Alumni Spotlight
April 2023
Alicia Antolini Cook, Class of 1983
Why did your family choose Kennedy for your education?
My parents believed in the value of the Catholic education at Kennedy for its commitment to academic excellence and its formation of the whole person.
What is your favorite Kennedy memory?
This is a tricky question as I have so many fond memories. My most favorite memories revolve around how we displayed our Blue Pride during pep rallies and when ringing the victory bell in the courtyard.
Did you have a teacher or class that was a major influence on you?
Sister Mary Jean’s standard for excellence was extraordinary. Her biology classes were rigorous, but I was fortunate to have seen her soft side. When I would get “stumped” with one of her assignments, she would tell me that I was smarter than I thought. In those moments, I learned that my vulnerability connected us, and I appreciated her confidence in me.
Education/Professional Experience:
I am a 1987 graduate of Marquette University with a degree in accounting. Currently, I am a Vice President at Capital One and lead a healthcare real estate underwriting team. I live in Arlington, Virginia with my family.
What career did you choose and tell us a little bit about how you got there.
As an accounting major, I started my career as an auditor. While auditing different companies, I most enjoyed working with banks. The fast-paced, service-oriented work intrigued me. After leaving my first role over thirty years ago, I’ve worked for various finance companies and commercial banks. With each career decision, finding a collaborative culture with people whom I could trust was paramount and has served me well.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Professionally, I am most proud of the culture I helped to create in my current role. It was challenging learning a new job and collaborating (virtually) with a new team at the start of the pandemic. So, to create a connection with my associates, I sent a weekly email with themes of inspiration, mindfulness, or reflections on current events inside and outside the company. There were weeks that I wondered if the emails had any impact on my team. Then as a birthday gift a year later, the team presented me with a scrapbook with all of my emails compiled with notes of appreciation. Personally, I am most proud that my children followed in the Antolini family tradition by choosing to attend a Catholic high school and Catholic universities.
What is a specific piece of advice you would give to a Kennedy senior?
Cherish these last few months and be grateful for this amazing Kennedy community. The root of joy is gratefulness. As you start your new chapter, remember the Kennedy mission to live with courage, integrity, and dedication. You are smarter than you think and know that life begins at the end of your comfort zone!
