Kick Off Summer With this Ashley Hall Alumnae Family Event!
Tuesday, May 30 | 6:15pm
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park (The Joe!)
sponsored by the Young Alumnae Council

My name is Molly Waring ’02, and I am honored to introduce myself as the 2016-2017 president of the Ashley Hall Alumnae Association. I give back to Ashley Hall for a multitude of reasons—legacy, community, opportunity—but, overall, I feel an inherent sense of responsibility to give back to the community that has given me so much. 

Many of you share my feelings, as is evident by the 661 alumnae who have given back to Ashley Hall already this fiscal year. In fact, this sense of gratitude and responsibility has reached even further than we imagined it would, embracing support from alumnae as far away as Hawaii and as young as the Class of 2016—our youngest sisters! One hundred percent participation in the Loyalty Fund from this graduating class says a tremendous amount about how current students feel about Ashley Hall. Your support is what has made this school the best it can be. Thank you.

If you have not yet had a chance, please join us by making a donation this fiscal year which ends June 30. Each gift, no matter the size, increases our alumnae giving percentage and strengthens our school. The alumnae body is the strongest giving constituency within Ashley Hall—and no wonder—we are the ones who know first hand what this great school has done for us, and what it truly means to be an Ashley Hall Girl.

We were thrilled to have alumna and former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush ’43 visit campus on February 17. During a special assembly held in her honor, students, faculty and staff, and Board of Trustee members enjoyed hearing Mrs. Bush regale fondly of her time at Ashley Hall where she served as captain of the Purples and also played the role of the speaking angel in the school’s annual Christmas Play. Exuding her signature warmth and wit, Mrs. Bush graciously answered numerous questions from the students covering both political and personal areas of interest. Head of School Jill Muti closed the program by honoring Mrs. Bush with the Distinguished Alumnae Award and an Ashley Hall Alumnae pin which she wore proudly throughout the rest of the day.

Girls with the will do have the ability! Congratulations to Ashley Hall alumna, Michaela White ’14, who becomes one of the first Ashley Hall graduates to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Since its inception more than one hundred years ago, Ashley Hall has remained steadfast to its founding mission “to produce educated women who are independent, ethically responsible, and prepared to meet the challenges of society with confidence.” This charge is fully realized through the school’s alumnae, in particular seven graduates who entered the Medical University of School Carolina on August 16. “We are thrilled for these young women and would expect nothing less from Ashley Hall alumnae,” says Head of School, Jill Muti. “Contributing to the increase in the number of female physicians in the field of medicine makes us very proud. We wish them all the best and know they will do well.”

Ashley Hall alumnae entering the Medical University of South Carolina include: Emma Kofmehl, Class of 2009, attended the University of Pennsylvania; Nancy Hagood, Class of 2010, attended Georgetown University; Jamie Harrell, Class of 2010, attended the College of Charleston; Celeste Jilich and Christina Kearse, both members of the Class of 2010, and both attended of Clemson University; Mira Patel, Class of 2010, attended the College of Charleston; and Patricia Kirkland, Class of 2011, attended Washington and Lee University.

The seven Ashley Hall alumnae make up 4% of this year’s MUSC class of 180. Science and math have received increasing emphasis within the Ashley Hall curriculum with a dedicated and dynamic STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program beginning in the Lower School. National research (Goodman Research Group) also shows that graduates of girls’ schools are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology.