Students at Immaculate Heart Academy regularly put their faith into action by serving their community and ministering to people in need through a wide variety of service opportunities. By participating in the IHA Christian Service Program, students apply their Catholic Christian values by practicing them in projects that expand the students’ awareness of God, others, and themselves. On May 14, 2018, our generous and kind-hearted community members were recognized. In the past year, IHA’s young women gave more than 40,000 hours of service, the most in recorded IHA history. The Class of 2018 served a collective 26,468 hours in 2017 alone and a total of 67,861 hours during their time at IHA.
Click here to watch this year's Service Video.
Congratulations to one hundred thirty-two students, fourteen families, and nine faculty members for being awarded the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award. A most impressive Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award was distributed to Lisa Ferioli’18 for her service of volunteering one thousand four hundred forty-four hours in the last year as an EMT.
Additionally, individual students were recognized for exceptional service to particular groups of people. Congratulations to:
Gabriella Cali’19 – Exceptional Service to the Elderly
Marissa Amen’18 and Maeve Kelly’18 – Exceptional Service to the Special Needs
Dana Padilla’18 and Emily Hernandez’18 – Exceptional Service in Music
Joanne Semelsberger’20, Heather Farrell’18, and Julia Bertussi’18 – Exceptional Service to the IHA Community
Emily Bommer’18, Carly DePhillips’18, Abigail Heffernan’18, and Elizabeth Encke’20 – Exceptional Service to the Homeless
Rebecca Nadler’19 – Exceptional Service to the Hungry
Brooke Fortunato’20 – Exceptional Service Globally
Jacqueline Townsend’18 – Exceptional Service to Women
Olivia Labosky’18 – Exceptional Service in Education
Spirit of Service Awards were given to two students in each grade “whose very spirit makes them eager to serve others and the community.” Congratulations to:
Freshmen: Kaylee McKay’21 and Ellie DePhillips’21
Sophomores: Elizabeth Croci’20 and Grace Mendolia’20
Juniors: Regina Garvey’19 and Emma Taff’19
Seniors: Carly DePhillips’18 and Emily Bommer’18
Finally, the Servant Leadership Award is presented to a student whose commitment to service has transformed the culture of IHA. We send our sincerest congratulations to this year’s recipient, Tess Szydlik’18.
Mrs. Sarah Shutrop, director of campus ministry and faculty leader of the IHA service program said one of the most unique aspects of IHA is that it truly is a justice-minded, service oriented community.
“Our students understand that the call to service originates from the gospel,” she said. “They know service is about building the kingdom, not our resumes, and they are women with a real concern for the vulnerable. In a generation so often characterized as self-involved and apathetic, IHA’s young women prove themselves to be altogether different. On average, each of our girls completed almost three times the service required of them each year. Service isn’t a box to check here; it’s who we are.”