Sister Frances Zajac inducted into sports hall of fame

MERIDEN, CT (05-08-2008) - Sister Frances Zajac, FSE was honored at the Francis T. Maloney High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony for outstanding achievement in athletics. Sister Frances is the Chair of the Science Department at Maloney High School, Meriden, the school she attended as a youth. Formerly named Joelle, Sister Frances was a 1984 graduate and a three-sport athlete for all four years, earning a total of ten varsity letters during her career at Maloney. Her profile of achievement as described by the Hall of Fame committee continues:

She was named to the Colonial Conference teams in volleyball during her sophomore, junior and senior years. Joelle served as team captain in her senior year and was given the distinction of the Honorable Mention award for All-State.

In the summer of her sophomore year, Joelle was the captain of the New England Team IV USVBA Junior Olympic Team that played in Knoxville, Tennessee. She continued to excel in basketball and softball earning varsity letters in both sports. She was elected captain of the basketball team for the 1983-84 season.

Joelle pursued her academic career at the University of Dayton where she played on the varsity volleyball and basketball teams. Her senior year was particularly noteworthy in both sports as she was chosen captain and earned Most Valuable Player awards in each. In addition, she was one of the nine finalists for the first Rae Burdick Women in Sports Award, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dayton and representing the entire state of Ohio. This award continues to be presented annually.

Joelle graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in pre-med and a Master of Science in teaching secondary science. She also finished her collegiate sports career earning a total of six varsity letters, three volleyball and three softball. Following graduation, Joelle entered the Peace Corps as a secondary science teacher educating students in Cameroon, West Africa, from 1990-93.

She returned to Meriden as a substitute teacher, after which she was employed as a full-time biology teacher at Maloney. She continued her academic career earning a Sixth-Year Degree in Educational Leadership in May 2004. Her love of sports and desire to serve her student-athletes led her to coaching volleyball, basketball and tennis at Maloney.

In 1997, Joelle began the process of discernment for religious life with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Meriden. Sister Frances professed Perpetual Vows in April 2007.

Congratulations, Sister Frances!