Mary Louise Kasper ’27 - I Am Inspired
Reflecting on on the strong friendships and support network that her mother and grandmother experienced, Mary Louise says, “I want to foster those same connections for future students by creating a young alumnae-student mentorship program. By focusing on young alumnae and connecting them with current students, we create a bridge between young women through shared interests and experiences.”
Mary Louise Kasper ’27
Saint Mary's School Sophomore Day Student
Saint Mary's inspires confidence.
As we celebrate 90 years of the Annual Fund and 145 years of the Alumnae Association during the 2024-2025 academic year, we highlight sophomore, Mary Louise Kasper '27.
Every Saint Mary’s girl carries a story of how her all-girls education has shaped her life. For 183 years, our School has fostered essential skills, preparing graduates to thrive in a constantly evolving world. Today’s students leave Saint Mary’s ready for college and beyond—confident, ambitious, and equipped with strong critical thinking and leadership abilities. Yet, it is the lifelong friendships and deep connections among Saint Mary’s women that truly define the legacy of our school.
Mary Louise Kasper '27 is is the descendant of a long line of Saint Mary’s graduates, each of whom built lifelong friendships and a legacy of sisterhood that spans five generations. These connections aren’t just familial; they’re embedded in the bonds that all Saint Mary’s graduates share in a network of more than 9,500 alumnae strong. She knows that legacy and connections through a Saint Mary's education helps build confidence and other core competencies in girls. (Pictured L to R: Josey Harris Kasper ’97HS, Boyd Gregory Harris ’70C, and Mary Louise Kasper ’27).
A day student from Raleigh, Mary Louise is a fifth-generation legacy. In August 2023, she was inducted into the Granddaughters Club, continuing a family tradition that spans more than a century. Her mother Josey Harris Kasper ’97HS, grandmother Boyd Gregory Harris ’70C, great-aunt Nan Gregory ’71HS ’73C, great-grandmother Mary Louise Riddick Gregory ’38C (Mary Louise’s namesake and Saint Mary’s first Student Government Association president), great-great-aunt Willie Marjorie Riddick Holmes ’47C, great-great-grandmother Louise Josey Riddick ’1911C, great-great-great aunt Mary Josey Page ’1922C, and numerous aunts and cousins all share the Saint Mary’s legacy.
Inspired by the strong friendships and support network her mother and grandmother experienced, Mary Louise is now fostering those same connections for future students.
When Mary Louise was in eighth grade, she discovered a Saint Mary’s social media post about a recent graduate who had been accepted to Princeton. “I thought it was the coolest thing and tucked it away in my mind,” she recalls.
Later, when Mary Louise joined the Class of 2027, she quickly formed new friendships and became actively involved in campus life. At the 2024 Honors Convocation, she received multiple awards. After the ceremony, an older student mentioned that Mary Louise reminded her of a recent young alumna—who turned out to be the graduate Mary Louise had seen on social media.
Encouraged by her parents, Mary Louise contacted the Development and Alumnae Office to be introduced to her. “She was already in college, and we had never met, but when I reached out, she responded so positively,” says Mary Louise. “We met last summer, and it’s been fantastic getting to know her.”
Inspired by this mentor-mentee relationship, Mary Louise wanted to create similar opportunities for other Saint Mary’s students. Partnering with the Development and Alumnae Office, this spring she helped establish Saints Helping Saints, an alumnae-student mentoring program. Launched with the Class of 2025, the program will soon expand to include all current students and graduates from the past ten years.
“By focusing on young alumnae and connecting them with current students, we create a bridge between young women through shared interests and experiences,” she explained. “This program strengthens the Saint Mary’s legacy and extends our network of lifelong friendships, just as our mothers and grandmothers did before us. I hope graduates from the classes of 2015 to 2025 will be inspired to participate!”
Mary Louise is a member of Vestry, the JV Field Hockey team, Bookmark Club, and is a Mu. She serves as an Admissions Ambassador, Development Ambassador, vice president of the Historical Society, treasurer of the Self-Defense Club, and the Saints Helping Saints founder.
We hope you will join with us and other members of the Saint Mary's community to help provide an unparalleled all-girls education experience for young women who will become our future leaders. Make your 24-25 Annual Fund gift or pledge today. To contribute to the Annual Fund, make a pledge, or a three-year commitment, visit www.sms.edu/marylouise. Thank you for your partnership and for supporting today's Saint Mary's girls!
