Photo, Saint Dominic Academy Saint Dominic Academy Head of School Margaret Fox-Tully (left) and Senior Liana Watkins (center) present honorary guest Carol Higgins Clark with a gift at the 11th Annual SDA Leadership Awards Gala.

(Nov. 6, 2009) — Suspense writer, Carol Higgins Clark, was the honorary guest at Saint Dominic Academy’s 11th Annual Leadership Awards Gala held Sept. 26 at Puccini’s Restaurant in Jersey City. The SDA Board of Trustees sponsored the event which paid tribute to the school’s Mothers’ Club for their many years of dedication and service to the 131 year old Academy. Clark entertained the audience with wonderful, heartwarming stories of growing up in the Higgins Clark household and in turn honored her own mother, renowned author, Mary Higgins Clark, who, like many of the SDA mothers, sacrificed a great deal for her children’s education.

“The women of the Mothers’ Club have always generously offered their time and talent," said Head of School Margaret Fox-Tully. "They are often our unsung heroes and we owe them a great deal of gratitude. Our Alumnae Mothers have played a pivotal role in the well-being of the Academy and we are ever so grateful to you for entrusting the Academy with your daughters and becoming involved members of the SDA community. Carol Higgins Clark has had a great role model in her own mother and we were honored to hear such humorous and heartfelt remarks about motherhood in general.”

Clark visited the Jersey City Academy Friday, Sept. 25 and met a few of the mothers who were being honored the next day. Honoree Claire Bell Baker, who is also a graduate of SDA from the class of 1940, was able to talk with Clark about her own days in the Mothers’ Club at the Academy and told her why she sent her two daughters to the school as well.  “SDA is a special place for young women and I wanted the best education for my two daughters, Claire and Mary Beth,” Mrs. Baker proudly announced to Ms. Clark.  Ms. Clark, who also attended a Catholic, all-girls high school in Bergen County, found the Academy to be a great mix of old world charm and state of the art technology.  “There’s a great warmth to the school and the parlor at the entrance is just beautiful, “ Clark commented.

Proceeds from the event went towards the SDA Scholarship Fund to help those students academically eligible but financially limited to attend the girls’ college preparatory high school. The Mothers’ Club has a long history of raising money for the school. Happily the three winners of the $16,000 Fair Share drawing were honoree mothers.

Saint Dominic Academy, a Catholic, independent school for girls, has been empowering women for leadership in a global society for over 130 years. Located in an historic building on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, the Academy’s mission is to advance the causes of justice through education. The college preparatory program features a rigorous academic curriculum is the only Catholic school in New Jersey to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. A rich array of co-curricular offerings, include athletics, literary and artistic publications, service opportunities and a comprehensive women’s choral program, which has won many regional and national competitions and has performed at Carnegie Hall. Sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell, the Academy is rooted in Christian values and embraces its richly diverse community of learners.