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2026 Women making a difference

Award Luncheon

Now in its twenty-fifth year, the Women Making a Difference award program recognizes the remarkable contributions of Notre Dame Academy alumnae to their families, professions, and communities through leadership, service, and philanthropy. Each honoree exemplifies the mission and values of Notre Dame Academy — living lives rooted in faith and dedicated to making a positive impact in the world.

The luncheon will take place at the St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center (SETEC) in Erlanger, beginning with registration and networking at 11:00 a.m., followed by the luncheon and award presentation at 12:00 p.m. Proceeds from the Women Making a Difference Luncheon benefit tuition assistance at Notre Dame Academy, ensuring that young women continue to receive the transformative education that has shaped generations of Pandas.

All alumnae, corporate representatives, parents, and friends of Notre Dame Academy are warmly invited to attend. For more information, please contact the Notre Dame Academy Advancement Department at 859.292.7729 or visit www.ndapandas.org.

Registration information coming soon!

2025 Women making a difference

Congratulations to 2025 Honorees

Three distinguished alumnae from Notre Dame Academy were celebrated at the annual Women Making a Difference Recognition Award Luncheon, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The honorees for last year’s event were Marianne Cohen Fieger 1962, Sharon Stahl Harris 1975, Lauren Simendinger Wang 2002. Jerry & Sue 1966 Von Handorf were honored with the Sr. Reina Award.

Now in its twenty-fourth year, the Women Making a Difference award program acknowledges the remarkable contributions of Notre Dame Academy alumnae to their families and communities through service, professional achievements, and philanthropic endeavors. It is a tribute to these women for embodying NDA’s proud legacy and their continued impact on the world. Additionally, the luncheon plays a via role in raising funds for Notre Dame Academy.

Our Distinguished Past Honorees

Mary Lee Stegman Aldemeyer ’35
Ann McCabe Buenger ’44
Trinette Foote ’72
Judy Webster Gerding ’58
Lisa Cooney Henderson ’82
Judy Fisk Schneider ’63

Fran Harden Carlisle ’58
Virginia “Tep” Witemyre McCafferty ’48
Denise Gehring Schickling ’65

Sister Mary Laurence Budde, SND ’47
Sally McGinnis Monahan ’75
Patricia M. Summe ’71

Deborah Ann Borchers ’75
Patricia Rust Kovacs ’71
Jean Schmidt Longshore ’50

Mary Theis Bunning ’50
Sister Jean Marie Hoffman ’65
Jean Ann Glenn VonHandorf ’44

Catherine (Kay) Laske ’34
Amy McGrath-Henderson ’93
Elizabeth Riche Read ’39

Janet Annear Chambers ’77
Michelle Dixon Eckerle ’94
Carol Schmidt Mullen ’53

Ruth Appel Averdick ’69
Sister Georgia Marie Messingschlager 56
Mary Kay Woodruff Sommerkamp ’81

Amy Quinn ’90
Lynn Dietz Schworer ’74
Carol Steltenkamp ’79

Sister Ann Rene McConn ’56
Amy Brake Thomas ’92
Marilyn Willenbrink ’60

Cathy Toebbe Ficke ’69
Sr. Sebastien Schmidt, SND ’45
Deb Moore Shaner ’79

Kara Middendorf ’96
Janet Von Handorf Schmidt ’81
Kathy Talbert Thamann ’69

Marcia Adick Klaene ’61
Joan Kluemper, DMD ’69
Mary Ann Blewett Robinson ’55
Gabrielle Summe, Esq. ’84

Julia B. Meister ’87
Meghan Scherder Olson ’91
Wendy Vonderhaar ’86

Lisa Davis Louden ’97
Sister Mary Ethel Parrott, SND ’64
Gina Tuemler Wulfeck ’76

Linda Scully Bricking ‘65
Katrina Wagner Brown ‘86
Penelope Bayless Rogers ‘60

Barb Fritz ’68
Jan Steffen Hanser ’76
Amy Wurtenberger Beck ’78
Martha Wurtenberger Barnes ’78

Rosa Hollis-Bird ’62
Julie Prewitt Schneider ’84
Karen Bieger Finan ’77
Julie Mullen Bruns ’87

Connie Kaelin Roenker ’68
Peggy Murphy Barker ’84
Holly Graziani Danneman ’92

Sister Mary Paul Ann Hanneken, SND ’50
Sister Mary Rachel Nerone, SND ’54
Sister Mary Janet Stamm, SND ’58
Annie Faragher Bennett ’66
Sharon Bosch Foster ’83 

Laura Gausepohl Arlinghaus ’81
Jo Ruwe Terry ’81
Kristy Franxman Dailey ’01 

Sr. Marie Rose Messingschlager, CDP ’62
Emily Melching Michels ’88
Erin Kern Timmerding ’90

Betty Baumann Verst ’51
Marianne Cohen Fieger ’62
Connie Noll ’85

Marianne Cohen Fieger 1962
Sharon Stahl Harris 1975
Lauren Simendinger Wang 2002
Jerry & Sue 1966 Von Handorf – Sr. Reina Award

Sr. Mary Reina Arlinghaus Award Recipients

Mr. Robert Stevens – 2010 
Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Jeanne-Marie Tapke – 2013
Mr. and Mrs. William and Sue Butler – 2016
Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger, SND – 2017
Mrs. Mary Brown – 2018
Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Beth Schuh 1977 Dempsey – 2022
Mr. and Mrs. Bob and Diane Hoffer – 2023
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry & Sue 1966 Von Handorf – 2025