NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT

• > Events
• > Reunions
• > Distinguished Alumnae
  • » Alumnae News
  • » Alumnae Say It Best
  • » Alumnae Authors
• > Impact Magazine (pdf)

"Notre Dame's emphasis on academics, athletics, and leadership prepared me for the challenges and adventures of "real life." I am a more confident and disciplined person, in no small part due to my experience at Notre Dame. I look back fondly on my high school experience and continue to hold deep respect for those associated with Notre Dame High School."

- Bita Nikravesh '91, Producer, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

"Notre Dame was an outstanding high school experience. The academic preparation was excellent; Stanford seemed easy in comparison! But more importantly, I experienced women in all the leadership roles in the school, and I saw that women could do it all - and do it all very well. This experience allowed me to believe I could handle any leadership challenge in the business world."

- Mary B. Cranston, J.D. '66, Chair of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

"My Notre Dame High School experience was wonderful. The teachers and staff made it their priority to help each student have a rewarding and successful four years. I learned how to study hard and focus, to be driven and motivated, and most importantly how to be a good person. These qualities have helped me in my career to be successful in the corporate world."

- Kristen Peterson Degnan '92, Senior Events Manager, SVB Financial Group

"The environment at Notre Dame was a life-shaping atmosphere. Whether it was playing a varsity sport, asking questions in classes, running for student body office, or representing my class in one of Notre Dame's grandest traditions - Aquacades - I was encouraged to be myself. I took that confidence with me to Dartmouth College and into the work place, and am the person I am today because of NDB."

- Trudy Muller '92, Director of Communications, Electronic Arts

"During the turbulent years of the '60s, NDB was a safe haven - a place where ideas and ambitions could be tested and nurtured. From the arts to sports to music to spirituality, NDB stressed the importance of a textured life. I think back with great fondness about the teachers who inspired and challenged me to move fearlessly forward."

- Monica Bay '67, Editor-In-Chief, Law Technology News

"I was a shy girl in the 8th grade. The community environment at Notre Dame helped me come out of my shell and become the confident businesswoman I am today. The challenges put forth by each teacher inspire the students to challenge themselves. With my new confidence and determination I followed my dream to go to business school and become my own boss. I am a strong Tiger and have NDB to thank."

- Sabrina Wendt-Caton '96, Realtor, Prudential California Realty

"I loved going to Notre Dame. From the unique relationships made with classmates and staff, to the academic and extracurricular opportunities, Notre Dame provided a particularly beneficial and memorable experience. In fact, I am now teaching math to high school students everyday, in the hopes that I can provide them with the same positive experience I had in high school."

- Bonnie Bowman, '02, Teacher, Santa Clara High School

"My four years at Notre Dame High School in Belmont instilled a confidence in me that has enabled me to attend college, and become fully engaged in classes, activities, and athletics. Notre Dame prepared me for college academic challenges. I learned to be responsible and to present myself with confidence in the classroom; this has made a big difference in my life and helped me to succeed."

- Samantha Rossi '06, Occidental College Sophomore

"I absolutely loved the environment at Notre Dame and being on the soccer team helped me make friends at all grade levels. I was fortunate to be recruited to play for UC Irvine's soccer team. Being an NDB graduate has made a tremendous difference for me in college. I learned how to write well and how to study properly, and the confidence I gained by being in an all-girls school will help me my whole life."

- Kate Berrini '06, Student Athlete UCI Soccer Team "Rookie of the Year"

"The faculty and staff were amazing mentors and inspired me to really challenge myself. Attending an all-girls school was very empowering; unlike many girls who had gone to co-ed high schools, I was not intimidated to speak up in class. This confidence I gained at NDB to express my views also helps me as a nurse, because I am an advocate for my patients. I feel very fortunate to be a Notre Dame alumna because of the impact NDB has had-and continues to have-on my life."

- Carly Hoffman '02, Registered Nurse Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

"At Notre Dame I learned so much about myself - namely, that I could strive to be anything and anyone I wanted to be. With the support of a sharp and nurturing faculty and administration, I always felt invincible. Today I run a fitness company that teaches parents and children how to exercise by simply playing together. In terms of friendships, I met the most wonderful and kind people, many who still are my closest friends today."

- Monica Ho Ehlers '86, Creator of the Moms' Gym Method

"NDB provided me with a strong academic foundation, with an emphasis on critical thinking and analysis, self-expression, organization, and the pleasure of learning. NDB's strong sense of community made it second nature for all of us to look out for each other and to be sensitive to what others were thinking and feeling. I believe that this deeply ingrained habit has helped to make me a better and more compassionate physician."

- Daniele Huntington, M.D. '64, Attending Neonatologist at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children

"Notre Dame is outstanding in giving young women opportunities to excel. Whether it's academics, sports, arts, extra-curricular activities, or volunteering in the community, NDB provides an amazing education and experience. Attending an all-girls school let me discover who I was, what I could do, and how well-rounded I could become. I learned leadership skills and life lessons that stayed with me throughout college, and continue to help me today in my career as a Physical Therapist."

- Stephanie Snow Boyd '94, Physical Therapist, Mills Peninsula Hospital

"NDB's network of nurturing teachers and caring friends led me to a career in nursing, where I could let my compassion for others serve my community. The leadership skills and service values I learned through the school's extra-curricular activities prepared me for various ministries I provide through my parish. I'm proud of my family's ongoing connection to NDB."

- Bonnie Barnes Fox '62, Retired Nurse/St. Charles Parishioner

"Notre Dame gave me the confidence to pursue all of my dreams, with no restrictions on me based on gender. I am a strong advocate of single-sex education because girls learn more and grow better in that environment. I was lost in the shuffle in public middle school, but at Notre Dame the teachers took a personal interest in my success, and as a result I truly thrived. I credit much of who I am as a person and where I am in life today because I chose to go to NDB."

- Kelin Pieret Ingalls '96, Escrow Officer, North American Title

"Notre Dame Belmont offered me a place to feel strong. My teachers afforded me the opportunity to develop my talents both academically and personally. Because of this, I felt completely confident in pursuing my goals. When I went on to college, I was able to let my personality shine and demonstrate my abilities in various areas. Currently as a teacher at NDB, I enjoy the opportunity to play a positive part in the lives of the young women who are my students."

- Jolanda Zuger Breazeale '86, Science Teacher, Notre Dame Belmont

"My experience at NDB reinforced the values taught by my parents: hard work, integrity, honesty, compassion, and a sense of confidence. NDB enabled me to pursue my first career in nursing. Later I earned my Masters Degree in Public Administration. My field of conflict resolution/ community-building did not exist when I attended high school, but my commitment to peaceful approaches to resolving differences started in those early years and my path was set."

- Patricia Crooks Brown '62, , Executive Director, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center

"My four years at Notre Dame gave me a tremendous confidence in myself, guided me in examining my beliefs, and allowed me to think and grow without refraining from doing so in an attempt to impress my peers. You can go in as a new freshman at NDB knowing almost no one, as I did, and come out with lifelong friends."

- Emily DeRuy '06, UC San Diego Sophomore

"I'm glad that Notre Dame was a place I called home. From preparing me for college at Long Beach State, where I graduated with honors, to applying for jobs, NDB gave me the communication skills and habits that have propelled me into a wonderful life. I know many people who went to a variety of high schools, and I have never come across one that even compares to the wonderful experiences I had at Notre Dame."

- Emily Rhineberger '02, Scholar Ambassador, National Society of Collegiate Scholars

"The tradition of attending Notre Dame schools began with my grandmother Ellen Hickey Gorman, my mother Madelene Gorman Bilafer, then my three daughters Pamela Viotti Kelly '78, Teresa Viotti Holley '79, and Suzanne Viotti Haket '85, and my granddaughter Christen Kelly '08. NDB has been a positive influence in our family for five generations."

- Beverly Viotti '55, Vice Principal, Saint Matthew Catholic School

"Attending Notre Dame High School was a fantastic experience. The school provided a challenging, yet nurturing educational opportunity and enhanced my desire to pursue under-graduate studies at UC Santa Barbara followed by Veterinary School. NDB supplied the building blocks for me to attain my dream of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine."

- Mary S. Kmak '84, DVM, Associate Veterinarian, Aragon Veterinary Clinic

"I can correlate my life successes and my ability to face challenges to the positive experiences I had at NDB. Notre Dame prepared me both academically and socially to pursue many different educational, professional, and personal avenues. As the mother of a 12 year old, I am eager and honored to see Morgan follow in the Notre Dame Belmont tradition."

- Jenny Clarke Khoury '86, Elementary School Teacher

"NDB developed my leadership skills while fostering a love of learning and emphasizing community service. Today I work with women from all different backgrounds, helping them to establish their own businesses. The skills I need for this job are the same skills I learned while building relationships at Notre Dame High School 20 years ago."

- Antonia Hannon Ehlers, Writer/Director, Southern Living at Home, Time Inc.

"The four years I spent at NDB equipped me with the competence and confidence I need to succeed in any endeavor I pursue. NDB instilled in me a spirit of service, which subsequently led me on service trips to Pine Ridge Reservation as well as to the Dominican Republic. Throughout the years I have come to realize the true gift of the friendships I formed at Notre Dame that will last a lifetime."

- Colleen L. Byers '01, Creighton, JD/MBA Program

"The Notre Dame Community was and continues to be an incredibly supportive and positive influence in my life. The people I met at NDB have been a source of strength for me throughout the years. I feel especially blessed to have the support of this community in my most recent pursuit of opening my bookstore. Without my experience at NDB, this achievement would not have been possible."

- Susan Ughe '87, Owner, Sacred Paths Bookstore

"You won't find a team of adults more dedicated to developing you as a person than at Notre Dame. Coming to NDB was the best decision I ever made, and it is why I am where I am today. I know that I can do anything. You will become part of a sisterhood you cannot find anyplace else, and the knowledge, skills and relationships you develop with teachers and other students here at Notre Dame are unparalleled."

- Miranda Sulley '07, Hofstra University Freshman

"I loved my time at NDB and certainly emerged a confident, empowered young woman. Notre Dame gave me a love for learning in a Catholic school environment that continues to flourish today. When I speak to my students about high school choices, they all know that for young adolescent women, there is no better choice than an all girls' high school."

- Maureen Sweeney Velasquez '68 , Principal, St. Cyprian School

"In NDB's challenging and nurturing environment, I received an excellent Catholic education which broadened my horizons, expanded my mind, developed my relationships, taught me tolerance, and provided me with the skills to be eminently successful in college and in life. There is no greater gift to a young woman than a Notre Dame, Belmont education!"

- Rita Gleason '66, President/Principal, NDB

"I think the most important lesson that my daughters and I brought from Notre Dame was that dreams just aren't enough. Our foundation at Notre Dame has given each of us the confidence to follow our dreams and pursue our varied careers with determination and gusto!"

- Laura Regan '68, Self-Employed Artist

"Excelling as a cadet at the Air Force Academy has been no easy feat, and I can look back at my education and pinpoint Notre Dame as the institution that gave me the necessary foundation to not only survive but succeed in such a high stress environment. NDB has played an important role in helping me reach for my dreams to become a pilot and eventually an astronaut."

- Danielle Paya '05, Cadet Second Class, United States Air Force Academy

"Notre Dame High School was a very positive experience for me. The teachers really cared about each student, and I could always get extra help if I needed it. Four years at NDB really boosted my confidence and helped me discover my true inner self. The community is very open and accepting. I feel wiser and ready for this next phase of my life. I'm off to the university, and I'm grateful to NDB for all they have given me!"

- Lauren Pepper '07, UC Santa Cruz Freshman

"The values I carry with me from my Notre Dame experience - from the challenging curriculum, school spirit, and unique camaraderie offered at an all girls' school - are woven into the fabric of my personal and professional life. There is no better educational and well-balanced experience for a teenage girl to have than Notre Dame."

- Heidi Muller Bianchi '90, Director of Sales, Hartmann Studios

"Notre Dame High School continues to be a part of my life in many ways. Often I think of my former English teachers who motivated me to continue to broaden my studies in literature and writing. I majored in English and went on to become an editor, writer and researcher. Not a day goes by that I do not attribute my passion for English and literature to Notre Dame High School."

- Eleanor Duplissea Enfield '93, Associate, DHR International

"Notre Dame was a secure place to challenge myself academically and spiritually. It was very easy to get involved in all aspects of high school from student government, varsity sports, extracurricular activities to strong relationships with both my peers and teachers. I not only learned a tremendous amount as far as education, but so much about myself when it came to discipline, dedication, respect, and faith. Looking back after all these years, NDB was the perfect place for me to attend high school."

- Kimberly Leonardini Phinney '90, Sales Manager, Whitehall Lane Winery