WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
RJM’s from the MD/DC region and New York joined about 500 supporters of the Washington School for Girls on May 14th in a 25th Anniversary Gala at Trinity Washington University.
Sr. Mary Bourdon (1st) was one of three honorees receiving the Founding Spirit Award, in recognition of her role as co-founder of the ministry that began in the basement of an apartment house in Southeast Washington, DC. Honored with her were Jennifer Gibbs-Phillips (3rd) of the National Council of Negro Women and Sister of the Holy Child, Eileen McDevitt (2nd).
Past donors, among them many alumnae of Regina High School, were acknowledged and thanked, as a video scrolled the names of those who have supported WSG for ten or more years consecutively. The event itself was a fund-raising as well as social success, with anniversary donations totaling over one million dollars.
The emcee of ceremony for the evening was a 2009 graduate, Kami Simmons. Ms. Simmons, who has an extensive background in multi-media productions, most recently earned a Master of Science degree from Columbia University. A 2012 graduate, Amari McDuffie, was the keynote speaker for the evening. While the founders and supporters were honored in this event, the focus was on WSG’s present students and 301 graduates. Current students served as hostesses, welcoming guests at the door. Several graduates of WSG were among the staff and faculty present.
In an underserved area of the city, where high school dropout rates hover around 50%, the 99% graduation rate for WSG alumnae, and their career choices, attest to the success this school in living out its mission statement:
“to ignite the joyful pursuit of learning and inspire lives of faith-filled service.”
Friends and Colleagues at the RJM Tables
