Alumni
More than 2,800 students have passed through the doors of Churchill Center & School, graduating with the strategies to transition to traditional classrooms.
Our graduates are thriving as middle school students, high school students, college students, professionals, and parents. Visit our testimonial section to read our Churchill alumni stories.
In honor of Churchill’s Founding Director Sandi Gilligan’s legacy of service, a generous anonymous donor established an exciting alumni award in 2021.
SANDRA K. GILLIGAN “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” ALUMNI AWARD!
We would like to recognize and honor Churchill Center & School alumni who are truly carrying on the Churchill spirit of making a difference by creating meaningful impact in the lives of others through their everyday lives.
The Sandra K. Gilligan “Making a Difference” Alumni Award was presented to Jodie Finney in May 2024.
JODIE CONDIE FINNEY ’93
Jodie Condie Finney ’93
Jodie was a student at Churchill Center & School from 1991-1993. She went on to attend Villa Duchesne High School and then graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Communication in 2001. In 2006, she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the Washington University School of Medicine. She spent 16 years at Mercy Hospital working as a Physical Therapist for rehab and acute care of geriatric patients.
In 2022, she and her cousin founded The Caregiver Club. The mission of The Caregiver Club is to improve the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other related
dementias by supporting their caregivers. It is the first and only organization in St. Louis focused on taking care of the caregiver, aiming to provide resources and support for caregivers locally and across the nation. In its remarkable first few years, The Caregiver Club has found incredible success, been featured on local television and national podcasts, and raised more than $500,0000, making a real impact in our community and around the country.
As shared on the award nomination form submitted by one of her daughters: 
“My mom is the hardest working person I know. She works from morning to night every day. In addition to running the Caregiver Club, she managed the care of my grandmother with Alzheimers and my grandfather, takes care of me and my three siblings and all six of our pets. When I think of all I have going on in my life I know it’s just a fraction of what my mom has every day. She truly lives her life in service to others. ”
In February 2023, we were gratified to announce the 2023-2024 winner of The Sandra K. Gilligan “Making a Difference” Alumni Award as…
JANE MARKEY CULVER ’00
Jane Markey Culver, Churchill Alumnus ’00
To share Markey’s simple, yet so impactful mantra,
“We can, therefore we must.”
Markey is a Churchill alumna (1997-2000) who has innovatively fused her educational background in communication and business with her unwavering commitment to bring access and opportunity for all! She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Rwanda, 2010-2012) and earned her MBA from Washington University’s Olin Business School in 2017.
In 2018, Markey founded and became CEO of The Women’s Bakery (TWB). The foundation of TWB was built on the grit, innovation and commitment of Markey and her team who saw the power of bread and believed it could change the world!
TWB is empowering women across East Africa by partnering with and educating them on how to operate successful bakeries in their own communities. They focus on the following key ingredients to ensure that each TWB bakery thrives long-term: identify strong women, provide extensive training, make quality bread and operate good businesses. As a result, The Women’s Bakery creates possibilities for these women to make choices of their own: to work, to learn, to invest and to uplift other women. These opportunities and choices have a ripple effect that profoundly impacts their own lives, their families’ lives and their communities.
Sandi Gilligan presented Markey with the “Making a Difference” Alumni Award during Churchill’s Starfish Soirée on March 1. Markey then powerfully shared with Auction guests about how her time at Churchill shaped her school years, and further impacted her future success in the work she continues today.
Learn more about The Women’s Bakery and support Markey’s vision to “Empower women because an empowered woman, by herself, is an outcome worth fighting for,” at: https://www.womensbakery.com.
The 2022 inaugural winner of the Sandra K. Gilligan “Making a Difference” Alumni Award was…
ANDREW WITHERSPOON ’08
Andrew Witherspoon, Churchill Alumnus ’08
Andrew Witherspoon is truly carrying on the Churchill spirit of making a difference by creating meaningful impact in the lives of others through his everyday life. Learn more about Andrew and the important work he is doing HERE.
SANDRA K. GILLIGAN “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” ALUMNI AWARD!
We would like to recognize and honor Churchill Center & School alumni who are truly carrying on the Churchill spirit of making a difference by creating meaningful impact in the lives of others through their everyday lives.
Do you know a Churchill alumnus or alumna of day school or summer school who meets this mission? Let us know! Nominate your favorite, most well-deserving alum now!
MISSION:
To recognize an alumnus or alumna who is truly carrying on the Churchill spirit of making a difference by creating a meaningful impact in the lives of others through their everyday life.
CRITERIA:
- A Churchill alumnus or alumna of day school or summer school
- Not limited by age, location or profession
- Award can be given to one or more individuals each year
- Nominee must meet the Award’s mission as stated above
AWARD:
Awardee will receive a $1,000 grant payable to an individual or organization of the Awardee’s choice and an individual plaque. A larger plaque that includes all recipients’ names will be displayed at Churchill Center & School.
DEADLINE:
- Nominations may be submitted at any time throughout the year, however, to be considered for the current year’s award, nominations are due by January 31. Awardees will be chosen annually and announced at Churchill’s Graduation Ceremony each May.
- The Award Selection Committee will review all nominations and choose an Awardee by February 28. Awardee will be notified immediately following.
PRESENTATION:
This Award will be presented each year at Churchill’s Graduation Ceremony in the spring. Awardee will be notified in advance and invited to attend.
For further details as well as the required nomination form, please use THIS LINK.
Success beyond churchill
Churchill alumni have gone on to attend the following junior high and high schools:
- Christian Brothers College
- Chaminade High School
- Clayton School District
- DeSmet High School
- Immacolata
- Ladue School District
- Lafayette High School
- Parkway Central
- St. Dominic – O’Fallon, MO
- Ursaline Academy
- Visitation Academy
- Westminster Christian Academy
- Whitfield School
Our graduates have attended prestigious colleges and university across the country, including:
- Chamberlain University
- Colby College
- Columbia College
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Gilford College
- Goldfarb School of Nursing
- Indiana University
- Jefferson College
- Johnson & Wales University
- Juilliard School
- Missouri State Technical School
- Morehouse College
- Murray State University
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- St. Louis University
- Texas Southern University
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- University of Denver
- University of Houston
- University of Mississippi
- University of Missouri – Columbia
- University of Missouri – Kansas City
- University of Missouri – St. Louis
- Vanderbilt University
- Washington University in St. Louis
alumni association
Founded in 1995, the Alumni Association brings graduates together to ensure the long-term success of our school. The Alumni Association also helps more families access Churchill’s invaluable resources through the Scholarship Fund.
Whether you attended just one summer session or several years at Churchill, we welcome your involvement in the Alumni Association.
For more information, contact the Development Office online or call 314-997-4343
alumni association events
From beer, wine and food tasting celebrations and silent auction to community 5K and 1-mile organized runs, the Alumni Association hosts events throughout the year, with proceeds benefiting the Churchill Scholarship Fund. Please check the Events page for a list of upcoming activities.
stay in touch
Please help us keep our alumni database up to date. Fill out the form below with your current email and mailing address, along with updates on what you’re currently doing. We love to hear what our alumni are up to in school, at work, and in life.
Or contact Steph Slonka in the Development Office at 314-997-4343 and sslonka@churchillstl.org.
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