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For Eva-Maria Harwerth '17, attending Ursuline was, at one point in her life, a distant dream.

She grew up in South Irving and attended St. Luke, a small Catholic school with only 115 students from PK through 8. The school was more than a place of learning, though; it was home, where her mother worked as a secretary and where her family’s faith was deeply rooted. When it came time to think about high school, her brothers attended Bishop Dunne and Jesuit. Eva-Maria loved going to football games, cheering for the band, and watching the Rangerettes. Quietly, she wondered if Ursuline might one day be part of her story.

In 8th grade, during the admissions process, Eva-Maria remembers that it felt daunting. She worried about her test scores and financial realities. But with the support of mentors at St. Luke and deep prayerful discernment, Eva-Maria pressed forward. "I distinctly remember praying and asking, 'God, what do you want me to do? What is best for my family?'"

Ultimately, with scholarship support from Ursuline and trusting God’s will for their family, Eva-Maria’s parents made financial sacrifices to make her education at Ursuline possible. One moment that stands out vividly after she was accepted to Ursuline is when her father turned to her with joy and said, “I am so excited for you to go to the big UA.”

At Ursuline, Eva-Maria quickly discovered the meaning of Serviam, “I will serve.” “From a very young age, I was in tune with my prayer life,” she reflects. “At Ursuline, I realized God was calling me to serve others first.” She led retreats, joined the Rangerettes, participated in musical theater, and went on mission trips to Nicaragua and Belize. She also hosted delegations from Peru and Brazil and went on a Global delegation trip to Peru with financial support from the Global Department. "I didn’t let my financial status push me back too much. I knew to ask for help," said Eva-Maria. 

That calling led Eva-Maria to Creighton University, where she studied nursing with a minor in Spanish. Today, she is a Labor and Delivery Nurse in Seattle, serving women and families at some of life’s most vulnerable and powerful moments. “Taking care of someone in their birth process is the biggest privilege of my life,” she says. “Ursuline prepared me for this with its Catholic values, commitment to service, and belief in empowering young women to live for others.”

Eva-Maria also carries with her memories of faculty who went above and beyond to support her. She recalls how Ms. Frasco, though never her teacher, helped her with everything from Snowball tickets to a graduation dress, simply out of kindness. Or how Ms. Valenzuela became her “mom on campus,” always there with encouragement and guidance. “The mentorship I received at Ursuline was life-changing,” she says.

Now, years later, Eva-Maria remains deeply grateful for the opportunities she had and the sacrifices that made them possible. “I advocate for the girls who are smart enough to attend Ursuline but whose parents can’t afford it. Donors truly make a difference. Their generosity made my Ursuline experience possible, and I wouldn’t be on this path without it.”

For Eva-Maria, Ursuline was more than a high school. It was where she found her faith, her purpose, and her calling to serve.