It is with great honor that St. Teresa High School announces the 2021 Alumnus of the Year Award winner to Ursula Young Beck, Class of 1950.

Ursula “Ursy” Beck was a member of one of the first kindergarten programs at St. Teresa as well as a 1950 graduate of the high school. Throughout her post­graduate years, she gave back to the St. Teresa community time and time again. She was directly involved with the school as the St. Teresa cheerleading sponsor for many years as well as the spotter for Bulldogs football; she was also a generous benefactor for many years, donating to the school's rebuild in the '80s among other things. Her generosity did not stop after her death, as her endowed scholarships have allowed multiple students to wear the orange St. T serviam logo.

Ursula's dedication to the Catholic faith is also what makes her a phenomenal St. Teresa alumnus. She was a daily churchgoer and valued faith above all else in her life. She was in audience with the Pope nine times and had the privilege of meeting Mother Teresa. Her love for God shined through her bright smile and left a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Ursula was nominated by her granddaughter, Lauryn Pugh ’19, who shared, “Throughout my four years at St. Teresa, I strived to live up to my grandmother's legacy. I have watched all of her sons, daughters, grandchildren, and soon, great-grandchildren follow in her footsteps but we will never be able to live up to the undoubted greatness that was my grandmother.”

Ursy’s devout dedication to the Catholic faith, along with her continuous generosity toward St. Teresa, is clearly what makes her an alumnus worth honoring.