News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy Board of Directors hosted The 1868 Dinner on August 31 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel. The event celebrated the many successes of the 2025-2026 academic year and honored Donor Society members, families and individuals establishing scholarships in the past year and those who served in volunteer leadership capacities. SJA’s Outstanding Alumnae for 2026 – Kim Wong Kwan ’79 and Ráchel Roché ’89 – were honored, as was John Richardson, the 2026 Spirit of SJA Award recipient. 

Dr. Yolunda Taylor, who served as the 2025-2026 board chair, welcomed the large gathering and thanked those in attendance for the important role they play as partners in the Academy’s mission. She introduced emcee Nan Murtagh, who served as a member of the SJA faculty and staff for 42 years. 

A group of talented vocalists, under the direction of Danielle Laird, sang the blessing and performed several songs from the graduation years of the Outstanding Alumnae honorees. The singers were Caroline Antie, Tessa Cannon, Peyton Gueho, Anna Katherine Dixon, Blair Settoon, Melody Guillot, Hadley Tassin and Anna Clare Wilson. They were accompanied by keyboardist Clay Boudreaux. 

SJA President Emeritus Jan Rhorer Breen ’69 introduced Stephanie Spielman Cargile ’88, who was named Breen’s successor in July. Breen provided an update on some of the accomplishments of the past year, including SJA being honored by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation for its decades-long involvement in the LSU Coastal Roots program; the dedication of the Fountain of Living Water in the school courtyard; and SJA being named a STEM School of Excellence by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association for the fourth year in a row. 

Breen said that the Endowed Scholarship program is at the heart of one of SA’s most treasured traditions: offering need-based tuition assistance to deserving students and their families. Nearly $1 million in assistance dollars allows 162 students to enjoy the gift of a Catholic education, she said.

Principal Stacia Andricain thanked SJA’s many supporters for the countless opportunities they help provide for Academy students. She said members of the class of 2026 earned $32.6 million in scholarships and were offered admission by 156 colleges and universities. She said SJA students completed more than 34,000 hours of community service during 2025-2026. She outlined the successes of the SJA athletic program and the many clubs and student organizations which allow every girl to find her place.

Mission Advancement Director Meg Gerald announced that five new scholarships were established in the SJA Foundation during the past year: the Jan Rhorer Breen ’69 Scholarship, the Margaret Taylor Morgan Scholarship, the Emily McMakin Romano ’98 Scholarship, the St. Joe Dough Entrepreneurship Scholarship and the Nancy Valluzzo Scholarship. Scholarships that were endowed during 2025-2026 were the Angela Morris Dockum ’86 Scholarship, SJA Mahjong Madness Scholarship and the Spirit of ’66 Scholarship.

Gerald thanked the volunteer leadership of the SJA Annual Fund for 2025-2026: Holly Heroman Andrews ’79 and Amy Andrews ’06, Alumnae Annual Fund; Kristina and David Funes, Parents Annual Fund; Gabriella and Marshall St. Amant, Friends and Grandparents Annual Fund; and Nan Murtagh, Brad Buras and Pat O’Hara, Faculty/Staff Annual Fund.

Also recognized were the new members of SJA’s donor societies in attendance, including new Mother Alice Society members Miesa and Darius Bonton; Fran and Joe Fin; Angelique and Andrew Freel; and Heather and William LeBlanc; new 1868 Society members Tam and Rich Bourgeois; Ann Felice Fourrier; David Kirsch and Trang Huynh; Ana Litvinoff; Kathryn and Cliff Mount; Angelle and Darrell Ourso; Allison and Tuan Pham; Terrie Thomas; and Krista and Chris Valluzzo; and new Shield Society members Melissa and Andy Dotson; Elizabeth and William Holman; Angela and Jay Montalbano; Pat and Billy Reed; and Gabriella and Marshall St. Amant.

Camilla Rachal Pugh was recognized as a new member of the Legacy Society.

Caroline Lemann and Hudson Lemoine were thanked for their service as 2025-2026 Mothers’ Club and Dads’ Club presidents, respectively. Also thanked were the chairpersons of SJA’s fundraisers in attendance: Marcy Prejean Maurer and Malakah Harrison Hawkins, The Soirée; Ashley Reed Ledet and Lucille Bourgeois, SJA Tennis Classic; Chip Kline, Sticker Scramble; Craig Herpin, Father-Daughter Day; Hudson Lemoine, Parents’ Back-to-School Dance; Katie Jeter Valenciano, SJA Pickleball Tournament; Gabriella St. Amant and Rose Marie Fife, Mahjong Madness; and Kelley Jones, Sticker Shop.

Breen recognized former recipients of the Outstanding Alumnae award in attendance, including Grace Guttner Anderson, Stacy Deumite Duhé, Elaine deFrances Ellis, Rose Marie DeJohn Fife, Ann Felice Fourrier, Elise Gauthier Fryou, Linda Fryoux Harvison, Jo Ellen Kearny, Barbara McManus, Tara Nolan Messenger, Kristy Roubique, Elizabeth Dauzat Seiter, Sister Lucy Silvio, May Wong Tape and Roberta Carona Vicari.

She also introduced former recipients of the Spirit of SJA award in attendance: Sister Joan Laplace, Linda Messina and Michelle and Horace Mitchell. 

Tribute videos produced by Erin Barrilleaux Albarado and Mindy Brodhead Averitt introduced Outstanding Alumnae Ráchel Roché ’89 and Kim Wong Kwan ’79 as well as John Richardson, the 2026 Spirit of SJA Award recipient. 

Mission Integration Director Jade Spears led the closing prayer.