Record Staff Report
The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville awarded the Angeline Award to Dr. Cynthia Crabtree, president of Sacred Heart Schools, Oct. 21 during Mass at the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel on Lexington Road.
The award is presented by the Ursuline community every two years to a woman “whose life reflects the Ursuline charism that is inspired by St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursulines,” a news release from the Ursuline Sisters said.
The Ursulines describe their charism as, “A contemplative love of God resulting in an openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others.”
Sister Janet Marie Peterworth, president of the Ursulines, presented the award and said Crabtree is “Ursuline through and through.”
Crabtree’s openness and eagerness to serve was highlighted during a reflection at the Mass.
Sister Rosella McCormick, who delivered the reflection, said, “servanthood is the mark of authentic leadership. Recall the Last Supper and Jesus using a towel to wash the disciples’ feet.”
“We have gathered here in this place ‘where all are welcome,’ to recognize Dr. Cindy Crabtree, as a follower of Saint Angela Merici,” Sister McCormick said. “Cindy is truly a servant-leader of our Ursuline Campus Schools—in the past, in the present, in our future.”
Crabtree, a Louisville native, attended St. Clement School, where she was educated by the Ursuline Sisters. She graduated from Angela Merici High School in 1975.
The Ursuline Sisters, Crabtree said, “through their contemplative love of God and their care for those in need” made an impact on her at a young age.
“Their words and actions have truly influenced me to serve those in need by focusing on how to be the face of God in their lives,” she said.
Crabtree graduated from Spalding University in 1979 with a bachelor of science in nursing and worked in critical care as a nurse.
She went on to earn her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a doctoral degree in educational leadership in 1997 from Spalding. She was named dean of Spalding’s School of Nursing, a position she held in 2003. She became president of Sacred Heart Schools the same year.
Crabtree also serves on the board of directors of Holy Cross High School, as well as on the board of Brightside Louisville. She and her family are longtime parishioners of St. Albert the Great Church, where she is a eucharistic minister and a member of the Social Concerns Committee.
The announcement from the Ursuline Sisters added that Crabtree was recommended for the award by many letter-writers. One such supporter, Greg Daunhauer wrote, “Saint Angela said, ‘Strive to be faithful to that which God has called you.’ ”
“It is my humble opinion that God has called Cindy Crabtree to serve in her role as the leader of SHS and many young women have benefitted from her guidance and love.”
