Torch - Fall 2014

Old Girl

Melanie Plet’s 1992 connections to her former Havergal classmates are as strong as ever, even 22 years since graduation. “I’m still best friends with so many of my classmates. Being an Old Girl is all about sisterhood and connection. We share in each other’s successes and we’re instantly there for one another when we need support,” Melanie says. “I graduated in 1992 and I still feel the impact of Havergal all the time.”

women,” she says. She notes further that in the 2014–15 academic year, the HOGA Class Rep position will become part of the formal election process. This way, with a Grade 12 student elected to represent their class even before graduation, even stronger connections will be possible between HOGA and the current students. Through her involvement with HOGA, Melanie has had the opportunity to meet Old Girls from every decade. “I’ve met every generation of Old Girls and it’s amazing how connected you feel immediately to each other,” she says. Melanie hopes to get more alumnae reconnected in a more substantial way—by attending events, volunteering and being more involved in Havergal’s fundraising program. “As Old Girls, we are the ones who have benefitted, so we need to give back to the school,” she adds. Louise Yearwood agrees. As Havergal’s Executive Director of Advancement & Community Relations, Louise oversees the school’s alumnae and fundraising programs. She says Old Girls have been generous donors to Havergal and have supported the school since its inception. Leading by example, every member of the HOGA Directorate shows her commitment through a financial donation to the school. “Old Girls support the school in a variety of ways; one of the key ways is to give financially to the school. And as demands on the school to maintain its level of excellence increase, we would like to see a higher participation rate by our alumnae,” Louise says.

In addition to her close friendships, Melanie says that staying connected with her alma mater is very important to her. After graduating from Havergal, she went on to study psychology and worked in clinical practice for over 10 years before taking a leave to raise her four young children. During this time, she has made it a priority to keep close ties with the school as a volunteer with the Havergal Old Girls Association (HOGA) and in various other capacities with increasing leadership responsibilities. She was a Class Rep for her graduating class and a committee member of the HOGA Distinguished Speaker Event Committee for several years, before chairing that committee for three years. Melanie was most recently the Vice President of HOGA, and is currently the Association’s President. HOGA’s mission is to provide support to and connections between the Old Girl community and Havergal College. “We want to sustain a lifelong association between every Old Girl and the Havergal College community,” says Melanie, noting HOGA’s core values of friendship & connection, leadership & philanthropy, and tradition & innovation. As HOGA President, Melanie also hopes to establish stronger connections with students before they graduate. For example, on September 19, Melanie attended the Mother Daughter Luncheon for the Class of 2015. “I can see that the girls love Havergal. They are amazingly connected to one another. They are strong, confident young

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Left: Mentoring Journeys partners Julia Moore 2006 and Marilyn Prowse De Mara 1971 Photo by Jacquie Labatt 1980

TABLE OF CONTENTS | FALL 2014 • TORCH 17