News at St. Catherine's
Lauren Palagi ‘97
U.S. Air Force Captain
Palagi instructs in the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. It is a four engine jet aircraft with maximum weight of 585,000 lbs. The aircraft can refuel in the air, land on dirt landing strips and airlift everything from the President's helicopter to the Navy Dolphins. The mission includes presidential support, combat, aeromedical and humanitarian relief.
Palagi instructs in the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. It is a four engine jet aircraft with maximum weight of 585,000 lbs. The aircraft can refuel in the air, land on dirt landing strips and airlift everything from the President's helicopter to the Navy Dolphins. The mission includes presidential support, combat, aeromedical and humanitarian relief.
How did St. Catherine’s prepare you for your career?
The St. Catherine’s motto “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own” prepared me for my career as a C-17 Globemaster III pilot and officer in the United States Air Force. The Air Force Core Values are Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do. My most rewarding missions flying the C-17 have been Humanitarian relief missions. I personally flew the American refugees from Lebanon and in support of Hurricane Katrina relief. The C-17 also resupplies the McMurdo Science Station Antarctica as well as multiple relief locations in Africa.
What classes/teachers had the biggest impact?
My honors Chinese teacher Ms. Tan made the biggest impact because she was a link to the world outside of St. Catherine’s and Richmond, a world that I wanted to explore. She encouraged us to investigate our world-view and thirst for knowledge by telling us about a completely different way of life in China. Flying C-17s in the Air Force, I have been to over 30 different countries. I have been able to explore the globe and gain a great appreciation and understanding for many different cultures and people. I do have to admit that I used my limited French skills that I learned in 2nd through 5th grade when I was in Mali trying to file my flight plan to Spain. It worked!
How did St. Catherine’s shape who you are today?
The service aspect is a major part of who we are as military officers and members of the Long Blue Line. We believe in our rich heritage and in helping people around the world to have a better life. We have a direct impact on world events by delivering troops and supplies. C-17’s from McChord, my last base, flew in support of the Tsunami relief as well as the Russian sub rescue. There are literally thousands of people in the world who are alive today because of the water, food, medical supplies and people that were airlifted to their remote location on a C-17. It is an organization that we are proud to be part of everyday.
What is your fondest memory of the school?
I really enjoyed minimester. It was a considerable opportunity to learn outside of the traditional classroom methods. It also gave you a shot to investigate something that you were interested in that may not have been covered in the core curriculum. This is an outstanding program because you are the catalyst for your own learning.
What is your favorite school tradition?
The end of the year sports banquet. It was great that all the sports got together at the end of the year to recognize their top performers and share their team accomplishments. St. Catherine’s sports teach leadership and teamwork, which are two critical traits for success. No one is an island and the better we work together the better off everyone becomes. A common joke in the Air Force is that there is no “I” in team.
What advice would you give to current seniors?
Be true to yourself and never give up. You can work hard enough to make your dreams come true. I wanted to be a pilot since I was 5 years old. Now I fly a $232.3 million aircraft for the Air Force around the planet. The level of responsibility that the Air Force gives young officers is truly awesome.
What has changed the most about you since you graduated?
I cannot run as far as I used to on the cross country team with Coach Bloor. I still enjoy running everyday. When I was deployed this summer to Al Udeid AB Qatar a group of us would get up at 0400 and run since it was the only time it was cool enough to run outdoors. By cool I mean in the mid to upper 90’s.
Back
The St. Catherine’s motto “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own” prepared me for my career as a C-17 Globemaster III pilot and officer in the United States Air Force. The Air Force Core Values are Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do. My most rewarding missions flying the C-17 have been Humanitarian relief missions. I personally flew the American refugees from Lebanon and in support of Hurricane Katrina relief. The C-17 also resupplies the McMurdo Science Station Antarctica as well as multiple relief locations in Africa.
What classes/teachers had the biggest impact?
My honors Chinese teacher Ms. Tan made the biggest impact because she was a link to the world outside of St. Catherine’s and Richmond, a world that I wanted to explore. She encouraged us to investigate our world-view and thirst for knowledge by telling us about a completely different way of life in China. Flying C-17s in the Air Force, I have been to over 30 different countries. I have been able to explore the globe and gain a great appreciation and understanding for many different cultures and people. I do have to admit that I used my limited French skills that I learned in 2nd through 5th grade when I was in Mali trying to file my flight plan to Spain. It worked!
How did St. Catherine’s shape who you are today?
The service aspect is a major part of who we are as military officers and members of the Long Blue Line. We believe in our rich heritage and in helping people around the world to have a better life. We have a direct impact on world events by delivering troops and supplies. C-17’s from McChord, my last base, flew in support of the Tsunami relief as well as the Russian sub rescue. There are literally thousands of people in the world who are alive today because of the water, food, medical supplies and people that were airlifted to their remote location on a C-17. It is an organization that we are proud to be part of everyday.
What is your fondest memory of the school?
I really enjoyed minimester. It was a considerable opportunity to learn outside of the traditional classroom methods. It also gave you a shot to investigate something that you were interested in that may not have been covered in the core curriculum. This is an outstanding program because you are the catalyst for your own learning.
What is your favorite school tradition?
The end of the year sports banquet. It was great that all the sports got together at the end of the year to recognize their top performers and share their team accomplishments. St. Catherine’s sports teach leadership and teamwork, which are two critical traits for success. No one is an island and the better we work together the better off everyone becomes. A common joke in the Air Force is that there is no “I” in team.
What advice would you give to current seniors?
Be true to yourself and never give up. You can work hard enough to make your dreams come true. I wanted to be a pilot since I was 5 years old. Now I fly a $232.3 million aircraft for the Air Force around the planet. The level of responsibility that the Air Force gives young officers is truly awesome.
What has changed the most about you since you graduated?
I cannot run as far as I used to on the cross country team with Coach Bloor. I still enjoy running everyday. When I was deployed this summer to Al Udeid AB Qatar a group of us would get up at 0400 and run since it was the only time it was cool enough to run outdoors. By cool I mean in the mid to upper 90’s.
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Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St. Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
