Lauren Dedinsky Maddox, DSHA ’82, currently serves as the Senior Policy Advisor at Holland & Knight LLP in Washington, D.C. The firm focuses on public policy, government relations, contracts, municipal law, real estate, finance, and environmental law. Professionally and personally, she exhibits a strong awareness for human concerns and demonstrates leadership in her community and career field.
In 2012, Maddox returned to DSHA to accept the honor of being named the DSHA Alumna of the Year, a distinction given to alumnae whose daily life reflects the Christian values and ideals nurtured at DSHA, while also acting as an inspiration for other women. Prior to arriving, she asked permission to spend the day on campus. She sat in on classes, talked with students, and brainstormed the next edition of The Word Magazine. She was so taken with her experience, that by the time she landed back home in Washington, D.C., she knew she wanted to create a scholarship for DSHA students. The Mary Mross Public Policy Scholarship was created just days after her visit.
Currently, the scholarship is awarded to a rising junior or senior who best articulates her position on a designated public policy issue facing her generation. The essays are reviewed blindly by a committee of alumnae and selected on their merit.
Sarah Daniels, DSHA '23, was chosen by her peers as the student who most reflected "The Spirit of the Class". Daniels will attend Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA where she plans to study history and political science. At graduation, she delivered the following speech as a "Farewell from the Senior Class".
Kate Hemsworth, DSHA '23, will attend Washington University in St. Louis where she plans to study biochemistry. In addition to being the DSHA CLass of 2023 Valedictorian, she is a National Merit Finalist, a United States Presidential Scholars Program Semi-Finalist, and a Wisconsin Academic Excellence scholarship recipient.
After a three-year pause due to COVID-19, the DSHA French trip took place from Thursday, March 30 - Saturday, April 15. Thirty-one DSHA students immersed themselves in French culture, led by World Languages Faculty Eileen Gleeson.
Throughout the two weeks, students stayed with host families while attending Lycée St. Jean, a Catholic school in Limoges. While there, Dashers also traveled to various historical sites including le Château de Chambord, le Château de Hautefort, le Château de Versaille, as well as several museums that featured French art and sculptures.
This trip is part of the 30+ year-old exchange program organized by Gleeson. In October, 30 students from Lycée St. Jean stayed with host families from DSHA and attended classes at DSHA and Marquette University High School. This trip for Dashers during speak break completes the second part of the exchange.
While in France, students kept journals. Below are excerpts from their final journal entries.
From February 27 - March 10, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School seniors embarked on Vocare, a two-week service immersion experience. Vocare is the capstone of each student's four years of service. Each senior services two full weeks in the greater Milwaukee community working with the elderly, children, those with special needs, or at community outreach programs. Below, some of them share what they learned during their experience.
January 25 marked the DSHA Class of 2027 Dasher Kick-Off, in which the whole incoming freshman class gathered for the first time at DSHA. They met one-on-one with faculty and staff to register for classes, met their school counselors, and learned more about the DSHA experience. Julia Rentmeester, DSHA '23, also addressed the incoming class during the night. Read her comments to the class of 2027 below.
Note: This piece appeared in the 2021-2022 DSHA Annual Report, which hit mailboxes mid-December.
Lidia Mora Gallegos, DSHA ’23, embodies this part of the DSHA mission:
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school for young women that excels at developing the whole person. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior and grounded in their mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus Christ, we develop our students into capable young women of faith, heart, and intellect who accept the gospel call to live lives that will make a difference.
Throughout her time at DSHA, Mora Gallegos has grown in her love of math and science, her self-confidence, and her faith. Combining her passion for STEM and her ability to see God in others, she feels compelled to live a life that will make a difference and inspire those around her.
BY LIZZIE DONDLINGER, DSHA '22 + BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY '26
Note: This piece appeared in the 2021-2022 DSHA Annual Report, which hit mailboxes mid-December.
Lizzie Dondlinger, DSHA ’22, embodies this part of the DSHA mission:
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school for young women that excels at developing the whole person. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior and grounded in their mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus Christ, we develop our students into capable young women of faith, heart, and intellect who accept the gospel call to live lives that will make a difference.
Throughout her time at DSHA, Dondlinger strove to develop in her academic, spiritual, and co-curricular pursuits. By her senior year, she was a DSHA Campus Ministry Officer, one of the leads in DSHA's fall musical Freaky Friday, and the DSHA Class of 2022 Salutatorian. Perhaps her biggest accomplishment was her ability to weave faith, heart, and intellect together to discover a passion and calling for her future.