A Woman Making History:
Our President Mary Elizabeth Grimes
During Black History Month, Marian President Mary Elizabeth Grimes had the honor of sharing her family’s history with Carol Daniel at KMOX. The “Living History” series features a number of St. Louisans making Black History today.
2023
Media Spotlight On Marian Girls
and STEM
In January, Marian Girls reached another record award! We’re excited to announce that in 2023, Marian has again achieved Platinum Level, the highest level of performance. Marian’s Tigerbots are the most decorated team, winning platinum banners for five consecutive years.
KWMU, KMOX, KMOV, and FOX 2 featured news stories with our exceptional students.
2023
Fontbonne University Forms Partnership with Marian Middle School
Fontbonne University, a private, Catholic liberal arts university located in Clayton, Mo., in suburban St. Louis County, has established a unique partnership with Marian Middle School (Marian). Marian is the only all-girls, private middle school in the St. Louis community serving urban adolescents in a faith-based environment.
The partnership will provide Marian alumnae with scholarships to Fontbonne, as well as one-on-one mentoring to promote academic success, professional and leadership development opportunities, and career support.
2022
Bayer Fund Awards $40,000 to Marian Middle School to Support STEM Education for Girls
Marian Middle School is pleased to announce exciting impact as a result of its long-term partnership with Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. Bayer Fund has been a vital Marian supporter since 2009, including through its most recent $40,000 grant to support Marian’s exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum over the past school year.
2022
SLU Educational Leadership Awardee
– Mary Elizabeth Grimes
Mary Elizabeth Grimes, President of Marian Middle School, is honored by Saint Louis University with the Educational Leadership Award. Saint Louis University, along with Loyola University Maryland and University of San Francisco, honored the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a virtual event on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The theme for Starsky Wilson’s keynote – “Walking with the Excluded / Accompanying Young People in the Creation of a Hope-Filled Future.”
2021
Missouri Athletic Club’s Women of
Distinction Award
Mary Elizabeth Grimes has been honored with the Missouri Athletic Club’s Women of Distinction Award for her work on behalf of girls in the community. We consider it our duty to advocate on behalf of Marian Girls, and model bold leadership in the community.
2020
Diverse Business Leader
Mary Elizabeth Grimes was honored as a Diverse Business Leader by the St. Louis Business Journal on September 13, 2019. She was honored for her work to transform lives and communities by educating adolescent girls from all backgrounds to become future leaders.
2019
Women of Influence
Mary Elizabeth Grimes, President of Marian Middle School, was honored with a “Women of Influence” Award from RISE Collaborative for her work as a community leader. As a hub for female empowerment, RISE Collaborative is a dynamic and carefully curated community of women leaders who support each other’s success through networking and collaborative workspaces. The award recognizes the powerful impact of women and celebrates their remarkable successes.
2019
Ladue News 2018 Charity Award
Marian Middle School was honored as one of six worthy local non-profit organizations at the Ladue News 2018 Charity Awards.
19 Marian Girls competed in the Clavius Project Robotics Jamboree at St. Louis University High School in January. The girls worked in teams of two or three to complete a series of challenges. Out of 25 schools (over 275 students), Marian Girls received the highest honor, a platinum banner! They were also awarded the Leadership Distinction award.
2018
Equalizer Award in Education
Mary Elizabeth Grimes, president, received the Equalizer Award in Education from the Youth & Family Center in August 2017.
2017
Hispanic Scholarship Alliance Awards
Seventh grader Sherlyn Bautista and alumna Amy Alanis (Class of 2012) received scholarships from the Hispanic Scholarship Alliance of Greater St. Louis (HSA) in July 2017.
2017
Great Rivers Biennial Arts Award Program
Sarah Paulsen-Fuller, art/media teacher, was one of three artists selected for the eighth Great Rivers Biennial Arts Award Program 2018 by the Contemporary Art Museum and Gateway Foundation. The exhibition is scheduled for May 11-August 19, 2018. Congratulations to Sarah and the other artists!
2017
Salutatorian
Alumna Nautica graduated second in her class at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School.
2017
Salutatorian
Alumna Bibiana graduated second in her class at Carnahan High School of the Future.
2017
Urban League Scholarship
Alumna Karla received a scholarship from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Inc. in May 2017.
2017
Archbishop John L. May Service Award
Alumna Ronnesha was named Cardinal Ritter College Prep’s Archbishop John L. May Service Award winner.
Alumna Ga’Nea was named a Martin Luther King Jr. Model of Justice Awardee. She is the second Marian alumna to have been selected for this award.
2017
Alumna Representing the YES Program
Alumna Lili was chosen to represent the Youth Exploring Science (YES) Program at the Black Data Processing Associates national conference in Atlanta in August 2016 because of her dedication to and prowess in the field of technology.
2016
Incarnate Word “Caring Hands” Award
Recipients: Sister Sarah Heger, CSJ, principal; Blair Hopkins, social studies teacher (pictured with alumna Madison)
Marian Middle School’s current principal, Sarah Heger, CSJ, was honored as a Peabody Leader in Education while she was serving as both vice principal and fifth grade teacher during the 2014–2015 school year.
2014
Incarnate Word “Caring Hands” Award
Recipient: Sister Sarah Heger, CSJ, vice principal/fifth grade teacher
Marian Middle School was honored as a Missouri School of Character in 2013 for offering “a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.”
2013
Peabody Leader in Education
Maggie Klonsky, language arts teacher, was honored as a Peabody Leader in Education.
2013
Schools that Can
Schools that Can named Marian Middle School a “School that Can” for building a positive, mission-driven culture and for having strong, collaborative leaders at the helm.
2013
The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award
Former math/STEM teacher and current volunteer Heather Olson received The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award.
FOCUS St. Louis recognized Marian Middle School with the “What’s Right with the Region!” award for “creating quality educational opportunities.”
2011
Promise Place Award
America’s Promise Alliance and State Farm named Marian Middle School a “Promise Place” for providing young people with caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education, and opportunities to help others.
2012
Spirit of St. Louis Award
Marian Middle School was presented with the Mayor’s Spirit of St. Louis Award.
2011
Incarnate Word “Caring Hands” Award
Recipient: Stephanie Airaghi
2011
New Building
In July 2006, Marian Middle School moved from the top floor of St. Anthony of Padua to its current location on Wyoming in the Tower Grove neighborhood. The move offered a great opportunity to further establish the school’s identity and place in the city, as well as safeguard future expansion.
2006
Graduate Support Program
In 2003, the first six students graduated from Marian Middle School and the Graduate Support Program was implemented. This enabled Marian to fully realize one of the most important aspects of a NativityMiguel model school: shepherding educational careers into high school and college.
2003
Grand Opening
After Saint Louis’ first NativityMiguel model school opened for boys, Sister Nancy Wittwer, SL, asked, “What about the girls?” With the help of her community of Catholic sisters and six others, a NativityMiguel model school for girls was founded on December 10, 1999. On July 31, 2000, 14 fifth and sixth grade girls became Marian Middle School’s first students.