In conjunction with Fontbonne's 2014 dedicated semester on the Civil Rights Movement, Alumni Reunion will feature a presentation on Sat., Oct. 11th at 9 am, from former faculty member, Rosemary Flanigan, CSJ (aka Sr. Thomas Marguerite), who was one of the first six nuns who answered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to march in Selma, Alabama, on March 10, 1965. She, alongside with two other CSJ's and many other sisters were at the center of this powerful movement in history.

50 years later, what is her most vivid memory from that day? Sr. Rosemary said, "Probably the aftermath, when the "march" was over -- we walked only several yards from Brown Chapel until we were stopped by State Troopers stretched across the street. We knelt in the street and, together with all the others who had come to Selma to be with the people and had been there for several days we said the Our Father together. Someone, I don't remember who, started to take off his coat for me to kneel on, and I can remember that I said, "No thank you, I want to go home with Selma dust on my habit."

Her presentation on Oct. 11th, will feature selections from the PBS Documentary, The Sisters of Selma, which details these nuns of the Catholic Church who joined the civil rights struggle...and in so doing, the Church and the Sisters themselves were transformed.

After a long career in philosopy, Sr. Rosemary is now program associate at the Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City, Missouri.

For information on this presentation and all Alumni Reunion activities, look for your Reunion invitation by mail in early August, or go to www.fontbonne.edu/Reunion or call 314-889-1403 for more information or to register.

The Fontbonne Alumni Association elected 5 new members to the Board of Directors. Each director will serve a 3 year term beginning with the 2014-15 academic year.

Lindsay Lehmann Clemens '04, '05 graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Deaf Education. She is a teacher of the deaf at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf.

Dustin Graves '14 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Business Administration. He is currently doing an accounting internship with Rubin Brown.

Sara Hermann '09 has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fontbonne and a Masters of Reading from Webster University. Sara currently works for Mehlville School District as a second grade teacher. 

Matt Wallach '94, MBA '01 has a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from Fontbonne University. Matt currently is a Brand Manager for Energizer Holdings Inc. He also is the owner of his own DJ business called Take Two DJ's. He will be the DJ at the All-Alumni Party on Fri. Oct. 10th during Alumni Reunion.

Four outstanding Fontbonne alumni will be honored during the Alumni Reunion Brunch and Awards Ceremony on Sun., Oct 12th at 11:30 am in the DSAC gym. These alumni were selected because of their commitment to service and representing Fontbonne's ideals and mission in their communities and chosen professions. Please plan to show your support by attending the Reunion Brunch and Awards Program. Go to www.Fontbonne.edu/Reunion for more information.

From left to right:
Jenna Grush '07, Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Martha Willis Graham '73, Professional Achievement Award
Don Gillespie '79, Service to the Community Award
Maggie Gunn Fowler '64, Service to the University Award

A New Journey Begins - July 1, 2014
From J. Michael Pressimone, Fontbonne President

This day marks an exciting time for me and my family, personally, and I hope for the Fontbonne community as a whole. I have already found the University family to be warm, welcoming and ready to serve with me to build a bright future.

The work that lies ahead is challenging to be sure. The value and expense of a college degree is coming under great scrutiny by critics of higher education. To be fair, some of the criticism is deserved, but there is also ample evidence that a college degree adds value to our lives in so many ways.

Read more of this message and leave Dr. Pressimone and his family your well wishes and thoughts.

Major League Baseball, People Magazine & Target are recognizing teachers in their communities. Thousands of classroom All-Stars have been nominated and narrowed down to three for each Major League team. Fontbonne alum Elizabeth Rogers has been selected for the final three for the Kansas City Royals. Elizabeth was nominated by her fiancee as an outstanding teacher in her community. As a high schooler in Kansas City, Elizabeth was required to fulfill a service project. She did so at St. Joseph's Insitute for the Deaf, and in the process discovered a passion and chose a career path. She teaches students with hearing aids and cochlear implants how to listen and talk without sign language.

The candidate with the most votes for his or her team will have a chance to attend and be recognized at the 2014 All Star Game. For more information on the contest, click here or watch the Major League All-Star Game on FOX on July 15th.

On Sat., Oct. 11th, the Fontbonne University Athletic Department will be holding a special ceremony at halftime of the women's soccer game to recognize the 20th anniversary of the first women's soccer team at Fontbonne. All alums of the women's soccer program during the past 20 years are encouraged to attend the game and participate in the halftime ceremony. Participants will receive a small gift courtesy of the Fontbonne Alumni Office to commemorate the event. The game will begin at 1 p.m. at Centene Statium (305 Gay Avenue, Clayton, MO) against Iowa Wesleyan University. This event is part of Alumni Reunion Weekend, Oct. 10-12. For more details visit www.fontbonne.edu/Reunion.

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Jason Buhlinger '07 was named by the St. Louis Journal's 30 Under 30 Class of 2014. He works at Brown Smith Wallace as a manager and financial adviser.

Susan Lombard '95 and Karen Hermann '96, were married on May 21, 2014 in Rock Hall, MD. Karen, who received her law degree from the George Washington University School of Law in 1999, is a mergers and acquisitions attorney at Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC. Susan is a nonprofit grant writer and fundraising consultant. They have resided in Old Town Alexandria, VA since 1996.

Melanie Paticoff '11 has launched a new magazine for children with hearing loss, Hearing Our Way. It is the first magazine of this type and will hit households in June. Visit www.HearingOurWay.com

Nancy Boos Georgen '76, was named to the Fontbonne Board of Trustees.  She is a principal at Moneta Group LLC and a co-founder of Retirement Plan Services LLC. Georgen contributes to the St. Louis community through her current work as a board member for Non Profit Services Center, a current member of the COCA Investment & Endowment committee and a past board chair of Crossroads College Preparatory School.

In memory of:
Sherry Sugg Drury '68
James Lorene Hogan, CSJ '52

 Share Your News

New Move? New Job? New Marriage? We welcome your news and photos. Please stay in contact so that we can share your success with fellow alumni. Email your news and photos to alumnievents@fontbonne.edu Your information may be featured in our twice yearly Tableaux magazine.