Header Top

Ursuline featured in "Empowered," hosted by Meg Ryan

Ursuline featured in "Empowered," hosted by Meg Ryan

by Shannon Dufresne
 

What sets an Ursuline education apart? A new film featuring The Ursuline School gives viewers an opportunity to hear the answer directly from members of our community.

The Ursuline School is sharing its story with a national audience through a new feature on "Empowered," hosted by Meg Ryan, an educational television program distributed to Public Television stations nationwide.

Producers selected Ursuline to participate after identifying the school as having a compelling story. The resulting film offers viewers a window into the distinctive experience of an all-girls Ursuline education, grounded in a mission that has guided the school since 1897 and continues to shape how students learn, grow, and prepare for what comes next.

What sets Ursuline apart

Filmed on campus in April 2026, the film explores how the school's mission and Core Values come to life through students' everyday experiences. Among those featured are President Dr. Colleen Melnyk P'18, Amelia Davidson ’27, Dr. Adora Fou P’22 ’25 ’27, and alumna Francesca LaGumina ’78 P’09 ’11 ’13 ’16, whose own Ursuline connections span generations. Through interviews and scenes from across campus, viewers see an environment designed specifically for girls, where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, develop confidence, and recognize their capacity to make a difference.

President Dr. Colleen Melnyk P'18 places those experiences within the larger purpose of an Ursuline education, reflecting on the school's Catholic identity, the distinctive value of an all-girls education and its commitment to preparing students to lead with confidence.

"Our mission has always been about helping young women recognize their gifts and giving them the confidence to use those gifts with purpose. This film gives people an opportunity to see that mission in action."
- Dr. Colleen Melnyk, president

In their own words

That mission becomes tangible through Amelia Davidson '27, who offers a student's perspective on what distinguishes an Ursuline education. In the film, Davidson speaks about the quality of Ursuline's teachers and the care they put into preparing lessons that resonate with students and respond to their needs. Her reflections offer a firsthand example of how the school's mission comes to life in the classroom each day.

Dr. Adora Fou P'22 '25 '27 offers another perspective shaped by her own Ursuline education and her experience as an Ursuline parent. An alumna of Ursuline Academy of Dallas and a current Ursuline trustee, Dr. Fou speaks in the film about finding a "chosen family" at Ursuline and the supportive environment that helped shape her. Her reflections underscore the sense of belonging that can endure well beyond a student's years in school.

A mission lived every day

The film also highlights Serviam, "I will serve," a value woven throughout the Ursuline experience. Rooted in the vision of St. Angela Merici, Serviam calls students to recognize their responsibility to others and put their gifts to work in service to their communities and the wider world.

For Ursuline, participating in "Empowered" is about more than national exposure. It is an opportunity to introduce more families to Ursuline and give them a deeper understanding of the value of a Catholic, all-girls education.

The film captures the Ursuline experience in a simple message: You bring the spark. We fuel the fire.

Watch Full Segment

 

  • Alumnae
  • Media Arts
  • Mission Matters
  • News
  • Student Life
  • TUS Advantage

More Connections

Play and Pause Buttons for Slideshow