Submitted by Thomas More Prep-Marian
Thomas More Prep-Marian will host a reception for Kathleen Cepelka, former principal/president and this year’s graduation speaker, from 10 to 11 a.m. May 25 in the school dining hall. The reception is open to the public.
Cepelka, Ph.D., superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has served in Catholic education for more than 45 years in teaching and administrative roles at the elementary, secondary and graduate school levels. From 1981 to 1988, she was principal and president of TMP High School and has held many other positions as a Catholic school administrator, board member, teacher and leader through the years.
She continues to teach graduate level leadership courses at Marquette University, in addition to her role as superintendent of Catholic schools. In 2009, she received the Vatican II Award for Service to Education from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and, in 2013, the John F. Myers Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for service to Catholic education at the national level.
Commencement exercises will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. The ceremony, along with Cepelka’s address, will be available live online at https://www.hayspost.com.
Cepelka was named a TMP-Marian Point of Light Award recipient in 1998. Below is the biography submitted for that honor:
Angeline K. Cepelka, PH.D., was a familiar figure in the TMP-Marian halls between 1981-1988. Always there for students and staff alike, her presence and strength of character had an effect upon all. During this span, she served ably as principal and academic dean from 1981 to 1985 and as President and Principal from 1985 to 1988, the first female to do so in this position. Besides doing an exceptional job in those endeavors, she was also a friend and confidant to many, not only within the TMP-Marian family but in the community as well.
Dr. Cepelka was willing to lend an ear and give tirelessly of her talents to others. In addition to her administrative duties, she served as director of dramatics and directed thirteen major productions at TMP-Marian. Also during her presidency, the school moved all of its operations into the main campus and revised the schools’ administrative and academic structures.
After leaving TMP-Marian, she continued her education at Marquette University, receiving her PH.D. in Educational Administration.