SHS Honors Four at 2021 St. Madeleine Sophie Award Ceremony

Four members of the Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) community were honored with the school’s prestigious St. Madeleine Sophie Award, named after the founder of Sacred Heart schools globally. They join a distinguished group of past award recipients ranging from members of the RSCJ to parents, educators, staff, and SHS trustees.
 
The awardees—Dr. Ellie Guardino (receiving the award posthumously), John Kerrigan, Sue McDonald, and Frank Rodriguez—represent a combined 100 years of service to the school. Dr. Guardino was a past parent; Kerrigan is a past and current parent and former SHS trustee; McDonald is the Lower and Middle Schools’ (LMS) girls’ athletic director, a past parent, and alumna of the school; and Rodriguez is the Sacred Heart Preparatory (SHP) assistant principal of athletics and a past parent.

“We recognize and say thank you to Sue, John, Frank, and Ellie for their contribution, their leadership, and their shining example,” said SHS Director of Schools Richard Dioli in his remarks. “May we, like [St. Madeleine] Sophie, always believe in the goodness of each individual, act in the goodness of humanity, and have unwavering faith and trust in the Heart of Jesus and in the love of God.”
  
The awards were presented during a formal ceremony and reception for family, friends, and invited guests held Friday night, Sept. 17, outdoors on Conway Court at SHS. 
 
Speaking about Dr. Ellie Guardino was current parent and SHS trustee Alison Van Dyke, a friend of Dr. Guardino’s from their time together as undergraduates at UCLA. 

 

Van Dyke praised Dr. Guardino as a true “life force”—an intellectual who shared a vision to educate, inspire, and prepare SHS students to transform the world they will enter. Dr. Guardino’s leadership, faith, and service to others strengthened the SHS community, where she was beloved by many. She saved lives through her work as a physician and scientist whose research pioneered advances in breast cancer treatment.

 

“Ellie taught us so much, she inspired us and made us laugh and cry. Every day, Ellie continues to be our ‘life force’—to remind us to celebrate life, keep our faith, have purpose, use our own gifts from God, and to serve others,” said Van Dyke.  
 

 

Joe McDonald delivered the introduction for his wife, Sue McDonald (CSH ’78), who was first inspired to pursue the field of education as a senior at SHS during a career exploration program led by Sister Ann McGowan (RSCJ). One year into her teaching career post college, McDonald called Sr. McGowan and was subsequently hired as a coach, beginning a 37-year career in physical education that is ongoing. McDonald has been instrumental in the growth of the SHS girls’ athletic programs, serving as a role model who teaches students to be self-advocates, communicators, and good teammates. 

 

“Sue wants all the girls to have success, experience everything Sacred Heart has to offer, and try new sports,” said Joe McDonald. “She is deeply committed to the welfare of every child and wants the best for them, but also the best from them.”

 

McDonald said testament to Sue’s abilities as a role model is the fact that there are currently four teachers/coaches working on her LMS physical education team who coached for her as a young person, and thereafter made the decision to obtain a teaching credential and join her staff. “She loves that they found a career that they didn’t plan on,” he said.

 

Tony Martinelli, SHP boys’ athletic director, shared remarks about Frank Rodriguez, recalling how 17 years ago he was moving into the athletics department just as Rodriguez was moving from the SHS business office into a new role as SHP athletic director. 

 

“It did not take long for Frank to not only meet my expectations for the ‘three C’s’ [be committed, be consistent, and care], but completely raise the bar to levels I was not sure were attainable in a high school athletic program,” said Martinelli.

 

With Rodriguez’s leadership, SHP has become known as having one of the top athletic programs in California. For Rodriguez, “success comes when students play for each other,” and is never about wins and losses. “[It’s] about creating a culture that endorses new friendships that will last a lifetime.”