DANBURY—Two talented Immaculate students received Connecticut Association of Schools 2019-20 Outstanding Arts Awards: Elizabeth Flaherty ‘20 of New Fairfield for performing arts and Elizabeth Varda ‘20 of Brookfield for visual arts. Award recipients are those who “excel in the performing and visual arts…and demonstrate scholarship and leadership.”
Elizabeth Flaherty’s teacher has described her as creative and hardworking, and believes that with her abilities she will go on to do great things “Elizabeth is a strong, confident musician which allows her to lead both musically and logistically. She is a leader of the a capella club and a regular performer in all the community outreach events our choir is a part of, she sings in the diocesan youth choir and she is a lead in our musical, “Once On This Island,” said Mrs. Jen Doherty, IHS Choir Director.
Elizabeth will attend the University of Connecticut as a Digital Film/Video Production Major. Besides singing, she plays the piano and trumpet. A cast member of Immaculate’s musical productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Grease” and “Pippin,” Elizabeth was cast as Mama Euralie in “Once On This Island” this year. “I also played Gerry Dunbar in Immaculate’s drama production of “Play On!” earlier this year, and I am co-president of Immaculate’s a capella club, a member of the honors chorus and a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society,” she noted. “During my time at Immaculate I have developed myself both musically and academically through the help of my fellow performers and friends, but also through the guidance of teachers and staff. Without these people I’m sure I would not be the person I am today and I would be dearly missing their presence in my life,” Elizabeth said.
IHS art teacher Leslie Quinn said that Elizabeth “Lizzie” Varda received the award for visual arts because, in part, of her willingness to expand her skills over her four years at Immaculate High School. “In those four years she has evolved into an accomplished artist. Lizzie has the ability to not only make art but to write and talk about her work, be it ideas, processes and use of materials. She gives the viewer a window into what goes into her artwork,” said Mrs. Quinn. She noted that while Lizzie is proficient in many areas, her strong talent is costume design. Lizzie designs costumes for Immaculate’s Spring Musicals and regional theater, receiving a Halo award last year for costume design for Immaculate’s production of “Pippin.” “Lizzie brings vitality and humor to the classroom and her extracurricular and work commitments seem effortless, the mark of a true professional,” Mrs. Quinn noted.
Lizzie is also still deciding which college she will attend, but she plans to be a fashion design major. “I do a lot of fashion designs and pattern designs for textiles so that is my favorite art to do. I love to use and experiment with different materials like oil paint, wallpaper and more. I have done the costumes for IHS theatrical productions of “Twelfth Night,” “Grease,” “Our Town,” “Pippin,” “Play On!” and “Once On This Island”,” she said, adding: “I have been doing art at IHS my teachers, who believed in me and my art.”
Immaculate High School encourages students to find success in academics, athletics, fine arts and clubs and is ranked in the top ten of all Catholic high schools in the State of Connecticut by NICHE. One of the more affordable private high schools, Immaculate High School is also among the highest ranked Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport and continues to attain the highest SAT scores in the Diocese. Currently students are attending full days of virtual school with their regular schedules and access to guidance counselors, the school nurse and the school therapist. Immaculate High School students, a representation of area public, private and Catholic schools, seek academic challenges, discover leadership and engage in progressive learning opportunities and have high success rates: 100% of the Class of 2019 were accepted to top colleges and universities and were awarded college scholarships and grants totaling $27 million.
In addition to a college-preparatory academic program that offers over 33 Advanced Placement classes and a STEAM curriculum featuring advanced technology, a CISCO certification program, renovated science labs and engineering classes and a Certified Nursing Associate program, Immaculate High School has an award-winning Fine Arts program, a student career internship program, athletic teams that have won SWC and State Championships, 44 clubs and a Campus Ministry and community service program that instills faith, compassion and reverence for others. Immaculate High School, founded in 1962, is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York.
