For the past 98 years, Eleanore (Dietzel) Rogers has kept the spirit of a St. Mary's girl and she returns to the school Friday, October 21 to once again celebrate the founding of the 146-year-old Academy. Traveling from California, Rogers realizes that she's undertaking a big trip, but is excited to attend the Founder's Day celebration at the school she graduated from 80 years ago.

Every year, St. Mary's Academy celebrates Founder's Day to commemorate Blessed Mother Marie Rose, Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and the 12 Sisters of the Holy Names who started St. Mary's Academy 146 years ago. A full day of activities including a grand alumnae entrance, a reunion of alumnae from the classes of 1955, 1950, 1945, 1940 and 1935, a continental breakfast reception, a special mass in the school auditorium, tours, a luncheon, and musical entertainment is planned. A few of the Golden Girls (women who graduated more than 50 years ago) will participate in the liturgy.

"Although things at St. Mary's have changed some since 1925, Mrs. Rogers is still the sharp, funny, charming girl she was back then, and Founder's Day is made all that more special by her presence," says Coralynn Petrie, Director of Alumnae Development at St. Mary's Academy. "We are very grateful that she's traveling to attend."

Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban, and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by its development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.