Sacred Heart announces the Katy Brown ’83 Endowed Global Hearts Travel Program

Sacred Heart Academy proudly introduces the Katy Brown ’83 Endowed Global Hearts Travel Program, a unique initiative made possible by Ms. Brown’s generous $1.5 million gift - the largest gift to date from an alumna. This program will bolster SHA’s commitment to global travel by offering life-changing travel experiences for Sacred Heart’s students who may not have access to this invaluable educational experience. Ms. Brown said, “I benefitted greatly from an opportunity to travel from Italy to England as a freshman in College.  I was the first person in my family to travel to Europe and it changed my whole mind set. I am passionate about providing such transformative experiences to students, especially those who would not otherwise have the opportunity for global travel.”

Sacred Heart’s mission is to inspire students to become globally-minded, compassionate leaders; travel opportunities are an important element in that growth. Sacred Heart’s IB curriculum also calls for all students to view learning through a global lens. This endowed program will enhance the present global travel program at SHA and allow students with financial needs to take advantage of these international experiences. The program's three pillars are global service and advocacy trips, educational and leadership opportunities, and Ursuline heritage journeys.

Sacred Heart Schools president Dr. Karen McNay is excited about the future of the travel program, saying, “I join SHA principal Dr. Tim Adams in sharing our excitement for the opportunities afforded our students through this transformational travel program. We are grateful for Ms. Brown’s generosity and vision in endowing this program to help foster globally minded leaders to serve our communities.”

One Sacred Heart Academy student served as a pilot for the program in 2024. Isabel Gonzalez traveled to Spain this summer with two of SHA’s world language teachers and a group of students, immersed in the culture and experiences of the Spanish people and Ursuline heritage. The group visited cathedrals, museums, restaurants, and more. They visited an Ursuline School in Siguenza, Spain, meeting the Sisters and students, and viewed the remains of St. Ursula in the Cathedral in Toledo, Spain.

Sacred Heart Academy already has four overseas trips planned for the 2024-25 academic year. The first will be a service trip to Belize with Hand in Hand Ministries during February's Winter Break. The second will be a Spring Break trip to Iceland advocating environmental education. The third will be a Spanish immersion trip to Costa Rica, and the final will be a trip to Greece to discover ancient history.

In addition to the Spanish Immersion trip last summer, SHA student trips traveled internationally to Italy for performing arts and to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

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Established in 1877, Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic, college preparatory, all-girls high school sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. Sacred Heart Academy provides an International Baccalaureate global curriculum, college-level courses including IB, AP, and Dual-Credit, a unique formalized leadership Institute, a focus on service, Catholic faith formation and retreats, academic and social-emotional support, nationally ranked athletics, full-scale visual and performing arts programs, a beautiful 48-acre campus, and much more. A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Sacred Heart Academy is an International Baccalaureate and Cognia accredited school with 100 percent of the students pursuing higher education in hundreds of colleges and universities nationally and internationally. The Class of 2024 earned over $30 million in college scholarships. SHA has won 111 state athletic championships. The school has more than 13,000 alumnae. shslou.org

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