The 2026 Recipients of our annual Alumnae Awards have recently been announced. All three of these women embody Serviam and our Ursuline values, and we are thrilled to recognize them for all their achievements. They will each be recognized at our Alumnae Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2026 on May 12, 2026.
Congratulations to our 2026 recipients:
Angela Stolle Nolin '94
Distinguished Alumna
Ursuline Academy is proud to announce Angela Stolle Nolin, Class of 1994, as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumna Award. This honor is presented annually to an alumna who has demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and whose life reflects the Christian ideals of Ursuline Academy, specifically the spirit of Serviam—"I will serve."
Through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the people of Haiti, Angela exemplifies the core values of an Ursuline education: a commitment to faith, a nurturing community spirit, and the courage to serve in a global society.
A Calling to Serve
Angela’s journey of international service began in 2016 during a mission trip to Haiti. Moved by the profound challenges facing the Haitian people—including extreme poverty and limited access to education—Angela felt a spiritual calling that would reshape her life's work. In 2017, she and her husband, Don, co-founded Shining Hope Missions (SHOMI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering families and children in the communities of Tabarre and Croix-des-Bouquets.
What began as a single mission trip has evolved into a comprehensive ministry. Under Angela’s leadership, Shining Hope Missions has established a "Kids Club" that serves 50 to 75 children every Saturday. These sessions provide a safe sanctuary where children participate in educational activities, receive nutritional support, and engage in Bible-based learning. In a region where only half of children attend school and safety is often a luxury, Angela has created a haven of peace and stability.
Global Impact and Professional Excellence
While balancing a full-time career working at St. Louis Public Library and raising three children, Angela has demonstrated extraordinary dedication by making Shining Hope Missions a central pillar of her professional and personal life. She travels to Haiti several times a year to oversee operations, cultivate local leadership, and ensure the integrity of the mission’s outreach.
Her work extends beyond immediate relief to sustainable development. Under her guidance, SHOMI has expanded to include:
- Educational Initiatives: Computer classes and scholarship programs to break the cycle of poverty.
- Health and Wellness: Community health education and mobile clinics.
- Economic Empowerment: Programs focused on agriculture and supporting local artisans to foster self-sufficiency.
Serviam as a Lived Reality
Angela’s commitment to the Ursuline ideal of Serviam is perhaps most visible in her personal life. The Nolin family’s connection to Haiti became permanent when they welcomed Chrismann into their home. Demonstrating incredible perseverance and love, Angela and Don worked tirelessly to navigate the complexities of international legalities to secure his future. They supported him through his college education in the United States, empowering him with the knowledge and skills necessary to eventually return to Haiti and serve his home community.
Angela’s life is a testament to the "life of yes" that Ursuline Academy seeks to instill in every graduate. Her ability to lead with grace, manage a global nonprofit, and inspire others to join her mission embodies the very essence of a Distinguished Alumna.
As we celebrate the Class of 1994’s own Angela Stolle Nolin, we recognize a woman who does not just talk about service—she lives it daily. Her work reminds us that one person’s courage can indeed bring "shining hope" to the world.
Melissa Vatterott '08
Young Alumna Serviam Award
Ursuline Academy is proud to announce Melissa Vatterott, Class of 2008, as the recipient of the 2026 Young Alumna Serviam Award. This prestigious honor is awarded to an alumna who, within her first two decades after graduation, has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the Academy’s motto, Serviam ("I will serve"), through her professional achievements, leadership, and dedication to social justice.
A Professional Life Defined by Stewardship
Melissa’s career is a masterclass in the integration of faith and professional excellence. As the Policy and Strategy Director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE), she translates the Catholic call to "care for our common home" into tangible legislative action. Since joining MCE, Melissa has become a preeminent voice in Missouri for clean water, clean air, and sustainable, healthy food systems.
Her professional impact is underscored by her tireless advocacy at the state and local levels. In the last five years, Melissa has submitted public testimony to the Missouri legislature over 200times, serving as a persistent voice for the voiceless in the halls of government. Her strategic leadership was instrumental in the passage of St. Louis Ordinance 706708 in 2017 to expand urban agriculture, and she has successfully drafted and championed state laws that protect farmed animals, reduce carbon emissions, and promote environmental health.
Notably, Melissa has been a leading force to advance racial equity in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. By advocating to address systemic disparities in land access and financial support for farmers of color and beginning farmers, she ensures that her environmental advocacy is rooted in the Ursuline tradition of social justice and human dignity.
Leadership Through a "Laudato Si’" Lens
Beyond her formal role at MCE, Melissa is a recognized scholar and practitioner of Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si’. She has dedicated herself to implementing these teachings within policy and social spaces, effectively bridging the gap between theology and environmental science. Her peers and colleagues frequently seek her expertise on how to integrate faith-based stewardship into modern advocacy.
Melissa is also the visionary creator and organizer of Women Who Heal the World, a St. Louis-based, women-led coalition dedicated to preventing authoritarianism and mitigating climate change. Through this organization, she empowers other women to recognize their unique roles as leaders and advocates. Her leadership style is characterized by an unwavering optimism and a default to compassion, even amidst the complexities of modern political discourse.
A Legacy of Generosity and Faith
The spirit of Serviam extends into Melissa’s personal and philanthropic life. Through her work with her family’s foundation, she ensures that Catholic Social Teachings are at the center of their charitable contributions throughout the St. Louis region. She is deeply involved in advancing efforts for Care for Creation through the St. Louis Archdiocese, advocating for more educational and direct action opportunities for religious and laypeople in our community. Her identity as a Catholic woman is a primary motivator for her public service.
Whether she is navigating the intricacies of food access in urban St. Louis or advocating for the protection of Missouri’s natural resources, Melissa operates as the "hands, heart, and feet of Jesus." She represents the best of an Ursuline education: a woman of integrity who possesses the courage to lead and the empathy to serve.
Institutional Recognition
In a world often defined by division, Melissa Vatterott stands as a beacon of hope and a model for future generations of Ursuline students. She does not merely occupy a space in the policy world; she transforms it through the lens of Gospel values. For her outstanding service to the environment, her commitment to racial equity, and her tireless advocacy for a more just and sustainable world, Ursuline Academy is honored to present her with the 2026 Young Alumna Serviam Award.