Marian High honors alumnae and leaders

Two graduates, three longtime parent volunteers and a teacher were honored Sept. 6 for leadership and service to Marian High School at the school’s Esprit de Corps Awards Banquet.

 

Celann LaGreca, a 1975 graduate of the all-girls school in Omaha and member of Sacred Heart Parish in Omaha, was named alumna of the year. She leads her own consulting business – The LaGreca Group – and has served on Marian’s board of directors and chaired the school’s marketing committee.

 

Judge J.E. Sullivan, a 1974 graduate who lives in Virginia, received the Sister Marcella Leadership Award, named after the school’s first principal, Servant of Mary Sister Mary Marcella Sitzmann. A trial judge for 30 years, Sullivan is a U.S. administrative law judge for the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and a visiting judge at U.S. district courts across the country.

 

The Marian Award was given to Chris and Betsy Murphy, owners of Ameriwest Corporation and members of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha. They have held leadership positions with numerous organizations in the Omaha area, including Methodist Hospital Foundation, Bellevue University, Omaha Community Playhouse, Creighton

University and Knights of Aksarben Foundation. Betsy was a member of Marian’s board of directors, including service on the executive committee. Their daughter, Annie, is a 2009 Marian alum.

 

Eileen Wirth, professor emeritus of journalism at Creighton University, received the Spirit of Marian award for her assistance in marketing and public relations projects, especially promoting the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program. She is the mother of 2001 alum, Shanti Psota, and a member of St. Cecilia Parish in Omaha.

 

Servant of Mary Sister Ginny Silvestri was given an honorary Marian diploma recognizing her 14 years as a teacher at the school. She also has served on the board of directors and provides faith formation for teachers and staff.