Service at Immaculate Heart Academy is more than just something that is required; it’s a central part of who we are. Students regularly put their Faith into action by serving their community and ministering to people in need through a wide variety of service opportunities. To recognize their efforts, IHA held its annual Service Awards Ceremony on May 6, 2025, and celebrated 103 students and two faculty members for their inspiring commitment to service.
Ms. Emily Ash '19, theology teacher and director of Campus Ministry, discussed why IHA is proud to recognize their service, “We celebrate because in a world that defines accomplishment by Instagram likes, TikTok views, and going ‘viral’ — you girls live as the complete antithesis of that through your service. You don’t strive to be cool in the way the world wants you to be, you strive to be cool in the way that Jesus wants you to be. You don’t strive to make yourselves known; rather, you strive to make God’s presence known in the lives of others, and ensure that every person you serve knows they are seen, known, and loved by God, but also by you.”
IHA is proud to announce that our students served more than 31,000 hours during the 2024-2025 school year! IHA’s young women go above and beyond what they are required to accomplish. In fact, on average, our students served double the amount of hours required of them. The highest-achieving class was the Class of 2026, with a total of nearly 11,000 hours.
At the awards ceremony, IHA celebrated more than 70 students for achieving the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Bronze level (100-174 hours per year), 15 students at the Silver level (175-249 hours per year), and 15 students at the Gold level (250 and more hours per year). Congratulations to the top three service hour earners: Chloe Kadien ’25 (825 hours), Isabella Ragone ’26 (668 hours), and Lana Langevin ’25 (358 hours).
IHA also recognized the following students with awards for service in a particular area or with specific populations:
Kathy Krey Sova ‘78 Breast Cancer Awareness & Research Award
Ellie Higgins ’27
Exceptional Service to Parish Community
Zoe DePhillips ’26 and Amelia Meade ’25
Exceptional Service to the Homeless
Isabelle Bertussi ’25, Kathleen Reck ’25, Emma McElroy ’25, Lana Langevin ’25, and Etain Moore ’26
Exceptional Service to the Elderly
Elysia Chae ’27
Exceptional Service to Individuals With Special Needs
Lola Rose Projahn ’25
Exceptional Service to the Sick
Diya Moorjani ’26 and Catalina Maglicic ’26
Exceptional Service to the IHA Community
Brenna Auguste ’25 and Zoe Giacomini ’25
IHA Spirit of Sisterhood Award for Kindness & Inclusivity
Elliott Daniels ’26, Veronica Brenner ’26, Chloe Caruso ’28, and Ryann Cenicola ’28
Exceptional Service to Women: Given in Honor of Ms. Lynn Gansley
Gabrielle Rivera ’26, Carmella Madlinger ’25, and Olivia Gilligan-Ollert ’27
Dedication to the Spiritual Growth of the Sisterhood
Avery Connors ’25, Grace Guglielmetti ’25, and Tara Caputo ’26
Exceptional Service to the Arts
Megan McCarthy ’25 and Tara McCarthy ’26
St. Therese of Lisieux Award for Everyday Acts of Kindness
Samantha Sundlin ’26, Kathleen Hahn ’26, and Hayden Edwards ’26
FIAT Award for Saying “Yes” to God Through Acts of Service
Isabella Ragone ’26 and Erin Sullivan ’26
Innovative Service Project Award
Brooke Rodriguez ’25 and Ashley Lopez ’26
Spirit of Service Award
The Spirit of Service Award is presented annually to students who demonstrate a dedication to authentic Christian Service. This award is not about the most hours, but is presented to students who, by their very attitude and spirit, actively seek out how to serve others and inspire their sisters to do the same. Congratulations to Emily Schlereth ’28, Peyton Connors ’27, Madison Les ’26, and Lana Langevin ’25.
Servant Leadership Award
The Servant Leadership Award is presented annually to a student whose commitment to service and spirit of leadership has radically transformed the culture of Immaculate Heart Academy. Congratulations to this year's recipient, Isabelle Bertussi ’25.
Click here for photos from the event courtesy of Mike Hamlett Photography.
IHA also honored the following students for achieving the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels:
Gold: 250+ hours in a calendar year
Samantha Baldomir ’25, Avery Connors ’25, Keira DeMicco ’25, Katherine Spizzo ’25, Lana Langevin ’25, Chloe Kadien ’25, Lauren Mulry ’25, Abigail Bennett ’26, Riley Cannon ’26, Elliott Daniels ’26, Ashley Lopez ’26, Isabella Ragone ’26, Diya Moorjani ’26, Aurelia Carolan ’27, and Lauren Henneberry ’27.
Silver: 175-249 hours
Dylann Kammen ’25, Grace Coster ’25, Lola Rose Projahn ’25, Brenna Auguste ’25, Mackenzie Handy ’26, Dahlia Iuliano ’26, Gabrielle Rivera ’26, Ella Vrtis ’26, Kiana Mahbobi ’26, Isabella Kerio ’26, Kianna Sadati ’28, Kailyn Rejent ’26, Lia Carballo ’27, Kelsey Brooks ’27, and Kate Hujsa ’26.
Bronze: 100-174 hours
Brooke Rodriguez ’25, Megan McCarthy ’25, Emma McElroy ’25, Grace Guglielmetti ’25, Isabelle Bertussi ’25, Ella Turnamian ’25, Emerson Focht ’25, Caitlin Donovan ’25, Kathleen Reck ’25, Sarah Schiller ’25, Victoria DelJuidice ’25, Maggie Polchin ’25, Victoria Niziol ’25, Karina Linzan ’25, Angely Medina ’25, Elizabeth Marino ’25, Marcelle Seckin ’25, Adrienna Arocho-Bautista ’26, Elyse Batmaz ’26, Kathleen Brancato ’26, Cavan Clancy ’26, Chloe Coffey ’26, Chloe Coll ’26, Gabriella DellaVolpe ’26, Zoe DePhillips ’26, Isabella Duca ’26, Yasmine Ego ’26, Laila Fenyo ’26, Breonna Guirland ’26, Izabella Hoxholli ’26, Sarah Komninos ’26, Ella Kovalcik ’26, Anna Kuchar ’26, Catalina Maglicic ’26, Vanessa Marian ’26, Tara McCarthy ’26, Anne Moore ’26, Etain Moore ’26, Madeline Murphy ’26, Molly Neafsey ’26, Riley Nightingale ’26, Adrianna Rispoli ’26, Elisabeth Tralongo ’26, Clare Wenzke ’26, Kimberly Zhang ’26, Katelyn Liga ’26, Morgan Connell ’26, Angelica Ferreira ’27, Clare McCarthy ’27, Elizabeth Doolan ’27, Elysia Chae ’27, Gina Ha ’27, Juliet Sok ’27, Kaitlyn McCormick ’27, Kristina Ahn ’27, Madeline Saoud ’27, Madeline Edelson ’27, Madeline Schlereth ’27, Malia Hamilton ’27, Marley Digby ’27, Peyton Connors ’27, Rachel Mathew ’27, Samantha Vaz ’27, Skylar Blake ’27, Sofia Bussanich ’27, Vasilia Rodas ’27, Peyton Einwohner ’27, Nina Cardella ’28, Ryann Cenicola ’28, Grace Handy ’28, Abigail Novack ’28, Lara Piccitto ’27, and Jules Robertson ’28.
This year, we also recognized two faculty members for their hours of service they have given to the community:
- Mr. Gregory McDonald, mathematics teacher - Gold Presidential Service Award
- Ms. Megan Olsen, social studies teacher - Bronze Presidential Service Award
During the Service Award Assembly, Isabelle Bertussi ’25, the service president for the Christian Service Board, reflected on what service truly means to her, "Service is so much more than numbers and deadlines, and although it may be a tough pill to swallow, it is not necessarily about us either. It is simply about how we can act as closely to Christ as possible in order to spread his love and learn from the people we serve."
Students also heard inspiring speeches from Kathleen Reck ’25, the spirituality president for the Christian Service Board, and Miss Kerry Carroll ’04, IHA principal. After the awards were presented, the IHA community viewed a video montage of service photos from the year created by Emma McElroy ’25, sisterhood president for the Christian Service Board. Recipients and their families were then invited to a celebratory reception afterward. Thank you to everyone in Campus Ministry for continually inspiring the IHA community with their passion to serve others.