Maddy '24

When Maddy ’24 started at Oakcrest School in the sixth grade, she was drawn in because of the all-girls education and the experiences of friends and relatives before her, who had loved both the friendships they made and the education they received while at Oakcrest. 

Now a junior, one of her favorite parts of the school day is attending Mass. “The airy, light-filled chapel is the most beautiful place in the building, and having Mass in the morning allows me to center myself, rest mentally and spiritually, and focus on what matters most before returning to the chaos of the day,” Maddy said. 

One memorable class that Maddy remembers well is seventh and eighth grade theology with Mrs. Bonnie Hanssen. 

“Although middle school now seems far in the past, those of us who took Mrs. Hanssen’s class still remember clearly much of what we learned and look fondly on our memories of the class,” Maddy recalls. “It was incredible to hear the stories she told and see the enthusiasm and love with which she related them to us. Not only did we enjoy her class, but we also learned to love our Faith, and many of the things she shared with us have helped me in important ways.”

Outside of the classroom, Maddy plays on the Oakcrest volleyball and soccer teams, which she said has allowed her to form strong friendships with girls both within her class and in other grades as well. 

“I have participated in sports every year I have been at Oakcrest and my experience has been that although we may not have won all the games or finished first in our league, we always had a lot of fun together, and we became close with our teammates in a way that I never did in my activities outside of school,” she said. 

As she looks back at her many Oakcrest memories, two she remembers well are moments where she spontaneously caught the sunset with her team after sports practice in middle school, and more recently, when the junior class gathered for a class lunch and afternoon of games before the Junior Ring Ceremony. 

“We ate lunch together as a class and played games with the dean behind the school,” she explained. “It was amazing to see how much we had grown as a class after the drama of middle school and the first years of high school and have become closer.” 

One Oakcrest characteristic that Maddy really believes stands out is the dedication of each of the teachers. 

“The years that I have been at Oakcrest, many of my teachers have been willing to meet with me outside of class to help me if I am struggling in a class, or to form friendships with you apart from teaching you. In addition, this year especially, the mentoring program has been really important to me, and my mentor has really helped me in many different ways,” Maddy said. 

For her sophomore year, Maddy had the opportunity to take a study abroad year in Spain, she said the experience was truly incredible and one that she will never forget. 

When not playing sports for Oakcrest or keeping up with classwork, Maddy plays the violin, an instrument she enjoys playing with her family, and reads and hikes with friends.