Alumna of the Year Award
Each year, the St. Joan Antida High School (SJA) Alumnae Association is proud to recognize one SJA alumna's outstanding contributions to her profession and/or community which support the mission of SJA.
Do you know an SJA alumna who is a distinguished leader in her field? Who serves SJA directly with her time, talent, or treasure? Who empowers girls and women through her professional work and/or community outreach? Nominations for the 2019 Alumna of the Year will be accepted starting in May.
2018 Alumna of the Year
2018 Alumna of the Year Ginny Finn '78:
The SJA Alumnae Association is excited to recognize Ginny Finn ‘78 as the 2018 SJA Alumna of the Year. This peer-selected award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an SJA alumna to her profession and community that support the mission of St. Joan Antida High School.
An attorney of more than 20 years, Finn currently serves as the Chief Development Officer for YWCA Southeast Wisconsin. Prior to this, Finn worked as a consultant in strategic planning for nonprofit healthcare, arts and education organizations and spent nearly 10 years as Executive Director of ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Finn is one of the most respected and highly-regarded nonprofit leaders in Milwaukee.
Throughout her career Finn has committed to helping women advance and succeed – she has been a mentor, friend and trusted resource for many women in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors throughout Milwaukee.
In her personal time, Finn serves on the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center Advisory Board and the LIFT Field Hockey Board of Directors, and still finds opportunities to help out at SJA, most recently as one of our 2018 Auction Co-chairs.
“Ginny is the perfect representative of what it means to be a graduate of St. Joan’s – humble, talented, generous, faithful, and wise,” said Sue Hickey, SJA Board Member and Finn’s fellow 2018 Auction Co-Chair.
Finn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Political Science from Coe College, a Master’s degree in Theater Stage Management from Purdue University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Sister Monica Fumo, SCSJA presented Finn with the award at the 2018 Alumnae Brunch and said, “Ginny lives her life as a perfect example of what it means to truly take care of one another."
2017 Alumna of the Year
2017 Alumna of the Year Citlali Mendieta-Ramos '97:
The SJA Alumnae Association is excited to recognize Citlali Mendieta-Ramos '97 as the 2017 Alumna of the Year Award recipient. The Alumna of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an SJA alumna to her profession and/or community which support the mission of SJA.
Citlali Mendieta-Ramos, SJA Class of 1997, along with husband Nicolas Ramos, is the owner of Antigua Latin Inspired Kitchen. Mendieta-Ramos opened Antigua more than 10 years ago and has grown the restaurant to include full service offsite catering and cooking classes.
Her award nominator notes that "as an entrepreneur, Citlali is a shining example of what a Hispanic professional can look like. Her resume conveys her many professional accomplishments, but it does not convey the size of her heart and the depth of her profound commitment to our community."
2016 Alumna of the Year
2016 Alumna of the Year Griselda Aldrete '98:
The SJA Alumnae Association is excited to recognize Griselda Aldrete, SJA Class of ‘98, as the 2016 Alumna of the Year award recipient. The Alumna of the Year award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an SJA alumna to her profession and/or community which support the mission of SJA.
Griselda is the President & CEO of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM). Previously, she served as the Executive Director at the Cream City Foundation. She is active in the Milwaukee community, serving on a number of boards and committees, including the board of directors for 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Ballet, and Pivot Milwaukee.
Griselda has been recognized by many organizations for her commitment to and involvement in the Milwaukee community. In 2013, Aldrete received Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award and in 2014, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s Philanthropic 5 award. Most recently, Aldrete was selected as a U.S. Delegate for the British American Project and named one of Wisconsin’s top 48 most powerful Latinos. This fall, she was honored by the Milwaukee Brewers with their Roberto Clemente Day SEAT 21 award, and next month she will receive the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award from the Green Bay Packers.
She has been an engaged alumna and has served SJA in multiple capacities, including board service, serving as keynote Commencement Speaker, and will co-chair the 2017 Auction. Griselda’s nominator writes: “as a mentor, Griselda has a strong moral compass and the gift to help people with her words.”
Griselda received her B.A. from Marquette University in Criminology/Law Studies and Spanish, her M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and is currently pursuing her J.D. from Marquette University Law School.