School News

Continuing the DSHA Tradition of Excellence

by Erin McCarville
We recognize Dean and Mary Klinger for their financial support over the past two decades, including their most recent and incredibly generous gift of $1,000,000 to create new competitive athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and rugby, as part of the Forward in Faith: Elevating Empowered Young Women campaign

This story also appears in the 2023-24 DSHA Annual Report.
Dean and Mary Klinger have always been passionate about education and the opportunities, growth,
and whole-person development an outstanding education can provide. Dean, a physician, and Mary, a
community volunteer, have financially given to DSHA for over two decades, and are now supplying an
incredibly generous $1,000,000 gift for the new competitive athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse, field
Nearly 64% of DSHA students participate in athletics, with 73% having a 3.5 GPA or higher. DSHA has
earned a competitive reputation with state and national team championships across 15 varsity sports –
including ten national championships and 46 Wisconsin Team State Championships. DSHA was also one of the WIAA 2023-24 Award of Excellence recipients. As one of only two schools to receive the award for the sixth time since its inception in 2016, DSHA was the only Catholic school represented in the state. With such high demand for athletic space and a record of athletic excellence, it is time to upgrade the outdoor facilities. The ability to practice, play, and host games on DSHA’s campus will allow for greater participation, help bolster the sense of the school community, and add a layer of safety and convenience for all. It will also serve as an opportunity to bring additional people from across the Greater Milwaukee area to campus.

Over the last two decades, the Klingers have supported DSHA education through classroom improvements, faculty professional development, and student scholarships. “The Forward in Faith campaign has opened our eyes to support DSHA in a new way. Having our daughter now serve as faculty and helping coach, brought us back to the sports realm,” they shared. As Dean and Mary have returned to DSHA more frequently to support Katie in her endeavors, they have seen a need for an improvement to the athletic facilities on campus.

Their daughter, Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA ’10, has been part of the DSHA community as a student, faculty member, and soccer coach. Beginning as Social Studies Faculty in 2021, she transitioned to leading the St. Angela Merici Academic Support Program as the school’s academic interventionist for the 2024-25 school year working with students with learning differences based on their individual academic needs. It was during Katie’s four years as a student, however, that both Dean and Mary realized how much DSHA was positively influencing her life.

Dean shared, “We felt that sending Katie to DSHA was important, as it provided a nurturing learning environment that fostered a sense of independence and allowed her to pursue her passions with confidence. We loved that it was a faith-based school with college-prep academics.”

Mary noted, “The students embrace each other — academically, musically, athletically, and socially. Every leadership position was held by another young woman, and that modeling and mentoring of leadership really impacted Katie. It gave her a world of opportunity that she may not have gotten elsewhere.”

Now, 14 years after their daughter graduated from DSHA, they continue to give back to the school. Mary shared, “We saw what good it did for Katie. We wanted to continue giving that opportunity to others.” She continued, “I saw how prepared she was when she went off to college. She was well-equipped with writing, study, and time management skills. DSHA is the gift that keeps on giving, and oftentimes you don’t realize it until your daughter is a few years out.” Dean agreed stating, “I’ve always said one of the best investments we’ve made was sending Katie to DSHA. You get a return on your investment—a happy, well-adjusted, empowered, and successful daughter.”

Committing themselves to giving at a larger capacity, they decided to support the Forward in Faith campaign and give their donation to the improvement of the athletics and outdoor fitness spaces. The two are excited about what this will bring to current and future Dashers. It adds to the experience as both a player and a student for an athlete to compete on her home campus, and will additionally foster school spirit.

Additionally, Dean shared, “It’s more than just supporting sports and athletics,” naming the safety component as an added benefit. He continued, “We’ve focused our donations on educational aspects for the past two decades. Now here is a chance for us to expand and improve campus facilities for these girls. We also don’t want a student to miss the opportunity to participate in athletics because practice and competitions are being held off campus.” Adding that the additional facility will allow many students to stay on-site, as many current sports teams practice and compete elsewhere.

Looking forward, they are hopeful that this donation will inspire others to give to the future of DSHA, just as other donors have inspired them. Dean stated, “We prioritize charitable giving, and education has always been a focus of ours. This donation frees up other financial contributions to go elsewhere for the school and we feel blessed that we’re able to support the growth of the campus.”

The Klingers hope that the rich history and traditions of the school continue for many years to come. “We want the young women who attend DSHA to enjoy participating in the full DSHA experience. It’s invaluable to have an environment for young women to realize how many options there are for their lives. The addition of these facilities will help round out the complete college preparatory high school experience.”

With DSHA listed in their trust, the Klinger family plans to continue financially supporting DSHA for many years to come.
Back
    • Mary and Dean Klinger with their daughter Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA

      Mary and Dean Klinger with their daughter Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA '10, at DSHA Graduation.

    • Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA

      Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA '10, playing on the DSHA Varsity Soccer Team.

    • New, competitive outdoor athletic fields will allow DSHA teams to practice, play, and host games on campus.

      New, competitive outdoor athletic fields will allow DSHA teams to practice, play, and host games on campus.

Comments:

No comments have been posted

Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior
© 2017 Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. All Rights Reserved