NOTRE DAME BELMONT
Testimonials
Recent Alumnae Testimonials
"NDB prepared me for my future by building my confidence as a student and as a person. My four years at NDB showed me what success looks like, and the hard work it takes to achieve it. I was ready for college because of NDB and the important lessons I learned.”
Keara McDevitt '25
Dance and Criminology Major at UC Irvine
“Not only did NDB ensure that my academic application would stand out and have the rigor to be accepted into college, but NDB also prepared me to be versatile. I have learned to be both a follower and leader, an artist and scholar, an exceptional student and a caring person at Notre Dame.”
Sianna Kiebler '25
Theatre with Acting Emphasis Major, UCLA
"Notre Dame has prepared me for my future by giving me a strong academic foundation, while also helping me grow as a leader and a person. The supportive community and close relationships with teachers allowed me to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone. Being a part of leadership roles at NDB, I was ready to step into the world of college and immerse myself in each and every opportunity it has to offer.”
Hailey Kockos ’25
Cognitive Science Major, UC Berkeley
"NDB prepared me through constantly encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and pursue opportunities I never would have considered on my own. Whether it was diving into advanced STEM classes or leading projects that blended creativity and strategy, I was always supported. Most importantly, this school gave me the confidence to share my voice and ideas openly—something I carry with me into college and life as I continue to explore my passions.”
Nicole Fong '25
Engineering Major, UCSD
"NDB has prepared me for the future by making me a leader. I've taken multiple leadership positions here at NDB on varsity golf, mock trial and student council. I've learned how to take initiative and communicate effectively with others, even in high-pressure situations. These experiences have taught me the importance of responsibility, collaboration and confidence—skills that I know will serve me well in college and beyond. NDB has shaped me into someone who isn’t afraid to step up, speak out, and support others, and I’m proud of the leader I’ve become.”
Alexis Hom '25
Pre-Med and Health Science, University of Miami
"NDB has transformed me into a confident and independent female student. At NDB I was able to find my voice in and outside of the classroom, whether it was being a captain on the basketball team or leading Kairos, Notre Dame offered me a multitude of opportunities. Surrounded by an all-girls environment, and being supported by my friends and the NDB faculty every day encouraged me to keep working hard to get to where I am today.”
Jane Hipps ‘25
Rehabilitative Psychology and Special Education Major, University of Wisconsin Madison
“NDB has prepared me for my future by helping me grow both as a student and as a person. The supportive sisterhood, strong academics and leadership opportunities have given me the confidence to pursue my goals. Throughout my four years, I’ve learned discipline, resilience and how to stay true to myself. I’m incredibly grateful for my education and feel more than ready for what’s ahead!”
Adrienne Maass ’25
Kinesiology and Ballet Major, University of Utah
"NDB has prepared me for my future by offering leadership opportunities like serving on the CSF and Key Club boards, which taught me responsibility and teamwork. Community service helped me develop compassion and a strong work ethic, while working with various types of communities. NDB being a small school with a tight-knit community gave me the confidence to use my voice and build meaningful relationships—all of which will help me succeed in nursing and beyond."
Elise Van Looy '25
Nursing, USF
"NDB prepared me for my future by encouraging me to seek out opportunities. From AP level classes to leadership opportunities and extracurriculars, Notre Dame has always pushed me by saying "what else can you do?" I chose activities across the board, from varsity water polo to performing arts. I found myself because I had the chance to try everything I wanted to, and the STEM classes at NDB have inspired my path of study. Tri-school productions helped me grow my love for theater and the community that theater provides. ”
Adi Joshi '25
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Major, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alumnae Testimonials
"Built on the tenets of integrity, compassion and perseverance, my Notre Dame Belmont education as a tuition assistance recipient allowed me to confidently pursue a meaningful career in optometry. Today, I am able to impact hundreds of patients by providing sight-saving medical care."
Jacqueline Evans O.D. '05
Doctor of Optometry
"I discovered who I was at Notre Dame and felt comfortable in my own skin. Forging strong connections with my Notre Dame sisters gave me a distinct advantage in life. In work, I don’t view women as competitors - I seek other women out for collaboration and counsel - just as I was encouraged to do at Notre Dame. Notre Dame is an air cannon of hope and joy, unleashing young women like me into the world to discover and do great and interesting things."
Naomi Sablan Scott '90
Film Producer and Independent Spirit Award Nominee
"I have been an international recording artist and touring musician for 20+ years. I have released 11 albums and have toured all over the world. Notre Dame gave me the confidence I needed to trust my voice in a male-dominated industry. When I used my voice to speak up about issues and values that I held dear, I found great support among my classmates - the bonds between us were incredibly strong thanks to the community spirit encouraged by NDB. Those members of faculty who supported me as I used my voice made me feel safe, seen and loved during those years when a young adult is most vulnerable."
Dyan Valdes '98
International Recording Artist and Touring Musician
"I value the all-girls education that NDB uniquely offers, as the experience enabled personal development by strengthening my confidence and my ability to communicate well with others. I work with researchers, doctors, nurses and all kinds of patients and communicating effectively is very important. An NDB education allowed me to enter college and the workforce with confidence."
Brooke Nightingale Dunleavy ‘11
Genetic Counselor at Stanford Children's Health
"I'm extremely grateful for the education, experiences and friendships from NDB. Teachers and staff really cared about the success of the students, and we had the opportunity to develop trusted relationships. There were many life lessons learned that helped build resilience and confidence in the classroom and in life. I felt well prepared to be successful in college and work because of my education and experiences at NDB. The best part was the lifelong friendships I made."
Jennifer Callen '96
Managing Director, Pinterest
"NDB taught me to work hard. It taught me to not give up. It taught me to advocate for myself and for others. It taught me empathy. I didn't know I was learning these skills at the time. Then, I thought I was simply learning to study and how to be a friend. But looking back? NDB wasn't just preparing me for my career working with at-risk LGBTQIA youth, it was preparing me for life."
JJ King (Jenny Lindeburg) '98
Crisis Support Counselor
"Notre Dame instilled in me the conviction to pursue my dream to become a physician. My high school experience gave me the confidence to strive as a woman in the field of science. My Notre Dame roots have helped me to succeed as a compassionate physician, daughter, wife and mother."
Bridget Marchetti Philip '92
Anesthesiologist
"Participating in Tiger TV at Notre Dame really inspired me to pursue film and television production as my major in college. Were it not for courses at NDB and the enjoyment and experimentation I had in them, I don’t think I would have thought that I could pursue those studies as my major, let alone my career. I am proud to be a part of the legacy of strong, powerful women from NDB."
Gabriela Dematteis '09
Emmy Award Winning Producer and Filmmaker
"Notre Dame Belmont instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and confidence which have been pivotal in navigating the male-dominated sports and media industry. The all-girls environment encouraged me to voice my opinions and assert myself without hesitation—a trait that has been instrumental in my role as a leader in a high-stakes, fast-paced field. The school’s emphasis on comprehensive education and leadership also prepared me to tackle challenges head-on and fostered a can-do attitude that has guided my career trajectory."
Anica Chavez '07
Senior Director and Executive Producer, SF Giants
"Participating in classes and extracurricular activities such as Orchestra, Video Production, and Tri-School Productions helped me develop a solid understanding of filmmaking and the roles music and storytelling play in that. At the same time, the rigor of my Honors and AP classes prepared me for managing multiple film projects, and the experience I gained in various leadership positions helped me navigate the collaborative nature of the film industry. Being involved in Performing Arts and leadership positions at NDB prepared me for my career as a film composer managing her own composing business."
Celisse Tan '17
Music Composer
"NDB’s academic environment helped my self-confidence. I felt like I was allowed and encouraged to be myself and grow into myself. I had an eclectic group of friends who have all gone on to contribute to the world in a variety of ways. The structure of Notre Dame academics and sports programs prepared me to be self-directed and to rise to challenges. My general take-away from Catholic-based education is to live a life of service and compassion."
Felicity Hartnett '02
Police Officer, Field Training Officer, Firefighter
"An NDB education shaped the foundation of who I am as a woman and business owner. NDB was where I learned how positive self-talk can transform a girl into a woman. My time at Notre Dame gave me the confidence and ability to handle life’s greatest challenges, to not be afraid to ask for help, persevere through adversity, and most importantly, be exactly who I am. Women supporting women is so incredibly powerful and I believe receiving an education in such a positive and encouraging environment is what helped to develop my courage, grit and determination. Go Tigers!"
Lindsey Mifsud '15
Owner, LL's Kitchen
"Notre Dame builds strong female leaders, and I am no exception. I entered NDB as a young, naive freshman knowing that I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities high school had to offer and I left NDB as a confident, well-spoken 18-year-old who was ready to take on the world. I attribute my ambition and my motivation to my Notre Dame education. I developed my voice in high school and my teachers instilled in me the importance of having an opinion, but backing it up academically with evidence and sharing it with conviction."
Sarah Boragno '02
English Teacher at NDB
"Coming from a Filipino-immigrant family, I was the first to finish a four-year college in the U.S., the first to go to law school, and the first lawyer in my family. There wasn’t really a roadmap for me to follow. But what NDB gave me was the confidence to create my own path. It taught me how to see positives in struggle, and how to turn uncertainty into motivation. That mindset inspired me to pursue law—a field where you have to keep pushing, keep learning, and keep standing up for what you believe in."
Paola Estanislao Pretorius ‘00
Deputy District Attorney, Santa Clara County
"NDB provided a challenging but supportive space where I built the self-confidence and critical thinking skills needed for reporting. I was fortunate to serve as co-editor of NDB's literary magazine, marking my first real exposure to publishing. The campus was such a supportive space. My circle of friends from NDB remains incredibly tight."
Nancy Dillon ‘90
Senior Reporter, Rolling Stone
Parent and Family Testimonials
"An NDB education is invaluable to myself, to my daughter and our family. The NDB community is so commanding of the spirit of empowering young women and building lifelong confidence. In any NDB student that you will meet, you will recognize an underying confidence that is folded into every aspect of the curriclum, community and extracurriculars at NDB. As a single mom, the faculty and staff are my co-parents and partners, and we are incredibly grateful to be here."
- Ena, Parent '29
"Receiving an education from NDB means that my daughter is going to be empowered, a real leader in the world, and that she's going to have a sense of confidence to go out there and do anything that a man can do, and do it better. That sense of empowerment is built into the fabric of the school."
Bobby Thompson, Parent '26
"I love an all-girls education because it means that there will be young women in every single leadership opportunity in the school. At NDB, I was prepared academically, athletically and through my experience in student council to gain confidence and to move onto college, and now my daughters will be as well."
Liz Stapleton Zerrella '95, Parent '25, '27
"Every single teacher knows every single student and knows something about them in a unique kind of way. That doesn’t happen in your public school, and I think that’s important. The school will amaze you no matter what. To find my daughter a place that she likes, that she looks forward to going to every day - you just don’t find that anymore - Notre Dame is exceptional."
-Mark, Parent '27
"Ashley is absolutely loving NDB. She is over the moon happy and excited about everything, every day. She loves all her teachers, her classes, the campus, her lunches (she takes pictures of her lunch every day!). Socially, she is very happy as well. She could not have experienced a more positive start to high school. The administration makes this possible for the girls. Thank you so much."
Sandy, Grandparent '27
"Selecting NDB was absolutely the best decision that my daughter and we could have made for her and all of us who have been a part of this journey. It has been incredibly special and will shape her for what I know will be an incredible future ahead."
Stacy, Parent ’26