News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy Board of Directors hosted The 1868 Dinner on August 26 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel. The event 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 2024 – Melanie Rose ’71 and Amy Cyrex Sins ’94 – were honored, as were Melanie and Johnny Boyce, the 2024 Spirit of SJA Award recipients. 

SJA Board Chair Yolunda Taylor welcomed the large gathering and thanked them for the important role they play as partners in the Academy’s mission. She introduced emcee Nan Murtagh, a member of the SJA faculty and staff for 41 years. 

A group of talented vocalists, under the direction of Danielle Laird, sang the blessing and performed a special tribute to the Outstanding Alumnae and Spirit of SJA Award recipients. The performers were Addison Macha, Camille Funes, Molly Kate Skupien, Anna Craig, Sophie Stelly, Hadley Tassin, Soo Park and Emily Vennen. 

SJA President Jan Rhorer Breen ’69 provided an update on some of the accomplishments of the past year, including the school’s fifth National Blue Ribbon award; the dedication of Pillars Plaza to symbolize the three pillars of the Academy’s mission statement; and SJA being named a STEM School of Excellence by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association for the second 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. This year, 148 young women are able to enjoy the gift of a Catholic education through the Endowed Scholarship program. 

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 2024 earned $38.55 million in scholarships and were offered admission by 152 colleges and universities. She said SJA students completed nearly 32,000 hours of community service during 2023-2024. She shared that SJA’s first-ever student-run business, St. Joe Dough, is now up and running and that SJA’s entrepreneurship program now has a full-time director. She also thanked community partners Will and Beth Pecue and Danny and Melony Fields for their support.

Mission Advancement Director Meg Gerald announced that four new scholarships were established in the SJA Foundation during the past year: The Penny Hallman Choral Music Scholarship; The Morello-Hebert Family Scholarship; The Dr. Carmen Posada-Pepper and the Marshall St. Amant Family Scholarship; and The Dr. and Mrs. Myron A. Walker Scholarship. 

Gerald thanked the volunteer leadership of the SJA Annual Fund for 2023-2024: Krista and Chris Valluzzo, Parents Annual Fund; Dyra Culotta Hughes ’66 and Anglyn Hughes Brown ’89, Alumnae Annual Fund; Sarah and Shane Morrison, Friends & Grandparents Annual Fund; and Nan Murtagh, Pat O’Hara and Brad Buras, Faculty/Staff Annual Fund.

Also recognized were the new members of SJA’s donor societies in attendance, including new Mother Alice Society members Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Heroman, Dr. Karen LaCroix, Mr. and Mrs. Shaun Lato and Dr. and Mrs. David P. Nussbaumer III; new 1868 Society members Mr. Donald and Dr. Paula Elliott, Ms. Ann Felice Fourrier, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Landers, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor K. Messenger and Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Pastorek; and new Shield Society members Mr. and Mrs. Henri M. Saunders.

Members of the Father Jean-Pierre Médaille Society in attendance were recognized and thanked. They were Mr. and Mrs. John C. Boyce, The Congregation of St. Joseph, CSJ Ministries, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, Elaine and Randy Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Morgan, Sarah and Shane Morrison, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Will and Beth Pecue, Dorren Schmitt, SJA Alumnae Association, SJA Dads’ Club and SJA Mothers’ Club. 

New Father Jean-Pierre Medaille Society members Horace and Michelle Mitchell and Charles Valluzzo were recognized. 

Members of the Legacy Society in attendance were also thanked. They were Sharon Juneau Daroca, Gail Gaiennie, Anita Parsons King, Kathy Morello, Kathryn Trick Mount, Linda Bogan Pippins, Melanie Rose, Kristy Roubique and Dorren Schmitt.

Ron McDaniel and Whitney Graves were thanked for their service as 2023-2024 Dads’ Club and Mothers’ Club presidents, respectively. Also thanked were the chairpersons of SJA’s fundraisers in attendance: Sara Brignac, The Soirée; Patricia Brignac Talbot, SJA Tennis Classic; Katie Jeter Valenciano, SJA Pickleball Tournament; and Ron McDaniel, Parents’ Back-to-School Dance and Sticker Scramble. 

Breen recognized former recipients of the Outstanding Alumnae award in attendance, including Suzie Toups Adler, Grace Guttner Anderson, Kathy Plaisance Balhoff,  Kellie Michelli Barton, Lorna Bourg, Patsy Lambert Brignac, Paula Bogan Drone, Ann Felice Fourrier, Elise Gauthier Fryou, Debbie Kleinpeter Gelpi, Alice Dugas Greer, Karen Ortego LaCroix, Sister Adele Lambert, Ellen Bogan Lee, Karen Williams Lewis, Dorothy Bowers McCaughey, Barbara McManus, Tara Nolan Messenger, Kristy Roubique, Sister Lucy Silvio and Patricia Brignac Talbot.

Tribute videos produced by Erin Barrilleaux Albarado ’07 introduced Outstanding Alumnae Melanie Rose and Amy Cyrex Sins as well as Melanie and Johnny Boyce, the 2024 Spirit of SJA Award recipient. 

Mission Integration Director Jade Spears led the closing prayer. 

 

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director