On April 10, Mary Lang, president, Martha Pfaadt Tedesco ‘90, principal, Mary Ann Steutermann, Executive Director of Mission Effectiveness, Dr. Mary Beth Bowling, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Amy Nall, Assistant Superintendent of Catholic Schools attended the National Catholic Educational Association Conference in Irving, Texas, in order to receive the 2023 Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations Award on behalf of our community. The Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations award is presented annually by the NCEA to an individual, school or program that has furthered the mission of Catholic education through an innovative program or approach.

Assumption was selected as the recipient of this year’s award in recognition of our school’s innovative approach to social justice education.  Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Assumption High School embraces the five “critical concerns” of the Sisters that are rooted in Catholic Social Teaching:  non-violence, anti-racism, immigration, women, and earth.  Assumption is committed to educating our students about the complexities surrounding the critical concerns and employs several innovative initiatives to help students not only learn about but also to take direct action to address them:

  • Academics:  Each of the concerns is covered throughout the required academic curriculum.  Additionally, elective courses such as African American History, Women’s Issues, and Food Systems and Sustainability enable students to explore a deep-dive study of one or more of the concerns.
  • Co-Curriculars:  Several clubs focus their work on one or more of the critical concerns including  The Global Outreach Club, Diversity Club, Black Student Union, Respect Life Club, and Environmental Concerns Committee.
  • Compassion Connections:  This student-created program sponsored by one of our student government organizations, the Family Council, matches each of AHS’s nine “families” with one of nine local agencies working to address one or more of the critical concerns.
    • Family Birr: Sister Visitor / Catholic Charities
    • Family Booterstown: Kids’ Café
    • Family Carlow: Blackacre Conservancy
    • Family Charleville: Lifehouse Maternity
    • Family Cork: Shively Area Ministries
    • Family Galway: St. Joseph Children’s Home
    • Family Kingstown: St. John Center for Homeless Men
    • Family Limerick: Family Scholar House
    • Family Tullamore: Ronald McDonald House
  • Mission Trips:  Seniors can elect to participate in a week-long service immersion trip related to one or more of the critical concerns. These trips have been on the local, state, national, and international level and provide students the opportunity to serve a community impacted by the effects of one of these issues.
  • Advocacy Education:  Sophomores learn how to advocate on public policy measures in these areas at the local, state, and national levels as part of our annual Mission Week and students are able to explore advocacy initiatives and strategies in depth through both AHS’s Leadership Education Opportunities and through the Lead4Change program.

Through these initiatives, Assumption prepares students to be empowered servant leaders able to take concrete action to address the social justice challenges our society faces.

Assumption High School is humbled to be counted among the distinguished recipients of the President’s Awards.