Subscribe to our newsletter!
Diane Orsini
Since 1931 the Doran Trophy, a gift of the Hugh Doran Family, has been a symbol of excellence at St. Pat’s. In its first decades it was for the top student in academics, sports and leadership. Since 1994 it has been awarded to the alumnus/ae, staff or educator who, after having left St. Pat’s, continued to show in an exemplary manner and to a significant degree the spirit and traditions of St. Pat's.
The nominee must show this through a lived example to be found in the areas of leadership, a demonstrated interest in caring for the welfare of his/her fellow human beings, and a capacity to inspire others to reach beyond themselves. The nominee is to exemplify in his or her life a team spirit which was engendered at St. Pat's and, after leaving St. Pat's, was brought to fruition in his or her own chosen community.
This year’s recipient of the St. Pat’s Doran-Alumni Trophy is Diane Orsini.
Diane was born in Welland, Ontario, and earned her BA at St. FX University and her B. Ed. at Queen’s U, where she also pursued postgraduate work in Phys. Ed. and Cooperative Education. She taught first at St. Pat’s Junior High, (1974-1984) and then “graduated” to St. Pat’s High (1988- 1997). From teaching girls’ Health and Phys. Ed., coaching girls’ basketball and handball to several Board championships, she went on to be Athletic Director. Diane finished her full-time teaching career at Immaculata HS in 2006.
After many years of competition, her last basketball tournament was in 2006 – “The Ontario Masters Tournament.”
In the area of Co-operative Education, she pioneered the concept in the Ottawa Catholic School Board, became SPHS Co-operative Education Consultant, and Board Cooperative Education Consultant; her work in this field was professionally recognized Provincially.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s Diane combined sports and Co-operative Education in extraordinary ways. Just check out this partial list! Organized a girls’ Gr. 9 & 10 Winter Outdoor Education Trip to Doe Lake in the Muskokas; along with the SPHS Business Department organized a co-ed Business Co-operative Education trip to Toronto. Supervised the Alpine Ski Club and secured funds from the School Board to promote a Black History presentation for St. Pat’s and several other Catholic High Schools. Committee Coordinator and Member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa-Carleton Roman Catholic Jr. High School Athletic Association and a member of the Eastern Ontario School Boards Co-operative Education Committee.
Awards? Diane was the first recipient of the Del Sloan Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to fulfilling the philosophy of the Jr. High School Athletic Association as well as the Ottawa Carleton Breakthrough Award (promotion of girls in sport), among others.
In 2002 Diane became a breast cancer survivor and is now a staunch supporter of the CIBC “Run For the Cure” and St. Pat’s HS “Cancer Breakfast”. Her latest adventure in the sports world was as a driver (of medal winners!) at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Shortly after the reception of this trophy Diane traveled to St. FX where she was inducted into the University Athletic Hall of Fame because of her leadership qualities as the Captain of the Women’s Basketball team as an undergraduate. It will make an appropriate “bookend” matching her picture on the Notre Dame HS (Welland, ON) Sports Wall of Fame, her 1960’s alma mater high school.
Our Board of Directors, of which she is a former member, are honoured to count Diane Orsini as an Alumna of St. Pat’s, and there is no doubt that her leadership qualities and social concerns were nourished and encouraged at St. Patrick’s HS. With the awarding of the Doran-Alumni Trophy we publicly recognize this. Congratulations Diane.
by Fr. Tom Cassidy