The DeChantal Award for Excellence
Visitation has many rich traditions including the recognition of student excellence. Begun in the mid-1900s, the DeChantal Award was given annually to a senior student who was representative of all that Visitation stands for, a young woman who best exemplified the qualities inherent in a well-rounded individual.
In 1995, after a hiatus of several decades, the Visitation Alumnae Association reintroduced the DeChantal Award to the student body as a way to recognize individual excellence. Each year recipients from the Lower, Midde and Upper Schools are chosen based upon a set of criteria set forth in the "Profile for the 21st Century." Included in the Profile are such categories as: Religious Character and Values, Academic/Intellectual Development, Aesthetics, Citizenship/Global Responsibility, Interpersonal Relations, Leadership, Physical Development, Technological Knowledge.
The Visitation Alumnae Association is pleased to have the opportunity to recognize excellence among its constituents. We hope that the DeChantal Award reinforces the importance of the Visitation school motto, "Not For School, But For Life."
Click here to access the nomination form.
Recipients of the Upper School DeChantal Award:
2008 Sarah Anderson
2007 Tylee Jackson
2006 Theresa Evans
2005 Laura Adams
2004 Kate Hoffmann
2003 Emily Weisbecker
Susan Wyatt
2002 Kathryn Sullivan
2001 Elizabeth Hoffmann
Elizabeth Borer
2000 Christina Capecchi
1999 Anne Misukanis
Mary Gehrz
1998 Erin Dobie
1997 Beth Kirvida
1996 Sarah Desombre
1995 Erin Dady
Recipients of the 8th Grade DeChantal Award:
2008 Cecelia Heffron
2007 Ellen Brady
2006 Claire Kranz
2005 Laura Erhart
2004 Meredith Patt
2003 Madelyn DePrey
2002 Tricia Daly
Maurna Donovan
2001 Elizabeth Eldredge
Laura Adams
2000 Talia Daly
Claire Hvass
1999 Emily Weisbecker
1998 Tiffany Finley
Kari Schneibel
1997 Elizabeth Borer
1996 Christina Capecchi
1995 Erin Kathleen O’Neill
Mary Therese Regal
Recipients of the 6th Grade DeChantal Award:
2008 Annie Ferraro
2007 Meredith Lawrence
2006 Kathryn Supplee
2005 Kathleen Ferraro
2004 Christopher O’Daniel
2003 Matthew Hipple
Grace Tilka
2002 Annie Adams
2001 Catherine Arney
1999 Katherine Pennell
1998 Christian Pilhofer
Jane Frenz
1997 Alexandra Arney
Claire Hvass
1996 Candace Cheong
Francis Charles Welsh
1995 Haley Kathryn McNabb
Kari Rose Schneibel
The Mary Rosacker Owens Award
Mary Rosacker Owens was a member of the Visitation Class of 1967 and her connection and commitment to the Visitation community were constants in her life. Mary never said “no” to Visitation. For years she volunteered on committees including chairing Merrie Market and enthusiastically serving as President of the Parents' Association. Throughout the years Mary was active in the Alumnae Association and served on staff as Director of Alumnae Relations.
Mary Rosacker Owens died on December 30, 1998 after a short battle with cancer. Mary’s family and friends have established a scholarship fund in her memory. Each year a Visitation senior will be selected by the Alumnae Association to receive the Mary Rosacker Owens award of $1,000 to be used for tuition at a college or university. The recipient will be a student whose contributions might otherwise go unrecognized and who best emulates Mary’s enthusiasm for the school, her commitment to volunteerism and her deep love for the Visitation spirit.
Mary Rosacker Owens Award Recipients:
2008 Janice Geis
2007 Shannon Monson
2006 Monica Rosen Blechinger
2005 Abby Misukanis
Betsy Speltz
2004 Katie Gehrz
2003 Emily Mesch
2002 Kelsey Giese
2001 Eileen (Rupa) Ryan
2000 Miquela Hernandez
1999 Kathleen Lee
Distinguished Alumna Award Recipients:
2007 Patricia Burke Kump '45
Mary Bernard Pabst '52
2006 Marianne Short '69
2005 Anna Marie Ettel '63
Mary Knutson Brabeck '63
2004 Anne Harris '82
2003 Mary Knopp Brainerd '71
2002 Brenna Murphy '66
Jane McClintock Wyatt '72
2001 Sandra Kamman Butler '52
2000 Maureen McKasy Donlin '70
1999 Judith Schlick Pryor '52
Lorilee Lambrecht Petrangelo '84
1998 Judy McMahon Leahy '56
1997 Wilhemine Schindler Stromwall '29 (deceased)
1996 Kathleen Rea Hanousek '57
Bridget Votel '74
1995 Mary Beth Dempsey, PhD. '46
Sr. Mary Eileen Thompson CSJ '46
1994 Sr. Mary Regina McCabe VHM '24 (deceased)
1993 Mary Elizabeth Downey '12 (deceased)
1992 Alexandra Boardman Klas '48
1991 Helen Mary Hughesdon '64
