About

In the Past…

During the years of its existence, more than 12,000 women and more than 800 men attended the College of Saint Teresa and were influenced by the Franciscan ideals of service and scholarship.

In 1989, the College closed; however, through the formation of the Alumnae Association of the College of Saint Teresa, successor organization to the Teresan Alumnae Association, the Teresan influence in higher education begun in 1907 by the Franciscan Sisters lives on.

In the Present

We are composed of former faculty, staff, students and alumnae of the College of Saint Teresa, and we seek additional members who share the goals of the Alumnae Association. Since 1989, we have moved from being primarily a social organization to a group dedicated to preserving the Teresan traditions.

  • The Alumnae Association works to achieve a variety of goals. We are proud to have:
  • established and maintained the Alumnae Office;
  • managed the Teresan Scholarship Fund;
  • enrolled almost 1,200 active members each year;
  • continued the Teresan News publication and the Memorial/Memento programs;
  • advised and facilitated chapter formation and events;
  • hosted annual reunions;
  • published alumnae directories to keep alumnae connected to one another;
  • trademarked the Rose Window.

The gift of the Teresan Scholarship Fund signaled what a portion of that new mission would be. The principal amount of $722,444.70 was invested in a variety of conservative stocks and bonds. Since our first scholarship was given in 1992, we are pleased to have awarded over $1,200,000! Over 2,000 scholarships have been awarded to alumnae members and their family members for Teresan enrichment, undergraduate education, and graduate studies.

In the Future…

Our responsibility to Teresan ideals continues. Having accepted the duty to continue to foster these ideals, the Alumnae Association strives to promote a sense of community by bringing Teresans together at reunions and chapter events. We continue to promote the higher education of women and of those who hold our Teresan values dear, especially through administration of the Teresan Scholarship.

Our challenge lies in identifying and welcoming new members to our organization who, while they may not be graduates of the College of Saint Teresa, value excellence in education. The ideals of Purity, Loyalty and Truth remain in evidence not only in the past, but in the present and future of the Alumnae Association of the College of Saint Teresa.

History

Historical Background

The College of Saint Teresa, a Catholic college of the liberal arts and the professions, was founded in 1907 as a residential college for women by the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, Minnesota.

In March 1894, Sisters Leo Tracy and Dominic Mahl, Rochester Franciscans, journeyed to Winona, Minnesota, to begin the venture. They arrived with meager monetary means, just $4.28 between them, but with a strong faith and dedication to their mission; they took possession of a building previously used as a hospital. The Congregation had obtained the property earlier in the year from Bishop Joseph B. Cotter for a cash payment of $1,000 plus a $29,000 mortgage. Immediately, the Sisters began plans for renovation of the building and the opening of the Winona Seminary for Young Ladies.

In the first class that fall fifty-nine students were enrolled. The initial faculty included six Sisters and four lay persons. The curriculum – in addition to secondary academic subjects – consisted of the following offerings: piano, mandolin, guitar, violin, voice, elocution, business, art, Latin, and gymnastics. Father John Cummiskey of the Winona Diocese was the first chaplain.

Dr. Mary A. Molloy, a Cornell graduate, began college level courses under the tutorial system in 1907. In 1912 the college was fully established and the name changed to the College of Saint Teresa. The faith and dedication of the Franciscan Sisters had resulted in the fulfillment of a dream. The College of Saint Teresa became the teaching-learning-living community envisioned by its early leaders.

From one building, Saint Mary’s Hall, the campus expanded to eleven buildings spread across seventy acres. Aware that environment exerts a strong influence on both cognitive and affective learning, those in charge provided surroundings conducive to the ideals established years before.

From its founding, the College of Saint Teresa was committed to the education of young women in two specific areas, academic excellence and service. These goals were achieved throughout the entire life of the College through adherence to strict academic standards as well as to the development of the spiritual and personal dimensions of the individual.

Throughout its history, the College of Saint Teresa has been a “contemporary” college responding to the needs of each new generation of students without compromising those values that give purpose and strength to the institution… the entire collegiate life at the College is built upon the nature and dignity of the human person.
– Mission and Identity of the College of Saint Teresa, pp. 5-6

Following the closing of the College of Saint Teresa in 1989, the Alumnae Association was determined to continue the Teresan traditions and values inherent to the institution. The Association fosters friendship and communication among the alumnae, assists in the establishment of alumnae chapters, and promotes the cause of higher education.

“Her Works Still Praise Her”

College of Saint Teresa Commemorative Quilt

On February 27, 1990, Mary Ellen Quinn Grobe ’71 sent the following letter to a donor to the project to create a quilt honoring CST. The letter is reprinted with Mary Ellen’s permission.

One year ago this time everyone at the College of Saint Teresa was involved in the pain of closing the College of Saint Teresa. A bright spot, for me, came into that year when Norene Oppriecht, former director of counseling, asked me to cooperate with a commemorative quilt project. Norene had no idea, nor did you probably, that quilting was a personal avocation for me. The project gave focus to that last semester as we created instead of buried, as we shared, instead of separated. Everyone who participated was moved by the experience, the beauty of the product, the symbolism, and the generosity of the donors.

I am grateful for the opportunities which your donation purchased, especially for me. In thanking you, I want to share with you some reflections on the quilt, the cover from the final baccalaureate Mass describing the quilt, and a snapshot of the front of the quilt. I regret that this distribution is limited to only those donors whose names I recognized. If you have a sister or a friend who would like a photo, please let me know. The intent of this is to say thanks, not hurt feelings by exclusion.

I hope that you have the opportunity to reflect on the quilt in person some day. It is my understanding that it will remain housed with the Alumnae Association for at least several years. I would love to share some of the experiences which your donation enabled. If you are ever near Rochester, please call me. Thank you once again for your support provided during that last semester when the College of Saint Teresa lived out its destiny.

Last October Mary Ellen was able to return to the campus for her 35-year class reunion. She was very pleased to see that the quilt has, in fact, been “housed by the Alumnae Association” for all the years since its creation and that it is displayed at every Reunion. Come to Winona this July to see the quilt in person and to learn more about it. Mary Ellen’s reflections on the quilt will be available for you to read.

Background

The idea of creating a commemorative quilt was presented to the College of Saint Teresa community in January 1989. Norene Oppriecht, former director of counseling, had asked me to cooperate with a commemorative quilt project. With the impending closing of this teaching institution, it was proposed that a creation of a colorful, visual representation of the structural and human foundations, as well as the symbolic characterization of the “Teresan Experience”, would assist members of the current College community to achieve closure. The selection of a quilt, a traditional feminine art form, seemed appropriate to represent the recollections of a women’s residential college. It was hoped that the project would enable remembering, celebrating and believing in the value of all our “Teresan Experiences”.

Over 100 persons participated in the design and construction of the quilt. Participants included students, alumnae, faculty, staff from all College support services, administrative personnel, members of the Sisters of Saint Francis, “would have been” Teresans, and friends of the college. Each stitch represents human emotion, talent and the gift of service to the project. We created instead of buried, as we shared instead of separated.

Design

The general image of an arched stained glass window was chosen to 1) depict the religious nature of the College, 2) represent the interdependence of separate pieces to create a whole which is stronger and more beautiful than any single piece, and 3) depict the block-like foundations from which the qualities of a Teresan develop and radiate.

The colors selected were considered feminine and positioned to resemble the color wheel symbolizing the eternal circle of life. Additionally, the different colors for each background panel represents complimentarily in diversity. The repetition of three quilt blocks on the bottom and the grouping of colors in the radiating panels represents the triangular approach to education at the college of Saint Teresa: academic affairs, student affairs, and pastoral affairs.

The focal point of the quilt is the College Seal, the circular panel. Each graduate of the College has received a gold replica of this seal after pledging to integrate purity, loyalty and truth into their lives, Loyalty is bowing at the feet of Truth, who is holding the torch, Purity is standing at Truth’s side holding a lily. Antique colored dresses were selected to represent the gowns traditionally worn each Pledge Day by the Campus Court at the Court’s annual pageant. The use of gold thread for the lettering is to highlight the College colors, white and gold. The quilted garland circling the seal is to symbolize the peace garland, for it is personal peace, which is hoped for all of the CST community as a result of this transition.

The bottom row represents significant campus structures. On the left is St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, MN. The hospital tower reminds us that about twenty-five percent of the CST graduates resided for various periods of time in Rochester as an extension of the CST campus. This block also stands as a reminder of the CST Rochester Center of Life-long Learning. In the middle are the familiar symbols of the Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel, the Rose Window and Campanile. The Rose Window has served as the final College Logo. On the right is Lourdes Hall, the primary residence hall. Most students have vivid recollections of the first time, as an incoming freshman, and the last time, as a graduating senior, that they walked the walkway and stairs.

Going up, the next row represents the “people” influences in the foundations of the College of Saint Teresa. On the left is St. Francis who founded and sponsored the College. The picture is adapted from a sculpture of Francis and the wolf of Gubbio which stood in front of Alverno Hall, the Sisters’ residence. In the middle, is a representation of the foundresses, Mother Leo and Sister Dominic, as they arrived in Winona to start the Winona Seminary for Women? On the right is Saint Teresa of Avila for whom the College was named. Saint Teresa, an educated woman herself, was the first female Doctor of the Catholic Church. The picture on the quilt block recalls how the statue of Saint Teresa in front of the Rodger Bacon Science Building was decorated in recent years on October 15 th , the feast day of Saint Teresa.

Radiating from the seal, described above, are six panels. Each depicts a characteristic or quality expected in a CST graduate as a result of the Teresan experience, regardless of chosen academic major. Starting at the left, there are two panels which together represent the pastoral component to education. The flame depicts spirituality. The pattern for the flame was adapted from the mural in the foyer of Roger Bacon Science Building. The three human figures represents the sense of community. Radiating up the top the two yellow panels represent the academic component to education. The scroll and mortarboard depict scholarship. Next to scholarship, on the right is appreciation for the arts. The students who constructed the arts appreciation panel embroidered the music to the first phrase of the Alma Mater: All Hail, O Fairest Alma mater: The two panels radiating to the right represent the student life or student affairs component to education. The hands depict service. The color of the hands recalls the number of students of various colors who have been Teresans, as well as each Teresan’s commitment to service regardless of race, creed or color. (it is also possible to imagine a pair of gloves in this panel!) The final panel radiating to the right is the logo for the CST leadership program.

Quilted into the dark fabric at the top are two cherubs, one in each corner. These are replicas of the cherub statues found in the arches of the Chapel ceiling, as well as those surrounding the ceilings in the Lourdes Hall lounges. One cherub is holding a musical instrument, the other an art palette.

Quilt Back

On the back of the quilt are names of Alumnae and friends of the College who each donated one hundred dollars to the College in support of the quilt project. Funds donated were given to the general fund to assist in the expenses of closing the College.

The Future

The quilt was hung as a banner at the final graduation ceremony, May 14, 1989. It is now the property of the CST Alumnae Association and will be available for Alumnae chapter meetings, formal College-related gatherings and various quilt shows. At some time in the future it will be housed at the Winona Historical Society as a permanent reminder of the significant role contributed by the College of Saint Teresa in the history of Winona County.

At Mary Ellen’s 35th Reunion, she was pleased to see that the quilt has been “housed by the Alumnae Association” and it is proudly displayed at every Reunion.

Office Staff

Colleen Kocer Peplinski ’87
Executive Director
colleen@cstalums.org

Amy Rubie
Administrative Assistant
info@cstalums.org

Lisa Wantock
Administrative Assistant
cstadmin@cstalums.org

College of Saint Teresa Past Presidents

Sister M. Leo Tracy, OSF * 1912-28
Sister M. Aloysius Molloy, OSF * 1928-46
Sister M. Rachel Dady, OSF * 1946-52
Sister M. Camille Bowe, OSF * 1952-69
Sister M. Joyce Rowland, OSF * 1969-80
Dr. Thomas J. Hamilton 1980-85
Sister Michaea Byron, OSF* 1985-89

*deceased