Alumnae Scholarships

R-K has fifteen named scholarships, established in memory and honor of R-K friends and alumnae. For more information, or to establish a scholarship please contact Director of Development Antonia Ponder at (314) 533-8513, ext. 216.

Frances McKenna Harrington, 1917

Frances Harrington served as the Rosati-Kain High School Alumnae Association President in three separate terms, first from 1918-1920, from 1922-1926, and finally from 1946-1947. Between her terms as president, she worked to maintain an alumnae network and organize alumnae-sponsored fundraisers for the school. She is remembered as a hard worker, who was dedicated to the R-K mission. The Frances McKenna Harrington Scholarship was created after her passing, and was funded by gifts from the Alumnae Association.

Helen Jolley Kelly, 1919

Helen Kelly ('19) served as the Rosati-Kain High School Alumnae Association President twice: from 1928-1930, and again from 1934-1936. As one of the earliest members of the Alumnae Association, she helped it grow and encouraged graduates to stay involved. During the school's 75th Anniversary in 1989, the Alumnae Association named the school library in honor of her service to Rosati-Kain.

Adelyn Cavagnaro, 1923

After graduating from Rosati-Kain, Adelyn ('23) taught for forty-three years at Buder Elementary School while remaining an active member of the R-K Alumnae Association. Upon her passing, she left a gift to R-K that became the Adelyn Cavagnaro Scholarship.

Mary Rossier Kaimann, 1930

The Mary Rossier Kaimann Scholarship was established in 2007 through a gift from her son, Jim Kaimann, in her honor. An active member of the Alumnae Association, Mary ('30) is remembered as a gracious woman who loved reading.

Margaret Mary Theismann Foelsch, 1931

Margaret Mary ('31) was one of the last R-K students to graduate from the three-year "junior commercial course" before the program ended in 1934. In her final yearbook, her classmates noted that she was "The Mirror of Courtesy" to everyone she met. The Margaret Mary Foelsch Scholarship was established by her niece and fellow alumnae, Joan McGraw, class of 1966.

Ann Negoan Meyer, 1932

A member of the R-K Alumnae Association, Ann ('32) served as President from 1962-1966, and again from 1974-1978. Since then, she has remained active at R-K events and has served as manager for the Alumnae Scholarships. The Ann Meyer Scholarship was established in honor of her 85th birthday in 1999. In 2004, Ann received the Holly Goodman Award for her work with the Alumnae Association, and in celebration of her 95th birthday, the R-K Music Room (Rm. 9) was named the Ann Meyer Alumnae Association Room.

Mary Van Pelt Normile, 1935

A 1935 graduate, Mary Van Pelt Normile is remembered as a proud alumna that maintained friendships formed at R- K throughout her life. This scholarship was established in part by her daughter-in-law, Christine Rehg ('69), another R-K alumna that shared Mary's commitment to the school.

Christine Miesner Lively, 1936

Lively he Christine Miesner Lively Scholarship was established in 2002, after Christine's passing in 2001. In Christine's 1936 senior yearbook, her classmates predicted that she would become a high school art teacher - instead, she became a world traveler, moved to California, and worked for the University of California in Santa Barbara.

The Joseph Hafertepe Family

An alumna and longtime supporter of R-K, Sr. Joseph André Hafertepe ('37) established the Joseph Hafertepe Family Scholarship in memory of her parents in 1982. Sr. Joseph André was Rosati-Kain High School's first permanent Development Director, a position she held from 1985 until 2002.

Sr. Shelia Hederman, CSJ, 1938

As an R-K student, Sr. Shelia ('38) was involved with the Latin club, the library guild, and wrote for R-K's student publication, The Occasional. As an alumna, she returned to R-K from 1968 to 1996 to teach English literature and grammar. During her twenty-eight year tenure she worked with hundreds of R-K students and became an iconic figure in the English department. The Sr. Shelia Hederman Scholarship was established in her memory in 2002.

Lavergne Kemper Davison, 1939

The Lavergne Kemper Davison Scholarship was established in 1996 by Lambert Davison and Kathleen Davison Stucklik in memory of their wife and mother, Lavergne ('39). This scholarship is designed to benefit a student that is actively working to become her best self, and living the mission of Rosati-Kain in all aspects of her daily life.

Shirley Custer Busch, 1951

As an R-K student, Shirley Custer Busch ('51) was a member of the R-K Glee Club and worked as a student librarian. She continues to serve Rosati-Kain as a member of the Alumnae Association, and as a regular supporter of the Annual Fund. To further support the R-K community, Shirley donated the funds to establish a scholarship, which is given annually to a current R-K student.

Gloria Waters White, 1951

Gloria Waters White ('51) was part of the first integrated class at Rosati-Kain High School, where she was a member of the Glee Club's Christmas Concert and the French Club. As an alumna, she went on to become a vice-chancellor at Washington University, and worked to increase opportunities for women and minority students. She remained an active member of the St. Louis community throughout her life, serving on the boards of numerous charitable and not-for-profit organizations. After her passing in 2003, the Gloria Waters White Scholarship was established in her honor.

Joan Burtelow Lipic, 1955

As an R-K student, Joan ('55) played Varsity basketball and served as the honorary C.B.C. Cadet during her senior year. Following graduation, she was one of four freshmen women enrolled in the John Cook School of Business at St. Louis University. Since graduating in 1959, Joan has worked as a buyer for Famous & Barr, and served as the director for the Archdiocesan Development Appeal, now the Annual Catholic Appeal. Locally, Joan has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, and was honored as the 1998 St. Louis Woman of the Year. The scholarship was established by her husband of 50 years and fellow SLU alum, Joe Lipic.

Sandra and Emily Shelley Scholarship Fund

Founded in December of 2010, this scholarship provides tuition assistance to a current R-K senior who has demonstrated interest in nursing as a career and who will enroll in nursing school upon graduation from Rosati-Kain High School.

The Frances Virginia Hacker Memorial Scholarship

A future Kougar, Frances spent the fall 2009 semester at R-K with her mother, English teacher Barb Vilimek Hacker. She entered everlasting life, and was delivered on January 28, 2010. In memory of her time at R-K, and in thanksgiving for the gift of her life, Barb and Kevin Hacker have established the Frances Virginia Hacker Memorial Scholarship.