School News

MND is proud to announce that senior Caroline Rueter has been named a candidate in the 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Approximately 4,500 candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million high school seniors.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

MND Principal, Mrs. Karen Day commented, "Caroline is an amazing student and leader. She has worked hard to advance her knowledge both in academic coursework and experiential learning. She has also dedicated much of her time to collaboration with other students, helping to pull together teams to work on a common goal. Caroline is an exemplary student leader!"

A distinguished panel of educators will review submissions and select 600 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will select the finalists and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May. Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen.All Scholars are invited to Washington, DC in June for the National Recognition Program.

MND has unveiled its new mobile app which is geared towards prospective students. The app conveniently showcases all that MND has to offer right on your mobile device. Prospective students can view information regarding academics, athletics, clubs and service as well as get a glimpse of student life through fun photos and videos. The Mount Notre Dame App is available for download via the iTunes Store and Google Play. Students are asked to obtain their parents' permission prior to downloading.

Members of MND's Class of 2018 made a unique impact on students in Haiti by donating their graduation gowns. Fifteen MND graduates chose to donate their caps and gowns to Made to Love, a gift shop and non-profit located in Hamilton, OH that sells handmade Haitian artisan goods. All profits go directly back to Haiti for scholarships to help children go to school.

The MND caps and gowns were sent to school children in Charrier, Haiti where they were worn by the graduating class on June 16, 2018. With very few Haitian children able to afford an education along with the economic and physical hardships they endure daily, it was a moment of extreme pride and accomplishment for the students.

Kelly Snyder '18 led the charge among her fellow MND classmates in donating their caps and gowns. "I know how special and honorary graduation is for students," Kelly noted. "My MND classmates and I would agree that if we could do anything to help someone else experience this feeling, we'd do it in a heartbeat. Especially for students in Haiti, who may cherish the memory forever."

MND hopes to have the cap and gown collection become an annual tradition.

MND is proud to recognize its three National Merit Semifinalists.Congratulations to seniors Ginny Edwards, Erin Mahan and Caroline Rueter who were named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 PSAT. This year, 16,000 of the 1.6 million students across the United States are being honored as Semifinalists. These students are the top students in each state and represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. They will now complete the application process that will allow them to continue competing for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.

"The MND Learning Community is so proud to celebrate the academic accomplishments of these three students. Not only are they model learners – they are amazing young women who exemplify what it means to learn, live, lead and serve. We are blessed to be able to share the MND learning experience with them," expressed Mrs. Karen Day, MND Principal.

MND also celebrates four students who have been named Commended Students. Commended Students placed among the top five percent of the more than 1.6 million students. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Congratulations to seniors Julia Barnes, Julia Evans, Elizabeth Pung and Maria Stein.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2019 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.Recipients will join more than 338,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

MND is proud to recognize its 91 Advanced Placement Scholars as identified by the College Board after the 2017-2018 school year. This is the largest number of AP Scholars in school history. Included in the 91 AP Scholars are 6 National AP Scholars, 40 AP Scholars with Distinction (including National AP Scholars), 22 AP Scholars with Honor and 29 AP Scholars.

Achieving National Status is not an easy feat. National AP Scholars must take at least eight AP exams and receive a score of 4 or 5 (out of 5). Congratulations to these former and current MND students who were recognized as National AP Scholars: Sydney Collins '18, Frances Corzine '18, Danielle Harold '18, Erin Mahan '19, Natalie Steibel '18 and Lauren Stevenson '18.

AP Scholar status is based on the number of AP tests a student takes and how they score.During the 2017-2018 school year, 42.4% of MND's student body took an AP test.Overall, 483 tests were given to 286 MND students.

AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board.Used with permission.

FULL LIST OF ALL MND COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS:

NATIONAL AP SCHOLARS: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

Sydney Collins '18

Frances Corzine '18

Danielle Harold '18

Erin Mahan '19

Natalie Steibel '18

Lauren Stevenson '18

SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION: Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Lydia Anderson '18

Julia Barnes '19

Mariah Bradley '19

Abigail Brickner '18

Erin Cagle '18

Sydney Collins '18

Frances Corzine '18

Rachel Creeden '19

Rebecca Dean '19

Payton Drefcinski '18

Ginny Edwards '19

Julia Evans '19

Catherine Gilkey '19

Caroline Gott '19

Leah Gutwiller '19

Grace Hall '19

Danielle Harold '18

Caroline Hauer '19

Hana Hauer '18

Madeline Klug '18

Chloe Kretschmar '19

Jourdhel Mabunay '18

Erin Mahan '19

Elizabeth Pung '19

Sarah Ray '18

Amber Reinert '18

Emma Rogiers '19

Caroline Reuter '19

Emma Schuppe '19

Mary Scott '18

Natalie Steibel '18

Maria Stein '19

Audrey Stevenson '18

Lauren Stevenson '18

Minh-Thu Truong '19

Colleen Trzybinski '19

Lauren Ulland '19

Rachel Wiehe '19

Emma Wilking '18

Ashley Yeoman '19

SCHOLARS WITH HONOR: Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Samantha Beck '18

Erin Bell '19

Kara Burns '19

Isabella DiCarlo '19

Emily English '19

Julia Harmon '18

Jenna Hertenstein '18

Sydney Jefferson '18

Rebecca Kemper '19

Katherine Kenny '19

Gabrielle Marcum '19

Elise Meyer '18

Emily Moore '18

Hannah Renneker '18

Emma Rodrigo '18

Madelyn Shea '18

Madyn Sullivan '19

Nicole Tonyan '19

Cara Wagner '19

Rebecca Wiggins '19

Hayley Winslow '19

Sara Zelinskas '18

SCHOLARS: Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

Carissa Beckman '18

Ashley Brooks '18

Kristen Devolve '19

Emily Ernst '19

Ashley Fasola '19

Lillian Fisher '18

Veronica France '18

Lauren Fuller '18

Armania Heckenmueller '18

Brianna Heverin '18

Devon Hoffman '19

Allison Kendall '19

Victoria Lyon '18

Rebecca Lyons '19

Katrina Maresco '19

Caitlin Minneci '19

Dorie Nickell '19

Madeline O'Connell '19

Bailey Porter '19

Faith Preston '18

Bailey Purdon '19

Calli Rinaldo '18

Anna Schnegg '18

Hope Schneider '18

Angela Sebald '18

Gabrielle Smith '18

Lara Taylor '19

Claire Woodard '18

Melanie Wysong '19

Mount Notre Dame Staff, Board of Trustees, and many other interested constituents recently completed a new strategic plan, Achieve More, to guide the school through 2022. It was determined that increased philanthropic support is needed to successfully implement the pieces of the plan that include facility upgrades and endowment to secure our future.

We started comprehensive planning for a Capital Campaign and would like your assistance by taking the brief survey by clicking the link below. Your insight and perspective are valuable and important to this process. Thank you in advance for your help.

Click HERE to take the survey.

MND is pleased to announce the promotion of longtime varsity assistant Mr. Chris Lovett to Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at the school. Lovett, 31, replaces Joe Burke, who had to step down due to job-related commitments after leading the Cougars for the past nine seasons. Burke, who led MND to four Division 1 State Volleyball Championships during his tenure as head coach, will serve as the assistant varsity coach this year.

"Joe Burke has done a fabulous job with our volleyball program over the years. His dedication and commitment to the program is the reason that MND Volleyball is one of the best programs in the State of Ohio each year," said MND Athletic Director Mark Schenkel. "We are very excited to have Chris Lovett take over the volleyball program. The years of experience that he has coaching in our program and his knowledge of the game should make for a smooth transition."

Lovett has served as the MND varsity assistant coach for the past nine years. He is a graduate of Moeller High School where played volleyball and was a member of the Crusaders back-to-back state championship teams in 2004 and 2005. Lovett got his start in coaching at the University of Dayton, where he served as an undergraduate assistant for the women's volleyball team. Lovett graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med in 2009 from the University of Dayton and holds two Masters' Degrees, one from the University of Phoenix in Business Administration and the other from the University of Cincinnati in Health Education/Health Promotion.

Lovett has coached for the Elevation Volleyball Club since 2009 and, in 2015, coached the 14-under National Team to a Fifth-Place finish at the USAV National Championship. Lovett and his wife, Kaitlin, currently reside in Over-the-Rhine.

MND held its Commencement Exercises for the 158^th Graduating Class – the Class of 2018 – on Tuesday, May 29th at the Sharonville Convention Center.During the ceremony, students listened to the valedictory address by Sydney Collins who was ranked first in her class, and the farewell address by Senior Class President, Veronica France. Approximately 79.5 percent of the graduating class received scholarship offers – a total of 577 scholarships equaling more than $21.4 million.

Principal Karen Day commented, "As a principal, I could not be prouder of our 161 graduates.Saint Julie Billiart said, 'teach them what they need to know for life' and our newest alumnae are prepared for their next journey.They are empowered and faith-filled young women who are poised to transform the world through their talents and gifts."

The following awards and medals were presented to members of the senior class:

• St. Julie Billiart Christian Leadership Award – Reilly Haas
• Medal for Academic Excellence – Sydney Collins
• Excellence in English – Elizabeth Carroll
• Excellence in French – Audrey Stevenson of Anderson
• Excellence in Information Technology & Business – Elizabeth Nartker
• Excellence in Latin – Mary Scott
• Excellence in Mathematics – Elise Meyer
• Excellence in Performing Arts – Amber Reinert
• Excellence in Religious Studies – Sarah Ray
• Excellence in Science – Natalie Steibel
• Excellence in Social Studies – Madeline Klug
• Excellence in Spanish – Hope Schneider
• Excellence in Visual Arts – Madelyn Shea

Local musician, Eliot Sloan of Blessed Union of Souls fame, recently finished up production of "The Sum of Us", a song he wrote based upon the reflections provided from our MND sophomores after their retreat this past year. MND students also did great job recording the background vocals used on the track! Here is a link to the video now available on the MND You Tube page: https://youtu.be/IdAPFPjjeZU