Alumnae
Welcome
Young women of integrity, compassion, and confidence
That’s how the school viewbook describes the St. Mary’s girls of today, and these words ring true of alumnae as well.
It is encouraging to see St. Mary’s - the #1 girls' school in the Southeast region - continue its tradition of providing an outstanding education which enables each student to reach her potential and instills in girls a sense of responsibility to others and a belief that they can make the world better.
It is also delightful to be part of a community of capable, hard-working, and fun-loving women. St. Mary’s welcomes alumnae back to campus for our annual Alumnae Weekend and brings together alumnae for events throughout the year and across the country, including book clubs, alumnae chapel speakers, decades parties, and gatherings of alumnae in other cities.
The financial support of alumnae is vital to the school. More than half of our alumnae give to the Annual Fund, with gifts ranging from $50 to $50,000. All gifts are essential as we ensure that today’s girls receive an exemplary education in a supportive community, just as we did. Please know that we are grateful for every single gift, regardless of size, as we are grateful for you as a member of the
St. Mary's family.
Please contact us to learn more about upcoming events, to share an idea, or to get more involved in volunteering or leadership.
We hope to see you soon!
Alumnae Weekend
Alumnae Weekend has been rescheduled for April 16-17, 2021.
Join us to reunite with classmates near and far to celebrate with special reunion classes '0s, '1s, '5s, and '6s. Mark your calendar for TWICE the fun in 2021! We are teaming up to serve with Alumnae Weekend co-chairs, Laurin Maddux '98 and Anna Snyder Rojas '01 and reunion class chairs. The weekend will include interactive events as well as your individual class gatherings which may be in person or virtual. Stay tuned for a complete schedule of events.
Alumnae Weekend 2021
Schedule of Events
Laurin Maddox '98
Co-Chair
Anna Snyder Rojas '01
Co-Chair
Reunion Chairs
1965 - Cathy Hoover Allen
1970 - Linda Stratton Hancock, Susie Hudson, Betty Coe Cruzen Manuel
1975 - Susan Roberts Colpitts, Watson Brooks Hall, Mary Belcher Page
1980 - Chalmers Peyton Valentine
1985 - Melissa Thrasher Peeler, Kara Kilpatrick Preston, Mary Gowen Simmons
1990 - Caydie Brown Nickey, Patricia Hood Thomas
1995 - Murff Oates Galbreath, Sarah Trosper Olivo
2000 - Mary-Kathryn Millner Herrington, Amy Reinhardt Robinson
2005 - Collin Wilson Buckner, Rainey Ray Segars
2010 - Alex Fountain, Elise Heuberger Reecer
2015 - Isabella Arbelaez
2015 - Jane Morrison
Alumnae Leadership
Alumnae Board 2020-2021
Elizabeth Simpson Alrutz ‘82, President
Essie Arrindell-Williams ‘98
Aarti Goorha Bowman ‘92
Madge Logan Deacon ‘69
Amina Dilawari ‘95
Beth Brown Dunn ‘79
Whitney Baer Foster ‘00
Sudha Nimmagadda Ganguli ‘83
Cara Greenstein ‘10
Angie King Keesee ‘72
Corinne Friese McLaughlin ‘76
Tabitha Francisco McNabb ‘78
McKenzie Aiken Crisp ‘85
Katie Broer Parr ‘98
Patti Person Ray ‘65
Lisa Breazeale Roberts ‘85
Anna Snyder Rojas ‘01
Courtney Shove ‘96
Lauran Glassman Stimac ‘00
Kate Metcalf Sullivan ‘01
Abby Yandell Talbot ‘03
Gabby Taylor ‘14
Jennilyn Jennings Utkov ‘77
Katie Zanone Webb ’93
Jan Valentine Wiygul ‘76
Lizzy Holt Yatsula ‘08
Lida Kruchten ‘13
Class Secretaries
If you have news to share with your classmates, simply contact your class secretary. Names are included in the information below.
1957-1979
1963 - Jenny Emison Ewing
1964 - Phyllis Wills
1965 - Julia Malone
1966 - Diane Taylor Newton
1967 - Bette West Bush
1968 - Jan Cone Davis
1969 - Pam McNeely Williams
1970 - Cristina Brescia Michta
1971 - Carolyn Cockroft
1972 - Christine Mayer Todd
1973 - Olivia Montgomery
1974 - Ruth Gordon White
1975 - Laurie Walpole
1976 - Allison Brown Coates
1977 - Janey Butler Newton
1978 - Tracy DeBacco Balton
1979 - Elizabeth Brown Dunn
1980-1999
1980 - Margaret Stone Graham
1981 - Katherine Lucas Hall and Carey Stanton
1982 - Elizabeth Simpson Alrutz
1983 - Bonnie Bolton Lopez
1984 - Vanessa Allen Dobbins
1985 - Polly Piper Rickard
1986 - Jean Vaughan McGhee
1987 - Allison Tonkin
1988 - Anna McQuiston Holtzclaw
1989 - Mary Elizabeth Treadwell Pittman
1990 - Miriam Kriegel
1991 - Camellia Koleyni Sharma
1992 - Alison Roesler Coons
1993 - Kristen Mistretta Wilson
1994 - Kathryn Leigh DeRossitt
1995 - Carrie Sue Casey Hanback
1996 - Jaime Newsom
1997 - Hollye Ferguson Stigler
1998 - Laurin Maddux
1999 - Kelly Buckner Dallas
2000-2020
2000 - Whitney Baer
2001 - Lauren Anderson Stone
2002 - Polly Klyce Pennoyer
2003 - Alexandra Bicks and Laurence Goodwin
2004 - Victoria Luke Morich
2005 - Sarah Atkinson Ball and Lauren Wiygul Riley
2006 - Becky Bicks and Mamie Kostka
2007 - Caiti Clark and Caitlin Colcolough
2008 - Katelyn Ammons, Margaret Liddon, and Edie Miller
2009 - Bailey Bethell and Sylvia Brookoff
2010 - Erin Stuart
2011 - Meg Cornaghie and Allyson Patterson
2012 - Ellery Ammons and Chandler Roberts
2013 - Anna Stukenborg and Anna Utley
2014 - Lacy Chaum and Miles Schaeffer
2015 - Michelle Chu and Emma Farris
2016 - A'Doriann Bradley and Grace Ugwueke
2017- Rachel Chin, Jean Jackson, and Anar Parmar
2018- Olivia Nielsen, Keith Ellis Prest, and Julia Preston
2019 - Faith Bradley, Arabella McGowan
2020 - Gabriella Couloubaritsis '20, Sarah Bratton '20
Awards
Outstanding Alumna Award
The Outstanding Alumna Award is given each year to an alumna who exhibits the qualities inherent in the St. Mary’s philosophy: integrity, spirituality, loyalty, and service.
Kat Gordon '00
St. Mary's Alumnae Association is pleased to announce that Kat Gordon '00 will be honored as St. Mary's Outstanding Alumna during Alumnae Weekend, September 25-26, 2020. Kat is the founder and owner of Muddy's Bake Shop, a Mid-South favorite that has been featured in Southern Living and The New York Times, on the Food Network, and recognized as one of the "Top Bakeries in America." She opened Muddy's on February 29, 2008 (the perfect day for a leap of faith!) and over the years has served not only as owner and founder, but also dishwasher, copywriter, trainer, baker, cashier, and chief cake taster.
Kat began her St. Mary's career in Kindergarten in 1986. After 14 years at the corner of Perkins and Walnut Grove, she graduated in 2000. She is a loyal, engaged alumna, hosting workshops, returning to St. Mary's to speak in Chapel, and even teaching a lesson on baking in Junior Kindergarten. Kat served as Alumnae Board President and a member of the Board of Trustees from 2013 through 2015.
She and her husband Thomas Robinson (also a native Memphian and third runner up of the St. Mary's "Mr. Valentine" contest) have two "mostly good" dogs, Phin and Sophie. She is the proud aunt of 12 nephews and nieces--one of whom, Blaise Burbank, will graduate from St. Mary's in May. Kat is an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, currently serving as a member of the vestry and a lay eucharistic minister. She recently completed her term as a lay representative on Bishop & Council and is proud to have been a co-chair, with husband Thomas, of the successful St. Columba Called to Grow capital campaign.
Kat adores Memphis and all the incredible stories, projects, and individuals that make her hometown so special. The thing that excites and inspires her most about her work is developing leaders both within and outside of Muddy's, and finding ways for her small, independent business to make a big impact on her community.
Outstanding Alumna Award Recipients
- 2020: Kat Gordon '00
- 2019: Sarah Willmott Cowens '82
- 2018: Donna Osborne Bradley '74
- 2017: Gretchen Wollert McLennon ’93
- 2016: Andrea Martin Armani ’96
- 2015: Lisa Francis Turner '78
- 2014: Suzanne Hollis Apple '76
- 2013: Susan Roberts Colpitts '75
- 2012: Ashley Moore Remmers '72
- 2011: Marty Jones '71
- 2010: Musette Sprunt Morgan '72
- 2009: Lisa Moore Cook '82
- 2008: Crissy Garrett Haslam '76
- 2007: Watty Brooks Hall '75
- 2006: Mary Kavanagh Day '82
- 2005: Kempie Craddock Jenkins ’74
- 2004: Mary Catherine Lynn Hitchings ’47
- 2003: Sara Sorsby Dennis ’63
- 2002: Joy Brown Wiener ’47
- 2001: Janet Tucker Pryor '34
- 2000: Julia Sprunt Grumbles ’71
- 1999: Sarah Loaring-Clark Flowers ’47
- 1998: Nora Wingfield Tyson ’75
- 1997: Brooke Morrow ’74
- 1996: Gwen Awsumb ’32
- 1995: Jan Muirhead ’71
- 1994: Cristina Brescia Michta ’70
- 1993: Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner ’66
- 1992: Lee McGeorge Durrell ’67
Creative Teacher Award Recipients
2020: Carrie Ruhland
2019: Meagan Michael
2018: Sarah Trimm
2017: Kari Duncan
2016: Allison Warren
2015: Sally Mansberg Rosenberg '80
2014: Jeanine Akers
2013: Jessica Lancaster
2012: Shelley Kuykendall Herzke '90
2011: Caroline Goodman
2010: Middle School Robotics Team
2009: Jan Cone Davis '68
2008: Josie McNeely Walker '76
2007: Becky Jacks
2006: Lain Whitaker
2005: Leigh Mansberg
2004: Nancy Miller
2003: Jenny Madden
2002: Michael Volpe
2001: Jeanne Wilson
2000: Allyson Raymer
1999: Marsha Stemmler
1998: Ann Wright
1997: Mary Lou Entzminger
1996: Kathleen McElroy
1995: Eighth Grade ENSEMBLE Team
1994: Linda Goodwin
1993: Nanette Quinn
1992: Gwenice McLaughlin
1991: Kay Betts
1990: Rhendle Millen
1989: Laurel Eskridge
1988: Anne Reiners
1987: Kay Humphreys
1986: Sheila Patrick
1985: Laura Brewer
1984: Emily Townes
1983: Richard Tanner
1982: Lee McMahon
1981: Barbara Mansberg
Creative Teacher Award
The St. Mary’s Alumnae Association presents the Creative Teacher Award each year to a teacher who exemplifies the high ideals of the school and who embodies a spirit of wonder and imagination. The award rotates among divisions and is selected by the division head.
Carrie Ruhland
Creative Teacher 2020