Quotes from Donnelly Alumni

2nd Annual Dinner to Honor the Benedictine Sisters

Donnelly College's Second Annual Scholarship dinner will honor the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica. The dinner will be held on Sept. 6 at Reardon Civic Center in Kansas City, Ks.

Dr. John Murry, President Emeritus of Donnelly (President 1988-98) is serving as event chair.

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to create an endowed scholarship in the name of the Benedictine sisters and to support the annual scholarship fund.

The theme of the dinner will be "The Road Less Traveled" based on the poem by Robert Frost. It honors the tradition of the road less traveled at Donnelly College - whether by the Benedictine sisters, the school's alumni of first-generation college graduates, or the college's alternative model for higher education.

"In 1949, Sister Jerome Keeler took the 'road less traveled' and founded Donnelly as a
private college to serve young people of financially disadvantaged families in the urban area," said Dr. Murry. "And 'that has made all the difference' for nearly 60 years to many thousands of students who otherwise would not have had an opportunity for a college education."

Sr. Jerome was a visionary leader committed to the educational mission of the Benedictine sisters. More than 80 sisters have followed in her footsteps, contributing their time, talent, and services with minimal compensation.

"Sister Jerome was a brilliant woman who was way ahead of her time," said Pat Antonopoulos, Class of '58. "She was dignified and reserved, yet very down-to-earth. We had many incredible teachers, Sr. Kathleen (Brazzel), Sr. Sylvester (Elizabeth Coffey), Sr. Leander Cogan, Sr. Mary Faith (Schuster), and others."

Pat Callaghan, Donnelly academic advisor who retired last year, also praised the sisters. "When I came to Donnelly, I felt inadequate and uncertain about my life's direction," she said "The Benedictine sisters welcomed me, accepted me unconditionally, and affirmed my self-worth. They left a lifetime impression on me."

Don Wolf, Class of '56, a professional photographer, attributes his success to Donnelly.
"Although I graduated from Donnelly over fifty years ago, I still feel the impact of that wonderful institution," he said. "Sister Faith didn't teach me photography, but she taught me something even more important. By having us write observations about what we saw, heard, and experienced throughout the day, she taught us to see shadows, textures, and shapes. She didn't know (neither did I) that she was preparing me for my lifetime vocation. And Sister Liguori (Sullivan), who remained a lifelong friend, taught me that I had worth, that I was somebody."

"Many of us were awakened to the possibilities of the future at Donnelly," said Steve Nicely, Class of '59. "In my case, more than any other influence, I have the Benedictine sisters and lay faculty at Donnelly to thank for a career in journalism. I also have Donnelly to thank for the career in education of my son, Bill. Both of us floundered after high school until we found our footing at Donnelly. And I know an awful lot of stories just like ours."

A homecoming and open house from 3:30- 5:30 p.m. at the college will precede the dinner
which begins at 7 p.m. "We want alumni to come and get reacquainted with the Benedictine Sisters who will be here and get to know the Donnelly of the last 25 years," said Martha La Van, Class of '59."We hope to make this an annual event before each scholarship dinner."

"I hope to see many alums at the Scholarship Dinner," said Nicely. "It's not the same building I attended, but it's the same Donnelly, the same mission, the same sanctified space where modern miracles occur."

Last year the dinner raised more than $80,000 for an endowed scholarship honoring Dr. Ken Gibson, past Donnelly president, and his wife, Dr. Jackie Snyder.

Call Marva Dace at 913.621.8746 for more information or to purchase tickets. Interested parties, please RSVP by August 20.