Seas The Day Dur ing Sail250 🇺🇸 (Information Obtained From WDSU Article ) Chapelle is proud to celebrate Julie Mullen ’27, who recently had the incredible opportunity to travel aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) following the Sail250 celebration in New Orleans. Julie, a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, was one of three Southeast Louisiana cadets selected for the rare experience. After the USS Kearsarge docked along the Mississippi River as part of the Sail250 event honoring America’s anniversary, Julie and her fellow cadets were invited to continue the journey, sailing from New Orleans to Virginia aboard the U.S. Navy assault ship. For Julie, the experience was both exciting and unforgettable. During the voyage, she explored nearly every part of the ship, gaining firsthand insight into naval operations and daily life aboard a military vessel. One of her favorite moments was visiting the ship’s bridge where she was even given the chance to help steer the ship for a few minutes. She also toured the brig (the ship’s jail), lived alongside sailors for the week, and participated in karaoke night, building meaningful connections with the crew. A highlight of the trip was meeting the ship’s captain, a strong female leader who served as an inspiring mentor and role model. The opportunity to witness women in leadership roles within the Navy left a lasting impression. Julie’s commitment to leadership and service has been shaped through her involvement in the Sea Cadet Program, where she continues to refine her discipline, citizenship, and dedication to community. Looking ahead, she has her sights set on an exciting future, aspiring to become a riverboat pilot. Her story is a powerful reminder that when young women are given opportunities to lead and explore, they rise to the occasion with confidence and courage.  We are so proud of Julie for representing our community with excellence and for truly “seizing the day.”

Vice President of the Special Olympics College Club at UL Last week, we celebrated Marissa Rinderle ’24, Founder & President of the Special Olympics College Club at UL Lafayette. Today, we are proud to spotlight the other half of that incredible partnership, Rachel Meariman ’23. When Special Olympics Louisiana began expanding its college club program, Marissa teamed up with Rachel to help bring the vision to life. Today, Rachel serves as Vice President of the Special Olympics College Club at UL, where she continues promoting inclusion through sports, friendship, and the celebration of all abilities. The club has already hosted a successful field day filled with activities for participants of all abilities and is planning even more exciting events next semester, including a basketball tournament, kickball game, and an outing at Rock ‘N’ Bowl. Rachel’s leadership doesn’t stop there. She is also the President of the Kinesiology Professional Association and serves as a mentor for the UL LIFE Program, supporting college students with disabilities in their academic, community, and career development. Rachel credits her time at Chapelle, especially as a member of the basketball team, with preparing her for these roles. Through athletics, she learned teamwork, accountability, responsibility, and communication skills that continue to shape her leadership style today. Her experience volunteering with Special Olympics while at Chapelle sparked the passion she now lives out in college. Together, Marissa and Rachel are building something truly special at UL, and we are so proud to see two Chipmunks leading with compassion.

Chapelle Shines at District & State Literary Rally 2026 This spring, Chapelle students proudly represented our school at the District Literary Rally at SLU on March 14, 2026, and the State Literary Rally at LSU on April 18, 2026. From English and World Languages to Fine Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies, our Chipmunks demonstrated exceptional academic talent, dedication, and perseverance. We are incredibly proud of each student who competed and represented Chapelle with excellence. District Literary Rally – SLU March 14, 2026 District Qualifiers Leila Abbate – Journalism I Rosemarie Cardella – Family & Consumer Science Ellie Concepcion – English I Audrey Dubuc – Health Isabella Holt – English IV Jordan Legaux – Art (Two-Dimensional: Oil, Acrylic, or Water Medium) Anna Poche – Chemistry Olivia Wurster – Advanced Math (Functions & Statistics) District Qualifiers & SLU Scholarship Winners Christina Pierce – Art (Two-Dimensional: Oil, Acrylic, or Water Medium) Lucy Guillot – Art (Two-Dimensional Black & White: Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art) Emily Ledet – Spelling District & State Qualifiers Keira Bachemin – French II Brianna Borne – Advanced Math (Pre-Calculus) Gia Chester – Psychology Ashley Garcia-Morera – Sociology Caroline Hill – Chemistry Kristin Munch – Algebra II Kayla Palacio – Government Si’lah-Michele Payre – Spanish I Emma Rogers – Calculus II Lily-Grace Theriot – World Geography Aasha Varkey – English IV Alina Varkey – Biology Yara Zeitoun – World History District Qualifiers, State Qualifiers & SLU Scholarship Winners Kathleen Elmer – Geometry Egan Guidroz – Journalism I Amelia Hassel – French I Abby Hebbler – Advanced Math (Functions & Statistics) Kate Marks – Financial Literacy Elise Nelson – English I Mallory Pansano – English II Molly Saia – Nutrition & Food Addison Terrio – Health Emily A. Wilson – Family & Consumer Science State Literary Rally – LSU April 18, 2026 State Award Winners Lauren Rieth – Latin II – 🥇 1st Place Egan Guidroz – Journalism – 🥈 2nd Place Kate Marks – Financial Literacy – 🥈 2nd Place Addison Terrio – Health – 🥈 2nd Place Kathleen Elmer – Geometry – 🥉 3rd Place Ashley Garcia-Morera – Sociology – 🥉 3rd Place Peyton Klotz – Treble Solo Low Voice – Superior Rating Margaux Mouton – Treble Solo High Voice – Superior Rating Valentina Martinez-Flores – Spanish II Extemporaneous Speaking – Superior Rating Lia Reinecke – Treble Solo High Voice – Superior Rating Jazmin Interiano – Spanish II Extemporaneous Speaking – Excellent Rating Xenia Trejo – Treble Solo Low Voice – Excellent Rating State Finalists We are also proud of the following students who advanced to State Rally and represented Chapelle with dedication and excellence: Keira Bachemin Brianna Borne Gia Chester Eden Flowers Amelia Hassel Abby Hebbler Caroline Hill Emily Karcher Jenny Mains Gabriela Mejia-Aguilar Kristin Munch Elise Nelson Kayla Palacio Mallory Pansano Si’lah-Michele Payre Emma Rogers Molly Saia Caroline Sander Lily-Grace Theriot Sarah Turnipseed Aasha Varkey Alina Varkey Yara Zeitoun In total, 49 Chapelle students represented our school at District and/or State Literary Rally this year. Their commitment to academic excellence reflects the heart of Chapelle’s mission. We are incredibly proud of each of these students for their hard work and dedication.

Chapelle Students Attend LASC 2026 From May 31 – June 4, six Chapelle student leaders traveled to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana to attend the Louisiana Association of Student Councils (LASC) Workshop. They returned inspired, energized, and ready to lead. This year’s theme, “Sow, Grow, Lead,” centered around farming as a metaphor for leadership. Throughout the week, students focused on planting seeds of purpose, nurturing their individual strengths, and growing into impactful leaders for their school communities. Representing Chapelle at LASC 2026 were: Audrey Dubuc, 12th grade Victoria McCann, 12th grade AnnaClaire Occhipinti, 11th grade Lauren Delagardelle, 11th grade Sloan Boudoin, 11th grade Kasey Orlando, 10th grade During the week, our Chipmunks participated in interactive workshops, team-building activities, and leadership sessions designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and service. Between fun games, meaningful discussions, and shared experiences with students from across Louisiana, lifelong friendships were formed. Sloan Boudoin, Student Council Executive Board Historian, shared one of her biggest takeaways from the week: “What I took away most was the positive environment and how seen and heard it made me feel. It was so eye-opening and refreshing to be in a place so supportive and welcoming. The inclusivity and love at LASC is truly like no other.” The environment at LASC encouraged authenticity, confidence, and servant leadership, which are values that align beautifully with Chapelle’s mission. Our six delegates are already planning how to “sow” what they learned into the Chapelle community this upcoming school year. With the multitude of lessons and leadership skills they gained, they are ready to help our campus continue to grow in spirit, unity, and purpose. We are so proud of these young women for investing in their leadership journeys and representing Chapelle so well. The seeds have been planted, and we cannot wait to see how they grow.

Presenting Our Gift to the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center 💗💚 In April, Mrs. Benson personally invited our students to the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center to present our Pink Month earnings to their leadership team. Walking into the Cancer Center with Mrs. Benson was a powerful experience for our students. It was more than just delivering a check. It was an opportunity to represent the heart of the Chapelle community and to see firsthand the impact of their efforts. Sharing that moment with the leadership team made the months of preparation and fundraising even more meaningful. Throughout Pink Month, our students worked tirelessly to raise funds in creative and spirited ways. They sold pink socks, the official Pink Month t-shirt, donuts, and pink lemonade, along with organizing other campus initiatives to support the cause. They also took time to write heartfelt notes and prayers of healing to oncology patients — messages that Mrs. Benson and her team truly loved and appreciated. Being able to stand together and formally present our donation was a beautiful reminder that small acts of generosity can come together to create something powerful. It was a proud day for our students and a reflection of Chapelle’s commitment to faith, compassion, and service. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support the patients and programs at the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center and proud of our Chipmunks for living out our mission in such a meaningful way.

Summer Soirée 💚🍷🎻 We had the joy of celebrating our New Parents at our annual Summer Soirée at The Crossing, officially welcoming them into the Chapelle Family! 💚 The evening was filled with warm conversations, laughter, and the excitement of a new chapter beginning. It was the perfect opportunity for Chapelle’s Administration to personally meet our newest families and for parents to begin forming connections with the families of their daughters’ future classmates. Events like the Summer Soirée are a special reminder that Chapelle is more than a school — it is a community rooted in faith, friendship, and support. Watching new relationships begin to grow is always one of our favorite parts of the summer.  We are so grateful to all who joined us and helped make the evening so meaningful. We hope our newest Chipmunk families are enjoying a wonderful summer, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone to campus in August!

Founder & President, Special Olympics College Club at UL Lafayette Chapelle is proud to spotlight Marissa Rinderle ’24, who is already making an incredible impact during her time at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Marissa is the Founder and President of the Special Olympics College Club at UL Lafayette, a student-run organization dedicated to creating meaningful connections between college students and individuals with disabilities through athletics and campus events. “I actually founded the club after Special Olympics Louisiana reached out to me in hopes of expanding the college club program,” Marissa shared. “Rachel Meariman ’23 and I collaborated to get it all started!” The Special Olympics College Club at UL provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to connect with college students through various athletic events. The mission is simple yet powerful: to promote inclusion on the UL campus through sports, friendship, and the celebration of all abilities. Marissa’s passion for inclusion is deeply rooted in her involvement with the UL LIFE Program, which is designed to give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience college life while furthering their education and life skills. “The LIFE Program has encouraged and prepared me to begin Special Olympics UL,” she said. In addition to leading the Special Olympics College Club, Marissa also serves as Vice President of the Kinesiology Professional Association, demonstrating her continued commitment to leadership and service. At Chapelle, Marissa served as a Student Ambassador, a role she credits with helping her grow as a communicator and leader. “Being an ambassador enhanced my communication and leadership skills, preparing me for the various roles I now have in college,” she shared. Marissa exemplifies the Chapelle mission by leading with compassion, courage, and a heart for service. We are so proud of the difference she is making and can’t wait to see how she continues to inspire inclusion and build community. Congratulations, Marissa! Your Chapelle family is cheering you on!