About Us
Portrait of an Oakcrest Graduate
Elizabeth Sypal '21
Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Bold architectural feats seem a thing of the past with beauty and design now sacrificed for functionality and efficiency. Yet some still believe in the power of integrating structure and style, taking it upon themselves to uphold standards of beauty alongside practicality. Elizabeth Sypal ‘21 is one such pioneer.
A graduate of The Catholic University of America, Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 2025 and is currently working on her Masters in Classical Architecture and Urbanism. Multiple, small encounters and experiences led Elizabeth to her field of study. Her work is both meaningful and exciting. She shared her passion for the field stating, “I love architecture because it is the most accessible form of art—it quite literally shapes the world we inhabit every day. The buildings we design become the setting for people’s lives for decades, which I think makes this work deeply meaningful and exciting.”
Her four years at Oakcrest cultivated her love for mathematics and aesthetics, with Elizabeth finding joy in architecture’s ability to blend various disciplines. She credits Oakcrest Latin and Physics teacher Mrs. Kanuch for helping her to see how it was possible to love and integrate multiple subjects into her area of interest. Elizabeth reflected: “[Mrs. Kanuch] is actually one of the reasons I chose to study architecture, a field that blends art, philosophy, engineering, history, and so much more. She is incredibly intelligent, sets high expectations, and always made it clear that she believed I could meet them. She taught me the importance of striving for excellence and developing my gifts to their fullest potential.” This beautiful testament of a teacher’s power to inspire encapsulates Oakcrest’s mission to cultivate continued teacher-student relationships.
Elizabeth’s formation at Oakcrest continually bears fruit in her field: “I find that the Oakcrest spirit comes with me almost instinctively into my architectural work—it’s become a subconscious part of how I think about beauty, purpose, and the dignity of humanity. The emphasis Oakcrest placed on wonder, rigorous thinking, and the integration of faith and reason taught me to see architecture not just as a technical discipline but as a way of serving the human person.” Elizabeth brings that same attentiveness into her projects, elevating daily life and creating beautiful, enduring settings.
Daily Mass, a blessing Elizabeth says is easily taken for granted, was a gift she learned to cherish. Her desire to take up daily attendance again in college inspired Elizabeth to volunteer for missionary work and serve as a student minister. Elizabeth reflected that in the initial commotion of college, it wasn’t as easy to receive the sacraments. She stated, “When I stopped going to Mass every day, I felt a real emptiness, and eventually I decided to start attending again to fill that gap...The Mass is now the anchor of my day—and that started at Oakcrest.”
Elizabeth’s experience at Oakcrest informed her sensibilities and shaped her approach to learning and life. Her advice to current students is to “make your faith your first priority.” Though graduates leave and face a variety of challenges and adventures, anchoring oneself in faith is key: “You can’t predict where your life will take you, but if you let God lead, it will be more incredible and fulfilling than anything you could plan for yourself. Trust Him, and focus on taking the next right step—the one that draws you closer to Him.”
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A graduate of The Catholic University of America, Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 2025 and is currently working on her Masters in Classical Architecture and Urbanism. Multiple, small encounters and experiences led Elizabeth to her field of study. Her work is both meaningful and exciting. She shared her passion for the field stating, “I love architecture because it is the most accessible form of art—it quite literally shapes the world we inhabit every day. The buildings we design become the setting for people’s lives for decades, which I think makes this work deeply meaningful and exciting.”
Her four years at Oakcrest cultivated her love for mathematics and aesthetics, with Elizabeth finding joy in architecture’s ability to blend various disciplines. She credits Oakcrest Latin and Physics teacher Mrs. Kanuch for helping her to see how it was possible to love and integrate multiple subjects into her area of interest. Elizabeth reflected: “[Mrs. Kanuch] is actually one of the reasons I chose to study architecture, a field that blends art, philosophy, engineering, history, and so much more. She is incredibly intelligent, sets high expectations, and always made it clear that she believed I could meet them. She taught me the importance of striving for excellence and developing my gifts to their fullest potential.” This beautiful testament of a teacher’s power to inspire encapsulates Oakcrest’s mission to cultivate continued teacher-student relationships.
Elizabeth’s formation at Oakcrest continually bears fruit in her field: “I find that the Oakcrest spirit comes with me almost instinctively into my architectural work—it’s become a subconscious part of how I think about beauty, purpose, and the dignity of humanity. The emphasis Oakcrest placed on wonder, rigorous thinking, and the integration of faith and reason taught me to see architecture not just as a technical discipline but as a way of serving the human person.” Elizabeth brings that same attentiveness into her projects, elevating daily life and creating beautiful, enduring settings.
Daily Mass, a blessing Elizabeth says is easily taken for granted, was a gift she learned to cherish. Her desire to take up daily attendance again in college inspired Elizabeth to volunteer for missionary work and serve as a student minister. Elizabeth reflected that in the initial commotion of college, it wasn’t as easy to receive the sacraments. She stated, “When I stopped going to Mass every day, I felt a real emptiness, and eventually I decided to start attending again to fill that gap...The Mass is now the anchor of my day—and that started at Oakcrest.”
Elizabeth’s experience at Oakcrest informed her sensibilities and shaped her approach to learning and life. Her advice to current students is to “make your faith your first priority.” Though graduates leave and face a variety of challenges and adventures, anchoring oneself in faith is key: “You can’t predict where your life will take you, but if you let God lead, it will be more incredible and fulfilling than anything you could plan for yourself. Trust Him, and focus on taking the next right step—the one that draws you closer to Him.”
