Our students have been busy inside and outside the classroom.
View highlights below:
This week's Young Women's Leadership Conference in Dallas came with a big surprise.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised 150 high school students with a motivational message: love what you do, find your voice, and always work hard. Amanda Austin (Leadership Lessons Learned Through Improvisation), Liz Mikel (The Art of Storytelling), and Jenni Steck (Effective Communication Through the Voice and Body) also led breakout sessions.
Twenty Ursuline students attended the conference. Senior Maddie Fynes and junior Abigail Mihalic were also selected for a separate question-and-answer session with Mrs. Obama. Only 20 students were in the room.
"I was stunned for a couple seconds, but then I stood up and hugged her," Fynes said. "It was honestly one of the best days of my life. Every inspirational word made me want to reach my dream while incorporating service for others. The event was very empowering, and every speaker gave us resources to express our voice clearly and effectively."
The UA students also attended her event at American Airlines Center later that night. She's on a book tour for her memoir, Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama. Ursuline's Global Department also sent six students to the special discussion.
"I will remember and cherish this moment forever," Mihalic said. "In whatever field I end up in for my career, I want to have a positive impact on the world just like Michelle Obama chose to do."
Ursuline's Medical Microbiology Class recently toured the clinical microbiology lab at Parkland Hospital. Lab supervisor Jennifer MacKenzie led the tour.
Students viewed slides of bacteria isolated from clinical specimens under the microscope and learned how microorganisms such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses are identified in patient blood and urine.
"I learned so much about the advancement of medical microbiology technology on our field trip," senior Clare Ni'Shuilleabhain said.
Students displayed their talents in a recent Musical Theatre Showcase in the UCPA.
Congrats to each performer: junior Madeleine Crew, freshman Jingyao Guo, sophomore Mi-Lan Hoang, senior Cayli Lucia, junior Mackenzie Marsaw, junior Maddie Mompho, junior Caroline Neal, freshman Peyton Roberts, freshman Olivia Russell, sophomore Alyssa Schlette, junior Erin Torres, and senior Clara Tschoepe.
Ursuline had three selections in the prestigious National Art Honors Society Juried Exhibition.
Only 63 of the 980 submissions were displayed in the NAHS gallery in Virginia, and 74 were selected for the NAHS online gallery.
Senior Elenor Post's mixed media piece "Dream Job" and sophomore Savannah Flores' painting "My David" were both displayed in Virginia. Senior Ariana Ramirez's photograph "A Child's Natural Playground" was selected for the online gallery.
Ursuline's National Art Honors Society also visited the Dali exhibit at Southern Methodist University's Meadows Museum.
"My fellow NAHS members and I are so excited for our club," sophomore Lilliana Bolivar said. "We're looking forward to sharing future successes."
The photographs of Kendall Colaluca '19, Kayleigh Currier '22, Bridget O'Neil '20, Anna Pittman '19, and Elise Welch '19 were selected for inclusion in the 31st Black & White Images Contest and Exhibit sponsored by Fort Worth Country Day.
It is a juried exhibition for high school photography students in Denton, Dallas, and Tarrant counties. This year's juror was Dr. John Rorhbach, Senior Curator of Photographs at Amon Carter Museum.
Attached photo courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center. Photo credit: Nate Rehlander