Mrs. Elrod said it best at the class of 2024’s graduation ceremony: “Kate Novack is leaving a Kate-sized hole in Montrose.” She perfectly illustrated the immense cheer and happiness Kate has brought to Montrose throughout her years. Whether it was rallying the crowd during sports games as she was dressed as our Maverick or leading Looking Glass and Red Key club meetings, Kate was always a pillar of warmth, enthusiasm, and support for her community.
Coming to Montrose in the seventh grade, Kate hit the ground running as she befriended every Montrose girl and teacher in the school. Within a short amount of time, everyone was able to call her their friend. With a love for academics and a special soft spot for the humanities, she became a passionate student and a major contributor to her classes. I remember Kate eagerly telling my AP European History class at the beginning of my sophomore year all of the fun projects we had to look forward to and all of the inside jokes she promised our class would make, just like her class had the year before. From dressing up as historical figures to holding heated debates about the Scientific Revolution, she said that there was much fun to be had despite the fact that it was a challenging college-level course.
Kate was also our Montrose Maverick mascot for every sports game and school spirit event. Running around and jumping enthusiastically in costume, one did not even need to see her face to know how bright her smile was under the Maverick head. And when she was not our Montrose Maverick, Kate was leading the varsity softball team as co-captain. On and off the field, she always supported her teammates, making sure everyone was included and that they were up-to-date on the team logistics so that no one was left behind. Grace Cronin ‘25 was on the softball team with Kate this spring. She recalled: “Kate was a great captain this year, always leading with positivity and encouraging the team at games and practices. We will miss her next year!”
Kate was also a regular lector at mass, eager to help with services and share her Catholic faith. Her immersion in the gospel readings demonstrated her commitment to God and brought to life the biblical stories that were instrumental in forming her faith.
Kate was president of the Red Key Club and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Looking Glass school newspaper. Her leadership skills were evident in these positions when she always made sure everyone felt seen and heard when she delegated tasks and instructed others on how to best contribute to upcoming projects.
Kate’s wonderful attributes culminated in her being awarded the Montrose Cup, the highest recognition a girl can receive from Montrose. Her strengths and prowess will serve her well as she begins her next chapter at The College of the Holy Cross. Kate, we will miss you and cannot wait for you to visit and tell us about your adventures! Thank you, Kate.
Sarah Grace Lange, Co-Editor-in-Chief
