Sacred Hearts Benefit Honors Six Of Its Best
Sacred Hearts Academy choir, seen here at an earlier performance, will sing at the school’s Oct. 17 gala in Waikiki with award-winning composer and alumna Faith Rivera. Shown here are (from left) students Jessica Calventas, Meagan Morrison, Anne Rabacal and Courtney Martin. Photo from Hayley Matson Mathes.
Sacred Hearts Academy will honor six of its outstanding alumnae at the annual Scholarship Fund Gala, set for 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at Sheraton Waikiki with music by its choir and alumna Faith Rivera (an honoree).
Standing as role models for current students at the century-old Kaimuki Catholic girls school, a handful of special SHA graduates from 1952 through 1989 will be recognized at the event, which has raised more than $1.5 million in tuition aid over the past 18 years.
Tickets cost $125 and are available until Oct. 15 by calling 734-5058, ext. 234. The silent auction opens at 5 p.m., dinner and program are at 6:30.
Three of the honorees live in East Oahu, not far from their alma mater.
* Paula Hee Ng, Class of 1978. The Kaimuki resident is the first of three sisters to graduate from the school, and daughter Amanda graduated in 2012. Ng is a Creighton-educated pharmacist who actively supports Star of the Sea parish and school, prepares meals for the homeless ministry, and teaches religious education and Bible studies.
* Margaret Mary Kula Stafford, Class of 1952. Another Kaimuki resident, she began her government career on Guam and worked for the Army for 36 years, staying involved with Toastmistress club, women’s business groups and volunteering at St. Augustine by the Sea church.
* Alethea Au Seto, Class of 1980. Seto lives in Hawaii Kai and is senior vice president and a division manager at First Hawaiian Bank, a member of Holy Trinity Church and mother of four, with two daughters at SHA.
* Geri-Ann Baptista, Class of 1986. Currently living in Seattle, Baptista has been a trial attorney there and in Hawaii. The mother of three now provides strategic communications for corporations and nonprofit organizations and also helped launch One Billion Acts of Peace (Nobel Peace Laureates mentoring youths).
* Faith Rivera, Class of 1989. An Emmy-winning composer and mother of one son, she has her own record label and publishing company and is based in Long Beach, Calif. Rivera has won multiple awards for her music as well as her contributions to Humanity Unites Brilliance, Just Plain Folks, Fine & Performing Artists for World Peace and the U.S. Humanity’s Team.
* Mona Chang Vierra, Class of 1962. A career Hawaii DOE administrator, Vierra created the Laptops for Learning program and designed “Community Entrepreneurs” (school-based businesses). In retirement she has published a Cantonese cookbook and co-owns Grand Street Cafe & Bakery with her son.
