|
"Globetrotters"
St. Mary Alumni Making Their Mark Around the World
| |
|
Our St. Mary community extends far beyond our local roots, reaching across the globe to all corners of the world. Among our accomplished graduates are individuals who have made their mark internationally, living and thriving in diverse cultures.
Today we shine a spotlight on four remarkable alumni whose journeys have taken them abroad. These individuals embody the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and resilience that we instill in our students at St. Mary, carrying their education and values with them as they make a universal impact.
| |
Jonathan Darnell, Class of 2014
Tarragona, Spain
Jonathan Darnell, 2014 alumnus, has taken his education and ambition to new heights since moving to Spain in 2018. After relocating to the beautiful coastal town of Tarragona to pursue his master’s degree in international economics, Jonathan found himself allured by the culture and opportunities in Spain. He accepted a job offer in 2019 and began working for an international lobby association for the global nut and dried fruit industry in Reus. He worked there for three years while having the chance to travel to Dubai, Paris, Germany, and the U.S. in an effort to grow the industry.
A move to Barcelona in 2023 brought a new job in data analytics with a British consulting firm based out of Spain. Jonathan recently joined a Swiss Market Intelligence company and will be based in Barcelona, working as a Senior Economist analyzing raw commodities globally. He is also in his fourth year as an Associate part-time Professor in the Economics Department at the Universitat Rovira I Virgili (where he completed his master’s degree). He teaches one class during the fall semester in Internationalization Strategies.
Aside from his professional life, he has spent a lot of time traveling for work and leisure throughout Europe, the Middle East, and South America. He also found one of his favorite pastimes in Spain – baseball! He was able to play competitively for one year with the Tarragona Wolves, an amateur team in the Second Division of the Spanish baseball league.
In his 6 years of living in Spain, he has become fluent in Spanish and uses Spanish as his primary language. He has also found a special connection with his girlfriend, Laura, who is from South America, adding another layer of multicultural experience to his life abroad. He credits his inspiration and love for Spain to St. Mary!
He thoroughly enjoyed his Spanish classes and Spanish Club while in high school. He encourages all of the students at St. Mary “to embrace the global world we live in and escape their comfort zone, traveling to see different cultures and understand how the world works in different places.” He inspires them to take the time to study abroad, make friends with international students, learn a new language, and not confine themselves to one area. One of his very favorite quotes is:
“The world is a book, and not traveling is like only reading the first page.”
| |
|
Marilyn Rawlings Sartz-Knudsen, Class of 1971
Oslo, Norway
Marilyn Rawlings Sartz-Knudsen, a proud alumna from the Class of 1971 embarked on a life-changing journey that took her halfway across the world. After graduating from Murray State University in 1975, Marilyn got married and moved to Oslo, Norway where she has built a fulfilling life blending her American roots with Norwegian culture.
Marilyn and her husband, Arne have two daughters, Tiffany and Nina. Marilyn devoted her life to raising her children. Their lives continue to revolve around tennis, golf, and travel. She and her family have traveled to every country on their bucket list. Once their daughters were grown and on their own, she worked as a buyer for a boutique in Oslo and traveled to all of the fashion weeks in Europe. Her love for travel has fueled a lifetime of exploration. When grandchildren entered their lives, she embraced a new adventure: being a stay-at-home grandmother. Marilyn now enjoys every moment with her four granddaughters and grandson, watching them grow and pursue their own passions.
Tennis runs deep in the family. Her oldest granddaughter, Nicoline is in New York on a tennis scholarship, and another granddaughter, Emily, at Michigan, is already making waves with plans to turn pro. This talented young athlete won the 2024 U.S. Open Junior Doubles and has competed in all four Grand Slams. Following closely behind, her grandson, Maximillian is on track for a promising tennis career. Olivia and Othilie, her youngest granddaughters are still young yet, but have great role models to admire.
Marilyn and her husband also have a home in Florida. They come to the States at least once a year. Marilyn says she needs her dose of friendly, American people! She feels fortunate to have this opportunity. Her sister Suzanne Rawlings Warren lives in Paducah and is an alumna from the Class of 1968, and her late sister Martha Jane Rawlings Stewart was an alumna from the St. Mary’s Academy, Class of 1958. Their father, Louis Rawlings was a graduate of the Class of 1930. Their family is a legacy within St. Mary, and her journey is a testament to the St. Mary spirit that travels wherever life may lead. She remains connected to her American roots and inspires others with her adventurous spirit and worldly perspective.
| |
|
Katherine Halicks Harley, Class of 2010
Birmingham, England
Katherine Halicks Harley, 2010 alumna has had an incredible journey since graduating from St. Mary and Western Kentucky University. With an international business degree in hand, she initially moved to New York City where she worked as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines. Her fascination with musical theater and a desire to live in a “big city” led her to NYC and a career that would allow her to explore much of the US and Canada. After speaking with a friend who was teaching English in Ukraine with the Peace Corps, and driven by a desire to explore new horizons and do something completely out of her comfort zone, Katherine made a bold career shift to teach English in China. She was looking for more of a challenge, and from the cities she was able to choose from, she chose Chengdu. She spent five years in China and met her husband, Joel Harley there. Her time in China was full of highs, lows, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Chengdu is located in Sichuan province and is home to spicy food like Hot Pot and Malatang. She spent five years total in China, three of them teaching at EF Chengdu where she eventually became the associate director of the center. Making another move to Shanghai, she moved into international education recruitment. She worked with schools in China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
In 2022, Katherine, Joel, and their dog, Nova, decided to leave China and move to the UK where Joel was born and raised. The two got married in Scotland and made their home in Birmingham, England. Katherine was able to obtain her visa and works in university admissions. Her job consists of checking student applications, interviewing applicants and making decisions on their applications, and helping students find their own paths to success. The majority of her career has been spent in education and that is where she is content to remain. Joel is a professional writer, and you will find him published in Total Film, the Metro UK, Starburst, and Horror DNA.
She recalls her days at St. Mary with fond memories and studying French in high school led her to continue her French studies in college and later abroad in Saint Etienne, France. Her passion for international education is strong. By experiencing other cultures, venturing beyond familiar boundaries, and embracing change, we can become more empathetic, understanding, and accepting of the differences in this world. Katherine is an inspiring example of the St. Mary spirit in action around the world. Her advice to students, “Take risks, live uncomfortably, be open to change, and embrace the world”.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
Henry Miller
| |
|
Katie Gough Pessy, Class of 1988
Rouen, France
Katie Gough Pessy’s journey from St. Mary to France began with a study abroad opportunity that would change her life. Katie is an alumna from the Class of 1988 and always embraced her Catholic education, beginning at St. Thomas More. She was fortunate to have been with friends throughout her schooling leading into their years at St. Mary High School. St. Mary was so special and memorable to her and much like her extended family.
After graduation, she dove into her studies at Western Kentucky University and later at the University of Kentucky to focus on Speech Pathology and French Studies. In 1996, a scholarship took her to France to study for a semester, and thanks to a certain Frenchman, she decided to stay a little longer, making France her permanent home. She continued her studies earning a Master’s Degree in English. She became an English teacher, working across different levels—from corporate training to middle and high schools, and eventually working at the university level. Katie currently is based in Rouen, Normandy, where in addition to teaching, she also coordinates Erasmus projects. These projects help students explore educational and cultural exchanges across Europe and she inspires them with her rich cross-cultural perspective. Erasmus is a European Union program that allows students to study abroad or participate in school exchange programs.
Katie mainly lived in Normandy since her arrival many decades ago, with a short stay in the Brittany region on the Atlantic coast. She says, “Living in Rouen for the past seven years has been a dream”. She is only an hour away from Paris but the beauty of Normandy and its history have captivated her heart. Katie has two children: Margot, age 24 who studied and played tennis at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and now lives in Paris – and William, age 19 who is a student at the university in Rouen and pursuing an International Business degree.
She credits her love of French culture to Sister Mary Jude, her St. Mary high school French teacher, who taught her not only the language but a lifelong appreciation for French life. She cannot imagine her life anywhere else.
The St. Mary community means so much to Katie and she cherishes her time in France. She recently traveled with a friend and fellow alumni, Steve Terry. She keeps in touch with many of her classmates to this day. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the doors that studying abroad can open.
| |
|
|
The History of St. Mary’s Academy Part III
~ Growth, Peace, and Prosperity ~
| |
|
As memories of the Civil War waned, St. Mary’s Academy forged ahead with growth and prosperity.
The town recovered and was flourishing, as well as the school. Together, they were united in strength and wisdom, shaped by their experiences in the Civil War.
The Sisters were able to begin construction of a new convent in 1891, after many years of prayer. The sisters had been living in the original Morrow house and were happy to have a place they could truly call their own. One of the more outstanding events was the graduation of Miss Ella Donnigan on June 17, 1887. Although many other graduations preceded hers, she was the first graduate to have the prestige of completing all twelve grades at St. Mary’s Academy. Another honor bestowed upon the academy was a visit from Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini in 1897. Mother Cabrini stopped in Paducah en route to New Orleans. She and her companion spent the night in the St. Mary’s Academy. Mother Cabrini was canonized in 1946; the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.
To continue reading, click HERE
| |
|
The Class of 1959 Celebrated
their 65th Reunion in September 2024!
| |
|
This September, St. Mary’s Academy’s Class of 1959 gathered to celebrate their 65th reunion! The festivities began Friday night, September 20th, with an icebreaker at Al and Mary McKeown’s home, where classmates reconnected and reminisced. Saturday morning brought a nostalgic trolley tour of Paducah, led by Paducah ambassador, Jim McIlroy followed by a special tour of the Academy, located on 5th and Monroe Streets, evoking many fond memories.
Saturday evening the class attended a beautiful mass at St. Thomas More church in honor of their
milestone and enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Olive Garden afterward. The weekend wrapped up with a final breakfast on Sunday morning filled with laughter and shared stories. Class President, Al McKeown organized the weekend’s activities and sadly was absent due to illness.
The Class of 1959 holds a special place in our school’s history, as they were taught and guided by just four remarkable nuns who provided them with an excellent education, preparing them well for college and beyond. Sister Julia Frances, Sister Alma Clare, Sister Catherine Louise, and Sister Charles Agnes not only taught the students in the Class of 1959 but the entire St. Mary’s Academy high school! They had assistance from Sister Rose Victor, who was the choir and play director. The Academy was renowned for its excellence in music and theater. Their legacy of faith, learning, and friendship remains an inspiration to all of us at St. Mary! Here’s to many more reunions and cherished memories!
|  | |
|
St. Mary Alumni Reunion Weekend
May 31, 2025
Class Years ending in 0 and 5
and Classes 50+ Years and over
We are so excited to celebrate the milestone class reunions with our alumni! Join us for the St. Mary Reunion Weekend!
Drinks, Dinner, and Tours of campus Saturday Evening at
St. Mary High School
Alumni Mass, Sunday 11:00 am, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church
For more information or to RSVP, click below:
| |
Classes of 2020- 2024 - December 19, 2024
“Home for the Holidays – Cookies and Cocoa with Young Alumni”
St. Mary High School Library 1pm-2pm
Alumni from the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 are invited to join us for a festive afternoon of cookies, cocoa, and reconnecting with teachers and friends. Take this opportunity to visit the new Auxiliary Gym and check out other exciting updates around campus. We can’t wait to welcome you home for the holidays!
We want to have plenty of cookies and cocoa, please RSVP:
| |
Class of 1975 - 50th Reunion
Date / Location TBD
Ellen Barkett Sexton and Betty Felts Conkwright
Ellen: # (270) 401-6437 or Esextonags@yahoo.com
Betty: # (270) 994-0762 or bettyconkwright57@icloud.com
Class of 1980 - 45th Reunion
September 25, 2025
The Lodge at Paris Landing
Hosted by Patty Wooten, Becky Bowers Smith,
Gina Athenas Dunkerson
and Jennifer Loyd Reed
Contact: # (270) 519-6777 or AGoodReed1@gmail.com
| |
Have you graduated from college, started a new job, celebrated your wedding, or have exciting news to share? We love to hear about your Alumni Milestones! Click HERE to share news and be featured in our quarterly newsletters. | |
|
CLASS OF 2002
John Colgan Jr. welcomed baby boy John Anthony Colgan III on October 13, 2024. He joins big sister Charlotte, 4
| |
|
CLASS OF 2006
Danielle Averill Condon welcomed baby boy Charlie Francis on March 2, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2006
Sam Howard welcomed baby girl Lucy Kate on October 3, 2024. She joins big brothers Max, age 6 and Danny, age 3
.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2008
Kelly Kneer Sterrie welcomed baby boy
Henry James on April 16, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2008
Chelsea Urhahn Smith
welcomed baby girl Sophie Louise on October 30, 2024. She joins big sister Callie, age 1
| |
|
CLASS OF 2009
Conrad Love welcomed baby boy Ellis James on October 12, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2009
Zach Howard welcomed baby boy Wyatt Hayse on September 11, 2024. He joins big sister Taylor, age 1
| |
|
CLASS OF 2010
Audrey Woods Nee
welcomed baby girl Fiona Eloise on May 19, 2024. She joins big brother Wesley Wilder, age 4
| |
|
CLASS OF 2011
Sara Wallace Klapp welcomed baby girl Penelope Claire
on April 21, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2011
Ashley Miller Briguglio
welcomed baby girl
Isabella Jay
on January 14, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2011
Sara Hendley Ferraro
welcomed baby boy Theodore William
on September 24, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2012
Michael Garrett welcomed baby boy Miles James
on March 3, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2012
Steven Dossey welcomed baby boy George “Teddy” Dossey on April 4, 2024. He joins big sister Vivi Claire,
age 4, and big brother Everett, age 2
| |
|
CLASS OF 2012
Nicole Milliano Richie welcomed baby girl Scarlett Jo on
August 28, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2012
Zach Durbin welcomed baby girl Ellis June
on July 3, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2013
Aubree Nettles Sutton welcomed
baby girl Wrenn Elizabeth
on March 27, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Ashton Paschall welcomed baby boy Hudson Duane on October 7, 2024.
He joins big brother Grayson, age 1
| |
|
CLASS OF 2004
Mary Beth Bray married Mike Ohl on
April 8, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2005
Matthew Shoulta married Ellen Dowell on
May 5, 2023
| |
|
CLASS OF 2006
McKenzie Woods married Luke Taylor on
September 28, 2024
.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2007
Claire Dunlap married Stephen Burke on September 21, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2008
Sarah Teitloff married Joseph Letavis on October 19, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2009/2012
Johanna Studzinski married David Badalucco on March 16, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2009/ 2012
Darren Smith married
Zoe Dannenmueller on September 21, 2024
.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2011
Sara Wallace married
Alex Klapp on
August 5, 2023
| |
|
CLASS OF 2011
Alessandra Mayo married Charles Shelton on August 24, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2013
Nicole Burks married Zack Sims on
October 20, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2014
Nick Eggemeyer married Nicole Hassels on
August 23, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Ashley Dunn married Ryan Munie on
May 11, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Cole Urhahn married Megan Walker on
May 18, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2019
Audrey Bondurant married Matthew Holmes on April 6, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2019
Caleb Dunn married
Katie Hickey on
July 13, 2024
| |
|
CLASS OF 2014
Daniel DeNeve graduated from Purdue University with a PhD in Industrial and Physical Pharmacy.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2015
Abby Bratton Chinn graduated from Virginia Tech with a PhD in Chemistry.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Connor McGowan graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dentistry. He will continue his education in the Maxillofacial Surgery Program at the University of Oklahoma.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Emily Meredith graduated from Southern College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2016
Catherine O’Rourke graduated from the University of Kentucky’s Pharmacy School with a PharmD and Master’s Degree in Public Health. She will continue her studies in the Pharmacy Residency Program through Yale New Haven Hospital.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2019
Victoria Sherron graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Science and received her CNA certification.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Jaclyn Meredith graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelors of Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders. She will continue her Master’s program at the University of Kentucky in Speech and Language Pathology.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Will Muiter graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Joey Eggemeyer graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Keaton Elliott graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Vasav Rachan graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He will continue his studies at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
William Seay graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology. He will continue his studies at UK for a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Lean Technology.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Billy Johnston graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Margaret Butts graduated from Centre College with of Bachelor of Science in Behavior Neuroscience.
She will continue her studies in the accelerated Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt University, specializing in Pediatrics.
| |
|
CLASS OF 2020
Hannah Speis Hubbard graduated Magna Cum Laude from Murray State University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education.
| |
Help Us Grow and Keep Us Updated | |
We need your help! We want to expand our alumni database so we can share news with more of you. Please click the button to update your contact information with us! | | | | | |
