Kathleen Schnelle Hipskind Maier Community Service Scholarship

Staff Member (teacher of Math and French) and Assistant Principal, 1970-2003

I worked at ‘my ever-loved Mount Notre Dame’ from the spring of 1970 as a student teacher of math and French, later expanding my duties to include development and administration until my retirement in late 2002. How I cherished those nearly 33 years at the same school! I prided myself not only on my longevity at MND but in the fact that I worked diligently to make the students feel appreciated and to have an enjoyable learning experience there because they were always treated with consistency and fairness! As such, with the guidance of great mentors like Principal Sr. Carol Diemunsch, SNDdeN, I headed up STUDENT TASK FORCE, initiating lots of memorable, fun events and activities throughout my years as a staff member! I worked on teaching the students to leave the MND community better than they found it, and this was so often accomplished by volunteerism, when the students recognized that they had so much to offer others! I had a personal title (my ‘miracle girls’) for those girls who transitioned into young women with loving and kind hearts because they learned how to make others happy, and they realized just how much they had to offer and just how gifted they were! I have endeavored to increase my listening skills at all levels — students, parents, other teachers, and staff members, etc. My bottom line was that individuals just wanted to feel respected and valued, and that was my mission throughout the years! I also stay in touch with graduates via email and Facebook, so I hope that they knew I cared then and continue to care today! I LOVED my job with MND! I hope I can continue to sponsor this Named Scholarship because I feel devoted to the mission of MND, enabling young women to become all that God envisioned them to become! This Scholarship Recipient should have a commitment to community service and helping to improve others’ lives! – submitted by Kathleen Schnelle Hipskind Maier