Evelyn (Wojcik) Dieringer ’45
Embodiment of the Mission of St. Mary’s Academy
Evelyn Dieringer is neither one of the nation’s 100 most successful career women nor a bestselling author. She has been described as “an ordinary saint among us” and is regarded as a true friend, a great listener, generous, and more patient than most. Evelyn Wojcik, who married Bob Dieringer 58 years ago, did the extraordinary work of bringing up twelve children while teaching and modeling Gospel values. Integrating faith, love, and compassion into one’s life as deeply as Evelyn has is both unusual and noteworthy.
Evelyn’s humility confines her description of herself to being an ordinary woman who attempted “to live God’s plan as best I could.” Those around Evelyn have tremendous respect for a woman who lovingly nurtured her children to embrace a strong work ethic, generosity, selflessness, service to others, love, and faith.
“You are sharing the gift of life with God,” Evelyn confirms, when describing the joy of rearing children. Because each of her children has absorbed the deep-rooted values that Evelyn instilled in them, they all contribute to the world in positive ways, whether through service, education, health care, or simply being good parents and community-focused individuals.
Evelyn’s priest, Fr. Bob Barricks, describes her as having a heart of a servant for her faith, commitment to family, and generous involvement in charitable organizations. St. Mary’s Academy, Holy Family Parish, Sisters of the Holy Names, Jesuit, and Birthright are a few of the fortunate beneficiaries of the generous spirits of this great woman and her husband who give back in significant tangible ways to ensure the vitality of these institutions.
Evelyn’s faith and love have touched innumerable people’s lives. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren benefit from witnessing principles modeled through a lifetime of goodness. Her infinite love for her husband, her selfless love and pride in her children, her faith, and her commitment to service are evidence of a life well-lived. For this, St. Mary’s wishes to recognize Evelyn Dieringer for embracing so fully the ideals that are valued at St. Mary’s. She is the true embodiment of the Mission of St. Mary’s Academy.
M.J. (Mary Jo) Anderson ’71
Theatre, Music, or Art Achievement
Although M.J. Anderson has been an artist for the past 25 years, she is one of only a handful of successful female sculptors. In recognizing her talent, Matthew Kangas, a Seattle-based art critic, described Ms. Anderson as “possibly the most important marble sculptor now working in the Pacific Northwest.”
After M.J. Anderson graduated St. Mary’s Academy in 1971 and Portland State University in 1977, she began to carve life-size and over life-size figurative, abstract and liturgical works at her homes in Nehalem, Oregon and in Carrara, Italy where the marble for her art is available. Ms. Anderson carves stone because of her belief that sculpting is the “least artificial” and “most enduring” art form. Instead of adhering to the classical sculpting traditions of carving the male figure, Ms. Anderson focuses on the female body, especially focusing on the strength of women to meet challenges. To demonstrate both the perfect and wounded female form, Ms. Anderson employs the skin of the stone which is that part of the rock that nature has scarred over decades or centuries of exposures. Her sculpture is unapologetic, particularly as it relates to the damage that time extracts from the female body. Often, Ms. Andersen uses metaphors in her sculpting to suggest women’s resilience in the face of adversity. There is also a connection between the body and the spirit in Ms. Anderson’s work that is linked to her Catholic upbringing. She draws on ancient mythology and the rich tradition of Roman Catholicism to imbue her sculpture with a religious undercurrent.
Ms. Anderson has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally and received numerous awards and grants. M.J. was one of eight invited sculptors to carve outdoor sculpture for the International Stone Symposium at the Maroochy Botanical Garden in Queensland, Australia. Her work has been commissioned by St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, Church of the Resurrection in Solon, Ohio, and Seattle University to name a few. She has taught at Marylhurst, Portland State, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts and at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology as well as for several other institutions and organizations.
Many St. Mary’s students dream of making a living in the arts. M.J. Anderson shows us all that with talent, commitment, and hard work dreams can become a reality.
Malia Haley Wasson ’77
Woman of Career Achievement
In June of 2005 Malia Wasson was named President of U.S. Bank in Portland and Southwest Washington, making her the senior executive for the bank in Oregon and the first female to hold such a position for a major Oregon bank. Formerly she served as executive vice president and manager of U.S. Bank’s Oregon Commercial Banking group, a role she continues to play while also leading market wide initiatives and projects for the bank. A 25-year veteran of banking, Malia has been with U.S. Bank for 17 years. Prior to her U.S. Bank positions, Ms. Wasson held management and commercial lending positions at other Oregon financial institutions after earning a bachelor of science and commerce degree from Santa Clara University.
When Malia was appointed to her presidency by Joseph Otting, he said, “Malia has demonstrated tremendous leadership and dedication to U.S. Bank and its customers throughout her career, and we have great confidence in her ability to inspire and motivate the Portland and southwest Washington team as market president.”
Throughout her management career Malia has also been an advocate for other women in a traditionally male-dominated field. Malia has repeatedly identified women (and men) in whom she has seen potential and cultivated, promoted, and mentored them to greater professional success.
As well as being a highly visible and accomplished banking executive, Ms. Wasson is involved in numerous civic and professional organizations. A member of the board of directors of the Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Business Council, SOLV Founders’ Circle, and Oregon Independent College Foundation, she makes time to serve as a Senior Fellow in the American Leadership Forum and was Board Chair for Oregon’s Volunteers of America. She has served as chair for U.S. Bank’s United Way campaign and has held membership in many organizations such as Oregon Sports Authority, Association for Portland Progress, Oregon Banker’s Association’s Personal Economics program Steering Committee, Oregon Symphony Crescendo Group, Junior Achievement and Portland State University’s Business Advisory Board.
Malia Wasson’s career achievements are testimony to the St. Mary’s Academy slogan, “Today’s young woman. Tomorrow’s leader.” Malia Wasson is certainly a leader among leaders, an advocate for women, and a great role model to our current students who wish to pursue careers in non-traditionally female fields.
Hataya Kristy Poonyagariyagorn ’97
Outstanding Contemporary Alumna
Hataya Kristy Poonyagariyagorn only graduated from St. Mary’s nine years ago, but the mark that she has left in every community in which she has lived and worked is indelible. From Brown University where she was awarded both an Emory Fellowship and the Morris L. Povar Prize in Physiology and Zoology based on exceptional academic research to her current residency, Kristy has made important contributions. As a National Science Foundation Fellowship recipient, she worked with Dr. Charles Roselli at Oregon Health Sciences University to conduct behavioral studies involving herbal treatment for prostate cancer in laboratory animals. In recognition of the scientific merit of this work, Kristy has been cited by the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutic.
While at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Kristy volunteered at the Einstein Community Health Outreach Clinic, the first student-run free health clinic for New York’s uninsured. As clinic chair, she oversaw student and doctor scheduling and implementation of health care services by medical students. In 2002 Kristy was one of 20 students selected nationwide by SALUD to practice medicine among the children of Quito, Ecuador. Dr. Poonyagariyagorn is currently serving her first year of residency at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, ranked first among America’s hospitals in cardiovascular medicine, the specialty to which she aspires.
At Cleveland Clinic Kristy is known to her colleagues and instructors as one who not only stretches herself, but who raises the bar for others, and uses her abilities to lead and teach. In just six months of residency she has impressed her superiors with her energy, unwavering dedication, clinical knowledge, and compassion for patients.
Dr. Poonyagariyagorn, however, is much more than her medical achievements. Piano and dance, both Thai and modern are important in her life. As well as receiving awards and recognition for her music and dance, she has used these artistic accomplishments to teach others, to increase cultural awareness, and for charitable fundraising.
St. Mary’s Academy is proud of Dr. Poonyagariyagorn’s accomplishments in such a short period since graduation. Her extraordinary passion, dedication, and intellect will no doubt continue to lead her to even greater success.
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