love most about your ACE school? Why?

I love how welcoming and inclusive the Holy Name community is. I vividly remember parents approaching me at Gator Fest, my school’s big fall fair, in November personally welcoming me to New Orleans. 

Hometown

Smethport, PA

Undergraduate Institution

University of Notre Dame 

Undergraduate Studies

Major: Psychology

Minors: Studio Art, Chinese, & Business Economics

What is the one thing that you love most about your ACE school? Why?

St. Anthony is very tight knit. Students know each other, even when in different grades. In the morning, I love greeting my students, their younger siblings, friends, and any kiddo who may want to pop in to my room just to say "hi." Though I only directly teach my 4th-graders, I can have an impact, even if small, on every student at St. Anthony.

Hometown

Saint Paul, MN

Undergraduate Institution

University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Studies

Major: Neuroscience & Behavior

Minor: Music

How do you hope to grow in your experience as an ACE Teacher? 

When I attended Notre Dame as an undergrad, I was blessed to be the recipient of love and knowledge from amazing friends, communities, and mentors. In a way, I received an invitation to participate in Christ’s love. With this opportunity to teach, I can be the sender of Christ’s love, pouring myself out into a new community and guiding students along their journey through the challenges that come with chemistry classes in high school.