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Dominican Debs

Dominican Debs Dance Their Way to Nationals – The Debs’ competition has been a real kicker this year! Beginning locally and ending by placing nationally, the dancers had a very rewarding season.

Dominican’s highly-acclaimed dance team competed on Sunday, Jan. 12, at UDA Regionals in Hammond, LA, against nationally-ranked teams. Not only did they place second in the Hip Hop and Jazz categories, but the team also won the Sportsmanship Award.

Advancing to the next competition, the girls pirouetted their way to American-All State, Louisiana’s state competition, in Lafayette, LA, during the following week. This competition was another success for the dancers as they won first place in the Hip Hop, Jazz, Pom Dance and Game Day categories. The girls ended their season in Orlando, FL, at UDA Nationals. Their successful performances brought them to the competition’s semi-finals.

Junior Eliza Miller, team captain, felt especially proud of her teammates. “This competition season was definitely one for the books. From the beginning of the season, we have been calling each other family,” said Miller. “I think that mentality has really allowed us to go far.”

• Olivia Olson

• Olivia Olson

With a stroke of her brush and a dab of her finger, Ms. Maggie McGovern (’14) transformed sophomore Megan Eisert from a DHS student to a spooky Halloween skeleton.

In October, Dominican alum McGovern visited the Drama Club to speak about her career and show students all the fun tricks she had up her sleeve. The busy makeup artist/elementary school teacher took some time out of her schedule to prove to students that working in the entertainment industry doesn’t stop with performing. 

Since leaving Dominican, McGovern has not parted ways with the dramatic arts as she has worked with both New Orleans Opera and Loyola University Opera, ensuring that the opera’s wish was her command.

McGovern has also worked for the well-known company Too Faced Cosmetics along with doing makeup for film. In addition to working on filmes, McGovern has also worked with vocal performers. Her most exciting client yet? “I did make-up for soul singer Kyle Dion, the opening act for (popular R&B singer) Ella Mai,” she said.

• Olivia Olson

The Pro-Life Club adopted babies! Well, sort of.

Members spiritually adopted babies that could possibly be aborted. Everyone prayed for these unborn babies, then each club member received a pin representing the feet of a baby in utero. The club members named their babies as a reminder to keep praying for them.  

Club Moderator Mrs. Theresa Maquar (‘70) continues to get the baby feet pins year after year because they serve as a witness to club members and to other people out in the world. “The Dominican Order prays so we, as Dominicans, should live by prayer, too,” said Mrs. Maquar.   

Throughout the school year, the club officers will give updates about the stages of development the babies would be progressing.  

• Morgan Muscarello

Students for Human Dignity and Diversity in Action

October was National Hispanic Heritage Month, so Ms. Bianca San Martin (’08) joined the Students for Human Dignity and Diversity in Action and taught them how to dance the salsa, bachata and mernegue.

Ms. San Martin is passionate about dance, and her focus is Latin dance.  “I started Latin dancing when I was a sophomore in high school,” Ms. San Martin said. She said loves coming back to Dominican to Hispanic culture and heritage ls  over Hispanic culture and heritage through music and dance.

 Ms. Bianca San Martin said that she was proud to have been able to represent the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and her own dance instruction business, NOLA Fleaux Productions, LLC.

• Gloria Thomas

On Oct. 19, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome became an engineer’s dream for the Dominican Robotics Teams.

Participating in the Saints and Pelicans Stem Fest, both the Valkyrie and Ultraviolet teams shared information about their robots and FTC competitions with the visitors who flocked to their display table.

“It was really cool to interact with people who are interested in the same things we are!” said junior Sydney Raymond, communications officer for the Robotics Team. “I loved telling people about what we are doing at Dominican with robotics.”

• Isabelle Fitzmorris

While breaking down codes and unraveling the science of DNA, the Biotechnology Club dives deep into the world of genetics.

Club moderator Mrs. Janine Koenig has been formulating a plan for genetic coding in the lab. Members of Biotech did a genetic coding lab to test which of seven “patients” were positive or negative for a disease. They mixed the genetic sample with an antigen, or foreign substance, to see if there were any immune responses. If the sample in the vial turned blue, the sample was positive for the disease.

Senior and President of Biotechnology Club Catherine Zimmerman led her club members in the experiment. Zimmerman said biology class and Mrs. Koenig inspired her to participate in the Biotechnology Club during her freshman year. She specifically enjoys being able to do hands on experiments in the lab, but outside of the actual classroom.

• Lindsey Foles