Loretto Academy - Laurel Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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 Ann Lillis . . . W henever you think about her you have to smile.” has been said of Ann Lillis that whenever you think about her you have to smile. Not that Ann is the type that provokes laughter, but because she's always smiling herself. Perhaps Ann's most evident quality is her generosity. No matter what the project, from planning a car wash to working at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Ann is always willing to help and to give herself entirely. But she is the kind of quiet worker that does the small things, the things that go unnoticed. Few people know that this summer, when the Sisters were in retreat, Ann was among those who came up to school everyday and ran the switchboard. She spent the rest of the summer helping to get the bul- letin boards ready for the beginning of school and assisting in the organization of various school projects. She takes a personal interest in the shy, unknown girls in her class, and is always thinking of new ways to draw them out. This is the way Ann works, swiftly and quietly,and all too often unappreciated. perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid Ann Lillis is to say that she is selfless. Of course, Ann wouldn't agree. Tnn is such an exuberant person that when she speaks, she often gestures with her hands, as if to employ every available means of expressing herself. Her enthusiasm is unlimited. In fact, by just being with her, some of this exuberance is bound to rub off. Because she loves to write, this year Ann became a member of the Press Club, and her first article, a feature on Sr. Andre and the Snack Shop, appears on page 12 of this issue. Ann also enjoys swimming and horse-back riding, but there's hardly anything she doesn't like to do. Her one complaint is that there's just not enough time to do every- thing. Nevertheless, she does a good job of making things fit. Right now. Sodality is one of the most important things in Ann's life. She joined just out of curiosity, but Sodality has gradually become another field for her inobtrusive dis- play of great generosity. or Ann Lillis, generosity is being and whatever she de- cides to do will be done as only Ann can do it. Sherry Ralston . . . Indescribably great and good luck to anyone who tries to put her greatness into words. U anirf, 4 tall, soft-eyed junior who cavorts through the halls of LA, creating general bedlam while masterminding such stunts as removing all the screws of a senior's locker door so that it will fall off as soon as the owner attempts to open it: this is Sherry Ralston. She's the type who'd call the zoo and ask to borrow an elephant because she thought we needed one for some pictures for the laurelette. (What would she have done if they'd said yes ) Or just ask her What really happened to Baby Jane?” and she'll tell you to put Odd” in your washing machine and find out. But wit, humor, and an undauntable spirit are just a few of the characteristics that have catapulted Sherry to the fore- ground of LA's student body. the laurelette

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2, What did Tarzan say when he saw the elephants coming through the jungle? S4 . Here come the juniors. Sophomore Greek Play ... Well, actually, this last line wasn't spoken by Tarzan at all—it can more probably be attributed to Sr. Mary Venard; for our high school this year is not composed of four classes, but three classes and one herd. Everywhere you look there are bulletin boards reminding you of how you can tell if there's been an elephant in your refrigerator recently (you can see his footprints in the Jello), or why elephants wear purple tennis shoes (figure that one out!)? But what can we do? They're OUR juniors, we haf goMo luff them! ©ut elephants or no elephants, our Be Alive theme this quarter seems ready-made for the junior class. From behind closed homeroom doors every morning, they spring for- ward, overflowing with spirit and life, eager to show' the world that they'll never be replaced by a button.' Quite often their enthusiasm bursts forth in song, and they sere- nade the seniors across the hall. And even in naming their basketball team the Rattfinks, they show some of the fun-loving nature which they so abundantly possess. And it's a genuine spirit, full of warmth and vitality, that urges them on and on toward each goal. Their Hallow- een party as sophs was matchless in hilarity as the Old Woman in the Shoe and her ninety-some-odd children romped through Mother Goose Land with a real live goose. But they are not limited to expressing themselves with humor alone. Freshman year, pale blue puffs of angel hair and frosted stars, the product of so many torn fingers, re- flected the spirit with which they had been planned and made, and that Christmas Breakfast was an experience in love itself. yn many ways the juniors exemplify the over-all spirit of Loretto. Warmth, generosity, dedication, and humor are probably the most accurate qualities to use in describing them as a class, and also in describing particular people (as designated on the following pages), for a class is only as good as its members, and the members of the junior class are pretty terrific. It’s hard to realize that their pres- ence here is only a short experience in each of their lives; but they will take with them a great part of that spirit which is Loretto, and they will leave a great part of them- selves here. Because right now, they are Loretto, they are Loretto in everything they do and say, in everything they have and give. And we will remember them. We will remember their lusty serenading, their fun and their humor, their loving spirit. And when we remember them, we will best remember Loretto. Frosh-Junior Get T oget her . Spring Recital... Fall 1963

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Cherry is the kind of girl that even if you meet her only once, you'll remember her. It's not just her friendliness and concern for the freshmen (even if she does occasionally lock one in her locker), but everything she does—from emceeing'' the Frosh Orientation Assembly to planning the November Dance—is done with a sort of boundless enthusiasm and a deep sense of personal responsibility. If she doesn't find time for something, she'll make time—for her work in Drama and Sodality is done just as zealously as any class or school project. For her Sodality apostolate. Sherry is a candy-striper at St. Mary's. Ironically enough, she works alone in a fifth floor lab—but this arrangement probably saves the hospital a good number of skipped heart-beats, for letting Sherry loose with one of those little carts that most candy-stripers use would be more than in- viting mayhem. ffut there is still another side to Sherry. For a girl who 'never sees a stranger, adjectives like undauntable and in- comparable cannot begin to scratch the surface. No, there is one more quality without which nothing is meaningful, one more word to describe Sherry Ralston—loving. It's not just a love for Loretto or a love of family and friends, but a much greater love—a love of humanity, a love of giving. That is why Sherry wants to join the Peace Corps. And the Peace Corps will surely benefit from a person like Sherry, who has so very much to give. In her remaining years at Loretto, she will have many opportunities to prove herself a capable and selfless leader; but no matter what the future holds for her, you can be sure that whatever she is doing and wherever she is. Sherry Ralston will be loving—and loved. Janet Williams . . . Whatever she does, you know she'll do it well.” L 11 HI here are people who live their lives with a certain sense of responsibility, a deep-rooted conviction that they must trade until he comes. Janet Williams is one of these people. Most of us know1 her as someone to rely on, some- one who's always there when you need her, because she has been, ever since freshman year. Then, Janet headed com- mittees for the Christmas Breakfast and for the annual mission drive, and evolved as a strong and able leader which she has remained ever since. As soph class president last year, she received the Student Council award for the most up and coming lower classman. Janet is the type of person who takes over when every- one else has given up, for she's really an optimist at heart. When faced with the humiliating prospect that the sopho- mores had placed fourth in last year's laurelelte drive, in- stead of making excuses Janet announced Just wait until the Mission Drive. We waited; and they won. here are many things which can be said about Janet Williams, but perhaps the most down-to-earth statement is that she always does what she sets out to do, and she always does it well. She's what can be called a subtle leader, never forcing her views on other people, but still guiding with a firm hand. Her dependability is a quality seldom found in one so young; and because of this she is much admired and imitated. And by just being someone to-be- imitated Janet has helped many people to take responsi- bility more seriously and thereby become responsible leaders. As secretary-treasurer of the Student Council this year, Janet is integrally involved with the Loretto that she loves. For to her, Loretto is not just a school but a living person, vibrant and full of spirit. I feel that it's an honor for me to go here, she says, and so much of her life is wrapped up in Loretto that she just can't imagine going anywhere else. Nor can we imagine Loretto without Janet. Besides being an avid member of the junior basketball team, Janet is a drama enthusiast. She likes drama because she can express herself. That’s something I normally find hard to do, but it’s so much easier when you use somebody else's words.” But Janet doesn't really need somebody else s words, for she has enough of her own to make people really stop and listen. TOUen she leaves Loretto, Janet hopes to study medicine. She feels that by being a doctor she will be able to help someone else. Whether she knows it or not—by just being herself—she's doing that now. Fall 1963 11