Award Recognizes 175 Years of Excellence
October 19, 2026
At the 2026 Women’s Leadership & Policy Summit in Santa Clara, California, Sisters Gillian Wallace and Rosalie Pizzo, SNDdeN, accepted an award from Supervisor Betty Duong on behalf of the Sisters.
At a special awards ceremony in Santa Clara County, California, Sisters Gillian Wallace and Rosalie Pizzo, SNDdeN gratefully received a Luminary Award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
“This year, the committee wanted to recognize Notre Dame High School San José for its 175 years of educating women in Santa Clara County,” explains Sister Gillian. “Mary Beth Riley [former NDSJ head of school] suggested they recognize the Sisters for founding the school and leaving a legacy of education in this area.”
The award was given at the Women’s Leadership and Policy Summit where the theme was “Women Leading Change: Power in Action — Every Strength. Every Role. Everyone.” It honors the lifetime achievements of those who have illuminated a path to positive change, advanced women’s rights and benefited all in the Santa Clara community.
We are grateful to Mary Beth, District Supervisor Betty Duong, former District Supervisor Cindy Chavez and the awards committee for honoring our Sisters who have dedicated their lives to the mission in California. God is good!
