(Mar. 11)
ACE in the City:
Oklahoma City was one of the very first cities to welcome ACE teachers back in 1994. Since then, 53 ACE teachers have called Oklahoma City home during their first years as educators. Currently, these graduates are joined by six ACE teachers in four schools in the diocese: Bishop John Carroll School, Mount Saint Mary High School, Sacred Heart School, and St. James the Greater School.
The ACE Summer Forum on Recruiting Latino Children to Catholic Schools in 2010 inspired the principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School to reach out to and engage the Latino community in Oklahoma City. As a result of her efforts, the school has seen a significant and continued increase in Latino enrollment in the past three years, proving that Catholic schools are alive and well in America.
Where We’ll Be:
Tuesday, March 11
8:30 a.m. CST — School mass and visit to Sacred Heart Catholic School
2700 South Shartel Street — Oklahoma City, OK 73109
- Celebrant: Fr. Gilberto Moya Hurtado, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish
- In attendance: Eusebius Joseph Beltran, Archbishop Emeritus of Oklahoma City
- Sr. Kay Powers to receive Sorin Award for Service to Catholic Schools
- Kevin Durant to receive Champion of Education Award
9:45 a.m. CST — Program to showcase Oklahoma City Catholic schools in attendance, including:
- Sacred Heart School
- Bishop John Carroll School
- Mount Saint Mary High School
- St. James the Greater School
- St. Philip Neri School
Parting remarks from Dr. Cris Carter, Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Event Point of Contact: Emily Lazor —
Award Recipients:
The University of Notre Dame Sorin Award for Service to Catholic Schools
Sister Catherine (Kay) Powers began her ministry in education at the age of 19 and served as an educator for over 50 years, including 17 as Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. An avid Notre Dame fan, Sister Kay watches every football game and never misses an opportunity to return to campus. She is also a big fan of ACE and can recall the names of each ACE teacher that has served in the archdioces. Upon her retirement from the Superintendent's Office, Archbishop Coakley said, “I am very grateful to Sister Catherine (Kay) for her leadership in Catholic education during these 16 years. She has been an excellent Director of Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Her commitment to professional development of staff and to Catholic identity in our schools has been outstanding. We will miss her without a doubt." Sister Kay's commitment to the children of Oklahoma City was even more evident when she decided to come out of retirement and assume the role of Safe Environment Coordinator for the archdiocese, where she is charged with educating adults about the Church's priority to keep children safe.
The University of Notre Dame Champion of Education Award
On and off the court, Kevin Durant of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder sets an impressive example to the Oklahoma City community. Throughout his career, Durant has participated in numerous philanthropic causes. In 2013, he pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross for the victims of the 2013 Moore tornado. His generosity inspired the Thunder and Nike to match his donation. He is also a spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. branch of P'Tones Records, a nationwide non-profit after-school music program. The purpose of P’Tones is to create constructive opportunities for urban youth through no-cost neighborhood music programs. The organization's goal is to give students the opportunity to run a record label, creating music and merchandise while learning about the music industry.
ACE Point of Contact: Bill Schmitt -
Information confirmed: 3/4/14 - 11:57 a.m.