A Grieving Mother Gives Back

Taryn Dunnaville is the loving mother of Chastity Dunnaville '06, who passed away in 2012 after a two-year courageous battle with rhabdomyosarcoma cancer.

Taryn chose to honor her daughter's desire to continue to help people by establishing the Chastity B. Dunnaville Scholarship Fund at Notre Dame Preparatory School (NDP). To date, four young ladies are grateful recipients of the scholarship award.

Prior to creating the scholarship fund, Taryn named Notre Dame Prep as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will continue the advancement of education for students at NDP.

Why would a grieving mother decide to undertake the herculean task of establishing a scholarship fund the size the Dunnaville Scholarship? The decision was borne out of something Chastity wrote during her Junior Retreat at NDP. One of the questions in a reflection packet asked, "What is your greatest fear?" Chas' response was dying slowly and alone. The follow-up question asked, "Why?" to which she responded, "Because I would no longer be able to help people." After finding the Junior Retreat packet among her daughter's keepsakes after Chastity passed, Taryn said, "For this reason I will establish a scholarship fund."

Chastity was in her first year as an NDP sixth-grader when her parents separated and eventually divorced. Instead of falling away and making excuses for herself, Chas threw herself into her academics and became an outstanding athlete at NDP. The community saw and appreciated the natural gifts and talents that she possessed and offered her a partial scholarship to complete her education at Notre Dame Prep. Chas served as president of the Athletic Association, as well as starred on both the varsity volleyball and varsity basketball teams in the Upper Level. In her senior year, Chas was awarded the coveted White Blazer and went on to become an honorable Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy.

Even though she was diagnosed with cancer after being commissioned as a Naval Officer, Chas continued to serve her country. While in treatment, she returned NDP and was welcomed as a student teacher working with Mrs. Gail Cartrider in the Women's Studies course until three weeks before her death.

During her battle with cancer, Chas said to her Captain and leaders that she still wanted to be "in the game." It didn't matter to her what position she played at NDP or held with the Navy; her desire was to serve. Taryn gives credit to the Notre Dame Prep community for supporting her daughter during very challenging periods in her life.

You Can Be the Difference

To learn how you can make a difference and support students at NDP, contact Roxanne Fiddler at 410.583.8797 or fiddlerr@notredameprep.com.