Each year, we honor one of our alumni who exemplifies the spirit of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish and school. This year, we are proud to award Mrs. Gina Kling Menninger, a 1998 graduate.
If it seems like you see Mrs. Menninger everywhere, you probably do! She works a full time job as the Trauma Prevention and Outreach Coordinator for UC Health, coaches her boys’ soccer teams, gives CPR lessons in the community or at school during the Health & Safety Fair, coordinates the Holiday Stop N Shop, serves as a Eucharistic minister, coordinates a toy drive for Cincinnati Children’s that brings in about 1500 toys, volunteers with the Whitney/Strong Foundation that focuses on ending gun violence, serves as a board member of the Congenital Heart Alliance of Cincinnati, and captains a team for the American Heart Association – and I truly could go on…
But why does she do so much? Part of that started here at St. Ignatius. This school helped her to build the qualities and find her passions, giving her the opportunity to explore so many ways to develop her faith, academics, and service to others.
Our Distinguished Alumni are chosen as examples of living out one or more of the core values of St. Ignatius. Many of the values speak to Mrs. Menninger, but she identifies most with the core value of Cultivating Community. She takes pride in her ability to to be an integral part of the community. Even in ways that you wouldn’t think of – like keeping up the appearance of the entrance to her neighborhood. She says, “I have developed a sense of responsibility to help grow our community, to make it better, to make it stronger, to make it welcoming and to make it a team.”
As a mom to three students at school, she sees the school continuing to encourage students to be better in every way, by supporting and encouraging all of us to achieve one’s maximum potential.
Thank you Mrs. Menninger for being such a dedicated servant to our school, parish, and the Cincinnati community. You remind us that each day is an opportunity to do what is right and serve others.
